Chapter Text
Jason had been through a lot in his 21 years of life. His father being a deadbeat, his drug addicted mother, who was apparently not his biological mother, had died, he had been tricked by his biological mother, being beaten many times before and during his time as Robin, dying violently, come back to life with more rage than could be contained in his tiny 15-year-old body, and finally been trained brutally to do unspeakable things.
Yet this meeting was one of the most terrifying moments in Jason’s life.
He had done so many bad things to Dick, Tim, Bruce, and people in general and now he thought that Dick’s kid would like to meet him? Why did Jason ask for this? Why did Dick agree to this?
Jason tried to find comfort in the fibers in his shirt. The fabric was smooth but the threads gave just enough texture for Jason to focus on something other than his sweaty hands.
“In here, Tati,” Dick called into the hallways from where he stood.
Peter walked in as Dick did and held a fistful of his father’s jeans. Huge light brown eyes looked at Jason and the boy’s hair had grown just enough for everyone to see how it fell into soft waves.
Dick had said that Peter was small but Jason hadn’t thought much about how small an below average 5-year-old would be before he saw Peter’s tiny legs supporting his tiny body. The kid was skinny too but Jason couldn’t imagine Dick ever letting him go hungry to bed.
“Hello,” Jason let out when it was clear that they would both just stare if Jason didn’t say anything.
“Hi,” Peter replied before hiding behind his father’s legs.
“This is your Uncle Jason. He doesn’t bite.”
Jason didn’t bite but he had blood on his hands and Peter’s skin was so fair and impressionable.
Dick started to walk with a child attached to his leg. Peter probably weighed under 30 pounds but it was still a wonder how Dick could walk so smoothly with him attached like that.
Peter pulled himself away from Dick’s leg enough to look over at Jason before putting his face back into the back of Dick’s thigh.
“I brought gifts,” Jason said with a wavering voice and felt completely foolish as he shook the plastic bag. Of course Peter would be scared of Jason. He had scars on his face and arms and sometimes he even scared himself a little when he saw how tall and wide that he had become.
Peter looked up at Jason again at that and his curious eyes found the bag and then looked up at Dick.
“Maybe Jason will show you if you ask nicely.”
Peter gave a nod and squared his jaw as he looked fiercely at Jason. “Can I see what you brought?”
Jason let out a relieved smile. “Of course.”
Jason felt foolish again when he pulled out an illustrated version of The Little Prince and Peter didn’t seem to recognize it. On the other hand maybe it would be worse if he did recognize it. Did they have it at home?
“Wow, it’s about a boy like you. Can you read the title for us?”
Jason looked up at Dick at that. Did children read at 5? Did Jason at 5? He had always loved books but perhaps he had been stupid anyway?
Peter waved at his dad and received a pair of frankly very dorky and very cute glasses.
“The Liddle”
“Little,” Dick corrected.
“Little Prince.” Peter smiled brightly at Dick and then at Jason.
It took Jason a moment to realize that he was expected to react instead of just staring. “That was so good. Maybe you could read it for me sometime.”
Peter looked up at Dick and asked, “O Bitti Boro Rai?”
“Ava, O Bitti Boro Rai, boro rai mea.”
Peter smiled up at Dick and then looked back at Jason after that little exchange. He smiled excitedly at Jason and the book before he took a step away from Dick.
“Can I see the rest, please?”
Jason would definitely have to meet Peter’s mother next if Peter was this polite despite growing up around Dick and his sailor mouth.
“Of course, see I have this too.” Jason pulled out Charlotte’s Web. “Maybe I could read this to you sometimes. If you and your dad ever want to visit me.”
Jason looked up at Dick’s displeased sound. “I’m probably not going to take him to Crime Alley, but you can come to Blüdhaven or we could visit the manor.”
“Crime Ally sounds scary,” Peter said and did the most adorable power pose that Jason had ever seen. “But I’m very brave. I’m Spider-Boy.”
“I can see that, but the manor has better furniture than I do anyway,” Jason said and tried to hide his disappointment at Dick’s words and hide how bobbly Peter’s antics made him feel.
Peter walked even close to Jason to look at the cover of the book. “Is the girl named Charlotte?”
Jason looked down at the book too. “No, it’s the spider.”
Peter almost stood on Jason’s toes as he looked at where Jason was pointing on the cover.
“Oh, that makes sense. Webs.”
“Yeah, your father said that you like spiders.”
“I do. Mom is afraid of them but they’re really nice and cool.” Peter looked up at Jason with huge brown eyes behind his glasses. “Are you afraid of spiders?”
Jason looked up at Dick in the hope of him telling Jason what the right answer was but Dick just smiled. Traitor.
“No, I’m not.”
Peter stuck his whole bottom lip into his mouth as he looked around the room before releasing it. “I could hold your hand if you get scared when we read the book together.”
“I would love that.”
Peter jumped up beside Jason and swung his legs. “Now?”
Jason looked between Dick and Peter. Only a little terrified about how quickly Peter went from risking being farted in his face in order to escape the sight of him to wanting to sit next to him.
“Peter can be pushy but you really don’t have to, Jason.”
Jason looked up at his big brother and then at the little life he had created. Jason had known Peter for less than 15 minutes and he was still terrified about letting the filth that was right beneath his skin infect such an innocent boy but Jason knew that would move a mountain for this little boy. A mountain would probably be easier than trying to not corrupt Peter but he would try his best if he could secure a space in Peter’s life.
“We can read now, Peter.”
Peter smiled so brightly that his cheeks pushed his glasses up and his eyes squinted, but they widened just as Jason was about to open the book. “Oh! Do you like dogs?”
“They’re fine.” Jason felt his stomach open into a huge black hole when he realized that he might have made a grave mistake. “Should I have gotten a dog book?”
Peter let out a giggle at Jason’s panic and Dick, the traitor, looked far too amused too.
“No, but you have to meet Haley sometime. She lost her leg but she’s so cute that no one can hurt her.”
Dick nodded sagely from his spot a few steps away. “Her cuteness really is her greatest strength.”
Peter nodded at his father before looking at Jason again. “She can bite but only her toys and dad gets angry if you give her the dinner that you don’t like.”
Dick put a hand to his right eye and finally stopped amusing himself in Jason's panic. “Dogs shouldn't eat human food just like you shouldn’t eat Haley’s food.”
Peter stuck out his tongue at Dick who waved his finger and made a few small hums that made Peter pull his tongue back with a little scowl.
Jason looked at Dick with a whole new set of eyes. “Wow, you really are a dad.”
Dick shrugged. “A lot happened while you were gone. Well if you’re going to read some books then I’m just going to leave you two alone.”
“Bye, Tati,” Peter said with a wave and had forgotten to scowl in the 2 seconds it had been since Dick had waved his finger at him. Peter instead stared at the cover of Charlotte’s Web with frighteningly intense eyes.
Jason looked at Dick disappear and suddenly realized that Dick had left him in the same room as his son. His beloved son who had asthma and shit. Who needed glasses and couldn’t run if Jason suddenly lost all senses and went on a random and unprovoked killing spree. Peter could die and it would all be Jason’s fault for being a 21-year-old fuck-up.
“Uncle Jason, you said that you would read with me.”
Jason looked down at Peter’s demanding little face. “Okay, yes, let’s read.”
Jason wasn’t afraid of spiders but felt grounded as Peter held his hand and leaned against him. Jason didn’t even feel uncomfortable or embarrassed as he made the voices that he wished someone had made for him when he had been young.