Work Text:
There weren't many people Jason was genuinely close to, and I don't simply mean family or friends. I mean someone he was truly and utterly close to. Someone who understood him inside and out, who he could read just as easily. Someone he trusted even more than himself, even on their worst of days. Someone who Jason would without a doubt end the world for if it would keep them safe. There weren't many Jason could claim had a bond with him like that. In fact... It was probably only one person... maybe two, if he had ever gotten the chance to get closer to that ginger archer.
The thing was Jason wasn't a loner. He loved having friends and family. He loved having those bonds. Those people to care for and who will care for him in return. He was actually pretty clingy and nurturing. His favorite moments were those where he was just being around the people he loved. The issue was his lack of trust. He had been hurt too many times by those he had loved... had been betrayed and killed because of it. That sort of pain made it hard for Jason to let himself go... to let himself relax enough to form those bonds. So yes, Jason had family and friends. He had the other Bats and Birds. He had the Outlaws, his Aunt Diana, and Uncle Clark. He had people who loved him and those he loved back. But even with all that, there still was only one person Jason ever felt safe enough to truly claim as kin. Someone he wouldn't just kill for but BE killed for.
He never really thought he would end up proving it like this.
"Timmy." Jason whispered quietly, ignoring the hiss he got in return from the younger male. "It's gonna be ok, kid."
"I know that." Tim snapped fiercely, but Jason could read him like a book. He was terrified, his eyes firmly latched on the magic circle before them.
"Ti-..." Jason huffed cutting himself off when one of the bastard cult fucks looked their way. "Any idea what exactly they're trying to summon?"
"Whatever it is... it's not good." was all Tim replied making Jason have to hold back a groan. It wasn't like they could do anything about it even if they did know what was going on. All Jason really cared about was getting the fuck out of this mess.
It had started out a pretty normal day. Tim had mentioned shit popping up around Gotham that caught his eye but never really went into real detail about it, just asked if Jason could keep an eye out. He said he would but for the most part, all Jason found were the usual muggings and thugs.
Batman was at the Watchtower. Robin was out with Nightwing, and the girls were having a night off. Things were supposed to be easy. At least... that was until Red Robin went radio silent. Sure, it wasn't exactly uncommon for Red to just randomly go off comm, but never for Jason. Jason and Tim never ignored each other's calls. So when Oracle had asked him to check in with Red Robin and Tim didn't respond, Jason was already tracking him down.
Tracked him all the way to this abandoned industrial building that sat just a little bit too close to his territory. Why Baby Bird couldn't have just TOLD him he was going to be working near his turf and that he might have needed help, Jason didn't know. The shitty thing about all of this was Jason had been completely blindsided. Jason had expected a lot. Gunmen... ninjas... Ra's Al Ghul himself... The fucking Joker was even a possibility even though Jason religiously checks on him through the cameras in Arkham just to know his whereabouts at all times. And yet, never once did Jason think of magic. He should have. He really should have. Gotham is known to house a shit ton of untapped magic. A well-spring of energy, even if the majority of it was saturated in shadows and curses, that many try to claim for themselves. And yet... Jason didn't see the spell flung at him until it was too late, and he woke up to find himself chained up beside his little brother.
He hadn't even been awake for the monologue. Which, yeah Jason was happy he didn't have to hear yet another villain ramble and drone on for far too long, but at least he would have known what the fuck was going on.
"Fuck." Jason cursed, trying to pull on the chains again in his frustration. His pit-water heightened strength was doing nothing against them. Anytime he attempted to break the chains the stupid runes plastered all over the metal would glow and buzz. Tim hadn't even bothered in trying, which should have really clued him in that it was a pointless endeavor but screw that, he's always been a stubborn ass.
"Hood, enough!" Tim snapped, eyes sharp and pointed, as Jason's chains buzzed ominously. "You won't be able to break-..." Tim was cut off as the buzzing suddenly screeched setting jolts of electricity shooting through Jason's body. "HOOD!" Jason gritted his teeth against the pain refusing to cry out even as all his muscles tensed to the point where it felt like his body was ripping to shred. "Hood... Hood!" Jason growled, the pit bubbling in his blood in response to the pain. "STOP IT!" Tim cried out... the pure panic in his voice snapped at Jason's mind until he crashed into exhaustion and just dropped. The electricity stopped almost instantly, a burning smell coming off the cuffs making Jason grimace in disgust. Burnt flesh just does not smell good. "You fucking moron." Tim's voice fell firm and curt but Jason could still hear the shake in his tone. "These cuffs are spelled. You can't break them."
