House of Memories written by Nikki Pond
Summary:
Dick knew his soulmate was out there waiting for him. He just had to find them.
Unfortunately, Dick was completely oblivious that his soulmate happened to be next to him all along
...
Day 2 of DPxDCShipWeek2023: Hand Holding/Kiss | Soulmate AU
Author's Note: The title came from the song "House of Memories" by Panic! At Disco.
I was debating whether to do DeadOnMain or Dead Tired because AU Soulmate is the one I have been looking forward to the most this ship week because I have SO many ideas with soulmates that I'm excited to write...but ended up with this one (to my surprise after so much debate what kind of soulmate au) because it was the most-planned and the shortest (not true) one-shot. And I'm late to submit the Day 2 so here it is (I'll add it on my to-do list to write more Soulmate fics in the future). Fun fact: I was considering this to be my Day 1: First/Last, though fic tho the intention was crack one-shot set in YJ-universe. Wow so much change from my original plan for this fic.
After what happened with my Day1 fic, I thought "okay since there's still not much Death Defying or even Dick-centric fics in dpxdc, then I'll bring it back here again for ship week".
The fic is split into 3 parts (that's just a guess or estimate for me). With Dick and Danny's POV. And the aftermath I guess?
Anyway, not beta-read. Warning: expect major character death, canon-typical violence, blood/injury/gore. It's kind of graphic.
I think of you from time to time more than I thought I would
You were just too kind and I was too young to know
That's all that really matters, I was a fool
Baby, we built this house on memories
Take my picture now, shake it till you see it
And when your fantasies become your legacy
Promise me a place in your house of memories
-House of Memories by Panic! At Disco
…
Dick Grayson always wanted to meet his soulmate. How could he not? After watching his parents who were each other's soulmates, so in love and happy, both their timers a perfect match kind of like Romeo and Juliet (he was a kid, okay!)—he wanted that kind of fairytale as well. To have someone who completes and complimented you in every single way - who knew you better than anyone else.
He'd imagined his soulmate to be kind. Funny. Compassionate. Smart. Strong. Supportive. Someone whose' smile would probably have his heart racing. He'd hoped his soulmate would be someone like him, who can run and fly with him. They were meant to be a perfect pair, right? It made sense in Dick's head, hence why he's always eager to handshake every single audience member after the show, hoping against hope that his soulmate was just there waiting for him. Like he was.
Though Dick never really comprehended the implications of his soul mark until his timer started on his wrist. And he was only 8 years old at that time.
6 years, 275 days, 480 minutes, 36 seconds.
The way a soul mark worked was the moment you physically touch your soulmate for the first time, the timer begins. It indicated how long till your soulmate died (which was disheartening in its own way). Dick hadn't really paid attention to his wrist since he had been wearing long sleeves at that time, and he had been too occupied helping out with the circus and feeding Zitka.
After that, Dick had unfortunately been unconscious after he landed wrong on a move that he had been practicing, and considering he had been unconscious for a long period of time to be transferred to an ER in a room full of hundreds of strangers, it could have been anyone. Mom and Dad didn't notice anyone around his age approaching him during the time unless Dick considered the doctors or nurses here (though that would have been a bit awkward since that meant they were at least twice or thrice his age than he was comfortable with)—But they would have told him or his parents, right?
It was also possible that the timer began before his accident. Still, just in case, Dick took the time to memorize the faces of the people here in the ER.
Dad chuckled from his bedside, "Son, I'm not sure that would work."
Dick huffed in annoyance. Did they not understand that he had been waiting for this moment for so long just so he can have happiness like his parents?
"Honey, he's just excited." Mom chuckled, though there was a tinge of sadness as she glanced around the room. Why was she sad?
"Whoever your soulmate is, treasure them. Make the most of them." And Dad said that so seriously that Dick couldn't help but nod, not really understanding the deeper context behind those words.
"Of course, I would! I'm never going to let them go." It was that simple anyway.
It wasn't long after he got discharged and sent home did he realize the implications of the timer. He had long thought that he would have a happy ending like his parents—growing old together with his soulmate. Who wouldn't want that? But 6 years meant Dick would have been 14 years old by the time his soulmate died.
And his soulmate had been that close within his reach.
"Hey Dick," a soft voice spoke up, interrupting his thoughts.
