Tunnel Vision (C. K.)

chapter 1: rachel roth

he is coming
bastian twitches in his bed, his eyes clenched tightly shut, roughly gripping the bed sheets.
he seeks to find his daughter, and take his revenge
images flash behind his eyes as he continues to thrash in his bed, small whimpers leave his mouth like he is in pain. across the hall someone wakes and hears the noise he is making, quickly making their way to his room.
your fate is sealed, you will fall at his hands. all will bow to the name of trigon. even you bastian christo.
the words resonate in his head seemingly vibrating off his skull furthering his agony. the voices seem to chant his name.
bastian
bastian
bastian
BASTIAN!

he quickly sits up crawling back until he hits the head board of his bed, eyes frantically searching the room. his breathing come out in short huffs, almost like his lungs have failed. a hand lands on his shoulder and he turns his head, meeting the concerned eyes of dick grayson.

"bastian. hey, hey, it's okay, just breathe. you're awake. this is real. i'm here. in, and out. slowly." dick guided quietly. bastian swallowed thickly, following dick's orders. slowly he regained control of his breathing wiping the sweat from his brow. he moved his eyes around the room before quickly turning back to dick.

"did i-"

"no," dick quickly cut him off. "nothing happened. i promise. do you want to talk about it?"

bastian stood from the bed, pulling a shirt on and heading towards the door. walks always helped him think more clearly.

"no." he responded, continuing to head into the hall.

"bastian," dick called, quickly following behind. "that's the third time you've woken up like that this week. don't you think maybe-"

"no." he responded again. "i don't need to see dinah. i'm fine."

"this is not 'fine' bastian." dick sighed stepping in front of the door before he could exit. "c'mon, at least talk to me."

"i think i'm going to die, dick. is that what you wanted to hear?"

dick stood for a moment stunned.

"now, get the fuck out of my way."

dick swallowed shaking his "no, bastian, we're going to talk about this. you can't just say that and then-" his sentence stops short as bastians finger tips touch his temple, leaving him unconscious.

"whoops." he muttered, before stepping over dick and exiting their apartment into the chilly streets of detroit.

___*_____*_____*___

dick (literally 🙄): using your powers on me when all i was doing was worrying about you is a new low. even for you. douche move. meet at precinct, we need to talk.

bastian rolled his eyes reading the first half of the message, turning his direction and making his way toward the precinct.

bastian 🥱: i didn't ask you to worry. you're not my dad. don't act like you aren't obligated to care.

the second after he sent that text, he felt guilty, but he couldn't. he swore not to let another person get to close, and allowing himself to live in a house with dick was more than close enough.

upon entering the all too familiar lobby of the detroit police department, he made his way to dicks desk in the corner.

he holds up a picture causing bastian to squint to get a good look.

"oh shit." he mutters

"yeah 'oh shit' is right." dick replies just as quiet.

"we have to be more careful." bastian continues, "i-if they know i'm with you. they'll kill you, dick. they'll do anything to get to me. they'll-"