Chapter Text
“Bruce!” Dick yelled into the phone just as soon as it hung up.
He went into his contracts clicking on Bruces name.
Ring, Ring
He’s finally lost it, hasn't he?
Ring, Ring
Dick knew Bruce was in a bad place after Jason's death but this? He thought Bruce was improving goddamn it!
Ring, Ring
Dick swore he’s going to rip him a new one after this. Calling him, telling him his dead brother’s alive!? After every-
Ring, Ring
“Ugh! Fuckin’ hell Bruce, pick up!” Dick said his frustration aloud as he grabbed his helmet and slipped onto his bike. He was in Bludhaven currently but if he drove fast enough then maybe he’d be able to reach the manor in about twenty five minutes, thirty at best.
Dick weaved through the roads at a dangerous speed, a few people probably honked at him (and considering the city he was in, that’s concerning) but Dick paid no mind to them. There was a familiar rage beneath his skin, one he didn’t allow himself to feel often. It thrummed under his finger tips.. Only a few times could Dick recall it.
When he learned of his parents' killer.
When he confronted Zucco.
When Bruce fired him.
When he made Jason robin.
When Jason died .
Shame still crawled up his spine every time he remembered Jay. He was an amazing kid, and an even better brother, not that I would know , He thought, bitterly. Because he never gave Jason the chance. It doesn’t matter now because Jason’s dead. He was killed by the Joker and he’s never coming back and Bruce’s wrong.
Dick had just passed under the familiar fog of gotham, had it already been that long? Huh , as he felt raindrops hit his helmet and thunderstruck, because of course it did. Typical Gotham.
Dick barely noticed the shouts of people as he narrowly avoided cars. He only realised he was in Bristol when the night-time noises became quieter. Too quiet. The noises and shouts and sirens and curses had all kind of faded into white noise for Dick. He found he desperately needed it back. Every single thought seemed to be louder, bouncing around in his skull causing an echo.
He tried to drown out the thoughts of Jason and death and Joker with instead what he was going to say to Bruce. Specifically, how he was going to say anything without shouting. Or who knows maybe he will? (probably) Bruce has a special talent for pissing people off.
Dick slowed down his bike as he saw the looming shadow of the manor appear. He made a turn and headed for the secret entrance of the bat-cave. As he went in the tunnel and approached the cave Dick could hear some voices but he wasn’t close enough to make out what they were saying. The voices stopped as he parked his bike in the cave.
He got off his bike and slipped his helmet off, holding it between his hands. “Bruce what!-” Dick stilled.
“Hey Dickie-bird.”
The helmet dropped from his hands, “Jason?” He said so softly that if the cave hadn’t been pin dropped silent he wouldn’t have been heard otherwise.
Jason swallowed before continuing, “That’s me.”
And it was. It was Jason. Alive and here and okay and alive . Bigger though, older. What he would’ve looked like had he had the chance to grow. But- but he was here now. Grown up. Right in front of Dick’s eyes.
“Jay!” Dick threw himself into his arms, Jason was taller than him now. It broke something in Dick, to know that he didn’t get to see his little brother grow up. “Oh my god, little wing,” Dick buried his face into his brother's chest, “Little wing, Jay, I’m sorry, I’m-I’m so so sorry. I- how-” He cut himself off and opted for just hugging Jason while sobbing.
After what could have been hours, though he knew instinctively was only a few minutes, they pulled away. Dick still kept his hands on each of Jason’s shoulders but now he was observing his face. Trying to see everything that changed. His freckles were still there and he had lost his baby fat. There was a white tuft of hair on his head, dyed by the looks of it. Most significantly, his eyes. Instead of the deep ocean blue they used to be, it was now a stark green colour. Dick swore he recognised that but couldn’t quiet place from where.
Dick’s eye’s caught the red bat on Jason’s chest. Above him he heard a sharp inhale.
“Yeah, I know what you’re gonna say. I’m the red hood. I’m a kil-”
“I don’t care.” Jason looked up in surprise and Dick quickly added on, “I mean, I don’t care that you’re a killer.” And it was true. That didn’t matter. He didn’t care, the only thing that mattered is that his brother is here.
Only when Jason relaxed did Dick notice how tense he was.
“How-” Dick’s voice cracked so he tried again, ”How are you here?” How are you alive?
Jason shrugged, “Long story.”
Dick couldn’t help but hug Jason again. He couldn’t believe Jason was here, alive, this entire time and- wait. If Jason had been the red hood this entire time then why had he attacked them? Why didn’t he come home? He would have known that they’d still love him, right?
Dick nearly said that aloud but stopped. Jason was here now and he was happy. Dick didn’t need to be going ruining the mood. He could ask that later. For now he held his little brother closely.
“Uhh, Dick? You’re kinda suffocating me here.”
“Wha- oh!”
He quickly let go taking a few steps back.
Dick peeked over Jason where Alfred and Bruce currently were. Actually, Bruce hadn’t said a single thing this entire time. He didn’t even seem to be looking at them.
“Bruce?”
That seemed to get him out of whatever trace he was in. Bruce looked up meeting his gaze.
He cleared his throat before speaking, “Ah, yes chum?”
“Are you… okay?” Even if he and Bruce had a rocky relationship he still cared for him and this was probably hard for him too.
Before Bruce could reply Alfred cut in, “How about you and master Jason stay here for the night?”
“I- sure.” It was pretty late.
As both he and Jason walked up the stairs to the manor Dick stole one last glance to Bruce before looking towards Jason, “I guess you don’t want to sleep in your old room, huh?”
Jason’s shoulders hitched slightly before answering, “yeah.”
Dick hummed as they entered Bruce’s office and went into the manor, “Do you.. Want to take the guest room next to mine?”
He hoped that wasn’t to much, he and Jason barely started to have a relationship before he died. To his relief though, Jason just smiled, “Yeah, sure, big wing.”
Once Dick helped Jason get situated in the guest room, saying a few goodnight’s, and was already in his bed from his old room in the manor, about to fall asleep, did he remember where he saw that colour of green before.
His last thought before he slipped into darkness.
Ra’s.