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There's splotches of blood left behind everywhere Dick is digging. His nails are cracked and caked with dirt. He doesn't care. The bomb had gone off in the room next to him and Jason. And he didn't know where the fuck Jason had gone. The rest of the building had been empty when Dick and Jason entered. Which meant there were no other causalities.
No casualties, period. Dick corrects his thoughts. Because Jason was alive. He has to be alive. They just fixed their relationship. Dick wasn't about to lose his brother again.
Dick's arms throb as he lifts another slab of concrete. Nothing. He lets it drop, running to another small opening. He has to find Jason. He can't give up on him. Not like all those years ago. He can't do that to his brother again.
A weak whistles cuts through the quiet. Dick freezes, raising his head. The whistle sounds again. He's running towards it without a second thought.
"Look here." It peals through the night again and again.
Dick slides to a stop when he sees Jason.
"Jesus Christ," he mutters.
"Yeah, you're not looking too hot yourself there either, Nightwing," Jason wheezes. The quip doesn't help Dick feel anymore comfortable with how he found Jason. He's on his back with a slab of concrete covering most of his body. There's debris surrounding him, some of it supporting the weight of the concrete so Jason isn't entirely crushed. Still, there's no way he can get out of it on his own.
"Alright," Dick says, "This is uh…" He walks around Jason, careful to avoid stepping on anything covering him. Jason knocks his head back, the helmet making a dull clang as it hits the ground.
"Not ideal," Jason says. "I think I cracked a couple'a ribs. And my right thigh is… I don't know what the fuck is going on there but it hurts like hell." Dick nods at the report. He finds a good footing and squats next to Jason, forcing his fingers under the slab for purchase.
"What are you doing?" Jason asks. "It's too heavy what the fuck is your plan here."
"You ever heard of that thing about a mom and her baby under a car?" Dick says. "It's like that." Jason laughs. It's a strained sound. Nothing like the laugh Jason normally gives.
Dick grits his teeth together, ignoring the taste of iron on his tongue. It's been there since he woke up. He grunts as he tries lifting the slab, ignoring a quip from Jason. His ears are ringing and his arms ache and burn. He feels a shift in the concrete. Another rush of adrenaline surges through his veins and he's distantly aware of a choked off scream catching in his throat.
The concrete falls away from Jason with a resounding thud.
"I stand corrected," Jason says, "Well, I guess I sit corrected. Whatever." Dick drops to his knees, gathering his brother into a hug. Jason groans. He manages to wrap his arms around Dick.
"Careful," Jason wheezes, "Ribs, remember?"
"Right," Dick says, pulling away, "Right sorry." He's shaking as he looks over Jason, checking for any injuries. Jason pulls his helmet off, domino mask still on. Dick winces at the sight of rebar through Jason's right thigh.
"Cute," Jason says. He pokes at the dried blood around the injury. Dick slaps his hand away. There's a good goose-bump forming on Jason's forehead. Dick can feel one forming on the back of his own head.
"Let's get you to Alfred, yeah?" Dick says.
"I'm all for this plan." Jason says. He raises his hand and Dick helps him stand, wrapping his arm around his brother and taking half his weight. "Don't drop me."
"The thought never even crossed my mind."