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Tim was dozing lightly, cuddled and warm with Jason’s weight heavy against his side. He’d already muted the TV, credits rolling on the screen as he hovered in the pleasant in-between stated state of drowsiness. He sighed, happily nuzzling into Jason’s hair, knowing he needed to get them both up and into the bed but completely unwilling to break the extreme comfort.
His eyes drooped closed and there was another long moment where he slipped into unconsciousness– when suddenly Jason startled beneath him. Tim felt his whole body tense and the peaceful moment was broken as Jason pushed back harshly with a wordless shout.
Tim was awake in an instant, resetting his posture and focusing on his partner. They both had nightmares at times, flinching awake with tremors and shakes, and depending on what happened, what Jason was remembering or imagining, Tim would need to react differently.
Jason didn’t immediately say anything, just blinked at Tim owlishly like he didn’t know why Tim was there at all. Nightmares could be disorientating though, so Tim just gave him a moment.
Finally Tim gave a soft, reassuring smile. “You okay, Jay?”
Jason flinched, and Tim frowned, unused to this type of reaction after a nightmare. Jason could usually still talk about it or tell Tim what he needed.
“I don’t know,” Jason finally answered, tone hesitant. He really wasn’t giving Tim anything to work with.
But if Tim knew anything (he knew a lot of things) he knew Jason Todd. And Jason Todd? Jason Todd needed to be treasured.
"Then don’t worry about anything,” Tim offered, reaching a hand out and grasping Jason’s arm. “I can take care of you.” Tim moved into him, curling around Jason’s bulk, ready to protect him against the world, imaginary or not.
Jason held himself stiffly as Tim moved, but Tim was used to Jason being prickly, needing the forced love. Once Tim cracked the hard shell, Jason’s soft center was addictively sweet.
“You are fine, okay? I’ve got you,” Tim said as he stroked his hand through Jason’s curls. He followed it with some light kisses along Jason’s brow, then wrapped his arms around and squeezed.
Jason melted - just that easily - into Tim.
Tim sighed happily, nuzzling close again as his hands began to roam across Jason’s warm body. Feeling Jason’s soft skin beneath him, his compliancy to let Tim touch, drove Tim crazy. He felt his cock beginning to twitch in interest and took a deep breath. Which only served to fill his nose with the scent of Jason’s shampoo.
It wasn’t the current brand that Tim purchased for him, Tim suddenly observed. Tim bought Jason a special curly hair treatment that smelled like oatmeal cookies, while Jason right now smelled like his cheap safehouse shampoo of an undetermined fresh scent. When and why had Jason showered at an old safe house instead of at home? Tim needed to pay better attention.
Jason made a soft sound beneath Tim’s roaming hands, bringing his focus back to the situation at hand. Tim peppered his lover's face with kisses in response which Jason seemed to lean into tonight. He must have been really shook from the nightmare as that move usually got Tim a giggle and shove away. Tim rucked up Jason’s shirt in order to better touch his skin and Jason gave sharp intake of breath.
“This okay?” Tim asked, checking the mood. Sometimes Jason needed more and would snap back to make Tim be harsher, more demanding with his attention, pushing Jason out of his head and straight down. Sometimes Jason wanted something different, something that gave him more control, and Tim would accommodate either way.
Jason didn’t really go either way tonight though. Tim heard the softly whispered, “yeah,” but Jason made no move to touch back or do anything further.
Tim smiled. He knew what Jason needed. Jason just wanted to let Tim lead. He was letting Tim be sweet to him.
These were special moments and absolutely some of Tim’s favorite times. “Baby, I got you. You’re going to be so sweet for me. Come on, let me take you to the room. You don’t have to do anything okay? I’ll take care of you.”
Jason’s eyes opened and he stared at the dark empty safehouse. It was a decent one, all things considered, but he knew immediately it was too cold and too empty. He didn’t even remember using this safehouse in months and was unsure why he was here now. Did he stop to recover? To change?
His memories seemed to fail.
