farcry | anything can be taken from you.

[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?

[The side exit also means they're about to turn a corner, out of sight. Jason practically hauls Dick that way as they move down the last bit of hallway, ignoring the nurses and the loud speaker.

Jason's still careful not to jostle Dick too hard, even though they're moving faster. He's not gonna get him even more hurt, just to get away. Once they're move past the exit doors and make it out of the hospital, theyre pretty much home free. No one's gonna drag them back inside. They can't. ]

Take it easy, we're out.

[He walks them to the side of the building and leans Dick against the wall, arms still around him. For a moment, he's the one who forgets, bringing a hand up to Dick's face, thumb brushing along his cheek.]

I'm gonna grab us a cab, alright? You just wait here and blend into the bushes.

[He carefully lets go and runs around to the front to flag down a cab. There are thankfully a bunch parked in front of the hospital. He tells them to drive around to the side, then he's back at Dick's side to walk him the rest of the way, over to the cab.]

See? We got this.

[ they're both fully prepared to put up whatever fight they have to in order to get out of there. Dick knows he's capable of it, broken bones or not. for some reason, he also knows that Jason has his back. it's not just the words that are being said to him, either. it's a deep-seated trust grounding him somewhere from somewhere in his heart, even when his mind raises all sorts of questions regarding Jason.

but they don't have to put up a fight. as soon as they're out and Jason helps him lean back against the wall, Dick is sighing a breath of relief, grimacing from the way his breaths expand his chest, pushing up against the broken ribs. then, Jason's warm hand finds his cheek, and all that breath is stolen away. it's like the moment hovers in thin air, thickening, and he's suddenly caught between the adrenaline coursing through his system and the clarity in Jason's eyes, held in that steady embrace.

then, Jason speaks, and Dick swallows hard, nodding. ]

Yeah. I'll wait here. [ he stares wide-eyed as Jason rounds the corner again. fuck. what was that? his mind is so clearly out of sorts and it makes him even more desperate to get back to the tower.

Jason returns quickly with a cab and he loops his arm around as they approach the car. ]

You okay going back to the tower with me? [ at least he remembers Jason's adversion to the rest of the team, though seeing his interaction with Rachel makes him think twice. ]

[Jason's moving on autopilot, quickly and efficiently as he does when he has something to take care of. He won't ever forget anything about his training, even if he does it all his own way now.

All of this, it reminds him of the time he saves Dick's life - the time Dick doesn't seem to remember. Maybe some of it will jog Dick's memory, maybe it won't. Jason can only hope, even if it's probably too soon.

He's already considering where they're gonna go now, right before Dick asks him. He doesn't answer right away, trying to help Dick into the can without hurting him, before he goes around to the other side to get in.

Now he's unsure again.]

...Are you sure you wanna go back there right now? You-- you can access the computers from the place I'm staying. It's one of the safe houses you set up, across from the tower.

[ Dick holds his side as Jason slides into the car, and he quietly considers those words, a slight crease pinched between his brows in pain or confusion or both.

Jason's staying in that safe house? he didn't think anyone knew about that safe house apart from him and Bruce--or at least, a year ago, no one did. before answering Jason, Dick tells the cab drive to go toward the tower. it's the same vicinity anyway.

Jason looks hesitant again, looks like he's grasping at straws not wanting to let Dick go. ]

You're still not on speaking terms with the Titans.

[ He didn't know about it before Dick told him he could come back to San Fransisco and have his own place, away from Titans Tower. A place he would be able to visit easily since it was close. That's what stuck with Jason and made it a lot easier for him to come back here, and Dick took care of it all for him. It was pretty fucking amazing.

But now, Dick looks worried, confused, and Jason has to keep reminding himself that Dick doesn't know about any of that. It never happened.

Dick takes it out of his hands when he tells the driver to go toward the Tower. He doesn't think he can do it. ]

No. They've got no idea. I uh- I only just told Rachel I was here. That's how this whole thing started. It didn't go too well, and I thought maybe I should leave. You were trying to convince me to stay.

