Chapter Text
I've listened with an agenda so I could prove
All of the shit I believe to be true
Just to hide the fear of being weak
One
By Birdtalker
The shrill bleat of Jason’s ringtone ripped him from his sleep. With a strangled cry, he half rose from his twisted sheets, grasping for the incessant device. He fumbled to answer, struggling through half-lidded eyes before he managed to accept the incoming call.
“’Ello?”
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
“Fuck you two.”
“I am overjoyed by the anniversary of your birth!”
“Thanks, Kori,” Jason grumbled, sinking back into his bed.
“Congratulations on another full year around the sun,” Roy chirped. “Sorry we aren’t there to celebrate with you.”
“It’s alright. Tamaran needs you more than I do.”
Kori hummed sweetly, from the other side of the galaxy. “I wish you were here with us.”
“We miss you, Jay.”
“I know,” Jason agreed, rubbing his hand brusquely through his hair, “I miss you guys too, but we have no idea how long you’ll have to be gone, and everything here has been-“
“Jay, it’s okay," Roy assured, "We get it. Besides, Artemis more than makes up for your skill set.”
“She is a most impressive specimen,” Kori cheered, “She will be revered on Tamaran.”
Jason smiled, grateful for the Amazon for agreeing to fill his spot for this particular mission. “I’ll have to fight her to get my spot on the team back.”
“She would win,” Roy laughed loudly.
“Thanks,” Jason muttered sarcastically, faux annoyance pushing into the receiver, “That makes me feel real good on my birthday.”
“What are friends for?”
“Not for waking you up this early.”
“We desired most to be the first to wish you well on this special day.”
“Well, it worked,” Jason chuckled.
Roy laughed brightly in return, “What have you got planned for the day? Lazing about? Birthday take out for one?”
“I’m not completely helpless without you, you know. I am capable of makin' plans.”
“Well, go on then. What are you doing?”
“Street festival,” Jason said simply, rolling onto his back and closing his eyes.
Capping joyfully, Kori released a squeal of approval. “That sounds most enjoyable!”
“A festival?” Roy questioned doubtfully, the phone crackling as he readjusted his hold. “Really? How did you come across that?”
“I’ll have you know it’s a Gotham summer tradition.”
“And who told you about this Gotham tradition?”
“I know things, Roy.”
“Is ‘things’ 5’8", 140 pounds, with pretty blue eyes and an ass you cou-“
“Roy,” Jason hissed, his teeth clenched, “if you finish that sentence, the next time I see you, I will shave your head while you’re sleeping.”
“Your threats mean nothing to me, lover boy,” Roy grinned, crooning sweetly.
“Have you taken Tim as your bedfellow, Jason?” Kori inquired, her voice reverberating with elation. “This is joyous news! I will bring you back a Tameranian tincture of virility.”
“That will absolutely not be necessary,” Jason affirmed, throwing off his blanket, “I’ve not taken Tim as my anything and I have no plans to do so. Roy just has a highly active imagination.”
“But he is taking you to this festival?”
“Yes Roy, Tim is taking me for my birthday. Happy?”
“Like a date?”
“No. Not like a date. Like a friend hanging out with me on my birthday.”
“Fine,” Roy conceded, “whatever you say.”
Humming quietly in reply, Jason picked slightly at the thinning green bottom sheet beneath him. He let the silence stretch, the distance between him and his best friends filled with only their light breathing made them suddenly feel so much further away.
“I hope your day brings you as much joy as your birth brings us,” Kori said finally.
“Thank you. I’ll try.”
“What time are you meeting up with Tim?” Roy asked.
“He’s swinging by around eleven-thirty.”
“Well you better hurry, Jay, it’s eleven-seventeen earth time.”
Jason sprung forward, pulling his phone away from his face to see the time. “What?!”
Jason could hear Roy cackling, even with the phone held at a distance. “Have a drink on me! Talk to you later!”
