Hide And Seek

Chapter 19

Jason was pacing a hole in the carpet.

Marie should be checking in in another half hour, but that didn't stop Jason from panicking. He was practically inconsolable, dead to the world around him aside from the phone he was clutching in his palm. Normally, Dick might think it was sweet of him to be so concerned for Marie. But now it was just grating on his nerves, making him more anxious for her. Yeah, he trusted Marie but that didn't mean it wasn't anxiety-inducing.

Especially with Jason's infernal pacing.

"Todd, if you do not sit down this very instant, I swear to you I will-"

It seemed he wasn't the only one who had had enough. Dick jumped to his feet, quickly intervening between his brothers before disaster could strike them. Damian had gone to the gym for a couple of hours before returning to the family room. No one could seem to stay away for too long, even Tim had just pulled his workstation into the room. "Come on, that's enough."

"Why should it be? We're all concerned, that does not mean he should-"

"That's enough, I said," Dick glowered, hand on Damian's shoulder to attempt to dissuade him. His katana was already half out of place on his belt, and Dick didn't feel like cleaning anyone up. Damian glared behind him for a moment before leaning back. "We're all concerned, and understandably so. But if you're fighting we might miss a text from Marie, do you want that?"

"Tt, I doubt Todd could drop the phone even if I sliced his hand off," Damian spat out. Even so, he walked back, dropping into the couch to pick up the sketchbook he had left there. "But no, I suppose I don't."

"Good," Dick sighed, throwing a glance back at Jason. He hadn't really reacted much to the whole situation, Dick couldn't tell if he had noticed in the first place. He glanced around the room again, checking that all weapons were out of sight. "Let's not lose our heads here, Marie would never want us to fight on her account."

Tim fixed him with a tired look from his nest of computers around him. "Have you met the woman? I'm pretty sure she wants to watch the world burn."

"Yeah but- you know what I mean."

Dick moved back to sit as the silence continued. When he had first met Marie, he had been shocked by how attached to her his brothers were. He quite possibly never would have guessed he'd become equally attached before long. Well, not as attached as Jason maybe, but still.

He glanced back at Jason worriedly. He didn't know how he and Marie hadn't gotten together yet, it was obvious how much they loved each other. He had never seen Jason happier actually, had never seen Marie happier than when he was with him. They brought out the best in each other, without causing the other to burn out.

But maybe Jason could do without the separation anxiety.

Suddenly a portal opened, causing everyone to jump out of their spots as MultiMare stumbled out of the portal. She had barely set her foot on the ground before she was wrapped completely in a hug by Jason, nearly completely concealed from everyone as the portal faded behind them. Tim hurriedly closed his computer, whipping out his phone. Kim and Max had gone back to the kitchen to cook everyone's lunch. Alfred had probably stopped them, so they hadn't been seen since then.

Damian sheathed his sword with a swirl, but Dick didn't miss the relieved expression that took over his features momentarily.

"Jason, I can't breathe!"

Jason just laughed, letting her go enough so that his hands were on her shoulders. "You're not hurt are you, Pixie?"

At Marie's confirmation, Jason finally let go of her so she could transform. She sent everyone a bright smile, if not a little exasperated. "Plan was a definite success and then some. I have a lot of information, and then we're gonna have to suit up."