ʙᴀᴛ // 𝕞𝕒𝕟

with the arrival of smallville and the convergence of the two new yorks, bruce had his mind preoccupied. he wanted to get into the spirit of the upcoming holidays, finding them to be far more entertaining and familial than he had in the past. though that was through no small effort due in thanks to alfred and the kids.

though despite it all, he had to get out - make an appearance as bruce wayne so that the many folk of gotham and the new folk of the world didn’t entirely think he was too much of a hermit. but even more importantly he had to meet up with zatanna to investigate further into who this essex guy was, so with an awkward stance, bruce waited outside the essex building for her arrival so that they could ‘meet and greet’ as investors of wayne enterprises.

“come on zee, where the hell are you,” he muttered under his breath, a scowl adorning his face.

“if you’re going to patrol around gotham you should think of a darker choice of colors for your suit,“ he stated - giving the younger man a passing look. “otherwise you might be mistaken for a rogue, or easily targeted by one of the rogues.“ he added, turning a bit to glance down off of the rooftop, “what are you doing here in my city? who are you?“ ( @ofchurros​ )

her eyes rolled a bit too dramatically in response, but her expression was laced more in amusement than anything else. barbara turned her attention back to the computer system though, pulling up the various screens with information she gathered, her head nodded in confirmation. “well, you’re right about that. that guy with the shield? captain america? he’s basically a culture icon dating back to the 40′s. he was a scrawny guy –” a hit of a button pulled up a picture of steve rogers before the serum, and then another current picture. “underwent some experiment to make him a super soldier. all of his information is in museums and pretty much public knowledge but he put a plane with some bombs into the ocean and ended up freezing, only to be woken up modern day. seems the wholesome type.” her shoulders shrugged, pulling a screen for tony back to the front. “supposedly, stark died saving their world. the one here now is from his past, a little younger, less experience, but still seems like he’s trying to do the right thing.” babs turned her head over her shoulder only to give him an incredulous look. “i’ve had to see you at gotham events since i was a kid, you can passably get by dancing but it sure as hell doesn’t look natural.”

bruce exhaled slowly - a lot of this information wasn’t necessarily in the public eye and he had to be careful with it in case these ‘avengers’ wanted to keep themselves and their identities a secret. not that it really mattered as it seemed the sites that barbara was pulling from happened to be basically google. “so he’s like a less powerful, non-flying clark? got it,” bruce huffed giving a small smile to barbara as he took a dig at superman. “which leaves this tony guy to be my opposite, only more of a show off and well, shorter.” he gave a shrug. he leaned forward towards the screen, squinting a bit to read as much as he could before realizing that his joking words did make some sense. the avengers were their worlds version of the justice league, only less put together and more... chaotic. glancing back to babs, bruce straightened up and crossed his arms over his chest with a grunt. “sounds like he’s going to have it rough, keep being friends with him, he could use one. a good one.” he added, reaching down to pat her shoulder gently. “and who died and made you the authority queen of dancing?”

This man must be BRUCE WAYNE — RJ doesn’t know much about him aside from the fact he was Dick’s adoptive father. They were from different realities, this one is where he had always known before the other ones started to merge together. He was glad it happened because the change brought him and HIS father together.  Someone who genuinely cares about him AND giving him a family. “We can shake hands later! What are you reading?” He asks curiously wanting to keep the conversation going, looking between Bruce and Alfred a few times.

It looked like Bruce didn’t know yet, but now he does. “I did. He adopted me recently. My name is RJ GRAYSON, sir.” He introduces himself with a soft smile across his face, kicking his feet gently in the air since his legs don’t touch the floor — curse being so small. “I was living in the streets running away from an abusive situation. It’s a long story, but this EVIL organization raised me as their weapon, forcing me to be an assassin against my will. I escaped one day only to end up sleeping in one of the alleyways of your city. Dick found me, took me in, and made sure I was taken care of. He decided that HE wanted to be my dad, and it was the first time anyone’s shown me LOVE.” RJ nervously plays with the end of his sweater. He smiles still though. “So, yeah he’s my father. I look forward to getting to know you too!”

