If it puts you to sleep then that means you need it.
[Arguing. Right. He hasn't had anyone to argue with in a while. It's frustrating, but not terrible.]
I don't want you out there in broad daylight placing bugs. We wait till sundown. We only just had lunch. If you don't want to read you can go through the recorded footage from my lenses.
Even I needed some sleep, Jason. I can't take you out there like this- and I want you out there, so... please. Just-
[He sighs, turning in his seat to look at him fully.]
Lay down here, in the cave. I've got... [sigh] I've got a cot set up down here for when I don't wanna go upstairs. If you have a nightmare I'll wake you.
[Jason hesitates and another yawn takes him over. He’s about to ask about the nightmares when Bruce mentions waking him. It’s only then that Jason nods and slouches off to the cot.
[ It's a relief when Jason finally goes to lay down. He can see the kid needs it. It'll be safer for both of them if he gets some sleep, even if it's just a cycle before the nightmares hit.
When it's been a few minutes, Bruce gets up and goes over to the cot, pulling a blanket over Jason.
He's doing better down here. He always does better down here. When he can focus on his work, on the task at hand, on his files and night job- the rest doesn't seem so overwhelmingly painful. Too bad he can't stay down here for always- but that wouldn't be healthy for Jason either.
And therein lies the problem.
He watches a moment longer, then heads back to his table, going through his files and recordings again while Jason sleeps.]
[It takes about an hour or so before the first nightmare begins to unfold. He finds himself in a dream about a building under construction. He realizes exactly where he is in a moment and what's about to happen to him. Still, he watches it play out as he struggles against his bindings. There's a fight, but it doesn't matter. Deathstroke presses down on an ignitor and the window washer's basket drops out beneath him. His stomach lurches as he reaches out into the darkness and his hands barely find purchase on the building. Dick is there, but this time not to help him.
He curls his fingers around Jason's wrists and fling them off the building.
Jason screams the whole way down, watching as the stories flick past him faster and faster as he falls. And then he hits something, glass spraying around him and he can't draw a breath. His chest surges with the effort as he gasps for air.
But not just in the dream. He screams and then he begins to twitch on his cot.]
[ Bruce is already deep in his work when Jason starts to stir. He doesn't notice at first, listening to a recording over and over again, but the movement becomes obvious after a minute or two and Bruce looks over, eyebrows furrowed.
Jason's having a nightmare.
He's quick to his feet after that, heading over quickly. Not fast enough though, before Jason screams, his body twitching. Bruce watches him gasping for breath and he reaches out to shake him awake, but stops himself, knowing that isn't the right thing to do.
Instead he crouches down and puts a hand against his shoulder- speaking firmly. ]
Jason- wake up. You're having a nightmare, wake up. It's Bruce, Jason. You're alright. I've got you.
[He remembers Jason saying that before- maybe wishing Bruce had been the one to say it to him. He's saying it now.]
[Bruce simply nods, letting it sink in. He knows just how jarring nightmares can be, how much they can remove you from the present. The only thing Bruce is grateful for is that at least Jason got some sleep.]
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[Jason turns away from the Robin case, frowning.]
I wanna get out there again.
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[Arguing. Right. He hasn't had anyone to argue with in a while. It's frustrating, but not terrible.]
I don't want you out there in broad daylight placing bugs. We wait till sundown. We only just had lunch. If you don't want to read you can go through the recorded footage from my lenses.
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[And then a yawn stretches his mouth. He is exhausted and the thought of reading is enough on its own to make him drowsy.]
I’m good.
[He doesn’t look it, though. Now that he has foos in him, he’s starting to really look exhausted too.]
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Even I needed some sleep, Jason. I can't take you out there like this- and I want you out there, so... please. Just-
[He sighs, turning in his seat to look at him fully.]
Lay down here, in the cave. I've got... [sigh] I've got a cot set up down here for when I don't wanna go upstairs. If you have a nightmare I'll wake you.
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He’s asleep before his head hits the pillow.]
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When it's been a few minutes, Bruce gets up and goes over to the cot, pulling a blanket over Jason.
He's doing better down here. He always does better down here. When he can focus on his work, on the task at hand, on his files and night job- the rest doesn't seem so overwhelmingly painful. Too bad he can't stay down here for always- but that wouldn't be healthy for Jason either.
And therein lies the problem.
He watches a moment longer, then heads back to his table, going through his files and recordings again while Jason sleeps.]
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He curls his fingers around Jason's wrists and fling them off the building.
Jason screams the whole way down, watching as the stories flick past him faster and faster as he falls. And then he hits something, glass spraying around him and he can't draw a breath. His chest surges with the effort as he gasps for air.
But not just in the dream. He screams and then he begins to twitch on his cot.]
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Jason's having a nightmare.
He's quick to his feet after that, heading over quickly. Not fast enough though, before Jason screams, his body twitching. Bruce watches him gasping for breath and he reaches out to shake him awake, but stops himself, knowing that isn't the right thing to do.
Instead he crouches down and puts a hand against his shoulder- speaking firmly. ]
Jason- wake up. You're having a nightmare, wake up. It's Bruce, Jason. You're alright. I've got you.
[He remembers Jason saying that before- maybe wishing Bruce had been the one to say it to him. He's saying it now.]
I've got you, Jason. Wake up.
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What the-- What the fuck?
[Jason focuses on Bruce, trying to calm down his chaotic breathing.]
sorry for the delay, life got craazy! D:
You were having a nightmare. You're alright now. You're in the cave.
hope things have gotten better!
The cave? [He blinks up at Bruce before remembering he’s not in San Francisco.] Right, the cave.
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Do you want to talk about it?
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Not really.
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[He gives his shoulder a squeeze, standing back up again.]
Just know that you can if you want to. I'll listen.