Oh, is that what you call what you're doing?
[ It's an easy jab, but hey it's impossible to pass up as he smirked over at Jason for a few moments before he gave a little press of his lips at that next question.]
You mentioned it a few times last night.
I just wanted to say that I...should have treated you better. Reach out more. Danced with you at one.
[ It's an easy jab, but hey it's impossible to pass up as he smirked over at Jason for a few moments before he gave a little press of his lips at that next question.]
You mentioned it a few times last night.
I just wanted to say that I...should have treated you better. Reach out more. Danced with you at one.
(From here)
[He gave his boyfriend a tired smile, wrapping his towel around his waist before he was moving over to the closed toilet. He hissed a little when he sat down, the burns that seemed to trace the outline of his armor against his skin shifting uncomfortably.]
I don't blame you. Not even a little. But I also knew how bad it looked wasn't nearly as bad as it actually was. So, shower first. Now you can fuss all you like. But first, can I have a kiss?
[For being one of the most feared crime bosses in Gotham, Jason could pull off a fair decent set of puppy dog eyes.]
[He gave his boyfriend a tired smile, wrapping his towel around his waist before he was moving over to the closed toilet. He hissed a little when he sat down, the burns that seemed to trace the outline of his armor against his skin shifting uncomfortably.]
I don't blame you. Not even a little. But I also knew how bad it looked wasn't nearly as bad as it actually was. So, shower first. Now you can fuss all you like. But first, can I have a kiss?
[For being one of the most feared crime bosses in Gotham, Jason could pull off a fair decent set of puppy dog eyes.]
Absolutely.
[He says with a sweet smile and bends down to kiss Jason, firmly and thoroughly.]
Now, you drink this while I get to work.
[A cup of hot tea is passed to Jason as Ed kneels down in front of him and starts to fuss and take care of the wounds, his hands working methodically yet gently.]
[He says with a sweet smile and bends down to kiss Jason, firmly and thoroughly.]
Now, you drink this while I get to work.
[A cup of hot tea is passed to Jason as Ed kneels down in front of him and starts to fuss and take care of the wounds, his hands working methodically yet gently.]
(From here)
[It had been less that Dick had sounded more coherent than he'd actually been, and more that Jason had let himself actually hear the words. Because there was an honesty that came with an addled state, be that drunkenness or concussion. And Dick had looked up at him with those fucking stupidly pretty blue eyes and he'd touched his face and...
The bagel was ash in his mouth and Jason frowned as he wrapped it back up in it's fancy parchment paper.]
Don't worry 'bout it. Just glad you're okay. Try to eat that. If you're gunna puke, do it somewhere easy to clean up. I've got some shit to do, so just... Lock up when you feel better, alright?
[He was lying. He'd fully intended on coming back, eating breakfast, and then trying to get Dick back into bed to sleep for a few more hours. But if Dick was going to regret the words from last night, Jason didn't want to be here when he remembered them.
There was always something to do in the Bowery.]
If you need anything, give me a call. Try to get some more sleep.
[It had been less that Dick had sounded more coherent than he'd actually been, and more that Jason had let himself actually hear the words. Because there was an honesty that came with an addled state, be that drunkenness or concussion. And Dick had looked up at him with those fucking stupidly pretty blue eyes and he'd touched his face and...
The bagel was ash in his mouth and Jason frowned as he wrapped it back up in it's fancy parchment paper.]
Don't worry 'bout it. Just glad you're okay. Try to eat that. If you're gunna puke, do it somewhere easy to clean up. I've got some shit to do, so just... Lock up when you feel better, alright?
[He was lying. He'd fully intended on coming back, eating breakfast, and then trying to get Dick back into bed to sleep for a few more hours. But if Dick was going to regret the words from last night, Jason didn't want to be here when he remembered them.
There was always something to do in the Bowery.]
If you need anything, give me a call. Try to get some more sleep.
[From here.]
Trust me, Doc. I'm doing this all proper like -because- it's you. Otherwise it would have literally been 'Scoop out half, throw in a scoop of flour and roughly the same amount of warm water, then stir'. Pretty sure your science degrees would have strangled me during my next session.
But yeah, last step is to add about 50g of -warm- water. Not hot. Don't kill my yeast. Stir it up, recap it loosely and I'll bring you a loaf of bread with my next session.