"I can sure as hell try." Jason growled but there was no heat. No fire, no energy... He was drained and running on fumes.
"Hood. I do know a little about magic. More so than you anyway. You don't work with several different Magicians and not pick up a few things. These cuffs are bound by a professional. These guys are PROFESSIONALS." Tim pushed his words out with force to make his point and honestly, Jason didn't have the energy to fight him. He was right after all. Tim did know more about magic than he did. Jason hasn't really gotten the chance to work with a magician. Not like Dickie or the Baby Bird. Jason was also well aware of how much interest Tim specifically had in magic so... really he should have known better than to try and break the chains.
"What the fuck are they planning?" Tim visibly paused, taking Jason in and noting every little thing that the older couldn't hope to hide. To everyone else, he might appear just tired and worn out but Tim could see every sliver of Pain/Panic/Fear/ANGER that filled him up. "We're trussed up on a hook like pigs in a slaughterhouse."
"That's because to them we are pigs in a slaughterhouse, Hood. We're the sacrifice." Jason stopped short, eyes wide and staring endlessly at the circle before them. "What exactly did you think we were? Party Decorations?"
"We're sacrifices?" Jason whispered only to jump at the loud laugh coming from beside him. There was a man in a dark purple hood. It covered his eyes but you could still see his wide toothy grin. It made Jason sick.
"Why of course you are! Or well... Red Robin was. That was the original plan of course, before you showed up." Jason seemed to blue screen a bit, listening to the way the man spoke. His words were smooth and sweet sounding. He sounded inviting, and made you want to listen... to follow. The pit reached by gurgling, a vicious whisper of 'siren' in the back of his mind.
"Hood..." Tim hissed beside him, clearly noting the auditory magic being used, but Jason's focus was on the man... on what he said, ignoring the spellwork completely. Thankfully one of the many 'gifts' of being favored from the Lazarus pit is a semi-sort of ward against magic. Jason can still easily be affected by most magic but mental manipulative magics like those of the Auditory and or Illusionary genres can be negated so long as Jason's aware of them. He, Tim, and Raven had tested just how far his resistance went.
"You were going to sacrifice Red? For what?" Tim let out a very short breath, fingers twitching the subtlest bit in relief, noting a lack of effect in Jason over the man's stupid siren voice.
"Oh, we still plan too. He's the perfect sacrifice for our God. Young so full of life, just the slightest bit magic touched..."Jason's eyes narrowed at the last bit, but honestly, he really isn't surprised about that. If Tim wasn't a magician yet, it would have been only a matter of time. The man pulled out an athame out of seemingly nowhere. The glint on the blade from the candle's light made the knife give off a sort of green glow that made Jason flinch, which of course made Tim's muscles tense. "Of course, we haven't the foggiest what we'd do with you. We only need one sacrifice you see. Either of you would really work, you both fit the criteria but... well, it's such a hassle to sacrifice more than needed. All the clean up is just..." The man gave a shrug before slowly walking over to Tim letting his blade tease up his ankle. Jason couldn't hold back his growl. That was his brother. HIS LITTLE BROTHER. No way in hell was he just going to let some lunatic...
"Hood." Jason's growl cut off with a slight grumble seeing how Tim shook his head. They just needed to wait until help arrived. And help would arrive. They had their trackers and their suits because despite Tim stating these asshats were professionals, they were still total morons. If Jason could just get to his gun... He tried moving again, pulling on the chains just enough for the buzzing to start up again, the clear threat of electrocution clear as day in the spark that lit up down his arm, forcing him to bite his tongue.
"Oh, please do fry yourself, at least that's one less problem." Tim jerked, kicking at the man for such a comment but they just laughed and took a few steps back until they had both of the vigilantes' attentions. "You know what? Since you want out of those chains so badly..." Tim visibly tensed as the man's smile only grew. "I'll give you a choice Mr. Red Hood. I can take those chains off of you." The man held a single hand up making the chains start to glow. Jason's body started to fly higher into the air making Tim jerk in panic. Jason tried to keep his body relaxed but as the ground steadily got further and further away it was harder to keep the fear from spilling out. "Would you like that now, Mr. Red Hood? To be free from the chains?"
"NO! Wait!" Jason felt his heart crack at the fear in Tim's voice. "Don't do this..."
"Well, that would be his choice, now, won't it?." Jason forced himself to take a deep breath, relaxing his muscles one by one until he stayed there limp in the air. The man simply sighed letting the chains just drop from where they were. Tim screamed and Jason plummeted until the chains went taut and it yanked at his body pulling a groan of pain from his lips. He's pretty sure his arms were just dislocated.
