[They were all excellent liars, but they all knew the number one rule of lying. 'Tell the truth as much as you can'. It made it harder for other people to catch them in a lie if they weren't actually lying, after all.
So was Jason lying about not really having a 'type'? No. He wasn't. He just didn't elaborate on the details.
Dick's hand was warm on his shoulder and he flicked his gaze over for just a moment to let the older man know that his message was received. He counted to ten, sipping at his drink, then casually reached up to tuck one of his wayward curls back behind his ear...and thumbing the comm in his ear as he did so.]
[ Jasonās voice rings out in his ear, calm and close and comforting, and Dick doesnāt miss a beat as he sinks down into the booth beside their mark. he smiles invitingly, reaches a hand out and sits just on this side of too close. it all goes perfectly according to plan for a bit. Dick is pleased as can be as he nurses a drink and navigates the tooth-rottingly sweet way their mark--Casey--flirts. despite his cold, intense eyes, Casey genuinely intrigues him with knife-sharp wit and grating sarcasm. there's commentary on this bar, on the people Casey came with, and dick drops a few hints here that heās looking to get involved in the underbelly of the city. heās new to Gotham from Detroit, dropped out of Gotham U a few years ago after trying to get into legislation in law enforcement. their mark has the kind of intelligence that makes lying difficult, but Dick feels like heās being convincing enough.
open and friendly, Casey shifts closer to Dick, asks why they hadnāt ever met before, laughs when Dick bullshits something up and offers to show him a good time. ]
But what about your friend? [ Casey asks, and Dickās smile doesnāt falter as he lifts his gaze back toward the bar to see if Jasonās still around. ]
What about him? [ Dick replies. ]
Isnāt he gonna be lonely? Jealous? I saw you making eyes at each other. I donāt blame you, he's gorgeous. [ Casey says, setting a hand on Dickās knee and drawing upwards. ] Why donāt you call him?
[ Dick snorts, shakes his head. ] Weāre just friends, heāsā [ a slender index lifts to Dickās mouth as Casey shushes him. ]
I said, why donāt you call him? [ Dick tips his head, trying for an easy, resigned smile as he reaches into his pocket to grab his phone and dial Jason's number. Casey presses into his ear, whispers good boy, sugary-sweet. ]
Edited (forgot a word HAHA) 2023-11-13 01:05 (UTC)
[Jason wasn't idle while Dick worked. It wouldn't be believable if he just stared at the two all night, after all. Being caught staring would raise questions, possibly raise the mark's suspicions. His guard.
So, Jason didn't stare. Barely even acknowledged them, to be honest. He let himself be pulled into a conversation with a charming blond and her hulk of a husband. He laughed when he was supposed to laugh, pointed out a cheeky reference that made the husband blush and the wife giggle. He let them buy him a drink. Even pull him out onto the dance floor a couple of times, fitting him between their bodies like he'd been made for them.
And all the while, he listened to Dick's voice in his ear, weaving in carefully worded check in phrases to make sure that things were still okay on his end. He glanced at Casey's hand creeping up Dickie's thigh out of the corner of his eye and he was quick to excuse himself as his phone chirped in his pocket.
He made sure that his smile was visible even from the corner.]
Hey, lover boy. Figured you would have been scooped up by now. Tucked under someone's wing. Need a ride home?
Hey, no, just letting you know--[ he entertains the split-second thought to say yes, to abort this whole thing now that Casey's obviously trying to drag Jason into it, but their mark bats his eyes and smiles, plucks Dick's phone out of his hands and speaks into it himself: ]
Your friend's just fine, hunny. In fact, we were just talking about getting a ride back to my place and I didn't want you to feel left out. [ Dick's brows lift as he scans the dance floor, trying to see catch sight of Jason. The boldness in this kid. Casey grins wider at the look on Dick's face. He stage whispers: ] I don't think he wants to share, but I do.
[Hearing the phone change hands made his gut twist in a very uncomfortable way, but he was careful to not let his anger be heard in his voice as he all but purred in response.] Oh really? In the mood for a double feature?
[The idea of this man being close enough to Dick that he could so easily take his phone made him want to punch his lights out even more than he already did. And considering that this jackass was trying to hone in on his turf? Bring weapons onto his streets?
He chuckled, and over the phone the sound was dark silk.]
Robbie doesn't like sharing...but I don't think he'll mind just this once.
