The Long Game

“I’m telling you, it’s not going to work,” Jason grumbled as he put more force than necessary to tie the criminals hands.

Roy scooted over, a smile growing on his lips as he extended a hand to Jason. “Come on, you’ve got to admit—it’ll be hilarious either way,” he said, his tone as confident as ever.  

Jason gave him a flat look, brushing past as he took the hand and got to his feet. “Yeah, hilarious,” he muttered with sarcasm, walking toward the warehouse exit with Roy trailing close behind.  

The two walked in silence, their boots crunching against the cold pavement. The chill of the evening air made Roy bump his shoulder lightly against Jason’s, seeking warmth. Jason didn’t pull away, even leaning into the touch just enough to feel the warmth, releasing a quiet sigh. The change of the weather was evident with the red flush of his wind-chapped skin standing out sharply against his piercing blue eyes.  

“Asshat,” Jason muttered under his breath as Roy jabbed a finger against his bruised rib.  

“She’d be happy to have you with us, you know,” Roy said, his voice softening as he rested his cheek against Jason’s shoulder for a moment.  

“Stop speaking for her,” Jason grunted, flicking Roy’s forehead with his fingers. “For all we know, she’s just tolerating me.”  

“She does like you! I’m telling you—she does!” Roy insisted, his tone earnest. “Even my gut says so!”  

Jason snorted. “Well, your gut is about as dumb as your genius plan.”  

They silently disappeared into the night, slipping into one of Roy’s many safehouses where they could safely change out of their gear and slip into civilian clothes. Jason felt a prickle at the nape of his neck. Maybe it was the weight of Roy’s gaze—or maybe it was just the nearing winter. It’s shameful to assume so much.

Walking back into the dimly lit streets, Roy threw an arm over Jason’s shoulders, letting out a long, exaggerated sigh. “Shit’s getting bleak out here, huh?” Jason said nothing, his breath swirling in the cold night air. The soft glow of moonlight lit his face, making it almost ethereal—and Roy had to look away.

“Mhm,” Jason hummed in response, his voice low and bored.

Roy grinned, his energy suddenly electric. “So let’s do it!” he said, his voice full of mischief. “Trust me, man—it’ll be fun!”

Jason groaned, shoving a hand into Roy’s face to push him back. “Ugh, it’s just gonna tire me out,” he muttered. Their playful bickering carried them along the street, their laughter mingling with the distant hum of the city. But the sound of slurred voices cut through their teasing.

“Oi!” A group of drunks across the street called out, their words stumbling over one another. “As attractive as you two are—I still don’t wanna know what your nighttime activities are about, thanks!”

Roy and Jason froze mid-step, stiffening like deer caught in headlights.

“Seriously, though!” one of the drunks yelled. “You wanna spill? ‘Cause I got advice if it’s about some kink play or something!”

The two exchanged a mortified glance before walking faster, determined to look a little less… together. Silence hung between them until Roy—naturally—broke it.

“Now what’s your problem, Jaybird?”

Jason shot him a glare, jaw tightening. “My problem,” he said slowly, “is that those assholes think I’d bottom for you.”

Roy choked on a laugh, holding his sides. “Oh, don’t be an asshat!”

“Oh, I wear that title with pride,” Jason snapped.

“Well, maybe that’s why! ‘Cause you’re proudly an ass!”

Jason’s eyes narrowed, his temper sparking. “Motherfu—” He lunged for Roy, fists clenched, but stopped short as they reached Roy’s front yard.

“Daddy!” a small voice called. Lian had come sprinting out onto the lawn, launching herself into his arms with all the enthusiasm of a small hurricane.

“Sweetie, you’re still up?” Roy said, half-scolding, half-laughing as he caught her.

Jason froze mid-step, awkwardly adjusting himself to look less like he was about to murder someone’s father.

“Ahem,” Jason coughed into his hand. “Yes. Why is the little princess still awake at this hour?”

Lian didn’t answer him. Instead, she leaned over Roy’s shoulder and pulled on Jason’s ear. “Come live with us!” she chirped, her eyes sparkling. “Please?”

