Nightwing @anightlywing - Tumblr Blog

Jason was hungry, as always, starving, as always. He doesn't think he knows what it feels like to not be hungry, to not be starving, to not have the thought of food or the lack thereof in his system constantly in his mind.

He doesn't think he's eaten in a few days. It's hard to keep track considering the fact sometimes he doesn't even sleep for a day and it's not like Jason has a fucking calendar. Winter was hard but it's warming up again so that's nice.

He still needs food though so stealing it is. He doesn't want to, OK? But, he doesn't really have a choice here. He tries to choose the cars that look more expensive looking and like they're owned by someone who can afford to buy more but in Crime Alley there isn't much choice in the matter.

Jason grips his tire iron in his hand, a tool but also a weapon if needed. His dad taught him how to jack off a tire and also put it back on though now that isn't as useful as the former.

Today seems to be his lucky day however because on the edge of Crime Alley he spots a very nice motorcycle. It's blue which is definitely strange, custom too. He doesn't think he's ever seen a vehicle like this before, honestly. He knew venturing a bit out of Crime Alley would be good today.

It's high risk since he might get shot out and everything plus it's pretty tiring (ha, get it?) journey but that doesn't matter. He wonders how much he'll get for this as he crouches down to start jacking the first tire off. Unfortunately for Jason fate doesn't have any mercy for him as he moves over to the second one.

@local-gothamite-tire-thief

Dick is finally finished with that mission Bruce wanted him to help with after two days. Two days since he got sidetracked and ended up waking in one of Jason's safehouses after being hit with magic. He's planning on just going to a safehouse nearby, either one of Bruce's or another one of Jason's since he's feeling particularly spiteful, to sleep off his exhaustion and get back to Bludhaven the next morning.

His things are still in the cave, but after arguing with Bruce continuously since he finally got to the manor, he just needs his space at this point. He wanted to spend more time with Damian, but the kid seems to be in a bad mood too after Dick never showed for their planned movie night, despite his apologies.

He's grappling his way back to where he'd hidden his bike, when he lands silently on the fire escape of one of the surrounding buildings. He pauses when he sees the scene before him in the alleyway below. He exhales through his nose in a small silent laugh, smirking a bit. It reminds him of when Jason himself had told him about how he met Bruce, stealing the tires off the batmobile.

Now here Dick is, watching a small boy, likely an alley kid since he's close by to Crime Alley and the boy looks disheveled, stealing the tires off the wingcycle. The kid has one wheel off already, going for the next while looking around cautiously. But Dick has been trained to blend in with the shadows and be quiet with his movements.

He can't wait to tell this to Jason...if Jason isn't pissed at him or anything. The last conversation they had was awkward though, not an argument, so he hopes he didn't somehow fuck things over. Dick finally jumps down, making his presence known and now masking his landing. He folds his arms, standing a few feet away from the boy.

"Kinda need those to drive, y'know?"

He says, grinning a little as he scans the kid and their surroundings.

His leg bounces a bit as he continues to take off the tires, glancing around nervously every few seconds and chewing on his lip. The anxiety of this stuff never really leaves though he's gotten better at handling it. It's just a motorcycle so it'll be a quicker job but he still worries.

He just wants to get this over with and haul the tires away to where he's set up. From there he'll make it back to Crime Alley and sell them to his guy. They are his dad's friends or coworkers that Jason met once when he.. was around and took him to his job. They said they don't know where dad is so he's probably dead, Jason doesn't know why he holds out hope he maybe isn't.

He's none the wiser of anyone else's presence, tensing a bit as he feels someone's eyes on him, a gut feeling. Jason seems to be right when he hears the voice of a man. Whipping his head around he looks at the man, blue eyes wide.

He has extremely frizzy hair that's around his shoulders by now since he can't exactly go get a hair cut. His nose is clearly broken and healed poorly but before the man can get a better look at the rest of him he grabs some dirt nearby and throws it in the man's eyes before quickly running off around the corner, swearing under his breath.

Fuck. Who was that guy? He had a really weird outfit and a mask for some reason but Jason honestly doesn't care right now as he climbs into a fire escape and goes through a window into a building.

Dick squints a little at the boy, he definitely looks scruffy, but something about him is almost familiar in a way he can't place, something about those eyes...but Dick doesn't exactly get to think more on it because the kid throws a handful of dirt up at him and starts climbing the fire escape.

Dick coughs, harshly, covering his mouth with his hand and sticking out his tongue in disgust since some of it got into his mouth. He brushes it off his lenses and moves to climb after the kid.

"Hey! Wait! I can help you, kid!"

He yells up at him, moving to use the wall as leverage and jump up to the fire escape again as well, he pulls himself up as the boy pulls himself through the window. It's a fairly small crack but Dick's a trained acrobat and contortionist, so it's not much of a struggle to get himself through as well.

"Hello? Look, I'm a hero, like Batman, yeah? I can help you, if you need somewhere to stay Hood's got some shelters open down by the narrows you can go to, get some food and water and have a roof over your head..."

He says, loudly as he scans the area, looking for the kid. He huffs, dragging a hand through his bangs a bit, he just needs to make sure this kid is somewhere safe, he obviously needs money considering he was trying to get Dick's tires, maybe Dick could give him some money? He doesn't have much at the moment, but he'd rather someone who needs it has it instead, really.

Jason scoffs, looking around for an exit though he isn't in as much of a rush since they probably can't follow him through here. Old guys usually aren't the most flexible and he's tested it.

He hears the sound of someone entering through the window and swears again.

"Fat chance!"

He shouts out in response as he looks around for somewhere to hide in, finding an opening in the roof and climbing up there before ducking. He peeks down after a bit to scan the man more.

He's in some skin tight suit, maybe sports wear? Jason wouldn't really know. He scoffs a bit at that, the idea of it really before bringing his hands over his mouth, praying that the man didn't hear that and doesn't look up.

They definitely don't look like a superhero. Superman has his whole cape and S symbol with bright colours, same with Robin and his cape. Batman fucking sucks but he has that whole bat theme going on and a cape too.

Jason doesn't really know any other heros than that but he doesn't trust any of them even if he does know them and especially this guy even if he is one of them.

"I'm not- trying to trick you or anything! My name's Nightwing, I'm a vigilante in Bludhaven, I'm not really in Gotham that often but- but I'm able to help you, kiddo."

Dick says, looking around and suddenly regretting on insisting his suit be so much less high tech than everyone else's in the family. He likes simplicity, and this hasn't really failed him yet. He sighs, walking around the place slowly as he looks around to find where the kids hiding.

"Y'know, I knew another kid who used to sell tires...stole the tires right from the Big Bat himself. You must be pretty sneaky to get those things around. I'm not going to hurt you or anything, I promise."

Dick says, trying to make his voice softer so he doesn't scare the kid at all. He finally spots where the kids hiding out in the roof. Dick sighs but he doesn't try to grab the kid or anything, not wanting to terrify the boy even more, so instead he just acts like he hasn't spotted him, walking around the area of the building again, this time not looking for anything, instead just walking around, fiddling with his fingers a bit.

He wants the boy to be able to come out himself when he feels like he can trust Dick enough to, he knows some kids aren't big hero fans, but Dick just wants to make sure the kid at least gets to a shelter or something for the night and doesn't get hurt. Gotham is dangerous, and the kid looks tiny. He probably hasn't eaten in a long time.

Jason frowns at that, not knowing who the heck that is. Last he checked Bludhaven didn't have any vigilante or whatever they like calling themselves. They're all the same to Jason, just people in weird outfits who just beat up some bad guys and ignore everything that happens around here.

He definitely doesn't trust this man despite what he says about not wanting to trick Jason, that's what they all say. He does notice the blue bird on the man's chest, kinda like Superman's S. OK, so maybe he is a super-vigilante-whatever thing.

He tilts his head a bit at that story, finding it amusing if nothing else though it's probably a big fat lie. Jason doesn't think they've found him which is good so he definitely isn't gonna start talking but he really needs to leave. Maybe the man will fuck off and go?

Almost on cue his stomach growls and he swears, again, just deciding to jump down with a small "oomph." before making a run for it again and slipping out the window again, hoping the man just decides he's more trouble than it's worth like most people do.

Dick notices the kid jump down, turning immediately at the sound and widening his eyes when he goes towards the window.

"Shit-"

Dick swears, moving quickly towards the window, he's about the grab the kid before thinking differently and just following him back out the fire escape. If he grabs him the kid's just gonna be even more scared of him, and that's the exact opposite of what he wants.

"Kid, please! I mean it, you're gonna make yourself sick out here, it isn't safe! I can get you some food, I can tell you're hungry."

Dick says, moving to block his path on the fire escape by slipping quickly past the boy and to the ladder. The kid is definitely small, and up close Dick squints a little at him. Why does he look so familiar? He's dirty, and needs a haircut. He's probably been on the streets for a while now given the state of him, and how skinny he looks. Looking at the boys eyes for a bit longer has him pausing before it clicks.

"Wait...Jason?"

Jason grips his tire iron in his hand, a tool but also a weapon if needed. His dad taught him how to jack off a tire and also put it back on though now that isn't as useful as the former.

@local-gothamite-tire-thief

"Kinda need those to drive, y'know?"

He says, grinning a little as he scans the kid and their surroundings.

Fuck. Who was that guy? He had a really weird outfit and a mask for some reason but Jason honestly doesn't care right now as he climbs into a fire escape and goes through a window into a building.

Dick coughs, harshly, covering his mouth with his hand and sticking out his tongue in disgust since some of it got into his mouth. He brushes it off his lenses and moves to climb after the kid.

"Hey! Wait! I can help you, kid!"

Jason scoffs, looking around for an exit though he isn't in as much of a rush since they probably can't follow him through here. Old guys usually aren't the most flexible and he's tested it.

He hears the sound of someone entering through the window and swears again.

"Fat chance!"

He shouts out in response as he looks around for somewhere to hide in, finding an opening in the roof and climbing up there before ducking. He peeks down after a bit to scan the man more.

Jason doesn't really know any other heros than that but he doesn't trust any of them even if he does know them and especially this guy even if he is one of them.

"I'm not- trying to trick you or anything! My name's Nightwing, I'm a vigilante in Bludhaven, I'm not really in Gotham that often but- but I'm able to help you, kiddo."

Jason grips his tire iron in his hand, a tool but also a weapon if needed. His dad taught him how to jack off a tire and also put it back on though now that isn't as useful as the former.

@local-gothamite-tire-thief

"Kinda need those to drive, y'know?"

He says, grinning a little as he scans the kid and their surroundings.

Fuck. Who was that guy? He had a really weird outfit and a mask for some reason but Jason honestly doesn't care right now as he climbs into a fire escape and goes through a window into a building.

#*⋆˚ 🌃 ꩜｡ 'what else could you do though? its all that you knew.'#dc rp #dick grayson #dc comics rp #dick grayson rp #nightwing #nightwing rp #richard grayson #richard grayson rp #batfam rp #🩻🌒🩵🌙

Dick coughs, harshly, covering his mouth with his hand and sticking out his tongue in disgust since some of it got into his mouth. He brushes it off his lenses and moves to climb after the kid.

"Hey! Wait! I can help you, kid!"

Jason grips his tire iron in his hand, a tool but also a weapon if needed. His dad taught him how to jack off a tire and also put it back on though now that isn't as useful as the former.

@local-gothamite-tire-thief

"Kinda need those to drive, y'know?"

He says, grinning a little as he scans the kid and their surroundings.

Starting to think people in this city and Gotham too, just want my head on a pike because OH MY GODDD.

I DIDNT EVEN DO ANYTHINGGG :(

#Someone called the cops on me. WHERE IS THE SOLIDARITY GUYS?!?#*⋆˚ 🌃 ꩜｡ 'give me neon lights. roll me paper heights.'#dc rp #dick grayson #dc comics rp #dick grayson rp #nightwing #nightwing rp #richard grayson #richard grayson rp #batfam rp #🩻🌒🩵🌙

the-flying-robin

Presenting...

' Looks like the cat did a number on you...Vienna, Oh. '

.* --- 🎪🎟️🎪 --- *.

Robin!

The Boy Wonder!!!

Batman's best friend and partner.

9 y/o, newly Robin.

One of the Flying Graysons.

.* --- 🎪🎟️🎪 --- *.

' Death, like a door, to a place we've never been before. '

.* --- 🎪🎟️🎪 --- *.

OOC / BG INFO:

#made a blog for dickbin teehee #ooc post #blog promo

FUCK WAIT I DIDNT TURN ON ANON

ok now dick gets turned into robin again DEFINITELY not sent by the previous asker

(// OPEN RP STARTER!! (anyone is free to reply regardless of if we've interacted b4) Dick gets magic de-aged to hmm abt 8-9 years old?? Freshly Robin Dickiiee)

Dick is patrolling around Gotham for once, visiting the city to see Damian and the others when the spell hits him harshly.

"WOAH-"

All that can be heard is a loud yelp as Nightwing poofs out of existence, in his place a small boy, around eight years old appears. He's in a robin costume; the red tunic, bright short yellow cape, green sleeves, green small scaled trunks, and pointed green shoes. The boy blinks a bit before getting up from the ground.

"Hello..?"

The boy says. He glances around curiously, obviously confused about the situation with a small pout on his face.

Jason was on patrol as per usual, attempting to not get spotted by a certain bird in black and blue who's in town which clearly isn't panning out well as he sees Dick swinging over the roof tops nearby.

He grumbles a bit, moving to try get away before the other spots him but before he can properly escape he hears a yelp from the man in question. Great.

Jason moves to walk back over to where he saw the man, half convinced he's gonna see the other perfectly fine who just made that noise to trick Jason into walking over but instead spots a flash of yellow red and green.

Well, that's weird. Last he checked Damian wasn't nearby and anyways his uniform doesn't look like that. He puts his guns into the holsters before peeking again to see.. a child?

More accurately a child definitely not in the double digits yet with that tanned skin and the shitty Robin uniform that tormented him without any pants. He officially hates de-aging magic.

Jason moves to put his guns in his pockets since he doesn't think the trained toddler will like seeing someone with guns approaching him before walking over.

"Hey.. Robin?"

Dick yelps, going into a defensive position immediately and glaring up at the man.

"What is it? Wh- what happened? What did you do? Where's Batman?!"

He asks, his voice is much more high pitched than Dick's but also slightly accented on some syllables. He's pouting a little, holding his fists up like he's ready for a fight.

He's got a few bandaids and bruises on his legs and arms from getting scraped around, mostly from debris from explosions or getting thrown around, but otherwise seems fine. Dick's trying to be better at the crime fighting thing, but it can be a lot different than being a Flying Grayson.

Jason snorts a bit under the helmet with translates to a crackle through the helmet at the reaction. He doesn't see Dick like this a lot, unguarded and not playing his stupid act.

He isn't quite sure if the others notice but everything about how Dick acts is fake in a way, a performance. He doesn't see Dick a lot in general though so what does he know.

"I didn't do anything. I don't know where Batman is either but I'm.. a friend of his, see?"

He says, pointing to the bat on his chest. He honestly has to resist the urge to let the annoyance he feels just saying that come through. He's thankful for the helmet hiding the disgusted expression on his face.

"But Batman doesn't have any other friends besides me!"

Dick says, he drops the defensive pose to fold his arms over his chest, pouting even more with a childish tone to his voice. Bruce is Dick's bestfriend! He would tell him if he had any other friends, and Batman is just a stupid loner! Thats why Dick is helping him.

"He- He'd tell me if he had any friends. You're just a big um...you don't say the truth! You're saying nonsense!"

He frowns deeply, staring up at the man with a stubborn expression. The man's really tall, Dick barely reaches his waist, but he doesn't care. He can beat up big guys, he's Robin. Obviously.

Jason presses his lips together, resisting the urge to start laughing honestly because it's kinda cute.

"Well, I'm more of an ally.. like a business partner. You're his friend, he told me all about you."

He corrects which is more accurate to whatever the fuck Jason and Bruce have going on. He knows Bruce doesn't see him as his son anymore despite.. whatever, doesn't matter.

"Business– Ally.. thing."

Jason repeats, rethinking calling it a partner because he isn't quite sure if Dick will take offence to that title too. While he does find this entertaining he kinda needs to get Dick somewhere safe until this wears off.

"Well, I'm his bestfriend and partner, I'm the boy wonder! ...are you involved in those big cases Batman says I can't do yet because I'm not smart enough?"

Bruce said he wasn't ready and he needed to know more about the criminology junk to do it, so that means he's too dumb. Which is totally unfair but all those textbooks are hard and boring to read, so Dick just hides them under his bed (he has a big bed of his own now!) and ignores it.

Dick doesn't usually talk this much but something about being Robin makes it way easier, even if he stumbles on his words a lot. Bruce just seems pleased when he listens and talks, not when he's quiet or hiding. Dick doesn't really know why.

"If you've got a bunch of bad guys you need me to um...take out and punch I can help! I can save people! But um..."

He looks around.

"We should find Batman. I'm not allowed to be on my own unless Batman says so."

He mumbles a bit, he pulls his cape forwards a little, it's shorter than the one the others had since he got a longer one when he got older, but this one stops a bit by his wrists. He fiddles with the ends of it.

Jason smiles softly at that. At the very least this version of Dick is very endearing and cute. He moves a bit closer, crouching a bit and resting his hands on his knees

"I'm sure you're really smart I'm just some.. outside help for Batman."

He explains which once again isn't a lie. He forgets sometimes how young Dick was when he started all this. Other than those first 8 years his entire life he's been a vigilante.. in this cruel world of theirs. Part of him only hates Bruce more for the sidekicks thing seeing just how young Dick was.

"Of course but.. since Batman isn't here we she probably go to my safehouse. He wont like the both of us patrolling in Gotham alone."

Jason says, trying to keep his voice soft though he can't help but roll his eyes and grumble at the end.

"Okay...Mr. Helmet Guy. I'm super smart!"

Dick nodding a little. He starts frowning and looking around. Well if the man with the helmet is actually a bad guy then Dick can defeat him and Bruce will be way proud of him, maybe he'll even let Dick hug him! That'd be really cool.

"M'kay. Robin will watch you and protect you! Have no fear the Boy Wonder is here!"

Dick smiles with his hands on his hips, the way his Mama and Papa always said to when he was performing, he's supposed to look friendly even if he doesn't feel happy. It's pretty easy to do after years of practice. But it does make him miss them even more.

"Um...Whats a safehouse?"

Jason sighs of relief a bit that he seems to at least be cooperating and coming with him though the fact that Dick never died because he got kidnapped is impressive with these kind of survival skills. Then again he's an 8 or 9 year old child so Jason really shouldn't expect much.

"Thank you then, Robin.

He laughs softly at that, straightening a bit and looking around. He looks exactly like how the newspaper articles and posters used to make him look. Jason used to look at those all the time.. trying to pretend to be the other. Clearly he didn't do the best job.

"It's like... a house that's really safe because it's got a bunch of weapons and vigilante stuff. You'll see."

He explains, raising an eyebrow under the helmet before gesturing for Dick to follow him.

Dick runs up to him, grabbing at his cape so it covers his shoulders a bit more as he follows the man. Dick hums a little in response.

"Okay...why do you wear a helmet? Do you ride bikes? Batman never wears a helmet when he ride bikes, he says his cowl counts but that's not true I don't think. He says wrong things a lot."

Dick asks, following the tall man to the safehouse. He's looking at his surroundings pretty intently, trying to be sure he checks everything because Bruce always says he has bad awareness of his surroundings or something so he needs to be better. But he's not really good at it.

He starts asking questions almost automatically, because Bruce likes it when he talks while they're on patrol, he always relaxes more, and whenever he talks people are happier than when he isn't, and so he's rambling whatever comes to mind like he usually does.

Dick starts kicking a rock around a little as they walk, but gets distracted by the action, before remembering he's supposed to be following the helmet man as he runs back up to him.

Jason laughs softly at the questions, pretending to think a bit before answering. Good to know Dick insulting Bruce started very early.

"I do ride bikes. I also wear a helmet to cover my whole head and protect it."

He explains, making sure he's walking fairly slowly for him considering the fact he's almost 2 times this child's size. He doesn't know how he was even allowed on the streets at this age. He doesn't really understand why Dick is looking around so frantically, assuming it's because he's on edge.

Jason notices Dick getting distracted almost immediately, looking back at the child and chuckling softly when he notices he got distracted by the rock, holding out his hand for him to hold as he continues.

Dick hums, taking the man's hand easily and smiling. Bruce never really lets him hold his hand. He says Dick needs to be focused in the field and it's better not to huddle together or anything. He shouldn't get distracted. Which is something he just did. Ah geez.

"Is it because of shooting guns? My cape is all helmet like, it can't be shot at with guns, B says that's important. I got shot last month right here!"

He points at a healing scar on his arm with a toothy smile. One of his front teeth is missing. It hurt really bad but he didn't even cry while Bruce was there (mostly because he hadn't even really realized what happened) and got it treated. He only cried when he was alone. He think Alfred might have noticed but he didn't say anything. Getting benched sucked, but no school was great!

"That was 'cause I forgot to use the cape. B got so mad and stuffs, but I didn't even cry!"

Dick complains a bit with a small pout, still holding onto the mans hand.

Jason smiles back when Dick takes his hand though it's obviously not visible, making sure to keep the same pace as him. It's so small.. it reminds him of the Alley kids but still it's a bit jarring in a way. Maybe he's thinking too much about it.

"Yep, that too. They're really loud."

He hums, tilting his head at the next part. He stops to crouch down a bit and look at the wound, scanning the area. He frowns a bit, how big the bullet wound is compared to his arm though even as a child Dick is pretty muscular. Comes with the territory of course, Jason himself gained some muscle as a kid shortly after becoming Robin and finally eating enough.

"Oh, wow. Bet you were so brave. The cape is bullet proof?"

He asks, hesitating for a moment before moving to pick Dick up, placing him on Jason's hip wrapping the cape around him the best he can. It'll be quicker and maybe part of the reason is because he wants to hold his littler big brother.

"They are, my ears start ringing all over and it hurts bad."

Dick says, putting his hands over his ears in emphasis. The domino he has on doesn't have any lenses but he does squint his eyes a little in confusion when the man stops to look at it.

"I gotta battle scar. Means I'm um...cool, like Batman. He's got a bunch of scars all over his places."

Dick says, tapping the scar a bit. He's a bit surprised when he's picked up but just smiles and kicks his feet a little. He giggles a bit.

"Yeah it's super cool! B says it's to protect me because I'm a walking target. I don't know what that means because he taught me not to just walk around anyways..."

Dick says, making a face and leaning his head against the man's shoulder.

"Um, Mr. Helmet man, do you think Batman's okay?"

Dick asks after a while, his voice a bit quieter while he stares down at his hands. He's started playing with one of the zippers on the mans jacket.

Jason hums, walking much quicker now since he doesn't have to slow down so Dick can keep up.

"I bet he does."

He mumbles. Jason remembers when he first saw Bruce's scars, how he tried to play it off but the man could tell he was staring because, yeah, he himself had a lot of scars and so did most people around him but not that many and those kind of scars people don't survive.

People without the medical care of a billionaire or even some disinfectant and stitches don't survive those kinda scars. Now.. most of his scars are because of himself.

"It looks really comfy too, I like your suit."

Jason says softly even though he's kinda lying. He hates that fucking suit but on Dick this young it doesn't look as bad. He knows it was inspired by the old Flying Graysons suit but he supposes he can only really see it when it's on one of them.

"Of course. He's just busy. Hey, you wanna learn a secret?"

He comforts, trying to quickly change the topic afterwards.

Dick hums, watching their surroundings a bit as he takes his head from the mans shoulder. He moves to look down at his suit at that. He giggles.

"Yeah it's awesome! I made it myself. B said it seemed um...some big word that I didn't know the meaning of but it sounded bad. But I like it, so it doesn't matter what his dumb face thinks. It's mine."

He says with a small shrug. It's really similar to his costume he wore as the Flying Graysons, but also a mix of what his Mama wore too. His papa always wore blue but his Mama wore red, in their duo act. Then when they had him they all wore yellow, red and green. Mama had the yellow cape.

He starts chewing on one of his fingers a little, a bad habit that Alfred always yells at him for doing. He pauses at that, tilting his head.

"Okay. Yes! I can keep secrets! I can do it really good!! I had to lie to those CPS people who kept coming over like B told me, because they couldn't know I was Robin. I can keep secrets."

He says with a grin, curious and excited what the man is gonna tell him.

"Oh really? Well, I think it's awesome too so don't listen to him."

Jason says, sounding every impressed and ruffling his hair a bit. That sounds like Bruce though it does make him wonder why the man seemed so attached to the old design if he didn't even like it. Jason just took the Robin costume when it was offered and didn't question it. It wasn't like it was in his place to ask for any adjustments.

He frowns a bit at the sound of that but he supposes it makes sense. It's not like they could just tell CPS they were taking fucking children on the battlefield. CPS wouldn't be able to do anything anyways considering the fact Bruce Wayne is a billionaire and CPS is a nightmare to stay in if they do take the child away.

"It's about.. my secret identity. You gotta make sure you tell no one."

He whispers softly, approaching the building of one of his safehouses. It's one of the better ones the bats know about and he just hopes that none of them are around right now. It'll have what he needs to take care of Dick until the spell wears off.

"B's just a big dummy idiot anyways. It's why his head looks like a bowling ball."

Dick looks up at the building they're walking to curiously. It looks normal, but he's not really sure. The man seems super nice though, even though his red helmet makes him look like an angry tomato.

He perks up at that, curious about the identity of the man, and he didn't even get a name either so he just kept calling him Mr. Helmet Man anyways.

"Okay! I won't tell at all, I'm super super good at identity secrets. I won't tell anyone, not even Zitka!"

He says making the motion to lock his lips and throw away the key.

Jason snorts at that, laughing softly before climbing up the stairs. He quickly undoes the locks, opening the door. The apartment is pretty basic, one bedroom and bathroom and just a kitchenette attached to the main area. It doesn't have much, the kitchen having the most stuff on it like a bowl of fruits he attempts to get some of the bats to eat. It's very tidy though, just empty of anything personal, really.

He places Dick on one of the kitchen stools, closing the door and huffing a bit.

"OK, then.."

He says softly, taking off the helmet and placing it on the coffee table nearby, raking a hand through his hair. He has white bangs and his curly, back hair of course as well as the domino. He looks tired as always but the most defining thing is the amount of scars on his face.

He rarely takes the helmet let alone the domino off most of the time, especially in front of Dick and Bruce and part of him still has that fear with the younger version of his brother.

"Surprise."

Jason mumbles, going to get some adhesive remover and walking over to the sink, turning on the faucet.

Dick looks around the place curiously, just excited to be somewhere new. After his entire life was on the road constantly with the Circus things felt...off, being trapped in the manor constantly.

Dick tilts his head a bit as the man takes off his helmet. He opens his mouth a little in surprise before clapping a bit.

"You look so cool! It's like um...those really awesome looking people on TV! You're striped like a Zebra! Sort of anyways, your hair is all funky town."

Dick says, playing with his own bangs, which are just the same black curls parted to the side, but shorter than he keeps it now. He giggles a bit, kicking his feet against the counter, making a thunking sound as he does.

"Why's it a secret that your hairs is all cool like that? Is it the scars? Those are cool too! Like battle scars!"

Dick says, leaning forwards across the counter and tapping his hands against the countertop.

Jason snorts a bit when Dick starts clapping for a few seconds, glancing back at him and taking the domino off, revealing blue eyes with green central heterochromia, leaving the mask just on the kitchen bench and leaning against it to look at Dick.

"Thank you, I think? I don't know if I count as a Zebra with only one stripe."

He tilts his head a bit, not sure if Dick is just insulting him in some creative way.

"Well, the scars and hair make it very easy for people to find out my identity so I have to hide it. You wanna take your domino off?"

Jason explains, taking out another adhesive wipe and handing it over to Dick. The real reason he had the helmet was one, the original Red Hood suit had a helmet too but in no way was he gonna wear that thing so, a helmet similar to a motorcycle helmet was a better option.

Another reason was just wanting to hide his face for the whole reveal and all.. He finds it stupid to keep majority of your face minus the mask revealed if you don't want your identity to come out.

"Hm...maybe like those little bear rat things that eat garbage?"

Dick suggests, he can't remember the English word for them. He sits up on his knees a little to look at the man a bit more.

"Your eyes are all funky town too."

Dick says, pointing as his own eyes in emphasis. He hums a bit at the explanation, moving to prop his head on his hand. He supposes that makes sense, since the man looks so unique and all.

"Oh...well I can keep that a secret I guess. I can't call you Mr. Helmet Man anymore though because you're without a helmet. You're bald."

Dick says, he starts taking his gloves off and throwing them on the counter. They're kinda uncomfortable to have on for so long. At the question Dick slightly moves to rest his head against his arms, lying on the counter. His nose and eyes are visible, but his mouth is covered by his forearm.

"B would get big mad. He says our identities matter the biggest because it could kill people and stuff. I don't wanna kill people, it'd make me a bad guy."

He mumbles a bit, voice muffled.

"Raccoons? I've been told so before."

He sighs softly. Dick has made that comment before, the older version. He doesn't know what that says about him but he supposes it must be true. Jason has mostly given up on trying to dye it anyways, only really doing it when he's undercover or doesn't want to draw attention to himself.

"Funky town? Funky?"

Jason asks, tilting his head. Dick said it before and he isn't quite sure what it means. He laughs softly at that too, tucking his bangs behind his ear.

"I'm pretty sure I have hair. My name is Jason."

He rolls his eyes a bit, smiling softly.

"I already know who you are, Dick. I'm an ally of Bruce. I told you that, right?"

Jason says softly, moving a bit closer and resting his arms on the same counter as Dick. he hopes the kid doesn't freak out when he finds out Jason knows their identity but he doesn't exactly want to lie to the kid.

"Yes, those! It's pretty though. Raccoons are sweethearts, I held one once and B freaked out."

Dick says with a small giggle. Bruce had said he was going to get rabies or something so Dick tried to hand him the raccoon, and B acted like he was about to stab him.

"Um...yeah like...fun and cool, is that not the words? I just watched a lot of American TV to know how to say a lot of things right. But my Papa tutored me on basics."

He messes with his fingers, frowning a little to himself at the memory of his father. It's been a few months but it still feels like he just saw them fall and die. Dick pushes that away. He's Robin, Robin doesn't get upset.

"Well because your heads bare without the helmet so...bald. Nothing on your head."

Dick explains, touching his own head a bit as he does. He pauses at that explanation, eyes widening.

"...Did...Did B tell you? I didn't mess up or anything...I didn't say anything wrong-"

He's quick to say, shrinking back and frowning. He grabs at his cape a little tighter. It's one thing to wander off and do something dumb it's another thing to do something so dumb he revealed their identities. Dick really hopes B won't be that mad but he's not sure and Bruce is always really mad, he doesn't get him very much. But he's his friend anyways.

"They are pretty cute. They can be a bit aggressive sometimes."

Jason says softly, sighing a bit. Yeah, sounds like Bruce. Jason personally has never held a Raccoon before but Damian send him a few photos of one one time saying it reminded him of Jason which he.. also didn't know how to feel about.

"Just funky. Your english is good, though."

He says, frowning a bit when Dick mentions his parents. The only time Dick really talks about his parents when he was teaching Jason all the way back when Jason was Robin and a few times when he wasn't.. in his right mind.

Jason sighs softly, ruffling Dick's hair. He wasn't expecting that reaction specifically and it makes him.. sad in a way, that he assumed he did something wrong.

"No, Bruce told me. You did perfectly fine, Dickie."

Jason comforts, leaning a bit close to Dick's level, hoping that comforts him a bit more so he doesn't feel upset.

Dick pauses, blinking and a bit confused at the touch, but definitely happy about it. He misses getting hugged and held and getting his hair all ruffled and played with, like with Mama and Papa.

"M'kay...thank you, Jason."

Dick mumbles. He reaches for the wipe scrubbing at his face to get the mask off. He peels it off and makes a 'bleh' sound, sticking his tongue out a little as he drops the domino on the counter. He doesn't look much different without the domino, just a younger Dick. More round faced, less tired looking, bigger eyes.

He uses his cape to cover his shoulders like a blanket, holding onto it and looking downwards. He's not really sure what to do now. Jason knows he's Dick, not Robin. Robins stronger and cooler than Dick, but Dick isn't him all the time so he can't always be strong.

"I wanna go home."

He mumbles a bit, not looking up at Jason. He starts chewing on his finger a bit again. He doesn't really mean the manor. He supposes he does sort of. But he just wants to go back to the circus and have his parents back. Jason is nice but Dick doesn't know how to not be Robin in front of him. He's only ever told he's being a brat when he isn't anyways. It's confusing and he doesn't get any of it.

Jason smiles softly at the other, not sure what else to do. He hums, chuckling softly at the dramatic sound and taking the wipes before throwing them in the bin.

"No problem, Dickie."

He says, using that nickname again though only now he notices what he did. It just kinda slipped out he supposes. He looks so much more innocent which is expected he supposes he just.. isn't used to seeing Dick when he isn't performing in some capacity and is actually happy. That's probably it.

Jason frowns at that, sighing a bit before moving to sit on Dick's side of the counter, facing the kid. He doesn't seem to get what Dick means, assuming he means the manor.

"I know.. B is busy right now so.. you can stay with me until then, have a sleepover?"

He offers, not sure how to comfort him. Jason isn't sure how long this spell will last so he doesn't want to promise they'll see Bruce tomorrow or anything like that so this'll have to do.

Dick looks over at Jason with a sad looking expression, the knuckle of his finger in his mouth a bit, biting at it. He hums a bit in response, moving so his knees are up by his chest. He doesn't know how to do any of this right now.

"He's always busy."

Is all he says, mumbling and a bit muffled with his hand in his face. Dick just misses his Mama and Papa, they were so much nicer and loved having him around but Bruce always seems busy and annoyed.

He misses the circus, and misses all the people there and he misses Zitka. This is all so stupid. He's good at being Robin, he doesn't think he's good at much else anymore.

Jason sighs, making a pain expression almost before coming a little closer and putting an arm around Dick's shoulder, rubbing his back a little. He looks so sad. Children have always been a soft spot for Jason he supposes, even now when he knows deep down it's his brother.

"I know.. I'm sorry. I'll have to make do for now, OK?"

He responds softly, slumping a bit so he can look at the child more head on, gently taking his hand and bringing it out of his mouth.

Jason remembers how lonely it was in the manor, how big it was with only Alfred and sometimes Bruce. He usually got away with sneaking out as long as he came home in time to be Robin but he didn't really.. have anyone.

He was always jealous that Dick had his own team, that he actually had friends and just people there for him but right now he doesn't so Jason'll have to do.

"You're nicer."

Dick mumbles in response, moving to hug Jason and hold onto him. He squeezes his eyes shut, hoping he isn't doing anything bad or that Jason doesn't want him to be so touchy. Bruce doesn't really like it when Dick is like that so he tries not to be but Jason was holding him and everything.

Dick likes being hugged or hugging people but he never really gets to be like that anymore because his parents are dead. Bruce and Alfred are all meanie and don't like him to be so touchy.

He hides his face against the man for a while, not talking much or anything. Dick can be quiet when he wants to be, but not many people like it when he is. Alfred says it makes him rude. Dick doesn't mean to be rude.

Dick backs away only to move to get off the stool he's on, moving to look around the safehouse a bit. He's curious he supposes but nothing looks very interesting. Instead he just huffs and moves to go into a handstand, balancing on his hands a bit.

Jason is caught off guard by the action, smiling softly and hugging him back softly, enough if he wants to wiggly out of the hold. He knows Dick is.. a hugger but the other never really tries to even touch Jason when they are nearby.

He isn't quite sure why since he knows Dick does hug the others whenever so it's probably because of Jason. He doesn't think Dick has hugged him.. ever.

He rubs his back a bit until Dick moves away, letting go of the child and watching him a bit, laughing softly when he goes to do a handstand, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Wow.. Be careful."

Jason mumbles, clapping a bit. He knows Dick will probably be fine but he's just so small and young that he is a bit worried.

Dick scoffs, rolling his eyes and moving up into a forward walk over to get back up.

"I'm totally careful...I'm an acrobat."

Dick says, almost sounding offended at the implication that he might not be. He cartwheels a little to the other side of the room. He misses all the open spaces and the trapeze and everything that he got to play on in the circus.

"My Mama and Papa trained me. I was in the circus. We were really good.

Dick informs. He moves to climb back up on the stool, but instead moves to stand on top of it, reaching his arms out to balance himself a bit before he does a flip in the air and lands. He puts his arms up like gymnasts usually do for competitions and stuff on TV. His Papa used to be in big competitions before he joined the circus and he'd show him his routines and stuff.

"See?"

He says, gesturing a bit to prove his point.

"Of course."

He says, chuckling softly and watching the young boy move around closely. Jason logically knows Dick can handle himself, even at this age but he's just so small and young so he can't help but want to make sure he's safe at least.

"I can see that."

Jason mumbles a bit, clapping at the various tricks Dick preforms, seemingly just for fun. Jason himself is surprisingly flexible for his size with Bruce trying to train a malnourished 11 year old to have the same skills as someone who trained since they could walk.

He wasn't exactly successful but Jason is still insanely flexible somehow. Still, nothing can beat Dick Grayson and definitely not when it comes to acrobatics.

"Yes. Just want you safe that's all."

Jason moves to boop him on the nose, smiling softly.

Dick giggles a little, smiling with his teeth again at that. He moves to hug Jason again, though it's more like he's hugging his legs, then he moves to climb up him, only settling when he's sitting on his shoulders, feet swinging, kicking softly against Jason's chest. He's pretty close to the ceiling like this.

"Woah, you're super tall."

Dick says, resting his head against Jason's, his small hands in Jason's hair. He looks over the room from the high vantage point.

"I can see everything."

Dick whispers, now close to Jason's ear from where he's sat. Even though it's quite late at night Dick doesn't seem to have all his energy out. He had taken a nap after school anyways, then went on patrol and ended up with Jason instead.

He's not sure if Jason's gonna make him go to school tomorrow but Dick hopes he doesn't, so he isn't gonna mention it.

"Do you hit your head on stuff?"

Dick asks, moving so he can lean his head over and look at Jason's face more. Bruce and Alfred always say eye contact is polite.

Jason sighs softly when Dick hugs him again, ruffling his hair before making a small noise of surprise when he starts climbing Jason. He definitely did not expect that but this has happened to him enough times that he just lets it happen while making sure Dick doesn't fall in his attempt to use Jason as a jungle gym.

He shifts a bit when Dick finally sits on his shoulders, holding his legs a bit to make sure he's secure but allowing the kid to kick them back and forth.

"I have been told so."

Jason laughs softly, turning his face to look directly at Dick. He pretty light which he supposes is expected though he wonders when he last ate.. It's a bit too late to give him something like a meal but maybe a snack will do if Dick's energy doesn't disappear quickly.

"Yes, I do actually. Very annoying. Got a few bruises from it.

He says, blinking a bit when Dick looks down at him with his face upside down. When he came back his height started to rapidly grow, the pit correcting his malnourishment and everything.

He felt like he grew an inch almost everyday for a time which made training hard. He has a bunch of bruises from that and just in general hitting himself on the top or sides of things. A part of him still thinks he's that small, skinny boy it seems.

"Bruce says being small has umm...tactical advances. Or something."

Dick says, he starts fiddling with Jason's hair a bit, just picking up pieces of it and moving them around a little as he fidgets. Dick has always been a fidgety person, never sitting right, walking on furniture, messing with whatever he has in his hands, its much more prominent as a child it seems.

"Hope your heads okay though, you can't get hit in the head too hard because it makes you all stupid in the head and it hurts a lot. B got hit like that once and he kept talking weird and saying stupid stuff. It was freaky, I had to call Alfred and stuff."

Dick recalls. It was honestly a bit scary but Dick wouldn't admit to that, he just didn't know what to do so he had to call Alfred and ask for help but he kept using the wrong names and Bruce was getting onto him about it but then he started vomiting and it got more worrying.

Dick doesn't usually want to talk this much but Jason doesn't seem annoyed by him talking and he still has some energy in him. He likes talking to people who are nice and aren't Bruce and Alfred. He doesn't have any friends besides them.

"It does. You are harder to spot, more flexible, lighter weight and everything for your tricks. Being big has advantages too though."

Jason hums, blinking a bit as Dick plays with his hair, some of it falling in his eyes but he doesn't do or say anything about it, sitting down on the couch but keeping Dick on his shoulders. He seems pretty happy like this and it's not like it's any real burden on Jason.

"It is. Don't worry about me."

He comforts softly, frowning at the story. Jason had experienced a few times himself when Bruce got a concussion or was almost fatally injured. It was scary as a kid but he already knew what to do and with his mom he had more than enough training before even meeting Bruce on how to stay calm in those situations and focus on getting the injured person to safety.

Only afterwards when Bruce as in the med bay would he move to sit in the chair next to him, waiting for him to wake up. The heart monitor which most kids might've found annoying was the most comforting thing in the world. He wanted to curl up next to him and press his fingers to his neck or wrist like he would with his mom but Bruce would get upset or wake up due to the disturbance so he couldn't do that.

"Must've been scary. Bet you were so brave though."

Jason mumbles softly, tilting his head up to look at Dick a little bit. He's only 8 or 9 right now. He shouldn't have had to deal with that.

"Mhm...Haly, the guy who owned the circus, he said I was easily portable."

Dick says, giggling a bit and continuing to fiddle with Jason's hair still. He likes the white hairs a lot because of cool they look with the black hair.

Dick hums in response, looking around as Jason sits. He drums his fingers on top of Jason's head a little. He's glad Jason is okay then, because Dick likes him. Maybe he can be his friend too, so Dick can have one more friend! That'd be cool.

"Yeah, it was...but Alfie says I did good and stuff, even though Bruce was all mad at me. I didn't even get him hit or anything he told me to stay back and I did. He makes no sense."

Dick frowns, leaning his chin on Jason's head a bit as he thinks.

"He doesn't even apologize, My Mama always says that's mean. Or she...um. She used to."

Dick mumbles the last bit, grumbling a little. He continues to fiddle with Jason's hair, as well as just poking him a little for no discernible reason.

"That too."

He says with a smile, sighing a bit. The drumming is honestly a bit annoying but he can easily just ignore it anyways. Jason does like him playing with his bangs though.

"Well.. You don't listen to him. You're both alright so you did good."

Jason reassures softly, keeping his head tilted up a bit to look at Dick as much as he can. That definitely sounds like Bruce. Nice to know him being unable to change, well, hasn't changed. Jason wouldn't say it's a good quality but at least it makes the man predictable for him.

