Who:Clark and Dick What:Release day When:today Where:Jail Warnings:None Status:complete when posted
Dick was finally being released. He could breathe again. The last week he might not have lived through if not for Raven’s soul self being around and literally having to save him a few times and heal him from the drugs they’d pumped in him. Other prisoners didn’t mess with him, they couldn’t go that route in making his life hell, Dick was more skilled and the prisoners knew that by his day one display of self defense before lunch. In Prison, two weeks seemed like a lifetime. That place rivaled the prison of his nightmares, Arkham Asylum. There were literal days he’d lost in his memory, blank spots he couldn’t quite remember. He couldn’t imagine how the inmates felt who had to serve sentences there, though he hoped they wouldn’t for long. Hopelessness hung in the air like a hammer waiting to fall.
Clark had photos of mistreatment, Jemma had shown and taken official government records of malpractice. Things were happening, but more importantly his name had been cleared of the mud it’d been dragged through. Soon he’d be outside. He’d almost forgotten what it looked like. No more staunch prison air that smelled like B.O. and month old gym shoes.
He no longer had marks on his wrists thanks to Raven’s healings, but there were marks left unseen. Mental scars that would take time. Pale blue eyes searched the room as he signed himself out and took his bag of belongings. A guard took one last moment to threaten him in a low tone as he grabbed at his bag of items.
“Don’t get too comfortable in the free world, Grayson.” And went to change into his civilian clothes again before stepping out into the lobby of the station and taking a look around. He was free, but overwhelmed already with uncertainty and anxiety.
There was a lot that was going through the Kryptonian's head. His mind went to the picture that he'd taken of Dick's wrist. The talks that he'd had with Raven. Even heading off into the warehouse district with her. That had gotten interesting and quick. There were things that had happened that he hadn't expected.
He hadn't figured out how in the hell to turn off his super hearing and had a feeling that it wasn't possible. Things had been crazy. Being able to hear everything was keeping him from sleeping well. Something that annoyed the hell out of him. Not that he'd been sleeping well since Dick ended up in prison anyway.
Despite the fact that he'd broken his truck, and gotten the door fixed, that's what he showed up in. Even without being inside just yet to get his best friend, he hears the guard threaten him and it makes his blood boil. He had to push down his anger and head inside, though.
When he does, he sees his friend in the lobby," Hey, Grayson, you gonna come give me a hug or what?" It was more to break the tension than anything else.
Fortunately he’d come out of that prison looking better than when Clark had initially come to see him. At least on the physical side of things. He wasn’t injured anymore. Raven had healed him and gave him something to hold onto when the others were blocked by the system and unable to visit. Thanks to her being mentally linked to him and a demon and all, she was able to slip past the cameras, but he’d missed being able to touch and see his friends.
He glanced back at the guard as if he wouldn’t be allowed to hug him, but realized that guard could no longer do anything on the other side of the wall. He was cautious in that building, but Clark being there already gave him a sense of relief. That it was real, and not just another dream that he was finally walking out of there.
“Hey CK.” He was a little quiet, but they were still inside that place. He put the bag down to give him a hug finally and closed his eyes. He wasn’t visibly shaken up, but there were certain things that were just off.
Those eyes scan over his best friend, like he was trying to determine something. Or maybe he was just trying to make sure that he wasn't worse for wear. Not like how Clark felt. He actually didn't look so bad. Not like he had when the Kryptonian had visited him what seemed like forever ago.
Those eyes look towards where the guard is, almost daring him to open his mouth. Like he was daring him to walk through and do or say something. It wasn't like anyone in the place could hurt him. So, he wasn't entirely worried about that.
"Hey, Grayson," he says quietly, wrapping those strong arms around the other guy. "You ready to get out of here?" He knew the answer to that and knew he didn't need to ask, but he did anyway.
There were no new marks, but not for lack of them trying. Dick wasn’t sure why they hadn’t gotten suspicious about the fact that he was looking almost brand new after every medical visit he’d had come the next day, but whatever. He chalked it up to they just weren’t that smart. Either way, he didn’t want to think about it much. When Clark hugged him back, he finally felt safe for the first time in weeks.
“Yeah. Lets get out of here.” He reached down a bit to pick up the bag he’d dropped and walked close to him, not wanting to look back. The guard said nothing now that his friend was there to pick him up, he only seemed interested in kicking someone already vulnerable to him. Dick’s friends had proven to be a pain in the ass.
