Lee!Jason, Lee!Dick / Ler!Dick, Ler! ?
Summary: Jason’s maybe slightly, a tiny bit anxious and a whole lot overthinking brothers weekend. Bruce gives him a trick to hide up his sleeve. Around 4.3k
Notes: surprise Ler is in the tags below if you would rather know before reading! I edited this really fast because I’m anxious to share so I hope I didn’t miss anything major lol. Enjoy!
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“Bruuuce,” an irritated whine left his youngest’s throat. “I don’t need a babysitter. I’m twelve— thirteen in like a month! And I used to take care of myself allllll the time,” Jason pointed out, trying to will the old man to look up from his computer.
“We’ve talked about this, Jaylad,” he sighed, closing the laptop. “You shouldn’t have to look after yourself. I know you’re capable, but the manor is quite the estate and you’re used to Alfred helping you out when I’m not around. Don’t think of your brother as a babysitter; he’s just coming to hangout for the weekend.” Bruce took in Jason’s nervous posture and pursed lips. He stood up from the desk and came around to kneel in front of a very fidgety Jason.
“What’s wrong, Jason? You don’t want to stay with Dick? I could arrange—“
“No! No,” Jason sighed, “it’s okay. Dickface isn’t that bad.” He admitted begrudgingly. “It’s just—“
“What?” Bruce urged when he saw hesitation, maybe embarrassment, in Jason’s face.
He groaned, looking anywhere but his guardian. “It’s stupid. You’re gonna- it’s stupid,” he repeated.
“I know you believe that I won’t laugh at you. Whatever it is. It’s not stupid.” He put a hand on Jason’s shoulder.
Biting his lip, and digging a spot into the plush carpet with his sock, he finally softly spoke, “he’s great. He’s a good big brother. The best,” he urged, and Bruce nodded, he often found when he got Jason to finally speak, it was like opening a flood gate. “But sometimes he’s too much. He’s so cheery and touchy and cuddly and— and I just can’t take it sometimes. And then if you say no he pouts and I hate when he does that. And you’re always here to-” where Jason’s words failed him, Bruce’s mind immediately supplied the thought, because I always interfere before Jason has to tell Dick he’s truly at his limit and needs some space. Instead Jason spits out, “well not—he’s just—it’s not like he does it on purpose.” He stammers.
“I understand.” Bruce drops the hand from Jason’s shoulder and instead squeezes his hand. “Dick is an extremely tactile person, when he first came into my life it was baffling to me, I had never in my life held hands with someone- well not since- since before I can barely remember.” Bruce admitted. “It took me a little bit to get used to. It’s not silly to need space sometimes.” He made sure Jason was looking at him. “Do you understand?”
“Dick will understand,” Bruce stated and Jason’s eyes went wide. “I’ll speak with him-“
“NO!” Jason paled. “No! You— you can’t say anything to him! He—well I don’t—I know it’s just him.” He finally landed on. “If you say something—“
If you say something he might stop altogether and I don’t want that. Is what Bruce know’s Jason is thinking, but can’t spit out.
“I understand.” Bruce repeats. “Though I am positive Dick wouldn’t take offense. One time the titans taped him to a chair so they could have a few hours of peace.” He winked at Jason.
“Really?!” Wide eyes met his. Bruce nodded.
“Really. And I think I have an idea. I won’t say anything to Dick, and I’ll be too far to play peacemaker,” he admitted. “But how would you like to have a secret weapon?” Jason was practically vibrating with excitement.
Bruce was gone for 65 hours before the secret weapon was deployed.
“Come onnnnn,” Dick whined from where he stood behind the couch. “Don’t you want to do something fun? Like have a pillow fight, or put a whoopie cushion in Bruce’s office? Doesn’t that sound entertaining, Little wing?” Dick poked his shoulder.