Dick looked up from his bed to see icy blue eyes staring at him. Danny. He was a recent addition to Haly's circus. The kid had looked like he'd been out in the streets for way too long: battered clothes that were too big on his scrawny form, with dirt and mud on his face. Danny had attempted to steal food from them, so malnourished that the circus took pity on him.
It wasn't long till everyone loved Danny as if he was one of their own. And after learning he was an orphan with no one looking out for him, Haly's circus practically took him in. Even Mom and Dad loved him like Danny was their own second child.
Dick had been delighted to finally have someone of his age to play with forever. When you were part of a traveling circus, there was not much time or place for Dick to make friends for a longer period of time. The fact that he now had Danny made his life better.
He loved his family, really, but they were adults. They didn't understand when Dick wanted to play hide and seek or do role plays that he usually saw kids his age did.
He was lonely.
Perhaps that was why Dick had been so desperate for a soulmate. Someone who he can share his life with. Sure there was a chance that he was one of those who wouldn't have a soulmate—but Dick had wished so bad for one...
And he ended up with a soulmate who had a short deadline.
"Dick?" Danny interrupted his thoughts again. Dick blinked at the way Danny seemed to be more shy and skittish than ever. He thought they had made progress these past few weeks, cajoling him to come out of his shell with promises of acrobatic lessons his parents were eager to share (not that Dick had a problem with that, it would be nice to have someone join him in the performance) but perhaps his accident had scared his friend.
"I'm fine, Danny," Dick gave him a big grin to hide his inner turmoil. His friend's eyes widened briefly when their eyes met before he quickly darted away, his cheeks flushing in a cute adorable red.
Dick held back a sigh. So much for progress.
"Come on, I've been cooped up here for so long." He bounced off his bed, startling the eyed-wide Danny who took a step back. No can do. Dick just quickly snatched his friend's hand, leading him out of his room and into whatever they can do to preoccupy the time. Maybe pick up his parent's slack on Danny's lessons.
I'm not going to waste my time.
…
Though, it really should have occurred to Dick that the reason his parents never showed him their timers was that their end was near.
He watched them distantly, not registering the CPS and cops pulling him away from the scene. Not even hearing the way Danny cried out for him in the background, being dragged away by another CPS worker.
…
"Dick, are you done?" Danny's complaints can be heard across the room.
Dick was currently holding onto a trapeze bar, doing his usual rounds to keep himself in shape in the Manor's training room. His lips twitched upwards before he pushed himself into the air, doing a mid-spin before he landed on his feet right in front of an unimpressed Danny.
His best friend wore a NASA shirt underneath his red plaid, blue jeans, and red converse that were tapping onto the ground in an impatient manner.
"Ta-da!" Dick said with an impish grin. His friend gave him a flat stare as if to say "Dramatic much?".
"And this is the way you greet your best friend?"
Dick couldn't help but let out a mischievous grin as he held his arms out, slowly approaching him, and with the way Danny was looking at him warily now, well, "And as your best friend, who I haven't seen for so long, I just can't wait to give you a hug."
"Ah crap!" Danny quickly ducked underneath his hold before he started sprinting.
"DANNY GET BACK HERE!"
"EWWWW!" Danny shrieked as Dick did another tackle, but his other friend just rolled to the side. "YOU STINK! GO TAKE A SHOWER YOU DICK!"
"But you must be so tired after that long drive from Illinois to here. Surely you just need a comforting hug from your dear best friend."
"DICK! DON'T YOU DARE!" Danny did an incredible leap over the equipment that Dick was sure not many people could do that high unless you're an acrobat, but luckily Dick had no trouble catching up with his best friend, who was used to parkour and acrobatics to keep up with him.
"Come here, Danny!"
His friend only laughed at that.
Even though Dick was trained as Robin for four years now, Danny was surprisingly faster and nimbler than him as his friend used the springboard to launch himself into the air onto rock climbing before running through another set of obstacle courses, with Dick following behind.
Luckily Dick knew a shortcut before he managed to tackle his friend down the mat. Two friends collapsed in laughter, while Danny half-heartedly tried to get out of his sweaty tight grip.
"How are you that fast?" Dick wondered.
"It's not my fault you're too slow. Maybe you need a balanced diet."