Bay leaves? Really? That actually works?
Trust me, Doc. I'm doing this all proper like -because- it's you. Otherwise it would have literally been 'Scoop out half, throw in a scoop of flour and roughly the same amount of warm water, then stir'. Pretty sure your science degrees would have strangled me during my next session.
But yeah, last step is to add about 50g of -warm- water. Not hot. Don't kill my yeast. Stir it up, recap it loosely and I'll bring you a loaf of bread with my next session.
Bay leaves? Really? That actually works?
Edited 2024-08-19 07:29 (UTC)
(From here.)
[He'd be mad at himself later for the wave of reassurance that came from seeing Bruce's name light up on his screen. He answered halfway through the first ring, pressing it to his ear and, for just a moment, he let himself feel relieved at the sound of Bruce's voice.]
Y-yeah. I'm not going anywhere. I'm...
[There was a rumbling sound in the background of the call and Jason made a sound that he'd be embarrassed about later.]
Fuck... dad, please...
[He'd be mad at himself later for the wave of reassurance that came from seeing Bruce's name light up on his screen. He answered halfway through the first ring, pressing it to his ear and, for just a moment, he let himself feel relieved at the sound of Bruce's voice.]
Y-yeah. I'm not going anywhere. I'm...
[There was a rumbling sound in the background of the call and Jason made a sound that he'd be embarrassed about later.]
Fuck... dad, please...
(From here.]
[The reassurance earned her a tired smirk and he shook his head as he made his way to the bathroom.]
I listen to everything. And I don't think I need anything more than burn cream and a few bandages? We'll see after I scrub the worst of this off. I won't be long.
[He was true to his word, leaving the door open as he carefully peeled off his armor and stepped into the shower. It hurt, but as the grim came away, he started to be able to tell the difference between his own blood and the blood that he was caked in. By the time he was done, his skin was pink and clean, a line of burns that seemed to trace the outline of his armor amid all the rest of his various scars.
He had half a mind to wrap himself fully in another towel to spare her from the ragged line of the Y-incision that bisected his torso, but he didn't want to ruin another towel. She'd survive and if it really made her uncomfortable, then she could decide which towel to ruin. He wrapped his one towel firmly around his waist, then gingerly made his way back out into the main room.]
There. Little less like raw hamburger.
[The reassurance earned her a tired smirk and he shook his head as he made his way to the bathroom.]
I listen to everything. And I don't think I need anything more than burn cream and a few bandages? We'll see after I scrub the worst of this off. I won't be long.
[He was true to his word, leaving the door open as he carefully peeled off his armor and stepped into the shower. It hurt, but as the grim came away, he started to be able to tell the difference between his own blood and the blood that he was caked in. By the time he was done, his skin was pink and clean, a line of burns that seemed to trace the outline of his armor amid all the rest of his various scars.
He had half a mind to wrap himself fully in another towel to spare her from the ragged line of the Y-incision that bisected his torso, but he didn't want to ruin another towel. She'd survive and if it really made her uncomfortable, then she could decide which towel to ruin. He wrapped his one towel firmly around his waist, then gingerly made his way back out into the main room.]
There. Little less like raw hamburger.
You know what, Hood. I am not going to argue that. You get a point for the thought.
Understood, warm, not hot. I'm taking care of it, and sure. I won't say no to bread.
It always worked when I was younger, I would bet it would work here too. I have some I can trade you for the bread if you are low when you return. I was being hyperbolic when I said I don't cook. It is simply not much. Bay leaves are useful in soups.
[ The man will live on pizza rolls and spaghetti O's if allowed but having smoked half his life his sense of taste is kinda wrecked. ]
Understood, warm, not hot. I'm taking care of it, and sure. I won't say no to bread.
It always worked when I was younger, I would bet it would work here too. I have some I can trade you for the bread if you are low when you return. I was being hyperbolic when I said I don't cook. It is simply not much. Bay leaves are useful in soups.
[ The man will live on pizza rolls and spaghetti O's if allowed but having smoked half his life his sense of taste is kinda wrecked. ]
Arsenal says I'm not allowed to trade food with you, but I think I have some bay leaves in my spice rack. I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the heads up, I never would have thought to try that.
