Are you gonna fight for me?

[under_thehood]

Who: Clark Kent and Jason Todd!
When: Backdated to Thursday.
Where: The Aquarium for SHARK WEEK.
Summary: Clark and Jason try to be normal, shenanigans will likely ensue.
Warnings: Maybe mentions of violence.

Comments

[isitablurred]

Clark honestly had no idea whether or not Jason would show. He was hard work, honestly; harder work than anyone that Clark had ever met, or tried to convince onto side, and that was including Oliver, whose hissy fits were legendary. But Clark honestly liked him, and that was something he hoped was finally starting to come across; and maybe if someone liked him, and someone devoted the time, attention and affection that Jason needed, he could be pulled back from the edge that he was suspended over.

Which was why Clark had a giftwrapped box tucked in one pocket of his oversized jacket, and the most ridiculous grin. And naturally he'd already bought himself a giant cuddly shark, too. For Lois, obviously. Obviously for Lois.

"Hey! Haven't kept you waiting long, have I?"

[under_thehood]

Jason hid the surprise at Clark actually showing up. He flicked the cigarette to the ground and snubbed it out with one of his boots. Blowing out the smoke, Jason tucked his hands into his pockets. Well, he honestly hadn't been expecting Clark to show up; he was so used to having things dangled just out of his reach by fate.

"Yeah, you did," he grunted ungratefully, doing his best to keep all of his guards up this time.

The cuddly shark made the vigilante raise an eyebrow.

"I don't think that'll protect you from the monsters in your closet."

[isitablurred]

"No, but this might at least help you see them there."

The box comes out, and though it's maybe three meters or so he throws it, knowing Jason can and will catch it, hands in his pockets or not. The box, gift wrapped beautifully, contains a set of x-ray specs; the kind advertised in the newsfeed months ago. They're in the same boring black-framed style as Clark's own, which makes them pretty much undetectable, and actually he's gotten them for Jason to find out whether they'll be any help for him at sunset. And if not they work just fine at night for surveillance and such, of course. A good gift for a vigilante, all told.

He finds himself a wall to lean his hip against, folding his arms, which only ends up crushing the cuddly shark to his chest. As though he needs to cuddle it to live.

"Go ahead."

[under_thehood]

Jason did indeed catch it and turned it around in his hands once or twice, feeling for wires, bombs, something that could mark the betrayal he already expected. He glanced up at Clark and the smothered shark for a moment before slowly opening the gift, as if he waited for it to bite him. Despite being only seventeen, the vigilante was already so cynical that he believed that this might have been a ruse the whole time. Clark just wanted him out of the picture ri---

And then he saw the glasses inside. No wires. No explosives. No toxins. Just the glasses. Carefully, he lifted the specs by the arm and took a good look at them before trading them with his own.

Woah. These would definitely be handy.

[isitablurred]

Clark didn't bat an eyelid at the close inspection; he knew by now that Jason was the suspicious type, knew he was looking for and would latch onto any hint of betrayal or of treating him as though he was anything but an equal, and use it as a method by which to destroy their relationship.

Honesty and confidence would get through to him eventually. If Clark kept coming back every time Jason tried to beat on him, they'd eventually develop some kind of respect for each other, wouldn't they?

"They're pretty cool, aren't they? And they'll be useful for checking inside all your presents for bombs in the future."

[under_thehood]

Jason shifted his weight as he glanced around with the specs on, thoroughly impressed by them. Sure, he had used thermal goggles in the past, but this was on a whole new level. He pulled the glasses off and placed his own ordinary set back on his nose as he tucked the x-ray glasses inside his pocket. This was where you were supposed to say thank you, right?

He shrugged and even smiled a little sincerely, before, "They could be useful for things like that."

With a shrug he cocked his head toward the aquarium. "Are we gonna go look at some sharks?"

Maybe the thank you would come later.

[isitablurred]

Clark laughed. He didn't expect a thank you.

"Yeah, alright. Let's go see some sharks. It's been a while since I did anything like this."

The last time... Well, let's see. He did all kinds of stuff he would have preferred not to working for the Daily Planet, but he was a crime writer primarily, and that saved him from being sent out on all the pointless jobs. Kitten adoption fairs. Sci-fi conventions. Museum openings.

"You don't really get so much excitement growing up on a farm in Kansas. Town fetes and corn festivals. Have you ever been to a barn dance?" A grin. "Actually I should take you to one. You might enjoy it."

[under_thehood]

"No way, Sup-" Jason cut himself off, for once pausing at the potential destruction of a secret identity. There were a lot of people around. And while he might be willing to destroy Bruce's, this was different. "No way."

Still wasn't Clark or Kal, but it wasn't Super.

"I don't do that cornhusking crap."

Needless to say, they didn't do that kind of thing in Gotham's darkest corners. Hell, Jason didn't even really do this whole normal person thing and go do things in his free time that weren't training to kill people. What free time he'd had in the past year had been either chatting briefly with Talia or improving on his skills. Maybe he didn't want to do this whole pretend-to-be-a-civillian thing.

