Chapter Text
“…Jason….?”
Jason looked away from him.
“You’re… it’s you…?” Peter’s voice sounded soft.
Miles was busy together with Batman fighting the goons. Peter doesn’t think Batman saw what was going on with Red Hood.
“He’s okay Batman.”
“What?”
“Red Hood got hit, he’s fine now.”
Batman took some time to respond. “Where are you?”
“You can keep fighting.” Peter quickly shut him up.
“Pete I’m so sorry..” Jason said weakly almost not able to get the words out.
“You…. You knew..?”
“I’m so sorry.”
Peter took off his mask.
Jason couldn’t stay here any longer, the anti fear toxin was in his system now but the fear hadn’t fully left yet. Peter tried his hardest to remember where Jason’s apartment was but he forgot. Jason was now quickly falling in and out of consciousness so no way he could ask him, and over comms it was not safe.
“I’m taking Hood with me, he can’t stay here.” Peter said through the comms.
“Stay safe we can manage.” Miles responded.
Peter carefully lifted Jason up and carried him in his arms. He just had to jump one roof to be home.
He entered his apartment through the window again. Peter carefully put Jason on the big bed and started to look at him closer.
He had to remove his Helmet so he tried to carefully get it off without hurting him. Peter’s heart broke, Jason’s helmet was strong so the force the goons used must’ve been so strong. The domino mask on his face was already letting go, which meant Peter didn’t need something to dissolve the glue keeping it together with.
Peter got the first aid kit from the bathroom and opened it.
He first cleaned his face, getting all the dried blood and dirt off of it.
Jason woke up again and looked at Peter. He had never seen how green Jason’s eyes were, they were a piercing toxic color, a color Peter could only stare into.
“..Where am I..?” Jason asked weakly.
“My apartment, you got hit with fear toxin. And you’re a little beaten.”
“A little?” Jason faintly laughed. “I can feel my face, on fire..”
“I think it looks worse than it actually is right now. Not that it isn’t bad because you don’t look good.” Peter realized what he said and tried to make it better. “Not that you look bad no, you actually don’t look bad at all but you know you’re a little bruised now.” Peter panicked.
Jason faintly laughed again. “It’s okay Pete, I know what I look like.”
Peter made Jason sit up straight. He helped him take off his jacket and chest armor.
“Do you want me to take you home?”
Jason coughed. “It’s okay.” He fell back down on his back.
Peter walked around and took off his shoes, he noticed a little beginning of a wound since his pants were a little raised.
He put the pants up higher and saw a huge stitched up slit in his leg. Upon further examination that wasn’t the only one like that on his leg, he was full of scars.
Peter placed the shoes next to the bed and got the sheets over Jason.
“Warm enough?”
Jason nodded and gave Peter a smile.
“Your face looks more bruised than cut. Not much I can do for bruises. The cuts don’t seem to need stitches so I’ll leave them like this. You can get some sleep and we’ll talk about this tomorrow.”
Jason woke up in an apartment he’s been at before. He was in Peter’s apartment…
He looked around him and saw Miles sleeping on the pull out sofa and on the other side saw peter asleep on a chair.
His head was pounding. He threw the sheets off of him and stepped out of the bed. The creaking of the floor woke Peter up.
“Hey?” Peter said sleepily.
“I’m uh.. A little lost?”
“You got hit with fear toxin, I brought you to my apartment. I didn’t remember where yours was in a panic.” Peter explained.
All of last night flew back to Jason.
Peter knew it was him…
Peter knew Jason Todd was Red Hood.
“I’m sorry I’ll go.” Jason was quick to grab his jacket that someone put on top of the kitchen counter.
“No don’t go.” Peter stopped him. “I think we need to talk, besides you don’t really look well enough to be able to go home by yourself.”
Peter signed Jason to sit back down. He went to the kitchen and filled up a glass of water for him.
“My first question is if you’re okay. What I saw when I found you was, well you scared the shit out of me.”
“Sorry. You’re familiar with the toxin right- Oh I almost, fuck you are I was there.”
