Jean knows that Jarnach slipped, and Levi tries to believe him
A/n: These DC Comics AU fics are really my jam, guys. Gosh, I am turning into the biggest sucker for Robin!Jean and Nightwing!Levi.
The word count is 1188 and the rating is T
Jean knew that Erwin was just as observant as he was, and perhaps more. But there was a chance that Jean was struggling to convince himself to believe that, because he wanted to believe that Erwin saw all of this coming. But judging by Erwin’s reaction to the events of last night, the Dark Knight was proving himself to be shocked by Jean’s actions.
Jean wanted to believe that Erwin expected Jean to do something like that. There was a reason why the boy was ever so honest, and why he also degraded himself to such a low level; because he didn’t want people to be disappointed when he finally fucked up.
Erwin probably saw Jean’s actions as more than just a fuck up though, it was worse. It was carnage, destruction… and crime? Maybe.
As Jean sat inside his room at Smith Manor, he tried to do anything to distract himself and keep his mind off last night. He read through his books, memorized all of Hannes’s lessons, and practiced as many backhand springs as he could in the space of his room as the TV blared in the background. But no matter how much he tried to block it out, he still could not shake his memory of the events from the previous evening.
“Robin, did Mr. Jarnach fall? Or was he pushed?”
“… I spooked him. He must’ve slipped.”
There was a reason Jean played cartoons in the background of his rooms and not anything else. The kids channels were usually free of any sort of broadcasted news, whether it be local or international.
Jean didn’t want to hear about the investigation on how Mitabi Jarnach had fallen down 25 floors from his apartment balcony to the Gotham City sidewalk, and why it even happened in the first place.
He didn’t need to hear because Jean knew the answer; when he swung up to intercept Jarnach at his apartment, the man didn’t notice the presence of the Boy Wonder. Jean spooked Jarnach when he spoke, and in surprise, the man slipped.
That was the undoubted truth. However, Erwin didn’t seem to believe that at all.
There was a reason that Jean was locked in his room on the current evening; forcing himself to read books and do back handsprings to keep himself from getting angry.
Jean flipped backwards again, harder than last time. His abdomen burned, but he could not care at all. He needed to punch something, but Erwin had banned him from coming on patrol for a week, and from going down to the Batcave as well. Flipping randomly like a spastic acrobat wasn’t exactly as satisfying as punching either a bag or a person, but it was better than nothing.
Jean finished up a double leg when he heard his door open. He knew it couldn’t be Hannes, since Erwin instructed the butler to leave Jean alone and not speak to him. Therefore, the first thing Jean assumed that it was an unwanted intruder.
On reflex, Jean’s months of training made him instantly grab the closest thing in reach and lug it at the door way in defence. But the second Jean turned around and flung the novel at the door, he quickly realized who it was.
Levi’s reflexes were much sharper than Jean’s, as he managed to catch the book with ease. Before talking, Levi took a moment to look at the cover of book in curiosity, “My Left Foot? Never heard of it.”
“It’s by this irish dude named Christy Brown,” Jean answered, walking up to Levi and taking his book back. “The guy had cerebral palsy, and the only limb on his body he could control was his left foot. It’s a good read.”
“I’ll be sure to check it out,” Levi decided, following Jean into the bedroom. “Didn’t know you were a bookworm.”
“My ma and pa had a mini library back when I was living in Crime Alley,” Jean explained, sitting down on the bed somewhat crossly. “There wasn’t much else for me to do back then but read.”
Levi nodded his head. He was still standing, looking down at Jean with his sharp gaze. Jean had definitely grown a bit since the last time Levi saw him. When they first met, Levi was a few inches taller than Jean, but now, Jean seemed to be just a little over Levi’s height. Either Jean was growing or Levi was getting shorter; but the latter was impossible.
A moment of silence passed before Jean spoke up once more, this time, with a slightly more defensive tone, “Erwin called you, didn’t he?”
“Actually, Hannes did,” Levi answered.
Jean scoffed, “So you know what happened, don’t you?”
Levi could only nod, “Yes.”
Grumbling, Jean started looking more and more frustrated by the second, “You gonna lecture me then? Tell me that what happened was wrong?”
“Actually, kid, I’m-“
Jean cut him off hastily, “I didn’t do it, okay!?!? Jarnach fell, I know, but it wasn’t my fault! He slipped, I’m telling you! The bastard fucking slipped!”
“I know, bu-“
“But don’t tell me that the shithead didn’t deserve it! He was a coke-snorting rapist, he got what was coming to him!”
“JEAN.”
The young boy went silent.
Levi was never known for being loud and outspoken, but when push came to shove, Levi’s voice could prove that it was capable of filling an entire room from corner to corner. He wasn’t known for intimidation, but if he tried, Levi could be.
Jean seemed frightened at the moment, as Levi took slow breaths after his loud outburst.
“Listen, I’m not here to talk to you about last night.”
Jean only nodded.
“But I’m here if you need to talk about anything else,” Levi claimed. “I know I’m pretty shitty at comforting people, but apparently, I’m good enough that Hannes would invite me hear to speak to you. He should’ve probably called Petra, but he didn’t.”
Jean nodded again, unsure how to reply.