“Maybe for a 6 year old.” Jason didn’t look up from his novel. It had a fabric book cover to conceal whatever the little bookworm had chosen. Bruce had purchased a pack of them after he noticed Jason hiding his current read whenever anyone was around, like he expected a criticism.
Of course he’d never gotten one, not from Bruce, Alfred, or Dick, but that didn’t stop the insecurity. Jason had acted like it was no big deal when he’d handed over the assorted colors, but had immediately pulled one over his worn cover of Pride and Prejudice, and another over whichever book he seemed to switch out every few days.
Dick threw his head back against the couch cushions and sighed. “Well I’m bored. We’re supposed to be wreaking havoc, breaking things.” He let his intrusive thoughts take over and did the dangerous thing, poked Jason’s cheek. “Sneaking out,” he kept listing when Jason didn’t bite his finger off, just turn his head and leaned away from Dick. He was clearly trying to ignore him.
When he couldn’t reach his face, Dick jumped over the couch and planted himself firmly on Jason’s middle, ignoring the oof his little brother struggled to breath out.
“Get the hell off me,” Jason was squirming and trying to roll off the couch almost immediately. “Fatass,” he groaned.
Dick didn’t seem to mind, just further settled, making himself both comfortable, and immovable. “I’m b o r e d,” Dick droned on, not even batting an eye as tiny fists collided with his legs and knees. “Entertain me, Jay,” he urged, poking the kids cheek again, this time Jay did try to bite him, but Dick knew it was coming and pulled away in time.
“I’m not a wind up toy, asshole,” Jason gave up fighting, realizing Dick’s weight was going to keep him firmly in place. “Go play-“
“It’s no fun without a second player,” Dick whined and turned down the suggestion before he could even finish.
“Then go work out, or call Kori, or something, just leave me out of it.” Jason glared up at the pout planted on Dick’s face.
“But Jay,” Dick poked his stomach this time and Jason did everything he could not to react. “That’s the whole point! Brother’s weekend!” Another poke and Jason’s fully aware that his mouth twitched, he just hoped Dick hadn’t noticed.
“Finally! A smile— I haven’t seen one of those since before Alfred left for vacation,” Dick continued poking all around Jason’s stomach, quick and light, the perfect combination to set Jason’s senses on edge.
“Nothing to smile about,” Jason narrowed his eyes and tried to force a frown and grunt to cover any giggles that may try to escape.
Dick raised an eyebrow. “No? Well let me help you out, Little wing,” he winked before latching his hands onto either side of Jason’s ribcage.
“Nohoho!” Jason laughed trying to shove Dick’s hands away. “Please!” Jason tried the polite route. “I ju- just want to read, Dickface!” Well, maybe Jason’s brand of polite, anyway.
“You can read later,” there was still a distinct pout to Dick’s voice, but it seemed to fade with each squeal he earned from the prickly preteen. To emphasize that Jason wouldn’t be going back to his preferred task, Dick picked up the book where it had fallen to Jason’s chest, now halfway between him and the couch cushions, and tossed it gently onto the furthest chair.
Jason watched it fly away with his ever fleeting hope.
With any distractions now gone, Dick focused on going for a full blown tickle attack. “Where to begin,” he readjusted and caught one of Jason’s wrists. “You’ve been slacking in your training, that was waaay too easy.” Dick teased, missing when he tried to grab the other one.
“Have not!” Jason sneered, barring his teeth. “I’m warning you not to! I have a secret weapon!” He wasn’t planning to tell Dick, just to use said weapon if he really had to. But it was day 3 and Jason had endured countless head ruffles, several hugs, and enough tickle attacks to last him a year. Well… maybe not, but his patience was razor thin.
Dick narrowed his eyes for a moment before shrugging, “you’ve got a secret weapon, huh?” He raised an eyebrow. Jason nodded furiously. “Guess I’ll just have to keep you too busy to use it,” he grinned catching Jason’s other wrist and quickly sliding his hands under his knees. Jason was already fighting laughter before, so as soon as Dick’s clawed hand started vibrating into his stomach he was in tatters.
