Previously uploaded the wrong file somehow, I apologize!
Sequel to: Going Under
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Jason lay on his back beside Dick, physically, and mentally exhausted from the events that had taken place over the past twelve hours. His thigh and arm pressed lightly against the man's back… reassurance that he was still there, sleeping soundly. His stomach was churning, a never ending sense of panic and dread seeping through his mind as he thought of what he had just willingly done- what they had just willingly done.
Damian was curled within Dick's strong embrace, body wrapped tightly around the man, with fingers like claws clinging to Dick's shoulders. He had not yet awakened, or if he had, he had chosen to feign sleep and had eventually drifted off once more. The pit was tiresome, that he knew, and the voices echoing in the dark depths of the mind made it all the worse.
He was terrified thinking of what the boy might become. When he had come back to himself, every emotion had been multiplied tenfold, he had been fixated on so very much… and none of his feelings had been good.
He had felt betrayed by Bruce for him not killing the Joker, for not avenging him, neglecting to make things right. He had been so very hurt by being replaced and had taken it out on both Bruce and Tim alike. He had loved the man so deeply that he ached, was angry, felt so much hate and rage for all of Bruce's wrong doings that he had not been able to see straight. And while over time he had gradually regained control, the emotions still lingered and resurfaced from time to time.
But Damian?
Damian felt rage and hate with many things prior to his death. He had already been unpredictable at the best of times. Only Dick seemed fully at ease with the kid.
Well… perhaps Alfred as well, but the man was pretty much a Saint.
Truth be told… it had been him that had had second thoughts about everything, wondering why he was subjecting Damian, a ten- eleven year old child to the madness of the pit…
But it had been Dick that had kept him going.
He knew that Dick would not have been able to back down after they had started, and he knew that Dick had… for the lack of a better word, changed.
Seeing Damian's broken, lifeless, form cradled within Bruce's massive arms had wrecked him. It had been the straw to break the camel's back.
Jason had witnessed that the very day he had found Dick barely existing in the streets of Chicago with a gun in his hands and blood on his gauntlets.
The prospect of Damian coming back to him had been the only thing to reel Dick back in, and after seeing how much hope that had given him, that weak glimmer of happiness in his eyes, he could have never taken that from him.
Never.
But now they were stuck. Locked away on Kori's island until they could be sure that Damian could be trusted out in society, however long that took, for everyone's safety.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
It had taken Jason well over an hour to pry Damian's fists from Dick's shirt, and Dick from the bed and the boy's hold.
Damian continued to sleep and they let him. Dick, on the other hand, Jason had to force to leave the room, shower, eat… the man so terrified that if he let go, if he lost sight of him, Damian would vanish into thin air. It was only after he promised to lie down and stay at the boy's side in his place that Dick reluctantly removed himself from the room.
Dick's shower was anything but peaceful. The anxiety spreading throughout his chest was overwhelming, and the sight of the murky water cascading from his body had him holding his breath. He could recall the sheer amount of blood and pit water that had been coating his bared skin earlier before he had half hazardly thrown on the first change of clothes that had crossed his path. He scrubbed roughly at his skin as the water fell over him, and averted his gaze from the stall floor, hell-bent on ignoring the unnatural filth leaving his body to roll down the drain.
If he had not been so anxious to get back to Damian, he likely would have stayed under the water long after he turned pruney, but he rushed through the event at a fast pace.
He became lost searching for the kitchen, or rather, something that looked remotely similar to one. He was half way to screaming frantically for Jason when a small hand slid onto to his shoulder and he nearly leapt out of his skin.
Kori was floating alongside him, a cautious, but worried look upon her face.
"You… have not been here in some time. It is easy to forget…" She murmured, latching onto to his wrist gently.
He said nothing as the woman guided him through the ship, weaving through corridor after corridor.
When they finally reached the ship's version of a kitchen, he collapsed into a ragged heap within one of the large chairs, and hung his head in shame. Kori flittered about the kitchen, rummaging through the cabinets and fridge for some time, before she was at his side once more. He met her gaze as she placed a small bowl within his hands, and could not help the small pained smile that slid across his face as she poured cereal into it, and then milk.
"…thanks…" he murmured, barely over a whisper as she handed him a spoon and took the seat next to him.
