The battle was long and arduous. What was supposed to be a quick op went sideways faster than anyone could expect. Don't get it wrong, Alfred's able to defend himself fine day to day, or against a person or two in ideal conditions, but trying to hop around place to place to find out where he can take the three kids behind him and two babies strapped to his chest and back to get them out of here is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Which. He's done before when his dad was in a mood and wanted to prove a point. But that was neither here nor there, and he doesn't currently have the luxury of an uninterrupted 12 peaceful hours on the farm to do that right now.
But God isn't going back home tempting right now... but a jump that big isn't the best idea for babies under a year, and the one on his chest is only five days old, according to the trembling teen he presumes is her mother, based on the anxiety and fear the girl had handing her over, but Alfred needs her able to run.
Not that that helps much when they land in the middle of a crowded room full of gun wielding assholes. Ten total. Shit. And one of the kids landed weird and got picked up by one one of the men.
Fuck.
Alfred presses his emergency button. He can't get out of here alone.
Jason was on standby for the op when the alert went off. He'd grudgingly waited patiently when he had been told it was better to stay behind for the moment.
"What about blondie? Won't he need back up?" He had told Sophia who had been quick to assure him that Alfred was more than capable in this scenario.
Hmph! So much for that.
Speak of the devil.
"Alright, Goldie Locks. Hang tight. Help is on the way dearie," he said to himself in Mrs. Doubtfire's voice.
He launched through a glass ceiling, landing in the middle of a group of armed men.
He moved like a viper, shooting with incredible precision and throwing knives he had stowed in his boot where his bullets were otherwise occupied. Throughout all of it he made sure to cover Alfred and the kids.
Oh god, the kids.
The urgency made him operate on pure instinct and adrenaline as he cleared a path for them.
"MOVE. NOW!"
He launched himself at the motherfucker who had snatched one of the little ones, shooting the gun out of his hand and grabbing the kid when the gunman went down holding his bleeding hand in pain.
"Come on, kiddo, Red Hood's gotcha."
He barely turned before he was also caught in one of the jumps.
Alfred grabbed the girls arm as he sees Red Hood grab the two slightly younger kids, and he grabs the vigilantes arm and teleports them. It's not ideal to go more than 200 feet at a time with a newborn, but he traveled all 450 to get clear of the warehouses they had been in. He's panting and stumbles as they land, breathing heavily, he starts asking the kids if they are okay, none of them speak English. The older two middle kids speak Russian, and the older girl speaks Spanish. He makes sure everyone is unharmed from the fight that just occurred, before he even thinks to turn and check on Red Hood.
He looks over, and sees the other man clutching at his side, clothes dark and sticking to his skin.
"Shit, okay. Uh... Let's go. We need to head to home base." He says. He offers what gauze he has to him. "Kiku can stitch you up and check you out, and we can get these kiddos baths and clothes and rooms for the night." He says, first to Red Hood. And then to the children in their respective languages.
Jason blinked rapidly from the shock of pain that bloomed on his side once they were no longer under fire.
"F-Fuck-" he wheezed through gritted teeth. He didn't cry, just taking the gauze from Alfred wordlessly.
He let Alfred do all the talking and waited for him to get him to the base.
He was getting a little dizzy though.
He just didn't want to make a scene in front of the kids. They had been through more than enough.
Fucking child trafficking bastards.
Hijos de la gran puta...
He would kill them again if he could.
"H-Hey blondie," he slurred, stumbling. "I-"
He didn't get to finish his thought, his blood covered hand falling away from his side as he collapsed.
Alfred assures the children that the worker he hands them off to is a good person, and waves them off. When Jay Collapses, his eyes go wide and he rushes back over to him. “shit shit shit, okay, okay… come on big guy. Let’s get you to the med bay…” he trails off.
He grabs Jay under his arms and hauls him up across his back, before teleporting to the med bay and gently rolling Jason onto a bed.
“Kiku!” He shouts, and Kiku comes rushing over, muttering angrily under his breath in Japanese.