“Stahahap! I- I’m not k-kidding!” Jason threw his head back and forth while Dick wiggled his fingers into his armpit.
“Oh, I believe you, this is an interrogation- tell me what the secret weapon is?!” Dick demanded with a forced sternness.
Jason opened his mouth, to insult his brother, but instead let out a shriek when Dick reached down and dug his thumb into the front of Jason’s hip at the perfect time.
That was the moment he chose to use the secret weapon. Dick was just playing dirty now.
The sensation made Jason jackknife, sitting up as much ad he could and letting out shrill cackles right in Dick’s face.
Any insults or threats died on his lips as Dick dug into his worst spot with expert precision.
“Come on, Jay,” Dick teased. “Tell me what it is?” He moved away from Jason’s hips and started scratching his belly, right below his belly button.
“Y-you’re about to fihihihind out!” He managed to laugh out.
Jason just needed a little bit of air, just for a second, but currently that seemed like an impossible task.
Unless he played dirty too. He did take a nasty hit on patrol four days ago, but his armor had absorbed most of it, and the bruise was almost gone by now.
But Dick was still mostly avoiding the area, so when he brushed up against it the next time Jason sucked in just a little breath and winced away from the touch ever so slightly. He didn’t stop laughing, didn’t complain, that would raise red flags.
Dick immediately stopped his hands, instead placing his palms flat giants Jason sides, as if to appear stern. “Do your ribs hurt? I told you yesterday-“
Jason cut off Dick’s nagging with a nearly glass breaking scream, “CLAAARK! UNCLE CLARK!” Jason screamed at the top of his lungs.
Dick furrowed his brow, confusion washing over him first, then quickly turning into realization. “What? You’re bluffing…” he trailed off and looked around, suddenly on high alert.
“CLA—“ Dick clamped a hand over his mouth with wide eyes.
Dick’s nervous look made it all worth it. Jason wasn’t sure he’d actually be able to do it when it came down to it. He didn’t know Clark as well as Dick did, and he still got a little nervous around him. It was hard not to, he’s Superman, for christ sake! Jason wasn’t sure if he should be embarrassed or flattered even if Bruce had assured him Clark wouldn’t mind at all. He just hoped that was true.
He tried to drink in the color draining from his brother’s face, and the nervous flutter of his chest, but Dick seemed like he wanted to make the most of his last few moments.
“Little traitor!” He shouted before grabbing both of Jason’s hips and squeezing.
Jason barely had a chance to react before the sensation was gone. He opened his eyes to see Clark grinning, holding Dick by the collar, his tippy toes struggled to find contact with the rug.
“Good to see you boys,” Clark winked at Jason.
“You’re an even bigger traitor!” Dick accused. “You were my Uncle Clark first!” There was that whiney tone again that set Jason’s teeth somewhat on edge.
“And I taught you better than to pick on your little brother!” Clark raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah.” Jason added snootily, very much feeling the power he now held.
“Are you joking!? You used to sit on me and-“ Dick stopped mid sentence, lips clamping shut like he could take back the words.
And then a chuckle, “no, Dickie, go ahead! What was it I used to do?” Clark let Dick’s feet hit the ground, false hope— as he tackled him backwards to the floor, Dick didn’t even have time to counter. “I used to sit on you and tickle you silly to tire you out, just so your dad could have a break and get some work done.”
Clark got comfortable over Dick’s middle, ignoring his fighting hands.
“Jay, would you like a break?”
“Very much so,” he nodded furiously.
“This is a bunch of BS! I’m telling Bruce, you guys can’t team up against me,” Dick whined as Jason picked up his book.
Giving Dick a smug look on his way out, he simply shrugged. “Who do you think came up with the idea?” He tipped his book from his forehead towards Dick as a wave goodbye.
Dick’s face read total betrayal and Clark felt a little bad when Dick started pulling harder to get free.