"Hood? Hood!"
"Hush, now Red Robin. Neither of you is being very fun." Tim did his absolute best to glare the man down. Honestly, Jason would have been impressed if he wasn't in so much pain. "Get the circle ready. The moon's at its peak. The time for the ritual is now." was all the man said, before turning and walking away. The other cultist went in a scramble grabbing materials and starting the ritual. Tim waited just a moment before turning back to Jason in a panic.
"Hood?" Jason could only groan. The pain and exhaustion from the shit the cuffs did and now this... He had a damn good tolerance to pain. He was the best at withstanding torture. But whatever those cuffs were... it wasn't normal pain. It stripped you bare and drained everything out of you. Not to mention he was still recovering from a decent headshot from a few days prior. He had thought he didn't have a concussion but now... Jason was starting to maybe doubt that. Everything was starting to become hazy. Or maybe the spell they hit him with to knock him out had side effects. Yeah... Let's go with that. If Alfred found out he had patrolled with a possible concussion forget these fucks, Alfred would be the one to kill him instead. "Hood-..."
"I'm fine." Jason forced the words out through gritted teeth.
"Hood." Jason just gave a growl, making Tim sigh and turn his attention back to the cultists.
"They're trying to summon a God of some sort. I still can't figure out which one though. And we don't know how far out any help is." Jason could see the anxiety building in younger. How it was starting to spread and seep into everything. They were on a deadline... a ticking time clock, steadily counting down to zero, and unfortunately, that was something Jason was well acquainted with since his first death.
"You think they have any wards up?" The way Tim jerked was telling enough as it was. "You hadn't thought about it had you."
"You found me easily enough... but... shit." Tim was only getting more wired with every second the cultists were chanting. "Shit! I fucking forgot the charms I made us." Jason shot the other a look, that despite the full helmet, Tim still easily read. "Don't give me that look, dammit. They're passive. I don't have to do anything more with them once they're cast so it would make sense that I wouldn't be thinking about them in a crisis." Jason's posture didn't change a bit making Tim groan. "Given everything this life puts us through I thought it would be best if we could always find each other. To be honest, I did it more so that if something ever happened to you... Normally, most self-respecting spell casters would have some sort of spell to counteract another's magic but Batman's pretty vocal about his anti-magic stances. If they just assumed we'd all feel the same it would make sense why they wouldn't check for passive ward and charms on us. Just being 'magic-touched' doesn't mean I used it or even knew about it in the first place. Red Robin isn't known for magic after all. Which means you'd have been easily able to find me but the others... they might not make it in time."
For Jason, 'might not' meant 'definitely won't', which meant Jason's mind immediately switched gears. Jason knew full well that no matter the tools, the plans, the skills, or foreknowledge, heroes don't always save the day. In fact, more often than not, Jason's learned not to count on being saved if there's no getting out by himself. Even his little Timmy, though as smart and capable as he is, no matter how much Jason trusts him to always have his back and to save him if he can, Jason's not stupid to put all cards into one person and think nothing will ever happen again. And now... it wouldn't even matter anyway since they were both caught. Jason's eyes narrowed as he tracked the man in that purple hood. He glanced back up at the chains, testing it again, before growling.
"Hood?" Tim's voice was quiet, tearing at Jason's heart. Their eyes met and it took everything in Jason not to break down. Jason's been in this situation before. Yes, Tim had been in stuff like this too where morons tried to use him as a sacrifice. But even when he goes up against Ra's Al Ghul alone Tim has ALWAYS had someone ready and willing to jump in and save him. Tim has ALWAYS had Jason a step behind to catch him if he ever fell. He's never been in such a hopeless situation as this. Not without the surety that Jason would without a doubt rescue him. Or if the worst were to ever happen, knowing Jason wouldn't hesitate to bring him back with the Lazarus Pit, no matter what the other bats did to try to stop him. But now...
Jason would do anything to make sure Tim got out of this alive.
Jason watched as the man in purple circled the center of the room. He watched with sad resignation, knowing exactly what he had to do, even as Tim began to twitch fearfully beside him. When it came to Tim, Jason would destroy the world to keep him safe. Tim wasn't just his brother. Tim was to him like Damian was to Dick. His little Baby Bird was the most important person in the world with Roy being second. Tim was surviving this... Jason... Jason was not, and he was not ignorant to magic to know that returning from this was slim at best.
"Hey, Baby Bird..." Tim jerked, eyes wide as if knowing exactly what Jason was about to do. "Don't let them cremate me."
