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“You're supposed to help me, not annoy me.”
Dick, upside down with his legs dangling over the back of the kitchen chair, made a wounded noise. “I’m helping! Didn’t I just help you solve that last problem?” He was wearing some college shirt he probably got for free and a shit-eating grin. Freshly arrived from campus for a weekend in Gotham. And apparently unpaid babysitting. God, he must be pissed at Jason for keeping him in. And at Bruce for asking him to help.
“But at what cost?” With a loud groan, Jason slapped his pencil down on the table, leaned back and pressed the heel of his hands on his eyes. “How is algebra more important than protecting Gotham?”
Normally, he didn’t mind. Jason liked school. He was good at school. But this month every teacher decided their class and their finals were the most important. He was slammed with work every day and starting to go stir crazy. The past five days alone were spent frantically writing essays, memorizing a speech, and studying for a chem test, too busy to even think about putting the Robin suit on.
“School is your priority.” Bruce kept repeating as he’d disappear into the cave, bound for something much more thrilling. Maybe it was true but it drove Jason mad all the same.
“Come on, kiddo. You don’t have much left.” Dick tapped the scattered pages. Alfred would have a fit if he saw Dick sitting like this. Manners in the kitchen were one thing he was unwaveringly stern about. “You know this one, we worked on it a few problems ago.”
“Yeah, the quadratic formula.” What was it again? X plus B? Jason reached for his textbook but Dick snatched it away.
“Ah ah ah! You’re supposed to have it memorized!”
“Hell no!”
“You need to for the test, trust me. Here, I’ll teach you a trick.” At last Dick sat up straight, his hair a wild mess. “You know Pop Goes the Weasel? The old nursery rhyme?” A seething glare was the only reply he got. Undaunted, he continued. “Great. Just sing the formula that way. X equals negative B, plus or minus the square root–” Dick started to sing but Jason cut him off with an exasperated moan.
“I’m gonna puncture my eardrums if you keep going!”
“And be stuck inside the whole weekend until you finish this homework.” Dick tapped the paper with more force. “Sing.”
Grumbling, Jason did so under his breath, Dick watching closely and singing along as he worked. When he finished the problem, Jason glanced up, waiting for the inevitable gloating.
But Dick just smiled and said, “Nice job,” before doing a cartwheel across the kitchen to the oven with their dinner. Which smelled amazing. “Keep working.”
Unfortunately, Dick’s stupid song worked. Jason didn’t have to open his textbook again to look at the formula and breezed through the problems. And Dick kept bouncing between him and the food, patiently answering his questions as he cut bread and fresh basil or correcting Jason’s work. When the homework was finally finished, his brother leaned on the counter and looked over Jason’s answers, brow furrowed as he did mental math.
“Perfect!” Dick handed it back with a flourish. “I knew you could do it, Jaybird.”
“Thanks.” Jason stuffed it into his math binder, “But if you sing that stupid song again, I’ll put itching powder in your suit.”
“Nah, you won’t.” The food smelled heavenly and Jason watched eagerly as Dick began scooping it onto their plates. “I’m your favorite brother!” Dick winked over his shoulder at Jason. “You wouldn't hurt me.”
Jason rolled his eyes and muttered, “You’re my only brother.”
“Exactly.” A heaping plate of baked pasta and garlic bread was slid in front of him. Dick was already eating before he sat down, folding his legs underneath himself. “Which means I’m your favorite by default. Boom. Case closed. Court adjourned.”
“Good to know Bruce isn’t sinking all that money into a useless degree.” Jason sniped before stuffing his own face with pasta. Dick snorted into his water.
But his brother was right. It was all empty threats. Half the reason Jason was so annoyed about his homework was because he wanted to go on patrol with Dick tonight. It’d been ages since Dick joined them for longer than one night. Mostly it was short visits as he tracked a criminal to Gotham, acted as emergency backup, or needed to use some specialized equipment in the Batcave. All of which was rare.
Jason might never admit it but watching Nightwing fly over Gotham was amazing. There was a lethal grace to his flips that blended smoothly into fighting, something Jason hoped he could have one day.
Though you wouldn't know it. Not with Dick's messy hair and cheap shirt, still humming that stupid song under his breath and flicking through a case file Jason didn’t recognize which meant it was probably a Blüdhaven case. Beyond all the jokes he made, Dick was a methodical planner and as capable as their mentor. He could switch from disarming quips to being deadly serious in a blink. And it made Jason admire him more.
But now they were both inside and not on the rooftops. Worse, Dick was stuck playing tutor. He was probably annoyed. Did he even want to hang out with Jason? There were other people he could be seeing this weekend and definitely more important things to do.
“Sorry I kept us in.” Jason blurted out. Please don't go home early.
Dick gave him a dismissive shake of his head, still reading. “It’s fine, little wing. I don’t mind helping you out.”
