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"If you want help infiltrating the circus you're going to have to trust me," Dick explains as he stands before Jason's door in his leotard. It's not much different from his usual Nightwing costume, but then again Jason usually runs at a very different pace.
"I just don't see why I have to wear something like this," Jason nearly hisses from behind the door of his makeshift changing room.
Dick had set up a practice ring for them, some ropes and swings for them to use just out of sight from everyone else. He had neatly explained to the ring master that they were working on a new routine. Jason wanted to branch out, try his hand at a new skill. Dick was only offering to help the new member out.
"Come on, let me see," Dick was practically begging to be let in past the flimsy door. This was purely for fun. For him. There was no part of the mission that deemed this critical.
"No," Jason barked back.
"You said you'd do anything for me to come help," Dick practically sang, walking his fingers along the door jam as he waited.
A moment of silence.
The door ripped open.
Jason grabbed Dick by the arm.
Dick was yanked into the trailer.
"Don't say anything to anyone. Ever." Jason was standing before him in the garish colors of a clown, skin tight leotard hugging every part of his body. It left nothing to the imagination.
"Oh boy, this surely is a change for you." He could hardly contain his laughter. It was bubbling up. Jason's didn't look bad. Not in the slightest.
It was just so hilarious to see the often forlorn and brooding Red Hood in the bright greens, yellows, blues, and reds of Dick's childhood. If it hadn't been for the frown carved into Jason's face it might have looked just right. He had the proportions of a tumbler, if not a little more bulky.
"They should call you grumpy." Dick was now full on belly aching laughing. Jason crossed his arms and mocked him back.
"I'm not doing this. This is stupid. I don't need to do this for the mission." He was shoving Dick out of the trailer.
"No, please, I'll stop. I'm sorry,' he was fighting for his life to try and be more serious.
"Liar," Jason growled. Dick felt like he was about to start snapping at his ear.
"I'll do better. Let's just give it a try. It'll be fun!"
The early morning lights were peaking through the holes of the practice tent. Jason, after more grumbling, had been convinced to leave the trailer and slink off with Dick.
"The fate of the mission depends on you, Jason Todd, and your ability to make this one successful pass," Dick was bounding up onto the mats, gesturing grandly at the netting that would serve as their fail safe
"You're making too much of this. It'll be over before we get started," Jason still wasn't fully on board with the idea.
"It'll be a nice test. Just think of it as your normal training, but this time in a much more daring way." Dick winked as he climbed up the ladder. "Just watch."
The first swing was already hooked off to the side, waiting to be used. Dick licked his lips, savoring the feeling of being up this high once again. Sure, he was used to swinging around Bludhaven and Gotham, but this was different. This made a pang go off in his soul, one that was deeper than he truly cared to admit to anyone.
"Alright, off I go!" Dick jumped, that feeling of weightless taking over as he fell before the strings caught. Passing through the air, feet pointed and body taunt, he simply allowed himself to arc through and land onto the other platform. He turned to Jason, still on the ground, and smiled like a child.
"Looks simple enough," Jason shrugged, making his way over.
Dick was giddy, nearly bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet as he waited for Jason to meet him at the the platform. As Jason grabbed onto the swing Dick was looking a little bit longer than he normally would.
Jason had grown so much in their time apart. He had caught glimpses for the various scars that hadn't been there before- a hazard of their life style for sure, but they seemed… different than the others. It was almost as if they had a more sinister aura.
Dick wasn't sure how to explain it, just that he always wanted to say something to the man but could never find the words. How does one go about saying, 'Sorry I didn't avenge your death' when the person was right in front of you?
It was difficult to parse through.
Jason was arcing through the air before Dick could tell him anything. He really didn't need to. Jason was just as good at flying around the town as Dick was. This was a simple enough task.
Once feet were firmly on the other side of the ring Dick grabbed onto the swing. This time as he launched off he gave a little extra force, causing his body to make a full circle before he landed next to Jason.
He held his arms out, his body forming a Y as he continued to smile. "Think you can do that one?"
