Chapter Text
Jason could see it coming. So could a lot of people, but he in particular knew that this would happen one day. He knew that after all of his rantings and angry outbursts that one day he would die again. He knew that his coming back wasn't forever. No one lives forever. He just didn't know that his time would be up (again) so soon since the last. All of this ran through his head as he felt the bullet burry itself in his neck. He knew it was fatal. As he fell backward everything was in slow motion (just like last time). He saw the looks of realization spreading across his brothers faces. He couldn't see Bruce though, he could never see Bruce when he needed to.
As he lay on the ground he saw that Tim was the first to run to him. This made Jason laugh, given he'd spent a number of years trying to kill the kid. Calling him his replacement, beating him within an inch of his life, these were just a few of the terrible things he'd done to him. Jason may have still been crazy from his dip in the pit and Tim may have already forgiven him but he still regretted everything mean he's done to Tim. The kid really didn't deserve it, not in the least.
As Tim started putting pressure on the surely gushing wound in Jason's neck he saw Dick throw his escrima stick at the thug who'd caught them off guard in the alleyway. Or more specifically had caught Jason off guard. For the life of him he didn't know how. Surely when he was gone the rest of his family would probably find out that the man was a secret assassin or something. Jason thought of the man as an assassin to save his own pride, when it was probably in actuality just some guy high on heroin or something. Dick didn't bother to look and see if he'd hit them man (he did) he instead chose to run to Jason and kneel at his side. He was saying something over and over, repeating it like a mantra. Jason couldn't hear whatever it was though, the throbbing in his head was too loud. He tried reading his lips but to no avail. Dick looked like a mess, there was a lot of tears running down his face and snot dripping from his nose. If Jason could have he would have said something snarky but there was too much blood in his mouth and all that came out were strange gurgling sounds. This in turn made Dick cry harder.
Damien was there, surprisingly that night Damien had said he'd join them in a patrol of the city. Jason should have seen it as some sort of omen. But, as hard a time he gives the kid he really likes him. Of course Jason wouldn't say that to his face. He's pretty sure Damien knew though, because of all he must of heard he'd done to try and bring him back from the dead. Even put aside Bruce's dickishness to at least try. Damien stood off a little ways. Close enough for Jason to see the grim disbelief on his face. He was looking at the scene very clearly understanding that Jason only had about a minute before he would finally be on his way out again. Jason appreciated the kid's concerned look being plainly visible given he could usually hide his face so well.
Finally Jason thought he might see Bruce. But he didn't. Again he would die without seeing him. There'd been a part of him that thought that maybe in the future when he died he would have already made amends with all of the bad blood in their relationship. That maybe he would die peacefully with Bruce at his side (because he'd never even thought of Bruce dying before him). Jason's vision started fading just in time to see Tim's previously serious face deteriorate into one of ugly sobbing. It would have made Jason laugh a little under different circumstances.
Everything was going black. Jason had had nightmares about dying again. He remembered the sensation. Remembered what it felt like. He was scared. He could feel tears running down his ever colder face. He could feel himself reach up searching for something to hold. At last someone grabbed his hand and brought it closer to something else. He could feel the cowl, he could feel the tears and sweat. He knew that Bruce was here for him. Suddenly he felt a little less frightened. Everything went black.
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It would be a couple hours before he would wake up once more. He would feel the coldness slowly leave him in place for the usual warmth. He would also feel a familiar pain that he hadn't felt in years. His vision would come back slightly, leaving him squinting. He's in a room with harsh lighting and sitting on something incredible cold. Jason sits up and tries to figure out his surroundings. Everything is still too bright. Just then whatever he was sitting on moves like its on wheels and he falls off. He reaches for bearings but finds none. He tries to get out his cell phone or anything from one of his coat pockets but realizes that he is in fact naked on the floor. He stands up and rubs his eyes. Where is he? His vision clears and he knows now why it was so cold. He's in an autopsy room.