“ah it’s nothing, just about the extensive history of new york city,“ he replied giving a small shrug before showing the kid the cover of the book. in reality he was reading through as many books as he could about the history of the city to see if he could get anymore insight into the avengers that barbara hadn’t yet. “rj grayson,” he repeated before nodding and giving a soft sort of smile before turning away and taking a sip of his coffee, watching with the glance of the side of his eyes, bruce took careful notice of the younger man’s small stature. possibly evidence of malnourishment when he was younger. interesting.

however, when rj went into explaining his life story to bruce, the billionaire looked towards his butler before looking back towards the young man with a raised brow out of concern. “has dick told you about the family business?” he asked, a test to see if rj knew about the truth of dick grayson and further who bruce wayne truly was. if he didn’t answer in anyway but telling him that he knew he was batman, then bruce knew he couldn’t relay much to the boy. “and i have to ask out of pure curiosity and to see if i can use my resources, what’s the evil organization?” he set the book down, placing his hand on his hip and turning his full frame to face the boy, towering over him. “an assassin? how old are you rj?” bruce knew assassins - knew far too many of them, none acted the way this boy did. and he couldn't figure out quite yet whether that was a good or a bad thing.

His sense of morality has been twisted so much that it cracked down the middle, unsure what could hold it together. He wonders sometimes if this is what Joker really wanted, a product made as the consequences from his game. He remembers the laugh when confronting his murderer after returning to Gotham. He found it funny, the sick bastard actually found amusement from Jason’s pain. Everything was so carefully planned, circumstances perfect for the demise of such a young boy. “Do you mind if I ask a favor? When I came back I was a quiet kid. I trained to keep my mind busy, but I didn’t talk much at first. Talia ended up manipulating me in the end to believe in crossing THE line. I was  confused why she would talk about YOU missing me and wouldn’t let me see you after my resurrection. She made me enjoy IT.” He admits maybe for the first time to his father, but it might not be important anymore. He knows this is a tough subject, and his delight that comes from violence isn’t a secret. “I — I want you to be proud of me. I can’t promise my habit of breaking bones will stop, but I can switch to using RUBBER BULLETS in my weapons if you’ll help me figure it out.” Jason has been killing for a long time, so this is a major step forward for him. He doesn’t have to be what JOKER OR THE AL GHULS wanted him to be. He can do things his own way.

Jason smiles up at Alfred, who has placed the tea down in front of him. The man had always been like a grandfather to him, one of the most important members of this family — the glue really that keeps everyone together. He takes a sip of the hot tea, relieved by the distraction. It wasn’t easy pulling his skeletons out of his closet. His hand pressed to his forehead, feeling guilty for unloading so much on his father, but maybe they would be enough for one night. He sets the cup down, his hand dropping after the squeeze to his shoulder. He was lucky to have people that love him even after all the horrible things he has done. “Thank you, I might not deserve it, but I’m trying to be BETTER.” He felt lost, broken beyond being saved, but it was worth a shot to repair what has been shattered. He hopes this is the right choice, it felt so. Jason hopes finding the right therapist wouldn’t be difficult, someone would have to be out there, right? Someone trustworthy?

“They haven’t visited me since I moved in with Dick and Jean. I think the company helped keep that part of my brain busy, BUT before that I was having them when I was living out of my warehouse. Why is this happening to me?” Jason looks between Alfred and Bruce. His hand reaching for another sip of his tea, this was a lot of emotions for one night, their personalities similar in a lot of ways, but at the end of the day just wants to be loved. “I like the surprise, you always know best, Alfred.” He adds in quietly before a soft expression is directed toward his father. “I would like to spend the night, I could stay longer to spar with Damian before I leave tomorrow. I think he would enjoy that. Hey — can we watch a movie together? I promise not to fall asleep on you this time.”

bruce remained quiet as he sipped at his tea, giving jason a small but consenting nod in encouragement to go on and speak about whatever the favor was that he wanted of bruce. tensing at the mention of talia, his gaze shifted over towards alfred who had paused in his baking before returning to it once bruce settled back down. talia was... a mistake; the mother of his only blood son, but anything more and she was nothing to him. she’d destroyed more than she ever aided and what she had done to jason was inexcusable. when the second son came around to the favor he wanted to ask, bruce turned to face him as he set his tea down and gave a small smile. “i break bones too, i’m not as innocent as i’ve ever led you kids to believe; but i do appreciate the effort you’re willing to make to stop being lethal - i’m proud of you.” he finally stated leaning over and patting the other on the shoulder, lingering there for a moment before sliding his hand off and back to his own lap.