He pauses momentarily at the mention of Dick's parents before smiling softly, chuckling when Dick starts to poke him. He definitely has a lot of energy.

"Yeah, your Mom's right. B is just a big meanie."

Jason attempts to explain or phrase in a.. nicer way. His nose scrunches up a bit at the last part, finding just calling the man mean not enough but if he actually said what was on his mind little Dickie over here would learn a bunch of new swears.

Dick hums, stopping the poking just to lean the side of his face against Jason's head and hug him a little, with his arms a bit around his neck, though not in any restricting manner.

"B and Alfie are hard friends to have...Zitka was nicer."

Dick admits softly. He misses the elephant he used to play with whenever he could, and Bruce and Alfred don't like to play with him. Alfred gets annoyed by him hovering or when he doesn't listen and tells him to go outside. Bruce just ignores him and stays in the cave all the time and Alfred says he shouldn't bother him a good amount of the time.

Dick just pauses a bit, his feet are still kicking a little, but it's a bit less erratic. He huffs, moving to brush his small fingers through Jason's hair again, pushing back the man's bangs a little.

"My Mama and Papa were a lot nicer. But they're gone now...s'my fault"

Dick mumbles sadly, frowning and hiding his face a little in Jason's hair. He takes a few strands of it before starting to make a small braid in them. He used to braid his Mama's hair sometimes, it was long, but curly like Dick's.

Jason freezes at the touch on his neck, trying to calm himself a bit. It's a sensitive place but.. it's fine, it's just Dick, a younger version of him even. He eventually relaxes again, putting a hand on the others. His hand is so much bigger compared his arm and scarred.

"Well, that's a no brainer."

He mumbles a bit, sighing and not sure what to do mostly because he really can't. He knows Dick eventually gets the Titans so at least he won't be lonely any longer but seeing him this small and lonely is sad in a way he supposes.

"It's not your fault."

Jason immediately says, noticing how Dick starts to braid his hair and chuckling softly. He definitely doesn't have enough hair for that but whatever Dick wants. Jason doesn't know why he would even blame himself for his parents dying, he was just a kid and it's not like he rigged the act or anything

"I saw him doing something suspicious before the show, I should have said something...I could have- I could have helped."

Dick says, frowning deeply. If he had done something, if he had spoken to Haly or Mama or Papa, he could have said that he was being suspicious. He could have said something was off. He could have warned them. He could have done anything but just stand there.

But he didn't, and now they're gone. Dick misses them, he doesn't want to be here he wants to be with them. He wants to lay his head in Mama's lap again, he wants to climb on Papa's back and laugh as he spins him around. Dick just wishes he was back home. Not doing all of this.

Dick huffs as he finishes the braid. It's a small braid and it barely keeps its shape, but he drops it and moves to get off of Jason's shoulders, but only to take of hiss shoes and curl up against the man on the couch, using his cape as a blanket around his shoulders.

"They died though, they fell, I didn't do anything and they died."

Dick says quietly, leaning his head against Jason's arm.

Jason sighs, not sure how to explain Dick, especially at this age, that it wasn't his fault. Not at all. He was a kid– He wasn't the one who tampered with the rope and he didn't push them or anything. It was a tragedy, it was Zucco's.

He expects Dick to leave or sit next to him when he starts getting off Jason's shoulders but is surprised when he instead curls up next to Jason. He smiles softly, picking Dick up a bit into his lap and running his fingers through the kids hair, getting rid of any knots along the way.

"You weren't the one who did it. It's not your fault."

He says softly, bringing Dick closer to his chest and cradling his head close. No child should have to go through this at all. He can't help the almost protective feeling he has when it comes to kids, ones who have gone through so much.

He wants to blame Bruce for this, for letting Dick feel so guilty when he knows damn well how Bruce himself is in relation to the amount of guilt that man can feel but it's not that simple. He can be mad about him not helping Dick though but really, it doesn't do anything. All he can do is hold the child close to him while this lasts.

Dick hugs Jason, bringing himself closer when he's picked up, snuggling close to the man. It shows how much he's just been wanting someone to hold him with how much he's clinging to Jason.

"I wish Zucco was dead. I know B says that's bad, but I don't care. He's the worst. I want to punch his face in again."

Dick says, but there are tears in his eyes while he's speaking, glaring daggers at Jason's chest like it'll kill the man for him.

"I don't care if it's bad at all. I don't care what he says. I don't care."

He says, voice breaking a little as he tries to keep himself together. Dick just wants to go home and be in his parents arms. He doesn't want to go to stupid fancy rich parties, he doesn't want to go to school, he doesn't want to stay in the manor, he wants his Mama and Papa and he wants to be in the circus again.

Dick sniffles, curling slightly more, making himself impossibly smaller, like he's trying to hide and curl into Jason's ribcage. He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to get the tears to go away, because performers don't cry, but he can't stop it. He grumbles a bit, wiping at his face with his wrists.

"I don't care."

He says in that shaky tone, biting harshly down on his lip.

Jason hugs the boy back tightly, not too tight to hurt but enough to be a constant pressure. It's the least and probably the only thing he can really do to help in his situation.

He pauses at that, completely caught off guard. All the other differences were minor, things he may have not expected but certainly not weird for a child. The innocence, the energy, his behaviour, things he learned Dick thought or at least used to think but would never share. That all was all normal he supposes.

But wanting someone dead? He knows logically that for a child wanting the person who hurt you and your family is more than normal, Jason did too and part of him has never really grown out of that. But for Dick Grayson, the most forgiving person in the world even compared to Bruce, a man Dick forgave so many times Jason can't help but be both impressed, concerned and infuriated, that Dick Grayson wanting someone dead. Someone that hurt him dead?

Yeah, it was jarring. Jason himself knew how much Bruce drilled into them that it was wrong to kill, how they couldn't even let anyone die because it would be the greatest sin and the disappointment he would feel towards them if they killed even in self defence.

Jason never really bought it, not fully but Dick? He never really thought about that. He always wondered how the man could even survive 20 years so close to Bruce, at times thought that Dick was acting like Bruce because of how close they are but he.. he didn't fully think of the affect it would have he supposes. Maybe he's thinking too much about it.

"I want them dead too."

Is all Jason offers, all he can offer, really. He doesn't want to lie because in all honesty he'd probably do it. Whether them is Zucco or.. anyone else is something he's not sure about.

Dick sniffles, tears running down his cheeks as he tries to make them stop, wiping at his face a little vigorously, like he's trying to scrub the emotion out of himself.

"Does that make you bad? To...to think bad stuff like that? Bruce always says it...it makes you as worse as them."

Dick mumbles, voice wavering and shaky as he asks. It's quiet and fragile. Less like a child throwing a tantrum, more like one who's trying to cover up the fact they're crying. To halt the emotions even though his tiny body can't handle it all. His lip is still wobbly, trying to stop the expression on his face.

Dick's not supposed to be so upset, he's gotta keep himself together and smile. But he can't and he's tired. He's very tired, in that way that's not because of no sleep, though he definitely doesn't get as much as other kids his age do.

"I don't wanna be bad."

He whispers softly. He feels like a vase that's shattered on the ground. Dick feels cracked and broken. He just wishes things were the way they were before, no Juvie, no manor, no rich people, just home. With his family.

Jason pauses at that, sighing and fishing out a tissue from his pockets, sliding it into Dick's hand and continuing to run his hands through his hair.

He doesn't know what to say in response to that without lying. Jason is a bad person, not because he thinks those things necessarily he supposes. He doesn't just think about those things but he actively wants them, to be able to stop people from harming others by.. ending them. And he doesn't just want it but he does it, less now but he does it.

He knows it's wrong but someone has to, someone has to get their hands dirty and do it. It wont be Bruce, he wouldn't let himself anyways. Not Dick, he wouldn't either and the guilt itself would eat the man alive.

The others are so young, too young to be doing any of this let alone having to raise a gun or sword to someone and kill them. They can't do that and they shouldn't have to again.

So Jason will. He knows he should probably be dead like all the people he has killed, even more so. He would probably go to hell if he could die this time. But he can't. So he'll continue on.

"You aren't. You're a good person, Dickie. Don't let Bruce or anyone else tell you you aren't."

He mumbles. He wishes he could tell Dick this later, he doesn't even know if Dick will remember it. They aren't close enough for that. This is all he can do.

Dick doesn't speak, just holding onto the man and continuing to cry. He takes the tissue and uses it a bit messily, but the tears aren't stopping so he just ducks his head against Jason's chest and makes a soft whimpering sound.

Dick never really cries, he's good at holding it back. Even when he was a child he was, of course. But even more so as an adult. Dick now just feels himself fall a part a little. He hasn't properly cried about his parents since that night, sobbing in the back of the cop car.

Then when he was in juvie he'd stopped himself from being emotional at all, not wanting to be picked on by the other kids there. He was the youngest, he doesn't even think it was legal, him being there. But he's not American so maybe that's just how things are here.

When Bruce took him in he just didn't speak, used the anger in him to control everything. He'd refuse to talk, refuse to do what he's told, refuse the food, refuse going to school. Then when he found out Bruce was Batman things changed, but not really.

Robin wasn't supposed to cry, or be negative. Robin was hope, Robin was supposed to help the children who were crying, not be the one crying himself. Dick's been shoving it all down for so long that he just starts sobbing, biting his lip to get himself to stop making noise.

Jason sighs, cupping the other's face and wiping the tears as they come, letting them roll down down into his hands. He just lets the child in his lap and arms cry and cry however much they want and need to because Jason has feeling that no matter how old Dick has been other than when he was an infant he hasn't been much of a crier.

He doesn't think he can say the same thing for himself. He always cried too much, his dad said so, his real dad, Willis. He was supposed to be a man not some pussy or whatever and to not cry. He doesn't hold anything against the man for stuff like that, they were in a bad situation and now Jason knows that he was stuck with a child that the mom just threw at him and made him deal with.

Sometimes he heard his dad saying how expensive everything was with his mom and Jason. He wonders if his dad regretted it, if he wished he just left Jason in the hospital or dropped him at the nearest orphanage.

He became better though, he turned fear and sadness into anger and what others would call an aggressive, feral child. Being feral was always more safe than being the skinny child crying in the corner. Not that it mattered much but he didn't end up dead. He wished he did. Most people don't look much into the anger enough to see the rest and he can just cry later when he's safe.

"Y'know.. as a kid we used to tell scary stories about the Batman around a lighter. I don' know if it's more disappointing or reassuring that he's just some rich guy in a furry costume."

Jason mumbles, rubbing the others back. He doesn't know why he's talking about this, just wanting to have something to talk about to take the other's mind off things.

Dick eventually stops crying, just sort of lying against Jason with a tired look on his face. Sometimes when Dick feels overwhelmed or something really bad happens he just sort of...checks out of his body a little. It's weird because Dick is so used to never being still, but sometimes he just lays there and stares up at the ceiling.

Sometimes he'll climb his way up to the manor roof when Alfred isn't watching him to lay up there and stares up at the clouds or stars, depending on the time. He likes it up there, and even if he feels a bit gone, it's nicer.

Dick blinks a bit when Jason speaks, having forgotten really that the man was even there, stuck in his own head. Dick wipes at his eyes. He huffs a small laugh.

"I didn't really know about Batman...until he showed up when my parents died, and kept catching me when I escaped the Juvie place to go kill Zucco."

Dick says softly. Those times were always really weird because Bruce would catch him and say he had to leave it to him for the justice or something, but Dick didn't really care about legal justice or whatever stupid big words he'd use, he just wanted Zucco to die like his parents did. Eye for an eye.

"It was scary at first, but he just got annoying afterwards. Then he was Bruce and it was even more weirdo. I kept escaping the manor to try and kill Zucco too but Batman kept catching me again, until I found out how to get into the cave and figured it out."

Dick explains a little. He starts fidgeting a little with Jason's shirt, not making eye contact with the man.

Jason moves his hand to run through Dick's hair instead when he stops crying, a bit relieved at that at least. He seemed to have cried himself out and is pretty tired but he doesn't move or anything.

He hums, taking in the information. He never really heard anything about the original story of how Dick and Bruce teamed up and everything. From what he knows child sidekicks weren't really a thing back then and it wasn't like with Jason and the others where the mantle already existed and it was passed down. Dick invented it.

For Jason he didn't want Robin. He didn't even want to get adopted by Batman and especially not billionaire Bruce Wayne or anyone for that matter. He wonders how his life would have turned out if he never found the batmobile or decided fuck off when he spotted it to look for another car to steal the tires from.

He never wanted to be involved in any of this and the only reason he got in the car was because he didn't want to get caught by the police or something. He honestly doesn't even remember why he did just that the second the door shut suddenly Batman was calling him his Robin and driving him into a cave and introducing him to a butler he'd learn was Alfred Pennyworth.

"You figured it out? Pretty smart, huh?"

Jason says, a bit shocked but then again it's Dick Grayson, The original Boy Wonder and Golden Boy or whatever. He got handed Robin first and then was told he had to work for it or else he'd get kicked out. Well, it wasn't worded like that but he was a project not a.. son. People just throw out failed projects.

Dick hums, giggling softly and rubbing at his face. He grabs at his cape a little to wear it as a make shift blanket.

"Yeah...I saw him fiddling with the clock. He didn't even notice me, I was in the chandelier. So I confronted him, and he got really angry, I thought he was gonna try and beat me up like those bigger kids in the Juvie place or one of the guards who was super mean and called me really bad words, but he didn't he just yelled really loud and told me I was an idiot and a bunch of other mean stuff until Alfred yelled at him and so I ran away."

Dick says, breathing a bit heavy at his own rambling. He says it all pretty matter of factly, not meeting eye contact and just shrugging. His tone is less enthusiastic like it was before, mostly from his exhaustion. Sometimes he's tired in a different way where he just can't perform anymore so he acts even weirder. Dick already knows he's a weird circus freak.

"Then I made my Robin costume with crayons I stole from school and showed it to him, but he kept being even more mean and then he stopped talking to me like at all, and Alfie was all like 'you shouldn't bother master bruce' or whatever, but I wanted to help and he didn't seem to like me anyways, and he's always doing Batman stuff. So I thought I could um...both kick bad guy butt and be like...useful and he'd spend time with me."

Dick admits the last part with a weak voice, almost like he's embarrassed by the fact he wants attention in the first place, nonetheless Bruces. He sniffles and hugs Jason a bit tighter.

"It worked, so I'm super smart."

He yawns a little as he says that.

Jason smiles softly when he seems to brighten up a bit at that topic, tucking some of his hair behind his ears. The story itself is.. well, it sounds like Bruce. It's told with a certain level of childish innocence, so matter of fact and simply telling a story while trying to skip over the bad parts.

Jason never really had that phase, not that he can remember. What he mentioned about his old life if anything was just jokes and sarcastic comments about how oblivious rich people were. He was right about that and he'd say still is.

He thankfully never got into Juvie but he had a few run ins with the cops. The closest he got was getting put into one of those cells but he managed to get out without being throw back into the system or anything. He can imagine what it would be like for someone who wasn't even a citizen.

"You designed it all by yourself? Even the cape?"

He asks, making his voice a bit more excited than it would usually be, picking Dick up a bit to be higher and more in his arms. It seems he finally got most of that energy out.

"Of course. And I bet those brain cells need some rest, no?"

Jason tilts his head a bit, ruffling Dick's hair.

"Uhuh! I mean...B made changes like I couldn't make the cape sparkly like I wanted to, but most of it is what I drew. It's like my Mama and Papa's costumes..."

He explains, spreading his cape out a little in emphasis. Dick giggles when he's picked up a bit more, ducking his head and sticking his tongue out a bit when Jason ruffles his hair.

He grumbles at the mention of going to bed, a childish want to stay up later. It's incredibly late at night by now, around 3 in the morning, but Dick's internal clock is switched around now. It makes him more tired and feel bad but Bruce says that he'll get used to it, and that he needs to stop falling asleep at school. Which is hard.

"M'not tired, it's lies."

Dick says, pouting and folding his arms stubbornly in response. He likes being here with Jason, if he has to go to bed that means being alone and no more hugs. Dick likes the hugs. He wants to stay with Jason.

"While sparkles are very cool I don't think they'd be really good for stealth."

Jason says with a small snort, deciding to just ignore the last part about his parents and not comment on it. He's happy that Dick seems much happier and distracted than before.

"Uh huh.."

He hums, thinking of how to convince the other to go to sleep. He isn't sure if the spell will wear off in the morning and honestly part of him will kinda miss this version of Dick but for now he'll focus on the kid in front of him.

"Well.. I'm pretty tired and I have enough room in my bed for someone as little as you."

Jason says, booping Dick's nose at the end. Hopefully the problem is just being alone otherwise Jason will just get Dick to sit next to him in bed and hopefully that'll work.

"Thats what B says...I don't get any of this stuff."

Dick says with a shrug. Dick giggles when his nose gets poked, ducking his head into Jason's neck and hugging the man. He grumbles a bit, thinking for a moment about Jason's words.

"Hm...I can stay and make sure you're okay."

Dick states, deciding that protecting Jason would be good reasoning for staying with him, even though he's tired himself and would like to sleep. He doesn't admit that though, stubbornly.

He's always felt more comfortable sleeping by people, the only time it felt bad was in Juvie. The bunks with all the older boys that hated him. A lot of them made fun of him or made comments about him, the guards didn't treat him like he was worth much of anything. He didn't want to stay there in general, but he didn't want Zucco to stay alive either.

"I don't have pajamas..."

Dick mumbles, looking down at his costume a bit. It's more comfortable than kevlar or a skin tight body suit like the Nightwing suit, but it's not exactly sleepwear, his utility belt and cape are still on and all.

"Well, sparkles are really shiny and pretty so people can see you easier and if you're sneaking around as Robin the bad guys might spot you which isn't good."

Jason explains, attempting to speak in a type of language Dick can understand. He hugs Dick back, of course, smiling softly. He is really cute at this age though Jason thinks most kids cute.

"Really? Thank you."

He says like he's totally shocked, ruffling Dick's hair a bit. He doesn't mind sharing a bed with people after all back when he was a kid he used to share a bed with his mom and dad if he was around. It helped keep them warm in the winter since they couldn't afford heating or anything. They didn't even buy a bed for him so his room still had a crib until he.. left.

In the manor he was afraid Bruce might.. do something to him so sleeping in the same room as him might as well be asking for him to do something and he never really got comfortable enough to really want or ask even if he did miss sharing a bed with his mom..

Now a days, well, he usually doesn't. It just reminds him of things he doesn't want to think about and with how much of a light sleeper he is it probably wouldn't be the best for both Jason and whoever it is.

"Hm.. you can borrow one of my hoodies though it'll probably swallow you up."

Jason hums, laughing softly at the last part. His hoodies are oversized on Dick when he's normal so he can't imagine how it would be for him while being a small child.

Dick just hums. He understands why at least, because of having to stay hidden, he just doesn't like having to stay hidden. Stealth training always sucks, but survival training is the worst. It's always uncomfortable and hurts.

"Yeah...'cause sleeping makes you um...vulnerable to attacks. So I gotta protect you."

He says it like he's repeating something someone has told him, Bruce most likely. The man can be stubborn about that type of thing, his reasoning always being for some sort of tactical advantage. Dick just wants to stay with Jason because he likes him and he wants to stay with someone he finds safe. Jasons really nice so he thinks that works.

Dick giggles at the comments, shaking his head and rubbing his fingers against Jason's jacket a little. He doesn't make eye contact, but he doesn't seem uncomfortable or anything.

"I'm not that small, you're just um...a giant. Like those Jack and the beanstalk stories."

Jason hums, sighing a bit. Another reason he doesn't sleep much in general. It takes forever for him to sleep, to paranoid someone might come and attack him or.. do something. When he does manage to fall asleep it's anyways very light and he'll wake up if it's too loud which in Crime Alley and Gotham as a whole where gunshots are not something out of the ordinary he can't really sleep an entire night straight. If he does manage to sleep deep enough he just gets nightmares that wake him up too.

"A giant? Not the first time. Well, regardless lets get you something, hm? I have a spare tooth brush you can use."

He laughs softly before adjusting Dick and standing up, keeping the child on his hip and holding him before walking over to the bedroom. He quickly undoes the lock before plopping him down on Jason's bed, opening his other cupboard that doesn't have a bunch of guns and other weapons, taking out a hoodie that would be a close fit for him.

"Nice?"

He asks, crouching down in front of Dick and offering him the hoodie to touch.

"Okay...we can have a pajama sleepover. I've never had one, but those kids on the television do that, we'd get to watch those American shows in Juvie if you were good. The lady officer and the bigger kids couldn't see me when I hid under the couch so they couldn't get mad at me, I can be sneaky."

Dick says, fiddling with his fingers. He holds onto Jason tightly when he's picked up, looking around a bit before he's sat down on the bed. Dick yawns again, kicking his feet and adjusting his cape a little, still tugging at the edges of it.

He watches Jason closely before he's given the hoodie, he touches it, feeling the fabric a bit and the inside with a tilted head. He seems to like it though, shaking his hands out with a wide smile and bouncing a little in place.

"It's furry! Like...like soft blankets!"

Dick says, hugging the hoodie to himself a bit and holding it to his face. He sniffs it a little and looks it over fully.

"I don't know if I can live up to a pajama sleepover but we'll share a bed."

Jason tilts his head a bit. He's never had one of those either so he wouldn't know but he assumes you'd have to have pajamas for that, something Jason lacks. He usually passes out in whatever he's wearing, whether that be the Red Hood outfit without the extra stuff or a hoodie.

"I bet you are.."

He mumbles, trying not to sound upset or anything. Jason managed not to stay in Juvie long at any point so he wouldn't know what it's like but from his experiences with police he would say it's much worse.

Jason smiles softly at the reaction, finding it cute and taking off the cape and belt, folding them both up and putting them on the side.

"I'm glad you like 'em. Do you need help putting it on?"

"I did that with Mama and Papa."

Dick says. He whispers it like it's a secret, softly and staring down at the hoodie as he does. Dick misses being able to sleep with his parents, all together with the quilts and blankets that his Mama said their family used to make. Dick wasn't able to take them with him or anything. They wouldn't even let him go to their trailer.

Dick watches as Jason takes off the belt and cape. He shakes his head, putting it over his head and sitting up a bit more so he can pull entirely over himself. He giggles, flopping the long sleeves around since they go over his hands entirely. He's grinning and moves to lightly smack Jason with the sleeve two times.

"Pat pat."

He says, yawning and moving to grab his legs and tuck them beneath the hoodie as well as he watches Jason curiously.

"Are you gonna put on pajamas too?"

He asks, head tilted a little as he asks, looking at Jason's gear and jacket and all. Dick wonders why he doesn't have a cape or anything like usual superheroes, he looks kinda weird.

"Oh, then I definitely can't compete."

Jason says softly, trying to lighten the mood a bit. He hums when Dick shakes his head, letting him put the hoodie on himself and just making sure that he doesn't need help. He snorts at the touch, ruffling his hair afterwards before taking Dick's hands, rolling up the sleeves a few times to the cuffs are around his wrists and the sleeves won't swallow his hands as much.

His parents used to do something similar when he was a kid considering the fact they bough stuff a few sizes up. They couldn't afford to continue buying new clothes as Jason grew so it was cheaper. Not that he grew quickly considering the fact he was malnurished.

"Yep. First, how about we brush first, kay?"

He reassures, picking Dick up again and walking out of the bedroom to the bathroom, kneeling down to get the spare toothbrushes out of the cabinets.

"I only have the minty toothpaste, sorry."

Jason sighs a bit, handing Dick the toothbrush and placing him on the sink since Jason lacks a stool or anything in this safehouse.

Dick just giggles a bit more when Jason rolls up his sleeves, smiling as he's picked up again and leaning into the touch. He kicks his feet a little on the counter when Jason sets him down.

"Bleh."

He makes a bit of a face but takes the toothbrush and toothpaste, brushing his teeth and rinsing his mouth by cupping his hands beneath the faucet. After he's done he places the toothbrush and paste back down and puts his arms out back towards Jason and makes a grabbing motion, asking to me picked up.

"M'done. Clean."

Is all he says, yawning a little and rubbing at his eyes. Dick's tired now and just wants to be held and get to sleep against someone else for the night. He misses the feeling.

Jason just shakes his head a bit in amusement at that reaction, glancing away as Dick brushes until he's done. He's a bit surprised by the gesture but immediately understands what it means and anyways was planning on picking Dick up again.

He scoops the child up from under his arms before placing him on Jason's hip, considering for a second before pressing his lips to the other's hair for a second.

"I can see that, good job."

He praises, making sure the bathroom and everything is clean before turning off the light and exiting the room, entering the bedroom.

"I'm just gonna leave the room to change then we'll sleep. You stay right here for me."

Jason says, placing Dick down on the head and adjusting the pillows for him, pulling the blanket over to him to snuggle up.

He goes to the cupboard to take out a hoodie and some sweatpants, leaving the room like he said and closing the door.

Dick giggles again at the affection, hiding his face a bit in Jason's shoulder. He looks up when he's placed down and tucked it. He curls up beneath the blankets and hums in response, disappointed the man's leaving but understanding. He watches Jason as he walks around and then leaves.

He likes being with Jason here, it's warm and nice and Jason is much nicer than B and Alfred and doesn't tell him to go away. He hopes they can have another sleepover sometime, too, since Jason's Bruce's friend too.

Dick yawns, curling onto his side and holding the pillow beneath his head a little. Usually he sleeps with his Zitka plush that Bruce let him get, but he doesn't have Zitka with him right now, so he just waits and holds onto his pillow.

Jason makes sure to be quick, entering the bathroom again and keeping the light off before changing and brushing his own teeth. This safe house is one the bats know about and therefore he has a mirror in it considering the fact it would be suspicious if he didn't. That also means that he has to just avoid looking at it right now and keep the lights off.

It's comical in a way that he can't even handle the reflection of.. whatever in the mirror. All he knows is that it isn't him. But he doesn't have time right now to think about that so he simply hangs his outfit on his arm and comes back into the bedroom, smiling softly at Dick's small form.

"You waited for me? Thank you."

He mumbles softly, putting everything in the cupboard before finally turning the light off and hoping in the bed, adjusting the blanket a bit to make sure it covers the smaller child.

"Want me to keep the lamp on?"

Jason asks as he moves to wrap his arms around Dick and get comfortable himself.

Dick sits up a bit when Jason comes back but it seems to take some effort with how tired he is. Dick smiles back, laying back down and watching Jason silently before he comes back to the bed, shaking his head at the question and moving to hold onto him.

"M'brave and strong. I don't need lights."

Dick mumbles, sighing and melting into the touch, and letting his eyes shut. He's tired and just wants to stay under the blankets. Being warm and with someone is safe and comfortable. Usually it takes him longer to fall asleep, but this time Dick falls asleep much faster, curled against Jason.

...

When Dick wakes up he's somewhere he doesn't recognize. He opens his eyes slowly, glancing around without moving and trying to access the situation. He's lying against someone, a person. He takes him a moment to recognize who but he relaxes much more when he does. It's just Jason. He isn't in some Motel in Bludhaven with Cat. He's with his brother.

Why? Jason and him barely hang out or speak and Dick was under the impression the other man wasn't too big of a fan of him after Spyral. Sure he helped him when he got shot and was being...an idiot a few weeks ago, but that was just basic human decency.

Dick sits up finally, looking around the room. He's in his Nightwing suit, but one of Jason's hoodies is over him for some reason. He doesn't remember that, nor does he remember coming here. Losing time isn't exactly new for him considering his life but this is still vaguely concerning, he was supposed to be patrolling in Gotham last night.

He moves to peel off his mask at least, brushing his hair out of his face and stuffing the domino into the large hoodie pocket before standing and walking towards the window, checking out the blinds and looking around.

"Of course."

Jason chuckles softly, combing through the boy's hair as he falls asleep. He takes sometime to just lay there and stare at him, making sure he's asleep though he doubts a 8 year old would be able to stop themselves from falling asleep. It usually does take a long time for him to fall asleep but with a person in his protective hold he manages to drift off fairly peacefully.

...

He's curled up by the time Dick wakes up, not holding him anymore but still pressed against him while hiding his face in the pillow. One of his arms is tightly wrapped around his abdomen but otherwise he looks less tense than usual.

He only wakes up when Dick sits up, opening his eyes but otherwise giving no indication he's awake. He knows that Dick is here with him but he still has to check, to just comfort himself if nothing else.

Jason only sits up when Dick gets up and has his back turned against him, stretching his neck and arms a bit.

"Oh, great. You're.. you."

He mumbles, his voice a bit rough from sleep before tucking some of his bangs behind his ear that were in his face. He doesn't look surprised or anything, just squinting a bit and scanning the other.

Dick pauses when Jason speaks and sits up, looking back at him briefly. His expression is a little tense but he stretches his arms and smiles a bit at him. It's not entirely convincing.

"I'd hope so..."

Dick says with a small laugh, glancing around the place and fiddling with the hoodie sleeves before going back to looking outside. He's just...double checking everything. Maybe his paranoia has been worse lately, maybe it's because of Spyral, he isn't sure. He cracks his knuckles a bit.

"I don't exactly remember how I got here...some context would be appreciated."

He says sarcastically, but keeps his facial expression gentle. It's not aggressive or anything, mainly just how Dick tends to talk. It's rare that he takes things seriously outside of the field. Or really in it either.

The apartment looks like a safehouse, but Dick feels uninjured besides the still healing bullet wound in his shoulder. He feels a bit tired and out of it, but he's not entirely sure why, sometimes he just feels that way. He coughs a little into his arm, seemingly without exactly meaning to.

Jason gives Dick an unimpressed look when he smiles at him, not saying anything but just communicating that 'I know you're full of bullshit right now' that Jason seems to always have with the man.

He always seemed to be the least convinced whenever Dick is performing or whatever the man does. Jason knows it's fake which he hates and it honestly makes it hard to be around the man sometimes though everyone else seems to buy his happy go lucky persona. It just annoys him.

"I'm gonna make breakfast. You can do.. whatever."

He responds unimpressed, smirking a little bit. He could easily explain it to the man but he honestly just wants to annoy him so might as well drag it out. And maybe he wants him to stick around longer but he's definitely just gonna stick to the first reason.

He usually tries to annoy the man the most but since Dick came back from his whole fake death mission thing he's just been ignoring him as much as he can or glares at him so it is an improvement.

Jason moves to stand up, making the bed before leaving the room and keeping the door open so Dick doesn't just get locked in though the locks in the safe houses the bats know about are easier to break into then others.

"Oh how fun, thanks asshole."

Dick rolls his eyes, laughing a hint and watching as Jason goes about making the bed and leaving. It's nice to know that Jason still likes to keep everything clean, he remembers that about him before he died.

Dick's never been good at that, always a mess. Only effective method to keeping everything clean has been to own next to nothing. His room at the finishing school was empty besides the radio he'd taken a part to use to contact Bruce. He was just glad to have a room and not be in some sort of prison. Even though the room definitely started to feel like a cell after a while. The harassment and stalking didn't help with that.

Dick walks out of the bedroom eventually, still looking around at everything. He pauses to check the living area over as well, also checking the windows in this room and huffing. His arms are crossed over his chest tightly, almost like he's hugging himself. The hoodie is comfortable at least.

"Do you have cereal in this shithole?"

Dick asks once he's drawn the blinds of the last window in the room and checked the surroundings of the room about three times. He's smiling and raising an eyebrow at Jason.

He's still got no idea how he got here but considering he seems still in tact and his clothes are the same besides the hoodie being put over them, nothing...happened. Whatever weird game Jason is playing is annoying, but he's not entirely too alarmed. At this point he's used to this type of thing.

Jason just snorts in response, walking over to the kitchen. The entire safe house is pretty neat too with Jason putting a few things in their place as he moves about the room with practice almost subconsciously before opening the fridge and seeing what he has. The others know about this one so his food tends to disappear a lot.

He does seem to have the ingredients for an omelette so he takes those out as well as the other kitchen ware he has. The kitchen is the most 'messy' place in the apartment but really in comparison it's just a bit lived in.

He glances back over when Dick finally exits the room, watching him scan the place a bit confused. It's not like it's dangerous or anything but he supposes old habits die hard. Dick doesn't really come to his safe houses unless the man is actively bleeding and needs a med kit which is rare so he supposes it is a new place for him.

".. No. I've had enough cereal for a lifetime though I suppose you don't have the same.. limit."

Jason looks at the man like he just asked him to murder someone for him though then again Jason would probably be more pleased with that request.

Cereal is cheap and lasts a long time so he used to have it a lot as a kid and not the good kind. Now he doesn't need to do that kinda stuff so why would he buy it?

"Eh, usually the only thing I eat. It's cheap in bulk, plus I'm a sugar fan I guess."

Dick says with a shrug. He moves to climb up on the couch, standing on top of the arm rest and looking around the whole room. He huffs, rubbing at his arms before he jumps down and walks over towards the kitchen, moving to sit down on top of the counter, watching Jason cook.

Last they properly spoke since Dick got back from Spyral Dick was high and drunk, now it just feels awkward talking. He kicks his feet a little over the edge of the counter. He takes a deep breath, he seems to be anxious, but he's just trying to hide it. He's usually better at that type of thing but he hasn't been feeling well lately, nor does he have the energy or mind to cover it up.

He definitely looks exhausted, more than he used to before Spyral. The whole thing has taken much more of a toll on him than he ever wanted it to. Than he ever expected it to. Maybe it all started with Bruce or maybe it all started when Damian died, he's honestly not sure. Maybe it all started when his parents hit the floor.

"I'm not a chef or anything. I work for a fast food place right now, my experience starts and ends with flipping burger patties."

Dick says with an eye roll and a small laugh.

Jason scoffs in response to that, still watching Dick with an eyebrow raised. He's not really used to Dick climbing over furniture and stuff though he knows it's a thing the man does. He's just never really been around Dick enough to get used to it other than in the cave and occasionally on patrol when he's showing off.

"I'm very aware of that. I'm not sure how 'Richie Wayne' keeps his abs on that diet."

He rolls his eyes a bit at the first part before mocking Dick and those headlines he'd seen of him before, poking the man in the stomach where his abs would be under the hoodie enough to hurt before snorting a bit and cracking the eggs in a bowl.

Jason read those headlines a bit obsessively as a kid.. really all of them. The ones about the second Robin; Bruce Wayne's new ward; Richie Wayne, ward of Bruce Wayne, now a man of his own; the first Robin; Nightwing after he found out who he was. Anything really.

He wasn't used to all the attention, all the eyes on him. Being seen meant he was in danger his whole life and now he had to get used to having paparazzi all focused on him and wearing a uniform in bright colours while kicking men with guns.

"Batburger? Hm, better than a cop."

Jason says in disbelief almost before humming and continuing to cook. He'll definitely have to see that, maybe pay Dick a visit at his job.

Dick slaps his hand away, glaring at him a little though the threats not too serious. Dick could defend himself more if he wanted to. He rolls his eyes, leaning back and watching Jason closely.

"Mostly eat protein based things if I'm not eating cereal if that helps. I've definitely lost a bit of mass since uh...my little escapade out of the country."

Dick responds. Spyral had...a negative impact on Dick's person all in all. He was staying at the finishing school with Helena for a reason. He wasn't able to have a life outside of Spyral like some of the other agents, civilian lives. Dick was too well known and pronounced dead.

"I was trying to fit into my prom dress."

He jokes, grinning. At the school he was a French gymnastics instructor with minimal English skills. Why they chose French and not a language Dick was better with, he doesn't know. Maybe Helena and Minos were messing with him. It was a punishment anyways, before he was just supposed to stay in his room and not speak to anyone, then he interacted with that group of girls who were stalking him, and he broke protocol.

He would have enjoyed instructing them more if he wasn't constantly being objectified. Young British college girls, he was a few years older than them, though that didn't matter to them much. They went to an all girls school, with only women teachers. Maybe that was part of it, or maybe it was just Dick. He's always attracted that sort of attention, much to his displeasure.

"I'd rather kill myself with the spatula I use to flip burgers than be a cop again, if that helps."

Dick says with an eye roll.

Jason just grins a bit when Dick slaps his hand away, bringing his palms up in mock surrender for a second before continuing to whip the eggs, turning on the stove and getting out some butter while simultaneously adding some salt and pepper into the bowl. He's pretty good at multitasking and it makes it quicker. Usually he'd add more spice but he isn't sure how much Dick can handle.

He presses his lips together at the mention of Spyral or.. the trip if that's what he's gonna call it. Jason is still pretty pissed about that but right now he supposes he'll drop being petty. For now. If nothing else Jason knows how to hold a grudge though he can't even do that well.

"What.. does prom have to do with that?"

He asks, sounding genuinely confused and tilting his head, his nose scrunching up a bit before just shrugging it off. Jason never went to prom, obviously, so he isn't quick sure what Dick means and doesn't get the reference if that's what Dick is doing. Just another normal people thing Jason never got to experience since he died when he was barely a teenager.

While other people were going to parties or prom or whatever he was learning how to break a man's neck, use explosives and plotting to murder his father then his own murderer. It lined up with the 'teenage rebellion phase' so he supposes it makes sense?

"Uh. Yeah."

He hums, snorting a bit before putting the egg on the pan and taking out a spatula.

"I'm joking, Jay. Never even went to Prom, I stopped officially going to school around then, was with the Titans. I did have to tailor my suit a little though, it's supposed to be stretchy enough to fit me if I grow, not if I lose weight."

Dick says with an aggravated huff. Usually if he's on some mission where he's starved or something happens that makes him become ill like this, he would have gained back the weight or muscle by now and worked himself back to his usual physique, but Spyral...Spyral fucked him up too much. He feels like he's losing himself.

He coughs again, this time a bit more forced and ducking his head a little, coughing hard into his elbow. He breathes a bit and sighs, wiping at his eyes. Something about the pollen near his apartment has been making his eyes itch lately, but it seems better today since he isn't over there.

His hallucinations have been worse too, of course that and the paranoia, but that's not too out of the norm, maybe he's just overtired, or it's the stress.

"You gonna...actually tell me why I'm here? Or is this some kind of supervillain nonsense where you've kidnapped me for some evil plot to pollute Gotham's water supply with like...toxic Red 40 or something."

Dick says, his voice is a bit rough from the coughing fit but he seems to be just ignoring it, clearing his throat a little.

Jason hums, a bit confused why Dick would even do that. He's always been one to love school, an opportunity he never really had. He always wanted to go to school and get good grades and learn, he wanted to graduate and do normal things like graduate and go to university. He would have been the first one in his family. But.. that never happened. He broke his promise to his dad.

"Maybe that's because you should gain back that weight."

He says sarcastically in mock shock before rolling his eyes and flipping the omelette. He is a bit concerned about it he supposes.. Dick losing that much weight from whatever mission he had. Jason isn't sure if Dick really died or if that whole thing was a lie since no one explained that.

Dick just.. came back, they said it was for a mission and that's it. Nothing to say about the funeral that all the bats went to and Jason hid in the crowd of hundreds of fans that swarmed the funeral of 'Richie Wayne'.

No one to tell him where where Dick was while Jason was peeling the skin off of his recked body because it was better to feel that pain then think about how his brother was apparently buried in the ground like Jason was except it was all a lie. For the mission as always. The most important thing in the fucking world.

"Don't give me ideas now.. though I think the Gotham water supply has gone through enough. You think Steph might have some glitter in red?"

Jason asks, tilting his head and smiling with fake innocence over his shoulder before just looking back at the food. He doesn't know why he's dragging this out but might as well if it keeps Dick around long enough for the food. And to annoy the man of course.

"Yeah well, easier said than done"

Dick mumbles, rolling his eyes and moving to fold his arms, hugging himself a bit and a looking away. He's usually better at this stuff, he's done undercover work before, he's done long jobs, he's been on cases that have been taxing, but there's something about Spyral that's just...fucked him over way too much.

He knows everyone's mad with him, he knows that he hasn't explained any of it and neither has Bruce, god there's so many things he hasn't explained to anyone. To any of his family or friends. What is there to say? How does he explain this? How does he make them not hate him even more? He chose to do this, he chose to lie to them, he chose to put himself in this situation. Even with how much he never wanted any of this, Dick made his own life worse.

"How fun, adding even more microplastics in the water."

Dick says sarcastically, grinning at him. He sighs at the lack of an answer again, rubbing at his eyes and moving to get down from the counter, walking over to stand more closer to his brother and watch what he's doing.

Jason seems to thing about that for a few seconds before humming in some form of agreement, deciding to just drop it after that. Well, Dick isn't wrong he supposes. Every time he's dealt with malnutrition it fucking sucked of course. The first time was the worst, he was starting at 0, having lived his entire life on the edge of starvation.

He didn't know what it felt like to not feel hungry, to not have to try push away the constant feeling of his stomach gnawing on itself because his body was so desperate for food it felt like it was starting to eat itself to get by. In some ways it was.

He doesn't really know anything about the mission Dick went on, just that it was important and he had to and he was sorry and he couldn't contact them at the risk of blowing his cover and whatever else that was mixed with apologises Jason walked out on.

Jason glances over when Dick comes closer, taking out a plate and serving the omelette, pushing it into the man's hands.

"Well, gotta start somewhere. Shoo."

He hums, waving Dick away a bit as he goes to make another one for himself.

Dick laughs a little, taking the plate and looking it over a bit before moving to sit.

"Thanks..."

He mumbles, taking a fork and picking at the food a little, inspecting it seemingly. He sniffs it a little before eating and deeming it fine, despite having watched Jason make it. He's still looking around the room every few minutes as well, checking their surroundings.

Dick eats silently. He's usually more talkative, but with the layers of having no idea why he's here and everything with Spyral adding to the awkwardness of being around basically any of his family, he's not really sure what to say. There's not anything to have small talk about, Dick's mostly been focused on his own cases in Blud or working at the stuff about the Hypnos implants.

He just sits there and eats, leaning his head against his hand. Given he actually slept last night for once, he feels a bit better than usual, considering he's mostly been sleeping before patrol and after work these days. But that's not really saying much, he's still exhausted and feels remarkably uncomfortable. Maybe it's the cough and allergies stuff, and the way his mind feels like it's deteriorating.

A few times he flinches, looking back at what he thinks was the silhouette of something, but theres nothing there. He sighs, just staring at his food.

Jason rolls his eyes a bit, focusing on the food in front of him mostly. His back is turned towards the man so he can't see him and he would be lying if he said that didn't make him a bit on edge. Mostly out of just habit and less to do with Dick himself. Maybe a little to do with Dick.

Dick himself seems pretty paranoid, inspecting the food for poison as well as their surroundings. He isn't quite sure why he keeps looking at something that isn't there to Jason's knowledge which in turn makes Jason a bit more paranoid trying to figure out what he's looking at.

