So, because I've made you wait so long for the next chapter I'm giving you a nice preview that I think you'll all like as an apology for the continued wait. This chapter is kicking my ass because I really wanna make it good for you, so please bear with me!
In the meantime, enjoy!
When Dick woke up it was morning. He felt hazy, disoriented, like he was hungover, but he didn't remember drinking anything. In fact, he didn't remember much. He thought back, confused, ignoring the twinges of pain throbbing through his temples. He remembered getting ready for patrol, having his usual bowl of cereal and then… nothing. Blackness.
"Jay?" He called shakily, sitting up on the bed and holding on to his aching head.
"Hey, Goldie." Jason greeted as he came into the room, dressed in nothing but a pair of low riding grey jogging pants. He kept his voice low in deference to Dick's headache, sitting on the bed next to him.
Dick looked at him, blinking a few times and wincing. "Jay… What happened?" he wondered. "My head is killing me and I don't remember anything…"
Jason sighed. "I drugged you."
"…What?" Dick stared at him, eyes wide with shock and betrayal. "I'm sorry, you did what?"
Jason had pondered lying, telling Dick that he'd been hit on the head during patrol and that he needed to stay off the streets awhile to nurse the concussion, but it just didn't play out for him. He couldn't lie to that face, and Dick was not a child for him to coddle. He deserved the truth.
"Let me explain why I did it, then you can beat on me until you feel better about it, but I was backed into a corner, Goldie…"
He told him everything about it, how he'd called Bruce behind his back, how freaked out he was about how Dick had been acting, what they had found out about Dick's stalker and how they had threatened Jason. He said it all in a clinical monotone, a familiar tone that they all used when they were reporting facts on a case. Dick listened, pushing past the headache, and watched the emotions burn behind Jason's eyes as he went through it all.
"So, let me get this straight… Not only did you drug me, you also lied to me, talked to Bruce behind my back and tried to go after whoever is doing this while keeping me out of the loop?" Dick said in an equally clinical voice, making Jason wince and look away, the younger man's jaw tightening as he steeled himself.
"Yeah, that's the gist of it." He told him, bracing.
Dick looked at him, silence reigning for a few moments before he just reached out and buried his face in Jason's stubbly neck. He was always warm, Dick thought to himself, warm and rough. "I should kick your ass." He said, "But… the thought of you and Bruce and Tim all working together like that without fighting is… Heh, it's better than Christmas."
He broke out in a wide, watery smile, holding on to Jason tightly while the younger man just looked a little stunned. Dick squeezed him tight and continued. "I have these fantasies, you know? Of bringing you home with me and having it be okay. Not perfect, not forgetting what's happened but just having everything be okay and you letting us be your family again. I know I messed it up the first time around, I know I should have been there more and made sure Bruce was there for you too, and we weren't, not like we should have been. I just wanted to love you like you deserve to be… And if you and Bruce could set aside your differences even for an evening… Then this is all worth it."
Jason stared at him, confused and shocked, not knowing what to say. "D-Dick…"
Dick cupped his face in both hands, looking at him with this broken expression that just looked so damn grateful that it sent Jason's head spinning. Dick was genuinely, insanely happy about this and where Jason had been prepared for and expecting anger, he got this tenderness instead. And suddenly, he could see it too, patching things up with the family, playing by the rules, never being Robin again, but being a part of a family again. Of their family. It would be complicated and messy, he'd fuck up occasionally or Bruce would, or he'd step on someone's toes or bad memories would get stirred up. It would be far from perfect and it would probably be just as painful as it would be healing. And he could see it all because Dick wanted it so badly. Not only that, but Dick didn't want it because of some misplaced guilt or obligation, like Bruce would, Dick wanted it because he loved Jason. Because he cared for him.
"Heh. You're breaking my heart, Dickie…" he said, trying to make it a joke, but his voice shook too much. He touched Dick's cheek, trying to steady his hands, smiling faintly. "Let's just focus on getting this asshole and then… then we'll see." He murmured, shrugging a bit. "I'm pretty used to hanging around here now and I… I don't want to leave anytime soon."
Dick kissed him elatedly, all thoughts of betrayal or lingering headache forgotten.
Jason was going to come home.