Archive of Our Own ^beta

Jason shot another bullet and another body dropped, but the laughter didn't stop. Laughter that came from in this room, from him. So Jason shot again and another identical clown went down. Same result. He fired again and again in rapid succession.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

He let out a gasp. His eyes bore into the bloodstained purple. It wasn't the Jokers' suit. It was...

"Steph," he choked out. "No, no, no!" He rushed to her side. "Please, please..." he begged desperately. He checked her pulse.

Nothing.

He held her his arms. He sobbed so hard it shook both their bodies. He sobbed so loudly that he didn't notice someone approach until green boots entered his vision.

"Steph..." The voice was quiet and broken but Jason recognized it instantly.

He looked up and met the harrowing face of Tim Drake.

"My best friend is dead," Tim stared at Stephanie's lifeless body. "I loved her. We all did. How am I gonna tell them she's gone?" Tim muttered.

"Tim-" "No," Tim cut him off sharply. He looked back at him with equally sharp eyes. "You can give them the bad news yourself, before they take you down."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I promise. I wouldn't..." he choked on a sob. "They have to know that. You have to know that. Don't you?" He begged. No response came, so he rambled on. "Remember when you promised to be there for me when I needed you? I know I have no right to ask anything of you now, but I need you."

"What?" Tim asked with confusion and disgust. "Why would I ever do that?"

Jason was confused in turn. "But- but you did. When we were trapped in that nightmare from Insomnia-" "So during one of the many times your mind was messed with?" Tim laughed humorlessly. "You actually believed that was the real me? How is someone trained by Batman so gullible? No wonder you keep being tricked by doppelgangers."

He crouched down in front of him. "Of course it wasn't me. Why would I want to be there for you?" He said coldly. His gazed drifted to Steph. "I don't, especially not now. Even if I did, you were always gonna mess it up somehow."

Jason woke up in a cold sweat. He tried to steady his breathing. It was just a dream. If only knowing that would calm the thumping of his heart.

The feeling was horribly reminiscent of recent experiences. He shook his head roughly. He didn't want to think about the fear failsafe debacle right now.

He laid there, wide awake and shaken. His eyes drifted to his phone on the bedside table. He sat up, grabbed it and went to his contacts.

He scrolled past Rose fairly quick. She's already done so much for him lately. He didn't want to pile onto it by waking her up because he was scared by his own mind. Besides, as much as he enjoyed her company, he felt like it wouldn't help much. He didn't think it was what he needed right now.

He lingered at Steph's number. Calling her for reassurance would be silly though, especially at this hour. He knew that it was a figment of his imagination, and that hearing her voice wouldn't do anything to prove it'll stay that way.

He then landed on Tim's number. He clicked call. Listening to the ring felt like being in a holding cell. Actually, he's been in holding cells, this felt worse.

"Jason?" Tim sounded rather alert despite the hour. Maybe it was a byproduct of the vigilante training. "Are you in trouble, do you need backup?" Or maybe it was the hour, and the fact that Jason never calls.

"No, no, I'm fine," he said. "Oh, okay, good. So what are you calling for?" Tim asked. "I- I don't know. You know what, I shouldn't have, it's late. I'll just-" "Wait, no, I didn't mean it like that. Don't hang up. I couldn't sleep anyway," Tim quickly said. "Me neither," he said. He was met with a thoughtful hum. "Any idea why that might be?" Tim inquired.

He paused. His recent nightmare flashed in his mind. He felt apprehensive at the idea of getting into the details.

"Jason?" "Is it possible that my... fear failsafe could have any lingering side effects?" He blurted. "Oh, uh- it shouldn't. Barbara and I looked over all the information on it. Why? Do you think you might be experiencing any?" Tim said.

"It's silly. I just... had a nightmare. It was probably just a regular one," he said. "If you're sure. Still, might help to talk about it," Tim said gently. "It's nothing," he insisted. "At least we weren't trapped in a deadly nightmare by some asshole again," he added. Tim snorted. "On the other hand, at least then we could kick some ass like last time," Tim said. He chuckled in response.

"We were pretty badass there," he said. "We were," Tim agreed. "Mostly me though," Jason remarked. "Dick," Tim scoffed. "Wrong brother," he replied. The other could probably hear his shit eating grin.

He felt like a weight had been lifted off chest. Maybe not all of it, but enough for hope to spark in it's place. Warm like a hearth as they chatted the rest of the night.