Jason blinked at her, then glanced at Roy, who was grinning like he had won the lottery. “Told you so,” Roy mouthed silently, smirking.

Jason winced as Lian tugged his ear again. “Listen, kid,” he said, prying her tiny fingers off. “You know how most families have, uh, parents or partners living together? Like your friend’s parents?”

Lian’s face scrunched up in thought. “Okay. So get married,” she declared unamused with absolute conviction.

Roy coughed, trying and failing to suppress a laugh. “Sweetheart,” he said, still grinning, “Sometimes friends get married only for, um, status. Just to help each other out.”

Lian beamed. “Okay! Then when I grow up, I’ll marry a friend I love, too!”

Jason threw up his hands in defeat as Roy carried Lian inside, his laughter echoing in the quiet night. By the time Jason stepped into the house, Roy and Lian were already on the couch, happily munching on snacks. He barely had time to shrug off his jacket before his phone buzzed.

“Hello, Alfred,” Jason answered, stepping back outside for some privacy. “No! I’m not going to another gala,” he growled as he clenched his fists. “The last one was just to gather intel for my next case—wait, what? Alfred, I—hello?”

The line went dead.

Jason slumped against the door, dragging a hand down his face in frustration. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he sheepishly walked back into the house. Inside, Roy and Lian were innocently eating in the living room yet are sitting closer to the door than their previous positions—obviously not eavesdropping.

“Roy,” Jason said, planting his hands on his hips. “Wanna be my distraction?”

Roy’s grin widened, eyes gleaming. “Always, hun.”

Jason groaned. “Don’t call me that.”

Lian, already halfway through a mouthful of popcorn, chimed in cheerfully. “I ship it!”

“Kid… don’t say that,” Jason sighed in exasperation.

As they arrived at the manor, Alfred was there to greet them at the door, rigid as ever. He took one look at Jason and Roy, then raised a single brow. “Ah, Master Jason. I see you’ve brought… a friend.” The subtle implication in his tone sailed right over Jason’s head but smacked into Roy like a freight train. 

“Umm,” Roy shuffled awkwardly under the heavy glare shot by Alfred. “Well, hello there.”

Tim, who had wandered into the hallway mid-sip of his nth energy drink of the hour, snorted so hard one would think they were hearing a pig get butchered. He coughed, wheezing as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Interesting,” he deadpanned, before casually walking off, texting whoever with one hand.

Jason rolled his eyes, muttering something about ‘nosy little gremlins,’ and gestured for Roy to follow him. Once they were in Jason’s bedroom, they began getting themselves into suits. Jason took the liberty of fixing Roy’s tie after he made a crooked one, standing so close that they were practically about to eat each othe—I mean—kiss. It was the sort of thing that made other people shy or uncomfortable, but they’d been like this for so long it barely mattered.

“There,” Jason muttered, tightening the knot with a raised brow, thinking of strangling Roy as payback from last night–but ditched the thought as soon as it came up. “Now you can actually look half decent.”

“Oh, shut up,” Roy shot back, shoving Jason’s shoulder lightly. “You’re literally one button pop away from looking like you’re straight out from a kink play.”

But as Roy finished his sentence, the universe decided to reward him with poetic justice. With a thunderous pop, the button on Jason’s shirt flew off like a bullet from a cannon, landing perfectly in Roy’s eye. An excellent shot! Even by Roy’s standards.

“OW! What the actual fuck!” Roy howled, clutching his eye as he staggered like he’d just been hit by Jason’s ‘non-lethal’ rubber bullets. Tears streamed down his face—both from pain and from unrelenting laughter. “Holy shit, man! Was your shirt fighting that hard to stay on?!”

Jason stood frozen for a moment, jaw clenched and eye twitching before letting out a frustrated growl. “Of course it had to get worse.” He stomped to his closet, yanked it open with enough force to make it creak, and rummaged through the racks of identical black shirts. His face grew darker with each shirt he checked. “Fuck! They’re all the same goddamn size!” 

