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[copsormasks]

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[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.]

[iam_vengeance]

[ They're both truly terrible at this, it seems. Bruce dozes off for about an hour before he starts tossing and turning, his own nightmare jerking him awake. He supposes that's all the sleep he needs.

He grabs a quick shower, pulling on an old t-shirt and some sweats, then takes Jason's letter out and sits down to read it. This is what he should have done last night, but he didn't have the capacity for it. He doesn't think he does now either, but he knows he has to.

He reads it twice before burying his head in his hands.

He's not sure how long he stays that way before he hears movement in the hallway. Jason.

He grabs his phone and places a lunch order, then heads downstairs to the kitchen, making a decision about how this is going to go. ]

I ordered us lunch. Should be here in half an hour.

[copsormasks]

[Jason is picking through the barren fridge when he hears footsteps. He turns in place and shuts the fridge door behind him.]

Cool. That makes it easy.

[Except things aren't exactly easy. Instead of rested, Jason looks more worn down. He leans on the counter between them, feeling the weight of his sleeplessness on his shoulders.]

You get any sleep or just go back to work?

[iam_vengeance]

We might have to go grocery shopping at some point.

[Bruce can't even imagine what that would look like. Better than how Jason looks though, there's no doubt about that. He comes over, leaning against the counter as well.]

Slept for an hour, nightmares woke me up. You didn't sleep.

[copsormasks]

Yeah, okay. Sure.

[Grocery shopping? The two of them? Jason frowns up at Bruce as he imagines the two of them in costume, going down the aisles of Walmart to get supplies.

At the mention of not sleeping, Jason bites the inside of his lip. He tries to think of a lie, but Bruce has already proved he's gotten better at reading Jason.]

I don't really sleep much any more.

[iam_vengeance]

We could both use a vegetable.

[Alfred would be disappointed in him, Bruce knows that much. Eventually he'll have to remedy this.

As for Jason not sleeping much anymore... he wanted to let him know that they have something in common ]

I know you don't. I read the letter.

[copsormasks]

[Jason is about to mention something about vegetables when Bruce brings up the letter. Jason knew Bruce would eventually read it, especially after Jason let him keep it. It's still weird sitting with the thought that Bruce now knows almost everything about San Francisco: how Jason didn't get along, his kidnapping, his near-fatal fall, the roof, the nightmares, the breakup, and leaving the Titans.]

Oh. Yeah.

[Jason fidgets with his sleeves where he leans on the counter.]