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“You’re way to reckless. One of these days it’s going to get you killed.”
The words stung, making him feel less than adequate, not worthy of the uniform he wore.
“Don’t think that way. Though...”
“Though what?”
“I don’t want you to get killed. Just, don’t try so hard in replacing me.”
“You don’t get it, as you’re absolutely perfect. Always have been.”
Yet, in a flash of blinding light, Jason realized he’d been just that—too reckless, and him diving into the fray the way he did would in fact get him killed, for now he couldn’t see because of that blinding light. Unlike Grayson, he couldn’t fight his opponent as he’d never mastered fighting blind.
In that moment, he froze.
Instead of the finishing blow he expected, he instead heard a thud coming from nearby followed by Ladybug’s soft voice as she asked, “Robin, are you okay?”
Jason swallowed, recognizing her voice let alone the fact she’d called him Robin, rather than referring to him as Nightwing’s little brother or even Little Rob, both of which made him feel like a mere replacement—a poor facimile—of the origila.
A soft hand reached out for a gloved hand and fingers wrapped around hers.
“No. I’m not okay.” Jason swallowed, surprised he willingly admitted as much. “I can’t see.” His head also hurt, yet he held that information back, having already stepped outside of his comfort zone.
“Okay. Then rely on me to be your eyes right now. The team is almost done.”
“And I was useless,” Jason thought to himself. She kept holding his hand while his vision continued to swim, not returning like he wanted even as the mission ended and the team found themselves returning to the mountain. She let go of his hand when he sat down on the ship and he closed his eyes, but once they landed at the mountain, she guided him off once to the den area where he sat down again.
He didn’t like how she let go of his hand as she left him with his head leaning back while he took in the fact he still couldn’t see, but he thought himself abandoned by her.
But then... “Close your eyes and remove your mask.”
“What?” Jason swallowed, knowing they weren’t allowed to give away their secret identities unless they were given permission by their legal guardian.
“So, I can put this over your eyes. I also called your older brother to come and get you.”
“Great.”
“I figure that would be better than Batman.”
“What? You’re not going to call him my dad?” Jason muttered.
“I know you and Nightwing aren’t related, but that doesn’t change the fact he’s your older brother.”
Her words—Jason mused over the fact she referred to Grasyon as his older brother than the other way around. It was—different. “Okay.”
He removed the mask and let her place the wet cloth over his eyes, but he let out a sigh of relief as the cloth soothed his eyes and his headache started to ebb. He felt the cushions of the couch shift as Ladybug sat down to keep him company, until...
“Hey. Thanks for taking care of my little brother, Ladybug.”
“You’re welcome, though...”
“He takes time to open up to others is all, but this is a start.”
“What the hell?”
Jason suddenly felt himself pulled into a hug from behind, the cloth falling away from his eyes. He quickly closed his eyes knowing he’d otherwise get into trouble with Batman for letting her see his eyes, though sometimes he wondered if that was more in regard to Dick Grayson given his eyes were very distinct in color. His foster brother buried his face into his neck. For some reason he decided to reach up and pat Nightwing on the back, or as close as he could given where the older vigilante decided to get into his personal space from.
“Sorry for making you worry.”
Nightwing pulled back, yet as he spoke Jason knew the older teen was trying not to cry even though he hid it well in front of others. “Thank you for not making a bigger deal out of me hugging you. I mean, what with how you hate people getting into your personal space.”
Jason wondered if Ladybug was still there, realizing suddenly that he’d not felt her move from the couch. He swallowed, not knowing why he said what he did next. “Well, as you said. It takes time for me to open up to others, but I now know—well, you’re you and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Nobody could be a light like Grayson was—well—Jason’s thought drifted to Ladybug who was still nearby, watching the exchange, but just maybe...
Brushing it aside, Jason sighed. “Anyways. Sorry again for making you worry.”