Archive of Our Own

Dick believed in many things that ordinary people didn't. Aliens and magic were among them, but one of them had a special place in his heart: Love at first sight. His parents fell in love as soon as they laid eyes on each other. It was their favorite bedtime story, and they told him the smallest details, like how father made an idiot of himself and his mother still decided to give him a chance. Oh boy, the story never ended there, though. Dick's parents always ended the bedtime story with a warning. 

It takes effort to achieve a good relationship.

Bruce didn't believe in love at first sight. He couldn't care less, Dick suspected. In his chest was a rock. A cold and ugly rock. A cold, ugly and lonely rock. And, of course, he was an emotionally constipated idiot.

"I still think he was replaced," Dick heard Bruce grumble to Alfred.

"Master Bruce always said that Master Dick needed to read more."

"Yes, but I always imagined something like a comic book, not a-"

"A book acclaimed in the English literature world? Written by an author who challenged the mentality of the time simply by writing? A very talented author? Is that what you mean, Master Bruce?" And if Dick had been paying attention to the conversation, which he wasn't, he would have been able to hear Alfred's eyebrow arch.

A sigh echoed through the mansion's library. "It’s classic literature. Something he never showed interest in before."

"Certainly," Alfred hummed, making a certain pride overflow Dick. "Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is always a great reading choice. Or is Master Bruce saying that only you can appreciate the classics?"

"He's only reading that book because he's smitten." 

Dick's heart jumped in his chest, feeling his face burning and a smile wanting to spread across his lips. He grabbed the book between his hands as if his life depended on it and stuck his nose between the yellowed pages. 

But then, Bruce grumbled between his teeth. "By a criminal."

Dick glared furiously at the hypocritical adult man, ignoring the fact that he should be reading and not listening to other people's conversations, which he obviously wasn't. "IT'S LOVE!" 

 Pride and Prejudice, this book was the only information he had about Gotham's new Rogue.

It was an accident. After fleeing to the streets of Gotham, because Bruce was proving to be difficult to deal with again, Robin accidentally appeared on the rooftops during opening night of Catwoman's new sidekick, Catlad. Dick swore he heard the angels sing, just for a second. In that moment, he captured the image of the most beautiful boy with cat ears and the cutest red curls in his memory. He was all curled up in the corner of a building while reading the said novel, while Catwoman was nowhere to be seen. 

Robin vanished into the night, afraid his heart would leap out of his throat.

Alfred laughed, trying to hide it as a cough. "You heard him, Master Bruce. It's love."

"He's a teenager. He's smitten."

Dick rolled his eyes.

He had an investigation to do if he wanted any chance of winning the mind and heart of the love of his life. For that, he had to finish that book and maybe read the rest of the author's books. Just to be sure.

OH!

Eureka!

…

Perhaps.

He's confident, though!

Catlad wants to be treated like a lady!

…

…

…

He's 85% sure.

Jason Todd was an angel walking among mortals.

Dick meant every word and would be very offended if anyone contradicted that statement.

When Jason was admitted to Gotham Academy as Selina Kyle's adopted son, Dick couldn't help but take a closer look. He was a year younger than him but took countless advanced classes. Of course, a mere look was enough for him to choke with his own tongue. 

The fluffy red hair? They were bright, a warm shade of red that couldn't seem to decide between the orange or red tones, but they sparkled in the sunlight and Dick couldn't stop looking at them. His eyes were adorable, such a pretty shade of blue that reminded him of the ocean. He was shorter than Dick originally expected, which was so cute because he would probably fit perfectly under his chin and- and- he has a permanent upset glare on his face, which reminds him of a very angry cat. 

Dick wanted to pet him until he purred.

So, Yes. Jason Todd was an angel parading among humans. Dick would eat his own arm before saying otherwise.

That statement only became stronger when he heard sounds of fighting from the back of the school. Obviously he had to investigate, the work of a vigilante never stops. His hard work paid off when he was graced by his angel punching a bully twice his size on the nose. 

Angels were warriors and Jason was righteous fury.

His right hook was a blessing, if the blood coming out of Bully#1's nose was any indication.

