#maiden!jason

[002yb]

Based on my WTMBU!dickjay

Jason's always had a habit of pushing boundaries. A coping mechanism, he's been told, because it lets him have some measure of control over any violence directed at him.

Because when Jason knows where someone's hard lines and strict limits are, he can anticipate and react to them better-faster-safer. Because it gives him the power to choose when, how, why someone will lash out at him.

There's never been a time Jason hasn't done this. It's a defensive measure honed into a toxic habit. Sometimes Jason uses it to keep himself in line so he won't be abandoned again, to know what he can get away with and what will get him hurt.

But this - it's a whim.

Because he feels safe enough to have it; safer still to express it.

So Jason indulges himself.

It happens because he's been reading too many romance novels; fallen down a rabbit hole with no way out and no desire to leave. It's how Dick finds him most days - curled up or laid out somewhere with his nose in a book.

And sometimes Dick calls him out for how he's smiling and Jason will get embarrassed, but the smile still persists. And other times Dick passes him by with a light brush of his fingertips to Jason's heated ears and he snickers at the way Jason startles then bats him away, flustered again.

Generally though, Dick doesn't impose or judge Jason for his hobby (he just cheekily reads over Jason's shoulder and has an uncanny knack for looking only ever when something remotely scandalous crosses the page).

So - a whim. Because Jason is doing more of the same. Reading. Contemplating. He's read the same thing so many times and it makes him curious if it's really such a big deal. On paper it makes Jason smile to himself, but does that translate to reality at all?

Cue: Dick. Always the victim of Jason's boundary pushing and now his silly whims.

But Dick is indulgent. He plays along; takes Jason's intention and runs with it.

And the thing is - Dick is wicked. So when Jason blocks him in the doorway and tells him to lean on the door frame, Richie Grayson himself makes an appearance - arm on the door frame and leaning in close, gaze flitting from Jason's lips to his eyes. All easy confidence with a devilish smirk.

Jason's might swoon, but with it comes bubbled up laughter as bright as the blush that dusts his cheeks. He smacks Dick's chest to push him back and Dick goes, falling back with an easy smile and a proclamation, 'Let me try again.'

Jason can't not humor him. It's not often Dick lets himself have fun, so Jason stifles his snickers and plays along, watching Dick with bright eyes and a bitten back grin.

So Dick does it again. Sultry with half-lidded eyes and damning with the subtle smile that pulls at his lips as he leans in close again - closer. And Jason's never heard Dick's voice the way he hears it now, but he fills a frisson, a thrill.

And because Dick has that knack for catching any and every saucy scene that happens to be in any book Jason reads, he says: 'Good boy.'

Oh.

Damn.

Jason flusters so bad he can't help but curl downward towards the floor, knees made weak enough that he stumbles as he barks out a sharp cackle. Face flushed, ears burning with a blush.

And Dick laughs, too. Snickering at his own antics as he catches Jason around the waist and pulls him back upright, presses him along the door frame.

'Fucking menace.' Jason titters, lighthearted and humored. It's a strange way to feel. There was a time he'd be embarrassed for getting so flustered, for being such a damn maiden at heart, but with Dick it's okay. The man's confidence is dangerous in how contagious it is.

It's safe. Through and through, Jason feels it. He's safe.

When Jason looks up at Dick, Dick still has his arm leaned against the door frame. Close, close, close. His hand drops to Jason's hip, thumb smoothing along covered bone and hidden scars with a gentle tenderness, eyes warm and filled with mirth; smile devastatingly adoring.

It's no different from before, only it is. Because there's nothing performative to it - it's just Dick. It's just how he is with Jason.

It's comfortable. It's easy. It's familiar.

It still makes Jason's heart skip a beat. Still gives him butterflies.

=======

A thought from back when booktok did a thing. It was too cute not to make it dickjay.

[002yb]

Jason's crush being exposed by the Titans. And while they think it's sweet, Jason feels patronized and ridiculed and so, so embarrassed.

Because Dick is there.