alfred had been baking the entire time - having perfected his cooking over the years and reducing the time to a science. “master bruce likes scones, and i believe you children have always favored the biscuits, so i’ve made both - chocolate chip in the biscuits and a nice vanilla cream for the scones.” alfred interrupted, turning to place two trays before them with fresh baked goods. giving a thanks and a nod, bruce reached forward to grab a scone and opened it allowing the heat to escape as he continued his conversation with jason. “i think you deserve everything good, jason.” bruce replied, nearly interrupting the other but hesitating momentarily as he did so. “you are better.” and he meant it, jason had been through so much that he deserved to hear the words of encouragement.

giving some thought, bruce finally popped some of the scone into his mouth and chewed as alfred leaned against the island and looked over at jason with a mixture of concern and protectiveness. bruce mirrored nearly the same. “something must have triggered it, i imagine - bruce, you should retrace master jason’s steps with him to narrow it down and perhaps help him find a temporary solution until he can gain the help he needs. and yes, thank you jason, i know i know best.” alfred added, giving bruce a very pointed look. grunting, bruce turned back to jason with a raised brow and a shrug, “it couldn’t hurt, alfred’s most likely right - but not tonight, tonight we stay here and relax.” he added, mentally making notes to ask barbara and damian to watch the city for the evening. “sure kiddo, what movie?” knowing almost too well that he’ll end up watching the movie himself with jason fast asleep next to him.

Dick opened his mouth to protest, but his words failed him as soon as Bruce pointed out the obvious and he hung his head, defeatedly. “Two days… give or take. Maybe three.” he said, quietly. He supposed he was no use to anyone if he was dead tired or, you know, actually dead. He just wanted to help- but maybe he didn’t need to do everything, “Want me to call Robin or are you taking this solo?” he asked. They could use all the help they could get at this point, and well, Damian hadn’t been here, so he was less exhausted than the rest of them. “I’m sure he’s been dying to hit something as soon as the party went to shit and hit the news,” Dick figured they only thing keeping Damian from throwing himself at the party would be Alfred. Thank god for Alfred. What would they do without him? He was pretty sure his youngest brother would get himself killed if they didn’t have Alfred to rein him in.

“You don’t need to do that,” he sighed, “Crane doesn’t seem to care and Harley is… well, she’s Harley.” Which wasn’t reassuring unto itself, but, “she hates him as much as we do,” he added. Dick knew he didn’t need to say the name for Bruce to know who he meant. He looked away from Bruce as he put that hand on his shoulder, He was right- that plaque would have been there even if he had his suit in a bag somewhere. And he still would have ended up in his suit. “I know we’re supposed to stick to codenames and all in the mask…. but thanks, dad.” he no longer felt like he disappointed Bruce. But he still felt bad about the identity reveal. “Fisk huh? I’ll do some of my own digging- see what I can find on him. After I’ve had sleep. I promise.” he let out another long drawn out sigh, “still feel like an idiot. But maybe that’s because it wasn’t my choice.”

grimacing, bruce looked his son over before nodding slowly - there were many values, many traits that bruce wished that his kids would develop from him, learn after him; sleep deprivation and the hunger for justice wasn’t one of them. still, he’d done this and he knew it - he’d made them who they are and there wasn’t anything he could do about it. “take three days off, i’ll keep an eye out on the city for you  - and i’ll ask damian to help, i’ve kept him in the manor for too long and he’s about to fight alfred.” he knew that wasn’t true, but he hoped the thought of damian duking it out with alfred would at least make dick smile a bit. “like i said, i’ll get damian to help me,” he reiterated before nodding and stepping closer to the other so that their conversation, already hushed, was even more silenced.

“you and i both know that i’m going to do it whether or not i need to,“ he stated giving dick a very curt reply before letting out a sigh. as much as crane and harley were on the low list of his line for what he needed to go after or not, he still couldn’t risk letting them think it was okay for them to get away with knowing nightwing’s identity. “i know she does, and she’s aided me in the past, but she has to know that she can’t just.. know these things - now i have to consider bringing them into the fold and that is dangerous.“ but he didn’t say it to make dick feel guilty. he softened a bit, already relenting on the codenames and giving dick a small smile. “i got you, dick - i will always have your back,“ he patted him on the shoulder before stepping back and clearing his throat; returning to business. “check new york, that’s where the trail seems to end for us on gotham’s side.“ shaking his head he gave a small shrug, “wasn’t your choice, so don’t hang onto that guilt forever.“

It was interesting to hear his father suggest something like that, such a tactic is more HIS style in letting blood run through the streets to those that deserve it. He only wishes a gruesome death on three different men for pissing him off for one thing or another. JOKER, PENGUIN, AND BLACK MASK deserve to be buried six feet under if the choice was his, SO the thought of some of the other rogues going for Oswald brings a smile to his face for only a moment. The happy expression doesn’t last long, since he knows that BATMAN will show up to stop the bloodshed. Some things don’t ever change, but the boy does love to watch him work. “I wouldn’t stop them, but you probably already knew that.” This visit wasn’t about his skewed sense of morality that Talia had manipulated him into enjoying. This was about a son wanting his father, and nothing more.

