#ok but the box it came in was hella big. i had to abandon it next to a random dustbin bc i couldn’t find any recycling corners (sads) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

starlightinhumanform · 5 years

Text

The Art of Love: Chapter 8

Fandom: She Ra (2018)

Ship: Glimadora

Summary: Two sleep deprived gays in a room. Chaos ensues.

Warnings (for this chapter): Mild language, (please tell me if anything needs to be added)

Genre: High School AU, Angst with a Happy Ending, Rivals/Enemies to Lovers, Eventual Fluff

A/N: This chapter is just a nice little break because I think we all need some crack fic after season 3. As always, there’s hella fluff just because... I like it. Anyways I decided to insert the headcannon that like me, Adora gets chattery and kinda loopy (read: flirty) when she’s tired. It was funny to me at least and it seemed to go along with Drunk Adora™️ All notes are so appreciated- especially reblogs!! I also love hearing what you think!! Love you all 🖤✨

Ao3 The Art of Love Masterpost Fic Masterpost Fic Request Info

They finished far sooner than Glimmer expected them to. At least finished as much as they could, leaving the freshly painted protons to be dealt with in the- well it already was morning- but later at least. Adora had wired the electrons’ form together with expert precision which had surprised Glimmer more than it should have; by now, she should have figured that Adora was basically an expert at everything. Well, almost everything. Apparently art wasn’t her strong suit because she had come spent most of her time threading the protons together multitasking by pausing to practically drool over Glimmer’s painting job.

In Adora’s defense, she was loopy- incredibly so. The lack of sleep had obviously caught up with her because she was acting ridiculous, all previously standard composure completely abandoned. She kept giggling at random things like her hair getting tangled in the wire (Glimmer had to help her untie it because Adora was far too enthusiastic about cutting her soft locks off). Worst of all, she kept leaning towards Glimmer, bumping her face against Glimmer’s shoulder, and cooing for god’s sake. She mumbled seemingly whatever came to mind and almost all it seemed to center around Glimmer. About her art, about her hair, about her eyes, about the posters on her walls. Once, she had leaned over, resting her weight on her elbow and just staring up at Glimmer from below. She hadn’t stopped until Glimmer had asked what was wrong.

“Nothing. You’re just really pretty.”

Oh.

Glimmer knew it was just the side effects of Adora’s exhaustion, that she wasn’t thinking her clear, logical thoughts she usually did and that she probably- no, definitely- didn’t actually mean it. That didn’t mean Glimmer didn’t squirm where she sat or that her throat didn’t make a strange gulping sound when she tried to swallow and that she didn’t blush deep red at Adora’s rain of compliments. Sometimes when Adora’s face found Glimmer’s shoulder she wouldn’t resist the urge to run her fingers through the blond hair and would let herself feel rewarded by Adora’s happy little hums. Her mind yelled at her to push Adora away but she was so close.

So Glimmer decided to let herself pretend- at least for now, at least for this half an hour while her overhead light meant her window was the only glowing window on her whole block. She could pretend that it was ok to like Adora and indulge herself in whatever the hell Adora was doing.

Despite Adora’s apparent drunkenness, she finished the part Glimmer had assigned her to aptly and faster than Glimmer would have guessed with all of Adora’s breaks to whisper into Glimmer’s side.

Adora placed the mildly dangerous looking piece of wire and clay down in front of her and plodded over to Glimmer comically on her hands and knees. She sat down with an oof behind her, stretching her arms loosely around Glimmer’s neck and placing her head on her shoulder.

Glimmer felt her body tense as she took a sharp inhale, “What are you doing?”

Adora started drawing away, “Oh sorry-“

“No it’s ok!” The words came out of Glimmer’s mouth so quickly she wasn’t even sure she had said them.

“Ok then,” Adora settled back into Glimmer’s back, as if it was more comfortable to be close than far apart. Glimmer let herself entertain the idea for just a moment before realizing it was ridiculous to think Adora would share Glimmer’s begrudgingly admitted feelings.

“But... what were you doing?” What the hell- she mights as well torture herself and entertain the notion, right?

“It’s just that this is how me and Cat hang out a lot.”

“Oh,” The timid little ball of warmth that had worked so hard to climb up Glimmer’s chest suddenly plummeted. Just the mention of Cat was enough to set Glimmer on edge, but the thought that Glimmer was just a temporary replacement, a stand-in for Cat? That was the poison her mind had been warning her about earlier, an insidious venom that made Glimmer sick to her stomach.