“What happened, Alfred-kun—” he stops and his eyes narrow as he sees Jason’s condition. He swears under his breath. “Scissors, iodine, scalpel, gauze, tape.”
He starts getting Jason’s coat off and then thoroughly washes his hands and gets in gloves while Alfred grabs the supplies.
Kiku takes the sterile scissors and starts cutting off Jason’s shirt, and checks for an exit wound.
“Alfred, why on earth did you even get in this situation…” Kikus voice grows distant in Alfred’s ears and his cheeks flush slightly, at the sight of Jason’s chest. They had worked on missions before, obviously, but Alfred had never had a reason until now to see him in anything less than full uniform, and… wow.
Yes Alfred is gay, thankyou for noticing. Very gay, he thinks to himself as he resumes focusing on getting Kiku anything he’s asked for, and patiently listening to Alfred’s mother hen-ing over his behavior and where the mission went wrong and what he should be doing instead to prevent these issues.
But, as much as Alfred listens, he’s also unable to focus his full attentions, as he usually would.
When Jason next woke he stayed still and silent. It had been trained into him to always wait and listen, to take stock of his surroundings after waking up somewhere unfamiliar or if he was disoriented. It could be the difference between life and death if your enemies knew you were aware enough to fight or escape.
He made a mental inventory, trying to remember as much as he could.
His helmet was off and there was pain in his side.
Because he had been shot before he fell unconscious.
And he could feel the bandages....
He knows for damn sure he didn't patch himself up. An enemy wouldn't have done that for him. Which means he had to be among friends- or allies, at the very least.
Queens Guard, his mind supplied, the memories of the operation slowly flooding his mind.
He instantly relaxed, letting out a deep sigh. He could hear Kiku's persistent grumbles of dissent and Alfred's soft replies although he couldn't make them out.
He frowned, breathing more rapidly.
Alfred...He was okay.
"B-Blondie?" He rasped, voice rough from having just woken up. "Y'Alright..." He said, speech still a bit slurred as green eyes blinked slowly toward the other man, hazy unfocused.
Alfred rushes right over to his side, waving off Kiku. "Keeks, I'm fine, really. I called for help BEFORE I was severely injured this time, it's just the graze, and a scrape from landing a little rough, I promise." He grumbles one last time, rolling his eyes as he turns his attention to Red Hood. Jason. He knew his identity after all, it just... wasn't something he thought about regularly. He also knew, logically, that Jason was a Wayne boy, and that all the Waynes are stupidly pretty very attractive, but...
Actually being faced with that fact was something entirely different. Especially in a setting where he needs to keep it professional. Keep his cool. Not make a big deal out of being rescued like that. Not that he minds being rescued! He appreciates it greatly, in fact. Just... it's also not his normal, either. His face flushes lightly as he thinks about it (and definitely not because Jason is really pretty and really shirtless, aside from the bandages...) and focuses on the man in front of him. "I'm fine, thanks to you... How do you feel?" He asks. "Being shot hurts like hell..."
No matter what Jason told himself- or anyone else for that matter- he was and would always be a bat. So of course...
He noticed everything.
Which was why he was grateful, absolutely smug actually, when his vision cleared fully as the other man rushed to his bedside.
How precious...
Alfred blushed when he looked at Jason, eyes lingering on him in a way he recognized as interest. He made a valiant effort of trying to keep it lowkey, though. Jason had to give him that much.
Besides...
It wasn't as if Jason hadn't been looking, too. Jasom had been looking at Alfred for... a while. An embarrassingly long while, in fact. It was simply that he tended to be wearing a bright red fucking helmet so it wasn't as if Houdini here would have picked up on it.
Jason smirked, overtly eyeing Alfred up and down, hoping to crack that pesky composure open again. He was just so pretty when he blushed.
"I feel like I got shot. Worth it, though. You here to kiss my boo boo and make it better, cowboy?" He teased, winking at him for good measure.
Unfortunately for Jason, Alfred is very dense. He doesn’t notice the other man’s eyes tracing his own form, and is instead focused on his bandages, checking none are seeping through or have come loose.
