I noticed in the last chapter some words were combined and also some unnecessary spaces were applied. Even though I edit these chapters, I guess posting from the app messes with the sentences a bit. So forgive any mistakes.
As time lingered on, Jason could feel the weight of the previous events taking it's toll on his tired, bloodshot eyes. Nodding off momentarily, he was rustled back to reality when he felt the boy he was holding in his arms tilt his head up to look at him.
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Jason placed a warm hand on Tim's flushed cheek and gave him a relieved smile that no more tears were falling from the younger's face.
"Hey, Babybird," he whispered to the tired baby blue eyes peering up at him. With that, he decided to to ease his aching body and retire to the unmade bed in the room.
He scooped his arm under Tim's legs and hoisted him up bridal style. The younger brother didn't resist any and allowed himself to be carried. He draped his thin arms around Jason and rested his face in the crook of his neck. He breathed in his brother's
scent, letting the intoxicating mix of soap, aftershave, and sweat fill his lungs.
As Jason crossed the room with no difficulties, he could feel the lithe weight of his little brother. Tim had always been thin even weighing up to one hundred pounds less than Jason, but he had to be just barely more than one hundred pounds now; the difference
making up his entire weight.
Sharp edged bones pierced through the fabric of his clothes with made Jason more careful of the fragile cargo he held.
The older gentleman gently laid the young teen on the bed and turned to tiptoe away when he felt little bony fingers wrap around his wrist. He snapped his gaze back and looked into the wide doe eyes of the young male.
On the verge of more tears, Tim pleaded with his older brother. "Please don't go!"
Jason placed a hand on Tim's sweat soaked, raven hair and leaned down to whisper sympathetic words. "I'll be right back. I'm just going to turn the lights off."
He gave a dry kiss on the frightened teen's forehead and tussled his hand through the long locks that tangled around his fingers.
Tim released his grip, trusting his brothers word on his return.
Jason made his way to the bright pool of light spilling out of Tim's private bathroom. He grabbed a thick, blue hand towel off the back of the mahogany door and held it under the warm running water at the sink. He glanced at his reflection making notes
of the dark circles taking up residence under his tired eyes.
Jason bent down and rustled through the cabinet under the sink to find some bandages and gauze. He was pleased that the kid was meticulous about keeping everything organized in there.
Flicking off the light switch and returning the bathroom to a cavern of darkness, Jason cautiously made his way back to Tim's bed, giving his eyes time to adjust to the emptiness of the colorless room surrounding him.
The moonlight shining through the balcony window provided him with enough light to see the figures resting inside the still room.
The thin teen had curled into him self on top of the messy covers making himself appear even smaller than he had become in recent months.
Jason set the bandages and gauze on the cluttered nightstand and took a seat on the edge of the queen sized mattress.
Unsure if his silent brother was actually asleep or just trying to imitate unconsciousness to prevent any interrogations on his actions, Jason gently brushed his fingers over the young boy's sweater. He gripped the fabric and forced it slowly up Tim's
torso, exposing the soft, pale flesh.
The second youngest member of the Batfamily shot his hands down with lightning speed and shoved his baggy sweater back into place. He had gotten used to hiding his body from the rest of his detective family that it became instinct born into him to avoid
human contact.
"Come on, Timmy," Jason coaxed in a calm voice. "I already know they're there. I just want to clean them out is all."
Tim rolled to the opposite side of the bed to escape Jason's roaming hands as he resisted the help and blathered on in a panic. "It's okay! I can go do that right now! I'll be right back-"
"Tim!" Jason sternly shouted as he held on tight to Tim's wrist, preventing his sudden, explosive departure.
Tim paused as he felt the panic well up in his chest. He knew Jason only had good intentions, but he was still fearful of what his brother would think of his shameful and grotesque marked skin. The ugly secrets forced to be worn like a dishonorable badge
for all of eternity.
"Hey!" Jason playfully jilted Tim's arm to snap him out of his daydream. He could sense the younger's anxiety, and treaded cautiously.
"Come here," Jason motioned with a nod for Tim to return to the confines of the bed. He patiently tugged the teen's arm and coerced him back onto the sheets.
As Tim obeyed and crawled closer to his brother, Jason again, reached for the hem of the oversized baggy sweater. He began to lift the fabric, but receded when Tim took control and did it the rest of the way himself.
