when i was a kid, i thought i'd save the world

[hackingyoursensors]

Who: Dick Grayson hackingyoursensors and YOU
What: August catch-all feat. dream-sharing and a special appearance by Nightwing
When: Throughout August
Where: Primarily Central City & the dreamscape
Content Warnings: Possible references to death and torture.

Comments

[hackingyoursensors]

[ He snorts and shoves back. ]

I don't know, being on a debate team with Babs is enough to destroy anyone's ego. [ He says this fondly, of course. Even after knowing her so long, his crush on her is still massive and embarrassing for everyone around him. ]

At least that's keeping it in the family, I guess.

[reneger]

( being involved in any kind of intellectual battle with babs is enough to destroy someone's ego. jason should know: he's done it numerous times. not at this age; he'd met her a few times, worked alongside her, but it was nothing more than the occasional team up. which--is quite the same for dick, isn't it. there were no drives to school together, no matching uniforms, no usurping all of dick's school records. it reminds him that this isn't how it went, this isn't real, this isn't jason's life.

even if he wishes it was.

jason leans into dick again, but it's not to shove against him. his nose scrunches up, and he's--sniffling in a way that hints at crying, but there's no visible tears. not yet. )

Could always be worse. Could be Garth kicking your ass.

[hackingyoursensors]

[ Language, master Jason, Alfred says from the driver's seat.

It doesn't take a world-class detective to notice the shift in Jason's mood. He ruffles Jason's hair gently. ]

Something else is bothering you. Wanna talk about it?

[reneger]

Sorry, Alfie.

( it's grumbled softly; jason leans into dick when he ruffles his hair. hesitantly raises an arm to wrap it around him. . )

No. I just--I wish this was real.

[hackingyoursensors]

[ Dick reciprocates with a tight hug, though he's clearly confused.

The dream wavers at the edge a little, as one of the dreamers has become aware. ]

What do you mean?

[reneger]

( he doesn't answer at first. just curls into dick tighter despite the fact they're in a moving vehicle and he is still buckled in. the seatbelt can handle it. )

Don't worry about it.

[hackingyoursensors]

[ He just sighs deeply and gives Jason a strong hug. The dream wavers again, slightly, and mist starts to cling to the outside of the window. Alfred still drives on, charting an unseen path. ]

You know saying 'don't worry about it' does the opposite with me, right?

[reneger]

I know.

( but he doesn't take it back either. just sucks in another breath that feels almost foreign; he feels too big for his body, less in the literal way and more--all the shit that wants to pour out of him. jason doesn't successfully prevent the tears from leaking out, but he is quiet about it. )

[hackingyoursensors]

[ Dick notices the tears, but he says nothing. Cold fog presses against the glass until it's seeped into the car, obscuring everything except for Dick and Jason.

Dick is no longer seventeen, but twenty-one. Physically, he's a little broader than before but the change is mostly in exhaustion permeating him.

His voice is soft, like he's talking to himself. ]

I wish this was real too.

[reneger]

( dick gets older, but jason - gets younger. smaller, scruffier. he goes from being closeish in age to dick to maybe twelveish, even if he's significantly smaller than anyone would expect from a tween. stays pressed against dick regardless, even if he's also--pulling his legs up as if he could make himself even smaller if he curls in on himself. )

It's not on you. It never was.

[hackingyoursensors]

[ Dick puts his arm around Jason, affectionate but sad.

His voice cracks. ]

The one time you needed me, I wasn't there.