Jason didn't expect new neighbors. Much less did he expect to get along with them so well. The reason why he opened the door was because of the noisiness. Way louder than necessary.
It was common decency to not be loud much anywhere because of how easily noise passed through the hallways and brought trouble. If it were any other Gothamite, he would have screamed at them, even threatened them if they didn't tone their noise down.
But as soon as he opened the door, he first saw a man. He possessed sea-green eyes that seemed to radiate with a bright intensity, reminiscent of the ocean's depths, though not quite like the eerie glow of the Lazarus Pit. The man's messy and tousled hair perfectly reflected his carefree and adventurous personality. His fair skin had a sun-kissed glow, likely due to spending time outdoors. He had noticed how the man held himself. He was confident, not cocky, and didn't look to intimidate but warn others to stay away. Their physical build was similar, with broad shoulders and a large back, although the man's loose-fitting clothing somewhat concealed it.
When the man's body shifted uncomfortably, it was a subtle movement. However, the movement's intentions were clear: to cut off his easy access to whatever was behind him. That was when Jason took notice of a young girl standing on the stairs, holding two boxes on each arm. She looked roughly around the age of 15 and 16, maybe older. Even so, she was a kid who didn't even look like she could kill a fly. That was an exaggeration, but the meaning was the same. His worry and paranoia diminished slightly as he held the gun on top of the shoe rack next to him with the safety on.
Now that was out of the way, he couldn't help but take notice of their appearances once again. The man and the girl had a striking mass of untamed, short, jet-black hair. Their hairstyles differed by the multiple highlighted streaks of blonde that ran through the girl as if she had chosen to dye sections of her hair without committing to coloring its entirety. The contrast between the dark base and the vibrant streaks created an eye-catching effect. However, unlike the man's striking sea-green eyes, the girl's eyes shimmered with a vivid shade of blue, reminiscent of a serene lake on a clear day. They held a youthful curiosity and a touch of mischief. It would seem that his brothers would get along just well with her.
Despite the apparent differences in their physical appearances, the two had an undeniable familial resemblance. Jason could feel a shared connection between the two, which resembled his brothers' and his relationship.
Jason didn't know how much time he had spent staring at the sibling duo before the male had to fake cough and interrupt the silence with a "Hi?" The two siblings were now both staring at him.
Now feeling uncomfortable, his first response was obvious: "You're not from Gotham." Jason felt the need to slap his mouth shut in embarrassment but kept a straight face.
"No shit, Sherlock, was it the hair?" She smirked. "They kinda stand out, but I'm pretty sure the working ladies have these more commonly. Oh, or was it the accents? Gotham isn't ready for the Jackson siblings' awesomeness! And Sassiness. We might need to tone down the charisma a bit," cue an exaggerated theatrical bow. "Maybe it is being loud or something, is it unusual- Ah!" The man abruptly silenced the girl's words as he playfully bonked her on the back of her head. Jason watched the exchange with surprise and amusement, his embarrassment slowly fading.
"Sorry about her," the man said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. Jason understands. It's hard to take control over siblings. "I'm Percy, and this is my sister, Nina."
Nina recovered and shot a playful glare at her brother. "Nina, the more tolerable sibling. Mom's second favorite," she said with a mischievous grin. She reminded him of when he was younger, when everything wasn't as fucked up.
"Who's first?" Percy asked.
"Estelle, of course," with her response, Percy and she began to play fight, causing the man to hit her slightly and stumble on the stairs. In a panic, Jason reached out instinctively, trying to prevent her from falling by holding her hand. However, the boy swiftly caught her before he could react, rescuing her from a potential tumble.
"You, okay?" Percy asked, a hint of amusement evident in his voice.
"Thanks for the adrenaline rush, douche," Nina replied, her tone not matching her playful expression.
"You've been through worse," he countered.
"No thanks to a certain someone," she continued.
As an outsider witnessing their exchange, concern gnawed at Jason. He had seen siblings fight before understanding their relationship's dynamics, but it still troubled him. Sensing his unease, the boy offered a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, she's used to my shenanigans," Percy reassured him. "We've been through a lot together."
The girl chimed in, her grin widening. "Yeah, he's survived worse, and I have witnessed IT," she added, nudging the boy playfully. There seemed to be an inside joke of some sort by Percy's reaction of rolling his eyes. It seems to have been going on for some time, too.
"I'm Jason," he finally introduced himself, eager to break the tension and embrace the light-heartedness. He extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, Percy, and Nina. So, you guys just moved in? It's not often for people to move to Gotham by choice," he added, feeling a sense of curiosity and suspicion about their decision to move to a city known for its darkness and dangers. Were they part of the mafia, a bad life? Is the little girl, Nina, involved too? He certainly hoped not; they seemed like good people. It was very hopeful that they weren't people he goes against.