[He pulled all his anger and shoved it into his body, letting it make him just a little sensual as he made his way across the dance floor towards them. Selina would have been proud of the way his hips rolled.]
[ Dick takes the phone back from Casey, who now has a very pleased look on his face, but Dick would be lying if he said Jasonās dark tone didnāt do something to him. he can see Jason stalking toward them, steady and promising, like a wolf.
he reaches out, finds Caseyās jaw with a warm hand, and turns his gaze toward him, away from Jason. ]
Did you really have to do that? [ Dick says, to Casey, to Jason. this is not the plan, but he keeps the concern hidden off his face as he turns toward their mark. Casey answers, pressing close to him, whispering, fractions of an inch from his lips: ]
Loosen up, buttercup. Itās just some fun.
[ Dick snorts, gaze drops to Caseyās mouth then up again. He presses in and kisses Casey, short, and chaste. When he pulls away, he shakes his head apologetically. ]
Not tonight, sorry.
[ and he stands despite Caseyās sudden ice-cold expression, despite the threat in his eyes and the question on his lips, you sure about that?
but heās not willing to give up control like this, to let this situation potentially slide off the rails like this, so he snorts it. he leaves with a little wave and heads directly toward Jason with a smile carefully curled on his mouth. He meets Jason in the middle of the dance floor and clasps a hand on his shoulder. ]
[He watched Dick kiss the man, then get up, body tense as he stalked towards Jason. He could see the sudden chill in Casey's look, the hard set of the man's jaw, and for a moment he worried that Dick's abrupt changing of their plans would be enough to set the man off, right there in the middle of the club.
Honestly, what was it with would be kingpins and their hairpin triggers.
But then Dick was there, a warm presence against his side, one large hand on his shoulder and Jason didn't think before he leaned into that touch. He needed to make sure that the man in that booth understood that Dick was his. That making a move on the older man would be making a move on both of them.
Fortunately, he was slightly better at controlling himself these days, so instead of claiming Dick's mouth right there on the dance floor, he instead just stretched his arm out to lazily loop around Dick's waist.
Honestly, the man was so touchy, he probably wouldn't even notice.]
Good call. Let's beat it before he decides to follow. Do a few laps of the city before heading home and all that. [He'd turned to murmur it into Dick's ear directly, both to make sure no one else heard and also to be able to keep half an eye on Casey as they left.]
[ of course he notices Jason's arm draping around his waist. how could he not, when it settles there like it belongs there, when Jason's whispered breath comes close and intimate in his ear?
he reminds himself it's just for the case, it's for Casey's eyes tracking their path out of the bar, and there's no point overthinking it. he loops his arm around Jason right back, lifts his gaze to Jason's face and smiles. it's convincing enough from this distance, but Jason will see the displeasure in his eyes. ]
Uh-huh. Grab a bite on the way, find a rooftop to hangout on. [ Jason knows the drill, and they steadily make their way out of the bar on each others arms until they're back on the street. Dick holds onto his thoughts the whole time, as they hop on their bikes and race through the perpetual traffic, through the city, around the city, hot on each others heels going too fast. it loosens the tension held in his shoulders as the wind whips around the helmet and he spares a glance to Jason catching up on his left: ]
[He saw that displeasure and hated it. Hated that it was there and that it was probably at least partially his fault. Dick hadn't wanted him on this job to begin with, he certainly hadn't wanted to entertain the idea of the two of them double teaming Casey. But if he'd said 'no' and Casey had retaliated on Dick, Jason wasn't one hundred percent sure that he would have been able to stop himself from grabbing the derringer from it's holster in the cuff of his boot.
He was better about not killing unless he felt like he had to, but his control wasn't limitless and every instinct under his skin was telling him to take out Casey before the man could get a foothold in his city. He wouldn't, because contrary to what everyone thought, he didn't just arbitrarily murder people.
But he would be keeping a very close eye on him from now on.
The race through the city was a welcome distraction, and by the time Dick pulled up at a stoplight to ask about food, Jason was grinning again.]
Yeah! Turn left at the next and follow the river a bit. Should be on the corner of 17th and West. Food cart.
