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Jason felt delirious. His mind not yet awake and unwilling to function just yet. There was a creek in the bed next to him, when a pair of freezing cold hands pulled him closer to an even colder and wet chest.
“Fuck your freezin’..’’ Jason mumbled, inching away from cold hands that had settled on his chest.
“It's not that bad.’’ Jason heard him mumbled. “How are you feeling? Better?’’
Jason was about to say ‘fine’ when his airways started to block up, a blazing fire burned in his chest, Jason jumped up from bed, grabbing at his neck- come on- just say it-
“Not good.’’ He finally managed to get out as he took a breath.
Roy looked up at him. Concern laced into his features. His hair was wet and stuck to the back of his neck.
“Thought you said you'd ‘sleep it off’?’’ Roy asked, eyebrow raised. Jason huffed, this was so stupid.
“Well, I was planning on it.’’ Jason sighed, pressing his palms into his eyes to try and relax a little.
Roy's hands found Jason's arm, pulling him back down onto the bed.
“Mhm.. and please do tell, when did you first relealise you loved me?’’ Roy asked.
“Last year- fucks sake!’’ Jason huffed, he was too tired to fight off the truth in this state. Roy laughed, grinning from ear to ear.
“Uh-huh.. and do tell, what happened to my favorite mug?’’
“it fell.’’ Jason said, it was the truth.. technically speaking. Roy raised a brow.
“Sorry, let me be more specific-’’
“No, shut up. You promised you wouldn't ask more questions!’’ Jason yelped, getting up out of bed and stepping over the pile of cloths left of the floor.
“Yeah. That was yesterday, when you came back with a bleeding head and needed four stitches on your arm.’’ Roy pointed out.
“Plus, I got a few more questions.’’
“No. I dont-’’
“Do you love me?’’
Oh. Well, Jason didn't even have to lie.
“Yes.’’ Easy.
“What's your favourite part about me?’’
“It's a tie between your hair and mouth-well tongue I suppose.’’ Jason answered with easy honesty. Was Roy even trying to make this difficult?
“Who kisses better, Kori or-’’
“You know what? I'm gonna go to the bat cave. Take a blood test and possibly get an antidote. I'll be back later.’’ Jason spoke up suddenly. He decided he did not want to entertain Roy too much.
“What? Come back to bed. I'm cold.’’ Roy whined and although that sounded incredibly tempting, he'd need to get this fixed quickly.
“Hmm, tempting.’’ Jason hummed, throwing on a hoodie and a new pair of pants.
“I want to get this over and done with before Dick takes full advantage.’’
“Oh, yes. Can't have him knowing you love him can you?’’ Roy asked, grinning ear to hear and laughing when Jason answered with a stuttered, ‘n-no.’
《♡》
The mansion was empty, save for Alfred cooking in the kitchen. Jason could hear the pots and pans clank together as he quietly made his way towards the batcave.
Jason knew the likelihood of not meeting anyone was near impossible. There was always someone down there and unless it was Dick, Jason should be fine.
Maybe he should have brought Roy for backup? No. He'd just make it worse. Ten times worse and more embarrassing than this already is.
Jason could hear the sounds of echoed thuds. That was probably Damien beating the shit out of that one training dummy. When Jason got down to the cave, he spotted Damien and Dick in the training ring. Tim was sitting at the side. A towel around his shoulders and typing away on his laptop.
Jason moved carefully. Sneaking past the training area to get to the med bay. He'd take a blood sample and-
“Hey Jaybird!’’ Dick yelled from the training room.
Jason was so close.
“What?’’ Jason asked, turning his head to see Dick had stopped his sparring session with Damien to talk to him.
“Whatcha doing here? Did something happen?’’ Dick asked, curious.
“Uh, Got injected with something while hunting down scarecrow. I was gonna get a blood test.’’ Jason decided on saying. It didn't sound too bad.. right?
He's so used to lying that now he actually has to think about what he says.
“Oh shit, was it fear gass?’’
“Yeah.’’ Jason paused in his step.
It was!? “I think he's been trying new stuff. It's different.’’ Jason tried slowly.
Now Dick was by his side, gently holding onto the fabric of his jacket. Dick was suddenly a lot more attentive.
