Chapter Text
The bell rang over the door as Dick pushed inside. Behind him, Jason scuffed his boots, hunching down in his hoodie.
The floor was old black and white tile, the walls covered in neon lights advertising milkshakes and fries. A genuine 1960s jukebox crackled in the corner, sounding one song away from wailing its last note.
‘Tacky,’ Jason scoffed.
‘Shut up,’ Dick said cheerfully. He waved at the waitress behind the bar. ‘Hey, Barb! How’s the weekend gig going?’
Barbara looked up from the glass she was polishing and grinned. ‘Dick!’ She took a step, wobbled, and grabbed the counter for balance. ‘Oops!’ She gave him an apologetic grimace. ‘Not used to the roller skates yet.’ Pushing her red hair back, she released the counter and tried again, this time gliding gracefully out into the aisle. She struck a pose, arm stretched up over her head. ‘Ta da!’
Dick grinned. ‘Nice uniform.’
She snorted, brushing down her stiff white pinafore. ‘It’s totally lame, but it pays well and I get the best tips. So,’ she leaned on the counter, ‘what can I get for the richest kid in school?’
Jason snorted. ‘When you’re done flirting, I’ll be over there.’ He jabbed a thumb at the table by the window, then stalked over and flopped down at it.
Watching him go, Barbara raised an eyebrow. ‘That’s your brother?’
A shrug. ‘He’s had a bad day.’
He joined Jason a moment later, taking the seat opposite him and stretching his legs out.
‘Your girlfriend’s pretty graceless,’ Jason said.
Dick laughed. ‘Barb’s not my girlfriend. And you should watch what you say. Once at school I saw her kick a guy so hard his teeth fell out.’
Jason raised his eyebrows, glancing over Dick’s shoulder with apparently improved respect. ‘Huh.’
‘I ordered for you,’ Dick added. ‘I hope you like spicy food.’
Leaning back in his chair, Jason shrugged. ‘Whatever.’
But Dick could see the challenge gleaming in his eye, and he grinned. ‘I only ordered moderate, so if you want it hotter …’
Jason’s eyes narrowed, and he sat up straight as Barbara wheeled over, a milkshake in each hand.
‘Two strawberry milkshakes. Volcano burgers are on their way. Anything else I can get you?’
Jason kept his eyes on Dick, glaring. ‘Yeah. Got any hot sauce? Like, real hot sauce?’
‘Uh.’ Barbara glanced at Dick. ‘Sure, but …’
Dick grinned up at her. ‘Hot sauce would be great, thanks Barb.’
She caught the look in his eye and skated away, rolling her eyes and muttering something that sounded remarkably like, ‘Boys …’
The hot sauce came with the burgers. Jason snatched it up, opened his burger, and tipped half the bottle over it. Slamming the bottle on the table, he slid it over to Dick. ‘Well, circus freak? Wanna show me what you’re made of?’
Grinning, Dick grabbed the bottle and upended it over his fries. ‘You’re on, Todd. First one to cry loses.’
Three fries down he was losing. Barbara hadn’t been messing around with the hot sauce—this was the good stuff, the type that cleared your sinuses with one drop. His nose was streaming, his eyes watering. But more importantly, Jason was scarlet in the face, doubled over and wheezing.
‘Are you laughing or choking?’ Dick said, taking another bite and trying not to wince at the burn.
‘Laughing—’ Jason gasped, ‘—at your—stupid face.’
Dick snorted. And then instantly regretted it when the hot sauce travelled up his nose and burned right behind his eyes. He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose as tears crept over his eyelashes. ‘Argh!’
Even if Jason wasn’t laughing before, he started then. Dick hadn’t seen Jason smile before. Those sarcastic, superior little smirks didn’t count. Now this—this was an actual smile. He grinned, ate another scalding-hot French fry, and graciously didn’t mention the tears streaming now down Jason’s face.