farcry | anything can be taken from you.

[He's scared. He's scared of a lot of things right now. Mostly that Dick won't want him here anymore, but also that he's gonna fall off the deep end again.

That part isn't anyone's problem but his own-- but he can hear Dick's voice in his head, telling him he can do this. Don't give up. They've got this.]

No, it's -- it's ok. Hopefully he's sleeping. I can just sit there with him.

[ Jason sounds as unsure as she feels. suddenly, it's like they have to stand on their own. before, Dick would catch her in any situation. Dick would have an answer and a plan and always stay strong, no matter what.

but what about now? ]

Text me, okay? You're not alone in this. I'm here. And everyone else, too. [ a beat, as Rachel questions whether it's her place to say anything more. ] We have to be strong for him now.

[Rachel may feel unsure, but her words are important. They help, because really, that's what Jason needs to hear.

Are they true? He's not completely sure if they are-- if he really isn't alone in this. But in this moment they help. And she's right. They need to be strong for him. He's the one who needs them now.]

Okay... you're right. We have to be. Thanks, Rachel.

[ when Jason thanks her, her smile is small and sad. she doesn't think there's anything to thank her for. she wonders if she did all this, somehow willed reality into something bad happening. ]

Yeah. [ she turns away before Jason can see her cry again. ]

[He's not really the kind of person who goes around just thanking people, so he hopes she knows he really means it.

There's a part of him that wants to hug her, but he doesn't think he should. Gar is more equipped for something like that, so he's glad she'll get to see him soon.]

I'm gonna go back inside to talk to the doctor. I'll text you.

[He doesn't know what else to say. Finally he does reach out to squeeze her shoulder, then turns around and heads back inside so he can find Dick's doctor and ask her when Dick will be discharged. He tells her about the memory loss as well, and what can we done about any of it.]

[ when Jason's hand finds Rachel's shoulder, she finally looks back up. she gives him a teary-eyed nod when he promises to text her. the thing is, she doesn't want to leave Dick either. knowing he's lost a whole years' worth of memories is scary to her too, but she has to go back to the tower and fill the others in. she knows that the last thing Dick would want is for the team to suffer because of what happened to him. ]

Okay... thanks, Jason. [ feels like the right thing would be to reach out and hug him, but she doesn't know how he would react to that. so she just stands there and watches him leave. finally, once she's gathered herself enough, she calls an uber to head back to the tower. ]

[ Jason doesn't have to wait long to speak to the doctor, as she's standing at the nurses' station, going over Dick's charts. she seems to be puzzling over something as she reads the pages, brows knitted in concentration when Jason steps up beside her.

putting the charts down, she smiles at him, listening intently to his questions. when asked about the memory loss, she nods understandingly, giving Jason a small, but hopeful smile. ]

The memory loss is normal, especially after a concussive event like the one Dick had just undergone. [ she confirms that a year is a long time to have forgotten. there are a host of exercises that could help with restoring memories. she briefly tells Jason about some of them, including looking for triggers or reminders, or asking Dick to chain events that he does remember together by moving forward or backwards while recalling them. she says that it helps to have familiar people recount events to him, to see if any of it will jog something up. ]

Most importantly, he needs to rest. The good news is, he seems to be recovering quickly. Faster than normal, really. [ she's looking back at his charts. strange that they don't have his full medical information on file, though. there are fractures in his body picked up by the latest set of x-rays that seemingly had been treated outside of the medical system. ] We'd like to keep him under observation for at least another twenty-four hours, at which point we'll reassess how he's healing up. The memory loss should get better within a few weeks. He doesn't have to be in the hospital for that, but it's hard to say if it'll ever be perfectly recalled.

[It feels like more good news than bad news. Maybe his memory won't ever be perfectly recalled, but there are things they can do to help. Maybe knowing that Jason can help with giving Dick things to remember, they'll be ok with him being around - and Dick might be ok with it too.

Jason listens to it all intently while also reading over Dick's chart in the sneaky way that he does. Most of it is expected, and he's relieved when the doctor looks puzzled over how much quicker Dick seems to be healing up than normal. That means maybe the pit's magic has stayed with him too.]

Thanks, doc. I'll make sure he rests. I know he's gonna wanna get outta here sooner than 24 hours but I'll make sure he stays out, too.

[A little heads up on Dick Grayson, the flight risk. Jason doesn't want to fuck around with that this time. He's also subtly letting them know that he's absolutely staying here for those 24 hours, so don't even try kicking him out.

