tfln

[gutties]

Strike the earth!

Comments

[theotherobin]

Is there a similar term for someone who acts old and disfigured?

[Jason smirks like the smartass he is, and heads towards the place he picked out. it's a couple blocks away, long enough for him to sus out if this guy can actually be trusted ]

So why'd you lie to me?

[captain_bitterness]

Not to my knowledge.

[Nate follows alongside him, taking long easy strides.]

About what?

[theotherobin]

Maybe we'll have to coin a new term then.

[Jason waves a hand toward Nate like it's really fucking obvious.]

About yourself. Who you are. You're barely older than Grayson and you're not all that fucking mysterious. Bruce had no fucking idea who you were.

[captain_bitterness]

I believe the term is called 'honesty'.

[Nate muses and then gives Jason a dry look.]

I am older than Grayson, I just look young.

[theotherobin]

Damn, dude. You shouldn't be touting honesty so loud and proud.

[not that Jason's an honest person either. truth is, the lack of it on Nate's part was smart, even if Jason doesn't like being kept in the dark. there's no reason to be honest unless you know exactly what you're in for.]

And hideously disfigured. I mean damn, look at those four eyes. How can you even stand to look at yourself in the mirror every morning? Seriously, though. What was the point of misleading me?

[captain_bitterness]

[There's a flicker of amusement in Nate's dark eyes although the rest of his face remains serious.]

I wasn't. I am both old and disfigured, I just hide both aspects very well.

[theotherobin]

You were purposefully being real fucking obtuse.

[Jason gives him a pointed look. don't bullshit a bullshitter.]

And what about Bruce not knowing who the hell you were when I asked him about you? How do you explain that?

[if this guy is so damn perceptive, maybe he'll figure it out.]

[captain_bitterness]

Because you never asked Bruce about me.

[theotherobin]

[Jason raises an eyebrow, turning the corner to lead them to the best hole in the wall chili dog place.]

Yeah alright. So you're not a complete idiot. Here we are.

[he yanks the door open for Nate and heads in after him, and the guy behind the counter is already giving Jason a fond scowl before asking what he's dragging in this time, and if he's gonna have to hide out behind the counter again.]

Oh come on, Benny that was one fucking time.

Twice.

Yeah alright. Twice. But this time I'm just showing my friend here around the best parts of Gotham. Somehow we wound up here.

[captain_bitterness]

[The fact that Jason didn't ask Bruce is interesting to him and just goes to show another difference between him and Grayson.

Jason's interaction with the man behind the counter is also interesting and Nate files it away for later, following Jason silently to a booth where he sits across from him.]

[theotherobin]

[Jason isn't Dick, not by a long shot. Bruce has trouble seeing that often enough though. He tries to model Jason after him more often than not and it doesn't work. hell, he's even got Jason looking more like Dick by straightening out his hair instead of letting the wild curls run free. Jason doesn't give a shit of course (he does a little) because he wants this. he wants to be Robin so badly, and he can do this better than Dick ever did.

Jason's demeanor is different here. it's not the put upon casual aloofness that he so often carries with him. it's more real, more comfortable, like he's home. he's never really had one. the streets of Gotham are his home.]

You've got some choices but you gotta go for at least two of the classic ones, bro. Also the waffle fries. It would be criminal not to get those.

[Jason slides the small, beat up, laminated menu over to Nate.]

And just for the record, "friend" remains to be seen. Just didn't want Benny giving you shit.

[captain_bitterness]

[If Nate knew that Bruce was trying to model Jason into Dick v2.0 he would have a good, long chuckle about it and tell his old associate that he was an idiot for even trying.

He notes the shift in Jason's demeanor and takes the beat up menu with hands that are covered by expensive black leather gloves.]

Perish the thought of 'Benny' thinking ill of me. [He says in a dry tone as he reads through the menu.]

So tell me about these two times that Benny had to hide from your company.

[theotherobin]

[ Jason's not particularly thrilled about it either, but Robin means more to him than trying to start shit about that one. sometimes he fumes about it by acting out... which Nate might say is like Dick anyway.

