[ What Dick won't say is that it hurt every time they asked because Dick didn't know when Jason was coming back. He smiled and spun some convincing lies. He's a great performer.
You mean you don't want to tell your friends we met 'cause we were both labeled cosmic mistakes? Damn. And here I thought the story of us running around the multiverse with his ex, Wonder Girl, while he gave me the stink eye'd be fun.
( a snort, but jason's kicking up the stand and they're off. he's not exactly following road rules, but he's going slow enough not to gain anyone's attention. so it's not too long before they're pulling up to the taco place, and jason's paying in cash for their usual order. points up towards the employee door with a cheeky grin to the girl behind the counter, who gives a softer one in return and nods her head.
jason slides an extra few bills over once their food is out, and leads dick up the back stairs to the roof exit. generally speaking, using sob stories about missing the open air or whatever to gain rooftop access to smaller businesses probably isn't a great idea during daytime hours. but jason also hasn't had a longterm secret id since he was fifteen, and the view makes it easy to keep an eye on their condo. )
[ It feels incredibly irresponsible to be reading someone younger than him into this. If Tim is worried about it now, he can imagine his reaction at 15.
[ As they pull away, he continues the conversation via comms: ] I don't tell anyone anything about you. I figured you would appreciate having an air of mystery. But if that's the story you want to go with, be my guest. Being labeled a 'cosmic mistake' adds to your 'bad boy' image, I guess.
[ When they approach the taco place, the message Jason sent earlier returns to the forefront of his mind. He's dying of curiosity but he places his order as usual and follows Jason to the rooftop. He manages maybe two seconds before asking. ]
( being a cosmic mistake does add to his bad boy image. though dick fucking around with his classmates and their parents by being vague and mysterious is cute, and jason's not going to stop him any time soon. he offers a snort in response and leaves it at that.
sits down on the rooftop with the bag of tacos and takes one out, before he's half turning to look towards dick. )
( getting it out of the way first because he knows that if he starts off with anything else, dick's just going to keep running through what jason's trying to say until he says it. )
Not to move him in with us, but for me to register as the guy who's watching out for him. I told him I'd have to talk to you first before I gave him an answer, 'cause first and foremost, I promised to look after you. And what you want matters.
( with a lift of his shoulders, and jason's offering a little quieter - )
I know when I showed up, Grayson wasn't given that at all. A heads up or anything, I just showed up, B had adoption papers signed, an' it was a done deal. And it wasn't fun. I don't wanna do that to you. I'm not gonna do anything big like that without making sure you're comfortable with it. ( he's very intentionally not giving dick room to fit a word in yet, because as soon as he does speak up, jason's going to fuck up and forget to mention something on his list of shit he needs to say. ) An' I know I've been a shit guardian, too. I left you behind twice. You don't deserve that. I'm trying to be better.
[ 'Ace wanted me to be his guardian' didn't even crack the top 10 scenarios Dick had thought of during his afternoon of rumination.
He listens as he takes in the rooftop view. Being up high always makes him feel a little more comfortable. Idly, he wonders if Jason had planned it that way. Dick's feelings are all tangled up and uncomfortable but there's one thing that's very clear. ]
He needs someone and he asked for you. [ A shrug. ] I'm not going to stand in the way of that.
'cause he's been on his own so long, just asking someone to be there for him at all is already a lot.
( it's not about dick. and accelerator didn't tell jason as much, but he knew. could tell from the expression on his face when jason asked if he'd want to. )
I think he might want to, eventually. But it'll take a long time before he gets comfortable with the idea.
[ Dick... sort of understands. He's known people who have trouble asking for help, trouble trusting people. It's only about him inasmuch as he's a stranger.
So he nods. ]
Alright. I'll try to win him over.
[ Yeah that's what he got out of this conversation. ]
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