Once they got outside, Dick had to squint, the daylight was a little bit of a shock on his eyes that had gotten used to the darkness. It actually hurt. He didn’t mention, but the last week had been among the worst, he was only allowed out for a shower or medical visit. The prison had basically gone on lockdown and for a guy who thrived on heights and fresh air it was probably the most difficult part. “Shit.” He cursed as he shielded his eyes.
If anyone told Clark that he was a pain in the ass he would've laughed. Not even the guys at the fire station said that. He was the quiet guy that kept to himself and did his job. Oh, he talked to the others, but that didn't mean that he got into things. He really didn't relish the idea of heading back to work.
His arm wraps around Dick as he leads him outside. Getting him away from the idiots that were in the prison. Even if he wanted to head back in there and deck the guard. Last thing he needed was to get into some kind of trouble. Not that anything they had could keep him.
When they get outside he uses his free hand to grab the shades out of his pocket, figuring they'd be needed, and hands them to Dick. "Truck's not that far."
He hadn't expected the sky to be so bright, which was kind of silly. The world he'd come out of was dark and miserable. He paused for a moment, afraid to go any further. Like his entire body had frozen.
It wasn't a fun feeling. He wanted to move and go forward, he wanted to run. Every muscle in his body was screaming at him to run. Do something. Anything, but he couldn't. He was having a panic attack. The amount of light and color was overwhelming. He couldn't say anything, the amount of fear that hit him was paralyzing. Every single muscle in his body had tensed up. He'd shoved it all down so long it was starting to boil over. He didn't even hear his voice. Dick didn't move at all.
The heartbeat that the Kryptonian was hearing was erratic. A part of him wasn't sure if it was coming from the prison or from the man beside him. That heartbeat was far too close to be the prison and he was making his skin crawl. A lot of the sounds, nowadays, did. The murmurs around them. Beating of hearts near and around him. Cars honking. People yelling.
He tries not to wince and merely turns towards his best friend. Clark had expected him to take the shades when he pulled them out. When he doesn't he turns to stand in front of him, putting them on him for him. That breathing was labored too. When was the last time he'd heard something like that.
Taking a deep breath, he lets it out before placing his hands on either side of Dick's face. "Grayson. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Come on. Focus on me. Do as I do. Deep breath in. Deep breath out." Even as he says it, he does it. He'd do it again and again until his friend was a bit more calm.
He hated that he couldn't control his fear just then. He was normally so good at confronting it. That's what made him who he was, that's how Nightwing operated at all. That thin line between fear and nightmares, and Dick couldn't see beyond it. The color had drained from his face as he stood there, the sights and sounds threatening to make him run.
He couldn't focus. He'd never experienced something like this. He couldn't think. They had fucked with his mind. He'd never felt more violated.
And then Clark came into view, the only thing he saw and or seemed to snap him out of that almost catatonic like state. He copied him, unable to do anything else just then and finally managed to breathe normally.
"Sorry." a shaky apology as he tried to regain his bearings. He never wanted to burden anyone with his issues. He would have hidden it entirely if he had a choice.
"Hey."
His voice is soft, almost, but loud enough for Dick to hear. He didn't want his best friend to be apologizing for anything. That was the last thing that he needed to do. There was nothing to apologize for. Something that he'd make sure his best friend knew.
"Don't apologize. You've just been through hell," he tells him, arm wrapping around him so he could guide him towards the truck. Once he's got Dick in the truck, he takes the bag and puts it in the bed of the truck. He needed to get them out of there.
For a minute he just leaned on him, Dick wasn’t one to ask for help but this wasn’t exactly something he knew how to navigate. Clark was comforting. He needed that. Dick let himself be led, unsure of what to do with himself as it was. There were holes in his memory. He was uncomfortable with that. He was quiet until he got into the truck.
“Fixed the door?” He tried to be normal as he sat in the passenger side. But then looked out the window again, just in a sort of haze. “You can just drop me off at my place.” He didn’t want to be a burden on anyone else. He knew he’d put them through a lot. He’d figure out a way to manage.
Clark didn't mind his best friend leaning on him. In fact, it probably helped them both. Kept Dick's heartbeat close, at any rate. So he could hear every skip of it. Whether it was going to be steady or rapid. Though, he could hear everyone else too. All of this? It was headache inducing.