[ some things never change. he can hear Jasonās excitement through the earpiece. the bike, the lights, the speed takes him back to all the times theyāve done this before. at least this he can count on. ]
Sounds good. [ and he peels off the moment the light turns green and leans so tight into the turn he could skim the pavement with his fingers if he wanted to. he can hear the hum of Jasonās bike behind him and slows down to let Jason take the lead. its not a race, but when is it really not a race?
when they arrive at the food cart, he pulls the helmet off and grins at Jason, pushing his hair back out of his face as the adrenaline continues coursing through his veins. he lets Jason order for the both of them, then carefully cradles their chili dogs down an alleyway, parks their bikes, and climbs up a fire escape to perch over the skyline. Dick leans back and letās his legs dangle over the edge of the rooftop. the clench in his chest loosens up with a breath.
he turns his gaze from the skyline to Jason. they should talk about it. that would be the right thing to do. ]
[The city was it's most beautiful at night. It always had been. Dangerous and foreboding, but sensual and beckoning all at once. The analogy reminded him all at once of Talia and Jason was smirking when he finally brought them to a stop at the chili dog stand.
It would have been more fitting if it was something spicier and exotic, but that might have taken the analogy a little too far.
Following Dick up onto the rooftop, the younger man joined him on the edge, legs lightly bouncing off the wall as he took his first giant bite. He even managed to not get anything onto Dick's shirt.]
Nope, but I don' gotta. I trust you to call it as you see it and if you said it was a no go, that's all I gotta hear.
[ Dick's chili dog sits beside him on the edge of the roof as Jason takes a big bite of his own. he's a little taken aback by what Jason says, fully expecting that there would be pushback to what he had done.
he shakes his head. ]
I don't wanna just call the shots. [ maybe once upon a time, he'd wanted to hoard all the control and information, but it had come from fear, and he doesn't lean into that anymore. he wants Jason to understand and be on board, like a real team. ] I didn't want that to be-- [ none of them had ever been good at putting feelings into words, but he tries anyway. ] the way we got to know each other in that way.
[The difference was, all Jason knew was the 'once upon a time'. He hadn't worked with Nightwing. Hell, he'd barely worked with Dick while they'd shared the Robin costume, Dick running off to join the force as soon as he had.
The last time he'd worked with Dick, Dick had been fighting with Bruce and Bruce had taken it out on him and...not a whole lot of learning had happened. They'd eventually gotten there, but it hadn't exactly been easy. Jason had pretty much just let Dick make the calls so they didn't butt heads about things.
The explanation made him arch a brow, though, a small smirk on his lips as he finished chewing his bite.]
You know, you could have just said that you didn't want to sleep with me. I could have leaned harder on the mark to just pick me over you.
I didn't say I don't wanna sleep with you. [ he retaliates, a pinch between his brow as the admission comes spilling out into the night. not what he wanted to talk about. he continues without skipping a beat: ]
I could've let you handle it completely, but if I wanted it done fast and hard I would've gone in with the mask and without you.
[He was going to take a second bite when that first sentence fell out of Dick's mouth and he abruptly froze, eyes widening as he processed what was just said.
Dick....what?!?
Before he really had a chance to process, however, Dick continued and his disbelief was quickly overridden by mild insult.]
Excuse you, I am perfectly capable of taking point in a honey pot mission without going in 'fast and hard'. I'm a great lay and I'm a master at guiding pillow talk. I once got the GCPD force patrol grid timing of Park Row out of a detective just by playing with his chest hair, so you can take that little assessment and shove it up your ass. And that was without Bat training, so there. [He didn't give in to the urge to stick his tongue out at the older man, but he did finally take that second bite.]
[ itās a hard fact to hear, and it only sets Dickās frown deeper as Jason tosses it in his face. doing honeypot missions as a kid is part of Jasonās history, the part that makes him ache the most. the frustration fizzles out and is replaced by guilt.
for asking Jason to do this, for implying he couldnāt do it well. ]
Fine. [ he finally picks up the chilli dog and takes a bite. doesnāt help with the fact that heās now imagining how great of a lay Jason would be, and how good at guiding pillow talk he is. ] Youāre right, Iām sorry. [ he looks out at the city and continues without as much bite in his words. ] Youād sleep with him, and I donāt like the idea of that. Iād be pushing you too far.
[He'd meant to lighten the mood, not make Dick look like he'd sucked on a lemon. Yeah, it was mildly insulting to think that he couldn't be a decent honey pot for whatever reason, but he wasn't actually upset by it. But watching Dick shut down like that was...concerning.
Shifting to sit crosslegged, half sideways on the ledge, he reached out to nudge the older man with his boot.]
You are being way too serious about this, Dickiebird. What is going on in that head of yours?
