Chapter Text
He really should've thought this through. Jason sighed as he stared at the contacts on his phone.
Bruce, Alfie, Dickhead. The only contacts on his phone. His fingers hovered over Bruce's number. He would pick up if Jason called him. Jason switched his phone off.
He wasn't making it hard for them to track him. He knew Alfred would figure out Jason was missing in a few hours and call Bruce. He really didn't want to cause Alfred any trouble but he doesn't have a choice. And even if Alfred calls Bruce, he was overseas on a case so he wouldn't be coming after Jason. He would think Jason was mad at him because he took away Robin. Jason was still mad about it but this wasn't because of that.
Jason was going to find his birth mother.
Catherine Todd was Jason's mom, he had loved her, still do. She took care of Jason until she couldn't. Jason would never try to replace her. But he needed answers to the questions that had been boiling in his head since he found out about Sheila Haywood. His birth mother. A medical aid worker in Ethiopia. This was the only information he could find on her.
Jason wondered for a second whether Bruce would give him up to Sheila if she was his mother. Did Jason want to leave Bruce for a woman he doesn't even know? Would Dick be glad if he left? His relationship with Bruce was, okay. It had been rocky the first three months he was with the man. Jason had believed Bruce and Alfred were just like Willis and wanted to take advantage of Jason by making him trust them. It took a while for him to believe that he was safe in the manor. And Dick... Jason couldn't care less about what the golden child thought.
"we're here kid. Are you sure someone is going to pick you up?" The taxi driver turned around raising his eyebrows.
Jason nodded. He got out with his suitcase and tipped the driver with enough cash to shut him up before walking away quickly.
Getting through security was the worst thing he had ever experienced. He was half expecting cops to jump out asking questions about why a billionaire's son was travelling alone. Or his Robin suit to get discovered under the hidden compartment. Thankfully nothing happened and no one questioned him.
He took his seat and stared out the window. Jason didn't want to waste money on a first class ticket. He knew Bruce wouldn't give one shit about the money and would rather Jason run away in comfort. But he wanted to go unnoticed. It took a long time for everyone to get seated. Jason hoped he didn't get stuck next to a weirdo.
"You could've bought tickets to metropolis instead of Ethiopia."
Jason froze at the familiar voice. He stared as Dick fucking Grayson got into the seat beside him. He gave Jason a smirk.
"What. The. Fuck." He hissed.
Dick had the audacity to tsk and shake his head. "Language little wing"
Jason stared as Dick twisted around to get comfortable. He quickly looked around expecting Bruce to spawn through the walls.
"It's just me. Bruce made me babysit you. As usual. Why are you running away to Ethiopia?" He gave Jason an annoyed glare.
Jason snapped out of his initial surprise and glared back. "I'm not running away." he snapped. This was going to ruin his plans. Dick was probably going to drag him off the plane. He couldn't afford that.
Dick gave him a weird look. "Why are you on a plane to Ethiopia then?"
"None. Of. Your. Business. I'm not going back" he snapped crossing his arms and uncrossing them because it made him look like a kid throwing a tantrum.
Dick let out a long suffering sigh. "Figured you would say that. Which is why..." he paused and grinned at Jason knowing it will annoy the heck out of him. "I will be joining you on your... vacation"
Jason groaned as he hit his head on the seat in front of him. As much as he didn't want to get dragged home, he also didn't want Dickface to babysit him. This meant Jason would have to eventually tell him about Sheila. He did not look forward to that conversation.
"Cheer up little wing. It's only 13 hours together." Jason could practically hear the maniacal laughter in his voice.
He took out the headset and turned on the tv. This was going to suck.
Dick had slept through the entire flight, only waking up to eat and drink. He probably didn't want to talk to Jason and Jason wasn't eager to talk to him so it worked out.
Meanwhile Jason didn't get one amount of sleep. Dick being next to him was just spiking up his anxiety. He didn't know what to think. What if Sheila Haywood was a good person and wanted Jason. Then why would she leave him with Willis. Why would she leave her son alone with him. He wanted to meet her. At the same time, he didn't.
Jason knew that he was just a replacement for the hole Dick had left in their lives. He knows that Dick would always hate him for taking his place. But they were the only family he had left. His sort of fucked up family. His Ohana. His— fuck. The stress was starting to get to him. He was quoting stitch.
He glanced at Dick who was still sleeping. The guy had slept through the whole landing and turbulence which was slightly concerning. He probably didn't get enough sleep for a while. Being a vigilante means having a fucked up sleeping schedule. Alfred wasn't there to force Dick to get some sleep. Jason felt a little bad as he shook him awake. He did wait till almost everyone got off the plane.
"Wake up before I leave you here."
After a lot of grumbling from Dick and a lot of annoyed comments from Jason, they both managed to get out of the plane. Dick was only half awake throughout the whole customs clearance process.
