Chapter Text
Gentle fingers sliding through his hair pulled Jason from the peaceful place between awake and asleep. Jason breathed in deeply, fully prepared to fall deeper into sleep, but a gentle, “Jaylad,” coaxed him to wakefulness.
Jason peeled his eyes open, peering through blurry vision at soft blue eyes.
Bruce smiled, pulling his hand back. “Sorry, bud, but I didn’t think you’d want to miss breakfast.”
Jason frowned. He searched his sleep-muddled for answers. Breakfast? Why was Jason even—
He gasped, sitting up fast enough to make the room tilt dangerously. The fear gas. Trying (and failing) to hide it from Bruce.
Jason internally winced as more memories resurfaced. Not his finest moment, that’s for sure.
“Sorry I—I didn’t mean to—” Jason stammered. Bruce’s brow creased briefly.
“It’s fine, Jay, I’m just glad you’re okay,” Bruce soothed. “But we will be talking about this later.
Jason cringed. He was not excited for that lecture. He cleared his throat. “I guess I’ll, uh, get back to my apartment now.”
Bruce frowned. “Why?”
Jason blinked. “Well, I assumed you wanted me out of here?” He didn’t intend for the sentence to sound so uncertain.
Bruce’s eyes turned sadder. “I don’t want you to leave, Jason. The others are waiting for us in the kitchen for Alfred’s pancakes.” He sounded so sincere. He looked like a kicked puppy.
Jason sighed. “Fine, but if Dickie’s eaten all the strawberries there will be blood.”
Bruce visibly relaxed and led Jason down the hall and into the kitchen, his hand resting comfortingly on Jason’s shoulder.
For the first time in a long time, Jason relaxed into the touch. He was finally home.