"I did fix the door." That was something that he'd done a bit ago. He couldn't very well drive the truck around with a missing door. Much less when he didn't want to replace the vehicle that he was sentimental about. "No," he tells him firmly. "I'm taking you back to my place. You're going to stay there for a bit."
For the time being, his heartbeat was steady. More so than it’d been a minute ago. “You don’t have to do this.” He glanced over at him, keeping those sunglasses on for the time being. He was still wary about pulling them off again outside. That place had been operating illegally, he couldn’t imagine how the inmates that had been there longer than him were going to adjust to the world. Something had to be done about it. It couldn’t be allowed to continue. Prisons were meant to be punishment, not actual torture. He didn’t even tease him about the door, or the truck in general. He just looked over at him curiously.
He’d come out of that place a few pounds lighter, and he was already skinny. Muscle toned, but skinny as far as body fat went. Some of the guys in there had been there a year or longer. He wouldn’t have survived. Without Raven he might have died the week prior. “You’ve already done a lot for me.”
"I know I don't have to," The Kryptonian states simply. Clark knew that he didn't have to do anything that he didn't want to. No one could make him do anything. That wasn't how the world worked. Even if he'd had people try in the past. It didn't really get them anywhere. Nor would it.
He'd noticed just how skinny Dick was. Which meant he'd have to cook for him and get some real food in him. Not that prison bullshit that he'd been stuck with. That prison just pissed him off. He grips the steering wheel, only stopping when he hears the slight creak noise it makes. Any tighter and he probably would've broken it.
"And I'm going to do a hell of a lot more, Grayson. You're my best friend. So, you're going to be staying with me until you can get back on your feet."
He clearly hadn’t been eating in that prison, and if he had it wasn’t well enough to sustain him. He was tired both physically and mentally after the whole ordeal. There were probably going to be questions, and press, and everything at some point but he didn’t want to think about it. He couldn’t, the whole idea of that place only caused that panic feeling to settle in hard. He really didn’t want to have another episode. He was trying to fight it all.
Dick also heard the sounds the wheel made and looked up at him with a hint of curiosity. A break in the panic that threatened. Everything in that prison had been a blur for the most part, considering the mental fuckery they put him through. But he did happen to remember the day Clark came to see him. “Headache go away?” He asked as the wheel couldn’t seem to take anymore. He had an idea that it wasn’t just a headache, but maybe now Clark would tell him.
A sort of soft smile crept it’s way to his lips at that comment. “More?” He shook his head with a slight amusement. “I guess there’s no point in fighting you is there?”
If the press so much as even tried to question his best friend then they were bound to end up with broken cameras. In fact, he's determined to keep Grayson away from the world as much as possible. Clark knew just how pissed he, himself, would be if anyone showed up at his door. Especially if it was to question what Dick had been through. That wouldn't fly with him.
Clark's eyes were on the road when his friend looked up and over at him. He could hear that breathing trying to return to normal. If his friend could focus on him, then good. That's what needed to happen. Focus on something else. Anything but the rising panic that was bound to happen. Panic that the Kryptonian would be there for if need be.
"No. I doubt that it's going to go away any time soon either," he tells him honestly. Ever since the super hearing had shown up, he'd been getting the headaches. It felt like his skull was being split open, but he couldn't let that keep him from doing anything. "Gained a new ability." His friend was out of prison now. So, in theory Dick should be able to handle that news now.
"That's what I said, Grayson, more. As for fighting me on the subject, no. There's no point. Though, I thought you knew that the day you met me."
Dick wouldn’t be venturing out into the world anytime soon on his own if he didn’t have to. He wouldn’t fight being hidden away for the time being. It would give his nerves a chance to relax. They were shot to hell.
“Thought so.” He had a running list of abilities going. “Super hearing huh?” He could be wrong, but if he heard everything in the world chances were he’d go insane. Or at least think he was. “Sorry.” It was a lot, he knew that. Dick had gone through a lot in the dreams too, but at least he didn’t have powers in his. Only physical training. Intense, crazy physical training.
Reporters had indeed caught wind of the release, and there were some waiting outside of Dick’s apartment and Clark’s house. They hadn’t been sure where he would end up. He was quite curious as to what he meant by more, but shook his head with a little amusement. “You’re lucky, don’t think I have the energy to fight you right now.” He mused. Though with him it would be more of a verbal argument than a physical. “I’ll try not to get in the way.” There were several news reporters outside the house, various outlets that had caught wind of things.