Eventually he just finishes the omelette for himself and plates it, leaving it near Dick's own plate on the counter while he cleans up the space and puts everything away.

The silence puts more stress on him to explain then Dick asking him did so to fill the space he speaks, clearing his throat a little first.

"You got de-aged on patrol. Took you back here to sleep the spell off. Might wanna follow up on that.."

He says, shrugging a bit at the last part.

Dick freezes, coughing on his food and having to gather his bearings a bit. De-aged? Really? Shit, so Jason had to deal with Dick at a younger age than now? All he can think of is how horribly that could have gone. He can't think of a time in his life he's ever been bearable or easy to be around, and if it was some sort of magic thing than that's sort of different from what they usually deal with in Gotham.

"Jesus Christ- sorry, how..."

He clears his throat again, moving to grab a napkin to wipe at his mouth a little, breathing and taking a second.

"How old?"

Dick asks, sounding almost nervous to hear the answer. He doesn't want to find out that he fucked things up, or that he's made Jason even more...irritated with him really. Dick takes another deep breath and rubs at his eyes a little. He's still wearing his gloves and all from his suit, just sitting beneath the hoodie he's in.

Jason starts laughing a bit at the reaction, bringing a hand up to hide the grin on his face. He definitely didn't expect that though then again if he was in Dick's shoes.. He would just hope he was in the range where he was Robin best case scenario.

He waves his apology off a bit, gathering his bearings and pressing his lips together to hide the smile on his face before he can.

"Uh.. 8 or 9? Whenever you started being Robin."

He answers, taking a few seconds to think about it. The question makes sense though he doesn't really understand why Dick seems nervous right now.

"It was only for a few hours before I got you to fall asleep so not a very strong spell."

Jason adds, hoping that makes it better though he doesn't know what the problem is either.

Dick sighs deeply, rubbing at his face and holding his head in his hands, letting his fork fall against his plate with a clatter.

"Right...okay, sorry if I- I don't know, was a little asshole to you or something."

Dick says, gesturing a bit with his hands. At around that age he remembers vaguely being stubborn and annoying really. Both Bruce and Alfred seemed to get annoyed with him enough, and he just wouldn't talk sometimes which he's sure was also annoying. I mean he practically bullied a grown man into making him a vigilante, so he was certainly a character.

He was also fairly murderous as a kid given how much he wanted to genuinely murder Tony Zucco. Bruce was certainly not happy about that. He remembers mentioning that offhandedly one day to Slade, they were debating something he thinks, probably morals given the subject matter.

Slade had used that as evidence of them being similar, that Dick knew deep down that killing the bad guys was the best way to go about things. When Dick had said Slade's targets were innocent people too, the man just scoffed and said sometimes they had to make sacrifices for the better of humanity. That wars didn't spare the innocent. Dick never liked thinking about all of that, it made his head hurt.

"Do you want a fruit basket or something for forgiveness?"

Dick jokes a little, but his anxiety is still there given that. Dick's not sure there would be an age that would be good for this kind of thing anyways.

Jason raises an eyebrow, confused by the reaction. He would think Dick would be more concerned by the fact he got magicked rather than whatever age he was or how annoying he was.

"No– You weren't. You were just kinda.. energetic I guess. Not unusual since you were like 9."

He says, trying to reassure Dick that it wasn't a problem or anything. Dick was a pretty good kid overall, especially for a 9 year old who was crime fighting. Sure, he was a bit energetic but he was also 9 so it's not like he didn't expect that.

He's used to helping some of the kids in the Alley who have been abused and hurt by so many people, usually adults, and while it is hard to gain their trust it's definitely worth it. If anything Jason is a bit concerned how trusting Dick was. Compared to Jason at that age.. yeah, he was much better.

"The only one between the two of us that needs a fruit basket is you, Dickhead."

Jason scoffs, pointing at him accusatorially before straightening up a bit and washing his plate since he finished, leaving it to dry before walking back over to where he was before in front of the other.

Dick pauses, his eyebrows furrowing at that. He definitely knows he was energetic, that was obvious enough with how much he was told to go run around outside or told to stop doing gymnastics around the house. Something that used to be normal for him when he was with his parents.

"From what I remember I was a little brat at that age, so...you don't have to sugarcoat stuff. I get it, troubled kid or something. B always said I was uh...a problem child or something, thought I'd grow out of it. If I broke anything I can try and send you some money for it."

Dick says, going back to picking at his omelette. He sighs, rubbing at his face. He remembers Alfred would yell at him for touching things a lot, he broke a few chandeliers in his day, and also some vases. It doesn't look like Jason has many fragile things in this safehouse but it's better to be careful if anything.

He pauses at that with an eye roll, moving over to flick Jason on the forehead. It's light but enough to be annoying if anything.

"I eat all my fruits and veggies, thank you very much."

He says in response, grinning a little before going back to his food, shaking his head a bit.

Jason shakes his head at that, not buying it because it's just.. wrong.

"No, not at all. You just wanted attention I guess. The most you did was show off a bit."

He tries to explain, not sure how anyone would make that conclusion. They really just talked and Dick did some tricks then he tired him out and got him to sleep, nothing bad, really.

"If you were a troubled kid I must of been.. a lot more."

Jason mumbles, glancing to the side. He had his own issues, not matter how much he tried to hide them. All the had to do was play his part, Robin, the hopeful, happy kid by Batman's side and the new Wayne kid who had good grades and didn't make any trouble. If he didn't he would have gotten kicked out. He tried his best but the cracks showed through and well, everyone knows how that story ends.

He immediately slaps the hand away, glaring at the man before rolling his eyes.

"I have doubts. Serious doubts."

Dick snorts, just shaking his head a little. He finds that hard to believe honestly, but he drops it. He doesn't want to argue with his brother right now, and knowing how he and Jason can get it would probably end up going there. Bruce was wrong, he never really grew out of it, especially considering the fact he was kicked out eventually anyways. He pauses at that, making a face that looks like baffled confusion.

"What? No, you were like...sweet, polite. You kept to yourself a lot, but you weren't a problem or anything. I mean you had your issues, we all do. You could be reckless but I think that just comes with being Robin."

Dick shrugs a little, going back to picking at his food. He finishes eating, having maybe eaten a little more than half of it before his stomach decides that he can't eat anymore. His appetite's been worse lately, he's not entirely sure why.

He huffs when Jason slaps his hand away, rolling his eyes at his words. He leans his head onto his hand, chin in his palm.

"You always doubt me on everything, not trust..."

He mumbles the last part, trailing off when he thinks about his words too much. Jason has a lot of reasons not to trust Dick anymore. He looks away, expression falling a bit and shifting awkwardly.

Jason scoffs at that, something almost akin to a laugh before frowning a bit.

"I don't know if you're the best judge of my character.. back then."

He mumbles, tapping a bit on the counter before stopping himself and balling his hand into a fist. He still is a bit pissed about that, a grudge he's never really let go.

Dick just wasn't there when he was a kid. Yeah, they'd sometimes hang out but it was never because of something out of vigilante work or because Bruce and Alfred didn't want to deal with Jason and even then Dick got high the first time so he doesn't think he remembers it.

They were never super close. Dick knew nothing about him and what Jason knew were just random comments the other made and what Bruce told him. That or what Jason himself looked for in news articles and whatever else he could do to try feel closer to the only person he had outside of Bruce and Alfred.

"You yourself said your diet consists of cereal and cereal. Don' know where fruit comes in with that."

He argues before realising what Dick really means, chewing on this inside of his cheek a bit.

Dick sighs, shaking his head. He knows he wasn't there, he knows he could have been. He's trying to be here now, but that's never enough is it? He's not sure anymore, Jason has always been different than Dick's other siblings. He knows what to do with the others way more than him, with him it's...like some sort of unpredictable game. Both of them arguing and fighting over anything they can.

"Yeah well, I doubt Bruce is either. I was trying to be nice."

He scoffs, standing to bring his plate over to the trash, scraping it and rinsing it off in the sink. He looks around for a dish before deciding to just leave it there for now. He pauses, rolling his eyes.

"I eat an apple a day to keep the doctors away, don't have to concern yourself with my eating habits anyways, it's not like I'm starving."

He says, moving back to lean against the counter and fold his arms. He sighs, looking away from his brother.

"Look, thanks for making sure I didn't end up dead in some gutter somewhere, and for the...omelette. I'll leave you be now, see you around I guess. I have a case B needs me for, that I didn't show up about last night, obviously."

Dick says, pinching his nose bridge. Bruce is gonna chew him out for all of this, he's sure of it. He just needs to try not to get too pissed off and escalate the situation. Part of him is still worried Bruce might...hit him again. Honestly, he probably will.

Dick's just waiting for that other shoe to drop, maybe the man's giving him time to recuperate after Spyral, he's not sure. He's not sure about any of this, Bruce is...hard to understand.

Jason rolls his eyes a bit at that, sucking on his tongue a bit. There is so much he wants to say, so much he wants to scream at the man, at how little he knows, how he said the same fucking things about Jason and now all people remember about him is his death and how reckless he is if they even know that he isn't Tim, that he even existed in Robin's legacy. But he doesn't.

"Well, who else is there?"

He says dryly, looking away. Really, who else would? Who else would talk about Jason, who he was, what happened to him? Bruce was the only person he had, the only person there at all other than Alfred. No one even knows what really happened, why he really died.

Bruce said it was because he fucking went after the Joker and that's all people believe. Even now, who does he have? Who would even defend him? No one, that's the answer.

He isn't close to Dick, not like the others are. He's seen them, how close they are, how Dick knows so much about them and all the things Jason really never had. He'd be lying if he didn't say he was extremely jealous, is still jealous, really. He never had that which was his fault, 'sweet kid' be damned. He's the only exception to Dick being a good brother, to being even a bit close.

"Right.. Bye, then. I'll see you first."

Jason says, straightening a bit and watching as Dick leaves. He offers a small smile for the last part. It's small but there. He's sad in a way that Dick is leaving but he has to and he knows that if it was up to the man he wouldn't be here at all. Plus, he definitely isn't telling Dick that.

#*⋆˚ 🌃 ꩜｡ 'i have dreams where i'm grasping something out of my reach'

Dick doesn't know what to say to that, because he's right really. Bruce was the only one there, Dick hadn't tried to be around, he was in space when he died. He was there the minimal amount he needed to be, not wanting to be around the man who kicked him out and immediately replaced him with a random kid he found.

"Yeah well, you don't have to be alone anymore, Jay."

Dick decides on saying, shaking his head a bit as he pushes himself off from the counter and walks towards the door. He pauses when Jason speaks again, glancing back and softening a little, brushing his bangs back.

"Alright, text me whenever, I'm usually around. Bye, Little Wing."

He waves with a small smile before putting the hood up of his hoodie since he took his mask off, before leaving and shutting the door behind him.

FUCK WAIT I DIDNT TURN ON ANON

ok now dick gets turned into robin again DEFINITELY not sent by the previous asker

(// OPEN RP STARTER!! (anyone is free to reply regardless of if we've interacted b4) Dick gets magic de-aged to hmm abt 8-9 years old?? Freshly Robin Dickiiee)

Dick is patrolling around Gotham for once, visiting the city to see Damian and the others when the spell hits him harshly.

"WOAH-"

"Hello..?"

The boy says. He glances around curiously, obviously confused about the situation with a small pout on his face.

He grumbles a bit, moving to try get away before the other spots him but before he can properly escape he hears a yelp from the man in question. Great.

Well, that's weird. Last he checked Damian wasn't nearby and anyways his uniform doesn't look like that. He puts his guns into the holsters before peeking again to see.. a child?

More accurately a child definitely not in the double digits yet with that tanned skin and the shitty Robin uniform that tormented him without any pants. He officially hates de-aging magic.

Jason moves to put his guns in his pockets since he doesn't think the trained toddler will like seeing someone with guns approaching him before walking over.

"Hey.. Robin?"

Dick yelps, going into a defensive position immediately and glaring up at the man.

"What is it? Wh- what happened? What did you do? Where's Batman?!"

He asks, his voice is much more high pitched than Dick's but also slightly accented on some syllables. He's pouting a little, holding his fists up like he's ready for a fight.

Jason snorts a bit under the helmet with translates to a crackle through the helmet at the reaction. He doesn't see Dick like this a lot, unguarded and not playing his stupid act.

He isn't quite sure if the others notice but everything about how Dick acts is fake in a way, a performance. He doesn't see Dick a lot in general though so what does he know.

"I didn't do anything. I don't know where Batman is either but I'm.. a friend of his, see?"

"But Batman doesn't have any other friends besides me!"

"He- He'd tell me if he had any friends. You're just a big um...you don't say the truth! You're saying nonsense!"

He frowns deeply, staring up at the man with a stubborn expression. The man's really tall, Dick barely reaches his waist, but he doesn't care. He can beat up big guys, he's Robin. Obviously.

Jason presses his lips together, resisting the urge to start laughing honestly because it's kinda cute.

"Well, I'm more of an ally.. like a business partner. You're his friend, he told me all about you."

He corrects which is more accurate to whatever the fuck Jason and Bruce have going on. He knows Bruce doesn't see him as his son anymore despite.. whatever, doesn't matter.

"Business– Ally.. thing."

"Well, I'm his bestfriend and partner, I'm the boy wonder! ...are you involved in those big cases Batman says I can't do yet because I'm not smart enough?"

"If you've got a bunch of bad guys you need me to um...take out and punch I can help! I can save people! But um..."

He looks around.

"We should find Batman. I'm not allowed to be on my own unless Batman says so."

Jason smiles softly at that. At the very least this version of Dick is very endearing and cute. He moves a bit closer, crouching a bit and resting his hands on his knees

"I'm sure you're really smart I'm just some.. outside help for Batman."

"Of course but.. since Batman isn't here we she probably go to my safehouse. He wont like the both of us patrolling in Gotham alone."

Jason says, trying to keep his voice soft though he can't help but roll his eyes and grumble at the end.

"Okay...Mr. Helmet Guy. I'm super smart!"

"M'kay. Robin will watch you and protect you! Have no fear the Boy Wonder is here!"

"Um...Whats a safehouse?"

"Thank you then, Robin.

"It's like... a house that's really safe because it's got a bunch of weapons and vigilante stuff. You'll see."

He explains, raising an eyebrow under the helmet before gesturing for Dick to follow him.

Dick runs up to him, grabbing at his cape so it covers his shoulders a bit more as he follows the man. Dick hums a little in response.

"Okay...why do you wear a helmet? Do you ride bikes? Batman never wears a helmet when he ride bikes, he says his cowl counts but that's not true I don't think. He says wrong things a lot."

Dick starts kicking a rock around a little as they walk, but gets distracted by the action, before remembering he's supposed to be following the helmet man as he runs back up to him.

Jason laughs softly at the questions, pretending to think a bit before answering. Good to know Dick insulting Bruce started very early.

"I do ride bikes. I also wear a helmet to cover my whole head and protect it."

"Is it because of shooting guns? My cape is all helmet like, it can't be shot at with guns, B says that's important. I got shot last month right here!"

"That was 'cause I forgot to use the cape. B got so mad and stuffs, but I didn't even cry!"

Dick complains a bit with a small pout, still holding onto the mans hand.

"Yep, that too. They're really loud."

"Oh, wow. Bet you were so brave. The cape is bullet proof?"

"They are, my ears start ringing all over and it hurts bad."

Dick says, putting his hands over his ears in emphasis. The domino he has on doesn't have any lenses but he does squint his eyes a little in confusion when the man stops to look at it.

"I gotta battle scar. Means I'm um...cool, like Batman. He's got a bunch of scars all over his places."

Dick says, tapping the scar a bit. He's a bit surprised when he's picked up but just smiles and kicks his feet a little. He giggles a bit.

"Yeah it's super cool! B says it's to protect me because I'm a walking target. I don't know what that means because he taught me not to just walk around anyways..."

Dick says, making a face and leaning his head against the man's shoulder.

"Um, Mr. Helmet man, do you think Batman's okay?"

Dick asks after a while, his voice a bit quieter while he stares down at his hands. He's started playing with one of the zippers on the mans jacket.

Jason hums, walking much quicker now since he doesn't have to slow down so Dick can keep up.

"I bet he does."

People without the medical care of a billionaire or even some disinfectant and stitches don't survive those kinda scars. Now.. most of his scars are because of himself.

"It looks really comfy too, I like your suit."

"Of course. He's just busy. Hey, you wanna learn a secret?"

He comforts, trying to quickly change the topic afterwards.

Dick hums, watching their surroundings a bit as he takes his head from the mans shoulder. He moves to look down at his suit at that. He giggles.

He starts chewing on one of his fingers a little, a bad habit that Alfred always yells at him for doing. He pauses at that, tilting his head.

"Okay. Yes! I can keep secrets! I can do it really good!! I had to lie to those CPS people who kept coming over like B told me, because they couldn't know I was Robin. I can keep secrets."

He says with a grin, curious and excited what the man is gonna tell him.

"Oh really? Well, I think it's awesome too so don't listen to him."

"It's about.. my secret identity. You gotta make sure you tell no one."

"B's just a big dummy idiot anyways. It's why his head looks like a bowling ball."

Dick looks up at the building they're walking to curiously. It looks normal, but he's not really sure. The man seems super nice though, even though his red helmet makes him look like an angry tomato.

He perks up at that, curious about the identity of the man, and he didn't even get a name either so he just kept calling him Mr. Helmet Man anyways.

"Okay! I won't tell at all, I'm super super good at identity secrets. I won't tell anyone, not even Zitka!"

He says making the motion to lock his lips and throw away the key.

He places Dick on one of the kitchen stools, closing the door and huffing a bit.

"OK, then.."

He rarely takes the helmet let alone the domino off most of the time, especially in front of Dick and Bruce and part of him still has that fear with the younger version of his brother.

"Surprise."

Jason mumbles, going to get some adhesive remover and walking over to the sink, turning on the faucet.

Dick looks around the place curiously, just excited to be somewhere new. After his entire life was on the road constantly with the Circus things felt...off, being trapped in the manor constantly.

Dick tilts his head a bit as the man takes off his helmet. He opens his mouth a little in surprise before clapping a bit.

"You look so cool! It's like um...those really awesome looking people on TV! You're striped like a Zebra! Sort of anyways, your hair is all funky town."

"Why's it a secret that your hairs is all cool like that? Is it the scars? Those are cool too! Like battle scars!"

Dick says, leaning forwards across the counter and tapping his hands against the countertop.

"Thank you, I think? I don't know if I count as a Zebra with only one stripe."

He tilts his head a bit, not sure if Dick is just insulting him in some creative way.

"Well, the scars and hair make it very easy for people to find out my identity so I have to hide it. You wanna take your domino off?"

Another reason was just wanting to hide his face for the whole reveal and all.. He finds it stupid to keep majority of your face minus the mask revealed if you don't want your identity to come out.

"Hm...maybe like those little bear rat things that eat garbage?"

Dick suggests, he can't remember the English word for them. He sits up on his knees a little to look at the man a bit more.

"Your eyes are all funky town too."

Dick says, pointing as his own eyes in emphasis. He hums a bit at the explanation, moving to prop his head on his hand. He supposes that makes sense, since the man looks so unique and all.

"Oh...well I can keep that a secret I guess. I can't call you Mr. Helmet Man anymore though because you're without a helmet. You're bald."

"B would get big mad. He says our identities matter the biggest because it could kill people and stuff. I don't wanna kill people, it'd make me a bad guy."

He mumbles a bit, voice muffled.

"Raccoons? I've been told so before."

"Funky town? Funky?"

Jason asks, tilting his head. Dick said it before and he isn't quite sure what it means. He laughs softly at that too, tucking his bangs behind his ear.

"I'm pretty sure I have hair. My name is Jason."

He rolls his eyes a bit, smiling softly.

"I already know who you are, Dick. I'm an ally of Bruce. I told you that, right?"

"Yes, those! It's pretty though. Raccoons are sweethearts, I held one once and B freaked out."

Dick says with a small giggle. Bruce had said he was going to get rabies or something so Dick tried to hand him the raccoon, and B acted like he was about to stab him.

"Um...yeah like...fun and cool, is that not the words? I just watched a lot of American TV to know how to say a lot of things right. But my Papa tutored me on basics."

"Well because your heads bare without the helmet so...bald. Nothing on your head."

Dick explains, touching his own head a bit as he does. He pauses at that explanation, eyes widening.

"...Did...Did B tell you? I didn't mess up or anything...I didn't say anything wrong-"

"They are pretty cute. They can be a bit aggressive sometimes."

"Just funky. Your english is good, though."

Jason sighs softly, ruffling Dick's hair. He wasn't expecting that reaction specifically and it makes him.. sad in a way, that he assumed he did something wrong.

"No, Bruce told me. You did perfectly fine, Dickie."

Jason comforts, leaning a bit close to Dick's level, hoping that comforts him a bit more so he doesn't feel upset.

Dick pauses, blinking and a bit confused at the touch, but definitely happy about it. He misses getting hugged and held and getting his hair all ruffled and played with, like with Mama and Papa.

"M'kay...thank you, Jason."

"I wanna go home."

Jason smiles softly at the other, not sure what else to do. He hums, chuckling softly at the dramatic sound and taking the wipes before throwing them in the bin.

"No problem, Dickie."

Jason frowns at that, sighing a bit before moving to sit on Dick's side of the counter, facing the kid. He doesn't seem to get what Dick means, assuming he means the manor.

"I know.. B is busy right now so.. you can stay with me until then, have a sleepover?"

He offers, not sure how to comfort him. Jason isn't sure how long this spell will last so he doesn't want to promise they'll see Bruce tomorrow or anything like that so this'll have to do.

"He's always busy."

Is all he says, mumbling and a bit muffled with his hand in his face. Dick just misses his Mama and Papa, they were so much nicer and loved having him around but Bruce always seems busy and annoyed.

He misses the circus, and misses all the people there and he misses Zitka. This is all so stupid. He's good at being Robin, he doesn't think he's good at much else anymore.

"I know.. I'm sorry. I'll have to make do for now, OK?"

He responds softly, slumping a bit so he can look at the child more head on, gently taking his hand and bringing it out of his mouth.

He was always jealous that Dick had his own team, that he actually had friends and just people there for him but right now he doesn't so Jason'll have to do.

"You're nicer."

Dick likes being hugged or hugging people but he never really gets to be like that anymore because his parents are dead. Bruce and Alfred are all meanie and don't like him to be so touchy.

He isn't quite sure why since he knows Dick does hug the others whenever so it's probably because of Jason. He doesn't think Dick has hugged him.. ever.

He rubs his back a bit until Dick moves away, letting go of the child and watching him a bit, laughing softly when he goes to do a handstand, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Wow.. Be careful."

Jason mumbles, clapping a bit. He knows Dick will probably be fine but he's just so small and young that he is a bit worried.

Dick scoffs, rolling his eyes and moving up into a forward walk over to get back up.

"I'm totally careful...I'm an acrobat."

"My Mama and Papa trained me. I was in the circus. We were really good.

"See?"

He says, gesturing a bit to prove his point.

"Of course."

"I can see that."

He wasn't exactly successful but Jason is still insanely flexible somehow. Still, nothing can beat Dick Grayson and definitely not when it comes to acrobatics.

"Yes. Just want you safe that's all."

Jason moves to boop him on the nose, smiling softly.

"Woah, you're super tall."

Dick says, resting his head against Jason's, his small hands in Jason's hair. He looks over the room from the high vantage point.

"I can see everything."

He's not sure if Jason's gonna make him go to school tomorrow but Dick hopes he doesn't, so he isn't gonna mention it.

"Do you hit your head on stuff?"

Dick asks, moving so he can lean his head over and look at Jason's face more. Bruce and Alfred always say eye contact is polite.

He shifts a bit when Dick finally sits on his shoulders, holding his legs a bit to make sure he's secure but allowing the kid to kick them back and forth.

"I have been told so."

"Yes, I do actually. Very annoying. Got a few bruises from it.

He says, blinking a bit when Dick looks down at him with his face upside down. When he came back his height started to rapidly grow, the pit correcting his malnourishment and everything.

"Bruce says being small has umm...tactical advances. Or something."

"It does. You are harder to spot, more flexible, lighter weight and everything for your tricks. Being big has advantages too though."

"It is. Don't worry about me."

"Must've been scary. Bet you were so brave though."

Jason mumbles softly, tilting his head up to look at Dick a little bit. He's only 8 or 9 right now. He shouldn't have had to deal with that.

"Mhm...Haly, the guy who owned the circus, he said I was easily portable."

Dick says, giggling a bit and continuing to fiddle with Jason's hair still. He likes the white hairs a lot because of cool they look with the black hair.

"Yeah, it was...but Alfie says I did good and stuff, even though Bruce was all mad at me. I didn't even get him hit or anything he told me to stay back and I did. He makes no sense."

Dick frowns, leaning his chin on Jason's head a bit as he thinks.

"He doesn't even apologize, My Mama always says that's mean. Or she...um. She used to."

Dick mumbles the last bit, grumbling a little. He continues to fiddle with Jason's hair, as well as just poking him a little for no discernible reason.

"That too."

He says with a smile, sighing a bit. The drumming is honestly a bit annoying but he can easily just ignore it anyways. Jason does like him playing with his bangs though.

"Well.. You don't listen to him. You're both alright so you did good."

He pauses momentarily at the mention of Dick's parents before smiling softly, chuckling when Dick starts to poke him. He definitely has a lot of energy.

"Yeah, your Mom's right. B is just a big meanie."

Dick hums, stopping the poking just to lean the side of his face against Jason's head and hug him a little, with his arms a bit around his neck, though not in any restricting manner.

"B and Alfie are hard friends to have...Zitka was nicer."

"My Mama and Papa were a lot nicer. But they're gone now...s'my fault"

"Well, that's a no brainer."

"It's not your fault."

"I saw him doing something suspicious before the show, I should have said something...I could have- I could have helped."

"They died though, they fell, I didn't do anything and they died."

Dick says quietly, leaning his head against Jason's arm.

"You weren't the one who did it. It's not your fault."

Dick hugs Jason, bringing himself closer when he's picked up, snuggling close to the man. It shows how much he's just been wanting someone to hold him with how much he's clinging to Jason.

"I wish Zucco was dead. I know B says that's bad, but I don't care. He's the worst. I want to punch his face in again."

Dick says, but there are tears in his eyes while he's speaking, glaring daggers at Jason's chest like it'll kill the man for him.

"I don't care if it's bad at all. I don't care what he says. I don't care."

"I don't care."

He says in that shaky tone, biting harshly down on his lip.

Jason hugs the boy back tightly, not too tight to hurt but enough to be a constant pressure. It's the least and probably the only thing he can really do to help in his situation.

"I want them dead too."

Is all Jason offers, all he can offer, really. He doesn't want to lie because in all honesty he'd probably do it. Whether them is Zucco or.. anyone else is something he's not sure about.

Dick sniffles, tears running down his cheeks as he tries to make them stop, wiping at his face a little vigorously, like he's trying to scrub the emotion out of himself.

"Does that make you bad? To...to think bad stuff like that? Bruce always says it...it makes you as worse as them."

"I don't wanna be bad."

Jason pauses at that, sighing and fishing out a tissue from his pockets, sliding it into Dick's hand and continuing to run his hands through his hair.

The others are so young, too young to be doing any of this let alone having to raise a gun or sword to someone and kill them. They can't do that and they shouldn't have to again.

So Jason will. He knows he should probably be dead like all the people he has killed, even more so. He would probably go to hell if he could die this time. But he can't. So he'll continue on.

"You aren't. You're a good person, Dickie. Don't let Bruce or anyone else tell you you aren't."

He mumbles. He wishes he could tell Dick this later, he doesn't even know if Dick will remember it. They aren't close enough for that. This is all he can do.

"Y'know.. as a kid we used to tell scary stories about the Batman around a lighter. I don' know if it's more disappointing or reassuring that he's just some rich guy in a furry costume."

Jason mumbles, rubbing the others back. He doesn't know why he's talking about this, just wanting to have something to talk about to take the other's mind off things.

Dick blinks a bit when Jason speaks, having forgotten really that the man was even there, stuck in his own head. Dick wipes at his eyes. He huffs a small laugh.

"I didn't really know about Batman...until he showed up when my parents died, and kept catching me when I escaped the Juvie place to go kill Zucco."

Dick explains a little. He starts fidgeting a little with Jason's shirt, not making eye contact with the man.

Jason moves his hand to run through Dick's hair instead when he stops crying, a bit relieved at that at least. He seemed to have cried himself out and is pretty tired but he doesn't move or anything.

"You figured it out? Pretty smart, huh?"

Dick hums, giggling softly and rubbing at his face. He grabs at his cape a little to wear it as a make shift blanket.

Dick admits the last part with a weak voice, almost like he's embarrassed by the fact he wants attention in the first place, nonetheless Bruces. He sniffles and hugs Jason a bit tighter.

"It worked, so I'm super smart."

He yawns a little as he says that.

"You designed it all by yourself? Even the cape?"

He asks, making his voice a bit more excited than it would usually be, picking Dick up a bit to be higher and more in his arms. It seems he finally got most of that energy out.

"Of course. And I bet those brain cells need some rest, no?"

Jason tilts his head a bit, ruffling Dick's hair.

"Uhuh! I mean...B made changes like I couldn't make the cape sparkly like I wanted to, but most of it is what I drew. It's like my Mama and Papa's costumes..."

He explains, spreading his cape out a little in emphasis. Dick giggles when he's picked up a bit more, ducking his head and sticking his tongue out a bit when Jason ruffles his hair.

"M'not tired, it's lies."

"While sparkles are very cool I don't think they'd be really good for stealth."

Jason says with a small snort, deciding to just ignore the last part about his parents and not comment on it. He's happy that Dick seems much happier and distracted than before.

"Uh huh.."

"Well.. I'm pretty tired and I have enough room in my bed for someone as little as you."

Jason says, booping Dick's nose at the end. Hopefully the problem is just being alone otherwise Jason will just get Dick to sit next to him in bed and hopefully that'll work.

"Thats what B says...I don't get any of this stuff."

Dick says with a shrug. Dick giggles when his nose gets poked, ducking his head into Jason's neck and hugging the man. He grumbles a bit, thinking for a moment about Jason's words.

"Hm...I can stay and make sure you're okay."

Dick states, deciding that protecting Jason would be good reasoning for staying with him, even though he's tired himself and would like to sleep. He doesn't admit that though, stubbornly.

"I don't have pajamas..."

"Well, sparkles are really shiny and pretty so people can see you easier and if you're sneaking around as Robin the bad guys might spot you which isn't good."

Jason explains, attempting to speak in a type of language Dick can understand. He hugs Dick back, of course, smiling softly. He is really cute at this age though Jason thinks most kids cute.

"Really? Thank you."

"Hm.. you can borrow one of my hoodies though it'll probably swallow you up."

Jason hums, laughing softly at the last part. His hoodies are oversized on Dick when he's normal so he can't imagine how it would be for him while being a small child.

"Yeah...'cause sleeping makes you um...vulnerable to attacks. So I gotta protect you."

Dick giggles at the comments, shaking his head and rubbing his fingers against Jason's jacket a little. He doesn't make eye contact, but he doesn't seem uncomfortable or anything.

"I'm not that small, you're just um...a giant. Like those Jack and the beanstalk stories."

"A giant? Not the first time. Well, regardless lets get you something, hm? I have a spare tooth brush you can use."

"Nice?"

He asks, crouching down in front of Dick and offering him the hoodie to touch.

"It's furry! Like...like soft blankets!"

Dick says, hugging the hoodie to himself a bit and holding it to his face. He sniffs it a little and looks it over fully.

"I don't know if I can live up to a pajama sleepover but we'll share a bed."

"I bet you are.."

Jason smiles softly at the reaction, finding it cute and taking off the cape and belt, folding them both up and putting them on the side.

"I'm glad you like 'em. Do you need help putting it on?"

"I did that with Mama and Papa."

"Pat pat."

He says, yawning and moving to grab his legs and tuck them beneath the hoodie as well as he watches Jason curiously.

"Are you gonna put on pajamas too?"

He asks, head tilted a little as he asks, looking at Jason's gear and jacket and all. Dick wonders why he doesn't have a cape or anything like usual superheroes, he looks kinda weird.

"Oh, then I definitely can't compete."

"Yep. First, how about we brush first, kay?"

He reassures, picking Dick up again and walking out of the bedroom to the bathroom, kneeling down to get the spare toothbrushes out of the cabinets.

"I only have the minty toothpaste, sorry."

Jason sighs a bit, handing Dick the toothbrush and placing him on the sink since Jason lacks a stool or anything in this safehouse.

Dick just giggles a bit more when Jason rolls up his sleeves, smiling as he's picked up again and leaning into the touch. He kicks his feet a little on the counter when Jason sets him down.

"Bleh."

"M'done. Clean."

Is all he says, yawning a little and rubbing at his eyes. Dick's tired now and just wants to be held and get to sleep against someone else for the night. He misses the feeling.

He scoops the child up from under his arms before placing him on Jason's hip, considering for a second before pressing his lips to the other's hair for a second.

"I can see that, good job."

He praises, making sure the bathroom and everything is clean before turning off the light and exiting the room, entering the bedroom.

"I'm just gonna leave the room to change then we'll sleep. You stay right here for me."

Jason says, placing Dick down on the head and adjusting the pillows for him, pulling the blanket over to him to snuggle up.

He goes to the cupboard to take out a hoodie and some sweatpants, leaving the room like he said and closing the door.

"You waited for me? Thank you."

He mumbles softly, putting everything in the cupboard before finally turning the light off and hoping in the bed, adjusting the blanket a bit to make sure it covers the smaller child.

"Want me to keep the lamp on?"

Jason asks as he moves to wrap his arms around Dick and get comfortable himself.

"M'brave and strong. I don't need lights."

...

"Of course."

...

Jason only sits up when Dick gets up and has his back turned against him, stretching his neck and arms a bit.

"Oh, great. You're.. you."

He mumbles, his voice a bit rough from sleep before tucking some of his bangs behind his ear that were in his face. He doesn't look surprised or anything, just squinting a bit and scanning the other.

Dick pauses when Jason speaks and sits up, looking back at him briefly. His expression is a little tense but he stretches his arms and smiles a bit at him. It's not entirely convincing.

"I'd hope so..."

"I don't exactly remember how I got here...some context would be appreciated."

Jason gives Dick an unimpressed look when he smiles at him, not saying anything but just communicating that 'I know you're full of bullshit right now' that Jason seems to always have with the man.

"I'm gonna make breakfast. You can do.. whatever."

He usually tries to annoy the man the most but since Dick came back from his whole fake death mission thing he's just been ignoring him as much as he can or glares at him so it is an improvement.

"Oh how fun, thanks asshole."

"Do you have cereal in this shithole?"

Dick asks once he's drawn the blinds of the last window in the room and checked the surroundings of the room about three times. He's smiling and raising an eyebrow at Jason.

".. No. I've had enough cereal for a lifetime though I suppose you don't have the same.. limit."

Jason looks at the man like he just asked him to murder someone for him though then again Jason would probably be more pleased with that request.

Cereal is cheap and lasts a long time so he used to have it a lot as a kid and not the good kind. Now he doesn't need to do that kinda stuff so why would he buy it?

"Eh, usually the only thing I eat. It's cheap in bulk, plus I'm a sugar fan I guess."

"I'm not a chef or anything. I work for a fast food place right now, my experience starts and ends with flipping burger patties."

Dick says with an eye roll and a small laugh.

"I'm very aware of that. I'm not sure how 'Richie Wayne' keeps his abs on that diet."

"Batburger? Hm, better than a cop."

Jason says in disbelief almost before humming and continuing to cook. He'll definitely have to see that, maybe pay Dick a visit at his job.

Dick slaps his hand away, glaring at him a little though the threats not too serious. Dick could defend himself more if he wanted to. He rolls his eyes, leaning back and watching Jason closely.

"Mostly eat protein based things if I'm not eating cereal if that helps. I've definitely lost a bit of mass since uh...my little escapade out of the country."

"I was trying to fit into my prom dress."

"I'd rather kill myself with the spatula I use to flip burgers than be a cop again, if that helps."

Dick says with an eye roll.

"What.. does prom have to do with that?"

"Uh. Yeah."

He hums, snorting a bit before putting the egg on the pan and taking out a spatula.

His hallucinations have been worse too, of course that and the paranoia, but that's not too out of the norm, maybe he's just overtired, or it's the stress.

Dick says, his voice is a bit rough from the coughing fit but he seems to be just ignoring it, clearing his throat a little.

"Maybe that's because you should gain back that weight."

"Don't give me ideas now.. though I think the Gotham water supply has gone through enough. You think Steph might have some glitter in red?"

"Yeah well, easier said than done"

"How fun, adding even more microplastics in the water."

Jason glances over when Dick comes closer, taking out a plate and serving the omelette, pushing it into the man's hands.

"Well, gotta start somewhere. Shoo."

He hums, waving Dick away a bit as he goes to make another one for himself.

Dick laughs a little, taking the plate and looking it over a bit before moving to sit.

"Thanks..."

A few times he flinches, looking back at what he thinks was the silhouette of something, but theres nothing there. He sighs, just staring at his food.

Eventually he just finishes the omelette for himself and plates it, leaving it near Dick's own plate on the counter while he cleans up the space and puts everything away.

The silence puts more stress on him to explain then Dick asking him did so to fill the space he speaks, clearing his throat a little first.

"You got de-aged on patrol. Took you back here to sleep the spell off. Might wanna follow up on that.."

He says, shrugging a bit at the last part.

"Jesus Christ- sorry, how..."

He clears his throat again, moving to grab a napkin to wipe at his mouth a little, breathing and taking a second.

"How old?"

He waves his apology off a bit, gathering his bearings and pressing his lips together to hide the smile on his face before he can.

"Uh.. 8 or 9? Whenever you started being Robin."

He answers, taking a few seconds to think about it. The question makes sense though he doesn't really understand why Dick seems nervous right now.

"It was only for a few hours before I got you to fall asleep so not a very strong spell."

Jason adds, hoping that makes it better though he doesn't know what the problem is either.

Dick sighs deeply, rubbing at his face and holding his head in his hands, letting his fork fall against his plate with a clatter.

"Right...okay, sorry if I- I don't know, was a little asshole to you or something."

"Do you want a fruit basket or something for forgiveness?"

Dick jokes a little, but his anxiety is still there given that. Dick's not sure there would be an age that would be good for this kind of thing anyways.

Jason raises an eyebrow, confused by the reaction. He would think Dick would be more concerned by the fact he got magicked rather than whatever age he was or how annoying he was.

"No– You weren't. You were just kinda.. energetic I guess. Not unusual since you were like 9."

"The only one between the two of us that needs a fruit basket is you, Dickhead."

He pauses at that with an eye roll, moving over to flick Jason on the forehead. It's light but enough to be annoying if anything.

"I eat all my fruits and veggies, thank you very much."

He says in response, grinning a little before going back to his food, shaking his head a bit.

Jason shakes his head at that, not buying it because it's just.. wrong.

"No, not at all. You just wanted attention I guess. The most you did was show off a bit."

He tries to explain, not sure how anyone would make that conclusion. They really just talked and Dick did some tricks then he tired him out and got him to sleep, nothing bad, really.

"If you were a troubled kid I must of been.. a lot more."

He immediately slaps the hand away, glaring at the man before rolling his eyes.

"I have doubts. Serious doubts."

He huffs when Jason slaps his hand away, rolling his eyes at his words. He leans his head onto his hand, chin in his palm.

"You always doubt me on everything, not trust..."

He mumbles the last part, trailing off when he thinks about his words too much. Jason has a lot of reasons not to trust Dick anymore. He looks away, expression falling a bit and shifting awkwardly.

Jason scoffs at that, something almost akin to a laugh before frowning a bit.

"I don't know if you're the best judge of my character.. back then."

He mumbles, tapping a bit on the counter before stopping himself and balling his hand into a fist. He still is a bit pissed about that, a grudge he's never really let go.

"You yourself said your diet consists of cereal and cereal. Don' know where fruit comes in with that."

He argues before realising what Dick really means, chewing on this inside of his cheek a bit.

"Yeah well, I doubt Bruce is either. I was trying to be nice."

"I eat an apple a day to keep the doctors away, don't have to concern yourself with my eating habits anyways, it's not like I'm starving."

He says, moving back to lean against the counter and fold his arms. He sighs, looking away from his brother.

Dick's just waiting for that other shoe to drop, maybe the man's giving him time to recuperate after Spyral, he's not sure. He's not sure about any of this, Bruce is...hard to understand.

FUCK WAIT I DIDNT TURN ON ANON

ok now dick gets turned into robin again DEFINITELY not sent by the previous asker

(// OPEN RP STARTER!! (anyone is free to reply regardless of if we've interacted b4) Dick gets magic de-aged to hmm abt 8-9 years old?? Freshly Robin Dickiiee)

Dick is patrolling around Gotham for once, visiting the city to see Damian and the others when the spell hits him harshly.

"WOAH-"

"Hello..?"

The boy says. He glances around curiously, obviously confused about the situation with a small pout on his face.

He grumbles a bit, moving to try get away before the other spots him but before he can properly escape he hears a yelp from the man in question. Great.

Well, that's weird. Last he checked Damian wasn't nearby and anyways his uniform doesn't look like that. He puts his guns into the holsters before peeking again to see.. a child?

More accurately a child definitely not in the double digits yet with that tanned skin and the shitty Robin uniform that tormented him without any pants. He officially hates de-aging magic.

Jason moves to put his guns in his pockets since he doesn't think the trained toddler will like seeing someone with guns approaching him before walking over.

"Hey.. Robin?"

Dick yelps, going into a defensive position immediately and glaring up at the man.

"What is it? Wh- what happened? What did you do? Where's Batman?!"

He asks, his voice is much more high pitched than Dick's but also slightly accented on some syllables. He's pouting a little, holding his fists up like he's ready for a fight.

Jason snorts a bit under the helmet with translates to a crackle through the helmet at the reaction. He doesn't see Dick like this a lot, unguarded and not playing his stupid act.

He isn't quite sure if the others notice but everything about how Dick acts is fake in a way, a performance. He doesn't see Dick a lot in general though so what does he know.

"I didn't do anything. I don't know where Batman is either but I'm.. a friend of his, see?"

"But Batman doesn't have any other friends besides me!"

"He- He'd tell me if he had any friends. You're just a big um...you don't say the truth! You're saying nonsense!"

He frowns deeply, staring up at the man with a stubborn expression. The man's really tall, Dick barely reaches his waist, but he doesn't care. He can beat up big guys, he's Robin. Obviously.

Jason presses his lips together, resisting the urge to start laughing honestly because it's kinda cute.

"Well, I'm more of an ally.. like a business partner. You're his friend, he told me all about you."

