Chapter Text
To be honest, Jason didn’t think that he was going to be the younger soulmate. Sure the thought had crossed his mind more than once. It was an extremely important day and event after all. But after dying and reviving he just assumed that it had fucked up any chance of finding or meeting his supposed soulmate. He had honestly given up. There are those where their soulmate had died before their 18th birthday. In those instances Jason found that their soulmate’s death date was inscribed somewhere on their bodies.
From what he had been able to gather from the scarce research and records; these dates wouldn’t show up until the younger’s 18th birthday. It entirely depended on who died first and what their age order was. If the older had already turned 18 and the younger died before their 18th birthday then the elder wouldn’t receive their soulmate’s death date until their 18th. It was the same with the younger. If the older died at any point, whether before or after their 18th birthday, the younger would not know until they turned 18.
Usually when that happened the still living soulmate would go through a period of mourning before linking up with another person. Usually with someone who had also lost their soulmate, therefore balancing out the universe. It wasn’t a rare occurrence, hell, it wasn’t even uncommon, but to talk about it was something incredibly painful and personal. So there wasn’t much in a research perspective. If you saw a date inscribed on someone’s body then you just didn’t ask about it. It was considered extremely impolite and taboo to even ask. Now, if the person opened up to you about it, that was a different story altogether.
─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
It was finally Jason’s 18th birthday. He was originally going to spend it watching tv in his shitty one bedroom apartment on the cusp of Crime Alley. But then Alfred approached him, with Dick as back up, to convince him to come to the Manor for his birthday instead. It took a couple of ‘interventions’ and a written promise from Bruce saying that he was not allowed to ask any kind of questions for Jason to even think about it.
In the end Jason did go to the Manor for his birthday celebration, and it was actually quite nice. He got there early in the morning, helped Alfred with the cooking (considering he was the only Wayne that was allowed in the kitchen) but was not allowed to even think about helping with his cake. So he was sternly ushered out of the kitchen when the afternoon had just started. He then helped put up decorations with his other siblings. When that was finished, they started a Mario Kart tournament.
Jason was currently watching as Cass was beating everyone’s asses on Rainbow Road. There were multiple groans of defeat before there were even more shouts for a rematch. Jason let the corner of his mouth quirk up, the closest thing to a smile he’d had since dying. It was a strangely domestic moment that rarely ever happened and Jason didn’t want to interrupt. So instead, he let his younger siblings all play fight and make lighthearted jokes and jabs at each other.
Dick breaks off from the group and comes over to join him on the other side of the loveseat. Jason glances over before going back to watching their younger siblings. They have a quiet moment together, just watching the rematch race go nearly the same as the first.
“Are you nervous?” Dick finally asks, his voice is low and gentle.
Jason hums. “I guess? I’ve kind of already thought about everything and I’m prepared for things to go very wrong very quickly. I’ve done all the research that I can and now I just have to wait. I don’t really know how my death and revival has affected my bond with my soulmate. Have they already gone through the mourning process? Do they even know that I’ve died and come back? Do I just not have a soulmate anymore?”
Dick gives his younger brother a sad look. He sighs, a world weary thing that shows just how much weight is on his shoulders. “I think you’ll be able to find your soulmate. Hopefully the universe isn’t so cruel as to bring you back and not let you have one. And even if that’s the case I’ll fight the universe, just for you.” Dick smiles but it doesn’t quite chase the tiredness from his eyes.
Jason gives him a tiny smile, just a small quirking of his lips. “Thanks Dick. You really are the best bigger brother.”
Dick punches his arm but gives him a large warm smile. There’s another short quiet moment shared between the two before they’re being dragged into the next race. Dick gladly goes but Jason tries to convince everyone that he didn’t want to race. Of course, it was all just an act and he was supremely proud that he was the first one to beat Cass. Although, he did have the sneaking suspicion that she let him win because it was his birthday.
