Chapter Text
The first thing Jason heard was the window.
Not the knock.
The glass itself.
A faint, uneven rattle against the frame, followed by the scrape of something dragging across the outside wall.
Jason looked up from the book lying open on his lap.
The apartment was almost completely dark. The only light came from the desk lamp beside him, casting a warm yellow circle across the room and leaving the corners swallowed in shadow. Rain had been falling for hours, tapping steadily against the windows and turning Gotham’s lights into blurry streaks of red, white, and gold.
Jason glanced at the clock.
3:41 a.m.
Another scrape.
Then a soft thud against the glass.
Jason was already standing.
His hand went automatically toward the gun resting on the table. He crossed the room quietly, bare feet silent against the floorboards. The curtain moved slightly in the draft coming through the old window frame.
Jason grabbed it and pulled it aside.
Dick, his stupid, older brother was on the other side. For one horrible second, Jason genuinely thought he was looking at a corpse.
Dick stood on the fire escape with one hand pressed against the glass. His hair was soaked through, dark strands stuck to his forehead and cheeks. His costume was torn and filthy, the familiar blue almost completely hidden beneath dirt and dried blood. One side of his domino mask was cracked. His boots were gone and so were his gloves.
There was a deep bruise beneath one eye, another spreading along his jaw, and the makeshift bandage wrapped around his torso was soaked through with fresh blood.
Dick lifted his head.
His eyes struggled to focus on Jason.
Then he smiled.
“Hi, Lil’ W’ng.”
His words came out thick and uneven.
Jason unlocked the window so quickly his fingers slipped.
“Dick? What the-”
The window opened.
Dick tried to step through. His leg buckled immediately. Jason caught him around the waist.
“Whoa. Whoa, easy.”
Dick’s forehead landed against Jason’s shoulder. For a few seconds, neither of them moved.
Jason could feel him shaking. Not dramatically, but just enough for jason to notice.
“Hey.”
Dick blinked against his shoulder.
“Hi.”
“You already said hi.”
“Did I?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
Dick paused.
“Hi again.”
Jason’s stomach twisted.
He pulled back just enough to look at him.
Dick’s pupils were huge.
His eyes were glassy and unfocused.
Jason’s sarcasm disappeared for half a second.
“What did they give you?”
Dick frowned.
“Nothin’.”
“Dick.”
“'m f’ne”
“You’re high.”
Dick gave him a sleepy smile.
“Little bit.”
“How much is a little bit?”
Dick stared at him. Then shrugged.
“Dunno.”
“Great.”
Jason shut the window behind them. Rain continued tapping against the glass.
“Come on.”
Dick didn’t move from his spot.
Jason stepped closer and slipped an arm firmly around his brother’s waist, pulling him against his side before carefully lifting Dick’s arm over his shoulders. The moment he took his weight, Jason realized just how little strength Dick had left. His legs barely seemed to cooperate, his body sagging heavily against Jason’s side.
“Easy,” Jason muttered, tightening his grip around Dick’s waist to keep him upright.
Dick’s head drooped toward Jason’s shoulder, his breathing shallow and uneven. He was still pale, his movements sluggish and uncoordinated, and every few steps Jason could feel him stumble.
Jason shifted his hold, taking more of Dick’s weight onto his own shoulders so his brother wouldn’t have to.
“Got you.”
Slowly, carefully, he guided Dick away from beneath the kitchen window and toward the living room, refusing to let him put more weight on himself than he could handle.
“Let’s get you somewhere you can sit.”
Dick nodded.
“Okay.”
His foot caught on the edge of the rug. Jason caught him again.
“Easy.”
“Floor’s…”
Dick frowned at the rug.
“…weird.”
“The floor is not weird.”
“It moved.”
“It didn’t move.”
“Did.”
Jason sighed.
“Of course it did.”
Dick smiled.
“Knew you’d believe me.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did.”
“I absolutely didn’t.”
Dick leaned against him.
“'r rude.”
“Yeah, and you’re high”
Jason started guiding him toward the couch . Dick’s head kept dropping against his shoulder. Halfway there, Dick suddenly stopped.
“Jay?”
“What?”
“Kitchen.”
Jason looked toward it.
“What about the kitchen?”
Dick pointed. Or tried to. His hand wandered vaguely toward the cabinets.
“Blood.”
Jason looked.
There were bloody fingerprints across one of the white cabinet doors.
Dick’s face fell.
“Sorry ‘m sorry…”
“Dick, it’s fine…”
“’ll cl'n it 'm sorry…”
“You’re bleeding.”
“Yes, and 'm sorry Jay.”
“You’re worried about my cabinets?”
Dick nodded very seriously.
“N’ce cabinets.”
Jason stared at him. Then shook his head.
“You’re deeply hurt, bleeding and definitely high but instead worrying about yourself you’re apologizing to me about the furniture.”
“Not furniture.”
Jason blinked.
“What?”
“Cabinet.”
“Right.”
Dick nodded.
“Important distinction.”
Jason almost laughed. Instead, he helped him sit on the couch.
Dick sank into the cushions and immediately curled around his injured side.
Jason crouched in front of him.