He corrects which is more accurate to whatever the fuck Jason and Bruce have going on. He knows Bruce doesn't see him as his son anymore despite.. whatever, doesn't matter.

"Business– Ally.. thing."

"Well, I'm his bestfriend and partner, I'm the boy wonder! ...are you involved in those big cases Batman says I can't do yet because I'm not smart enough?"

"If you've got a bunch of bad guys you need me to um...take out and punch I can help! I can save people! But um..."

He looks around.

"We should find Batman. I'm not allowed to be on my own unless Batman says so."

Jason smiles softly at that. At the very least this version of Dick is very endearing and cute. He moves a bit closer, crouching a bit and resting his hands on his knees

"I'm sure you're really smart I'm just some.. outside help for Batman."

"Of course but.. since Batman isn't here we she probably go to my safehouse. He wont like the both of us patrolling in Gotham alone."

Jason says, trying to keep his voice soft though he can't help but roll his eyes and grumble at the end.

"Okay...Mr. Helmet Guy. I'm super smart!"

"M'kay. Robin will watch you and protect you! Have no fear the Boy Wonder is here!"

"Um...Whats a safehouse?"

"Thank you then, Robin.

"It's like... a house that's really safe because it's got a bunch of weapons and vigilante stuff. You'll see."

He explains, raising an eyebrow under the helmet before gesturing for Dick to follow him.

Dick runs up to him, grabbing at his cape so it covers his shoulders a bit more as he follows the man. Dick hums a little in response.

"Okay...why do you wear a helmet? Do you ride bikes? Batman never wears a helmet when he ride bikes, he says his cowl counts but that's not true I don't think. He says wrong things a lot."

Dick starts kicking a rock around a little as they walk, but gets distracted by the action, before remembering he's supposed to be following the helmet man as he runs back up to him.

Jason laughs softly at the questions, pretending to think a bit before answering. Good to know Dick insulting Bruce started very early.

"I do ride bikes. I also wear a helmet to cover my whole head and protect it."

"Is it because of shooting guns? My cape is all helmet like, it can't be shot at with guns, B says that's important. I got shot last month right here!"

"That was 'cause I forgot to use the cape. B got so mad and stuffs, but I didn't even cry!"

Dick complains a bit with a small pout, still holding onto the mans hand.

"Yep, that too. They're really loud."

"Oh, wow. Bet you were so brave. The cape is bullet proof?"

"They are, my ears start ringing all over and it hurts bad."

Dick says, putting his hands over his ears in emphasis. The domino he has on doesn't have any lenses but he does squint his eyes a little in confusion when the man stops to look at it.

"I gotta battle scar. Means I'm um...cool, like Batman. He's got a bunch of scars all over his places."

Dick says, tapping the scar a bit. He's a bit surprised when he's picked up but just smiles and kicks his feet a little. He giggles a bit.

"Yeah it's super cool! B says it's to protect me because I'm a walking target. I don't know what that means because he taught me not to just walk around anyways..."

Dick says, making a face and leaning his head against the man's shoulder.

"Um, Mr. Helmet man, do you think Batman's okay?"

Dick asks after a while, his voice a bit quieter while he stares down at his hands. He's started playing with one of the zippers on the mans jacket.

Jason hums, walking much quicker now since he doesn't have to slow down so Dick can keep up.

"I bet he does."

People without the medical care of a billionaire or even some disinfectant and stitches don't survive those kinda scars. Now.. most of his scars are because of himself.

"It looks really comfy too, I like your suit."

"Of course. He's just busy. Hey, you wanna learn a secret?"

He comforts, trying to quickly change the topic afterwards.

Dick hums, watching their surroundings a bit as he takes his head from the mans shoulder. He moves to look down at his suit at that. He giggles.

He starts chewing on one of his fingers a little, a bad habit that Alfred always yells at him for doing. He pauses at that, tilting his head.

"Okay. Yes! I can keep secrets! I can do it really good!! I had to lie to those CPS people who kept coming over like B told me, because they couldn't know I was Robin. I can keep secrets."

He says with a grin, curious and excited what the man is gonna tell him.

"Oh really? Well, I think it's awesome too so don't listen to him."

"It's about.. my secret identity. You gotta make sure you tell no one."

"B's just a big dummy idiot anyways. It's why his head looks like a bowling ball."

Dick looks up at the building they're walking to curiously. It looks normal, but he's not really sure. The man seems super nice though, even though his red helmet makes him look like an angry tomato.

He perks up at that, curious about the identity of the man, and he didn't even get a name either so he just kept calling him Mr. Helmet Man anyways.

"Okay! I won't tell at all, I'm super super good at identity secrets. I won't tell anyone, not even Zitka!"

He says making the motion to lock his lips and throw away the key.

He places Dick on one of the kitchen stools, closing the door and huffing a bit.

"OK, then.."

He rarely takes the helmet let alone the domino off most of the time, especially in front of Dick and Bruce and part of him still has that fear with the younger version of his brother.

"Surprise."

Jason mumbles, going to get some adhesive remover and walking over to the sink, turning on the faucet.

Dick looks around the place curiously, just excited to be somewhere new. After his entire life was on the road constantly with the Circus things felt...off, being trapped in the manor constantly.

Dick tilts his head a bit as the man takes off his helmet. He opens his mouth a little in surprise before clapping a bit.

"You look so cool! It's like um...those really awesome looking people on TV! You're striped like a Zebra! Sort of anyways, your hair is all funky town."

"Why's it a secret that your hairs is all cool like that? Is it the scars? Those are cool too! Like battle scars!"

Dick says, leaning forwards across the counter and tapping his hands against the countertop.

"Thank you, I think? I don't know if I count as a Zebra with only one stripe."

He tilts his head a bit, not sure if Dick is just insulting him in some creative way.

"Well, the scars and hair make it very easy for people to find out my identity so I have to hide it. You wanna take your domino off?"

Another reason was just wanting to hide his face for the whole reveal and all.. He finds it stupid to keep majority of your face minus the mask revealed if you don't want your identity to come out.

"Hm...maybe like those little bear rat things that eat garbage?"

Dick suggests, he can't remember the English word for them. He sits up on his knees a little to look at the man a bit more.

"Your eyes are all funky town too."

Dick says, pointing as his own eyes in emphasis. He hums a bit at the explanation, moving to prop his head on his hand. He supposes that makes sense, since the man looks so unique and all.

"Oh...well I can keep that a secret I guess. I can't call you Mr. Helmet Man anymore though because you're without a helmet. You're bald."

"B would get big mad. He says our identities matter the biggest because it could kill people and stuff. I don't wanna kill people, it'd make me a bad guy."

He mumbles a bit, voice muffled.

"Raccoons? I've been told so before."

"Funky town? Funky?"

Jason asks, tilting his head. Dick said it before and he isn't quite sure what it means. He laughs softly at that too, tucking his bangs behind his ear.

"I'm pretty sure I have hair. My name is Jason."

He rolls his eyes a bit, smiling softly.

"I already know who you are, Dick. I'm an ally of Bruce. I told you that, right?"

"Yes, those! It's pretty though. Raccoons are sweethearts, I held one once and B freaked out."

Dick says with a small giggle. Bruce had said he was going to get rabies or something so Dick tried to hand him the raccoon, and B acted like he was about to stab him.

"Um...yeah like...fun and cool, is that not the words? I just watched a lot of American TV to know how to say a lot of things right. But my Papa tutored me on basics."

"Well because your heads bare without the helmet so...bald. Nothing on your head."

Dick explains, touching his own head a bit as he does. He pauses at that explanation, eyes widening.

"...Did...Did B tell you? I didn't mess up or anything...I didn't say anything wrong-"

"They are pretty cute. They can be a bit aggressive sometimes."

"Just funky. Your english is good, though."

Jason sighs softly, ruffling Dick's hair. He wasn't expecting that reaction specifically and it makes him.. sad in a way, that he assumed he did something wrong.

"No, Bruce told me. You did perfectly fine, Dickie."

Jason comforts, leaning a bit close to Dick's level, hoping that comforts him a bit more so he doesn't feel upset.

Dick pauses, blinking and a bit confused at the touch, but definitely happy about it. He misses getting hugged and held and getting his hair all ruffled and played with, like with Mama and Papa.

"M'kay...thank you, Jason."

"I wanna go home."

Jason smiles softly at the other, not sure what else to do. He hums, chuckling softly at the dramatic sound and taking the wipes before throwing them in the bin.

"No problem, Dickie."

Jason frowns at that, sighing a bit before moving to sit on Dick's side of the counter, facing the kid. He doesn't seem to get what Dick means, assuming he means the manor.

"I know.. B is busy right now so.. you can stay with me until then, have a sleepover?"

He offers, not sure how to comfort him. Jason isn't sure how long this spell will last so he doesn't want to promise they'll see Bruce tomorrow or anything like that so this'll have to do.

"He's always busy."

Is all he says, mumbling and a bit muffled with his hand in his face. Dick just misses his Mama and Papa, they were so much nicer and loved having him around but Bruce always seems busy and annoyed.

He misses the circus, and misses all the people there and he misses Zitka. This is all so stupid. He's good at being Robin, he doesn't think he's good at much else anymore.

"I know.. I'm sorry. I'll have to make do for now, OK?"

He responds softly, slumping a bit so he can look at the child more head on, gently taking his hand and bringing it out of his mouth.

He was always jealous that Dick had his own team, that he actually had friends and just people there for him but right now he doesn't so Jason'll have to do.

"You're nicer."

Dick likes being hugged or hugging people but he never really gets to be like that anymore because his parents are dead. Bruce and Alfred are all meanie and don't like him to be so touchy.

He isn't quite sure why since he knows Dick does hug the others whenever so it's probably because of Jason. He doesn't think Dick has hugged him.. ever.

He rubs his back a bit until Dick moves away, letting go of the child and watching him a bit, laughing softly when he goes to do a handstand, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Wow.. Be careful."

Jason mumbles, clapping a bit. He knows Dick will probably be fine but he's just so small and young that he is a bit worried.

Dick scoffs, rolling his eyes and moving up into a forward walk over to get back up.

"I'm totally careful...I'm an acrobat."

"My Mama and Papa trained me. I was in the circus. We were really good.

"See?"

He says, gesturing a bit to prove his point.

"Of course."

"I can see that."

He wasn't exactly successful but Jason is still insanely flexible somehow. Still, nothing can beat Dick Grayson and definitely not when it comes to acrobatics.

"Yes. Just want you safe that's all."

Jason moves to boop him on the nose, smiling softly.

"Woah, you're super tall."

Dick says, resting his head against Jason's, his small hands in Jason's hair. He looks over the room from the high vantage point.

"I can see everything."

He's not sure if Jason's gonna make him go to school tomorrow but Dick hopes he doesn't, so he isn't gonna mention it.

"Do you hit your head on stuff?"

Dick asks, moving so he can lean his head over and look at Jason's face more. Bruce and Alfred always say eye contact is polite.

He shifts a bit when Dick finally sits on his shoulders, holding his legs a bit to make sure he's secure but allowing the kid to kick them back and forth.

"I have been told so."

"Yes, I do actually. Very annoying. Got a few bruises from it.

He says, blinking a bit when Dick looks down at him with his face upside down. When he came back his height started to rapidly grow, the pit correcting his malnourishment and everything.

"Bruce says being small has umm...tactical advances. Or something."

"It does. You are harder to spot, more flexible, lighter weight and everything for your tricks. Being big has advantages too though."

"It is. Don't worry about me."

"Must've been scary. Bet you were so brave though."

Jason mumbles softly, tilting his head up to look at Dick a little bit. He's only 8 or 9 right now. He shouldn't have had to deal with that.

"Mhm...Haly, the guy who owned the circus, he said I was easily portable."

Dick says, giggling a bit and continuing to fiddle with Jason's hair still. He likes the white hairs a lot because of cool they look with the black hair.

"Yeah, it was...but Alfie says I did good and stuff, even though Bruce was all mad at me. I didn't even get him hit or anything he told me to stay back and I did. He makes no sense."

Dick frowns, leaning his chin on Jason's head a bit as he thinks.

"He doesn't even apologize, My Mama always says that's mean. Or she...um. She used to."

Dick mumbles the last bit, grumbling a little. He continues to fiddle with Jason's hair, as well as just poking him a little for no discernible reason.

"That too."

He says with a smile, sighing a bit. The drumming is honestly a bit annoying but he can easily just ignore it anyways. Jason does like him playing with his bangs though.

"Well.. You don't listen to him. You're both alright so you did good."

He pauses momentarily at the mention of Dick's parents before smiling softly, chuckling when Dick starts to poke him. He definitely has a lot of energy.

"Yeah, your Mom's right. B is just a big meanie."

Dick hums, stopping the poking just to lean the side of his face against Jason's head and hug him a little, with his arms a bit around his neck, though not in any restricting manner.

"B and Alfie are hard friends to have...Zitka was nicer."

"My Mama and Papa were a lot nicer. But they're gone now...s'my fault"

"Well, that's a no brainer."

"It's not your fault."

"I saw him doing something suspicious before the show, I should have said something...I could have- I could have helped."

"They died though, they fell, I didn't do anything and they died."

Dick says quietly, leaning his head against Jason's arm.

"You weren't the one who did it. It's not your fault."

Dick hugs Jason, bringing himself closer when he's picked up, snuggling close to the man. It shows how much he's just been wanting someone to hold him with how much he's clinging to Jason.

"I wish Zucco was dead. I know B says that's bad, but I don't care. He's the worst. I want to punch his face in again."

Dick says, but there are tears in his eyes while he's speaking, glaring daggers at Jason's chest like it'll kill the man for him.

"I don't care if it's bad at all. I don't care what he says. I don't care."

"I don't care."

He says in that shaky tone, biting harshly down on his lip.

Jason hugs the boy back tightly, not too tight to hurt but enough to be a constant pressure. It's the least and probably the only thing he can really do to help in his situation.

"I want them dead too."

Is all Jason offers, all he can offer, really. He doesn't want to lie because in all honesty he'd probably do it. Whether them is Zucco or.. anyone else is something he's not sure about.

Dick sniffles, tears running down his cheeks as he tries to make them stop, wiping at his face a little vigorously, like he's trying to scrub the emotion out of himself.

"Does that make you bad? To...to think bad stuff like that? Bruce always says it...it makes you as worse as them."

"I don't wanna be bad."

Jason pauses at that, sighing and fishing out a tissue from his pockets, sliding it into Dick's hand and continuing to run his hands through his hair.

The others are so young, too young to be doing any of this let alone having to raise a gun or sword to someone and kill them. They can't do that and they shouldn't have to again.

So Jason will. He knows he should probably be dead like all the people he has killed, even more so. He would probably go to hell if he could die this time. But he can't. So he'll continue on.

"You aren't. You're a good person, Dickie. Don't let Bruce or anyone else tell you you aren't."

He mumbles. He wishes he could tell Dick this later, he doesn't even know if Dick will remember it. They aren't close enough for that. This is all he can do.

"Y'know.. as a kid we used to tell scary stories about the Batman around a lighter. I don' know if it's more disappointing or reassuring that he's just some rich guy in a furry costume."

Jason mumbles, rubbing the others back. He doesn't know why he's talking about this, just wanting to have something to talk about to take the other's mind off things.

Dick blinks a bit when Jason speaks, having forgotten really that the man was even there, stuck in his own head. Dick wipes at his eyes. He huffs a small laugh.

"I didn't really know about Batman...until he showed up when my parents died, and kept catching me when I escaped the Juvie place to go kill Zucco."

Dick explains a little. He starts fidgeting a little with Jason's shirt, not making eye contact with the man.

Jason moves his hand to run through Dick's hair instead when he stops crying, a bit relieved at that at least. He seemed to have cried himself out and is pretty tired but he doesn't move or anything.

"You figured it out? Pretty smart, huh?"

Dick hums, giggling softly and rubbing at his face. He grabs at his cape a little to wear it as a make shift blanket.

Dick admits the last part with a weak voice, almost like he's embarrassed by the fact he wants attention in the first place, nonetheless Bruces. He sniffles and hugs Jason a bit tighter.

"It worked, so I'm super smart."

He yawns a little as he says that.

"You designed it all by yourself? Even the cape?"

He asks, making his voice a bit more excited than it would usually be, picking Dick up a bit to be higher and more in his arms. It seems he finally got most of that energy out.

"Of course. And I bet those brain cells need some rest, no?"

Jason tilts his head a bit, ruffling Dick's hair.

"Uhuh! I mean...B made changes like I couldn't make the cape sparkly like I wanted to, but most of it is what I drew. It's like my Mama and Papa's costumes..."

He explains, spreading his cape out a little in emphasis. Dick giggles when he's picked up a bit more, ducking his head and sticking his tongue out a bit when Jason ruffles his hair.

"M'not tired, it's lies."

"While sparkles are very cool I don't think they'd be really good for stealth."

Jason says with a small snort, deciding to just ignore the last part about his parents and not comment on it. He's happy that Dick seems much happier and distracted than before.

"Uh huh.."

"Well.. I'm pretty tired and I have enough room in my bed for someone as little as you."

Jason says, booping Dick's nose at the end. Hopefully the problem is just being alone otherwise Jason will just get Dick to sit next to him in bed and hopefully that'll work.

"Thats what B says...I don't get any of this stuff."

Dick says with a shrug. Dick giggles when his nose gets poked, ducking his head into Jason's neck and hugging the man. He grumbles a bit, thinking for a moment about Jason's words.

"Hm...I can stay and make sure you're okay."

Dick states, deciding that protecting Jason would be good reasoning for staying with him, even though he's tired himself and would like to sleep. He doesn't admit that though, stubbornly.

"I don't have pajamas..."

"Well, sparkles are really shiny and pretty so people can see you easier and if you're sneaking around as Robin the bad guys might spot you which isn't good."

Jason explains, attempting to speak in a type of language Dick can understand. He hugs Dick back, of course, smiling softly. He is really cute at this age though Jason thinks most kids cute.

"Really? Thank you."

"Hm.. you can borrow one of my hoodies though it'll probably swallow you up."

Jason hums, laughing softly at the last part. His hoodies are oversized on Dick when he's normal so he can't imagine how it would be for him while being a small child.

"Yeah...'cause sleeping makes you um...vulnerable to attacks. So I gotta protect you."

Dick giggles at the comments, shaking his head and rubbing his fingers against Jason's jacket a little. He doesn't make eye contact, but he doesn't seem uncomfortable or anything.

"I'm not that small, you're just um...a giant. Like those Jack and the beanstalk stories."

"A giant? Not the first time. Well, regardless lets get you something, hm? I have a spare tooth brush you can use."

"Nice?"

He asks, crouching down in front of Dick and offering him the hoodie to touch.

"It's furry! Like...like soft blankets!"

Dick says, hugging the hoodie to himself a bit and holding it to his face. He sniffs it a little and looks it over fully.

"I don't know if I can live up to a pajama sleepover but we'll share a bed."

"I bet you are.."

Jason smiles softly at the reaction, finding it cute and taking off the cape and belt, folding them both up and putting them on the side.

"I'm glad you like 'em. Do you need help putting it on?"

"I did that with Mama and Papa."

"Pat pat."

He says, yawning and moving to grab his legs and tuck them beneath the hoodie as well as he watches Jason curiously.

"Are you gonna put on pajamas too?"

He asks, head tilted a little as he asks, looking at Jason's gear and jacket and all. Dick wonders why he doesn't have a cape or anything like usual superheroes, he looks kinda weird.

"Oh, then I definitely can't compete."

"Yep. First, how about we brush first, kay?"

He reassures, picking Dick up again and walking out of the bedroom to the bathroom, kneeling down to get the spare toothbrushes out of the cabinets.

"I only have the minty toothpaste, sorry."

Jason sighs a bit, handing Dick the toothbrush and placing him on the sink since Jason lacks a stool or anything in this safehouse.

Dick just giggles a bit more when Jason rolls up his sleeves, smiling as he's picked up again and leaning into the touch. He kicks his feet a little on the counter when Jason sets him down.

"Bleh."

"M'done. Clean."

Is all he says, yawning a little and rubbing at his eyes. Dick's tired now and just wants to be held and get to sleep against someone else for the night. He misses the feeling.

He scoops the child up from under his arms before placing him on Jason's hip, considering for a second before pressing his lips to the other's hair for a second.

"I can see that, good job."

He praises, making sure the bathroom and everything is clean before turning off the light and exiting the room, entering the bedroom.

"I'm just gonna leave the room to change then we'll sleep. You stay right here for me."

Jason says, placing Dick down on the head and adjusting the pillows for him, pulling the blanket over to him to snuggle up.

He goes to the cupboard to take out a hoodie and some sweatpants, leaving the room like he said and closing the door.

"You waited for me? Thank you."

He mumbles softly, putting everything in the cupboard before finally turning the light off and hoping in the bed, adjusting the blanket a bit to make sure it covers the smaller child.

"Want me to keep the lamp on?"

Jason asks as he moves to wrap his arms around Dick and get comfortable himself.

"M'brave and strong. I don't need lights."

...

"Of course."

...

Jason only sits up when Dick gets up and has his back turned against him, stretching his neck and arms a bit.

"Oh, great. You're.. you."

He mumbles, his voice a bit rough from sleep before tucking some of his bangs behind his ear that were in his face. He doesn't look surprised or anything, just squinting a bit and scanning the other.

Dick pauses when Jason speaks and sits up, looking back at him briefly. His expression is a little tense but he stretches his arms and smiles a bit at him. It's not entirely convincing.

"I'd hope so..."

"I don't exactly remember how I got here...some context would be appreciated."

Jason gives Dick an unimpressed look when he smiles at him, not saying anything but just communicating that 'I know you're full of bullshit right now' that Jason seems to always have with the man.

"I'm gonna make breakfast. You can do.. whatever."

He usually tries to annoy the man the most but since Dick came back from his whole fake death mission thing he's just been ignoring him as much as he can or glares at him so it is an improvement.

"Oh how fun, thanks asshole."

"Do you have cereal in this shithole?"

Dick asks once he's drawn the blinds of the last window in the room and checked the surroundings of the room about three times. He's smiling and raising an eyebrow at Jason.

".. No. I've had enough cereal for a lifetime though I suppose you don't have the same.. limit."

Jason looks at the man like he just asked him to murder someone for him though then again Jason would probably be more pleased with that request.

Cereal is cheap and lasts a long time so he used to have it a lot as a kid and not the good kind. Now he doesn't need to do that kinda stuff so why would he buy it?

"Eh, usually the only thing I eat. It's cheap in bulk, plus I'm a sugar fan I guess."

"I'm not a chef or anything. I work for a fast food place right now, my experience starts and ends with flipping burger patties."

Dick says with an eye roll and a small laugh.

"I'm very aware of that. I'm not sure how 'Richie Wayne' keeps his abs on that diet."

"Batburger? Hm, better than a cop."

Jason says in disbelief almost before humming and continuing to cook. He'll definitely have to see that, maybe pay Dick a visit at his job.

Dick slaps his hand away, glaring at him a little though the threats not too serious. Dick could defend himself more if he wanted to. He rolls his eyes, leaning back and watching Jason closely.

"Mostly eat protein based things if I'm not eating cereal if that helps. I've definitely lost a bit of mass since uh...my little escapade out of the country."

"I was trying to fit into my prom dress."

"I'd rather kill myself with the spatula I use to flip burgers than be a cop again, if that helps."

Dick says with an eye roll.

"What.. does prom have to do with that?"

"Uh. Yeah."

He hums, snorting a bit before putting the egg on the pan and taking out a spatula.

His hallucinations have been worse too, of course that and the paranoia, but that's not too out of the norm, maybe he's just overtired, or it's the stress.

Dick says, his voice is a bit rough from the coughing fit but he seems to be just ignoring it, clearing his throat a little.

"Maybe that's because you should gain back that weight."

"Don't give me ideas now.. though I think the Gotham water supply has gone through enough. You think Steph might have some glitter in red?"

"Yeah well, easier said than done"

"How fun, adding even more microplastics in the water."

Jason glances over when Dick comes closer, taking out a plate and serving the omelette, pushing it into the man's hands.

"Well, gotta start somewhere. Shoo."

He hums, waving Dick away a bit as he goes to make another one for himself.

Dick laughs a little, taking the plate and looking it over a bit before moving to sit.

"Thanks..."

A few times he flinches, looking back at what he thinks was the silhouette of something, but theres nothing there. He sighs, just staring at his food.

Eventually he just finishes the omelette for himself and plates it, leaving it near Dick's own plate on the counter while he cleans up the space and puts everything away.

The silence puts more stress on him to explain then Dick asking him did so to fill the space he speaks, clearing his throat a little first.

"You got de-aged on patrol. Took you back here to sleep the spell off. Might wanna follow up on that.."

He says, shrugging a bit at the last part.

"Jesus Christ- sorry, how..."

He clears his throat again, moving to grab a napkin to wipe at his mouth a little, breathing and taking a second.

"How old?"

He waves his apology off a bit, gathering his bearings and pressing his lips together to hide the smile on his face before he can.

"Uh.. 8 or 9? Whenever you started being Robin."

He answers, taking a few seconds to think about it. The question makes sense though he doesn't really understand why Dick seems nervous right now.

"It was only for a few hours before I got you to fall asleep so not a very strong spell."

Jason adds, hoping that makes it better though he doesn't know what the problem is either.

Dick sighs deeply, rubbing at his face and holding his head in his hands, letting his fork fall against his plate with a clatter.

"Right...okay, sorry if I- I don't know, was a little asshole to you or something."

"Do you want a fruit basket or something for forgiveness?"

Dick jokes a little, but his anxiety is still there given that. Dick's not sure there would be an age that would be good for this kind of thing anyways.

Jason raises an eyebrow, confused by the reaction. He would think Dick would be more concerned by the fact he got magicked rather than whatever age he was or how annoying he was.

"No– You weren't. You were just kinda.. energetic I guess. Not unusual since you were like 9."

"The only one between the two of us that needs a fruit basket is you, Dickhead."

He pauses at that with an eye roll, moving over to flick Jason on the forehead. It's light but enough to be annoying if anything.

"I eat all my fruits and veggies, thank you very much."

He says in response, grinning a little before going back to his food, shaking his head a bit.

Jason shakes his head at that, not buying it because it's just.. wrong.

"No, not at all. You just wanted attention I guess. The most you did was show off a bit."

He tries to explain, not sure how anyone would make that conclusion. They really just talked and Dick did some tricks then he tired him out and got him to sleep, nothing bad, really.

"If you were a troubled kid I must of been.. a lot more."

He immediately slaps the hand away, glaring at the man before rolling his eyes.

"I have doubts. Serious doubts."

He huffs when Jason slaps his hand away, rolling his eyes at his words. He leans his head onto his hand, chin in his palm.

"You always doubt me on everything, not trust..."

He mumbles the last part, trailing off when he thinks about his words too much. Jason has a lot of reasons not to trust Dick anymore. He looks away, expression falling a bit and shifting awkwardly.

FUCK WAIT I DIDNT TURN ON ANON

ok now dick gets turned into robin again DEFINITELY not sent by the previous asker

(// OPEN RP STARTER!! (anyone is free to reply regardless of if we've interacted b4) Dick gets magic de-aged to hmm abt 8-9 years old?? Freshly Robin Dickiiee)

Dick is patrolling around Gotham for once, visiting the city to see Damian and the others when the spell hits him harshly.

"WOAH-"

"Hello..?"

The boy says. He glances around curiously, obviously confused about the situation with a small pout on his face.

He grumbles a bit, moving to try get away before the other spots him but before he can properly escape he hears a yelp from the man in question. Great.

Well, that's weird. Last he checked Damian wasn't nearby and anyways his uniform doesn't look like that. He puts his guns into the holsters before peeking again to see.. a child?

More accurately a child definitely not in the double digits yet with that tanned skin and the shitty Robin uniform that tormented him without any pants. He officially hates de-aging magic.

Jason moves to put his guns in his pockets since he doesn't think the trained toddler will like seeing someone with guns approaching him before walking over.

"Hey.. Robin?"

Dick yelps, going into a defensive position immediately and glaring up at the man.

"What is it? Wh- what happened? What did you do? Where's Batman?!"

He asks, his voice is much more high pitched than Dick's but also slightly accented on some syllables. He's pouting a little, holding his fists up like he's ready for a fight.

Jason snorts a bit under the helmet with translates to a crackle through the helmet at the reaction. He doesn't see Dick like this a lot, unguarded and not playing his stupid act.

He isn't quite sure if the others notice but everything about how Dick acts is fake in a way, a performance. He doesn't see Dick a lot in general though so what does he know.

"I didn't do anything. I don't know where Batman is either but I'm.. a friend of his, see?"

"But Batman doesn't have any other friends besides me!"

"He- He'd tell me if he had any friends. You're just a big um...you don't say the truth! You're saying nonsense!"

He frowns deeply, staring up at the man with a stubborn expression. The man's really tall, Dick barely reaches his waist, but he doesn't care. He can beat up big guys, he's Robin. Obviously.

Jason presses his lips together, resisting the urge to start laughing honestly because it's kinda cute.

"Well, I'm more of an ally.. like a business partner. You're his friend, he told me all about you."

He corrects which is more accurate to whatever the fuck Jason and Bruce have going on. He knows Bruce doesn't see him as his son anymore despite.. whatever, doesn't matter.

"Business– Ally.. thing."

"Well, I'm his bestfriend and partner, I'm the boy wonder! ...are you involved in those big cases Batman says I can't do yet because I'm not smart enough?"

"If you've got a bunch of bad guys you need me to um...take out and punch I can help! I can save people! But um..."

He looks around.

"We should find Batman. I'm not allowed to be on my own unless Batman says so."

Jason smiles softly at that. At the very least this version of Dick is very endearing and cute. He moves a bit closer, crouching a bit and resting his hands on his knees

"I'm sure you're really smart I'm just some.. outside help for Batman."

"Of course but.. since Batman isn't here we she probably go to my safehouse. He wont like the both of us patrolling in Gotham alone."

Jason says, trying to keep his voice soft though he can't help but roll his eyes and grumble at the end.

"Okay...Mr. Helmet Guy. I'm super smart!"

"M'kay. Robin will watch you and protect you! Have no fear the Boy Wonder is here!"

"Um...Whats a safehouse?"

"Thank you then, Robin.

"It's like... a house that's really safe because it's got a bunch of weapons and vigilante stuff. You'll see."

He explains, raising an eyebrow under the helmet before gesturing for Dick to follow him.

Dick runs up to him, grabbing at his cape so it covers his shoulders a bit more as he follows the man. Dick hums a little in response.

"Okay...why do you wear a helmet? Do you ride bikes? Batman never wears a helmet when he ride bikes, he says his cowl counts but that's not true I don't think. He says wrong things a lot."

Dick starts kicking a rock around a little as they walk, but gets distracted by the action, before remembering he's supposed to be following the helmet man as he runs back up to him.

Jason laughs softly at the questions, pretending to think a bit before answering. Good to know Dick insulting Bruce started very early.

"I do ride bikes. I also wear a helmet to cover my whole head and protect it."

"Is it because of shooting guns? My cape is all helmet like, it can't be shot at with guns, B says that's important. I got shot last month right here!"

"That was 'cause I forgot to use the cape. B got so mad and stuffs, but I didn't even cry!"

Dick complains a bit with a small pout, still holding onto the mans hand.

"Yep, that too. They're really loud."

"Oh, wow. Bet you were so brave. The cape is bullet proof?"

"They are, my ears start ringing all over and it hurts bad."

Dick says, putting his hands over his ears in emphasis. The domino he has on doesn't have any lenses but he does squint his eyes a little in confusion when the man stops to look at it.

"I gotta battle scar. Means I'm um...cool, like Batman. He's got a bunch of scars all over his places."

Dick says, tapping the scar a bit. He's a bit surprised when he's picked up but just smiles and kicks his feet a little. He giggles a bit.

"Yeah it's super cool! B says it's to protect me because I'm a walking target. I don't know what that means because he taught me not to just walk around anyways..."

Dick says, making a face and leaning his head against the man's shoulder.

"Um, Mr. Helmet man, do you think Batman's okay?"

Dick asks after a while, his voice a bit quieter while he stares down at his hands. He's started playing with one of the zippers on the mans jacket.

Jason hums, walking much quicker now since he doesn't have to slow down so Dick can keep up.

"I bet he does."

People without the medical care of a billionaire or even some disinfectant and stitches don't survive those kinda scars. Now.. most of his scars are because of himself.

"It looks really comfy too, I like your suit."

"Of course. He's just busy. Hey, you wanna learn a secret?"

He comforts, trying to quickly change the topic afterwards.

Dick hums, watching their surroundings a bit as he takes his head from the mans shoulder. He moves to look down at his suit at that. He giggles.

He starts chewing on one of his fingers a little, a bad habit that Alfred always yells at him for doing. He pauses at that, tilting his head.

"Okay. Yes! I can keep secrets! I can do it really good!! I had to lie to those CPS people who kept coming over like B told me, because they couldn't know I was Robin. I can keep secrets."

He says with a grin, curious and excited what the man is gonna tell him.

"Oh really? Well, I think it's awesome too so don't listen to him."

"It's about.. my secret identity. You gotta make sure you tell no one."

"B's just a big dummy idiot anyways. It's why his head looks like a bowling ball."

Dick looks up at the building they're walking to curiously. It looks normal, but he's not really sure. The man seems super nice though, even though his red helmet makes him look like an angry tomato.

He perks up at that, curious about the identity of the man, and he didn't even get a name either so he just kept calling him Mr. Helmet Man anyways.

"Okay! I won't tell at all, I'm super super good at identity secrets. I won't tell anyone, not even Zitka!"

He says making the motion to lock his lips and throw away the key.

He places Dick on one of the kitchen stools, closing the door and huffing a bit.

"OK, then.."

He rarely takes the helmet let alone the domino off most of the time, especially in front of Dick and Bruce and part of him still has that fear with the younger version of his brother.

"Surprise."

Jason mumbles, going to get some adhesive remover and walking over to the sink, turning on the faucet.

Dick looks around the place curiously, just excited to be somewhere new. After his entire life was on the road constantly with the Circus things felt...off, being trapped in the manor constantly.

Dick tilts his head a bit as the man takes off his helmet. He opens his mouth a little in surprise before clapping a bit.

"You look so cool! It's like um...those really awesome looking people on TV! You're striped like a Zebra! Sort of anyways, your hair is all funky town."

"Why's it a secret that your hairs is all cool like that? Is it the scars? Those are cool too! Like battle scars!"

Dick says, leaning forwards across the counter and tapping his hands against the countertop.

"Thank you, I think? I don't know if I count as a Zebra with only one stripe."

He tilts his head a bit, not sure if Dick is just insulting him in some creative way.

"Well, the scars and hair make it very easy for people to find out my identity so I have to hide it. You wanna take your domino off?"

Another reason was just wanting to hide his face for the whole reveal and all.. He finds it stupid to keep majority of your face minus the mask revealed if you don't want your identity to come out.

"Hm...maybe like those little bear rat things that eat garbage?"

Dick suggests, he can't remember the English word for them. He sits up on his knees a little to look at the man a bit more.

"Your eyes are all funky town too."

Dick says, pointing as his own eyes in emphasis. He hums a bit at the explanation, moving to prop his head on his hand. He supposes that makes sense, since the man looks so unique and all.

"Oh...well I can keep that a secret I guess. I can't call you Mr. Helmet Man anymore though because you're without a helmet. You're bald."

"B would get big mad. He says our identities matter the biggest because it could kill people and stuff. I don't wanna kill people, it'd make me a bad guy."

He mumbles a bit, voice muffled.

"Raccoons? I've been told so before."

"Funky town? Funky?"

Jason asks, tilting his head. Dick said it before and he isn't quite sure what it means. He laughs softly at that too, tucking his bangs behind his ear.

"I'm pretty sure I have hair. My name is Jason."

He rolls his eyes a bit, smiling softly.

"I already know who you are, Dick. I'm an ally of Bruce. I told you that, right?"

"Yes, those! It's pretty though. Raccoons are sweethearts, I held one once and B freaked out."

Dick says with a small giggle. Bruce had said he was going to get rabies or something so Dick tried to hand him the raccoon, and B acted like he was about to stab him.

"Um...yeah like...fun and cool, is that not the words? I just watched a lot of American TV to know how to say a lot of things right. But my Papa tutored me on basics."

"Well because your heads bare without the helmet so...bald. Nothing on your head."

Dick explains, touching his own head a bit as he does. He pauses at that explanation, eyes widening.

"...Did...Did B tell you? I didn't mess up or anything...I didn't say anything wrong-"

"They are pretty cute. They can be a bit aggressive sometimes."

"Just funky. Your english is good, though."

Jason sighs softly, ruffling Dick's hair. He wasn't expecting that reaction specifically and it makes him.. sad in a way, that he assumed he did something wrong.

"No, Bruce told me. You did perfectly fine, Dickie."

Jason comforts, leaning a bit close to Dick's level, hoping that comforts him a bit more so he doesn't feel upset.

Dick pauses, blinking and a bit confused at the touch, but definitely happy about it. He misses getting hugged and held and getting his hair all ruffled and played with, like with Mama and Papa.

"M'kay...thank you, Jason."

"I wanna go home."

Jason smiles softly at the other, not sure what else to do. He hums, chuckling softly at the dramatic sound and taking the wipes before throwing them in the bin.

"No problem, Dickie."

Jason frowns at that, sighing a bit before moving to sit on Dick's side of the counter, facing the kid. He doesn't seem to get what Dick means, assuming he means the manor.

"I know.. B is busy right now so.. you can stay with me until then, have a sleepover?"

He offers, not sure how to comfort him. Jason isn't sure how long this spell will last so he doesn't want to promise they'll see Bruce tomorrow or anything like that so this'll have to do.

"He's always busy."

Is all he says, mumbling and a bit muffled with his hand in his face. Dick just misses his Mama and Papa, they were so much nicer and loved having him around but Bruce always seems busy and annoyed.

He misses the circus, and misses all the people there and he misses Zitka. This is all so stupid. He's good at being Robin, he doesn't think he's good at much else anymore.

"I know.. I'm sorry. I'll have to make do for now, OK?"

He responds softly, slumping a bit so he can look at the child more head on, gently taking his hand and bringing it out of his mouth.

He was always jealous that Dick had his own team, that he actually had friends and just people there for him but right now he doesn't so Jason'll have to do.

"You're nicer."

Dick likes being hugged or hugging people but he never really gets to be like that anymore because his parents are dead. Bruce and Alfred are all meanie and don't like him to be so touchy.

He isn't quite sure why since he knows Dick does hug the others whenever so it's probably because of Jason. He doesn't think Dick has hugged him.. ever.

He rubs his back a bit until Dick moves away, letting go of the child and watching him a bit, laughing softly when he goes to do a handstand, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Wow.. Be careful."

Jason mumbles, clapping a bit. He knows Dick will probably be fine but he's just so small and young that he is a bit worried.

Dick scoffs, rolling his eyes and moving up into a forward walk over to get back up.

"I'm totally careful...I'm an acrobat."

"My Mama and Papa trained me. I was in the circus. We were really good.

"See?"

He says, gesturing a bit to prove his point.

"Of course."

"I can see that."

He wasn't exactly successful but Jason is still insanely flexible somehow. Still, nothing can beat Dick Grayson and definitely not when it comes to acrobatics.

"Yes. Just want you safe that's all."

Jason moves to boop him on the nose, smiling softly.

"Woah, you're super tall."

Dick says, resting his head against Jason's, his small hands in Jason's hair. He looks over the room from the high vantage point.

"I can see everything."

He's not sure if Jason's gonna make him go to school tomorrow but Dick hopes he doesn't, so he isn't gonna mention it.

"Do you hit your head on stuff?"

Dick asks, moving so he can lean his head over and look at Jason's face more. Bruce and Alfred always say eye contact is polite.

He shifts a bit when Dick finally sits on his shoulders, holding his legs a bit to make sure he's secure but allowing the kid to kick them back and forth.

"I have been told so."

"Yes, I do actually. Very annoying. Got a few bruises from it.

He says, blinking a bit when Dick looks down at him with his face upside down. When he came back his height started to rapidly grow, the pit correcting his malnourishment and everything.

"Bruce says being small has umm...tactical advances. Or something."

"It does. You are harder to spot, more flexible, lighter weight and everything for your tricks. Being big has advantages too though."

"It is. Don't worry about me."

"Must've been scary. Bet you were so brave though."

Jason mumbles softly, tilting his head up to look at Dick a little bit. He's only 8 or 9 right now. He shouldn't have had to deal with that.

"Mhm...Haly, the guy who owned the circus, he said I was easily portable."

Dick says, giggling a bit and continuing to fiddle with Jason's hair still. He likes the white hairs a lot because of cool they look with the black hair.

"Yeah, it was...but Alfie says I did good and stuff, even though Bruce was all mad at me. I didn't even get him hit or anything he told me to stay back and I did. He makes no sense."

Dick frowns, leaning his chin on Jason's head a bit as he thinks.

"He doesn't even apologize, My Mama always says that's mean. Or she...um. She used to."

Dick mumbles the last bit, grumbling a little. He continues to fiddle with Jason's hair, as well as just poking him a little for no discernible reason.

"That too."

He says with a smile, sighing a bit. The drumming is honestly a bit annoying but he can easily just ignore it anyways. Jason does like him playing with his bangs though.

"Well.. You don't listen to him. You're both alright so you did good."

He pauses momentarily at the mention of Dick's parents before smiling softly, chuckling when Dick starts to poke him. He definitely has a lot of energy.

"Yeah, your Mom's right. B is just a big meanie."

Dick hums, stopping the poking just to lean the side of his face against Jason's head and hug him a little, with his arms a bit around his neck, though not in any restricting manner.

"B and Alfie are hard friends to have...Zitka was nicer."

"My Mama and Papa were a lot nicer. But they're gone now...s'my fault"

"Well, that's a no brainer."

"It's not your fault."

"I saw him doing something suspicious before the show, I should have said something...I could have- I could have helped."

"They died though, they fell, I didn't do anything and they died."

Dick says quietly, leaning his head against Jason's arm.

"You weren't the one who did it. It's not your fault."

Dick hugs Jason, bringing himself closer when he's picked up, snuggling close to the man. It shows how much he's just been wanting someone to hold him with how much he's clinging to Jason.

"I wish Zucco was dead. I know B says that's bad, but I don't care. He's the worst. I want to punch his face in again."

Dick says, but there are tears in his eyes while he's speaking, glaring daggers at Jason's chest like it'll kill the man for him.

"I don't care if it's bad at all. I don't care what he says. I don't care."

"I don't care."

He says in that shaky tone, biting harshly down on his lip.

