grift
“Have you really sunk so low, that you’ve resulted to grifting just to get by?”
Jason stops in his tracks, slowly turning around to find Damian in a large shirt that Jason noticed was one of his old ones that he left back at the manor for when he decides to stay the night, and a pair of striped pyjama pants that seemed to swallow his feet.
He was on his own covert mission to acquire money from Bruce, that he definitely asked for, and not something he would just pilfer. At least not in plain sight.
And he’s already gotten the ‘Go’ signal from the old man, who was off-world at the moment on a League mission, earlier in the day, telling him he can get the card he’s reserved for Jason whenever he can drop by the manor.
Of course, this borderline grandiose gesture was enough to sweep Jason off his feet, but he’d rather jump into the nearest open grave than admit that to his old man’s face.
Now, the issue at hand was how does he explain to the half-asleep demon brat that he was only taking what Bruce had kept for him?
It was a nerve-wracking couple of minutes that went by, with Jason frozen in his tracks, caught red-handed, as he flips open Bruce’s card wallet. He’s already found a black on with his name on it, so he takes it, mindful that he shows the kid he’s only taking what he came for.
He even points out the name on the card, at which the boy only yawns at, eyes squinting in the dimly-lit study.
“Isn’t it way past your bedtime? Why are you up?” Jason casually asks, playing the Big Brother card.
“I was asleep, until your poorly executed heist woke me up.” Another yawn follows Damian’s answer, this time he brings up a hand to rub the sleep out of his eyes.
“Next time you need something, just knock, or text either me or Timothy so we can open the door and get you what you need. Don’t just go sneaking in like a burglar.” Damian tells him, and suddenly Jason feels the years catching up on him.
“I almost alerted the security system, you wouldn’t be able to walk out unscathed,” he finishes, turning around to exit the study.
“Don’t forget to turn the lights off and lock the doors when you leave. I’m going back to bed, visit us sometimes, Todd.” Another yawn, before Damian’s voice sounds more distant. “I might just start calling you by your name, too.” And then he was gone.
Jason pockets the card, and chuckles to himself as he turns the lamp off, and locks the door just as he steps out the room. He pulls the door shut, and walks down the hallway, back to the main entrance.
“They grow up so fast,” was Jason’s parting words, stepping out the manor.