He feels like, with that determination, he's finally able to pull himself together a little more. He thanks the doctor again, then quietly heads into Dick's room once again, hoping that he's sleeping.]

[ the doctor gives Jason a nod when he vows to keep Dick grounded here for the next 24 hours. most people don't like staying in the hospital for long, so it's not anything new for her. Dick has broken bones, too, so she doubts he'll be able to be a real flight risk. she's also okay with Jason staying around for as long as Dick is here. it's better for most patients to have someone familiar near by than to have a stranger like a nurse sit at their bedside to keep them company.

Dick looks up when Jason enters his room. of course he's not asleep, but at least he's still in the bed? he's been out for the past seven hours. it's the most he's slept in a single stretch in a long time.

though he keeps his expression carefully neutral, it's clear that he had been in deep focus. he's still gripping his phone with one hand, but the screen goes black with a click of a single button. on his bedside, there's a glass of water and a half eaten slice of plain toast on a tray. nearby, a clear container with a slice of chocolate cake still sits untouched where Rachel had left it. ]

Hey. [ he greets calmly, giving Jason a slow once-over. people fussing over him when he gets injured is nothing new, though he recognizes that understanding the concern clearly written on Jason's face is still only just a logical one. he knows Jason's concerned about him because they're together. were together? how does he even begin to navigate that?

he doesn't know how Jason has changed in the past year, but once again, he has to believe in his own past decisions, even if he doesn't remember them. thinking about the void of the past year guts him, but he breathes through it. he has to start small, has to build on what he does know of their relationship.

Jason did some bad things. Jason murdered half of Gotham, but in the end, helped them bring it back. he didn't treat Jason how he should have, either. afterwards, Red Hood dropped off his radar for at least two weeks. is Red Hood still around? has Gotham recovered? the questions keep whirring around in his mind as his gaze lifts back up to Jason's face. he tries for a tense smile, tipping his head toward the bedside table. ]

Don't look so worried. You didn't miss much. They brought in some dry toast when you were gone.

(( ooc: ok sorry i had to retcon Rachel leaving the a slice of chocolate cake there ;; ))

[ The doctor doesn't know how much of a flight risk Dick really is- no matter how many broken bones he has, he'd find a way out of there. Jason won't let that happen.]

Hey.

[He tries to say as casually when he heads back inside. Of course Dick isn't asleep. Jason had only been hoping that because of all the pain meds he'd easily knock out. It's not just worry he's feeling when he sees Dick awake- it's nerves. It feels like that time all over again, when Dick found him after he came back from the dead, and asked him for help. The time when Dick told Jason that he could never be a Titan again, but he could start on the path of redemption if he helped them. That was a year ago, just about. So much has happened since then.

It feels devastating all over again, but he knows it must feel the same for Dick, not even knowing what happened all this time. Since coming back from the dead, Jason has a few gaps in his memory as well, so he knows how fucked up it feels. This is ten times worse. ]

That's it? I might have to sneak you in some pizza. The real kind.

[He notes the look on Dick's face, the way he does a once over on him. Jason wonders what he must be thinking. How he must be feeling. He also notices the phone in Dick's hand. Was he reading over texts? Listening to voicemails? Did he read the hundreds of things they've said to each other over all this time, confirming Jason's words? Does he know they're in love? ....were in love. Is it a past tense thing now? Jason swallows that thought down thickly, and moves over to the bed to check out the toast. It's pretty lame. The chocolate cake looks more appetizing, though and he lifts up the container.]

What about this?

I don't know. [ Dick looks at the chocolate cake skeptically. truthfully, he doesn't have an appetite. the few bites of toast was only managed because he knows he has to eat to recover.

his mind is still lingering on the texts he's been catching up on. he hasn't had much time since Jason stepped out of his room, but what he has read starts to flesh out the weeks leading up to his memory loss. Kory is out of town tracing down something Tamaran related, he doesn't know what yet. Conner seems to be asking him about something Metropolis related. Rachel and Gar have been protesting cauliflower crust. Tim, texting about suit upgrades.

and Jason. he and Jason have been meeting up at bars and taking shots together, and for some reason, he doesn't want Jason helping out with thugs. the night of his accident, Jason tried to take a flight back to Gotham, and he seemed to be very much against it. his last outgoing call was to Jason's number, so that much checks out. still, it's just that. checking out information. none of it feels like real memories, associated with emotions, but rather like reading sterile case files or debriefings of events that happened to someone else. ]

I'd rather have Alfred's pancakes. [ an impossibility at this point, hence why he says it. ] You should have it. Bet you haven't eaten much.

