theknightshift | open post (nsfw)

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CODE BY TESSISAMESS

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[He stops. Doesn’t fight the hand holding him, although a punch would be warranted.]

What.

[If the next words aren’t perfect Jason is throwing a punch.]

[ It's a hard thing to accept that Jason hates him still. Bitter and cruel, like a jab in the ribs so he can't breathe right for a couple of minutes. He must think it's as simple as walking the thing out of the cave, never to be seen again. That letting go is somehow not impossible.

He's Batman because he couldn't let go. Because he never left that alley. Because he never stopped being afraid. How do you turn all of that off? ]

The memorial stays. Until you get this fixed. Then I will take it down. Those are the terms.

[He looks at Bruce for a long time. He knows that he's wearing a mask and a domino that whites out his eyes, but they've been looking at each other for years. They know the tics, the way that they tip their heads and duck their chins.

He's trying to figure out if this is bullshit, but-

-but he wants so badly to believe that Bruce can let it go. So that Jason can let it go, too.]

I'll do the work.

[He says it softly, but then-

-he moves in, to put his arms around Bruce's shoulders, to pull him into a hug.]

[ He never really knows what to do with himself when someone hugs him. So often it seems to come out of nowhere that it he just kind of. Freezes. Like he's waiting for it to be over.

Jason doesn't get a hug back. Not at first. Not until Bruce exhales and wraps his arms around him. The memorial didn't mean more than this. Or more than him. Bruce would let it go if it meant he could keep this. ]

Thank you.

[He nods, but he doesn't want to let go, not yet.]

Let me know when you want me to-

[He takes a breath and considers it.]

-when it's done, I'll come home.

[He takes a deep breath, because yeah, that is the offer.]

[ For something that Bruce has wanted for a long time, it feels strange to hear it out loud. He'd never say he didn't want it, but now that it's here it feels fragile somehow. Like if he reaches out for it, it might just turn and bolt. ]

The room's still yours. If you want it.

Your room?

[Because the room that was his feels strangely forbidden. It's still perfectly preserved, and while the memorial case infuriated Jason, his old room-

-well. That was different. He couldn't explain how.]

[ Bruce is quiet for a moment. He'd thought Jason would have preferred his own space. It feels less like Jason is coming home and more like moving in together. It's strangely domestic. ]

I'd like that.

[He hums. He won't give up his apartment, or his safehouse, but that doesn't mean anything. Bruce has about five different place he can stash himself in Gotham, although Bruce out of all of them sleeps at home the most.]

Okay.

[He leans in a little, although he's still wearing his muzzle, and presses his forehead to Bruce.]

Hey.

There's nothing wrong with going forward.

[ There's nothing wrong with going forward. Sometimes it feels like it is. Like his focus is shifting and the Mission suffers for it.

But he has such good things in front of him. His family. Jason standing right here with his forehead pressing against his own. It's okay to go forward. ]

I'll tell Alfred to set a place for you at the table.

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