When Worlds Collide

80) Jason is Fully My Favorite

-Jason POV- 

Jason was tired of the tension in the manor. Every interaction the family had was laced with this filter of strain. Bruce was spending most of his time in the cave, Tim was constantly in his room, Damian was always hitting his rage out in the gym, and Nico was just stomping around the house. Dick was a whole other story. Apparently his mission in Markovia didn't go as planned and he brought back some souvenirs in the form of 2 meta-teens, included the second eldest Prince of Markovia.

Jason, somehow being the reasonable one, did what reasonable people do: removed himself from the situation. Only problem with that? His family kept following him.

Jason was lying on the couch in one of his safe houses when Nico stepped out of the shadows.

"Can you believe him?" Nico immediately said, beginning to pace. "Bruce has the audacity to tell me that it wasn't smart for me to help fund the Meta-Human Youth Center in Taos. He said it 'put my identity at risk'— but how can it do that when the money wasn't even from either of my fathers?"

"Hey Jason, mind if I come by?" Jason said, knowing that Nico wasn't listening. "Of course I don't mind. I'd love to have you over, just as long as you don't bring drama with you."

"The money came from the Lotus Hotel and Casino and I think that since that place stole 70 years from me, I can use that card however I fucking want."

"Oh don't worry Jason, I would never come over just to further include you in the family drama, especially since you have clearly stated that you don't want to be involved," Jason said in a poor Italian accent before switching back to his regular voice. "Wow, you are just the best. I so appreciate how you aren't just coming here to rant."

Nico rolled his eyes and turned Jason. "Yeah yeah, I get it. You don't want to be included, but you're the only person in the family that's on my side."

Jason looked at him with a face that clearly said 'kill me... again'. "I'm not on your side. I'm not on anyone's side. The only side I'm on is the side lines."

Nico scoffed, plopping down on the couch after he moved Jason's feet. Jason immediately just put hit feet over Nico's legs, as if he wasn't even there.

"How is it that you're the only one not in a disagreement right now?"

"I have no clue. It's weird for me too."

Nico groaned. "Everything is shit."

Jason raised an eyebrow. "If I didn't know that you and Dick weren't speaking right now, I would say that you've been spending too much time with him. You certainly have his dramatics."

The demigod just rolled his eyes. "I'm not being dramatic. I'm being realistic. Everything is shit."

"Not everything. Will lives in Gotham now, the Youth Center opens tomorrow, and I heard that your team pulled off five more raids in the last week."

Nico let out a dramatic sigh. "Yeah, but I'm so busy with everything else that I hardly get to see Will outside of missions, the media is gonna go crazy after they see me at the grand opening and hear that I donated a shit ton of stuff to the center, and the raids... well those are actually going well. We just found a new lead to a meta trafficking syndicate in the US."

Jason sat up to ruffle his little brother's hair. "See, not everything is shit, just most of it."

"My team may be doing well right now, but school starts soon and then it's gonna get rough. Jason, Percy and Annabeth are going to be back at New Rome Uni, Will and I will be at GA. Reyna and Frank are always busy with being Praetors, Hazel is always doing centurion stuff and might take classes at New Rome too. Leo, Caly, Kayla, Piper, and Rachel will be our main people on the field, but they have their own lives."

"You could just cut back on-"

"If we cut back, that means that more and more kids are not only gonna get taken, but they'll either be turned into metas or they'll be killed." Nico stared at the ceiling. "With the League running the algorithm, we have been able to actually focus on just the raids, but it's still a lot."

Jason nodded, looking at the eye bags under his little brother's eyes. "I know you don't want to do it, but you could talk to Bruce. He's no longer a part of the League, so he can actually help out on raids."

"But he used to be a member. I'll get enough questions about being at a League event, I don't need even more about why the Big Bad Bat is suddenly okay with a powered vigilante who's done multiple busts in 'his city'. Plus he's working on... other things."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Gods, you are so much like him."

Nico scoffed. "No I'm not-"

"Shut up, yes you are," Jason said, swatting his shoulder. "You're obsessed with doing everything solo, even if solo means with just your own team. Hell, Batman was a founding member of the League, but he still almost didn't join because he 'worked alone'. You've made such a big stink about not working with anyone else except your teammates, even though you obviously need help."

"I'm working with the League-"

"No. You barely tell them anything and won't let them know about any of your plans until they are already in motion. That's not working with them, that's barely even communicating with them." Jason shifted his legs off his brother and moved them to the coffee table, back now leaning against back of the couch. "If you need help, tell them. The YJ Team is for covert ops, so they could help."

"I think we both know their missions never really stay covert. Half the villains out there know about them and it's a wonder that the public hasn't found out yet." Nico crossed his arms, looking like an annoyed teen despite the serious topic. "If it got out that my team was working with the proteges of Leaguers, Luthor would have a field day."

Jason ran a hand through his hair. "Then find another solution because you can't keep this up forever. You are wearing yourself thin and that isn't good for anyone. If you get hurt, that means you can't help the people that need you. You're a leader now, so act like. Don't push yourself to the breaking point, because you are setting the example for your team."

"They all have more experience than-"

Jason cut him off. "That doesn't matter. You are the leader. They are following your lead, so if you throw yourself into the work, so will they. You can lead them to success, or you can lead them to their slaughter. Hopefully, they would stop you before it got to that point, but that's one of the things that you don't learn until it's too late. So, for me, our family, and your team's sake, please, don't let it get to that point. We lost you once and we can't go through that again."

Nico stared at him for a long moment before he let out a breath and nodded. "I'll find a solution."

"Good," Jason said with a smile. "Now, no more family or vigilante drama. If you're staying, you're cooking because Artemis and Roy are coming over later and I have been banned from cooking food for them."

Nico snorted but agreed as he stood up to look at what food he had to work with. "I'm glad they had the sense to not trust your cooking.

Jason rolled his eyes and joined him in the kitchenette. "Shut it, Urchin." 

A/N: I totally didn't forget about clicking the publish button because I was watching Netflix... that would be embarrassing. I was late for other, totally valid reasons that were not at all connected to a sitcom

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