Don't Fear the Reaper

49) Knitting Needles Are Not As Blunt As You'd Like

Nico fucking loved knitting.

He would never admit it to any of the Waynes, but he fucking loved it. When Tim and Steph had burst into his cell one day with arms full of yard and knitting needles, he thought it was the stupidest idea yet.

He had tried to refuse, but Steph said she would live in the room with him and never stop talking if he didn't learn, and Nico believed her. She was 100% willing to never leave his cell until she won...

So he learned to knit.

He learned, and then he couldn't stop. Something about the repetitive motions and the fact that he could literally see that he was making progress and creating something... he really liked it.

He had been doing it for a week and had already made basically everyone in the manor a scarf. He felt kinda stupid when he would give someone theirs because not only had he never actually given someone a gift— or, at least not that he could remember— but because it was something he made. It felt weirdly personal, so he had to counteract it in some way.

The door slid open as Nico fiddled with the finished dark red scarf in his lap. He glanced up and saw that it was Jason walking in with a tray of food that was presumably for him.

As Jason opened his mouth to probably say hello, Nico threw the balled up scarf at his face. Jason just froze for a second, the tray still in his hands and the scarf now partially unfolded, partially blocking his vision. "good morning to you too."

Nico just looked away from him, his eyes going back to looking at the ball of yarn in his lap. They used to sit in the room with him while he had his supplies, probably to make sure he didn't try to strangle himself, but they began allowing him to have his stuff as long as someone was in the cave, and there was always someone in the cave.

Jason shook his head back and forth so the scarf shifted to give him back his sight before setting the tray down on Nico's bed. The 21-year-old sat in the chair and finally actually took in the scarf. The demigod saw a small smile fill the man as he looked at it, but he forced his face to go back to a neutral face as he said, "If you throw something at me, I'm keeping it."

Nico rolled his eyes, but he felt his face flush. The other bats had all said similar things to him after he had chucked scarves at their faces, most likely aware that he didn't want them saying anything.

They were always so considerate...

Nico thought they were psychos.

"Alfie made you a grilled chicken and cheese with a side of fruit," Jason said as he readjusted the scarf to sit properly around his neck. "He said, and I quote, 'if at least half the fruit is not eaten, I will go down there myself and begin reading the ads section until he dies of boredom.'"

Nico felt his face flicker with a smile at Jason's poorly done British accent, but he covered it up by reluctantly taking a bite out of the sandwich.

It was silent between them for a little while, the man apparently waiting to see if Nico would start a conversation (he would be waiting forever), before giving up.

"Damian and Dick are both out of town right now, so you'll probably be seeing more of me for the next few days," he said, kicking his feet up on the side of the bed. "The demon is on a Super Sons mission, and Dickie Bird is helping out with a YJ Senior Members Mission."

Nico hummed slightly, feeling a little bad for always just sitting there silently. He never used to feel that way, but apparently sitting in a room for nearly a month was weakening him.

"Steph said she thought you were ready to learn how to knit a hat, so she's been studying up on that for the last few days which is entertaining," Jason said, putting his hands behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling, looking like he was trying to remember what everyone was up to. "Bruce has been pretty distracted recently, so Timbo has been picking up the slack at WE. Duke's friend Iko is back and town and I swear she never leaves. Like, I get that they got close during the whole 'We Are Robin' rebellion and subsequent war, but it's kinda a lot, you know?"