"That's rich coming from you who needs to eat more." Dick poked his friend's ribs, who let out a squawk. "I think I can feel your bones from here."
"Now that's a bit of a stretch," And there was that shit-eating grin.
This was why Dick loved his best friend. Someone who shared his mutual love for puns.
"And I had a lot of practice when being chased by bullies." Danny dryly said.
"Boys." A familiar voice called out.
Dick looked up and saw Bruce standing there by the door, who tried to look stern but the twitch of his lips was a dead giveaway.
"Sorry Bruce," Danny sheepishly said, before he knocked Dick off of him.
"Hey!"
His friend just sticks his tongue out childishly. Bruce shook his head in amusement while Dick pulled his friend up, who stumbled clumsily. Sometimes he wondered how his friend can be fast yet lack the grace after that.
"I believe Alfred has snacks ready for you…after you both showered," Bruce eyed at their state.
Danny straightened his shirt while approaching Bruce. "Bruce, ya mind controlling your ward?"
"Hey!"
Bruce only raised an eyebrow. "You don't know your friend that well. Dick is not someone I can control." The unspoken 'Unfortunately' was heard.
Danny and Dick gave him identical cheeky grins. And they can see the pained look in Bruce's eyes as if afraid of their own mischiefs.
"I really don't want to know."
"Too bad, Bruce. Too bad." Dick said.
"Hn."
"I better hit the showers then," Danny wrinkled his nose when he sniffed his shirt before walking past Bruce, who ruffled his raven-haired friend playfully.
"Also your room is ready, Danny," Bruce said, his eyes almost glinting in fondness. Sometimes, Dick thought if it weren't for the fact Danny already had foster parents, Bruce would have taken Danny in a heartbeat. Hell, Danny could have passed for Bruce's son with that black hair and blue eyes. That was one uncanny resemblance.
"Dick, are you done with your homework?"
Dick groaned as he snatched a white towel nearby. "I was busy looking at the case, you know."
His guardian shot him a disappointed look while Danny cackled from the hallway. Dick huffed. Traitor! Maybe he should get a superhero friend than a civilian one.
"So what's the case about?" Danny asked as Dick caught up with him.
"It's kind of boring, you don't want to know."
"Hmm." Danny just nodded. "You going out tonight? Do I have to wait for you in the bat cave monitoring the situation?"
Dick snorted. He loved his friend, really he did. But—"Last time you did that, you managed to crash the Batcomputer. I'm pretty sure Bruce banned you from that, actually."
Danny pouted.
Bruce hadn't been pleased initially when Danny had figured out their secret ("Of course, my best friend is smart to put two and two together, Bruce."), going so far as to growl and nearly threaten his friend, who had been unfazed by the interrogation. And something about Danny's words must have put Bruce at ease eventually because the next day, Dick had to watch those two talking casually to one another. And Bruce smiling? The world must be ending because for Dick, who had known Bruce to be the most paranoid and secretive man on earth in regards to their nightlife, was 'chill' about his best friend knowing about it.
Of course, Dick was thrilled to have someone who he didn't have to try to hide that aspect of his life. And that it was Danny, who he didn't need to pretend and not worry about accidentally spilling secrets (not that Dick was terrible at hiding one) and his only link to the life he had before in Haly's circus.
"Race to the showers," Danny exclaimed, interrupting his thoughts as his friend dashed past him with a giggle.
"Oh no you don't!"
...
Four years since Dick's timer began and he still had no clue who his soulmate was. Oh, he tried. He had used B's resources to scour through the ER footage during that day but no one had approached him outside his family except one doctor and a couple of nurses, who were all cleared with their own soulmates.
It made Dick wonder. Did his soulmate not know? Did they ever look for him the way he did? Or did they just know and panic when they saw the timer on his wrist? Or did they just not like him?
Bruce had discouraged his search. Soulmates were just a distraction, he would say. Not in their line of business, sure. And even though Dick loved being Robin, the urge to find them was always in the back of his mind.
Even if their time was coming closer to an end, Dick still wanted to meet his soulmate at least. Sure it would be heartbreaking, and he's sure Bruce was worried he would get attached to his soulmate having known grief too well. Dick wouldn't get to experience the fairytale-like all other people dream of when it came to soulmates. But he also had years to come to the terms with that fact, even though it still brought a melancholy feeling in his chest.
