NO ONE'S SON.

GROWING PAINS

because my friends muses need therapy. will they get it? absolutely not. 

AVOIDING THE TERRIFYING ORDEAL OF BEING KNOWN:  

“  yeah i’m pissed off but i’d rather not talk about it.  that’s why you’re the one i came to.  ”

“  i’m not looking for a friend.  i’m looking for someone just as angry as i am.  ”

“  i’m not good at caring about people’s shit on purpose.  ”

“  i’m not gonna ask if ‘you’re okay’ cause that’s fuckin’ annoying.  you wanna get the hell out of here and do something?  ”  

 “  i don’t wanna talk about it. you got a beer?  ”  

“  upset?  why would i be upset?  ”

“  so you wanna go find something to break?  ”  

“  hey you want me to kill that guy for you?  ”

“  i just need to get this shit done.  and i trust you to help me do that.  ”  

“  you’re hot.  and i’m bored.  ”  

“  can we just have some meaningless sex we can both pretend didn’t happen tomorrow morning?  ”

“  i can think of at least a dozen people that need killing.  or a light beating.  will that cheer you up?  ”

“  i’ve a got job and i think you’d be the perfect fit.  so you in?  ”

“  yeah i don’t do the whole crying thing.  give me something to stab and i’ll be good in a day or two.  ”

“  i banged it out and now i feel great.  next question.  ”

“  if i think about it,  i get angry.  and i don’t know where that anger stops.  so i’d rather not start at all.  ”

VARIOUS SENTENCES WITH ABSOLUTELY NO DEPTH U COWARDS: 

“  if you’re gonna stay here you can’t be sober so either take the fruity beer or the shitty wine or let me be vibe in peace.  ”

“  how much insect essence do you think are in every square inch of chocolate? like just how many cockroach guts have i consumed with my hershey’s? ” 

“  you should’ve seen the look on their face.  it’s been so long since i’ve made someone that fuckin’ angry it was great.  ” 

“  i have this neighbor who keeps playing driver’s license at 10 a.m. every morning and i’m starting to question if it’s a sixteen year old getting over a breakup or a 36 year old trying to reclaim their childhood. at this point the mystery is the only thing keeping me going.  ”

“  do i trust you?  absolutely not.  next question.  ”

“  if i don’t get a nap in the next hour i’ll probably murder someone.  ”

“  you’re getting that look in your eyes like you’re about to ask me what’s wrong so i’m gonna save us both the awkwardness of finding an excuse to leave and just go now.  ”

“  i’m here to raid your fridge cause my date went really bad and all i’ve had is lukewarm water and breadsticks.  ”

“  i’m making a fake tinder profile to see how gullible guys are, wanna help?  ”   

“  hey i got something for you look!  ”   *holds up middle finger* 

U MIGHT GET PUNCHED: 

“  why are you really here?  ”

“  i’m not leaving until you tell me what the fuck is going on.  ”

“  you can’t solve every problem with your fists.  ”  

“  i’m not here to talk about me.  what the hell is going on with you?  ”

“  you think i don’t notice but i do.  i can tell something’s wrong.  ”   

“  i can see beneath your smile.  ”

“  why won’t you just tell me the truth?  ”

“  what are you hiding? and don’t you dare try to lie to me. ”

“  what the hell did you do?  ”

"no reason. i was wondering if you had, considering your time in the jl."

Ah! A clue! Still doesn't bring anyone named Alfred to mind, but it at least narrows the field as to how or why Kyle might have met the guy. Connection to a JL member, and Jason asking about it...well, that means Bruce, probably. So...

the answer feels lackluster, but he doesn't offer much more of an answer. jason doesn't really know how to word himself. why had he prompted this conversation, anyway? a desire to connect, to talk about himself? to be known?

perish the damn thought.

most of what he had learned about kyle had come from his own obsessive detective work, and he had learned a valuable lot. he could probably name where he studied, where he worked, where he had lived for most of his life. civilians aren't hard to track, at least until they become space cops. it had become increasingly clear to him, though, that the amount known was not the same as the amount shared, and certainly that should be an issue for a healthy relationship, right?

fuck if he knows. he has never had a healthy thing in his life.

"just wondering if you met him, is all." he doesn't talk about how alfred and him shared a taste for novels and tea and, to some degree, housekeeping. bruce had been his father more than he likes to recall, but somehow, alfred is less tainted in his memory.

that obviously opened him up to be exploited. petty theft was part of his routine but unfortunately not all of it. he was also seen as a tool for other low-grade criminals and predators, and while he put that away in the far corners of his mind as robin to try to start anew, his death and eventual return as red hood meant every resentment and loose end was was dredged up.

They hadn't meant to stare at Hood while he was stiching himself up, it just was... Both metal as hell and also incredibly disconcerting at the same time, either way they wanted to be used to the sight, a little backroom self surgery was hardly anything to a hero.

"Not a kid" the teenager complained, despite how young they certainly still were, they couldn't consider themselves a child anymore, not after what happened.

While Hood was stiching himself up they were disinfecting and bandaging some scraps and cuts, he had taken the worst of the hits, they were pretty sure on purpose, still the stinging against their skin did nearly draw their attention away.

"i don't have all of them counted. not when i can't count the ones on my back, for what it's worth. the burnt patch back there doesn't help feeling them up, either. lots of dead nerve ends, i'm assuming." he has some burn scars still left from the warehouse situation, even if the pit did make most of it less... severe. the loss of feeling was the least of it all, and in some ways, a blessing in disguise. finishing up his work with his wounds, he puts the stitch and needle away to dress back up in his jacket.

he needs a shower, but that can be left for later. the pain doesn't faze him much. he suspects very little would, at this stage of his life.