Batfam Slash

The first time it happens, it’s three in the morning.

Tim is sat slumped over his laptop, his vision blurring as he tries to focus on the report he’s reading for the WE board meeting first thing in the morning, his bones aching from a rough night on patrol. He’s probably slept six hours in the last four days.

He’s so close to drifting off, and then he hears the sound of Jason’s bare feet gently padding over.

“Alright,” Jason says softly, his voice still thick with sleep. “That’s enough. You said you were coming to bed three hours ago. You’re no good to anyone if you’re exhausted.”

Tim makes a noise which comes out as a mix between a whine and a grunt, and the fact that he’s too tired to even talk means that Jason is probably right.

Jason wordlessly closes Tim’s laptop lid for him and gently sets it aside.

What happens next catches Tim slightly off guard though.

Jason picks Tim up and hoists him over his shoulder, as if Tim were no heavier than a sack of potatoes. Tim goes limp as he lets Jason carry him to the bedroom, feeling slightly giddy.

He forgets how strong Jason is sometimes. He forgets how easily Jason can pick Tim up and throw him round and hold him down-

If he weren’t so exhausted, he’d be begging Jason to fuck him.

*****

The second time it happens, they’re having sex.

Tim is going to town riding Jason’s dick, which just so happens to be his favorite position, enjoying the feeling of Jason’s large hands on his hips. Everything is going splendidly as it usually does during a post-mission fuck, when suddenly-

Jason firmly wraps his arms around Tim and rolls them over in one swift motion so that he’s on top.

Tim’s brain kind of just goes blank as Jason’s cock slips free for just a second, but then Jason pushes back inside and -

And Tim comes.

Just like that.

Jason smirks. “You like that, huh Timmers?”

Tim just lets out a garbled whine because, fuck, that was hot.

*****

The third time it happens, Jason does it deliberately because he knows now that Tim is into it.

He pushes Tim up against the wall of their apartment and kisses him, before grabbing the backs of the younger man’s thighs and hoisting him up-

Tim gets the message and immediately wraps his legs around Jason’s waist, once again in awe of his strength.

“I like this,” Jason growls. “I like knowing that I can do this to you.”

“Jay,” Tim chokes out, nuzzling the older man’s jaw. “Jay, please.”

And Jason fucks him right there.

Right up against the fucking wall.

Holding Tim up the whole damn time.

Tim is screaming so loudly and Jason is fucking him so enthusiastically that he knows they’re gonna get complaints tomorrow, and he’ll never be able to look his neighbors in the eyes again.

But it’s worth it.

He tells Jon that he has no reason to go back now that his father is dead. That’s not true, of course - it’s technically his house now, but he’s gifted it to the Todd family, and Damian desperately misses his brothers and his nephews.

It’s just too painful to go back.

Too painful to return to the place where he was once happiest. The place that transformed his childhood and made him the man he is today.

The children ask him constantly when they can go and visit Grandpa again. Damian can never bring himself to answer; Jon is normally the one who gently explains to the children that Grandpa isn’t around anymore, before giving Damian a comforting kiss and cuddle.

Damian can only bring himself to go back when Jason phones to invite them all over, explaining that Dick is unwell and wants to see him.

“What do you mean unwell?” Damian demands, his heart sinking. He’s getting flashbacks from just before his father died.

“Depression,” Jason tells him glumly. “It’s been getting worse over the last few months. He’s desperate to see you.”

That’s enough to make Damian go back.

He doesn’t take Jon or the children, deciding that it would be far better to do this alone the first time. He doesn’t want his family to see him break down in tears.

Chris, Jason and Dick’s oldest son, is there to greet him.

“Missed you, Uncle D,” the younger man says, pulling Damian into a hug.

“I missed you too,” Damian replies, hugging his nephew back. “Are your parents around?”

He feels ashamed for shutting himself away from the family for so long.