[isitablurred]

And Clark glanced his way, looking just a little proud of him for that, and gave him a tiny, friendly punch on the shoulder. They were at the counter.

"I'm paying, but don't think you're going to get away with that cornhusking comment. Two for Shark Week please." He handed over his money in exchange for the tickets, and a leaflet, then waved Jason over toward the stiles.

"Says here to head left and follow the sharks on the floor. Wanna break the circulation rules and go the other way? The probably save the really cool stuff for last."

[under_thehood]

Jason raised an eyebrow at Clark. Okay, so maybe that was a little cool and Clark definitely earned a point in the vigilante's book. Maybe a few points. Or more. Okay, so maybe it'd been a while since Jason had even had someone do anything even vaguely nice for him. It was weird, liking this kind of thing. He remembered enjoying being a kid before he died, when he was in Bruce's care. He went to school, had friends, hung out with girls and, despite a heavy dose of cynicism with a side of vigilantism, had been a normal kid.

This felt almost like that.

"Didn't take you for a rule-breaker." Casual shrug of the shoulders like it's no big deal.

[isitablurred]

"You and the rest of the world, huh? Everything from skinny-dipping to literally destroying government property. I think that makes me at the very least unpatriotic, if not a traitor. Doesn't quite go with the red, white and blue, does it?"

He keeps his voice down despite his explanation, and grins, heading off the wrong way with Jason in tow.

"Wouldn't be much point in hanging out with me if I was a predictable do-gooder, Jason. It'd be boring."

And no, he was no Oliver Queen, never would be, but this still wasn't really rule breaking. In terms of destroying government property, going the wrong way round the aquarium equated to snapping a pencil at the DMV--it was totally harmless for all that it was defiant.

[under_thehood]

Destroying government property? Holy crap. That really didn't fit with Jason's image of Superman. At all. But there was no need to get close, no need to get attached. If he needed the cape, he'd use him and be done with him. He was a weapon to be used in a war against Bruce, not a friend, nothing fancy. He'd protect and serve the Port on his own, trust no one and not get turned from his goals because of one visit to an aquarium. He wasn't a kid and he felt a little stupid and careless for feeling good a few moments ago. He was slipping.

Almost immediately, the vigilantes gaze went cold and he shrugged, putting the walls back up as efficiently as he could. C'mon, c'mon, stop being the same kid who got killed. The Red Hood wouldn't be caught dead making laps around an aquarium. You'll end up dead again if you don't stop falling for this bullshit.

"And I just hate boredom," he replied with a dull sarcasm.

[isitablurred]

"I can be boring if you like." He adjusted his glasses, and tried to put on his most 'Who, me? Superman?' expression. It was getting better, even if it still looked a little like an obvious act, his expression just a touch deer-in-headlights

[under_thehood]

Jason stared up at the shark, choosing to not look at Clark. He's trying to keep those walls up and simply not trust the other man, period, but he's already slid underneath Jason's armor and the more he tries to keep him out, the larger a foothold he gets.

The vigilante doesn't know whether to hope that Clark doesn't leave or the opposite. Maybe he wants a friend. Maybe have someone who won't leave him to die, or kick him back down to the ground. Stop falling for it. Stop being stupid.

"I'm not afraid of it being difficult," he grunts in response, still not even chancing Clark a glance.

He's afraid it'll take the last thing he has away from him: his identity.

[isitablurred]

"I didn't say it was anything to be scared of. It just hurts. A different kind of loneliness. When you're alone you know that nothing you do will have any consequences for other people, and every choice that you make is your responsibility, and yours alone. If it kills you then it kills you, but you die alone; the same way you lived.

"You stand in a crowd, and you leave behind people who will miss you. You put them at risk by doing what you do, but they keep you from turning in on yourself. From being reckless, from making selfish or self-sacrificing choices just because they're easy. But they also never know. They look at you and they see the mask, not the person. It's a different kind of loneliness; a different kind of cross to bear."

He wasn't trying to dissuade him. No, this was more of a challenge; words of wisdom offered warmly. Jason had worn his glasses, and he seemed determined. He wanted an identity that was his own, that was away from the mask and the suit.

"You're strong enough to do it." I believe in you.

[under_thehood]

Jason, surprisingly, listened to Clark's words, rather than tuning them out halfway through as he usually does with lectures. He knows about the life of a vigilante, he knows how lonely it is and especially since his death; he doesn't even have Bruce to really keep him company. At least before, Jason had a family in Bruce. Now? He didn't know what he had or who he could really trust. Sure, he'd made steps toward trusting Clark, but there were still times when the vigilante just ignored it.

"Duly noted." It's an acknowledgment of at least the sentiment of Clark's words, a budding trust in what the man has to say.

Strong enough. That's all he wants.