Maybe the reason Dick hadn't stopped looking for them was because of Dad's words to him.
"Whoever your soulmate is, treasure them. Make the most of it."
And ever since his parents died, it just made Dick more desperate than ever to go looking for his soulmate. Someone who was his was going to die in two years, and he just wanted to make the most of the time left with them. It was the least he can do for his soulmate. Be there for them until the end.
Their end.
And that was a problem with Dick. He cannot pretend not to feel. He's not Bruce. He just can't help but care for his soulmate, even though this person was a stranger, more of a concept to him really, Dick just wasn't the kind of person who can let go. He would do everything in his power to at least save them if he can.
"Hey," a hesitant voice spoke up.
Dick looked up from his pillow to see Danny standing there by his bedroom doorway. He gave him a smile, "Hey."
But Danny seemed to always see-through his bullshit because he said, "What's wrong?" His eyes zeroed in on his wrist and let out a sympathetic noise.
Dick just covered his timer with a wristband. He hated the looks he'd get whenever people noticed his timer. The many times he had to brush off all those questions and pitying looks…he'd hated that. And even more that he still didn't know who his soulmate was, which made everything worse.
"You still haven't let go of them," Danny said quietly, almost amazed at the thought which sort of irked Dick.
"You know me for years, of course I would," he almost snapped. He had gotten enough of those from Bruce, he didn't need one from his friend, who flinched back at his tone.
"I'm sorry, it's just…I'm worried about you, Dick."
Doesn't everyone? But it was different coming from Danny, his only connection to his old life, who knew how much soulmates meant to him after his parents.
"I'm worried about the after. Worried that you won't climb out of a hole that you seemed to build yourself."
Dick sighed. He was more concerned about the lost time, if he's honest, than the aftermath. He's failing to be the soulmate that his other half needs. They needed him, wherever they were.
A chuckle interrupted his thoughts. "You always take any loss, even a stranger, more personal, Fly Boy."
He resisted the urge to roll his eye. Count Danny to try to lighten the mood.
It's just…what was he supposed to do? Everyone had tried. They had their own ideas how to approach when your soulmate's time was coming to an end. There were even a lot of self-help books about that. But it all sounded meaningless in Dick's ears. How can an eight-year-old, who would barely understand the concept of death, cope with that? How can a twelve-year-old just accept the inevitability? The universe had a funny way to make Dick's life as miserable as possible. And it didn't help that everyone seemed against his optimistic hopes of finding his soulmate. What was everyone's problem for discouraging the one thing that was his? It was only Dick's right. Not theirs. And he just hated that.
That nobody seemed to be on his side for that matter.
A warmth arm wrapped around his shoulder, bringing the present to focus. Thoughts about his soulmate that always gave a waging war in his head, yet a simple touch brought a calm in his storm: a serenity that he'd needed.
Dick was greeted by concerned blue eyes, heavier than ever, staring right at him. "Hey," Danny whispered.
Of course. Except for Danny.
"Maybe they don't want to be found." He continued.
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe they're scared," Danny's hesitant voice broke through his inner turmoil.
Dick's brows furrowed. "Scared?"
"Maybe they're scared that you would be disappointed in them." There was a funny tone that Dick couldn't decipher from his friend, the way Danny kept glancing everywhere else but him. It reminded him of the early days when Danny used to be shy and skittish.
"Why would I be disappointed in my own soulmate?" That idea was so ludicrous.
Danny just fumbled his own fingers. "Well, you're You. Amazing. Brilliant. Funny —" The corner of his lips quirked upwards. "Debatably. Strong. Talented. Charismatic. Why wouldn't they feel small, a plain-old soulmate, just next to you?"
Dick's eyes narrowed, a suspicion forming. "Is this about your soulmate?"
Blue eyes widened in panic. Ha! Bingo.
"I'm sure whoever your soulmate is, you'll love them. And they'll love you. Why wouldn't they?" Dick said. What not many people know about his witty friend was that Danny was secretly insecure and had self-esteem issues. Though that may have something to do with his upbringing before Danny came into his life, which was something that his friend still kept a tight lip about his life on the streets...
"This isn't about me," Danny tried to deny it. "This is about you."
