#talon!dick

Talon!Dick being well past that breaking point. They've fucked him up so bad after so many years of abuse that he's sick in the head. Haunted by hallucinations of owl masks, white like bone.

While out on a mission for the Court, Talon would come across civilian!Jason being beat on in an alley. And for a while he would observe, gaze far away as his vision flashes between reality and a faraway memory.

Until suddenly the thugs beneath him wear those owl masks and the boy being attacked is him.

It would trigger him to watch the Court beat him into submission, strip him of his freedoms and everything he ever was or could have been. And a Talon shouldn't feel, but anger and resentment break through the chilling numbness that hangs over him.

He only comes to after - crouched over slain bodies. Hands bloodied, but steady even in the carnage.

It's only when steady rainfall starts, diluting all the blood and dirt in the alley, that Talon looks up at where Jason sits across from him, cowered back against the alley wall.

There'd be something heavy and electric to the air when their gazes catch. Talon's eyes unnaturally bright through the shadows cast by the fabric of his hood, his scarves. But for a moment, he's lost in blue.

Talon's hand wrapping around Jason's throat before he consciously realizes it because through the apathy that weighs on him is that resentment. Because those blue eyes are his. This is him. The boy that broke; the boy that was made a weapon; the boy that wasn't strong enough to save Talon from his fate with the Court.

Talon can smell the fear on Jason. It's sharp. Unpleasant. His pulse is like a bird's heartbeat racing beneath his touch, warm and alive and Talon - he might hate him. When was the last time he felt warmth?

Just Jason looking so similar to the boy Dick was that Talon hallucinates himself and is hurt by all the ways he failed himself.

But then Jason holds tight to Talon's hand, determined to keep fighting. A light in his eyes - bright, like fire. Like hope.

It's only then that Talon lets go. Slow. Shaken.

He's gone before Jason catches his breath, throat hurt and already bruising. And Talon might resent himself a little more because those bruises will linger. Because they're so similar to the scars the Court left on him.

Something something Jason trying to stop Talon before he runs away, but he can't get the words out. If he could have, he would've told Talon to wait; would've asked if he's okay.

Because even when Talon was hurting him, Jason noticed how angry and scared Talon looked. And Jason knows how it is to be hurt that badly, to be haunted by monsters.

So Jason is left there, alone. And he ends up going back to that alley often just to see if Talon will come back; to check if he's okay.

Talon does come back eventually and when Jason sees him, it's a chase. Not that Jason catches him. It'd probably sooner be Talon catching Jason, saving him from a bad fall. And when Talon pulls Jason roughly to safety, they're chest to chest, too close, and it's electric.

Side note: Talon with a muzzle he can’t remove. Maybe vaguely owl shaped because the Court has an aesthetic. But yeah, distinctly: muzzle, hood, scarves. For that bright eyes through dark shadows look.

The Court keeping Talon obscured in every way they can. Trying to rid him of any sort of identity.

Talon taking off those layers little by little the longer he’s with Jason, the more he finds himself.

Jason unwittingly being a little flustered when he finally gets to see Talon because he’s stupidly handsome wtf

Oh. Jason wearing hoods because that’s what he likes, but Talon not getting the fashion memo so he’s constantly pushing Jason’s hood off. Because he doesn’t think Jason should be hidden away in any capacity. ////3////

Extra: Something something Talon having no means of communicating, so Jason learns and teaches Talon sign language.

Dick choosing a combination of signs for Jason (name) on his own. One of his few more independent acts. Maybe little wing, or little bird, or something to do with his kind heart. An endearment.