-The journey back…is easier via stolen car.
A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit. -Arnold H. Glasgow
Crinkled and bloodied Dick's domino mask fluttered lightly to the rain soaked floor. Jason, suddenly all too aware of the sense of suffocation that his helmet brought on began to claw at it. His normally skilled fingers stumbled through the safeties; a shuttering gasp sucked through his lips once the revolting metallic hood was sent rolling away, eyes still obscured by the red domino mask that too was ripped away unceremoniously.
Swiping mercilessly at the tears that dared to struggle down his cheeks Jason turned a wild eyed gaze toward the fallen bird that laid limp beside his knees. "It's your fault. You should have been there…you should have saved him!" With an open palm Jason brought his hand down against Dick's cheek with a resounding smack, the other's flesh turning a tender pink and then a violent red under the abuse. The sensation of stinging flesh returned him to some level of rationality.
Tim let loose an outraged cry that fell upon deaf ears, Jason already readying to deliver another blow, if only for good measure. But in the swirl of black hair, fair skin, and brilliant bruising a pair of heart wrenchingly pained royal blue eyes cracked open. The sheer amount of failure and grief that gazed up at him was enough to still his stinging hand.
"You're right Jaybird, you're right…" Dick's whisper would have been an inaudible movement of lips to anyone but Jason, still the nickname was enough provocation to slap another bruise across the one that was surely already forming. It didn't seem to matter much though, by the time his hand connected with the fair skin of the golden boy those royal blues had already fallen shut once more.
Despite Tim's pathetic attempt to stop him, Jason hauled the blue bird over his shoulder with no concern for how it might further the injuries Dick had already sustained. He started toward the fire escape, being none too gentle with his human cargo. Wordlessly Roy swept up the annoyingly argumentative Robin that Jason had left behind; a quick jab to a well selected pressure point had the teen as obliviously compliant as his unconscious older 'brother.'
It wasn't an easy journey back to Wayne manor. The very sight of the looming mansion seemed to suck away what little life Jason still had in him. However the hum of the stolen car's engine comforted him to a certain degree. And though he'd never admit it, Dick's worsening pallor was enough motivation for him to barge right through the wrought iron gate.
No, it wasn't because Jason actually cared about Grayson, it wasn't that at all. He simply had to have the other live long enough to repeat that one phrase to him, the phrase he hoped when spoken lucidly would cleanse him of the guilt and regret he felt so suddenly invading his system.
"You're right Jaybird, you're right…"
AN: So, this chapter is pathetically short and crappy. You have my apologies, I just didn't know how to transition our lovely bunch of boys from the apartment to the manor and thus this utterly poo like filler was born. I promise a much longer brotherly fluff-ball in the next chapter, anyone else see Jason's big heart starting to bleed for his brother? Love as always to the reviewers.
P.S. For any YJ fans: Did anyone else notice that in the sneak peak clip for this week's episode, the Robin uniform shown briefly is Tim's version...on a boy who looks nothing like my beloved Grayson? Kara's appearance struck me as odd too, wonder what they're up to. Anyway I'll stop rambling.