Chapter Text
The fight started over risotto. Which honestly felt fitting for them.
Every Wednesday, no matter how chaotic Gotham became, Bruce and Jason reserved lunch for each other.
Just them. It was one of the few routines they protected viciously. Which was exactly why neither of them canceled despite currently being in the middle of a heated argument.
The restaurant was quiet. Private. Expensive enough that nobody bothered them.
“You already agreed to come with us to Europe,” Bruce said evenly while setting down his wine glass.
Jason looked entirely unimpressed across from him. “I did, before Talia asked me for a favor.”
Bruce’s jaw tightened slightly at the name. “Jason.”
“It’s summer break, Bruce. Not the end of the world.”
“You were supposed to spend it with us, with your family.”
“Talia is family. At least to me and Damian.”
“That is not what I meant.”
Jason sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair.
Here was the problem. Bruce wanted Jason to join the family on a vacation to Europe. Dick and Tim were going. Damian would be there for half of it, and Alfred had already planned the itinerary.
Bruce though…
Bruce had quietly looked forward to having Jason with him for weeks.
Meanwhile, Talia cashed in a favor to spend the summer abroad helping her train the new recruits as Talia’s pseudo lieutenant, traveling, and helping her run LOA while her father is somewhere doing what he does best. Damian will be there for the next half to spend time with his mother.
And unfortunately for Bruce, Jason genuinely wanted to go. Not because he loved Bruce less. But because Jason refused to give up pieces of his life just to wait at Bruce’s feet at all times.
“I see her once a month,” Jason argued. “You see me every single day.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is?”
Bruce hesitated.
Jason immediately narrowed his eyes.
“B, please.”
Bruce exhaled slowly. “I wanted you there.”
And damn him, that softened Jason’s resolve slightly, because Bruce rarely admitted things like that directly.
Jason looked down at his untouched drink for a moment before muttering, “I know.”
Silence settled between them briefly.
Then Bruce added quietly, “I dislike the idea of not knowing where you are and what you’re doing across the world with Talia for an entire summer.”
Jason snorted softly. “You can always call me if that makes you happy.”
Bruce looked at him steadily.
“Will you answer?.”
Jason rubbed tiredly at his forehead. “I’ll try.”
Bruce’s expression hardened again immediately. “And I’m not pretending this doesn’t worry me.”
The argument circled endlessly because neither of them was willing to bend.
Eventually Jason sighed heavily. “Can we talk about something else? I want to spend my lunch with you, not argue. We can always do that later.”
Bruce looked displeased by that reality.
But after a long moment, he nodded once.
“Fine.”
The fight remained unresolved, raw, lingering beneath the surface. Yet neither of them moved to leave, and neither of them treasured anything more fiercely than moments alone together.
So instead of continuing the argument, Bruce paid the bill, then he took Jason shopping.
—
Shopping with Bruce Wayne was a deeply ridiculous experience. Mostly because Bruce spends money like it doesn't mean anything.
They entered the first luxury store and Bruce immediately handed Jason a black card.
“Buy whatever you want.”
Jason looked suspicious instantly. “Are you trying to butter me up, old man?”
“Is it working?.”
“Depends on what’s in store, Darling.”
Bruce simply gestured toward the displays.
Jason ended up buying things anyway because unfortunately being spoiled by Bruce had become his new normal.
By the fourth store, Bruce carried multiple designer bags while trailing silently behind Jason through the mall. By the sixth store, Jason had mostly relaxed and started to enjoy it more. By the tenth-
Everything went to hell.
Because while Jason browsed through watches near the back of another luxury boutique, a woman approached Bruce near the entrance.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Obviously flirting.
Jason noticed immediately. Normally this wouldn’t have mattered. Bruce got flirted with constantly. The problem was that Bruce responded. Not as Bruce, but as Brucie Wayne.
Jason watched in growing disbelief as Bruce smiled charmingly, leaned casually against the counter, and laughed warmly at something the woman said.
The full billionaire playboy act. The exact act Bruce weaponized publicly when there are cameras around. Jason’s irritation returned instantly.
Sharp.
Hot.
Because after all the jealousy Bruce inflicted on him, after the arguments about Talia, after the possessiveness. Bruce had the audacity to flirt back?
Interesting.
Very interesting, indeed.
Bruce must’ve noticed the shift in Jason’s expression immediately because his smile faltered for half a second.
Too late.
Jason turned and walked toward the next section of the store without a word.
Bruce disengaged from the woman almost immediately.
“Excuse me.” Then followed Jason deeper into the boutique.
“Jason.”
Silence.
Jason continued examining watches like Bruce no longer existed.
Bruce moved closer cautiously. “She approached me.”
Jason ignored him completely.
“Jason.”
Nothing.
Bruce sighed softly.
Oh no.
Silent treatment. Because Jason almost never used it unless genuinely pissed, and Bruce hated it.
“Angel,” Bruce tried carefully.
Jason picked up another watch. Bruce still carried all his shopping bags. Which somehow made the situation even more humiliating.
The rest of the shopping trip became increasingly absurd. Jason continued moving from store to store while acting like Bruce was invisible. Bruce followed him the entire time carrying an embarrassing amount of luxury bags while attempting increasingly desperate apologies.
“It was all an act.” Silence. “I was being polite.”
Nothing.
“I wasn’t interested in her.”
Jason continued walking.
Bruce looked progressively more distressed with every ignored attempt. Several employees openly stared at the sight of billionaire Bruce Wayne trailing behind his visibly annoyed younger lover carrying shopping bags like a kicked puppy. Jason, meanwhile, enjoyed every second of Bruce’s suffering. By the time they finally returned to the car, Bruce looked genuinely anxious.
Which honestly served him right.
Bruce got into the driver’s seat carefully while Jason settled beside the window. The silence inside the car felt deafening.
Finally Bruce tried again. “Jason.”
No response.
Bruce tightened his grip slightly against the steering wheel. “I’m sorry.”
Jason reached forward calmly. Then turned the music volume up.
Bruce blinked once.
Jason leaned back smugly against the seat afterward, staring out the window with a tiny mischievous smile tugging at his mouth.
Bruce immediately became nervous, because that smile meant Jason was plotting something.
Bruce Wayne feared exactly two things in life:
Losing Jason
And Jason deciding to retaliate psychologically.