“Let me see.”
Dick looked down.
“No.”
“Dick.”
“No, no.”
“Dickie.”
Dick’s expression softened at the nickname.
“Okay.”
He slowly moved his hand. Jason carefully pulled away the soaked fabric.
Dick caught his wrist.
“Don’t.”
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Know.”
Dick’s fingers loosened.
“Just…”
He swallowed.
“Hurts.”
Jason nodded.
“I know.”
He carefully peeled the bandage away.
His stomach dropped.
The wound was deeper than he’d expected.
Still bleeding.
The skin around it was swollen and bruised, and there were dried traces of blood disappearing beneath the torn fabric.
Jason’s face went pale.
He forced his voice steady.
“How long has that been like this?”
Dick stared at the wound.
“Dunno.”
“How long?”
“Since…”
His eyebrows furrowed.
“Tuesday?”
Jason froze.
“Tuesday?”
“Mhm”
“It’s Friday.”
Dick blinked.
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
Jason swallowed.
“Three days.”
Dick nodded slowly.
“Three.”
“You’ve been bleeding for three days?”
“Not…”
He paused.
“Not all the time.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
“Didn’t say it did.”
Jason stared at him.
Dick gave him a sleepy smile.
“Don’t make that face.”
“What face?”
“Scary one.”
“I’m not making a face.”
“You are.”
Jason looked away.
“Fine.”
He stood.
“I’m getting the medical kit.”
Dick immediately reached for him.
“Jay.”
Jason looked back.
“What?”
“Don’t go.”
Something in his voice made Jason stop.
Dick looked embarrassed.
“Just…”
His words blurred together.
“Just stay ’ere.”
Jason’s chest tightened.
“I’ll be ten seconds.”
Dick’s fingers slowly slipped from his wrist.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Jason disappeared into the bathroom. He was gone for barely fifteen seconds. When he returned, the medical kit slipped from his hand.
Dick was unconscious.
“Dick?”
Jason rushed to the couch. He dropped to his knees.
“Dick.”
Nothing.
Jason pressed two fingers against his neck.
A pulse.
Fast.
Too fast.
But there.
Jason closed his eyes. “Okay.”
His voice shook.
“Okay, come on.”
He touched Dick’s cheek.
“Come back to me, Dickie.”
Nothing.
Jason’s hand trembled.
“Please.”
Dick’s eyelids fluttered.
Jason leaned closer.
“Hey.”
A quiet groan.
“Jay…?”
“Yeah.”
“Hi.”
Jason let out a breath that sounded almost like a laugh.
“Hi.”
Dick frowned.
“Why’re you…”
He struggled to focus.
“…crying?”
Jason froze.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not crying dickhead. You’re completely high”
Dick smiled faintly.
“Bad liar.”
Jason looked away.
“Shut up.”
Dick’s eyes closed again.
Jason immediately touched his shoulder.
“No.”
Dick groaned.
“Stay awake.”
“M’ awake.”
“You just passed out.”
“Didn’t.”
“You did.”
“Wasn’t…”
Dick swallowed.
“…sleep.”
Jason stared at him.
“You were unconscious.”
“Long blink.”
Jason smiled
“Yeah?”
“Mhm.”
“Longest blink I’ve ever seen.”
Dick smiled.
“Talented.”
Jason’s smile faded. He looked at the wound again. Then at Dick.
“What happened?”
Dick looked down.
“Stuff.”
“What kind of stuff?”
“bad stuff”
“You need stitches.”
Dick immediately frowned.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Richard”
“Jason Peter Todd”
“How is that possible you can’t say simple words correct, but my full name you said perfectly. You’re getting stitches.”
“Don’t wanna.”
“I don’t care.”
Dick looked offended.
“Asshole.”
“Yeah.”
Jason opened the medical kit. He prepared the needle and thread. Dick watched him with suspicious eyes.
“That looks…”
He paused.
“…pointy.”
“It is.”
“Don’t like it.”
“I know.”
“Can we not?”
“No.”
“Can I vote?”
“No.”
“Democracy’s dead.”
Jason snorted.
“Apparently.”
He carefully cleaned the wound. Dick hissed and grabbed Jason’s sleeve.
“Fuck.”
“Sorry.”
“Hurts.”
“I know.”
“Really hurts.”
Jason’s hands slowed.
“I’m sorry.”
Dick looked at him.
“Not your fault.”
Jason swallowed. He threaded the needle.
“Okay.”
Dick’s breathing became uneven. Jason noticed.
“Look at me.”
Dick did.
“Stay with me.”
“Mhm.”
“One stitch.”
Jason worked carefully. Dick sucked in a sharp breath.
“Jay.”
“I’m here.”
“Jaybird.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t…”
He paused, trying to find the words.
“…don’t let me fall.”
Jason’s heart cracked.
“You’re not falling.”
Another stitch.
Dick’s fingers tightened around his sleeve.
“Little Wing…”
“I’m here.”
“‘m f’ne.”
Jason stopped.
“No.”
Dick blinked.
“What?”
“You’re not.”
Jason’s voice was quiet now.
No sarcasm.
No jokes.
“You’re not fine.”