Growing muscles was usually one’s pride and achievements. But in this case, it was quite humiliating. A grown man had overgrown his usual in the span of a few weeks as his pecs had grown larger. His pants were quite uncomfortable too–his gluteal muscles had grown a bit as well.

Giggling from his spot on the floor, Roy waved a hand in the air. “Didn’t know your job apparently involves busting out of shirts like in porno’s.”

Jason shot him a sharp glare before unbuttoning a bit more. “Screw it. I’m going without a tie.” He grabbed his jacket, shrugged it on over his now-open dress shirt, and looked at Roy, daring him to say something else.

“Bold choice,” Roy said, tilting his head and giving a nod of approval. “I’m guessing this is how you roughly looked like when you took control of the Iceberg Lounge for a while.’” He grinned. “Not a bad look.”

Jason crossed his arms, the movement making his pecs flex in a way that seemed almost deliberate. “Keep laughing, Harper. Or you won’t see tomorrow.”

At that moment, Alfred’s voice carried up from downstairs. “Shall I prepare an ice pack for Master Roy’s grievous injury? And Master Jason, kindly submit your new measurements for more suitable attire next time.”

Jason snorted. “There won’t be a next time,” he declared, grabbing Roy by the collar to haul him to his feet. “So there’s no need to.”

“Fine, fine,” Roy wheezed, still laughing as he stumbled after Jason. “But just know, if that shirt gives up halfway through the party, I’m definitely going to get the footage one way or another!”

Before they could take another step, the door creaked ominously. A muffled giggle was heard, as well as revealing a phone sticking out through the crack like a snake. Jason groaned audibly, dragging himself toward the door. With intentional slowness and resignation, the door was opened to reveal a wildly grinning Tim Drake, phone in hand, visibly shaking from the effort of not laughing out loud.  

Behind Tim stood Damian and Duke. Damian’s arms were crossed, seemingly both bored and judging that could have been mistaken for Alfred’s on an especially long day. Duke, meanwhile, was simply analyzing the two figures. 

Tim’s face was red, strained, and dangerously close to breaking as he managed to smile, “My bad!” His grin stretched impossibly wider. “Didn’t mean to disturb the lovers!” His attempt at mocked sincerity failed miserably, and before Jason could lunge, Tim erupted into uncontrollable laughter. He immediately turned on his heels, bolting down the hallway like his life depended on it, phone still recording.  

Jason looked ready to chase, but Duke raised a single hand, halting him. Casting another glance at both Jason and Roy, he gave an approving nod. “You two look good together,” he said casually, throwing in an enthusiastic thumbs up. “Face cards won’t decline.” Then, almost as an afterthought, he flexed his own arm and muttered, “I should work out more…” before strolling off.  

That left Damian, who stood perfectly still, his sharp green eyes glaring daggers into Roy. Finally, Damian spoke, his tone as flat as a cutting board. “Him?” His gaze didn’t waver as he glanced at Jason. “I see.” With a dismissive gesture to Titus, he turned on his heel and left.  

Roy watched them all go, stunted into silence. Finally, he scratched the back of his head, turning to Jason. “They’re, uh... odd,” he said, his tone caught between disbelief and admiration.  

Jason sighed, leaning against the doorframe. “Yeah. That’s one word for it.”  

But as Roy stared at Jason, surrounded by this chaos, it hit him. It all made sense now. 

“You fit,” Roy said, half-laughing as realization dawned.  

Jason narrowed his eyes. “Fit what?”  

“This... family,” Roy said with a grin. “You peculiarly fit.”  

Jason opened his mouth to argue, but the distant sound of Tim’s laughter—still echoing through the hallways—cut him off. With a resigned sigh, Jason muttered, “Shut up,” before slamming the door.  

“We still have an hour to spare before leaving for the gala,” Roy mentioned, checking his phone as he slumped on Jason’s bed. “Should we review how we’d tell Bruce about our ‘relationship’ or?” He motioned as he spoke. 