Chris’ younger brother is away at college, but Jason is around; Damian can hear him puttering around in the kitchen. Chris leads the way, and Damian immediately feels better when he sees Jason’s familiar smile.

Jason’s hairline is receding and there are wrinkles around his eyes, but he’s still impossibly handsome, and even at this age he works hard to maintain his muscle mass.

“Boy, am I glad to see you,” Jason says with a grin, pulling Damian into a hug. “Welcome home.”

Damian hasn’t thought of this place as home for a while now.

They exchange pleasantries, and Jason makes some tea, which is when Dick appears.

Damian can immediately tell that Dick is unwell. He’s smiling, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes. Normally when Dick enters a room, the whole room brightens with him, but today he doesn’t have his normal radiant glow.

“Little D,” Dick says softly, opening his arms.

Damian goes to him immediately, hugging Dick just like he used to do when he was a child. He’s taller than Dick now though; Damian is the one who tucks Dick’s head beneath his chin.

Dick’s hair is peppered with grey, and the sharp planes of his body are more soft curves now, but he’s the kind of person who will never not be beautiful.

“You look old,” Damian says softly.

It’s not intended as an insult; it’s a running joke between them.

Dick chuckles as he fiddles with the oversized sleeves of his sweater. “I feel old. No Jon or kids today?”

“I’ll bring them next time,” Damian promises. “I just wanted to come and spend some time with you.” He kisses Dick’s cheek. “How are you feeling?”

Dick shrugs. “Tired. I’m tired all the time these days. I don’t have the energy to do much. Sometimes I feel like I’m too tired to even think.”

Jason wraps a large arm around Dick’s shoulders. “It’s okay, honey. Wanna have some tea with us?”

They sit and drink tea, and they deliberately avoid talking about Damian’s father.

It only makes Damian more worried. He can tell that Dick is not in a good place; none of them are. But seeing Dick like this is scary.

Damian decides that maybe he does need to spend more time here.

He’s not though, so he doesn’t.

“The brat is usually moody,” Jason observes when Bruce brings this up with the others. “I really wouldn’t lose sleep over it, old man.”

“He has been different though,” Tim adds. “Damian has been a lot quieter lately. He’s always got something to say.”

“I could talk to him?” Dick offers. “It’s probably nothing we need to worry about, but we should still check in with him. I bet you anything he’s crushing on an omega at school and he doesn’t know how to deal with it.”

Bruce thanks Dick for the offer but is determined to deal with this himself. Dick is wonderful with Damian but Bruce needs to stretch his muscles as a parent.

As it turns out though, Bruce doesn’t have to bring it up with Damian because Damian approaches him in his study one afternoon.

“I don’t want to do patrols or missions with Nightwing anymore,” Damian tells Bruce glumly, and Bruce can feel his jaw drop.

It’s common knowledge that Dick is Damian’s favorite, even though he’s never said it out loud. Damian saying that he doesn’t want to work with Dick is like a young child insisting they never want to eat candy again.

“What?” Bruce blinks. “Why? Have the two of you had an argument?”

“No.” Damian clenches his fists, not looking Bruce in the eye. “Grayson has done nothing wrong. He doesn’t know I’ve come to speak to you. I just think it’s best that I don’t work with him, at least for a little while. This is no fault of his; it’s my weakness and my problem.”

And then Bruce remembers what Dick said, and it suddenly makes sense.

Bruce clears his throat. “Okay. So you haven’t had a fight with Dick. You’re not angry with him. Would I be correct to assume that you have…other feelings for him?”

Damian squeezes his eyes shut, his face flushed red with shame.

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Bruce continues gently. “Dick is a beautiful omega and you’re very close to him. Having a little crush is only natural.”

Damian wrinkles his nose at the word crush.