Three against one didn't seem fair, but this was Gotham Academy, a school for rich kids who never had to fight for their lives. They ran in packs, because numbers make up for muscle. The three in particular were known for bothering the younger kids and Dick reported them a few times, but Bullie#3 was the son of a big investor for the school.

"Gosh, I wish it were me." Dick thought, seeing Jason sit on Bully#2 to leave him stunned by hitting his head on the ground. Maybe it was unnecessary force, Dick thought, mentally shrugged his shoulders.

If Bruce puts the fear of Batman on the streets, Jason can put the fear of God in the school.

"Damn Street Rat! " Bully#3 shouted, he looked pale and about to  shit himself. Honestly, Dick couldn't relate. "Wait until my father hears about this! You're going back to the hole you came from! Selling yourself on the corner like a cheap whore!”

Oh-.

That was-.

That was disgusting and Dick was going to knock out his teeth.

Jason looked ready to do that too, maybe worse, because he had a look on his face that belonged more on rooftops and free-fall situations than the school grounds. 

And Dick liked Jason. He really liked him. Kind of a lot. 

"I think the fun is over, don't you think? " Dick asked, inserting himself. Hopefully stopping Jason from being expelled in his first week. "How about we move on with our lives and forget what happened here?" With that, the blue eyes with a wonderful green undertone focused on him.

He had never thought that he could die just from having Jason's attention on him.

He now thinks he might actually die if Jason stops looking at him.

"Are you fucking kidding me, circus boy?!" And the name circus boy was out, how boring. "He's a savage! He tried to kill us!".

"Those are very strong words. All I saw was a new student defending himself from three bullies." He shrugged as he put his hands in his pockets. "Those are my words against yours. Furthermore, the name of the ‘Street Rat’ is Jason Todd. He has a scholarship from Marta Wayne Foundation, which leads me to question whether you are doubting WE's ability to find the best candidates for the scholarship or not." That shuts the bully up, because at least all the students there talk business. Dick hates the whole Richard Wayne persona, but it serves him well on some occasions.

Bully#3 walked away, dragging #1 and #2 with him, looking worn out, Dick couldn't imagine what a lie they were going to invent to justify their appearance.

"I didn't need help."

The figure got up from the ground, while wiping his bloody nose with the back of his hand.

 Too much, it was too much for Dick. 

"Ah-" He cleared his throat, trying to make his brain process. "Well, I know that-".

"So you knew I didn't need help and you still got involved." He crossed his arms, frowning. It was adorable, Dick also felt bad for making Jason upset, but mostly he thinks he's adorable. "I’m not your property. I earned that scholarship. So shut up and go fuck yourself with your public image or whatever.”

Ouch. "I think that we started with the wrong foot. It just didn't seem fair-.”

"You didn't seem very interested in intervening when crushed Idiot#3's skull." So Jason knew he was spying. Shouldn't be so charming having spatial awareness.

He was so doomed.

"I have named him Bully#2 in my head." Jason arched an eyebrow and he knew right there that Alfred would love him. "Okay, let me recap. You seemed to be handling the situation well, right? Right. They're idiots and I have already warned the teachers about them and all they received was a slap on the wrist. A little consequence for their actions seemed like the next fair thing to happen. But they started talking shit-" Dick bit his tongue. "They started talking about things they don't know about and that's not good. You don't disrespect someone like that. Gentlemen can talk with their fists without swearing at each other's mothers. " That sounded like a phrase Alfred would say.

Jason rolled his eyes, looking at the distance. "They didn't curse my mother. They cursed me. And well, it's still true." He mumbled between his teeth, but it seemed like he didn't want Dick to hear that.

 The face he made when he realized the words had come out of his mouth. It was hurtful, mourning even. However, in a second, his entire attitude changed in the form of a well-practiced mask. 

"Don't tell me you're here for a taste."

His brain could easily be compared to the blue screen of a computer at that moment. Oh, it was a good mask. However, Dick was Robin. Jason’s body tells him everything he needs to know. He was uneasy, awkward, and by the way he stopped himself from cleaning his bloody hand on his uniform more than one time, probably disgusted too. 