Still, Dick couldn't help but feel bad. Here he was, wallowing in his own issues with a patient friend like Danny just listening to him. But when had Dick done the same for him? When had he taken the time to really ask about Danny's life? His interest, hobbies, and his foster parents. When was the last time Danny opened up about himself? God, Dick was such a bad friend. Danny had to travel a long way, for hours, from Illinois to here for a sleepover, just for him, only to deal with Dick's pathetic worries.
God dammit. Dick was such a mess.
"I don't really care about soulmates," Danny tried to wave it off. But Dick wasn't a fool. "Really. I don't. I care about you."
Dick held back a sigh.
"I'm worried that you'll feel alone after."
"But I won't be," Dick said.
He'd already scoured through all the research articles and books if changing the timer was possible. But they all said the same thing.
That you can't fight against fate.
"Even though my soulmate will be gone, I'll still have you," Dick said, allowing himself to rest his head on Danny's shoulder. He closed his eyes, letting himself bask in the warmth of his friend's arms. The only stable thing in his life. His rock to lean on.
"Right," Danny said quietly, almost breathless.
It sounded mournful just as Dick felt about his soulmate out there. And Dick really appreciated that his friend understood that and was there for him.
"Stay with me?"
"Always."
…
"So," Donna eyed the two. "You two were raised together?"
"Yup," Dick said, popping the 'p' before he threw his arm around the eyed-wide Danny. "He's practically family."
That statement seemed to make Danny glow with that dopey smile on his face, and the way he seemed to melt under Dick's arms.
"So…like a brother?" Donna nodded in understanding. The black hair and blue eyes were there if you ignore the skin tone.
"Hmm."
Danny, meanwhile, spluttered incomprehensibly that sounded suspiciously like pained noise, as if he found the idea offensive. Dick just rolled his eyes. His friend acted like it was 'cooties'.
Dick was greeted at the sight of a skeptical look on Donna's face. He just shrugged at her.
...
"I don't think your soulmate would want that."
Dick's head whipped around, away from the Batcomputer that showed a picture of Lazarus Pit.
Danny climbed up towards the platform, his mouth in a thin line in obvious displeasure.
"Did you know my foster parents are ecto-biologists that studied this kind of stuff?" At Dick's surprised look, his friend chuckled. "Yeah, that. Those green glowing water looked like something they'd been studying. I mean, I don't really believe their work but from what I read of their papers and this," He gestured to the screen. "It's bad."
Dick's brows furrowed.
"If it was me," There was something heavy in the way Danny emphasized that. His serious gaze looked at him, almost through his soul rather. "I wouldn't want to be brought back by those glowing sewers. I mean, insanity? It's not worth it, Dick. We shouldn't mess with the laws of life, ya know."
Dick glanced back at the screen, considering. Was he that desperate? To use the Lazarus Pit to bring back his soulmate?
Dick was startled when he was shaken by Danny, who was gripping both of his shoulders tightly.
"Promise me that you won't do that, Dick." There was desperation in that tone. The way Danny looked at him, fearfully made his insides melt away, concern brimming on the edges. "Please."
"Of course," Dick nodded, giving it all to Danny.
His friend smiled brightly, relief evident in his eyes. The sight of his friend made the heavy weight on his shoulder that Dick hadn't even notice melted.
Danny nodded before taking a step back, taking his touch away with him as his eyes scanned the screen. Dick was almost disappointed at the loss of warmth before he shook his head, turning away to pull off the wristband.
One look at it made him deflate, all the optimism and hopes he had held for so long disappearing into the wind.
0 years, 4 days, 19 minutes, 40 seconds.
A warmth hand on his shoulder calmed his anxiety, grounding him. Soft blue eyes meet blue, filled with empathy that made the walls Dick had built shatter into million little pieces that he couldn't help but break down. This time, a warmth enveloped his whole being, Danny's fingers playing with the curls at the nape of his neck that reminded him of the way Mom used to do this to him. For once, Dick just wanted to be selfish. He wanted to let go of the mask that he was tired of wearing just to assure everyone that he was fine. He wanted to curl under his blankets like the little kid he used to be when things got harder. He just...didn't want to be strong right now.