Because it's obvious that Dick already knew.

So Jason runs. Robin is already an ill-fitting mantle and the Titans don't feel like family - no one does. But Dick was something close. Because Dick was Robin and Robin has always been the only safe place Jason knows.

It's not a crush. It's a feeling of gratefulness for the legacy Dick left. It's admiration for being able to be safe; for being able to make others feel safe in that same way.

It's not a crush. It's a respect so deep that it makes him want to be braver, stronger, better. It's a love so devastating it makes his heart ache for all the hope he feels - the freedom he has.

Robin is the greatest good Jason has ever known. He's the greatest good Jason will ever have.

It's not a crush.

It's not-

Dick finds him tucked away, someplace low but secure. Curled small, ears burning. And he doesn't fit, but he stays with Jason anyway.

And Dick is good at comforting people. So even though Jason is embarrassed, Dick makes light. Playful when he says that he's glad to set Jason's standard for later; gentle when he tells Jason that he deserves good things and good people and good - good, good, good.

It's overwhelming to hear. No one's ever told him anything so kind.

It's not a crush.

And this - Jason doesn't feel embarrassed about this at all. It's true; it's real. He's certain of it even when Dick laughs under his breath, endeared; even when he makes a face at Jason and teases him about being able to do better.

Only Jason won’t. This love is it for him. He’ll never love anyone more; Dick is the love of his life.

The tragic thing is - Dick is. Because Jason dies before he could ever love anyone else.

And Dick has to live with that.

It's no consolation, but Dick gives Jason what he can. Flowers on Valentines and a shared cigarette on his birthday and the Joker's blood on his hands some day later when the grief is too much because Jason deserved better.

Good things and good people; good, good, good.

[002yb]

There's a certain tension that comes with all of Dick and Jason's interactions. It's in the way they fight each other, sharp-tongued and a little mean. Always pushing, challenging, demanding, wanting.

Dick can't say for sure when it started happening or why, just that it's fun. Because with Jason, Dick doesn't have to be nice. And Jason gives as good as he gets.

So between them, it's all pointed taunts and nasty quips. It's banter that's all quick, shallow cuts until one of them can drive the metaphorical knife in.

Dick doesn't know if his smile starts to mirror Jason's—vicious, sharp—or if Dick may have always been this way underneath all his gilding (the responsibilities, the expectations, the burdens). It's there though; there are nights where he gets home and realizes his cheeks ache from it.

They crowd each other often. They get physical even more. Playful shoves and lighthearted roughhousing; games of chase that become something akin to hide-and-seek (because Jason loves being found and because Dick loves the hunt, the pursuit).

It's exhilarating. It's electric. And Dick might love the way Jason's eyes light up when they play dirty together, the way Jason's confidence comes through as they scrap.

Dick loves it all: the grit, the danger, the adrenaline. It's a heady feeling and he's hooked on it. Because at the core of it is a sense of freedom.

With Jason, Dick can be dark and ugly. Jason loves him in spite of that or because of it. It's human; warm and wild and wonderful.

All of that just to say that the first time they kiss, Dick would assume Jason is experienced because of all his devastating allure and appeal. So when Dick kisses him, he keeps the status quo. There's nothing nice or soft about it; it's hot and heavy and familiar in its roughness.

Only Jason isn't experienced at all. This is his first kiss.

So when Dick slips him some tongue, Jason immediately flusters and holds Dick back. And Dick is •𐃷• ?? while Jason blushes like the maiden he is just (𖦹/////𖦹 " ) !!! all flushed cheeks and doe eyes, hiding kiss-bruised lips behind his hands and trying to catch his breath and ahhhhhhh.

Dick still loves the animosity in their relationship, of course, but this maiden-hearted side of Jason? Dick comes to love that too.

[002yb]

If you're fine with it, can we have Jason distracted staring at Dick's back dimples while Tim tries to talk to him about a case?

Tim being well aware that Jason isn't listening to him and knowing there's nothing to be done for it. Because for all intents and purposes, Jason is in another plane of existence. That plane being the one just over Tim's head.