[ great. now there are two of them being way too serious about this, meaning it's his turn to pull back and lighten things up. he huffs a half-laugh and shakes his head, trying to brush it off.
Jason doesn't expect a real answer on that one. he can't truthfully say it all. how could he? ]
We haven't worked together in a while, that's all. I'm disappointed it didn't go according to plan but--it's fine. It didn't go badly. [ Casey has his number and is obviously still interested, so he just has to continue later... without Jason. ] Seriously. [ he knocks his chin up and smiles, though the warmth doesn't quite touch his eyes. ]
Hey, you should start buying your shirts smaller like that. [ a wider smile. ] Looks good on you. Did you hear what Casey called you?
[And it would have worked....except that Jason had witnessed the fights between Dick and Bruce. He'd been there and got to see all of that go down and then, after all the dust settled, he got to see Dick come over to him. And try to act like he wasn't upset to try and make sure that Jason wasn't upset.
And that tone was surprisingly similar to what he was hearing now.
He arched a brow, the chili dog cradled in his hand, mostly forgotten.]
Stop trying to manage me, Dickface. Whatever it is, just spit it out.
[ Jason doesn't relent, and Dick thinks it says something about growth that he digs his heels in and chooses whatever Dick is holding onto over the chili dog. he should be flattered if he wasn't so torn.
torn between continuing to play it off, or finding a way to express himself. but the beat drags on for too long as he takes in the expression on Jason's face, and his own smile tapers to something more acceptant.
fine. ]
I'm starting to see I can't do a mission like this when you're involved. [ he folds a leg on the ledge and turns to face Jason. Jason, who's wearing that dumb shirt, carefully holding his chili dog and completely tuned in, watching him, hearing him. ] I'm not saying it's your fault--it's just fucking with me, and I'm gonna sort it out.
[Of all the things he'd expected to hear, that wasn't one of them. He cocked his head a little in confusion, but he didn't immediately open his mouth to expel exactly how much those words hurt and, honestly, he should get a medal for that.
Hadn't Dickie just said that sex with him wasn't what was bothering him? Or had that been an outright lie?]
Is it the 'brothers' thing? Cause, you know....we're not actually related. We haven't even spent that much time together.
But fine, I guess. I'll back off from trying to help. Just...find someone to be on the other side of that comm, man. I don't like the look of that guy.
[ heās not articulating it well, and itās making Jason completely misunderstand his point, but for a brief moment, he wonders if itās better to let Jason believe what he wants to assume.
but itās gotta be frustrating hearing him talk about it like this, like he canāt just say it. ]
Okay. I will. [ itās better that itās someone else on the other end of the comm, Jasonās right, but it doesnāt feel right to let Jason operate under this assumption.
so after a quiet beat of consideration, he just says it. plain and simple. ]
I canāt risk falling for you. Sex is just sex, but I know itās not gonna be like that with you.
[He can't understand what isn't being said, Grayson. He's good, but he's not that good. Being blunt and not mincing words is the best way to get your point across, especially to someone who was, admittedly, a little thick at times.
He was thinking that Dick was uncomfortable with him being on the case because of the brother thing, not because sex with him would get complicated. He blinked when the truth came out, but he didn't look immediately off put by the idea.]
Huh. I guess that makes sense. I mean, it would mean something to me, so I can see it.
[He was far too comfortable just admitting that, but there you go. Sometimes removing the filter was the best option.
He took another bite of his chili dog, chewing thoughtfully before he smirked and chuckled]
Good thing you're not trying to impress me. Chili dogs as a first date would not get you to any bases. Just saying.
[ it goes over much better than Dick imagines. Jason simply accepts it and continues eating his chili dog. it doesnāt get weird at all. he ends up smiling about that more than Jasonās actual joke. ]
Really? [ he laughs as he turns back to his own food. ] āCus this is pretty good for me. [ rooftop, casual food, a beautiful view and even more beautiful company. whatās not to love? more than anything, Dick is just glad Jason understands what heās been trying to say. some days, he feels he tries so hard to predict Jasonās reaction that he ends up not doing anything at all. ]
Good thing this isnāt a date. [ he takes a bite of the chili dog and folds his leg back over the ledge. ]
Edited (Iā¦ hit enter too quicklyā¦ ) 2023-11-17 04:03 (UTC)
[Maybe it's time to stop trying to predict Jason's reactions. He is, after all, still only human. The Pit Madness is still very real, but he'd spent a lot of time and effort learning how to control it. How to not let it control him.