Thank you. I mean it. I know it sounds stupid, but I've kept that thing alive for the last year.
Thank you. I mean it. I know it sounds stupid, but I've kept that thing alive for the last year.
switching to prose, hope that's ok! easier for my to write it
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batsintheattic
2024-08-19 03:32 pm (UTC)(link)
The sound of Jason's voice, distressed and whispering the one word Bruce was positive he'd never say if he wasn't scared out of his mind, had Bruce clawing at the wheel of the Batmobile as he nearly mowed down anyone and anything in his way. The streets were crowded, but he was going to get there in time. He wasn't going to let Jason die again.
"I'm coming," he said, voice low and as warm as he could manage. The emotion in him was undeniable, the clench in his throat when he swallowed. "Just stay with me, Jason."
"I'm coming," he said, voice low and as warm as he could manage. The emotion in him was undeniable, the clench in his throat when he swallowed. "Just stay with me, Jason."
There was another sound of crumbling building and Jason's breath did something complicated and probably unhealthy, but he didn't panic. He pressed the phone closer to his ear and wedged himself in tighter against the wall at his back. It was an exterior wall, thicker and reinforced with brick facings and so far it hadn't shown any sign of coming down.
"I'm here. I'm...I'm here. I heard an explosion on the south side of the building, but it was muffled. Someone probably hit the building from the outside." Talking about it like it was a case was helping, the edge of panic in his voice calming a little. "Just bought this building, too. Damn-IT! Fuck! Shitshitshit...please, I can't do this again. I can't...dad. Dad, please..."
"I'm here. I'm...I'm here. I heard an explosion on the south side of the building, but it was muffled. Someone probably hit the building from the outside." Talking about it like it was a case was helping, the edge of panic in his voice calming a little. "Just bought this building, too. Damn-IT! Fuck! Shitshitshit...please, I can't do this again. I can't...dad. Dad, please..."
The Batmobile's tires would need replacing (again) after tonight, since Bruce took every curve like he was in Tokyo Drift. Dodging an endless slough of traffic and pedestrians and garbage, finally Bruce decided to eject himself from the Batmobile. He could get there faster flying over the rooftops. So when he spoke, he was a little out of breath and the wind whipped into his voice.
"I'm ten blocks east of your position," he confirmed. He was a little further than that, but Jason didn't need to know. Bruce would make up the time if it killed him. "Talk to me about the building. What did you want with it?"
"I'm ten blocks east of your position," he confirmed. He was a little further than that, but Jason didn't need to know. Bruce would make up the time if it killed him. "Talk to me about the building. What did you want with it?"
Between emergency services trying to deal with the gas and water main blowouts caused by the collapse and the general disrepair that the city liked to keep Jason's stretch of territory, it wasn't surprising when Jason heard that low voice sounding a little out of breath. He couldn't hear the commotion outside through the rubble, but he could imagine it very clearly.
In any other circumstance, Jason would be pissed that Bruce was in the Bowery. He'd be spitting curses and probably a few bullets to keep his secrets safe from the man who would no doubt judge them. Tonight, however, the building shifted under his feet and Jason made a high pitched sound that should have been impossible for such a broad chest.
"I-fuck! Sorry. Things are crumbling over head and I don't know how much longer I'm going to have signal. Northeast wall, ground level. So far the exterior wall is holding up, but it's starting to buckle a little. Look for the baby boxes. I was putting them in when all this went down.
Clinic. I was going to turn it into a clinic. The one I had on this side got hit a few months ago. People-shitshitshit. People need somewhere to go and the city won't fund anything past the Alley..."
In any other circumstance, Jason would be pissed that Bruce was in the Bowery. He'd be spitting curses and probably a few bullets to keep his secrets safe from the man who would no doubt judge them. Tonight, however, the building shifted under his feet and Jason made a high pitched sound that should have been impossible for such a broad chest.
"I-fuck! Sorry. Things are crumbling over head and I don't know how much longer I'm going to have signal. Northeast wall, ground level. So far the exterior wall is holding up, but it's starting to buckle a little. Look for the baby boxes. I was putting them in when all this went down.