“I just assumed that’s how most friends act, ya know?” Adora continued on, completely unaware of Glimmer’s rushing thoughts only inches away. But hey at least she was trying to act like friends? The warmth began to rise again but it was sickly.

Glimmer huffed a laugh without actually laughing, “Why would you need to assume? You’ve got tons of friends.”

Adora shrugged, “I mean, I know a lot of people but I wouldn’t say I’m really close with any of them. Cat’s my only real friend.”

Adora’s voice was higher than usual and held an odd sing-song quality that made the whole, relatively serious conversation feel completely surreal.

“‘cept for you of course.”

“What?”

“You’re my friend too,” Glimmer could feel Adora’s smile on her neck as she spoke and Glimmer was worried she going to start glowing.

“Well that’s one good thing isn’t it?” Glimmer was smiling too now.

At some point Adora made the decision that the correct place for her head was in Glimmer’s lap, settling her face into the softness of Glimmer’s thigh. She looked up with quickly drooping eyes as Glimmer’s hands and paintbrush worked above her. Apparently she didn’t notice Glimmer’s pounding heart or screaming brain because she fell asleep quickly.

Glimmer stuttered through her remaining work because she kept gazing down at Adora, trying to comprehend how this had happened. Less than a week ago she had hated Adora- or at least thought she did- now, she was sitting with the girl curled in her lap like a snuggly cat and a throbbing crushing in her chest. It was too much for head to wrap itself around; especially if part of her mind was still in vicious denial.

Glimmer tried to sort through her options, sifting them through a mental filing system. She could try to be friends with Adora but that would risk her crush growing and that would be painful because obviously Adora would never return the favor. There was also the fact that Adora would probably get tired of her quickly and then that would really hurt and even if she didn’t, Cat held herself far above Glimmer and would never tolerate being around her so then Adora would have to choose between one of them and of course she would choose the friend she’d had for literally her entire life. Ok so what’s the alternative? Stop hanging out with her, push her away as far as possible. Her brain had an immediate answer, but it wasn’t without consequences either. Namely, it might hurt Adora’s feelings and Glimmer wasn’t sure she could stand to see sadness in those big blue eyes- especially if she knew she had caused it. And... Glimmer couldn’t bet on her crush wearing off just because she distanced herself from Adora. Now that Glimmer had ripped the top of Pandora’s Box off, there was no guarantee the flood of emotions that drenched her every time she looked at Adora would stop any time soon.

Glimmer finished painting and sighed, letting herself relax for the first time since Adora had texted her the evening before. She set down her brush and the last “proton.” There was nothing she could do until they dried and she let her shoulders slump forward. Glimmer could feel the exhaustion running through her very bones. She hadn’t pulled a night like this in a long time and it was definitely catching up with her. Her eyelids felt almost as heavy as Adora’s head in her lap. Adora.

She let her smile creep towards fondness as she looked down at Adora. She was too tired to listen to her stupid, crazy brain and anyways, even her thoughts were starting to get sluggish. It gave Glimmer the time to think- actually think- without having to compete with her own input. Adora looked peaceful but very very human. She struck Glimmer as perfect but somehow she had never seen someone look more real than Adora did in that moment. She looked absolutely and, with out a doubt, perfectly sincere- ah, so that’s the word she had been looking for.

Glimmer smiled as she slumped forward.

———————————————————————

When she woke up, she was hunched over Adora exactly where she had passed out. She couldn’t have fallen asleep for more than half an hour but it was long enough to develop one hell of a crick in her neck.

Her eyesight was nearly as blurry as her thoughts but she was aware of two things, the first being that the darkness outside her window had become marginally lighter and was beginning to shift from pure obsidian blue to gray. The other thing she knew was that there was something solid and yellow lying across her lap. Oh, it’s Adora.

Shit, ADORA. It suddenly hit Glimmer that it was morning and her mom would be here any minute and Adora was not only here but sound asleep and Glimmer had no idea how she was going to get her out of the house. Glimmer’s mom had made the habit of checking on Glimmer to make sure she made it to bed at least once in a night while she stayed up until her-mother-didn’t-want-to-know when. She would not be incredibly enthused to find her daughter curled on the floor with some strange girl that she had no idea about. But it wasn’t like Glimmer could throw Adora out onto the streets in a not so great part of town at 4:30 in the morning. Hell, she wasn’t even sure she could wake Adora.

“Adora, Adora, hey Adora. Wake up,” She shook the girl’s shoulders without being rewarded with any sort of response, “Adora!!”

The girl was completely gone and the only signs she showed of being effected at all by Glimmer’s continuous movement was the occasional noise. She might as well have been a large rock for as responsive as she was being. At least a rock wouldn’t piss Glimmer’s mom off so much, though.