“Father…I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to work with him anymore. I’m making mistakes when I’m around Grayson and I’m putting everyone in danger. I’m putting him in danger.” Damian finally meets Bruce’s eyes. “I would never forgive myself if something happened…”

Bruce gently pulls his son into a hug. He feels pride swell inside of him; a few years ago he could never have imagined Damian willingly coming to him to admit a weakness to him, nor to put the needs of the team above himself, nor to admit any kind of feelings towards another person.

“We all have weaknesses,” Bruce tells his son. “That’s why we make a good team. We cover for each other. Dick will be crushed if I tell him you don’t want to work with him anymore. I’m assuming you don’t want him to know the reason why.”

Damian just looks up at Bruce with tears in his green eyes. They both know that these are unrequited feelings.

“How about I temporarily keep you apart on patrols and missions?” Bruce suggests. “And in the meantime, we will do some extra training. You can always train yourself to overcome weaknesses, and this is no different.”

Damian snorts, but his voice is soft. “You can train me not to love Richard?”

The word love surprises Bruce a little, and he almost wishes that Dick could hear this.

“I can’t train you not to love someone,” Bruce says. “I don’t think I could train anyone not to love Dick. But I can help you to use your feelings in a positive, healthy way. Your feelings could be a strength too.”

Damian looks thoughtful, but nods in agreement. “We can try. Thank you, Father. I appreciate your guidance as always.”

Damian is the one to initiate the hug next, which surprises Bruce a little, but he can’t keep the smile from his face.

Jason wants to hate him.

As soon as Tim says I’ve met a guy, Jason wants to hate said guy. They haven’t even met and he wants to hate the guy.

Bernard is just a civilian; Jason knows that there are few civilians with his strength or build, but that doesn’t stop him from being a threat. Bernard is a threat because he wants the same thing that Jason does.

So the first time Bernard comes to dinner at Wayne Manor, Jason prepares to make a mental note of every flaw and every faux pas that Bernard makes. Jason wants this to go bad badly for Bernard. He wants him to fail.

But as soon as he meets Bernard, all that hatred and rage melts away, because Bernard is really nice.

Jason has never met anyone who’s gelled so well with every single member of the family, and has just seemed so genuine. Bernard listens with unfeigned interest as Bruce rambles on about WE business. He talks to Dick enthusiastically about his day job in Bludhaven. He praises Damian’s drawings and Alfred’s cooking.

And he spends so long talking to Jason about his motorcycle that Jason almost forgets he’s supposed to hate this guy.

Bernard is everything that Jason hoped he wouldn’t be - kind, attentive, funny, and polite.

He’s perfect for Tim.

Jason can feel himself slowly deflating as it becomes very clear just how much Tim adores Bernard. They make a very cute couple. They sit close to each other and although Bernard respectfully keeps his hands to himself, it’s clear that there’s affection between them and Tim looks at the other boy with big huge puppy dog eyes.

Tim is happy, and it’s been a while since Jason has seen him like this. It’s nice.

So Jason can’t hate Bernard, even if he wants to. He can’t hate anyone who makes Tim this happy.

“I’m sorry, Little Wing,” Dick says softly when they’re leaving together later that evening, clinging to Jason’s arm. “He seems…”

“Perfect,” Jason finishes glumly. “At least Tim is happy.”

Dick gives him a sympathetic smile. “Yeah. He seems really happy.”

At least Dick doesn’t feed Jason some bullshit about how he’ll find his special someone someday soon. Instead Dick bats his pretty eyes and suggests that Jason comes back to his place, and they end up having sex while Jason desperately tries to get Tim out of his mind.

*****

Wayne Manor is cold.

Big and cold and dark.

Tim shivers beneath his thick red cloak, his heart pounding. He’d known this day was coming for a long time, but that doesn’t make it any easier. His first posting in his first household.

“Eyes down, dear,” the Aunt beside him says.

Tim lowers his gaze as he hears footsteps on the grand staircase.

Commander Wayne is one of the most powerful commanders in Gotham. The Aunts had told Tim how lucky he was to be posted to the Wayne household.