"Hood, no-..."
"And make sure you tell that Arse-hole, that I love him, ok? That fucker would lose his shit if I died without saying it even once out loud." Tim was freaking out, tears streaming down his face from under his mask, as Jason took a deep breath. "You know the deal, Red. If I don't come back, everything goes to you and Roy, with the exception of what's written in the will."
"Hood, stop-..." Jason braced himself before calling out for the cult fuck in purple, cutting Tim off before he could try and talk Jason out of it.
"Hey, Fucker!" The man hesitated for a moment, a quirk of his lips, before bending back a bit to look over at the two of them. "I have a proposition for you."
"HOOD!" Tim started struggling against the chains despite the buzzing, making Jason wince. "Stop..."
"A proposition, ey?" Jason jerked as the man was suddenly right before him, his lips pulled in a mimic of Joker's grin. "Willing to trade for your life, are you? You, heroes, are all so cowardly at the..."
"Not mine." The man paused a beat before his lips widened even more in such an inhuman way.
"Oh? And what exactly is this... proposition?" Tim tried to tell him to stop again but Jason just stared the man in his eyes ignoring everything else but what he needed to do.
"You said you chose Red Robin as your sacrifice because he was young, full of life, and a bit magic touched." The man simply tilted his head, still grinning, making Jason choke up picturing that night in Ethiopia with the Joker. "With that in mind, I believe I would be a better choice."
"Oh? And why is that?" The man chuckled, and Jason knew he was just humoring him.
"Because if you want someone young, full of 'life', and magic-touched, what's better than a 20-year-old, semi-immortal, with necromantic and soul magic coursing through his veins." That made the man stop short, his posture straightening as Tim cried out for him to stop it. "I have magic in my literal blood. And Red here... Red's warded up the yang with protective charms. So much so that your little ritual probably wouldn't work. So, You let him go alive. Cast your spells or whatever to protect yourself, but you let him leave with his health, soul, and mind intact... and you use me for your sacrifice. I'm semi-immortal, which means I can still die and therefore can still be used as one. You let Red go, and I'll even take all this armor shit off to make it easier for you."
"Hood, please-..." The man gently pulled his hood back revealing such hungry toxic yellow eyes, as Jason gulped.
"Semi-immortal, huh?"
"I've died before... brought back by magic, never lost it. It should work shouldn't it?" The man laughed with glee before snapping, sending Jason crashing to the floor. Magic burned through Jason's body making him rigid and tense. One second he was lying on the ground where he had fallen and the next he was on his knees presented before the man in purple, hands behind his back. Jason tried desperately to ignore how Tim crying for him as the man rested the tip of his athame against his throat.
"You'd willingly give up your life... your immortality, to protect this pest?" Jason didn't respond, not that it was necessary. The man simply waved his other hand making Tim fly higher away from the circle as if to put him out of distance. "Alright then, on my God, I give my oath Red Robin will not be killed. That he shall leave this night with his body, soul, and mind intact, so long as the ritual is completed."
"DAMN IT, HOOD-..." Jason twitched at the rage in Tim's voice, but could only swallow as the blade was pressed further against him.
"Now... Take off the helmet." Jason felt his arms be released. He could hear Tim breathe in harshly, as he slowly reached up to unlatch the 'hood', before letting it just drop beside him. "And the mask, you won't be needing your secret identity where you'll be going." This time Jason did hesitate, hearing the crying from behind him, but even still he ripped it off with a grunt of pain, feeling where his skin tore from the glue. The man laughed before using the tip of his blade to force Jason to look up at him. He stared deep into Jason's eyes, making the pit hiss angry at the magic seemingly poking at his mind. Jason's eyes flashed a bright green and the man's smile split even wider, though Jason didn't know how it was possible, at the sight of it. "Magic in your blood indeed. You'll do just perfectly." The man turned away, making Jason frown a bit in confusion before grunting in pain as his body suddenly seized.
"HOOD!" Jason felt his body moving on its own, step by agonizing step. "NO! STOP! LEAVE HIM ALONE!"
Jason forced himself to hold back his tears, clenching his fists as tight as his body would allow. The second he entered the circle he crumbled as if a puppet with its strings cut. His skin buzzed angrily at him from all the magic reacting to the pit water in his blood. His eyes, hooded and glowing bright green, slowly panned over to see Tim freaking out before suddenly stilling as their eyes met. Tim mouthed his name, tears falling freely from his eyes. Jason could only shake his eyes, seeing Tim break all the more. There was a small chuckle making Jason tense before looking over to see a boot right by his head. He slowly looked up to find the hooded man just smiling down at him from where he crouched beside him.