"Yeah, super hearing," He tells him with a shake of his head. Something that he didn't want to think about. It was driving him crazy and giving him an intense headache. Mainly because he didn't know how in the hell to shut it off. Something that he'd figure out eventually. "It started up when I came to visit you, actually."
There's a bit of a growl out of Clark when he does get them closer to the house. "You're staying in the truck while I deal with them." That voice was one that said don't even argue. He would not have assholes anywhere near his house. They were on private property and if need be he'd smash every damn camera they had.
Dick gave a bit of a nod to the response. Of course it had. "I figured. You didn't look so good either." There was a gentle concern for his friend in his tone. At the time, Dick hadn't been in a good place to ask questions. But now he understood, and could spare a bit of empathy. He was not in the greatest shape, had suffered hell, and yet still hadn't been completely broken. Just in need of a little repair.
At the sudden anger in his friend's voice, Dick looked up to see what had sparked it. Cameras and people waiting. His heartbeat quickened again as he tried to fight the oncoming panic. That was more people than he'd seen in nearly a month. He didn't fight the idea of staying in the truck. He wasn't sure he could move if he tried.
"Being able to hear every voice, every heartbeat and generally everything in the whole world? Not sure what in the hell I was hearing, at the time, it was hell," he states with a shake of his head. That was something that he didn't want to go through ever again. If he did then he'd probably scream. Actually, he wouldn't since it would hurt his own ears but still.
He reaches over and gives Dick's shoulder a firm squeeze before slipping out of the truck. If that door gets shut hard enough to rock the truck a bit, oops. However, he does make damn sure to let them know they needed to get off his property. That they were trespassing. There might have even been a smashed camera, unfortunately, in Clark's hand and not thrown to the ground.
They couldn't really say anything to him about it either. After all, they were trespassing on his property. Where they shouldn't have been. Besides, if it put the attention on him and not Dick, then so be it. Once he manages to get rid of the idiots he heads back towards the truck, over to the passenger side of it.
"Come on, you."
"Be glad you didn't have to sleep there. My neighbor screamed in his sleep." he could only imagine just how extra loud it would have been on Clark. It was bad enough on Dick. He barely got any sleep at all in that place. In the truck he was riding on adrenaline. It was the only reason he was still awake and probably would be for some time before he could actually sleep. He craved a strong drink. Maybe a shower too. Food would probably have to be a slow thing. It wasn't even what he wanted first.
He gave him a weak smile at the reassuring touch and watched him go confront the reporters. One of them threatened a suit for broken equipment, but the others didn't need the warning. They just backed away toward their vans and various cars on the street.
Dick was still nervous. A feeling he wasn't used to, nor enjoyed. He was typically comfortable in his own skin but he felt dirty and awful. The panic had at least subsided when the crowd disbursed. He got out of the truck and looked at the place in front of him. Then back at Clark. "Thanks.. I can't talk to them yet." he wasn't in the right state to. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"You told me."
There was a bit that Dick had told him even in his drugged up state. He'd mentioned the guy in the next cell over. The one that screamed in his sleep. Other than clearing his best friend's name, it was one of the reasons why he wanted him out of there. He wanted him safe, healthy and not drugged up.
The one that threatened the lawsuit for broken equipment merely gets a raised brow out of Clark. He just flat out tells the guy to come find him at the fire station. He could've been a dick and told him that the next time he was in a fire, he'd let him go. Unfortunately, the Kryptonian wasn't like that. No matter how angry he was.
He gets his best friend out of the truck, leading him towards the house. "You won't have to talk to them period. Not if they want to keep their fucking equipment in tip top shape."
"Did I? I don't remember." There was a lot of memory missing from that time served. That part worried him. He rubbed at the back of his neck awkwardly. "Sorry." Even with being physically healed his mind was a trickier thing. His brows furrowed a bit as he let himself be led in. He didn't want to just repeat himself like a crazy person. His mind was probably trying to protect him from the trauma. None of it had really sunk in.
Dick finds himself unconsciously reaching for Clark's hand, needing a stable presence. "Captain might make me." It was usually how things went. "But maybe I can just write one." So many worries flooded his mind. He didn't know what to do about work. Hell, he didn't know what to do with himself.