Tim has seen pictures of Commander Wayne before; he’d always thought there was something mysterious about the man. Bruce Wayne is certainly handsome in person, but there’s a warmth to him that doesn’t quite come across in the photos.

“Blessed be the fruit,” Commander Wayne says with a smile.

“May the Lord open,” Tim replies automatically.

“Welcome to our home,” the young man standing next to Commander Wayne says softly.

Mrs Wayne is about fifteen years younger than Commander Wayne, and he’s considered to be one of the most beautiful Wives in Gotham. He’s dressed in the traditional green, and he radiates warmth. There’s something different about him; he’s not like the other Wives Tim has met.

“Thank you, Mrs Wayne,” Tim says.

“Please.” Mrs Wayne smiles reassuringly. “Call me Dick.”

The Aunt gives a disapproving look, but Tim knows she won’t say anything. The Waynes are too powerful.

It’s hard to imagine that Dick is barren; he looks so healthy and fit. But there aren’t many fertile people these days, and Tim is one of the unlucky few who is.

“You must be tired,” Commander Wayne says. “We’ll get you sorted in your room, and then we can have some tea and chat. We have two Marthas here. Alfred is busy cooking so you’ll meet him later, but Jason will show you to your room.”

Tim glances to the Martha who has appeared from a door to the side. He’s young; maybe a few years older than Tim. He’s large as well; tall, broad, and muscular, although not quite as big as the Commander.

There’s something that looks a little like pity in Jason’s eyes. He knows why Tim is here.

Tim bites his lip. If this were Before, Jason would have been the kind of person he would have flirted with. Jason would have been the kind of person he would have been attracted to.

He needs to be careful though. He can’t be seen to flirt with the Martha, or else they could both end up in trouble. Jason would probably lose an eye or a hand, and Tim would probably be sent to the colonies.

But the temptation is there.

Jason smells good as he steps forward to take Tim’s suitcase, and Tim allows himself just a moment to fantasise about soft lips and strong hands. A little romance.

He’ll get none of that with the Commander.

But as he’s led up the stairs by Jason, Dick reaches out to give him a little squeeze on the arm.

“Don’t worry, Tim,” Dick says softly.

The Aunt clears her throat.

“Ofbruce,” Dick quickly corrects himself. “We’ll take care of you.”

Maybe Tim has joined a kind household. Maybe Dick will be a Wife who will feign illness to get Tim out of the ceremony. He’s heard rumours of Wives like that.

Dick can’t be ill every month though.

Jason pulls his comms out of his ear and the tracker Bruce had given him and throws them on the ground, before reaching for his helmet.

“Jay,” Dick says calmly. “Let’s just talk about this.”

They’re all just staring at Jason like he’s the one being unreasonable. Like he’s the one barking out orders and dismissing everybody else, not thinking about what’s best for the mission. Keeping control even though they lost two important leads tonight.

“Fuck this,” Jason says. “I’m done with this.” He looks at Bruce. “Don’t ever ask for my help again.”

Bruce’s jaw clenches. “Jason, sit down. Let me explain.”

“Fuck you.” Jason sees Lazarus green.

He’s about to storm towards his bike when he meets Tim’s eyes.

He’s not sure if it’s the familiar love and understanding in those eyes, the rage he feels, or the need to give some kind of a fuck you to Bruce.

Jason marches over to Tim, grabs him round the waist and dips him. He smashes their mouths together and kisses Tim with as much passion as he can muster. Tim kisses him back, and Jason can feel everybody’s eyes burning into him.

“I love you,” Jason mumbles against Tim’s lips as they part, too low for anyone else to hear, but he knows the others are good enough at lip reading to make it out.

“I’m out of here,” Jason says to everyone, eyes stinging as he turns and heads towards his bike.

He can’t bring himself to look at any of them.

He’d completely lost track of time.

Not that he isn’t always happy to see Dick, but this isn’t the first time he hasn’t been ready on time. And he hates disappointing Dick.

