[He shouldn't rise to the bait; Tim knows this. Jason's going to get mad and sullen, and he's going to leave, and that's the opposite of what Tim wants.
But he's just irritated enough to push back. So he pins his gaze on Jason, opens his mouth, and doesn't take care to hold anything back this time.]
I was talking about you, Jason - this pathological need you have to keep pushing people away. Have you ever actually tried not swinging at everyone who tries to get close to you? I get it - you think no one gives a shit about you, you think you're the black sheep no one wants around, but how thick is your skull, really, to see people making an effort and decide it's all bullshit?
[There's a dark cloud that passes over Jason's face when Tim continues, though how can he blame him when he asked? He'll find a way. Tim, of course, is not wrong. From the mad and sullen, to most of his words. Most, but not all.
The problem is, all of these truths and emotions are so tangled up in his head, and it's been that way for a while now. Lately, though, he's been trying to untangle it. He's been trying not to push people away. Apparently he's not doing such a great job of it. Is anyone really surprised about that, either? ]
You think I don't try? I try when I don't want to. When I shouldn't even have to.
[Sadly, that's all he's got for the moment, because his head is telling him that whatever effort they're all making is indeed bullshit. He doesn't need this. He stands up, grabbing his helmet and holds his hand out in front of Tim.]
Or what? You'll beat me unconscious - again? [His hand moves to cover the phone.] I'm not finished.
[With scanning the phone, or with Jason, apparently. Tim doesn't budge from his chair. Maybe this is a bad idea - Jason's a lot bigger than him, stronger than him, more dangerous than him - but Tim believes this is a gamble worth taking.]
You're trying so hard? Prove it. Sit down. Stay. Have dinner with me.
[ There's the smallest hint of regret that flashes through Jason's eyes when Tim bring 'the incident' up, just like that. Guilt, regret, sadness... it all trickles back to anger for Jason and it's always been hard for him to temper it all down. Would he ever do anything like that again, though? No. Tim is wrong about that one. He doesn't try to take a swing at everyone who tries to get close to him.... Is that what Tim is trying to do?
Jason decides that he could just shove Tim away and snatch his phone back, because he doesn't have to prove anything, but that's probably a lie in and of itself. Something that he tells himself regularly, because he sure as hell isn't doing anything he does for them.
Stay isn't something Jason hears very often. He gets words hurled at him, lectures, useless apologies that are all a little too late, but no one ever has any sort of solution. No one gets that he is trying. If he jumps back out that window again, then what exactly is that saying? He's not sure, exactly, but his hand drops down and he pulls his helmet back off, giving Tim a look.]
I don't have to prove anything to you.
[Just to be clear. But he goes to sit back down anyway, leaving his helmet on the table]
[The fact that Tim can bring up that whole beating-unconscious incident and in the next breath ask Jason to stay speaks volumes about how much he wants Jason to stick around. Some people wouldn't be able to forgive an attack like that, but for Tim, it's so far in the past it's practically ancient history. He knows exactly how it must've looked to Jason, coming back from the dead and finding that Bruce had taken Tim under his wing. He can understand Jason's motivations, his anger. He's felt that anger, too, the kind that makes you feel like you're burning up from the inside, the kind that promises to only be sated with blood - maybe Tim hasn't felt it as often or as consistently as Jason, but he understands it all the same. He's been there. He's an orphan too, after all.
Tim's heartbeat races as he waits for Jason to react, and he's more relieved than he can safely show when Jason answers him by agreeing to stay. Jason's right; he doesn't have to prove anything to Tim, but the fact that he does so anyway is a sweeter victory than Tim can remember tasting in a long, long time. He inhales a slow, steadying breath and wills his hands to stop shaking as he turns back to the computer and reads the now-finished diagnostic report displayed on the screen.]
Well, there's good and news and bad news on the phone front. Which do you want first?
[ In bringing it up, Jason assumes Tim really hasn't forgiven him for that at all, and he probably shouldn't. The correlation of Tim asking him to stay, even despite that, it doesn't quite register just yet. Maybe it's because like Tim said, he's so set on assuming that this is rooted in bullshit. He doesn't imagine that Tim could see his side of it, just like he is dead sure the others don't either.
