Work Text:
Brink of Change
“Is there a particular reason you decided to go back to something approaching your natural hair color,” he asked Jason who was currently standing shirtless at the sink staring at himself in the mirror at his hair looking a bit perturbed at how red it was.
“I just wanted a change no reason and what about you; ever think about going blond I think it’d suit you,” Jason said looking back at him and giving him a wink. Which meant that whatever reasons had led to Jason restoring his original red hair was not something he wanted to talk about. “Of course if you’d prefer black I might be persuaded to go back to it.”
“I don’t really care what your hair color is,” he said walking up and wrinkling his nose a bit as the chemical smell hit him. “Or at least I won’t care once the smell of the hair dye fades enough that I won’t gag just from being close to you.”
“Yeah it is a bit strong, I probably should have just let my hair grow out but I wanted the change over and done with,” Jason stepped back from the mirror. “I’m going to go sit on the fire escape and let my head air our.” He watched Jason heading to the window and took the opportunity to admire his naked back as he climbed out the window to sit on the fire escape. He glanced at the mess Jason had left in the sink and decided he wasn’t cleaning it and headed to join him.
“I’m not cleaning up in there,” he said noticing Jason had lit a joint. Jason just laughed and then offered it to him. He only hesitated a little before taking it and taking a drag then as he handed it back to Jason he couldn’t help but joke, “Just don’t set the chemicals on your head on fire.”
“Cute, Tim,” Jason said shaking his head. “Leave the bad jokes to Dick, I’m sure he’ll have a million of them.” They fell silent after that sitting there passing the joint back and fourth and watching as the city slowly darkened. Some time later when the air was starting to carry a chill Jason spoke up again, “So going out as Red Robin tonight?”
“No,” he said, “I wouldn’t have shared the joint if I was.” He expected Jason to tease him about always having to be so in control when he went out but for once Jason just nodded and kept staring out at the city. He wanted to ask what was going on first the hair and now this weird silence but experience had taught him that Jason wouldn’t talk until he was ready that was one trait all of them shared.
“I think I want to get out of Gotham for a while,” Jason finally said looking out over the city. “But I don’t want to leave this, leave you.” Jason looked at him briefly and then turned back to the city.
“Then ask me to come with you,” he said not bothering to look at Jason but instead to look out over the city streets. Their apartment was not in the worst neighborhood but it wasn’t the best either. He could already see the trouble makers out and about.
“And what happens when Bruce calls and you have to chose between staying with me or rushing back here?” Jason said and then sighed, “Tim, I don’t think I’m going to be the Red Hood anymore and I sure as shit am not going to be one of his Robin’s again.” There was a finality in that statement. “I think I’m just going to be Jason Todd again for a while.”
“I can’t say I won’t come help if there’s a real emergency,” he said as much to himself as Jason. “But if you ask me to come just as Tim Drake then that’s who you’ll get.” He didn’t want to admit it but Jason wasn’t the only one that was getting tired. He’d missed the anniversary of his father’s death a few weeks ago and hadn’t even noticed it reminded him that he never wanted to still be doing this at his age.
“Then I’d very much like Tim Drake to join me inside in our bedroom and then for us to get the hell out of Gotham as soon as possible,” Jason said standing up and offering him his hand. “Unless you want to scandalize the neighbors?” There was a hint of the old cockiness in that question.
He took Jason’s hand and let himself be pulled up and into a kiss. Tomorrow would bring whatever but for tonight he was done thinking too much about things.
The End