Scoping things out went by as solid as cotton candy in water. Unfortunately, the warehouse was completely locked down. Fortunately, Jon could see through walls and hear things no one else could. Unfortunately, some of the boxes were encased in lead. Which only further piqued Jason's interest.

So with that, the two of them made their way to Chinatown. Jon dressed in his gray shirt and black undershirt that he wore a couple days ago- and Jason wearing a black ripped band tee. The neighborhood itself was bustling- the energy was different than the rest of Gotham. There were bright and colorful lights strung up, a crowd of people laughing or talking animatedly with each other, there were some shady looking guys in the alleys but no one seemed to be paying them any mind- keeping from the obviously claimed territories.

They weaved through people, Jason pointing out different stalls before pausing to let an old man chatter with him. Honestly the sounds from so many things were overstimulating the alien. Ruby eyes scanned the area to find something to focus on and to drown out the noise- when those keen eyes of his locked onto a lady and her stall. As if by a force, he felt compelled to walk over and see what was on display.

It seemed to be a bunch of loose herbs put into different containers that had a clear lid for customers to peer at. His eyebrows furrowed at the names of some things he didn't recognize. "What's oh-long?" He asked, terribly blunt- but the lady smiled even at his eerie demeanor. Probably used to weirdos if Tony and his goons hung around the area.

"It's pronounced oo-laang, it is a tea," She informed him, motioning towards the array of herbs, "these are loose leaf teas. You can combine and make your own flavors- or if you want one premade I have those as well. Are you interested?"

Jon scrunched his nose a bit, he remembered Damian complaining about the tea here. Here assuming America. In fact he knew Damian only liked Alfred's tea because the man learned what kind of tea he liked after Damian came to America expecting a flavorful tea from his culture and ending up with Earl Grey before proceeding to scream.

As he pondered, Jason's presence made itself known when he also started looking at the teas. "Thinking about what Damian would like?" He asked, smiling in a greeting to the lady running the stand.

"Hm. Dami is... particular about what he likes, and I've heard stories about his reactions to 'subpar' tea," Jon confirmed, though his eyes were drawn to a bulb the size of a golf ball sitting in a separate container. "What's that?"

The lady turned to where Jon was looking and a sparkle glinted in her eyes, "tell you what. I'll give you that for free, since you are thinking about giving it to someone you love- correct?" She alleged, the crows feet around her eyes crinkling.

"Yes, so what is it?" Jon repeated, Jason looked like he was about to speak up- but the seller gently grabbed the container and took out the bulb. She put it in a silk pouch, holding it up to the alien.

"This is called a blooming tea, when it sits in water it blooms into a flower. This one has an herbal flavor with hints of citrus as well," She explained as Jon held out his hand to take it.

He stared down at the pouch. A blooming tea? Something absurd that he never heard of before... yet he pictured Damian watching the ball blossom into a flower- the interest on his face... yeah. His fist gripped the bag tightly before nodding his head, "thanks."

Jason said thank you to her much more politely as she waved them off with a chuckle. Then the man ushered Jonathan to the building they were to meet Tony. "Man, I say you can't talk about him and you immediately go to find a gift for him," he sighed.

The alien shrugged as he tucked the bag into his pocket, "I wasn't intending on getting anything, but she gave it to me. I might take Dami here on a date... he would probably like that," he planned aloud- much to the elder brother's disgust.

The blue eyed man could only roll his eyes as they stepped into the building. "We're here for Tony," Jason informed the man at the counter who looked completely disinterested in their presence.

"Go sit at the table in the back by the door," He grunted, pointing a lazy finger to the darker lit part of the seating area.

Giving a thumbs up, Jason took Jonathan by the elbow and tugged him back there like he was a toddler- it was kind of a habit. They sat down, Jon in front of Jason, but with his back to the front of the restaurant.

"So... what's your hobbies?" Jason asked, making small talk with an antisocial alien though was even more awkward than the usual- though it was made easier knowing he was his brother's little boyfriend.