Furthermore, the blood in his nose didn't stop flowing either.

Suddenly, Dick's blue screen became the basic landscape of green mountains and blue sky as he realized that he was prepared.

Hastily, Dick took from the pocket of his uniform blazer a handkerchief. "Still, there' s no reason to rub a person's past in their face. " The blue-green eyes adored by the long red eyelashes looked full of suspicion between the handkerchief and Dick. He had specially asked Alfred to embroider in case such an occasion arose. A simple blue embroidery around the scarf with his initials on it. Soft and expensive, horrible to remove blood stains and he handed it to Jason without hesitation.

A minute passes without Jason picking up the offer and Dick feels a bead of cold sweat run from the top of his neck. "You have a little blood on your nose. And on your hands. And maybe a little on the collar of your shirt? But I think it was from Bully#2's nose. Should I call him Idiot#3? Ah- You have a really good hook-" He was babbling, damn it, he was totally babbling.

However, he stopped, more as if the universe had stopped, because a frowning Jason took the handkerchief carefully between his bloody hands. "Thanks."

His face was burning. Maybe he was as flushed as Jason was at the tip of his ears.

So. Freaking. Adorable.

Gotham wasn't a beautiful city, but it was Batman's city and consequently Robin's city. 

In Robin's opinion, maybe it wasn't a beauty seen from below. The alleys are darker and the bandits hide, the smell of trash and whispers are loud. But from above? Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, burning in the city lights and feeling the icy wind while hidden between buildings? Gotham became a refined lady. Where to find beauty underneath the cold and brutal facade became part of the charm. 

Robin believed that Gotham, if it were anyone, would look like a widowed Victorian lady, who doesn't seem to suffer much despite mourning. She was probably the one who killed her husband.

Batman wouldn't like his analogy, but he's sure Catlad would appreciate it. 

Catlad who seemed to be a seconds from letting the wind carry him away. Gotham was a mistress of bad weather. Wind, rain and storms were common things. Robin could count on his fingers the days he managed to see the sun during that month.

"… You sneeze like a kitten!" Robin didn't want to seem so admired or even delighted, but it was Catlad who was sneezing like a little cat. He didn't know he could physically feel so much.

"Shut up, Boy Wonder." He mumbled before letting out another adorable sneeze. "They can't just put an end to whatever they are doing?"

Robin looked in the direction Batman and Catwoman eloped. "I think we don't want to know what they're doing."

"That's not what I asked. We know they went for a quickie, but there's nothing quick about it!".

Oh, Robin was feeling sick. "Please, let's not think about Batman having sex." 

Catlad made a sneer. "Do you think I want to think about Catwoman fucking Batman? For God's sake, she could do so much better."

Shrugging, Robin nodded. "Fair." Batman had the emotional capacity of a rock, but it was Robin and Agent A's rock. "She still has to return what she stole from the museum."

And Robin will have to warn Catlad later, that the glasses really do little to disguise the fact that he's rolling his eyes. It was cute, like, ‘This wild animal might eat my hand, but I really want to pet it’, kind of cute.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say."

"No, seriously, she has to give it back."

"Of course."

"Catlad."

"Robin."

He was giving him a wry smile, making himself look as tough as Robin knows he is, but… Robin also knows that Catlad is a housecat in his heart. Catlad appreciates good things in a way that Robin can understand, however not to the same magnitude. 

The kitten likes good food, a good book, and comfortable clothes. So yes, Catlad may be a stray cat in his heart, but in his soul he wants to be a housecat. That much was obvious from the way he despised the cold, even though he handled it like a champ.

Or until he decides he's had enough of it.

"I'm leaving."

Robin quickly grabbed the young Rogue's wrist and Catlad immediately ripped it away from him. "Sorry." Robin spit it, ashamed of himself. "I don't think it's a good idea for us to separate."

Snorting, with his arms crossed, Catlad couldn't echo more indifference. "We aren't a team for the concept of ‘separation’ to fit."

