A plastic box gets shoved to his chest.
Only because he allows it, obviously, because the little gremlin of a brat is still several lifetimes away from being able to get a drop on him.
Though the demon spawn is also a picture of silence, lips pursed and shoulders tense where his fist extends to press whatever he bought on Jasonβs pecs.
With a barely audible sigh, Jason peels that arm off to see what it was that demanded his attention so badly that the kid broke into one of the few safe-houses Jason thought was off the Bat-radar.
The answer is a thick box, covered with a glossy sleeve. On the cover are a group of five men piled on top of each other, composed artfully to look like a playful candid rather than an unfortunate accident. The only other thing on it is a logo stylized to look like a clock. Jason might be able to read where the lines form βSPF50β.
He sends Damian a blank look. The kid visibly heckles.
βTt.β he starts, βThis isnβt for me- I would like to emphasize that, for the record.β
Pause. Damian crosses his arms. βItβs Jon. He gave me an adequate birthday gift. It would be a dishonor to reciprocate with anything less.β
Jason replies to that with a hand gesture. What the hell does that have to do with him?
Damian looks at him like heβs rotten meat. Jason returns the glare twofold.
A frustrated groan. The kid almost swipes his arm back- like he was about to reach for his katana before realizing heβs out of costume. βAre you daft, Todd? I am asking for a favor. Name your price.β
βYeah, Shrimp, I got that.β Jason bites back, βIβm just wonderinβ why the hell anythinβ related to this-β he holds up the album, β-would be somethinβ I have an in with.β
Without missing a beat, Damian swipes back the album and pulls a card out from the middle to show him.
Itβs a low angle selfie, cutting the pictured man off at the forehead. Stray locks, black with a blue-ish tint, fall just at the edge of the frame, and shadow a pair of striking blue eyes. Below that is a lopsided grin showing off a row of straight teeth. The rest of the picture is a swath of yellow- maybe a hoodie? Its laughably big though, dipping low enough to show the prominent curves of the manβs collarbones.
βThis is why.β Damian says, before Jason could get a word in. βYour paramour, heβs Jonβs favorite in the group. He must be detestable if he has stooped low enough to romantically engage with you of all people, but nevertheless. Have him and his group sign this album and I will owe you one favor.β
βHuh.β Jason starts. Stops. Considers if heβs in the mood to start a fight. Sighs instead. βYouβre outta luck, kid. I donβt know any of these guys.β
Damianβs eyes narrow. He steps forward in a stomp. βDonβt try and lie to me, Todd. Everyone has confirmed you are dating this idol. Agree to my terms before I am pushed to use force-Ow!β
Jasonβs fingers moved to flick Damianβs forehead before he even registers that they did. βYou canβt force me to do anythinβ, Brat. Iβll send you back to your Mom.β
He flicks the otherβs nose this time before he can respond, garnering another indignant squawk. βAnd two- just because you heard Blondie constantly yammerinβ about it doesnβt make it a public fact.β
Jason moves for the chin this time, but Damian has jumped away from striking range and looks a second away from hissing.
Jason would probably hiss back at him if he did. Something about this kid is just makes you want to mess with him.
But Damian seems to already be in retreat mode, sulkily skulking back to Jasonβs fire escape with a deep scowl.
βFine.β he says, right by the threshold of the apartment. βYou prove yourself yet again useless. But just so you know Brown isnβt the only one talking- Father also suspects.β
And heβs gone just as Jason opens his mouth.