With the younger male's arms raised above, pulling the sweater up over his head, Jason's voice caught in his throat at the sight of Tim's naked torso. He had lost so much muscle and weight, leaving him to resemble a skeleton with skin stretched over the
sharp, angular bones.
Jason's heavy heart burdened him once more as the painful sight was burned into his retinas. A memory he would find hard to shake.
"Oh god, Tim," he staggered a breath over his hand as he covered his gaping jaw in shock. "Jesus! Look at you."
Tim wrapped his arms around himself feeling ashamed and embarrassed by Jason's understandable reaction.
Jason saw Tim's morose recoil and quickly grabbed his little brother by his biceps. He jerked the boy a little harder than he had intended.
"Tim-" all he could manage to say was the kid's name before he shuddered a breath to stifle the sudden tears welling up inside.
Jason took a deep inhale, regained his composure, and returned his hardened gaze back to Tim. The teen shrunk away while trying to avoid the hurt look on his older brother's face.
"Tim," Jason said louder as he shook Tim's right arm to get the kid to look him in the eyes. "Listen, buddy. I'm not mad at you. Okay?"
Tim didn't respond.
Jason continued with a soft gruff in his voice, "I'm mad at myself for not noticing sooner. That I didn't notice how much pain you were in. I promise, Tim, I could never be angry with you. Okay?"
Tim slightly tossed his head in acknowledgement, but Jason wasn't entirely convinced his brother believed his honest words.
"I mean it, Tim. I may not understand right now, but I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere and I'll try my best to help you through this. I promise, I won't let you go through this alone anymore."
Jason pulled Tim into his warm, protective embrace.
"I'll stay with you for as long as you need me to. That's my promise to you, Tim." He eased his hand under Tim's chin and tilted the blushing face upwards. "I always told you I would protect you no matter what; even if that means I have to protect you
from yourself."
He released Tim's chin as he watched tears pool in the corners of the sea of blue eyes staring up at him.
Jason grasped the nape of Tim's neck and placed a loving kiss on the teen's sticky forehead.
Tim instantly hung his head as he forced himself to hold in his emotions. His fingers nervously picking at the skin next to his fingernails, he bit back the salty tears that were threatening to stain his rosy cheeks.
Jason shifted on the bed to gather the damp towel and bandages. He held his palm out and was pleasantly surprised when Tim placed his injured forearm in the awaiting hand without resistance.
"Thank you," Jason mumbled, as he didn't feel like fighting with any defiance in the late midnight hours.
Jason dabbed at the superficial cuts decorating Tim's arm, making sure to be extra careful wiping the dried blood on the teen's skin. A few of the wounds broke open and began to seep blood again. He held the towel on the freckled goose flesh while applying
pressure to the abrasions.
"Does this hurt?" Jason asked, not wanting to cause anymore pain to the unsteady teen.
"It feels better," Tim's voice cracked. His throat was raw and burned from the crying that ensued earlier.
"Than what?" Jason scoffed.
"Everything else."
A silence fell between the two boys. Jason wasn't sure how to respond. He felt bad for his kid brother.
As Jason focused on the task at hand, he heard Tim quietly utter his name.
"Jason?"
Jason didn't have to say anything to acknowledge he was listening. He just cocked an eyebrow upwards and waited.
"I don't feel good," Tim self consciously moaned.
"I know, buddy." Jason understood what Tim was trying to convey; he wasn't physically ill, but mentally and emotionally unwell.
Tim continued in his soft tone with unease lingering on every spoken word, "are you gonna tell Bruce?"
Jason felt backed into a corner with the query. "Why don't you talk to me first, kiddo?"
Tim curled his lip in as he chewed on the skin of his chapped lips. He pondered what to say next, but no words could form that would express what he wanted to say.
Jason unrolled the gauze and began to wrap Tim's arm. He waited for Tim to open up, but when he didn't say anything more, he spoke up himself.
"Why do you do it?"
"What?" Tim listlessly asked. He heard his brother's question, but he was trying to buy some time to think of a solid excuse that he could pass off as plausible.
"What's going on in there?" Jason inquired as he tapped a finger to Tim's temple.
"I don't know," Tim sighed in exasperation. He was torn between wanting to confide in his older brother, or continue to bottle everything inside. He was being ripped apart from the inside out.
"What does the pain feel like?" Jason followed up.
Tim had a sullen look mask over his face as he delivered his one word answer.
"Unbearable..."