[ he has to stay calm, but he's itching to get back to his records. ] So are they discharging me soon, or are we breaking out of here?

I'd rather have Alfred's pancakes too.

[ He sets the cake aside, not having anything of an appetite either. He could still use that drink or two, though.

And Jason's texts-- they span back to far more than that, but maybe he can go through them all later. Maybe it's better if Jason tells him instead. It's hard to know where to even start, but the doctor said it would be helpful. He just has to figure it out and not overwhelm Dick with it.

He knows how fucking overwhelming he can be. ]

You gotta stay for a 24 hour observation, and then we can go. Or-- you can go. You know how much I love a good break out, but not this time.

[He sighs, plopping himself down in the chair that's he's had pretty much almost on top of the bed it's so close, and he doesn't really want to move it further back. If he can't climb in with Dick, and if it's too weird to keep holding his hand, at least he can sit close. He can sit close, and try to act calm, and have a normal conversation with Dick. He can try.]

Good news, though. You're healing up faster than normal. I told you about it once, when you were bandaging up the gash on my ass, that I healed up faster cause of the pit? Well, you've got it too. The doctor looked real fucking perplexed.

Edited 2024-03-06 19:30 (UTC)

[ Dick lifts his brows when Jason tells him he'll heal faster because of the pit. is that something he knows, or does he not know? because it's new information now. and bandaging up the gash on Jason's ass, that bit seems to bring up an image of Jason on his couch, though it feels dark and blurry. ]

How much faster? [ a tip of his head. ] 'Cus if it's at least some percentage then we should recalculate their 24 hour observation period. [ tension gathers around his eyes at being told no. ]

You know I'm not staying here, right?

The doctor also said I should try and help fill in your memory gaps when it's not too overwhelming, so-- I know it feels like you don't know some of the information I'm telling you, but... you did, once. I'll always be honest with you about what you knew and what you didn't know, ok?

[ Not that Dick trusts him right now. Probably not at all, considering where they were at when Dick went back to Gotham to follow the weapons. Jason's pretty sure Dick only really started to trust him more when he saved his life that night. That had been the start of everything different between them, but Dick doesn't even remember that. Maybe he just thinks Jason's trying to feed him whatever information he wants to. It breaks his heart. ]

A little faster. Not like instant healing, Dick. Maybe we can recalculate their 24 hour period, yeah. But they still gotta come check you and be all fucking amazed that you're healing up nicely, ok? It's 24 hours.

[Jason tenses up at Dick starting to argue his way out of here, but he's gonna hold his ground.]

You are.

[ Dick appreciates the sentiment that Jason's approaching this with, that he's at least saying he'll be honest with telling Dick about past events. he wants to believe it, but he's torn inside, not knowing how much he can truly trust. he's always wanted to be a trusting person, but the decades of training has taught him to be skeptical, especially when he's scared.

and he's very scared right now, despite how calm he might seem on the outside. all he does is nod quietly to what Jason tells him. he'll keep track of what Jason tells him, and then go through whatever he can find to try and confirm the legitimacy of it all.

as strange as it is, the soothing, almost tender way Jason talks to him is--nice. it's hard not to feel anything and remain neutral but skeptical. but he does frown when Jason digs his heels in.

a beat. ]

You gonna stop me?

(( ooc: btw, i have a hard time with stacking scenes / dialogue unless its a text, so i tend to just have dick respond to the last bit so we can move linearly instead of jumping around. i just find it easier to write his introspection and emotions that way, so hes not frowning then smiling then angry all in one tag lol. just to let you know in case you ever find it strange that hes dropping convos lmfao ))

[ Maybe Rachel should have stayed after all. Dick right now is not the same Dick who would have done anything to be able to spend some extra time with Jason, or want to be alone in a room with him. That much is apparent, with every little look Dick gives. Maybe to other people he might seem calm on the outside, but Jason knows all the tells. He knows Dick.

That frown, the way Dick challenges him again, it makes all the hairs rise on the back of his neck. He doesn't want to fight. He hates this.]

...Dick. Come on. I don't want it to be like that. You were in a real serious crash. They had to induce a coma. You've got memory loss. Please.

