riverviewlogs | Log: Change in the house of flies

Some of the worry smooths out of Roy's forehead when Jason rolls his eyes in that deliberate way, and he laughs a little, shaking his head.

"Yeah yeah, better off on your own, don't need a team, yadda yadda, heard it all before."

For all that it's fond teasing, there's a slight edge of truth about it. Not that Jason should worry about Roy leaving any time soon - Jason's said it himself, Roy is a clinger. He always has been, always will be. It's not something worth even bothering to try to train out of himself at this point. Jay is his team, for always, for better or worse, and he's always going to default to acting like he is.

"Your helmet's been messed up? And you didn't already bring it by so I could take a look at it? You're really slipping, man."

Again, jocular. Light. Funny, with a hint of spite underneath. What can he say? He can't quite help himself, the abandonment back home is still stinging a little. Not enough that when Jay shows him the gap between the top and bottom, the spot where a ragged wound steadily oozes hot blood, Roy doesn't pull out a pressure bandage and a thick pad of gauze. With a few quick movements, he binds the bandage around Jason's narrow middle, shaking his head.

"That'll hold it for a bit, long enough to get off the street, I think. Where else?"

While Jason's rearranging to show him what else is hurt, Roy turns his attention to the knee, deftly pressing callused fingers against the sides of it, feeling over it, touch surprisingly gentle, handling Jason's knee like he'd handle delicate robotics.

"Ouch. You're gonna hate this, but I'm probably gonna have to carry you, Jaybird. You're a mess."

Even loopy he has to be himself, plus he's still got his sense of humor. The Joker didn't fully rob him of it. It just shows at the worst times. No more Robin quips just well timed sarcasm and death jokes.

"Good save me some breath." He grumbled, but his eyes still refused to leave Roy. Like he was worried he'd leave him and in truth he still was. He deserved that at the least. He knew Roy was a clinger, but he also knew how hard he could be on people when he lashes out.

"Eat me, Harper. I've had a few people look at it, but they all made it worse." He grumbled, okay, he never got it to Stark but, he's sure Tony isn't Roy Harper. "Besides, I was trying to give this life up...I just cant. Its who I am. I'll die again out doing this..." It was true to, he loved walking that fine line between hero and bad guy. The right person for the wrong jobs.

He tried to hide any sign of pain while Roy wraps it around his middle. Taking a shakey breath he grumbled. "I picked a bad week to quit smoking again..." He'd picked the habit back up here. "Shoulder can wait. The bullet went through but it'll be fine till we get out of the street." Jason was ready for pain, but Roy was gentle, something most who didn't know him would expect. Jason knew better but he was used to pain.

"Fuck that, Harper, help me up. I can walk it off. I'm not helpless." He grumbled and started to try and shift himself up before going rigged. "Fuck it, help. I'll kill you if you tell anyone." His eyes wide. His leg was having none of that.

Thankfully, Roy likes his humour either way - snarky or macabre doesn't make a huge difference to him, as long as he gets a laugh. Anyway, he's used to it, to Jason's dry, barely-there jokes, with their snide, gallows undertone. Chuckling under his breath despite the dire circumstances, Roy shakes his head, licks his lips as he takes a look at the knee, and then the shoulder.

Jason really is a hot mess, and Roy can't help the twist of anxiety mixed up with compassion, and for a moment he gives up completely on trying not to be fiercely glad that Jay was like this and called him, called Roy instead of someone else. And he knows it's because he's familiar with the Red Hood, but he's still pleased.

"Yeah, well, none of those people are me, Roy Harper, mechanical genius and mad inventor. So." A shrug, and then he continues speaking, "Yeah, not sure who you were kidding there, man. We all know you're going to keep doing this, so while you're sleeping it off later, I'll take a look at the hood, get it up and running."

And while he talks, he's taking a quick look at the gunshot to the shoulder, making sure he agrees with Jason's little self-diagnostic before he moves on to something else - he does, and when Jason cusses at him, tries to get himself upright and then has to ask for help, Roy can't help the little burst of laughter.

"Called it."

Turning, he leans down a little so Jason can rest his hands on Roy's shoulders and then his weight on Roy's back.

"Get on. Pull up your hood if you gotta, but I promise to stick to the shadows."

Promise not to open his big mouth, though? Nope.

Jason had lucked out there. Finding a friend who put up with his death jokes and dry humor. The laughs do make it worth it. He liked making people laugh, it was a part of his inner Robin he couldn't quite smoother out. Jason's blown out eyes follow the path of Roy's tongue as he licks his lips. He'd deny it later but just watching Roy helped.

