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They had been on a ‘training exercise’. Some bullshit from Bruce about teamwork and team building. Which was bullshit because Jason worked alone and when he didn't work alone he did just fine. Granted, that was usually because he was doing what he wanted regardless. So the training exercise they were on was bullshit. Also, while he was at it, who the hell has a training exercise in the fucking desert? Seriously they could've gone anywhere for this stupid thing and Bruce chose the fucking desert? Bullshit.
Bruce had paired everyone up for ‘maximum team building progress’ whatever the hell that was supposed to mean. Which translated to Jason getting paired up with Tim which was just peachy. Great, honestly great. He was thrilled. Not. Tim and him didn't not get along, it was just that Jason had tried to kill him once or twice just a little bit and while he had apologized and had felt like things were fine it seemed that wasn't the case. As evidenced by the way Tim always seemed to avoid him. He got all weird whenever Jason tried to talk to him. It was annoying. Mostly because Jason had felt like they had moved past this. Needless to say, getting paired with the guy wasn't really something he had been hoping for. Not that he had wanted any of this. He'd rather be back at his safe house reading or eating something other than rations and trying to not freak out his teammate.
So, anyways, they had been on a training exercise. However the key word in this was ‘had been’ which was two words, whatever, sue him. The point is, past tense.
One second they were working on desert survival while pitching their tent, the next they were forced to seek shelter as a massive sand storm hit them. By the time it was over their supplies were gone. The flimsy tent was barely standing and Tim was stuttering trying to talk to him. Great. Peachy. Wonderful. They had both agreed that staying in their current position would get them killed. No food, water, or proper shelter would be their demise. Initially they had been tasked with heading to a meet-up point in a few days. Now? Now they needed to get there as soon as possible.
So they had been traveling from dusk to dawn and sleeping during the peak heat. They had been pushing hard. Hunger was starting to set in and thirst was dragging them down.
Jason looked back to Tim, “How're you holding up?”
Tim hummed, “Well from the stomach cramps I'd say I'm pretty hungry. My legs are pretty much over walking too. Muscle spasms and the usual.”
Jason snorted, “Yeah, that checks. If we keep this pace we should be able to get to the meet up point before things go really south.”
Silence lapsed as they walked. They had traveled so far already. They could do this. Just a little more. Trudging through sand and dirt was miserable, they didn't need to tack on heatstroke too. Jason turned back to check on Tim as the dark sky began to bleed the first light of the day.
Tim was farther back, moving slower.
The temperature was slowly rising even without the sun's full light encompassing the desert. Jason could feel his shirt clinging to him in a clammy way. They weren't sweaty yet but if they kept going then they would be. They had another hour until the sun fully came up, they could keep going but…
“C'mon, let's stop for the day.” Jason said instead.
Tim looked up in disbelief, “No, there's still time, we can keep going!”
Jason shrugged, “You're tired, it's getting hot, so let's break.”
Tim shook his head, “No. I'm fine. We need to keep moving.”
And Jason couldn't really argue with that so he just huffed and pulled his meager sack back over his shoulders. It held their small remaining things that hadn't been blown away in the wind storm. A ration pack, a small flask of water, and the scraps of their tent. It had been heavily damaged in the sandstorm but it served as a barrier when they breaked to wait out the sun.
They walked until the sun had fully risen and the heat had begun to peak and become unbearable. Jason quickly assembled their sad little structure. They crawled into it and Jason was forced side-by-side to Tim. Tim who awkwardly shuffled as far away as he could get, which admittedly wasn't far at all.
At such a close range Jason could see how sweaty Tim was, but Jason was too. Tim shuffled further again.
“Jeez if you don't wanna be close to me just say so. I ain't gonna kill you or anything.” Jason threw out bitterly.
Tim looked at him in disbelief, “I know that!”
Jason raised an eyebrow, “Then why do you act like I'm gonna go for your throat at every turn?”
“Because- I- uh… I'm just bad at socializing?” Tim offered and Jason gave him a flat look.
Did he really expect Jason to accept that answer? Jason sighed.
“Whatever.”
They sat in silence for quite a while. The heat was nearly maddening and neither of them were in the mood to chat. Once the sun began it's decline and the heat's peak had passed they began moving again. Same as before, when Jason checked back on Tim he found him lagging. He studied Tim intently.
“Are you good?” He asked bluntly.
