Could We Have A Peek Of What Went Through Dick's Mind At The Zoo When He Heard Peter's Plans For World

Could we have a peek of what went through Dick's mind at the Zoo when he heard Peter's plans for World Domination with Dog or the research proposal for Ivy? Or heck, any of the bat family just randomly catching the strange plans he says out loud?

I was going to write something short for this, and then these 1500 words came out! (o′┏▽┓｀o) Enjoy the above scene from Chapter 14 Dick's POV! It was an interesting perspective to write from as it's been many years since I've read any Nightwing comics! It's also not a play-by-play because I can't abide writing like that 🙃

Peter Parker was a strange creature and not remotely close to the kind of person Dick would ever think to see Jason settle down with.

Then again, Dick had never really thought Jason capable of settling down. Though it filled him with guilt to even think it (especially when Dick knew that Jason wasn’t without his share of romantic entanglements), he’d always thought of his little brother as someone who sailed alone. Perhaps it was the death, or just something about the fleeting nature of Jason’s relationships, but Dick always got the impression that Jason wasn’t even interested in sex or romance. That was certainly what he’d heard from Rose.

And then along came Peter, and Dick was forced to reevaluate his assessment of his brother. Not only was he a man — when all Jason’s relationships, as much as Dick was aware, had been with women — but Jason was invested in him.

Like, actively invested in Peter. Forcing himself to spend time with the family for Peter’s benefit, even though Dick knew Jason would rather extract his own teeth. Defending Peter when their siblings toed the lines of appropriate behaviour. Worried over how he was meant to reach out to a man who apparently held himself in the harrowing space between an unspecified traumatic past and the present.

In a line-up of Jason’s relationships, Peter certainly stuck out like a sore thumb. Granted, Dick was well aware that he was ‘painfully hetero’ (Steph’s words), but by all accounts, there was nothing particularly special about Peter — besides his undefined meta abilities. He wasn’t a statuesque goddess like Artemis, nor did he have an air of feral danger like Rose. He wasn’t even close to the refined — but toothless — beauty of that air hostess Dick was ashamed to say he didn’t know the name of. Sure, Peter had a nice enough jawline, Dick supposed, but otherwise, he broke the mold when it came to the romantic interests of Jason Todd.

There was something… vulnerable to Peter Parker. A fragility to his expressions that gave the impression he was permanently on the precipice of shattering. It was a far cry from any of Jason’s past attachments.

But perhaps that was what made it work. The Jason Dick knew — before Joker got to him — on occasion would slip into a caregiver role, especially when out as Robin. In a way, Peter was the logical conclusion to that tendency. Peter was clearly in need of people on his side, and Jason oh so clearly wanted to be someone who was needed.

It was clear even now, as Peter clung absently to Jason’s arm, taking in the zoo with bright and clever eyes, and Jason held their umbrella aloft between them. Dick doubted Peter was even aware that Jason was making sure he was the one to enjoy the umbrella’s coverage, which despite it’s impressive breadth, still wasn’t comprehensive enough to shield two grown men from the rain. Water dripped steadily onto Jason’s shoulder, the waterproofed leather sending the droplets cascading in pearly beads down his sleeve.

Dick wondered if Jason was even aware of what he was doing.

Of course, in other ways, Peter fit right into that line-up. He was clever, for one. Exactly how clever, Dick was hesitant to say, but Peter was observant. It didn’t take long for him to notice there was something up with the zoo.

“Is it just me, or are these exhibits like, weirdly well-made?” Peter said. He and Jason were pressed so close together, their coats would have made a peeling noise if they were pulled apart. It was adorable. “Pretty sure those trees—” Peter pointed at the gibbons enclosure, “should not be as happy as they are in a place like Gotham. They’re tropical.”

The moment Jason mentioned Poison Ivy, Peter’s thoughts took an analytical turn. He studied the rainforest like it was a scientific mystery he couldn’t wait to solve. Dick was familiar with that look: he saw it all too often on Titans and members of the Justice League.