Dick stared at him. Jason continued stitching.
“You disappeared for three days.”
Another stitch.
“You came here alone.”
Another.
“You’re bleeding.”
His voice cracked.
“You’re drugged.”
Another stitch.
“And you keep telling me you’re fine like if you say it enough times, it’ll become true.”
Dick’s eyes became wet.
“Sorry.”
Jason shook his head.
“Stop.”
He swallowed hard.
“Don’t apologize.”
Dick’s breathing trembled.
Jason looked directly at him.
“You scared me.”
Dick blinked.
Jason’s eyes were wet now.
“I’m serious, Dick.”
His voice broke.
“You scared the shit out of me.”
Dick’s fingers loosened around his sleeve.
“Sorry, Jay.”
“I know.”
Jason finished another stitch.
“Just…”
He took a shaky breath.
“Just stay awake for me.”
Dick nodded.
“Mhm. ‘m sr’y”
His eyes fluttered.
Jason immediately noticed.
“Dickie.”
“M’ here.”
“Keep your eyes open.”
“Tryin’.”
“You’re doing good.”
Dick smiled.
“You’re…”
He yawned.
“…good at this.”
“Yeah?”
“Mhm.”
“You thought I’d be terrible?”
Dick’s eyes were barely open.
“maybe.”
Jason smiled faintly.
“Thanks.”
“Welcome.”
Another stitch.
Dick’s breathing slowed. His head tilted back against the couch. Jason looked up.
“Dickface?”
No answer.
“Dickie?”
Nothing.
Jason’s heart stopped.
“Hey.”
He checked his pulse again.
Still there.
Jason exhaled shakily.
“Okay.”
He finished the last stitch as carefully as possible. Then he cleaned the wound, covered it with fresh gauze and wrapped a bandage firmly around Dick’s torso.
When he was done, Jason sat beside him.
For a few seconds, he simply watched Dick breathe.
The apartment was silent except for the rain. Jason could hear the refrigerator humming in the kitchen. The occasional car passing somewhere below. The soft creak of the couch whenever Dick moved.
Three days.
Three days he’d been gone.
And now Dick was here.
In his apartment.
On his couch.
Bruised.
Drugged.
And somehow still worried about the blood on Jason’s cabinets. Jason rubbed a hand over his face.
“You’re such a dickhead.”
Dick stirred. His eyes opened slightly.
“Jaaaayy?”
“Yeah?”
“'m Cold.”
Jason immediately stood. He walked into his bedroom and opened the closet. His eyes passed over several jackets.
Black.
Gray.
More black.
Then stopped.
He pulled out a red hoodie. His favorite. Soft from years of wear.
“Here.”
Dick stared at it.
“Red.”
“Yeah.”
Jason shrugged.
“Put it on.”
Dick tried.
His arms got tangled in the sleeves. Jason sighed and helped him.
“Other arm.”
“I’m tryin’.”
“I know.”
“It’s difficult.”
“It’s a hoodie.”
“Hostile hoodie.”
Jason laughed quietly.
“There.”
He pulled the hood away from Dick’s face.
The red looked almost painfully bright against his pale skin.
Dick looked down at himself.
Then at Jason.
“Now ‘m R’d Hood”
“Yes, you are. You’re tired dickface, go sleep.”
Dick smiled.
“It’s n’ce can i take ‘t?”
“It’s just a hoodie.”
“Your hoodie.”
“Yeah, take it i have a lot of these.”
Dick give jason big smile, and hugged him quickly.
“Th’ks… Lil’ W’ng”
Jason sat beside him.
Dick’s eyes began closing again. He shifted closer. His head slowly came to rest against Jason’s shoulder.
Jason froze.
“Seriously?”
Dick hummed.
“You’r comfy.”
“You’re using me as a pillow.”
“Mhm.”
“Dickhead.”
“Lil’ W’ng.”
Jason sighed. He carefully wrapped an arm around Dick’s shoulders.
Dick relaxed immediately. His fingers curled into the front of Jason’s shirt.
“Jaybird?”
“Yeah?”
“Didn’t tell ’em.”
Jason looked down.
“Tell them what?”
“Where you were.”
Jason’s throat tightened.
“Thanks, Dickie”
“I would never ya know?”
“I know.”
Dick’s breathing slowed. His head became heavier against Jason’s shoulder.
“Little Wing?”
“Hm?”
“You’re safe.”
Jason looked down at him.
“I’m not the one who got kidnapped.”
Dick smiled faintly.
“Still.”
Jason pulled the red hoodie tighter around him.
“You’re an idiot.”
“Mhm.”
“My idiot.”
Dick’s eyes closed completely.
“Love you too Lil Wing”
Jason stared at him for a moment. Then rested his cheek gently against the top of Dick’s head.
“Love you too, Big Bird.”
Dick was already asleep.
Jason stayed exactly where he was.
The bloody fingerprints could stay on the kitchen cabinet.
The ruined costume could wait.
The questions could wait.
Bruce could wait.
Everything could wait.
For now, Jason just kept one arm around his brother and listened to him breathe.
Dick had made it home.
And Jason wasn’t letting go.