Tim startled like he hadn't heard Jason but nodded his head, “Yeah, just distracted. Sorry.”
Jason turned back and continued trekking. If they kept their pace they could reach the rendezvous point earlier than he had initially projected.
However the next time Jason turned back, all he saw was sand.
Sand.
Sand.
More sand.
No Tim.
Panic filled him and his chest tightened in fear. When had he fallen behind? Where was he? What if Jason couldn't find him? They had to reach the checkpoint to survive. He couldn't just not return without Tim! Jason backtracked as fast as he could without draining his stamina although the fear he felt could be doing that plenty. He stopped when he had walked back for a few minutes and saw a figure in the sand.
When he got to Tim he could instantly identify the issue.
Tim's eyes were lidded and unfocused. Skin clammy, sweating profusely, and pale. Upon checking his pulse it was weak.
Tim winced and his head rolled to the side, “Jason?”
Jason internally swore, “Yeah I'm here. You have heat exhaustion. Why the hell didn't you say something?”
Tim made a noise of discomfort, “We couldn't stop moving for my sake. We have to get to the-”
Jason nearly dropped Tim as he threw himself out of Jason's arms and vomited. Any fluids, nutrients, or hope was doused as Tim heaved his limited stomach contents. Again, Jason found himself cursing the situation. Particularly Bruce's choice to have paired survival training in the fucking desert. When they survived this he was going to be giving Bruce a piece of his mind.
Tim finally fell back once his body finished evacuating his stomach contents. Jason startled the second he realized Tim had lost consciousness.
“Shit- Tim, wake up!” he scrambled as he shook the younger man in an effort to wake him.
Tim stirred and groaned. His pulse had jumped from slow to rapid and his body was overheating.
Jason outwardly swore.
“Fuck.”
This had just gone from heat exhaustion to heatstroke in a matter of minutes. Suddenly Tim's cramps and aches made a lot more sense. Jason hadn't thought about it hard enough. They were seasoned vigilantes. Used to moving for extended periods of time. Why would they get a cramp from walking for a bit? They had all pushed harder than that before. Jason thought back to his own cramps and assessed his own state. Sweaty, hot, achey, and it was a little hard to think. He was close to being in the same boat too.
In a twisted, morbid way, it was a good thing that Tim had gone down first. Jason was big. Too big to be carried or even supported. If Jason could take care of them both then he could at least try to get Tim on his back or something. Still, this was not good. Tim needed real medical attention. Not… not whatever Jason could provide which was limited to everything in his bag and any knowledge he had in his head.
Tim blearily looked at Jason, “Jason?”
His voice was soft, quiet in a way that had Jason worried.
“You're alive?” Tim slurred.
Jason felt his heart stutter at the question. Clearly the heat was screwing with Tim's head.
He nodded, “Yeah. I am.”
Delirious Tim gave a weak smile, “Good. You're too hot to die again.”
Okay. So. There was a bit to unpack there. Jason was going to definitely ignore most of that sentence. Instead, he dug around in the bag and pulled out the water. Their precious water. Jason needed to cool Tim down. Himself too but Tim was the priority. Jason took a small swig of the water and let it run down his throat. It would have to be enough to prevent his own nearing heat exhaustion. He ripped his shirt and used it like a sponge. It soaked up almost all of their water and he then used it to wipe Tim down. Attempt to cool him. Jason then carefully sat Tim up, offering the flask to his lips. Tim drank what little was left. Jason pitched their little tent and got them inside.
“Jason?” Tim called.
Jason hadn't left his side, “I'm here.”
“I love you.” Tim said simply.
His eyes were glassy and breathing labored. He had stopped sweating which wasn't the good sign Jason had wished it was. Meanwhile Jason was feeling significantly unprepared for Tim to bluntly tell him that he loves him while under the delirium of heatstroke. Jason wasn't taking the news too well. His mind was floundering with excuses for it. Tim was dealing with the symptoms of heatstroke which did include delirious ramblings. He didn't mean it. Obviously. Except what else could he have meant? What would cause him to just- to just say that!
Jason ran a hand over his face, sweat collecting at his chin.
How were they going to get back? He supposed he could carry Tim. Maybe put their sack on Tim's back and then carry him and the bag all in one? He mused that it was really their only option aside from staying where they were.