Glimmer gave up, huffing and letting her hands fall to her sides. She stood up slowly and carefully so that Adora’s head didn’t roll off her lap with the inevitable clunk that comes with someone’s head hitting the floor (Glimmer knew about this sound because she had experienced it herself multiple times). She sighed through her nose and with her hands on her hips she realized how much she must look like some parent looking at their unruly child and saying “Now what am I going to do with you?” Gross.

Glimmer flopped the palms of her hands against her thighs for a moment before resolving to physically move Adora. She bent down, hooked her arms under Adora’s armpits, and lugged her own body upwards, hoping Adora’s form would move with her. Unfortunately, Glimmer soon found that Adora was roughly as heavy as a large rock as well. Maybe even a small boulder. Either that or Glimmer was somewhat weak. She shook her head- nah that couldn’t be it.

She tried a different approach this time, keeping her knees bent and tugging Adora as she scooted backwards in baby steps. She was able to swivel Adora so her feet were facing the door and her head was towards Glimmer’s bed. It was at this point that Glimmer realized there was a maze of wire and clay and whatever else she had piled up between them and the other side of the room; there was no way she was going to be able to navigate all that.

Glimmer groaned with her head thrown back before placing Adora back down as gently as she could and wincing when the girl slipped out of her arms a little too quickly. Ah, there’s the clunk. Glimmer was almost sure Adora would wake up as her head made contacted with the floor. When she made no movement whatsoever, it flashed across Glimmer’s mind that maybe the impact was enough to actually knock her out.

She pushed the thought aside and began moving the materials out of the way. It took at least ten minutes for Glimmer to reach the bed and in that time period she wasn’t able to figure out anything that resembled the next step. She had already found that she couldn’t lift Adora and even if she could, her mother would be even less happy with finding Glimmer in bed with some random girl.

Glimmer set Adora back down, placing the girl’s back against the mattress side. The only thing she could think of doing was attempting to wake Adora again. This time her rough shakes were successful and Adora sat up only slightly straighter than the position Glimmer had slumped her in. Adora turned her head as she looked around the room with bleary eyes as if she didn’t know where she was.

“Adora, thank god you’re alive- I mean awake. Look, I need you to hide,” Glimmer was whispering just in case her mom was home early by some odd twist of fate.

“Ooo ok,” Adora struggled to her feet, using one of Glimmer’s arms as an anchor to haul herself up. She began walking unsteadily to some unknown location in Glimmer’s room.

“Where the hell are you going?!”

“Hiding,” Adora twisted rather floppily to give Glimmer a conspiratorial wink.

She made her way to Glimmer’s closet, pulling open one of the paneled doors and slipping inside.

“Adora!” Glimmer hissed, “Come out of the closet!”

“Ok, I’m a lesbian,” Adora stage whispered from behind the door.

Glimmer couldn’t stop herself but laugh, hiding her face behind her hands, “Oh my god, you’re an idiot. Get out of there.”

Adora stuck her head out, grinning and Glimmer grabbed her wrist to pull the rest of her out into the room. It was strange how natural it felt- to interact with Adora, to grab her hand and laugh at her and with her and it was all very new but it was all very right. Once again, it struck Glimmer how quickly things had changed.

Adora clambered out of the closet and grinned at Glimmer, “So what’s up?”

“Oh, uh,” Glimmer ran her hands through her hair, “sometimes my mom will check on me and I think she’ll be pissed if she finds me sleeping with some strange girl.”

It took a second for what had come out of Glimmer’s mouth to second to sink into her brain, “Not like, ya know, sleeping together- we just both happened to be asleep. Together. Not even that close. Just like in the same room.”

Adora wrinkled her eyebrows, “Didn’t I fall asleep basically in your lap?”

Shit she remembers that?

“Oh yeah- ha- guess you did,” Glimmer tried for a smile.

Adora returned it with a genuine one, full of smugness that made the blood rush to Glimmer’s face, “So we were pretty close?”

“Uh, yeah, that it pretty close again,” Glimmer prayed that her blush wasn’t showing through, “I mean- um, I guess we were pretty close, yeah?”

Adora was stepping forward, laughing like a chime on the wind, “Is that a question?”

“I don’t think so...”

“You don’t sound so sure,” Adora was right in front of her now, smile close-lipped but still as playful and bright as ever. She swung her arms around Glimmer, clasping her hands behind Glimmer’s neck. Oh no no no no no no.