Was he telling the truth? How was any of this fun for him? Jason pushed his food around until Dick lightly knocked their feet together. “Hey.” Dick waited until Jason looked up, sky blue meeting teal, to give him an utterly sincere smile. “You’re my only brother too.”
“Thanks Dickie.” Jason tried to fight back his smile but failed, both of them laughing as Dick nudged his ankle again. His favorite brother. Of course his big brother loved him. Of course. Jason even had an apartment key and open invitation that proved it. But it felt good to be reminded all the same.
“Anytime, Jay. Now hurry up and eat–” Dick stabbed his fork at Jason’s still full plate, “–and we can squeeze in some grapple races before bedtime. Maybe even punch a mugger or two.”
“Seriously?!” Not waiting for a reply, Jason inhaled half of his food and sprinted from the table to the study, not waiting for Dick who was laughing loudly behind him.
“I have to eat too, you know!”
---
Bruce was surprised to see them as they flew past his perch on a gargoyle later that night. And even though he reminded Nightwing of Robin’s curfew, in that dark knight growl of his, Jason spotted a smile on his dad’s face too.
Despite what Jason thought was persuasive pleading and begging, Nightwing and Robin arrived in the Batcave exactly as curfew hit.
“You can change and head up without me.” Dick said, peeling off his mask and heading for the computer. The file from Blüdhaven sat next to the keyboard. “I will be up to check on you in twenty minutes though, so you better be in bed.”
“Or else what?” Jason crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue. A boxing glove came hurtling towards him and he bolted, Dick’s laugh echoing.
Part of Jason doubted Dick would come up. Odds are he would get sucked into whatever case he was investigating and not even notice the hours passing. Which might be disappointing but fine. It happened to all of them. Still, Jason obediently got ready and climbed into bed. Not even two minutes later soft footsteps came down the hallway, right on time. Dick eased the door open slowly as if he didn’t want to wake him.
“I’ve been expecting you, Mr. Grayson.” Jason said, “You’ve walked right into my trap.”
“What makes you think this wasn’t part of my evil plan?” Dick crouched beside the bed with a smirk. “How’re we feeling? Any pains or aches?” Jason shook his head. “Good. You’ve got good form, kiddo. You’ve been working on your flips haven’t you?”
“Yeah,” Jason admitted, embarrassed for a fleeting moment. “I was uh, hoping you could help me this weekend. If you’re not busy that is.”
Something softened in Dick’s face at that. When he spoke his voice was softer, a hint of that serious tone he used when leading a mission. “No, I’m not busy, Jay. And I’d love to help you. That’s why I came home after all. I missed you.”
“Me? What about Bruce?”
Dick waved a hand around, “He had his moment. Out with the old and in the new!” He said, grinning when Jason laughed. “Seriously Jay, I told you I wanted to do better and then…life happened. But I mean it. So I want you to come to Blüdhaven with me for a week after your finals. No pesky homework, just us having fun. I already asked Bruce and he’s okay with it but you know, it’s obviously up to you. What do you say?” Now it was Dick’s turn to look unsure, chewing his lip as he waited for Jason’s reply.
"Yes!" Jason shot up in bed, entirely too excited now. There was nothing he wanted more right now. Hanging out with his big brother for a whole week? Without their dad? It felt like his body was buzzing. "Can we go this week? Please?"
"Finals first." With a laugh, Dick sat back on his heels. "Maybe I should've waited until morning to tell you. Look how wound up you are!"
"It's fine, I promise I'll sleep, Dick, I promise!" To show how serious he was, Jason flopped back down and pulled the quilt up to his chin. Dick arched an eyebrow. "See? All calm."
"Mhmm. Sure you are." But despite his skeptical tone, Dick backed away from the bed.
"Dickie?" Jason said softly. His brother froze in the doorway, looking back at him. "I'm really glad you're here."
Almost as quick as the Flash, Dick darted back to his little brother, smothering him in a hug and obnoxious kisses on his head, then tickling him as Jason laughed and tried to writhe away. Jason was about to pull out Robin moves and teach Dick a lesson when someone cleared their throat purposefully.
"Boys." Alfred said in a stern but amused tone, watching from the hallway. "Might I remind you of the time?"
"Sorry Alfie." Dick called. Jason shoved him out of the bed with a thud and satisfied grin. "I'm being a bad influence."
"Extremely." Alfred chuckled as he walked off and Dick climbed to his feet, straightening his shirt.
"Stay?" Jason asked.
"No, we'll end up talking the whole night! And I need to do some casework. But we’ll spend plenty of time together this weekend." Dick grabbed the bunched up quilt and tucked it back around Jason's shoulders with such care that Jason couldn't believe he once thought this man hated him. Just like he couldn't believe they were truly friends now. "Goodnight, little wing." Dick smoothed Jason's messy hair. "I'm glad I'm here too."