Placing a hand on his hip, Jason raised an eyebrow as he crossed the room. “What happened to you being confident in your ‘genius plan’?” His tone was teasing, his smirk unmistakable as he leaned over Roy, whose ears turned pink–and thankfully, the room was dark which hid it. Jason tilted Roy’s chin upward, forcing him to meet his gaze. 

Roy’s breath hitched as words failed to leave his mouth, his usual smooth banter gone AWOL. “Uh, I… um—”

“But you’re right,” Jason huffed as he threw himself face front on the bed beside Roy. “We should go through this one last time.” His voice muffled as he buried his face in the pillows, unaware from a lingering gaze. “So, I have to say something like we’ve always had something going on but you were too much of a pussy to admit it, right?”

“Hey!” Roy shot back, mock-offended, his expression exaggerated for effect. Realizing Jason couldn’t even see him, he resorted to dropping all his weight onto Jason’s back in retaliation.

“UGH!” Jason groaned in pain, his voice muffled by the pillows.

Roy chuckled in triumph—until Jason twisted his legs, catching Roy in a headlock and flipping him over. “Fucker!” Jason crowed, jabbing his fingers into Roy’s bruised ribs.

“UGH!” Roy yelped in return, both of them wincing as the weight of their bruised bodies screamed in protest. But neither of them relented.

What started as playful bickering escalated into a full-blown wrestling match. They rolled off the bed and onto the floor, grappling and trying to pin the other down. Roy was losing miserably, unaware Jason was slowly cocooning him in the blanket.

With a final tug, Jason triumphed. “Ha!” he declared, straddling Roy in a victorious and unintentionally suggestive position. Jason, oblivious to how indecent they looked, smirked down at his tangled opponent. Roy, for his part, flushed deeply but said nothing. Once again, he was saved by the darkness of the room for hiding just how flustered he had become.

Almost immediately, Jason sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “Okay, Cass. Tell Alfred we’ll be down there in a minute.” Roy was confused, but as he looked to the side, he saw Cass standing silently by the door, unmoving. As she nodded, Steph suddenly appeared in the doorway. When she caught sight of the scene, her eyes went wide, and she gasped dramatically. “OH MY GOD!” she exclaimed, as though discovering some rare treasure. “TIM FUCKING DRAKE! YOU WEREN’T LYING! I THOUGHT YOU WERE LYING!”

Raising his eyebrow, Jason collapsed onto the floor beside Roy. The two of them were a disheveled mess, and Jason couldn’t bring himself to care enough. He knew exactly why the younger ones were making a big deal out of something so ridiculous—it was just another way for them to blow something out of proportion. He shrugged, thinking that maybe it was a sign of his therapy finally starting to work.

His thoughts were interrupted by a voice from the doorway.

“Jason,” Damien called coolly, standing with perfect posture. “Alfred requests your presence. He’s prepared outfits for both of you to wear to the gala.”

“Jason,” came the sharp call from the doorway. Jason tilted his head, not bothering to move more than necessary to see who it was. Damien stood there, his small frame silhouetted by the hallway light. “Alfred requests your presence,” Damien announced. “It seems he’s prepared different outfits for you both for the gala.” As silently as he’d arrived, the boy had turned on his heel, gesturing for Titus to follow him with a sharp click of his tongue. Jason shook his head as the sound of Damien’s footsteps faded down the hall.

In the sudden quiet, Roy glanced sideways at Jason, his eyebrow quirking. “So… we just wing it, after all?”

The car ride to the gala was far from peaceful. Jason had barely settled into his seat before chaos erupted. He should’ve known better, really. They’d been crammed in a car with the other bat kids, and none of them were known for their chill. Thankfully, Dick wasn’t in the car—he was already at the venue with Bruce, helping to make sure everything was running smoothly. But the absence of one brother didn’t seem to lessen the noise.

“I knew you were queer!” Tim exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at Jason. His eyes were wide, his tone triumphant, as if he’d just cracked the case of the century. “My observations were right! Even back when you were Robin, I knew you had a crush on one of Dick’s friends—but I never put too much effort into finding out who!”