Glimmer was a gay disaster and her thundering heart couldn’t handle this shit. She wondered vaguely if she could die from- well she didn’t know what this was, but it sure felt deadly. It suddenly struck Glimmer that Adora was flirting with her, causing her to stare up at Adora with eyes filled with more terror than what was usually associated with someone attractive flirting with you.

Adora laughed and replaced her hands by her side before Glimmer’s mind could dissolve further into a tangle of short circuiting wires. Glimmer let out a sigh of relief but her heart sunk fast enough to make a splashing wave in her stomach. Adora’s hands were warm; warm enough to spread heat straight through Glimmer’s core. She looked up into Adora’s blue eyes, searching for answers in the mirth that swam there.

“Glimmer? Glimmer?” Adora’s face came back into focus wearing a grin, “You kinda spaced out there.”

Glimmer wished she could just stare into that blue forever without having to worry about anything else. But Adora was staring at her with a quirked eyebrow and confused smile, “Yeah sorry, just a bit out of it.”

Adora tilted her head to the side and let the ghost of her finger tips run along the side of Glimmer’s face. It made a shiver run down her spine and the breath in her throat glitch to a stop. This girl needed to stop before Glimmer just completely lost control of all her functions, “Well I’ve gotten a lot more sleep than you; you should let yourself rest until we need to get up in the morning.”

“Yeah, uh, about that; how are you getting to school?” Glimmer breathed out the words but it still didn’t feel like her lungs were working.

“Cat’ll pick me up in the morning. She always does.”

“Oh, uh, right,” Cat. Jeez, it was always Cat wasn’t it? She had gotten so worried about blocking herself from Adora that she had forgotten that Cat would actually keep Adora from her- physically.

“Don’t worry about me, though,” Adora’s grin beamed through Glimmer’s thoughts.

“I’m sorry, what?” Damn, am I being that obvious? Glimmer shook her head slightly, hoping it could sort everything in her head to an easy little set of boxes that she had never been actually able to create, “Why would I worry about you? Like, heh, what would give you the impression that I was worried about you? I’m not worried about you!”

Adora’s face fell immediately and the small expression made something twist in Glimmer’s gut. It was nothing like the smug, (dare Glimmer hazard it) flirty smile she had held on seconds before, “Oh, uh, you seemed to get really worried when I said that and I just thought maybe it was because I’ll have to walk a ways to where I get picked up but I was wrong and I shouldn’t have just assumed that you’d be thinking about me. It was stupid-“

“No! It’s not that it’s just-“ Glimmer couldn’t stand the way Adora had turned her head to the side, eyes downcast and only daring to make eye contact for a second before breaking it off to examine the floor. Nah, it was Glimmer’s job to be an insecure loser.

“It’s just what?” Adora’s eyes flashed up and help steady with Glimmer’s for longer. There was that sadness in them that made Glimmer’s heart crumple like a soda can.

Glimmer deflated. She wasn’t ready to let Adora only to be told she was reading into everything way too far; she wasn’t ready to get hurt, “It’s nothing.”

Adora managed to complete her transformation into kicked puppy, forcing a sigh out of Glimmer.

She composed herself. She could lie, she did it all the time- Adora was no different. Except she was different. Glimmer pushed the thought to the side and straightened like an actor preparing to step on stage, “I wasn’t worried about you because you can obviously take care of yourself so I have complete confidence in you.”

The effect was immediate, Adora’s face brightening like the sun breaking through clouds after a rain storm, “Oh, really?”

Glimmer raised her hand to cross a X across her chest and she was reminded of just how close they were, how little space there was between. But she had to continue, finish the act- for Adora and herself, “Yeah, really!”

It occurred to Glimmer that she was more or less doing exactly what she had accused Adora of. Just another thought for Glimmer to shoosh to the side, whispering that she had good intentions while she had thought Adora was just trying to recruit her... or whatever she had thought. It all seemed very far away now.

“Oh... ok,” Adora smiled and Glimmer could swear a lead jacket had fallen off her shoulders.

“So anyways,” Adora yawned, sentence broken by her never satisfied exhaustion, “What are we going to do about your mom or whatever? Do you, uh, do you want me to hide somewhere.”

She grimaced, glancing back at the closet she had climbed out of and Glimmer couldn’t stop herself from laughing, “I’m not going to force you sleep in the closet.”

Adora giggled, “Good- I’ve spent enough time in there.”

Glimmer laughed again before chewing her bottom lip and scratching the back of her head. She dragged the short, thick waves through her fingers as she spoke, “I think we could just share the bed again.”

“Won’t your mom see me?”