Jason hugs the boy back tightly, not too tight to hurt but enough to be a constant pressure. It's the least and probably the only thing he can really do to help in his situation.

"I want them dead too."

Is all Jason offers, all he can offer, really. He doesn't want to lie because in all honesty he'd probably do it. Whether them is Zucco or.. anyone else is something he's not sure about.

Dick sniffles, tears running down his cheeks as he tries to make them stop, wiping at his face a little vigorously, like he's trying to scrub the emotion out of himself.

"Does that make you bad? To...to think bad stuff like that? Bruce always says it...it makes you as worse as them."

"I don't wanna be bad."

Jason pauses at that, sighing and fishing out a tissue from his pockets, sliding it into Dick's hand and continuing to run his hands through his hair.

The others are so young, too young to be doing any of this let alone having to raise a gun or sword to someone and kill them. They can't do that and they shouldn't have to again.

So Jason will. He knows he should probably be dead like all the people he has killed, even more so. He would probably go to hell if he could die this time. But he can't. So he'll continue on.

"You aren't. You're a good person, Dickie. Don't let Bruce or anyone else tell you you aren't."

He mumbles. He wishes he could tell Dick this later, he doesn't even know if Dick will remember it. They aren't close enough for that. This is all he can do.

"Y'know.. as a kid we used to tell scary stories about the Batman around a lighter. I don' know if it's more disappointing or reassuring that he's just some rich guy in a furry costume."

Jason mumbles, rubbing the others back. He doesn't know why he's talking about this, just wanting to have something to talk about to take the other's mind off things.

Dick blinks a bit when Jason speaks, having forgotten really that the man was even there, stuck in his own head. Dick wipes at his eyes. He huffs a small laugh.

"I didn't really know about Batman...until he showed up when my parents died, and kept catching me when I escaped the Juvie place to go kill Zucco."

Dick explains a little. He starts fidgeting a little with Jason's shirt, not making eye contact with the man.

Jason moves his hand to run through Dick's hair instead when he stops crying, a bit relieved at that at least. He seemed to have cried himself out and is pretty tired but he doesn't move or anything.

"You figured it out? Pretty smart, huh?"

Dick hums, giggling softly and rubbing at his face. He grabs at his cape a little to wear it as a make shift blanket.

Dick admits the last part with a weak voice, almost like he's embarrassed by the fact he wants attention in the first place, nonetheless Bruces. He sniffles and hugs Jason a bit tighter.

"It worked, so I'm super smart."

He yawns a little as he says that.

"You designed it all by yourself? Even the cape?"

He asks, making his voice a bit more excited than it would usually be, picking Dick up a bit to be higher and more in his arms. It seems he finally got most of that energy out.

"Of course. And I bet those brain cells need some rest, no?"

Jason tilts his head a bit, ruffling Dick's hair.

"Uhuh! I mean...B made changes like I couldn't make the cape sparkly like I wanted to, but most of it is what I drew. It's like my Mama and Papa's costumes..."

He explains, spreading his cape out a little in emphasis. Dick giggles when he's picked up a bit more, ducking his head and sticking his tongue out a bit when Jason ruffles his hair.

"M'not tired, it's lies."

"While sparkles are very cool I don't think they'd be really good for stealth."

Jason says with a small snort, deciding to just ignore the last part about his parents and not comment on it. He's happy that Dick seems much happier and distracted than before.

"Uh huh.."

"Well.. I'm pretty tired and I have enough room in my bed for someone as little as you."

Jason says, booping Dick's nose at the end. Hopefully the problem is just being alone otherwise Jason will just get Dick to sit next to him in bed and hopefully that'll work.

"Thats what B says...I don't get any of this stuff."

Dick says with a shrug. Dick giggles when his nose gets poked, ducking his head into Jason's neck and hugging the man. He grumbles a bit, thinking for a moment about Jason's words.

"Hm...I can stay and make sure you're okay."

Dick states, deciding that protecting Jason would be good reasoning for staying with him, even though he's tired himself and would like to sleep. He doesn't admit that though, stubbornly.

"I don't have pajamas..."

"Well, sparkles are really shiny and pretty so people can see you easier and if you're sneaking around as Robin the bad guys might spot you which isn't good."

Jason explains, attempting to speak in a type of language Dick can understand. He hugs Dick back, of course, smiling softly. He is really cute at this age though Jason thinks most kids cute.

"Really? Thank you."

"Hm.. you can borrow one of my hoodies though it'll probably swallow you up."

Jason hums, laughing softly at the last part. His hoodies are oversized on Dick when he's normal so he can't imagine how it would be for him while being a small child.

"Yeah...'cause sleeping makes you um...vulnerable to attacks. So I gotta protect you."

Dick giggles at the comments, shaking his head and rubbing his fingers against Jason's jacket a little. He doesn't make eye contact, but he doesn't seem uncomfortable or anything.

"I'm not that small, you're just um...a giant. Like those Jack and the beanstalk stories."

"A giant? Not the first time. Well, regardless lets get you something, hm? I have a spare tooth brush you can use."

"Nice?"

He asks, crouching down in front of Dick and offering him the hoodie to touch.

"It's furry! Like...like soft blankets!"

Dick says, hugging the hoodie to himself a bit and holding it to his face. He sniffs it a little and looks it over fully.

"I don't know if I can live up to a pajama sleepover but we'll share a bed."

"I bet you are.."

Jason smiles softly at the reaction, finding it cute and taking off the cape and belt, folding them both up and putting them on the side.

"I'm glad you like 'em. Do you need help putting it on?"

"I did that with Mama and Papa."

"Pat pat."

He says, yawning and moving to grab his legs and tuck them beneath the hoodie as well as he watches Jason curiously.

"Are you gonna put on pajamas too?"

He asks, head tilted a little as he asks, looking at Jason's gear and jacket and all. Dick wonders why he doesn't have a cape or anything like usual superheroes, he looks kinda weird.

"Oh, then I definitely can't compete."

"Yep. First, how about we brush first, kay?"

He reassures, picking Dick up again and walking out of the bedroom to the bathroom, kneeling down to get the spare toothbrushes out of the cabinets.

"I only have the minty toothpaste, sorry."

Jason sighs a bit, handing Dick the toothbrush and placing him on the sink since Jason lacks a stool or anything in this safehouse.

Dick just giggles a bit more when Jason rolls up his sleeves, smiling as he's picked up again and leaning into the touch. He kicks his feet a little on the counter when Jason sets him down.

"Bleh."

"M'done. Clean."

Is all he says, yawning a little and rubbing at his eyes. Dick's tired now and just wants to be held and get to sleep against someone else for the night. He misses the feeling.

He scoops the child up from under his arms before placing him on Jason's hip, considering for a second before pressing his lips to the other's hair for a second.

"I can see that, good job."

He praises, making sure the bathroom and everything is clean before turning off the light and exiting the room, entering the bedroom.

"I'm just gonna leave the room to change then we'll sleep. You stay right here for me."

Jason says, placing Dick down on the head and adjusting the pillows for him, pulling the blanket over to him to snuggle up.

He goes to the cupboard to take out a hoodie and some sweatpants, leaving the room like he said and closing the door.

"You waited for me? Thank you."

He mumbles softly, putting everything in the cupboard before finally turning the light off and hoping in the bed, adjusting the blanket a bit to make sure it covers the smaller child.

"Want me to keep the lamp on?"

Jason asks as he moves to wrap his arms around Dick and get comfortable himself.

"M'brave and strong. I don't need lights."

...

"Of course."

...

Jason only sits up when Dick gets up and has his back turned against him, stretching his neck and arms a bit.

"Oh, great. You're.. you."

He mumbles, his voice a bit rough from sleep before tucking some of his bangs behind his ear that were in his face. He doesn't look surprised or anything, just squinting a bit and scanning the other.

Dick pauses when Jason speaks and sits up, looking back at him briefly. His expression is a little tense but he stretches his arms and smiles a bit at him. It's not entirely convincing.

"I'd hope so..."

"I don't exactly remember how I got here...some context would be appreciated."

Jason gives Dick an unimpressed look when he smiles at him, not saying anything but just communicating that 'I know you're full of bullshit right now' that Jason seems to always have with the man.

"I'm gonna make breakfast. You can do.. whatever."

He usually tries to annoy the man the most but since Dick came back from his whole fake death mission thing he's just been ignoring him as much as he can or glares at him so it is an improvement.

"Oh how fun, thanks asshole."

"Do you have cereal in this shithole?"

Dick asks once he's drawn the blinds of the last window in the room and checked the surroundings of the room about three times. He's smiling and raising an eyebrow at Jason.

".. No. I've had enough cereal for a lifetime though I suppose you don't have the same.. limit."

Jason looks at the man like he just asked him to murder someone for him though then again Jason would probably be more pleased with that request.

Cereal is cheap and lasts a long time so he used to have it a lot as a kid and not the good kind. Now he doesn't need to do that kinda stuff so why would he buy it?

"Eh, usually the only thing I eat. It's cheap in bulk, plus I'm a sugar fan I guess."

"I'm not a chef or anything. I work for a fast food place right now, my experience starts and ends with flipping burger patties."

Dick says with an eye roll and a small laugh.

"I'm very aware of that. I'm not sure how 'Richie Wayne' keeps his abs on that diet."

"Batburger? Hm, better than a cop."

Jason says in disbelief almost before humming and continuing to cook. He'll definitely have to see that, maybe pay Dick a visit at his job.

Dick slaps his hand away, glaring at him a little though the threats not too serious. Dick could defend himself more if he wanted to. He rolls his eyes, leaning back and watching Jason closely.

"Mostly eat protein based things if I'm not eating cereal if that helps. I've definitely lost a bit of mass since uh...my little escapade out of the country."

"I was trying to fit into my prom dress."

"I'd rather kill myself with the spatula I use to flip burgers than be a cop again, if that helps."

Dick says with an eye roll.

"What.. does prom have to do with that?"

"Uh. Yeah."

He hums, snorting a bit before putting the egg on the pan and taking out a spatula.

His hallucinations have been worse too, of course that and the paranoia, but that's not too out of the norm, maybe he's just overtired, or it's the stress.

Dick says, his voice is a bit rough from the coughing fit but he seems to be just ignoring it, clearing his throat a little.

"Maybe that's because you should gain back that weight."

"Don't give me ideas now.. though I think the Gotham water supply has gone through enough. You think Steph might have some glitter in red?"

"Yeah well, easier said than done"

"How fun, adding even more microplastics in the water."

Jason glances over when Dick comes closer, taking out a plate and serving the omelette, pushing it into the man's hands.

"Well, gotta start somewhere. Shoo."

He hums, waving Dick away a bit as he goes to make another one for himself.

Dick laughs a little, taking the plate and looking it over a bit before moving to sit.

"Thanks..."

A few times he flinches, looking back at what he thinks was the silhouette of something, but theres nothing there. He sighs, just staring at his food.

Eventually he just finishes the omelette for himself and plates it, leaving it near Dick's own plate on the counter while he cleans up the space and puts everything away.

The silence puts more stress on him to explain then Dick asking him did so to fill the space he speaks, clearing his throat a little first.

"You got de-aged on patrol. Took you back here to sleep the spell off. Might wanna follow up on that.."

He says, shrugging a bit at the last part.

"Jesus Christ- sorry, how..."

He clears his throat again, moving to grab a napkin to wipe at his mouth a little, breathing and taking a second.

"How old?"

He waves his apology off a bit, gathering his bearings and pressing his lips together to hide the smile on his face before he can.

"Uh.. 8 or 9? Whenever you started being Robin."

He answers, taking a few seconds to think about it. The question makes sense though he doesn't really understand why Dick seems nervous right now.

"It was only for a few hours before I got you to fall asleep so not a very strong spell."

Jason adds, hoping that makes it better though he doesn't know what the problem is either.

Dick sighs deeply, rubbing at his face and holding his head in his hands, letting his fork fall against his plate with a clatter.

"Right...okay, sorry if I- I don't know, was a little asshole to you or something."

"Do you want a fruit basket or something for forgiveness?"

Dick jokes a little, but his anxiety is still there given that. Dick's not sure there would be an age that would be good for this kind of thing anyways.

Jason raises an eyebrow, confused by the reaction. He would think Dick would be more concerned by the fact he got magicked rather than whatever age he was or how annoying he was.

"No– You weren't. You were just kinda.. energetic I guess. Not unusual since you were like 9."

"The only one between the two of us that needs a fruit basket is you, Dickhead."

He pauses at that with an eye roll, moving over to flick Jason on the forehead. It's light but enough to be annoying if anything.

"I eat all my fruits and veggies, thank you very much."

He says in response, grinning a little before going back to his food, shaking his head a bit.

FUCK WAIT I DIDNT TURN ON ANON

ok now dick gets turned into robin again DEFINITELY not sent by the previous asker

(// OPEN RP STARTER!! (anyone is free to reply regardless of if we've interacted b4) Dick gets magic de-aged to hmm abt 8-9 years old?? Freshly Robin Dickiiee)

Dick is patrolling around Gotham for once, visiting the city to see Damian and the others when the spell hits him harshly.

"WOAH-"

"Hello..?"

The boy says. He glances around curiously, obviously confused about the situation with a small pout on his face.

He grumbles a bit, moving to try get away before the other spots him but before he can properly escape he hears a yelp from the man in question. Great.

Well, that's weird. Last he checked Damian wasn't nearby and anyways his uniform doesn't look like that. He puts his guns into the holsters before peeking again to see.. a child?

More accurately a child definitely not in the double digits yet with that tanned skin and the shitty Robin uniform that tormented him without any pants. He officially hates de-aging magic.

Jason moves to put his guns in his pockets since he doesn't think the trained toddler will like seeing someone with guns approaching him before walking over.

"Hey.. Robin?"

Dick yelps, going into a defensive position immediately and glaring up at the man.

"What is it? Wh- what happened? What did you do? Where's Batman?!"

He asks, his voice is much more high pitched than Dick's but also slightly accented on some syllables. He's pouting a little, holding his fists up like he's ready for a fight.

Jason snorts a bit under the helmet with translates to a crackle through the helmet at the reaction. He doesn't see Dick like this a lot, unguarded and not playing his stupid act.

He isn't quite sure if the others notice but everything about how Dick acts is fake in a way, a performance. He doesn't see Dick a lot in general though so what does he know.

"I didn't do anything. I don't know where Batman is either but I'm.. a friend of his, see?"

"But Batman doesn't have any other friends besides me!"

"He- He'd tell me if he had any friends. You're just a big um...you don't say the truth! You're saying nonsense!"

He frowns deeply, staring up at the man with a stubborn expression. The man's really tall, Dick barely reaches his waist, but he doesn't care. He can beat up big guys, he's Robin. Obviously.

Jason presses his lips together, resisting the urge to start laughing honestly because it's kinda cute.

"Well, I'm more of an ally.. like a business partner. You're his friend, he told me all about you."

He corrects which is more accurate to whatever the fuck Jason and Bruce have going on. He knows Bruce doesn't see him as his son anymore despite.. whatever, doesn't matter.

"Business– Ally.. thing."

"Well, I'm his bestfriend and partner, I'm the boy wonder! ...are you involved in those big cases Batman says I can't do yet because I'm not smart enough?"

"If you've got a bunch of bad guys you need me to um...take out and punch I can help! I can save people! But um..."

He looks around.

"We should find Batman. I'm not allowed to be on my own unless Batman says so."

Jason smiles softly at that. At the very least this version of Dick is very endearing and cute. He moves a bit closer, crouching a bit and resting his hands on his knees

"I'm sure you're really smart I'm just some.. outside help for Batman."

"Of course but.. since Batman isn't here we she probably go to my safehouse. He wont like the both of us patrolling in Gotham alone."

Jason says, trying to keep his voice soft though he can't help but roll his eyes and grumble at the end.

"Okay...Mr. Helmet Guy. I'm super smart!"

"M'kay. Robin will watch you and protect you! Have no fear the Boy Wonder is here!"

"Um...Whats a safehouse?"

"Thank you then, Robin.

"It's like... a house that's really safe because it's got a bunch of weapons and vigilante stuff. You'll see."

He explains, raising an eyebrow under the helmet before gesturing for Dick to follow him.

Dick runs up to him, grabbing at his cape so it covers his shoulders a bit more as he follows the man. Dick hums a little in response.

"Okay...why do you wear a helmet? Do you ride bikes? Batman never wears a helmet when he ride bikes, he says his cowl counts but that's not true I don't think. He says wrong things a lot."

Dick starts kicking a rock around a little as they walk, but gets distracted by the action, before remembering he's supposed to be following the helmet man as he runs back up to him.

Jason laughs softly at the questions, pretending to think a bit before answering. Good to know Dick insulting Bruce started very early.

"I do ride bikes. I also wear a helmet to cover my whole head and protect it."

"Is it because of shooting guns? My cape is all helmet like, it can't be shot at with guns, B says that's important. I got shot last month right here!"

"That was 'cause I forgot to use the cape. B got so mad and stuffs, but I didn't even cry!"

Dick complains a bit with a small pout, still holding onto the mans hand.

"Yep, that too. They're really loud."

"Oh, wow. Bet you were so brave. The cape is bullet proof?"

"They are, my ears start ringing all over and it hurts bad."

Dick says, putting his hands over his ears in emphasis. The domino he has on doesn't have any lenses but he does squint his eyes a little in confusion when the man stops to look at it.

"I gotta battle scar. Means I'm um...cool, like Batman. He's got a bunch of scars all over his places."

Dick says, tapping the scar a bit. He's a bit surprised when he's picked up but just smiles and kicks his feet a little. He giggles a bit.

"Yeah it's super cool! B says it's to protect me because I'm a walking target. I don't know what that means because he taught me not to just walk around anyways..."

Dick says, making a face and leaning his head against the man's shoulder.

"Um, Mr. Helmet man, do you think Batman's okay?"

Dick asks after a while, his voice a bit quieter while he stares down at his hands. He's started playing with one of the zippers on the mans jacket.

Jason hums, walking much quicker now since he doesn't have to slow down so Dick can keep up.

"I bet he does."

People without the medical care of a billionaire or even some disinfectant and stitches don't survive those kinda scars. Now.. most of his scars are because of himself.

"It looks really comfy too, I like your suit."

"Of course. He's just busy. Hey, you wanna learn a secret?"

He comforts, trying to quickly change the topic afterwards.

Dick hums, watching their surroundings a bit as he takes his head from the mans shoulder. He moves to look down at his suit at that. He giggles.

He starts chewing on one of his fingers a little, a bad habit that Alfred always yells at him for doing. He pauses at that, tilting his head.

"Okay. Yes! I can keep secrets! I can do it really good!! I had to lie to those CPS people who kept coming over like B told me, because they couldn't know I was Robin. I can keep secrets."

He says with a grin, curious and excited what the man is gonna tell him.

"Oh really? Well, I think it's awesome too so don't listen to him."

"It's about.. my secret identity. You gotta make sure you tell no one."

"B's just a big dummy idiot anyways. It's why his head looks like a bowling ball."

Dick looks up at the building they're walking to curiously. It looks normal, but he's not really sure. The man seems super nice though, even though his red helmet makes him look like an angry tomato.

He perks up at that, curious about the identity of the man, and he didn't even get a name either so he just kept calling him Mr. Helmet Man anyways.

"Okay! I won't tell at all, I'm super super good at identity secrets. I won't tell anyone, not even Zitka!"

He says making the motion to lock his lips and throw away the key.

He places Dick on one of the kitchen stools, closing the door and huffing a bit.

"OK, then.."

He rarely takes the helmet let alone the domino off most of the time, especially in front of Dick and Bruce and part of him still has that fear with the younger version of his brother.

"Surprise."

Jason mumbles, going to get some adhesive remover and walking over to the sink, turning on the faucet.

Dick looks around the place curiously, just excited to be somewhere new. After his entire life was on the road constantly with the Circus things felt...off, being trapped in the manor constantly.

Dick tilts his head a bit as the man takes off his helmet. He opens his mouth a little in surprise before clapping a bit.

"You look so cool! It's like um...those really awesome looking people on TV! You're striped like a Zebra! Sort of anyways, your hair is all funky town."

"Why's it a secret that your hairs is all cool like that? Is it the scars? Those are cool too! Like battle scars!"

Dick says, leaning forwards across the counter and tapping his hands against the countertop.

"Thank you, I think? I don't know if I count as a Zebra with only one stripe."

He tilts his head a bit, not sure if Dick is just insulting him in some creative way.

"Well, the scars and hair make it very easy for people to find out my identity so I have to hide it. You wanna take your domino off?"

Another reason was just wanting to hide his face for the whole reveal and all.. He finds it stupid to keep majority of your face minus the mask revealed if you don't want your identity to come out.

"Hm...maybe like those little bear rat things that eat garbage?"

Dick suggests, he can't remember the English word for them. He sits up on his knees a little to look at the man a bit more.

"Your eyes are all funky town too."

Dick says, pointing as his own eyes in emphasis. He hums a bit at the explanation, moving to prop his head on his hand. He supposes that makes sense, since the man looks so unique and all.

"Oh...well I can keep that a secret I guess. I can't call you Mr. Helmet Man anymore though because you're without a helmet. You're bald."

"B would get big mad. He says our identities matter the biggest because it could kill people and stuff. I don't wanna kill people, it'd make me a bad guy."

He mumbles a bit, voice muffled.

"Raccoons? I've been told so before."

"Funky town? Funky?"

Jason asks, tilting his head. Dick said it before and he isn't quite sure what it means. He laughs softly at that too, tucking his bangs behind his ear.

"I'm pretty sure I have hair. My name is Jason."

He rolls his eyes a bit, smiling softly.

"I already know who you are, Dick. I'm an ally of Bruce. I told you that, right?"

"Yes, those! It's pretty though. Raccoons are sweethearts, I held one once and B freaked out."

Dick says with a small giggle. Bruce had said he was going to get rabies or something so Dick tried to hand him the raccoon, and B acted like he was about to stab him.

"Um...yeah like...fun and cool, is that not the words? I just watched a lot of American TV to know how to say a lot of things right. But my Papa tutored me on basics."

"Well because your heads bare without the helmet so...bald. Nothing on your head."

Dick explains, touching his own head a bit as he does. He pauses at that explanation, eyes widening.

"...Did...Did B tell you? I didn't mess up or anything...I didn't say anything wrong-"

"They are pretty cute. They can be a bit aggressive sometimes."

"Just funky. Your english is good, though."

Jason sighs softly, ruffling Dick's hair. He wasn't expecting that reaction specifically and it makes him.. sad in a way, that he assumed he did something wrong.

"No, Bruce told me. You did perfectly fine, Dickie."

Jason comforts, leaning a bit close to Dick's level, hoping that comforts him a bit more so he doesn't feel upset.

Dick pauses, blinking and a bit confused at the touch, but definitely happy about it. He misses getting hugged and held and getting his hair all ruffled and played with, like with Mama and Papa.

"M'kay...thank you, Jason."

"I wanna go home."

Jason smiles softly at the other, not sure what else to do. He hums, chuckling softly at the dramatic sound and taking the wipes before throwing them in the bin.

"No problem, Dickie."

Jason frowns at that, sighing a bit before moving to sit on Dick's side of the counter, facing the kid. He doesn't seem to get what Dick means, assuming he means the manor.

"I know.. B is busy right now so.. you can stay with me until then, have a sleepover?"

He offers, not sure how to comfort him. Jason isn't sure how long this spell will last so he doesn't want to promise they'll see Bruce tomorrow or anything like that so this'll have to do.

"He's always busy."

Is all he says, mumbling and a bit muffled with his hand in his face. Dick just misses his Mama and Papa, they were so much nicer and loved having him around but Bruce always seems busy and annoyed.

He misses the circus, and misses all the people there and he misses Zitka. This is all so stupid. He's good at being Robin, he doesn't think he's good at much else anymore.

"I know.. I'm sorry. I'll have to make do for now, OK?"

He responds softly, slumping a bit so he can look at the child more head on, gently taking his hand and bringing it out of his mouth.

He was always jealous that Dick had his own team, that he actually had friends and just people there for him but right now he doesn't so Jason'll have to do.

"You're nicer."

Dick likes being hugged or hugging people but he never really gets to be like that anymore because his parents are dead. Bruce and Alfred are all meanie and don't like him to be so touchy.

He isn't quite sure why since he knows Dick does hug the others whenever so it's probably because of Jason. He doesn't think Dick has hugged him.. ever.

He rubs his back a bit until Dick moves away, letting go of the child and watching him a bit, laughing softly when he goes to do a handstand, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Wow.. Be careful."

Jason mumbles, clapping a bit. He knows Dick will probably be fine but he's just so small and young that he is a bit worried.

Dick scoffs, rolling his eyes and moving up into a forward walk over to get back up.

"I'm totally careful...I'm an acrobat."

"My Mama and Papa trained me. I was in the circus. We were really good.

"See?"

He says, gesturing a bit to prove his point.

"Of course."

"I can see that."

He wasn't exactly successful but Jason is still insanely flexible somehow. Still, nothing can beat Dick Grayson and definitely not when it comes to acrobatics.

"Yes. Just want you safe that's all."

Jason moves to boop him on the nose, smiling softly.

"Woah, you're super tall."

Dick says, resting his head against Jason's, his small hands in Jason's hair. He looks over the room from the high vantage point.

"I can see everything."

He's not sure if Jason's gonna make him go to school tomorrow but Dick hopes he doesn't, so he isn't gonna mention it.

"Do you hit your head on stuff?"

Dick asks, moving so he can lean his head over and look at Jason's face more. Bruce and Alfred always say eye contact is polite.

He shifts a bit when Dick finally sits on his shoulders, holding his legs a bit to make sure he's secure but allowing the kid to kick them back and forth.

"I have been told so."

"Yes, I do actually. Very annoying. Got a few bruises from it.

He says, blinking a bit when Dick looks down at him with his face upside down. When he came back his height started to rapidly grow, the pit correcting his malnourishment and everything.

"Bruce says being small has umm...tactical advances. Or something."

"It does. You are harder to spot, more flexible, lighter weight and everything for your tricks. Being big has advantages too though."

"It is. Don't worry about me."

"Must've been scary. Bet you were so brave though."

Jason mumbles softly, tilting his head up to look at Dick a little bit. He's only 8 or 9 right now. He shouldn't have had to deal with that.

"Mhm...Haly, the guy who owned the circus, he said I was easily portable."

Dick says, giggling a bit and continuing to fiddle with Jason's hair still. He likes the white hairs a lot because of cool they look with the black hair.

"Yeah, it was...but Alfie says I did good and stuff, even though Bruce was all mad at me. I didn't even get him hit or anything he told me to stay back and I did. He makes no sense."

Dick frowns, leaning his chin on Jason's head a bit as he thinks.

"He doesn't even apologize, My Mama always says that's mean. Or she...um. She used to."

Dick mumbles the last bit, grumbling a little. He continues to fiddle with Jason's hair, as well as just poking him a little for no discernible reason.

"That too."

He says with a smile, sighing a bit. The drumming is honestly a bit annoying but he can easily just ignore it anyways. Jason does like him playing with his bangs though.

"Well.. You don't listen to him. You're both alright so you did good."

He pauses momentarily at the mention of Dick's parents before smiling softly, chuckling when Dick starts to poke him. He definitely has a lot of energy.

"Yeah, your Mom's right. B is just a big meanie."

Dick hums, stopping the poking just to lean the side of his face against Jason's head and hug him a little, with his arms a bit around his neck, though not in any restricting manner.

"B and Alfie are hard friends to have...Zitka was nicer."

"My Mama and Papa were a lot nicer. But they're gone now...s'my fault"

"Well, that's a no brainer."

"It's not your fault."

"I saw him doing something suspicious before the show, I should have said something...I could have- I could have helped."

"They died though, they fell, I didn't do anything and they died."

Dick says quietly, leaning his head against Jason's arm.

"You weren't the one who did it. It's not your fault."

Dick hugs Jason, bringing himself closer when he's picked up, snuggling close to the man. It shows how much he's just been wanting someone to hold him with how much he's clinging to Jason.

"I wish Zucco was dead. I know B says that's bad, but I don't care. He's the worst. I want to punch his face in again."

Dick says, but there are tears in his eyes while he's speaking, glaring daggers at Jason's chest like it'll kill the man for him.

"I don't care if it's bad at all. I don't care what he says. I don't care."

"I don't care."

He says in that shaky tone, biting harshly down on his lip.

Jason hugs the boy back tightly, not too tight to hurt but enough to be a constant pressure. It's the least and probably the only thing he can really do to help in his situation.

"I want them dead too."

Is all Jason offers, all he can offer, really. He doesn't want to lie because in all honesty he'd probably do it. Whether them is Zucco or.. anyone else is something he's not sure about.

Dick sniffles, tears running down his cheeks as he tries to make them stop, wiping at his face a little vigorously, like he's trying to scrub the emotion out of himself.

"Does that make you bad? To...to think bad stuff like that? Bruce always says it...it makes you as worse as them."

"I don't wanna be bad."

Jason pauses at that, sighing and fishing out a tissue from his pockets, sliding it into Dick's hand and continuing to run his hands through his hair.

The others are so young, too young to be doing any of this let alone having to raise a gun or sword to someone and kill them. They can't do that and they shouldn't have to again.

So Jason will. He knows he should probably be dead like all the people he has killed, even more so. He would probably go to hell if he could die this time. But he can't. So he'll continue on.

"You aren't. You're a good person, Dickie. Don't let Bruce or anyone else tell you you aren't."

He mumbles. He wishes he could tell Dick this later, he doesn't even know if Dick will remember it. They aren't close enough for that. This is all he can do.

"Y'know.. as a kid we used to tell scary stories about the Batman around a lighter. I don' know if it's more disappointing or reassuring that he's just some rich guy in a furry costume."

Jason mumbles, rubbing the others back. He doesn't know why he's talking about this, just wanting to have something to talk about to take the other's mind off things.

Dick blinks a bit when Jason speaks, having forgotten really that the man was even there, stuck in his own head. Dick wipes at his eyes. He huffs a small laugh.

"I didn't really know about Batman...until he showed up when my parents died, and kept catching me when I escaped the Juvie place to go kill Zucco."

Dick explains a little. He starts fidgeting a little with Jason's shirt, not making eye contact with the man.

Jason moves his hand to run through Dick's hair instead when he stops crying, a bit relieved at that at least. He seemed to have cried himself out and is pretty tired but he doesn't move or anything.

"You figured it out? Pretty smart, huh?"

Dick hums, giggling softly and rubbing at his face. He grabs at his cape a little to wear it as a make shift blanket.

Dick admits the last part with a weak voice, almost like he's embarrassed by the fact he wants attention in the first place, nonetheless Bruces. He sniffles and hugs Jason a bit tighter.

"It worked, so I'm super smart."

He yawns a little as he says that.

"You designed it all by yourself? Even the cape?"

He asks, making his voice a bit more excited than it would usually be, picking Dick up a bit to be higher and more in his arms. It seems he finally got most of that energy out.

"Of course. And I bet those brain cells need some rest, no?"

Jason tilts his head a bit, ruffling Dick's hair.

"Uhuh! I mean...B made changes like I couldn't make the cape sparkly like I wanted to, but most of it is what I drew. It's like my Mama and Papa's costumes..."

He explains, spreading his cape out a little in emphasis. Dick giggles when he's picked up a bit more, ducking his head and sticking his tongue out a bit when Jason ruffles his hair.

"M'not tired, it's lies."

"While sparkles are very cool I don't think they'd be really good for stealth."

Jason says with a small snort, deciding to just ignore the last part about his parents and not comment on it. He's happy that Dick seems much happier and distracted than before.

"Uh huh.."

"Well.. I'm pretty tired and I have enough room in my bed for someone as little as you."

Jason says, booping Dick's nose at the end. Hopefully the problem is just being alone otherwise Jason will just get Dick to sit next to him in bed and hopefully that'll work.

"Thats what B says...I don't get any of this stuff."

Dick says with a shrug. Dick giggles when his nose gets poked, ducking his head into Jason's neck and hugging the man. He grumbles a bit, thinking for a moment about Jason's words.

"Hm...I can stay and make sure you're okay."

Dick states, deciding that protecting Jason would be good reasoning for staying with him, even though he's tired himself and would like to sleep. He doesn't admit that though, stubbornly.

"I don't have pajamas..."

"Well, sparkles are really shiny and pretty so people can see you easier and if you're sneaking around as Robin the bad guys might spot you which isn't good."

Jason explains, attempting to speak in a type of language Dick can understand. He hugs Dick back, of course, smiling softly. He is really cute at this age though Jason thinks most kids cute.

"Really? Thank you."

"Hm.. you can borrow one of my hoodies though it'll probably swallow you up."

Jason hums, laughing softly at the last part. His hoodies are oversized on Dick when he's normal so he can't imagine how it would be for him while being a small child.

"Yeah...'cause sleeping makes you um...vulnerable to attacks. So I gotta protect you."

Dick giggles at the comments, shaking his head and rubbing his fingers against Jason's jacket a little. He doesn't make eye contact, but he doesn't seem uncomfortable or anything.

"I'm not that small, you're just um...a giant. Like those Jack and the beanstalk stories."

"A giant? Not the first time. Well, regardless lets get you something, hm? I have a spare tooth brush you can use."

"Nice?"

He asks, crouching down in front of Dick and offering him the hoodie to touch.

"It's furry! Like...like soft blankets!"

Dick says, hugging the hoodie to himself a bit and holding it to his face. He sniffs it a little and looks it over fully.

"I don't know if I can live up to a pajama sleepover but we'll share a bed."

"I bet you are.."

Jason smiles softly at the reaction, finding it cute and taking off the cape and belt, folding them both up and putting them on the side.

"I'm glad you like 'em. Do you need help putting it on?"

"I did that with Mama and Papa."

"Pat pat."

He says, yawning and moving to grab his legs and tuck them beneath the hoodie as well as he watches Jason curiously.

"Are you gonna put on pajamas too?"

He asks, head tilted a little as he asks, looking at Jason's gear and jacket and all. Dick wonders why he doesn't have a cape or anything like usual superheroes, he looks kinda weird.

"Oh, then I definitely can't compete."

"Yep. First, how about we brush first, kay?"

He reassures, picking Dick up again and walking out of the bedroom to the bathroom, kneeling down to get the spare toothbrushes out of the cabinets.

"I only have the minty toothpaste, sorry."

Jason sighs a bit, handing Dick the toothbrush and placing him on the sink since Jason lacks a stool or anything in this safehouse.

Dick just giggles a bit more when Jason rolls up his sleeves, smiling as he's picked up again and leaning into the touch. He kicks his feet a little on the counter when Jason sets him down.

"Bleh."

"M'done. Clean."

Is all he says, yawning a little and rubbing at his eyes. Dick's tired now and just wants to be held and get to sleep against someone else for the night. He misses the feeling.

He scoops the child up from under his arms before placing him on Jason's hip, considering for a second before pressing his lips to the other's hair for a second.

"I can see that, good job."

He praises, making sure the bathroom and everything is clean before turning off the light and exiting the room, entering the bedroom.

"I'm just gonna leave the room to change then we'll sleep. You stay right here for me."

Jason says, placing Dick down on the head and adjusting the pillows for him, pulling the blanket over to him to snuggle up.

He goes to the cupboard to take out a hoodie and some sweatpants, leaving the room like he said and closing the door.

"You waited for me? Thank you."

He mumbles softly, putting everything in the cupboard before finally turning the light off and hoping in the bed, adjusting the blanket a bit to make sure it covers the smaller child.

"Want me to keep the lamp on?"

Jason asks as he moves to wrap his arms around Dick and get comfortable himself.

"M'brave and strong. I don't need lights."

...

"Of course."

...

Jason only sits up when Dick gets up and has his back turned against him, stretching his neck and arms a bit.

"Oh, great. You're.. you."

He mumbles, his voice a bit rough from sleep before tucking some of his bangs behind his ear that were in his face. He doesn't look surprised or anything, just squinting a bit and scanning the other.

Dick pauses when Jason speaks and sits up, looking back at him briefly. His expression is a little tense but he stretches his arms and smiles a bit at him. It's not entirely convincing.

"I'd hope so..."

"I don't exactly remember how I got here...some context would be appreciated."

Jason gives Dick an unimpressed look when he smiles at him, not saying anything but just communicating that 'I know you're full of bullshit right now' that Jason seems to always have with the man.

"I'm gonna make breakfast. You can do.. whatever."

He usually tries to annoy the man the most but since Dick came back from his whole fake death mission thing he's just been ignoring him as much as he can or glares at him so it is an improvement.

"Oh how fun, thanks asshole."

"Do you have cereal in this shithole?"

Dick asks once he's drawn the blinds of the last window in the room and checked the surroundings of the room about three times. He's smiling and raising an eyebrow at Jason.

".. No. I've had enough cereal for a lifetime though I suppose you don't have the same.. limit."

Jason looks at the man like he just asked him to murder someone for him though then again Jason would probably be more pleased with that request.

Cereal is cheap and lasts a long time so he used to have it a lot as a kid and not the good kind. Now he doesn't need to do that kinda stuff so why would he buy it?

"Eh, usually the only thing I eat. It's cheap in bulk, plus I'm a sugar fan I guess."

"I'm not a chef or anything. I work for a fast food place right now, my experience starts and ends with flipping burger patties."

Dick says with an eye roll and a small laugh.

"I'm very aware of that. I'm not sure how 'Richie Wayne' keeps his abs on that diet."

"Batburger? Hm, better than a cop."

Jason says in disbelief almost before humming and continuing to cook. He'll definitely have to see that, maybe pay Dick a visit at his job.

Dick slaps his hand away, glaring at him a little though the threats not too serious. Dick could defend himself more if he wanted to. He rolls his eyes, leaning back and watching Jason closely.

"Mostly eat protein based things if I'm not eating cereal if that helps. I've definitely lost a bit of mass since uh...my little escapade out of the country."

"I was trying to fit into my prom dress."

"I'd rather kill myself with the spatula I use to flip burgers than be a cop again, if that helps."

Dick says with an eye roll.

"What.. does prom have to do with that?"

"Uh. Yeah."

He hums, snorting a bit before putting the egg on the pan and taking out a spatula.

His hallucinations have been worse too, of course that and the paranoia, but that's not too out of the norm, maybe he's just overtired, or it's the stress.

Dick says, his voice is a bit rough from the coughing fit but he seems to be just ignoring it, clearing his throat a little.

"Maybe that's because you should gain back that weight."

"Don't give me ideas now.. though I think the Gotham water supply has gone through enough. You think Steph might have some glitter in red?"

"Yeah well, easier said than done"

"How fun, adding even more microplastics in the water."

Jason glances over when Dick comes closer, taking out a plate and serving the omelette, pushing it into the man's hands.

"Well, gotta start somewhere. Shoo."

He hums, waving Dick away a bit as he goes to make another one for himself.

Dick laughs a little, taking the plate and looking it over a bit before moving to sit.

"Thanks..."

A few times he flinches, looking back at what he thinks was the silhouette of something, but theres nothing there. He sighs, just staring at his food.

Eventually he just finishes the omelette for himself and plates it, leaving it near Dick's own plate on the counter while he cleans up the space and puts everything away.

The silence puts more stress on him to explain then Dick asking him did so to fill the space he speaks, clearing his throat a little first.

"You got de-aged on patrol. Took you back here to sleep the spell off. Might wanna follow up on that.."

He says, shrugging a bit at the last part.

"Jesus Christ- sorry, how..."

He clears his throat again, moving to grab a napkin to wipe at his mouth a little, breathing and taking a second.

"How old?"

He waves his apology off a bit, gathering his bearings and pressing his lips together to hide the smile on his face before he can.

"Uh.. 8 or 9? Whenever you started being Robin."

He answers, taking a few seconds to think about it. The question makes sense though he doesn't really understand why Dick seems nervous right now.

"It was only for a few hours before I got you to fall asleep so not a very strong spell."

Jason adds, hoping that makes it better though he doesn't know what the problem is either.

Dick sighs deeply, rubbing at his face and holding his head in his hands, letting his fork fall against his plate with a clatter.

"Right...okay, sorry if I- I don't know, was a little asshole to you or something."

"Do you want a fruit basket or something for forgiveness?"

Dick jokes a little, but his anxiety is still there given that. Dick's not sure there would be an age that would be good for this kind of thing anyways.

FUCK WAIT I DIDNT TURN ON ANON

ok now dick gets turned into robin again DEFINITELY not sent by the previous asker

(// OPEN RP STARTER!! (anyone is free to reply regardless of if we've interacted b4) Dick gets magic de-aged to hmm abt 8-9 years old?? Freshly Robin Dickiiee)

Dick is patrolling around Gotham for once, visiting the city to see Damian and the others when the spell hits him harshly.

"WOAH-"

"Hello..?"

The boy says. He glances around curiously, obviously confused about the situation with a small pout on his face.

He grumbles a bit, moving to try get away before the other spots him but before he can properly escape he hears a yelp from the man in question. Great.

Well, that's weird. Last he checked Damian wasn't nearby and anyways his uniform doesn't look like that. He puts his guns into the holsters before peeking again to see.. a child?

More accurately a child definitely not in the double digits yet with that tanned skin and the shitty Robin uniform that tormented him without any pants. He officially hates de-aging magic.

Jason moves to put his guns in his pockets since he doesn't think the trained toddler will like seeing someone with guns approaching him before walking over.

"Hey.. Robin?"

Dick yelps, going into a defensive position immediately and glaring up at the man.

"What is it? Wh- what happened? What did you do? Where's Batman?!"

He asks, his voice is much more high pitched than Dick's but also slightly accented on some syllables. He's pouting a little, holding his fists up like he's ready for a fight.

Jason snorts a bit under the helmet with translates to a crackle through the helmet at the reaction. He doesn't see Dick like this a lot, unguarded and not playing his stupid act.

He isn't quite sure if the others notice but everything about how Dick acts is fake in a way, a performance. He doesn't see Dick a lot in general though so what does he know.

"I didn't do anything. I don't know where Batman is either but I'm.. a friend of his, see?"

"But Batman doesn't have any other friends besides me!"

"He- He'd tell me if he had any friends. You're just a big um...you don't say the truth! You're saying nonsense!"

He frowns deeply, staring up at the man with a stubborn expression. The man's really tall, Dick barely reaches his waist, but he doesn't care. He can beat up big guys, he's Robin. Obviously.

Jason presses his lips together, resisting the urge to start laughing honestly because it's kinda cute.

"Well, I'm more of an ally.. like a business partner. You're his friend, he told me all about you."

He corrects which is more accurate to whatever the fuck Jason and Bruce have going on. He knows Bruce doesn't see him as his son anymore despite.. whatever, doesn't matter.

"Business– Ally.. thing."

