Cognitive Dissonance

Chapter 13: Soigné

"So tell me, when did you two decide to change uniforms? You used to wear black," Dick Grayson asked, looking like he found something funny in his own statement. At his query, the teenagers exchanged glances. Jason's wearing a hooded plain white sweatshirt which almost hugged his form. And Rachel's wearing an oversized v necked plain white cashmere sweater.

"She copied me," Jason casually said. Rachel can sense mischief in the smile that just formed on his face.

"I did not," she said defensively. "You saw me here first," she added, reminding Dick that indeed, she was the first person in the dining area.

Rachel's response put Dick Grayson in a difficult position however. The truth is, he saw Jason first. The brothers had a rare quality time at five in the morning. They exchanged confidences in the training room while trying to plant each other's faces on the ring floor mat.

Granted, Jason was wearing black at that time but he was quite aware that his brother changed to what he's wearing now after taking a shower. Across from him, he can see the impish grin on the teenager's face. Dick almost rolled his eyes. He was sure the gesture was intended for him. The rascal wanted to see him disagree with Rachel. He just shot himself on the foot by making a comment about their clothes.

"Actually," Dick heard Jason say. He knew where the latter is going by beginning his statement that way. "I saw him first," Dick finished for his brother. "We were in the training room at five in the morning," he relayed.

"I was going to say, 'actually, no one can determine that since I knew she was awake around four thirty' but good job Dickie," Jason snickered as he said it. "For telling the truth," he added, sending the oldest person in the room a salute.

"I know it was at trap from the beginning wiseass," Dick shook his head in rejection of the fact that Jason got the better of him. He was smiling as he said so. The truth is, he wasn't really salty about it. "Whatever helps you sleep at night," Jason replied.

The youngest in the room can only watch the brothers' back and forth. She couldn't help but smile at what she's witnessing. When she arrived at the manor weeks back, she thought that the place looked too huge for three or even four people. In that sense, it felt cold. Knowing there are people in it, and also having the idea that they won't be able to see each other because the building is just too big.

She was wrong. She realized the size of the house isn't going to be a problem if the people in it decided they want to be in the same room at the same time. Jason proved it to her. He was gone for a week that one time he decided he didn't want to see anybody. And now, he's the most present of them all.

It's funny how she thought that they don't engage like a real family just because she knew the brothers rarely see each other. Or that they were not blood related to add to that fact. Looking at them banter right now, tells her the bond these people have, run deep.

In many ways, she's thankful her feet took her to where Dick Grayson was. He took her in and shared everything he had with her. Clothes to wear, food to eat. A Family, and a home.

She's thankful of those many things and more. And that's also the reason why she's afraid. Watching the brothers interact with each other, she can't help but ask herself, how can I not love these two? Because she does. And the thought that everything is temporary, scared her.

"Hey, sunshine!"

The sound of Jason's voice broke her reverie. She turned to her right where he sat. He wore a puzzled look on his face. "You alright?" he asked her. "Dude, I think you just scared her for mentioning Bruce," he added, directing his message to Dick.