In the end, Jason probably doesn't know enough about Tim. He doesn't know nearly as much about him as Tim knows about him.
He takes a steadying breath of his own, dragging his fingers through his hair, then takes his gloves off and shoves them in his jacket pocket. Alright. He's staying. He can do this. He's here for a reason, he reminds himself, and it's not just because his phone got shot off a rooftop and needed some fixing. ]
The good news is never as good as the bad news is bad. Just tell me the bad news.
[Tim's forgiven Jason for what's happened between them, but he's not so naive to forget about it all. Keeping hope and optimism alive in his heart is one thing, but turning a blind eye is something else entirely, and Tim doesn't subscribe to the latter.]
I was kidding about the good news anyway - it's all bad news.
[He sighs, unplugs the phone, and tosses it back to Jason.]
The SoC's trashed. [Also THERE'S A GODDAMN BULLET??? What the hell, Jason.] You've probably got about four hours max before it shuts down entirely, so I'd recommend backing up anything you don't want to lose right away. I'm guessing you're not big on cloud storage, right?
[ Jason wouldn't want Tim to forget. Even if it would do Jason some good, that's not something that should be forgotten. He had his reasons at the time, and he felt he did what he needed to do, but that doesn't excuse his actions, same as Bruce's excuses don't excuse his actions either. Blaming Tim for any of that, though- Jason isn't stupid. He knows he was wrong.
He's still trying to figure out how to say that. It's been a month or two, now. So no, he doesn't expect it to be forgotten and he doesn't think it will be forgiven, but he's here anyway, for a number of reasons that he doesn't want to look into all that deeply. ]
Of course. Always good to have a sliver of hope and then get it taken away.
[He says dryly, sitting back against the couch. Look. The goddamn bullet was mostly not his fault??? Better than phone than him, no?]
That's definitely bad. But I was looking for an excuse to lose Harper's number anyway, so maybe there's a silver lining after all. [Nope, definitely bad] I don't use cloud storage, Tim. Where the hell am I supposed to back that up, your computer? No way.
[Look, it's not that he doesn't trust Tim, it's just that he doesn't completely trust Tim]
It was a joke, Jason. I know you know what those are - I've heard you make them before.
[Mostly about his own death. Which isn't all that funny, in Tim's opinion, but who is he to say how Jason should cope with that particular trauma.]
I could set you up with your own private server, if you wanted. Encrypted, backdoor-free. And I wouldn't lose Harper's number, but that's me. I think I have a spare you could use in the other room - one sec.
[Tim pushes himself up to standing, makes his way into the hallway and disappears into the bedroom, fusses with some boxes in the closet until he finds what he's looking for, with a faint Aha! He re-emerges half of a minute later with a similar model phone in hand, holds out his other hand to Jason, asking for his phone.]
[ He didn't used to joke about his death... he used to go after Robins, so consider this a step up. He's processing in his own way. ]
And I'm supposed to just trust that you'll set all of that up and not try to access my info?
[Trust issues. Don't they all have trust issues? It's kind of part of the whole deal. Though he's pretty sure Tim would have already gotten whatever he wanted off of his phone at this point, if he really wanted to. At some point, Jason knows he's just going to let this happen, especially if Tim has a backup phone. He thinks it over while Tim goes to find it, then holds his phone back out to him.]
Fine. But this sucks. I really liked the whole bullet in phone detail. Think I can find a case like that somewhere?
[There's a joke. So soon after Jason was about to storm out of here. Tim's not completely horrible at this, it seems]
I can show you all the admin stuff. It's not hard, and that way, you'd have total control.
[Could Tim still hack it? You bet. But unless there was a damn compelling reason for doing so, he wouldn't.]
But - I mean, would it really kill you to trust me, for once? Even just a little bit?
[Mm, maybe that was the wrong choice of words. Tim purses his mouth shut and takes the shot-up phone back to the desk, attaches it to the spare with yet another cable, and starts tapping through the steps to transfer the data.]