He may not be a fully trained nurse like Kiku, but he is pretty decent at first aid and wound dressings after growing up alongside Sophia. She always had something going on and it’s honestly a shock that she wasn’t first to go instead of Jackson. But that’s besides the point, though focusing on his bonus-twins is a pretty effective way to not think about the fact that to check dressings he needs to touch Jason.
At his words however, he sputters and flushes bright red all over.
“I. You! I. No! I’m just checking your dressings are good man. I’m sure you have a much better immune system than the boss, hers is shit and barely exists, but that doesn’t mean you should let soggy bandages sit on your skin too long when you’re somewhere with the ability to safely clean and re-dress wounds…”
Ha.
Cute.
Jason sighed, relaxing into the bed.
"I don't wanna move though."
It was true. And he would do as Alfred asked if he really pressed him but Jason had only just woken up. Besides, he was enjoying the view.
And what a pretty one it was, Alfred's blush spreading and darkening.
Jason's eyes hooded over, voice breathy and teasing. "But if you wanna unwrap me like its Christmas go right ahead."
Alfred’s cheeks feel so hot at this point he swears he could cook an egg on them.
He glances over to Jason’s face, and clears his throat. “Well. The front looks fine… and it doesn’t feel totally soggy and isn’t visibly soaked through so it’s probably fine for a couple hours.”
Is… is Jason flirting with him? No… that can’t be it, it… simply is not possible. No way someone like Jason would be into him. He doesn’t look bad or anything, but… he’s not that attractive either. And his glasses are dorky, as he gets reminded daily.
It’s simply not possible.
He must just be joking with him.
Totally.
“I uh… thankyou. For coming so quickly, out there.” Alfred says. “It… would’ve gotten pretty bad, if you hadn’t…”
"I'll take your word for it, then," Jason grunted, pouting slightly that the other man seemed oblivious to his advances.
Or....
He deflated.
Maybe he just wasn't interested and Jason had imagined Alfred checking him out. Maybe he was blushing because Jason made him uncomfortable? He tended to have that effect on people.
"Don't sweat it," Jason sighed, eyes softening. "The kids needed you. And you needed me. It's... as simple as that."
He smiled, achingly tender.
"I am hungry, though. Have a bite with me?"
Alfred smiles brightly at him. “Absolutely. What sounds good? We can head up to the kitchen, I’ll cook.” He offers.
Jason’s smile… Alfred’s own grows slightly.
“And still, it means a lot that you came so fast to help… so no arguing about who’s cooking!”
Alfred notices Jason had seemed to dim for a moment, so he hopes promises of fresh home-cooked food cheers him up. He’s heard the man is an amazing cook himself, but Alfred can’t possibly pass up on the opportunity to cook for him! Maybe someday he’ll cook for Alfred…
Alfred blinks a few times and lightly shakes his head to clear the train of thought. He should just focus on right now, for now.
Jason planted his hands on the bed, heaving himself into a sitting position, hissing painfully with a wince.
Letting out a shaky little laugh, he told Alfred, "If I'd known dinner with such lovely company was on the table I'd have been around to save your ass ages ago."
He shifted his legs until they hung off the edge of the bed and slowly eased himself down until he was standing on his own, taking one step and stumbling into Alfred, clutching the other man's arms in a vice.
"You're gonna-" he cut off, panting a bit, "-gonna have to help me walk, sweetheart."
Wasn't something that was ever easy to admit. Unless you were a cute blonde with glasses who saved kids from literal human scum. Then Jason could stand to ask for a little help. Not because he wanted to be pressed up against him or anything...
Alfred laughs and smiles. “I’d have called for help sooner myself, too. Here.” He scoops Jason up, gently. “I’ve got you, I can lift Ivan in an emergency, carrying you is easy. Think you can handle a short teleport or want me to walk? It’s up to you.” He offers with a smile.