“Lucky for Jason, I remember all your spots.” Clark grinned down at him. “I’ll give him plenty of time to catch up on reading.”
“Clark,” Dick whined. “Don’t you think this is a little ridiculous? I mean I’m 18 years o-ohohold!” He started giggling when Clark’s hand found his lowest ribs.
“And yet, you still giggle like you did at 9,” Clark coo’ed.
“Doesn’t Superman have better things to do tonight?” Dick grunted trying to shimmy out from under him, Clark just rolled his eyes and started moving his hands upwards.
“You’d be surprised, what with the 50 odd vigilantes or so in Gotham alone.” He shrugged. “Besides, we haven’t caught up in forever, Dick. Don’t you want to spend some quality time with your Uncle Clark?” The bright, innocent grin spread across the Man of Steel’s cheeks, widening somehow further as he let his fingers start wiggling into Dick’s stomach.
Dick never bothered to try holding his laughter in, unless his little brothers were trying to turn the tables on him, and just like Clark remembered, soft giggles turned to desperate shrieks pretty quickly.
“C-clahahark!” Dick whined, letting him keep his hands was a double edged sword. Sure, he could pull and push and shove at Clark’s all he wanted, Clark’s strength was not to be matched, or even approached.
“Yes?” He asked suddenly diverting just one hand to Dick’s higher ribs, wrapping his fingers around the backs and squeezing between each rib with precision, all while his thumb dug into the front side.
Dick screamed, actually screamed, through his cackles, he scrunched his body to the right, trying to get those fingers to loosen their grip.
Then Clark retreated and went right back to the middle of his tummy. “Ihih-ihiht’s not faAHAHAIR!” He squeezed his eyes shut and gripped Clark’s wrist like he’d stop him from moving the hand again.
“Not fair? Not fair like sitting on a 80 pound kid and taking his book from him?” Clark raised an eyebrow, letting his fingers slow down enough that Dick knew he expected a response.
Taking a few deep breathes, he still stuttered out, “but he- I just-“
“Let me guess?” Clark grinned. “You,” he dragged his words out, his hands inching back towards Dick’s ribs. “Were bored?” Dick didn’t even register movement before he felt Clark’s other hand was digging into the other side of his ribs in the same spot. Arching his back to try to squirm away did nothing other than make Clark laugh.
Moving his hands back to Dick’s stomach had him catching his breath, huffing out little laughs here and there.
“You don’t think- h-hey!” He smacked Clark’s hand when it ventured a little to close to his ticklish belly button. Normally Clark would have rewarded that with fingers tasering into the spot, but he relented, back to the middle and let Dick continue. “You don’t think he’s actually mad, do you?” A flash of guilt was clear even through the grin.
Clark smiled. “He’s not mad. I think he’s probably just still a little new to having a big brother. And you bring a lot of energy,” Dick rolled his eyes. “I’m just here to help expel some of that energy.” His words seemed to help, but Dick still glanced towards the door. “If he were really mad, he probably would have actually stormed off and read his book.” Clark said quietly, and shot Dick a wink. “He’s been sitting outside listening to you earn your payback.” He grinned, poking a little harder now that his point was made. “Jason adores you, Dick.”
That brought another blush to his cheeks, a more shy, delicate pink that Clark could tell meant he felt the same way about the preteen.
“M-mahahaybe! But he’s ahaha- he’s a little grump!” Dick grinned, all of the worry he held washed away with Clark’s assuring words.
It wasn’t lost on either of them that Clark was repeating history in more ways than one. Whenever Clark was deployed when Dick was little, he’d keep his fingers constantly moving around Dick’s stomach when he wasn’t tickling somewhere else.
The mission was truly to tire out an unruly little acrobat, and Clark had no qualms about keeping his nerves and brain in constant red alert for maximum effect.
It was no different now. Dick might actually, somehow, have more energy than 9 year old him possessed, and Clark was just as determined.