It took work and willpower- and maybe a little bit of therapy that he hadn't exactly told Dick about, yet- but he was far more relaxed than he had been the last time Dick had seen him. The whole 'eight heads in a duffle bag' situation and all.
As for how relaxed he was about the topic...well, his mindset was actually very close to Dick's on that. Sex was just a tool in his tool belt. It had always been that way.]
No, it's a great date. But not a first date, Dickie. Come on, sometimes a guy likes to know he's special. Add a blanket and some pillows and maybe some pretend stargazing and I'm sold, though. 10 outta 10, would kiss you goodnight.
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Re: @deadbirdarising
So was Jason lying about not really having a 'type'? No. He wasn't. He just didn't elaborate on the details.
Dick's hand was warm on his shoulder and he flicked his gaze over for just a moment to let the older man know that his message was received. He counted to ten, sipping at his drink, then casually reached up to tuck one of his wayward curls back behind his ear...and thumbing the comm in his ear as he did so.]
In your ear, Casanova.
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open and friendly, Casey shifts closer to Dick, asks why they hadnāt ever met before, laughs when Dick bullshits something up and offers to show him a good time. ]
But what about your friend? [ Casey asks, and Dickās smile doesnāt falter as he lifts his gaze back toward the bar to see if Jasonās still around. ]
What about him? [ Dick replies. ]
Isnāt he gonna be lonely? Jealous? I saw you making eyes at each other. I donāt blame you, he's gorgeous. [ Casey says, setting a hand on Dickās knee and drawing upwards. ] Why donāt you call him?
[ Dick snorts, shakes his head. ] Weāre just friends, heāsā [ a slender index lifts to Dickās mouth as Casey shushes him. ]
I said, why donāt you call him? [ Dick tips his head, trying for an easy, resigned smile as he reaches into his pocket to grab his phone and dial Jason's number. Casey presses into his ear, whispers good boy, sugary-sweet. ]
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So, Jason didn't stare. Barely even acknowledged them, to be honest. He let himself be pulled into a conversation with a charming blond and her hulk of a husband. He laughed when he was supposed to laugh, pointed out a cheeky reference that made the husband blush and the wife giggle. He let them buy him a drink. Even pull him out onto the dance floor a couple of times, fitting him between their bodies like he'd been made for them.
And all the while, he listened to Dick's voice in his ear, weaving in carefully worded check in phrases to make sure that things were still okay on his end. He glanced at Casey's hand creeping up Dickie's thigh out of the corner of his eye and he was quick to excuse himself as his phone chirped in his pocket.
He made sure that his smile was visible even from the corner.]
Hey, lover boy. Figured you would have been scooped up by now. Tucked under someone's wing. Need a ride home?
[Was he alright?]
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Your friend's just fine, hunny. In fact, we were just talking about getting a ride back to my place and I didn't want you to feel left out. [ Dick's brows lift as he scans the dance floor, trying to see catch sight of Jason. The boldness in this kid. Casey grins wider at the look on Dick's face. He stage whispers: ] I don't think he wants to share, but I do.
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[The idea of this man being close enough to Dick that he could so easily take his phone made him want to punch his lights out even more than he already did. And considering that this jackass was trying to hone in on his turf? Bring weapons onto his streets?
He chuckled, and over the phone the sound was dark silk.]
Robbie doesn't like sharing...but I don't think he'll mind just this once.
[He pulled all his anger and shoved it into his body, letting it make him just a little sensual as he made his way across the dance floor towards them. Selina would have been proud of the way his hips rolled.]
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he reaches out, finds Caseyās jaw with a warm hand, and turns his gaze toward him, away from Jason. ]
Did you really have to do that? [ Dick says, to Casey, to Jason. this is not the plan, but he keeps the concern hidden off his face as he turns toward their mark. Casey answers, pressing close to him, whispering, fractions of an inch from his lips: ]
Loosen up, buttercup. Itās just some fun.
[ Dick snorts, gaze drops to Caseyās mouth then up again. He presses in and kisses Casey, short, and chaste. When he pulls away, he shakes his head apologetically. ]
Not tonight, sorry.
[ and he stands despite Caseyās sudden ice-cold expression, despite the threat in his eyes and the question on his lips, you sure about that?
but heās not willing to give up control like this, to let this situation potentially slide off the rails like this, so he snorts it. he leaves with a little wave and heads directly toward Jason with a smile carefully curled on his mouth. He meets Jason in the middle of the dance floor and clasps a hand on his shoulder. ]
Letās go.