“If you take the wall side, I think it’ll be ok; she doesn’t really look too hard,” Glimmer set all her previous concerns aside to create new, fresher worries, her face scrunched up in thought. She had a lot to consider- mainly the fact that she and Adora had a tendency to get wrapped up in each other when they slept near each other and she wasn’t confident her pinning heart and divided mind could handle the inevitable situation. She wasn’t sure if she could stand to wrap her arms around this girl knowing she was never going to be able to do it again.

But Adora was already shuffling forward, Glimmer’s wrist held loosely in her curled fingers and Glimmer’s heart grasped firmly in her casual movements. Glimmer had noticed before the hypnotizing qualities of Adora’s signature ponytail that she wore to school everyday; she had never given herself the time to let herself wonder why she was so fascinated. Here though, she couldn’t help it. Adora moved like someone who knew exactly what they were doing- despite they fact that they were somewhat drunk. Her torso swayed from side to side far more than it usually did or probably should. It caused her loose hair to shift across her back like sand move from dune to dune.

Adora turned with a confused grin to face Glimmer and gave the wrist she was holding a small tug, “You planning on just standing there?”

“What?” Glimmer realized her feet had forgotten to move. She considered taking a step forward but wasn’t prepared to stand practically nose to nose with Adora- again.

“It’s like you never want to sleep,” Adora’s smile was real but so was the question beneath it.

“Oh, uh, I guess it’s just I’m not used to sharing a bed with someone,” It wasn’t really a lie. It’s not that I don’t want to sleep; I just don’t want to do it next to you.

Adora tilted her head the side, “You don’t like being in bed with someone?”

What sort of question is that?? Glimmer took the easy route, shrugging and hoping it was enough to throw the conversation back to Adora’s side.

Adora seemed to be thinking, eyes staring at something far away and a few inches left of Glimmer’s head. She was rubbing the pad of her thumb along where she was still holding Glimmer’s wrist, completing a semicircle from the soft inner side and back up to the top and back down again. Once, twice, three times, four. Glimmer knew it was just a compulsion as Adora thought, but the gentleness made her breath go feathery.

Finally Adora shared her grand conclusion, stopping the movement of her thumb- but not before Glimmer’s knees had given her an arched eyebrow sort of warning like Ya know you can’t handle this sorta shit and we might give out soon, “I like sleeping next to someone; it’s just cozier.”

Adora wrote off her words with a shrug but Glimmer could tell she really meant it, that she felt safer with someone sleeping by her side. It wasn’t Glimmer’s thing, but Adora obviously felt that way with her whole being.

“Ok,” Glimmer wasn’t sure what else she was supposed to say, “well, we should probably go to sleep if we want to be awake for any of our classes.”

Adora snorted and began moving again, Glimmer actually following this time, “God, don’t remind me of that. I am going to look dead tomorrow or actually today haha.”

Adora’s laugh was bitterly fake and it made Glimmer cringe internally, “Yeah I’m sorry about that.”

The girl had already thrown herself onto the bed, back to the wall and face turned up to look at Glimmer who was still standing. She looked confused again, with just a hint of incredulity, “Why would you be sorry? It’s Weaver’s stupid fault that we needed to stay up until god knows when to work on this stupid project.”

Glimmer laid down as Adora continued ranting, resting on her hip so she could watch Adora as she spoke.

“I just hate teachers who assume we don’t have any other classes or homework or- dare we even mention it- lives outside of school?!” Adora’s tone had risen while the volume had stayed the same.

She was quietly hissing her words out, spitting venom at the whole of the American education system, but her wide eyes stared at Glimmer with out any kind of ill will, simply looking for agreement.

Glimmer wanted to just give in, tell Adora that she was absolutely right (that wouldn’t be a lie) and she could listen to her rant for hours (also not a lie). She liked the passion sparking off Adora; she was always so contained and proper that this enraged, adorable fireball excited Glimmer. Because Glimmer could work with that; Glimmer knew fire- she felt it everyday. But they both needed sleep and especially Adora, “You’re completely right and you should say it... just not right now. ‘Cause if you keep whisper yelling, neither of us are going to be able to get any more rest.”

Adora nodded, looking disappointed but conceding to Glimmer’s point, “Yeah, ok, you’re right. But we’ll have to take a rain check on this- I have whole essays about that shit.”

Glimmer huffed through her nose, “Of course you do; and you probably wrote them for fun.”

Adora lifted one shoulder, “Can’t deny that.”

“Well you can tell me about it some other time.”

“I’ll just start yelling at you from across the halls,” She grinned brightly and gave a playful wink, “I’m sure that’s exactly what you would want me to do.”