Jason blinked, caught off guard. “What—”

“Woah, dude!” Duke interjected, his jaw dropping as he stared at Tim with a mix of disbelief and horror. “The man is literally right there ! Try not to embarrass him in front of his—uh...” Duke’s voice trailed off as his gaze flicked between Jason and Roy. “It might be.. You know… complicated?”

Jason opened his mouth to defend himself, but Roy beat him to it. A grin spread across his face, sharp and teasing but with an edge that felt a little too soft for Jason’s comfort. “Is this true, Jaybird?” Roy’s tone was mocking, but there was a sweetness in his voice that didn’t go unnoticed. Not by everyone else, at least.

Jason, oblivious to the sudden shift in the atmosphere, rolled his eyes. “Tim’s delusional,” he muttered. “There’s nothing to—”

“Must everyone realize it before the two people involved do?” Damien grumbled from the corner, his voice dripping with disdain. He didn’t even bother to look at the others, instead staring out the window as if the conversation was too beneath him to engage with.

Jason frowned, his brain scrambling to piece together the words being thrown around him. “Wait, what are you—”

“Oh my god,” Tim interrupted, leaning forward with a look that could only be described as gleeful. “You really don’t know, do you? Oh, this is rich.”

“Don’t push it, asshole,” Jason growled, narrowing his eyes.

“You’re deflecting, by the way. Not a good look, Jason.”

Roy, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself. He leaned back in his seat, tracing Jason’s spine with his hand, hidden from everyone’s view, with a self-satisfied smirk. “You know, Jay,” he drawled, his voice taking on that teasing edge again. “It wouldn’t kill you to be a little honest with yourself every once in a while.”

Jason turned to glare at him, but the heat in his eyes didn’t quite match the warmth blooming in his chest. “You’re all insufferable,” he grumbled, slumping back into his seat. “Can’t a guy just go to a stupid gala in peace?”

“Nope,” Tim quipped, grinning from ear to ear. “Not when it’s you we’re talking about.”

Jason threw up his hands in frustration, the motion making his suit jacket strain slightly against his shoulders. “Everyone in this family is queer,” he deadpanned. “I never said I wasn’t. It’s just—” He paused, gesturing vaguely at the scars that were still visible despite the well-tailored suit. “I didn’t exactly have the time to explore that sort of thing, you know, with all the dying and resurrecting and crime-fighting. But sure, let’s all gang up on me now.”

Cass nodded solemnly from her spot, her silent support making Jason feel just a little less like he was drowning.

“So, you’re boyfriends?” Tim asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Well, yeah…” Jason answered, fidgeting with his hands as his words trailed off.

Tim’s mouth dropped open slightly, as if he hadn’t expected the confession to come so easily. He looked from Jason to Roy, then back again, before a delighted laugh burst from him. “Oh, this is too good. I’m never letting this go. You’re telling me—”

“Tim,” Roy cut in, his voice calm but firm. He leaned forward just enough to meet Tim’s gaze, his smirk still firmly in place. “You keep pushing, and you’re gonna find out exactly how creative Jason and I can get when it comes to...”

Jason shot him a sharp look, but Roy simply winked at him, unbothered.

Tim narrowed his eyes, weighing his options, before finally leaning back in his seat with a theatrical sigh. “Fine,” he said, though the glint in his eye said this was far from over. “Only cuz I don’t really want to know about your fucking sex life.”

Roy chuckled, leaning closer to Jason and dropping his voice low enough that only Jason could hear. “See?” Roy mouthed as Jason groaned softly, pinching the bridge of his nose–though there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

As Tim began plotting out loud all the ways he could milk this revelation for maximum entertainment, Cass gave Jason a subtle thumbs-up. Meanwhile, Damien finally turned away from the window, his expression one of supreme disinterest.

“Jason!” Bruce called over, already surrounded by wealthy figures and their heirs.

Jason groaned. “Oh no…” he muttered, nudging Roy with a quick jab to the ribs. “Figure something out.”

Roy, looking completely lost, stared at the drink in his hand and whispered, “The fuck am I supposed to do alone?” But Jason was already too far gone, surrounded by Bruce’s high-society friends. Roy’s frustration was palpable. “Shit. This was supposed to be a team effort!”