And everyone made sure Jason knew he was a hot mess indeed. The truth was, Jason could have called Hana, Undertaker, Keith or even Bucky would have helped. Bucky didn't know about Red Hood like the others, but he called Roy because he knew Roy best. Roy was his other half...His partner. Roy would get him through. "What part of eat me don't you understand, Harper?" He grumbled, but he was secretly glad Roy would look over the helmet. it was all out of wack.

His gun was slipped away, and the helmet pulled on. Before he growled and did as instructed, even if part of him wanted to make a joker about the phrasing, now wasn't the time or place and maybe it was the blood lose making him think the way he did.

"Good, Ed's place isn't far, we can get in the garage... I have the opener in my jacket."

Maybe that's why Roy can never really get enough of whatever kind of humour Jason chooses to use - that little glimpse of who he used to be mixed in with the man he is now. Complicated, but reassuring somehow. And Roy likes laughing, would rather laugh than be miserable, even if he doesn't have a lot to be really happy about. At least lately.

Okay, so maybe that's changed a bit now that he's shown up in Riverview, now that he and Jason are on speaking terms again. Now that Jason actually called him for help when he was banged up bad in an alley. It's kind of sick that that's his 'better' though, isn't it?

Whatever.

Hooking his hands under Jason's thighs, he lifts him up with a little grunt of effort and starts moving, into the shadows at the base of the building, hesitating before he leaves the alley. Standing there, he can feel Jason's body against his back, isn't sure if he's imagining it when he feels the heat of blood soaking through his hoodie. Ignores it, because if he's imagining it, it isn't real; if he's not imagining it, he doesn't want to think about it. How bad that could be.

"Awesome. Which direction? Left, right? Give me the rundown and I'll get you there, partner."

It slips out, he doesn't even really think about it until after he's said it, and by then? Way, way too awkward to bring it up.

Roy's laughter was a kind of balm for his soul even if he would deny it to his dying breath it meant a lot. He missed being the kid he once was, but he was the man that Gotham needed him to be now. The man Batman couldn't be.

His months with no way of contacting Roy and fixing his mistakes had made him want to fix it. From the hidden blue cap in his belongings or try Mustangs name, little things little call backs to the person he counted as most important, the person who nearly died on his watch.

Roys strength was something to be admired. To be able to lift Jason, was something he was both greatful that Roy could do, and a bit flustered by it. If he wasn't suffering bloodlose he'd have made comment. His head laid down on Roy as his arms came around to help hold his weight even with the shoulder injury and pain.

"Head west, about a half mile down you'll see a strip mall. There is a garage door at the end... The controller." He had it in his hand but when he got it out who knew. "My cars inside, the trunk has some supplies."

Thankfully Jasons head was bowed so Roy couldn't see the confused look as partner rang in his head over and over. Pretending he didn't hear the word he missed so much.

Edited 2018-05-26 22:18 (UTC)

There's something a little soothing about the way Jason just rests against Roy's back and puts his head on his shoulder. It's a sign of trust, Roy thinks, the fact Jason's just going to let him carry him, give him some directions and trust that they'll end up where they should. Roy has no intention of letting him down.

Keeping the directions in mind, Roy starts moving, still stealthy, keeping to the shadows, but mostly for the sake of Jason's pride than anything else. He doesn't really feel threatened in this city, not as often as he had back home, anyway. Roy might be what the locals called a badass normal, but he doesn't really feel insufficient. At risk. No one knows him here, after all, not enough to hold a grudge.

"Got it."

The trip continues in relative silence, until they're at the place, and Roy's chest is rising and falling heavily from exertion, his eyes scanning for the garage door Jason was talking about.

"Alright Jaybird, your turn. Push that button, man."

His voice is obviously breathless, but he's smiling as he says it.

It was trust, and even given the bad blood that Jason had spilled between them he still trusted Roy more than anyone. On this world or any other. Roy Harper always had his back, even when he was a dick and didn't deserve it.

There was something soothing about Roy's heat and the way the man was ready to help. He rested his head on his shoulder fighting the urge to sleep.

"Good."

He spoke, his voice rumbling from, the blood loss and tireness pulling at him with loads of pain mixed in. But like any Bat worth anything pain didn't matter much. He did feel bad for Roy having to haul him across town, and he was thankful for the other keeping to the shadows.

