Chapter Text
One would think that after a few months of having variations of the same dream, Jason would be used to the fact each one ended with him being shoved off a cliff of sorts and falling to the ground. Yet he never was. It simply felt too real. Jason was standing in the middle of the all too familiar field with knee high grass, white and silver in color. He sighed as he looked around the place, waiting for the strange ethereal being to appear and push him off the ledge that was behind him. He knew if he turned to look, a pair of feathery wings extending from his back would obstruct his view.
Jason took a step forward and instantly became even more perplexed. In all other versions of this dream he was bound to the spot he started in. Feeling daring, he took two more steps and spun around, fully expecting to see something to fall off of. Instead he saw more grass interspersed with glowing pastel colored flowers. He surveyed the scene again and took note of the path nearby. He headed towards the path, moving awkwardly as he struggled to get used to the weight of the wings. From a distance the stones that comprised the path appeared to be made of silver. However, upon a closer look he could see bits of diamond dust mixed in as well.
He tentatively touched a foot on to the path. For some reason he half expected to burst into flames and found himself relieved that was not the case. He followed the path until he came to a fountain made of marble. Someone was sitting on the edge of the fountain, staring at their reflection, running their hand through the water and singing a song in a language that Jason had never heard. As he drew closer he was able to see more of the being. It was a woman with long dark hair and an understated goth aesthetic. She turned to look at him, a chilling yet inviting smile on her face. She patted the spot next to her.
Something compelled Jason to do as she commanded. When he was near her, her smile only grew. He dared not sit as he was uncertain as how to properly do so with wings. “You keep coming here,” she said. The woman cupped her hand and watched it fill with water before slowly pouring it out. “You no longer belong here.”
“Considering I’m in my dreams, I think I do,” Jason retorted.
The woman snickered. “I’m sure that is how your visits have felt Jason, but I can assure you, they have all been real.” She stood and closed the gap between them. “Besides, even if they were dreams, that is my brother’s realm of expertise. Mine is something else entirely.” She tapped her chin as if she were thinking through something before saying, “I shall leave a mark on you to prove you were here.” She ran her fingers through his hair. As she did, an unnaturally bright light emerged behind her. She took his hand in hers, leading him towards it.
Jason’s heart was racing as he anticipated the falling sensation he was certain was next. “Before you toss me into consciousness, what exactly is your expertise?”
There was something mischievous about her smile now. “Why, death of course,” she answered as she turned him so his back faced the light. He opened his mouth to reply but she shushed him by pressing her pointer finger to his lips. “One more thing before you go; there are people in your world who can help you. I believe you know who they are. Seek them out.” She pushed him through the light, the falling officially commenced.
As his eyes flew open he heard himself gasping for air. He rubbed his forehead as he swung his legs over the bed. Jason could hear Roy pouring cereal into a bowl and Lian chattering away as he went to join them. “G’morning you two,” he said as he entered the kitchen. Both Roy and Lian were staring at him, their eyes were wide. Lian was in awe while Roy had almost dropped his breakfast. Jason’s nerves were beginning to kick in as he looked back and forth between his two family members. “Everything alright…?”
“Dad! Your hair is awesome! Can I do that to my hair?” Lian said excitedly.
“My…hair?” Jason stammered as he reached for his head.
Roy took a deep breath to steady himself. “We’ll talk when you’re sixteen Squeaker.” He set the cereal on the counter and picked up his phone. His thumbs punched in the passcode and cleared away several notifications. “Try not to freak out,” he said as he turned his phone screen to Jason, “Too much.”
“Why would I…what the fu-fudge!?” Jason choked out as he stared at himself using the phone camera’s selfie mode. The front part of his hair had white streaks running through it that were very much not that when he had gone to bed. He ran his hands through his hair and tried styling it in a way that would hide the white. “What the hell am I going to do?”
Lian gasped. “Dad! You said a bad word.”
“I’m sorry kiddo,” Jason said, still fooling around with his hair even after Roy put the phone away. He sat down at the table and looked at Roy. “This…isn’t natural.”
