anything can be taken from you.

[farcry]

overflow | open

Comments

[farcry]

(( ...contd.))

[ Dick drops to the parapet beside Jason, dangles both legs over the ledge. he offers the greasy paper bag. ]

What's that?

[ gestures to the sandwiches with curiosity in his eyes. ]

[secondrate]

I forgot you were bringing chilidogs. [Jason tosses his bag behind Dick.] Philly Cheese Steaks, but they’re probably cold.

[farcry]

Who says I don't like cold Philly Cheese Steaks?

[ he smiles then reaches behind him with a raised brow, grabbing the paper bag after he deposits his own into Jason's lap. before he opens the bag, though, he cracks two bottles of beer open against the parapet and offers one to Jason. ]

What are we celebrating?

[secondrate]

[Jason opens the bag of chilli dogs and immediately takes a bite.]

Went to my first session of therapy.

[This Jason has been struggling to control himself since being killed and dipped in the lazarus pit. Today he actually went to therapy. Miracles are possible.]

Hated it.

[farcry]

[ Dick was about to take a bite of his cold sandwich too, but then Jason says that and the sandwich freezes mid-air, his mouth stuck open as his brows lift up in surprise. ]

Really?

[ he can't even hide his incredulity as he turns his body all the way, facing Jason fully. the sandwich lowers and a smile tugs on the corners of his mouth. ]

That's--great, Jason. I'm sorry you hated it so much but...good for you.

[secondrate]

Don't make it sound like that. [Like angels descended to earth or pigs flew. Jason takes a bite of his chillidog.]

Not like I had a choice. It was either go to therapy or stop being Robin.

[farcry]

[ despite Jason trying his best to keep Dick from his joy, warmth softens around his eyes anyway and he huffs a chuckle, leaning over to bump his shoulder against Jason’s. ]

That’s a choice and you chose to go to therapy. Don’t discount that.

[ of course he knows how important Robin is to Jason. Robin was (is) important to him too. finally, he takes a bite of the sandwich and humms in consideration. ]

Bruce issued that ultimatum? Fix yourself or give up Robin?

[ yeah, he gets why that doesn’t feel good. ]

[secondrate]

Yeah, so I had to talk to Leslie. [Jason looks over at Dick.]

He thinks it’s the Lazarus Pit.

[farcry]

[ Dick nods slowly, considering Jason's words. ]

Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised.

[ a frown sets into his features, as he looks away and out over the city. ]

Does that make you feel better? To know it's the pit, and it's not you?

[secondrate]

I guess. [Jason chews on his chilidog.] Doesn't make controlling it any easier.

[And there have been so many outbursts.]

[farcry]

That's what Leslie's here for, right?

[ many. outbursts. including a chase after his own life but Dick gets it. ]

[secondrate]

Leslie is barely enough to sandbag the worst of it.

[Jason looks down at how his boots hang above the city.]

[farcry]

[ a quiet sigh sifts through his nose as he takes another bite. he looks at Jason, at those drooping shouldres, at those downcast eyes. ]

What do you think, Jason. About this whole thing. Therapy, Robin, the pit?

[ a beat. ]

Being alive again?

[secondrate]

I shouldn't be alive. [Connor sets his chilidog to the side.]

[farcry]

Not true.

[ Dick looks at the chilidog set to the side, feels bad about asking the question. ]

You shouldn't have died in the first place. Jason, I'm glad you're alive. I mean it.

[secondrate]

[Jason shakes his head.]

I'm a burden to Bruce. He looks at me like I'm a bomb about to go off.

;(

[farcry]

Come on, Jay, that’s not true. Bruce has his own shit going on when it comes to you. It’s not about a bomb going off.

[ he bumps his shoulder against Jason’s. ]

cw: for a very sad robin

[secondrate]

Then why do I rarely see him, huh? I'm still not allowed out in the field. I'm not Robin any more, I'm a benchwarmer.

[And Jason leans over the edge, just enough to feel the flow of wind brush past his face. Just enough danger.]

</3

[farcry]

[ Dick’s eyes widen in alarm when Jason shifts forward almost enough to topple his centre of gravity.

he drops his sandwich to reach out for Jason instead, grabbing onto his upper arm as the sandwich tumbles over the edge. ]

You’re Jason Todd. [ he turns to face Jason, his dark eyes intense and filled with emotion. ]

You’re my brother. And that’s enough.

[secondrate]

[Jason turns slowly to Dick, his face calm and collected despite the danger. He doesn't care about the sandwich that splats on the marquee below .]

Are we still brothers? Would've thought the death certificate ruled that null and void.

[farcry]

I— [ he has no idea what the technicalities around Jason’s death are. ]

I don’t care what the death certificate says, you’re still my brother.

[secondrate]

[Jason leans a little further out, enough that if Dick were to let go, Jason would fall to his death. The wind rushes now and it's almost enough to put Jason fully off his balance.]

Maybe in a different universe.

[farcry]

[ it doesn’t take much for Dick to yank Jason back, until both of them are tumbling backwards off the parapet and onto the gravel of the roof. his brows are pinched as he straightens, rolling up onto his knees beside Jason. ]

You don’t wanna be my brother anymore? Is that what this is about?

[secondrate]

You think I want to be the second rate Dick Grayson? [Now there's anger, now that there's no more danger to flirt with.]

[farcry]

[ anger is easier. better than danger. ]

That shit's in your head, Jason. You're nothing like me. No one expects you to be!