Jason doesn’t know what kind of reaction was to be expected. His death was a sensitive subject for everyone in the family — but it might be the hardest on Bruce. No father should have to bury their son when they’re only fifteen. He had dreams full of literature and history alike, gifted in school once the proper resources became to his disposal. Jason was a small child, his casket made by the same men who crafted both of his grandparents’ — who he only got to meet through stories told over the years OR by staring at the photographs around the mansion. He does wonder sometimes if they would have liked him. This is a thought Jason will always keep to himself. “DAD —“ His voice cracks, getting choked up. Despite how much he has been through over the years, the one thing that never changes is wanting Bruce there during the bad days. He’s always been like that, even when sick as a child was his happiest when his father stayed home WITH HIM.

The tight embrace takes him by surprise, but it doesn’t take long for Jason to wrap his arms around Bruce to return the gesture. This is when the tears start to form, not usually one to cry in front of others, but he has pushed it down for long enough. “I — I love you too. I don’t know where to begin finding HELP for people like us. I wouldn’t want to compromise anyone’s identity, but I just — wish I could stop feeling broken. I WANT the hallucinations to stop.” Jason holds on until his father pulls back, which has him trying to wipe away the tears with his sleeve. “I would like that — his tea is the best.

      “i know,” he responded quietly, keeping his gaze down as he turned a bit away from the younger man. he’d hated what had happened to him, but understood that jason was a product of what happened to him - and yet still the young boy on the streets that needed nothing more than a chance and love. bruce was never going to give up on him, on any of them - even when it sometimes was faced with difficulties and may seem like the easier of choices. inhaling sharply, he turned towards alfred and smiled briefly giving the aging butler a nod to the request for tea. silently, he watched as alfred moved about the kitchen and made jason’s tea the way he exactly liked it and placed it before the younger man, reaching forward to gently place a hand on the other’s and giving it a squeeze.

      staying quiet, bruce observed the interaction always finding and inherently admitting that alfred was far better at being an affectionate and doting father than he ever could be. “as for the help you need, there’s always someone out there jason - i’ll make sure you get only the best that fits you and gets your approval first.” he wasn’t going to just give jason to a therapist that would fit himself - no jason needed one that would understand him, would lean to helping him, not for the service of others. “how long have the hallucinations started up again master jason?” alfred asked, raising a brow and looking over to bruce and then back to the younger.

      “i’ll make us some biscuits to go with the tea, or would we rather have scones?” alfred asked again while turning to face them both - offering a smile as he fixed his apron on. “speak now or forever allow the butler to make decisions for you all.” he deadpanned, before turning to start making both. bruce smirked a bit before turning to look back at jason, a crease of concern and love formed on his brow. “stay here tonight, you can leave after breakfast if you want, or stay.”

    searching for penguin wasn’t an easy task. he went to his most famous hideouts and some that only the few closer friends knew about, but even then, nothing. and as the man thought of the next place he’d have to visit in order to find oswald cobblepot, batman showed up. that horrible timing of his as ever.  “see, bats… that’s why you don’t have friends.”  he sighed, shaking his head at the dark figure.  “what would i get from telling anyone about nightwing? our world isn’t like yours, we don’t go gossiping around about our enemies. we save our cards for ourselves.”  the scarecrow hit the base of his scythe against the ground at the end of that phrase for theatrical effect.  “besides… i have nothing against that young man. the person you should be going after is the one who put us in that situation. if you ask me? i think he knows about him… hell with that, about all of you even.”  he looked over at his foe to check if he was listening.  “and who’s closer to the joker than that sick maniac himself?”  well, that considering harley was with that suicide squad team now.