"We aren't enemies, right?" Catlad didn't respond and Robin wanted to hide and cry a little. "We aren't. The robbery is over. Catwoman and Batman are… doing their thing. They left us together because not only are we aren' t going to rip each other's throats, we can also protect each other's backs." And Catlad seemed unconvinced, suspicious above all. It made his throat dry, so he licked his lips and tried to swallow. "You know that Catwoman and Batman don't hunt each other outside of robberies."

"We aren't them."

"But I won't chase you unless you want me to."

The words hung between them. Robin couldn’t even look at Catlad, mortified that his body had completely ignored the brain–mouth filter. But when Catlad approached, he was forced to meet Rogue’s gaze.

Catlad grabbed his biceps, wrapping his arms around Robin’s own and this made him unbalanced. This left him so uncentered that when Catlad adjusted his body to fit comfortably on his side, Robin's consciousness was on its way to outer space. 

The sound of the zipper opening, the zipper of the leather jacket that Catlad wore with pride, made his instincts kick. His eyes search for the location of the sound, only to stare at Catlad's very bare, pale and freckled skin.

"What if I want you to chase me?" He asked in a whisper.

That tone made everything in Robin scream ‘Code Red’ with big sirens and lights spinning inside his skull.

Don't get him wrong, Robin would literally throw himself off a bridge if Catlad asked him to. However, Robin can say it was pure instinct when he pulled away like he was on fire.  His hands pushed the zipper up further than Catlad had originally, at a speed that would make Kid Flash jealous. He finished by grabbing Catlad's shoulders, putting a respectable distance between them in the process.

And he trembled.

Catlad trembled. 

Robin wished Catlad would just punch him while he was doing a backflip, but this. Right now? He wanted to take the boy home, wrap him in a blanket, and hand over a cup of tea.

They stare. Catlad has a deadly poker face, so Robin wondered: Was Catlad letting him read like an open book or did Robin finally start understanding him?

"Are you cold?" He asked, observing a purple-lipped kitten who looked confused. Watching himself as if wondering to why he couldn't stop shaking.

So, the Rogue, even as he hesitated, nodded.

Robin took off his cloak and wrapped Catlad. He appeared warmer this way, even if it wasn’t the warm and fuzzy blanket that Robin wanted for him. They sat side by side, dangling their legs over the cliff in silence, waiting. Eventually, the tremor disappeared.

Beside him, Catlad approached his shoulder. "Aren't you cold?"

"No."

Catlad snorted, elbowing him with his bony arm. "Liar.”

His gaze was firmly on the horizon, absorbing the warmth that his kitten was transmitting in the proximity. Still, he had to look at Catlad. He had to know what kind of expression he was making. 

And- 

Well-

He fell from the building.

It wasn't his fault, okay?!

How should he react to seeing the love of his life blushing like that?! With that kind of adorable smile?!

"Oh, I won't hear the end of this from B." He lamented in his mind before saving himself from certain death, at least Catlad was laughing unpleasantly at the embarrassing situation.

It was a beautiful sound, so he'll count that night as a victory.

Robin was getting slightly irritated.

Just a little.

B-villains had escaped after defeating the A list villain of the week and that was ok. Totally ok. He wasn't going to get mad. He wasn't an angry Robin, no anger issues, of course not. 

Any excessive force used was just paranoia from his friends. They cared about him a lot. They loved him. Yes, that was exactly it.

He was just disappointed. 

He didn't want to break the B-villains' jaws for daring to run away from him and not accept their fate of future broken bones.

"Oh, he's so upset." Kid Flash said. 

Kid Flash clearly had a mouse for a brain, frantically generating electricity on its little wheel. That's how he got his powers. He had a fucking rat on his head.

What does Kid Flash know anyway?!

"Hello, Boy Wonder."

Everyone stopped dead in their tracks. Stopping from punching first and asking questions later only by Robin raising his hand fast enough.

But here was his kitten. Sitting comfortably cross-legged on a small pile made by the men he was looking for. Very comfortable, apparently, with a cigarette in one hand and in the other the end of the rope that kept the bandits tied up. 

Catlad looked like nothing more than the cat that had caught the canary, or the Robin.