Jason and Dick went on like this for a while. Unsurprisingly, Jason was able to keep up fairly well. There were times when he would hesitate, when the maneuvers Dick was making seemed more intimidating than a simple up and around.
He was always up for the task, though, willing to fail a time or two before he would figure it out. Dick admired that about him. He had always seen it as such a strong affinity for life.
"Okay," they had moved to the larger training area. Dick was standing next to Jason. Both of them had worked up a nice sweat, the afternoon heat beginning to fill the inside of the tent. "This is going to be the last one before we call it, I think."
"Alright."
"Just follow me." Dick was launching off, grabbing onto the bar and cutting through the air as he twisted and turned, all before letting go to catch the other bar and repeating the same movements.
It was the hardest one yet, and Dick had wanted to give Jason something he's have to think about. They had fallen into an unspoken contest. Dick would perform the move, and Jason would have to imitate it without asking for direction. He wasn't perfect, but the fact that he even got close was astounding.
Jason stood like he was about to run, one leg out as he moved his body back and forth with the swing. Dick was high on anticipation, hands pressed to his sides and he watched Jason go for the swing.
He made it, flipping once, hands shifting quickly, feet pointed mostly out. His body was still a bit too loose, the momentum taking him more than he was riding it.
He was reaching for the next swing, one hand out as they were about to connect. His fingers touched it, started to grasp. He let go, transferring his other hand, and then the unthinkable happened:
He slipped.
His hands dropped, fingers not quite secured before he made the transfer, or the momentum of the movements taking him harder than he had anticipated. Either way, he fell.
Dick felt sick instantly, like he was transported back to being a little kid. Jason was no longer Jason, but his parents. They were falling, reaching for each other as their mouths hung open in a silent scream.
"Jason!" Dick yelled, scrambling down the ladder. He almost slipped, his feet moving so fast he was barely touching the metal before going for the next rung.
He could see Jason on the netting, arms grasped around his midsection as he turned over. His mouth was open, so much like his parents, but Dick couldn't hear anything.
He grabbed onto Jason's shoulders, shaking, "Jason, are you ok? Are you hurt?"
Jason's face was contoured, his mouth moving like he was saying something but Dick couldn't understand. Slowly, he focused. Slowly, the pounding of blood in his ears eased as he didn't see blood pouring out from his friend.
"I'm fine, let go of me fool," Jason was saying.
He was laughing. It was laughter. He wasn't screaming. He was having fun.
That sound in and of itself was almost foreign for Jason to produce. Dick sat back, releasing Jason from his clutches.
"I'm sorry- I don't know- God I'm so sorry," Dick couldn't figure out what he was trying to say. Everything inside him felt like an anxious mush.
Jason reached out a hand, placing it on Dick's shoulder. "It's fine. You didn't do anything wrong. I really thought I had that thing until," Jason paused, eyes going wide. "I'm sorry, that's how you lost your parents."
It was like he was reading through Dick. It wasn't a secret, not by any stretch of the imagination. The news had picked up on the story as soon as it had happened. Those who have grown up around Dick all know, if not by him or Bruce telling them over the years then by their own meticulous research into each other as they come into the role of Robin.
Still, Dick shrunk back. "Yeah," is all he can manage as he rights himself internally.
"I know, shit man. I know this means a lot to you. I know all of this is- it probably feels like home," Jason is looking at him intently, with purpose. Those green eyes, sometimes holding so ethereal and otherworldly essence, but also at times so light and refreshing. Like a single ray of light in an otherwise damning storm.
"Thanks," Dick felt meek, felt like he needed to hide away. His bravado was gone, and somehow that left him feeling more naked than his Disco suit. "It's really-"
Jason pulled on his arm, nearly causing Dick to fall over as he kissed him. Shock could not even begin to define the sensation he was experiencing. Aloof, distant, and brooding Jason was kissing him, Dick Grayson, notorious flirt and party boy.
Jason pulled back, smoothing a hand over Dick's cheek. "I appreciate you sharing this side of yourself with me, and not just the arrogant and dramatic mask."
Dick couldn't recover from the affection before Jason was hopping down and walking off from the tent.