Dick’s eyes were open now, Clark let him take in a few giggly breathes as he moved back to Dick’s stomach.
“A grump, huh?” Clark raised an eyebrow. “And you wouldn’t know anything about that?”
“What!? I wasn’t a grump!” He could quite muster up a pout with the constantly tickling fingers.
“No?” Clark mused. “I seem to remember a little grumpy acrobat running around this place, not too long ago.” Clark’s tone was always lighter, musher, than Bruce’s was, and it always made Dick a giddy mess.
Clark shifted himself to pinch Dick’s knee, his hand large enough that he could squeeze into Dick’s thigh as well.
“NOHOHOHO!” Clark felt him grabbing at his tshirt, pulling at fistfuls of fabric. “I w-was not!” He shoved even while holding onto Clark.
Clark scoffed as Dick tried to knee him in the back. “You absolutely were!” He grabbed Dick’s leg though, right above his knee and rapidly pinched away. “You used to hiss! And not just at me!”
Dick’s laughter grew frantic and shaky, both at Clark’s still pinching fingers, and the memory of himself, much younger, about Jason’s size, hissing at Clark and Hal Jordan from under Batman’s cape.
He had Hal convinced he was part cat for several years.
Bruce did nothing to dispel the rumor, just let Dick continue hissing away.
“Did not!” Dick said anyways. But his resolve (if you could call it that by this point) was breaking down by the second.
Clark stopped, turning back to face forward and level Dick with a look. “You know I have a near-perfect memory, brat.”
“Key word,” Dick panted, “‘near’.”
Clark realized he’d stopped tickling altogether, even on Dick’s stomach. Perhaps that’s how he built up The Audacity.
Clark narrowed his eyes and Dick seemed to realize his mistake.
“Wait- Clark hold on,” he sputtered out, removing his hands from the shirt to push them against the rug, trying to pry himself free.
Clark had to admire the effort, especially since they both knew he wouldn’t be moving until Clark allowed him to.
“Are you calling me a liar, Dickie?” Clark was deliberately talking with his hands to keep Dick completely on edge, his eyes darting wherever they gestured.
“No! No I would never!” He shook his head violently, pleading eyes looking up at Clark.
“You just did! I think that makes YOU a liar!” He grabbed at Dick’s hips, squeezing like he had his ribcage.
“NA-“ Dick’s laughter quickly went silent, tears gathering in the corners of his eyes, panicked giddy breathes the only sound coming from him as he pushed against Clark’s knees.
“Are you gonna take it back?”
“YE-“ As he started to answer Clark started squeezing again, effectively choking off his answer. A desperate, “cLARk!” Instead.
“I need an answer, kiddo? That didn’t sound like an answer to me?”
“YES!” He spat out. “YES!” Again. “I take it back!”
Satisfied, moving his hands back to Dick’s stomach.
“One more answer from you?” Clark mused.
Dick gave a half nod, barely able to comprehend that it was a question directed at him.
“Who’s more ticklish? You or Jason?” Clark grinned at Dick’s immediate groan. “And remember, I know if you’re lyyying!” He sang, fingers dancing away on Dick’s tummy all the while.
Of course, Dick giggled out, “Jaybird! For sure!”
“Hmm,” Clark mused. “Jason, what do you think of that?” At his words, Dick lifted his head up off the ground and saw his little brother peeking around the doorframe.
He looked surprised to be pointed out, even though he had to know you can’t sneak up on Clark Kent. Dick Grayson’s laughter filling his ears or not.
“Big. Fat. Liar.” He crossed his arms, but kept his distance.
“I think you’re right,” Clark’s hands were back squeezing his hips.
Jason ventured closer as Dick’s laugh grew viciously higher in pitch and density, until he was peering over Clark’s shoulder at Dick’s face, screwed up into a twisted grin, his eyes forced shut so hard Jason could see crow’s feet digging lines almost to Dick’s hairline.