Dick's eyes fluttered shut as he leaned into the touch, shivering when his friend tightened his embrace, making him flush against him. He was so sure that Danny could hear his heart racing in anxiety, so full of scars hidden from everyone but his best friend. Yet–
It felt right.
...
His friend decided to cheer him up with parkour across the city when The Day finally arrived. Even though Dick was the one equipped with a grappling gun, his friend didn't have trouble keeping up with Dick Grayson, or Robin in this case.
Danny glanced back at him, now ahead of him, his expression of cheekiness evident, despite the lower part of his face covered with a mask and hoodie meant to cover the hair.
"Catch me if you can, slow poke." He said teasingly.
That just sparked competitiveness in him as Dick rushed up to catch up with his hooded friend. Laughter rang across Gotham as two boys just enjoyed the thrill and the rush of air as they flew over the buildings.
"So what's up with your family?" Dick asked, biting on his sandwich, finally taking a break.
Danny shrugged, his legs just hanging over the edge of the roof, before taking a bite of his sandwich. "I think my foster parents are close to finishing the Ghost Portal."
"Really?" Dick was still skeptical about that one.
"Hmmm." Danny's eyes turned thoughtful, seemingly lost.
Dick followed his gaze and saw the sun was setting.
"I wish I could see the stars today," his friend said, longing evident in that tone.
"We can go to the observatory next time you'll visit," Dick offered. "I'll take you the best one. Promise." It was the least he can do for Danny anyway for coming today.
Danny's expression turned wistful. "Yeah, next time I'll visit," he said, almost ruefully.
…
"Dick?"
"Yes?" Dick said sleepily, with a phone on his ear that has been ringing for who knew how long. His cheeks were still flushed red from crying earlier at the loss of his soulmate. Gone from the world now. Everyone had expected it, really. Dick was only the fool one who thought otherwise.
"Is Danny still there?" Jazz's voice interrupted his thoughts. And something about her tone brought an uneasiness that Dick didn't like.
Hmm? Danny?
"No, he left a few hours ago." His mind was still sluggish. Besides, it's only like a 12-hour drive from Gotham to Amity Park.
"I have a bad feeling about this, Dick. I found a goodbye letter from him."
That snapped Dick awake, bolting up from his bed as he put on his slippers, dashing out of the room.
"Dick…I think Danny is missing," Jazz hesitantly said.
And that shattered Dick's whole world.
No, no, no, no, no.
"No, the bus must have broken down or something," Dick muttered to himself, striding down the hallway.
"But with a goodbye letter?"
Not him. Not Danny.
Instead of being greeted with the usual serenity he'd always associated with Danny's name, now his best friend's name sent a stroke of dread, combined with panic, fear, and concern all into one that just shock him through his core.
It reminded him of the time he froze on the platform, watching the resignation that washed over his parents' expressions before the rope snapped.
Dick can't lose another person. He just can't.
He'd already lost his soulmate. It hurt but—
It was a long time coming, he thought grimly, letting go of the thread that had dominated his whole life more easily. Not when the one thing that mattered was Danny.
Who he can't lose.
Not Danny. Never him. Dick physically can't bare the thought of his life, his whole world really, without him. The one guarantee. The one stability of his life who knew everything about Dick, cutting through his masks, seeing his bullshit, sharing just everything. His rock to lean on.
In all his whirlwind madness and single-minded focus to find his soulmate, Danny had always been there since the beginning.
Danny has always been a constant thing, orbiting around Dick's world.
Dammit. All this time, Dad told him to treasure every single moment. That life was too short to be worried and live with regrets. That's the words that Dick had to live with since his parent's deaths.
What Dick should have done was spend more time with his best friend, the most important person in Dick's life, instead of moping around for a soulmate who didn't want to be found in the first place.
God dammit!
Self-loathing was just bubbling underneath the surface.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a cough. Bruce was standing there between him and the entrance to the Batcave. Dick clenched his fist, turning the phone off.
"Out of my way, Bruce," he grunted as he tried to push past Bruce, but a strong grasp on his shoulder stopped him.
Dick was ready to snap at his mentor, bite him be damned if he had to, but the look on Bruce's face stopped him.
So grave. Dreaded. And hollow.
And he only just noticed the way his mentor's grip on him was trembling. And that scared Dick, for one brief moment, because what could have happened to make the fearless Batman reduced into a shattered man in front of him?
