Tumgik
#If I tell you more I might end up spoiling RS before it comes out
chronicbatfictioner · 6 years
Text
Fast Car - Chapter 10
Nellie, thankfully, was not a pretentious sportscar that screamed mid-life crisis. She was a 1979 Jeep with the only remaining original parts being her chassis. The innards have been modified with a more modernized engines and creature comforts - it has an integrated entertainment center and speakers that Jason had been _dreaming_ for during his high school days.
Bruce Wayne was waiting right by Nellie's side when the valet ("please call me Alfred, Mr. Todd,”) deposited Jason and Dick Grayson on the side of the house, at the garages.
"This is Nellie," he said proudly. "I got her with my own money, not my parents'. I had actually saved up from an experience of doing manual labor." he added, a little defensively. "I'm certain Alfred and Dick would have told you that I own a lot of cars."
Jason nodded numbly, biting his inner cheek to stop himself from saying things like, 'sure, the taxes of half of your cars could probably feed a small country!'
Instead, he said, "she's a special one, alright." because she would be. She implied that the driver is a humble, adventurous guy. Not a pompous and rich spoiled billionaire.
"Absolutely. I worked in a farm in Ireland, and when I got back here, the conversion rate to my salary earned me Nellie." Wayne smiled smugly. "Dick's beloved is... Carly?" he asked his son, pointing to a bright - almost neon - blue 1992 Camaro RS.
"Carly is alive and well, thank you very much." Grayson replied indignantly. "I take care of her better than you did yours, rich boy."
Jason was almost confused at Grayson's attitude toward his stepfather, before remembering that Grayson was not much younger than Wayne. Probably by 10 years or thereabout. They were more brothers than father-and-son, he supposed. He mentally shrugged and asked, "Right, does the garage have a bathroom I can change at? And who do I talk to if I need supplies?"
"Bathroom's the first door to your right, and you can tell me or Alfred if you need anything - spareparts included. We have some spareparts here, that big closet there." Grayson pointed at a big double-door - that Jason thought was a room or something - at the end of the garage. "But if it's not there, just let me know and I'll have it ordered. I wanna hang out here and watch you work, if you don't mind." he grinned a shit-eating grin.
"I'm not gonna steal anything." The words flew out of Jason's mouth before he could even stop it. Hey, he's from Crime Alley. The only time people like Wayne or Grayson would speak to his face would be when they would be filing a police report or complaint to the manager of the premises. His reaction was instinctive.
"Oh, yeah, Bruce told me about you trying to-- liberate his Lamborghini's tire, and somehow fixed it, instead. I'm not worried about you stealing. Just figured I could learn some tips from you to take care of my Carly and show off to Bruce some." Grayson replied nonchalantly. "Besides, if you were, you can't get out of here that quickly, anyway. The gate is kinda far and you don't have a vehicle, after all. The buggy doesn't move that fast." he grinned mirthfully.
Oh, right. Jason almost rolled his eyes at his own stupidity. Alfred the valet/butler came to his rescue. "I strongly advise you to indulge first and foremost, Mister Todd." he announced, coming out of a door that Jason guessed would be leading to the house, a tray in his hands. "I have made you some tomato sandwiches, since I am not aware as of yet if you eat meat or otherwise.." he added, lifting the lid after setting it down on a table.
"I eat meat," Jason blurted. But the sandwich looked more like grilled cheese and it smelled so delicious Jason's mouth watered. "Right, I'mma wash my hands first..." he said awkwardly and headed to the bathroom. Behind him, Grayson said 'I want one, too, Al,' and the valet said something he couldn't hear as he closed the bathroom door.
Probably something along the side of how 'we don't eat with the help, Richard,' or something along the line. Jason would not be surprised at it, really.
He leaned his head on the door of the bathroom, savoring the cool tiles. Even the garage's bathroom looked a whole load nicer than any bathrooms Jason has ever seen before. Heck, it looked nicer than his _apartments_ - any apartments that he had lived before. There were lockers on the side of it - twelve lockers. The first lockers had plaques saying 'Bruce', 'Dick', and 'Damian'. He reckoned that those would be where the Waynes' shop clothes would be at.
He changed into his onesie and scrubbed his face - the hot water tap felt heavenly on his skin. And then he remembered the cheesy melty tomato sandwich waiting for him outside and his mouth started watering again. It has been too long while since he'd had hot food that doesn't come with a toy. Thus, he figured that he couldn't be blamed much if he rushed outside.
Surprisingly, Grayson was waiting by the table, another plate of sandwiches and two big pots of drinks by his side, with an expectant grin on his face.
"Coffee and tea, Alfred made both. Shall we?" he offered the spread in front of them.
"Yes, thank you." Jason remembered his manners and took a seat by the table, across Grayson's. "So, tell me what happened to Nellie?"
Grayson's smirk was impish, "well that, Jason, buddy, is a loooong saga filled with princesses, dragons, and witches - oh my!" he quipped.
Jason shrugged, thinking this guy wasn't so bad, actually. He might end up liking him just fine. "I've got all day." he said.
Grayson chuckled. "Okay, it started with a princess named Selina who'd ran away to the marshes of Ireland..."
3 notes · View notes