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“C’mon! We’re losin’ daylight!” Jason called through the door, tapping his foot impatiently. “We’re gonna leave without ya if ya don’t get out here!”
“I’m coming! I’m coming!” Lian squealed as she ran by him, hoisting her backpack full of toys over her back. “Hurry up Tim!”
“He doesn’t mean that literally, Lee!” Tim called as he followed much more sedately. Lian, of course, was taking no chances. She was already in her booster seat and buckling herself in, Roy patiently waiting by the open door in case she needed help.
“You don’t know that.” Jason teased, giving Tim a little nudge out the door before he closed and locked it.
Tim caught himself on the wall and gave Jason a very unimpressed look.
Jason responded appropriately, as was his right as the big brother slash mother here, by cooing and ruffling the hair on his pup’s head. Tim squawked in protest and darted forward, sliding into the backseat of Roy’s truck before Jason could catch up.
Well, if he’d tried to anyway. Jason was a bit busy laughing his head off to do it. So instead, he slid into the passenger seat and let Roy drive.
Roy rested his hand on the top of the truck, leaning inside without actually getting in. “We got everything? Lian?”
“Tim helped!” Lian chirped, already unzipping her backpack. “I got three books for bedtime, five stuffies, LEGO’s, and my favorite Barbies!” Triumphantly, she grabbed one and brandished it in Jason’s face.
“I can see that.” Jason said dryly, eyes lingering on the close-cropped and choppy hair and the- hm. ‘Careful’ application of ‘makeup’.
“What about you Tim?” Roy asked.
“Is it too late to just leave me behind?” Tim sighed, head flopping back against his seat.
“Ha Ha.” Jason rolled his eyes and slid the chair backward until Tim yelped.
“Stop squishing me! Roy help!” Tim’s feet pressed into the back of Jason’s chair as he yanked them up.
“Ahh, much better.” Jason said as he stretched his arms out and settled backwards.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Roy laughed and slid inside the truck.
“Jay! Get off!” Tim grumbled.
Jason rolled his shoulders. “Did you hear something?”
“Papa! You’re gonna squish him flat!” Lian giggled.
“Eh? What’s that?” Jason’s grin was crooked.
“Papa!”
“Jason!”
“Alright, alright!” Jason slid the chair forward again before Roy could give him a LOOK. “Geesh!”
Tim pointedly kicked the back of Jason’s chair, just once, before he settled back in his seat with a grumble.
“You love me.” Jason said confidently.
“Unfortunately.” Tim sniped back, but Jason saw the kid’s smile before he forced it off his face.
Jason hummed and settled back in his own seat. They had a long drive ahead of them, but with this bunch? The time was going to fly by.
Nine Hours Later…
“I’m thiiiiirsty.” Lian whined, collapsed over the backseat.
“We’re almost there, Lee.” Roy said patiently, but Jason could see the twitch in his eyebrow, and hear the deep breaths he was taking to combat the annoyance itching at the edge of his scent.
“And hungry!” She rolled over, plopping her feet on the window.
“Don’t do that Lian.” Jason frowned, twisting in his seat. “That’s not safe.”
“I’m still buckled in!” Lian protested.
“Yeah, but if Roy crashed the truck right now, your ribs would be wrecked.” Tim said matter-of-factly.
“Wrecked?”
“Potentially crushed, but definitely broken. And with the way it’s wrapped around your torso, you could even squish some organs.” Tim explained. Lian’s eyes widened and she hastily straightened up.
“TIM!”
Tim blinked, wide-eyed and baffled-looking. “What? I’m right.”
“She’s six!”
If anything, Tim looked even more confused. “I was watching true crime documentaries at her age?”
“TIM!” Roy and Jason said at the same time, but this time in concern.
“What?” Tim repeated, looking between the three of them with an even more baffled look on his face and in his scent.
Lian reached over and patted his hand. “There, there.”
“Why are you looking at me like that?!”
One Hour Later…
“We’re here! We’re here!” Lian screamed as she slipped out of the truck and started running around the spot they’d finally parked at. The scent of pine was thick in the air as they left the truck.
“Not quite.” Roy grinned as he removed the tent bags from the truckbed. “We’ll need to hike a bit before we’ll really be there.”
Tim wrinkled his nose as he stepped outside. “Joy.” He said flatly.
“Awww, City Boy want his ‘lectronics back?” Jason teased as he pulled the grill out.
“You literally grew up in Gotham.” Tim complained as he flopped against the back of the truck. “You’re also a city boy.”
“Sure, but I left fer a couple years, I picked up a thing’r two.” Jason shrugged.
Tim made a noise of disgust, but grabbed his own backpack and fell in line as the little pack began to walk.
Up the trail they hiked, with Lian darting ahead of them, then waiting impatiently for everyone to catch up, before repeating the process. Tim, on the other hand, trailed behind. Occasionally, he would make a pointed comment about how they could literally walk in Gotham too, and did not have to come to the middle of nowhere for it.