He shouldn't look so cute while being annoying.

"Catlad."

"I haven't seen those scaly panties in a while." He purr.

 Robin could already see Speedy raising his eyebrows.

"And I the cat ears. " Robin had to smile as he pointed to the leather belt that fell comfortably on Catlad's lap. "I see some changes in the suit."

The kitten's smile only grew and Robin got goosebumps. "Oh, isn't it lovely of you to notice that?" He swallowed hard, feeling the stickiness of the sweet speech clogged his throat. "You know, before adhering to the new changes, I sought a second opinion." He hummed, flicking the ash from his cigarette onto the bald head of one of the unconscious B-villains. "But, well, you weren't in Gotham."

Oh, he's fucked up. This night was doomed from the start. "Catlad-".

"Not even a little note before leaving town."

"Kitten-"

"Everything to play with second-rate villains." He kicked a random foot beneath him. "I could have done better than them."

Robin nodded quickly . "Of course!"

Behind him, he heard Wonder Girl whispering to Aqualad "What's going on?" and he could only suspect that Aqualad was just as confused as everyone else. 

He may or may not have hidden Catlad from them.

It was complicated and simple to explain for outsiders of Gotham. Catlad was his, just as Robin was Catlad's. He was for a long time the only person in his age group to keep him company on the rooftops and there was a special place in his heart for the kitten because of that.

Now, he also hid Catlad because he can make anyone fall in love with him. He also has the bad habit of flirting with everyone. Not that he wasn’t accused of the same… 

What he means is that he knows that it’s part of the Cat persona, but that didn't mean he wanted to see his kitten flirting with his squad.

"So, what are you doing here?" Catlad could very well have crossed his arms, but his hands were full.

He cleared his throat. Using all of his strength not gaze at the hand with the rope, as it made him sinful. "I don't have a good excuse." Well, Kid Flash's choking on his own saliva was unprofessional. "I have a team here and I'm their leader, from time to time I have to show up and act like it." He replied in a playful tone.

Obviously , Catlad didn't think it was fun.

Looking indifferent as he lifted the cigarette to his mouth and took his time to think about what he wanted to say, Catlad bit his lip and played with the string with his fingertips. Restless in his own skin was how Robin would describe him at this moment. "Catwoman let me plan my first heist two days ago."

…

The natural response to receiving such news would be to cry .

In what followed by sounds of exasperation and shock, Robin approached Catlad. He kneels on one knee, letting his head fall onto the kitten's crossed legs. It was a victory when his kitty didn't flinch and left Robin to lament his misfortune. He even whined and Catlad didn't make fun of him. 

It was a victory on too many levels to be evaluated later. At this moment Robin was too busy drowning in his misery .

"Sorry."

The kitten shrugged. "What's done is done."

Didn't that seem to be the theme of their lives? 

Catlad first heist would have been a masterpiece, he was sure. Catlad was a control freak. He would have investigated the place obsessively, he would have made plans after plans and counterplans because that was how Catlad's brain works.

Robin would have had his own role, for sure. Yet, he didn't appear. Probably turned out to be a clean in-and-out kind of situation. Boring. That's why Catlad was there.

He raised his head, watching the face freckled gaze him through pink glasses with his head tilted to the side.

"Sorry." This time he was sure that he looked extra pathetic.

But it seemed to make the effect, as Catlad snorted, turning his face away. "Whatever.”

"I will review the footage."

"Don' t exist."

"I'll find some." He clasped his hands on his leather covered knees. "And I'm going to write a report on what I would have done to catch you."

Catlad liked reports.

He was kind of great at them too. As was Catlad, because he was smart like that. 

After seconds of contemplation, the rogue agreed. "I expect 10 sheets. Justified text, Times New Roman font, size 12 and 1.5 spacing." He brought their faces closer and he was raising an eyebrow. "And woe betide you if you mess with the margins."

"Yes, captain. My captain." Robin quickly nodded.

"Good. Now" Catlad lifted his head to look at the rest of the group and purred- 

Oh, Gods- 

He can't believe he's going to have to beat his friends over the head until they forget that sound.