If Jason was beautiful from however slight a distance, he’s positively breath taking up close like this. His eyes are vibrant, full of life and light. And his skin seems to almost glow… he should ask him his skincare routine later, seriously his skin is amazing.
He adjusts his arms and hands slightly for a more secure hold, and he flushes lightly. “Or is this too weird? Sorry if it is I just thought… if being upright and walking hurts… um. If you want set down let me know.”
Jason let out a shocked whimper at the dull pain from being scooped into a fucking princess carry.
As soon as he looked up at Alfred, his throat went dry. The other man was looking at him like Jason was something precious- or at the very least worth handling with care.
"I- uh- whatever you want- or, I mean- whatever is easier for you-" he stammered, voice breathless.
Fuck. Shit. DAMMIT- STOP BEING EMBARASSING.
"I'm okay with either. Walking or poofing. Whichever."
He never once asked to be put down.
Alfred grins widely. “Let’s walk then.” He says.
From there, Alfred takes the long way around. He shows Jason where the gardens, formal dining room, music room, and game room are. He makes a point of showing him to the absolutely massive library, pointing out a whole shelf visible from where he peeked through the entry into full of classics. He also shows him which hall the main seven have their bedrooms down, and points out his own door as the second down on the left. The entire time it’s clear Alfred is perfectly comfortable carrying Jason around like this. Not once does he seem to tire.
Then, eventually, they make it to the kitchen itself. A massive open space with professional grade equipment on one side, and a more standard kitchen set up on the other.
There, he gently sets Jason on the island counter, and head to the fridge to start pulling out all sorts of food ingredients. Ground beef, a container of pre-diced onions, cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and a giant tray covered with bun shaped balls of dough.
“Is burgers okay? It’s what I usually make everyone after a mission gone well. I can make something else for you though, if you’d prefer.”
Jason took in the tour, green eyes full of awe, with a smile that on anyone else might have been considered delicate.
His favorite was the library. There were so many books and he stared longingly at the door as they left it. He hoped he'd be able to go back there.
At least, his library was his favorite until he saw the kitchen. They were definitely tied. He was drooling over a stove and pots and pans of all things.
Get it together, Tadeo!
His cheeks bloomed pink as he was set down on the counter, resisting the urge to kick his feet. Swallowing the sudden onset of nerves gathering in his throat, he watched Alfred pull out some ingredients to cook.
Burgers did sound tasty... but bread might be a bit heavy for him right now.
"Do you have tortillas?" He asked shyly, hating himself for it. His voice was too deep for this sweet, cutesy shit and he was sure Alfred could tell his confidence had fled. And he hated asking for things but the motherfucker was just... so...so...
Nice.
And hot.
But also very, very nice.
"I- we could use all the same ingredients and make tacos- swap the bread for tortillas? Or I could eat a lettuce wrap- If not -I- it's cool. I'll eat whatever," he rambled, looking away from Alfred, brows furrowed intensely and clearly embarrassed at his own request and not wanting to offend Alfred by suggesting something else- even if he did offer to make something else- god dammit- he was being stupid.
It's FINE. You're fine.
Alfred hums, his own cheeks flushing when he sees Jason blush.
“Let me look…” he checks the pantry first, then the fridge, and then the freezer, but finds not one single tortilla. He frowns at that, and grabs a bag of masa and the salt from the pantry.
“I can make some while the buns bake. Want a burger taco? Or I have some pre-marinated steak for steak tacos in the freezer.” He offers, as he grabs a cup of water and starts making the tortilla dough.
“I also have some frozen chicken tamales I could cook really quick. Up to you.”
He pauses to look over to Jason, unable to help thinking about how cute he looks there on the counter… but something in his eyes is a little… off. He can’t tell if it’s emotions or pain, but…
“Hey, are you okay? Pain getting worse? I can get you some Tylenol if it is.”
"Burger tacos is fine," Jason replied softly, wringing his hands in his lap.
He hadn't meant to make Alfeed go so out of his way. Now he felt bad.
He shakes his head. "Pain is normal. I'm used to it."
