( It's 3AM. Usually, he was still out with his mask on and pistols blazing around this time, but the past couple of nights had ended early. Or rather, he had ended them early. He'd crossed paths too many times with Batman on the rooftops in the last three days, and while he wasn't scared of Batman or whatever stupid rules he wanted to shove down Gotham's throat, there was something to say for how Batman could make you feel. Even behind the lenses of a cowl, there was something in his expression, that constant sound of disapproval (or maybe it was disappointment?) in his voice and slant of his lips.
It was a constant reminder that no matter what costume he had on his back, he'd never live up to whatever ridiculous standard Batman had set for him. For them. Because at the end of the day, they all felt that pressure, didn't they? Dick was supposed to be the golden child, Tim expected to think and not feel, Damian had to twist and mold his morality to something else entirely, and for him? He was the original fuck up. He was the one who couldn't be Dick or be better than him, and Bruce never let him forget it. His methods were too violent, he was getting involved with the wrong people, there was always something. And truthfully, it was exhausting.
It was why Jason had called it early the past few nights. He was tired of the looks, tired of the warnings, just tired. And sitting alone in a diner with only the sound of the waitress humming some tune as she refilled his glass gave him any real peace. At least, the first two nights. On the third, Jason felt restless even here. More alone than he usually did with a familiar itch of annoyance under his skin that only Batman could put there. He'd resisted the urge for two days to pick up his phone and text someone and ask for some company, but now he knew it was what he needed. He should call Roy or Kory, hell, he could even go chill somewhere with Croc. But instead, his finger hovered over Dick's number. He stared at it for who knew how long, kept putting his phone down before picking it back up.
In the end, he wasn't able to stop himself. Of all the names he had on his phone to call, Dick's was the one that kept drawing his attention. The one that made his stomach flutter awkwardly once he'd finally sent the text. And geez, if there was anyone he shouldn't feel that way about, it was Dick. )
slams this down here
It was a constant reminder that no matter what costume he had on his back, he'd never live up to whatever ridiculous standard Batman had set for him. For them. Because at the end of the day, they all felt that pressure, didn't they? Dick was supposed to be the golden child, Tim expected to think and not feel, Damian had to twist and mold his morality to something else entirely, and for him? He was the original fuck up. He was the one who couldn't be Dick or be better than him, and Bruce never let him forget it. His methods were too violent, he was getting involved with the wrong people, there was always something. And truthfully, it was exhausting.
It was why Jason had called it early the past few nights. He was tired of the looks, tired of the warnings, just tired. And sitting alone in a diner with only the sound of the waitress humming some tune as she refilled his glass gave him any real peace. At least, the first two nights. On the third, Jason felt restless even here. More alone than he usually did with a familiar itch of annoyance under his skin that only Batman could put there. He'd resisted the urge for two days to pick up his phone and text someone and ask for some company, but now he knew it was what he needed. He should call Roy or Kory, hell, he could even go chill somewhere with Croc. But instead, his finger hovered over Dick's number. He stared at it for who knew how long, kept putting his phone down before picking it back up.
In the end, he wasn't able to stop himself. Of all the names he had on his phone to call, Dick's was the one that kept drawing his attention. The one that made his stomach flutter awkwardly once he'd finally sent the text. And geez, if there was anyone he shouldn't feel that way about, it was Dick. )
gc diner? got a booth