"Armor." Jason grimaced as the pain shot through him. He shakily got to his knees, stripping his Jacket, before the man just grabbed it and threw it over at Tim with a laugh. "At least you'll have something to remember him by." Tim yelled curses that made even Jason blush, pure vitriol dripping off his tongue, as the man just tapped Jason's shoulder. "It's almost time now, Hood. Moons just about in position." Jason grunted as he continued to strip the rest of his armor off, leaving him in a skin-tight black tank and the shorts he wore under his armored cargo pants. He blinked and suddenly he was on his knees staring up at the man in purple, knife under his throat again. "You know, I've heard stories of the Red Hood. You know, the typical duffle full of heads, the way you mow down anyone who targets kids. The pure vile yet creative ways you keep Crime Alley under your thumb. And yet it was so easy to get you here, on your knees."
"Shut up! You shrimp dick rot for brained tottering beslubbered jackanape..." Jason's eyes shot wide as he stared up at the pure fury in Tim's expression. "You lay one motherfucking hand on him and your brain will never get the second to process the regret."
"Tottering beslubbered jackanape? What are you, Shakespeare?" Tim just growled at the man who couldn't stop laughing.
"I've gotten him to read a few books." Jason lulled, quietly as he met with Tim's eyes one last time, seeing the way the man stared off into the distance no doubt watching the moon. Tim's eyes were locked on to his as he begged silently for it all to stop. "Guess our book club is officially over now, huh."
"It's time!" The man squealed happily as he stepped back. The circle began to glow ominously, electricity coming off the runes in arcs. The man giggled as he quickly put himself in position behind Jason with his knife pressed firmly against his back resting right over his heart. Jason knew with where it was positioned it would slice right through his spine before it ever hit his heart. It won't be instant... cutting the midsection of the spinal cord would paralyze him, and impaling the heart... it would take a few seconds before he actually died. At least it wasn't choking on smoke and blood this time. Jason tried to give Tim a small smile seeing as it would be the last thing he would see from him, but even he couldn't stop himself from crying in such a situation. He could see Tim mouth his name, so pained and desperate and all Jason could do... was mouth 'I love you' before everything went still.
Time was frozen.
Jason jerked, eyes slamming shut as this blaring light filled the world around him. There was a soft feminine laugh just barely coming in over the buzz, as Jason blinked his eyes open slowly to see the light now gone. Instead, it was as if the room was filled with a smokey shadow. He could see everything in the room but the brightness had turned way down. In front of him just before the circle, of which its glow was barely noticeable, was a slim female-looking figure. He just continued to blink but the image before him didn't change and he sighed, slumping forward with a soft grunt.
"And who are you?" The figure laughed again kneeling down to let the softened light of the circle illuminate their features, and Jason's throat tightened at what appeared to be a young girl in what could only have been a Gotham Academy uniform. "Kid..."
"Not quite." The kid smiled with far too many teeth making Jason shiver. "I felt this was the best way to approach. At least for you to feel more comfortable with me." The girl remained seated where she was, her bouncy black pigtails moving as she tilted her head just the smallest bit. "Although it was yet again far too soon a time, it is nice to see you again, Jason."
"Wait, who the fuck..."
"Language, young man." The girl giggled, even though she looked to be no older than ten. "You haven't changed at all. Still, the same spitfire protector you've always been."
"Who are you?" Jason whispered, feeling his heart drop at how her eyes grew sad.
"I am Death." Jason just dropped, everything in him crashed around him as the walls finally fell.
"So, I'm dead. Actually fully dead this time?" Jason jolted, eyes wide and wild. "Tim! Tim, please? Tell me he survived. Tell me I saved him! Please? My baby brother survived right?"
"Jason... Child, you have not died yet." Jason stopped, panic still in his blood as Death sighed and rose to her feet. She slowly stepped off to the side letting the light back in to reveal Tim still up there in the chains, completely frozen in time.
"What-..."
"I stopped time, just seconds before your death. Right on the cusp of life and its end." Jason's eyes widened as the girl turned back to him with such a broken-hearted expression. "You weren't meant to die today, Jason. Not now, and not back then either. Life gave you a second chance when the Joker stole your future. And now I find it once again being ripped from you long before you were ready."
"I don't care about dying, Kid." Jason's voice was rough as he shook his head and turned back towards his brother. "As long as he makes it out of this alive. You can tell me that can't you? You know when those are about to go? Tim... Does he survive this?" A soft breath and a tired smile... before Death slowly meets his gaze with a nod.
