Chapter Text
Always one for the dramatics, Jason ripped off his domino and glared at Dick. “What do you want Dickface? Here to take me in?”
Dick just stood there, stunned at the final confirmation that Jason really was alive. That he hadn’t been crazy, hadn’t been lying to himself. Despite all the evidence he’d gathered, and all the hopes he’d had, he hadn’t been able to fully silence the nagging voice in his head that this was just another hallucination, just another crazy dream being chased by a crazy man. But there Jason stood; breathing, solid, and really, actually real.
Jason drew his gun as Dick stared. The safety was left on for now, but that could change in a heartbeat.
“The only way to stop me is to kill me, Dick.” There was a certain weariness masked behind the scorn in his voice. “You’ll have to break the One Rule. Are you gonna save Tim like you wouldn’t save me? Is he worth it enough to you?”
It finally clicked what Jason was saying and Dick took a sharp breath in. He tore off his mask, leveling the playing field, and finally made uninhibited eye contact with the man who used to be his little brother.
Jason’s finger twitched on the trigger as they continued staring, clearly anxious even if he didn’t show it any other way.
“Jason,” Dick breathed again and suddenly the gun was being leveled on his chest.
“Stop saying that!” Jason yelled, anger and hurt coating this tongue. “Stop acting like you care!”
Dick was shocked into silence and Jason continued, “You didn’t love me when I was alive. Why pretend like you care now?!”
Dick was pinned down by the sharp gaze, he couldn’t look away, couldn’t even think of a proper answer as he stared at his brother’s burning green eyes. “Little Wing,” he choked instead and Jason’s eyes flared at the nickname, “What happened to you?”
Jason shifted defensively and his tone turned low and dangerous, “You don’t get to call me that. You don’t get to come in here and act like we’re family. Like you didn’t let me die and leave me to rot in my grave.” His volume grew. “You don’t get to get off scot-free when you replaced me and let my fucking murderer run loose! Actions have consequences, Dick ,” Jason practically spat the name and Dick flinched back, “and the consequence of being Robin is death.” Jason’s voice broke a little at that, “I died, and you replaced me. You just fucking left me. You let the Joker live. So don’t come in here acting like we’re family and like I matter, when I clearly never did.” Jason steadied himself and raised his gun. “Get the fuck out, Dick. And don’t come looking again.”
“Lit-- Jason, please. Please. I know we fucked up, but Tim didn’t do anything! Take it out on me if you need revenge, but Tim’s innocent, all he did was try to help.” Dick was growing desperate.
“No! None of you are innocent in this. You’re all complacent in my death and you will be in the Replacement’s as well!” Jason laughed almost manically, “ I could almost get replacing me if it didn’t mean another child is going to die, but you didn’t even avenge me! Sure! The Joker can kill and that’s okay! But I didn’t matter enough for my killer to be killed! I die and he’s still alive! Explain to me how that makes sense!” Jason’s eyes had gone crazed, but now they fully settled on Dick. They burned a terrible green and the anger made Dick feel sick to his stomach. “No words for once Big Bird?” Jason leveled the gun on Dick once more and spoke what Dick knew would be his last warning. “Then get the fuck out before I really make good on every Robin dying.”
Dick wanted to stay. Every fiber of his being was screaming at him to not leave, that this was his little brother and that he couldn’t just abandon him yet again. Despite that, he slowly turned and climbed back out the window without so much as a glance back into the room.
----
Dick was still in a state of shock when he eventually made if back to his apartment. If he was fully honest with himself, even though the very thought of doing such a thing terrified him, he didn’t really remember how he’d managed to make it all the way back to Blüdhaven.
Dick knew he was in over his head. Logically, he knew what he needed to do. Mentally though, he didn’t know if he could make himself do it. It would’ve been bad enough if he’d done what he needed to the second he figured things out, but now he’d been hiding vital information for months.
Dick sat down heavily on his couch, not even bothering to change out of his suit, and pulled out his phone. He hesitated, then turned it on.
Dick [08:32] Hey, Bruce.
Dick [08:32] I think we need to talk.
Dick let out a shaky breath as he stared at his phone. It was only then that he realized what time it was. God, he was tired. When was even the last time he slept? Bruce wouldn’t be awake right now and he hesitated to send the next text, but he was already in deep, so he figured he may as well. He knew what Bruce would say before he even asked, and he really didn’t want to, but Dick didn’t actually know if this would be any better over the phone. At least in person, he might be able to see Tim again.
Dick [08:35] Do you want to call me when you’re available? Or should I come to Gotham?
Dick lay down on the couch and closed his eyes. He really should change and shower before he went to sleep. He should probably even sleep in his bed instead of his couch, but he was tired in a way that wouldn’t be cured by sleep alone. All he could do was wait.
----
Bruce, for some forsaken reason, was awake. Or maybe Dick had woken him up with his spam texting. Either way, Dick hardly had a moment to rest before his phone was buzzing.
Bruce [8:39] Gotham. 10am.
Of course, that’s all Dick would get. For all Bruce knew, Dick was going to tell him he was dying.
Somehow Dick thought Bruce might prefer that news over what Dick actually had to say.
Resigned to his fate, Dick dragged a blanket off the back of the couch and tried to get some sleep.