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[copsormasks]

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[copsormasks]

[Jason frowns at Bruce's retreating back but figures something somewhere in the universe had finally taken some kind of mercy on him. He spends most of the day unpacking and, when he's sure Bruce isn't about to pop back in on him, he cleans up the suit and takes an actual shower.

The next day, Jason's starting to really feel the lack of other people in the manor. Usually this wouldn't be an issue. Maybe he'd take one of the bikes on a joyride or test out some of the new gadgets, but Bruce is here, albeit busy down in the cave. So, Jason settles in for some cereal before he makes his way down.

He hasn't missed the place much. Not yet, at least. He pockets his hands and spots a familiar figure. Seems like not having Alfred around has hurt more than helped.]

Did you sleep?

[iam_vengeance]

[ Bruce loses track of time. He loses track of everything while he's down here. That tends to happen most days now. His nights are spent out in the streets of Gotham and his days are spent in the cave. There's no one to force him out of it anymore.

When he hears footsteps, he thinks maybe his lack of sleep is finally catching up to him and he's hearing things now- but then he remembers that Jason came back last night. He hasn't read the letter yet.

Bruce barely turns away from the screens in front of him, but he does glance over slightly. ]

I had things to take care of.

[So no.]

[copsormasks]

[Considering that he isn’t getting chewed out yet either, Jason gathers the letter didn’t get read either. Not exactly a bad thing. Jason pockets his hands and watches Bruce for a moment or two.

If Jason learned anything from his time with the Titans, it was that sleeplessness rarely did anyone good.]

Well I’m not gonna be Alfred, but you should probably sleep.

[iam_vengeance]

[ Not gonna be Alfred. It stings a little, but it also reminds him that he should probably sleep. Bruce just stares at Jason blankly for a moment, then looks down at the files he has spread out on the table in front of him and nods. ]

Yeah. Maybe I should.

[How about that.

He starts shuffling the papers back in their files, in a very specific order, then stands to set them aside before he finally turns to look at Jason completely.]

Did you sleep?

[copsormasks]

Not really. Too revved up to sleep.

[Another lie. Jason spent most of his night cleaning up the Robin suit.]

You do this a lot now?

[Either that or jetsetting away.]

[iam_vengeance]

Then you should probably sleep too.

[He's not going to add in the Alfred part- or the pot calling the kettle black. His conversational skills have deteriorated- terrible news, since he wasn't that great at it to begin with. Dick and Jason- they got him to talk more than anyone else, though.]

I do this all the time. I always have. [a beat] Do you lie a lot now?

[copsormasks]

[That earns an eye roll from Jason before he crosses his arms.]

Who says I'm lying?

[Jason has yet to learn to be more deceptive, which is better news for Bruce than anyone else.]

[iam_vengeance]

[ Bruce settles a steady gaze on Jason this time. There's something different here, he can tell. At first he thought maybe it was because of him, or because of how much time they've spent apart, but now that he's actually taking a good look, he can see it.

He probably should have read the letter. ]

Do you really think that because we've spent some time apart I can't tell?

[copsormasks]

I didn't sleep, that's not a lie.

[Jason has gotten a lot better at distracting, at steering conversations in the direction he wants them to go, but this is Bruce.]

[iam_vengeance]

Alright.

[Bruce turns away, back to the files, slipping the letter out from under them.]

It's my fault. I didn't read the letter. But maybe I was hoping you'd tell me instead.

[copsormasks]

[Jason's gaze sharpens as the letter makes an appearance.]

There's nothing to tell.

[iam_vengeance]

A whole letter for nothing? That seems like a waste of time.

[Maybe he's scared of reading what it's the letter as well. Jason's back, but does he really want to be here? Should he be here? He's almost positive that Dick and the Titans are better suited for Jason right now.

Bruce feels like he's running on empty.]

Doesn't sound like you really want to be part of a crime fighting duo.

[copsormasks]

[Jason presses his lips into a thin line.]

You don't mean that. [A spike of fear slices through his body. Bruce can't mean possibly removing him from Robin.] What, because I don't want to re-hash everything that happened in San Francisco?

[iam_vengeance]

Because you're lying to me and acting like I'm some sort of idiot. As if I can't see it all over your face.

[He doesn't want to do this. Not now- not ever. It's all bad timing, really, and the gap between them feels wider than ever.]