"There's something I have to tell you. It's about Danny."
That froze him.
…
Dick stared at the crash site, his gaze empty and forlorn. The wreckage. The bloodbath. A bus that had been plunged out of the road, the screech marks evident where it took a sudden turn right, that had rolled off the highway before it landed on its head just on the edge of the slope, damaging the bus beyond repair. He could even spot a dead deer laying on the bushes a few feet away—which painted a gritty picture that Dick can almost imagine how it happened.
He took a hesitant step forward, ignoring transport officials and emergency medical people rushing towards the scene. The sound of cops radioing with their reports:
"All the passengers were found deceased by the roadside, all accounted for. All were declared dead on the arrival. The crash happened around 1:47 AM, Saturday."
He clutched onto the railing, his eyes darting back and forth the scene in front of him.
"—The bus driver lost control of the vehicle—"
Oh god, the blood was everywhere. It was like a massacre. Through the broken windows, he caught the ER24 transporting the bodies. Blank eyes stared at the sky before they were covered with a white sheet.
"Death toll of fourteen people—"
Just the same age number as his soulmate.
…
"What is it?" Dick didn't notice that he was clutching onto his mentor's shirt, the hysteria more evident. Did someone kidnap his friend? Hoping to ransom him against Dick? It wouldn't be surprising since Danny was well known in the public as Richie Wayne's best friend, no matter how much they'd tried to hide it for privacy reasons. But it didn't make sense with a goodbye letter that apparently his stupid best friend thought he could—
"I-I…" Bruce hesitated.
"TELL ME!"
The silence was deafening, except for the sound of his panted breath. Bruce's eyes turned stormy, and solemnly said:
"Your friend Danny…is dead."
…
Danny blinked blearily, his cheek pressed against the glass window, awoken from his slumber.
Reluctantly, he turned off the alarm he'd set on his phone that had awoken him earlier. An alarm that would remind him just a few minutes before his inevitable death.
It hadn't been hard to do the mental calculation from Dick's wrist, pinpointing it to the exact time and death. Though Danny had no idea where and how he'll die…it didn't matter. All that mattered was he didn't want Dick to see him in his last moments.
That sent him a pang of regret. The What-ifs echoing in his head on what-could-have-been.
He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand before he stretched out his back from the long hours seated in this bus, well as much as he could anyway, letting out a groan at the sound of the crack it emitted.
While doing that, he took the time to examine where he was again. All of the passengers here were asleep, except the bus driver, a smart move to take the night shift if you're going on a 12-hour road trip from Gotham to Illinois.
But I guess I was going to die before I get there anyway.
Out through the window stood a forest filled with tall trees, he could barely see the night sky. It made Danny feel mournful as he clutched his purple backpack close to him. He had hoped at least to see the stars before he goes, something to lull him before death takes him.
I only have minutes.
He'd never imagined that his death would be a bus accident, of all things, or that he'd die on the road, but he'd supposed that was one way to off Danny Fenton.
Oh, Dick.
…
Dick kept his arms out in front of him, keeping balance on the slope despite the fact that he was used to gravity, but he didn't want to create a disturbance as the rain started.
The patter of the rain was getting heavier and more constant, big fat drops of it splashing on the back of his neck. But what made him gasp was the sight of a familiar purple bag laying there in the bushes.
The patter turned into a rush. Dagger of icy rain slicing into him as he jogged towards the bag. After a few shuffling steps, he dropped to his knees, instantly destroying his pants as the wetness seeped through the fabric. He raked his hands in the sludge in front of him before managing to untangle the branches sticking to the bag. Dick kept a tight grip on it, afraid to let go of one of the things that were his.
He buried his nose in it, and despite the sludgy mud and blood, he can detect his comforting scent.
"Come on, Dick," Blue eyes full of laughter greeted him, beckoning him to come. And Dick followed, of course, with no hesitation.
Dick quickly stood up and turned a full circle, wondering if he was imagining his voice as swept through the flashes of blue and red blinking amongst the crowded emergency aids;
"One teenager must have crawled out of the bus—"
Oh god, the horror gripping tight on his chest, sinking in. Dick didn't realize he was moving in, his ears ringing—
Danny.