If Dick could have, he would have seen a slightly smug, ridiculously bright and toothy grin staring back at him.
“Think he’s had enough?” Clark glanced over his shoulder at Jason, he let all the pressure of his hands go but kept them in place as Dick deflated below him.
“Hmmm,” he put a finger and thumb to his chin to sell his pondering. “Yeah, I guess Goldie looks pretty worn out.” A nonchalant shrug.
“Alright.” He gave one last squeeze to each of Dick’s hips, one right after the other, before getting himself to his feet and ruffling Jason’s hair. “Mission complete, Robin.” Clark understood Dick’s urge to poke at his little brother, Clark found himself unclenching his jaw in what could only be described as cuteness aggression when Jason started shyly batting his hands away.
Meanwhile Dick rolled over on his stomach, his instinct to protect the now overly sensitized spot taking over all other thoughts. His breathing slowly started to even out before curling up like a shrimp on his side and glaring up at them.
“I stand by what I said. So not fair.” He groaned.
“Is too!” Jason immediately frowned, the cheeky grin he was giving Clark giving way on sibling instinct.
Clark saw this debate lasting entirely too long, so he scooped Jason up below the knees, making him fold over his shoulder.
And then he reached down to grab Dick by an ankle.
“Woah!” The acrobat was just getting used to having oxygen to his brain, now Clark cut off the blood flow as well.
“Come on. Uncle Clark is visiting!” He cheered. “No fighting!” They both realized he was walking, heading somewhere further into the Manor.
Dick sucked in an irritate breath. “But you just-“
“Quiet, you.” Joking of course, Clark jostled him a bit for maximum effect, which earned a laugh from Jason. “Alright, I know where Penny One keeps the theater snacks, but I have no idea how to work your Dad’s fancy tv. So if we’re gonna have a movie night-“
“You’re staying?” Jason’s giddy voice was a happy interruption.
“Of course I’m staying?” He feigned shock. “How could I come all this way to see my favorite Robins’ and turn right back around?” He dumped Jason on the couch with a little ‘oof,’ and then lowered Dick until he was sprawled out over the ottoman.
“B comes back tomorrow, maybe we could all get breakfast?” Dick shrugged happy to lay where he landed. Clark started digging snacks out of the cabinet in the movie room and threw the remote to Jason, who gave a quick glance to Dick like he might tackle him for it, before excitedly clicking through titles.
Clark took slight offense to that, he took his mission seriously. There would be no energy for roughhousing tonight. Not when Dick felt like his legs were spaghetti noodles plastered to the soft material below him.
“Well we definitely can’t let him cook for us,” Clark agreed, tossing snacks over his head now.
Dick snorted in agreement, but a thought came to him. “Actually Jay’s a pretty good little chef,” Dick tipped his chin up and his forehead down to glance at Jason.
Jason who was once again looking incredibly shy for a usually brash kid, a hint of pink dusting his cheeks.
“Oh yeah?” Clark smiled warmly, crossing the living room. “Well I’m not so bad myself. I could be your sous chef?” He plopped down next to the kid, bouncing him hard enough that he fell right into Clark’s side. He dropped his arm before Jason had anytime to over think it. Jason relaxed into the cushions and soft, now wrinkled fabric of Clark’s tshirt.
Clark glanced over to Dick who was gazing up at the theater screen, “you coming up?” He raised his unoccupied arm when Dick sleepily turned to face him.
He sighed before scooted dramatically from the footrest to the couch and dropping his head in Clark’s lap.
“Just like old times.” The older man’s hand landed in tangled curls and began to methodically work them out.
As he sat there watching a shitty horror movie he was sure Jason probably wasn’t supposed to watch, no matter how many times the boys assured him it was okay, two realizations hit him.
Well one, then the other naturally followed.
One, he was now the only hero still awake.
Two, Bruce was going to be soo jealous tomorrow.
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