I'm sure you could make a case like that, if you couldn't find one
[ Jason assumes there will always be a compelling reason for them to get into his things. And if anything ever goes wrong between them- which is always a possibility when it comes to him and the Bats- then he'll be left wide open. ]
Yeah, it might. [Poor choice of words, but Jason won't hold it against him] If I didn't trust you a little bit, I wouldn't even be here right now, I think you know that.
[He leans against the desk as Tim gets to work, eying him. Tim must trust him too, to invite him over here. Not that Jason didn't already know where he lived and could easily get in here if he wanted to.... but this is different]
Yeah, sure. I'll start up some arts and crafts on the side. Maybe I can add some flare to my helmet, too.
[Tim sets the linked phones down on the table while the data transfer works, sits back in his chair and stares up at Jason with his arms folded across his chest.]
Do you, Jason? Trust me? I mean, really, 'cause it feels like you've still got one foot out the window. Like you're just - I don't know, tolerating me.
[Like Jason doesn't really want to be here, and the only reason he is still here is because Tim's got his phone hostage and is bribing him with food. What he doesn't verbalize is the nagging doubt in the back of his mind that maybe Jason's just using him. Looking for a way in with the goal of finding a way to cause serious damage, maybe. Tim's placed certain measures of trust in Jason, but he's still wary, on his toes; he'd have to be incredibly stupid to not be cautious. They're on better terms than they used to be, sure, but Tim feels like he can never accurately predict the enigma known as Jason Todd.
Luckily, there's a knock at the door to interrupt the conversation, and Tim gets up to answer it, exchanging quick pleasantries and a five-dollar tip with the girl at the door delivering their food. No tricks, no attacks - just burgers and fries. He shuts and locks the door and turns back to the table, checking if Jason's still here.]
[ This is the kind of insecurity that Jason doesn't expect, but he probably should. He has his moments, like the earlier conversation about Bruce, and now Tim is having a moment of his own. Does he really trust Tim? Does he really trust anyone? That's a hard question to answer. Some of the time, Jason isn't even sure if he trusts himself. So even handing his phone over is a big deal. There are probably less than a handful of people he would outwardly do this with. ]
Do I seem like a tolerant person, Tim? Like I'd just sit here and tolerate you for kicks? Let me ask you this. Do you trust me?
[Does he? Or does Tim think he might be looking for a way in with the goal of finding a way to cause serious damage? He imagines they're both on the same page with this. But Tim got so offended earlier when Jason was giving him shit for running to Bruce with his Jason problems. Maybe he's trying to prove something here.
They are lucky when the delivery person gets there, cutting up their conversation- if that's what this even is. Jason keeps his hand on the holster of one of his guns out of habit, but it's clear from a quick run down that she's not a threat, so Jason sits in Tim's chair and checks over the phones. No, he hasn't disappeared while Tim's back was turned]
[Tim is fairly secure about some things, less so about others. He's self-aware, knows his own abilities inside and out, but navigating where he stands with Jason often feels like treading quicksand.
He doesn't answer Jason immediately. He considers his answer while he handles the door and the food delivery, because honestly, there are a lot of reasons not to trust Jason. Most people don't.
Maybe that's part of why Tim does. It may not be perfect or complete, but trust definitely exists. And while experience may show that extending trust to someone with Jason's checkered history is perhaps not the smartest move, Tim is reasonably certain it's the right move. He returns to the table, secretly pleased that Jason's still there.]
If I didn't trust you, Jason, you wouldn't be here.
[A faint smile curls up the corner of his mouth, and he sets the bag down on the table in front of Jason.]
[ Jason feels mostly the same way as Tim does... when it comes to himself, and this situation. Navigating where he stands with Tim? It seems like there are a whole new set of rules, whether they established them or not. Jason's not big on rules and he's not big on unknown variables.
In the end, Jason feels like that checkered history is always going to stand in his way. That when it comes down to it, Bruce, Grayson, even Tim, they won't be able to look past it. This is the insecurity he gets stuck on the most, and he doesn't like it. It shouldn't matter to him... but it does.