Jason usually just laughed and ruffled his hair, or darted a hand out to tickle his pup.
Honestly? Jason was kind of thrilled that Tim felt comfortable enough to say any of it. The Tim that had first begun living with him those few months ago would never have done it, was always terrified that Jason would change his mind and kick him out if he ‘made himself a nuisance’.
So Jason was more than happy to take this as a sign that Tim was no longer worried about that.
With the way the pack was strung out, it was no surprise that Jason found himself hovering near Tim while Roy tried to keep pace with Lian’s energy. After all, someone had to make sure Tim didn’t ‘get lost’, and someone needed to make sure Lian didn’t run straight into trouble, as the littlest pup was so prone to do.
“Why DID we have to come all the way out here though?” Tim asked when Roy and Lian got far enough ahead of them not to hear. “Seriously. I get the idea of camping but… there were a lot closer spots.”
Jason hummed as he strolled along, eyes trailing over a patch of wildflowers. “It’s nice.” He said.
“Nice?” Tim repeated, somewhat incredulously.
“Yeah. Away from the crowds, don’t you jus’ feel a lil’... safer?”
Tim paused, shoulders hiking up for a moment before relaxing. “I… guess you’re right.” He admitted. “It’s pretty hard to relax when I’m always cataloging unknowns.”
This kid… Jason shook his head fondly. “Right. No one’s shootin’ at us, or tryin’ to get somethin’, none of that. No one’s gonna mug us in the middle of the mountains.”
Tim looked up, a more thoughtful look on his face as he looked around them. “...You’re right.” He said the words quietly, and with a degree of understanding Jason hadn’t heard in any of these conversations yet.
Jason smiled and roughly pulled his pup forward a few paces to stand by him. “C’mon, pup, we’re losin’ daylight! ‘N’ the others!” He laughed, and the two ran up the trail, Tim breathless with laughter, eyes shining, and cheeks pink by the time they caught up.
Together, the little pack finally arrived at their real camping site. The clearing Roy had chosen was deep inside the woods, far enough in and off the beaten path to guarantee isolation. The ground was flat, cleared of rocks, and the trees loomed over the clearing like sentries, hiding their position.
In a word, it was perfect.
The small pack quickly put together their campsite, working together, and finishing just as the stars came out.
Sitting back in his chair, the warm weight of Lian sleeping away on top of him, Jason looked up at the stars and took a deep breath in.
It’d been a long time since he could see the stars like this. Thousands of lights twinkled above him, spread out against a vibrant night sky. He was so used to seeing only darkness above him, or the dark gray of pollution-covered skies.
But seeing the stars out here? With nothing around him but trees and rock? No light or air pollution spoiling the view?
He’d never realized the night sky was blue. A dark blue, but blue nonetheless. And the way the stars lit it up? It made streetlights look like matches.
He’d forgotten just how amazing this sight was, since the last time he’d seen it, he’d been on his murder world tour. Even then, it hadn’t felt like this. He’d been too angry, too wary, to even think of stargazing like this.
It was so strange, feeling like he had permission to do it now.
Jason tilted his head to the other side of the fire. He could see Tim fast asleep, curled up in his own chair in a position that looked liable to break his back if he didn’t get moved to a real bed.
Jason’s eyes met Roy’s, and they smiled.
“I’ll get Tim if you get Lian?” Roy signed.
Jason nodded and slowly shifted, getting to his feet while supporting Lian, so she wouldn’t flop around. Bringing her to their tent, he carefully tucked her into the nest he’d crafted out of blankets and sleeping bags. A minute later, Roy joined them, nudging a sleep-groggy Tim towards the nest.
Tim mumbled something that might have been a goodnight or nothing but a groan. Jason couldn’t tell which, and it hardly seemed to matter. No sooner had his pup collapsed into the nest did he started sleeping again.
Jason took a photo of the pups, holding back a snicker as he ducked out of the tent, Roy just behind him.
“I would’ve suggested camping years ago if I knew Tim was gonna act that cute.” Roy laughed as they returned to the fire. “I don’t even think he waited five minutes before falling asleep!”
“That pup c’n sleep anywhere.” Jason agreed.
“No kiddin’.” Roy shook his head before the adults sat back down.
Roy and Jason stayed by the fire for another hour or so, mostly keeping to their own thoughts, but occasionally one would turn to the other and say something. An observation. A memory. Back and forth they traded stories until their eyes grew heavy and they packed themselves in for the night, entering the second, slightly larger, tent they’d set up.
The last thing Jason felt before he went to sleep was Roy’s arm wrapped around his middle, his warm breath ghosting over the back of his neck.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It started as it always did.
Jason was in a warehouse, bones aching, sobbing, in pain, and begging for it to stop.
The Joker was there, laughing, as he always was, his nauseatingly chemical scent burning his nose. Sheila’s cries as she pulled against her own ropes echoed through the room.
