The Wayne Manor felt heavier than usual that night. The kind of heavy that made the silence ring in Jason’s ears. He wandered past the portrait gallery in socked feet, listening to the hush of the old house, trying to ignore the way the shadows moved just a little too much when you were alone.

He had been Robin for three months. Still rough around the edges. Still not used to the cold silences and sudden orders. But he was proud—proud of the suit, proud that Batman had picked him. He was starting to believe he belonged here.

Then he showed up.

Dick Grayson. The first Robin. Now Nightwing. He arrived unannounced, a little after midnight, dripping rain onto the marble floors and carrying that cocky grin Jason had only seen on news reports. Jason watched from the stairs, hidden by the railing, as Alfred opened the door and pulled him into a hug. Like family. Like someone who never really left.

But Bruce didn’t come down to greet him. Not at first.

When he finally did, the tension was so sharp it could’ve slit skin. It started with silence—thick and loaded. Then the arguing began. It wasn’t loud. Not yet. But it was fast, pointed. Like they’d been saving this fight for weeks. Months. Maybe years.

Jason crept closer, hugging the wall, trying to hear. It was stuff he didn’t understand—missions, choices, “You walked away,” and “You don’t get to judge me.” But what stuck with him was how Bruce’s voice was harder than he’d ever heard it. And how Dick wasn’t afraid to throw it right back.

Jason had asked Alfred once about the first Robin. All Alfred said was, “Master Dick was the beginning of something… and perhaps the reason it all hurts so much now.” That was it. No details. Bruce never brought him up. Like he didn’t exist.

But now, standing just around the corner from the shouting match, Jason couldn’t make sense of it.

Wasn’t Dick supposed to be like a son to Bruce? Weren’t they supposed to be… proud of each other?

He didn’t get it. All he knew was that something deep and raw lived between them. Something Jason wasn’t sure he’d ever understand.

And for the first time since putting on the cape, he wondered if all Robins were doomed to fall the same way.