You don't have to re-hash it. It's fine. I just need to get some sleep.

[copsormasks]

[Bruce’s response smarts. Jason’s cheeks burn with indignation. The gap between them is widening and Jason worries they won’t ever be able to close it if one of them doesn’t take a step to reach out.

Jason takes a leap of faith.]

I got kidnapped. Last night I was cleaning the blood off my suit.

[iam_vengeance]

[ Jason't response is so far from what he expected it to be. Suddenly he feels very awake again, his body tense with the very thought of it. ]

Kidnapped? Kidnapped by whom?

[Bad enough that there was blood all over Jason's suit.]

[copsormasks]

Deathstroke. [Jason practically walked right into it, but he keeps that under wraps for now.] Tortured me and dropped me off a building.

[Jason is stiff and quiet, his jaw still clenched.]

[iam_vengeance]

[ Bruce remembers the initial incident with Deathstroke. The way Dick got pulled in and fell apart because of it. Did he ever recover? Bruce wanted to think so, but they had already been at odds.

He and Jason aren't at odds though. Not really. The boy is standing here in front of him, finally telling him the truth, and it's so much worse than Bruce realized. That painful, sinking feeling that he felt when Alfred died settles inside of him again- maybe it never really left, but it certainly feels like it's going to drag him down.

It'll drag both of them down if he's not careful, and that's the last thing he wants right now. ]

How did you survive?

[He asks quietly.]

[copsormasks]

There was a guy Conner. [Jason continues, looking away.] Half of Lex Luthor's DNA, half Supe's? Some kind of experiment under Cadmus.

[Jason missed most of the details trying to recover from his near-fatal fall and a whole hell of a lot of other things.]

Caught me last minute.

[iam_vengeance]

[ It wasn't Dick who saved Jason- it was this other person. Bruce doesn't think Conner is even part of the Titans, but he's grateful that he was there to catch Jason. He doesn't want to think of what would've happened if he hadn't been.

Bruce closes his eyes for a brief moment, nodding, then holds the letter out to Jason for him to take it back. He doesn't need to hear anyone else's side of the story. ]

I'm sorry that happened, Jason.

It's good you came home.

[copsormasks]

[The letter is held out to him and Jason wants to snatch it right back, but he knows there's more in there. Talk of the nightmares, the roof, things Jason isn't ready to talk about in person.]

Keep it. [He finally surrenders, admitting to having read the letter and sealed it up again.] There's more and I don't really want to talk about it.

[He pockets his hands instead.] You should probably sleep first.

[iam_vengeance]

[ He's surprised once again, when Jason doesn't take the letter back from him right away. When he actually leaves it in his possession. ]

Alright.

[He pulls the letter back and tucks it away in his pocket, then shuffles forward a few steps. He doesn't know how to do this- but he wants to try. Jason's still alive, and after everything- maybe Bruce just needs to reach out and touch. To feel something, someone solid under his fingers. Everything else is so fickle, seemingly falling right through his fingers- but not this. Not Jason.

He reaches out, putting his hand on Jason's shoulder, squeezing lightly. He's not sure if anything more is wanted.]

Get some rest, Jason. You need it too. Maybe we can figure out some lunch later on. Chili dogs, if you want.

[copsormasks]

Yeah, okay. [Jason doubts he'll get much sleep with the nightmares, but if Bruce will try, then Jason should too. He continues to stand with Bruce's hand on his shoulder, a surprising comfort through all of this. He slowly raises his gaze to Bruce before nodding.

He should try, at the least.]

Chili dogs sounds good.

[iam_vengeance]

[ It's a step forward, as small as it might be. At least there's a pause in the gap. ]

Come on, then.

[He squeezes Jason's shoulder once again, then lets go and leads them out of the cave. He squints a little at the way the sun shines in through the windows, realizing just how long it's been since he's been up here during the day.]

Let me know if you need anything.

[As if he can even take care of himself right now. But maybe helping Jason will be easier.]

[copsormasks]

[Jason notices the squint, but says nothing of it. He's busy focusing on the prospect of sleeping and how he's going to probably do anything but sleep.]

Okay, sure.

[He heads back to his room and tries to settle down to sleep, but all he does is pull the drapes and pace. By the time lunchtime rolls around, he's done no sleeping at all and gives up to go try and scavenge something from the kitchen.]