Hours passed and it was soon time for the actual party to begin. Alfred had plated all of the dishes that they had made earlier and they were all arranged beautifully on the large dining table. About halfway through dinner the cake was brought out. 18 candles were lit atop a masterfully iced two tiered cake. Jason felt just a little bit excited at the sight. It had been so long since he had had these kinds of nice, homely moments with his adoptive family. All of his siblings were singing Happy Birthday to him, almost all of them singing off key on purpose because that’s what siblings do.
Alfred presents the cake to Jason and tells him to make a wish. Jason smiles slightly before closing his eyes and blowing out the candles. When Jason opens his eyes next, he is thoroughly confused and concerned at the sight he’s greeted with.
It’s a huge room, probably larger than any other room that he’s ever been in. More rectangular in shape and made completely out of what looks to be like black obsidian. Everything was washed in a sickly familiar green light. A subtle glance out of the nearest window confirms his fears. The sky outside looks exactly like the Lazarus Pits do. His gut drops at the sight, but he schools his expression. He needed to keep his head if he was going to get out of the current situation, whatever that might be.
Sounds of an argument in front of him finally make its way to his ears. Jason looks down. He must be sitting up on some kind of dais. Save that thought for later, figure out what the hell is going on now.
At the bottom of the short set of steps float, not stand, not kneel, but fucking float, two of what Jason can only assume to be Pit Demons. The two don’t seem to pay any mind to him and that’s how Jason would like to keep it. No way in hell is he going to even attempt to insert himself into this situation. At least for now until he can get the bigger picture and a more secure hand of the situation.
“Your Majesty! Please! Those lands are rightfully mine! This, this barbarian stole them from me!” The one on the left shouts unnecessarily. Their pudgy and look like the mere thought of walking across the room would have them breaking out in a heavy sweat.
The one on the right scoffs. “Stole? Stole? I won them fairly in a duel! Just because you are a sore loser does not mean that I cheated in any way, shape, or form! If anything, I should be the one to be compensated for the trouble you’re putting me through!” They look thinner than the first but still have a decent amount of fat clinging to their frame. The blazing anger in their eyes speaks of the ability to fight for themselves and would do so if the argument wasn’t solved as soon as possible.
The bickering went back and forth. With each of the Pit Demons throwing what he assumed were hurtful barbs at one another. It was starting to give him a headache. These two were worse than any of his siblings whenever they argued. Hell, they were worse than any of his goons and they could be insufferable when they wanted to be.
Before he could even say a word, another Pit Demon crashed through one of the windows. There was a singular split second after the shattered glass had fallen to the polished smooth floor where everything was quiet. The other two arguing Pit Demons had fled the room with their metaphorical tails between their legs. Jason wishes that the quiet moment had lasted longer because in the next thing he knew they were charging, full fucking speed, at him. Before Jason could do anything to protect or defend himself, a giant black suit of armor manifested out of the shadows behind the chair (wait fuck, was this actually a throne then????) to stand defensively between himself and the sudden attacker.
The two clash in a violent dance of blades and limbs. Jason would usually help out, but he felt like he was way out of his league. A small voice in the back of his head told him to stay out of the way. That there was nothing he could do at the moment and instead just sit back and observe. Normally, Jason would flat out ignore the little logical voice in his head because causing chaos was far more fun than acting with common sense and self-preservation. But before he knew it, the fight was over. The intruder was being carted off to wherever they were taking them, and the huge set of black armor was now making their way back to his side.
They kneel at Jason’s feet with the amount of respect that one would give a king or something to that effect. It made Jason feel slightly uneasy. No one had willingly given him that kind of respect in a long time. More than several years probably. At least without it being tainted with fear. No matter what he did they would always be afraid of him. It needed to stay that way in order for him to keep a handle on Crime Alley, but it still would be nice to be subjected to fearful glances and stares from not only strangers but his own people too.
“My liege, we need to move somewhere safer for the time being. They won’t be desisting any time soon.” They get up and gesture for Jason to follow them to wherever they were going to take him.