He tries not to toy with the phones while he waits. He's pretty sure if he tries to pry that bullet out of there, the whole thing will short circuit. He looks up at Tim when he comes back over to him, and the kid seems sincere enough. It's the same thing Jason just said to Tim minutes ago.]
So when I say the same thing, why don't you believe me?
[He snags the bag, looking inside, then stands up, right into Tim's space]
You want to tear yourself away from the computer for a few minutes and sit and eat with me? [He points to the table]
[It's a fair question. Tim holds his ground, doesn't shrink under Jason's gaze even as he steps in close.]
I do believe you, Jason. You're just - I don't know, it feels like you're hard to reach sometimes. Unattainable, I guess.
[Like a brass ring he'll always reach for and never fully grasp. Tim shrugs and looks away, face suddenly warm; this is more deeply truthful than he'd planned to be tonight, and now he's questioning whether it was a good idea to say anything at all. He taps his fingers on the surface of the table, then starts toward the kitchen.]
You want something to drink? I have - hm, coffee, more coffee, and water.
[ Tim's always been a brave one, Jason knows that without question. He's always been impressed, even if he's had a shit way of showing it. He probably still does. But this is less about being brave and more about this possibly definitive trust forming between them. Can he trust that? (trusting the trust, only Bats would double down with a question something like that).
Unattainable. Hard to reach. Jason's pretty sure he works hard to maintain all of that, whether on purpose, or not.]
And what, you want to reach me?
[He eyes Tim's face, brows furrowing just slightly. He can't decipher this look. Has he ever been close enough to even try? It's not such a bad thing, being this close, but his first instinct is definitely to squash it, so when Tim moves away first, he's somewhat relieved]
Next time I'm bringing a case of beer.
[Next time? Did he just.... shit. He clears his throat and moves to the table, taking his burger and fries out of the bag. Maybe they can just ignore the next time. It's just a figure of speech]
Water is fine. Burgers don't go with coffee. Besides, you'll be wired all night.
I've always wanted to reach you, Jason. I thought you knew that.
[Tim says this over his shoulder as he disappears into the kitchen to retrieve two glasses of water - filtered, of course, his own design, you can never be too careful with contaminants in Gotham's water supply. He takes a moment, out of sight, for silent questioning, What am I doing? and What is Jason saying? What does it mean?, and though he feels pretty damn unsure about all of it, his expression is schooled against displaying that doubt by the time he makes his way back to the table and sets a glass in front of Jason.]
Is beer good with burgers? You always hear "beer and pizza," but not as often with burgers.
[He wouldn't know. He's underage and not especially interested in breaking that law. But Tim does appear open to entertaining the idea of next time.]
[ Has Tim always wanted to reach him? Jason's been too stuck in his head to really think about it like that. What did Tim say... something about fighting so hard to push people away. ]
Reach me to punch me, maybe. We never really had more to work with than that.
[Which is his fault, he's sure. Bruce's fault as well, but he's tired of giving the man so much credit. If this is Tim reaching out, maybe it's finally working]
Beer is good with just about anything. Whiskey is even better.
[He eyes Tim, who seems perfectly content with letting his words slide and he definitely has to give him credit for that one. Nothing weird here, nope. He sits down and digs into his burger like he hasn't eaten for a week]
Jason ... this may come as a surprise, but I haven't really wanted to punch you all that often.
[Sometimes, sure, Jason is frustrating as hell to deal with, and the punching feelings are definitely there. Sometimes Tim's been pushed into a position where he has to fight Jason, but he's never gone out of his way to throw a punch his way.
So maybe they never had much to work with, and maybe that's partly Jason's fault, but Tim's not blameless. He gave Jason a wide berth, didn't reach out to him, got busy with his own projects and problems. When distressed, Tim shuts people out, and it's easy to shut people out when they're standing so far on the other side of the door to begin with.
Tim takes the seat next to Jason, pulls his own burger out of the bag, and rips the bag open to set the fries within between him and Jason. He grabs a fry and chews it thoughtfully before continuing - sort of changing the subject. Redirecting it from the past to the future, at least.]
So what kind of beer do you like? Or whiskey. And don't say "any kind," that's cheating.
Now that's a lie, because I know you've probably wanted to punch me at least twice tonight.
