12 Days of JayTim
Bennet's and Darcy's

Jason isn't really sure what he's looking for, and he lets out a small grunt as he opens the door to yet another store. He's been looking around for a gift to give Tim for weeks now, and every time he ends up empty handed. He's not even sure what Tim needs either. What does a rich boy who likes simple things and has everything actually need? And the boy is so cryptic when Jason bluntly asks because god knows he sucks at being discreet with these things.

"So, do you have a Christmas list or some type of shit?" he'd ask.

"I'm not a kid, Jason," he'd reply with a roll of the eyes. "I don't need anything, Jason. Just stay with me, okay? That's it."

Tim's totally helpful in telling him what he wants. And it just really pisses Jason off because he wants to buy him one damn thing that's going to mean something to him. Not something that's just going to go to waste eventually or just something that's going to collect dust on a shelf. He knows what he's looking for is hard, but he wants to buy something that will be eternal for Tim. Oh, and it has to be simple, too, because Tim's simple.

Tim always knows what Jason wants, whether it's a new gun that Jason takes longer to polish so he can admire it, a beautiful leather jacket that Jason had chewed him out for because it was so damn expensive (he managed to find the receipt), or even a new book because Jason and Tim are complete literary geeks. And sometimes, he'd even get a coupon booklet for sex any time anywhere, and Tim had to oblige every time. He's almost certain that the younger man will never do that again because Jason really used those coupons to his advantage, and he's sure Tim had never done anything much outside his confines of comfort, which meant in an apartment that was either Jason or Tim's. Jason still smiles at the thought of Tim red-faced when he said "Bruce's room." Good times, but now it was Jason's turn.

And Jason really wants to make Tim so happy, even just once, with a gift. Something small, something meaningful. It didn't have to be big by any means, so Jason's been searching small store by small store, particularly jewelry stores. They usually have small items, and the vigilante always found himself staring begrudgingly at the diamonds under the glass case.

Jason didn't really like diamonds. Yeah, he guessed they were pretty. To girls. Or Dick. Dick liked shiny and sparkly things, but Jason tried to avoid them. He found them too feminine and most were blood diamonds, and he was completely against those. Not to mention, who the hell would he give a diamond ring to? Surely not Damian, but he couldn't help but imagine the look on the demon brat's face if he opened up a package to find a sparking white, six hundred dollar engagement ring. He's pretty sure he'd have to be even more alert than usual because the little snot would definitely make him his number one target.

But then he thought of a diamond ring on Tim's finger and it just seemed wrong. Tim may be the submissive in the relationship (usually), but he was no girl. And Tim would flip shit on him if he bought him a diamond ring. God, he didn't even think Tim would wear a diamond even if he was a girl. He's just too… Tim. And Jason was perfectly fine with that.

Still, Jason found himself wandering into these jewelry stores, looking for something to give to Tim for Christmas. Tim didn't need watches, he had plenty. Not to mention, Bruce always seemed to give him a nice one whenever he knew one of Tim's was broken. There weren't any necklaces here that would suit Tim. Sure, he could buy him a set of pearls for whenever Tim had to crossdress for a mission, but he'd like to keep his balls intact, thank you. And no way was he getting an expensive diamond. Tim would break his nose.

Jason looked around the shop for a while, ignoring the clerk completely as he found nothing yet again. Of course he was in the wrong place, he knew that. It was actually really annoying that he kept coming to these places. It's not like he was going to marry Tim. He wasn't into that. He wasn't that into Tim either. Well, not enough to ask him to marry him. At least he didn't think so.

With a disgruntled sigh, Jason walked out of the shop and back onto the cold streets. This had to be one of the worst times of the year because it involved shopping for Tim. And having to deal with Dick during Christmas was bad enough. Jason scuffed his boot against the snow on the sidewalk, watching some of the fluff fly up into the air before landing back down on the ground as he walked.

Then he heard a soft bell ring to his right, and he turned to look when a customer left a small shop. His eyes glanced over the wooden building that stood out among the other fancy and expensive stores. It described everything that Tim would deem "cute." Probably because it was an antique store, but Jason was just as appealed to it as Tim would be.

"Might as well," he muttered to himself before he stepped inside, the scent of fragrant candles instantly hit his senses. It felt warm and cozy, and he was even surprised to see that the place had a fireplace. That was different.

