Chapter Text
“The rooftops of Gotham have been occupied by vigilantes for over a decade now,” thinks Nightwing.
He’s lounging behind a gargoyle on a ledge only slightly wider than he is, looking up into the pervasive smog that covers the city. He has been here for all of it, except for the first two years while Batman built his new throne in the Gotham shadows. He’d been a nine-year-old orphan left to the whim of the behemoth city that lay out in front of him. But wondering over the past had gotten him here to this point, so really sentiment isn’t the best choice right now.
His mind drifts back to the events of a few hours before. God, one of the few times he shows up to the cave recently and Bruce just has to pick a goddamn fight. Hounding him on his whereabouts and activities like he was 16 again was something he could not deal with from the man right now. With the timeline being switched back up and the events of Spyral and Bruce’s memory loss being put into new light, it was like the man just wanted to go back to “how they were”, whatever that meant to him. But Dick had meant it when he said things would change after being sent off to Spyral, no matter what version of Bruce he was talking to now, that kinda shit just doesn’t get shoved back into a box. Especially when the man hadn’t even apologized or talked to him about the decisions that he had made.
So of course Dick got snippy about answering, that was normal. And yeah blowing up on the man after he tried to catch him on his “tone” was a bit overkill, but really who could blame him.
Well…a lot of people actually, no one actually knows why he reacted like that, or why he’s not in Gotham that often. And sure his relationships with his brothers have gotten back on track due to working together over the last 6 months on random cases and what not, but there was still some tension. At least for Jason. Damian was just snidely reminding him to visit, and Tim was just worried for his health or something, but Jason was holding onto at least some of his anger. Which isn’t surprising, but it is exhausting to deal with sometimes, on top of the other anger the younger man carries around too.
Maybe he would talk to him sometime, really look the gift horse in the mouth and goad the guy a bit with an apology. He would mean it of course, but it would look like a feeble attempt compared to the reality that Jason saw. There was no use in trying to explain it too him though, he doesn’t even want to think of that time, much less walk his brother through it.
“hey Dickhead, care to join the normal person not cramming himself into a small ass space?”
welp, looks like that conversation might have to happen sooner than later.
With a sigh Dick gets out of his rather contorted position and crawls over the ledge of the actual roof to simply land beside Jason in a sprawl at his feet.
“why hello hood, how nice to see you here,” was the drawled reply that he came up with.
Jason was in his Red Hood gear still, sans the helmet with a domino covering the top of his face. His eye roll was still very apparent as he sat and leaned against the ledge though.
“Don’t ‘hello hood’ me goldie, we both know why I’m here,” grunted Jason, carefully not looking at Dick.
With another put upon sigh Dick straightened himself up against the ledge as well, “yeah well, remind me, because I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
(the conversation may need to happen, but damn him if it wouldn’t be now of all times)
Jason simply tipped his head to appraise him with a twitch of fabric where his eyebrows should be. However, Dick was feeling stubborn and stayed quiet, allowing the silence to continue on.
It was 5 minutes of bliss before Jason’s patience ran out, “what the fuck is going on with you and Bruce?”
Huh not what I thought he was going to say, was the first thought that passed Dick’s mind, Tim must have told him about it, was an afterthought as Dick mildly considered the question. Dick knew that he was supposed to respond. He didn’t.
“I mean come on, you guys usually are at each other’s throats for something or the other, but B was civil, nice even, and has been for a while, what’d he do to get you all worked up?”, and with a moment of consideration Jason added, “by the way, not blaming you, Bruce obviously fucked something up, just want to see what it is.”
It was all said so casually, so roughly, that it almost made Dick chuckle, he could work with casual.
“It’s just some stuff that Bruce is over but I’m not just yet. Maybe never will be over. Because your right, he fucked up, a lot. I just can’t take his needling right now, no matter how well intended,” was his vague response. Although apparently too vague as Jason piped up again, “well that explains exactly nothing”.
For what felt like the hundredth time tonight, Dick sighed and let his head drop between his knees, he was exhausted, he didn’t need this right now.
“drop it Jason, its not something I’m talking about.”
Jason turned his gaze on him again, expression unreadable as he took in the tiredness that practically leaked out of him. Jason matched his sigh with one of his own before swiftly grabbing Dick’s arm and pulling them both to standing. Dick followed along pliantly, which was apparently concerning if Jason’s pinched expression was being interpreted correctly.
“Jesus, guess RR was right, you don’t just look like shit,” Jason mumbled as he started walking towards the stairs, hand still firmly grasped around Dick’s arm and dragging him along.
Dick didn’t catch the rather backhanded remark, instead looking to the grip and back to Jason several times before amusement overpowered his annoyance at being led away from the cozy rooftop, “where is the big bad red hood dragging me off to?”
All he got was a, “you’ll see now won’t you,” before Jason decided to ignore his chuckles and pleas of mercy.
Turns out Hood decided on a walk as he pulled off his leather jacket and instructed Dick to zip it up as he reached over and snatched his domino mask. Ignoring Dick’s surprised yelp Jason simply took off his own domino and they were suddenly just two guys in really weird clothes.
“we could have just swung off to wherever you want to go ya know,” remarked Dick as they continued to walk.