There was a part of Jason that knew what this was, that knew this nightmare so intimately it could do nothing else but acknowledge just how tired he was of this. That saw the nightmare coming and instead of getting scared, just said, ‘Really? This again?’
The crowbar raised, its shadow passing over Jason’s face. He clenched his eyes shut, pushed back against the chair as if that would stop what was coming. He waited for the metal to strike, for the beating to go on and on-
“Oh, where are my manners! I have grandma and mama, but where’s the pup? It’d be rude to send you on ahead of the poor dear!” The Joker suddenly said, and suddenly everything changed in the unquestionable way dreams always had.
Suddenly, Jason wasn’t a scrawny fifteen-year-old anymore.
He wasn’t in a warehouse either.
He was still tied to a chair, however, so when the Joker said, “Ah! Here he is!” And wheeled Tim out in a cage, he could do nothing but yank against his bonds.
“DON’T TOUCH HIM!” He roared, the pain in his wrists sharply increasing as he pulled and pulled, trying desperately to escape the chair and get to his pup.
“Such an adorable scrap of a thing, isn’t he?” The Joker beamed as he crouched by the cage. “I think I’ll keep him.”
“You MOTHERFUCKER-! I’ll kill you!” Jason snarled, but inwardly, he was panicking, breath coming faster and faster, his terror souring the air around him.
Tim keened as the Joker started to roll him away, one hand flying between the cage’s bars, eyes begging for Jason to save him, please save him-!
But Jason couldn’t do anything. He was stuck in place, forced to watch as the Joker took Tim away, whistling all the while.
“It’s me you want!” Jason begged. “Take me! Kill me! Please! PLEASE!”
“JASON!” Tim screamed-and screamed-and screamed-
“Jason!” Hot hands on his shoulders, the too-close press of another body-
Jason’s eyes flew open, and he snarled as he dove away, lashing out with a kick at his assailant. He heard a choked cry, spun around to face his assailant. His own scent filled his nostrils, decreeing My pup-danger-watch out!
Except it wasn’t the Joker. Or anyone else that was a threat, for that matter.
It was Roy, blood rushing down his face from a nosebleed.
Roy? Who did this to- Oh.
“Jason?” Roy asked slowly, hands raised in the air rather than tending to his injury. “Are you with me, man?”
“I-” Jason blinked and then pressed his fingers into his eyes. “Yes. I’m here.” The words were more of a whimper than he’d want them to be, but they came out.
“You were having a nightmare. Do you know where you are?” Roy asked, the words still slow-coming.
Camping. Sleepy pups. A beautiful night sky. Yes, Jason remembered. “Need to see Tim.” Was what he said instead, getting to his feet and swaying.
“I’m not sure that’s-”
“I need to see Tim.” Jason repeated, then marched outside the tent rather than wait for Roy’s agreement.
He honestly expected Roy to hang back, to wait in the tent for Jason to return. But he didn’t. Jason heard Roy’s footsteps land in the dirt behind him, his mate closely following behind as Jason carefully entered the pup tent, completely silent.
The pup tent was warm and cozy, the soft breathing of pups providing a gentle soundtrack of reassurance to Jason.
He crouched down, eyes zeroed in on Tim, who was clutching Lian as close to him as if she were a teddy bear. His chest moved up and down with his breathing, and Jason found himself counting out the breaths.
Tim was here. Tim was not being taken away. Tim was right where he belonged. With Jason.
Roy crouched next to Jason. “How many times has this happened?” He signed.
Jason didn’t much want to answer that. His nightmares… usually they were his own business. He slept on the couch most nights, specifically to prevent anyone from finding out. But, well, hiding didn’t seem to be an option anymore. “Since we got Tim back.” Jason admitted.
Roy frowned, his own eyes trailing over Lian’s sleeping form. “Why didn’t you tell me? Maybe I could have helped.”
“Used to it.” Jason shrugged. “Had nightmares my whole life. This is just…a different one.”
It wasn’t hard to figure out why. Bruce coming into his home, his nest, stealing Tim like that, while all Jason could do was watch-
Jason cringed away from the memory. Really, was it any wonder the two worst moments of his life had collided like that? The Joker’s cruelty, losing his pup; Jason had had many bad days since coming into this world. A LOT. But nothing compared to the agony of dying and the torment of that moment.
Roy sighed deeply, then put a hand around Jason’s shoulder. Despite himself, Jason found himself leaning over, head falling into the crook of Roy’s shoulder.
His own shoulders twitched, and Jason forced himself to keep breathing deep and even, because he was about two seconds away from crying if he didn’t.
“They’re here. They’re safe.” Roy promised. “We won’t let anything happen to them.”
Jason didn’t respond. He just breathed, taking in the comforting scent of his mate, that soothing motor oil-green apple scent that said safe-comfort-I’m here.
He closed his eyes and, for maybe the first time since he’d gotten Tim back, finally felt himself relax.
He knew Roy was watching too.