"Trust, Jason Todd. Timothy Drake will not fall today. As upon your death, his survival is assured." Jason broke down, relief sending his heart racing, as tears fell endlessly. "Timothy will live."
"Thank you. Thank you." Jason cried, finding it hard to breathe even with how happy he was over what he was hearing. "That... That's all I care about. That he lives... That my little brother leaves here alive."
"Jason?" Jason jumped feeling the soft hand touch his cheek, looking up immediately to find the little girl now much older kneeling in front of him. She gave off comfort like a mother that made Jason want to curl up against her and cry. "Jason, child... This shouldn't have happened."
"As long as Tim is safe, I don't care." Death brushed her hand through Jason's hair, with a saddened smile before shaking her head with a laugh.
"Always the protector. Giving up your life for those you love and yet the universe just keeps taking from you." Jason could only shrug as she pulled him in against her. He could feel no breath... nor hear a heartbeat, and yet even without any sign of life, to which she was not, he still felt overwhelming comfort. "This does not need to be your end."
"What-..."
"I cannot save your body. I am Death. I am the end of life. I am where souls go when they pass, but I can choose where to send those souls. This does not need to be your end." Jason slowly pulled back, eyes wide and searching as Death just smiled at him. "You have the Blessing of Lazarus in your blood, as well as the Blessing of Life. Right here, in the moments before your death, I can use that to send your soul somewhere far away. A land of your dreams creation where you can flourish and live long and happy like you were always meant to." Jason watched as if waiting for any sign of deceit and yet couldn't find anything that said he shouldn't believe her.
"How?"
"By using the blessing of life you were given, I'll be able to preserve your soul. And with the last of the lazarus waters, I'll be able to send your soul to a world of our own design" Jason's eyes only got wider with every word she said. "With this however... the use of the lazarus waters, although paramount, would result in you never being able to return. Your body here will die, but your mind and your soul will live on elsewhere. And with my own blessing, a blessing I gladly give you, you'll be able to live without fear."
"I... I don't... what do you mean I won't be able to return." Death's voice softened as she soothingly ran her fingers through Jason's hair. "If I'm alive, why couldn't I return? Would I really never get to see my family again... Tim? Roy?"
"The use of the lazarus waters marks your soul, as you know. Its blessing is just as much of a curse as it is a gift. Once you have that mark it will never leave. The waters might run dry but the scar will never fade. Thus, those with its mark, once the spell is cast, can never return to their world. That is the price of the spell." Jason felt like his strings had been cut, as he fell into Death's arms more. "Normally the spell would create a portal but... there just isn't enough power for me to cast it for that."
"Then how would you cast it?" Death hesitated for a moment before gesturing to the circle around them. "Oh."
"The spell they are trying to complete will not work in the way they want it to. It will not summon their false god but instead a surplus of magic energy. I will use as much as I need to cast this spell to send you away but you only have enough Lazuras in you to send your soul alone. With the mark on your soul already and the spell being cast, you will not be able to return." Jason stayed there for a while, just staring at Tim, so strong and yet so frail looking. His little brother that he took in and cared for. His little brother that he made sure to eat three meals a day and got at least the minimum of sleep. The little brother that he coddled and cuddled when he was sick and comforted when he was sad. Who he taught how to shoot a gun with perfect accuracy until he was damn near as skilled at it as Jason himself was. His little brother, who because a pseudo-son in all but blood.
"Ok, but you promise me... Tim lives." Jason leveled Death itself a glare like no other as if completely unafraid and uncaring. I mean, why would it matter if he was already dead? "If I am to leave him behind... if I can't be here to protect him and to make sure he takes care of himself, then you best damn fucking well make sure he lives. Tim doesn't die like me. He doesn't die at all got it." Death's eyes glimmered knowingly as she gave a simple small nod. Jason tensed as he leaned himself back feeling the press of the knife behind him again for the first time since time had frozen still. Death ran her fingers through his hair one last time as she whispered. "Live a happy life, my son... and live it well."
Death disappeared...
Time started moving again...
There was pain and suddenly...
"JASON!"
Black.
Things sort of floated back to him. As if his mind was in water and reality was slowly letting him slip back into its hold. He could feel a breeze and grass brushing up against his body. He could feel the sun's light warm against his bare skin. It felt nice. There were subtle vibrations in the earth around him that he could feel in his chest. It was calming and almost made him drift off to sleep again right there.