“Farewell, Jason!”
He watched as the connection severed, his home screen blinking into view, a text from Tim advising that he was on his way mocking him cruelly. He launched himself over the foot of his bed, snatching up a pair of jeans that were draped across a half open dresser drawer. He stepped in hastily, bringing his left foot down to quickly into the twisted fold of the fabric, knocking himself to the floor, his head catching the corner of the box spring as he descended.
With a vehement curse, he groaned, pushing his tangled legs out through the bottom and clambering back to his feet, stalking to the closet as he worked the closers into place. He pulled a white v-neck down, slipping it over his head when his phone started to ring. Ignoring it, Jason jogged instead to the bathroom, brushing his teeth and taming the sleeping mess out of his hair. Doubling back into his room for his shoes, he shot Tim a text that he would be down shortly, before tucking his wallet, phone, and keys into his pockets, and leaving his apartment.
It was an uncommonly nice Gotham morning; the sky was a pale blue and the sunshine was mild for mid-August, and if the forecast prevailed it would be a comfortable seventy-eight degrees most of the day.
Tim was leaning against the buildings stoop, a backpack slung on one shoulder and a skateboard poised underfoot. He looked very at ease, dressed in a loose teal shirt and pair of patterned shorts and sneakers that were either very modern or quite vintage. Jason, who paid very little heed to the current trends knew that Roy would probably find Tim’s outfit too ostentatious, but Kori would love it and want it for herself. All Jason thought was Tim in anything other than his uniform, a suit or work out gear, was a rare enough treat that the whole thing could have been neon orange and he would not have cared.
“Sorry,” Jason greeted apologetically, bouncing down the stairs. “Late start.”
“That’s okay,” Tim smiled, tucking his board under arm, “it’s your birthday, you can be as late as you want.”
“I should have slept more than,” Jason joked.
Tim tilted his head as Jason moved closer, his eyes narrowing slightly in sudden appraisal. “You’re bleeding.”
“Huh?”
“Your head is bleeding.”
Reaching up, Jason touched he slightly aching spot near his temple, his finger grazing the sticky wetness of the slowly descending blood. “Oh.”
“Hold this,” Tim instructed, placing the skateboard against Jason’s chest to take. “Sit down.”
Jason eased himself back, lowering himself onto the top step, letting the board lay flat against his thighs as Tim pulled his backpack around. It was a cheerful yellow, white, and teal color blocked bag, perfectly coordinated with his clothes, and he unzipped the middle pocket, digging inside it before he pulled out a small, plastic box.
It opened with a little pop, and Tim set it down on the makeshift table, pulling out a cotton ball and a miniature bottle of bactine. Carefully, he pushed Jason’s hair back, gingerly disinfecting the cut and clearing the area of blood.
“It looks like you’ll live,” Tim smirked, dabbing the area dry with a second cotton ball. “What did you do?”
“Fell out of bed," Jason muttered the half truth, avoiding Tim's too close gaze, "I didn’t realize it did any damage.”
Pinching the corner of a Neosporin packet between his fingers Tim ripped the corner, carfully applying the cream and pulling out two band aids. “Rubber ducks or ladybugs?”
“Uhh…”
“Ducks it is,” Tim decided, peeling back the wrapping, and pressing the sticky, cartoon duck covered strip to his skin.
“Did you skate here?” Jason asked, as Tim reassembled his first aid kit and stuck back into his bag.
“I stayed nearby last night, in one of the emergency apartments.”
A little exasperated but not surprised, Jason rolled his eyes. “Does he have apartments near all of my places?”
“If I say yes, will you move again?”
“No,” Jason shrugged, “Barbara could find me easy if she wanted to.”
“Very valid reasoning,” Tim agreed, extending his hand to help Jason from the steps. “Ready to go?”
Jason nodded, taking Tim’s hand, and pulling himself up. “Lead the way,” Jason smiled, and he fell into step beside him with thoughtless ease.