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[copsormasks]

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[copsormasks]

Getting anything from the mart still feels like stealing.

[Jason takes a bite of the crust of the pizza first and the cheese sticks to his chin for a moment before he pulls it into his mouth.]

Try it.

[batsymbol]

( With the glass set down for Jason and his own nearby, he eyes the pizza rather curiously and takes a slice for himself. Leaning some into the edge of the counter, he takes a second to look the slice over before he helps himself to a bite of it, chewing slowly. After a moment, a nod follows — slow. )

It's good.

( Looking to the slice again, he licks over his lips. )

Takes a little getting used to. ( A beat. ) Just taking things here, I mean.

[copsormasks]

[Jason takes another bite and grins at Bruce.]

Told you it was good.

[The mention of getting used to things brings Jason’s mood down a few notches.]

Yeah, well this place sucks most of the time.

[batsymbol]

( He's not about to disagree with him, but. He doesn't agree either. Instead, he takes a slow sip of the iced tea poured and stares down to the glass. Quiet. )

Sometimes it does.

( Like when you end up losing people here... when you're without people you miss, even if he had gone back to his Gotham for a bit. It's still just him here. )

Like anywhere, it's what you make of it. Do what you can to get through another day.

[copsormasks]

It’s what you make of it.

[Jason shakes his head before taking a sip of his iced tea.]

You sound like Leslie.

[batsymbol]

I don't know who that is.

( Sorry, Jason, but. He does help himself to another bite. It's... good. All of this, that is. Not just the pizza. )

[copsormasks]

Your… The psych my Bruce sent me to after I started having nightmares.

[Jason scoops up some cheese with his finger and puts it in his mouth.]

[batsymbol]

( Hm.

Taking another sip for himself, he eyes Jason there. Curious. )

What do you have nightmares about?

[copsormasks]

[Jason goes quiet, chewing on his bite of cheese. It's honestly a very long story how he ended up strapped to a window wiper's basket.]

Falling. [He sets his piece of pizza down on the plate and looks up at Bruce. It's a leap of faith telling him this, in hoping he won't be rejected.] I got dropped fifteen stories.

[batsymbol]

( The look of concern that touches his face when Jason says that... )

By who?

[copsormasks]

Deathstroke. Slade Wilson. [Jason's expression grows distant.] Got kidnapped. Strapped to a window cleaner's basket and then--

[He goes quiet again, looking down at his slice of pizza.]

Boom. I'm falling.

[batsymbol]

But you're still here.

( In Etraya. Right here in front of him. )

[copsormasks]

Got saved last minute by Superboy. He happened to be in the right place at the right time.

[batsymbol]

( Superboy. He... doesn't think that's the Jon Damian knows, but. Maybe he's wrong. It's not as though Robin is a thing back in his Gotham. Yet? Ever? He doesn't know. )

They seem to have that ability.

( The Supers, he means. Though he can really only go off Clark. )

I took an arrow for Clark here once.

( He shrugs, finishing off his pizza. )

Do you still have those nightmares here?

[copsormasks]

If I say yes are you going to fire me? Go fly off to London and treat me like some dog that needs to be told not to shit on the carpet?

[Most if not all of that is not meant for this Bruce but Jason needs to get it out.]

[batsymbol]

( With his slice finished, he goes about taking a long sip from his iced tea — sets the empty glass down — hands coming to rest flat on the counter there as he looks to Jason. )

I have them, too. I always do.

( Nightmares, he means. )

[copsormasks]

[That takes Jason by surprise. He blinks at Bruce and the door is open ever so slightly. His Bruce would never admit to a vulnerability.]

You do?

[batsymbol]

Yeah.

( It’s said looking down — taking a moment to lick over his lips before he’s looking back up and across the kitchen some. Most nights he pushes himself to the point of breaking so as to simply pass out in bed and not even allow his mind to weave dreams together. It’s easier that way. Dreams, even when sweet, he finds to be cruel. )

I want to say they’ll go away or get better in time, but. Hasn’t been the case for me.