[What better way to deal with that frustration than punching someone? Especially if that frustration is standing right in front of you? Sure, Jason probably doesn't have a better grip on the other ways and punching is something he knows how to do best, so that's his default reaction for the most part. They've gotten into it often enough where it wouldn't be anywhere close to a surprising thing.
Tim shuts people out, but Jason is here now, so maybe that's progress. Maybe this is that something more they can work with. He may think Tim might want to punch him, but he also knows they're not strangers anymore.
Moving from the past to the future is something Jason's pretty new at as well. He's been holding on to it all so deep in his heart, letting it burn a hole there for years. He's tired of it and he keeps coming back here to Gotham no matter how much he tries to stay away. For now, though, the present is filled with burgers and beer, and he can leave his existential crisis behind for a while]
Would you even know the difference? The cheapest, strongest beer is usually fine for me. Whatever's on tap, I'm not picky. When I drink whiskey? I drink Redemption Rye. Mostly because it makes me laugh.
[Make it three times. Tim's mouth settles into a tight line of exasperation, and he sighs loudly, raking his fingers through his hair.]
Honestly, Jason, what do I have to do to convince you that I don't want to fight with you? I mean ... [He gestures at the table. He invited Jason over, offered to try to patch up his phone, bought him dinner. He's asking about what Jason likes with the intention of next time.] There has to be something that will get you to relax. Can you give me even just a tiny hint here?
[Jeez, Tim is touchy tonight. Or is it every night? Jason isn't sure. If he bugs him more often, maybe he'll find out. Though it seems like he's doing a good enough job of getting Tim all exasperated already. ]
Will you relax? I was kidding. You're not making this very easy, you know. I came over when you offered help, I'm letting you fix my phone, I'm sitting here eating with you, talking about beer and you're getting all... [he waves a hand at Tim. Whatever this mood is, that's what's happening and it can't all be Jason, can it?]
It was the Redemption Rye, wasn't it. Okay, so that's not funny. No Redemption jokes, got it.
[Tim drags his hand down over his face, then sits back in his chair with his arms folded over his chest and a loud sigh exhaled through his teeth. He fixes a firm stare on Jason - not angry, but serious.]
I don't care if you joke about redemption, OK? What I care about is you calling me a liar.
[Because despite all the reasons he shouldn't, Tim cares about what Jason thinks of him.]
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But he's just irritated enough to push back. So he pins his gaze on Jason, opens his mouth, and doesn't take care to hold anything back this time.]
I was talking about you, Jason - this pathological need you have to keep pushing people away. Have you ever actually tried not swinging at everyone who tries to get close to you? I get it - you think no one gives a shit about you, you think you're the black sheep no one wants around, but how thick is your skull, really, to see people making an effort and decide it's all bullshit?
these idiots!
The problem is, all of these truths and emotions are so tangled up in his head, and it's been that way for a while now. Lately, though, he's been trying to untangle it. He's been trying not to push people away. Apparently he's not doing such a great job of it. Is anyone really surprised about that, either? ]
You think I don't try? I try when I don't want to. When I shouldn't even have to.
[Sadly, that's all he's got for the moment, because his head is telling him that whatever effort they're all making is indeed bullshit. He doesn't need this. He stands up, grabbing his helmet and holds his hand out in front of Tim.]
Phone. Now.
birdbrains ... pls
[With scanning the phone, or with Jason, apparently. Tim doesn't budge from his chair. Maybe this is a bad idea - Jason's a lot bigger than him, stronger than him, more dangerous than him - but Tim believes this is a gamble worth taking.]
You're trying so hard? Prove it. Sit down. Stay. Have dinner with me.
[Don't leave me.]
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Jason decides that he could just shove Tim away and snatch his phone back, because he doesn't have to prove anything, but that's probably a lie in and of itself. Something that he tells himself regularly, because he sure as hell isn't doing anything he does for them.
Stay isn't something Jason hears very often. He gets words hurled at him, lectures, useless apologies that are all a little too late, but no one ever has any sort of solution. No one gets that he is trying. If he jumps back out that window again, then what exactly is that saying? He's not sure, exactly, but his hand drops down and he pulls his helmet back off, giving Tim a look.]
