[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.
[ heâs not articulating it well, and itâs making Jason completely misunderstand his point, but for a brief moment, he wonders if itâs better to let Jason believe what he wants to assume.
but itâs gotta be frustrating hearing him talk about it like this, like he canât just say it. ]
Okay. I will. [ itâs better that itâs someone else on the other end of the comm, Jasonâs right, but it doesnât feel right to let Jason operate under this assumption.
so after a quiet beat of consideration, he just says it. plain and simple. ]
I canât risk falling for you. Sex is just sex, but I know itâs 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 doesnât get weird at all. he ends up smiling about that more than Jasonâs actual joke. ]
Really? [ he laughs as he turns back to his own food. ] âCus this is pretty good for me. [ rooftop, casual food, a beautiful view and even more beautiful company. whatâs not to love? more than anything, Dick is just glad Jason understands what heâs been trying to say. some days, he feels he tries so hard to predict Jasonâs reaction that he ends up not doing anything at all. ]
Good thing this isnât a date. [ he takes a bite of the chili dog and folds his leg back over the ledge. ]
Edited (I⌠hit enter too quickly⌠) 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.
[ he really shouldnât be as easily charmed by Jasonâs antics as he is, but here he is, smiling around his last mouthful of the chili dog. he crumples its thin sleeve in his hand and wipes off his fingers on a napkin. ]
Cute, Jason. Didnât know you were about that. [ thereâs a warm mirth in his eyes as he sets a hand on the ledge beside him and looks at Jason. but despite what he says, heâs always known Jason was a romantic. his soft heart felt so much, and as crushed and hardened as it was by the world, it still showed through in moments like this. he wants so badly to protect it.
doesnât mean he wonât tease. ]
You sure you wouldnât want a long walk on the beach? [ his smile widens. ] Or Iâll pack you a picnic with cheeses and a baguette and all that. Maybe a bottle of wine? Or is that too much for a first date?
[He rolled his eyes, but he was still grinning as he popped the last of his chili dog into his mouth. The paper slip got folded and slipped into the pocket of his jeans and then he was flopping back to lay out on the ledge as he finished chewing, his arms folding up to pillow his head.
Dick's far too small shirt rode up far too much with the motion.]
I don't know about the beach, but a picnic sounds nice. No wine, never got a taste for the stuff, but bread and cheese sound good. Maybe pack a new book. Settle in under a shade tree and just take turns reading to each other.
[He wasn't being wistful. No, that would be silly.
Clearing his throat, he let one leg dangle out over the edge.]
Nobody does shit like that anymore, dude. It's all gone the way of handwritten love letters and heartfelt conversations. Today's world is too broken for it. Besides, you'd crawl outta your skin in a situation like that.
[ he'll just casually ignore the urge to drag his hand along Jason's newly revealed mid drift, and instead, just tip his head questioningly with a teasing smirk. ]
Says who? If I can read a story to a room full of toddlers, I can read to you, Jason.
[He grinned up at the sky, shaking his head a little. He didn't believe that for a second, but also...the mental image of Dick Grayson surrounded by toddlers with a book and that perfect fucking smile...
It did things to his stomach that he didn't give it permission to do.]
Whatever you say, Dickiebird. [And if his voice was far too fond and far too soft to have ever come from Jason Todd, well there was no one there to hear it.]
[ his own smile softens with that tone. he knows how rare it is, how rare these moments are in general, when theyâre more or less getting along, having a conversation, getting to catch a break. ]
Youâre invited if you wanna come, but theyâre not reading Tolkien yet. Next oneâs how the Grinch Stole Christmas. Maybe itâll resonate with you.
[He smirked, lightly kicking out with his dangling leg to tap Dick's with the toe of his boot. No rough housing this close to the edge, but he didn't think that counted.]
I'm actually pretty good with kids. I volunteer in a lot of my shelters if they're running low on staff and I don't have any time sensitive cases.
[ Dick pulls his leg away, lifting a brow in warning as a smirk tugs at his mouth. down, boy. Jason doesnât protest the Grinch part. ]
Yeah, I know youâd be. [ good with kids, that is. Jason has the personality for it. he sees it in glimpses sometimes, when the curtains are drawn and the threats fall away. thereâs something about kids that disarms both of them. at least they have that in common. ]
Iâd still like to see it, though. Come by sometime. [ to the Library near the Titans tower. ] Then weâll grab a coffee and Iâll show you âround town. Howâs that for a first date?
