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( Lucky for Jason, Bruce is still up because... why wouldn't he be? Working on something — putting this or that together. Anything to occupy his mind with there being no Gotham to protect — no streets to stalk within the shadows and wait. Finding something to keep his mind busy is the only thing keeping him from completely losing it some nights. Though, in all honesty, he's not very far from doing that even on good nights.

When he hears the screams, he looks up from his glass, having been nursing a bit of something between tinkering, and makes his way to the room he let Jason take. Steps are quick — he knows what this is — and when he pushes the door open, it's with the heel of his palm and he's staring into the darkness of the room; he doesn't need light, he sees perfectly fine within it. )

Jason.

( He says his name both firm and focused, steps carrying him towards the side of his bed. )

Jason, hey. It's ok. You're— you're ok.

[Jason's chest heaves and his body twitches as Bruce comes into the room, trapped in his nightmare, in feeling his bones break and shatter against the ground. The taste of metal slips into his mouth as he bites his tongue, but the sound of his name has Jason's eyes snapping open. He jerks at the sight of Bruce at the side of the bed.

He takes one deep breath, then another.]

I'm fine. [He curls up on his side, away from Bruce to hide his face as he forces himself to breathe. Just breathe.] I'm fine.

( He's not fine. No one ever is from something like that.

Jason curls into himself and Bruce just lingers there near the edge of the bed. Still. Uncertain. Panic racing through him with being so unsure of what to do here. He reaches out to touch his shoulder but stops halfway — fingers curling into his palm. Swallowing, he gently presses a knee onto the mattress and slowly sits himself down some on it. Close but not too close so as to give Jason the space he might need for himself. )

I'm... I'm here. You had a nightmare.

( Obvious, he knows, but. Again. He's not sure how to approach this. )

[Jason realizes belatedly that he's trembling, that the beginnings of tears have already traced down his face as he tries to smear them away with one hand. Breathe. He's got to breathe. He feels the dip in the mattress and a part of him is grateful that Bruce is telegraphing his movements, letting Jason know exactly where he's at.]

Yeah, just a dream. Just a fucking dream. [He's angry, but mostly at himself for showing such a weakness. He wants to scream at Bruce like he did Molly, like Dick.

Except it's not just a dream. He remembers what Leslie said about trauma, about how the body stores it far longer than one would ever expect. And if he could talk about it, he might be able to release its hold, bit by bit.] I...

[Where does he even start?]

Fuck.

( Slow and careful movements it is then.

Hand gentle in the way it touches to the mattress, he looks around the room for a quick moment before he's looking back to Jason — letting him take the time he needs there. He's been here before himself. Countless times over the years. Even here in Etraya and especially after he'd dealt with a twisted version of his mother trying to kill him. Still gets him every now and then.

Licking over his lips, he gives another look around the room again, quick and fleeting. )

You're safe here. It's just you and me.

( At that, so very gently, he reaches out and lets his hand touch at Jason's shoulder. Just barely a whisper of a touch. )

I got you.

[Jason continues to tremble and shake as he feels the mattress shift again. Bruce is close, he's very close and Jason senses that they are approaching a tipping point. They balance on a knife's edge and Jason gets to choose which way they fall.

What did he really want? Why did he stay? What can he find in this Bruce that the one back home won't give him?

Bruce's hand presses feather light to Jason's shoulder and says something Jason has never heard his Bruce say.

I got you.

It's not pandering or pedantic, not threatening or patronizing. But simple, a quiet promise, no matter how brief, to be a foundation.]

I'm always falling. [Jason confesses, his voice thick with his fear.] Seems like forever.

( Jason doesn't shove him away so he takes it as a sign that his being here is fine. The second he wants his space, however, he'll give it to him.

When he speaks, brows furrow some in concern. It's not all that surprising for his nightmare, given what he had told him had happened, but. He's not sure what he can say or do to alleviate the fear clinging so tight to him currently. Fear is a tool, sure. But it's not the thing to say to someone after coming out of it screaming as he had been. )

You're not anymore. You're right here.