I don't have to prove anything to you.
[Just to be clear. But he goes to sit back down anyway, leaving his helmet on the table]
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Tim's heartbeat races as he waits for Jason to react, and he's more relieved than he can safely show when Jason answers him by agreeing to stay. Jason's right; he doesn't have to prove anything to Tim, but the fact that he does so anyway is a sweeter victory than Tim can remember tasting in a long, long time. He inhales a slow, steadying breath and wills his hands to stop shaking as he turns back to the computer and reads the now-finished diagnostic report displayed on the screen.]
Well, there's good and news and bad news on the phone front. Which do you want first?
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In the end, Jason probably doesn't know enough about Tim. He doesn't know nearly as much about him as Tim knows about him.
He takes a steadying breath of his own, dragging his fingers through his hair, then takes his gloves off and shoves them in his jacket pocket. Alright. He's staying. He can do this. He's here for a reason, he reminds himself, and it's not just because his phone got shot off a rooftop and needed some fixing. ]
The good news is never as good as the bad news is bad. Just tell me the bad news.
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I was kidding about the good news anyway - it's all bad news.
[He sighs, unplugs the phone, and tosses it back to Jason.]
The SoC's trashed. [Also THERE'S A GODDAMN BULLET??? What the hell, Jason.] You've probably got about four hours max before it shuts down entirely, so I'd recommend backing up anything you don't want to lose right away. I'm guessing you're not big on cloud storage, right?
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He's still trying to figure out how to say that. It's been a month or two, now. So no, he doesn't expect it to be forgotten and he doesn't think it will be forgiven, but he's here anyway, for a number of reasons that he doesn't want to look into all that deeply. ]
Of course. Always good to have a sliver of hope and then get it taken away.
[He says dryly, sitting back against the couch. Look. The goddamn bullet was mostly not his fault??? Better than phone than him, no?]
That's definitely bad. But I was looking for an excuse to lose Harper's number anyway, so maybe there's a silver lining after all. [Nope, definitely bad] I don't use cloud storage, Tim. Where the hell am I supposed to back that up, your computer? No way.
[Look, it's not that he doesn't trust Tim, it's just that he doesn't completely trust Tim]
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[Mostly about his own death. Which isn't all that funny, in Tim's opinion, but who is he to say how Jason should cope with that particular trauma.]
I could set you up with your own private server, if you wanted. Encrypted, backdoor-free. And I wouldn't lose Harper's number, but that's me. I think I have a spare you could use in the other room - one sec.
[Tim pushes himself up to standing, makes his way into the hallway and disappears into the bedroom, fusses with some boxes in the closet until he finds what he's looking for, with a faint Aha! He re-emerges half of a minute later with a similar model phone in hand, holds out his other hand to Jason, asking for his phone.]
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[ He didn't used to joke about his death... he used to go after Robins, so consider this a step up. He's processing in his own way. ]
And I'm supposed to just trust that you'll set all of that up and not try to access my info?
[Trust issues. Don't they all have trust issues? It's kind of part of the whole deal. Though he's pretty sure Tim would have already gotten whatever he wanted off of his phone at this point, if he really wanted to. At some point, Jason knows he's just going to let this happen, especially if Tim has a backup phone. He thinks it over while Tim goes to find it, then holds his phone back out to him.]
Fine. But this sucks. I really liked the whole bullet in phone detail. Think I can find a case like that somewhere?
[There's a joke. So soon after Jason was about to storm out of here. Tim's not completely horrible at this, it seems]
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[Could Tim still hack it? You bet. But unless there was a damn compelling reason for doing so, he wouldn't.]
But - I mean, would it really kill you to trust me, for once? Even just a little bit?
[Mm, maybe that was the wrong choice of words. Tim purses his mouth shut and takes the shot-up phone back to the desk, attaches it to the spare with yet another cable, and starts tapping through the steps to transfer the data.]
I'm sure you could make a case like that, if you couldn't find one
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Yeah, it might. [Poor choice of words, but Jason won't hold it against him] If I didn't trust you a little bit, I wouldn't even be here right now, I think you know that.