“Okay. What are some the symptoms?’’
Oh good, that's a perfect question to ask him right now.
“Chest pain, migraine, my throat feels like it's on fire right now. I thought I could sleep it off but-’’
“Sleep it off!? Jason you know-’’
“Yeah. I know, I know I should come back here if something serious happens. But it wasn't that serious.’’ Jason mumbled as Dick led him to the med bay, sitting him down on one of the chairs. Dick walked over to the computer while Jason grabbed a syringe.
“Yeah. And what made you change your mind?’’ Tim asked, entering the room behind Dick. Damien trailing behind.
“The fact that nothing has changed in the last twenty four hours.’’ Jason bit out, lining up the needle with his skin.
“You seem.. very calm.’’ Damien noted from behind Tim, walking over and sitting on the arm of Jason's chair. “Usually when you're hit with fear gass your more.. violent.’’
“mhm. Noticed that too. Didn't even know it was fear gass.’’ Jason muttered, mentally berating himself for the slip of information.
Tim took the syringe off him once he was done and walked over to sit beside Dick to test his blood.
Okay. Nobody suspects anything.
Good. Good. Now just play it cool.
“what are those?’’ Damien asked, pointing towards a few marks on his arm.
“Track marks.’’ Jason said before he could stop himself, shit, he shouldn't be talking about this to a literal child. Even if it is Damien-
“You’ve done drugs?’’ Damien scrunched up his nose in disgust.
“Not willingly.’’ Jason decided to say- it was true. It wasn't something Jason wanted. He was young and his father was.. ‘lazy’.
Dick looked up, frowning.
“what do you mean by that?’’
Jason tried to fight it, but his lungs and chest burned and his head throbbed like he was being hit with a sledgehammer repeatedly, over and over and-
“My dad used to injected me with heroine to make sure it wasn't laced with fentanyl- Damn it!’’ Jason swore, standing up from his seat- shit- fuck-
“What- Jay that's- why didn't you-’’
“Jason. What's really going on?’’ Tim asked, walking over. “are you okay?’’
Jason groaned, “No.’’ He bit out. “I can't lie.’’
“Pardon?’’ Dick asked, “I don't think that's the point here Jason you-’’
“but it is Dick.’’ Jason snapped. “I can't fucking lie right now. Whatever- fucking, new fear gass Scarecrow created, made me not able to lie! I had to gag myself to make sure I didn't just tell him my identity, or anyone else's!- God i can't believe i just told Damien about- agh!’’
“Oh..’’ Tim mumbled, looking at the syringe containing Jason's blood. “So.. who's your favourite sibling?’’
“you- damn it!’’
Tim stood there shocked.
“Wait- seriously?’’
“Tim!? Really? I practically raised you!’’ Dick yelped, looking heartbroken. Damien also looked shocked.
“yes. Nobody likes Drake. Did you hit your head?’’ Damien asked, looking genuinely confused for a moment.
“Why Tim?! I brought you to the park- I covered for you on multiple occasions, do you not remember?’’
“Dick I don't remember all that much since I died.’’ And suddenly, the room went silent.
“what? Like.. at all?’’
Jason winced.
“A.. a few things. But it's only bits and pieces. Honestly forgot Alfred existed and I still don't remember all that much about him.’’ Jason said, and ohh boy. “Okay, maybe stop asking me questions. This is getting waaayyy too depressing.’’
“Well, when else are we gonna have a heart to heart? Jason, your dad- and, your memories-’’
“Probably never, but it's In. The. Past. Plus, I barely even remember it.’’ Jason tried to calm down, watching Dick carefully. He didn't want to deal with Dick's over emotional brotherly love right now.
“Did you break my training katana?’’
“Yes, Tim threw it at me.’’ Jason bit out. If they were gonna do this to him, he's taking everyone else down with him.
“Hey! You snapped it in half!’’ Tim yelled, pointing accusingly.
“I wouldn't have had to if you didn't throw it at me.’’ Jason argued, Damien looked rather murderous.
“So you're both guilty! The truth will come out eventually.’’ Damien seethed angrily from his perch on the side of the chair.
“Did you take my Gotham's weekly comic when you were fourteen?’’