She plans on talking to me at school... Butterflies were hosting a full on rave in Glimmer’s stomach. And that wink; she was actually going to kill Glimmer.

“Anyways, what time are you planning on getting up?”

Glimmer tried to shake off her blush without success, “Oh, we shouldn’t sleep in too long because my mom usually comes into my room in the morning to physically drag me out of bed.”

Adora laughed and Glimmer continued on, “Anyways, what time were you thinking about?”

Adora quirked her mouth to the side for a second to think, “Would six be ok?”

Glimmer checked her phone and set an alarm, “Sure, that’d give us a whole two hours and twenty minutes.”

Glimmer had spoken with a sarcastic tone but Adora nodded and seemed to get ready to fall asleep. She snuggled her side into the mattress, curling inwards but scooting towards Glimmer. Within a few seconds her breathing had fallen into a steady rhythm.

So Glimmer had no idea if Adora was actually aware of her actions when she reached out, placing her arm across Glimmer’s and pressing her hand into Glimmer’s back. It forced Glimmer to curl herself closer to Adora, but there was no force in it; Glimmer had melted at her touch.

She fell asleep counting Adora’s freckles.

54 notes · View notes

t0mat0-pot4to · 7 years

Text

#JayDickWeek2017 Day 5: Bruised and Bloody

Yeah, yeah. Hella late. I know. I'm a disappointment. Yup.

Guess I'm not responsible enough. Oh, I already knew that.

I know I can do better but I just can't right now.

If there are mistakes. Note that my first language isn't even English.

Dick saves Jason.

>>Team A, do you copy me?<< Oracle's voice sounded shaky through the line, as if she had seen a ghost or something similar. Her call was answered quickly by both teams, whom noticed her tone.

"What is it Oracle? Oracle?" Nightwing asked before anyone could even say a word. His body tensed which wasn't good as he was jumping from rooftop to rooftop. He felt the news were bad and grew anxious at the wait. "Oracle?" He called once more before someone pulled his arm to stop him.

"Calm down Nightwing." Batwoman's demanded, frowning at him. The others caught up in a blink, neither paying attention to the call but to the oldest of them. They felt it. Something bad happened.

>>I need Red Robin back here. There was a call, not long ago. Nobody said anything. It had static, a lot of it.<< She explained giving the main details. Her voice was confident again, but the worry touch was still there.

"Ok. Red Robin is on his way." Nightwing glanced at the far silhouette of his younger brother heading south to the lower buildings. Below them, the sound of a powerful motorbike roared to their south.

Although Oracle kept talking, Nightwing wasn't listening at all. The oldest just stared at the vehicle avoiding other cars, then at his sibling leaping from the rooftop landing perfectly seated, then he got the controls turning it to the direction it had come from. It reminded him of someone, who he couldn't quite recall at the moment.

>>Copy. It's everything okay over there?<<

"We had worst nights."

>>There's another attack. I'm sending the location right now. Be careful.<<

Nearly an hour passed since Red Robin had left. Nightwing couldn't quite brush the feeling of worry of him. It followed him and was present at every movement he did. Every punch he threw, every kick he send. Every single movement he did from place to place. The others knew he was anxious by the way his body tensed so often in so little time.

Once they were out of the warehouse, they stayed o the rooftop to overlook at the busy streets of their home city. Neither said anything. Neither wanted to say anything. What could they even say?

Few minutes passed before there was an entry call. With a single button they all answered.

>>There's no time for chit-chat. Listen up, everyone.<< They were greeted by Oracle, who was more serious than ever.

>>We tried tracking the call. It came from one of B's gadgets, one of the old ones. Location, west warehouse near the chemical factory from...<< Red Robin's voice went silent all of the sudden. Everyone attentive. A gasp was heard from the other side. >>Oh my goodness! It wasRed Hood!<<

"What?"

>>Huh...I think...<< The sound of keyboard keys. Taps. Silence. >>Ok. Ok. Listen up. Wait! Where's Nightwing?!<<

Red Robin's sigh was loud to get everyone's attention.

>>Team A, there's a robbery in North side. Split up. Location is send to your vehicles. Team B, stay on the call...<<

Nightwing was in a motorbike, heading to the location the team send. He knew it wasn't the exact direction, but knowing Red Hood he wouldn't require a lot to find the place. His mind was like a blank paper, with his Robin successor's name filling it. He wasn't even thinking about him. He only repeated the name again and again. No images no memories. Only the name.