[He leans against the desk as Tim gets to work, eying him. Tim must trust him too, to invite him over here. Not that Jason didn't already know where he lived and could easily get in here if he wanted to.... but this is different]
Yeah, sure. I'll start up some arts and crafts on the side. Maybe I can add some flare to my helmet, too.
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Do you, Jason? Trust me? I mean, really, 'cause it feels like you've still got one foot out the window. Like you're just - I don't know, tolerating me.
[Like Jason doesn't really want to be here, and the only reason he is still here is because Tim's got his phone hostage and is bribing him with food. What he doesn't verbalize is the nagging doubt in the back of his mind that maybe Jason's just using him. Looking for a way in with the goal of finding a way to cause serious damage, maybe. Tim's placed certain measures of trust in Jason, but he's still wary, on his toes; he'd have to be incredibly stupid to not be cautious. They're on better terms than they used to be, sure, but Tim feels like he can never accurately predict the enigma known as Jason Todd.
Luckily, there's a knock at the door to interrupt the conversation, and Tim gets up to answer it, exchanging quick pleasantries and a five-dollar tip with the girl at the door delivering their food. No tricks, no attacks - just burgers and fries. He shuts and locks the door and turns back to the table, checking if Jason's still here.]
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Do I seem like a tolerant person, Tim? Like I'd just sit here and tolerate you for kicks? Let me ask you this. Do you trust me?
[Does he? Or does Tim think he might be looking for a way in with the goal of finding a way to cause serious damage? He imagines they're both on the same page with this. But Tim got so offended earlier when Jason was giving him shit for running to Bruce with his Jason problems. Maybe he's trying to prove something here.
They are lucky when the delivery person gets there, cutting up their conversation- if that's what this even is.
Jason keeps his hand on the holster of one of his guns out of habit, but it's clear from a quick run down that she's not a threat, so Jason sits in Tim's chair and checks over the phones. No, he hasn't disappeared while Tim's back was turned]
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He doesn't answer Jason immediately. He considers his answer while he handles the door and the food delivery, because honestly, there are a lot of reasons not to trust Jason. Most people don't.
Maybe that's part of why Tim does. It may not be perfect or complete, but trust definitely exists. And while experience may show that extending trust to someone with Jason's checkered history is perhaps not the smartest move, Tim is reasonably certain it's the right move. He returns to the table, secretly pleased that Jason's still there.]
If I didn't trust you, Jason, you wouldn't be here.
[A faint smile curls up the corner of his mouth, and he sets the bag down on the table in front of Jason.]
Burgers and fries, as requested.
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In the end, Jason feels like that checkered history is always going to stand in his way. That when it comes down to it, Bruce, Grayson, even Tim, they won't be able to look past it. This is the insecurity he gets stuck on the most, and he doesn't like it. It shouldn't matter to him... but it does.
He tries not to toy with the phones while he waits. He's pretty sure if he tries to pry that bullet out of there, the whole thing will short circuit. He looks up at Tim when he comes back over to him, and the kid seems sincere enough. It's the same thing Jason just said to Tim minutes ago.]
So when I say the same thing, why don't you believe me?
[He snags the bag, looking inside, then stands up, right into Tim's space]
You want to tear yourself away from the computer for a few minutes and sit and eat with me? [He points to the table]
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I do believe you, Jason. You're just - I don't know, it feels like you're hard to reach sometimes. Unattainable, I guess.
[Like a brass ring he'll always reach for and never fully grasp. Tim shrugs and looks away, face suddenly warm; this is more deeply truthful than he'd planned to be tonight, and now he's questioning whether it was a good idea to say anything at all. He taps his fingers on the surface of the table, then starts toward the kitchen.]
You want something to drink? I have - hm, coffee, more coffee, and water.
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Unattainable. Hard to reach. Jason's pretty sure he works hard to maintain all of that, whether on purpose, or not.]
And what, you want to reach me?
[He eyes Tim's face, brows furrowing just slightly. He can't decipher this look. Has he ever been close enough to even try? It's not such a bad thing, being this close, but his first instinct is definitely to squash it, so when Tim moves away first, he's somewhat relieved]
Next time I'm bringing a case of beer.