Jason nods, uncharacteristically quiet. Could you blame him though? He was currently trying to stave off a massive panic attack, suppress the need for a Pit Rage episode, and try to figure out how the hell he was going to get home. If anything, he was more impressed with himself that he could do all of these things and not be in the middle of a mental breakdown. They had made it out of the ‘throne room’ and into what could be assumed to be a servants’ corridor if the context clues and the narrowness of the hallway was anything to go by. The hallway was drabber and more sensible, therefore further supporting his theory that they were in a back hallway or a servants' corridor.
The closer they get to wherever their destination is the more Jason’s soul settles. It settles like it hasn’t since before he died. The welling Pit Rage was dying back, simmering down to a more manageable level, and a wave of comforting calm washed over him in its place. It was strange, to feel so safe and secure and comfortable in a place he didn’t know with people he didn’t trust. He shouldn’t be feeling like this. He should be questioning everything and demanding answers. But instead, he leans into the comfort of unfamiliar hallways and mysterious doors.
Soon they arrive at a door. Not just any door either. This door is the exact copy of his childhood door. The one that made him feel safe and secure whenever his dad went into an alcohol fueled rage. The one that kept the majority of the horrors of the world away. The one that held both good and bad memories.
The black suit of armor gracefully opens the door. They bow their head in respect. “We have arrived, my liege.” They motion to the room beyond the door. “His Majesty personally created this room in the hopes that you would have a safe space when you came. My name is Fright Knight. Please call for me if you need anything.”
And with that the door was shut behind Jason. It startled him a bit seeing as he had no clue as to when he went from standing in the hallway to now being in the room. Speaking of the room, it was a near replica of his room in Wayne Manor before he had died. Though a big difference was the stories tall shelves of books all along the far side of the room. It was as if the space meant more for living in was secluded from the rest of what could only be called a library. The ceiling was lower but still considered vaulted. A large four poster bed made of dark wood with matching nightstands on either side took up the majority of the space. A dresser and standing wardrobe lined the opposite wall with another door, presumably the one that led to the en suite bathroom, stood next to them.
The library was so vast that Jason could’ve spent lifetimes exploring the shelves and still not be bored. Everything was organized but not quite to his tastes. If he'd had the time, he’d reorganize everything. For now, he settled to just browse through the colorful spines and pick up whichever book caught his eye. Jason had thoroughly lost track of time but he guessed that it had been quite a while seeing as he had been able to finish reading at least six full length novels. He hadn’t seen anyone since entering the room, but he wasn’t complaining. If anything, he was quite enjoying the quiet time so he could focus solely on reading.
There was a particular little nook on the third floor that Jason had deemed his favorite. With an overstuffed chair and two large bean bags as well as a low coffee table, it was the perfect picture of a cozy reading space. He was lounging on one of the bean bags when a bone deep exhaustion made itself present. Jason wasn’t entirely certain of what the hell was happening, again. Feels like de ja vu which he was not very keen on experiencing again. One moment he was sitting, quite peacefully for the moment, in the large ghostly library halfway through his most recent novel that he’d picked out. The next he can feel himself being pulled in multiple directions yet feeling like he was being squished and condensed in on himself. It almost felt like his soul was losing grip on his soulmate’s body and trying to slip away into the endless green expanse just outside of the castle walls. The horrible feeling didn’t last long, thankfully, but when it did stop it felt like he had been put through the wringer at least six times.
Jason’s body felt like it was heavier than lead at the moment. Opening his eyes? Yeah no, absolutely out of the cards. Moving a single muscle? Nope, can’t do that either. It felt like he was going through a hard reset. His senses were thrown out of whack, he couldn't tell up from down or left from right. But soon some things started to filter back into his conscious mind. He could smell stale cigarette smoke, hear several people breathing, and feel the warmth of the person holding him.
After what felt like forever, he was finally able to open his eyes and see what kind of fuckery he had been dragged into this time. What he was not prepared for, was for his own face to be staring back at him. What he was also not prepared for was for his soulmate to say, “Oh good, I didn’t kill you.” and then proceed to dramatically pass the fuck out. Jason's first impression of his soulmate was not necessarily a good one. Hopefully when he woke up and they had an actual damn conversation that opinion would be different.