>>Nightwing? Answer me you idiot. Nightwing!<< His younger brother claimed, demanded. The oldest could hear everything but he struggle to talk to him. The background sounds like Oracle typing, videos or his brother's grunts. >>Nightwing...Please.<< He pleaded, now with a softer and quieter voice.

"I'm sorry." He apologised, finally pressing the button. He could almost hear him sobbing and it made him mad. Mad that he is causing his brother to worry about him. "Tim...?" Gently he called, his grip in the handgrip was harder as he started to be frustrated at himself.

>>Just tell me why are you doing this. B just came back from the J.L. meeting and I need to explain this to him.<<

"I...I haven't seen him in so long...He is in trouble, I can feel it. I know it." His brother listened at every word, not interrupting. "What you and Babs tried to tracked down is an old tracker. Back when he was Robin, B gave it to him. I used to have one too. It isn't accurate, because it was design that way. So before a mission it could be drop somewhere near. It has a control which you keep. Press a button and the thing sends a shock to the cave. Since it's old, you can't track it well."

>>Hum, yup. B just confirmed it. He went to search old gadgets to see which one it is.<< He younger gave a pause, like he was choosing his words. >>You still haven't answer my question completely. You haven't seen him in a while, we haven't either. Tell me what's the fuss about.<<

"You are going places kid. You lack social skills but as a detective, you nail it." Laughter from both sides we heard.

>>You are so easy to read.<<

"Then can you tell me why I'm doing this?"

>>Ugh...Touché.<<

"Found the places. Doesn't look old nor abandoned. Might looking up so info' for me?" His bike was near, one block away out of enemy sight. Without much struggle he climbed up the nearest high place, which was the factory. Some guards were outside on the entrance, some below him inside the closed factory. Disguised with the shadows and the dark. His presence went unnoticed by any of the bad guys or so he thought.

>>Not much. Built back in 1989. Its purpose was to store the factory's merchandise and materials. Since the faculty, where you are currently hiding, is still functioning so is the warehouse.<< It didn't take long before images send by him were projected in from of Nightwing. >>But it's common to find some thugs wondering around this place. So you might as well expect anyone. Probably Black Mask, he's Hood's main target.<<

The oldest looked around him. There was a lot of movement inside. Also flashlights and unclear screams. He waited a few seconds before double checking the bag where they'd take medical stuffs. Ever since missions started getting tougher, precautions were to be taken.

>>The other teams are quiet busy. So, this are B words, in and out mission. Get in, get Jason and get out. No playing around. He will be there soon.<<

"Loud and clear baby-bird."

Tim was right, when is he ever wrong? This are Black Mask's men. It makes total sense that Jason is here...somewhere. Tim is gone sorting out some of the other teams so I'm on my own in this.

What was I even thinking? Jason won't be happy to see me.

Then why would he...used that? Maybe...No. No. He wouldn't joke whit us like that. He isn't like that.

Concentrate Grayson. This is not the time.

A glass roof, what a disadvantage. The ventilations are my only hope then. Movies. Movies teach so many good ideas for spies.

If only this place wasn't that old, I wouldn't make so much noise. Hopefully they are dumb and think that there are rats. If not, I'm doom.

"Where's that dips* hiding? I swear when I find him."

"Shut up. Hear that?"

"You are crazy. Let's move."

People say I'm a lucky guy. Guess they are right.

Somewhere, in one of the five main rooms is Jason. And somewhere, in the same five rooms I am. Should have ask for a map.

If I beat them up, they'll know someone is here since I don't think Jason is capable right now. My only mission is to find him and take him out of this crappy place. Should be easy...I hope it is.

...

This place is creeping me out. How is this not closed yet? Or renew? Or demolish? If it weren't for the blood stains and bodies I swear this place would have looked the same. I could have been in a room round and round and not notice. That could happen.

In the fourth room, near big boxes, I heard a faint cry. I knew it was him. But where exactly? The room was the darkest and nobody was here. Yup. Black Mask's men are dumb or they don't know about this room.

Still in the shadows, I reached for him the best I could. No flashlight. Great. Wish I was a bat right now. I need their senses so bad.

I found him, laying on his back with his arm covering his upper body, just below the rib cage. Eyes closed and constant panting. Cuts and wounds in his body showing in his ripped clothes. The leather jacket was next to a near box and covered in blood. His clothes weren't much difference. It was worst than I thought. Worst than any other day we'd meet.

I didn't say anything. It was quiet and it'll be better that way. Making no noise, I knelt next to him pulling the medical bag over my head. He felt me and grabbed his gun in response. I was in better shape and he was too tired.

"Shhh, it's me." I whispered, hoping I could start helping him soon.