They dragged both of their suitcases out of the airport. Jason took a deep breath cracked his neck. His muscles felt stiff and he was running on zero sleep. He pulled out his phone to check the address of where Sheila Haywood was. He had already booked a hotel nearby just in case and with the unexpected company Jason would have to look for Sheila tomorrow.
Dick was stretching his arms and did a handstand earning a few gasps from a few few bystanders. He smiled before doing some flips and bowing at them dramatically. Jason rolled his eyes as everyone clapped and whistled. Showoff.
He walked towards Jason. "Sooooo. Where are we going?"
Jason gave him a look. "I am going to stay at a hotel. You're welcome to go back home"
Dick ignored the sarcastic jab at him. "Oooh. A hotel! I hope they have a buffet. I am starving" He said and waved a taxi over.
Jason decided to just go with it. Hopefully they don't have any extra rooms and Dick has to sleep in the streets. That thought did not make him feel uncomfortable at all.
They got into the taxi and Jason told the driver the address and Dick started up a conversation with him.
In a few minutes the driver was complaining about his wife not understanding him anymore and how annoying it was to have four kids running around screaming. Jason stared as the man literally told two strangers his entire life story and regrets in ten minutes. Dick had this personality. The type that made you lower your guard and tell your deep dark secrets to him. Dangerous. One of the reasons Jason never tried to get close to him, the other being that Dick fucking hated him.
Jason tuned out the conversation when the guy started to curse his ancestors for giving him this fate. The taxi stopped before another conversation could start.
"I wish I could stay and talk with you my friends. But I have work to do" The driver thanked Dick and gave them each a lollipop before leaving.
"Don't eat that." Dick slapped the lollipop out of Jason's hand. Gone was the nice and understanding Dick.
Jason stared at the lollipop which was now on the ground. "I know better than to take candy from a stranger Dickie. I did live on the streets" he said and turned around trying to walk away nonchalantly. He held back a snicker at Dick's shocked face. Poor guy probably thought he said something wrong.
They didn't have any rooms.
Jason ended up agreeing to share with Dick. Letting him sleep on the streets wasn't an option. It wasn't his fault he was forced to go after Jason.
Jason threw himself onto the bed as soon as they entered the room. He draped an arm over his eyes. Every muscle in his body ached with exhaustion. He felt the mattress dip as Dick sat next to him. They stayed in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Dick had to ruin it.
"Are you ready to tell me what this is about?" He asked casually. Jason peeked through his arm and saw Dick sitting unnaturally still. Dick never sits still.
"Bruce took away Robin." Jason muttered.
Dick sighed. "I know about that and I don't agree with what he did. But this isn't about Robin is it?" He asked quietly.
Jason sat up. "You don't agree with Bruce. Wow. That's new" he drawled sarcastically. Diversion wasn't working, time to piss him off until he fucks off. He didn't want to talk about Sheila right now.
Dick was staring at the ground with a resigned look on his face. "You know B went after Joker. Dammit Jason, I was going to go to space–"
Jason interrupted him. "I could handle myself! I don't need you two to take care of me!"
"This isn't about how capable you are Jason! What if something happened to you?? Bruce would be in another country and I would've been in space! You can't just book flights to another country because you're mad at Bruce!" Dick had stood up now, half yelling. His face was red with righteous anger.
Jason stood up too. He was not going to get yelled at by Dick. "I have a mom!" He blurted out without thinking it through.
"What" Dick blinked as if trying to make sense of Jason's words.
Might as well get it over with. He sighed. "I found out Catherine isn't my real mom."
Dick's face went from confused to horror. "Ohh. Little Wing. I'm sorry." He reached forward as if to pull Jason into a hug. Jason sidestepped and moved away from him.
"What's there to be sorry about? She was a great mom." He tried to keep the defensive edge out of his voice but he didn't succeed. Dick put his hands up placating way. Which pissed him off further.
"I'm sure you're right..."
Jason looked away and took a deep breath. "Sheila Haywood. She's my birth mom. She works as a medical aide at a camp here. I didn't run away to another country because I'm mad at Bruce" he made air quotes at the last sentence pinning Dick with a glare. The guy had the heart to look guilty.
"I'm sorry." He muttered. "So... what's the plan?"
Jason looked at him. "You aren't gonna tell me how irresponsible and stupid I am?"
Dick raised an eyebrow. "Uhh. No? It's your mom Jason, although I think... you should've told B about this." He was choosing his words carefully.
Jason didn't say anything. Somehow Dick seemed to know what he didn't say. "Jay... Bruce would always help you... He- He loves you. He would've come after you if I didn't force him to go after Joker... we didn't know about this... I'm sorry."
Jason had a lot to wrap his mind around. So he did what he did best with his emotions. Ignored them. "It's not your fault. Or Bruce's." He mumbled. This time he let Dick pull him into a hug. He hated to admit it but Dick was one of the best huggers he ever knew. Not that he'd say that out loud.
"we'll get through this together" Dick muttered over his head. And if Jason leaned into the hug, it was only for Dick's sake.