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Dick’s eyes open against his will, the world around him tinted red; he’s floating it feels like, moving through space without trying.
Dick lifts his aching head from where it’s hanging, looking down at his body. It’s covered in red ropes, or something close to that, made out of a light construct.
He’s been captured by a Red Lantern.
This is not good news, because Dick’s ring is telling him it has three percent of power left; if Dick’s going to get out of this situation it’s going to be under his own very literal power. Except he can’t move anything but his head, and Red Lanterns aren’t exactly known for listening to reason.
Even Jason, the Red Lantern he’s bumped into several times in his travels, isn’t the most persuadable of people. Jason, who’s one of the hottest people Dick’s ever seen, the one person he desperately wants to seduce; and therefore the one person he hasn’t yet, because it would actually mean something to Dick, unlike all the other people he’s targeted before. There’s something about the look in Jason’s eyes that Dick can’t get enough of; Dick’s not ashamed to mention that physically Jason’s everything Dick looks for in a partner, tall, strong, and could easily bend him over and break him if he wanted. Even without his Red Lantern ring.
Dick can only hope that it’s Jason who grabbed him in the massive melee fight between the Green Lanterns, the Yellow Lanterns, with a few scattered Red and Blue Lanterns, and some Star Sapphires, including Dick.
“Awake, are you, Star?” A familiar voice grunts, and Dick feels a wave of relief wash over him as he recognises it as Jason’s.
“Barely.” Dick says, not even trying to sound flirty right now. His head is still pounding, and he goes limp in the grip of Jason’s light constructs, closing his eyes. “What happened? I don’t remember anything after that Green Lantern Planet arriving. On that note, how weird is it that an entire planet is a Green Lantern? That feels unfair, somehow? I think the Red Lantern corps should get a living planet to be a member too.”
Jason sighs heavily. “You know, I was wondering if you were going to have a concussion, but I honestly can’t tell when you ramble like that.”
“Are you implying that I ramble?” Dick says, enjoying the fact he’s being carried. His vision swims a little when he opens his eyes again. “That’s rude. Being chatty is part of my charm, I don’t ramble.”
“You do.” Jason says from between gritted teeth. “Also you got knocked out by a Yellow Lantern after Mogo arrived. I grabbed you, even though I’m regretting it. You’re welcome.”
“Aw, Jason! Did you rescue me? My hero.” Dick’s not even faking the delight in his voice. The thought that Jason chose to intervene on his behalf is oddly thrilling. “Thank you, by the way.”
“Yeah. Whatever.” Jason bites out. He loosens his light constructs a little so Dick can sit up, and Dick takes a moment to really look at them. While they’re tight to his body, they’re not pinching or constricting. They are stuck to his uniform though, pulling at it as Dick shifts.
It takes Dick a few blinks of his eyes to realise that the reason they’re sticking is because there are literal suckers on them. The red light constructs aren’t ropes, they’re tentacles.
Dick’s entire lower body is wrapped in tentacles.
There’s probably something wrong with Dick that he finds that hot.
“So where are you taking me?” Dick curls his legs under him so he’s in a fully sitting position. “I have a few suggestions if you’re interested.”
“I am not.” Jason says, sounding distracted as he stares out into space. “I have a place.”
“Ah, good.” Dick says, even though really, it’s not. Dick needs to get back to Zamoran to recharge his ring as soon as possible. “But you know what would make me really grateful? You dropping me off on Zamoran instead.”
Jason tenses, and Dick thinks maybe he just misstepped. Jason may be less outwardly rage-driven as the rest of the Red Lantern corps, but that doesn’t mean he likes it when Dick tries to manipulate him any less than the others do. “Can’t do that yet, Star. We’ve gone the other direction to Zamora from that battle.”
Jason doesn’t do regret, but he almost sounds sorry when he says it.
“Ah. Awkward.” Dick lifts a hand to tap at his chin. “My ring’s nearly out of power.”
“For fuck’s sake, Dick!” Jason snaps, and oh, he’s going to have to be careful navigating this, isn’t he? “That’s pretty important information to leave out!”
“In my defence, I was unconscious.” Dick points out, keeping his tone as neutral as possible.
“In your defence, I managed to enrage some of my fellow red lanterns who wanted to rip you to shreds.” Jason snarls, turning to actually look at Dick. “And now we’ve got to somehow get past any of them that might be between us and Zamoran.”
“Yes, that could be a problem.” Dick nods, understanding the issue perfectly. “But also when my ring runs out of power, and we’re still in space, then I’m going to be very dead, and everything you’ve done for me will have been in vain. So...”
“Zamoran.” Jason sighs, once more, for once looking more frustrated than angry.
“Zamoran.” Dick says, giving Jason an apologetic smile. “With any luck, we’ll get there without running into anyone.”
“Because we have so much luck, right?” Jason says, rolling his eyes.
“I believe in you, Jason.” Dick gives him an encouraging smile, resisting the urge to bat his eyelashes at Jason. “You can do it.”
“You’re laying it on fucking thick there, Star.” Jason shakes his head, despite that he still turns them around so they can begin fly back in Zamoran’s direction. “But I guess we don’t have that much of a choice.”
***
Getting back to Zamoran was relatively easy, nothing but a straight flight while being cradled in Jason’s tentacles.
No, the problem started once they actually reached Zamoran, and Jason was forced to fight off two Star Sapphires with his tentacles, until Dick finally managed to get them to stop and listen to him. Then he was whisked away to recharge his ring with barely any time to ask Jason to stay and wait for him. Dick didn’t have time to hear if Jason responded.
So now he’s rushing back to where he left Jason, hoping that he’s still there, waiting.
The rush of air against him as Dick flies there, feels amazing after the airlessness of space; but the rush of relief Dick feels as he sees Jason in the distance is overwhelming.
Dick drops down to the ground, letting the power of his ring fall away as he lands a few feet away from Jason. “You stayed!”
“You asked.” Jason says with a frustrated shrug. “So what did you want me to fucking wait for?”
“Lots of reasons.” Dick smiles at him, stepping closer to see the way Jason’s eyes go wide. “Firstly, to thank you. You saved my life, and I don’t take that lightly. Secondly, well...”
Jason raises an eyebrow, and makes a ‘go on’ gesture with his hand. “You wanna thank me, and?”
“And... I want to ask you if you’d like to, I don’t know, if we were back on Earth I’d ask you for a coffee or dinner. But we’re not on Earth, and if you squint and tilt your head a bit, you could say we’ve gone on a couple of dates already, so I guess I don’t know what I’m asking.”
“If you squint and tilt your head a bit?” Jason says, his face incredulous. “Star, are you fucking serious?”
“Uh. Yes?” Dick goes still, waiting for Jason’s second reaction, the one that actually matters after the surprise. “Look, if you don’t want... That, or me, can I at least give you a thank you kiss? For saving my life.”
“I guess?” Jason says, sounding just as flummoxed as he looks. Like the entire concept of Dick wanting to kiss him is so unlikely that Dick suggesting it is something he has no idea how to react to. Which is ridiculous because Dick’s flirted with him the entire time he’s known him.
Dick steps in closer, feeling the sheer amount of heat that Jason puts out as a Red Lantern. Dick reaches up, resting his hands on Jason’s broad shoulders, feeling the power that lives there. The smile spreads across his face without his permission, and then he leans in closer to feel Jason’s breath on his cheeks. Jason’s eyes are open, but Dick’s slip shut as their lips meet.
It takes Dick’s breath away, only to feel those big strong hands rest on his hips, those tentacles wrapping around him again. When Jason tentatively kisses him back, Dick couldn’t be happier.