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Honestly, what was it with would be kingpins and their hairpin triggers.
But then Dick was there, a warm presence against his side, one large hand on his shoulder and Jason didn't think before he leaned into that touch. He needed to make sure that the man in that booth understood that Dick was his. That making a move on the older man would be making a move on both of them.
Fortunately, he was slightly better at controlling himself these days, so instead of claiming Dick's mouth right there on the dance floor, he instead just stretched his arm out to lazily loop around Dick's waist.
Honestly, the man was so touchy, he probably wouldn't even notice.]
Good call. Let's beat it before he decides to follow. Do a few laps of the city before heading home and all that. [He'd turned to murmur it into Dick's ear directly, both to make sure no one else heard and also to be able to keep half an eye on Casey as they left.]
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he reminds himself it's just for the case, it's for Casey's eyes tracking their path out of the bar, and there's no point overthinking it. he loops his arm around Jason right back, lifts his gaze to Jason's face and smiles. it's convincing enough from this distance, but Jason will see the displeasure in his eyes. ]
Uh-huh. Grab a bite on the way, find a rooftop to hangout on. [ Jason knows the drill, and they steadily make their way out of the bar on each others arms until they're back on the street. Dick holds onto his thoughts the whole time, as they hop on their bikes and race through the perpetual traffic, through the city, around the city, hot on each others heels going too fast. it loosens the tension held in his shoulders as the wind whips around the helmet and he spares a glance to Jason catching up on his left: ]
Any new fave chili dog spots?
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He was better about not killing unless he felt like he had to, but his control wasn't limitless and every instinct under his skin was telling him to take out Casey before the man could get a foothold in his city. He wouldn't, because contrary to what everyone thought, he didn't just arbitrarily murder people.
But he would be keeping a very close eye on him from now on.
The race through the city was a welcome distraction, and by the time Dick pulled up at a stoplight to ask about food, Jason was grinning again.]
Yeah! Turn left at the next and follow the river a bit. Should be on the corner of 17th and West. Food cart.
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Sounds good. [ and he peels off the moment the light turns green and leans so tight into the turn he could skim the pavement with his fingers if he wanted to. he can hear the hum of Jasonās bike behind him and slows down to let Jason take the lead. its not a race, but when is it really not a race?
when they arrive at the food cart, he pulls the helmet off and grins at Jason, pushing his hair back out of his face as the adrenaline continues coursing through his veins. he lets Jason order for the both of them, then carefully cradles their chili dogs down an alleyway, parks their bikes, and climbs up a fire escape to perch over the skyline. Dick leans back and letās his legs dangle over the edge of the rooftop. the clench in his chest loosens up with a breath.
he turns his gaze from the skyline to Jason. they should talk about it. that would be the right thing to do. ]
You get why I called it off, right?
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It would have been more fitting if it was something spicier and exotic, but that might have taken the analogy a little too far.
Following Dick up onto the rooftop, the younger man joined him on the edge, legs lightly bouncing off the wall as he took his first giant bite. He even managed to not get anything onto Dick's shirt.]
Nope, but I don' gotta. I trust you to call it as you see it and if you said it was a no go, that's all I gotta hear.
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he shakes his head. ]
I don't wanna just call the shots. [ maybe once upon a time, he'd wanted to hoard all the control and information, but it had come from fear, and he doesn't lean into that anymore. he wants Jason to understand and be on board, like a real team. ] I didn't want that to be-- [ none of them had ever been good at putting feelings into words, but he tries anyway. ] the way we got to know each other in that way.
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The last time he'd worked with Dick, Dick had been fighting with Bruce and Bruce had taken it out on him and...not a whole lot of learning had happened. They'd eventually gotten there, but it hadn't exactly been easy. Jason had pretty much just let Dick make the calls so they didn't butt heads about things.
The explanation made him arch a brow, though, a small smirk on his lips as he finished chewing his bite.]
You know, you could have just said that you didn't want to sleep with me. I could have leaned harder on the mark to just pick me over you.
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I could've let you handle it completely, but if I wanted it done fast and hard I would've gone in with the mask and without you.
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Dick....what?!?
Before he really had a chance to process, however, Dick continued and his disbelief was quickly overridden by mild insult.]