The two sat in silence for some time, the only sound echoing through the room being the crunch and crackle that resulted from Dick spooning the cereal into his mouth and chewing. He made it halfway through the small meal before giving a heavy sigh and shakily placing the bowl upon the table.
"Kori I-"
"You said that you did not love me… was that the truth?" She prompted.
He sucked in a sharp breath at her blunt interruption, locking eyes with her hesitantly.
"I…it wasn't always…" He murmured, face falling. "There was a time that I thought- that I wanted to… but in the end? It wasn't like that… I loved you- still, even to this day. But I'm not in love with you, not like that. Not in a forever way. It's just that, you weren't-"
"I was not your world." She stated simply, nodding knowingly. "I understand that now, although not at that time."
"You…you understand?" He blinked, biting his lower lip skeptically as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Mmm." She sighed. "Yes… knowing what I do now, I now realize that you were not my everything. You were someone I cherished, enjoyed…wanted to be with in a physical nature. But it was not the proper sort of love. I grieved for a very long time, time that was wasted, and I regret many things."
"I…I see."
She yawned, and stretched her arms back over her shoulders, groaning as they popped.
"Dick… after all that has happened, past, and present… are you sure about things? Is he your world? Was it worth it? Are you willing to fight for your love, no matter what comes at you two this time around?"
He stared at her a long moment, never once breaking her gaze, and after a time he managed a small smile.
"Yes… yes he is."
"Then I wish you happiness Dick, in every sense of the word. Cherish him, protect him, love him… and do it always." She sighed, leaning forward to snake her arms around his shoulders, bringing him into a tight squeeze. "Meanwhile, I have begun to think I might have found my own, my everything. He may be a fragile, sensitive creature but he makes me so very happy, whether I show it often or not."
Dick chuckled, and snuggled into her hair briefly.
"Then you take care of him Kori. He needs it. Roy's a lucky guy to have your heart."
Kori hummed in response, and raked a hand through the man's shaggy hair.
"Hey… Kori?"
"Hmm?"
"Are we- are we good?"
At this she pulled away, running her hands across his cheeks in a loving gesture, before giving him a small smile.
"Yes Dick. We are fine."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
When Dick returned to the room he was relieved to see that the boy had not stirred, and that Jason had kept his promise. He was still lying flat on his back next to Damian, propped up by the pillows as he read one book or another in silence.
When he shut the door gently behind him the younger man looked up from the pages and gave him a weak smile before closing the leather bound book all together and setting it on the end table.
"You took longer than I thought you would. I'm proud of you Dickie-bird."
"Kori held me up… it was good for us, closure I guess…" He murmured, crawling onto the bed between the two.
"Mmm…figured as much. She never talks about it, tries to ignore tons of things that happened in the past, pretends they never happened to spare herself, but I can tell she thinks about things. You both needed it. Considering that you're not singed, it was pleasant all around."
Dick chuckled, and nodded his head before shifting on the mattress, curling onto his side.
"How's he been?"
"Same."
Dick sighed, pulling the blankets up to crawl within their warmth, and wrapped his arms back around the sleeping boy.
Damian stiffened, and let out a slurred squeak before kicking out softly.
"Shh… It's just me Little D, go back to sleep, you're alright…" He cooed, burying his face in the top of the boy's head.
Damian's brow furrowed, but he did not open his eyes, opting to keep them squeezed shut tightly as he relaxed his muscles. Dick pressed himself closer, maneuvering Damian so his arms wrapped up around his neck. He rubbed at the small of his back gently, smiling into the boy's hair as he went pliant and limp in his embrace.
It was only after several long, quiet minutes thereafter that Jason shifted, turning the bedside lamp off.
As he felt the mattress shift, and Jason slip under the covers with them, he sighed lifted his head slightly to glance back at the younger man.
"Go to sleep Dick. It's going to be a long day tomorrow. You'll need it." He muttered.
Before Dick could protest his negativity… he surprised him.
An arm slipped around his waist, body pressing tight against his back, and Jason nuzzled his way into the crook of his neck, sighing softly.
And suddenly Dick could no longer think to argue, could only relish in the heat pressed against his form, and that the man it belonged to cared enough to do what he had.
They were crazy… Dick was not going to deny this, but for now it looked like crazy could work…
Right now it looked as though they could be content, happy even, just the way things were…