JASON: THE TIES THAT BIND

[lazarusinred]

It was not unusual for Jason to wake up a few times during his sleep. He could not be sure if any of the times were because Dirk had gotten squirmy or not. Every time he woke, Dirk was still there. Last night had not been some kind of dream.

Long after the the fingers of dawn had crept around the edges of the bedroom's blinds, and the full light of morning had lit them gently, the alarm Jason had set hours ago chimed. He had been drifting in a doze and the pull to wakefulness was easy to follow. Easy because he had planned for a slow start before they had to leave. Which meant plenty of time to laze around in bed. He still had to fumble a bit with his phone to turn the alarm off.

"Dirk," he said softly, his voice not quite as awake as the rest of him. One hand wound into Dirk's now dry hair, and Jason let the other trail down Dirk's back. "Dirk, it's time to wake up." Now his voice was operating at normal volume.

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[evenindeath]

He wanted to stay right here and possibly defile the alcove, but he was pretty sure that would be a no go. He rested his arms on Jason's shoulders, stretching them out and threading his fingers together as he thought.

"Is your old room still here or did they give it to Tiny when he got the hand-me-down title?" Dirk asked after a little thinking.

[lazarusinred]

"It's still here. More guest room than shrine, but still mine. Did you want to see it?" The question was innocent, but the tone of Jason's voice said it didn't have to be.

[evenindeath]

The way Dirk bit his lip and raised his eyebrows just a bit - a mildly flirty expression that might as well have been a neon light on someone who was as stoic as Dirk - probably answered that question before he had to say anything.

"Yeah. Show me?"

Whether it was just a tour of memories or a chance to make some new ones hardly mattered, he'd be happy even if they didn't end up on Jason's old bed.

[lazarusinred]

It was such a strong expression from Dirk that it sent a little flutter through Jason. Maybe for people less accustomed to dealing with people who schooled their features it would not have such an impact, but Jason had been raised by one of the most stoic people on the planet.

In answer Jason stepped away from Dirk and took his hand again. The manor was huge and sprawling. The hallways on the main floor were marble with occasional rugs to break it up. Art hung on the walls and statues punctuated some of the wider halls. It was a short trip to the grand staircase that led up to the second floor. The entry chamber being fully open the full two floors, allowing a massive chandelier to preside over the space. The wall space here contained art that was not only presented for prestige, but some of it felt personal. Things that meant something to the residents of the manor.

The second floor had all wood floors and the art situation was much more subdued. The structure of the space felt more in line with a place actual people would live. Very wealthy people, but people. Getting to his old room required a bit more walking down hallways than it took to get from the library to the main entry.

When they came to the door, Jason paused long enough to make sure no one was waiting to bother them the moment they got there. It seemed that for now people were actually busy or not interested in 'accidentally' being in the way. The room itself was massive and felt strangely empty. After things had been smoothed over between him and Bruce, when he was allowed back here, he had taken a lot of his personal effects that had been left in place. He had kept two of the wheels he had stolen from the Batmobile and one of them was still here. Always a dare for Bruce to take it back, even though now the wheels on the vehicle were several generations along. There were some standard decorations that went along with the rest of the house, but he had picked out a few paintings that remained here. One a moody and dark scene, something that most people would expect from him, and the other depicted a shining field of wheat. Glowing brightly against what appeared to be a dark storm moving in - or moving away. The field was the one he had picked because he had liked it.

In addition to the large bed there was a study desk, and sitting area. It was large enough to be a studio apartment. For so long his own home within his home. It even had its own bathroom. The large windows to either side of the bed looked out over the front garden and down the hills to Gotham in the distance and the lake beyond.

"I don't have any embarrassing boy band posters. Well, not that you can prove," Jason said and released Dirk's hand, allowing him to move about as he wanted.

[evenindeath]

Dirk took it all in quietly as they walked, memorizing every turn and hallway in case he might need it someday in the future. It was the biggest personal residence he'd ever seen, but that wasn't really saying much - he'd seen very few all things considered. Jason's old room was the thing that held his main interest, though. Even with most of the personal items removed it still held traces of him, and Dirk smiled a little at his explanation as he began to look around.

"Hmm, you don't strike me as the type to listen to their music, so how would you have justified getting one to look at the boys on it...?" he asked with a little grin. He also didn't think Jason would have just flatly admitted the truth.

He traced his fingertips along the edge of the wheel, dancing them along the treads, eventually pausing in front of the painting of the field of wheat and the storm. That was where Dirk stopped, just to stare at it for a little while, taking it in and trying to decide if the storm was coming in or away.

[lazarusinred]

"That's assuming that I didn't steal it," Jason said with a little grin of his own. He could have had little secrets like that. Bruce believed in never entering his space without permission. Jason was never sure if that was a universal thing or something he was careful to extend to him.

When Dirk lingered at the painting of the field, Jason moved up next to him. Leaning his shoulder into the other man he asked softly, "Today, is the storm coming or going? Is it something to be endured or something to be embraced?"