Moving forward, Levi sat beside Jean on the bed, “I’ll tell you now, I’m on your side. Since Hannes thinks I’m the best one for this, if you ever need someone to talk to, Jean, talk to me.”
Agreeing, Jean seemed to accept the offer willingly, “Okay, Levi, I will.”
Nodding his head, Levi got off the bed, “Good. You know what my number is, so call me if you need to. I’m always in Bludhaven if you need me.”
“Thanks, Levi,” Jean said genuinely.
Levi moved his hand forward and patted Jean on the shoulder in a rather awkward matter, “I’m trying to be your friend here.”
“I know you are,” Jean claimed. “You’re doing a good job, actually. I’m surprised you aren’t scared of me yet.”
Levi rolled his eyes, “Jean, I’ve performed on a trapeze without a safety net 8 shows a week before. Nothing scares me. Well, not anymore.” Turning around, Levi started to leave the room, “I’ll see you later, Jean.”
“Bye, Levi.”
“See ya, kid.”
The two Boy Wonders bid each other farewell, and soon, the slamming of a door separated them apart.
The past Boy Wonder meets the present Boy Wonder for the first time
A/n: I have been having a blast with the DC Comics AU still. This isn't shippy at all, but I hope you enjoy Levi and Jean conversing to each other, ally-to-ally, Robin-to-Robin.
I gotta write Eren as Damian eventually...
Anyway, the word count is 720 and the rating is K, enjoy!
The first time Levi met Jean, the boy was sent on a mission. Not a serious mission, like running the gauntlet, or any sort of league-related work. But rather, a simple delivery mission; something any one could do.
Levi honestly expected someone like Hannes to perform such a task, but part of him theorized that the only reason Jean had been sent to delivery the package was because Erwin wanted the two to meet eventually.
When the past Boy Wonder met the present, Levi was staying in a forgettable hotel near uptown Gotham, alone in a single room as he organized all of his crime fighting gear in a rather proper fashion.
Jean’s stealth skills needed work, but it only took Levi a few seconds to turn around and notice that someone happened to be standing in the open windowsill of his room.
When Levi turned, he was surprised. Not because of the person standing there, but because of what they were wearing.
“That’s mine,” Levi pointed out as he stood up from the floor.
“It’s not. Bats re-designed this for me,” Jean answer, motioning down to the new and improved Robin costume that he wore with pride. “And if I’m not mistaken, you’ve put down this costume for that whole disco-vibe thing.”
Levi looked offended at Jean’s remark of his current costume and alias, “Why does everyone think it’s a disco suit? It’s circus garb!” He grabbed the empty Nightwing costume on his bed and held it to Jean, showcasing the flashy collar and all. “Acrobats wear this, you little shit!”
Jean rolled his eyes, “That’s what you say, buddy.” He hopped into the hotel room and looked around, “Nice digs you got here, Levi. Kinda extravagant to me though.”
“To each their own kid,” said Levi as he put down his costume. He noticed that surprisingly, Jean was shorter than him. Granted, he was just a boy and could grow more, but for now, Levi felt just a little bit superior to the younger one in the room. “What do you want anyway? Don’t you all ready have the costume?”
“I’m here on a mission,” Jean claimed.
Levi raised an eyebrow, “Erwin sent you?”
“Hannes did, actually,” Jean begged to differ. With that said, Jean motioned down to his side, where a boxy-looking satchel hung. Pulling off the bag, Jean handed it to Levi, “This is for you.”
“For me?” Levi asked, taking the bag in his hands. “Oh, uh… thanks, John.”
“It’s Jean, the french pronunciation,” the Boy Wonder corrected. “Not John.”
Levi looked a bit confused, but perhaps Hannes and Erwin did mispronounce a thing or two when they mentioned a young boy named ‘John’ taking up the mantle of Robin.
“Whatever,” Levi muttered as he sat down, opening up the bag. What he expected to find inside was probably a little trinket from Hannes, or perhaps a batarang or two that he could use. But instead, what he found was much much different.
It was a suit; predominantly black with blue over the torso, shoulders, and in lines on the sleeves leading down onto the fingers. Gauntlets were placed on the side, along with the usual utility belt most vigilantes used.
Levi was both surprised, flattered, and in addition, extremely touched. He wanted to say thank you, but instead, he ended up saying: “What is this?”
“I think Hannes noticed you running around in that disco suit,” Jean explained. “He decided to tailor something new for you. He didn’t know what a ‘Nightwing’ looked like, but I hope this works.”
“It does,” Levi agreed. “Definitely.”
“I’ve gotta go now, Levi,” Jean announced, walking back to the window sill. “Duty calls, you know.”
“You do that, kid,” Levi said.
Jean hopped onto the window sill, balancing there for a moment to speak back to Levi just a few more times, “Hey, you gonna drool over that all night or are you gonna get out here and fight?”
“I could use some fresh air,” Levi claimed, taking his new costume and walking off into the bathroom. “Catch you on the streets, Boy Wonder.”
“Not if I catch you first, Wing-Nut.”
“It’s Nightwing!”
“See if I care!” were the last words Jean yelled before hopping out the window and onto the Gotham streets.