“Hey,” Dick says with a cheerful smile, holding up a couple of brown paper bags as he closes the apartment door behind him. “Brought food.”

“Hey.” Jason returns the smile and gives the older man a kiss. “Thanks. I’m so sorry I’m not ready. I was looking through some case files and completely lost track of time. Just gimme two minutes-“

“Don’t worry about it, Jay.” Dick’s voice is soft. “No big deal. Take your time. I’ll get some plates.”

They haven’t been doing this long, but Jason still feels giddy when he hears that slight hint of authority and protectiveness in Dick’s voice. He still gets excited, knowing that Dick is coming over and knowing what they’re going to do.

Jason can’t keep the smile from his face as he quickly undresses, stripping himself naked while he listens to Dick pottering around in the kitchen. He fumbles around under piles of papers that he’d left spread out all over the floor, sighing with relief when he finds his collar.

“There he is,” Dick says warmly when he appears from the kitchen, placing the plates of food in his hands on the coffee table. “There’s my good boy.”

Jason grins bashfully. “Shut up, Dickhead.”

Dick laughs and swats Jason’s bare ass playfully. “Talking back already? You wanna be punished before we even get started?”

Jason rolls his eyes, but he’s still smiling. “No, sir.”

He hands the collar to Dick, his heart pounding as his boyfriend fastens it around his neck.

“Good.” Dick kisses Jason’s neck right above where the collar sits. “You’ve had a good streak going lately. It’s been a while since I’ve had to punish you. You’ve been brilliant.”

Jason feels shy again, but he’s beaming, melting beneath the praise.

“I’m serious, Jay. You’ve been so good for me. Not just when it’s just us. It hasn’t gone unnoticed. I’m really proud of you.”

“Thank you, sir,” Jason replies, trying to keep the wobble from his voice.

Dick takes a seat on the couch, which Jason knows is his cue to take a seat on the floor at Dick’s feet.

They eat together with the TV on in the background, and Dick lazily strokes Jason’s hair.

It feels so good. It always does.

It’s not just the sex part. Jason knows Dick will have him on all fours later, and will fuck him on every surface in this apartment (and he really can’t wait for that), but it’s this stuff he loves too. It’s just sitting and being with each other, and knowing that Dick will take care of him. It’s knowing that he doesn’t have to think for himself for just a little while.

Jason has never trusted anyone else enough to do this with. He loves that he’s so compatible with Dick in this way; he loves that Dick understands his needs and is always clear on boundaries. He loves that even though Jason spends a lot of his time naked and on his knees with a collar round his neck in front of Dick, Dick always treats him so respectfully. Everything is on Jason’s terms.

“So,” Dick says through a mouthful of burger. “B was telling me the two of you had an argument the other day.”

Jason’s shoulders slump. He’d known three weeks without a punishment was too good to be true.

“Hey.” Dick’s voice softens as he notices the shift in Jason’s mood. “This doesn’t change what I said earlier. You really have been good. I just wanna talk about it.” He pats the empty couch cushion next to him. “Will you come up here for a sec?”

Jason lets Dick take his hands and bring him up to the couch. Couch conversations are always serious conversations. Conversations where Dick would prefer them to be on equal footing, with no power imbalance, and where Jason can’t hide behind his submission.

Dick squeezes Jason’s bare knee gently. “So tell me why you were mouthing off to B. I wanna hear your side of it.”

“I wasn’t mouthing off,” Jason mumbles. “It was nothing. You know how he is. We just had a disagreement about how to deal with some lowlifes, that’s all. It’s the first time we’ve argued in like three months, which I think is pretty good. All things considering.”

“All things considering.” Dick hums. “And how are you feeling about it?”

“I’m fine, Dick. It was a stupid fight.”

Jason doesn’t want to talk about it, and he can tell Dick can sense it.