“That’s why I wanted to ask you if you were okay. It shows your biggest fear doesn’t it?”
Jason nodded. “It’s not my first time but it felt the most realistic than ever before.”
“My second question.” Peter sat back down on the chair he slept in. “How does your face feel, and your leg? What even happened to your leg?”
“My face feels like someone has beat me up and my leg is caused by a lovely little brother with a katana.”
Jason saw Peter think for a second. “So your little brother is the little dude with the sword… what’s his name..?”
“He’s the current Robin.”
“Current?” Peter tilted his head sideways something Jason noticed was a Spider-Man thing.
“Yeah there been many before him like me.” Jason explained.
“You were Robin?”
“Yup the one and only second one.” Jason awkwardly smiled.
“Wait so the Bat thing is like a family thing?”
Jason laughed. “You could say that. The actual family business.”
“So your dad, Bruce is Batman..?”
Jason smiled at him and nodded.
“Hm alright. Why did your brother even cut you with his sword.”
Jason let himself drop on the bed and was now lying on it with his legs still to the ground. “He thought I was murdering Tim, which I just shot him.”
Peter was doing the head tilt once again and his facial expression was very confused.
“I’ll tell you later.”
Peter looked at him and raised his eyebrow. “Okay sure…”
“My third question is if you’re hungry?” Peter suspiciously smiled at him.
Jason squinted his eyes, the best his bruised face allowed him to. “I always am but…”
“Remember when I’d got hit with the toxin and you brought me home. We owe each other a platonic egg date.” Peter’s smile widened. “If I knew you were Red Hood I would’ve never left.”
Jason sat back up. “Really? Why?”
Peter laughed but stopped when he saw Jason was absolutely serious. “Because you’re my friend man and I like being in your presence. Red Hood isn’t my friend he’s just a colleague." Peter said. "Well he is my friend now though.” Peter added.
“Really?”
Peter nodded. “For reals.”
“I’m pretending you speak like a normal human being instead of a nerd.”
“Now my fourth and for now final question, how long have you known?”
Jason sat up straight on the bed again. “A while.”
Peter got up and awkwardly walked back and forth. “What do you mean a while?” Jason noticed he was trying his hardest to keep his cool.
“My siblings found out, don’t ask me why or how because I don’t know.” Jason explained. “I just..” Jason said quietly, so quiet the normal human ears wouldn’t have been able to catch that.
“What? You just..?” Peter asked him.
Jason looked at him confused. “How did you catch that?”
“Super hearing, super strength, super funny and super handsome.” Peter joked.
Jason laughed. “In your dreams Parker.” He joked back.
“Hey!” Peter walked over to him, let himself drop next to him on the bed and lightly punched his shoulder. “But just what?”
“I just wanted to rather not know you know. The last time Jason Todd made friends was back in middle school. All my friends now are friends with me because of Red Hood.” Jason confessed and sighed. “And in middle to high school I only had people around me because my name happened to be Todd-Wayne.”
“I’m sorry Jay.” Peter sounded so sincere.
“It’s okay I just, nevermind.” He stood up from the bed and put on his jacket. “We got some eggs to get and a boy to not wake up.” He pointed at Miles.
People stared at Jason when him and Peter were walking to somewhere they could get some eggs for breakfast.
Jason was used to stares, if they weren’t because he was a Wayne they were because of his scar. But now instead of disgust or seeing a famous person stares it was the worst type of all, judgmental stares.
You’d think in Gotham they see everything everyday and a bruised and blue man on the streets isn’t a full carnival attraction to look at but not I guess.
Jason was silent on the way there which was in good contrast with Peter who couldn’t stop talking. Jason liked this about him, never an awkward silence.
Though Jason did like his overly awkward self induced awkward silences.
“-And that’s basically how my aunt found out.” Peter finished his story.
If Jason had to be very honest he had no idea what his aunt found out because he had not been paying attention at all.
His head was somewhere else and his body was still in a panicked state.
“Are you sure you’re okay Jason?” Peter asked him, he touched his shoulder but Jason flinched. “I’m so sorry Jay-“
“You haven’t done anything Pete I’m just not really myself yet.” Jason said slowly.