That Dick happens to be standing just behind him is irrelevant, surely. Totally coincidental. (눈_눈)

So there's Tim, trying to do his job. The job Jason requested Tim's assistance on, mind. Because it was important. And yet here Jason is now, being very much distracted by someone who is entirely unrelated to aforementioned important case/job.

Tim takes it in stride if only because it's not a surprise. Jason's crush on Dick isn't exactly a secret. As far as Tim's concerned, it's the only endearing thing about his menace of a brother.

There's something decidedly off about the attention Jason gives Dick this time though. There's nothing of the delicate, flustered maiden Tim is used to whenever Jason discreetly oogles and indulges in all that romantic whimsy of his–just a chilling intensity that has a shiver running up Tim's spine and anticipation making him wonder if he's missed something crucial.

So Tim observes as he rattles on about the case. He knows full well that he'll have to repeat everything later, but Jason's behavior is equal parts concerning and curious.

The way Jason goes from intently watching, neutral until his brows start to furrow and his lips pull down into a frown. A scowl. More and more pensive. Almost bristling.

Tim can't not look, so he casts a furtive glance over his shoulder, discreet and fleeting. And it's just Dick there. Dressed down in the usual athleisure, faced away from them as he looks something over at the large projections of the Batcomputer.

There's nothing to it. It's how Dick always looks after patrol, comfortable in a pair of sweats and a compression shirt. Nothing Jason hasn't flustered over plenty of times before.

Tim still remembers the first time Jason saw Dick dressed down post-patrol. How Dick and Jason were walking past each other, but while Jason kept walking, his head turned to trail after Dick. And how Jason ran into a table, tripped over Damian, and nearly overheated when Dick offered him a hand up. The way Jason's gaze lingered on Dick's bicep, his shoulders as he was hefted up. The way he almost went back down from how bad he was blushing.

It's as Tim is contemplating if Dick did something to provoke Jason's ire that Jason finally makes his move. Disregarding everything Tim says to shove past him and storm across the way, hand reaching out--

And Tim knows that Jason isn't brazen enough to turn Dick around and kiss him or anything like that, but with how puffed up Jason is, who's to say?

Tim is. Because he knows Jason and Jason would fluster and abort and see himself right out of Gotham before confessing his undying, decade long crush.

Which is neither here nor there, because instead Jason just jabs Dick right in the dimple of his lower back. A poke that's a little too vicious to be flirtatious, even for Jason

And Dick's inhale is so sharp that everyone in the cave turns to look

And Tim's eyes widen because fuck, if he thought Jason's stare was chilling, the way Dick glares is cold and severe and... grouchy?

'You're hurt.' Jason goes on to say, unperturbed by the storm he's about to weather

Everyone in the family startling because what?? When? How severe? But also just...how could Jason tell?

And Dick scowls, caught out.

'I'm not hurt.'

Only he is, because Jason scowls and bites back, 'I saw it.'

Which has Dick reeling because how?? He's completely covered. He didn't change with anyone around.

And then it's Jason's turn to get all !!! because he seriously noticed just because of how Dick was standing and the way his back looked through his shirt and somehow Jason's exposed himself in such a terrible way that he just - goes offline. Back to that other plane of existence because well, shit.

The most belated and petulant of, 'it doesn't matter.' before Jason starts fretting

Which makes Dick soften up a bit, because Jason being so caring is such a darling thing. ;3;

And then Dick twists and pulls up his shirt enough to show that he's fine, just bruised and a little swollen.

Jason being such a maiden that he has to look away because just that is too much SOS.

Then they get lost in the chitchats and Tim is still just standing there with his report on a very important case, existing entirely outside of Jason's rose-colored bubble and oh, how Tim wants to pop it so bad lol

[002yb]

heyy dickjay ♥ sensei! I was wondering if you can share some of your favorite moments when Dick enjoys to get Jay all flustered and shy huhu

Oh, Dick finds a flustered Jason to be so charming and delightful. Something about watching Jason lose his composure in such a sweet, innocent way would wreck Dick in the softest of ways. Because it'd mean those gentle and hopeful feelings are still there for Jason - they weren't taken away or ruined somehow like so much else.