Yeah the wound still hurt but he didn't want to be a baby about it. Alfred was already doing a lot...
"Sorry..." he said, shrugging helplessly, "I'm not used to this- letting people do stuff for me but... it's... nice."
He offered a weak smile, ducking his head shyly.
Alfred smiles slightly, and rolls his eyes. He grabs a couple Tylenol out of a bottle tucked in a cabinet over the stove.
“Take it, please.” He says, handing them to him alongside a glass of juice. “I hope Apple is okay?” He says.
He then turns back to the food. The dough done, he sets to getting the burgers put together, and grabs out a tortilla press.
“A bunch of assholes never told me when they got into the last of the tortillas. Once every month or two I make them all help me batch cook like 800 in a day, there is literally no reason we should ever be completely out.” He rolls his eyes and laughs. “At least it’s not hard to make a few really quick.”
He gets two burgers cooking, and gets half the tortillas ready to be cooked, and wraps the rest of the dough wrapped and into the fridge. Then he flips the burgers and gets a pan warming for the tortillas.
When the first batch of burgers is done, between cooking tortillas and flipping the others he starts breaking a few apart and mixing in cheese and a bit of pre crumbled bacon. He gets a bites worth on a for and brings it over to Jason.
“Here, taste test for me?”
Hesitant hands reached for the meds, Jason only barely containing a shudder when their fingers brushed together for a mere second. He nodded, "apple is good," and popped the pills into his mouth, hoping that might save him from saying something stupid.
Alfred then turned his attention back to the food, leaving Jason to admire him from behind.
His cheeks burned.
Wow.
He listened to Alfred's tangent about the tortilla shortage. He didn't much mind that everyone had eaten them. Especially since he got to watch Alfred handmake them just because Jason asked for them. It was sweet. Alfred was kind. And his voice was pleasant to the ears.
But then Alfred was turning and walking towards him, those skilled hands now lifting a fork up to his lips in offering.
"Oh," he breathed, leaning forward and taking a bite. His eyes lip up at the taste, "Mmm!" He chewed the food and swallowed. Leaning back on his hands, he smiled gratefully.
"It's good, handsome. Thank you."
Alfred's cheeks flush with a dusting of pink to his faintly tanned cheeks. "I'm glad you like it... Y'know... You don't look so bad yourself... I... Has anyone ever told you how pretty your eyes are?" Alfred asks, stepping slightly closer to Jason, placing his hands on the counter on either side of Jasons hips.
"I... You're pretty cool, y'know that? And well... You kinda saved my ass like you were my knight in shining armor, or well, in a shiny red helmet as it were, and you got hurt because of it... I'd like to try something, if you're alright with it? I, um..." Alfred clears his throat. "Knights deserve a reward, when they make an epic save... no?"
Jason took in the pretty flush dusting Alfred's cheeks, breath catching as he moved in, stammering as he spoke.
"I- I would've always showed up to help you I-"
Alfred complimented his eyes, Jason's lashes fluttering of their own accord. He swallowed thickly, tongue darting out to wet his lips.
He didn't let Alfred say another word, hooking his good arm around the other man's neck and pulling him into a searing kiss, eyes sliding shut.
Oh wow...
Wow.
He made a desperate little sound, hand threading into blonde hair. His hunger was forgotten. He was hungry for something else, body vibrating from the electrifying feeling of the other man's lips.
When he finally tore himself away, he was panting from exhilaration, pupils dilated as he cleared his throat.
"That what you had in mind?"
Alfred's eyes are wide, and he is left breathless when Jason pulls back.
"Oh... My god. That's... yes."Yes."
He breathes out, and pulls Jason in for another kiss, cupping his cheeks.
"You.... Are so amazing, you know that?" He laughs lightly with a soft smile, breathless as he meets Jason's gaze.
Then from behind him, the smell of burning food has him puling back, cursing quietly under his breath.
"Shit!"
He starts doing what he can to salvage the cooking food.
Jason smirked, eyes locked onto every little movement, humming into the second kiss.
