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too late getting stuck in my thoughts is my thing

dick

going to class see you later

( he's not going to bother responding, because dick is going to continue to be dick and there's really no point in arguing with him. he always wins anyway.

so jason opts to show up as he'd promised: bike pulling up to the front of his high school, helmet removed while he waits for dick to come out. there's a few other students who come around to try and chat him up, because mid-twenties guy on a bike picking up his baby brother is clearly someone of interest, and jason grins and offers a few gentle but sassy quips. nothing of substance, but enough to keep up the fascination. )

[ Dick does ruminate but doesn't exactly worry. Their chat could be about a lot of things-- finding a new place for them and Kyle comes to mind, but it doesn't jive with the tone of the text.

The rest of the day goes by in a haze as he spends the last three periods of the day turning the conversation over in his head.

At least Jason's on time, though he usually is. Dick hangs back for a minute, a small smirk on his face as he watches Jason try to play the 'cool, mysterious brother' for the other students. Dick has gotten some inquiries about Jason, but he's just gone out of his way to play up the air of mystery. He thinks it's funny.

His smirk is still on his face as he approaches Jason. ]

You know, the soccer moms missed you when you were on your business trip.

Trust me, I know. I got an earful from Bea back there when I pulled up next to her minivan. ( a thumb pointing back towards the offending vehicle, but jason's grin only grows wider. )

If I end up needing a day off later, maybe we should see if Rayner'll cover for me. I'm sure he can keep 'em entertained.

( he extends out a hand, offering dick's helmet to him. dick's specifically; kyle has his own too. )

But I'll avoid week long trips. Be a real shame to miss out on Lila's cookies.

Edited 2024-02-05 05:29 (UTC)

[ 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.

Dick grins, taking the helmet in his hands. ]

Kyle will win them over immediately.

I know. Asshole's such a suck up, and with his dreamy eyes and sensitive artist attitude he'll have 'em eating right out of his hands.

( with a roll of his eyes, but the grin on his face isn't anything short of fond. )

We'll have to get him a car. And a license.

( another thing to add to his endless to do list. jason shoves his helmet back on, leans forward to grab onto the bike handles. )

Tacos still?

[ Dick snorts. ]

And a good story about how you met. [ Because the real one is a little complicated. ]

Yeah. [ He pops on his helmet and climbs on. ]

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. )

[ 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. ]

So what did you want to talk about?

( 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. )

You remember Ace?

He's kind of impossible to forget.

[ Ace is definitely an interesting person. That mix of arrogance and terrible social skills is unforgettable. ]

He asked me to be his legal guardian.

( 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.

I know you wouldn't. You're not that kind of person.

( but he's moving a hand out and placing it on dick's head. ruffles his hair, before he's trying to pull him into a half hug. )

But this affects you, too. I'm not gonna do anything you're not sure of. Not something like this at least.

[ Dick allows himself to be pulled into the half-hug. ]

Why doesn't he want to live with us?

[ Is it because Dick just an inconvenient string attached to being Jason's ward? ]

'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. ]

You don't have to.

( but he is letting dick out of the half-hug with another ruffle of his hair. )

's not your responsibility. I'm asking you if you're alright with it, not telling you that his shit's on you, too.

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