Clinic. I was going to turn it into a clinic. The one I had on this side got hit a few months ago. People-shitshitshit. People need somewhere to go and the city won't fund anything past the Alley..."
"I've got your position locked in on my radar," Bruce confirmed. It was as close to saying don't worry, trust me as he'd get. Even in the worst of his panics, Bruce had a hard time voicing emotion, especially where Jason is concerned. "Eight blocks, turning north."
As Bruce ran and jumped and shot his grapple gun, his heart raced. If he failed Jason a second time...
No. He wouldn't allow himself to think of that. He would get there in time. He would save Jason. He would kill himself if it meant saving his wayward son.
"A clinic is much needed there. I can see that it gets the proper attention." I.e. funding from Bruce Wayne's bank account. "That should help with the rebuilding. We can do a fundraiser. I know how much you love dressing up for those." A joke. Keep the mood light. "Six blocks. Jason? Breathe. Nice and slow."
As Bruce ran and jumped and shot his grapple gun, his heart raced. If he failed Jason a second time...
No. He wouldn't allow himself to think of that. He would get there in time. He would save Jason. He would kill himself if it meant saving his wayward son.
"A clinic is much needed there. I can see that it gets the proper attention." I.e. funding from Bruce Wayne's bank account. "That should help with the rebuilding. We can do a fundraiser. I know how much you love dressing up for those." A joke. Keep the mood light. "Six blocks. Jason? Breathe. Nice and slow."
So Bruce would kill himself to save Jason, kill Jason to save Joker...so who was the next person in that line? Who's death would need to be threatened for the clown to finally get what he deserved?
Not that Jason was thinking about Joker at the moment. Or even about the scar on his throat that was his daily reminder of his ill-fated homecoming. He was thinking about how he'd been able to stand in his little pocket of safety at the start of the phone call, but now he was crouching, one hand reaching up as if to brace the tons of concrete and wood that was threatening to collapse on him. He was thinking about the cadence of Bruce's breathing and how soothing it was in his ear.
How he'd spent so many restless nights with his ear pressed against that massive chest to listen to that very cadence. How it would lull him to sleep like no other sound could. His breathing slowed a little, the little sounds of distress ebbing as he let himself listen to that breath now.
"You get me outta this and I'll let you dress me in whatever you want to dress me in." There was a low groan of straining metal overhead and Jason made a low, desperate sound...but when he spoke again, his voice was thick with emotion.
"If you don't make it, it's okay. It's okay. I don't blame you.
I never did."
Not that Jason was thinking about Joker at the moment. Or even about the scar on his throat that was his daily reminder of his ill-fated homecoming. He was thinking about how he'd been able to stand in his little pocket of safety at the start of the phone call, but now he was crouching, one hand reaching up as if to brace the tons of concrete and wood that was threatening to collapse on him. He was thinking about the cadence of Bruce's breathing and how soothing it was in his ear.
How he'd spent so many restless nights with his ear pressed against that massive chest to listen to that very cadence. How it would lull him to sleep like no other sound could. His breathing slowed a little, the little sounds of distress ebbing as he let himself listen to that breath now.
"You get me outta this and I'll let you dress me in whatever you want to dress me in." There was a low groan of straining metal overhead and Jason made a low, desperate sound...but when he spoke again, his voice was thick with emotion.
"If you don't make it, it's okay. It's okay. I don't blame you.
I never did."
"Jason, listen to me right now," Bruce said, his voice a low rumble, calm but full of importance. "I'm five blocks and closing. I will get you out of there."
The promise of dressing Jason in whatever he wanted, which normally would have been high on his list of priorities, was reduced to background noise as he pushed himself beyond his usual physical limitations, flying across the skylines and getting closer with every second. He still feared it might be too late, but he'd do whatever it took. He would not lose Jason again.
"Four blocks," he relayed, breath shallow. Then a moment later, "Three," and again, "Two. I see the building." And it looked bad but he wasn't going to admit just how bad. He held it back as he descended towards the rubble. "I see where you're trapped. Jason? I'm coming. Make some noise for me."
The promise of dressing Jason in whatever he wanted, which normally would have been high on his list of priorities, was reduced to background noise as he pushed himself beyond his usual physical limitations, flying across the skylines and getting closer with every second. He still feared it might be too late, but he'd do whatever it took. He would not lose Jason again.