Alfred just looked so damned cute flustered like that.
Even if he did burn the food.
Jason let out an easy laugh, sliding off the counter.
"Sorry, Handsome. That was my fault for distracting you. But not all is lost."
He pulled the pan of burgers off the heat, gently tugging Alfred away by the wrist and grabbing a spoon to scoop up the unburnt parts that hadn't crusted to the bottom of the pan.
"Welcome to struggle meals with Jason, where we salvage food fails," he said, using his best TV Host voice. "On today's episode, the guest of honor took the term 'Kiss the Cook' too literally. Unfortunately, the white people tacos suffered a fatal casualty. Can the sexy duo turn this around? Let's find out."
He removed the burnt tortillas and grabbed some of the fresh, uncooked tortillas and laid them down. Once they cooked on one side he flipped them with his hand, letting them puff up before removing them. He made quick work of greasing the pan, and spreading a layer of cheese and salvaged meat to one tortilla before laying another on top and sliding it into the pan.
He turned to grin at Alfred.
"Burger quesadillas it is."
He made a few of them, all one handed. At some point, he lost himself in the task, humming quite happily to himself.
He liked cooking. And he liked Alfred. So naturally, he liked cooking with Alfred.
Alfred laughs and smiles at him.
“It’s okay, no biggie.”
He mixes his burger patty seasonings into more meat for the burgers and starts making more patties.
“That looks SO good… if the tradition wasn’t for burgers… mmmmm”
He says softly, as he works on making the nearly 5 dozen patties it takes to feed the core team.
He also starts grabbing buns and plates and lining them up and getting everything just how people like them, putting the burgers together as they finish.
He hums as he works, and a couple times he slips into marking through choreo they’re working on for class while waiting for patties to cook.
“So… what’s your favorite thing to cook?” He asks, looking over at Jason as he finally puts his own burgers together, and presses a button that sends a food alert to the team.
He hangs back by Jay, only half watching as the team comes through and grabs all their plates, focused more on the gorgeous man beside him.
Jason hardly paid attention to everyone else as he finished up the quesadillas. Alfred's burgers looked pretty but again, the bread would've been too heavy for him.
Next time, he promised himself.
He noticed Alfred's movements however right before they came in.
"I enjoy making breakfast honestly. French toast with sliced fruit and whipped cream, eggs, bacon. And I also enjoy making Latin dishes. Fried pork and plantain with rice mainly. But honestly? I like baking the most. I'm what the kids call a big back," he grinned. "What was that dance you were doing?" He asked curiously.
Was Alfred a dancer? If so, Jason would love to go dancing with him. Perhaps he could ask sooner rather than later. He wanted nothing more than to have any and every excuse to put his hands on the other man's waist.
He took a bite of his quesadilla, moaning at the taste, eyes shutting in bliss. "So good."
“Oooohhhh… I’m a great cook, but baking has never been my thing. I always mess it up somehow.” He chuckles and takes a bite of his burger.
He wipes his face with his hand and his hand on a kitchen towel.
“And yeah, I am! The whole team is. I’m a figure skater, too. Soph and I have been skating partners since we were practically babies. It’s how we met, and what ultimately got me into the whole hero/vigilante gig.” He explains. “Soph and I don’t compete for skating anymore though, but we do ballroom and swing dance comps now. What I was running through though was one of the comp team dances.” He hums.
“Do you dance or anything? I’ve noticed you’re pretty acrobatic, for how much muscle you have. That’s hard to maintain.”
He looks leads Jason over to the small kitchen table now that everyone’s plates are cleared off of it, sitting on one side.
"I can teach you sometime," Jason offered, hope dancing in his eyes. He really wanted more time with Alfred. Something about him just pulled Jason in and wouldn't let go.
"A figure skater? Wow. That's impressive."
He followed Alfred to the table, sitting down gently to not hurt himself worse. "I do dance. Nothing professional although Alfred- I mean my Alfred- or rather my dad's Alfred insisted my dad give me formal dance lessons when I was adopted. So I know a thing or two about that."