"Well, I'm his bestfriend and partner, I'm the boy wonder! ...are you involved in those big cases Batman says I can't do yet because I'm not smart enough?"

"If you've got a bunch of bad guys you need me to um...take out and punch I can help! I can save people! But um..."

He looks around.

"We should find Batman. I'm not allowed to be on my own unless Batman says so."

Jason smiles softly at that. At the very least this version of Dick is very endearing and cute. He moves a bit closer, crouching a bit and resting his hands on his knees

"I'm sure you're really smart I'm just some.. outside help for Batman."

"Of course but.. since Batman isn't here we she probably go to my safehouse. He wont like the both of us patrolling in Gotham alone."

Jason says, trying to keep his voice soft though he can't help but roll his eyes and grumble at the end.

"Okay...Mr. Helmet Guy. I'm super smart!"

"M'kay. Robin will watch you and protect you! Have no fear the Boy Wonder is here!"

"Um...Whats a safehouse?"

"Thank you then, Robin.

"It's like... a house that's really safe because it's got a bunch of weapons and vigilante stuff. You'll see."

He explains, raising an eyebrow under the helmet before gesturing for Dick to follow him.

Dick runs up to him, grabbing at his cape so it covers his shoulders a bit more as he follows the man. Dick hums a little in response.

"Okay...why do you wear a helmet? Do you ride bikes? Batman never wears a helmet when he ride bikes, he says his cowl counts but that's not true I don't think. He says wrong things a lot."

Dick starts kicking a rock around a little as they walk, but gets distracted by the action, before remembering he's supposed to be following the helmet man as he runs back up to him.

Jason laughs softly at the questions, pretending to think a bit before answering. Good to know Dick insulting Bruce started very early.

"I do ride bikes. I also wear a helmet to cover my whole head and protect it."

"Is it because of shooting guns? My cape is all helmet like, it can't be shot at with guns, B says that's important. I got shot last month right here!"

"That was 'cause I forgot to use the cape. B got so mad and stuffs, but I didn't even cry!"

Dick complains a bit with a small pout, still holding onto the mans hand.

"Yep, that too. They're really loud."

"Oh, wow. Bet you were so brave. The cape is bullet proof?"

"They are, my ears start ringing all over and it hurts bad."

Dick says, putting his hands over his ears in emphasis. The domino he has on doesn't have any lenses but he does squint his eyes a little in confusion when the man stops to look at it.

"I gotta battle scar. Means I'm um...cool, like Batman. He's got a bunch of scars all over his places."

Dick says, tapping the scar a bit. He's a bit surprised when he's picked up but just smiles and kicks his feet a little. He giggles a bit.

"Yeah it's super cool! B says it's to protect me because I'm a walking target. I don't know what that means because he taught me not to just walk around anyways..."

Dick says, making a face and leaning his head against the man's shoulder.

"Um, Mr. Helmet man, do you think Batman's okay?"

Dick asks after a while, his voice a bit quieter while he stares down at his hands. He's started playing with one of the zippers on the mans jacket.

Jason hums, walking much quicker now since he doesn't have to slow down so Dick can keep up.

"I bet he does."

People without the medical care of a billionaire or even some disinfectant and stitches don't survive those kinda scars. Now.. most of his scars are because of himself.

"It looks really comfy too, I like your suit."

"Of course. He's just busy. Hey, you wanna learn a secret?"

He comforts, trying to quickly change the topic afterwards.

Dick hums, watching their surroundings a bit as he takes his head from the mans shoulder. He moves to look down at his suit at that. He giggles.

He starts chewing on one of his fingers a little, a bad habit that Alfred always yells at him for doing. He pauses at that, tilting his head.

"Okay. Yes! I can keep secrets! I can do it really good!! I had to lie to those CPS people who kept coming over like B told me, because they couldn't know I was Robin. I can keep secrets."

He says with a grin, curious and excited what the man is gonna tell him.

"Oh really? Well, I think it's awesome too so don't listen to him."

"It's about.. my secret identity. You gotta make sure you tell no one."

"B's just a big dummy idiot anyways. It's why his head looks like a bowling ball."

Dick looks up at the building they're walking to curiously. It looks normal, but he's not really sure. The man seems super nice though, even though his red helmet makes him look like an angry tomato.

He perks up at that, curious about the identity of the man, and he didn't even get a name either so he just kept calling him Mr. Helmet Man anyways.

"Okay! I won't tell at all, I'm super super good at identity secrets. I won't tell anyone, not even Zitka!"

He says making the motion to lock his lips and throw away the key.

He places Dick on one of the kitchen stools, closing the door and huffing a bit.

"OK, then.."

He rarely takes the helmet let alone the domino off most of the time, especially in front of Dick and Bruce and part of him still has that fear with the younger version of his brother.

"Surprise."

Jason mumbles, going to get some adhesive remover and walking over to the sink, turning on the faucet.

Dick looks around the place curiously, just excited to be somewhere new. After his entire life was on the road constantly with the Circus things felt...off, being trapped in the manor constantly.

Dick tilts his head a bit as the man takes off his helmet. He opens his mouth a little in surprise before clapping a bit.

"You look so cool! It's like um...those really awesome looking people on TV! You're striped like a Zebra! Sort of anyways, your hair is all funky town."

"Why's it a secret that your hairs is all cool like that? Is it the scars? Those are cool too! Like battle scars!"

Dick says, leaning forwards across the counter and tapping his hands against the countertop.

"Thank you, I think? I don't know if I count as a Zebra with only one stripe."

He tilts his head a bit, not sure if Dick is just insulting him in some creative way.

"Well, the scars and hair make it very easy for people to find out my identity so I have to hide it. You wanna take your domino off?"

Another reason was just wanting to hide his face for the whole reveal and all.. He finds it stupid to keep majority of your face minus the mask revealed if you don't want your identity to come out.

"Hm...maybe like those little bear rat things that eat garbage?"

Dick suggests, he can't remember the English word for them. He sits up on his knees a little to look at the man a bit more.

"Your eyes are all funky town too."

Dick says, pointing as his own eyes in emphasis. He hums a bit at the explanation, moving to prop his head on his hand. He supposes that makes sense, since the man looks so unique and all.

"Oh...well I can keep that a secret I guess. I can't call you Mr. Helmet Man anymore though because you're without a helmet. You're bald."

"B would get big mad. He says our identities matter the biggest because it could kill people and stuff. I don't wanna kill people, it'd make me a bad guy."

He mumbles a bit, voice muffled.

"Raccoons? I've been told so before."

"Funky town? Funky?"

Jason asks, tilting his head. Dick said it before and he isn't quite sure what it means. He laughs softly at that too, tucking his bangs behind his ear.

"I'm pretty sure I have hair. My name is Jason."

He rolls his eyes a bit, smiling softly.

"I already know who you are, Dick. I'm an ally of Bruce. I told you that, right?"

"Yes, those! It's pretty though. Raccoons are sweethearts, I held one once and B freaked out."

Dick says with a small giggle. Bruce had said he was going to get rabies or something so Dick tried to hand him the raccoon, and B acted like he was about to stab him.

"Um...yeah like...fun and cool, is that not the words? I just watched a lot of American TV to know how to say a lot of things right. But my Papa tutored me on basics."

"Well because your heads bare without the helmet so...bald. Nothing on your head."

Dick explains, touching his own head a bit as he does. He pauses at that explanation, eyes widening.

"...Did...Did B tell you? I didn't mess up or anything...I didn't say anything wrong-"

"They are pretty cute. They can be a bit aggressive sometimes."

"Just funky. Your english is good, though."

Jason sighs softly, ruffling Dick's hair. He wasn't expecting that reaction specifically and it makes him.. sad in a way, that he assumed he did something wrong.

"No, Bruce told me. You did perfectly fine, Dickie."

Jason comforts, leaning a bit close to Dick's level, hoping that comforts him a bit more so he doesn't feel upset.

Dick pauses, blinking and a bit confused at the touch, but definitely happy about it. He misses getting hugged and held and getting his hair all ruffled and played with, like with Mama and Papa.

"M'kay...thank you, Jason."

"I wanna go home."

Jason smiles softly at the other, not sure what else to do. He hums, chuckling softly at the dramatic sound and taking the wipes before throwing them in the bin.

"No problem, Dickie."

Jason frowns at that, sighing a bit before moving to sit on Dick's side of the counter, facing the kid. He doesn't seem to get what Dick means, assuming he means the manor.

"I know.. B is busy right now so.. you can stay with me until then, have a sleepover?"

He offers, not sure how to comfort him. Jason isn't sure how long this spell will last so he doesn't want to promise they'll see Bruce tomorrow or anything like that so this'll have to do.

"He's always busy."

Is all he says, mumbling and a bit muffled with his hand in his face. Dick just misses his Mama and Papa, they were so much nicer and loved having him around but Bruce always seems busy and annoyed.

He misses the circus, and misses all the people there and he misses Zitka. This is all so stupid. He's good at being Robin, he doesn't think he's good at much else anymore.

"I know.. I'm sorry. I'll have to make do for now, OK?"

He responds softly, slumping a bit so he can look at the child more head on, gently taking his hand and bringing it out of his mouth.

He was always jealous that Dick had his own team, that he actually had friends and just people there for him but right now he doesn't so Jason'll have to do.

"You're nicer."

Dick likes being hugged or hugging people but he never really gets to be like that anymore because his parents are dead. Bruce and Alfred are all meanie and don't like him to be so touchy.

He isn't quite sure why since he knows Dick does hug the others whenever so it's probably because of Jason. He doesn't think Dick has hugged him.. ever.

He rubs his back a bit until Dick moves away, letting go of the child and watching him a bit, laughing softly when he goes to do a handstand, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Wow.. Be careful."

Jason mumbles, clapping a bit. He knows Dick will probably be fine but he's just so small and young that he is a bit worried.

Dick scoffs, rolling his eyes and moving up into a forward walk over to get back up.

"I'm totally careful...I'm an acrobat."

"My Mama and Papa trained me. I was in the circus. We were really good.

"See?"

He says, gesturing a bit to prove his point.

"Of course."

"I can see that."

He wasn't exactly successful but Jason is still insanely flexible somehow. Still, nothing can beat Dick Grayson and definitely not when it comes to acrobatics.

"Yes. Just want you safe that's all."

Jason moves to boop him on the nose, smiling softly.

"Woah, you're super tall."

Dick says, resting his head against Jason's, his small hands in Jason's hair. He looks over the room from the high vantage point.

"I can see everything."

He's not sure if Jason's gonna make him go to school tomorrow but Dick hopes he doesn't, so he isn't gonna mention it.

"Do you hit your head on stuff?"

Dick asks, moving so he can lean his head over and look at Jason's face more. Bruce and Alfred always say eye contact is polite.

He shifts a bit when Dick finally sits on his shoulders, holding his legs a bit to make sure he's secure but allowing the kid to kick them back and forth.

"I have been told so."

"Yes, I do actually. Very annoying. Got a few bruises from it.

He says, blinking a bit when Dick looks down at him with his face upside down. When he came back his height started to rapidly grow, the pit correcting his malnourishment and everything.

"Bruce says being small has umm...tactical advances. Or something."

"It does. You are harder to spot, more flexible, lighter weight and everything for your tricks. Being big has advantages too though."

"It is. Don't worry about me."

"Must've been scary. Bet you were so brave though."

Jason mumbles softly, tilting his head up to look at Dick a little bit. He's only 8 or 9 right now. He shouldn't have had to deal with that.

"Mhm...Haly, the guy who owned the circus, he said I was easily portable."

Dick says, giggling a bit and continuing to fiddle with Jason's hair still. He likes the white hairs a lot because of cool they look with the black hair.

"Yeah, it was...but Alfie says I did good and stuff, even though Bruce was all mad at me. I didn't even get him hit or anything he told me to stay back and I did. He makes no sense."

Dick frowns, leaning his chin on Jason's head a bit as he thinks.

"He doesn't even apologize, My Mama always says that's mean. Or she...um. She used to."

Dick mumbles the last bit, grumbling a little. He continues to fiddle with Jason's hair, as well as just poking him a little for no discernible reason.

"That too."

He says with a smile, sighing a bit. The drumming is honestly a bit annoying but he can easily just ignore it anyways. Jason does like him playing with his bangs though.

"Well.. You don't listen to him. You're both alright so you did good."

He pauses momentarily at the mention of Dick's parents before smiling softly, chuckling when Dick starts to poke him. He definitely has a lot of energy.

"Yeah, your Mom's right. B is just a big meanie."

Dick hums, stopping the poking just to lean the side of his face against Jason's head and hug him a little, with his arms a bit around his neck, though not in any restricting manner.

"B and Alfie are hard friends to have...Zitka was nicer."

"My Mama and Papa were a lot nicer. But they're gone now...s'my fault"

"Well, that's a no brainer."

"It's not your fault."

"I saw him doing something suspicious before the show, I should have said something...I could have- I could have helped."

"They died though, they fell, I didn't do anything and they died."

Dick says quietly, leaning his head against Jason's arm.

"You weren't the one who did it. It's not your fault."

Dick hugs Jason, bringing himself closer when he's picked up, snuggling close to the man. It shows how much he's just been wanting someone to hold him with how much he's clinging to Jason.

"I wish Zucco was dead. I know B says that's bad, but I don't care. He's the worst. I want to punch his face in again."

Dick says, but there are tears in his eyes while he's speaking, glaring daggers at Jason's chest like it'll kill the man for him.

"I don't care if it's bad at all. I don't care what he says. I don't care."

"I don't care."

He says in that shaky tone, biting harshly down on his lip.

Jason hugs the boy back tightly, not too tight to hurt but enough to be a constant pressure. It's the least and probably the only thing he can really do to help in his situation.

"I want them dead too."

Is all Jason offers, all he can offer, really. He doesn't want to lie because in all honesty he'd probably do it. Whether them is Zucco or.. anyone else is something he's not sure about.

Dick sniffles, tears running down his cheeks as he tries to make them stop, wiping at his face a little vigorously, like he's trying to scrub the emotion out of himself.

"Does that make you bad? To...to think bad stuff like that? Bruce always says it...it makes you as worse as them."

"I don't wanna be bad."

Jason pauses at that, sighing and fishing out a tissue from his pockets, sliding it into Dick's hand and continuing to run his hands through his hair.

The others are so young, too young to be doing any of this let alone having to raise a gun or sword to someone and kill them. They can't do that and they shouldn't have to again.

So Jason will. He knows he should probably be dead like all the people he has killed, even more so. He would probably go to hell if he could die this time. But he can't. So he'll continue on.

"You aren't. You're a good person, Dickie. Don't let Bruce or anyone else tell you you aren't."

He mumbles. He wishes he could tell Dick this later, he doesn't even know if Dick will remember it. They aren't close enough for that. This is all he can do.

"Y'know.. as a kid we used to tell scary stories about the Batman around a lighter. I don' know if it's more disappointing or reassuring that he's just some rich guy in a furry costume."

Jason mumbles, rubbing the others back. He doesn't know why he's talking about this, just wanting to have something to talk about to take the other's mind off things.

Dick blinks a bit when Jason speaks, having forgotten really that the man was even there, stuck in his own head. Dick wipes at his eyes. He huffs a small laugh.

"I didn't really know about Batman...until he showed up when my parents died, and kept catching me when I escaped the Juvie place to go kill Zucco."

Dick explains a little. He starts fidgeting a little with Jason's shirt, not making eye contact with the man.

Jason moves his hand to run through Dick's hair instead when he stops crying, a bit relieved at that at least. He seemed to have cried himself out and is pretty tired but he doesn't move or anything.

"You figured it out? Pretty smart, huh?"

Dick hums, giggling softly and rubbing at his face. He grabs at his cape a little to wear it as a make shift blanket.

Dick admits the last part with a weak voice, almost like he's embarrassed by the fact he wants attention in the first place, nonetheless Bruces. He sniffles and hugs Jason a bit tighter.

"It worked, so I'm super smart."

He yawns a little as he says that.

"You designed it all by yourself? Even the cape?"

He asks, making his voice a bit more excited than it would usually be, picking Dick up a bit to be higher and more in his arms. It seems he finally got most of that energy out.

"Of course. And I bet those brain cells need some rest, no?"

Jason tilts his head a bit, ruffling Dick's hair.

"Uhuh! I mean...B made changes like I couldn't make the cape sparkly like I wanted to, but most of it is what I drew. It's like my Mama and Papa's costumes..."

He explains, spreading his cape out a little in emphasis. Dick giggles when he's picked up a bit more, ducking his head and sticking his tongue out a bit when Jason ruffles his hair.

"M'not tired, it's lies."

"While sparkles are very cool I don't think they'd be really good for stealth."

Jason says with a small snort, deciding to just ignore the last part about his parents and not comment on it. He's happy that Dick seems much happier and distracted than before.

"Uh huh.."

"Well.. I'm pretty tired and I have enough room in my bed for someone as little as you."

Jason says, booping Dick's nose at the end. Hopefully the problem is just being alone otherwise Jason will just get Dick to sit next to him in bed and hopefully that'll work.

"Thats what B says...I don't get any of this stuff."

Dick says with a shrug. Dick giggles when his nose gets poked, ducking his head into Jason's neck and hugging the man. He grumbles a bit, thinking for a moment about Jason's words.

"Hm...I can stay and make sure you're okay."

Dick states, deciding that protecting Jason would be good reasoning for staying with him, even though he's tired himself and would like to sleep. He doesn't admit that though, stubbornly.

"I don't have pajamas..."

"Well, sparkles are really shiny and pretty so people can see you easier and if you're sneaking around as Robin the bad guys might spot you which isn't good."

Jason explains, attempting to speak in a type of language Dick can understand. He hugs Dick back, of course, smiling softly. He is really cute at this age though Jason thinks most kids cute.

"Really? Thank you."

"Hm.. you can borrow one of my hoodies though it'll probably swallow you up."

Jason hums, laughing softly at the last part. His hoodies are oversized on Dick when he's normal so he can't imagine how it would be for him while being a small child.

"Yeah...'cause sleeping makes you um...vulnerable to attacks. So I gotta protect you."

Dick giggles at the comments, shaking his head and rubbing his fingers against Jason's jacket a little. He doesn't make eye contact, but he doesn't seem uncomfortable or anything.

"I'm not that small, you're just um...a giant. Like those Jack and the beanstalk stories."

"A giant? Not the first time. Well, regardless lets get you something, hm? I have a spare tooth brush you can use."

"Nice?"

He asks, crouching down in front of Dick and offering him the hoodie to touch.

"It's furry! Like...like soft blankets!"

Dick says, hugging the hoodie to himself a bit and holding it to his face. He sniffs it a little and looks it over fully.

"I don't know if I can live up to a pajama sleepover but we'll share a bed."

"I bet you are.."

Jason smiles softly at the reaction, finding it cute and taking off the cape and belt, folding them both up and putting them on the side.

"I'm glad you like 'em. Do you need help putting it on?"

"I did that with Mama and Papa."

"Pat pat."

He says, yawning and moving to grab his legs and tuck them beneath the hoodie as well as he watches Jason curiously.

"Are you gonna put on pajamas too?"

He asks, head tilted a little as he asks, looking at Jason's gear and jacket and all. Dick wonders why he doesn't have a cape or anything like usual superheroes, he looks kinda weird.

"Oh, then I definitely can't compete."

"Yep. First, how about we brush first, kay?"

He reassures, picking Dick up again and walking out of the bedroom to the bathroom, kneeling down to get the spare toothbrushes out of the cabinets.

"I only have the minty toothpaste, sorry."

Jason sighs a bit, handing Dick the toothbrush and placing him on the sink since Jason lacks a stool or anything in this safehouse.

Dick just giggles a bit more when Jason rolls up his sleeves, smiling as he's picked up again and leaning into the touch. He kicks his feet a little on the counter when Jason sets him down.

"Bleh."

"M'done. Clean."

Is all he says, yawning a little and rubbing at his eyes. Dick's tired now and just wants to be held and get to sleep against someone else for the night. He misses the feeling.

He scoops the child up from under his arms before placing him on Jason's hip, considering for a second before pressing his lips to the other's hair for a second.

"I can see that, good job."

He praises, making sure the bathroom and everything is clean before turning off the light and exiting the room, entering the bedroom.

"I'm just gonna leave the room to change then we'll sleep. You stay right here for me."

Jason says, placing Dick down on the head and adjusting the pillows for him, pulling the blanket over to him to snuggle up.

He goes to the cupboard to take out a hoodie and some sweatpants, leaving the room like he said and closing the door.

"You waited for me? Thank you."

He mumbles softly, putting everything in the cupboard before finally turning the light off and hoping in the bed, adjusting the blanket a bit to make sure it covers the smaller child.

"Want me to keep the lamp on?"

Jason asks as he moves to wrap his arms around Dick and get comfortable himself.

"M'brave and strong. I don't need lights."

...

"Of course."

...

Jason only sits up when Dick gets up and has his back turned against him, stretching his neck and arms a bit.

"Oh, great. You're.. you."

He mumbles, his voice a bit rough from sleep before tucking some of his bangs behind his ear that were in his face. He doesn't look surprised or anything, just squinting a bit and scanning the other.

Dick pauses when Jason speaks and sits up, looking back at him briefly. His expression is a little tense but he stretches his arms and smiles a bit at him. It's not entirely convincing.

"I'd hope so..."

"I don't exactly remember how I got here...some context would be appreciated."

Jason gives Dick an unimpressed look when he smiles at him, not saying anything but just communicating that 'I know you're full of bullshit right now' that Jason seems to always have with the man.

"I'm gonna make breakfast. You can do.. whatever."

He usually tries to annoy the man the most but since Dick came back from his whole fake death mission thing he's just been ignoring him as much as he can or glares at him so it is an improvement.

"Oh how fun, thanks asshole."

"Do you have cereal in this shithole?"

Dick asks once he's drawn the blinds of the last window in the room and checked the surroundings of the room about three times. He's smiling and raising an eyebrow at Jason.

".. No. I've had enough cereal for a lifetime though I suppose you don't have the same.. limit."

Jason looks at the man like he just asked him to murder someone for him though then again Jason would probably be more pleased with that request.

Cereal is cheap and lasts a long time so he used to have it a lot as a kid and not the good kind. Now he doesn't need to do that kinda stuff so why would he buy it?

"Eh, usually the only thing I eat. It's cheap in bulk, plus I'm a sugar fan I guess."

"I'm not a chef or anything. I work for a fast food place right now, my experience starts and ends with flipping burger patties."

Dick says with an eye roll and a small laugh.

"I'm very aware of that. I'm not sure how 'Richie Wayne' keeps his abs on that diet."

"Batburger? Hm, better than a cop."

Jason says in disbelief almost before humming and continuing to cook. He'll definitely have to see that, maybe pay Dick a visit at his job.

Dick slaps his hand away, glaring at him a little though the threats not too serious. Dick could defend himself more if he wanted to. He rolls his eyes, leaning back and watching Jason closely.

"Mostly eat protein based things if I'm not eating cereal if that helps. I've definitely lost a bit of mass since uh...my little escapade out of the country."

"I was trying to fit into my prom dress."

"I'd rather kill myself with the spatula I use to flip burgers than be a cop again, if that helps."

Dick says with an eye roll.

"What.. does prom have to do with that?"

"Uh. Yeah."

He hums, snorting a bit before putting the egg on the pan and taking out a spatula.

His hallucinations have been worse too, of course that and the paranoia, but that's not too out of the norm, maybe he's just overtired, or it's the stress.

Dick says, his voice is a bit rough from the coughing fit but he seems to be just ignoring it, clearing his throat a little.

"Maybe that's because you should gain back that weight."

"Don't give me ideas now.. though I think the Gotham water supply has gone through enough. You think Steph might have some glitter in red?"

"Yeah well, easier said than done"

"How fun, adding even more microplastics in the water."

Jason glances over when Dick comes closer, taking out a plate and serving the omelette, pushing it into the man's hands.

"Well, gotta start somewhere. Shoo."

He hums, waving Dick away a bit as he goes to make another one for himself.

Dick laughs a little, taking the plate and looking it over a bit before moving to sit.

"Thanks..."

A few times he flinches, looking back at what he thinks was the silhouette of something, but theres nothing there. He sighs, just staring at his food.

Eventually he just finishes the omelette for himself and plates it, leaving it near Dick's own plate on the counter while he cleans up the space and puts everything away.

The silence puts more stress on him to explain then Dick asking him did so to fill the space he speaks, clearing his throat a little first.

"You got de-aged on patrol. Took you back here to sleep the spell off. Might wanna follow up on that.."

He says, shrugging a bit at the last part.

"Jesus Christ- sorry, how..."

He clears his throat again, moving to grab a napkin to wipe at his mouth a little, breathing and taking a second.

"How old?"

FUCK WAIT I DIDNT TURN ON ANON

ok now dick gets turned into robin again DEFINITELY not sent by the previous asker

(// OPEN RP STARTER!! (anyone is free to reply regardless of if we've interacted b4) Dick gets magic de-aged to hmm abt 8-9 years old?? Freshly Robin Dickiiee)

Dick is patrolling around Gotham for once, visiting the city to see Damian and the others when the spell hits him harshly.

"WOAH-"

"Hello..?"

The boy says. He glances around curiously, obviously confused about the situation with a small pout on his face.

He grumbles a bit, moving to try get away before the other spots him but before he can properly escape he hears a yelp from the man in question. Great.

Well, that's weird. Last he checked Damian wasn't nearby and anyways his uniform doesn't look like that. He puts his guns into the holsters before peeking again to see.. a child?

More accurately a child definitely not in the double digits yet with that tanned skin and the shitty Robin uniform that tormented him without any pants. He officially hates de-aging magic.

Jason moves to put his guns in his pockets since he doesn't think the trained toddler will like seeing someone with guns approaching him before walking over.

"Hey.. Robin?"

Dick yelps, going into a defensive position immediately and glaring up at the man.

"What is it? Wh- what happened? What did you do? Where's Batman?!"

He asks, his voice is much more high pitched than Dick's but also slightly accented on some syllables. He's pouting a little, holding his fists up like he's ready for a fight.

Jason snorts a bit under the helmet with translates to a crackle through the helmet at the reaction. He doesn't see Dick like this a lot, unguarded and not playing his stupid act.

He isn't quite sure if the others notice but everything about how Dick acts is fake in a way, a performance. He doesn't see Dick a lot in general though so what does he know.

"I didn't do anything. I don't know where Batman is either but I'm.. a friend of his, see?"

"But Batman doesn't have any other friends besides me!"

"He- He'd tell me if he had any friends. You're just a big um...you don't say the truth! You're saying nonsense!"

He frowns deeply, staring up at the man with a stubborn expression. The man's really tall, Dick barely reaches his waist, but he doesn't care. He can beat up big guys, he's Robin. Obviously.

Jason presses his lips together, resisting the urge to start laughing honestly because it's kinda cute.

"Well, I'm more of an ally.. like a business partner. You're his friend, he told me all about you."

He corrects which is more accurate to whatever the fuck Jason and Bruce have going on. He knows Bruce doesn't see him as his son anymore despite.. whatever, doesn't matter.

"Business– Ally.. thing."

"Well, I'm his bestfriend and partner, I'm the boy wonder! ...are you involved in those big cases Batman says I can't do yet because I'm not smart enough?"

"If you've got a bunch of bad guys you need me to um...take out and punch I can help! I can save people! But um..."

He looks around.

"We should find Batman. I'm not allowed to be on my own unless Batman says so."

Jason smiles softly at that. At the very least this version of Dick is very endearing and cute. He moves a bit closer, crouching a bit and resting his hands on his knees

"I'm sure you're really smart I'm just some.. outside help for Batman."

"Of course but.. since Batman isn't here we she probably go to my safehouse. He wont like the both of us patrolling in Gotham alone."

Jason says, trying to keep his voice soft though he can't help but roll his eyes and grumble at the end.

"Okay...Mr. Helmet Guy. I'm super smart!"

"M'kay. Robin will watch you and protect you! Have no fear the Boy Wonder is here!"

"Um...Whats a safehouse?"

"Thank you then, Robin.

"It's like... a house that's really safe because it's got a bunch of weapons and vigilante stuff. You'll see."

He explains, raising an eyebrow under the helmet before gesturing for Dick to follow him.

Dick runs up to him, grabbing at his cape so it covers his shoulders a bit more as he follows the man. Dick hums a little in response.

"Okay...why do you wear a helmet? Do you ride bikes? Batman never wears a helmet when he ride bikes, he says his cowl counts but that's not true I don't think. He says wrong things a lot."

Dick starts kicking a rock around a little as they walk, but gets distracted by the action, before remembering he's supposed to be following the helmet man as he runs back up to him.

Jason laughs softly at the questions, pretending to think a bit before answering. Good to know Dick insulting Bruce started very early.

"I do ride bikes. I also wear a helmet to cover my whole head and protect it."

"Is it because of shooting guns? My cape is all helmet like, it can't be shot at with guns, B says that's important. I got shot last month right here!"

"That was 'cause I forgot to use the cape. B got so mad and stuffs, but I didn't even cry!"

Dick complains a bit with a small pout, still holding onto the mans hand.

"Yep, that too. They're really loud."

"Oh, wow. Bet you were so brave. The cape is bullet proof?"

"They are, my ears start ringing all over and it hurts bad."

Dick says, putting his hands over his ears in emphasis. The domino he has on doesn't have any lenses but he does squint his eyes a little in confusion when the man stops to look at it.

"I gotta battle scar. Means I'm um...cool, like Batman. He's got a bunch of scars all over his places."

Dick says, tapping the scar a bit. He's a bit surprised when he's picked up but just smiles and kicks his feet a little. He giggles a bit.

"Yeah it's super cool! B says it's to protect me because I'm a walking target. I don't know what that means because he taught me not to just walk around anyways..."

Dick says, making a face and leaning his head against the man's shoulder.

"Um, Mr. Helmet man, do you think Batman's okay?"

Dick asks after a while, his voice a bit quieter while he stares down at his hands. He's started playing with one of the zippers on the mans jacket.

Jason hums, walking much quicker now since he doesn't have to slow down so Dick can keep up.

"I bet he does."

People without the medical care of a billionaire or even some disinfectant and stitches don't survive those kinda scars. Now.. most of his scars are because of himself.

"It looks really comfy too, I like your suit."

"Of course. He's just busy. Hey, you wanna learn a secret?"

He comforts, trying to quickly change the topic afterwards.

Dick hums, watching their surroundings a bit as he takes his head from the mans shoulder. He moves to look down at his suit at that. He giggles.

He starts chewing on one of his fingers a little, a bad habit that Alfred always yells at him for doing. He pauses at that, tilting his head.

"Okay. Yes! I can keep secrets! I can do it really good!! I had to lie to those CPS people who kept coming over like B told me, because they couldn't know I was Robin. I can keep secrets."

He says with a grin, curious and excited what the man is gonna tell him.

"Oh really? Well, I think it's awesome too so don't listen to him."

"It's about.. my secret identity. You gotta make sure you tell no one."

"B's just a big dummy idiot anyways. It's why his head looks like a bowling ball."

Dick looks up at the building they're walking to curiously. It looks normal, but he's not really sure. The man seems super nice though, even though his red helmet makes him look like an angry tomato.

He perks up at that, curious about the identity of the man, and he didn't even get a name either so he just kept calling him Mr. Helmet Man anyways.

"Okay! I won't tell at all, I'm super super good at identity secrets. I won't tell anyone, not even Zitka!"

He says making the motion to lock his lips and throw away the key.

He places Dick on one of the kitchen stools, closing the door and huffing a bit.

"OK, then.."

He rarely takes the helmet let alone the domino off most of the time, especially in front of Dick and Bruce and part of him still has that fear with the younger version of his brother.

"Surprise."

Jason mumbles, going to get some adhesive remover and walking over to the sink, turning on the faucet.

Dick looks around the place curiously, just excited to be somewhere new. After his entire life was on the road constantly with the Circus things felt...off, being trapped in the manor constantly.

Dick tilts his head a bit as the man takes off his helmet. He opens his mouth a little in surprise before clapping a bit.

"You look so cool! It's like um...those really awesome looking people on TV! You're striped like a Zebra! Sort of anyways, your hair is all funky town."

"Why's it a secret that your hairs is all cool like that? Is it the scars? Those are cool too! Like battle scars!"

Dick says, leaning forwards across the counter and tapping his hands against the countertop.

"Thank you, I think? I don't know if I count as a Zebra with only one stripe."

He tilts his head a bit, not sure if Dick is just insulting him in some creative way.

"Well, the scars and hair make it very easy for people to find out my identity so I have to hide it. You wanna take your domino off?"

Another reason was just wanting to hide his face for the whole reveal and all.. He finds it stupid to keep majority of your face minus the mask revealed if you don't want your identity to come out.

"Hm...maybe like those little bear rat things that eat garbage?"

Dick suggests, he can't remember the English word for them. He sits up on his knees a little to look at the man a bit more.

"Your eyes are all funky town too."

Dick says, pointing as his own eyes in emphasis. He hums a bit at the explanation, moving to prop his head on his hand. He supposes that makes sense, since the man looks so unique and all.

"Oh...well I can keep that a secret I guess. I can't call you Mr. Helmet Man anymore though because you're without a helmet. You're bald."

"B would get big mad. He says our identities matter the biggest because it could kill people and stuff. I don't wanna kill people, it'd make me a bad guy."

He mumbles a bit, voice muffled.

"Raccoons? I've been told so before."

"Funky town? Funky?"

Jason asks, tilting his head. Dick said it before and he isn't quite sure what it means. He laughs softly at that too, tucking his bangs behind his ear.

"I'm pretty sure I have hair. My name is Jason."

He rolls his eyes a bit, smiling softly.

"I already know who you are, Dick. I'm an ally of Bruce. I told you that, right?"

"Yes, those! It's pretty though. Raccoons are sweethearts, I held one once and B freaked out."

Dick says with a small giggle. Bruce had said he was going to get rabies or something so Dick tried to hand him the raccoon, and B acted like he was about to stab him.

"Um...yeah like...fun and cool, is that not the words? I just watched a lot of American TV to know how to say a lot of things right. But my Papa tutored me on basics."

"Well because your heads bare without the helmet so...bald. Nothing on your head."

Dick explains, touching his own head a bit as he does. He pauses at that explanation, eyes widening.

"...Did...Did B tell you? I didn't mess up or anything...I didn't say anything wrong-"

"They are pretty cute. They can be a bit aggressive sometimes."

"Just funky. Your english is good, though."

Jason sighs softly, ruffling Dick's hair. He wasn't expecting that reaction specifically and it makes him.. sad in a way, that he assumed he did something wrong.

"No, Bruce told me. You did perfectly fine, Dickie."

Jason comforts, leaning a bit close to Dick's level, hoping that comforts him a bit more so he doesn't feel upset.

Dick pauses, blinking and a bit confused at the touch, but definitely happy about it. He misses getting hugged and held and getting his hair all ruffled and played with, like with Mama and Papa.

"M'kay...thank you, Jason."

"I wanna go home."

Jason smiles softly at the other, not sure what else to do. He hums, chuckling softly at the dramatic sound and taking the wipes before throwing them in the bin.

"No problem, Dickie."

Jason frowns at that, sighing a bit before moving to sit on Dick's side of the counter, facing the kid. He doesn't seem to get what Dick means, assuming he means the manor.

"I know.. B is busy right now so.. you can stay with me until then, have a sleepover?"

He offers, not sure how to comfort him. Jason isn't sure how long this spell will last so he doesn't want to promise they'll see Bruce tomorrow or anything like that so this'll have to do.

"He's always busy."

Is all he says, mumbling and a bit muffled with his hand in his face. Dick just misses his Mama and Papa, they were so much nicer and loved having him around but Bruce always seems busy and annoyed.

He misses the circus, and misses all the people there and he misses Zitka. This is all so stupid. He's good at being Robin, he doesn't think he's good at much else anymore.

"I know.. I'm sorry. I'll have to make do for now, OK?"

He responds softly, slumping a bit so he can look at the child more head on, gently taking his hand and bringing it out of his mouth.

He was always jealous that Dick had his own team, that he actually had friends and just people there for him but right now he doesn't so Jason'll have to do.

"You're nicer."

Dick likes being hugged or hugging people but he never really gets to be like that anymore because his parents are dead. Bruce and Alfred are all meanie and don't like him to be so touchy.

He isn't quite sure why since he knows Dick does hug the others whenever so it's probably because of Jason. He doesn't think Dick has hugged him.. ever.

He rubs his back a bit until Dick moves away, letting go of the child and watching him a bit, laughing softly when he goes to do a handstand, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Wow.. Be careful."

Jason mumbles, clapping a bit. He knows Dick will probably be fine but he's just so small and young that he is a bit worried.

Dick scoffs, rolling his eyes and moving up into a forward walk over to get back up.

"I'm totally careful...I'm an acrobat."

"My Mama and Papa trained me. I was in the circus. We were really good.

"See?"

He says, gesturing a bit to prove his point.

"Of course."

"I can see that."

He wasn't exactly successful but Jason is still insanely flexible somehow. Still, nothing can beat Dick Grayson and definitely not when it comes to acrobatics.

"Yes. Just want you safe that's all."

Jason moves to boop him on the nose, smiling softly.

"Woah, you're super tall."

Dick says, resting his head against Jason's, his small hands in Jason's hair. He looks over the room from the high vantage point.

"I can see everything."

He's not sure if Jason's gonna make him go to school tomorrow but Dick hopes he doesn't, so he isn't gonna mention it.

"Do you hit your head on stuff?"

Dick asks, moving so he can lean his head over and look at Jason's face more. Bruce and Alfred always say eye contact is polite.

He shifts a bit when Dick finally sits on his shoulders, holding his legs a bit to make sure he's secure but allowing the kid to kick them back and forth.

"I have been told so."

"Yes, I do actually. Very annoying. Got a few bruises from it.

He says, blinking a bit when Dick looks down at him with his face upside down. When he came back his height started to rapidly grow, the pit correcting his malnourishment and everything.

"Bruce says being small has umm...tactical advances. Or something."

"It does. You are harder to spot, more flexible, lighter weight and everything for your tricks. Being big has advantages too though."

"It is. Don't worry about me."

"Must've been scary. Bet you were so brave though."

Jason mumbles softly, tilting his head up to look at Dick a little bit. He's only 8 or 9 right now. He shouldn't have had to deal with that.

"Mhm...Haly, the guy who owned the circus, he said I was easily portable."

Dick says, giggling a bit and continuing to fiddle with Jason's hair still. He likes the white hairs a lot because of cool they look with the black hair.

"Yeah, it was...but Alfie says I did good and stuff, even though Bruce was all mad at me. I didn't even get him hit or anything he told me to stay back and I did. He makes no sense."

Dick frowns, leaning his chin on Jason's head a bit as he thinks.

"He doesn't even apologize, My Mama always says that's mean. Or she...um. She used to."

Dick mumbles the last bit, grumbling a little. He continues to fiddle with Jason's hair, as well as just poking him a little for no discernible reason.

"That too."

He says with a smile, sighing a bit. The drumming is honestly a bit annoying but he can easily just ignore it anyways. Jason does like him playing with his bangs though.

"Well.. You don't listen to him. You're both alright so you did good."

He pauses momentarily at the mention of Dick's parents before smiling softly, chuckling when Dick starts to poke him. He definitely has a lot of energy.

"Yeah, your Mom's right. B is just a big meanie."

Dick hums, stopping the poking just to lean the side of his face against Jason's head and hug him a little, with his arms a bit around his neck, though not in any restricting manner.

"B and Alfie are hard friends to have...Zitka was nicer."

"My Mama and Papa were a lot nicer. But they're gone now...s'my fault"

"Well, that's a no brainer."

"It's not your fault."

"I saw him doing something suspicious before the show, I should have said something...I could have- I could have helped."

"They died though, they fell, I didn't do anything and they died."

Dick says quietly, leaning his head against Jason's arm.

"You weren't the one who did it. It's not your fault."

Dick hugs Jason, bringing himself closer when he's picked up, snuggling close to the man. It shows how much he's just been wanting someone to hold him with how much he's clinging to Jason.

"I wish Zucco was dead. I know B says that's bad, but I don't care. He's the worst. I want to punch his face in again."

Dick says, but there are tears in his eyes while he's speaking, glaring daggers at Jason's chest like it'll kill the man for him.

"I don't care if it's bad at all. I don't care what he says. I don't care."

"I don't care."

He says in that shaky tone, biting harshly down on his lip.

Jason hugs the boy back tightly, not too tight to hurt but enough to be a constant pressure. It's the least and probably the only thing he can really do to help in his situation.

"I want them dead too."

Is all Jason offers, all he can offer, really. He doesn't want to lie because in all honesty he'd probably do it. Whether them is Zucco or.. anyone else is something he's not sure about.

Dick sniffles, tears running down his cheeks as he tries to make them stop, wiping at his face a little vigorously, like he's trying to scrub the emotion out of himself.

"Does that make you bad? To...to think bad stuff like that? Bruce always says it...it makes you as worse as them."

"I don't wanna be bad."

Jason pauses at that, sighing and fishing out a tissue from his pockets, sliding it into Dick's hand and continuing to run his hands through his hair.

The others are so young, too young to be doing any of this let alone having to raise a gun or sword to someone and kill them. They can't do that and they shouldn't have to again.

So Jason will. He knows he should probably be dead like all the people he has killed, even more so. He would probably go to hell if he could die this time. But he can't. So he'll continue on.

"You aren't. You're a good person, Dickie. Don't let Bruce or anyone else tell you you aren't."

He mumbles. He wishes he could tell Dick this later, he doesn't even know if Dick will remember it. They aren't close enough for that. This is all he can do.

"Y'know.. as a kid we used to tell scary stories about the Batman around a lighter. I don' know if it's more disappointing or reassuring that he's just some rich guy in a furry costume."

Jason mumbles, rubbing the others back. He doesn't know why he's talking about this, just wanting to have something to talk about to take the other's mind off things.

Dick blinks a bit when Jason speaks, having forgotten really that the man was even there, stuck in his own head. Dick wipes at his eyes. He huffs a small laugh.

"I didn't really know about Batman...until he showed up when my parents died, and kept catching me when I escaped the Juvie place to go kill Zucco."

Dick explains a little. He starts fidgeting a little with Jason's shirt, not making eye contact with the man.

Jason moves his hand to run through Dick's hair instead when he stops crying, a bit relieved at that at least. He seemed to have cried himself out and is pretty tired but he doesn't move or anything.

"You figured it out? Pretty smart, huh?"

Dick hums, giggling softly and rubbing at his face. He grabs at his cape a little to wear it as a make shift blanket.

Dick admits the last part with a weak voice, almost like he's embarrassed by the fact he wants attention in the first place, nonetheless Bruces. He sniffles and hugs Jason a bit tighter.