So, yes. Dick would marvel at the pink that stains Jason's cheeks. And there'd be the ghost of a smile on his lips when Jason gets all tongue tied with him. And when Jason gets butterflies in his stomach, Dick might have butterflies of his own, too. ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝)

Things Dick does that flusters Jason:

Dick has a bad habit of staring at Jason. It's subconscious, his attention lingering until he realizes Jason is glaring at him. But even caught out like that, Dick isn't bothered. He just smiles a bit and Jason flusters cutely.

Even when Jason turns away from him, all huffy and indignant, the tips of his ears would be burning, as would the back of his neck. A telling red blush that Dick would admire with a lot of fondness.

Casual touches not being particularly common because of a lack of opportunity, but when it does happen Jason always spooks. Pulling away with the most scandalized expression and Dick is dumbfounded at first, then endeared because he notices the telling pink that stains the high points of Jason's cheeks and it's so damn sweet.

Oh. When Dick smiles. ;///////; Specifically the genuine ones that are a bit more bite than anything. The ones that are a little crooked and handsomely roguish. They're not the ones Dick has practiced to inspire certain feelings/reactions among people - it's just Dick. A little broken, a little sharp and wicked and wild. It makes Jason's knees weak.

Similarly, when Dick laughs. Or when Dick tilts his head a certain way. When Dick pushes his hair out of his face. When Dick rolls up his sleeves or shifts his weight. It's the ease of his movements, maybe, but it steals Jason's attention and makes his thoughts stop still. Probably especially when Dick is fighting and being a little cruel with it because (๑/////๑ " )

Witty banter!! Something with these two throwing out quips and meeting each other tit for tat. Jason has a sharp tongue and biting wit, so to be engaged with in that way would make Jason really happy. Just the widest, most biting of smiles and vicious of laughs. Only for Dick to throw in some suggestive flirt and Jason fumbles so bad because what. And Dick plays it off and teases Jason over it and Jason spits and sputters and disappears only to come back online some time later and it all starts again.

Something something Dick exposing Jason for wanting. Where Dick will touch Jason or be close enough to kiss and Jason freezes up, but doesn't pull away. Just squeezes his eyes closed in the sweetest of ways and Dick can't help the soft laugh it pulls out of him. And Jason gets so embarrassed about it. He punches Dick in the shoulder or shoves him over outright, bitching all the while about how Dick is the worst, omfg.

And maybe Dick would catch Jason's wrist and feel his racing pulse and pull him back in and really give Jason something to fluster over. ( •◡-)-♡

[002yb]

I keep think about Jason who had a huge possessive crush on dick as a kid (first as Robin, then Nightwing, then Grayson once bruce adopts him and he finds out the face behind the masks).

Cue him blushing like crazy whenever he’s in the same room as Dick, and Grayson just thinking he’s a really shy and sweet kid

Fast forward to red hood coming back with a bang and running Nightwing who starts FLIRTING with him mid fight and oh my god oh my god oh my god

Dick clocking that Red Hood = Jason based solely on how Red Hood flusters when Dick flirts with him.

Jason has no opportunity to be a baddie because Dick would recognize this sweet maiden anywhere and Jason is baffled by it.

Seriously, they're fighting and Dick says something cheeky/flirty and Jason's reaction is to duck his head - his cheek pressed towards his shoulder in bashfulness and that's all Dick needs.

Or rather, Dick doesn't know, but it's familiar enough to feel like a sucker punch and leaves him choking out a strangled, 'Little Wing?'

And it's the way Jason's grip on him wavers, the way Jason flinches that confirms it.

