Little Jaybin fell into a bit of a Greek Mythos rabbit hole in his quest to read just about every book ever made in every language he knows.
One day, he trotted up to Bruce, who immediately turned away from the Batcomputer to give him his attention from the moment the Batcave elevator alerted Jason used his pass and was coming over.
"I have a favorite myth now," sweet, 11-year-old Jason said, the tiniest and cutest he's ever been.
"Oh? Do tell?" Bruce coaxed.
Jason pulled a chair close and sat down, excitedly passing his bookmarked tome onto Bruce's lap. Flipping it open, they found themselves in the middle of a story.
"It's basically the first Romeo and Juliet, except it's between life and death," Jason explained, "It's so cool! I wasn't even that upset when he turned around! THIS is the love story of the ages!"
"More than Pride and Prejudice?"
Bruce laughed at that. It has been easier lately, to laugh. Even just looking at this tiny creature who trusts him wholly and indefinitely, makes him laugh at the absurdity of it all.
"I was wondering," Jason pondered out loud, "Can you do that?"
"Not look back at me for 2 maybe 3 years," Jason grinned, "And while I'm squeaky quiet as if I'm not even there."
Bruce frowned, actually thought about it.
The longer the silence stretched, the farther Jason's smile dropped. "This is the part where you said 'I'm Batman' and mean that you can do anything, you know."
"Why would you want me to do that?" Bruce asked instead.
Jason blinked at him like he had grown two heads all of a sudden. "Well, what if not looking back is the only way to save me?"
Bruce is far too familiar with the myth, had known every variation of it by heart. Even the niche loss versions Talia collected over the years. Maybe one day, he'll find the time to tell Jason every version — how there is no version where Orpheus doesn't look back, because there's no version where Orpheus doesn't love Eurydice.
For now, Bruce answers: "I'll certainly try."
That's how he realizes 15 yo Jason Todd is no longer in the spot he left him in, and his tracker is somewhere close to the Joker's last sightings.
That's how he knows where to run to get to Jason, if he gets to Jason, when he gets to Jason, because he has to. God, he has to.
And Jason died all over again because of it.
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