[copsormasks]

[Jason is quiet, but not the sort of angry quiet be usually fell into. This quiet is thoughtful, almost respectful.]

I was looking for an antidote to fear back home. To chase the nightmares away. Started working with…

[Jason silences himself and he takes a breath.]

We got really close before I came here. Really fucking close.

[And for some reason, that’s when the dam breaks. Jason covers his face as the tears begin.]

I hate it here.

[batsymbol]

( He wants to tell him that fear doesn’t need an antidote — that it’s a tool one can both master and overcome in their life. He likes to think he’s done such a thing, but. After what had happened with Riddler — when he had thought he had lost Alfred because of his not being there… not being good enough… that fear had nearly swallowed him whole, spared only by anger being a touch more stronger in the moment.

He wants to tell him and yet, before he can, Jason’s covering his face with his hands and he knows the other is breaking down. He’s been there himself — how eerie it is to see reflected back at him, as if looking into a mirror. Maybe it’s why he feels the need to be there for Jason — to try and mend whatever heartache he’s carrying within him. Or at least, give him some form of support to make it easier to swim through when the dam finally breaks. Because it will and it does, even for him.

Gently, he places a hand on Jason’s shoulder and, a second or two later, if Jason allows it, he’ll pull him in close and hold him there, wrapped in arms that are meant to be protective. Quiet. Simply being a pillar of support for him. Simply being there. )

[copsormasks]

[Jason feels like he's caught in an eddy, like a branch caught in helical, tumbling waters. He's been unseated from any kind of support long before he arrived in Etraya and feeling decidedly unwelcome nearly every day he's been here doesn't help. He usually allows his temper to talk, to push people away, but right now he's just a scared kid.

A very lonely kid.

His Bruce never hugged him. In fact, Jason can't remember the last time he was hugged besides Rose and she broke up with him. He's been yelled at, blamed for things outside of his power, fired, treated like a nuisance, and Jason is done. He's done.

Against his better judgement, Jason leans in and allows this Bruce to hug him and hold him close as he cries, to be a life ring in the storm.]

[batsymbol]

( Jason doesn't pull away and he takes that as this being the right thing to do — as being the thing Jason maybe needs for the moment. So he stands there. Quiet. One hand resting against the other's shoulder blade, while the other gently touches to the back of his head. Letting him feel what he needs to feel. Being here for him, for as long as he might need. It's just them after all. )

I got you.

( Words soft as he says them to Jason. )

[copsormasks]

[Jason hasn't cried like this since Rose broke up with him. He's been internalizing and compartmentalizing for so long and it's now too much. He's never cried in front of any version of Bruce and doing so now makes him feel foolish and vulnerable, but he doesn't hear any judgment.

He lets it pour out of him, lets the wounds be lanced and drained, and soon Jason is quiet again. He leans back, wipes at his eyes.]

Sorry. I... [His shoulders sag.] I think I'm just tired of all of it.

[Feeling that he needs to hide rather than seek security. The constant blow ups with the older Bruce. Sensing that he is unwanted, most of all.]

[batsymbol]

( He lets Jason set the pace — lets him pull away when he needs to, but doesn't step away from him. He lingers there and will only drop his hands away when he completely pulls away from him. )

If you want to stay here for the night, you can.

( As before, his words are soft, the offer made and left for Jason to either accept or decline. Either way, whatever he wants, Bruce will go along with it. )

[copsormasks]

[Jason honestly hates moving around so much, never finding a steady place to settle and call home. However, he feels he must with all the Bats breathing down his neck.

But maybe just for one night, Jason can let himself belong, even if the fear of rejection is so terrifying it chokes him. He watches Bruce for a moment before nodding.]

Just for tonight.

[Jason wipes at his face with the collar of his black hood.]