"You did." He tells him. "Nothing to be sorry for, Grayson," he says with a small smile. The man at his side had been through hell. Had been through far too much. If it had been him in the prison then he'd of probably lost his mind. Especially with his abilities acting up.
Clark feels that hand in his own and gives it a firm squeeze. "Your Captain can try." There's a hint in his tone that says 'let him try'. They'd have to get through the Kryptonian first. He was going to do whatever he could to take care of his best friend. "What do you want to do first?" Actually, even though he asks him what he wants to do first, he leads him upstairs.
"Second door on your left. You can take a shower if you want. I'll make us some sandwiches." Something small since he didn't think that Dick could handle something big just yet.
"There's a lot I don't remember." He admitted as he finally removed the sunglasses with his free hand. Even inside it took him a moment to cope with the lights as he let himself be led wherever. The hand holding thing had become a habit when Raven came and a source of comfort. He didn't even realize he'd done it with Clark until that squeeze told him so. But he didn't end it. It was providing him a sense of security he hadn't had in weeks now. "The sounds though.. Don't think I'll ever forget the sounds." Some of it was inmates, normal things. Others were from that medical facility. The sounds of torture.
"what should I do first?" he didn't know what to do with himself. That prison had really done a number on him. "I don't have anything else to change into."
"I'm sure that it'll come to you eventually," He tells him. Not that he thinks Dick wants any of the memories of the prison to come back to him. Even though they were up on the second floor landing, he doesn't let go of his friend's hand just yet. He could hold Grayson up for a while. He didn't mind that, not one bit. "I'm sure we can find other sounds for your mind to focus on." Anything to help him not think of the prison.
"Shower first. I'll grab you a pair of my sweats. They might be a bit long on you, but you can always roll up the legs of them."
"I don't think I want them. It's just weird." Even more weird was the fact that there would be no withdrawal from the drugs, though they'd left their mental mark. It was a lot to deal with. He'd probably have to remember to testify eventually, but for the time being he just stood there on that landing and leaned into him again. Equal parts exhausted and another just wanting to be treated like a human being. Craving a touch that wasn't going to end in abuse.
"Okay." but he didn't move just yet. He just wanted to be in the presence of someone that wasn't going to hurt him. His eyes closed for a minute, but only a minute. Every time he closed them he saw that place. He was physically free, but not quite there mentally.
He could understand not wanting the memories from that place. However, he knew that at some point the mind might fill in the gaps. Or it might never do so. It really all depended on how strong willed a person was. Dick Grayson was a strong willed person. Even if he'd needed his friends, they were a part of that strong will.
When he's leaned into, he just wraps an arm around him. Clark could hold him up for as long as he needed. "Come on. Shower, a bit of food in you and then sleep or at least rest while watching television. You can take my bed." If Dick complained about it, he'd just tell him that he'd take one side and he could have the other. For now, that didn't matter.
Dick was very unlikely to sleep that night but he could agree to at least trying to rest. He gripped at Clark’s arm a little and nodded.
"Okay.. But I can sleep on the couch or something. I don't want to take your bed from you?" Reluctant to let go, he finally did go shower. He'd been in worse sleep situations recently.
The Kryptonian could feel the grip on his arm. Even if thanks to the super strength, he barely felt it. There were other things that had happened while he'd been with Raven that he could tell his best friend later. He didn't need all of that just yet.
"You're not sleeping on that couch. I won't even sleep on that couch. Besides, you'd only be taking up half the bed, not the other half," he teases. If anything, just to get a smile out of his best friend. Or something close to it.
He could have stood there a lot longer in his arms if he was allowed. Clark's arms were providing a feeling of stability he hadn't felt in weeks. His world had been turned upside down and he had a lot to deal with in the upcoming weeks. Clark had been a constant staple in his life, both the real and dreams and it helped ground him a bit. Gave him a much needed sense of safety.
Dick didn't smile much since released, he often had this sort of hazy look on his face. Not quite sad, but like he was still in a fog. Just lost. Half the time thinking he might still be in jail and it was all just a hallucination. He kept waiting to end up in that dark medical facility and for all this to be something his mind made up to make him feel better.
"Okay." he responded, a temporarily confused look before he searched Clark's face and smiled at the comment and headed for the shower. Maybe it would help. He gave an uncertain look back at Clark as he headed for the shower, as if expecting all this was just going to fade away and he'd be left alone again on that medical table, and it would all have been just a nice dream.