He quickly looked around and located his helmet and comm, flipping it on to message Tim. The line beeped but there was no responding beep from Tim’s end.
Jason’s stomach dropped. Hurriedly, he gathered his equipment and pinged the general comm line. It beeped. No answer.
Jason finally found his phone and swiped it open. The background was normal – a scraggly alley cat that Jason befriended and was always trying to tempt to come home with him. He clicked on Tim's messages, but all his chat history was gone. Like it’d been erased.
A hit of panic caused his breath to short as he smashed down on the screen. He called Tim’s number but the line went unanswered and Jason was out the door before the voicemail answered after three rings.
His bike was easily located and he was at the Nest in a matter of minutes. It looked normal from the outside. Jason punched in his code at the security lock and then jerked back as it flashed red. Denied.
He shakily took his phone out again. The date was correct. There was no long stretch of missing time in Jason’s mind. The phone looked like his. Same app set up, same recent browser history… except… the missing conversations.
He slowly punched in his code again, carefully pressing each button as he went, holding his breath in fear. The light flashed red and Jason felt the teary panic set in. He was locked out of his home.
He slumped back against the opposing wall, sinking down to the ground as he struggled to think what could have happened. How could he have forgotten fucking up so badly that he was locked out.
Hot tears pricked in his eyes as he tried to take a shaky breath, and think rationally. Tim would usually hold his hand when the panic set in, help set a breathing exercise and walk Jason through it.
There was no Tim. A high pitched sound rang in his ears and Jason realized it was his own whine. He cut it off with a sob, wrapping his arms around his knees and squeezing himself for comfort.
The door opened and Jason jerked his tear streaked face up to see Tim, not looking angry or disappointed but just completely baffled. It was all a mistake, just a mistake. Jason launched himself upward, into Tim’s safe arms, ignoring the man’s flinch. Tim could and would take Jason’s weight anytime Jason knew. The man might be slightly shorter but he was still strong.
“Jason, are you okay?” Tim’s voice was a soft and soothing balm against Jason’s nerves.
He shook his head. “No, m-my c-codes didn’t work,” he sniffled, uncaring if he sounded ridiculous in front of Tim.
“Right,” Tim seemed confused too, so just a technology glitch, surely. Jason squeezed tighter, wishing Tim would squeeze him back, take him inside and put him to bed in their room already.
“Do you want to come in?”
Jason nodded, relieved that Tim didn’t let go, kept his hand held tightly as they navigated inside. Jason headed straight to the couch, snatching the blanket across the back and wrapping it over his shoulders.
Tim approached, still studying him oddly. Now calmer, Jason could see that it wasn’t just something about the codes/tech– Tim was looking at Jason strangely. Maybe there was something Jason missed.
“I’m just going to use the bathroom.” Jason rose on shaky legs, still feeling slightly weak from the panic. Tim inclined this head and tilted it towards the hall.
Jason walked fast down the hall to the bathroom. It was the guest bathroom– they kept all their personal items in the master bedroom’s ensuite so there were no clues as to anything that Jason was dealing with here.
He looked at himself carefully, but everything was right where it should be. He didn’t appear any different. Did he look different to Tim? He washed his hands and returned to the living room. Tim sat on the couch staring at his phone, but glanced up to meet Jason’s eyes.
Jason sat down next to him, feeling the warmth of Tim’s body immediately soaking in.
He took a breath, breathing in deeply and just asked the question. “Everything okay?”
Tim arched an eyebrow at him. “Isn’t that what I’m supposed to ask you?”
Jason huffed a laugh and leaned into Tim’s shoulder. “I’m feeling a bit off. But I’m okay.”
“Just didn’t want to be alone?” Tim queried.
Jason didn’t bother straightening up to send the glare that comment deserved. “Never want to be alone.”
Tim sighed against him, but finally wrapped an arm around Jason’s shoulders and Jason sank into the touch.
“Do you want to tell me about tonight?” Tim asked.
