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It had been a rough patrol. Well, no, not really- Jason had actually been at the top of his game. Stopping robberies, helping out the cops, the usual boring bullshittery. Sometimes the repetition was nice- and he supposed he should be thankful for the lack of crime. It meant he was doing his job right, after all.
But sometimes a boring night led to accidentally slamming his side into a brick wall.
That was mainly what made it rough. He felt like his side had been beaten black and blue with a crowbar again, and honestly? He wasn't excited to see if it looked that way either. It was sore. It ached horrible. Every time his arm brushed against his side or he stretched even a little, there was this deep ache. Thankfully, he knew nothing was broken- through some miracle. It meant he wouldn't have to awkwardly explain how he'd gotten the injury and thus embarrass himself even more.
Thankfully, it was time to remove the mask. For all he enjoyed putting it on, his face got so hot and sweaty- fine in the winter, less so every other time of year. He pulled it off, taking in a breath of air that wasn't warmed up by his skin. He removed his jacket, wincing at the motion.
"What's the matter with you?"
When the hell had Dick come in? Jason hadn't seen him when he entered. The motherfucker had probably been hanging from the ceiling or doing some weird aerial acrobatic shit. He always did that.
"Nothing."
"You winced."
"You're annoying."
Jason folded his jacket over his arm as Dick approached, a worried look on his face. He simply rolled his eyes, moving to hang his jacket up as a harsh twinge ran down his side. His hand instinctively moved to the bruise, just carefully hovering over it as he exhaled. Damn. There was no hiding that now.
"Take your shirt off."
"Seriously, it's nothing."
Jason turned to Dick, who was stood with his arms crossed. Nobody escaped Dick's older brother powers. There was rarely a time where it didn't piss Jason off. Sometimes, he just wanted to be left alone. Especially when it came to embarrassing, humiliating, utterly reputation destroying injuries.
"This isn't really negotiable. I can deal with it or Alfred can. Pick your poison."
Dick was stubborn. But was he as stubborn as Alfred? Alfred would tell Bruce, and Bruce might bench him. After all, he could feel it was a nasty bruise. Dick would tell Barbara, and their siblings would probably make fun of him for a few weeks but keep it to themselves. If it got to Bruce, though…
Jason took his shirt off.
"Jesus, Jason, what the fuck happened?"
"Nothing happened."
His entire right side was bruised black and blue already. You could see the gaps in his ribs with the bruises like it was a masterpiece, a work of art. He took a deep breath, looking at his ribs rise and fall. Nothing was broken. He knew nothing was broken.
"Did you fall in a really embarrassing way or something?"
"Something like that," Jason grumbled. Ohh, he hated when Dick was right. For all he loved Dick, he really, really hated him. "Nothing's broken. I already checked. Just very fucking sore."
Dick laughed, taking an ice pack from the freezer and wrapping it in a cloth before he handed it to Jason. He held it to where the ache was the worst, grimacing. Dick led him over to a seat, sitting opposite him.
"Just hold that there for a bit. I can bandage it with some padding."
"You gonna tell Bruce?"
"I probably won't even tell Babs."
Jason raised a brow. "How unusual."
Dick looked a little uncomfortable, rubbing the back of his neck. Aha. Jason knew Babs and Dick were fine, but clearly this had reminded Dick of something. Something Jason wanted to get out of him.
"Any particular reason you won't tell Barbara?"
"Well, she just doesn't need to know everything, does she?"
"Oracle to Batcave, I have a robbery at one of the banks on the west side of the city."
Dick reached over.
"Nightwing to Oracle, I'm on it."
Jason kept holding the pack to his bruises, which were somehow looking even nastier. Dick reached over, taking the pack away and placing some gauze over the bruises. He started to bandage around Jason's chest, and when Jason tried to protest, Dick simply shushed him.
"I literally do this to all of our brothers. Besides, it's not like you can do it. You'll just hurt yourself more."
He. Hated. His. Brother. This was humiliating enough already.
Once Dick left to go deal with the robbery, Jason got an idea. He pushed the wheelie chair over to the desk, reaching for the comms.
"Red Hood to Oracle."
"Receiving."
"Why doesn't Nightwing want to tell you about my embarrassing injury? I know it's not for privacy. He'll take any opportunity to tease me."
"Nightwing to Oracle. Do not share."
"Very simple, Red Hood! Nightwing once slammed face first into a building in the middle of the night. He had no excuse. I actually saw you injure yourself, Red Hood, and your balance was just a bit off. Reasonable at the end of patrol. Nightwing, however…"