Shooting an annoyed look, Jon leaned back in his seat, "I don't have any. I watch tv, doom scroll the internet, watch Gotham's surveillance cameras, yadda yadda." He would mention Damian being a hobby he really enjoyed but they were in dangerous territory now.

The undead man raised a brow, "you watched the cameras? I guess that's how you met the demon without being wary of him if you knew what you were immediately getting into..." He mumbled.

"Mh, I have access to the Metropolis ones too- but they're not that entertaining. It's people living the happy go lucky life in the city with the occasional invasion or whatever. At least in Gotham the everyday routines of people were interesting. I could always count on something new happening. Even better that I have super hearing so I can get the full feel for things," Jon told him, "I've known about your identities and even when you returned from the dead. It was like a mid season plot twist to me. I mean, who could come up with that? A lost son returning from the dead to find out his dad refused to avenge him and made him feel like the villain for even wanting a terrible man dead. I empathize with you- I would've punched his head off if it happened to me," he wasn't exactly tact with how he spoke- but even if his words were cold, Jason knew that he was at least trying to connect. Making an effort to show his morals slightly aligned with Red Hood's.

Though... Jason hoped that that was what Jon was intending.

"You really know how to have sensitive discussions don't ya?" The older man commented sarcastically, but he relaxed his shoulders a bit. Remembering those times were always tough- but he didn't know how he felt about Jon of all people being in agreement with him.

"Dami's appearance was even more interesting," Jon started- completely forgetting about what he promised, though it was okay... for now, "Batman's blood son randomly appearing at twelve years old knowing his way around murder- complete opposite of his father, and yet beneath the violent surface he's annoyingly one of the most gentle people I've ever seen," he grumbled.

Jason chuckled, tapping the table with his fingertip, "do you hate that he's gentle because you view it as an annoying trait? That you were expecting someone as abrasive as you?" Jon looked put off by that, so the man continued, "or do you hate it because you view it as a weakness? Because he's not like you. He knows how to fight, how to kill, is immune to most poisons- but none of that matters if his bones are easily broken and that he can die just by someone getting lucky and landing a hit wrong on him."

The air grew uncomfortable for Jon, his hands folded together as he processed what Jason was telling him. It... sounded accurate. He hated that Damian was so weak- but that also left him wanting to be the one to protect him. Yet he couldn't even do that. He could only stake claim in the shadows. It was frustrating. Jon was a secret from the world, but he was Damian's secret. That should be enough. But it isn't. Because if Damian got hurt, if Damian died then Jon couldn't be by his side. He couldn't go to the funeral without everyone looking at him strangely, not knowing the depths of their relationship- sure it was rather new, and fast, but it was passionate as it was serious. Jon was barely able to see him now- and that was because Superman and Superboy were off on a mission. When they come back... who knows how much harder it'll be to see his prince.

A pain in his jaw told him that he was gritting his teeth too hard- sickly he wondered if that much pressure would crack Damian open like an egg... but he soothed himself a bit. Jason hadn't talked, just watched him shift uncomfortably and going through the motions.

"He's gentle like my mom... and she was weak too," Jon finally said.

"Lois? Sure she doesn't know the intensive training like demon does, but she's a strong woman. Strong willed- I'm definitely sure that's where you get it from," Jason pointed out, thinking on it and yeah Jon was definitely Lois's kid.

The alien scoffed, rolling his eyes, "she is strong willed- just like him too. That doesn't change the fact that they are both easily damaged. I broke her and lost my life because of it. If I broke D- if I broke him too, and he looked at me the way she did- then I think I'd willingly lose my actual life. I'd rather be dead than watch him fall victim to his weakness around me," he asserted, not looking at Jason when he said such things.

"Well that's just concerning," Jason shook his head lightly as he made a joke of Jon's words- who didn't look like he appreciated it, "look, my brother has been through a lot. One of the most cautious people I know- I don't doubt that he thought of every scenario when it comes to being with you. You told him about your mom, right?" Jon nodded. "Then he has accepted that possibility, I don't know what it's like having super strength and worrying about hurting those I love- but I do know what it's like fearing someone getting hurt because of you. You could be like me and entirely push the idea of letting anyone get close out of your head, or you could fully embrace the fact you have a weak human boyfriend who loves you despite how fucked up you are in the head. Hell, he'd probably rather you hurt him than anyone else. Because at least he chose that option- there's been... well I don't want to talk about his stuff too much, but he's not defenseless either. I know he carries kryptonite on him, he knows your weaknesses and your advantages, he's weaker around you because he likes you- even if you snapped one day he'd have a plan for it."