“No.’’ That's a partial lie. He borrowed it, then gave it back. It's not his fault Dick never looked for it. Plus he was thirteen.. he thinks..
“Damn it.’’ Dick mumbled. “What's your most embarrassing memory?’’
Oh god. Jason could only think of one thing, and he really despised it. Jason felt his eyes water, chest burning while he tried to say something- anything else
“Being stuck in a room with Kori and Roy while they were discussing your performance- ah shit.’’ Jason shivered. He never, ever, wanted to know that much about his brother. Ever.
“performance?’’ Damien asked, confused as he looked at Dick.
Dick looked confused for a moment, before turning bright red, eyes widening and locking with Jason's.
Dick shook his head, while both Damien and Tim looked confused.
“What do you mean by that?’’ Tim asked, Dick jumped forward, putting a hand over Jason's mouth as he tried not to say- god he hated even thinking about that.
“They shared notes and debated on ‘how good Dick actually was at Sex’.’’ Jason blurted out, then shivered.
“Okay, you guys need to stop.’’ Jason said, watching as both Tim and Damien looked grossed out.
“Why would you say that!?’’ Dick yelled, face red.
“I can't help it! I literally cannot lie right now! So stop asking me questions before I spill every last embarrassing secret I know about all of you!’’ Jason yelled right back.
Dick turned around, still looking mortified, then murmured, “God, they kept notes? Eugh..’’
Tim had gone right back to typing away at the computer, which was probably still analysing his blood. Dick however had turned back around, a new light in his eye.
“Jason.’’
“Dick, no.’’
“Are you dating anyone right now?’’
Jason's forced his mouth closed, he wouldn't- now definatly isn't the time- the pain grew, heart beating loudly and painfully in his chest, his throat clogged up as he tried to stop but it fucking hurt-
“Y-ye-yes-’’ Jason breathed, eyes swimming and vision spotty. Just calm down.
“Wait- Oh my god Jason!’’ Dick grinned, looking happy about the fact that Jason felt miserable. Jason felt like he was about to pass out. He is so fucking tired.
“Who's the unlucky lady?’’
Dick asked, holding onto Jason's shoulders.
“Dick, now’s not the-’’
Jason stepped away from Dick, his chest burning and his tongue felt numb. He couldn't feel his mouth, but his head felt like it had been smashed into concrete. His eyes were fuzzy and he couldn't concentrate, what does he say? Nothing? He can't-
Jason dropped to his knees, clutching his head- god make it stop, hearing muffled sounds of people calling his name- but the question hung in his head.
‘Who's the unlucky lady?’
“Not a lady-’’ Jason coughed, red splattered onto the ground- but the headache didn't go away- “Not a lady! I'm not- fuck- make it stop-’’ Jason heaved, head feeling dizzy as his heart began to calm a little.
“Jason- Shit, Jay I'm sorry-’’
He heard Dick say, there was a hand on Jason's back. Red blood dripped from his mouth.
His whole body ached in ways he didn't know it could.
“Jason- Jay, please speak to me-’’
“Fuckin- asshole.’’ Jason muttered, his throat felt like sandpaper and he could taste blood in his mouth. “You just-.. don't know when to stop do you?’’
Dick helped him stand up, he was moving Jason to the bed, nestled in the corner of the room- but Jason felt so unbelievably dizzy.
Jason stumbled, almost bringing Dick down with him.
Dick helped Jason sit down on the side of the bed, his ears ringing.
“Easy Jay.’’ Dick murmured, Damien sitting beside Jason. Jason blinked, why did he feel so.. shaky? “I'm sorry, I should have stopped.’’
Jason nodded, feeling tired, wiping the blood from his lips and wondering how the fuck a truth syrum managed to fuck him up this badly.
“Todd, I would much prefer if you didn't die all over father's clean tiled flooring.’’ Damien claimed, sitting on the bed next to him.
“Yeah-’’ Jason's voice cracked, his throat ached. “I'd rather not die here either.’’
“Tim how's the antidote coming along?’’ Dick asked over his shoulder, keeping a hand on Jason's shoulder. Tim sighed.
“It'll take another twenty to thirty minutes.’’ Tim said, stepping back from the computer.