"It worked, so I'm super smart."

He yawns a little as he says that.

"You designed it all by yourself? Even the cape?"

He asks, making his voice a bit more excited than it would usually be, picking Dick up a bit to be higher and more in his arms. It seems he finally got most of that energy out.

"Of course. And I bet those brain cells need some rest, no?"

Jason tilts his head a bit, ruffling Dick's hair.

"Uhuh! I mean...B made changes like I couldn't make the cape sparkly like I wanted to, but most of it is what I drew. It's like my Mama and Papa's costumes..."

He explains, spreading his cape out a little in emphasis. Dick giggles when he's picked up a bit more, ducking his head and sticking his tongue out a bit when Jason ruffles his hair.

"M'not tired, it's lies."

"While sparkles are very cool I don't think they'd be really good for stealth."

Jason says with a small snort, deciding to just ignore the last part about his parents and not comment on it. He's happy that Dick seems much happier and distracted than before.

"Uh huh.."

"Well.. I'm pretty tired and I have enough room in my bed for someone as little as you."

Jason says, booping Dick's nose at the end. Hopefully the problem is just being alone otherwise Jason will just get Dick to sit next to him in bed and hopefully that'll work.

"Thats what B says...I don't get any of this stuff."

Dick says with a shrug. Dick giggles when his nose gets poked, ducking his head into Jason's neck and hugging the man. He grumbles a bit, thinking for a moment about Jason's words.

"Hm...I can stay and make sure you're okay."

Dick states, deciding that protecting Jason would be good reasoning for staying with him, even though he's tired himself and would like to sleep. He doesn't admit that though, stubbornly.

"I don't have pajamas..."

"Well, sparkles are really shiny and pretty so people can see you easier and if you're sneaking around as Robin the bad guys might spot you which isn't good."

Jason explains, attempting to speak in a type of language Dick can understand. He hugs Dick back, of course, smiling softly. He is really cute at this age though Jason thinks most kids cute.

"Really? Thank you."

"Hm.. you can borrow one of my hoodies though it'll probably swallow you up."

Jason hums, laughing softly at the last part. His hoodies are oversized on Dick when he's normal so he can't imagine how it would be for him while being a small child.

"Yeah...'cause sleeping makes you um...vulnerable to attacks. So I gotta protect you."

Dick giggles at the comments, shaking his head and rubbing his fingers against Jason's jacket a little. He doesn't make eye contact, but he doesn't seem uncomfortable or anything.

"I'm not that small, you're just um...a giant. Like those Jack and the beanstalk stories."

"A giant? Not the first time. Well, regardless lets get you something, hm? I have a spare tooth brush you can use."

"Nice?"

He asks, crouching down in front of Dick and offering him the hoodie to touch.

"It's furry! Like...like soft blankets!"

Dick says, hugging the hoodie to himself a bit and holding it to his face. He sniffs it a little and looks it over fully.

"I don't know if I can live up to a pajama sleepover but we'll share a bed."

"I bet you are.."

Jason smiles softly at the reaction, finding it cute and taking off the cape and belt, folding them both up and putting them on the side.

"I'm glad you like 'em. Do you need help putting it on?"

"I did that with Mama and Papa."

"Pat pat."

He says, yawning and moving to grab his legs and tuck them beneath the hoodie as well as he watches Jason curiously.

"Are you gonna put on pajamas too?"

He asks, head tilted a little as he asks, looking at Jason's gear and jacket and all. Dick wonders why he doesn't have a cape or anything like usual superheroes, he looks kinda weird.

"Oh, then I definitely can't compete."

"Yep. First, how about we brush first, kay?"

He reassures, picking Dick up again and walking out of the bedroom to the bathroom, kneeling down to get the spare toothbrushes out of the cabinets.

"I only have the minty toothpaste, sorry."

Jason sighs a bit, handing Dick the toothbrush and placing him on the sink since Jason lacks a stool or anything in this safehouse.

Dick just giggles a bit more when Jason rolls up his sleeves, smiling as he's picked up again and leaning into the touch. He kicks his feet a little on the counter when Jason sets him down.

"Bleh."

"M'done. Clean."

Is all he says, yawning a little and rubbing at his eyes. Dick's tired now and just wants to be held and get to sleep against someone else for the night. He misses the feeling.

He scoops the child up from under his arms before placing him on Jason's hip, considering for a second before pressing his lips to the other's hair for a second.

"I can see that, good job."

He praises, making sure the bathroom and everything is clean before turning off the light and exiting the room, entering the bedroom.

"I'm just gonna leave the room to change then we'll sleep. You stay right here for me."

Jason says, placing Dick down on the head and adjusting the pillows for him, pulling the blanket over to him to snuggle up.

He goes to the cupboard to take out a hoodie and some sweatpants, leaving the room like he said and closing the door.

"You waited for me? Thank you."

He mumbles softly, putting everything in the cupboard before finally turning the light off and hoping in the bed, adjusting the blanket a bit to make sure it covers the smaller child.

"Want me to keep the lamp on?"

Jason asks as he moves to wrap his arms around Dick and get comfortable himself.

"M'brave and strong. I don't need lights."

...

"Of course."

...

Jason only sits up when Dick gets up and has his back turned against him, stretching his neck and arms a bit.

"Oh, great. You're.. you."

He mumbles, his voice a bit rough from sleep before tucking some of his bangs behind his ear that were in his face. He doesn't look surprised or anything, just squinting a bit and scanning the other.

Dick pauses when Jason speaks and sits up, looking back at him briefly. His expression is a little tense but he stretches his arms and smiles a bit at him. It's not entirely convincing.

"I'd hope so..."

"I don't exactly remember how I got here...some context would be appreciated."

Jason gives Dick an unimpressed look when he smiles at him, not saying anything but just communicating that 'I know you're full of bullshit right now' that Jason seems to always have with the man.

"I'm gonna make breakfast. You can do.. whatever."

He usually tries to annoy the man the most but since Dick came back from his whole fake death mission thing he's just been ignoring him as much as he can or glares at him so it is an improvement.

"Oh how fun, thanks asshole."

"Do you have cereal in this shithole?"

Dick asks once he's drawn the blinds of the last window in the room and checked the surroundings of the room about three times. He's smiling and raising an eyebrow at Jason.

".. No. I've had enough cereal for a lifetime though I suppose you don't have the same.. limit."

Jason looks at the man like he just asked him to murder someone for him though then again Jason would probably be more pleased with that request.

Cereal is cheap and lasts a long time so he used to have it a lot as a kid and not the good kind. Now he doesn't need to do that kinda stuff so why would he buy it?

"Eh, usually the only thing I eat. It's cheap in bulk, plus I'm a sugar fan I guess."

"I'm not a chef or anything. I work for a fast food place right now, my experience starts and ends with flipping burger patties."

Dick says with an eye roll and a small laugh.

"I'm very aware of that. I'm not sure how 'Richie Wayne' keeps his abs on that diet."

"Batburger? Hm, better than a cop."

Jason says in disbelief almost before humming and continuing to cook. He'll definitely have to see that, maybe pay Dick a visit at his job.

Dick slaps his hand away, glaring at him a little though the threats not too serious. Dick could defend himself more if he wanted to. He rolls his eyes, leaning back and watching Jason closely.

"Mostly eat protein based things if I'm not eating cereal if that helps. I've definitely lost a bit of mass since uh...my little escapade out of the country."

"I was trying to fit into my prom dress."

"I'd rather kill myself with the spatula I use to flip burgers than be a cop again, if that helps."

Dick says with an eye roll.

"What.. does prom have to do with that?"

"Uh. Yeah."

He hums, snorting a bit before putting the egg on the pan and taking out a spatula.

His hallucinations have been worse too, of course that and the paranoia, but that's not too out of the norm, maybe he's just overtired, or it's the stress.

Dick says, his voice is a bit rough from the coughing fit but he seems to be just ignoring it, clearing his throat a little.

"Maybe that's because you should gain back that weight."

"Don't give me ideas now.. though I think the Gotham water supply has gone through enough. You think Steph might have some glitter in red?"

"Yeah well, easier said than done"

"How fun, adding even more microplastics in the water."

Jason glances over when Dick comes closer, taking out a plate and serving the omelette, pushing it into the man's hands.

"Well, gotta start somewhere. Shoo."

He hums, waving Dick away a bit as he goes to make another one for himself.

Dick laughs a little, taking the plate and looking it over a bit before moving to sit.

"Thanks..."

A few times he flinches, looking back at what he thinks was the silhouette of something, but theres nothing there. He sighs, just staring at his food.

FUCK WAIT I DIDNT TURN ON ANON

ok now dick gets turned into robin again DEFINITELY not sent by the previous asker

(// OPEN RP STARTER!! (anyone is free to reply regardless of if we've interacted b4) Dick gets magic de-aged to hmm abt 8-9 years old?? Freshly Robin Dickiiee)

Dick is patrolling around Gotham for once, visiting the city to see Damian and the others when the spell hits him harshly.

"WOAH-"

"Hello..?"

The boy says. He glances around curiously, obviously confused about the situation with a small pout on his face.

He grumbles a bit, moving to try get away before the other spots him but before he can properly escape he hears a yelp from the man in question. Great.

Well, that's weird. Last he checked Damian wasn't nearby and anyways his uniform doesn't look like that. He puts his guns into the holsters before peeking again to see.. a child?

More accurately a child definitely not in the double digits yet with that tanned skin and the shitty Robin uniform that tormented him without any pants. He officially hates de-aging magic.

Jason moves to put his guns in his pockets since he doesn't think the trained toddler will like seeing someone with guns approaching him before walking over.

"Hey.. Robin?"

Dick yelps, going into a defensive position immediately and glaring up at the man.

"What is it? Wh- what happened? What did you do? Where's Batman?!"

He asks, his voice is much more high pitched than Dick's but also slightly accented on some syllables. He's pouting a little, holding his fists up like he's ready for a fight.

Jason snorts a bit under the helmet with translates to a crackle through the helmet at the reaction. He doesn't see Dick like this a lot, unguarded and not playing his stupid act.

He isn't quite sure if the others notice but everything about how Dick acts is fake in a way, a performance. He doesn't see Dick a lot in general though so what does he know.

"I didn't do anything. I don't know where Batman is either but I'm.. a friend of his, see?"

"But Batman doesn't have any other friends besides me!"

"He- He'd tell me if he had any friends. You're just a big um...you don't say the truth! You're saying nonsense!"

He frowns deeply, staring up at the man with a stubborn expression. The man's really tall, Dick barely reaches his waist, but he doesn't care. He can beat up big guys, he's Robin. Obviously.

Jason presses his lips together, resisting the urge to start laughing honestly because it's kinda cute.

"Well, I'm more of an ally.. like a business partner. You're his friend, he told me all about you."

He corrects which is more accurate to whatever the fuck Jason and Bruce have going on. He knows Bruce doesn't see him as his son anymore despite.. whatever, doesn't matter.

"Business– Ally.. thing."

"Well, I'm his bestfriend and partner, I'm the boy wonder! ...are you involved in those big cases Batman says I can't do yet because I'm not smart enough?"

"If you've got a bunch of bad guys you need me to um...take out and punch I can help! I can save people! But um..."

He looks around.

"We should find Batman. I'm not allowed to be on my own unless Batman says so."

Jason smiles softly at that. At the very least this version of Dick is very endearing and cute. He moves a bit closer, crouching a bit and resting his hands on his knees

"I'm sure you're really smart I'm just some.. outside help for Batman."

"Of course but.. since Batman isn't here we she probably go to my safehouse. He wont like the both of us patrolling in Gotham alone."

Jason says, trying to keep his voice soft though he can't help but roll his eyes and grumble at the end.

"Okay...Mr. Helmet Guy. I'm super smart!"

"M'kay. Robin will watch you and protect you! Have no fear the Boy Wonder is here!"

"Um...Whats a safehouse?"

"Thank you then, Robin.

"It's like... a house that's really safe because it's got a bunch of weapons and vigilante stuff. You'll see."

He explains, raising an eyebrow under the helmet before gesturing for Dick to follow him.

Dick runs up to him, grabbing at his cape so it covers his shoulders a bit more as he follows the man. Dick hums a little in response.

"Okay...why do you wear a helmet? Do you ride bikes? Batman never wears a helmet when he ride bikes, he says his cowl counts but that's not true I don't think. He says wrong things a lot."

Dick starts kicking a rock around a little as they walk, but gets distracted by the action, before remembering he's supposed to be following the helmet man as he runs back up to him.

Jason laughs softly at the questions, pretending to think a bit before answering. Good to know Dick insulting Bruce started very early.

"I do ride bikes. I also wear a helmet to cover my whole head and protect it."

"Is it because of shooting guns? My cape is all helmet like, it can't be shot at with guns, B says that's important. I got shot last month right here!"

"That was 'cause I forgot to use the cape. B got so mad and stuffs, but I didn't even cry!"

Dick complains a bit with a small pout, still holding onto the mans hand.

"Yep, that too. They're really loud."

"Oh, wow. Bet you were so brave. The cape is bullet proof?"

"They are, my ears start ringing all over and it hurts bad."

Dick says, putting his hands over his ears in emphasis. The domino he has on doesn't have any lenses but he does squint his eyes a little in confusion when the man stops to look at it.

"I gotta battle scar. Means I'm um...cool, like Batman. He's got a bunch of scars all over his places."

Dick says, tapping the scar a bit. He's a bit surprised when he's picked up but just smiles and kicks his feet a little. He giggles a bit.

"Yeah it's super cool! B says it's to protect me because I'm a walking target. I don't know what that means because he taught me not to just walk around anyways..."

Dick says, making a face and leaning his head against the man's shoulder.

"Um, Mr. Helmet man, do you think Batman's okay?"

Dick asks after a while, his voice a bit quieter while he stares down at his hands. He's started playing with one of the zippers on the mans jacket.

Jason hums, walking much quicker now since he doesn't have to slow down so Dick can keep up.

"I bet he does."

People without the medical care of a billionaire or even some disinfectant and stitches don't survive those kinda scars. Now.. most of his scars are because of himself.

"It looks really comfy too, I like your suit."

"Of course. He's just busy. Hey, you wanna learn a secret?"

He comforts, trying to quickly change the topic afterwards.

Dick hums, watching their surroundings a bit as he takes his head from the mans shoulder. He moves to look down at his suit at that. He giggles.

He starts chewing on one of his fingers a little, a bad habit that Alfred always yells at him for doing. He pauses at that, tilting his head.

"Okay. Yes! I can keep secrets! I can do it really good!! I had to lie to those CPS people who kept coming over like B told me, because they couldn't know I was Robin. I can keep secrets."

He says with a grin, curious and excited what the man is gonna tell him.

"Oh really? Well, I think it's awesome too so don't listen to him."

"It's about.. my secret identity. You gotta make sure you tell no one."

"B's just a big dummy idiot anyways. It's why his head looks like a bowling ball."

Dick looks up at the building they're walking to curiously. It looks normal, but he's not really sure. The man seems super nice though, even though his red helmet makes him look like an angry tomato.

He perks up at that, curious about the identity of the man, and he didn't even get a name either so he just kept calling him Mr. Helmet Man anyways.

"Okay! I won't tell at all, I'm super super good at identity secrets. I won't tell anyone, not even Zitka!"

He says making the motion to lock his lips and throw away the key.

He places Dick on one of the kitchen stools, closing the door and huffing a bit.

"OK, then.."

He rarely takes the helmet let alone the domino off most of the time, especially in front of Dick and Bruce and part of him still has that fear with the younger version of his brother.

"Surprise."

Jason mumbles, going to get some adhesive remover and walking over to the sink, turning on the faucet.

Dick looks around the place curiously, just excited to be somewhere new. After his entire life was on the road constantly with the Circus things felt...off, being trapped in the manor constantly.

Dick tilts his head a bit as the man takes off his helmet. He opens his mouth a little in surprise before clapping a bit.

"You look so cool! It's like um...those really awesome looking people on TV! You're striped like a Zebra! Sort of anyways, your hair is all funky town."

"Why's it a secret that your hairs is all cool like that? Is it the scars? Those are cool too! Like battle scars!"

Dick says, leaning forwards across the counter and tapping his hands against the countertop.

"Thank you, I think? I don't know if I count as a Zebra with only one stripe."

He tilts his head a bit, not sure if Dick is just insulting him in some creative way.

"Well, the scars and hair make it very easy for people to find out my identity so I have to hide it. You wanna take your domino off?"

Another reason was just wanting to hide his face for the whole reveal and all.. He finds it stupid to keep majority of your face minus the mask revealed if you don't want your identity to come out.

"Hm...maybe like those little bear rat things that eat garbage?"

Dick suggests, he can't remember the English word for them. He sits up on his knees a little to look at the man a bit more.

"Your eyes are all funky town too."

Dick says, pointing as his own eyes in emphasis. He hums a bit at the explanation, moving to prop his head on his hand. He supposes that makes sense, since the man looks so unique and all.

"Oh...well I can keep that a secret I guess. I can't call you Mr. Helmet Man anymore though because you're without a helmet. You're bald."

"B would get big mad. He says our identities matter the biggest because it could kill people and stuff. I don't wanna kill people, it'd make me a bad guy."

He mumbles a bit, voice muffled.

"Raccoons? I've been told so before."

"Funky town? Funky?"

Jason asks, tilting his head. Dick said it before and he isn't quite sure what it means. He laughs softly at that too, tucking his bangs behind his ear.

"I'm pretty sure I have hair. My name is Jason."

He rolls his eyes a bit, smiling softly.

"I already know who you are, Dick. I'm an ally of Bruce. I told you that, right?"

"Yes, those! It's pretty though. Raccoons are sweethearts, I held one once and B freaked out."

Dick says with a small giggle. Bruce had said he was going to get rabies or something so Dick tried to hand him the raccoon, and B acted like he was about to stab him.

"Um...yeah like...fun and cool, is that not the words? I just watched a lot of American TV to know how to say a lot of things right. But my Papa tutored me on basics."

"Well because your heads bare without the helmet so...bald. Nothing on your head."

Dick explains, touching his own head a bit as he does. He pauses at that explanation, eyes widening.

"...Did...Did B tell you? I didn't mess up or anything...I didn't say anything wrong-"

"They are pretty cute. They can be a bit aggressive sometimes."

"Just funky. Your english is good, though."

Jason sighs softly, ruffling Dick's hair. He wasn't expecting that reaction specifically and it makes him.. sad in a way, that he assumed he did something wrong.

"No, Bruce told me. You did perfectly fine, Dickie."

Jason comforts, leaning a bit close to Dick's level, hoping that comforts him a bit more so he doesn't feel upset.

Dick pauses, blinking and a bit confused at the touch, but definitely happy about it. He misses getting hugged and held and getting his hair all ruffled and played with, like with Mama and Papa.

"M'kay...thank you, Jason."

"I wanna go home."

Jason smiles softly at the other, not sure what else to do. He hums, chuckling softly at the dramatic sound and taking the wipes before throwing them in the bin.

"No problem, Dickie."

Jason frowns at that, sighing a bit before moving to sit on Dick's side of the counter, facing the kid. He doesn't seem to get what Dick means, assuming he means the manor.

"I know.. B is busy right now so.. you can stay with me until then, have a sleepover?"

He offers, not sure how to comfort him. Jason isn't sure how long this spell will last so he doesn't want to promise they'll see Bruce tomorrow or anything like that so this'll have to do.

"He's always busy."

Is all he says, mumbling and a bit muffled with his hand in his face. Dick just misses his Mama and Papa, they were so much nicer and loved having him around but Bruce always seems busy and annoyed.

He misses the circus, and misses all the people there and he misses Zitka. This is all so stupid. He's good at being Robin, he doesn't think he's good at much else anymore.

"I know.. I'm sorry. I'll have to make do for now, OK?"

He responds softly, slumping a bit so he can look at the child more head on, gently taking his hand and bringing it out of his mouth.

He was always jealous that Dick had his own team, that he actually had friends and just people there for him but right now he doesn't so Jason'll have to do.

"You're nicer."

Dick likes being hugged or hugging people but he never really gets to be like that anymore because his parents are dead. Bruce and Alfred are all meanie and don't like him to be so touchy.

He isn't quite sure why since he knows Dick does hug the others whenever so it's probably because of Jason. He doesn't think Dick has hugged him.. ever.

He rubs his back a bit until Dick moves away, letting go of the child and watching him a bit, laughing softly when he goes to do a handstand, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Wow.. Be careful."

Jason mumbles, clapping a bit. He knows Dick will probably be fine but he's just so small and young that he is a bit worried.

Dick scoffs, rolling his eyes and moving up into a forward walk over to get back up.

"I'm totally careful...I'm an acrobat."

"My Mama and Papa trained me. I was in the circus. We were really good.

"See?"

He says, gesturing a bit to prove his point.

"Of course."

"I can see that."

He wasn't exactly successful but Jason is still insanely flexible somehow. Still, nothing can beat Dick Grayson and definitely not when it comes to acrobatics.

"Yes. Just want you safe that's all."

Jason moves to boop him on the nose, smiling softly.

"Woah, you're super tall."

Dick says, resting his head against Jason's, his small hands in Jason's hair. He looks over the room from the high vantage point.

"I can see everything."

He's not sure if Jason's gonna make him go to school tomorrow but Dick hopes he doesn't, so he isn't gonna mention it.

"Do you hit your head on stuff?"

Dick asks, moving so he can lean his head over and look at Jason's face more. Bruce and Alfred always say eye contact is polite.

He shifts a bit when Dick finally sits on his shoulders, holding his legs a bit to make sure he's secure but allowing the kid to kick them back and forth.

"I have been told so."

"Yes, I do actually. Very annoying. Got a few bruises from it.

He says, blinking a bit when Dick looks down at him with his face upside down. When he came back his height started to rapidly grow, the pit correcting his malnourishment and everything.

"Bruce says being small has umm...tactical advances. Or something."

"It does. You are harder to spot, more flexible, lighter weight and everything for your tricks. Being big has advantages too though."

"It is. Don't worry about me."

"Must've been scary. Bet you were so brave though."

Jason mumbles softly, tilting his head up to look at Dick a little bit. He's only 8 or 9 right now. He shouldn't have had to deal with that.

"Mhm...Haly, the guy who owned the circus, he said I was easily portable."

Dick says, giggling a bit and continuing to fiddle with Jason's hair still. He likes the white hairs a lot because of cool they look with the black hair.

"Yeah, it was...but Alfie says I did good and stuff, even though Bruce was all mad at me. I didn't even get him hit or anything he told me to stay back and I did. He makes no sense."

Dick frowns, leaning his chin on Jason's head a bit as he thinks.

"He doesn't even apologize, My Mama always says that's mean. Or she...um. She used to."

Dick mumbles the last bit, grumbling a little. He continues to fiddle with Jason's hair, as well as just poking him a little for no discernible reason.

"That too."

He says with a smile, sighing a bit. The drumming is honestly a bit annoying but he can easily just ignore it anyways. Jason does like him playing with his bangs though.

"Well.. You don't listen to him. You're both alright so you did good."

He pauses momentarily at the mention of Dick's parents before smiling softly, chuckling when Dick starts to poke him. He definitely has a lot of energy.

"Yeah, your Mom's right. B is just a big meanie."

Dick hums, stopping the poking just to lean the side of his face against Jason's head and hug him a little, with his arms a bit around his neck, though not in any restricting manner.

"B and Alfie are hard friends to have...Zitka was nicer."

"My Mama and Papa were a lot nicer. But they're gone now...s'my fault"

"Well, that's a no brainer."

"It's not your fault."

"I saw him doing something suspicious before the show, I should have said something...I could have- I could have helped."

"They died though, they fell, I didn't do anything and they died."

Dick says quietly, leaning his head against Jason's arm.

"You weren't the one who did it. It's not your fault."

Dick hugs Jason, bringing himself closer when he's picked up, snuggling close to the man. It shows how much he's just been wanting someone to hold him with how much he's clinging to Jason.

"I wish Zucco was dead. I know B says that's bad, but I don't care. He's the worst. I want to punch his face in again."

Dick says, but there are tears in his eyes while he's speaking, glaring daggers at Jason's chest like it'll kill the man for him.

"I don't care if it's bad at all. I don't care what he says. I don't care."

"I don't care."

He says in that shaky tone, biting harshly down on his lip.

Jason hugs the boy back tightly, not too tight to hurt but enough to be a constant pressure. It's the least and probably the only thing he can really do to help in his situation.

"I want them dead too."

Is all Jason offers, all he can offer, really. He doesn't want to lie because in all honesty he'd probably do it. Whether them is Zucco or.. anyone else is something he's not sure about.

Dick sniffles, tears running down his cheeks as he tries to make them stop, wiping at his face a little vigorously, like he's trying to scrub the emotion out of himself.

"Does that make you bad? To...to think bad stuff like that? Bruce always says it...it makes you as worse as them."

"I don't wanna be bad."

Jason pauses at that, sighing and fishing out a tissue from his pockets, sliding it into Dick's hand and continuing to run his hands through his hair.

The others are so young, too young to be doing any of this let alone having to raise a gun or sword to someone and kill them. They can't do that and they shouldn't have to again.

So Jason will. He knows he should probably be dead like all the people he has killed, even more so. He would probably go to hell if he could die this time. But he can't. So he'll continue on.

"You aren't. You're a good person, Dickie. Don't let Bruce or anyone else tell you you aren't."

He mumbles. He wishes he could tell Dick this later, he doesn't even know if Dick will remember it. They aren't close enough for that. This is all he can do.

"Y'know.. as a kid we used to tell scary stories about the Batman around a lighter. I don' know if it's more disappointing or reassuring that he's just some rich guy in a furry costume."

Jason mumbles, rubbing the others back. He doesn't know why he's talking about this, just wanting to have something to talk about to take the other's mind off things.

Dick blinks a bit when Jason speaks, having forgotten really that the man was even there, stuck in his own head. Dick wipes at his eyes. He huffs a small laugh.

"I didn't really know about Batman...until he showed up when my parents died, and kept catching me when I escaped the Juvie place to go kill Zucco."

Dick explains a little. He starts fidgeting a little with Jason's shirt, not making eye contact with the man.

Jason moves his hand to run through Dick's hair instead when he stops crying, a bit relieved at that at least. He seemed to have cried himself out and is pretty tired but he doesn't move or anything.

"You figured it out? Pretty smart, huh?"

Dick hums, giggling softly and rubbing at his face. He grabs at his cape a little to wear it as a make shift blanket.

Dick admits the last part with a weak voice, almost like he's embarrassed by the fact he wants attention in the first place, nonetheless Bruces. He sniffles and hugs Jason a bit tighter.

"It worked, so I'm super smart."

He yawns a little as he says that.

"You designed it all by yourself? Even the cape?"

He asks, making his voice a bit more excited than it would usually be, picking Dick up a bit to be higher and more in his arms. It seems he finally got most of that energy out.

"Of course. And I bet those brain cells need some rest, no?"

Jason tilts his head a bit, ruffling Dick's hair.

"Uhuh! I mean...B made changes like I couldn't make the cape sparkly like I wanted to, but most of it is what I drew. It's like my Mama and Papa's costumes..."

He explains, spreading his cape out a little in emphasis. Dick giggles when he's picked up a bit more, ducking his head and sticking his tongue out a bit when Jason ruffles his hair.

"M'not tired, it's lies."

"While sparkles are very cool I don't think they'd be really good for stealth."

Jason says with a small snort, deciding to just ignore the last part about his parents and not comment on it. He's happy that Dick seems much happier and distracted than before.

"Uh huh.."

"Well.. I'm pretty tired and I have enough room in my bed for someone as little as you."

Jason says, booping Dick's nose at the end. Hopefully the problem is just being alone otherwise Jason will just get Dick to sit next to him in bed and hopefully that'll work.

"Thats what B says...I don't get any of this stuff."

Dick says with a shrug. Dick giggles when his nose gets poked, ducking his head into Jason's neck and hugging the man. He grumbles a bit, thinking for a moment about Jason's words.

"Hm...I can stay and make sure you're okay."

Dick states, deciding that protecting Jason would be good reasoning for staying with him, even though he's tired himself and would like to sleep. He doesn't admit that though, stubbornly.

"I don't have pajamas..."

"Well, sparkles are really shiny and pretty so people can see you easier and if you're sneaking around as Robin the bad guys might spot you which isn't good."

Jason explains, attempting to speak in a type of language Dick can understand. He hugs Dick back, of course, smiling softly. He is really cute at this age though Jason thinks most kids cute.

"Really? Thank you."

"Hm.. you can borrow one of my hoodies though it'll probably swallow you up."

Jason hums, laughing softly at the last part. His hoodies are oversized on Dick when he's normal so he can't imagine how it would be for him while being a small child.

"Yeah...'cause sleeping makes you um...vulnerable to attacks. So I gotta protect you."

Dick giggles at the comments, shaking his head and rubbing his fingers against Jason's jacket a little. He doesn't make eye contact, but he doesn't seem uncomfortable or anything.

"I'm not that small, you're just um...a giant. Like those Jack and the beanstalk stories."

"A giant? Not the first time. Well, regardless lets get you something, hm? I have a spare tooth brush you can use."

"Nice?"

He asks, crouching down in front of Dick and offering him the hoodie to touch.

"It's furry! Like...like soft blankets!"

Dick says, hugging the hoodie to himself a bit and holding it to his face. He sniffs it a little and looks it over fully.

"I don't know if I can live up to a pajama sleepover but we'll share a bed."

"I bet you are.."

Jason smiles softly at the reaction, finding it cute and taking off the cape and belt, folding them both up and putting them on the side.

"I'm glad you like 'em. Do you need help putting it on?"

"I did that with Mama and Papa."

"Pat pat."

He says, yawning and moving to grab his legs and tuck them beneath the hoodie as well as he watches Jason curiously.

"Are you gonna put on pajamas too?"

He asks, head tilted a little as he asks, looking at Jason's gear and jacket and all. Dick wonders why he doesn't have a cape or anything like usual superheroes, he looks kinda weird.

"Oh, then I definitely can't compete."

"Yep. First, how about we brush first, kay?"

He reassures, picking Dick up again and walking out of the bedroom to the bathroom, kneeling down to get the spare toothbrushes out of the cabinets.

"I only have the minty toothpaste, sorry."

Jason sighs a bit, handing Dick the toothbrush and placing him on the sink since Jason lacks a stool or anything in this safehouse.

Dick just giggles a bit more when Jason rolls up his sleeves, smiling as he's picked up again and leaning into the touch. He kicks his feet a little on the counter when Jason sets him down.

"Bleh."

"M'done. Clean."

Is all he says, yawning a little and rubbing at his eyes. Dick's tired now and just wants to be held and get to sleep against someone else for the night. He misses the feeling.

He scoops the child up from under his arms before placing him on Jason's hip, considering for a second before pressing his lips to the other's hair for a second.

"I can see that, good job."

He praises, making sure the bathroom and everything is clean before turning off the light and exiting the room, entering the bedroom.

"I'm just gonna leave the room to change then we'll sleep. You stay right here for me."

Jason says, placing Dick down on the head and adjusting the pillows for him, pulling the blanket over to him to snuggle up.

He goes to the cupboard to take out a hoodie and some sweatpants, leaving the room like he said and closing the door.

"You waited for me? Thank you."

He mumbles softly, putting everything in the cupboard before finally turning the light off and hoping in the bed, adjusting the blanket a bit to make sure it covers the smaller child.

"Want me to keep the lamp on?"

Jason asks as he moves to wrap his arms around Dick and get comfortable himself.

"M'brave and strong. I don't need lights."

...

"Of course."

...

Jason only sits up when Dick gets up and has his back turned against him, stretching his neck and arms a bit.

"Oh, great. You're.. you."

He mumbles, his voice a bit rough from sleep before tucking some of his bangs behind his ear that were in his face. He doesn't look surprised or anything, just squinting a bit and scanning the other.

Dick pauses when Jason speaks and sits up, looking back at him briefly. His expression is a little tense but he stretches his arms and smiles a bit at him. It's not entirely convincing.

"I'd hope so..."

"I don't exactly remember how I got here...some context would be appreciated."

Jason gives Dick an unimpressed look when he smiles at him, not saying anything but just communicating that 'I know you're full of bullshit right now' that Jason seems to always have with the man.

"I'm gonna make breakfast. You can do.. whatever."

He usually tries to annoy the man the most but since Dick came back from his whole fake death mission thing he's just been ignoring him as much as he can or glares at him so it is an improvement.

"Oh how fun, thanks asshole."

"Do you have cereal in this shithole?"

Dick asks once he's drawn the blinds of the last window in the room and checked the surroundings of the room about three times. He's smiling and raising an eyebrow at Jason.

".. No. I've had enough cereal for a lifetime though I suppose you don't have the same.. limit."

Jason looks at the man like he just asked him to murder someone for him though then again Jason would probably be more pleased with that request.

Cereal is cheap and lasts a long time so he used to have it a lot as a kid and not the good kind. Now he doesn't need to do that kinda stuff so why would he buy it?

"Eh, usually the only thing I eat. It's cheap in bulk, plus I'm a sugar fan I guess."

"I'm not a chef or anything. I work for a fast food place right now, my experience starts and ends with flipping burger patties."

Dick says with an eye roll and a small laugh.

"I'm very aware of that. I'm not sure how 'Richie Wayne' keeps his abs on that diet."

"Batburger? Hm, better than a cop."

Jason says in disbelief almost before humming and continuing to cook. He'll definitely have to see that, maybe pay Dick a visit at his job.

Dick slaps his hand away, glaring at him a little though the threats not too serious. Dick could defend himself more if he wanted to. He rolls his eyes, leaning back and watching Jason closely.

"Mostly eat protein based things if I'm not eating cereal if that helps. I've definitely lost a bit of mass since uh...my little escapade out of the country."

"I was trying to fit into my prom dress."

"I'd rather kill myself with the spatula I use to flip burgers than be a cop again, if that helps."

Dick says with an eye roll.

"What.. does prom have to do with that?"

"Uh. Yeah."

He hums, snorting a bit before putting the egg on the pan and taking out a spatula.

His hallucinations have been worse too, of course that and the paranoia, but that's not too out of the norm, maybe he's just overtired, or it's the stress.

Dick says, his voice is a bit rough from the coughing fit but he seems to be just ignoring it, clearing his throat a little.

"Maybe that's because you should gain back that weight."

"Don't give me ideas now.. though I think the Gotham water supply has gone through enough. You think Steph might have some glitter in red?"

"Yeah well, easier said than done"

"How fun, adding even more microplastics in the water."

FUCK WAIT I DIDNT TURN ON ANON

ok now dick gets turned into robin again DEFINITELY not sent by the previous asker

(// OPEN RP STARTER!! (anyone is free to reply regardless of if we've interacted b4) Dick gets magic de-aged to hmm abt 8-9 years old?? Freshly Robin Dickiiee)

Dick is patrolling around Gotham for once, visiting the city to see Damian and the others when the spell hits him harshly.

"WOAH-"

"Hello..?"

The boy says. He glances around curiously, obviously confused about the situation with a small pout on his face.

He grumbles a bit, moving to try get away before the other spots him but before he can properly escape he hears a yelp from the man in question. Great.

Well, that's weird. Last he checked Damian wasn't nearby and anyways his uniform doesn't look like that. He puts his guns into the holsters before peeking again to see.. a child?

More accurately a child definitely not in the double digits yet with that tanned skin and the shitty Robin uniform that tormented him without any pants. He officially hates de-aging magic.

Jason moves to put his guns in his pockets since he doesn't think the trained toddler will like seeing someone with guns approaching him before walking over.

"Hey.. Robin?"

Dick yelps, going into a defensive position immediately and glaring up at the man.

"What is it? Wh- what happened? What did you do? Where's Batman?!"

He asks, his voice is much more high pitched than Dick's but also slightly accented on some syllables. He's pouting a little, holding his fists up like he's ready for a fight.

Jason snorts a bit under the helmet with translates to a crackle through the helmet at the reaction. He doesn't see Dick like this a lot, unguarded and not playing his stupid act.

He isn't quite sure if the others notice but everything about how Dick acts is fake in a way, a performance. He doesn't see Dick a lot in general though so what does he know.

"I didn't do anything. I don't know where Batman is either but I'm.. a friend of his, see?"

"But Batman doesn't have any other friends besides me!"

"He- He'd tell me if he had any friends. You're just a big um...you don't say the truth! You're saying nonsense!"

He frowns deeply, staring up at the man with a stubborn expression. The man's really tall, Dick barely reaches his waist, but he doesn't care. He can beat up big guys, he's Robin. Obviously.

Jason presses his lips together, resisting the urge to start laughing honestly because it's kinda cute.

"Well, I'm more of an ally.. like a business partner. You're his friend, he told me all about you."

He corrects which is more accurate to whatever the fuck Jason and Bruce have going on. He knows Bruce doesn't see him as his son anymore despite.. whatever, doesn't matter.

"Business– Ally.. thing."

"Well, I'm his bestfriend and partner, I'm the boy wonder! ...are you involved in those big cases Batman says I can't do yet because I'm not smart enough?"

"If you've got a bunch of bad guys you need me to um...take out and punch I can help! I can save people! But um..."

He looks around.

"We should find Batman. I'm not allowed to be on my own unless Batman says so."

Jason smiles softly at that. At the very least this version of Dick is very endearing and cute. He moves a bit closer, crouching a bit and resting his hands on his knees

"I'm sure you're really smart I'm just some.. outside help for Batman."

"Of course but.. since Batman isn't here we she probably go to my safehouse. He wont like the both of us patrolling in Gotham alone."

Jason says, trying to keep his voice soft though he can't help but roll his eyes and grumble at the end.

"Okay...Mr. Helmet Guy. I'm super smart!"

"M'kay. Robin will watch you and protect you! Have no fear the Boy Wonder is here!"

"Um...Whats a safehouse?"

"Thank you then, Robin.

"It's like... a house that's really safe because it's got a bunch of weapons and vigilante stuff. You'll see."

He explains, raising an eyebrow under the helmet before gesturing for Dick to follow him.

Dick runs up to him, grabbing at his cape so it covers his shoulders a bit more as he follows the man. Dick hums a little in response.

"Okay...why do you wear a helmet? Do you ride bikes? Batman never wears a helmet when he ride bikes, he says his cowl counts but that's not true I don't think. He says wrong things a lot."

Dick starts kicking a rock around a little as they walk, but gets distracted by the action, before remembering he's supposed to be following the helmet man as he runs back up to him.

Jason laughs softly at the questions, pretending to think a bit before answering. Good to know Dick insulting Bruce started very early.

"I do ride bikes. I also wear a helmet to cover my whole head and protect it."

"Is it because of shooting guns? My cape is all helmet like, it can't be shot at with guns, B says that's important. I got shot last month right here!"

"That was 'cause I forgot to use the cape. B got so mad and stuffs, but I didn't even cry!"

Dick complains a bit with a small pout, still holding onto the mans hand.

"Yep, that too. They're really loud."

"Oh, wow. Bet you were so brave. The cape is bullet proof?"

"They are, my ears start ringing all over and it hurts bad."

Dick says, putting his hands over his ears in emphasis. The domino he has on doesn't have any lenses but he does squint his eyes a little in confusion when the man stops to look at it.

"I gotta battle scar. Means I'm um...cool, like Batman. He's got a bunch of scars all over his places."

Dick says, tapping the scar a bit. He's a bit surprised when he's picked up but just smiles and kicks his feet a little. He giggles a bit.

"Yeah it's super cool! B says it's to protect me because I'm a walking target. I don't know what that means because he taught me not to just walk around anyways..."

Dick says, making a face and leaning his head against the man's shoulder.

"Um, Mr. Helmet man, do you think Batman's okay?"

Dick asks after a while, his voice a bit quieter while he stares down at his hands. He's started playing with one of the zippers on the mans jacket.

Jason hums, walking much quicker now since he doesn't have to slow down so Dick can keep up.

"I bet he does."

People without the medical care of a billionaire or even some disinfectant and stitches don't survive those kinda scars. Now.. most of his scars are because of himself.

"It looks really comfy too, I like your suit."

"Of course. He's just busy. Hey, you wanna learn a secret?"

He comforts, trying to quickly change the topic afterwards.

Dick hums, watching their surroundings a bit as he takes his head from the mans shoulder. He moves to look down at his suit at that. He giggles.

He starts chewing on one of his fingers a little, a bad habit that Alfred always yells at him for doing. He pauses at that, tilting his head.

"Okay. Yes! I can keep secrets! I can do it really good!! I had to lie to those CPS people who kept coming over like B told me, because they couldn't know I was Robin. I can keep secrets."

He says with a grin, curious and excited what the man is gonna tell him.

"Oh really? Well, I think it's awesome too so don't listen to him."

"It's about.. my secret identity. You gotta make sure you tell no one."

"B's just a big dummy idiot anyways. It's why his head looks like a bowling ball."

Dick looks up at the building they're walking to curiously. It looks normal, but he's not really sure. The man seems super nice though, even though his red helmet makes him look like an angry tomato.

He perks up at that, curious about the identity of the man, and he didn't even get a name either so he just kept calling him Mr. Helmet Man anyways.

"Okay! I won't tell at all, I'm super super good at identity secrets. I won't tell anyone, not even Zitka!"

He says making the motion to lock his lips and throw away the key.

He places Dick on one of the kitchen stools, closing the door and huffing a bit.

"OK, then.."

He rarely takes the helmet let alone the domino off most of the time, especially in front of Dick and Bruce and part of him still has that fear with the younger version of his brother.

"Surprise."

Jason mumbles, going to get some adhesive remover and walking over to the sink, turning on the faucet.

Dick looks around the place curiously, just excited to be somewhere new. After his entire life was on the road constantly with the Circus things felt...off, being trapped in the manor constantly.

Dick tilts his head a bit as the man takes off his helmet. He opens his mouth a little in surprise before clapping a bit.

"You look so cool! It's like um...those really awesome looking people on TV! You're striped like a Zebra! Sort of anyways, your hair is all funky town."

"Why's it a secret that your hairs is all cool like that? Is it the scars? Those are cool too! Like battle scars!"

Dick says, leaning forwards across the counter and tapping his hands against the countertop.

"Thank you, I think? I don't know if I count as a Zebra with only one stripe."

He tilts his head a bit, not sure if Dick is just insulting him in some creative way.

"Well, the scars and hair make it very easy for people to find out my identity so I have to hide it. You wanna take your domino off?"

Another reason was just wanting to hide his face for the whole reveal and all.. He finds it stupid to keep majority of your face minus the mask revealed if you don't want your identity to come out.

"Hm...maybe like those little bear rat things that eat garbage?"

Dick suggests, he can't remember the English word for them. He sits up on his knees a little to look at the man a bit more.