Jason let out a soft breath as he finally pulled his eyes open, blinking up at the clear crystal blue sky above him. Heart in his throat, he slowly looked around finding himself in some sort of clearing. Wildflowers and tall grass filled the space, encircled by nothing but trees, leaving Jason in stunned silence just lying there.
So he died again.
Jason's hand went to his chest, resting over his heart as he let his eyes slip closed again. He died, but Death promised him that Tim would live. He died, but was alive and yet could never go home again.
"It could be worse." Jason frowned hearing the rasp in his voice that didn't quite sound right. He'd had a deep voice ever since waking up in the lazarus pit but this... this was damn near a growl. It sounds deeper than it should have been. "That doesn't seem..." Jason clicked his mouth shut with a huff, not wanting to deal with that right now. His mind of course took him back to what Death had said. That his body would stay dead... Jason hadn't really thought about what that would mean exactly. Did that mean he had taken over some random person's body like a possession? An alternate version of himself maybe? Jason wasn't sure, and he didn't like not having all the facts.
Then again, he wasn't going to get all the facts, just laying in the dirt as he was. He needed to get up and get a lay of the land. Figure out what else had changed about him, or, if he had to, figure out who he was now in this new world. Death told him there was no returning home from here. Not for him anyway... This WAS his new home. He might as well get used to it all.
Jason took one deep breath with eyes still closed, feeling his lungs expand with a warmth in his belly before letting out, feeling as the warmth spread up his throat and out with a sort of smokey taste. Nope, was still not going to think about that just yet. He let himself do it all again before finally opening his eyes to the blue sky and forcing himself up to his feet.
"I'm naked." was the first proper thing Jason's mind latched onto. "Great..." He was going to have to find something to cover himself up with. Unless this world didn't have... no. No, why would Death send him to a place without any humans? No, there had to be towns or something, Jason just had to find them. Of course, he couldn't be naked when he did so he was going to have to figure something out. Thank god for Bruce's and Talia's severe survivalist training, Jason laughed to himself as he started off in some random direction. "Welp... I guess the first thing I should do is try to find a place for water and make a shelter. I can worry about clothes once I know I won't die again so soon after just getting here. Then I can worry about finding other people."
He's dead. That was the only thought Tim could muster. Jason... Jason is dead...
Red Hood... Robin... Jason... His brother is dead.
Tim stared down at the body in his arms, clutching tight to its lifeless form, even as the blood that surrounded him soaked into his suit. He didn't care. He didn't care about the bodies that littered around the room blown up in a pile of gore and guts. He didn't care about the walls that cracked and the roof that crumbled with every second, damaged from the massive explosion of magic that burst out of him. He didn't care that he killed every single one of those cultist creeps. All he cared about was that Jason was dead.
Those assholes killed him... killed his big brother all for a god that never showed. They deserved what they got. Jason always did say Tim was a little too much like him morality-wise. This wasn't the first time he had killed. Rigging countless league bases to blow was bound to take some lives but it was the first time he had seen the lives being taken... and he just... didn't care.
He was numb, holding on to Jason's body as if he was its only tether left on earth. He didn't know if he could move away even if he wanted to, his mind the only thing really working and even then it was sluggish and bogged down by the constant repetitive thoughts of 'Jason is dead'... 'My brother is dead'. How was he supposed to explain this to the others? How was he supposed to tell the family that Jason sacrificed himself? How was he supposed to explain how the bastard died?
'Oh yes, the cultist. Well, I blew them all up with my magic. You see, I'm actually a very strong mage and have been working with Raven and Zatana for years now in secret. I hadn't even really told Jasono everything either which says a lot if you think about it. And when I saw my brother's soul literally leave his body I lost control and sent a massive concussive blast to obliterate everyone in the fucking room who dared to take Jason away from me. How long have I had this magic and have been keeping that fact from you? Oh, well... my entire life.'
Yeah, that wouldn't end with him locked up in some mage prison at all. Tim groaned as he curled up around his brother's body even more. He couldn't feel anything. He couldn't feel a single goddamn thing coming from him. Jason was dead and this time Tim knew he wasn't coming back. Jason always gave off some sort of magic if you knew where to look. His body hummed its own song. Tim was never really in tune with auditory magic but knew enough to hear the sound of magic energy around him. And Jason... Jason was a symphony. Jason held Death and Soul magic in his blood. The Lazarus waters themselves had their own tune. So long as Timm could hear it, he knew that Jason would come back to life. But now... Jason's body was completely silent. There was no magic. There was no life. The was no soul.
There would be no resurrection.