"Four blocks," he relayed, breath shallow. Then a moment later, "Three," and again, "Two. I see the building." And it looked bad but he wasn't going to admit just how bad. He held it back as he descended towards the rubble. "I see where you're trapped. Jason? I'm coming. Make some noise for me."
"No, dad...it's okay. It is. It wasn't your fault. It isn't-" His voice cut off with a startled yelp and more sounds of falling rubble. Bruce might actually be able to see the cave in from where he was grappling in, the middle of the pile of debris slowly sinking into the levels below.
It was going to collapse.
It was going to crush him.
"Dad! Dad, I'm here!" He pounded on the wall that had slowly been turning from savior to tombstone. If he'd been just five feet away from the corner, he would have been able to rip out one of the freshly installed boxes, but that escape had closed off before he'd even been able to make the call. "I'm here! Over he-"
The rubble shifted and the line disconnected. He was alone. It was dark and the air tasted like concrete dust and dirt and he could almost feel the squelch of mud under his fist as he drove it again and again into the concrete ofhis burial plot the wall.
From inside the crush of the building, Jason let out a terrified scream.
It was going to collapse.
It was going to crush him.
"Dad! Dad, I'm here!" He pounded on the wall that had slowly been turning from savior to tombstone. If he'd been just five feet away from the corner, he would have been able to rip out one of the freshly installed boxes, but that escape had closed off before he'd even been able to make the call. "I'm here! Over he-"
The rubble shifted and the line disconnected. He was alone. It was dark and the air tasted like concrete dust and dirt and he could almost feel the squelch of mud under his fist as he drove it again and again into the concrete of
From inside the crush of the building, Jason let out a terrified scream.
"Good boy," Bruce said, swallowing down the fear and replacing it with action. "Good boy, keep talking." He knew what was needed. He had done this before. Had saved countless people from these exact situations. It was just brick and concrete and rubble. It was nothing a man with Bruce's strength couldn't lift away.
He would get to Jason. He would get to Jason. He would--
The crash of rubble and the line disconnecting had Bruce letting go of the grapple before he'd pulled it out of the nearby rooftop, just letting the line dangle as he fell to the ground and landed hard on heavy-booted feet some distance from Jason. He clawed his way through the mess of debris, listening in panicked silence for Jason's voice below. He didn't hear anything. The panic swelled as he started grabbing bricks and hauling them away, his breath heavy as he struggled to clear a safe path to what was trapped beneath.
He would get to Jason. He would get to Jason. He would--
The crash of rubble and the line disconnecting had Bruce letting go of the grapple before he'd pulled it out of the nearby rooftop, just letting the line dangle as he fell to the ground and landed hard on heavy-booted feet some distance from Jason. He clawed his way through the mess of debris, listening in panicked silence for Jason's voice below. He didn't hear anything. The panic swelled as he started grabbing bricks and hauling them away, his breath heavy as he struggled to clear a safe path to what was trapped beneath.
Arsenal is not allowed to judge me while still seeing Strange as a therapist. Those are the rules.
Why do I feel like I am arguing with children?
Perhaps you do, I did not look that close. Everything is put back and I relocked the door. Also, if you're that interested in the truck, you can see it on your next appointment. So long as you do not get shot or nearly die this time. Something to work towards.
Don't mention it. Seriously, don't tell anyone. However, you are welcome, it would be a shame to kill your edible science experiment.
[ He also purposely tipped every picture on his way out by 5 degrees just to see if Red Hood and Arsenal notice. ]
Why do I feel like I am arguing with children?
Perhaps you do, I did not look that close. Everything is put back and I relocked the door. Also, if you're that interested in the truck, you can see it on your next appointment. So long as you do not get shot or nearly die this time. Something to work towards.
Don't mention it. Seriously, don't tell anyone. However, you are welcome, it would be a shame to kill your edible science experiment.
[ He also purposely tipped every picture on his way out by 5 degrees just to see if Red Hood and Arsenal notice. ]
He was alone. It was dark and damp earth was piled high on top of him and he was alone. His throat hurt from screaming, Bruce's and Dick's names deafening in the confined space, the faux padding of his coffin doing nothing to stop the sound from reverberating back against his ears.