“I thought the toxin was gone?”
“It mostly is I think but that’s just because I’ve had more of those shots in my life. Normally this would linger for a little while longer.”
Peter whispered something Jason couldn’t hear to himself. “How was I okay the next morning?” Peter asked on such a way it made Jason feel suspicious as if he already knew why.
“We don’t know.” Jason confessed.
“It could be my high metabolism.” Peter started to point at a store. “Look there, it serves breakfast which means it has eggs!”
“Woah so good of you to notice!” Jason joked.
Peter softly punched Jason’s shoulder. Well Peter thought it went softly but Jason still lost his balance. “Sorry.” Peter snorted.
“That was so not like you really meant it.”
“Because I don’t. That’s what you get for keeping stuff from me about myself.” Peter smirked back.
“I need to tell you something I don’t want to tell you in the fear you’ll get mad. But it’s the right thing to tell you.” Jason began.
“What? Most of the times when people say don’t get mad, you get mad.”
“It has nothing to do with me.”
Peter gave him a side eye. “That doesn’t necessarily make it better.”
Jason quickly looked left and right and when there wasn’t a car coming their way they walked to the other side of the street.
It was a nice place, the inside was more colorful than he expected. Jason put on his sunglasses and sat down on a booth.
“Aren’t you supposed to wear them outside?”
Jason smiled at him. “Nope.” He grabbed a menu and his head disappeared into it.
“So boys, what can I get you two?” The waiter stood by their table holding a servers book.
“For me the house special omelette please.” Jason said laying the menu back down on the table.
“For me the mirror egg with cheese and bacon. If you could maybe add extra bacon I love you.” Peter ordered.
“I could see what I could do for you.” The waiter noted it in his book and winked at Peter.
“Uh!” Jason began when the waiter left, he pointed at the waiter. “He just winked at you!”
Peter laughed. “What? Jealous?” Peter smirked.
“No!” Jason was quick to answer.
“Hm.. Okay. I mean he is cute though.” Peter half joked.
“Oh my god Pete shut the fuck up he’s coming back.” Jason wanted to bury his head in his jacket.
“Could I interest you in some coffee, or tea?” The waiter asked, just looking at Peter.
“Coffee.” Jason slid the coffee cup towards the waiter who was already holding the coffee.
“Make that two.” Peter smiled at him and did the same as Jason.
“Well I’ll make sure that’s done.” Jason could punch the smile off of the waiters face while he poured the coffee still looking at Peter.
The waiter left again and Jason scoffed. “If he looks at you like that again he’s losing his fucking tip.”
Peter almost spat out his coffee due to laughing. “Looking at me like what!?”
“Like you’re some fucking, protein bar in the middle of a fucking battle.”
“You’re being ridiculous Jay. Anyways the thing I was going to get mad at?”
“I don’t want you to like get mad here..?” Jason said slowly.
“I promise, pinky swear…” Peter said holding out his pink.
“I’m not going to pinky swear you.”
Peter smiled widely. “I don’t think you want me mad huh? Or do you?!”
Jason groaned and hold out his pinky. Peter interlocked his pink with Jason’s. He softly pulled Jason’s arm towards him and kissed the pinky swear.
“What did you just do..?”
“That’s to like seal the deal. To make it real you know. Now it’s your turn.” Peter explained.
Jason looked at him weirdly.
“What you didn’t do this as a kid?”
“I didn’t do a lot as a kid.” Jason went down and kissed their interlocked pinky fingers. “So I sealed the deal?”
Peter smiled and nodded. “So what am I not getting mad at you about?”
Jason sighed. “I’m still furious myself to I’ll try to stay calm.” He said a whole lot quieter know Peter could hear him anyways. “It’s about Tim.”
“What about him?” Peter whispered back.
“He didn’t find your suit.”
Peter answered with looking at him weirdly.
“He stole it.”
Peter needed a moment to register this in his mind. “He… What..?” He sounded hurt.
“He stole your suit.” Jason took his sunglasses off.