[evenindeath]

More than once Dirk had been knocked into the ocean around his high-rise during a storm and almost drowned, and countless more times than that they had simply fucked anything that was left out to the elements when they happened unexpectedly. Even so, he couldn't ever bring himself to hate them. They just were.

It was always safer to assume the storm was heading towards you, if you couldn't be sure of it's direction.

Shoulder to shoulder, Dirk still reached out to lace his fingers with Jason's when holding his hand.

"I think the answer to the last one might be different if you're asking the painter or the wheat," he answered, not looking away from the art.

[lazarusinred]

Holding hands was such a simple thing. Another thing Jason had not done before Dirk. He could not remember his birth parents holding his hand, Bruce certainly had not, Alfred had on occasion. That was not the same as this. Fingers laced together, hand held in return, it felt like saying something without words. Something like, I want you near, but deeper than that. Where words were hard to find.

Jason glanced at Dirk out of the corner of his eye. This was a conversation he had before, but this was the first time it was not a conversation he was having only in his head. "Does the painter fear the storm because it may destroy their work, or do they not because they know they can take it with them to shelter while the storm pounds the wheat into the mud? Or does the wheat yearn for the storm because it brings them life, even if it is too much and hurts sometimes?" As always Jason was not entirely sure if he was talking about the painting or himself.

[evenindeath]

"No matter the damage the storm is appreciated when you need that water," Dirk said, and he knew. He had a system of desalination so it was never a problem for him, not really, but it was a slow enough process that a sudden influx of rainwater never went without a certain relief no matter what else it fucked with. "Imagine either way it's annoying... the scene you're painting is going to change, one way or another, if the storm comes through. If only by changing the lighting. Have to work fast."

He'd never talked about art with someone before. He wasn't sure he was doing it right, but Jason didn't seem annoyed.

[lazarusinred]

Jason was of the opinion that there was no wrong way to talk about art, except to insist that there was a right way to talk about art. He was enjoying this conversation with Dirk, and was not afraid to let that show on his features. It was just the two of them after all.

"Work fast and have a great memory. I wonder how many times this painter sketched this scene, painted it. How many times of day they tried to capture, how many storms, or was it just one perfect moment of opportunity and skill?"

[evenindeath]

The visible enjoyment in Jason's expression was it's own reward. Enough so that Dirk didn't feel like there was any great loss for not making use of the temporary privacy of a door that closed between them and the rest of the household. Jason also seemed a little less shameless about that kind of thing when it came to his family, and Dirk could respect that.

No crass and vulgar comments where Jason could hear them.

"Dunno, but... I think the perseverance is the one I like most. Doing it again and again until it's right."

[lazarusinred]

After moving here so much of Jason's life had become repetition. Practice until perfection, practice until all variations were perfected, practice until it became as natural as breathing. Until became a part of him. He had the tenacity, the perseverance, to do it. Even so, some of the lessons were so counter to his nature that they only maintained while the pressure to maintain them was there.

He turned to look away from the painting to Dirk, looking over the lines of his profile. "I do too."

This wouldn't be the last time they would be able to spend time here. Plenty of future opportunities to make other kinds of memories in this space. Jason found that he was just as happy with this. He gave Dirk's hand a little squeeze as he felt a rise of affection in his heart.

[evenindeath]

Dirk squeezed Jason's hand in returned, looking over to him fully. It had been an unexpected intimacy to talk like this, and Dirk's heart thrilled to see how much Jason appeared to have enjoyed it. Fuck, he had to find more excuses to talk art now, clearly. Talking in general -

He talked so much over text, hearing his own voice aloud felt weird sometimes. He'd only really started speaking significantly when he switched over to voice to text for a lot of his tech so he could more easily work on things.

Again he leaned in to kiss Jason, though this time it was softer, less of the frantic passion of before.

[lazarusinred]

Jason's kiss in return was equally soft. Affectionate, but not lacking an underpinning of passion.

That Dirk had engaged with him like this meant more to him than he realized until this moment. It could have been over any topic, but the meeting together over thoughtful questions and answers that was what ended up mattering. Dirk could have shut it down at any point, not engaged with him and that would have been fine. Instead they got to learn a little more about each other.

As the kiss came to a close, Jason leaned in for another kiss - free hand coming up to gently touch Dirk's cheek. Not pushing for anything more passionate, but not quite ready to stop being wrapped up in the intimate exchange.

[evenindeath]

Jason's kiss was eagerly met again, a small sigh of pleasure escaping barely parted lips at the same time. He couldn't get enough of the simple joy of kissing Jason and that Jason seemed to feel the same just urged Dirk on further. He wanted to ask Jason if he was sure about Dirk staying with him, about keeping him, while also not wanting to risk bringing it up and him changing his mind.

Not until he was sure he could change it back, anyway.

It was going to be hard doing his own research when Jason was around to kiss.