When Roy spoke he hit the button without lifting his head. Inside was a garage that clearly belonged to Jason. The tools hanging on the wall had all been used, and the familar red Mustang was parked inside. A staircase lead inside but there was a bench near there stairs where he could drop the Hood down and take a breath. "Thanks, Roy." He grumbled against his shoulder.

Truth is, Roy didn't expect any different than to be trusted by Jason. Maybe there was bad blood, maybe he's even still a bit pissed about what Jason had pulled on him, but he would never let Jason bleed out, get hurt, maybe get dead, because Roy had some hurt feelings. And he knows that Jason knows that. There's some things that transcend desertion and even some level of betrayal, and he and Jay have been through quite a few of those things together.

Doesn't hurt that it feels really nice to have Jason's head resting on his shoulder like that.

Once they're off the streets, Roy feels himself relax just a bit, carries Jason over to the bench in the corner and sets Jason down. Crouching in front of him, Roy gives him another look over.

"You think you can get your gear off, or do I have to strip you?"

It's a practical question, Roy asks it without innuendo or suggestion, looking up at Jason in the low light, and then waving a hand at the thanks.

"Seriously man, anytime. Just gonna warn you I seriously suck at stitches though."

Jason knew but he also had a decent amount of bat paranoia and abandonment issues, that make him run. So, he worried way to much at times while trying to pretend he didn't care at all.

As Roy asks, Jason is already starting to work on that. Luckily he had disconnected the taser from his chest before Roy picked him up. The rest was easy enough to slip on and off. Jason has clearly been working out again, though he's always had a nice body, it's just more bloody now. He flinched a lot but the wet shirt hit the ground with a smack. He didn't think the pants mattered, but he managed a grin at that.

"Why, you trying to get a free show?" It was the blood loss, or was it? He managed a loopy grin before shrugging. "I can stitch myself later..."

When Jason asks that question, Roy snorts and rolls his eyes, shakes his head. But his cheeks go a bit red too, and he can't quite look at Jason's face, because he'd said it and meant it without any innuendo, and the last thing he'd expected was for Jason to throw some in completely unprompted.

"Now why would you ask me a question like that? Do you realize who you're talking to? Bad idea there, bro."

It's the furthest thing possible from the casual jokey brush-off he'd been expecting, especially because Jason's been stripping himself and Roy...definitely notices the slight difference in his musculature. Not that he'd ever paid way too much attention to that or anything.

"You sure this stitching can wait, Jaybird? You're practically a firehose right now."

Jason's grin widened a bit at that, to much time with Loki. To much flirting with Hana before she made her choice. So much went into the look he was giving Roy. Months in this land made him know more what he wanted, but he also knew he was to messed up right now. Maybe another night.

"Is it such a bad idea?" He asked with a shrug before winching in pain. Oh yeah he was still bleeding like a stuck pig.

"No, fuck that, get me the med kit. its in the trunk." He motioned to the mustang parked in the garage with them. Bright red and pretty as could be. "Help me here, Roy."

For once, Roy keeps his mouth shut, at least for a few moments. Head down, cheeks going red, mind racing furiously, he bites his lower lip and rolls his eyes theatrically as he heads over to the car, opens the trunk, pulls out the medkit. He's not really thinking about what he's doing, because Jason had asked him if it was really such a bad idea for Roy to be getting a free strip show off him.

It's...it's not something he's never thought about before. It's crossed his mind, here and there, while they were showering at the gym, or when he saw Jason working on something shirtless. It's not something he'd ever thought Jason might've thought of. Nothing he would've thought Jason might say out loud.

Walking back over to Jason, Roy pulls out a packet of gauze, tears it open, and busies himself with pressing it against the wound, trying to stem the bleeding.

"Maybe not. A bad idea. I mean."

So awkward. It's Roy's turn to wince.

Loki had done a lot of good for getting Jason to open his mind to things, and while the idea had crossed his mind a lot here he was still worried about voicing it. He had no problem ruining his friendship to protect Roy... but possibly losing Roy to a few minutes of fun wasn't a welcomed idea.

If he hadn't been loopy from blood loss he might not have made the joke, but it was out there. "Maybe a good idea when I'm not half dead." He muttered as he winced in pain. It hurt like hell but he usually could take it, his blue eyes looked tired as he looked own at his former partner. "Thanks man... seriously. I know I'm a jerk sometimes, but I'm glad your here." He spoke it all lower, looking away after he had said thanks.

Log: Change in the house of flies

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