[It was his fault. His fucking fault for upsetting Dick and distracting him enough to get in this accident.]

[ what Jason says is no news to him. he read it all in the last batch of texts he and Jason had. it seemed Rachel said some things that upset Jason. it seems that he owes Rachel a talk, too, which he fully intends to make good on. later.

but he hadn't realized that no one else knew Jason was here. there's guilt on Jason's face now, and he feels bad seeing it. ]

And you did stay. [ accident or no accident, it seems like something had worked. whatever they talked about on the phone, he assumes. ]

This isn't the best time to make your debut right now, with me like this. [ he sighs shallowly, a tense thing that presses his mouth taut. ] I'm sure they're assuming I'd still be at the hospital so--fine. Let's go across the street. That safe house has everything we'll need.

Yeah. I stayed. That's the last thing I said to you before--

[His words trail off, but he figures Dick already knows. Before this. The accident. The memory loss.

And now he feels bad that Dick is in this position, trying to decide what's best. Jason should be the one telling him to just go to the Tower without him, but maybe he's too selfish for that. He is, cause he's utterly relieved when Dick says they can go to the safe house instead.]

Yeah, it's all connected. Pretty sure you left a laptop there last time too-- and some clothes if you wanna try and shower, or change.

[ Jason trails off, and Dick is left watching the way the thoughts cloud Jason's eyes. he can only guess what they might be. he feels bad, it seems, but what else? relieved? that they're not going to the tower?

Dick hopes so. he relies on his gut instincts in situations like this, where the right answer is far from obvious. what Jason says only helps to cement this decision, though, because if he's left a laptop (meaning he trusts Jason enough for it), and clothes, then that means he's at least somewhat established in that location. ]

Good. Maybe--[ is it too soon to start hoping? perhaps, but he can't help it. ] there'll be other things there I can use to remember. [ Dick sits up enough to tell the driver about the change in location, then sits back again with a quiet sigh. ]

[ It's a stark contrast from when he was younger- always finish every thought, whether good or bad, never leaving a moment of silence because silence was worse than anything else, really.

He's not like that anymore, though- he figures Dick knows that much, at least. He knows how much Jason changed after coming back from the dead.]

Maybe there is, yeah.

[There's probably more at the Tower though. Things that will remind Dick of his life far more than the safe house will. Jason wishes he was enough. Maybe a touch, a kiss, something like that would bring it all back. But this is so far from a goddamn fairytale.]

Spend the night, and then go back to the Tower. You'd do better there. It's more connected to your life, to your memories.

[ Jason got a lot more serious after coming back from the dead and after finally shaking the anti-fear. he remembers that part well, the first time he spoke to Jason after he himself came out of the pit, hearing the gravity in Jason's voice. like the weight of the world won against the the part of Jason that had always fought it.

he remembers mourning for it, too, when he finally had a chance to sit down and think about it. even now, he can see it in the way Jason seems to let him go. it's surprising that Jason lets him go when it's so obvious that he wants to stay by Dick's side. ]

Yeah. Okay. [ he nods, though there's a part of him that starts to feel reluctant at the thought of leaving Jason alone. he can't quite put the feeling into words. ] Maybe. We'll see.

[ the cab pulls to a stop at the curb outside the building containing the safehouse. Dick reaches out with his phone to pay the driver, thanking him. he even gets the door open, but stops short of stepping out of it when the motion of twisting his body makes his breath catch. he has to wait for Jason. now that they're out of the hospital, the familiar frustration he feels when his body doesn't work starts to surface. ]

[He wants to stay at Dick's side so badly. He's scared to leave Dick's side. But he also loves him with everything he's got and he wants what's best for him. He loves Dick, so he needs to let him go. He gets that.

Dick's 'maybe' is surprising, though and it sparks a little hope in Jason. Maybe Dick feels connected to him even now, even just a little bit. It's something he can hope for at least.