Percy shook Jason's hand with a friendly smile, seeming genuine in his response. It eased some of the suspicions that had initially clouded Jason's mind. Percy's response came swiftly. "Yeah, we did. We're settling into Gotham for a while," he replied.
"Mom has enough trouble with Estelle... and, well, worrying about you," Nina comments absentmindedly, glaring at her brother. Considering the little sister's expression, Percy may have done something their parents disapproved of.
"As if you're such an angel." The brother countered. "Who's the one who sneaks out every night and isn't going to do it here?"
"Estelle." It was a straight answer from the young girl who put on a severe face.
"Haha, funny. Throwing your baby sister under the bus?" Nina shrugs in response. Percy rolled his eyes at his sister's remark but couldn't hide a glimmer of amusement. "We moved here for education," he explained, his voice reflecting determination and hope for the future. "I'm trying out the university scene, you know. Going into a marine biology course."
Nina interjected in a heartbeat. "Percy thinks we can get some peace here to study. I'm here to see what kind of trouble he can get into. This is Gotham, after all," she added, earning another playful sack from Percy, which she swiftly dodged and retaliated with a kick to his leg, which was blocked.
"Brat," Percy called his sister. There was no venom in his voice. The tone was so familiar as it seemed to be the same one everyone in the family called Damian. A glimmer of amusement was evident in the big brother's eyes. "Hey, you think too little of me, lil' sis."
Jason chuckled, finding their banter amusing. "Well, welcome to the building and Gotham, then. Feel free to ask if you need anything or have questions about Gotham."
"Thanks, Jason," Percy replied warmly. "We appreciate it. And sorry again for the little commotion earlier."
Jason couldn't help but be entertained by their sibling dynamics, how they effortlessly bounced off each other and exchanged playful blows. He realized they shared a bond beyond blood, built on love, teasing, and an unbreakable connection.
Feeling at ease, Jason let out a genuine laugh. "No worries. It seems like you two will keep things interesting around here," he remarked, his voice filled with amusement and warmth.
Percy rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the amusement in his expression. Jason chuckled, finding their banter amusing.
As they discussed the logistics of moving and settling in, Jason offered to help with the remaining boxes. He took one from Nina's hands effortlessly, feeling a surge of strength as he did so. Nina's boxes weren't heavy, but he noticed with prolonged time, it would start to hurt. Paranoia was once again activated when he thought about how long Percy had been holding his boxes during the entire time they spoke.
"I'm returning to the car to get the rest," Nina informed them, making her way downstairs now that her hands were free of the weight he carried.
As the hours passed, they worked together, seamlessly moving boxes and furniture into the apartment. Despite the initial commotion and teasing between the siblings, Jason amused himself with their banter, becoming an audience to their playful exchanges.
Finally, with the heavy lifting complete, Nina collapsed onto the couch in exhaustion. Percy's exasperated disbelief was evident in his tone as he watched her, but a loving smile played on his lips. He covered her with a blanket, appreciating that she needed the rest. They were friendly siblings, depending on each other.
A sudden thought popped up. Nina has blue eyes, and Percy has green eyes and black hair. Do they have a traumatic background? Would Bruce adopt them? No, he most likely wouldn't. They mentioned a mom. He wouldn't steal children from their parents.
"You're welcome," Jason replied to Percy's gratitude, feeling a sense of fulfillment from their teamwork.
As he glanced at Nina, peacefully asleep on the couch, he couldn't help but feel fondly for the Jackson siblings. They had quickly become an unexpected part of his life, and he looked forward to the adventures and camaraderie that awaited them in Gotham. Even though they weren't close and just met, Nina felt so much like a little sister he wanted to protect and keep her under his wing.
In the early morning, Jason, still weary from his night of patrolling as Red Hood, had just collapsed onto his bed, hoping to get some much-needed rest. But his peace was short-lived as a sudden scream echoed through the walls, jolting him back to alertness. He recognized the voice as Nina's, his new neighbor, the kid he met yesterday.
Immediately, Jason sprang into action, his instincts kicking in. He swiftly donned his night work clothes again, ready for potential danger. Quietly, he went to the window that overlooked the Jackson siblings' apartment, preparing himself for a possible confrontation, guns blazing.
As he peered through the window, the sun's rays illuminating the room, he was met with a sight he was not expecting. In the embrace of Percy's arms, Nina appeared visibly distressed, tears staining her face. She had experienced a nightmare, and Percy was there to comfort her.
A wave of relief washed over Jason as he realized the situation wasn't as dire as he had initially feared. It seemed that Percy had everything under control, providing the support that Nina needed. Feeling a sense of reassurance, Jason returned to his apartment, removing his equipment and finally preparing to get some well-deserved rest.
As he settled back into his bed, he felt a sense of empathy towards them, recognizing the challenges they faced in their way. Jason closed his eyes, allowing sleep to claim him finally. He knew that Gotham's nights were filled with darkness and chaos, but moments like these reminded him of the resilience and strength of the human spirit.
Hell, he needed sleep.