Jason’s reply was terse, “well if it wasn’t ass o’clock in the morning and I knew I could trust either of us with a grapple, we could have. Considering the circumstances, I made an executive decision. Now shut up we still don’t want to draw attention to ourselves dumbass.”
Dick mimed zipping his mouth shut and shoved his hands deep into the pockets of Jason’s jacket, rather content to be lead off down backstreets, it was a lovely distraction from the intrusive thoughts and pervasive memories that kept flitting up.
20 minutes and a fire escape climb later Jason was opening a window into a fairly furbished apartment. Dick paused on the sill as this distraction just turned a little more intimate than he had previously thought. Sensing Dick’s wariness Jason threw back,” don’t worry Big Bird this isn’t an ambush.” Before continuing his way into the kitchen.
Still wary but less apprehensive, Dick slipped inside and shut the window behind him, hearing a lock engage with a click as the security came back on.
Not exactly knowing what to do with himself, or what was expected of him, Dick simply stood taking in the place. Jason came back shortly with two steaming cups in his hands. He raises his eyebrow at Dick in mild annoyance, this time it was crystal clear without his mask, and just gestured to the couch. Dick sat down, slightly wide-eyed as Jason placed a mug in front of him and sat down with his own.
Sniffing the drink cautiously (Jason once gave him a water bottle full of vodka after a spar, he’s not taking any chances) before realizing it was tea and sipping on it. Neither of the men looked to each other and not a word was spoken between them as they finished their drinks. Upon Dick finishing up and setting the mug on the table, Jason abruptly stood and left the room once more. He announced his return by throwing a set of clothes directly at Dick’s head.
Not even close to catching them, Dick peeled them off and looked at them quizzically before sweeping his eyes up to meet Jason’s.
Jason huffed a breath before gesturing to the bathroom that was now illuminated in light. Taking another hint, Dick shrugged and headed off to apparently shower. He was quick with it, but kept the water scalding hot, anything less was…uncomfortable.
It was like the shower had shut off his ability to function as he practically melted into the wall as he leaned against it after emerging from the steam filled bathroom. Jason had been tidying up the kitchen, along with his mugs, but turned to appraise him for the nth time that night. Nodding to himself, a gesture that was lost to Dick, he made his way over to his older brother and promptly repeated his earlier actions by grabbing Dick’s arm and guiding him into the guest bedroom. Mumbling a quick, “get some rest,” Jason shut the door behind him as he walked out.
Dick took a second to process, but realized he really couldn’t get a grasp on the situation, he was lethargic, it was obvious that sleepless nights and emotional turmoil had caught up to him. So, rather than think, he simply chose to acquis to the pull and slipped under soft covers to allow darkness to overtake him.
Turning back around to the door, Jason stood for a moment just staring before he moved backwards, his back hitting the opposite wall. Sliding down it, Jason tipped his head and unfocused as he looked up at the dark ceiling illuminated by his kitchen lights.
The night flashed before his eyes. The flippant way Dick acted on patrol, and apparently at dinner as well. All around Bruce. But the second the old man put his attention on him Dick lashed out like a wild animal, swift and sharp, cutting without any provocation. The man was known for his temper, but unless antagonized or severely injured (be it physically or emotionally) he never let it show. Especially these days. Dick Grayson doesn’t cause pain for the fun of it, so everyone had known something was going on. And according to the replacement, there were signs for it everywhere else too. Dick’s absence and avoidance of Bruce, the difference in the way he moves and handles himself, the shift in his word choices, and about ten million other things the little hero worshipper noted. He also tiraded on about his “stupid injury” that he was forced to be bedridden for, and about 30 other things, it was a long call. It was probably the longest they had ever spoken to each other outside of shop talk. Their relationship was even more strained than Jason and Dick’s to be honest. But strong pain meds and a butt-load of worry made Tim have loose lips apparently.
But, it was enough for the kid to call him, and he did owe him, so his not-so-subtle push to do a quick check up on Dick after he stormed out of the cave was heeded. His own curiosity also got the better of him after the recount he got, but he was using the kid as an excuse if he got asked.
Of course, he was kind of going above and beyond the whole “simple check up” here, but damn…goldie looks a shade too close to severely not okay for him to be left alone. (seeing your brother shoved into a tiny ledge way to far off the ground looking as listless as the day is long made him do a 180 on his decision to simply send Tim a picture and call it a day).
He’d never seen the man so quiet and unresponsive, the fact that he came with Jason at all was a red flag. They were brothers, yes, but their relationship was hardly to the level that Dick had with the other members of the bats. He was the annoying and infuriating little brother with a chip on his shoulder and a penchant for killing that Dick absolutely could not ignore. Not really the relationship that warranted trust.
But here they were. Dick fucking Grayson, hopefully, sleeping in his guest room as Jason theorized all the different ways his brother could be fucked up.
The chamomile tea from earlier was not helping him stave off the exhaustion, which was the point, so he made his own way to bed. Hopefully with some sleep under their belts, and food in their stomachs (Jason was already planning what he was going to cook the next morning) they would actually be able to get somewhere with Dick’s problems.
At worst, the man just got some rest and a good meal after a shitty day. It’s a win-win either way.