It must have been a terribly cruel thing for Peter to experience, to have been ripped out his home in New York and school. Dick knew Steph joked that Peter’s family got sucked into a cult, but Dick suspected it wasn’t far from the truth. Whoever it was that turned Peter’s parents against him, to the point that Peter had to run away… well, Dick definitely should have pushed a bit harder to know what Jason did to them.

Should have. Hadn’t.

… Wasn’t going to.

“That’s… a bad idea.”

Dick decided it was time to insert himself into the conversation. He sidled closer to the two lovebirds and nearly laughed when all he got for his troubles was a pointed look from Peter and Jason — a mutual ‘what do you think you’re doing?’ — before they were drawn back to each other. Yeah… Peter might not be the kind of person Dick thought Jason would gravitate towards, but when they were together they made sense.

Even the way they flirted, quips bouncing between each other in rapid fire, made the two of them seem like a perfect match. Jason’s sly grin made Dick’s chest ache to see.

“I just think she’d be a fascinating person to talk to!”

“Yeaaah. Not sure if Ivy’d agree with you there.”

“Poison Ivy?” Dick had to fight hard not to laugh. As much as he would have enjoyed stirring the pot, he doubted Jason would be very forgiving if Dick suggested Ivy would be happy talking to some random guy. “She’s… not particularly friendly. To men in particular.”

Peter’s face fell. God, Dick felt a bit like he’d kicked a puppy. “Oh… What if I approached her with a research proposal?”

“Do you have one?” asked Jason, mouth curled into an indulgent smile.

“No,” Peter scoffed. “But I could make one.”

“You trying to dip your toes in a little villainy, Pete?” Dick couldn’t help but laugh. Nevermind his earlier thoughts about Peter: if he was already thinking of ways to ingratiate himself to Ivy for the sake of science, perhaps he wasn’t that far from the pattern of terrifyingly competent women from Jason’s romantic history.

Jason, unseen by Peter, returned Dick’s knowing look with a vicious glare. Dick chose to retreat a little and watch them slip back into their seamless flirting.

Was Jason even aware of how he smiled when he spoke with Peter? Softly fond, eyes crinkling in a way Dick hadn’t seen from him since…. Before. That was his brother. Little Jay. Happy Jay. Cheeky, wry Jay. The Jay that had been stolen from Dick and Bruce.

And there he was, resurfacing for this — this outsider. Some guy who’d popped up out nowhere, bursting into their lives without warning.

Why Peter?

Why weren’t they enough?

You know why.

Irrationally, Dick suddenly seethed with jealous hate for Peter. He could tell from the easy air between them that the camaraderie between Jason and Peter wasn’t performative. This Jason was the Jason Peter got to see every day. A Jason with an even keel, never looking like he was a few bad waves away from capsizing. Dick loved Jason even as he was now; he was proud of how far they’d both come since Jason’s first, brutal return to the city. But that didn’t mean he didn’t miss Jay. Jay, who’d been stolen from Dick far too young, before Dick could even really get his feet under himself and step up to the big brother mantle.

It was a petty and cruel emotion. Dick forced it away as soon as it bubbled forth, but he didn’t think he managed to school his face to completely hide it from his brother. After Peter had been dragged off by Damian in the reptile house, Jason sidled up to him.

“Spit it out then,” he said, and for fuck’s sake, he was already on the defensive, shoulders squared up like he was bracing for a blow.

This was the Jason that Dick usually met, while Peter got friendly, happy ‘Jace’.

Dick was so fucking tired of the antagonism. So he forced on a benign smile and clapped Jason on the shoulder.

“I was just thinking you two are a good fit. Let me know when you go looking for a ring.”

Jason choked on nothing but air. Laughing to himself, Dick strolled sedately in the direction Damian had dragged Peter and Duke in, though they were long gone by now. Comforted by his little brother’s mortification, the unfair resentment towards Peter was a little easier to push aside.

Bruce, inevitably, would be concerned, but Dick was hit by a wave of aching optimism.

Maybe Peter was the person all of them needed. It certainly seemed he was the person Jason needed. And though Dick could hardly say he knew Peter, he hoped , at the least, that Peter was someone generous enough to share his Jason with the rest of them.

Dick thought he’d be happy with a compromise like that.