Something something this happening after Jason has gotten Dick pinned to a wall, or laid out flat on his back with Jason hovering over him

And Jason tries to pull away but Dick holds fast to Jason's wrist. There's no seeing that pretty blush with the helmet, but Dick can feel Jason's pulse - how it races and skips and fuck, it's him.

Dick reaching out and getting a hand behind Jason's neck and pulling him down to Dick's chest and holding him there so that maybe Jason can hear how it's the same for Dick - how Dick's breath catches and his chest heaves and his heart breaks with joy and grief and gratefulness and-

The way Jason would be all fight up until he's held and mourned and celebrated and loved. The way he'd collapse into the fierceness of Dick's hug and curl up into that space so that he can be small and hurt and young again

And oh, if that isn't familiar, too. ;n;

[002yb]

It is a common joke amongst rogues, mobsters, etc not to make the (occasionally fatal) mistake of hitting on Red Hood, because he --like the rest of Gotham--is clearly "saving himself for Nightwing." However, what few people know is that this is actually true; Jason Todd refuses to consider dating anyone at all except Dick Grayson.

There's not much left of Jason's virtue, but what's there belongs to Dick Grayson.

It's why when someone tries to cop a feel, they quickly find themselves on the wrong side of twin pistols - muzzles pinning the hand that dared to touch him to the bar table while the other waits steady beneath their chin.

Their stuttered gasp as Jason looms over them is pathetic. To spook so easy after talking such a big game, hah!

The rest of the bar is silent. All of Gotham's rogues and baddies know better than to fuck with him, let alone try to fuck him. It's no secret that Red Hood is off limits, that Jason is reserved for a far better man.

Still, it's good to remind these fuckers of that. What message would it give if Jason were to let instances like this slide? He's spoken for, even if Dick hasn't quite picked up on that fact yet. He will, soon enough. And then that monster can scare off Jason's pursuers, himself.

For now though, Jason will deal with it. He tilts his head. Coquettish as he sweeps his leg over the man's lap to straddle him. Jason digs the gun beneath their chin, feels the bob in their throat when they swallow, and pulls the trigger.

They jerk and cry out beneath him, but Jason holds them still. Thighs held around them, body weight keeping them steady. It was just a shot through their hand. More than enough to send a message. Maybe enough to get a certain bird's attention, too, if he's lucky.

"I'm not yours to touch." Jason pats their cheek with the side of his bloodied pistol, tilting their head back with the other before smiling sweetly down at them: teeth bared, sharp and biting. "Try again - see what happens."

It's an open threat. A casual warning; a generous reminder.

The only man that gets to fuck with Red Hood is Nightwing. All these other sorry fools? They can want, but like hell they can touch.

[002yb]

May I suggest dickjay in the early stages of their relationship, and rock finding out Jason has bOMBS IN HIS HELMET JASON WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!!!!!!!!!!

Where they're fooling around during patrol, same as usual

Only this time their flirty games of chase around the city escalates to some heavy light petting in some tucked away corner, hidden in the shadows

Dick being contentedly distracted with ravaging Jason's neck, hand creeping up beneath Jason's top. Fingers splayed across Jason's abdomen and breathing a laugh when Jason shivers because Jason is wanton and his little gasps are funny with the modulator

Usually Dick is more than content to get Jason off or at least leave him hot and bothered (specifically when Dick is in an ornery teasing sort of mood, but also because Jason whines and it's cute af) before dipping to finish their patrols

Passionate as he is, Dick’s got the self-restraint to wait until after their work is done before taking Jason apart and wrecking him.

Jason loving Dick's steadfast resolve and finding Dick's sense of discipline to be really sexy, but also super frustrating because it's wildly unfair that it's only ever Jason left a breathless mess during their mid-patrol quickies/trysts.

Jason making it his goal to seduce the fuck out of Dick during patrol. Jason wanting to be the reason behind why Dick's ironclad restraint wavers.