“Now, make way for the favourite.’’
Tim then sat down at Jason's left, grinning like it was something to be proud of.
“Do you want anything?’’ Tim asked.
“Aside from a bullet in my brain? Water.’’ Jason rasped, surprised that he managed to say something other than just ‘yes’.
“Okay. Dick you heard him.’’ Tim said, taking out his phone.
“What? Why me?’’
“Because your the only one still standing.’’ Damien filled in for him.
Dick huffed, grabbing a water bottle from a small mini fridge in the corner.
Jason took it gratefully, drinking almost half the bottle. Jason sighed feeling sick and tired.
“So..’’ Dick suddenly spoke up. “Were you ever gonna tell us about your.. uh, partner?’’
“Dick!’’ Tim hissed, but Jason was too tired to fight the truth from leaving his lips.
“Eventually.’’ Jason said, leaning on Tim a little.
“What's death like?’’
“Damien!’’
“What? I'm curious.’’ Damien tries to defend.
“Peaceful.’’
That was an answer not even Jason expected to hear. But.. he supposes it was peaceful.
“Really? Just.. peaceful?’’ Damien asked.
“I remember.. uh.. feeling stuff. I suppose it's just what it's like to die. Not like you have working eyes anymore when you die. I remember my funeral, and being kinda mad that Dick wasn't there.’’ Jason whispered, letting his eyes slip closed while he tried to remember the feeling.
“When he did finally show up, I remember feeling.. something.. I wasn't mad after that.’’
“Oh.’’ Damien said, from beside him. “I thought you'd see family when you die.’’
“You do. I just didn't have any real family there yet.’’ Jason sighed, his head feeling fuzzy and tired. Plus its not like he wanted to see his mother.. he was still mad at her for leaving him behind at the time.
Jason felt like he was about to go to sleep, when arms wrapped around his waist.
Jason peeked his eyes open, looking down at Damien who was hugging him.
“uh.. you good, Damien?’’
“you just talked about your death! You never do that!’’ Dick argued, pulling Jason into a hug of his own.
“Truth serum. You ask, I can't help but reply with the truth, dipshit. Also, I'm way too tired right now. And so long as the questions aren't personal I could care less at the moment.’’
Jason mumbled into Dick's shoulder.
“Do you love us?’’ Dick asked in a quiet whisper.
“Yeah.’’ Jason whispered back. “Keep asking questions though and it might change real quick.’’
“Okay, okay, got it.’’ Dick sighed, while Jason went to lean back against Tim again.
“Feeling tired?’’
“Mhm.. When's the thing ready?’’
Dick looked back, then walked over to the computer taking put a syringe with a yellow liquid inside.
“It's ready. Might take a while for it to work though.’’
“Thank god. I'm sick of this.’’ Jason sighed, taking it off Dick and injecting it into his arm.
“Alright, I think that's enough for today. I'm going home and sleeping for possibly the next three days.’’
Jason threw the syringe back at Dick, walking towards the door with a wave.
“Adios!’’
《♡》
When Jason finally got back home, Roy was still in bed. Caged in a mountain of blankets and cushions.
Jason sighed, picking him up.
“hm? Wha- Jason! Put me down, I was comfy.’’ Roy complained, squirming in Jason's arms.
“You looked comfy and I felt left out.’’ Jason replied, dropping Roy back on the bed before joining him.
Jason wrapped his arms around Roy, pressing Roy closer to his chest.
“Your so cold, babes.’’ Roy mumbled, but made no move to try and escape.
“Then help me get warmed up. M'tired.’’ Jason mumbled right back. Letting his eyes droop closed once again, only this time he finally managed to get some sleep.
When Jason woke the next morning, Roy was already awake, the smell of burning oil in a pan and burnt toast made Jason feel the need to get up a lot quicker.
In the kitchen, there was a plate of burnt food on the counter. Toast, bacon and eggs all dark and brown. Roy was by the sink, scrubbing the frying pan, trying to clean off all the burnt oil that had stuck too it.
Jason grinned, eyes trailing all over his now messy kitchen and enjoying every bit of the silence that came with these kinds of early morning.
"Mm, smells delicious.'' Jason lied, and finally feeling the relief that came with it.