ʀᴇᴄʟᴜsᴇ! homesick

CH 30: Reunion

On Jason's birthday, August 16th, Bruce announced that Jason was alive to Gotham. To the world.

Bruce explained that Jason didn't die in the car crash abroad, it was staged so that Jason could stay out of the spotlight. Jason had "changed his mind" and returned home.

Jason especially hated all the new attention that he was about to receive, since it was about to be the scoop of the century.

I tease him for being afraid of a couple of fans and reporters.

Speaking of Bruce and Jason, they were on speaking terms again, sometimes they were stubborn and fought, other times they were subjected to the silent treatment. But it was better than it used to be.

This year, he's requested to celebrate his birthday alone with me.

He suspects that Dildo, Replacement, and Demon Spawn, (his words not mine), are going to try and prank him.

Him and Dick are doing great, they were always close until Dick left for Blüdhaven, and Jason died.

Jason has a hard time connecting with Tim, and dissociating him as the person who replaced him. Jason often brings it up as a joke, but sometimes I think it hurts him more than he says.

And Jason hates Damian. I mean, the feeling is mutual. Jason hates Damian because of what he represents. Everyone gave up the title of Robin, but Jason was forced out of the position. It didn't help that Jason hated the time he was trapped at the League of Assasssin, where Damian was the Blood Heir, Talia Al Ghul's son, and Ra's Al Ghul's grandson.

Talk about bad blood.

So we stayed in his apartment, opening presents for his birthday.

"This one's from Bruce." I tell Jason, handing him a box, hiding Bruce's real present. I pull out my phone to start recording him.

Jason rips the wrapping paper, and opens the flaps of the box. Paint suddenly splatters all across his front.

Jason just sits there, flabbergasted. I start laughing so hard I cry, and my phone slips out of my hand.

He opens and closes his mouth multiple times. Jason tries, but fails to wipe the paint out of his face.

I finally stop laughing, and pick up my phone. "That was amazing." I giggle at Jason's current situation.

"Bruce doesn't have a single funny bone in his body." He determines. "It was Replacement, wasn't it?"

"Strike one." I say.

"Dick?"

"Strike two."

His eyes widen in realization. "It was Stephanie, wasn't it."

"Ding ding ding! We have a winner!" I say, holding my phone like a microphone.

"And the birthday boy deserves a hug for his prize." He says, getting up, stalking towards me.

"No, maybe another night." I say, moving away from Jason.

"I think he is. Come on Viv, one hug won't hurt."

"If you hug me with all that paint on you, I'll eat your cake by myself." I threaten.

"Eh it's worth it."

His words are finally processed in my brain, and I try to crawl up to the ceiling, but he grabs my leg and pulls me down.

I yelp, as Jason leaps and catches me.

He gives me a BIG hug.

"Jason get off of me!" I say, squirming in his arms, as paint is spread all over my body.