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It was rare for them to visit each other's rooms at school. Not out of avoidance of one another, but because certain faculty members had a vested interest in cutting off any perceived codependency for the twins own good. It was bullhonky of course, but Jason had reasoned that it was better to let the adults think they were in control. Let them be confident instead of overly watchful, especially when both boys were sneaking out at night on a regular basis.

Turning his chair, Jason gave Luke a long look, eyebrows quirked. He also took his extra fifteen minutes or so of extra life experience pretty seriously, so in his opinion it was a reasonable assumption. After a moment he shook his head, then nodded, then shrugged. "I've had a crush on someone new at least once every year since preschool." His tone was flat, like he was talking about his preferred laundry detergents instead of making a bombshell announcement declaring uncharacteristic antics of a tender, boyish heart to his unsuspecting brother.

"I just never bring it up, there's no point since I don't want to date until I'm more independent, with a car and some money." This part Luke was all too familiar with, at least. "So you're in like with someone, huh? Someone here at school or someone wearing a costume?"

There's be problems either way, but different ones. Hopefully his brother wasn't crushing on someone too much older. Or evil...

A new worry began to quietly unlock in the back of Jason's mind.

"A permit isn't a car," Jason lectured, crossing his arms. "And I don't...think so? There's just been a lot going on, and having a crush means having time to really enjoy thinking about how great they are." He sounded a little off, though. There were people he'd been admiring in school and as a knight too, but were any of them crushes? Life right now was so different from anything he'd ever experienced before, really. Maybe something like a crush on someone would be different too?

If he had a crush on someone, and finally decided it was time to actually do something about that feeling instead of just waiting for it to fade with maturity like before? They'd have to be powered, right? Anyone else would be endangered by being connected to him and the people he was associating with. They'd also be a burden, wouldn't they?

This felt complicated, a little depressing, and was all something Jason absolutely didn't want to think about.

it was much better to think about Luke, whoever has him asking about liking people, and the horrible attempt at deflection he was currently making.

"So who do you want to get out and about with?"

Leaning back in his chair, Jason steepled his fingers and scanned his brother, head to toe. "It's weird. You're usually pretty confident, especially when it comes to people." Instead of just thinking to himself this time, he actually just said everything outright. It was an awkward subject anyway, so it wasn't like he'd be making it any worse.

Probably.

"What part of it wouldn't work out? Handsome," he began listing off on his fingers, "...kinda smart, high EQ, fit, friendly...." He paused, and then lowered a finger, "We are kinda poor, I guess. Are they like, super rich and snobby or something?"

Suddenly thinking of something, Jason leaned forward, elbows on his knees, "Are they already with someone?"

Oh.

It was Julian, wasn't it?

It was absolutely Julian.

The corners of Jason's lips twitch as he tried not to smile. Coughing into his fist, Jason leaned back again. Ugh, he couldn't imagine having a crush on his roommate, the sly b-...all slinger. Even if his roommate was someone better, it'd be awkward. Or maybe too convenient. Jason looked away from his brother with a grimace.

"I'm not judging you, okay? And what you should do...is think about your long term and short term situations. Long term, if you don't do anything, you'll probably get over it. You're fifteen and this is your first love, right? Realistically it won't go past high school, at most. But maybe, try picturing what sort of long term you'd like if you were brave about it and they happened to like you back."

It was the sort of thing he'd liked to consider with all his unspoken crushes. In the end, Jason never did anything, but it was always because he could picture the person they'd be at eighteen, at twenty. As professional, a parent. And he liked idealizing their future, but it was hard to picture himself in it. He never took it too seriously, though. Jason thought he'd like to get married and have a family one day, but that day was a long way off, and he still considered himself a kid.

"Short term...suffer." As teens in love were meant to do.

"I'm not going to biter and single forever," Jason scowled. Especially when that made it sound like he was bitter and single now. Ever though it was a little true. But he wasn't bitter about being single! Who was Luke to even say that, this guy who was in the middle of his first crush ever?

Making a disgusted sound in his throat, he explained, "I just want to be responsible, when it comes to a relationship. I don't want be a piece of spit like Dad and ruin someone's life just because I only wanted to have some fun while in my feelings."

Standing up, he reached out to ruffle his brother's hair, "Anyway, it looks like you're finally growing up, huh? Mom's gonna cry."

Doing his best not to smile too smugly and let Luke catch on the he knew a little something extra now, Jason nodded, "Yeah, there's always another handful to grasp in the depths of a man's heart." He'd heard that while trying not to nap during book report presentations in English, and it had sounded pretty good.

Jason went to grab his jacket and almost, almost started talking about training. About a potential patrol route he'd thought of. And then he started talking about the football team, instead. It'd been awhile since they spent a good amount of time together just talking over normal things, just school stuff and family nonsense and not using those things while pretending they were normal in front of somebody else.

When they started arguing over what to eat, Jason slid an arm around Luke's shoulders in a half hug, glad to be with his brother for the time being, rather than a fellow knight.