"Think the kid's gonna be wearing the full costume to lunch or just skipping out?" He asked with a little grin as the thought occurred to him.

[lazarusinred]

Jason's fingers trailed down from Dirk's cheek to his neck. He was too close to see the mark he had made, but he feel the warmer skin where it was. It sent a little thrill through him thinking about it, just as he worried it had been a step too far. The first small crack.

"Oh he's going to be there, and he's going to be wearing the mask. The questions are if he'll be wearing otherwise normal clothes and if he'll be at the table or sitting somewhere he can spy on us. Further question on how much Alfred will put up with," Jason replied, with a little grin of his own.

[evenindeath]

Dirk hoped he'd be hiding someplace Dirk could see because that sounded entertaining as hell.

"Don't stop him on my account," he said, though the warmth in his voice about it was more from Jason's fingertips tracing against the bite mark he'd left against Dirk's neck. He really needed time to be able to admire that mark like it deserved, to memorize how it looked so he could call it up at a moment's need. Something to warm him when a world went cold.

[lazarusinred]

"Oh no, I won't. Working with his nature is the best way to deal with him," Jason replied. The comment could tip just how much Jason did work angles with people, but he had seen the way Dirk had calculated.

And there was that warmth in Dirk's voice, the way he didn't flinch at Jason's touch. It was difficult for Jason to imagine a world where the way he pushed, the way he needed would be met and welcomed. Maybe that could change.

As if asking a question he pressed a little harder with his fingertips, but what he said was, "We should probably head down for lunch..."

[evenindeath]

Dirk's breath caught at the press of fingers against his skin. He wondered if Jason wanted a matching mark, if he'd be just as pleased to have one as Dirk was. God but he hunkered for the taste of Jason's skin against his tongue again.

"Should we…?" He asked, tilting his head to the side just a bit to let Jason's fingers find more of the skin of his neck if they wanted.

[lazarusinred]

The catch of Dirk's breath, the invitation to touch more- how could he not reach for more? Letting his fingers trace along more of the lines of Dirk's neck, feeling for the subtle differences of where a mark began and ended.

"It would be prudent..." He replied in a soft voice, bright eyes on Dirk's. He really did not want to be prudent. To that end he raised his hand that was still caught up with Dirk's. Unwinding their fingers he pressed Dirk's to his own neck, where Dirk had marked him right under his jaw.

[evenindeath]

Much as Dirk wanted to make a good impression, it was hard to think about wanting to be prudent right then either. Not when Jason's fingers were mapping the line of the mark left behind. It stung a little bit to be touched, and that just drove in the shiver going down his spine.

He let his own fingers trace by memory the bruises left along Jason's neck - every time he looked at Jason his eye was drawn to them, so he didn't need sight to see where they were now. The thrill of no attempt being made to cover them up, showing off Dirk's work like that...

"I think we're expected to be a little late," he murmured, voice barely audible.

[lazarusinred]

The marks on Jason were perhaps maturing and fading a bit quicker than they would on a normal person. Jason suspected that it was the nature of bruising that slowed down his quickened healing. Right now he was deeply pleased by that fact. It meant that Dirk's work would linger, and would ache sweetly when touched. Like it did now.

"A little late," he agreed, more breath than voice. He rested his free hand on Dirk's hip and tilted his head, much like Dirk had. He was only wearing the hoodie which did not cover much of his neck, unlike the collar of the jacket that Dirk was wearing, but it was an invitation.

[evenindeath]

Jason hadn't said no, had in fact given every indication of an enthusiastic yes - Dirk didn't want to fuck this up. He desperately did not want to fuck this up, and so far his only experience had been fucking up. It took everything to remind himself to keep his metaphorical grip loose and easy, to not hold on for dear life the second he had something to hold on to.

This was an invitation though, wasn't it?

Dirk leaned in to press his lips to Jason's cheek, to his jaw, making his way down until he was kissing his neck. Softer, then harder, then another fierce sucking bite of a kiss intent to refresh the mark.

[lazarusinred]

Jason had plenty of experience fucking things up as well. Just not a relationship. Even so, he did know that there was a difference between a stranglehold and holding on as equals. He hoped he could actually tell the difference when it came down to it. He hoped that Dirk was strong enough to tell him if he overstepped.

Not combined with the frantic heat that they had been building between them when Dirk had sunk his teeth into Jason's neck the first time, and made over skin already made sensitive- it pulled a gasping breath out of him. Fingers threaded into Dirk's hair, holding encouragingly tight. He wanted to possess Dirk as much as he wanted to be possessed in return, an echo of their morning turned around. "Dirk, yes-" he gasped.

[evenindeath]

All those attempts to tell himself he'd be good, he'd back off if he needed to, he could chill were straight out the window with that gasped 'yes' along with his name. Arms around Jason to pull him close, grasping at him, "Jay-" he groaned, breath hot against Jason's neck before he bit down again, harder, too full of want in the moment to think about consequences of an obviously refreshed mark in front of Jason's family.