“Holy shit!” Jason shouts as he makes a mad grab at his soulmate before he falls full force onto the polished hardwood floor. “The fuck happened?” He demands as he lays his soulmate down, not really having the ability to hold him for an extended amount of time at the moment. Jason looks up and makes eye contact with his family members. Most of them are in some kind of shock, just staring unabashedly at him. “What?”
“Dude, you look like some kind of royal.” Tim is the first to break out of whatever trance they’d all been in. His expression is wide eyed and exuding curiosity. Great, Timmer's seems to have a whole list of questions to ask lined up already.
“I-what?” Jason asks, genuinely confused at the statement.
“Constantine, Zatara, would you care to explain?” Bruce calmly asks.
The fuck? Constantine and Zatara were dragged into this? What the hell did his soulmate do? Jason looks behind him as sees the two aforementioned magic users. Constantine looked very much like his normal rumpled self. Whereas Zatara looked less put together than she usually did. He was guessing that they must’ve been called to help with the situation rather suddenly. Considering where his soulmate had been when they switched bodies and if they needed help? That was a fairly reasonable response.
“No. I’m not going to fuck around and find out when it comes to dealing with matter that involve the Realms. Count me the fuck out.” Constantine grumbles before lighting another cigarette. “Goodbye, never nice to see you, I’m leaving.”
And with that the Laughing Mage disperses into light. Therefore, leaving Zatara to pick up the slack he left. She sighs as if she knew this was exactly what he’d do. And in all honesty the rest of them weren’t all that surprised either. It was fairly standard behavior for the mage after all.
“Well, to start off with, his name is Danny. He’s a creature of the Realms but also has a more human form. I don’t know many details on that front, so you’ll have to ask him whenever he wakes up. As for the whole royalty thing, yes he’s technically royalty. Not by blood or inheritance but through right of conquest. He doesn’t normally interfere with matters here on the moral plane, usually keeps to the Realms unless a denizen of his is causing trouble. Then he’ll step in and take care of it.” Zatara glances around the room to see if everyone was following. “Other than that there’s not much information on or about him. I know that Danny’s been around for longer than he looks to have been. As far as I know he stopped aging around seventeen or eighteen. And that’s all I know. It’s not much so if you want more details or information, you’ll have to ask Danny.”
There’s an awkward silence where Jason can tell that his adoptive family has questions but won’t voice them because Zatara has made it clear that she’s already told them all that she knows. Jason stands with his body, his soulmate, Danny, in his arms and heads into the next room, hoping to find a couch or something to lay Danny down on instead of the hard floor. He did find a chase lounge in the other room and used that. Once Danny was out of his arms, Jason felt extremely tired and sat down hard on the carpeted flooring. A nap sounds nice. Then hopefully he could wake up to some answers.
Jason closed his eyes and leaned against the lounge. He was so tired. At that moment he felt something give inside of him. A bright flash of light lit up the inside of his eyelids but didn’t think anything of it. Whatever it was, felt like he’d just released a breath he hadn’t even known that he had been holding. It felt nice, like he could finally relax.
There were voices though. Familiar voices that were speaking far too loudly for Jason’s taste. He just wanted to sleep, was that so wrong? Just a short nap, then he’d be back up and asking all the questions that were swirling around in his head. For now though, for now he just needed a nap. He needed a nap and everyone else needed to shut up and leave him alone.
There’s another voice, one that sounds old and wise and gentle. Must be Alfred, bless that man and his ability to corral the Wayne brood. Only the most experienced and seasoned could brave the mess that is the Wayne clan. Another few words are exchanged before Jason feels a blanket being draped over his shoulders and the door closing softly.
Jason sighs contently and lets sleep pull him under. Of course, as he fell deeper into sleep’s warm embrace, Jason didn’t see how his own hand was entangled with his soulmate’s. Fingers lovingly locked together in a newly familiar feeling.