Jason wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry as he moved through the fake politeness of it all. He hated these events. The smooth-talking, shallow, borderline vampiric charm of everyone around him was enough to make him feel sick. But the more he tried to distance himself, the more Bruce’s voice seemed to claw at his attention. “Jason, these are the twins from the _ family,” Bruce continued, his tone syrupy sweet. “They are the heirs to a growing trading empire. They’ve taken a liking to you. What do you think?”

Jason blinked, feeling a knot tighten in his chest. The twins stood beside Bruce, flushed and visibly shifting at Bruce’s bold statement, but that didn’t help Jason’s sinking feeling. The words hadn’t even left his mouth when something caught his eye—a shadow moving through the crowd.

He turned his head and saw Roy on the phone again, his expression tense, his shoulders squared like he was preparing for a storm. Jason’s heart sank. What the hell was going on? They had a plan, they were supposed to be in this together, but Roy looked like he was getting distracted. “Who the hell is he calling?” Jason thought, his patience wearing thin.

Seconds stretched into what felt like hours, but Roy was still on the phone, looking more lost than ever. Jason’s focus flickered back to the party—he had to keep up the façade, the fake smiles, the meaningless chatter—but the impatience simmering in his chest wouldn’t settle.

“Jason,” Bruce’s voice cut through his thoughts again. “These are the twins. They’d love to get to know you better. Would you like to… show them some interest?”

Jason felt his skin crawl. The twins were standing there awkwardly, their eyes smiling, and Jason could feel their gaze burning into his skin. He was about to decline with the usual charming snark when Roy’s voice broke through the haze of the gala’s noise.

Suddenly, there she was. The woman. With all the grace of someone who knew exactly what they wanted, she weaved through the crowd, making a beeline for Roy, who had just finished his phone call. Jason’s irritation flared again, this time rising like bile in his throat.

Roy didn’t look thrilled—if anything, he looked uncomfortable. He was doing everything he could to avoid the woman, whose hands were already reaching for him, an unmistakable move toward a kiss that Roy was actively dodging. Jason couldn’t take it anymore.

His heart hammered in his chest as he saw the woman press against Roy, too close, too deliberate. Something snapped inside him.

“I’m in love with Roy!” Jason shouted, his voice slicing through the air with a clarity that shocked everyone around him.

The entire room fell silent. All eyes were on him. His face burned with embarrassment, but he didn’t back down. He planted his feet and squared his shoulders. “I always knew he felt the same way for me, but he was just a coward until recently,” he continued, voice rising, “And unfortunately, I like losers.”

Bruce’s hand shot out, a half-formed attempt to stop him, but it was too late. The damage had been done. Jason had already surged forward, grabbed Roy by the arm, and pulled him out of the woman’s grip.

“Jason—” Roy started, but Jason didn’t let him finish. He didn’t give him the chance.

Without a second thought, they disappeared into the night, leaving behind a stunned crowd buzzing with questions and gossip. Was Roy from StarCity? Was he connected to Oliver Queen? Was he “worthy” enough for someone like Jason?

Dick Grayson, who had been caught in the middle of it all, was left with his jaw on the floor. But he wasn’t about to let anyone talk down about Roy. No one messed with his family, and Roy was part of that.

As the party slowly descended back into its usual haze of whispered conversations and fake smiles, Duke and Tim found a quiet corner. They were trying to contain their laughter, barely managing to hold it in.

“Fucking genius,” Duke giggled, his hand covering his mouth as he glanced toward the exits.

“Well,” Tim said with a self-satisfied smirk, “It’s me we’re talking about.”

“Yeah,” Duke said, shaking his head as he tried to fix his composure, “and now we know—no one’s complicated. They’re just fucking idiots.”

Tim chuckled, clinking his glass to Duke’s. “Yes, indeed. They’re merely fucking idiots.”

And so, the party continued, but Jason and Roy were long gone, leaving behind a chaotic but oddly satisfying trail of confusion, whispers, and, for some reason, admiration.