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

[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.