"That's not the whole problem though... but whatever, thanks I guess..." The kryptonian grumbled, feeling only slightly better about things. Because he was technically right, Damian knew him better than anyone else and still wanted him. Still trusted him. Maybe that was a weakness in itself?

Their convo was cut short when Jason sat up straighter after kicking Jon's shin to get his attention. From their peripheral they could see Tony walking into the restaurant with his goons. The portly man made eye contact with Jason- causing the younger man to nod in greeting. He knew how to handle things. Tony whispered something to a couple of men that had come in with him and headed towards the back without them.

"Now, the two of you are very punctual. Quiet. I like that in a worker," He grinned at Jon who didn't show any emotion, "I like that too. No grief or fear- I don't need to be feared. I just need work done and if the people I hire can't hack it... well, you catch my drift," he spoke, a light threat in the words themselves. Not that he'd be able to do anything to Jason OR Jon but still.

Jason nodded his head, "like I said, we're in need of work. Don't care how much neither, just need enough to get by," He imitated a northern Gotham accent perfectly. Living in such a place for so long had its benefits.

"So you said your brother here is brutish because of some radioactive pollution?" Tony inquired, Jon mentally shot lasers at Jason who clearly wanted to laugh- but went straight faced as Tony glanced at him.

"Yeah, was a shame. Some hoity-toity company opened up near our neighborhood and flooded the polluted river even worse than before. Jonny fell in right after a fresh dump- never been the same. Work has been hard, he's strong and don't listen to no one but me and who I work for, but he's reliable," Jason was facetious with a dramatic effect. Man should be an actor.

Tony nodded solemnly, "those fancy fucks love screwin over people, I mean I'm rich- but damn I don't poison the fucking environment. If the Earth dies then I die and lose all my money- what's the point," he commented. No wonder Ivy recommended this dude as a job option.

"So what's the job?" Jon asked impatiently, there was a lot of small talk going on and it was kind of getting annoying.

"Straight to business, I like it," Tony clicked his teeth- much in the way Damian usually did but not cute like Dami. "You'll be in charge of handling boxes of merchandise. I'm in the business of selling for a certain supplier- he doesn't like inefficiency and I already lost quite a few men. If you're strong, then you can make it with your lives. What I need you to do is to haul cargo to customers, get the money, and bring it to a secret location. I'll send you the details every night," he explained.

Jason zoned in on the last part, "you mean we don't just bring the money to you or the warehouse?" He asked, "seems like a lot of extra work." Dangerous to question, but he could play it off if Tony got suspicious.

"Psh, it IS extra work, but that's how my boss likes it. Says it cuts out robberies and people sneaking in trying to make a quick buck. Who cares, he pays and is happy then I become happy when money is received. The person you'll meet up with will be the one to handle your payments- I'm a middle man," he told them, looking over his shoulder to his goons, "though I will give you a piece of advice. If you ever get curious about what we're dealing- don't. You seem like good people, the kind of stuff we sell ain't for the likes of you."

The blue eyed man nodded his head, "thank you sir. When do we start?"

Hi everyone! I drew something for Valentine's Day and it's a scene from chapter 17!

Also in wonderful news- I got fanart!!!

I'm so excited I nearly cried!!! AAAAH! It's by batmans9thsidechick on tumblr!

Here's the link: https://www.tumblr.com/chainnoli/776084501011005440/screaming-crying-throwing-up-i-love-this-ao

And here's the image if you can't click on links!

Also sorry for belated update! I hope you're all enjoying! I can't believe I got my first fanart! I had a fanwork written for me too which is linked on the main page of the fic- but WAOW! As usual, I love every comment I receive and I definitely tear up when I see how many people enjoy my work! See you soon!