“…what?” Peter looked confused. “Why?”
“He told me he didn’t know it was your suit and thought it was some strange technology because he doesn’t trust you one bit.” Jason explained.
“…What?”
“I shot him yesterday but that’s not all the shit he’s going to get because I’m not done with him, trust me.”
Peter stumbled some words. “Excuse me I- I’ll be right back..” and without a clear look of emotion in his eyes he walked towards the toilets.
Once he disappeared into them Jason hit the table with his fist.
“Sir..?” The waiter yelled out for him. “Please don’t hit the tables!”
“Oh yeah?” Jason stood up and pointed at the waiter. “You need to wait until I hit your annoying fucking smile off of your fucking face!”
The waiter rolled his eyes. “Sir please don’t threaten the staff.”
The waiter turned to his colleague. “It’s not my fault his hot boyfriend likes me more.” He whispered with a smile.
“What did you say?” Jason walked closer to him.
The waiter laughed in Jason’s face.
“I dare you to repeat yourself.” Jason’s hand reached for the gun in the pocket of his jacket. He didn’t even care about the possibility of a huge scandal unfolding by him pulling a gun in civilian.
“Boo hoo, I’m so scared of a pathetic beaten up privileged little trust fund fucker. You know..” He came from behind the counter. “I thought I saw your boyfriend tear up running to the bathroom. I think I could cheer him up real good. If ya know what I mean, that is.” He smirked.
“Oh yeah you’re not getting that fucking tip.” Jason got the gun from his pocket, he loaded it and pointed it at the waiter.
“Not so tough anymore huh?” Jason tilted his head and smirked back.
The waiter now looked back scared at him. “Dude I was just messing with you I didn’t-“
“Oh boo hoo.” Jason cut him off, repeating his own words.
Jason saw another waitress come with their food. Jason pointed the gun towards the food. “Pack that up please we’re eating to go. That is if your colleague still wants to get home in one piece.”
The waitress looked back at him and rolled her eyes, slowly going to work and putting their food to go.
“What the fuck Jay?!” Peter yelled at him returning from the bathroom.
“Get the food Peter we’re leaving.” Jason said and gave Peter his wallet with his spare hand. “No tip.”
Peter groaned and paid for the food with Jason was still pointing the gun at the waiter.
“Cops are called Wayne!” One of the people sitting in the restaurant yelled at Jason.
“Does it look like I give a fuck?” Jason shot a bullet into the roof. “And he’s not my fucking boyfriend.” Jason rushed Peter outside and put the gun back in his jacket.
“What the fuck was that?” Peter asked angrily.
“Making sure he’s getting fucking fired. Showing what you get if you mess with Jason fucking Todd.” Jason spit out.
“The fucking gun Jay.”
Jason noticed a tear running down Peter’s cheek.
“Pete are you okay..?”
“Am I okay?! The fuck I’m not!” Peter yelled at him. People passing them were staring. “I find out you are… you! I find out my most prized possession got stolen by my.. friend! And now you’re out here just waving your gun around!?”
“Peter woah, calm down!”
“Calm down?! ME?!” Peter walked faster than before.
“Dude.. slow down!”
“The fucking cops are after us excuse me?” Peter turned around.
“I’m sorry… Okay?!”
“You’re pretty damn shit at apologizing you know.”
Jason stayed silent and just followed wherever Peter was going to.
He knew he was a shit apologist. Jason knew he was a shity friend, for keeping everything from him. And Jason knew that being around Jason wasn’t very easy.
Peter was walking towards a fire escape that was lowered to the ground. With one hand, in the other the bag of food he climbed up all the way to the top with Jason closely following him.
“Finally some peace and fucking quiet.” Peter said sarcastically when another alarm was ringing through the city.
Peter sat on the edge of the building they were on. He unpacked the bag and took a look at his food.
“He didn’t even add the extra bacon.” Peter looked sadly at Jason.
“Yup, he’s getting fucking fired.” Jason sat down next at him.
“And how will you fix that?” Peter gave the back with his food in it at him.
“Do you have any idea how much the name Wayne means here?” Jason smiled at him.