"Your eyes are all funky town too."

Dick says, pointing as his own eyes in emphasis. He hums a bit at the explanation, moving to prop his head on his hand. He supposes that makes sense, since the man looks so unique and all.

"Oh...well I can keep that a secret I guess. I can't call you Mr. Helmet Man anymore though because you're without a helmet. You're bald."

"B would get big mad. He says our identities matter the biggest because it could kill people and stuff. I don't wanna kill people, it'd make me a bad guy."

He mumbles a bit, voice muffled.

"Raccoons? I've been told so before."

"Funky town? Funky?"

Jason asks, tilting his head. Dick said it before and he isn't quite sure what it means. He laughs softly at that too, tucking his bangs behind his ear.

"I'm pretty sure I have hair. My name is Jason."

He rolls his eyes a bit, smiling softly.

"I already know who you are, Dick. I'm an ally of Bruce. I told you that, right?"

"Yes, those! It's pretty though. Raccoons are sweethearts, I held one once and B freaked out."

Dick says with a small giggle. Bruce had said he was going to get rabies or something so Dick tried to hand him the raccoon, and B acted like he was about to stab him.

"Um...yeah like...fun and cool, is that not the words? I just watched a lot of American TV to know how to say a lot of things right. But my Papa tutored me on basics."

"Well because your heads bare without the helmet so...bald. Nothing on your head."

Dick explains, touching his own head a bit as he does. He pauses at that explanation, eyes widening.

"...Did...Did B tell you? I didn't mess up or anything...I didn't say anything wrong-"

"They are pretty cute. They can be a bit aggressive sometimes."

"Just funky. Your english is good, though."

Jason sighs softly, ruffling Dick's hair. He wasn't expecting that reaction specifically and it makes him.. sad in a way, that he assumed he did something wrong.

"No, Bruce told me. You did perfectly fine, Dickie."

Jason comforts, leaning a bit close to Dick's level, hoping that comforts him a bit more so he doesn't feel upset.

Dick pauses, blinking and a bit confused at the touch, but definitely happy about it. He misses getting hugged and held and getting his hair all ruffled and played with, like with Mama and Papa.

"M'kay...thank you, Jason."

"I wanna go home."

Jason smiles softly at the other, not sure what else to do. He hums, chuckling softly at the dramatic sound and taking the wipes before throwing them in the bin.

"No problem, Dickie."

Jason frowns at that, sighing a bit before moving to sit on Dick's side of the counter, facing the kid. He doesn't seem to get what Dick means, assuming he means the manor.

"I know.. B is busy right now so.. you can stay with me until then, have a sleepover?"

He offers, not sure how to comfort him. Jason isn't sure how long this spell will last so he doesn't want to promise they'll see Bruce tomorrow or anything like that so this'll have to do.

"He's always busy."

Is all he says, mumbling and a bit muffled with his hand in his face. Dick just misses his Mama and Papa, they were so much nicer and loved having him around but Bruce always seems busy and annoyed.

He misses the circus, and misses all the people there and he misses Zitka. This is all so stupid. He's good at being Robin, he doesn't think he's good at much else anymore.

"I know.. I'm sorry. I'll have to make do for now, OK?"

He responds softly, slumping a bit so he can look at the child more head on, gently taking his hand and bringing it out of his mouth.

He was always jealous that Dick had his own team, that he actually had friends and just people there for him but right now he doesn't so Jason'll have to do.

"You're nicer."

Dick likes being hugged or hugging people but he never really gets to be like that anymore because his parents are dead. Bruce and Alfred are all meanie and don't like him to be so touchy.

He isn't quite sure why since he knows Dick does hug the others whenever so it's probably because of Jason. He doesn't think Dick has hugged him.. ever.

He rubs his back a bit until Dick moves away, letting go of the child and watching him a bit, laughing softly when he goes to do a handstand, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Wow.. Be careful."

Jason mumbles, clapping a bit. He knows Dick will probably be fine but he's just so small and young that he is a bit worried.

Dick scoffs, rolling his eyes and moving up into a forward walk over to get back up.

"I'm totally careful...I'm an acrobat."

"My Mama and Papa trained me. I was in the circus. We were really good.

"See?"

He says, gesturing a bit to prove his point.

"Of course."

"I can see that."

He wasn't exactly successful but Jason is still insanely flexible somehow. Still, nothing can beat Dick Grayson and definitely not when it comes to acrobatics.

"Yes. Just want you safe that's all."

Jason moves to boop him on the nose, smiling softly.

"Woah, you're super tall."

Dick says, resting his head against Jason's, his small hands in Jason's hair. He looks over the room from the high vantage point.

"I can see everything."

He's not sure if Jason's gonna make him go to school tomorrow but Dick hopes he doesn't, so he isn't gonna mention it.

"Do you hit your head on stuff?"

Dick asks, moving so he can lean his head over and look at Jason's face more. Bruce and Alfred always say eye contact is polite.

He shifts a bit when Dick finally sits on his shoulders, holding his legs a bit to make sure he's secure but allowing the kid to kick them back and forth.

"I have been told so."

"Yes, I do actually. Very annoying. Got a few bruises from it.

He says, blinking a bit when Dick looks down at him with his face upside down. When he came back his height started to rapidly grow, the pit correcting his malnourishment and everything.

"Bruce says being small has umm...tactical advances. Or something."

"It does. You are harder to spot, more flexible, lighter weight and everything for your tricks. Being big has advantages too though."

"It is. Don't worry about me."

"Must've been scary. Bet you were so brave though."

Jason mumbles softly, tilting his head up to look at Dick a little bit. He's only 8 or 9 right now. He shouldn't have had to deal with that.

"Mhm...Haly, the guy who owned the circus, he said I was easily portable."

Dick says, giggling a bit and continuing to fiddle with Jason's hair still. He likes the white hairs a lot because of cool they look with the black hair.

"Yeah, it was...but Alfie says I did good and stuff, even though Bruce was all mad at me. I didn't even get him hit or anything he told me to stay back and I did. He makes no sense."

Dick frowns, leaning his chin on Jason's head a bit as he thinks.

"He doesn't even apologize, My Mama always says that's mean. Or she...um. She used to."

Dick mumbles the last bit, grumbling a little. He continues to fiddle with Jason's hair, as well as just poking him a little for no discernible reason.

"That too."

He says with a smile, sighing a bit. The drumming is honestly a bit annoying but he can easily just ignore it anyways. Jason does like him playing with his bangs though.

"Well.. You don't listen to him. You're both alright so you did good."

He pauses momentarily at the mention of Dick's parents before smiling softly, chuckling when Dick starts to poke him. He definitely has a lot of energy.

"Yeah, your Mom's right. B is just a big meanie."

Dick hums, stopping the poking just to lean the side of his face against Jason's head and hug him a little, with his arms a bit around his neck, though not in any restricting manner.

"B and Alfie are hard friends to have...Zitka was nicer."

"My Mama and Papa were a lot nicer. But they're gone now...s'my fault"

"Well, that's a no brainer."

"It's not your fault."

"I saw him doing something suspicious before the show, I should have said something...I could have- I could have helped."

"They died though, they fell, I didn't do anything and they died."

Dick says quietly, leaning his head against Jason's arm.

"You weren't the one who did it. It's not your fault."

Dick hugs Jason, bringing himself closer when he's picked up, snuggling close to the man. It shows how much he's just been wanting someone to hold him with how much he's clinging to Jason.

"I wish Zucco was dead. I know B says that's bad, but I don't care. He's the worst. I want to punch his face in again."

Dick says, but there are tears in his eyes while he's speaking, glaring daggers at Jason's chest like it'll kill the man for him.

"I don't care if it's bad at all. I don't care what he says. I don't care."

"I don't care."

He says in that shaky tone, biting harshly down on his lip.

Jason hugs the boy back tightly, not too tight to hurt but enough to be a constant pressure. It's the least and probably the only thing he can really do to help in his situation.

"I want them dead too."

Is all Jason offers, all he can offer, really. He doesn't want to lie because in all honesty he'd probably do it. Whether them is Zucco or.. anyone else is something he's not sure about.

Dick sniffles, tears running down his cheeks as he tries to make them stop, wiping at his face a little vigorously, like he's trying to scrub the emotion out of himself.

"Does that make you bad? To...to think bad stuff like that? Bruce always says it...it makes you as worse as them."

"I don't wanna be bad."

Jason pauses at that, sighing and fishing out a tissue from his pockets, sliding it into Dick's hand and continuing to run his hands through his hair.

The others are so young, too young to be doing any of this let alone having to raise a gun or sword to someone and kill them. They can't do that and they shouldn't have to again.

So Jason will. He knows he should probably be dead like all the people he has killed, even more so. He would probably go to hell if he could die this time. But he can't. So he'll continue on.

"You aren't. You're a good person, Dickie. Don't let Bruce or anyone else tell you you aren't."

He mumbles. He wishes he could tell Dick this later, he doesn't even know if Dick will remember it. They aren't close enough for that. This is all he can do.

"Y'know.. as a kid we used to tell scary stories about the Batman around a lighter. I don' know if it's more disappointing or reassuring that he's just some rich guy in a furry costume."

Jason mumbles, rubbing the others back. He doesn't know why he's talking about this, just wanting to have something to talk about to take the other's mind off things.

Dick blinks a bit when Jason speaks, having forgotten really that the man was even there, stuck in his own head. Dick wipes at his eyes. He huffs a small laugh.

"I didn't really know about Batman...until he showed up when my parents died, and kept catching me when I escaped the Juvie place to go kill Zucco."

Dick explains a little. He starts fidgeting a little with Jason's shirt, not making eye contact with the man.

Jason moves his hand to run through Dick's hair instead when he stops crying, a bit relieved at that at least. He seemed to have cried himself out and is pretty tired but he doesn't move or anything.

"You figured it out? Pretty smart, huh?"

Dick hums, giggling softly and rubbing at his face. He grabs at his cape a little to wear it as a make shift blanket.

Dick admits the last part with a weak voice, almost like he's embarrassed by the fact he wants attention in the first place, nonetheless Bruces. He sniffles and hugs Jason a bit tighter.

"It worked, so I'm super smart."

He yawns a little as he says that.

"You designed it all by yourself? Even the cape?"

He asks, making his voice a bit more excited than it would usually be, picking Dick up a bit to be higher and more in his arms. It seems he finally got most of that energy out.

"Of course. And I bet those brain cells need some rest, no?"

Jason tilts his head a bit, ruffling Dick's hair.

"Uhuh! I mean...B made changes like I couldn't make the cape sparkly like I wanted to, but most of it is what I drew. It's like my Mama and Papa's costumes..."

He explains, spreading his cape out a little in emphasis. Dick giggles when he's picked up a bit more, ducking his head and sticking his tongue out a bit when Jason ruffles his hair.

"M'not tired, it's lies."

"While sparkles are very cool I don't think they'd be really good for stealth."

Jason says with a small snort, deciding to just ignore the last part about his parents and not comment on it. He's happy that Dick seems much happier and distracted than before.

"Uh huh.."

"Well.. I'm pretty tired and I have enough room in my bed for someone as little as you."

Jason says, booping Dick's nose at the end. Hopefully the problem is just being alone otherwise Jason will just get Dick to sit next to him in bed and hopefully that'll work.

"Thats what B says...I don't get any of this stuff."

Dick says with a shrug. Dick giggles when his nose gets poked, ducking his head into Jason's neck and hugging the man. He grumbles a bit, thinking for a moment about Jason's words.

"Hm...I can stay and make sure you're okay."

Dick states, deciding that protecting Jason would be good reasoning for staying with him, even though he's tired himself and would like to sleep. He doesn't admit that though, stubbornly.

"I don't have pajamas..."

"Well, sparkles are really shiny and pretty so people can see you easier and if you're sneaking around as Robin the bad guys might spot you which isn't good."

Jason explains, attempting to speak in a type of language Dick can understand. He hugs Dick back, of course, smiling softly. He is really cute at this age though Jason thinks most kids cute.

"Really? Thank you."

"Hm.. you can borrow one of my hoodies though it'll probably swallow you up."

Jason hums, laughing softly at the last part. His hoodies are oversized on Dick when he's normal so he can't imagine how it would be for him while being a small child.

"Yeah...'cause sleeping makes you um...vulnerable to attacks. So I gotta protect you."

Dick giggles at the comments, shaking his head and rubbing his fingers against Jason's jacket a little. He doesn't make eye contact, but he doesn't seem uncomfortable or anything.

"I'm not that small, you're just um...a giant. Like those Jack and the beanstalk stories."

"A giant? Not the first time. Well, regardless lets get you something, hm? I have a spare tooth brush you can use."

"Nice?"

He asks, crouching down in front of Dick and offering him the hoodie to touch.

"It's furry! Like...like soft blankets!"

Dick says, hugging the hoodie to himself a bit and holding it to his face. He sniffs it a little and looks it over fully.

"I don't know if I can live up to a pajama sleepover but we'll share a bed."

"I bet you are.."

Jason smiles softly at the reaction, finding it cute and taking off the cape and belt, folding them both up and putting them on the side.

"I'm glad you like 'em. Do you need help putting it on?"

"I did that with Mama and Papa."

"Pat pat."

He says, yawning and moving to grab his legs and tuck them beneath the hoodie as well as he watches Jason curiously.

"Are you gonna put on pajamas too?"

He asks, head tilted a little as he asks, looking at Jason's gear and jacket and all. Dick wonders why he doesn't have a cape or anything like usual superheroes, he looks kinda weird.

"Oh, then I definitely can't compete."

"Yep. First, how about we brush first, kay?"

He reassures, picking Dick up again and walking out of the bedroom to the bathroom, kneeling down to get the spare toothbrushes out of the cabinets.

"I only have the minty toothpaste, sorry."

Jason sighs a bit, handing Dick the toothbrush and placing him on the sink since Jason lacks a stool or anything in this safehouse.

Dick just giggles a bit more when Jason rolls up his sleeves, smiling as he's picked up again and leaning into the touch. He kicks his feet a little on the counter when Jason sets him down.

"Bleh."

"M'done. Clean."

Is all he says, yawning a little and rubbing at his eyes. Dick's tired now and just wants to be held and get to sleep against someone else for the night. He misses the feeling.

He scoops the child up from under his arms before placing him on Jason's hip, considering for a second before pressing his lips to the other's hair for a second.

"I can see that, good job."

He praises, making sure the bathroom and everything is clean before turning off the light and exiting the room, entering the bedroom.

"I'm just gonna leave the room to change then we'll sleep. You stay right here for me."

Jason says, placing Dick down on the head and adjusting the pillows for him, pulling the blanket over to him to snuggle up.

He goes to the cupboard to take out a hoodie and some sweatpants, leaving the room like he said and closing the door.

"You waited for me? Thank you."

He mumbles softly, putting everything in the cupboard before finally turning the light off and hoping in the bed, adjusting the blanket a bit to make sure it covers the smaller child.

"Want me to keep the lamp on?"

Jason asks as he moves to wrap his arms around Dick and get comfortable himself.

"M'brave and strong. I don't need lights."

...

"Of course."

...

Jason only sits up when Dick gets up and has his back turned against him, stretching his neck and arms a bit.

"Oh, great. You're.. you."

He mumbles, his voice a bit rough from sleep before tucking some of his bangs behind his ear that were in his face. He doesn't look surprised or anything, just squinting a bit and scanning the other.

Dick pauses when Jason speaks and sits up, looking back at him briefly. His expression is a little tense but he stretches his arms and smiles a bit at him. It's not entirely convincing.

"I'd hope so..."

"I don't exactly remember how I got here...some context would be appreciated."

Jason gives Dick an unimpressed look when he smiles at him, not saying anything but just communicating that 'I know you're full of bullshit right now' that Jason seems to always have with the man.

"I'm gonna make breakfast. You can do.. whatever."

He usually tries to annoy the man the most but since Dick came back from his whole fake death mission thing he's just been ignoring him as much as he can or glares at him so it is an improvement.

"Oh how fun, thanks asshole."

"Do you have cereal in this shithole?"

Dick asks once he's drawn the blinds of the last window in the room and checked the surroundings of the room about three times. He's smiling and raising an eyebrow at Jason.

".. No. I've had enough cereal for a lifetime though I suppose you don't have the same.. limit."

Jason looks at the man like he just asked him to murder someone for him though then again Jason would probably be more pleased with that request.

Cereal is cheap and lasts a long time so he used to have it a lot as a kid and not the good kind. Now he doesn't need to do that kinda stuff so why would he buy it?

"Eh, usually the only thing I eat. It's cheap in bulk, plus I'm a sugar fan I guess."

"I'm not a chef or anything. I work for a fast food place right now, my experience starts and ends with flipping burger patties."

Dick says with an eye roll and a small laugh.

"I'm very aware of that. I'm not sure how 'Richie Wayne' keeps his abs on that diet."

"Batburger? Hm, better than a cop."

Jason says in disbelief almost before humming and continuing to cook. He'll definitely have to see that, maybe pay Dick a visit at his job.

Dick slaps his hand away, glaring at him a little though the threats not too serious. Dick could defend himself more if he wanted to. He rolls his eyes, leaning back and watching Jason closely.

"Mostly eat protein based things if I'm not eating cereal if that helps. I've definitely lost a bit of mass since uh...my little escapade out of the country."

"I was trying to fit into my prom dress."

"I'd rather kill myself with the spatula I use to flip burgers than be a cop again, if that helps."

Dick says with an eye roll.

"What.. does prom have to do with that?"

"Uh. Yeah."

He hums, snorting a bit before putting the egg on the pan and taking out a spatula.

His hallucinations have been worse too, of course that and the paranoia, but that's not too out of the norm, maybe he's just overtired, or it's the stress.

Dick says, his voice is a bit rough from the coughing fit but he seems to be just ignoring it, clearing his throat a little.

FUCK WAIT I DIDNT TURN ON ANON

ok now dick gets turned into robin again DEFINITELY not sent by the previous asker

(// OPEN RP STARTER!! (anyone is free to reply regardless of if we've interacted b4) Dick gets magic de-aged to hmm abt 8-9 years old?? Freshly Robin Dickiiee)

Dick is patrolling around Gotham for once, visiting the city to see Damian and the others when the spell hits him harshly.

"WOAH-"

"Hello..?"

The boy says. He glances around curiously, obviously confused about the situation with a small pout on his face.

He grumbles a bit, moving to try get away before the other spots him but before he can properly escape he hears a yelp from the man in question. Great.

Well, that's weird. Last he checked Damian wasn't nearby and anyways his uniform doesn't look like that. He puts his guns into the holsters before peeking again to see.. a child?

More accurately a child definitely not in the double digits yet with that tanned skin and the shitty Robin uniform that tormented him without any pants. He officially hates de-aging magic.

Jason moves to put his guns in his pockets since he doesn't think the trained toddler will like seeing someone with guns approaching him before walking over.

"Hey.. Robin?"

Dick yelps, going into a defensive position immediately and glaring up at the man.

"What is it? Wh- what happened? What did you do? Where's Batman?!"

He asks, his voice is much more high pitched than Dick's but also slightly accented on some syllables. He's pouting a little, holding his fists up like he's ready for a fight.

Jason snorts a bit under the helmet with translates to a crackle through the helmet at the reaction. He doesn't see Dick like this a lot, unguarded and not playing his stupid act.

He isn't quite sure if the others notice but everything about how Dick acts is fake in a way, a performance. He doesn't see Dick a lot in general though so what does he know.

"I didn't do anything. I don't know where Batman is either but I'm.. a friend of his, see?"

"But Batman doesn't have any other friends besides me!"

"He- He'd tell me if he had any friends. You're just a big um...you don't say the truth! You're saying nonsense!"

He frowns deeply, staring up at the man with a stubborn expression. The man's really tall, Dick barely reaches his waist, but he doesn't care. He can beat up big guys, he's Robin. Obviously.

Jason presses his lips together, resisting the urge to start laughing honestly because it's kinda cute.

"Well, I'm more of an ally.. like a business partner. You're his friend, he told me all about you."

He corrects which is more accurate to whatever the fuck Jason and Bruce have going on. He knows Bruce doesn't see him as his son anymore despite.. whatever, doesn't matter.

"Business– Ally.. thing."

"Well, I'm his bestfriend and partner, I'm the boy wonder! ...are you involved in those big cases Batman says I can't do yet because I'm not smart enough?"

"If you've got a bunch of bad guys you need me to um...take out and punch I can help! I can save people! But um..."

He looks around.

"We should find Batman. I'm not allowed to be on my own unless Batman says so."

Jason smiles softly at that. At the very least this version of Dick is very endearing and cute. He moves a bit closer, crouching a bit and resting his hands on his knees

"I'm sure you're really smart I'm just some.. outside help for Batman."

"Of course but.. since Batman isn't here we she probably go to my safehouse. He wont like the both of us patrolling in Gotham alone."

Jason says, trying to keep his voice soft though he can't help but roll his eyes and grumble at the end.

"Okay...Mr. Helmet Guy. I'm super smart!"

"M'kay. Robin will watch you and protect you! Have no fear the Boy Wonder is here!"

"Um...Whats a safehouse?"

"Thank you then, Robin.

"It's like... a house that's really safe because it's got a bunch of weapons and vigilante stuff. You'll see."

He explains, raising an eyebrow under the helmet before gesturing for Dick to follow him.

Dick runs up to him, grabbing at his cape so it covers his shoulders a bit more as he follows the man. Dick hums a little in response.

"Okay...why do you wear a helmet? Do you ride bikes? Batman never wears a helmet when he ride bikes, he says his cowl counts but that's not true I don't think. He says wrong things a lot."

Dick starts kicking a rock around a little as they walk, but gets distracted by the action, before remembering he's supposed to be following the helmet man as he runs back up to him.

Jason laughs softly at the questions, pretending to think a bit before answering. Good to know Dick insulting Bruce started very early.

"I do ride bikes. I also wear a helmet to cover my whole head and protect it."

"Is it because of shooting guns? My cape is all helmet like, it can't be shot at with guns, B says that's important. I got shot last month right here!"

"That was 'cause I forgot to use the cape. B got so mad and stuffs, but I didn't even cry!"

Dick complains a bit with a small pout, still holding onto the mans hand.

"Yep, that too. They're really loud."

"Oh, wow. Bet you were so brave. The cape is bullet proof?"

"They are, my ears start ringing all over and it hurts bad."

Dick says, putting his hands over his ears in emphasis. The domino he has on doesn't have any lenses but he does squint his eyes a little in confusion when the man stops to look at it.

"I gotta battle scar. Means I'm um...cool, like Batman. He's got a bunch of scars all over his places."

Dick says, tapping the scar a bit. He's a bit surprised when he's picked up but just smiles and kicks his feet a little. He giggles a bit.

"Yeah it's super cool! B says it's to protect me because I'm a walking target. I don't know what that means because he taught me not to just walk around anyways..."

Dick says, making a face and leaning his head against the man's shoulder.

"Um, Mr. Helmet man, do you think Batman's okay?"

Dick asks after a while, his voice a bit quieter while he stares down at his hands. He's started playing with one of the zippers on the mans jacket.

Jason hums, walking much quicker now since he doesn't have to slow down so Dick can keep up.

"I bet he does."

People without the medical care of a billionaire or even some disinfectant and stitches don't survive those kinda scars. Now.. most of his scars are because of himself.

"It looks really comfy too, I like your suit."

"Of course. He's just busy. Hey, you wanna learn a secret?"

He comforts, trying to quickly change the topic afterwards.

Dick hums, watching their surroundings a bit as he takes his head from the mans shoulder. He moves to look down at his suit at that. He giggles.

He starts chewing on one of his fingers a little, a bad habit that Alfred always yells at him for doing. He pauses at that, tilting his head.

"Okay. Yes! I can keep secrets! I can do it really good!! I had to lie to those CPS people who kept coming over like B told me, because they couldn't know I was Robin. I can keep secrets."

He says with a grin, curious and excited what the man is gonna tell him.

"Oh really? Well, I think it's awesome too so don't listen to him."

"It's about.. my secret identity. You gotta make sure you tell no one."

"B's just a big dummy idiot anyways. It's why his head looks like a bowling ball."

Dick looks up at the building they're walking to curiously. It looks normal, but he's not really sure. The man seems super nice though, even though his red helmet makes him look like an angry tomato.

He perks up at that, curious about the identity of the man, and he didn't even get a name either so he just kept calling him Mr. Helmet Man anyways.

"Okay! I won't tell at all, I'm super super good at identity secrets. I won't tell anyone, not even Zitka!"

He says making the motion to lock his lips and throw away the key.

He places Dick on one of the kitchen stools, closing the door and huffing a bit.

"OK, then.."

He rarely takes the helmet let alone the domino off most of the time, especially in front of Dick and Bruce and part of him still has that fear with the younger version of his brother.

"Surprise."

Jason mumbles, going to get some adhesive remover and walking over to the sink, turning on the faucet.

Dick looks around the place curiously, just excited to be somewhere new. After his entire life was on the road constantly with the Circus things felt...off, being trapped in the manor constantly.

Dick tilts his head a bit as the man takes off his helmet. He opens his mouth a little in surprise before clapping a bit.

"You look so cool! It's like um...those really awesome looking people on TV! You're striped like a Zebra! Sort of anyways, your hair is all funky town."

"Why's it a secret that your hairs is all cool like that? Is it the scars? Those are cool too! Like battle scars!"

Dick says, leaning forwards across the counter and tapping his hands against the countertop.

"Thank you, I think? I don't know if I count as a Zebra with only one stripe."

He tilts his head a bit, not sure if Dick is just insulting him in some creative way.

"Well, the scars and hair make it very easy for people to find out my identity so I have to hide it. You wanna take your domino off?"

Another reason was just wanting to hide his face for the whole reveal and all.. He finds it stupid to keep majority of your face minus the mask revealed if you don't want your identity to come out.

"Hm...maybe like those little bear rat things that eat garbage?"

Dick suggests, he can't remember the English word for them. He sits up on his knees a little to look at the man a bit more.

"Your eyes are all funky town too."

Dick says, pointing as his own eyes in emphasis. He hums a bit at the explanation, moving to prop his head on his hand. He supposes that makes sense, since the man looks so unique and all.

"Oh...well I can keep that a secret I guess. I can't call you Mr. Helmet Man anymore though because you're without a helmet. You're bald."

"B would get big mad. He says our identities matter the biggest because it could kill people and stuff. I don't wanna kill people, it'd make me a bad guy."

He mumbles a bit, voice muffled.

"Raccoons? I've been told so before."

"Funky town? Funky?"

Jason asks, tilting his head. Dick said it before and he isn't quite sure what it means. He laughs softly at that too, tucking his bangs behind his ear.

"I'm pretty sure I have hair. My name is Jason."

He rolls his eyes a bit, smiling softly.

"I already know who you are, Dick. I'm an ally of Bruce. I told you that, right?"

"Yes, those! It's pretty though. Raccoons are sweethearts, I held one once and B freaked out."

Dick says with a small giggle. Bruce had said he was going to get rabies or something so Dick tried to hand him the raccoon, and B acted like he was about to stab him.

"Um...yeah like...fun and cool, is that not the words? I just watched a lot of American TV to know how to say a lot of things right. But my Papa tutored me on basics."

"Well because your heads bare without the helmet so...bald. Nothing on your head."

Dick explains, touching his own head a bit as he does. He pauses at that explanation, eyes widening.

"...Did...Did B tell you? I didn't mess up or anything...I didn't say anything wrong-"

"They are pretty cute. They can be a bit aggressive sometimes."

"Just funky. Your english is good, though."

Jason sighs softly, ruffling Dick's hair. He wasn't expecting that reaction specifically and it makes him.. sad in a way, that he assumed he did something wrong.

"No, Bruce told me. You did perfectly fine, Dickie."

Jason comforts, leaning a bit close to Dick's level, hoping that comforts him a bit more so he doesn't feel upset.

Dick pauses, blinking and a bit confused at the touch, but definitely happy about it. He misses getting hugged and held and getting his hair all ruffled and played with, like with Mama and Papa.

"M'kay...thank you, Jason."

"I wanna go home."

Jason smiles softly at the other, not sure what else to do. He hums, chuckling softly at the dramatic sound and taking the wipes before throwing them in the bin.

"No problem, Dickie."

Jason frowns at that, sighing a bit before moving to sit on Dick's side of the counter, facing the kid. He doesn't seem to get what Dick means, assuming he means the manor.

"I know.. B is busy right now so.. you can stay with me until then, have a sleepover?"

He offers, not sure how to comfort him. Jason isn't sure how long this spell will last so he doesn't want to promise they'll see Bruce tomorrow or anything like that so this'll have to do.

"He's always busy."

Is all he says, mumbling and a bit muffled with his hand in his face. Dick just misses his Mama and Papa, they were so much nicer and loved having him around but Bruce always seems busy and annoyed.

He misses the circus, and misses all the people there and he misses Zitka. This is all so stupid. He's good at being Robin, he doesn't think he's good at much else anymore.

"I know.. I'm sorry. I'll have to make do for now, OK?"

He responds softly, slumping a bit so he can look at the child more head on, gently taking his hand and bringing it out of his mouth.

He was always jealous that Dick had his own team, that he actually had friends and just people there for him but right now he doesn't so Jason'll have to do.

"You're nicer."

Dick likes being hugged or hugging people but he never really gets to be like that anymore because his parents are dead. Bruce and Alfred are all meanie and don't like him to be so touchy.

He isn't quite sure why since he knows Dick does hug the others whenever so it's probably because of Jason. He doesn't think Dick has hugged him.. ever.

He rubs his back a bit until Dick moves away, letting go of the child and watching him a bit, laughing softly when he goes to do a handstand, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Wow.. Be careful."

Jason mumbles, clapping a bit. He knows Dick will probably be fine but he's just so small and young that he is a bit worried.

Dick scoffs, rolling his eyes and moving up into a forward walk over to get back up.

"I'm totally careful...I'm an acrobat."

"My Mama and Papa trained me. I was in the circus. We were really good.

"See?"

He says, gesturing a bit to prove his point.

"Of course."

"I can see that."

He wasn't exactly successful but Jason is still insanely flexible somehow. Still, nothing can beat Dick Grayson and definitely not when it comes to acrobatics.

"Yes. Just want you safe that's all."

Jason moves to boop him on the nose, smiling softly.

"Woah, you're super tall."

Dick says, resting his head against Jason's, his small hands in Jason's hair. He looks over the room from the high vantage point.

"I can see everything."

He's not sure if Jason's gonna make him go to school tomorrow but Dick hopes he doesn't, so he isn't gonna mention it.

"Do you hit your head on stuff?"

Dick asks, moving so he can lean his head over and look at Jason's face more. Bruce and Alfred always say eye contact is polite.

He shifts a bit when Dick finally sits on his shoulders, holding his legs a bit to make sure he's secure but allowing the kid to kick them back and forth.

"I have been told so."

"Yes, I do actually. Very annoying. Got a few bruises from it.

He says, blinking a bit when Dick looks down at him with his face upside down. When he came back his height started to rapidly grow, the pit correcting his malnourishment and everything.

"Bruce says being small has umm...tactical advances. Or something."

"It does. You are harder to spot, more flexible, lighter weight and everything for your tricks. Being big has advantages too though."

"It is. Don't worry about me."

"Must've been scary. Bet you were so brave though."

Jason mumbles softly, tilting his head up to look at Dick a little bit. He's only 8 or 9 right now. He shouldn't have had to deal with that.

"Mhm...Haly, the guy who owned the circus, he said I was easily portable."

Dick says, giggling a bit and continuing to fiddle with Jason's hair still. He likes the white hairs a lot because of cool they look with the black hair.

"Yeah, it was...but Alfie says I did good and stuff, even though Bruce was all mad at me. I didn't even get him hit or anything he told me to stay back and I did. He makes no sense."

Dick frowns, leaning his chin on Jason's head a bit as he thinks.

"He doesn't even apologize, My Mama always says that's mean. Or she...um. She used to."

Dick mumbles the last bit, grumbling a little. He continues to fiddle with Jason's hair, as well as just poking him a little for no discernible reason.

"That too."

He says with a smile, sighing a bit. The drumming is honestly a bit annoying but he can easily just ignore it anyways. Jason does like him playing with his bangs though.

"Well.. You don't listen to him. You're both alright so you did good."

He pauses momentarily at the mention of Dick's parents before smiling softly, chuckling when Dick starts to poke him. He definitely has a lot of energy.

"Yeah, your Mom's right. B is just a big meanie."

Dick hums, stopping the poking just to lean the side of his face against Jason's head and hug him a little, with his arms a bit around his neck, though not in any restricting manner.

"B and Alfie are hard friends to have...Zitka was nicer."

"My Mama and Papa were a lot nicer. But they're gone now...s'my fault"

"Well, that's a no brainer."

"It's not your fault."

"I saw him doing something suspicious before the show, I should have said something...I could have- I could have helped."

"They died though, they fell, I didn't do anything and they died."

Dick says quietly, leaning his head against Jason's arm.

"You weren't the one who did it. It's not your fault."

Dick hugs Jason, bringing himself closer when he's picked up, snuggling close to the man. It shows how much he's just been wanting someone to hold him with how much he's clinging to Jason.

"I wish Zucco was dead. I know B says that's bad, but I don't care. He's the worst. I want to punch his face in again."

Dick says, but there are tears in his eyes while he's speaking, glaring daggers at Jason's chest like it'll kill the man for him.

"I don't care if it's bad at all. I don't care what he says. I don't care."

"I don't care."

He says in that shaky tone, biting harshly down on his lip.

Jason hugs the boy back tightly, not too tight to hurt but enough to be a constant pressure. It's the least and probably the only thing he can really do to help in his situation.

"I want them dead too."

Is all Jason offers, all he can offer, really. He doesn't want to lie because in all honesty he'd probably do it. Whether them is Zucco or.. anyone else is something he's not sure about.

Dick sniffles, tears running down his cheeks as he tries to make them stop, wiping at his face a little vigorously, like he's trying to scrub the emotion out of himself.

"Does that make you bad? To...to think bad stuff like that? Bruce always says it...it makes you as worse as them."

"I don't wanna be bad."

Jason pauses at that, sighing and fishing out a tissue from his pockets, sliding it into Dick's hand and continuing to run his hands through his hair.

The others are so young, too young to be doing any of this let alone having to raise a gun or sword to someone and kill them. They can't do that and they shouldn't have to again.

So Jason will. He knows he should probably be dead like all the people he has killed, even more so. He would probably go to hell if he could die this time. But he can't. So he'll continue on.

"You aren't. You're a good person, Dickie. Don't let Bruce or anyone else tell you you aren't."

He mumbles. He wishes he could tell Dick this later, he doesn't even know if Dick will remember it. They aren't close enough for that. This is all he can do.

"Y'know.. as a kid we used to tell scary stories about the Batman around a lighter. I don' know if it's more disappointing or reassuring that he's just some rich guy in a furry costume."

Jason mumbles, rubbing the others back. He doesn't know why he's talking about this, just wanting to have something to talk about to take the other's mind off things.

Dick blinks a bit when Jason speaks, having forgotten really that the man was even there, stuck in his own head. Dick wipes at his eyes. He huffs a small laugh.

"I didn't really know about Batman...until he showed up when my parents died, and kept catching me when I escaped the Juvie place to go kill Zucco."

Dick explains a little. He starts fidgeting a little with Jason's shirt, not making eye contact with the man.

Jason moves his hand to run through Dick's hair instead when he stops crying, a bit relieved at that at least. He seemed to have cried himself out and is pretty tired but he doesn't move or anything.

"You figured it out? Pretty smart, huh?"

Dick hums, giggling softly and rubbing at his face. He grabs at his cape a little to wear it as a make shift blanket.

Dick admits the last part with a weak voice, almost like he's embarrassed by the fact he wants attention in the first place, nonetheless Bruces. He sniffles and hugs Jason a bit tighter.

"It worked, so I'm super smart."

He yawns a little as he says that.

"You designed it all by yourself? Even the cape?"

He asks, making his voice a bit more excited than it would usually be, picking Dick up a bit to be higher and more in his arms. It seems he finally got most of that energy out.

"Of course. And I bet those brain cells need some rest, no?"

Jason tilts his head a bit, ruffling Dick's hair.

"Uhuh! I mean...B made changes like I couldn't make the cape sparkly like I wanted to, but most of it is what I drew. It's like my Mama and Papa's costumes..."

He explains, spreading his cape out a little in emphasis. Dick giggles when he's picked up a bit more, ducking his head and sticking his tongue out a bit when Jason ruffles his hair.

"M'not tired, it's lies."

"While sparkles are very cool I don't think they'd be really good for stealth."

Jason says with a small snort, deciding to just ignore the last part about his parents and not comment on it. He's happy that Dick seems much happier and distracted than before.

"Uh huh.."

"Well.. I'm pretty tired and I have enough room in my bed for someone as little as you."

Jason says, booping Dick's nose at the end. Hopefully the problem is just being alone otherwise Jason will just get Dick to sit next to him in bed and hopefully that'll work.

"Thats what B says...I don't get any of this stuff."

Dick says with a shrug. Dick giggles when his nose gets poked, ducking his head into Jason's neck and hugging the man. He grumbles a bit, thinking for a moment about Jason's words.

"Hm...I can stay and make sure you're okay."

Dick states, deciding that protecting Jason would be good reasoning for staying with him, even though he's tired himself and would like to sleep. He doesn't admit that though, stubbornly.

"I don't have pajamas..."

"Well, sparkles are really shiny and pretty so people can see you easier and if you're sneaking around as Robin the bad guys might spot you which isn't good."

Jason explains, attempting to speak in a type of language Dick can understand. He hugs Dick back, of course, smiling softly. He is really cute at this age though Jason thinks most kids cute.

"Really? Thank you."

"Hm.. you can borrow one of my hoodies though it'll probably swallow you up."

Jason hums, laughing softly at the last part. His hoodies are oversized on Dick when he's normal so he can't imagine how it would be for him while being a small child.

"Yeah...'cause sleeping makes you um...vulnerable to attacks. So I gotta protect you."

Dick giggles at the comments, shaking his head and rubbing his fingers against Jason's jacket a little. He doesn't make eye contact, but he doesn't seem uncomfortable or anything.

"I'm not that small, you're just um...a giant. Like those Jack and the beanstalk stories."

"A giant? Not the first time. Well, regardless lets get you something, hm? I have a spare tooth brush you can use."

"Nice?"

He asks, crouching down in front of Dick and offering him the hoodie to touch.

"It's furry! Like...like soft blankets!"

Dick says, hugging the hoodie to himself a bit and holding it to his face. He sniffs it a little and looks it over fully.

"I don't know if I can live up to a pajama sleepover but we'll share a bed."

"I bet you are.."

Jason smiles softly at the reaction, finding it cute and taking off the cape and belt, folding them both up and putting them on the side.

"I'm glad you like 'em. Do you need help putting it on?"

"I did that with Mama and Papa."

"Pat pat."

He says, yawning and moving to grab his legs and tuck them beneath the hoodie as well as he watches Jason curiously.

"Are you gonna put on pajamas too?"

He asks, head tilted a little as he asks, looking at Jason's gear and jacket and all. Dick wonders why he doesn't have a cape or anything like usual superheroes, he looks kinda weird.

"Oh, then I definitely can't compete."

"Yep. First, how about we brush first, kay?"

He reassures, picking Dick up again and walking out of the bedroom to the bathroom, kneeling down to get the spare toothbrushes out of the cabinets.

"I only have the minty toothpaste, sorry."

Jason sighs a bit, handing Dick the toothbrush and placing him on the sink since Jason lacks a stool or anything in this safehouse.

Dick just giggles a bit more when Jason rolls up his sleeves, smiling as he's picked up again and leaning into the touch. He kicks his feet a little on the counter when Jason sets him down.

"Bleh."

"M'done. Clean."

Is all he says, yawning a little and rubbing at his eyes. Dick's tired now and just wants to be held and get to sleep against someone else for the night. He misses the feeling.

He scoops the child up from under his arms before placing him on Jason's hip, considering for a second before pressing his lips to the other's hair for a second.

"I can see that, good job."

He praises, making sure the bathroom and everything is clean before turning off the light and exiting the room, entering the bedroom.

"I'm just gonna leave the room to change then we'll sleep. You stay right here for me."

Jason says, placing Dick down on the head and adjusting the pillows for him, pulling the blanket over to him to snuggle up.

He goes to the cupboard to take out a hoodie and some sweatpants, leaving the room like he said and closing the door.

"You waited for me? Thank you."

He mumbles softly, putting everything in the cupboard before finally turning the light off and hoping in the bed, adjusting the blanket a bit to make sure it covers the smaller child.

"Want me to keep the lamp on?"

Jason asks as he moves to wrap his arms around Dick and get comfortable himself.

"M'brave and strong. I don't need lights."

...

"Of course."

...

Jason only sits up when Dick gets up and has his back turned against him, stretching his neck and arms a bit.

"Oh, great. You're.. you."

He mumbles, his voice a bit rough from sleep before tucking some of his bangs behind his ear that were in his face. He doesn't look surprised or anything, just squinting a bit and scanning the other.

Dick pauses when Jason speaks and sits up, looking back at him briefly. His expression is a little tense but he stretches his arms and smiles a bit at him. It's not entirely convincing.

"I'd hope so..."

"I don't exactly remember how I got here...some context would be appreciated."

Jason gives Dick an unimpressed look when he smiles at him, not saying anything but just communicating that 'I know you're full of bullshit right now' that Jason seems to always have with the man.

"I'm gonna make breakfast. You can do.. whatever."

He usually tries to annoy the man the most but since Dick came back from his whole fake death mission thing he's just been ignoring him as much as he can or glares at him so it is an improvement.

"Oh how fun, thanks asshole."

"Do you have cereal in this shithole?"

Dick asks once he's drawn the blinds of the last window in the room and checked the surroundings of the room about three times. He's smiling and raising an eyebrow at Jason.

".. No. I've had enough cereal for a lifetime though I suppose you don't have the same.. limit."

Jason looks at the man like he just asked him to murder someone for him though then again Jason would probably be more pleased with that request.

Cereal is cheap and lasts a long time so he used to have it a lot as a kid and not the good kind. Now he doesn't need to do that kinda stuff so why would he buy it?

"Eh, usually the only thing I eat. It's cheap in bulk, plus I'm a sugar fan I guess."

"I'm not a chef or anything. I work for a fast food place right now, my experience starts and ends with flipping burger patties."

Dick says with an eye roll and a small laugh.

"I'm very aware of that. I'm not sure how 'Richie Wayne' keeps his abs on that diet."

"Batburger? Hm, better than a cop."

Jason says in disbelief almost before humming and continuing to cook. He'll definitely have to see that, maybe pay Dick a visit at his job.