"Hello, nice to meet you."

Robin's head didn't fly off his shoulders because it was stuck in his neck, because of how quickly he moved it to see his companions' reaction. Which was mortifying, especially since he would now have to brainwash them all.

Wonder Girl stepped forward. "Pleasure, we haven't met yet, but we are the Titans. I'm Wonder Girl." She pointed at herself. "And those open-mouthed idiots are Speedy, Kid Flash and Aqualad."

"Why does Robin always have a thing for redheads?" It was the first thing Speedy said, which was soon retaliated by a slap to the back of the head by Wonder Girl while Kid Flash laughed shamelessly and Aqualad tried to keep himself presentable.

Catlad frowned at Robin, but ultimately decided to ignore his pathetic figure. "Well, it's certainly the first time I've met so many meta heroes at the same time." He commented purring and Robin could already see that Catlad was working that Cat charm without letting the others know. "Who is the hero that wants what I have here?" He asked, smothely dropping the cigarette on the floor and pressing it with his heel while taking a hard drive from his coat pocket. 

Everyone seemed hypnotized and it had to stop.

Robin went into damage control mode when Aqualad opened his mouth. In an instant he's on his feet, grabbing the hand in which Catlad had a hard drive. Of course, his kitty didn't let go, pushing his arm to his bodie, simply making Robin follow him.

"I can take care of this."

"I think you're going to be very busy writing 10 pages for me, Boy Wonder.”

Robin frowned, straightening his spine. "I can multitask quite well." He took a deep breath, taking a step forward, leaving their faces an inch apart. "Believe in me."

It wasn't really a fight with how easily Catlad dropped the hard drive into his hand, but Robin didn't let him go, before he could chicken he lift Catlad hand to his lips and kiss it. There's a brief wish that he could kiss the freckled skin free of leather and sharp claws, but it's still a kiss and he does it with devotion.

And Catlad's red face makes it all worth it.

"Thank you."

If this were a musical, Robin is sure they would now start singing about how much he was in love.

"What the fuck did I just watch?" Speedy asked.

Another slapping sound echoed.

Must have been Wonder Girl, again.

There was something about the way he walked. The way he presented himself to the world. The way he let the world see him. Dick didn't know if what he saw was the same as others. Whatever. Who cares. It was breathtaking. 

Dick had never reflected on how he could only fall more in love with Jason with each little fact that he collected about him. Kinda stalkery. That didn't prevent him from stopping in the corridors of Gotham Academy so he could follow Jason with his gaze.

There may or may not currently be a rumor that the Street Rat tricked Richard Wayne. Which isn’t very nice, he was as in love as he looked. Jason didn't need to deceive him. Jason needed to do nothing. Dick was doing all the work, actually.

Dick just wanted Jason to like him. Is he committing sacrilege? Like, trying to peek into Pandora's box? Like, trying to do a somersault and someone mid-jump yells ‘NO!’ which is rude and Jason doesn' t like when people are rude.

So, he sighs.

Until he' s pushed forward, his feet decide to commit treason and make him do a makeout session with the floor of the well-used corridor. 

Disgusting, to say the least.

"Shit. Are you okay, Sparky?" Looking to the side, allowing his cheek to become one with the cold tile, Dick's eyes widened as they found the face of the the center of his universe, inches away. "You're going to have a bump the size of a fist."

"I heal quickly." It was a well-practiced instant lie.

Jason arched his eyebrow at him and Dick cringed. Jason was so out of his league it made him want to cry. Right there. In the middle of the hallway.

Ah, they were still in the middle of the hall.

"Sorry." He said, sitting down. The other students walked around them, ignoring the mess of books scattered on the floor . "Did I make you drop all those books?" 

Jason snorted, rolling his eyes. It was always so good to admire those eyes. "No, I went against you." With a grin, he began to pick them up. “Not that you standing in the middle acting like a roundabout helped."

"Sorry, Jason." Without thinking much, Dick took the books out of Jason's hands, starting to pile up all the others in his arms. "I didn't mean to, I swear."

