Where could I go?

“Sooo, he burnt down his own apartment building? That doesn’t seem like Pranks MO,”

“It’s not, Firefly did it. What’s important is that Firefly was found beaten within an inch of his life a street over,” Bruce’s voice rings through the cave roughly as his fingers continue to clack against the keyboard of the computer. 

Dick is just ready to get some rest. As he rubs his eyes tiredly the screen of the bat computer fills with a video of the security footage Oracle was able to get.

It starts with an orange glow cast on a street as people flee from the fire. Families and citizens pour out of the building as flames engulf it. Above them, a man flies, boosted by a fiery jetpack. The citizens scream as he flies away. Well, he tries to fly away. 

The camera suddenly switches to a view farther down the street, Firefly is racing at a slower pace as Prank hops onto the jetpack and grabs a wing as they spiral toward the ground. They land in a heap and Prank is up immediately, hitting the man with inhuman strength. Firefly is cackling while this happens, his face contorted in a wild grin. 

An uneasy feeling settles in Dicks stomach as the scene unfolds. Prank looks…wild, uncontrolled. He’s not poised like he usually was during their regular scuffles, this seems like a lot more coming to the surface than just that. 

As Prank continues to pummel Firefly, who Dick is somehow starting to feel bad for, the screen is suddenly engulfed in static and the video stops.

“It’s been corrupted, by who?” Dick places his hands on the desk as he looks up at the continuing static. Who’s trying to protect him right now? Based on the limited information Hood gave him, Prank hasn’t been in contact with anyone remotely close to Joker's gang.

“That’s what I'm trying to figure out. Ask Hood about the fire and how his investigation with Prank is coming along, he might have some valuable info,” Bruce’s eyes stay glued to the screen as Dick moves from his position leaning against the desk.

“Alright B-man, now that you mention it Jay has been pretty silent. When was this? Two weeks ago?”

“Two-face has been stirring up trouble in the financial district, and with the recent Arkham breakout, all resources have been pushed there. That’s why I need you to contact Hood about this,”

“I’ll give him a call, don’t run yourself ragged,” Dick starts for the exit of the cave as he fishes his phone out of a pouch on his belt.

“Take a nap, Alfred just restocked the granola bars, too,” Bruce's voice calls after Dick as he makes his way to the elevator.

A soft smile pulls at the corner of Dicks mouth. “Love you too,”

—

“Are you finally home or what? Do you know how many times I've broken in for sandwiches and my baby brother isn’t there to make them?? It’s honestly tragic,”

“First off, am I only a sandwich maker to you? Rude. Second off, I’ve been busy. There's nothing wrong with that,” Jason leans on the railing of the fire escape, his eyes looking out towards the empty street below him. People don’t usually walk around much in crime alley. One hand holds a phone up to his ear while the other traces the chipped paint of the railing.

“You know you make them better than anyone, little wing, and you didn’t answer my question. Are you home?”

Jason considers his answer for a second, even though he knows lying will just lead to his siblings snooping where they shouldn't. “...Yes,”

“Perfect! I’m coming over for sandwiches right now! Please can you do the ones where the bread is all crispy-”

“No! You- you can’t come over…indefinitely,”

“...Indefinitely?” The tone in Dick’s voice is enough to make Jason wince. Shit, he didn’t mean to make it sound like he didn’t want him there. He’s just…hiding someone his family is extremely interested in finding right now. 

It’s for a good reason! He still needs an informant on the Joker's activities. Even if the informant doesn’t know much, has been away from the Joker for a while now, and is way too sweet to hurt a fly. 

As Jason stands on the balcony of his apartment, he spares a glance inside. Peter is sitting on the couch, machine in hand, and fiddling away at the tiny components. He finishes his finagaling and closes the back of the machine. As he places it on the table, the machine zips out of his grasp towards the center of the table, it launches itself into the air and flips twice then lands back on its tracks. Peter yelps excitedly, throwing his hands up in the air. He grabs the device and nuzzles it warmly.

“Jay?”

“Huh? Fuck- sorry, I -uh- got distracted. You can come over…eventually. Just not right now for a bit, there’s some…stuff going on,”

“Oh?” Jason doesn’t like the sound of that, Dicks voice is raised and he can practically hear the eyebrow quirk. Shit, he has to shut this down fast. What’s the most non-suspicious way to do that?

“Fuck off, dickhead, I don’t have anyone over. That’s weird and I have my books so it’s fine and everything is fine so just…fuck off,” 

Wow Jason, you really got the heat off ya that time.

“...Oh. My. GOD,”

“I said fuck off!”

“Ok ok ok ok, I’ll totally fuck off I promise. BUT when you’re on patrol I get ten minutes to pick your brain and I swear I won’t push any further,”

“...”