[He hesitates, glancing away for a moment, letting out a shaky breath before looking back at Dick once again. He can do this.]

I wanted to stay here and be with you just a little while longer. But if you'd rather have Rachel here, I can ask her to come back. She can stay with you instead.

((ooc: oh, ok. But what if he needs to respond to the things Jason is saying? xD I don't care if he's smiling or angry all in one tag. That's how RP conversations usually are. But if it's harder for you that way, I don't want it to stress you out. I also don't want like, dialogue wasted, if you know what I mean?? I can try to just write shorter tags, then? Like one dialogue thing at a time? it would make things less linear I think, like the conversation would be choppy, but if it helps I don't mind!))

It’s not about you or Rachel. [ Jason’s right—he’s cracking at the seams, trying so hard to hold it together in his wretched place. the irritation is clear in his voice now. ]

Look, Jason, I appreciate that you’re here to help me remember. Really, I do. I believe you really care about me, too. The last thing I texted you was that I want to be with you so I know we were together. I wouldn’t say that otherwise. Just—

[ he reaches his hand out, remembering the way Jason felt, gripping him back, holding onto him like Dick could count on him for anything. ]

I need you to get me out of here. I have to go through my protocol for this. I have to remember. Help me.

(( ooc: oops forgot my note. but yes, I find people are either one or the other, stackers or non stackers lolol. ok I would appreciate like one convo topic at a time but honestly you know how convos go, where ppl jump around or mention stuff that was said in the past, that’s how I tend to have my characters respond to other topics they need to… idk if that makes sense for you but let’s give this a try!! tyty ))

Edited 2024-03-06 21:44 (UTC)

[ Dammit. Fuck.

Dick is good. Even with his memory loss it's like he knows exactly how to get to Jason. How to make him waver. It really is unfair.

Dick can probably see Jason's reservations start to crumble. His outstretched hand is something Jason can't ignore. Neither is that plea for Jason to help him. All he wants to do is help Dick. If the pit is helping him heal faster, he'll be alright. They've all dealt with countless bruises and broken bones before, and hardly ever went to the hospital for it. He can take care of Dick- if Dick will let him.

He slides his hand back into Dick's, fingers curling around his, holding onto him like Dick can count of him for anything. ]

Alright. Okay. I'll get you outta here.

((ooc: sounds good! I'll do my best :D ))

[ it's almost too easy. Jason practically melts for him when he asks, reaching back for his hand and lacing their fingers together like he's done it a million times. for all Dick knows, he has. but how easily he crumbles is new. it's not the Jason that he knows, but he finds it surprisingly sweet. his fingers curl around Jason's in return.

finally, finally, a faint smile tugs on Dick's mouth with a breath of relief. ]

Okay. Let's do this while these pain meds are still kicked in. [ it's a little extreme to think of it that way, but he grips Jason's hand as he sits up, only wincing a little as the room spins before still, the entire right side of his body singing in protest. it's fine. Jason's right, they've had broken bones before. he relies on Jason as he swings his legs to the side of the bed, bracing against him as he stands. ]

[ The relief he sees on Dick's face is enough to motivate Jason further, even if he feels a knot in his stomach over what they're about to do. Is he fucking up again? Does Dick really even care about that part? Probably not, but Jason wants Dick to be alright. Maybe once he's back at the Tower he can put the pieces back together a little easier. ]

Yeah, alright. The doctor said you have a sprained wrist, three broken ribs and a broken collarbone, so just be aware of that. You had some internal bleeding as well, but the worst of it was your concussion. Severe. So--

[So maybe they shouldn't be leaving, but Jason's already helping Dick sit up.]

Hang on. Before you start walking around with your ass hanging out can I at least check if you have some clothes?

[He gently pushes Dick to sit back down on the bed while he goes to the closet to grab the bag with Dick's belongings so he can help him get dressed. There's no shirt, as it was cut off of him, but he finds the rest of Dick's clothes, along with a jacket that he can wear on top. He takes it all out and starts helping Dick get dressed.]

I left my bike on the side of the road, so we're gonna have to Uber it outta here. I'm sure there are some cabs out front, but we're gonna try to go out the side exit. I already scoped it out when we got here.

[Because that's what they do.]