Oceanic eyes searched over the shelves that held wooden music boxes, plates, Victorian necklaces, vases, and so many more objects that Jason didn't even know the names to. There were books that smelled musty, but were clean oddly enough, but Jason stayed away from those. He did, however, find an antique poetry book that he picked because Tim was a sucker for poetry. And this thing looked legit since it was handwritten and leather bound, so Tim might fangirl a bit over that.

But Jason needed to get him something else. Yeah, the book was beautiful, but it wouldn't be enough. Not for him. So he kept searching, and when he found something, he felt his stupid heart plummet down into his stomach. And he knew he had to buy it.

"I'm fucked," was all he said before he bought the two items and left the store in a hurry so he wouldn't turn right back around and return them.

Jason was totally right about Tim fangirling over the book. Watching his face was priceless when he felt the leather admiringly and then read the first page. At least he made a good choice on that one. It did earn him a very thoroughkiss that left his pants just a little bit uncomfortable for his liking.

But the funny thing was that Tim was just thanking him like he wasn't getting anything else, and Jason tried not to back out and not give him the other thing he bought from the antique store. So he cleared his throat and looked at him a bit grimly.

"There's something else. That I got you," he managed to say, and Tim arched a quizzical brow.

"Oh? You didn't have to, you know. This was enough, and I love it, but okay. What is it?" he asked, turning towards him as they sat on the couch. Jason licked his lips nervously before he dug through his pocket and pulled out a small box that the woman at the shop had kindly wrapped for him.

"Here," he said, handing it over to him, and Tim took it with soft, gentle hands. He shot him a curious glance before he carefully open the box, eyebrows furrowed the entire time. And boy did those perfectly sculpted brows shoot up in surprise when he saw what was inside. His mouth gaped a bit, and Jason briefly wondered if Aquaman was somewhere and was about to turn him into a fish. But Tim quickly clenched his mouth shut and held up a silver ring. It didn't have any gems or diamonds on it, and it was just a bit thicker than a normal wedding band. Intricate swirls wrapped around the entire band, creating a beautiful and timeless design, and Jason grew more nervous the longer Tim remained silent and stared at it.

"This," Tim began quietly after a long, nerve wrecking silence on Jason's end. "This looks like a Regency wedding band from–"

"From the same period that Pride and Prejudice was set in," Jason finished for him with a soft nod. "I found it in the same store with the book, and, well, I decided to get it." He glanced at Tim's face nervously when the younger man looked at him completely speechless.

"I– Jason, this. I don't know what to say." Or really what it meant. Jason reached over and gently plucked the ring from Tim's fingers and played with it.

"I dunno. I just found the thing and damn, I swear it was calling out to me. It just seemed so… you. And… I bought it. I guess what I'm asking is…" Jason looked him straight in the eyes as he held the ring up. "Stay with me?"

And it was as if that was possible the greatest gift Jason could have offered because Tim was just spluttering nervously and no coherent words were coming out so he just nodded sporadically, and before Jason knew it, Tim was just in his lap and trying to squeeze his lungs out of his chest.

"Hey, hey. I said 'stay,' not kill me," he grunted, but hugged Tim back because he had just been so nervous about the entire thing.

"Thank you, Jason," he whispered into the broad chest before he leaned up to nuzzle Jason's neck.

"… So I did okay?" he asked warily, completely surprised.

"You did better than okay," Tim assured him and pressed a soft kiss to his neck.

"… Does this mean I get another coupon book?"

"Okay, now you're pressing your luck," Tim huffed but smiled against his neck.

"Damn. Okay then, fine," he said and then poked the side of Tim's head. "Y'know, I almost bought you an actual diamond." And Tim jolted up and looked at the man with a horrified expression.

"Ew, really? Ew. Jason, why? I would have broken your nose," he huffed in disgust, which resulted in a deep laugh from Jason.

"Yeah, I know. So I got one for Damian instead."

"What?" Tim hissed in surprise.

"Hey, don't worry. It's fake. And I was smart and tagged the box saying it was from Dick," Jason said with that lopsided, sleazy grin of his. And once the context of the words settle into Tim's brain, he gave him that small, devilish smirk of his own.

"That's evil. I knew I liked you for a reason," he hummed.

"Besides my striking good looks?"

"I'm still willing to break your nose."

"Yeah, yeah. Just c'mere and kiss me."

And Jason's pretty sure that he wouldn't need that coupon book this year because he's fairly certain he's got Tim wrapped around his finger for the next decade.