Jason shrugged, looking at his empty hands "Everything is fine. " He said, trying to get the stack back after Dick had completed the incredible tower of books requested from the school library. "That's not funny, Richard."

"Call me Dick."

"God, you are such an old man sometimes." The boy grumbled, trying once again to retrieve his books.

Dick laughed and Jason stopped moving with his eyes so wide that he forced Dick to shut up. "All my friends call me Dick. And I've heard every dick joke in the book, so don't even try." 

"I can imagine some things you haven't heard yet. ".

He got goosebumps. Swallowed dryly. Bit his lip.

And he placed the tower right in the middle of them.

His brain screamed: "What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? ".

"… Dick?"

Peeking from behind the tower, Dick wanted to break all the rules of existence so he could take that insecure expression off Jason's face. He just wants to treat him well. Not because of Jason’s book, but because Jason deserves it. So much. He never wants to make Jason feel unsure of himself.

"I'll accompany you to your next class." He shouted.

"What?"

Jason blinked rapidly, but that face of barely hidden hope only gave Dick more conviction. "And I will open all the doors."

The red-haired boy frowned. "… My next class is on the other side of the school."

"Of course it is."

He looked at the stack of books. "Your hands are full to open any door for me."

Dick shrugged. "I'm great at improvising."

Now he raised an eyebrow. He understands the skepticism, the improv in hiding from Bruce and Selina that they knew their true identities wasn’t one of their finest moments. Bruce was upset at first, but Selina knew about them, he had nothing to justify his hypocrisy when it was pointed out. Jason discovered about him stupidly fast, it was strange to think about how scary Jason could be if he had some detective training with.  "Or you could give me the books."

"Nop." Cocked Dick. "It's the least I can do. And, I really enjoy your company, Jay. I wouldn't mind spending more time with you.”

He didn't expect to be stopped abruptly by a seemingly delicate hand that grabbed his arm. When Dick prepared to question whether Jason had anything else to point against his brilliant plan he forced himself to bite his tongue.

With a blush that reached his ears, Jason opened and closed his mouth repeatedly until he frustratedly groaned and let go of Dick to start walking at a fast pace. "Come on, I don't want to be late. "

Robin knew they would eventually end in that kind of situation. 

The universe seemed to have entered into a strange symbiosis where Gotham's Rogues kept their antics away from Catlad and Robin's small encounters. When Robin tried to catch Catlad and Catlad ran away from him, something that both of them nowadays didn't put much effort into. There was a rumor that Poison Ivy had promised physical harm to anyone who tried to interrupt them.

What could Robin say? Sometimes he's very happy about the strange friendship between the Gotham Sirens, especially considering they had Catlad as a pet.

Catlad was one of the most protected people in Gotham. Many knew that messing with him would get them into trouble. Not that Catlad wasn't strong enough to deal with his enemies! The kitten was a great fighter! Still, Catwoman trained him mainly for escape and theft. Furthermore, Catlad and Batman may not be the best of friends, but Robin knows that B has a certain affection for Selina's kitten and that puts Catlad under Batman's protection as well. 

In other words, Catlad was one of the best guarded people in Gotham and this helped Robin sleep at night.

But eventually, they had to draw the short straw.

"Fuck." Catlad's stuttered voice made him look over his shoulder .

The Rogue was breathing hard as he tried to stay upright, but he weakened every time he took a step forward. There was no need to be a genius to understand that at some point his kitten had hurt himself. Robin was almost certain it happened when Catlad, a few rooftops a go, saved him from being stabbed while he was trying to save Catlad from a stray bullet.

Robin should have known better than to be swayed by Catlad's sweet talk. Dealing with the mob alone wasn’t intelligent. There's also the issue that he's extremely weak when it comes to Catlad. 

He was so, so weak.

"Get down." Robin pulled him, hiding in the shadows. They hadn't yet left the mobsters' territory, but Catlad knew that area of Gotham like the palm of his hands, using alleys to lose them hadn't been difficult. What was important now was escaping the territory to another.

No one was stupid enough to invade another's 'land' and threaten a gang war.

"Let me see."

"I'm fine." Catlad muttered in whispers. "Come on, we have to get out of here."