Peter chuckled.
“You know I have a difficult relationship with the name and especially the man who gave it to me, but it comes with its privileges.”
“I can kind of relate, years ago back at like my Stark industries internship time. I was Starks kid and that brought too much power for a fourteen, fifteen year old kid to hold.” Peter smiled.
“Hm.. Stark Industries that sounds so familiar.”
“Really?”
“Hm I don’t know I never paid any attention at Bruce’s gala’s”
Jason stared at Peter who was looking into Gotham, the wind turned into a slight breeze which was running through his hair. The sun, which Gotham never saw a lot was shining right into Peter eyes which made them go from its usual dark brown color to a honey brown.
“How are you feeling?” Jason carefully asked him.
“Twisted, angry and comfortable..?” Peter said as if he got confused by his very own words. “And besides. What did you mean with shooting Tim?”
“I came into his room and shot him. He deserves way more.” Jason said coldly.
“You don’t need to do any more. He’ll see a very angry Spider-Man the next time he comes in my way.”
Jason looked at him proudly. “Good. He gets away with weird shit like this way too much.”
“Wait so, Tim is Red Robin then right?”
Jason nodded and took a bite of his food.
“So that’s why he got benched.”
Jason laughed. “Yup, Bruce didn’t even punish him right. A month without his boyfriend and patrol won’t teach him.”
“He’ll find out.” Peter smiled back at Jason.
Peter brought Jason back to his apartment after their breakfast together. He promised Jason to remember his address the next time something happened.
The first thing Jason did when he came home was take off his shoes and changed into comfortable clothes. A pair of sweats and a Wonder Woman t-shirt were the choice.
Jason was afraid to look into the mirror so he covered them with a towel instead.
He pulled out his phone and saw that Roy had called him.
Jason could ignore Dick but no way he could ignore Roy.
The phone went over twice until he picked up.
“Jason my man! How are we doing?” Jason heard from the other side of the line.
“A little more shity than usual but you know, the usual.” Jason chuckled. “I don’t know how far Dick filled you in. And if you’re calling me on his request fuck you.”
“Not calling on Dicks request I promise."
"Has he told you about the Spider-Men and what Tim did?” Jason said while throwing himself into his own bed.
“Oh yeah Tim like stole the suit and DNA right?”
“Tim also stole the DNA…?”
“Hm mhm. No one told you?”
“I’ll be fucking damned. How the fuck are you Harper?”
“I’m alright.”
“How is little Lian doing?”
“Awesome, she’s doing good. She has been talking about you, you need to come over soon man.”
“And I.. uh I think Jason Todd Fucked up today instead of RH.” Jason was quick to change the subject.
Jason heard Roy laugh a little. “What did Jason Todd do today. It’s not even afternoon yet.”
“Well I pulled a gun on a fucking disrespectful little shit waiter. That’s not even what’s bothering me a lot… Unless thinking about the coming Bruce lecture.”
“What’s bothering you a lot?”
“The waiter called one of the Spider-Men my boyfriend and I…. I didn’t dislike it.” Jason wanted to immediately throw his phone away.
He couldn’t see Roy’s face but he knew exactly how he was looking at his phone right now. “So it’s a nice guy?”
“It’s making me terrified Roy.”
“You deserve this Jaybird. And yes finding out you like someone is pretty fucking damn terrifying.”
Jason groaned. “I don’t even know if I do like him that way.”
“Well you’ll only find that out by spending more time together brother.”
“I know.” He groaned. “Well I’ll talk to you real soon man.”
“Keeping you to that!”
And silence returned back to him.
When Jason let himself drop on the bed he noticed that his white sheets had red spots on them when he lifted his head.
It took him a lot of courage to remove on of the towels draped over one of the mirrors. For the first time after his beating he looked at himself in the mirror. It looked better than he expected. His right eye was definitely really blue and his face was just all over a little red and bruised. A few cuts here and there but he was overall fine. He wiped off the new blood and draped the towel back over the mirror.
That it looked better than he expected didn’t mean that he suddenly liked to be met with his reflection.