Chapter Text
After the mess of tricking Wilson and then working with him to take down a trafficking ring, Wilson had started making his presence more known. Missions were weirdly easy. People disappeared before he went looking for them. Information was sent to him and once Roy anonymously. Food was left outside a window or door. All without actually seeing the man. For several months actually. It was flattering but also unsettling. So, when Jason caught the quiet shadow outside the balcony door of a hotel room that was pre-booked and pre-paid for, he was ready. He threw the door open to Deathstroke in the full suit with mask and all. The man froze and then quickly forced himself into a more relaxed position. By his foot sat a takeout bag and an envelope.
“Hi.” Jason crossed his arm over his chest and frowned.
“Hello.” The man's light southern accent was muffled by the mask.
“What's this?”
“Food and some files on a local drug ring that runs through the high school.”
“Right.” Jason let his arms drop, “I meant what's all this.” He made a vague hand movement that was supposed to mean Slade Wilson, Deathstroke the Terminator, dropping gifts off at his doorstep like a feral cat.
Wilson, instead of answering, bent down, picked up the food and envelope, and held it out like an offering between them. Jason felt like he was embarrassed for some reason. Like he wasn't the man leaving gifts outside safehouses and hotel rooms. Like he was never meant to be caught. Like Jason wasn't supposed to ask him what was going on. The distinct embarrassed energy coming off the man was somehow not lessened by the black and orange suit.
“You can come in.” Jason rolled his eyes at him and walked back inside without taking the offering. It was kind of fucked up that a guy that big could move so quietly but by the time Jason had sat down on the small couch, Willson was placing the bag and flash drive on the coffee table in front of the couch. Willsin looked ready to sit on the floor across from him. “You can sit,” Jason gestured to the seat next to him, “but mask off.”
“Of course.” Slade removed the mask. He was handsome with his beard trimmed recently and his white hair a little messy. He looked both older and younger than the age Jason guessed he was. The white hair and general unshakeable vibe made him feel old, but his actual face was almost wrinkle free and he moved with a smoothness that older people lose to crutches and canes.
“So?” Jason frowned as Wilson remained standing on the other side of the couch. Jason waved a hand for the man to sit, “What’re you doing all this for?”
“I just wanted to help.” Despite Jason asking for him to sit, Wilson remained standing, holding perfectly still, mask held in both his hands in front of him. Bashful was a weird look for a guy so big and intimidating. Jason knew a little about Wilson from when he was Robin and the man was terrorizing Dick, but his memory from before was a little spotty. More recently, after Wilson started following him around the world, he’d called Talia who had a wealth of information from the man’s time in the shadows. Wilson was impressive enough that even Talia respected his abilities. He has some sort of code that seemed to hinge on how much the trouble was worth and now, strangely, whatever Jason was doing. He was diligent and clever. Experienced. Skilled. Getting to watch the man take a target down was impressive. He synced up easily with Jason. Followed Jason’s lead. Acted before Jason needed to ask. Played well with Roy and Kori. It was fun.
“Why me?” The food did smell really good.
Wilson looked alarmed, though he hid it well.
“I mean are you following anyone else around and delivering food and info?”
“No, just you.” He grumbled like Jason had offended him somehow. Jason pulled the bag of food over to him and started to unpack it. Maybe Wilson would be soothed by an acceptance of sorts. It was some sort of Thai noodle dish that looked ready to burst out of its plastic container. Jason pulled out the chop sticks and a wedge of lime that was in the bag as well. Wilson seemed to relax a little as Jason jimmied the top off, broke the chopsticks apart, and began to eat.
“Okay so why me?” Jason mumbled through a bite of food. When was the last time he ate? He suddenly felt like he was starving.
“You saved me.”
“That was months ago, and you helped make a distraction for us. And you’ve been helping us with cases for a while now.” Jason looked up to Wilson, “For fucks sake, sit down. You’re making me nervous.” Wilson dropped almost immediately on the couch, as far away from Jason as possible, hands fiddling with the edge of the mask now.
“You’re kind.” Wilson offered quietly.
“I’m kind?” Jason said incredulously.
“And strong.” He looked down at Jason’s feet.
“Right, okay.” Jason had no idea what to do with that. What the fuck did him being kind and strong have to do with anything?
“And intelligent.” One hand let go of the mask to rest between them, palm down.
“Alright.” Jason didn’t really know what to say.
“And vicious.” Fingers traced over the fibers of the couch, gliding closer before retreating.
“I don’t-” Jason started but Wilson seemed to be on a roll.
His face did something wistful and shy as his blue eye slid over Jason and landed on his face, “and handsome.”
“What?” Jason felt something warm in his stomach.
“And resilient.” A soft smile pulled the corner of his lips. “And-”
“Yup,” Jasn felt like he was yelling, “I get it.” Maybe the warm feeling was just a different kind of panic, “fuck. Stop.” Slade’s teeth clicked as he shut his mouth. “Do you-” a grown man asking another even more grown man about a possible crush felt embarrassing as fuck. “Are you saying-” What? Jason can’t ask the man if he liked him. That makes him feel like a kindergartener. Like Wilson’s gifts were wildflowers pulled from a patch that grew out on the playground. “What?”
“I’d like to court you.” Wilson nodded seriously.
“Court me? What are you? A hundred?” Jason spoke quickly; actual panic began to rise. He slid the food on the coffee table, the chopsticks clanking on the glass.
Wilson barreled on, “I can provide for you; money, intel, food, protection.”
Jason bristled, “I can take care of myself.”
“Of course you can. You’re incredibly independent and capable. I will never get in the way of that.” Something in Jason settled at that and all that was left was warmth. Wilson was by all accounts competent. Jason’s seen firsthand. Slade was an incredible fighter, perfect aim, unshakeable in battle, strong presence, intelligent, attractive, confusingly charming, and apparently has good taste in food.
“What happens if I say yes?” Jason frowns, “I’m not moving to wherever you live and I’m not just gonna kill people for money.”
“I’m not going to ask you to move in,” Jason got the feeling Slade wanted to roll his eyes, but instead there was this fond look in his eye, “we’ve hardly spoken. And I know you have code and I would never ask you to break that.”
“What are you asking for then? I’m a mess.” Jason knew what he was. His own fa- Bruce couldn’t even like him, not even before he was actually fucked up.
“A partnership. I know who I am and what I want. I will not make demands of you. We’ll talk. Negotiate. Communicate.”
“And what?” Jason scoffed, “make our own rules? Only normal people say shit like that to comfort the fuck ups.”
“It is not easy, but nothing good is.”
“God you’re cheesy. First courting and now optimism.” Slade chuckled low and soft. Jason looked at him quietly. A certain kind of warm curiosity that felt a lot like hope grew in his chest and Jason was feeling a little reckless. “Oaky, fuck it. Convince me.”