I don't think he'd heard, his guns was still in his hand. As gentle as I could, I grabbed his guns taking it away from him. That's when he got up, quiet harshly and a loud groan escaped his lips. I held him tight, as he was already falling to his back again.

"Jason. Quiet please. I'm Dick, listen to me. I want to help you."

He was calm now, on his back still silent crying. It hurt me seeing him like this.

"It's okay, Jay." I whispered, and I wanted to believe it too.

Bigger cuts and wounds clean, and bandaged. Since I didn't and couldn't stitch the cuts, it probably stings. The other wounds and cuts weren't so important but I still cleaned them. I didn't know if he had any broken bones, but I guessed he did since he could hardly move any part of his body. He had lost so much blood I didn't know how he was still awake.

Although he was in this condition, I was surprised he dragged himself to safety and didn't leave a trail behind.

More cries.

Tears were in my eyes, threatening to come out. The fight to hold them back was hard. But somehow I managed to not cry, yet.

I felt the pain in me.

My hands started to shake. One more thing to do. His face. Fresh and dried blood painted in his face.

I still don't know how I didn't cry...I was devastated but he was still alive.

Still there...

...with me.

...

I just sat there. Sorting the last things from the bag before turning to see him. He hasn't said a word since I came and I didn't know if I was grateful or not.

I saw some lights shining our way but the boxes did their job to cover us. Voices coming in and out. Heavy boots and shotguns. If I could just take a sneak peak of all but I knew I couldn't. Not with a Jason still trying to recover.

The blood lost was something I couldn't do anything about.

Wait...

Did I do it right?! Is it a good idea keeping him there?! Should I have got him out of here?! Can he walk?! Can he even stand up?!

I rushed to his side, check his pulse and heart beat. Both slow.

Could it be I did wrong?

"Dick?" He called, bringing me back to earth. He was trying to sit up, to which I helped. I wasn't confident so I didn't let go. Couldn't. If he felt?

"Yes?" Now my voice was shaky. I was scared I'd made a mistake. I didn't know what to do anymore. I needed help.

"Thanks for...humm...savin' me..." He sounded so tired. Was I losing him?!

"Stay with me, please. Everything will be alright, okay? Just stay with me." I didn't want to loose him...It will be my fault if he does...

"Don't be such dramatic. You and the others ain't gettin' rid of me that easy." I couldn't think straight. Not with the thought of him d...No. No. I wasn't loosing him. I was not....Please...

"Don't play with me...I'm scared."

His eyes opened wide. Why was he surprised? Was it something I said?

"Scared? For?"

Oh...

"I not want to loose you. I love you. I love you and I dont want you to die. Not today. Not tomorrow." The tears were still there. I don't think I can hold them back any longer. "I want to grow old with you. I can't see myself without you."

He was shocked.

Of course.

Ever since he came back as Red Hood our relation was pretty much trash.

Constant fights and who know what else we did to each other.

Of course.

He was a criminal. That was the way things were supposed to be. I didn't think we had...I didn't think we could have anything...

He was quiet. No answer from him.

I heard explosions of the next rooms. Guess our ride is here.

"It's B...I'll go help him or something. Stay here..." He didn't look at me. "Stay back. Soon...Soon things are going back to normal...Just forget what I told you...Pretend it never happened."

I knew it.

I knew he wouldn't...

I messed up bad.

"Do you ever shut up?"

"Huh?"

His lips are soft and cold.

He kissed me and I held back. I was too shocked to respond.

His eyes locked with mine, now he waited for an answer.

This guy...

This guy is going to drive me crazy.

"So? Wanna take me home? My body is still sore."

"Shut up."

I leaned forward, so did he. Our lips meet half way, forming a sweet short kiss. I felt alive. Emotions burst out like bombs of colours.

He was a tease. I could tell by the way he kissed me. The way he smiled when we separated. The way his eyes stared at me down.

"What 'chu say Golden Boy, take me home, help me recover. Then date me to a date. Or a movie. Or even have a wild night. Either works."

"You are such a jerk."

"You wouldn't love me any other way, would you?"

When did he...? Is this even my Jason?

"You've lost a lot of blood."

"Yup. Like if I was drunk." He paused before relaxing again in my arms. I didn't know what he was playing, and I didn't know how I felt about it. "Maybe I'm freaking out because you were my teenage crush." I'm glad to know, kind of?

"Was I?" I smiled, playfully at his words. I never knew I could be his crush.

"Who's the tease now, huh?"

#jaydickweek #jaydickweek2017 #jaydick #my writing sucks #dickjay

70 notes · View notes