theknightshift | inbox (etraya)

[Jason gets the code wrong-- twice-- before he enters the Cave and while it might not be his Cave, the resemblance is there. Instead of venturing in deeper, finding the melatonin, and leaving, he lingers by the door. He's miserably tired, scarred, and facing something like the Cave is frankly too much.

So, instead, he calls out,] Bruce?

[ Bruce doesn't spend a lot of time here. It's been a long time since all of them have been under one roof and while he appreciates having his family around, it was just easier to keep his own company.

But he's here when Jason comes in. And he motions for him to come in. He's sitting at the computer going over some notes. ]

Over here.

[Jason spots Bruce and then takes a long look around before he makes his way over to the computer. His hood is pulled up in an effort to hide the scars from the crowbar, but the marled skin is still easy to spot. He doesn't quite look up at Bruce again as he leans against the far end of the computer.

He could talk to Chrissy about this, but he knows this Bruce lost his Jason, knows the pain.]

I don't feel like myself any more.

[ He stops working long enough to take in what Jason says. He doesn't feel like himself and how could he when everything has been shifted and turned upside down. He's still reaching out tells Bruce there's still time to make this right. To mitigate the damage. Maybe stop him from becoming the Red Hood. ]

I know. He's in your head.

[Jason nods and pockets his hands in his hoodie. He's exhausted and he knows he needs help, but until he can get some kind of sleep, help will just bounce right off him.]

Every time I close my eyes, I see him.

[He blows out a breath to help ease the swell of fear, emotion.]

[ Bruce really should send Jason on his way with the melatonin, because the boy clearly needs some rest.

Instead, he says: ]

I do too.

[ He offers no explanation. He just gets up and begins the walk toward the medbay. ]

What happened to your Jason?

[Jason remains at the computer for a moment before pushes up off of it to follow Bruce.]

I mean. After.

[What kind of life does Jason have to possibly live after what happened to him?]

[ He knew this question was coming but it still winds him. He doesn't want to get into the details. He doesn't want to explain the things they said and did to each other. It...wasn't a good time in either of their lives.

They were getting along now, Jason was part of the family again. He wants to talk about that instead. ]

He came back and we disagreed on how to handle the Joker. So we went our separate ways for a long time.

Handle-- [Jason frowns, the world seeming to come into clear view as his anger quietly stokes hot in his chest.]

You killed him. Right?

[ Bruce turns with a bottle in his hand and offers it to Jason. ]

Here.

[Jason pauses, looks down at the bottle and then back up at Bruce.]

You killed him.

[Unless being fired meant that he didn't matter enough to warrant revenge. If his impact on Bruce was far too small.]

Right?

No. I can't.

[ He's ready for the anger. He's been through this before. He sets the bottle down so Jason can take it if he still wants it. And then he makes his way back toward the computer. ]

[For a moment, Jason is very still as the anger burns white hot inside of him. Bruce didn't kill the Joker, didn't avenge him after his death. Jason pulls down his hood as he follows after Bruce and tries to grab him by the shoulder.]

You fucking see what he did to me? And you didn't even--

[The rage is incandescent and he's practically steaming at the ears. His new scars stretch across his skin.]

I didn't fucking matter enough, huh? Wasn't worth the time? I get fired and then it's fuck all what happens to me?

I saw exactly what Joker did to Jason. I picked his lifeless body up out of the rubble of the warehouse he destroyed. I buried him and mourned him.

[ Bruce is a solid man. If he doesn't want to be moved, generally, he cannot be. Jason grabbing his shoulder doesn't catch him off guard. He just shrugs him off. ]

You don't get to question how I feel about my son when you still can't tell the difference between me and your Bruce.

[Jason balks at Bruce's response, unbelieving and angry beyond measure.]

Right. 'Cause I'm not your son. I'm not his son.

[Emotion quakes just beneath his words.]

I'm no one's son.

[He grabs the bottle and is just about ready to dash back out the way he came.]

[ If he wants to go, Bruce won't stop him. He's done having this conversation. ]

[And Jason is gone in a flurry of anger.]

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