A quick glance at Tim's state doused that idea. He needed medical attention. They were out of water. Tim couldn't take food and while Jason could, he really didn't feel like it which made their ration pack worthless. Really their most valuable item was the shoddy tent but even that wouldn't save them from heatstroke. The shade was nice and was a godsend for their survival but if Jason was being honest, it was weighing them down. Especially considering Jason was now resigned to carry Tim to safety.
He felt dizzy in the sweltering heat. Either that or heat exhaustion was setting in. If that was the case then he himself was one move away from being in a similar state to Tim. He supposed that maybe his dip in the Lazarus pit was to thank for his endurance through all of this fucked up nonsense.
If they survived this he was gonna punch Bruce.
The sun passed it's peak and began it's descent. The heat was still strong but Jason could feel it ebbing away. It was time to move.
“Tim, I'm gonna carry you alright? Do you think you can hold on?” Jason asked.
Tim groaned and his body was limp, “Jason?”
He sighed, “Yeah, it's me. Look I need to carry you, can you hold on?”
Tim gave a slow nod and Jason questioned if he actually understood him. Still as he got Tim resting on his back, Tim's arms carefully wrapped around his neck. The hold was weak and Jason realized he was gonna have to keep a hand or two on top of Tim's to make sure he didn't fall.
Unless…
Jason thought back to the tent.
It was risky. Stupid. A bad idea. Yet Jason found himself setting Tim back down and getting the tent out. The tarp was already torn in a few places so he finished ripping them apart. The biggest piece he fastened around Tim. The smaller pieces he had ripped off became straps. Once more he pulled Tim onto his back and helped him wrap his arms around his neck. This time he used the reconstructed tent to help keep Tim from falling. His head was limp on his shoulder.
Supposedly they should be close to the rendezvous point. If Jason was diligent they could make it before the sun rose again.
The journey was arduous. Hell, really. The lingering heat was draining Jason faster than he could bear. Tim wasn't doing much better either, mumbling and making noises of discomfort from on his back. Blisters had already been forming in his shoes but now he was sure they were bleeding. Both of them were already sunburnt. Tim hadn't puked again but Jason had come close. The night passed and he felt himself cross the imaginary threshold from sane to delirious. The sand was wavering in his sight but he urged them forward with every step.
Tim needed him.
They had to make it.
They had to.
Jason dropped to the ground, sand rubbing against his exhausted body. He rolled to his side and Tim laid next to him. The sun was coming up. The heat was rising. They weren't gonna make it. Jason heaved but didn't move. His body felt like it was on fire, he couldn't think. Tim! He… he needed to do something with Tim. What was it?
Jason blacked out as the sun stretched into the sky.
The next time he gained consciousness it was to darkness.
He still couldn't think but there was one thought on the tip of his tongue, “Tim?”
“He's… he's here.” A voice said.
Jason's face scrunched in discomfort, “Stupid voice.”
A scoff, “You almost die and I still can't catch a break!”
This time sleep claimed him, his body craving the rest. By the time he fully woke up and was actually able to be present, brain only slightly recovered from being deep fried, he woke up with a start.
His eyes shot open and he was up before he knew exactly what he was trying to do, “Tim!”
“Woah- shit Jay lay down you're gonna- ah. Puke… I'll go get something to clean that…” Dick sighed.
The second he was upright his stomach emptied it's bile, Jason wiped his mouth haphazardly and grabbed Dick's wrist.
“Tim.” He said sternly.
Dick looked at him with a pinched expression before sighing, “He's alive. If you had waited I could've shown you that he's literally right next to you.”
Jason let Dick go in surprise and the oldest disappeared, likely to clean Jason's mess. Jason looked around and spotted a hospital bed Bruce had sourced from who-knows-where with Tim laying in it limp. The gently rise and fall of his chest reassured Jason that he was alive. Not dead. Alive. They had lived. He fell back into his own matching bed and stared up at the ceiling. Dick came back and eventually sat down.
“You almost died.” Dick said.
The ‘again’ was implied.
Dick continued, “Tim… he wasn't breathing when we found you two. Obviously we got him breathing again but you two cut it close.”
Jason breathed out hard.
“You're both severely sunburned, severe dehydration, severe heatstroke, basically every ‘severe’ you two could have, you have it.” Dick said with a humorless laugh.
“He said he loved me.” Jason said bluntly.
Dick blinked, “Yeah?”
Jason glanced at the older man, “You're not surprised.”
