Work Text:
Dick stood in a tie a little too tight, in front of the kid’s door. His tie was almost choking him. His arms barely could move in the vest and his pants - sorry, Alfred , trousers - were squeezing every part of his lower body as if the cursed thing was trying to squeeze the life out of him.
Ugh, how much he hated every inch of these suits.
The new Wayne Gala was held in their biggest ballroom, and the only part missing were the hosts.
Dick feels a little bit weird, being back there. It was supposed to be his first Gala as an adult, the first one he attended since eighteen months - which in Gotham’s high society is an equivalent of like, a decade for normal people. And Dick didn’t regret any second he was missing this… mess.
But Dick wasn’t that important tonight. Jason was. And he was missing . His younger brother was nowhere to be found.
So Dick volunteered to get him from his room, just in case it took a little more time than anticipated. Bruce was a host, he had to get to the guests, even if Jason needed a little bit more time to convince.
(And Dick may or may not enjoy an occasion to spend as little time in the ballroom as possible.)
He delicately knocked on the wood, remembering how important personal space was for Jay. And a closed door usually meant he needed it a lot and didn’t want anyone to get into his personal space.
“Hey, Little Wing?” he asked, after not getting any reaction for a couple minutes. “Jason, are you in there? Little Wing, we’re waiting for you.”
But there was no reaction.
Worry twisted in Dick’s guts. He expected at least “fuck off, Dickhead” and yet…
But there was no way anything actually happened, right? They were in Wayne Manor, it was one of the safest places in Gotham, maybe even on the planet. Nothing could happen.
Jason was safe. Jason was safe in his room and maybe… just being a brat. Or fallen asleep.
Yeah. That was just it.
Nothing to worry about.
(Dick didn’t know who he tried to trick, since even he didn’t believe his lie.)
“Little Wing, we… We are getting a little worried.”
There was a loud thump , as something hit the door.
Dick didn’t notice he was holding his breath, until he managed to let it out.
This one move meant Jason was okay , he was safe . He was just being a brat. That was… good. Fine.
But then, it left the question as to why .
However much Dick sometimes complained, he loved his little brother. And Jason wasn’t really a brat. He just tends to mask his insecurities and fears with aggression. It’s cute, in its own way. Like a puppy that barks a lot but never really bits.
And Dick has only one idea as to why Jason may be scared right now.
“Jay… You know it’s okay if you want to skip this one, right?” he started, as he sat, leaning on the door. There was no reply. But that was fine. Dick could speak to himself, he grew up with Bruce, he was used to it. “No one will think less about you, you know?” another hit at the door. Dick huffed. “I remember the first time Bruce dragged me to one of those things. A real nightmare. I started crying after half an hour. Real tantrum. I didn’t even hear what they were calling me and I was too young to really understand how they looked at me. I just hated to be around so many strange people, in such a closed space” he chucked at the memories. “You know what Bruce did after that? He hugged me. And apologized for putting me through it. So, don’t worry. Just… Tell us okay? Either of us wouldn’t mind staying with you” he finished.
There was no response.
For a long time, they were sitting in silence. Nothing hit the door, there was no sassy response.
And then he heard a click in the door, which slowly started to disappear from behind Dick’s back. He barely managed to hold himself up as Jason opened the doors.
Dick turned his head to look at his little brother.
Jason’s hair was a little messy, and his eyes - red. He was visibly crying, though enough time passed so there was no sigh of tears. His suit looked good, but his vest was a little wrinkly and the tie was missing.
Jason didn’t look good , exactly, but he didn’t look as bad as Dick imagined he could.
It was a little bit of relief. Just a little bit.
“Hi there Little Wing” he tried to go with a friendly smile. But Jason refused to look him in the eyes. “Okay. Do you want to go? Or do you want me to call Bruce? He will be more than happy to sit there with you-” but Jason held his sleeve, as Dick reached to take the phone out of his pocket. “Jay… Do you want me to stay?” he almost whispered. Jason only hid his head, looking as far away from Dick as he could. Adorable . Dick almost coo-ed.
