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Jason isn't sure what to expect the first time he meets Dick.
They're foster brothers. He knows that. Dick is Robin. Or, he had been. Bruce had told him that Dick had decided to change his name to something else, which Jason thinks is a good idea, because two Robins would be confusing.
He knows that Bruce thinks the world of Dick. That's obvious from the way Bruce talks about him. His eyes light up, and his face goes all soft. Sometimes it also goes sad, but Jason hasn't figured that out yet. He wonders if Bruce will ever talk about him with that much pride.
He knows that Dick is not his brother. They're foster brothers at best, and barely that, since Dick is actually Bruce's ward. Besides, what little time Jason has spent in foster care only reinforced what he already knew; foster family isn't family.
But maybe he and Dick can be friends. Sometimes that seems like not too much to ask. Other times he chooses not to get his hopes up.
Dick is tall. Not as tall as Bruce, but much taller than Jason. Jason is in the front hall when Dick arrives. He hopes it isn't too obvious that he was waiting by the window, anxious to make a good impression. It would not do to have the first Robin hate him.
"Hi," Dick says, "are you Jason?"
Jason nods.
"Thought so. Unless Bruce picked up some other random kid without telling me." Dick chuckles, almost nervously. "I'm Dick Grayson. I guess I'm your brother."
He's not, but Jason isnt going to correct him. "Hi." He holds out his hand to Dick, falling back on the manners Alfred has been drilling into him. Dick just blinks at him, and he slowly withdraws his hand.
"Were you trying to shake my hand?"
Jason shrugs, and Dick smiles a little.
"That's not how family greets each other." Suddenly Dick is leaning over and grabbing Jason.
It takes Jason a good moment to stop panicking and realize that Dick is hugging him. It's one of the most awkward hugs he's ever experienced, second only to the day Bruce discovered that Jason is afraid of thunder.
"So," Dick straightens and crosses his arms. He seems to not know what to say, and finally settles on, "Bruce here?"
Jason shrugs again. "If he is, he's probably in his office."
"Okay. Cool." Dick walks away, and Jason watches him go.
Dick only stays for a couple of days. They spend some time together, and get to know each other a bit, although most of Dick's time was divided between doing whatever he was doing in the cave, and fighting with Bruce.
It's time for him to go, and he holds his arms out to Jason invitingly. Jason let's Dick hug him, and even gives in and hesitantly wraps his arms around Dick's waist in return. Somehow Dick's entire demeanor changes, and the hug goes from awkward and stiff to gentle, encompassing, and maybe even... affectionate? Jason thinks maybe affectionate is wishful thinking, but he wants to think it anyway. Dick pulls away, and Jason tries hard to ignore the lump in his throat. He doesn't dare hold on when Dick lets go, although the thought does cross his mind. Dick gets in his car, and Bruce gives Jason a look, his head tilted and brown furrowed. Jason doesn't try to decipher it.
It's a minute before Dick actually drives away. Jason watches through the window next to the door in the front hall. Dick does something on his phone. He's probably choosing music, or texting a friend. Just as the car begins to move, the phone that Bruce insists Jason carry dings with a text from an unknown number.
I had fun this week! Next time, we'll do more brother stuff, I promise :-)
Suddenly the lump is back in Jason's throat.
He had a brother.