There had been a surge. A swell of Jason's magic, just before the athame plunged into his heart. Tim could hear it. The surge took over everything even the Cultist's spell. There was nothing but the sound and feeling of Jason's magic. Tim could see the energy burn in Jason's eyes where they met. He watched the happy peaceful smile grow on his brother's lips. He felt the swell envelope him in calm/protect/lovebefore Jason's eyes faded and Tim was forced to watch his soul leave.
The knife... the blood... Jason's body falling... and... and... Tim screamed.
"Red... RED ROBIN!" Tim flailed, grabbing the closest thing he could, that damned athame, the slash at whoever dared to get too close. No one was touching Jason's body. It was HIS brother. Tim's big brother. No one was taking him away. There was so much he had to do. He had to tell the family... tell Roy.
Oh god, Roy. How the hell was Tim supposed to tell him that Jason died? How was he supposed to explain that the man he loved had died when he was still mourning the death of his daughter? How could Tim tell him he lost another loved one?
"Red... Red please, it's ok." The voice kept calling, trying to get closer, to pull him away. Tim just screamed and lashed out with the blade again, hearing a hiss as he finally cut something. "Tim!"
"Don't fucking touch him!" Tim growled, magic burning through his blood, as electricity sparked over the blade. "Don't touch him, or I swear to the gods!"
"Tim, bud... Look at me please?" Tim only growled more as he finally turned to focus on the person beside him. The voice was calm and soft, familiar in a way that tugged at his chest, but he didn't care. This was about Jason. Jason didn't trust anyone but him and Roy. Which meant Tim wasn't going to trust anyone with Jason but him and Roy. He wasn't... he wasn't going to let anyone hurt his brother again. He couldn't do it. "Tim? Please?" Tim frowned finally meeting the white-out lenses of that familiar domino and he crashed. Nightwing... Dick...
Dick quickly caught him as he started to fall, pressing the shivering teen against his chest, as Tim just sobbed. The air was buzzing with Tim's magic, filling it all with pain/grief/don't leave making it hard to breathe. Tim could feel how Dick moved. He could feel every shift of muscle as Dick reached out to press his fingers against Jason's pulse point, only to spasm and shutter out a gasp at the nothingness he would have felt.
"Little wing-..." Tim couldn't help but completely fall apart at the broken tone in Dick's voice.
"He's dead. Dick, he's dead." There was a gasp, no doubt through the coms, which Tim could tell had finally reconnected with the others. "He's dead. I tried... He wouldn't listen. Fucking asshole sacrificed himself to save me. I couldn't stop him."
"He'll... he'll come back." Dick's voice was strained, yet so full of hope just tearing through Tim's heart. "He's got that revival thing right. He dies but he comes back."
"Dick, he's gone." There was a shakey 'no' but all Tim's mind focused on was his thoughts replaying Jason's final seconds over and over again. "He's gone. Whatever that ritual did... it killed him. His body... his soul is gone. He's gone."
A familiar swish of a cap... the near silent pitter patter of small booted feet... a feeling of safe/protect/I'm here in a soft melody of magic that could only come from one person... the sound of steel-toed boots dropping to the ground with a familiar hitch in gait... and Tim looked up to see the rest of the family. Bruce, Damian, Cass, Steph... they all stood there staring out into the pure bloody mess before them before meeting his gaze with broken looks of their own. Well, all but Bruce and Damian of course who have both mastered never letting their emotions show while working.
"Brother." Cass whispered, her voice tumbling out it's ok/I've got you/let me help, that only furthered to make him cry. Tim nodded, pulling away Dick and letting Cass help him up. Dick went to pick up Jason only to jump back as Tim reacted by throwing the knife at him.
"Do not touch." Dick stood there for a while, before finally stepping back, letting Tim take Jason's body with Cass's help. They all knew what Jason meant to him. Jason was more than just his big brother. Jason was more of a parental figure to him than Bruce was. And sure Bruce got better and started to do more for them all but that didn't diminish the bond Jason and Tim had. A bond Damian and Dick understood as they had one themselves.
Cass led him out of the building, everyone else firmly not watching, knowing that as fragile as Tim's state was at that moment, he wouldn't hesitate to kick all of their asses.
"Batgirl, you and Robin secure the building, look around for anyone who could have escaped. Nightwing, you and I will take care of the casualties." Batman faltered for a second in his words, which no one commented on given the scene before them. "Take not of anything we can. Let's get this taken care of quickly before notifying the GCPD. Oracle, please inform Agent A of Red Hood and..." Batman sighed, shaking his head and letting his voice soften under his emotions. "Please call Arsenal. Hood would want him here."