Excuse you, I am perfectly capable of taking point in a honey pot mission without going in 'fast and hard'. I'm a great lay and I'm a master at guiding pillow talk. I once got the GCPD force patrol grid timing of Park Row out of a detective just by playing with his chest hair, so you can take that little assessment and shove it up your ass. And that was without Bat training, so there. [He didn't give in to the urge to stick his tongue out at the older man, but he did finally take that second bite.]
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for asking Jason to do this, for implying he couldnāt do it well. ]
Fine. [ he finally picks up the chilli dog and takes a bite. doesnāt help with the fact that heās now imagining how great of a lay Jason would be, and how good at guiding pillow talk he is. ] Youāre right, Iām sorry. [ he looks out at the city and continues without as much bite in his words. ] Youād sleep with him, and I donāt like the idea of that. Iād be pushing you too far.
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Shifting to sit crosslegged, half sideways on the ledge, he reached out to nudge the older man with his boot.]
You are being way too serious about this, Dickiebird. What is going on in that head of yours?
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Jason doesn't expect a real answer on that one. he can't truthfully say it all. how could he? ]
We haven't worked together in a while, that's all. I'm disappointed it didn't go according to plan but--it's fine. It didn't go badly. [ Casey has his number and is obviously still interested, so he just has to continue later... without Jason. ] Seriously. [ he knocks his chin up and smiles, though the warmth doesn't quite touch his eyes. ]
Hey, you should start buying your shirts smaller like that. [ a wider smile. ] Looks good on you. Did you hear what Casey called you?
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And that tone was surprisingly similar to what he was hearing now.
He arched a brow, the chili dog cradled in his hand, mostly forgotten.]
Stop trying to manage me, Dickface. Whatever it is, just spit it out.
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torn between continuing to play it off, or finding a way to express himself. but the beat drags on for too long as he takes in the expression on Jason's face, and his own smile tapers to something more acceptant.
fine. ]
I'm starting to see I can't do a mission like this when you're involved. [ he folds a leg on the ledge and turns to face Jason. Jason, who's wearing that dumb shirt, carefully holding his chili dog and completely tuned in, watching him, hearing him. ] I'm not saying it's your fault--it's just fucking with me, and I'm gonna sort it out.
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Hadn't Dickie just said that sex with him wasn't what was bothering him? Or had that been an outright lie?]
Is it the 'brothers' thing? Cause, you know....we're not actually related. We haven't even spent that much time together.
But fine, I guess. I'll back off from trying to help. Just...find someone to be on the other side of that comm, man. I don't like the look of that guy.
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but itās gotta be frustrating hearing him talk about it like this, like he canāt just say it. ]
Okay. I will. [ itās better that itās someone else on the other end of the comm, Jasonās right, but it doesnāt feel right to let Jason operate under this assumption.
so after a quiet beat of consideration, he just says it. plain and simple. ]
I canāt risk falling for you. Sex is just sex, but I know itās not gonna be like that with you.
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He was thinking that Dick was uncomfortable with him being on the case because of the brother thing, not because sex with him would get complicated. He blinked when the truth came out, but he didn't look immediately off put by the idea.]
Huh. I guess that makes sense. I mean, it would mean something to me, so I can see it.
[He was far too comfortable just admitting that, but there you go. Sometimes removing the filter was the best option.
He took another bite of his chili dog, chewing thoughtfully before he smirked and chuckled]
Good thing you're not trying to impress me. Chili dogs as a first date would not get you to any bases. Just saying.
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Really? [ he laughs as he turns back to his own food. ] āCus this is pretty good for me. [ rooftop, casual food, a beautiful view and even more beautiful company. whatās not to love? more than anything, Dick is just glad Jason understands what heās been trying to say. some days, he feels he tries so hard to predict Jasonās reaction that he ends up not doing anything at all. ]
Good thing this isnāt a date. [ he takes a bite of the chili dog and folds his leg back over the ledge. ]
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It took work and willpower- and maybe a little bit of therapy that he hadn't exactly told Dick about, yet- but he was far more relaxed than he had been the last time Dick had seen him. The whole 'eight heads in a duffle bag' situation and all.
As for how relaxed he was about the topic...well, his mindset was actually very close to Dick's on that. Sex was just a tool in his tool belt. It had always been that way.]
No, it's a great date. But not a first date, Dickie. Come on, sometimes a guy likes to know he's special. Add a blanket and some pillows and maybe some pretend stargazing and I'm sold, though. 10 outta 10, would kiss you goodnight.
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