Title: Remaining Light

Pairing: Jason/Dick

Additional Characters: Tim, Damian

Rating: T or pg13, maybe a bit above (for swearing and violence)

Verse: Space AU

Genre: Sci fi, thriller, romance

Notes: There’s a touch of violence in this one just a heads up!

Summary: Pilot Dick Grayson has been teamed up much to his dismay with the rebellious pilot Jason Todd and two others to retrieve research from a medical station on another planet but the mission isn’t as simple as it seems.

Posted so far: Pt1&Pt2 | Pt3 | Pt4

-

When Dick and Jason both arrive on the bridge Tim and Damian are staring through the windshield at the escape shuttle floating miles ahead of them.

“Have you tried contacting them?” Dick asked.

Tim gives a nod, “Yes but no response. They could be injured though.”

“The ships markings look like the ones on base perhaps it came from the medical station.” Damian said.

“Why would they leave a med station if they were injured?” Jason asked his eyes wandering to Dick’s neck. A grin tugged at his lips that Dick chose to ignore.

“Deserters maybe, either way we should check it out.” Dick said stepping up to the controls.

Maneuvering the ship had been simple enough despite the eerie feeling crawling up Dick’s spine at the lack of response from the shuttle. The two ships connected and Damian gave the all clear over the intercom that he had bridged the two. Jason stretched and followed Dick a few steps out towards the hall before a hand stopped him.

“You should stay here, I’ll check the shuttle with Damian.” Dick said.

“The fuck I will.” Jason glared.

“Better to have another pilot on the bridge then both of us gone. I’m the spare remember?” he grinned opposite Jason’s scowl.

He smiled at another victory and made his way to the back of the ship where Damian was waiting for him. These were the moments Dick liked the most the twinge of excitement of the unknown as he suited up alongside Damian. He secured his helmet and took in the muted sounds of the ship before the comm clicked on.

“Took you long enough to suit up. If I didn’t know better I’d be suspicious.” Jason said in his ears.

Dick rolled his eyes as he and Damian stepped through the connecting tunnel. Seriously, Jason’s mind was still on that?

“I’m sending through the entrance code should be opening in a minute.” Tim said over the comm.

With a loud hiss the shuttle door unlocks sliding open. Darkness. Everything seemed to be running on the back up system but neither of the two chanced taking off their helmets. There seemed to be no trace of anyone on board until they reached the bridge. It was utter chaos, food packets, bottles of water and pill bottles were strewn all over but that wasn’t the worst of it. A thick layer of blood was splayed on the shuttles console trailing off the floor that ended at body lying face down. Dick crouched low and slowly turned over the body revealing a deep gash across the throat of the deceased.

“Tim are you getting this?” Dick asked, his eyes narrowed in confusion.

“The fuck happened in there?” Jason responded.

“That doesn’t look self inflicted. Which means we’re missing someone.” Damian said turning his attention back to the small hallway.

There was a sudden lurch and a loud siren blaring in the distance not from the shuttle but from their own ship signaling something had happened. Without word or question the two were on their feet running back to their ship. Out of the corner of his eye Dick spotted something he broke away from Damian stopping in his tracks.

“Grayson?” The youth yelled in question.

“Go. I’ll catch up.” He commanded.

This door hadn’t been open on the way in. He had just ran past it and his stomach had knotted up without thought but why? He entered the room and froze. Another body covered in blood, a woman, looking more gruesome than the last. Dick stepped closer to examine her when her hand spasmed out for his leg, she was still alive.

Her voice was soft barely audible through his helmet, “Don’t – don’t…” she said before her eyes fluttered closed.

“Dick get the fuck back on the ship! Something-” Jason’s words were drowned out by the sound by the sound of metal wrenching and screeching.

The shuttle spun throwing Dick onto the ceiling and back to the floor three times over until the shuttle righted itself. He laid out on the floor his head dizzy, he blinked hard a few times before reopening them. The woman’s body had painted the walls, Dick swallowed hard at the rise in his throat.

“Dick? Dick can you hear me?” Tim called in his ear.

“What happened?” Dick stood shakily slowly regaining his footing he walked to the back of the shuttle only to find the door had resealed itself. His helmet clinked against the door, “I broke off the ship didn’t I?”

“Some fucking maniac from the shuttle snuck on board and tore shit up in the engine room. Said he was saving us or some shit. The controls went crazy and the tunnel broke.” Jason answered.

“Where’s the guy now?”

“Dead. He stabbed himself.” he said flatly, “There’s worse shit to worry about. We’re losing power the kid’s trying to fix it but he says he can’t.”

“I’ve sent out a distress call to base already,” Tim piped in. “but they said it may take them a few days.”

Dick sighed, “We’re closer to Helia-3 than base you’re better off speeding up and landing there. You might be able to fix the ship there too.”

“What about you?” Jason asked.

Dick couldn’t help but smile a little, “Is that concern I hear in your voice Jason?” He teased.

“You know the shit I’m going to get from the Admiral for losing you? You should’ve been back here with the kid! Where-”

“I get it Jason I get it. I’m touched you’re so worried.” Dick walked back down the hall onto the bridge, “Anyway, I’ll push this thing towards planet too. I’ve flown worse ships, hell I bet I could beat you there.”

“If you’re trying to sound selfless Dickie, it isn’t working.” Jason said, annoyance winning over anger.

“Nope. It’s a challenge.” He swiped a hand over the dried blood on the console, bringing the shuttle back to life. His stomach churned when his eyes briefly flashed downwards at the body on the floor. Instead he busied himself by overviewing the ships controls and wondering how much excess metal was hanging of the shuttles end.

“You’re on.” That damn grin evident in Jason’s voice even if Dick couldn’t see him.