“Okay,” Dick says softly. “I just wanted to check. I’m not looking for things to punish you for, Jay. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

Jason doesn’t know why he deserves this sometimes. Someone like Dick is too good for him.

Sometimes Jason fears that Dick will disappoint him. Dick will push him too far, or ignore his boundaries, or laugh at him and all his twisted fantasies. He had a nightmare once where Dick told the whole family about their little arrangement, and he showed them all Jason’s collar, and Bruce looked at him with disgust while Tim and Damian laughed and laughed-

But lately those fears have bled away from a crushing wave to a trickling stream. They’re still there, but they’re not as frequent. Dick has only ever shown Jason love and affection and respect, and Jason’s starting to see now that maybe he’s not as worthless as he once thought he was.

“Jay?” Dick brushes his fingers through Jason’s hair. “Color?”

“Huh?” Jason blinks. “Oh. Um. Green.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Dick smiles and kisses him. “Okay. Just checking. You wanna sit up here with me for a bit or go back down on the floor?”

Jason blushes and his gaze drops to his lap. “Back down on the floor.” He swallows. “Please, sir.”

“Okay,” Dick chuckles. “Down you go then.”

Jason feels that weight lift from his shoulders once again as he returns to his place on the floor. He feels so comfortable and free here, and he loves Dick so much for indulging him like this.

He deliberately doesn’t look the older man in the eye, choosing instead to tangle their legs together beneath the covers, and ignoring the way his heart beats faster when Slade pulls him close.

“Told you, kid.” Lips brush against Jason’s hair. “It’s gonna take a while. Hard to give a specific timeline. Could be four months. Maybe five.”

Jason ignores the way his eyes sting. He’s not gonna fucking cry because the guy he’s been fucking is going away for a few months. No way. It’s not like he’s gonna miss Slade.

“You’re not gonna be in Gotham for another five months?” Jason swallows, his voice thick.

What’s there to miss anyway? The sex is good, sure, but it’s not as if Jason can’t get sex elsewhere. And he doesn’t need all the stuff that’s started to come with the sex lately; watching movies together and eating meals together and talking about their fucking lives-

“It’ll fly by,” Slade says softly, squeezing Jason’s bare ass. “Besides, you’ve got plenty of options when I’m not here. Grayson, Drake, your redhead friend with the arrows-“

“I don’t want options,” Jason blurts out. “I want you.”

He buries his face miserably in Slade’s shoulder. The truth is there’s no one who could possibly fill the void that Slade will leave. And he doesn’t want anyone to.

“Jason.” Slade tilts the younger man’s head up by his chin. “You know I have to do this. I accepted this contract a while ago. Don’t pout at me like that.”

“I’m not pouting,” Jason mumbles. “It’s just…it’s such a long time.”

He hates how whiny he sounds.

“C’mon, kid. Don’t get bratty with me now.”

Slade’s voice is soft, fond. He strokes Jason’s cheek gently. It’s that familiar tone that has Jason’s stomach doing somersaults.

“Will I be able to call you?” Jason asks quietly. “Or text at least?”

He hates how pathetic he sounds. How desperate.

“Sure, kid. Can’t promise every day, but there’ll be time to talk.”

Jason’s tongue feels heavy. “And will you have…options too?”

He’s suddenly pulled into a kiss, gentle but thorough. His heart hammers in his chest.

“Sweetheart. There’s only one option for me now. There’s only been one option for me for a while now.”

“You’re a sap, old man,” Jason laughs, finally allowing the tears to fall. “Knew you liked me all along.”

Slade chuckles, cupping Jason’s face in one large hand. “You’re gonna be a good boy for me while I’m gone, aren’t you, Jay? You’re gonna be on your best behavior.”

Jason rolls his eyes. “Yeah yeah. I won’t cause trouble.”

“You sure about that kid? Last time I went away I seem to recall you started a gunfight with some of Sionis’ men.”

“Oh my god, it was not a gunfight. Jesus. Don’t worry, I’m not gonna do anything crazy. Just…hurry back, okay?”

