etraya inbox.

[copsormasks]

Leave me a message.
voicemail. call. action.

Comments

text. b.

[batsymbol]

When you have a second, can you come down to the terminal?

text. j

[copsormasks]

is this about me getting my cast off next week?

[batsymbol]

Were you thinking it was coming off early?

[copsormasks]

dude i am so tired of being in a cast

[batsymbol]

I know. It'll be off soon though.

[copsormasks]

yeah and then the pt starts

[And in the time it’s taken Jason to text, he’s downstairs by the terminal.]

Yo. What’s up?

[batsymbol]

( bruce is there in the terminal, sitting at one of the workbenches he has set up. his one arm is resting against the table while the other remains dropped at his side, seeming... lifeless. that's when he looks over to jason there. )

I need you to hold my shoulder while I pop it back into place.

( in other words: he has dislocated something and alfred isn't here to be the one to help him. )

[copsormasks]

Oh fuck. Bruce.

[Jason has seen enough dislocated shoulders to know what to do. He immediately moves to Bruce’s injured shoulder and braces it with his own good one.]

What the fuck happened?

[batsymbol]

( good thing his father was a surgeon and bruce has a bit of medical training under his belt for things like this... much to alfred's dismay. also, at least it's his left shoulder. )

I fell. Very high.

( so as not to make jason think it was a case of falling down the stairs or anything. )

Put as much pressure on it as you can to keep it still.

[copsormasks]

You fell? Were you fighting someone?

[Jason does his best to hold Bruce’s arm perfectly still in his good hand. The cast keeps Jason from doing little more than support on that side.]

[batsymbol]

I was testing something out.

( and it clearly still needs a bit of work.

with jason holding his arm in place as best he can, bruce takes a moment to let go of a breath — mentally preparing himself for this — before he just forcefully pops it back into place with a strangled noise of discomfort he bites down on. his eyes squeeze shut — wills away the pain — then reaches up with his good hand to give jason's shoulder a couple pats as a means to tell him he's good. )

Thanks.

[copsormasks]

[Jason would acknowledge the pat on the shoulder if his mind didn’t immediately fill with thoughts of his own fall.

No. No, this is about Bruce testing something and clearly failing.]

What were you testing?

[batsymbol]

The flight component part of the suit.

( he's... taken a few tumbles in the past with it — walked away sore and with bruises. this was just a little harder than previous attempts and escapes. )

[copsormasks]

[Jason balks at Bruce.]

You were trying to fucking fly?

[batsymbol]

I only use it when necessary. Mostly to get away in a pinch. At least when I'm up high. Last time was atop the GCPD building when I was being chased by every cop in the building.

( well. except gordon, but. that's a given in any universe it seems. )

[copsormasks]

[This also means that,] Was your grappling gun in my room? Is that why you didn’t use it?

[batsymbol]

No. I pulled the parachute but it was too late.

( the fact this has happened twice is... well. it's A Thing. )

[copsormasks]

But you should’ve had a grappling gun, Bruce.

[Jason is starting to get hot under the collar.]

You think I need to lose another father? Two wasn’t enough?

[batsymbol]

( this is... a little different from when alfred shows his concern, but. it's... familiar at the same time. he had his grapple gun on him like he always does with the suit, but. everything happened as fast as it did and the parachute was supposed to soften the landing, but. sometimes mistakes happen. )

It was just a miscalculation on my part. I'm ok.

[copsormasks]

[Jason’s anger is on the verge of exploding out of him. He knows it doesn’t help to let it make a mess.

So he bottles it up. He clenches his jaw and then storms off toward the elevator.]

[batsymbol]

Jason.

( getting himself up, he makes his way after the other — mindful of his shoulder because, while popped back in, it's not exactly a miracle fix-it. )

[copsormasks]

No. Fuck you, Bruce.

[He punches the button for the living quarters and when it doesn’t immediately close the doors, he hits it again and again.]

[batsymbol]

Jason. Talk to me.

( at that, he takes hold of Jason's good arm there as a means to turn him around, but. it's not forced. if jason doesn't want to turn around, he doesn't have to. )

[copsormasks]

[Jason allows himself to be turned away from the panel but he leans against the elevator wall. He’s fuming as he regards Bruce.]

You know my parents died. You know that Bruce decided I wasn’t worth the work.

[He tucks his good arm under his casted one.]

And now you’re just jumping off buildings?

[batsymbol]

( if this was a year ago, he would have snapped back with something along the lines of questioning how he's supposed to test things out if he doesn't take the risk for it, but. given the time he's spent here, albeit mostly on his own, he doesn't snap at jason. instead, he stands there and stares to him before he lets his gaze drop in thought for a moment. )

I'm sorry.

( it's soft but said. )

I just wanted it to work.

( and bruce, no matter the age, tends to get tunnel vision when he gets fixated on something. or paranoid. )