Ever since Jason was a child, he'd believed that birthdays were dumb, unnecessary and a waste of time. It was only reasonable, even then or now, he'd always been too busy surviving to make time for birthdays. Also, no one ever cared that much anyways, not after he died and came back a freaking crime lord and started murdering criminals. All they cared about, especially the old man, was how to keep him grounded, to make sure he wouldn't go off again like a damn ticking bomb.

However, this year, for whatever reason (probably because he missed having some companies or maybe he just wanted to do something nice for himself for once) that he'd never admit, Jason decided to invite everyone over on his birthday. Not that he was about to throw a big ass party, of course, it was just a simple dinner where he'd cook their favorite food, maybe bake a cake because Alfred taught him once before, then perhaps a little chit chat and he'd finally not feel so damn lonely on his birthday anymore.

But of course, when had the universe ever been nice to him before? Right now it was August 16th 7PM, and no one was here, no one at all.

Did his invitations disappear? Did some huge multiverse crisis happen? Or did everyone simply forget? Although he wouldn't be surprised if Bruce forget or get too busy to show up, but Dick and the others as well? Not even a text from anyone in his family, and his fingers were itching to grab the phone, to make a dozen of calls to all of them and demand to know why the hell no one was here. His pride wouldn't allow that, of course, after all, he'd spent countless August 16th's alone, so why would this one be any different?

Maybe it was a cruel joke on him, a twisted reminder that he didn't deserve anything good and he should just suck it up by now. Jason knew that, of course, he'd say that he didn't care, of course, but it stung, regardless. He had his hopes up for once, just once, and right now he just wished that someone'd come and tell him how to make it all feel better.