Benny's probably eying the two of them right now, trying to figure out what a guy like Nate is doing with a kid like Jason, but well... he's seen everything by now. ]

Hey, you've got no idea what Benny could do to you.

[Jason says pointedly, picking up a menu as well, just to have something to keep him still. he knows this thing front and back by heart.]

No, dude. You got it all wrong. Benny wasn't the one hiding out from my company. Imagine if he had to hide out at his own place? He was doing me a solid when I had to lay low a couple times. The cops here are real bitches.

[captain_bitterness]

The only thing Benny can do to me is clog my arteries with cholesterol.

[He says in that same dry tone and then puts the menu down, having decided on his order.]

What were the reasons for you having to lay low?

[theotherobin]

Like I said, you don't know Benny. You don't got any idea what he can do.

[and especially here in Gotham, Nate would be stupid to figure otherwise. Jason shrugs.]

I was just trying to make a living. Nothing wrong with that, huh?

[captain_bitterness]

I don't but I know what I can do.

[He says and leaves it at that, knowing that even if Benny was a criminal mastermind as well as chili dog chef it wouldn't matter. He could kill him in about ten seconds. It's what he does but it's cute that Jason thinks otherwise.]

Not at all, as previously discussed one has to survive. So tell me, was it hard for you to switch from such a thing to living in the lap of luxury at Wayne Manor?

[theotherobin]

Someone's real fucking full of themselves, huh.

[maybe Benny has powers that Nate doesn't know about. maybe this is all just a cover. assumptions can get you killed. but it's cute that Nate thinks otherwise.

somehow, Nate was a little less annoying when he wasn't spouting his arrogance anonymously. Jason still can't get over how much the guy built himself up. it's a little off putting, but at least the guy's not a complete idiot, which is the only reason why Jason's sitting here with him right now.]

Wouldn't call it hard but it was definitely something. Sure as fuck not gonna question living the good life while I can, though.

[captain_bitterness]

Mmn.

[There's that noise again. It's neither a yes or a no, Nate knows what he's capable of and if it comes off as arrogance he doesn't really care.]

Do you ever feel guilty?

[theotherobin]

[ it's a good thing Nate doesn't care, cause the last thing Jason ever does is mince words. not many people can take it. ]

What is this, a fucking therapy session?

[Jason looks over to Benny and gives him a nod. the older man comes over to take their order. for himself he orders three chili dogs, waffle fries and a milkshake, and then he looks to Nate for him to order as well.]

[captain_bitterness]

No, I'd be an awful therapist. Just curious.

[When Benny comes over Nate orders three chili dogs as well, one classic and the other two with some of the more interesting toppings.]

Oh and coffee please, black.

[theotherobin]

Yeah, well. I'm not big on talking about my feelings, so.

[guilt is one of those intense ones he doesn't want to think about. then again, there aren't many feelings he'd like to think about if he can help it.]

He'll also have waffle fries. With cheese.

[he tells Benny, then looks at Nate.]

Trust me, they're worth it.

[captain_bitterness]

Fair enough.

[Another little bit of information that Nate tucks away, and when Jason adds on the waffle fries he lifts up his eyebrow again but allows it.]

[theotherobin]

[ Benny's more than happy with the big order, heading off to prepare it all for them. Jason sits back, glancing toward the door, then the window, then at Nate again. ]

So what was with the whole mysterious charade? Why not just tell me who you were right off the bat? Not like you've got a whole secret identity thing going on, right?

[captain_bitterness]

[He purposely doesn't answer the question about having a secret identity or not. He doesn't but this is all information he will deal out slowly the more he gets to know Jason.]

I did it for a few reasons. [mostly because my writer hadn't made a journal for me yet....]
I was curious how you'd react and like I said, I work anonymously so much that part of it is habit.

[theotherobin]

[ Jason can appreciate that. he has no reason to dole out information to anyone either, unless necessary. ]

And then the urge to meet me in person was far too great, huh.

[Jason smirks, the cockiest look on his face as he sits back.]

Gotta say, you're a hard guy to find. I got several hits to Bruce's sources in Singapore, but you weren't one of 'em. Bet even now that I know who you are I won't find much on you either though, huh?