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It was a hot, stuffy day in Gotham City. Jason had had many days like these before. The ones he had on the streets consisted of lying in the shade, pacing malls and public libraries, and stealing extra wallets to get himself more drinking water to prevent severe dehydration. At the manor, these hot days were very different; he usually spent them reading by the pool and making popsicles with Alfred. Bruce, being the man with infinite plans, would always be monitoring him for any sign of heat exhaustion and would make sure he drank more water after his training and didn’t overdo it on those days.
His car’s AC was busted, hence why he was driving up to the manor to get the toolkit he forgot at the cave while fixing up everyone’s vehicles to repair it. The drive up in the heat was dredging up all sorts of memories, especially those of his first summer at the manor.
His first summer at the manor was one of the hardest. His time was divided between studying and going to summer school to catch up on his schooling so he could enroll in the seventh grade, training for Robin, and, most importantly, following the meal plan his nutritionist put in place to help him recover from malnutrition. His goals were very clear, and he had a routine that maximized both productivity and enjoyment.
Everything was going well until Bruce and Alfred had to travel for a week or so on urgent business. And for some bizarre reason, they asked Dick to stay with him. Back then, they were practically strangers, and Jason didn’t trust Dick at all. He’s done his extensive research on Dick by reading up online and overhearing Bruce complain to Alfred after every phone call with the aforementioned guy. Dick was a college dropout, a party boy. In Jason’s opinion, he was an ungrateful pompous idiot, and Bruce was a Multimillionaire who practically had infinite resources. Jason would never pass up an opportunity to go to Yale, much less drop out of it. And the partying? At least do something worthwhile. But he never gave an opinion on that; Bruce and Alfred didn’t know he overheard them.
Three hours after Bruce left for the airport, Jason’s opinion was solidified; Dick Grayson was the worst guy ever, and he truly lived up to his name. He was extremely disruptive, wouldn’t let Jason read in peace during his free time, kept questioning Jason about his life, and was blasting loud music while showing off some of his acrobatic techniques. Probably to spite Jason, who was hitting a plateau with his own training.
“Come on! Turn that frown around, Jaydude!” Dick said, whilst doing some weird cartwheel to get on the couch, he reminded Jason of a slinky.
“Don’t call me Jaydude!” Jason grumbled; he really wanted to finish this book, and Dick was just being super loud.
Dick raised his arms in surrender and just laughed like the guys who used to bully him on the streets. He knew many guys like Dick, guys who couldn’t do well for themselves, so they’d end up sabotaging people out of spite. He took a deep breath; he wasn’t going to let Dick Grayson, of all people, get him to mess up.
-
Some things were easier said than done. Dick Grayson was a force of nature. He disregarded Jason’s diet and kept ordering takeout despite the fact that Jason told him he can’t have junk food.
“Oh come on! I’m not Alfie, knock yourself out, little guy!” He’d say dismissively. Jason hated it when Dick would do jabs against his height. But he wasn’t going to let him know that. So he’d just frown and prepare his own food.
Dick also wouldn’t let him do his training; he’d force him to play on the backyard trampoline. Showing off some backflips like an idiot while Jason struggled to keep up.
“Go on! It’s so easy!” He’d say smugly as he did a backflip for the umpteenth time. Jason simply left.
Jason was grateful to Summer school for the first time in his life. Five hours away from Dick was pure heaven. The guy was an agent of chaos. Jason barely slept and barely ate right because of him. And he’s pretty sure he undercooked his chicken last night because Dick kept hovering around him in the kitchen.
His chicken theory proved right the minute he threw up all over himself during class. He wanted to cry, not because he was in pain. But the week was just not letting up for him; he felt extremely humiliated as everyone started to fuss about him. The school nurse called Alfred, who called Dick, and now Jason, who was sitting in his vomit-soaked clothes, was waiting for Dick to show up.
Of course, showing up normally wasn’t an option for the babysitter who needed a babysitter. Dick showed up in the worst outfit 2003 men’s fashion could ever give. He looked like a mismatched mess and was holding the keys to one of Bruce’s custom-made cars. Jason felt sicker at the sight.
“Oh my goodness! Are you ok, Jaybaby?” Dick dropped to his knees in front of him and rested his hands on his shoulders. Jaybaby? What the fuck? As if throwing up like a little kid at the ripe old age of eleven wasn’t humiliating enough?
“Probably the stomach flu or food poisoning. He’ll be fine, just keep him hydrated, monitor him, and take him to urgent care if he gets worse.” The nurse replied to Dick.
Dick, of course, had to be the worst driver in the world. He strapped Jason in the backseat and drove over the speed limit whilst blasting the loudest music in the world. Jason felt the tune in his agitated stomach and held back with all his might from vomiting on the fancy leather seats of Bruce’s Mercedes-Benz.
Luckily, the drive was short, and Jason ran up to the manor the minute Dick parked. He was done! He needed time alone. Dick Grayson won. Jason’s routine was disturbed. He wasn’t going to be able to eat for a few days, he couldn’t go to school, and he’s going to be even more behind on his Robin training. And the fiendish guy was following him.
“Leave me alone, Dick!” He yelled hoarsely.
“Jason! Don’t shut me out, you’re not the first person I’ve seen vomit.” Dick caught up with him instantly and grabbed his shoulder.
“Yeah, you’re used to your stupid party friends throwing up from all sorts of stuff!” Jason snapped, “Leave me alone, dickface,” he was on the verge of tears, but he wasn’t going to cry.
Dick’s eyes widened, and he looked like he was also about to snap, too. But he just sighed and crouched down. Jason hated it when people did this; people being Bruce, and now, Dick.