I know. [Jason shakes his head, his body continues to tremble beneath Bruce's touch.] But it keeps happening.

[Jason swallows and then properly sits up, turning to face Bruce. His face is a mix of lingering terror, tears, and a hint of anger.]

Nothing I do seems to make it go away.

[And then, looking up at Bruce,] What do you do?

( He shifts only a touch when Jason moves to sit, wanting to ensure he has the space he needs. The question, however, gets his gaze to drop for a moment and he mulls over what to say. He still gets nightmares — even now. So when he looks up to him, it's with a lick of his lips before he looks down again. )

I became the Batman.

( A shake of his head, he looks up to him again. )

I still get them though.

[Jason understands. He thought being Robin would defeat that fear, but his Bruce just ripped it away from him. He nods ever so slightly.]

I thought continuing to be Robin would make that fear go away. And then when Bruce took that away... [He takes a deep, shuddering breath.] I looked for other options. Nothing helped.

Do you think you might find something here?

( It's not to dismiss what had happened or that he's agreeing with what the Bruce Jason knows decided. He's just... simply asking. Giving an option. A possibility. )

[Jason pulls back just a little bit.]

‘Find’ meaning what? What am I supposed to find?

[Jason frowns. Does Bruce know Jason is already seeking out Crane for a pharmaceutical option?]

( He shrugs, giving a shake of his head as he looks down. )

I don't know. I'm still figuring that out myself.

[That’s… oddly honest and not at all what his Bruce what would say. Jason shifts closer to Bruce.]

Well, I mean.

[Jason bites his lip.]

If, like. I guess. I guess we could try it together.

[The most tentative of olive branches.]

( That has him glancing up to Jason, blue eyes searching his. Quiet. If this were a year or so ago, he wouldn't even entertain the idea, but. With the time he's spent here... with the time he's spent with Damian and having him around in a way he hasn't had anyone else, well. He's a little more open to it. Depending on who you are. )

Yeah. I guess we could.

Yeah. We can work on it together.

[Jason perks up just a touch.]

We fucking got this.

[They don’t but Jason s excellent at bravado.]

( He offers Jason there a smile, though it's faint and almost hidden as he looks down. Glancing up, he gives it a second. )

Do you want me to stay here for the rest of the night?

[Jason considers for a moment before he answers.]

Yeah. Stay. But can I ask you something?

[It’s a critical question. One he needs answered.]

( Jason asks him to stay and so he will, even if it's laying there on the bed awake while Jason sleeps. At the inquiry, he tilts his head some. )

Yeah.

I know you have a Robin.

[Jason sucks in a breath, knowing that this is possibly a step too far. He remembers what his Bruce said about the costume.]

But look, I’m going crazy being a big ol’ nothing. It doesn’t have to be Robin. But can I be, I don’t know, some other bird codename?

Y’know like a partner out in the field.

[Jason is also very aware of how little they know about each other, that this is a leap.]

( He should have figured as much when he was posed with whether or not he could be asked a question. For a moment, he sits there — mulls it over — until he finally comes to look over to Jason with a sort of softness there in his blue eyes. )

You going to come up with one yourself?

[Jason is desperately trying to read anything in Bruce's face, his eyes locked on every micro movement Bruce makes.]

Me? [He's still not sure what this means. Is this a yes?] Uh, I dunno. Falcon? Finch? Jay?

All birds.

( It's said with a soft smile there touching his lips — as if amused — before he's looking back to Jason there. )

If you're willing to give me a chance, I don't see why you can't work with me.

All birds you see in Gotham.

[Shut up. Jason used to like looking out windows.

Regardless, as it starts to sound like he might have the job, a relieved smile broke out across his lips and there might be the slightest, teeniest gathering of tears in the corner of his eyes.]

How about Jay?

I can work with that.

( A beat. )

Just as long as you're good with it.

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