"Kitten." Robin took a deep breath. "Let me see."

Shouldn't get on Robin's nerves having Catlad stretching his leg across his lap. However, made things with his stomach, like butterflies. 

He quickly undid the combat boot. As Robin had given up on not being weird about every bit of Catlad, he let himself marvel at what a delicate thing it was the ankle in his hands. Maybe he touched it with too much reverence, maybe with too little estimation. He doesn't know. He just knows that he didn't dare to touch the delicate skin of his pretty boy more than with the tips of his fingers. 

It was swollen and felt painful, but surely not broken.

"You know, this isn't how I imagined it would be when I showed you my ankles for the first time." The murmur broke Robin out of his fixated gaze.

"Isn't broken." And the words came with barely air in them, because all was taken when he had Catlad looking so distraught as he leaned against him and his hands touched him so intimately.

The kitten snorted, relaxing, feeling comfortable in his shyness, and- It felt differente. It was different. He was so sure about that.

"I could have said that."

"Yes, of course, yeah, ah-"

Babbling was a common thing these days, wasn't it? Half of the conversations between them, Robin is sure that he spent more than 50% of the time without being able to form a coherent sentence and yet, by some mystery of the universe, Catlad still hadn't abandoned him. He was quite eloquent most of the time and Robin thought he was a really well-versed conversationalist but the other 50% of the time, well-.

Catlad smiled at him with that clumsy smile, but so beautiful, with dimples and it was cute, too cute to be humanly possible. "You should pick me up and take us out of here."

Robin's heart stuttered. “You t-think so?"

Catlad brought their faces closer and this time, he didn't try to use his Cat persona on him. No. He just. He was just Jason. And Catlad. But Jason. “Bridal style."

"I-I can do that!"

"And-" The red started to rise up Catlad's neck and it was endearing. His ears looked so pretty when they were flushed and his freckles stood out when he looked like that. "And when we get out of here, you should ask me out on a date."

Out of nowhere, it seemed as if the universe had destroyed itself and rebuilt just to fit the new reality.

He was asked on a date?

Catlad asked him out!

Jason asked him out! On a date!

A date. With Jason Todd. That is Catlad.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, …!

Wait, he asked Robin to ask him out. Which means they technically didn't have any date marked yet, which means they still didn't have any future ahead of them that involved kids, grandkids, and riding off into the sunset. 

Oh no! No no no no no!

The love of his life poked him in the chest with his index finger, tilting his head to the side while revealing a smile that was too pleased with himself. "You are so panicking."

"Do you want to go on a date with me?!"

"Shhhh!" The alarm in Catlad's voice was disheartening, but they were in a compromised situation. It was understandable. Just- Like- He couldn't let the opportunity pass! "Stop looking so pathetic!”

Robin squeaked. "But I'm pathetic for you!"

Catlad had the audacity to blush even more. A blatant assassination attempt! His poor heart couldn't take so much. "Yes, ok, I'll go out with you. Now, keep it shut."

"Even outside the masks?"

Catlad arched an eyebrow at him, crossing his arms. "Especially outside of masks."

"Wow."

And he laughed, laughed as much as airless and soundless laughter can be while leaning over Robin, which made Robin almost cry with joy. Catlad was laughing, smiling and touching him! He was a blessed man. 

"You are really pathetic for me."

"Yes."

Catlad snorted with the quick response. "Don't worry." Catlad stroked his face. "I will make it worth it." Suddenly, his lips were on Robin's cheek."

Now what happens next is actually the really embarrassing part: Robin faints. 

For that, Catlad was forced to send a signal to Catwoman and, of course, Catwoman being a good mother called for reinforcements. Batman and Catwoman didn't seem too impressed when they found their son’s.

But in all honesty, Dick didn't care less.

"You look like a fool." Said Jason while elbowing him. He took his mask off in the batmobile after Robin did it himself. 

"But I'm your fool! " He hummed.

Jason blushed beautifully.

First phase: Completed successfully.

Second phase: Marry Jason Todd!

…

This phase may take a little longer .

Oh, well, they have time.