Chapter Text
The pounding beat of music spilled out from the closed doors of the Iceberg Lounge onto the street. Every so often, the door would open, causing the otherwise silent street to be flooded with heavy bass and colorful flashing lights. Jason leaned against the frame of his motorcycle while he waited for his brothers to show up.
Dick and Tim being late was unsurprising. Jason was surprised by Duke’s lateness, however. Duke was always on time to things. Though, Jason wouldn’t be surprised if they were all late because of Bruce.
Bright lights nearly blinded Jason as a car pulled up behind his bike and parked on the side of the street. As the engine was turned off, three people climbed out of what Jason was now realizing was one of Bruce’s cars. Specifically his gray Lamborghini that he had once grounded Jason for attempting to drive. Jason straightened as Dick climbed out of the driver’s seat.
“How the hell did you manage to convince B to let you borrow that?” Jason asked, eyeing the car. Jealousy rippled down his muscles as he ached to sit behind the wheel of the car.
Dick smirked. “Have you been waiting long?”
Shooting his brother a glare at his avoidance of the subject, Jason said, “Let’s just go in.”
Swinging his arm around Duke’s shoulders, Dick asked, “You ready for the best birthday party ever?”
Duke looked uncertain, but in the face of Dick’s enthusiasm, smiled and allowed himself to be led to the front of the club’s line. “Are you sure Bruce won’t mind us going to the Iceberg Lounge?”
Tim leaned in from where he walked behind them. “Of course not. B has used this place to protect his identity more than once.”
“You mean those videos online aren’t deepfakes?” Duke asked.
Dick shared a look with Tim. “Unfortunately not.”
“I still can’t get the after images to leave my brain,” Jason chimed in, flashing his ID to the bouncer at the door.
Recognizing the Wayne boys, the bouncer let them in ahead of the line of young adults who had no doubt been waiting far longer than Jason had for his brothers. As they entered the Lounge, the music that had been mostly contained within its walls thundered through them. Jason could feel his ribcage rattling with the heaviness of the bass.
Leading the way to the bar, Jason was about to order himself a beer when Dick ordered a round of shots for all of them. Turning to his brother, who had taken the seat to his left—with Duke and Tim sitting just further than him—Jason raised an eyebrow.
Dick shrugged, speaking loudly so as to be heard over the music. “What’s the point in celebrating if we’re not going to celebrate?”
The bartender laid out shots for the four of them, pouring the liquid in a line down the row of glasses. Drops of tequila filled the small gaps between some of the glasses. Dick raised one of his glasses, giving some cheesy birthday toast to Duke before downing it.
Jason downed his in rapid succession, not bothering to wait for his brother to say anything more. The alcohol burned his throat, its warmth settling in his stomach. After they finished the first round of shots, Jason ordered himself a whiskey. If they were there to celebrate—and spend Bruce’s money—he might as well get something other than beer.
His brothers chatted excitedly to his left. Jason was content to listen, rarely chiming in as he turned around and leaned his back against the bar, watching the people on the dance floor.
Dick tapped him on the shoulder, offering him a new drink. “Don’t look so pissed, Little Wing. If you don’t want to be here, you don’t have to stay.”
Accepting the drink, Jason replied, “Who said I don’t want to be here?”
“Your face did,” Duke said from Dick’s other side.
Tim nodded in agreement, taking a sip from his drink.
Flipping them all off, Jason raised his glass and, before downing it, said, “May you all go screw yourselves.”