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The empty shot glass sat in front of Dick Grayson, his fourth one of the night. He had come in with the intention of relaxing, just getting away from his problems. It started with a single shot, and then moved to a second, before he found himself having more. He was currently motioning for another.
He just wanted to feel numb.
Everything around him was too much for him to handle at the moment. If Bruce wasn’t calling for help with Damian, then it was someone else. It could be something as simple as going to the park, or meeting up for lunch, all the way to helping Jason with a drug bust, it didn’t matter.
Dick was tired.
He was tired from his day job, and tired from his night job.
He felt too much from his family and his friends.
Dick was being pulled in far too many directions.
It was catching up with him.
It didn’t matter at this point if it was as Dick Gayson or Nightwing, it was just too much all around. He just wanted to stop caring for five minutes of his life. He didn’t want to care about going on back home at Wayne Manor, or on the streets of Gotham. Dick Grayson wanted to feel nothing.
So he drank.
It wasn’t the healthiest of coping mechanisms, but it was something easy. He didn’t have to express his real feelings to anyone. He just had to drink. He just had to make himself numb. The pain lessened with each drink. When he woke up, sure, it would be back, but for a few hours, there was nothing.
Dick felt it slowly move throughout his body. Just numbness taking over. Nobody had to be hurt if he felt nothing. He didn’t have to tell anyone that he was overwhelmed. He just had to take another shot.
Then, he saw someone sit down next to him, and it was a familiar face that he really wished had not appeared, because that face, as much as he wished it didn't, was associated with pain. Jason Todd was not who he needed to see right now. Of course he would show up though. Dick cocked his head to the side as his brother took the seat next to him and a smile appeared on his face. “Hey Jaybird.” he slurred.
“What are you doing?” Jason asked Dick, as he took a sip of his own drink.
“Don’t matter.” he replied, motioning for another drink, oblivious to the fact that his brother had told the bartender to cut him off. Water appeared in front of him instead of whiskey. “Slick Jaybird, real slick.” he commented, but sipped on the drink. “So, who sent you?”
“Tim asked me to check on you, He said you weren’t answering tonight. Surprised you kept your tracker on.”
Dick let out a snort. “Just forgot to turn it off,” he told him. “Because at this point who really fucking cares Jay. B isn’t going to want me on the field right now. I would just free fall off the top up the highest fucking building right now. Tell you what though. It’s good to be useless for once.” He admitted, slapping his hand down on Jason's shoulder.
“Had to leave my job today to go pick up Damian from school because he got into trouble. They pulled me in to have a meeting. Because B couldn't waste his time with it. Couldn’t just be Dami’s father for once. That's all he needs. He just needs his dad.”
Jason sat and listened to his brother prattle on drunkenly. He had only ever had to do this one other time with Dick, because the man held things together well. All Jason could do was be there. “Alright Dickie.” He said standing up. “Why don’t we get outa here? Get some fresh air?” he suggested, then watched his brother stumble from the stool. “You good?”
“Mmhm.” Dick responded as they headed toward the door together.
—--------------------------------
Jason watched as Dick began doing cartwheels through the park, very sloppily. He followed along with a water bottle in his hand, stopping Dick every so often and making him drink some. Jason watched as Dick stumbled through a tumble and just gave up, laying on the ground spread out. “You good?”
“Sometimes she’s beautiful at night.” Dick commented.
“Who?”
“Gotham.”
“That's just because I'm keeping everyone away from you Dickie.”
“It’s quiet though. Right here. Right now.” He said, and a second later laughed as a police siren went off. “Just kidding.”
“We should get you home.”
“Where is home Jaybird?” He asked. “Is it the manor? Or is it my place in Bludhaven? Is it the Penthouse?”
“It’s wherever you want it to be.” Jason told him, as he helped him up. “Tonight I think I’m just gonna let you crash on my couch.”
“Roy isn't there?”
“Roy doesn’t live with me Dick, he just shows up whenever the fuck he wants.” Jason said with amusement in his tone. “Reminds me of someone else I know.”
“That would be me huh JayJay.” Dick said, grinning.
“Yes, I was talking about you.”
“You used to hate it. But you don’t anymore. I’m glad. I’m glad you don’t hate me.”
Jason, with as much patience as he had, was able to get Dick to the apartment. He had chosen the specific park they had been to because of the short distance and he knew it would be easier than trying to get Dick on a motorcycle.
He left Dick in the living room as he went to grab something for him to wear. When Jason came back out he rolled his eyes when he saw that his brother had already stripped down to his boxers. “I brought you clothes.”
Dick didn’t move though, just stared at the ceiling. “I went out, because I didn’t want to feel everything. I just wanted to feel nothing.”
“I figured.” Jason said and sat on the floor next to the couch.
“I did feel that way. But then you showed up, Jay. You didn’t ask for anything, you were just there. I didn’t have to do anything. You were just there.” Dick told him tiredly. “You are a good brother Jason Todd.” He said before he fell asleep.
“I learned from the best of us.” Jason whispered and covered him up.