…
"YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO DO THIS TO ME, BRUCE! YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS MY SOULMATE!"
"Dick—"
"I could have saved him if I had known it was him!"
…
I'm so sorry, Dick…
…
His chest ached from the cold.
Dick could barely feel his toes even though he was dashing past the protesting cops trying to shield him from what was sure an ugly sight, but Dick didn't care. That was his best friend. His soulmate. Even though his fingers were numb, he had no trouble avoiding darting hands that were trying to intercept him.
He followed the drag marks leading onto the slope, leaving behind a bloody trail. The horror deepened as it went upwards towards the road. Oh god.
When he managed to climb back up, his feet stopped dead when his mind registered the familiar red plaid sleeves in front of him before following it. Bloodied. Torn and ripped that he could barely catch pale white skin underneath it before blank-blue eyes stared at him, so lifeless.
Dick didn't even notice a scream tore out of him as he collapsed next to it. No, him, he corrected as he dropped the bag next to him.
He swallowed and slowly began to survey the rest of the body, not his face. It lay bathed in blood on the middle of the road, wet stains on the front that was once a white shirt but was now covered in mud and blood. Arms and legs were bent at awkward angles. Once that was grace and flexible, but now the horrifying image ensnared his mind at the unnaturalness, forever to salt the memory of what once was.
His hands hesitantly reached out, almost afraid to touch because if he did, it would be a confirmation, no hope even though the zeroes on his own wrist were proof enough as he finally surveyed his soulmate's face.
Parted lips greeted Dick. Lips that used to give him a playful grin, which had once been the source of Dick's joy, when that mouth let out a laugh that was just music to his ears. But now it was blue and unmoving, with the rain washing away the blood.
The sight tore him to shreds.
No, no no, no no…
His handsome face…his skin was so clammy and white like a ghost, filled with scratches and cuts, blood dripping on the temple. Blue eyes that would usually hypnotize him, that would make Dick feel energized and carefree, the one feature that he always adored about his friend, was just gone. No longer bright. No longer filled with life. Just a dull shade of blue. Unfocused. Glassy.
Soulless.
And it was only because of that made Dick finally give in to the touch. He pulled his dead soulmate into his arms, shivering uncontrollably from the skin contact as matted black hair rested on his arm with one hand cupping his cheek. Instead of the warmth that Dick was used to associating with Danny which was so comforting, he was greeted with icy cold skin. Something that he'd seen a lot in his vigilante career when he failed to save a few victims.
But never had he thought it would be someone he knew.
That it would be Danny.
Cold and lifeless in his arms.
No longer warm.
…
"No. Fuck you, Bruce! Fuck you."
"I'm sorry—"
"FUCK YOU! IT WASN'T YOUR CHOICE TO MAKE. IT WAS MINE." Dick breathed heavily. "He was mine."
The knowledge was now hitting him. Oh god.
Danny was his.
All this time.
His soulmate was Danny.
He had already cried to his sleep when the timer was full of zero. The unbearable weight was so heavy. He'd heard losing a soulmate was like losing a part of himself. But now it became heavier when he realized the cause of this feeling was Danny.
He could have prevented this.
Bruce could have prevented this.
"I will never forgive you for this, just so you know." Dick seethed at him.
Bruce flinched back. Good, he thought darkly. His mentor deserved it.
Dick turned his back on him, striding towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To find him."
…
Dick choked back the sobs, heart thundering in his ears, his body shaking as he buried his face onto his soulmate's neck, catching his scent: musky with a hint of fresh lemon emanating from within, but also tinged with metallic copper now.
It just made his chest rattled, full of anguish and despair.
"Sir, let go of him."
"Leave him. That's his soulmate. See the way he looks?"
"Oh poor him!"
Dick was so stuck on the idea of a soulmate when he should have been stuck on what was solid and real in front of him.
All along, the soulmate he was looking for had been the one by his side.
I shouldn't have let you go.
But now he was gone.
Oh god, Danny.
His mind was stuck on the words: solid but cold. Real but lifeless. Empty and soulless.
Please don't let this be real.
Dick clutched his eyes tight, tears streaming down his face, urging his mind to wake up from this nightmare, crying and praying, if he had to.
Please don't leave me.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
…
I'm sorry that I won't be able to grow old with you.