He was dead. He was dead and buried and alone and he was going to die again. He was going to run out of air, run out of time and space and-
A twisting groan of metal from overhead snapped him out of his flashback, doing nothing to ease his panic but at least he could remember that he wasn't in his coffin. He wasn't in a suit that had been cut down the back to make it easier to dress him. He wasn't caked in makeup to hide the bruising that had turned black under his skin. He wasn't-
Something cascaded by his head and he screamed again, scrambling desperately at the wall. He ripped away drywall and splinters embedded themselves in his fingers as he broke away framing. He didn't feel the pain. Couldn't though the panic that fogged his existence. He couldn't feel the pain then, either, but he was trying hard to not let his mind fall back into itself again.
Something shifted and a sharp pain lanced through his leg as the ceiling finally made contact with his body....but then the wall was ripping away from the outside instead of just the inside and Jason reached out with bloody hands to catch familiar gauntlets.
He was dead. He was dead and buried and alone and he was going to die again. He was going to run out of air, run out of time and space and-
A twisting groan of metal from overhead snapped him out of his flashback, doing nothing to ease his panic but at least he could remember that he wasn't in his coffin. He wasn't in a suit that had been cut down the back to make it easier to dress him. He wasn't caked in makeup to hide the bruising that had turned black under his skin. He wasn't-
Something cascaded by his head and he screamed again, scrambling desperately at the wall. He ripped away drywall and splinters embedded themselves in his fingers as he broke away framing. He didn't feel the pain. Couldn't though the panic that fogged his existence. He couldn't feel the pain then, either, but he was trying hard to not let his mind fall back into itself again.
Something shifted and a sharp pain lanced through his leg as the ceiling finally made contact with his body....but then the wall was ripping away from the outside instead of just the inside and Jason reached out with bloody hands to catch familiar gauntlets.
Two massive hands punched through concrete and brick and rebar and drywall, the material of his nearly unscratchable gauntlets riddled with scrapes and tears. But through the chaos of detritus and rubble, there was a crack of light that shown through, snapping the darkness in half and replacing it with the grateful face of a father who would have done anything for this particular son.
Once Bruce saw him, heard him, touched him, he knew he could get through this. They would both make it out alive.
"Easy," Bruce hummed, his voice a low balm to soothe Jason's obvious panic. "Easy, son, I'm right here." In any other situation, Bruce may have used the fear advantage to add in something like Daddy's here, but he was altogether too horrified by what he was seeing to focus on anything but saving Jason. That came first, his desires always last. "Give me your hands. That's it." Bruce calmly walked Jason through it, shouldering the weight of the rubble and easing it aside so he could grip Jason's arms firmly and haul him up into the light. "Watch your head," he added, cradling it on Jason's way up and out and then not giving a shit about what it looked like or if Jason might fight, he pulled Jason into him and held him tight. The black shadow of his cape, filthy from the rubble, whipped around them and covered them like a blanket. "I've got you," he promised. "I've got you."
Once Bruce saw him, heard him, touched him, he knew he could get through this. They would both make it out alive.
"Easy," Bruce hummed, his voice a low balm to soothe Jason's obvious panic. "Easy, son, I'm right here." In any other situation, Bruce may have used the fear advantage to add in something like Daddy's here, but he was altogether too horrified by what he was seeing to focus on anything but saving Jason. That came first, his desires always last. "Give me your hands. That's it." Bruce calmly walked Jason through it, shouldering the weight of the rubble and easing it aside so he could grip Jason's arms firmly and haul him up into the light. "Watch your head," he added, cradling it on Jason's way up and out and then not giving a shit about what it looked like or if Jason might fight, he pulled Jason into him and held him tight. The black shadow of his cape, filthy from the rubble, whipped around them and covered them like a blanket. "I've got you," he promised. "I've got you."
Hands closed around his arms and Jason sobbed in relief as he let himself be pulled from the hole that the two of them had created in the wall. He was filthy, caked in blood from numerous cuts and scrapes from falling debris, the red turned to cement by plaster and concrete dust. His leg looked...not like a leg anymore, to be honest, but Jason didn't care.
At that moment, he couldn't care about anything other then wrapping his arms around his father's bulk and sobbing into his shoulder.