He nods, glad for it. When the can stops, Dick pays before Jason can even reach for his wallet, so he's out of the car and moving over to the other side to help Dick out.

He curls his arms around him and keeps him steady as his strong arms hold up whatever weight Dick puts on him. Jason's changed a lot in that way too. He could probably put muscle Dick at this point.]

Almost there, and then you can rest.

[He undoes the security easily and lets them inside, turning the lights on so they can move around. Dick will definitely see some of his things laying around, almost like he lives here too. That's how it's been, really. Dick has been around a lot.]

Wanna sit, or lay down?

Edited 2024-03-08 03:22 (UTC)

[ Dick can feel the strength guiding him out of the car when Jason puts his arms around him, guiding him into the building, up the elevator, and all the way into the safe house. he notes the practice Jason has when he disarms the security system, like he's done it many many times.

all good signs, he thinks, as he braces a hand against the door frame and takes in the space. like they do. it feels like stepping into someone else's life, or some other universe, where the once cold safehouse now looks lived-in. there's an empty mug on the kitchen island, a few dishes in the sink, a throw wrinkled on the sofa, partially covering a Nintendo switch and a console controller. the front closet is thrown open and he can see a few empty hangers, looking as if the clothes were snagged right off of them.

he's pulled out of his thought when Jason speaks to him, and it takes him a half-beat to digest what was said. ]

I'll sit. [ he starts toward the sofa, starting to feel more steady on his own feet, though he accepts Jason's help if he offers it. seeing Jason in the space seems to pull up more feelings inside him, ones he's now understanding are memories, and once he's seated on the couch, he watches Jason like he's thinking. ]

How long have you been here?

[It's definitely lived in, with both Jason's things and some of Dick's. Maybe he'll recognize some of his own belongings- hopefully. Jason wishes he had more here, to help spark some memories, but this really is still kind of new.

Jason nods, helping Dick to the couch, maneuvering him carefully as he sits him down. He goes to the kitchen area to grab a glass of water and brings it back to Dick, sitting on the coffee table in front of him.]

About a month. Does any of it feel familiar?

[ he does recognize his belongings. he even sees the laptop Jason was mentioning laying on the desk along the wall. he looks at the throw again and recognizes it as one that used to be on the sofa in his room back at the tower.

the items start to string together a story. a month isn't a long time.

he takes the glass of water when Jason comes back to him, and when Jason's face comes to his level again, it feels like deja-vu, as if Jason has been in this exact position before, sitting on the coffee table in front of him.

slowly, he nods. ]

Yeah. You being in this space feels familiar. [ there's a hopefulness that starts to warm in his eyes. he looks down at the sofa. ] I remember you laying here. Wrapped up in his blanket. [ shirtless. naked? he doesn't know. ] You were sleeping.

[ A month isn't a long time, no. But it's long for them. They spent three months together at the Tower when he was first there, but they weren't really together at all. This month has been something different entirely, and Jason wants to hold on to it with everything he's got- especially if he might have to let go. He doesn't want to go there, yet.

He wants to hold on to the glimmer of hope he feels when Dick looks around, taking it all in, and nods. That small motion brings a small smile to Jason's face. The first one all night. It's something. A big something. The memories aren't completely gone.]

Yeah. That's right. You came over late one night- I fell asleep on the couch waiting for you. I didn't wanna go to bed just yet. You ended up just laying down with me right here cause you said I looked too comfortable to move.

I wanted to be next to you. [ he says quietly, taken aback by the way he feels seeing Jason smile like that. it's a strange feeling to have the memory surfacing like a relief, pulling forward against the strange fog that's been clouding his thoughts. ]

I didn't want to go to bed without you, either. My arm was asleep, but I didn't care. [ he sets the glass down and reaches up, slowly bringing his fingers to Jason's face. ]

[ At those words, a fog lifts from Jason too. His puffy, red rimmed eyes brighten and his smile grows a little more. He remembers. ]

I woke up as soon as you laid down and tugged you under the blanket. We slept like that till morning.

