Chapter Text
“How the fuck am I supposed to get around this tank?!” You veer off the side of the dirt road, unfortunately victimizing a cactus on the way. “Woahhh-“
“Just swerve around it and keep going? Duh?!” Roy is beside you in the passenger’s side, both of you trying your best to round up Jason so you can haul ass out of this shit-hole. This mission is clearly cursed or something, usually all of you do a better job.
“Shit, shit, shit-“ You swerve around the one in front of you, as the car both of you are in-is being chased by what appears to be the Bat-mobile on meth.
The whole thing already got off to a rocky start, and now it’s..infinitely worse. You knew it was gonna be bad when that lucky bracelet of yours got lost.
“Why did you let me drive?” You hiss across to him as you dodge the seemingly endless amounts of ammo from the tank in pursuit of the car.
“I tried not to? Did I not say I wanted to drive this time?” Roy’s trying hard enough to hide his frustration- but you quite literally would not let him drive. That, and he didn’t have time to argue with you about it.
“No?” You lie, it’s a bad habit. It’s also a stupid argument, you jumped in the driver’s side and wouldn’t move. You can’t stand giving up, it’s just not lady-like.
“Whatever, we gotta wrap this up. Where is…he at.?” He clicks onto the tracker all of you share, and it seems like Jason is in the completely wrong place from where he’s supposed to be. About two miles away, actually.
“We’re gonna have to turn around.”
“What?” You squawk after nearly rear-ending someone. The car screeches as you slam on breaks and side-swipe to the other part of the road.
“Just make a U-turn, geez, it’s not hard.” He rolls down the window and begins to set up, leasing one of the exploding arrows from the car. You didn’t see it hit anything, but you heard the explosion soon after.
“You wanna try saying that again when we’re not being literally shot at?” Your fingers grip the wheel as it slings in all kinds of unhinged directions.
“Just turn around, we can yell at him later for being a dumbass and being in the wrong spot.”
“Ok.” You breathe shallowly as you whip the wheel, slinging both of you as the car veers in a half-circle back to the dusty road.
Roy notices your panic, although it’s veiled. He strikes it as odd, you’re just as experienced with jobs as either one of them.
Maybe not as good, but experienced- yeah, sure.
“Hey, you’re fine. This is fine, we’re getting outta here and then we can beat his ass.” Roy nudges your arm, but you recognize it as one of his coping things.
You and Jason are those..avoidant types, and Roy is not. The exact opposite, in fact.
But it’s nice to have balance, and you admit you’re comforted by the words.
“I vote we beat his ass, then leave him, and then we get outta here instead.”
“Ok, here’s a compromise- we take turns rotating who drives and who gets to beat Jaybird. Or we could just tie him to the roof.”
“Deal.” You exhale a soft sigh of relief as you spot Jason in the distance. Looks like he’s taking down a few people, ehh…he can handle it. You won’t even bother getting out of the car.
You sharply bring your blue sunglasses to the top of your head before swerving around the scene so he can get his ass over here now!
“Would you two quit fooling around?” Jason growls as he jumps in, slamming the door behind him. Both of them are coated in sweat from the heat, and the smell is already getting to you.
You scoff and glance to Roy for assistance while brushing some hair from your eyes and slamming the gas pedal.
“We’re not fooling around. You’re the one who wouldn’t wrap it up-“ Roy attempts. It’s not very convincing.
“Ok, ok, just drive.” Jason sighs, what a day it’s been. At least, he has you two, but…shit, this was a bad run.
“What does it look like I’m doing?” You snap, but you’re not mad. You’re highly relieved that both came out of this job mostly unscathed. This was kinda a rough one, and you’re a long way from home.
“Oh, are you ok?” The act, you can only keep up for so long- and it dissipates when you’re worried. But you thought you saw some blood back there, maybe it’s alright.
The desert sunset comes up to meet the car against the horizon, and Roy pulls up directions to a motel while Jason is doing his best to insist he’s fine.
“Yeah, just a few scratches, I can handle it.”
“You always say that.” Your eyelids lower with disappointment, but you keep your eyes locked on the road.
Not that there is much of one, it’s all just sand and dust, with a few dry shrubs scattered throughout.
“You don’t have to handle it all by yourself, isn’t that what we’re here for?” Roy reaches for the backseat to playfully shove one leg, but Jason won’t give in.
“I would have had it taken care of.” Jason says while still glaring out the window, arms now folded. He gets like this, sometimes, when he’s worried.
Mm, nice going, Roy. Your grip tightens over the wheel as you other hand searches for your drink. If there’s one thing you refuse to do- it’s go on a mission without your favorite soda.
“Ahhhh, ok, fine-“ Roy dramatically sighs before turning on the air higher. “We got Mr. Hyper-independent over here, and-“
You unfortunately choke on your drink, laughing uncontrollably at dumb stuff is your cross to bear in life. Ughhh, what an unfair burden.
It takes you a few rounds of restraining coughing to clear it up.
“Ok, damn. I know I’m not that funny.”
“You’re not. It’s just..” You search for the words, still driving and tapping your fingers together. “The stupidity of it.”
“I feel like there was a better way to compliment me.” Roy begins pressing some of the radio buttons, but the service out here is essentially nonexistent.
Jason hides his amusement from the backseat, but the sound of both of you laughing is starting to get to him.