Chapter Text
"Hey Hood ?… Yes it’s Nightwing… I might need a pick up"
…
He was absolutely exhausted. The majority of the time, murder case at the BPD took him two days to solve. Three if it was peculiarly hard. But maybe this week wasn’t his week, and it took him four all nighter and five days to find the culprit and arrest him.
Despite being offered to have Blüdhaven covered by his brother, and Wally almost begging to stay at home this night, he still put his gear up. After putting on his domino and securing his escrima on his back, his jumped from his window. The night started off pretty nicely. The weather was quite nice, not too windy, not too cold. Wich was really appreciated when your suit is as light for mobility as Nightwing’s. Swinging between buildings, running on roofs, Dick kept an eye on his people. Dick Grayson may be tired, but Nightwing couldn’t afford being sloppy on his patrols.
When 3 am came by, he had stopped two minor robbery, and had found a spot on a rooftop that gave him a good view. His legs swinging at the ledge, he overlooked the city, eager to come home. And just as he was about to leave to come back to his nice bed, he spotted four strange guys. Why strange ? The little group carrying barbed baseball bat in front of shed was giving it. Nightwing sighed, and took of in direction of the group, as stealthy as possible. Once he was was near, he was able to hear what they were saying.
"When did you say the van will come ?"
"He shouldn’t be far."
"Dude, I’m freezing my ass off, can’t you just give me a time ? "
"Do I look like I’m following him on maps ?"
As the guy who started swore loudly in response, Dick sat down and waited. His suspicions of a drug deal came out true when the said van parked up. Two of the four opened the door of the van and took inside of it big boxes. He took it as his cue to get down from the roof and with a fake cheery face, approaching the dealers.
When they saw him, they shouted for their friends to come in backup, and held their bats tighter. Nightwing sprinted, did a somersault, and landed knees first on the nearest guy. He then electrocuted the next one with his escrima, and dodge the swing of a bat. Nightwing continued to throw punches to the rest of the group, but his movement became slower. The moment he didn’t jump quickly, one of them managed to hit him with his weapon. The barbed wire teared through his chest flesh. The pain made him stop in his track as he screamed in pain, blood pouring from the wound. Before they could come back at him, he kicked them back, and with an unsure feet got back up. While going back punching the goons, he felt his movement become more sluggish. Vision was getting blurry and spotted with black, his breathing got more difficult, and he started to consider asking some back-up. At this rate, more punches from a bat and they could finish him for good. And to be fair, Dick really wasn’t interested in putting his brothers into a new burying party. So when he got tackled to the ground and saw black, he pressed his com, opening his private channel with Jason.
"Hood, you there ?"
"Nightwing ?"
"Yes, I uh, might need a pick up."
"I hear shouts, are you still in a fight ?"
"Yeah, Im compromised, and might need some back up.. "
At the end of the line, he heard what sounded like a curse.
"ETA 5 minutes, hang in there. Don’t you dare die on me. "
In the back of his mind, he wondered how Jason could be this near from him. Did he have safe houses in Blüd ? Yes, probably. Pushing on his wrists, he got up again, and put himself on a defensive position. His sticks put high, he parried the most punches he could. When he heard the roaring of Jason’s bike, he let out a sigh of relief.
Red hood jumped out of his bike, presumably really pissed. He took out his guns, and began firing the last goons still standing. Keeping his promises to not shoot letal, he only hit legs and shoulders, leaving them unable to leave when the police would arrive. Quickly enough, they were all down, Nightwing calling the BPD while Red Hood zip tied them.
Once they were done, Dick was rejoined by Jason. His brother checked him up and down, worried. But before he could ask any question, his knees buckled and he almost face planted the floor. Almost, because the hard contact with the ground never came, instead he felt before his consciousness decided to quit strong arms catching him.
…
When Jason saw Dick staggered, probably from the adrenaline of the fight wearing off, he sprinted on his direction. Before he could split his head on the concrete, he catched him in his arms. Careful not to jostle him too much, he secure him by putting one arm under his knees and one under his back. Jason walked to his bike, and put his brother on his back, in a sort of piggy back style. Keeping his speed low, he brought them to his safe house in Blüdhaven.
Once he got into the small apartment, he deposited his brother on the couch and when he was sure he wouldn’t fall from it, he went taking his advanced first aid box in his bathroom.
He started by carefully peel off the Nightwing suit, mindful of Dick’s injuries. Methodically, he examined him from up to down, starting by looking if he had a concussion. Opening his eyes, he checked his retinas reflexes with a little lamp. Seeing no problem, with it, he then assessed what was the more evident injuries. From the bruises that were already forming, and the bloodied bat he saw with the guys, Dick probably had some broken ribs. The barbed wire seemed to have teared through side chest muscles, fortunately not having touched internal organs. But when he was about to disinfect the wounds, the other vigilante chooses this moment to start waking up. Jason paused, looking at him worried.
Dick slowly opened his eyes, then his face scrunched in pain. Jason grimaced in sympathy, putting his hand on Dick’s shoulder, preventing him from trying to get up.
"Dick, you there ? "
"… Jason ? "
"Yes. Don’t try to move. "
Dick looked at him, then around him, confused.
"Where are we again ? "
"My safe house in Blüdhaven. "
His brother stop his room tour to look at him with questioning eyes.
"B has contingency plans, Ive safe houses. Seemed fitting having one near my different brothers. "
"Not judging, but you could have told me."
Jason smiled, then went back to serious.
"If you’re done thinking about this place, I’m gonna have to actually do something about what currently makes you bleed you know."
Dick sighed, and cursed when looking down to where his skin was torn.
"Sorry that you have to do this.. "
"Bullshit. "
"I mean, it’s my fault for not having listen to you and Wally. "
"Well, yes, but it’s okay. As long as you let us take care of you until you’re fine again. "
Dick looked away, nodding. Jason smiled and sprayed the severed skin with alcohol, making his brother hiss. Squeezing his brother shoulder in comfort, he took out a threaded needle and pulled on sterile gloves. Before starting stitches, he injected some local anesthetic, then put himself to work.
Jason did his best, but some areas where above his medical level to stitch back together. That was about to be expected, but it was gonna leave some ugly scaring, and will definitely be a pain in the ass to live with for the next weeks. Dick must have passed out from the pain at some point, because he had stopped flinching when the needle pierced his skin 10 minutes ago.
Once he was done, Jason strapped his ribs for support, and bandaged the rest of Dick’s chest with sterile pads and rolls of bandages. After checking for other injuries, wich were limited to some low grades cuts and bruises, he finally sat down.
Wally would probably want him to call him, but Dick seemed far from well enough to be moved. It was almost 4am, and sleep he would be getting. Still, he texted Dick’s boyfriend to warn him where was Dick.
Dick’s with me, he’s sleeping
Barely a minute later, Wally answered.
Thank you, he alright ?
Got a little roughed up, I’m letting him rest here
Thanks, can I come so that I bring him home once he wake up ?
Yeah, door’s opened
Jason half expected Wally to come in second running, but he actually came by car, wich seemed like a safer option to bring home Dick later. Jason let him into the apartment, and they both sat in the big chairs next to the injured man, taking turns to watch him.