Slade smiles. “You know, kid, I used to avoid coming to Gotham at all costs. I used to think it was the biggest dump on earth. But now its my favourite place in the world. Every time I leave I can’t wait to come back.”

It’s the closest Slade has ever come to saying that he loves Jason.

And for now that’s enough.

Jason tries to memorise Slade’s scent and the feeling of his lips, his hands, his skin, as they kiss.

He’s no longer the childish brat he once was when he first came to train with his father, blinded by his own arrogance, but even now he struggles to express himself in the way he means to.

Which is why it never occurs to him that his choice of engagement ring for Tim might be thoughtless and even cruel.

Damian is even proud of himself at first. He has the ring custom made, certain that Tim will love it. Damian is no good at sentimental gestures, but this is something he’s so sure Tim will love.

So he’s not prepared for the way Tim’s face falls when Damian presents him with the ring.

“You don’t like it?” Damian asks hesitantly.

Tim’s face is white, his eyes fixed on the small piece of kryptonite in place of a diamond.

“What the fuck, Damian?” Tim asks in a shaky voice.

Damian had intended for it to be a tribute to Tim’s former lover. He thought that Tim would love to carry a little reminder of Kon with him always.

Damian knows that if Kon were still alive, he would be the man that Tim would marry. Not Damian. But this ring is intended to be a symbol, to show that Damian acknowledges Tim’s undying love for Kon, that he’s not jealous or bitter, that he respects Tim and his past-

Tim punches Damian in the jaw instead of giving an answer to the proposal.

Jason hums and kisses Dick’s sweaty neck, before nipping his ear. “That good, huh Goldie?”

Dick bites his lip and nods happily, cheeks flushed. It’s unusual to see him lost for words. It makes Jason feel proud, knowing that he did this. Knowing that he’s the one responsible for Dick’s pleasure.

“Was it good for you?” Dick asks softly, stroking Jason’s jaw.

Jason smiles. “Doing that with you? How could it not be?”

Dick shrugs, looking a little bashful. “You were…quiet. I know not everybody’s noisy in bed like me, but I wasn’t sure if you were…as into it as I was.”

It’s true that Dick is as much of a chatterbox in bed as he is in every other aspect of his life. Comparatively it must sound like Jason is silent in bed, but that’s not the case. Jason just kind of loses the ability to form words when the sex is good. Grunts and moans are about as much as he can manage.

“I was so into it, Dickie,” Jason promises. “It was so good I could barely think.”

Dick smiles warmly, and Jason kisses him gently.

Jason looks up from his book and is about to respond when it hits him.

Dick called him honey.

His chest suddenly feels quite tight.

“Uh,” Jason blurts out. “Left cabinet above the sink. Right at the back.”

Dick called him honey.

He knows it shouldn’t be a big deal. People call their boyfriends honey. It’s an affectionate pet name that people give to those they love.

It really shouldn’t be that much of a surprise.

It’s just…no one has ever called Jason honey before.

His mother never did. Bruce sure as fuck wouldn’t use a pet name as soppy as that. And Jason has never been in a romantic relationship serious enough to warrant it either.

The only other pet name that has been given to Jason in his entire life is Little Wing, and that was given to him by the same person who’s just called him honey.

He remembers how warm and gooey he’d felt the first time Dick had ruffled his hair and smiled warmly at him and called him Little Wing. He remembers how a burning crush had been born towards the only person who’d ever shown him any real affection.

And now he feels the same way, except that burning crush is now an inferno of love, and he’s utterly consumed by it.

Dick emerges from the bathroom, tablets and a glass of water in hand as he shoots Jason a sunny smile, completely oblivious to the tsunami of emotions he’s just triggered in his boyfriend.

“You’re somethin’ else, Goldie,” Jason says softly, standing so that he can give Dick a kiss.

“Hm?” Dick asks sleepily. “What did I do now?”