Dick catching on to this real quick and it becomes a game between them

Okay, all that got a bit out of order but we'll bring it back around. SO they've got this game going. Jason hasn't managed to win yet, and tbh forgets to try a lot of the time because Dick is overwhelming in these stolen moments of intimacy

And omg, Jason all breathless and quietly gasping and shakily holding a hand over his helmet to stifle himself, but - helmet - so he’s not stifling anything ahhhhhhh and Dick is so tickled by it !!

Anyway, Jason forgetting to seduce Dick into losing control. And of course it's when Jason isn't trying that he succeeds because headcanon: Jason has no game when he tries, but is so alluring when he's just being himself

So they're just there. Hidden away in the shadows somewhere with Jason's knees buckling, breathing hitched as he tries to support himself on the wall behind him. And Dick can feel how flushed Jason is beneath his hands and the brush of his lips; how wrecked Jason gets from some teasing touches and kisses (dark suck marks visible over Jason's high collar; teeth grazing over Jason's skin and the stutter skip of his pulse. Dick's hair being a mess because Jason gets his hand in it to pull Dick closer and ahhhhhh).

And Dick, in that moment, isn't content just to feel and hear how Jason comes undone. He wants to see it. Wants to see the heat across Jason's freckled cheeks and the tears that catch in his lashes; bitten red lips, swollen. Fringe a mess, all sweaty and mused. Dick wants to see how fucked Jason looks, just like this. He wants to see Jason come undone under Dick's hand and how it might be different from when they're in private because Jason is shameless, but not like this - not quiet like Dick (exhibitionist that he is //u///)

But also? Jason being so captivating and bewitching; sexy and gorgeous and cute. Honestly, Dick just wants to kiss him.

So of course Dick goes for the helmet. And he doesn't think anything of it because he's seen Jason do it countless times.

And Jason snaps back to his senses because ohhhh fuck WAIT, hold up STOP wait omg

The intensity of the warning startling Dick, hands flying back because what what what?? Just Dick stood there, hands raised as he backs off, eyes wide

Jason also standing there, still weak in the knees and supported by the wall. Slumping a bit without Dick there to brace him. Hands also raised

And they both stare at each other, thoughts racing

Poor Dick thinking he crossed a line. He shouldn't have assumed Jason had a domino under the helmet--

To which Jason admits he does. Of course he does.

Which, oh. Okay? Dick not getting it. Because they kiss all the time? So it's not like it's a new thing? And kissing seems a lot more innocent than everything else they usually do? Did he do something?? If there's a boundary here he's really not following and--

Jason getting all embarrassed because his own dramatic preparedness just blueballed him, wow. Also-- Dick isn't going to like Jason's explanation

Dick not needing to see beneath the helmet because he knows by the way Jason turns his head away that Jason is some combination of cowed and sheepish

'What?'

'...it's rigged to explode if you take it off like that...'

'What.'

Which leads to a whole thing because Dick could have killed him. Which, ugh, like hell he could have, dramatic ass. Which, another ugh because which of them is a dramatic ass? A helmet rigged to explode if it's taken off wrong!?

It's their first spat as a, well. They're not a couple, but it certainly sort of feels that way as they argue back and forth. Or!! Hear me out -- the fight that leads to them becoming official.

Just Jason bristling because he doesn't know why Dick is so upset about it. It's a reasonable precaution to take.

And Dick is so exasperated because 1) so much can go wrong (so many what ifs and worst case scenarios) and 2) Dick cares about if Jason dies. He doesn't want that!

And look. It was Jason's personal goal/challenge to get to lose control. He succeeds, too. Just not in the way he intended. Because Jason makes the most callous of remarks claiming that Dick would get over it [the loss of him]

Which leads to Dick's expression shuttering in a truly terrifying way. A cold fury that gives way to cruel passion and something wounded. It's Dick shoving Jason back, pinning him to a wall and seething at him, eyes narrowed and teeth bared because: 'I wouldn't. I've tried; I can't.'

He won't do it again.

Jason being blindsided by the intensity and genuine hurt/mourning there. His heart aching because, oh.

Then it's Jason tentatively pulling Dick into a hug and holding him and soft hurt/comforts