[Of course he didn't protest the Grinch part. He has a reputation to uphold, after all.
His smile was still soft and kind of sleepy as he smoothly sat up, the muscles of his stomach bunching under that stupid shirt. But he was nodding and actually looked a little content with the idea.
He wouldn't be able to leave Gotham for long, his empire needed it's leader, but a vacation to somewhere with actual sunshine sounded nice.]
That sounds like a lovely first date. But for now, come on. I think we've lost any tail we did have. Let's go home. You need a shower, you smell like his cologne.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
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.
no subject
but itâs gotta be frustrating hearing him talk about it like this, like he canât just say it. ]
Okay. I will. [ itâs better that itâs someone else on the other end of the comm, Jasonâs right, but it doesnât feel right to let Jason operate under this assumption.
so after a quiet beat of consideration, he just says it. plain and simple. ]
I canât risk falling for you. Sex is just sex, but I know itâs not gonna be like that with you.
no subject
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.
no subject
Really? [ he laughs as he turns back to his own food. ] âCus this is pretty good for me. [ rooftop, casual food, a beautiful view and even more beautiful company. whatâs not to love? more than anything, Dick is just glad Jason understands what heâs been trying to say. some days, he feels he tries so hard to predict Jasonâs reaction that he ends up not doing anything at all. ]
Good thing this isnât a date. [ he takes a bite of the chili dog and folds his leg back over the ledge. ]
no subject
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.
no subject
Cute, Jason. Didnât know you were about that. [ thereâs a warm mirth in his eyes as he sets a hand on the ledge beside him and looks at Jason. but despite what he says, heâs always known Jason was a romantic. his soft heart felt so much, and as crushed and hardened as it was by the world, it still showed through in moments like this. he wants so badly to protect it.
doesnât mean he wonât tease. ]
You sure you wouldnât want a long walk on the beach? [ his smile widens. ] Or Iâll pack you a picnic with cheeses and a baguette and all that. Maybe a bottle of wine? Or is that too much for a first date?
no subject
Dick's far too small shirt rode up far too much with the motion.]
I don't know about the beach, but a picnic sounds nice. No wine, never got a taste for the stuff, but bread and cheese sound good. Maybe pack a new book. Settle in under a shade tree and just take turns reading to each other.
[He wasn't being wistful. No, that would be silly.
Clearing his throat, he let one leg dangle out over the edge.]
Nobody does shit like that anymore, dude. It's all gone the way of handwritten love letters and heartfelt conversations. Today's world is too broken for it. Besides, you'd crawl outta your skin in a situation like that.
no subject
Says who? If I can read a story to a room full of toddlers, I can read to you, Jason.
no subject
It did things to his stomach that he didn't give it permission to do.]
Whatever you say, Dickiebird. [And if his voice was far too fond and far too soft to have ever come from Jason Todd, well there was no one there to hear it.]
no subject
Youâre invited if you wanna come, but theyâre not reading Tolkien yet. Next oneâs how the Grinch Stole Christmas. Maybe itâll resonate with you.
no subject
[He smirked, lightly kicking out with his dangling leg to tap Dick's with the toe of his boot. No rough housing this close to the edge, but he didn't think that counted.]
I'm actually pretty good with kids. I volunteer in a lot of my shelters if they're running low on staff and I don't have any time sensitive cases.
no subject
Yeah, I know youâd be. [ good with kids, that is. Jason has the personality for it. he sees it in glimpses sometimes, when the curtains are drawn and the threats fall away. thereâs something about kids that disarms both of them. at least they have that in common. ]
Iâd still like to see it, though. Come by sometime. [ to the Library near the Titans tower. ] Then weâll grab a coffee and Iâll show you âround town. Howâs that for a first date?
no subject
His smile was still soft and kind of sleepy as he smoothly sat up, the muscles of his stomach bunching under that stupid shirt. But he was nodding and actually looked a little content with the idea.
He wouldn't be able to leave Gotham for long, his empire needed it's leader, but a vacation to somewhere with actual sunshine sounded nice.]
That sounds like a lovely first date. But for now, come on. I think we've lost any tail we did have. Let's go home. You need a shower, you smell like his cologne.