Chapter Text
The hum of the motorcycle didn’t echo in this new Batcave. Dick supposed it’s because it’s not really a cave and more a basement at the bottom of a giant skyscraper.
Dick sat in the middle of the training mats. He was out of the Batman gear, wanting to be as non-threatening as possible when Tim inevitably attacked him.
Tim paused when he saw Dick on the training mats. His cowl was still on so Dick couldn’t tell what he was thinking at all.
There was a moment in which they stared each other down. Dick realised belatedly that he should probably have said something.
“Hey, how was…” Dick trailed off. It’d be a bit weird for him to ask Tim how things were at the bakery, considering Dick had attempted to stop Tim from visiting said-bakery just yesterday.
“Fine.” Tim said, short.
At least he was replying.
Dick was wracking his brain for something to say, so it surprised him when Tim spoke first.
“How come you’re still awake?” Tim asked. There was a strange lilt to his words, but Dick had no clue what it could mean.
“Barbara and I were running through some details on a case,” Dick replied. The line on Tim’s shoulder’s pulled taut and Dick felt himself holding his breath, fearing the worst.
Did he step on a landmine there?
Maybe Tim was expecting Dick to confess that he visited the bakery.
Although that had nothing to do with why Dick was awake.
“Since we’re both still awake, I was thinking we could have breakfast together,” Dick tried, even though he hadn’t been thinking this and it was more an excuse to distract Tim from punching him.
“I already ate at Jason’s.” Tim’s stance shifted slightly. Dick felt himself tense up as he prepared for the confrontation.
Tim simply stood there, defiant, as if he was expecting Dick to challenge him again.
Dick was too busy being baffled. Did Jason not talk about him?
Maybe Jason always texted people back very quickly, or maybe he regularly flirted with his customers. It seemed unlikely, given his horrible flirting skills, but Dick didn’t really know the guy.
Dick hadn’t thought it was an act. But he had been fairly distracted.
There was a long stretch of awkward silence. And then Tim headed straight for the elevator.
“Wait, what about your cooldown routine?” Dick called.
“I’ll do it in my room.”
“Alfred’s not going to like you taking your gear upstai-” The elevator door shut before Dick could even finish speaking.
Guess that was that.
But Dick hadn’t been punched. Or even yelled at.
Dick sat there on the mats, contemplating this unexpected turn of events as he went through some more stretches.
Maybe Tim didn’t know. Maybe he and Jason didn’t talk about things like this.
It wouldn’t be that unusual. Tim probably didn’t share personal details as Red Robin. It was entirely possible that the only things he and Jason chatted about were shared interests or things they saw on the internet. That was a common friendship dynamic.
Or maybe Jason wasn’t all that interested in pursuing a relationship. Perhaps Dick had misread the whole thing. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Just as he thought that, his phone vibrated with a new message.
Dick grabbed it.
A message from Jason.
It was a photo of the sea, shimmering in the early Gotham morning.
Pretty. Much prettier than Dick had expected anyway. The Gotham coastlines were not particularly known for their aesthetic appeal.
The accompanying message read: Saw this beautiful sight this morning and thought of you.
Dick snorted.
There was no way Jason wasn’t interested. That type of heavy-handed compliments were used by only two types of people. Scammers or someone extremely inexperienced.
You don’t know he’s not a scammer , his mind supplied as Dick laid down on the training mats and thought about his reply. Maybe he’ll be asking you for cash to save his business in a couple of weeks.
Dick doubted it. The bakery’s financial records were spotless and traceable. The complete lack of problems was what prompted Dick to look into Jason’s personal background to begin with.
Besides, it was 6am. What sort of person in their right mind would send a “I think you’re pretty!” text at 6am. Only someone completely smitten.
Dick was no stranger to being pursued. But it had been a long time since anyone had tried. It had been a long time since Dick had interacted with anyone who would try.
He wondered if Jason wanted a one-night-stand, or if he was interested in an actual relationship. Dick wasn’t a big fan of one-night-stands. He’d always found them supremely unsatisfactory. But it does feel like Jason was only attracted to his looks.
Dick spun his phone around his wrist as he thought.
Should he check?
If Jason was only interested in sex then that would explain why he didn’t mention him to Tim. And if that was all Jason was after, Dick would prefer to know sooner rather than later.
He was contemplating how best to word things when he received a second message.
J: Not that your beautiful face is the only thing great about you.
Dick hesitated for only a moment.
D: I’ve been told my ass is pretty great too 😉
He wondered if Jason would jump on that invite to be more sexual. Dick was also no stranger to being reduced to a sex object either.
Jason doesn’t.
J: Right now I’m more impressed that you’re awake. It’s 6am.
Jason hadn’t seemed to consider that he might have woken Dick up with his texts. Must be one of those meticulous people that always put their phones on silent before bed.
D: What can I say, I’m an early bird. So early that I don’t sleep in the morning 😌
J: You’ve not gone to bed yet have you.
D: Nope
J: It’s 6am.
D: I was too busy thinking about your apple croissant 😉
J: Well you can always come by again.
J: Unless that was a euphemism.
D: 😉
J: That does not clear it up for me.
D: I’m teasing. Sorry to disappoint, but the real reason I’m awake is because I’m working
J: So busy.
D: Gotta make that bread somehow
There was a brief pause in which Dick received no messages for a while. And then…
J: Shop’s getting busy. I’ll text later.
D: Til next time 😘
Okay, so maybe Dick was laying it on pretty thick too. But he couldn’t help it. Texting Jason was just so easy and casual and comfortable. And Dick always felt like he’d been wrapped in a fluffy blanket after a conversation with him.
Tim is going to be so mad when he finds out, his brain reminded him, dumping a bucket of icy cold water on that fluffy blanket with no remorse.
Dick bit his lip. That was true. Tim had explicitly said to stay away.
But…
But maybe…
Maybe Tim didn’t have to find out.