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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.

I'm good if you are.

[Jayce tries to hide just how monumental this is to him by flopping on his back in the bed. There's all sorts of other details to iron out like if he'll wear a mask, a costume, what gear he'll need and the like, but right now he is soaring high knowing that he's back in the game.]

Jay. I like it.

Try and get some sleep now, hm? Everything can be figured out later.

( You know. When it's not the hour that it is and they're both not tired. )

Do my best.

[Jason crawls back under the covers and settles on his side, deliberately facing Bruce as a sign of trust.]

Night, Bruce.

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