“Ok, I’ll leave you alone. But first, let me help you clean up and settle down ok?”
Jason wanted to refuse, but he was tired, shaky, and felt like crap. He needed help, and he couldn’t deny it. He reluctantly nodded.
Dick helped him wash up and got him into a pair of pajamas; he also got him water and helped him settle into bed. And as promised, he left him alone. Jason was on guard for a minute, awaiting another one of Dick’s antics. But it didn’t come, and he just fell asleep.
Later, Dick woke him up; he’d made him some soup.
“Alfie said a soup would help,” he awkwardly said.
Jason was still shaky and couldn’t grab the spoon right, which was getting on his nerves. Dick stopped him and fed him instead. He thought that this must be the ultimate victory for Dick, but he ate anyway.
“You’re going to be fine, Jason,” Dick started again. “A stomach flu isn’t the end of the world, even if Bruce is acting like it,” he carefully cooled the soup for him as he rolled his eyes,
Jason was confused. He didn’t respond.
“Maybe we could watch a movie, yeah? Bruce always put on a movie for me whenever I got sick.” Dick’s expression was sad; maybe he felt guilty for terrorizing a sick kid.
He just nodded, which made Dick smile. His smile was still obnoxious.
Dick helped him downstairs, and they sat in the home theater and started a movie Dick likes called Shrek. Jason thought it was funny, but he wouldn’t admit it to Dick.
“You’re hard to please, Jaybird!” The older guy sighed,
“Hm?” Jason grumbled,
“You’re so uptight! I’ve been trying to cheer you up for three days, and I’m failing miserably. And now you’re sick! It’s gonna be way harder!” Was this a joke? Was dickface mocking him?
“I’m not hard to please,” he mumbled, “you’ve been making my life hell for your amusement.”
“What?” Dick guffawed; he seemed somewhere between surprise and intrigue,
“Don’t laugh! You’ve messed up all of my routine!”
“Oh my gosh! You sound like a mini Alfie! We’re supposed to have fun this week! What’s the point of the adults being away?”
“You’re an adult!” Jason pointed out,
“Touché, Jayboy. I meant adulty adults,”
“Forget it!” He crosses his arms; he hates all those stupid nicknames.
“No, come on, I’ll hear you out,”
“You’re trying to sabotage me,” Jason blurted.
Dick raised his eyebrows. Was being a good actor another Robin requirement? Jason tried to sort through his thoughts like Alfred taught him.
“You’re a loser, and you’re trying to drag me down; you tried to sabotage my nutrition plan, and then my Robin training, and because of your constant nagging, I’m sick, and I’m going to miss summer school. Now I’m going to be held a year behind, Bruce won’t let me be Robin, and my doctor is going to be so mad I’m behind on my weight gain, and I’ll be a loser like you!” Jason stumbled upon the words, getting all the facts in before Dick could interrupt.
Dick seemed to be processing what he said. And then realization dawned on him, and then he laughed. He really was obnoxious.
“Whoa, Jay! There are a lot of accusations! First of all, I’m not a loser, I’m a very cool guy. Second of all, I didn’t know you had a meal plan! Ok? I thought you were a stickler for Alfie’s rules. And I’m sorry about the Robin training. I didn’t know you had to do that. I’ll make up for it. And you won’t be held back a year because of a two-day break. That’s not how education works!” Dick, Jason realized, had no idea how easily things could go terribly wrong.
“Like you’d know about education! You dropped out!” Jason snapped,
“Hey! Look, that's rude! I don’t know what Bruce has been telling you about me. But you have to stop using those things against me, man,” Dick sounded exasperated. Jason was close to freaking out; he’s never seen Dick exasperated.
“Look, yeah, I dropped out. But it’s because I couldn't balance college and vigilante work, and journalism wasn’t for me, ok? I told Bruce I might get back to college, but I need to figure things out first. I don’t know why he’d tell you those things about me. I’m not some cautionary tale, ok?” Dick was clearly holding back so much anger.
“He’s not using you as a cautionary tale,” Jason reluctantly mumbled, “I just overheard him telling Alfie about it; he doesn’t talk about you like that to me. He says you were the beast.” Maybe that sort of comparison was also why Jason couldn’t stand Dick, after all, why would someone so badly behaved be better than him?
“Oh, look, Jason. It’s not a good thing to eavesdrop, and Bruce isn’t saying I was the best to imply you’re worse. I’m sure he’s proud of you. B’s a major softie,” Dick’s voice wasn’t placating; he was talking like a friend,
“I wasn’t! I accidentally heard him once. And I suck at acrobats,” Jason felt his ears go red. The day was just getting more humiliating.
Dick laughed, “You do realize I started as soon as I could walk, right?” He asked him as he laughed. Jason felt so humiliated. He wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole,
“I’m sorry, that was out of line.” A broken apology was all he could manage,
“Hey! It’s ok, I guess we had a big misunderstanding, but we’re good now! Look, I’ll abide by your routine, and I’ll help you with school and Robin.” Jason let out a snort, “Don’t laugh! I was a mathlete and a great Robin. But you have to cheer up a little! You’re seriously ruining my babysitter's reputation!”
“You have other victims?” Jason said sarcastically
“I’ll have you know the Drakes’ kid thought I was so cool and kept asking me to do somersaults,” Dick thought he was so cool, and Jason almost felt bad for him.
“He has to be the lamest kid ever! You’re a big dork, dickface.”
“Language!”
Jason smiled to himself as he pulled up to the manor’s garage. It was one of the best weeks of his life. The week he became Dick’s brother.