theknightshift | inbox (etraya)

Can we talk?

About?

About what happened last time we talked

There's nothing to discuss.

I don't know. You were being extra cagey and I was being extra pissy and probably gave you a solid concussion. Not exactly the epitome of a healthy family there

I'm fine. The morality shift wore off when we came back to Etraya.

So why are you still hiding?

I'm not hiding.

You haven't checked on us or dropped by since the mission ended

A mission debrief is available.

[ He was in the manor for exactly long enough to file it. ]

You know that's not the same

[ You know what, fine. If you wanna see him in person, Jay, you can come to him. He gets a ping on his map indicating Bruce's current location. He's in Nova City, somewhere adjacent to the Tower of Justice and Arkham. ]

[Interesting spot... Jason gets dressed and heads to Bruce's coordinates. He arrives mostly dressed in his Red Hood suit again but he's not expecting a fight. Or at least he hopes it doesn't become another fight]

[ Bruce is a civilian at the moment, but he spies Jason's approach - both because he expects it and because he's keeping watch on the two buildings in this safehouse's direct line of sight. He's already performed his routine sweep of the safehouse for trackers or other listening devices so he thinks nothing of inviting Jason in. ]

I'm a terrible host. There's not much to offer you.

[ Besides a small gathering of protein bars and the water Lois gave him that he still hasn't drank yet. ]

Help yourself to what's there.

[Jason waves his hand, as if waving off the apology]

Eh. It's fine. Not like I was expecting a five-star hotel treatment anyway.

[Though it doesn't escape Jason that Bruce might not be taking very good care of himself again. All the more reason why it was best to do a check-in in person]

How've you been holding up?

[ He's working. There'll be time for eating when he's done. ]

I'm fine.

[ As ever. ]

Yourself?

Better now than compared to that last mission.

[He rubs the back of his head, a little uncomfortable. He's not exactly talking to his dad but an alternate version of them. It's still weird how similar and how different they are all in one]

Look about that fight...

It's done, Jason.

[ It isn't the first time they've fought each other. And considering their track record and Etraya's insistence on tampering with their mental states, it likely wouldn't be the last. Jason hadn't done anything to warrant Bruce's anger. The fight was simply a symptom of the mission. Bruce could accept that. ]

It hasn't changed anything between us.

Yeah, but it still wasn't right.

[It's a guess but Jason is wondering if Bruce is in one of his more reclusive moods after the mission messed with his mind]

Did... you talk with the others yet since we came back?

[ He hadn't. He's actively avoided it. Told Damian to leave him alone essentially. Reached out to Dick to keep him in the loop, but for not much else. There are conversations to be had, but he's not ready for them. He smooths his face out, aloof and disengaged. ]

If that's all you wanted, reset the security on your way out.

[Jason sees that switch on Bruce's face. He sees how quick he is in putting back up his guard. Jason himself has been guilty of doing that before. He's seen it with his own Bruce at times but they've both been getting better about it. It still wasn't perfect but it was progress.

So seeing it again on this alternative universe Bruce is familiar but a frustrating experience for Jason. God, where was Alfred when they need him?]

Just wanted to say I'm not mad at you about it. We were both messed up. I didn't like what I did. It... It felt like I slipped back to the old days, when I was chopping off drug dealers' heads and blowing up traffickers' buildings. When all I wanted to do was prove you wrong, even if it meant hurting myself at the same time.

And I know you weren't in the right mind when we fought.

Just wanted to say I'm sorry.

[Jason begins to get up and leave]

Apology accepted.

[ He doesn't look up from his work initially. But when he does, he finally looks Jason in the eye with a short, resolute nod. He didn't need to apologize; there's nothing to forgive. But if it helped, Bruce would let him have it. ]

[Eye contact is somewhat progress at least. Jason nods back at Bruce before leaving with a now-familiar twinge of how much he misses his family]

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