Roy resumed eating his cereal and sat down next to him. “I agree.” He was visibly concerned and mulling over his next choice of words. His voice was soft as he asked, “Should we contact someone in your family?” He put his hand on top of Jason’s. “They are used to dealing with some pretty weird things.”
He was right but the idea of going to them after the last time they all worked together made Jason’s anxiety flare up even more. That bastard named Constantine had somehow been able to discover details about Jason’s past and then proceeded to broadcast them in the middle of the Bat Cave. In front of Bruce. The details were vague, but they were enough to make Bruce twitchy and create tension. Jason supposed it was to be expected considering the old bat hated magic almost as much as he hated not knowing things.
Even before Constantine ran his mouth, Bruce had not been keen on many parts of Jason’s past. Now that he knew there was some degree of magic involved, that gave him more questions. As a result, Bruce being the “wonderful” communicator that he was, reopened his investigation on Jason rather than talking to the source directly. Then again, Jason wasn’t a talker so could he really blame Bruce for not even trying? Probably not. At least technically speaking. The lack of effort though was reminiscent of every other time the two of them had issues which was getting to Jason and serving as a reminder as to why he stayed away as much possible.
Jason shook his head in response to Roy. His eyes flicked over to Lian to signal that this was a discussion she should not be present for. Roy nodded and said, “Hey Squeaker, we’re going to go talk for a bit. When we’re done, how about we build a blanket fort in the living room?”
The little girl’s eyes lit up. “Okay! Can we make popcorn and watch movies too?”
“Absolutely but there might be a bit of a wait on that, okay?” Roy explained.
“Okay Daddy,” Lian answered. She gave him a thumbs up as the two men left to head to the bedroom.
Jason ran a hand through his hair. “Considering I haven’t really seen or heard from anyone in a few months, with the exception of the holiday party, I don’t think my family is the one to go to.”
“Dick would help if you asked,” Roy said gently. He laced his fingers through Jason’s.
“Which is why he’s reached out so much,” Jason remarked sarcastically.
“Maybe he has learned to let you to come to him,” Roy responded.
“I’ll give you that,” Jason admitted, focusing on the way their hands fit together so well. “But I still would rather avoid involving him…” He trailed off as he remembered how the lady in his dream ran her fingers through his hair. “I think the hair might be related to the dreams I have been having.”
Roy squeezed his hand. “You should look into it,” he said, caressing Jason’s cheek, “They’re not getting any better and as far as I can tell, you have nothing to lose.”
“I will,” Jason said quietly.
“Let me know how I can help,” Roy said.
“You help just by being here,” Jason said.
Roy smiled as he leaned in for kiss. “You know what I mean.” He pressed his lips to Jason’s. “Now that the shock is wearing off, I must say, I like the hair.” He kissed Jason again.
“Really?” Jason asked, intrigued by this development.
His significant other nodded. “It looks good,” Roy said kissing him again, “It’s kind of sexy.”
“Now you’re just trying to stroke my ego,” Jason said.
“But I’m not lying,” Roy countered.
“You’re a pain in the ass,” was the only thing he could think to say in response.
“As are you. That’s why we get along,” Roy teased. They shared another kiss before deciding to head back out to the living room. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Jason responded as they turned the corner.
Lian was hard at work trying to decide which blanket was the best to drape over the kitchen chairs and which would go on the couch. Jason went to grab the chairs as Roy back tracked to fetch pillows. Within a couple minutes the three of them were constructing the blanket fort as promised. When it was almost done, there was a knock on the door. Jason and Roy both exchanged worried looks. They were not expecting company. It was not abnormal for Rose, Joey or Eddie to pop up without warning but they each possessed keys.
Jason took it upon himself to go over to the door. He peaked through the peephole and instantly felt his blood boil. The bastard was standing on the other side of the door. His hands were in the pockets of his trench coat and he had that irritating twinkle in his eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Jason groaned.
“Who is it Jaybird?” Roy asked, concern seeping into his voice.
“Constantine,” Jason practically growled.