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Jason was dreaming. It had to be true. It was just a bad dream. He wasn't tied to a wall, and his older brother wasn't being tortured right in front of him. It wasn't real. It was a dream. Suddenly, Dick screamed, and something inside Jason broke. He knew it took a lot to make his brother scream like that. Dick screamed again, but this time his voice broke into a hoarse wail. Jason couldn't take it anymore. "Stop that, please don't do that. Do it to me if you really want to. Not to him." Jason didn't recognize that desperate tone in his voice. That plea. His two brothers joined their voices, Tim also supplying, and Damian uttering insults and threats of death, each more colorful than the last. They were all interrupted by another scream from Dick, even more horrific than the previous two. Jason's brother's body tensed abruptly before limping. Dick's head hung forward, and if the chains hadn't held it, it would have collapsed to the ground. It wasn't possible. Dick couldn't do that.
"It's going to be okay, Dick, I promise we'll get out of here. Just hang on, okay?" Tim's voice was desperate. Dick didn't respond. "Grayson?" Damian looked almost like a child. They all looked like children. God. Dick couldn't do this. He had no right to do this to them. Their captor approached Dick, a wicked smile on his lips before abruptly lifting his head. "Let go of him, you fucking bastard!" If Jason hadn't been restrained by his chains, he would have lunged at their captor's throat." The latter let out a sadistic laugh and, without a word, pulled out a crowbar. "No, wait!" Tim seemed panicked now. "We can work something out if it's money you want, we can pay!" The man shook his head, sneering, before untying Dick, who collapsed limply to the ground. Then he raised the bar and, ignoring their desperate cries, brought it down on the inert body lying on the ground.
CRACK. Tim and Damian were now crying and begging. CRACK. Jason realized that he was crying too. CRACK. CRACKCRACKCRACKCRACK. Jason just couldn't breath. CRACKCRACKCRA-... Suddenly, the kidnapper was violently thrown sideways by a black shadow. Batman. The man got to his feet and started fighting, but Jason didn't care. Everything was green, Dick was green. Don't move. Ignoring his brothers' desperate pleas, he was motionless. He didn't move, and everything was green. Was Bruce too late yet? Was he- everything was green. Did it really happen? Was it- everything was green. Dick couldn't die, he would get up, he was- everything was green. Everythingwasgreeneverythingwas greeneverythingwasgreen. EVERYTHING WAS GREEN.
When Jason regained consciousness, he was kneeling beside the mob, now aware of who had been their captor, and the chains that had bound him had been savagely ripped away. He could hear Tim and Damian's voices and Bruce's orders, but that wasn't what had stopped him. The voice that had stopped him was hoarse, weak, and almost inaudible. But it was usually cheerful and full of life. It was the voice that had dispelled the green fog. Jason never thought he'd hear it again. He turned, a sudden surge of hope swelling in his chest. Bruce, kneeling, held his older brother gently in his arms. Dick's head rested against his chest, but his beautiful sapphire eyes were fixed on Jason. He looked exhausted and broken, but he was alive. He was alive. Thanks God.
Jason moved slowly closer to him, and Dick tried to offer a weak, weary smile. Jason raised a trembling hand and gently stroked his cheek. He played, feeling the gentle warmth emanating from his brother. He swallowed a sob. His brother was alive. Dick's smile widened slightly. Suddenly, Bruce broke the moment by moving slightly. Suddenly, Bruce broke the moment by shifting slightly and muttering something about the police. He gently handed Dick to Jason, who reached out to receive him. Dick's head fell softly against Jason's chest, and Jason wrapped his arms around him. Bruce left, and part of Jason was furious that he was abandoning his children again, but he couldn't be angry. Not when Dick's weight rested entirely on him. Not when he could feel his warmth and his chest rising. Not when his hair lightly tickled his chin. He was alive. An indescribable relief washed over Jason. He was alive. It was going to be okay. Jason buried his face in his brother's hair, breathing in his scent.
Suddenly, Jason noticed that Dick was trembling in his arms, clearly fighting back sobs. He tightened his embrace. "It's okay, Dickie, it's all right, it's over. You can break down now." Dick's body collapsed in heartbreaking sobbing as Jason held him close, whispering soothing notes. Dick was still sobbing, clinging weakly to Jason, who was gently rubbing his back, when Tim, then Damian, joined their embrace. He sobbed for a long time before falling into a deep, exhausted sleep, pressed against Jason.
Later :
Jason watched Dick sleep. His entire body was covered in bandages, and he had several broken bones, but he was alive. His face was relaxed and open, and Jason couldn't tear his eyes away from him. It was over; he was alive. Suddenly, Bruce entered the room. He sat down next to Jason and watched his older brother sleep peacefully. After a moment, he gently kissed Dick's forehead, and pushed raven strands of hair from his face. Then, he stood up and, before leaving, placed his hand on Jason's shoulder. "You did the right thing. I don't approve of what you did, but I don't blame you." With that, he left the room, as if he couldn't stand by what he had just said. Well. Coming from the great Batman, that was more than surprising. Jason smiled slightly. Things were changing. Nevertheless, the sun was there every morning after disappearing during the night. Jason looked out the window, and his smile widened. The sun had risen. It was there, bright and clear, and Dick was alive; everything was going to be alright.