Jason shook his head. “I don’t know what to say.” He nuzzled in, trying to blend in with Tim’s body, meld into him and feel safe.
Tim relented, finally and pulled Jason into a tight hug. Jason melted, relief filling him as he gave into the heady touch.
Jason needed this, needed the comfort after the harsh scare. He still wasn’t certain what was happening, why he had missing memories but at least within Tim’s arms he felt safe. He tilted his head up, pressing his lips against Tim’s jaw, enjoying the shuddering breath Tim took. Relief filled him as Tim didn’t push away, only tilted his head so Jason had better access.
“This okay?” Jason murmured against the column of Tim’s exposed throat.
“Yeah,” Tim’s breathy voice answered.
Jason kissed up this neck, back along his jaw and pecked at the corner of Tim’s mouth before pulling back just slightly to look at Tim’s face. Tim’s eyes were so perfectly blue behind his dark lashes, and Jason really, really wanted Tim to kiss him.
As if he could read his mind - Tim could probably read Jason like a book - Tim leaned forward, closing the distance and pressing their lips together in a sweet kiss. Jason sighed in happiness, letting Tim’s tongue in and pulling Tim’s closer to feel their bodies pressed against each other.
Everything felt right and settled once more as Tim climbed across his lap to press him back into the couch, his tongue still licking into Jason’s mouth. Jason moaned, enjoying the weight, the touch, the control–
“Tell me what you need?” Tim rasped into Jason’s cheek as they broke apart. “Tell me how to help.”
This was so familiar, so perfect, Jason’s head swam. “Please, everything, Tim. Don’t let me think. Give me everything.”
Tim groaned, pressing hard into the line of Jason’s body. “Fuck, okay, yeah. Yeah, I can do that.”
Consciousness was sudden and Jason’s eyes snapped open to see the ceiling of a familiar room. He felt an odd tingle and jerked his hand out in front of him to watch it sparkle.
Next to him Tim shifted closer in his sleep, pressing closely into Jason’s side instinctively. “Okay there Jay? You were a little off last night. Feeling better?” Tim didn’t even bother opening his eyes as he sleepily mumbled into Jason’s shoulder.
Jason dragged a hand down Tim’s back and then hugged him close. “Yeah, I’m good. You took care of me right?”
Tim gave a happy little sigh, “Hmm, yeah. Always want to take care of you, Jay.”
Jason stroked down the skin of Tim’s back a few times as the man’s breathing evened out and he dozed back off. He was happy to be home.
Consciousness was sudden and Jason’s eyes snapped open to see the ceiling of an unfamiliar room. He felt an odd tingle and jerked his hand out in front of him to watch it sparkle.
“Dimension travel?” he asked out loud, surprise coloring his tone.
“Oh,” Tim’s soft voice came from the doorway as Jason sat up. “So that wasn’t actually you last night?” It was hard to read his tone, but the signs were clear that whatever had occurred in this dimension were insanely accurate to what Jason just experienced.
“Yes,” Jason began, but then, “Well I mean No? But also Yes?” He struggled to figure out how to answer.
He really enjoyed what happened last night but there were now little signs that he’d transported back. The room last night had been the room of two people, little signs on his side of the bed that showed his own regular occupancy. This room was bare on the side while the other side showed Tim’s clothes and other things laid about.
Also Tim was distractingly pretty in the doorway, muscles on display as he leaned against the frame, studying Jason with an intense gaze. Jason was enraptured at the sight.
“He consented,” Tim stated, almost challenging, but Jason could see a hint of worry buried in the look.
“Of course I did,” Jason shared a tentative grin. “I still do,” he added before the shyness took back over. “I mean, that is, if you are interested.” He looked down at the blanket, fidgeting slightly.
Tim straightened in the doorway and then in one smooth motion, sprung forward, flipped himself on the bed and bounced into Jason. It startled a laugh out of him as they both smiled at each other.
“Definitely interested,” Tim grinned before pressing his lips into Jason’s in a soft kiss. “Whatever you want, Jay.”