Right—yeah. Thanks. [ Clothes. Dick sits down again when Jason eases him toward the bed, taking a breather before he has to tighten his stomach to lifts one leg before the other as Jason helps him into his underwear. they have to do it all over again for the pants. he breathes steadily the whole time, bracing through the protests in his body. ]

Good. I was gonna ask if you’ve done that already. [ he says, with a strained smile as he does up the fly and button of his pants. they have his wrist braced relatively sturdily, so he’s not afraid to use it. of course Jason has done his scoping already. Jason is rash and unpredictable, but he’s meticulous and skilled as well.

still, he can’t move his right shoulder properly, with how his ribs and collar bone are fractured. he attempts to pull his arm back for the jacket but ends up wincing. ] Could you—pull this on for me? [ the jacket, onto his right arm first, then he can slide his left in when Jason holds it up. the whole thing feels so strangely intimate, and he can tell Jason is used to being this close to his body, as foreign as it is for himself. he wonders just how close they are, how far they’ve gone. ]

[He doesn't really think about any of it. Just hops into action, so he's glad Dick doesn't protest him helping to get him dressed. His pants, his socks, his shoes. At least none of it is bloody.

Jason is still as meticulous as ever when it comes to getting the job done right. He's still Red Hood after all. On pause. Maybe he should tell Dick about that. First things first, though.

He nods when Dick asks for more help, moving in close to pull his jacket on. Even in this steril place, Dick still smells like Dick, and Jason misses being this close already. It squeezes his heart.]

There you go. All set. Hang on, lemme check who's out there. We should wait for a shift change, but if we move fast enough they won't see us.

[Stealthy as ever, right? Jason goes to open the door and peak outside the room. Seems busy, which is lucky for them. He doesn't see Dick's doctor, and he watches the nurse fo into one of the rooms. He clocks all the others as well, hooging they're distracted enough before he heads back in, moving up to Dick's side.]

Try walking...lean into me as much as you need to. I've got you, alright?

[ they have a lot to catch up on. Dick knows that, and he wonders when he’ll feel ready to sit down with Jason and start having these conversations. he knows he can’t avoid it forever, and he owes it to Jason to address how they should move forward from here, once he catches up, that is.

for now, he nods when Jason returns to the room, having already pushed off the bed to stand. they’d chucked the sling keeping his arm stable at some point. he’ll put it back later, after they’ve successfully exited out of here.

Jason is at his side in a heartbeat, and he wraps his left arm securely around his waist, holding on tight while trying not to be too obviously straining. maybe like this, they could just pass as two people with their arms around each other. affectionately. ]

Alright. [ he takes a step, steady as he keeps his gaze on one spot of the floor. with the next step, he looks at Jason, seeing the focused concentration on his expression. there’s something about that which feels right, like seeing Jason grounds him subconsciously. like it’s okay to lean a little more weight into Jason. good thing he hasn’t actually hurt anything in his legs. just the dull, throbbing pain in his ribs, which is easy enough to ignore. ]

Okay. [ a slow breath, and he nods. this isn’t so bad. they can do this. ] Let’s move.

[There are so many emotions this brings up, but Jason pushes them all aside for now, determined to get them out of here without being hassled. He's ready to fight anyone either way, but he just wants this to go seamlessly for once.

He holds on to Dick well enough to hold him up, but not hurt his ribs, and once Dick gives the ok, he moves. They're out the door quickly, backs turned immediately to the nurses station as they head for one of the nearest side exits.]

You're good. You got this. Almost there.

[He says almost a whisper, keeping his eyes on Dick's face, and the exit in front of them.]

[ the compartmentalizations skills come in handy for Dick, too, who keeps his eyes focused forward, keeps a neutral expression on his face as he thinks about putting one foot on another and distributing his weight evenly where he’s leaning on Jason.

and it almost does go down seamlessly, too, until the door to Dick’s room flies open with a nurse bursting out. ]

Has anyone seen Richard Grayson? [ she calls, getting the attention of some of the other nurses. Dick spares a glance over his shoulder and cursed quietly under his breath. ]

Go, go go.

[ they take off into a run for the last bit of hallway toward the side exit doors.

you got this. almost there. Jason’s words keep him working through the pain as every running step sends shockwaves through his body. he grits his teeth as they push through the exit doors, and the PA system announces a code. however, it doesn’t seem like anyone is following them. ]

Quick. [ he’s breathless. ] Which way?

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1/2

2/2 -- sorry for the delay, i got distracted :,)

Lol it's ok 😁

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im still annoyed that they dipped dick into the pit >>

ME TOO. So annoyed D: Especially cause that's such a Jason Todd thing and Dick got a montage instead

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