"You came for me. Y-you-" His words didn't make much sense, really, panic babbles of 'I thought you weren't gunna make it' and 'Wanna go home's falling out of his lips.
At that moment, he couldn't care about anything other then wrapping his arms around his father's bulk and sobbing into his shoulder.
"You came for me. Y-you-" His words didn't make much sense, really, panic babbles of 'I thought you weren't gunna make it' and 'Wanna go home's falling out of his lips.
It wasn't easy or as graceful as he'd have liked, but Bruce managed to get Jason into his arms and started walking. "Hold onto me," he demanded. "I'll get you home." He found the dangling line from his grapple and snapped it back into its holster, listening to the familiar zip of heavy duty wires whizz into the machine. When it was all wound back how it should be, he shot it at a nearby building and hefted Jason up into the skies with him.
Bruce didn't go to Jason's safe houses. He knew a few of them (not all), but when Jason said 'home', Bruce was taking it seriously. His true home. Where he belonged, if Bruce had it his way.
They flew through the sky, over buildings and beyond the city limits until Bruce could get them into the Batmobile where he'd left it to speed them home. He didn't bother putting Jason into his own seat; just climbed into the driver's side with Jason still clinging to him like a child. And he drove all the way to the Manor that way and hefted Jason out of the car with him once they arrived, making his way to the med bay.
"Your leg needs looking at," he explained quietly. "I'm going to have to sit you down for that. All right?"
Bruce didn't go to Jason's safe houses. He knew a few of them (not all), but when Jason said 'home', Bruce was taking it seriously. His true home. Where he belonged, if Bruce had it his way.
They flew through the sky, over buildings and beyond the city limits until Bruce could get them into the Batmobile where he'd left it to speed them home. He didn't bother putting Jason into his own seat; just climbed into the driver's side with Jason still clinging to him like a child. And he drove all the way to the Manor that way and hefted Jason out of the car with him once they arrived, making his way to the med bay.
"Your leg needs looking at," he explained quietly. "I'm going to have to sit you down for that. All right?"
He hadn't argued. Bruce reconnected his grapple line and Jason found enough strength to reach back into the protection of the cape, his hands finding the build in grips in the suit. They were designed for smaller hands, for Robins who'd lost their own lines, but Jason still clung to them easily, face still buried against the nomex of the cowl.
The car ride jostled him enough to register that they probably weren't going to one of his own safe houses in the city, but he didn't argue. He'd fight later, when fear and exhaustion wasn't pulling at every cell in him, mingling with pain until it was all he could do to shift himself so that Bruce could still see to drive.
He was much, much bigger than he used to be when he'd ride in Bruce's lap. Not that he felt it. Not that he ever felt it when Bruce could still haul him around like the child he used to be.
He lost time in the car, his face tucked securely against Bruce's neck, so when the cockpit slid open and Bruce picked him up like he didn't weigh almost as much as Bruce himself, Jason only made a small, surprised sound when he blinked open his eyes and looked around at the cave.
"I...Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay." He shifted to help Bruce settle him on the hospital style bed, laying back so he could breath through the wave of pain that pulsed through him. It was the first time he'd really felt his leg and he found himself wishing for the calm quiet of the drive once more. "Fuck, it's mangled, isn't it? I...wasn't expecting you to bring me here..."
The car ride jostled him enough to register that they probably weren't going to one of his own safe houses in the city, but he didn't argue. He'd fight later, when fear and exhaustion wasn't pulling at every cell in him, mingling with pain until it was all he could do to shift himself so that Bruce could still see to drive.
He was much, much bigger than he used to be when he'd ride in Bruce's lap. Not that he felt it. Not that he ever felt it when Bruce could still haul him around like the child he used to be.
He lost time in the car, his face tucked securely against Bruce's neck, so when the cockpit slid open and Bruce picked him up like he didn't weigh almost as much as Bruce himself, Jason only made a small, surprised sound when he blinked open his eyes and looked around at the cave.
"I...Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay." He shifted to help Bruce settle him on the hospital style bed, laying back so he could breath through the wave of pain that pulsed through him. It was the first time he'd really felt his leg and he found himself wishing for the calm quiet of the drive once more. "Fuck, it's mangled, isn't it? I...wasn't expecting you to bring me here..."
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