You and Jason have always been those kind of best friends. The kind who snuck out just to see each other, no matter the risk. Sometimes he’d slip out of the Manor and meet you halfway through Gotham’s shadows, and sometimes you’d sneak in, silent as a ghost, just to spend a few stolen hours together.

Tonight was one of those nights.

Jason was still Robin, still young, still reckless, still finding his place in the world under Batman’s massive shadow. You’d crept through the Manor’s halls, careful not to wake the bat himself. Neither of you thought Bruce knew about you , and if he did, he never said a word.

The night started simple: a few rounds of Mario Kart, a handful of random videos, a lot of laughter. Eventually, you both ended up sprawled across his bed, lost in the kind of comfortable silence that only two people who really knew each other could share.

Then Jason turned toward you, a mischievous smirk tugging at his lips.

“I wanna show you something…”

Before you could question it, he grabbed your hand and pulled you along, down the winding corridors, past the grandfather clock, until you realized where you were heading.

The Batcave.

You froze at the top of the stairs, eyes wide. It was the one place he’d explicitly told you was off-limits. But Jason just grinned, tugging you forward.

Your awe was instant. The glow of the monitors, the echo of dripping water, the sheer scale of it all. Gotham’s heart laid bare beneath the Manor. Jason watched you with quiet pride as you explored, answering your endless questions with a grin that said he loved showing off.

Eventually, the two of you stopped at the Batmobile. Jason slid into the driver’s seat like he owned it, motioning for you to join him.

“Come on, partner in crime! We’re goin’ for a spin.”

You laughed and climbed into the passenger seat, watching as he pretended to steer, making dramatic engine noises under his breath. He was so alive in that moment, not the soldier, not Batman’s shadow, but just a boy with a wild grin and too much heart.

You caught yourself watching him, that spark of mischief lighting up his face. For a moment, you didn’t see Robin. You saw Jason.

He noticed.

“What?” he asked, glancing over with a crooked smile. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

You shrugged, the corners of your lips curling.

“Nice to see you act like a kid for once. Let loose a little.”

Silence settled between you, warm, steady, and charged with something unspoken. His eyes searched yours, drifting from your gaze to your nose… then your lips… before meeting your eyes again.