Dick rolled his eyes, “Well it's not exactly a secret. He follows you around like a puppy, can barely keep up a straight, pun intended, act around you, and can't stop gushing about you to the rest of us. I mean, it's a little cruel how you lead him on, y’know?”
He looked away and he heard Dick suck in a breath.
“You didn't know… holy shit you didn't know. Fuck Duke's gonna win the bet.” Dick groaned.
Jason shot him a glare, “you bet on us? Seriously?”
As if he wouldn't have done the same…
Dick shrugged unoffended, “You would've too. Seriously though, you didn't know?”
Jason huffed and resisted the urge to flop in the bed in frustration, “No?”
The older man cocked his head, “What did you think he was doing?”
“I don't know! I thought he was scared of me or something! We don't exactly have the best history…” Jason said in frustration.
Dick snorted, “Man this training exercise probably sucked then.”
Jason groaned, “I literally avoided him trying to not scare him. Seriously we got paired up and I thought Bruce was doing it deliberately.”
A pause.
Jason looked at Dick head on.
“Dick.” Jason said coolly, “Were we paired deliberately?”
Dick held up his hands and laughed nervously, “It wasn't my idea!”
“If I wasn't connected to an IV and could stand without passing out I'd kill you.” Jason said only half seriously.
A groan sounded from next to them and Dick stood to go check on Tim. Come to think of it, he had no clue how long they'd been like this. How bad off Tim was. Dick had said he wasn't breathing. They… had really cut it close.
Jason tried to discretely watch Dick and Tim though he couldn't really see so he was forced to turn his head completely. Dick quietly talked to Tim. Explaining things. Jason stayed quiet. Tim didn't really speak, to be honest he wasn't sure if Tim was even fully awake. Dick glanced at Jason then stepped out under the guise of getting ‘water’.
Slowly, Tim's head turned to Jason's side.
His eyes were squinted in a way that denoted pain. Jason could sympathize.
“Hey.” Jason said softly, “We lived.”
“You're alive.” Tim said softly, his voice full of relief.
And didn't that just stab him right in the chest? First thing he says and it's relief for Jason's sake.
Jason gave a nod, “You are too. Though Dickface says you weren't breathing when they found us.”
Tim smiled, “Guess you're not the only zombie anymore.”
It was the first real sentence he had said and Jason could hear the exhaustion. He sounded like shit. Jason was surely not much better but still.
Jason hesitated, “You… you said some stuff while the heat was cooking your brain.”
Tim looked at him and he could see the way he became guarded, “Yeah?”
He hummed but quietly admitted, “You said you loved me.”
“Yeah, I do.” Tim admitted freely which caught Jason off guard.
He stared incredulously, “How can you say that so openly?”
Tim huffed in what sounded like an attempt of a laugh, “Because I thought you knew?”
“I didn't.” Jason admitted, embarrassment filling his scratchy voice.
It was Tim's turn to look at him incredulously, “Seriously? They had a bet and everything…”
“You knew about it?” Jason groaned, “No, I didn't know.”
“Wow.” Tim said quietly as his voice was weak, “You're really oblivious.”
Jason huffed in annoyance, “Well it's not like you actually confessed. It took us almost dying.”
At that Tim was quiet. Jason looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
Then, “I thought you hated me.”
Jason sighs, “I thought you were scared of me.”
Both of them sat in silence. Taking in the new information. Just letting it sink in. Allowing it to process a bit before muddling communications. Jason could hear Tim's soft breathing, heart monitor softly tracking every steady beat. Jason didn't think he'd ever forget the rapid, desperate beats of Tim's pulse as the desert heat tried to bake them alive. His own monitor was disconnected, though he didn't doubt that it had once been on and assured everyone that he was nowhere near repeating the past.
“Do you… you know now, right?” Tim broke the silence.
“Yeah, I do.” Jason assured.
Tim huffed, “And?”
Jason's face scrunched in confusion, “And what?”
Tim gave him a blank stare, unamused.
“Oh!” Jason startled, “Yes, yes I… I love you too.”
Tim breathed a sigh like he'd been waiting forever to hear those words. It dawned on Jason that maybe he had. Still…
“When we're not still half-baked do you want to go do something?” Jason asked tentatively.
Tim raised an eyebrow, “A date?”
Jason flushed, “Yeah, a date.”
Tim smiled and closed his eyes as he leaned back into his bed, “I've been waiting for you to ask that.”