a/n:
inspired by the fact that jason loves books and i genuinely think (and i'm pretty sure i've seen discussions about it somewhere with actual proof) that jason's a nerd and did enjoy school
also i'm just projecting my own frustrations with going back to school and math here. i've graduated years ago but still stick to the fact that if i didn't have to take math ever again, i'd go back.
College Days
College.
You've never really given it much thought. You'd been editing videos since high school, have made a decent income from it, and never really thought of pursuing anything else. It also helps that although your parents never really cared for you, at least not in the ways that you needed, they had left you enough money to be able to manage on your own for a few years, even with the hefty hospital bills.
So, further education has never been on your mind, didn't seem like a priority with how your life has been going so far.
But Jason, surprisingly, wanted to go, brought it up over dinner one night before he went out for patrol.
"What do you think about English Lit, mouse?" He had asked as he pushed his food around with his fork.
"Like, as a subject?"
"Well, yeah, like, what do you think if I take it up when the new term starts at Gotham U?"
"I, really, Jason? You want to go?"
"I always liked reading, books, discussing them with Alfred. So, I figured, why not?"
"But do you need to go to college for that? You can, like, sign up for a book club at the library or something."
There's a light blush on Jason's cheeks and he tries to hide it with his hand, tries to play it off. He's embarrassed. "It's not just books. I liked school."
"Well, then sure. I think English Lit is a good course for you to take up."
"Why don't you go with me?"
"I, I can't afford the tuition, Jason." Now you were playing around with your food, finding it easier to look at than Jason. You could see that he was excited, that this is something he wanted for the both of you.
"So, apply for a scholarship. Hell, we have money. It's no big deal."
"No, you have money."
"Mouse. If you want to go, I'll make sure it happens."
So, college. It's an interesting idea. You think that more than teaching you things that you can learn on the internet anyway, it's the experience that you want to have. High school was rough, but you think that being on the same campus as Jason might be interesting. You'd at least have a friend to have lunch with.
It's just, do you really want to take up math again? It seems like it's an unavoidable subject, that all courses have to at least have the basic units. Algebra and Statistics. And you think, is going back to school really worth it?
"I can help you. You're not going in this alone." Jason laughs in that airy chuckle like way of his, more like an amused puff of air, when he sees you sort through different course pamphlets. Rather than ranking them by genuine interest, you were tossing out the courses that required more than two math units, the minimum.
"You'll have other things to worry about, Jason. You'll have your own classes, patrol, you can't just drop everything and tutor me."
"This is supposed to be fun, mouse."
"I just don't want to fail."
"You're not going to," Jason says confidently. He's been getting more and more comfortable with the idea of going back to school by the day. He's looked up past syllabuses online, looked into forums where students discussed the best teachers for each subject. "But even if you do, it's alright. We're there to learn. It's not like you're gunning for a desk job after, right? You're settled here. Just choose something that's interesting."
"I did always want to try art."
"There you go! And look, only two units of math!"
"Ugh. You better make time for me in your schedule. I'm going to need all the help I can get."
"I'll always have time for you."