      “i don’t need friends,” bruce responded, gritting his teeth as he moved closer to the scarecrow - a grit, a remembrance, a promise in his anger as he tried to reason with the fact that two of his most notorious rogues had known the identity of his eldest son. “leave him alone, forget you know who he is - that’s a warning crane.” he demanded, ignoring the fact that crane wasn’t actually likely going to expose nightwing for being dick grayson unless he had to. he didn’t flinch as the scythe slammed against the ground, only merely growled. but what crane said next made bruce falter in his steely resolve. “he does, he knows everyone’s weaknesses, including yours. we have proof.” he stated - finding it was fair enough to let him know. “i will take cobblepot down, don’t get in my way or i’ll take you down too.” he grimaced at the name of the clown prince, “i won’t let joker find out.”

the look she shot him was quick – the kind that spoke to ‘not buying your excuses, bruce’ but the quirk of lips signaled a more lighthearted tone. “see? you should listen to alfred, no matter what the age.” once she was near the console, barbara sat herself in the chair, listening to his request – already pulling up files on the screens that she had available. “well, good news, i’m already started on that front. i’m still profiling some of them – some have very long and complicated histories in secret organizations, so they take more time. essentially yeah, these people have a lot of worms.” she sighed, they didn’t seem like bad people, but barbara prided herself on being the all-knowing. that was the point of oracle. she had the same profiling on the justice league and everyone else from their reality, it was never intended for harm, only to know. “i had the pleasure of working with tony stark during the phalanx incident. billionaire that uses his wealth to make high tech gadgets and suits – sound familiar? except he dances when he works, it’s a little more fun.”

      bruce had caught her look, mirroring one of his own though with a smirk on his lips as he gave her a side-longed glance. “i do listen to alfred, anyone who tells you differently is lying and looking to get me in trouble,” he protested, throwing a hand up in defense of himself as a chuckle escaped him. leaning over her shoulder, knowing that she didn’t always like someone hovering, bruce looked to the screen and watched her work. “i figured as much, and i’m going to take a guess that some of them are a lot older than they’re pretending too.” he added, turning to look at her with a raised brow before sighing and looking back to the screen. “sounds a little familiar, and if you seem to like him, then i’m fine with trusting him on some things.” he thought about it and wondered what others of the avengers that they could bring in and use. “i can dance,” he added after and stood up, “i can dance very well.” even if it was stiffly when in forced social engagements.

It didn’t take Dick long to find Jean once everything was over, and he gave her a hug- or, well, she attacked him with a big bear hug and he ended up returning it. Once she had assured him she and Jason and Babs were okay, he agreed to meet her and Jason once he made sure everything was okay (he figured he was their ride home) and began scanning crowds for his dad. He was just thankful she and Jason and Babs were okay. One less thing for him to worry himself about. Seeing in red was difficult, and he, admittedy, didn’t even see Bruce because of it until he was right on top of him and handing him a mask. “Thanks- I feel kind of naked without one,” he admitted, lowering his head as he took the mask, and slipped the glasses off to replace them with the domino mask. He tucked the glasses away, safely, making a mental note to return them as soon as possible. 

“I’ll come with you,” he blurted. But even he knew he didn’t look great. He wasn’t pretending to hide the fact he was probably on the verge of having a mental breakdown due to how close he’d been to an identity reveal. “He knew…” he said, quietly. “He took my mask- and my badge and gun, but he knew- and now, Harley and Scarecrow know my identity,” he looked away from his dad, feeling like he’d made such a stupid idiotic mistake. Bruce would be so dissappointed in him. “I’m so sorry- I should have been more careful- because if he knows mine, then yours is compromised and-” and so many others were too. He hung his head, running a hand through his hair, “I’m sorry. I failed you. It was a rookie mistake and now its going to come back and bite me in the ass later. I should have been more careful and I can’t apologize enough- it won’t happen again.”

      “it’s better than the shades you’re wearing now at least,” he responded half-hardheartedly before taking a step back and observing him and their surroundings. something had happened during the party and for dick to be wearing something else, someone else’s eye gear meant that there was a very real chance that dick’s identity as nightwing had been compromised. it was enough to set his teeth on edge and hunt down the penguin right then and there. but it was dick’s words about wanting to come with him that stopped him. “no, you need to rest - go home and sleep.” he replied almost immediately looking his eldest over. “you haven’t slept in a few days have you?”