[He turns his face into Dick's hand, kissing his fingers lightly. He's so fucking overjoyed that Dick remembers. He wants to throw his arms around the older man and hug him so tight, but god, this gentle touch feels too good to move out of.]

Sorry about your arm.

[ it's hard for him to tell which ones of these feelings are new, and which are memories. the part of him that wants everything defined and in order frets because of it, but the part of him simply feeling warm from seeing Jason smile wider doesn't seem to care.

a small smile curls on his mouth too, even if he doesn't quite remember what the morning was like. his touch slides to the side of Jason's neck, and he gently curls his fingers there, thumb settling at the angle of Jason's jaw like it knows the spot. ]

It's alright. It's been through worse. What'd we do in the morning?

[ This feels almost too good to be true. Like a dream he might soon wake up from. It feels like they're Dick and Jason again, before the accident. Sitting here talking and flirting, and touching.

It's easy to see just how much Jason reacts to Dick's touch- his heart beat speeding up, a warmness in his gaze, the slight flutter of his lashes when Dick curls his fingers around his neck, along with the goosebumps that raise across his skin.

There's even the very slightest hint of a blush now, when Dick asks what they did in the morning.]

Ah-- well. We made love and then I made you breakfast. The fluffiest eggs you've ever had.

[ his mind struggles to reconcile what he knows with what he's seeing in front of him. Jason doesn't shy away from his hands at such a vulnerable spot. instead, he feels a quickening pulse, sees the prickle of goosebumps, the flutter of thick lashes reacting to him.

Jason before wouldn't have let him get even close to something like this. he wouldn't have believed it, although he might have had thoughts of it. he's not blind.

his lips part when Jason speaks again, his gaze tracing along the dustin gof red across his nose. oh. they've gone there. his thumb pauses in its path and his brows raise in surprise. ]

Oh. Okay. [ it's clear that Dick doesn't remember that part, and the way his brows pull together then smooth out again betrays how he struggles with the memory fading to nothing like that. ]

We were that close...

[ It's a beautiful moment where everything feels like it's gonna be ok once again, Jason so happily leaning into that touch. He knows it's just a moment though, so he soaks it all in. The shift in Dick's expression pains his heart, but he knows it's coming. ]

Yeah--

[He almost says sorry, but he knows he has nothing to apologize for. Not when it comes to that. He doesn't want Dick to pull his hand away just yet, so he lifts his own, place it over Dick's hand, letting his thumb run back and forth along his skin. ]

We were that close. I know it's gotta be weird, hearing it. Knowing it, but not remembering it. But-- you can feel it, right? That closeness. A little bit?

[ Dick's hand stills beneath Jason's, and Jason looks at him so intently he feels cold watching the warmth drain out of those eyes. he doesn't like to disappoint, and seeing Jason react that way makes him look away.

his chest expands with a shallow breath, a sigh that bleeds out as he nods his head. ]

...yeah. [ he wants to remember. he really does, and the frustration of drawing blanks settles in his jaw, a tension that pulls his shoulders tight. he knows he's letting Jason down. ]

Hey, I'm gonna--try to catch up a little, alright? I think you should get some sleep.

[ Jason doesn't really react that way, though. The warmth stays in his eyes, because it's still Dick in front of him, and he remembers, even if it's just a little bit. It's more than he could have even asked for, in this short amount of time.

He's far from disappointed, and maybe the reaction Dick sees is all in his head, because Jason's still looking at him like he's everything-- even if Dick looks away, looking disappointed himself. ]

Hey, it's ok. You remembered something. That's huge. Give it time, ok?

[He sees the frustration, the tenseness that settles back around Dick. He lets his thumb run back and forth one more time before he lifts his hand so Dick can move it away- Jason knows he wants to.]

Sure. I'll grab your laptop. Is it ok if I just hang out here, though? I can stay quiet, promise. I don't think I can sleep right now.

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