[Next time? Did he just.... shit. He clears his throat and moves to the table, taking his burger and fries out of the bag. Maybe they can just ignore the next time. It's just a figure of speech]
Water is fine. Burgers don't go with coffee. Besides, you'll be wired all night.
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[Tim says this over his shoulder as he disappears into the kitchen to retrieve two glasses of water - filtered, of course, his own design, you can never be too careful with contaminants in Gotham's water supply. He takes a moment, out of sight, for silent questioning, What am I doing? and What is Jason saying? What does it mean?, and though he feels pretty damn unsure about all of it, his expression is schooled against displaying that doubt by the time he makes his way back to the table and sets a glass in front of Jason.]
Is beer good with burgers? You always hear "beer and pizza," but not as often with burgers.
[He wouldn't know. He's underage and not especially interested in breaking that law. But Tim does appear open to entertaining the idea of next time.]
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Reach me to punch me, maybe. We never really had more to work with than that.
[Which is his fault, he's sure. Bruce's fault as well, but he's tired of giving the man so much credit. If this is Tim reaching out, maybe it's finally working]
Beer is good with just about anything. Whiskey is even better.
[He eyes Tim, who seems perfectly content with letting his words slide and he definitely has to give him credit for that one. Nothing weird here, nope. He sits down and digs into his burger like he hasn't eaten for a week]
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[Sometimes, sure, Jason is frustrating as hell to deal with, and the punching feelings are definitely there. Sometimes Tim's been pushed into a position where he has to fight Jason, but he's never gone out of his way to throw a punch his way.
So maybe they never had much to work with, and maybe that's partly Jason's fault, but Tim's not blameless. He gave Jason a wide berth, didn't reach out to him, got busy with his own projects and problems. When distressed, Tim shuts people out, and it's easy to shut people out when they're standing so far on the other side of the door to begin with.
Tim takes the seat next to Jason, pulls his own burger out of the bag, and rips the bag open to set the fries within between him and Jason. He grabs a fry and chews it thoughtfully before continuing - sort of changing the subject. Redirecting it from the past to the future, at least.]
So what kind of beer do you like? Or whiskey. And don't say "any kind," that's cheating.
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[What better way to deal with that frustration than punching someone? Especially if that frustration is standing right in front of you? Sure, Jason probably doesn't have a better grip on the other ways and punching is something he knows how to do best, so that's his default reaction for the most part. They've gotten into it often enough where it wouldn't be anywhere close to a surprising thing.
Tim shuts people out, but Jason is here now, so maybe that's progress. Maybe this is that something more they can work with. He may think Tim might want to punch him, but he also knows they're not strangers anymore.
Moving from the past to the future is something Jason's pretty new at as well. He's been holding on to it all so deep in his heart, letting it burn a hole there for years. He's tired of it and he keeps coming back here to Gotham no matter how much he tries to stay away. For now, though, the present is filled with burgers and beer, and he can leave his existential crisis behind for a while]
Would you even know the difference? The cheapest, strongest beer is usually fine for me. Whatever's on tap, I'm not picky. When I drink whiskey? I drink Redemption Rye. Mostly because it makes me laugh.
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Honestly, Jason, what do I have to do to convince you that I don't want to fight with you? I mean ... [He gestures at the table. He invited Jason over, offered to try to patch up his phone, bought him dinner. He's asking about what Jason likes with the intention of next time.] There has to be something that will get you to relax. Can you give me even just a tiny hint here?
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Will you relax? I was kidding. You're not making this very easy, you know. I came over when you offered help, I'm letting you fix my phone, I'm sitting here eating with you, talking about beer and you're getting all... [he waves a hand at Tim. Whatever this mood is, that's what's happening and it can't all be Jason, can it?]
It was the Redemption Rye, wasn't it. Okay, so that's not funny. No Redemption jokes, got it.
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I don't care if you joke about redemption, OK? What I care about is you calling me a liar.
[Because despite all the reasons he shouldn't, Tim cares about what Jason thinks of him.]
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