“If you don’t agree I’ll tell Tim you have that fancy heated plush blanket you hide from him,”

“...Fuck! Fine…whatever,”

“Yayyy-” Jason cuts off the call before he can hear Dick celebrate for at least ten more seconds.

—

“Alright, I'm heading out. You good?”

“Yup! I’ll probably just watch Star Wars until I fall asleep,”

Jason watches as Peter sits bundled up on the couch in the plush heated blanket he usually just reserves for himself on bad days. The smile being sent his way is practically blinding as Peter snuggles into the couch. 

He looks really happy.

He looks really cute-

Nope

Nope nope nope

That’s not happening so uhhhhh just throw away that thought now.

Jason stares at Peter as he flicks through the TV to find his favorite movie. He’s attractive, like really attractive. All lean muscle and goofy smiles that put a confusing feeling in Jason's chest he can’t quite decipher. Something about him just makes Jason want to come back to the apartment the moment he leaves so he can make some snacks and they can watch Star Wars together. Well, Jason would try to watch Star Wars and Peter would excitedly talk over it.

God, he wants to do that instead. He really really does.

But he has a job to do, and Dick is waiting for him. If he ghosts Dick now there'll be a citywide search for him and Jason is not in the mood.

“Jason?”

Fuck, he was staring. Cover. COVER.

“Don’t go to sleep too late,” Jason quickly exits the apartment via the window.

Smooth.

—

A pizza sits between the two vigilantes as they look over the skyline of Gotham.

Yet again, olives adorn the pizza and Jason can’t help but wrinkle his nose at them. He’s all for trying new food but warm olives? Nope.

“Sooooo who’s the lucky lady? Or man, or person, I’m cool like that,”

Immediately Jason groans and buries his face in his hands, going to stand up. He’s almost about to grapple off of the building when Dicks frantic voice stops him.

“Wait! Wait! Wait! I’m chill! I’m chill! Here I'll shut up. Just talk to me and I’ll listen,”

Jason settles back down, sighing to himself. His palms resting against the concrete ledge of the building, even with his gloves on the cold seeps into his fingertips. Where would he even start? There’s no way he’s revealing the guy currently living with him who makes him feel very confused is the Joker's former sidekick. He’ll have to work around that little piece of information, which means he’ll probably have to focus on the emotional aspect of the story rather than just telling it objectively. Ew.

“...It’s nothing, really. Like, I- ugh. I think I like this…guy and It’s kind of…tearing me apart? It’s a really…really complicated situation. But he just makes me feel…weird. Like I get this feeling in my chest and It’s like warm? Maybe I just have heartburn, that’s probably what it is, I’ve been eating too much spicy food,”

A small laugh makes Jason turn towards his brother. Nightwing is slightly hunched over and laughing to himself, Jason can feel the embarrassment already seeping into his veins.

“Oh my god I shouldn't have said anything, this is so embarrassing-”

“No! No! Hood…you don’t have heartburn bud. You have a crush on him,”

“I…what.” Jason takes a second to think about it. He died before he could really have any big crushes on girls and anyone he’s connected with as Hood was… short-lived. The job always got in the way, or maybe he just wasn’t trying hard enough…

His mind was a lot cloudier back then.

“You have a crush on this guy, like you definitely have a crush. Does he make you happy just thinking of him?”

Jason takes a second to visualize Peter earlier today, celebrating over his robot working. A soft smile crosses his face. The way he pokes his tongue out slightly when he’s tinkering makes its way to the forefront of his mind and he smiles wider.

“...Yeah,”

“You like this guy so why not go for it? You miss a hundred percent of the shots you don’t take,” Dick smacks Jason's shoulder, a bright smile adorning his features. 

“Dating advice from a guy who has literally always succeeded in asking people out. Wow, thanks”

“What’s holding you back?”

“...It’s complicated. I think I couldn’t date him even if I wanted to, there's a lot of stuff going on and I just think a relationship would mess things up more,” He thinks about the Joker, what would happen if Peter was hurt because Jason got a little bit too close. He considers what would happen inversely, Peter still getting hurt but Jason isn't there to help this time. In that moment Jason feels the overwhelming urge to protect. His fingers curl around the ledge of the building, he needs something to do, something to punch.

He grabs a slice of pizza instead.

“Well, I'm a hopeless romantic so I'd say go for it. Whatever happens, happens, at least you tried,”

Jason looks out at the Gotham skyline, pinpointing his apartment where Peter is probably sleeping soundly. He’ll probably have to turn off the TV and carry him to bed again, in the morning Peter will probably be bummed he didn’t get to finish the series and Jason will offer to finish it with him. During the day the two will sit peacefully on the couch and that warm feeling will settle into his chest for the day. He’ll make lunch and Peter will finish it first with a smile on his face and an offer to do the dishes.

“...maybe,”