Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jason was pacing back and forth in the living room when Roy came back from taking Lian to school and grocery shopping. There were comments made about how Jason should be resting to help his back, but he insisted it was doing better. In truth it was, though there was still some pain and pressure. He would also like to know the cause of it but given that he was doing better and seeing Alfred in a couple of days, he was not terribly worried. Jason was too busy thinking of how to say everything he wanted without it spilling out in a jumble.

When he didn’t stop pacing by the time Roy put everything away, he was asked if everything was alright. “Yeah…I’m thinking,” Jason said unconvincingly.

Roy sat down on the couch. “What about?”

Jason took a deep breath. It was now or never. “Us,” he said, meeting Roy’s eyes. Every fiber of his being was radiating anxiety. His heart was racing as a part of him wanted to back out of it. Jason studied Roy carefully in an effort to decipher how he felt.

“I’ve been thinking about us too,” Roy admitted softly. He patted the spot next to him. “What have your thoughts, you know, centered around?”

“The future and what I want out of it,” Jason said. He resisted biting his lip as he sat down. “And how you play into all of it.”

He noticed Roy nod a bit. “Me too.”

They were staring at each other, breathing shallowly. Both of them were hoping the other would speak as they searched for the right words. Jason’s nerves were eating away at him, causing him to break the silence. “I love you and Lian.” He swallowed. “And I want the three of us to be a family.”

Roy took Jason’s hands in his. “Jaybird, we are a family.”

“I know but I’d like it to feel more…permanent,” Jason said. He wasn’t sure if the last word was the one he was searching for, but it conveyed his point enough for Roy’s eyes to light up.

"As in marriage?” Roy asked. He was unintentionally holding his breath as he waited for the answer.

“Yes,” Jason answered. It was liberating to get it off his chest despite the possibility this could all backfire. Although, judging from the giant smile on Roy’s face, things seemed to be going in his favor. “That is, if you’ll put up with me forever.”

Roy caressed his cheek. “How about, forever and a day?”

Jason leaned into his hand. “That I can do.”

“As can I Jaybird,” Roy said. They were about to kiss when Roy’s phone went off with the obnoxious ringtone he had set for none other than Dick Grayson. “He can wait.” He leaned into the kiss. It was tender and short lived as Jason pulled away to groan when his phone rang.

“He certainly lives up to his name,” Jason muttered as he took his cell out of his jeans pocket. He contemplated sending his older brother to voicemail but knew he would just try both of them again. “This is poor timing, so it better be good,” he said into the phone.

“I wanted to give you a heads up regarding the upcoming Friday night briefing,” Dick said. Mar’i was singing along to the new She-Ra theme song. Kori was giggling but eventually joined in.

He pursed his lips together. “What is it?”

“Tim and Barbara found a lead on what they think the spear is. I’ll forward the information to you. We’re bringing in a couple members of the Justice League Dark to either confirm or deny our suspicions,” Dick explained.

Jason cleared his throat. “Anything else?”

“You know your acquaintance Graystone from the other night?” Dick asked.

He let out a huff. “What about him?”

“We have intel stating he’s still in Gotham. We’re going to need your help to come up with a plan to take him into custody,” Dick explained.

“I’ll get back to you on those particular details because we’re in the middle of something. However, just note that having a magic user or two with us would help. Roy and I don’t want to be marionettes again,” Jason explained. “I would assume Damian is in the same boat.

There was cheering in the background. “Noted. I’ll see you Friday,” Dick said.

“Until then,” Jason said. He turned the phone off before placing it on the coffee table. “Want the details now or later?”

“Later, I want to talk about us more,” Roy answered. He was sitting cross legged on the couch now, his back resting against the arm in order for him to face Jason. “Before we get into talking about the timeline, you going to college, and everything else, can I ask you to do something?”

“What do you need?” Jason asked.

“Can we talk to Lian about this, together, after dinner tonight?” Roy asked. “I think it would mean a lot to her.”

“Of course. It’s only right that we include her,” Jason answered.

Roy concurred with a nod. “That’s what I was thinking. Now, onto the nitty gritty.”

***

They decided to let the dishes air dry. The smell of lemon dish soap mixed with spaghetti filled the apartment as the three of them sat in the living room. Originally, for reasons unknown, Lian thought she was in trouble when they told her they wanted to talk. After Roy and Jason explained that she was not five different ways, she settled into the armchair with her stuffed penguin in her lap. She was looking at them both with wide eyes, clearly wanting answers.

Roy cleared his throat. “Squeaker, how would you feel about Jay and I getting married within the next couple of years?”

Her eyes lit up. “Jay is going to stay!?”

“That is what your dad and I want. We want to know what you want,” Jason told her.

“You’re one of the best dads Jay! You better stay!” Lian enthused.

Jason was smiling. “Then it is settled, the three of us are going to continue to be a family.”

Lian punched the air with her tiny fist. “Yay!! Daddy, can I call Jay ‘Dad’ or do I have to wait till the wedding day?”

Roy looked at Jason. “Sweetheart, why don’t you ask him?”

“Jayyyy,” she said in the most adorable way. “Can I call you Dad?”

Jason had not been expecting this tonight. He thought she would take a couple days and then ask but apparently the kid had been thinking about this for some time now. “Yes, you can if you want to.”

Lian jumped off the chair and climbed onto his lap. Her little arms wrapped around his neck so tightly he nearly started to choke. “This is so great! Isn’t Dad?” She kissed his cheek.

“It is little one, it really is,” Jason answered as he pulled her into a hug. He kissed the top of her head. “Do you have any questions for us? You’re a part of this as well.”

Lian sat down on his knee. “Will I get to be a big sister? At the very least can we get a dog?”

Roy and Jason both looked at each other, trying to hide their panic. Neither of them was keen on having anymore children. That much had been established early on and reaffirmed during their conversation today. A dog on the other hand…that could be possible. “We’ll have to move before we can get any pets,” Roy answered.

“Fiiine,” Lian stated dramatically. “But you didn’t say anything about me being a big sister.”

“That’s because our family is perfect the way it is,” Roy said.

Jason sputtered as her ponytail hit him in the lips. “Hey Li.”

“Yes Dad?” she asked. It was going to take a little bit for him to get used to being called that. He hoped the warm fuzzy feeling that came with it wouldn’t go away.

“I love you,” Jason said.

“I love you too Dad,” Lian said, snuggling into him.