"I mainly know Caribbean dances and I break dance pretty well. I've also done the occasional pole dance," he smirked, "although, my big brother says he's better at that one than I am. He's not wrong unfortunately. Fucking show off. He's the real acrobat. I hold my own. I was a Robin too once, you know? But I'm a fighter. You gotta be quick on your feet and be able to pull shit off so you don't get yourself killed. Not everyone can teleport, blondie," he told Alfred, no malice in his tone. If anything he pouted a bit. "Must be cool to be able to do what you do. But hey, if you're interested, I know some pretty cool clubs in Gotham I go to for latin night. If you wanna go with me sometime."
He took a another bite of food. Each bite was better than the last. And he had really been hungry.
Alfred shrugs.
“I appreciate the offer, and I’d love to watch you bake, but I’m okay not being able to. I wouldn’t wanna be too perfect or anything.” He wink and smirks playfully at Jason.
Alfred laughs though as he eats and listens to Jason talk about his experience with dance and about his family.
“Hmmm… I bet I could give your brother a run for his money. Soph insists on everyone doing a… very interesting assortment of dance styles and gymnastics and a whole bunch of shit for training. During the school year we have like an hour of free time a day… it’s worth it, though. Gets us good results.” He grins.
“And… I’d love to go dancing with you. I may make a fool of myself, though. All in fair warning. Any time the teams gone out it’s turned into a whole thing. Soph and I are dance partners, and that continues the couple times she’s dragged me clubbing, so… if you ever look up her name plus clubbing incident there like… at least 5 or 6 clubs we’ve gotten kicked out of for her being a show off and us both getting caught up in the music…”
Jason watched him as he spoke.
He was the slightest bit bummed Alfred didn't want to bake with him but he tried not to show it. Teaching recipes was like it's own expression of affection. It had been true before Katarina had fallen into addiction. It was true when all the neighborhood ladies welcomed him into their kitchens. It was true when Alfred let him put on an apron and walked him through what to do, both as a child and adult. It was true earlier when he'd jumped in to save lunch.
Maybe Alfred didn't experience cooking like that. Maybe food was just food to some people and that was okay.
"I don't need perfection. Just be real," he shrugged instead, face carefully neutral.
His head tilted in interest when Alfred mentioned his dance history, an idea forming in his mind.
"Hmm... Maybe Queensguard and the Batfam can have a dance battle one day. I think it would be fun. My sister does ballet."
His eyes softened and he nudged Alfred's foot under the table with his own. His voice was laced with mild amusement as he spoke.
"I don't know what kind of clubs you go to, but where I'm from- we think good dancers are a real treat. Any time I've showed off people either moved out of the way to enjoy the show or they've joined in on the fun. I think kicking people out of dance clubs for dancing is .... rancid vibes, not gonna lie. Bring your friends along and I'll take you places where you can be celebrated."
He quietly finished his food and then leaned back in his chair and just... sat. He looked off into space, seemingly lost in thought.
He wanted to go on an actual one on one date with Alfred before anything.
Hmm...
"What are some of your interests? Things you really like to do?"
Alfred fights to hide the small frown at how sad Jason looks when he says no to baking.
His attention is quickly recaptured though at the idea of a dance battle, and he grins.
“That could be fun. And it’d be… Cass that does ballet, right? And okay, in the club owners’ defense, their issue was people being launched into the air or swung around with no safety precautions or a designated area… I mean. We were totally aware of our surroundings, but… I get the concerns.”
Alfred finishes his food while Jason does, observing his face, committing it to memory, and wanting nothing more than to always see him smile.
“Umm… working on theoretical physics, cooking, skating… dance practice with Soph. I… honestly I’m pretty lucky. I get to do what I love every day.” He shrugs sheepishly. He’s kinda boring honestly, in his opinion. All he ever does, all day every day, is a combination of all his favorite things. “Oh! I also play the drums.”
He fiddles with a paper towel, humming.
“What about you?” He asks. “What are your favorite things to do?”