      he really didn’t have much to say on that as bruce was just as guilty to favor justice and peace over his own personal health. but given dick was a son to him, well, do as i say, not as i do. but then dick continued on and bruce’s expression went from grim to clear anger. “i’ll find them and make sure they never reveal who you are.” he finally said - pausing only a moment before reaching forward and placing his hand on dick’s shoulder. “this wasn’t your fault, nightwing - you wouldn’t have known, you’re just as prepared for things as i am, the only way that he was able to do this was because of someone named fisk - they’re connected and they know. you’re right, they know everything.”

diana’s reaction may have very well been very different in response to her hand being grabbed had she not heard the voice that came with it. instead, a smile breaks out across her face as she turns to face the other and pull him into a hug. “bruce!” she exclaims, sighing in relief. “thank the gods that you are safe! i was worried when i did not see you at first,” she said once she’d pulled apart from the hug slightly, her hands moving to grip his shoulders. “you know that if you ever need me back in gotham, all you have to do is call. but yes, coffee, breakfast– i’d love that. what time is it, anyway? i feel like i am craving french toast or waffles. are you alright? not hurt, i hope?”

      her worry for him was as alarming as it was flattering and bruce couldn’t help but to smile a little bit. “i was... elsewhere,” he stated while meeting her eye and allowing her to know what he meant by that. had to change from the suit to... this suit. still, when she had pulled him into a hug he didn’t react at first, only to finally embrace her when he felt her start to pull back. “of course, i appreciate it.” and she knew the unspoken truth of if she ever needed him, he’d there in return.  “god, it’s probably four in the morning, but come on - i know a diner that’s open all the time and they do a pretty mean french toast... and waffles,” he gave her a genuine grin as he nodded his head towards the exit. “when you’re ready,” he offered his arm out to her, allowing her to take charge of when to leave.

Jason was usually light on his feet, but not when visiting the mansion. It would always feel like home, and somewhere he would have a place to go even if all he needed was to be patched up. He loves Bruce, no doubt about that fact since the whole reason Jason was here is NEEDING his dad.  “We’ll get him. Penguin pissed off too many people that night to get away for long.” He pushes his fingers through the white strands, pushing his hair out of his face. Jason doesn’t look at him yet, ashamed in what has to be said, but it’s time. “I don’t think I’m okay, DAD.” His eyes finally meet Bruce’s — plopping down on one of the other seats against the island.

“I was trapped with a bomb at the party.“ Jason doesn’t feel like anything else needed to be said, his death was the result of a bomb. “I’ve been hallucinating for a while too, Dick knows, but every time it happens I SEE HIS FACE laughing at me. I had one of the hallucinations at the party while trapped on the ice which made me FUCKING useless. I think it’s time to see someone. Do you think you can help me find someone? Our secret identities have to be protected, I KNOW, but I think I need this.” Jason goes silent for a moment, STANDING UP AGAIN. 

“SORRY — it’s probably stupid.“ 

      a stilled silence almost like a coldness crept up in the air around the kitchen as the two of them struggled with their emotions. bruce more than worried for jason - he cared for him deeply, as he did with all of his children, but jason... jason had been through far too much. hearing his words of reassurance, the father let out a deep sigh before giving a nod and mechanically bringing alfred’s home-brewed tea to his lips. “i think even his once allies are coming for him, i wonder if i should stop them this time,” he asked idly knowing that of course he would. he always would. still, metaphorical questions such as those were easier to bounce off of an empty wall and a elder son than it were to a full room.

      but the next words that came from jason’s lips, when he brought his younger gaze up to meet the tired, older one’s of his, sent a deeper need to protect and comfort to elicit out of bruce causing him to set his own problems and tea aside. turning to face him, bruce not only saw the man jason had become, but the child he was - lost, alone, living in a city that would have eaten him alive; and did due to bruce’s own failures to break his code, his failures as a father. “oh god...” he whispered, turning fully to face him, leaning against the island to brace himself for his next move. “jason -- ” bruce started when the other began to defensively build up his walls and move away.

      in a fraction of a second, bruce reached out and pulled the younger man in, holding him tightly against him and pressing his lips to his hairline. with his hand firmly and comfortingly pressed against the back of jason’s head, bruce breathed a promise into his ear. “i will stop at nothing to do what is right by you, you are my son - and i love you. if it’s help you need, it’s help i will find you. nothing you have ever said was stupid.” and with a lingering moment more, bruce squeezed him tight to give him more comfort - as thomas once did for him - and pulled back, gently patting him on the arm. “alfred’s made tea, want me to get you a cup?”