But it was also the clear answer Dick probably is going to get. Which was not clear at all .
Damn it, little brothers. Why kids have to be so confused?
“Okay. Can I come in? Or do you want to go to the library?” Jason loved the library, if he didn’t feel well, it was the best place for him. But instead, Jason opened his door a little wider, this time in clear invitation. “Oh. Okay.”
Dick was more and more worried, as the conversation moved forward.
He tried not to show it, but his worry over Jason only came back, as his younger brother closed the door behind them.
“I’m not going to force you to talk to me” he started, and noticed a small flinch. Great start. “You don’t have to. Not ever. We can do whatever you want. I can tell you embarrassing stories about B, some of Titans shenangings, we can read or just joke around… I want you to relax and have fun Little Wing. Okay?”
But Jason didn’t look any better. He keeps avoiding Dick’s eyes, and Dick worry grows with each second.
Maybe Jason was just trying to be nice , keeping Dick satisfied? Maybe he didn’t want Dick here? Oh, fuck, was Dick pushing himself into Jason’s private space? Fuck. That is the opposite of what he wanted.
“Not okay then. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to intrude. I can go, leave you alone if you want” he started, but Jason was nervously shaking his head. Dick took a deep breath, trying to remind himself to calm down. Because getting frustrated will get him nowhere. It never does, it never helps , and this was his little brother .
But Dick had no idea how to do, because Jason refuse to fucking talk to him-
Oh. Oh.
Fuck.
“Jason. Can you speak to me?” he made sure to keep his voice level, calm. To not give any indication of nervousness or his anger that Jason might read wrong.
Because how the hell could Dick miss it? It seemed so obvious now. The atypical quietess, only communicating in the motions, actions. The way Jason keeps avoiding answers.
(The anger, how he keeps essentially running from Dick’s attention, keeps hiding . How he didn’t want people involved. How could Dick missed-)
Jason didn’t make a noise, but he flushed, as he reached for something to throw at Dick.
Dick… Well, Dick needed to fix that.
“It’s okay. It’s… Jason, it’s fine” Dick kneeled, to be on eye-level with his brother, to be able to hold him . Because Jason didn’t believe him in the slightest. “Little Wing, it’s fine . It’s just how you’re reacting to a new, stressful situation. There is nothing shameful about it. And I’m so sorry I was pushing. I should have realised…”
Deep breath. He could do it. He could .
“It happened to me, too, you know?” this got a reaction out of Jason, who suddenly recoiled. “It just happens, when I’m very stressed. Sometimes it’s only for a moment, but sometimes it sticks for weeks. It could have happened for what felt like the stupidest reason, like having a crush on a nice guy in 10th grade. Or being afraid to turn in my homework. What I’m trying to say is… What’s happening is not your fault. And we can get through it, okay?” he smiled reassuringly, trying his best to make Jason feel a little better, a little safer.
Jason looked as if he wanted to huff at Dick. Brat.
“I’m not lying. Okay. We’re sticking to yes-no questions. Will that be fine?” nod. Good, they were moving forward. “Okay. Cool. Current plan was for the two of us to stay here and let Bruce deal with rich assholes. Is it okay?” a nod. “Do you want to just sit there? If you do, it’s fine” Jason hesitated, before shaking his head, in very clear ‘no’.
“Sure. Then maybe… Do you want me to talk? Watch something? Listening to music?...” and then his eyes landed on the gigantic bookshelf. “Or do you want me to read to you? Show on fingers which option you like the best” Dick grinned, trying to be reassuring.
Jason looks a little more shepshish, a little more nervous.
And then four fingers almost ended up pushed into Dick’s face.
Okay.
That’s good.
At least he knows what to do, now.
“You want to choose? Or do you want me to…” he didn’t finish the question, because Jason pointed his fingers on Dick.
“Well, if that’s what you want…”
Dick was just glad to remember Jason’s favorite books.
He sent a quick text to Bruce, as the two of them sat at the foot of the bed and Dick started to read.