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[forceforlight]

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[forceforlight]

He was, like, fifteen at the time. I wasn't actually with the Titans. There were...

[He waves his hand. Donna's death had made him turn his back on the Titans for a time. No need to tell Jason about that, though. Not when they're trying to get away from talking about grief.]

Anyway, yeah, it is. Having friends is important in our line of work. It's not easy, being out there on your own.

[robintohood]

It's doable being solo.

[It's uncomfortable but Jason agrees with Dick about having friends. It's true that Jason fell into an awkward in-between generation. Too young to be really part of Dick's team but too old to have friends like Tim's. Instead, Jason has spent much of his life alone. He's adapted to that but most of it was only out of survival instead of by choice]

But some are better off with having people around.

[forceforlight]

[That gets another laugh, this time of recognition. Because, yeah. Dick knows very well that he's the latter.]

Well, the other one ended up falling in with some friends, too, so you may have that to look forward to. People back home that he works well with.

[robintohood]

[Jason snorts]

Yeah, I'm a real kumbaya type. Still weird that any version of me would team up with people like a Green Lantern or Donna again.

[But then again, Jason has made some strong connections on this Earth so far. Sleeper in particular has been a welcoming and significant presence for him. Maybe he is capable of working with a team in the long run]

Maybe with the right kind of people, it'd be nice.

[forceforlight]

Lantern was always more your friend than any of the rest of us, so I don't see where it's that weird. Still, yeah, you have a point. You're not really the kind who likes joining in on group projects, but I'm pretty sure if you found the right people, it would make a difference.

[robintohood]

Yeah, maybe.

[He pauses as he thinks about what to say next]

It's what I've been learning with Sleeper.

[If there's anyone who can understand getting very close with an alien, it'd be Dick]

[forceforlight]

[Ah. Something else that he's been meaning to pick up with Jason.]

Oh? I mean, I'd noticed you guys are pretty good friends.

[robintohood]

Yeah. We've gotten close.

[Jason fidgets a little with his coffee cup as he tries to figure out how to explain his bond with Sleeper]

We both realized how much we like being each other. I've never felt like this with anyone else before. Sleeper feels the same. So we decided to be in a bond.

[Jason fidgets again]

Their species, the Symbiotes, can physically bond with others. They can be parasites or it's mutual. We're the latter.

[forceforlight]

[Dick settles back, more than willing to let Jason take his time and tell him what he wants to tell him. It's a bit of a shock, but probably less than it would be to some.]

[So he simply raises his cup to Jason in acknowledgment.]

I can't say I know what it's like, but I'm glad that you have something like that in your life. Though you now realize that Sleeper's going to get the Batfamily shovel talk.

[robintohood]

[Jason softly huffs and then chuckles. The mental image of his family giving Sleeper that talk is funny. Sleeper would probably take it in stride too]

Good luck. Sleeper's a one-alien shapeshifting chemical factory when they feel like. Great taste in media though and unlike another cat-related person, usually doesn't have a bad case of sticky fingers.

[forceforlight]

I'm just saying. Caves can be really deep and nobody would think to look there.

[He takes a sip of his coffee.]

Just. You know. No tentacles if you can avoid it. That will never stop being traumatizing.

[robintohood]

[Jason stares back at Dick with a raised eyebrow]

Do I even wanna know?

[forceforlight]

Nope.

[Dick pops the P, then throws back the rest of his coffee as punctuation.]

[robintohood]

[Jason rolls his eyes. Right. It sounds like it's best not to ask]

Got it. Anyway, Sleeper's special. It's not romantic but I can't say this is a normal friendship either. It... just is I guess.

[forceforlight]

[If it hasn't happened to this Jason, hopefully it won't.]

[Things could get a little weird in their world.]

Honestly? I'm happy for you. I am. We all need somebody in our corner when things are rough and it sounds like Sleeper could be that for you. It doesn't have to be romantic or anything to be just as important.

[robintohood]

[Jason nods. He hasn't quite found the right label for what he has with Sleeper so far. But maybe it's not needed. What matters more is what they do for each other]

They've already helped me out plenty of times when I didn't even ask for it.

[forceforlight]

[Dick reaches out, clapping a hand on Jason's shoulder.]

Good. I'm so damned glad you have somebody like that.

[robintohood]

[Jason bows slightly and rubs the back of his head, now feeling a bit self-consciousness. He knew his siblings were going to have some feelings and opinions after his... coming out? He supposes that's what it is, even if he hasn't figured out the right label for him and Sleeper yet.

Actually seeing his siblings' reactions is another matter though, especially pride. After all his screw-ups, someone could still feel that for him. And it's about him finding a good partner too. It's surprising but it feels good too. And of course, it'd be Dick who would get that reaction. The Golden Boy was still golden.]

Thanks. I suppose one of these days we gotta have a family dinner with them too. Feed them before interrogating them at least.

[Yep. Good ol' deflection to handle feelings. Flawless plan]

[forceforlight]

[At least Dick recognizes it for what it is. They've all been around Bruce long enough for the recognition. And he also knows when to push and when there's been enough soppy stuff.]

[Most of the time, at least. This time, he'll err on the side of caution. He doesn't know this Jason's reactions quite as well, after all. (Not that he always knows the other's reactions that well, either.)]

As long as you don't mind a spread of whatever the local Chinese specializes in. I can basically keep myself fed these days, but I'm not certain I should be cooking for a group.

[robintohood]

[Jason laughs. It's amusing to imagine Dick trying to cook in the kitchen]

That works. Not like I was ever a picky eater.

[Though that was out of survival after years of destitute and homelessness]

And like I said before, a chocolate offering to Sleeper wouldn't hurt.