Chapter Text
It had been a couple of days after the inter-dimensional mishap when Batman finally finds Red Hood on a rooftop, it's a stakeout but not high stakes so he decides to take his chances and try talking to him. Dick had been oscillating between badgering him to go talk to Jason and giving him the cold shoulder. Even Alfred was angry with him, as much as a British butler with a stiff upper lip could be, giving him cold coffee almost every morning for the past few days no doubt having pulled the story of what had transpired from Dick.
He walks towards Jason, making sure he could hear him although it is unnecessary - an olive branch of sorts. Jason doesn't acknowledge him. "Hood," Batman greets. Jason shifts his weight between his feet but otherwise doesn't react.
"Agent A misses you. You should come by the Cave more often," he says slowly.
"I'm on a case right now." Jason is quite tired of Bruce and his brand of emotional constipation, he really isn't in the mood to sift through his words and find out what he means.
Bruce takes a moment to collect his thoughts, knowing that if he messed up now he'd have to face the collective wrath of Dick and Alfred, not to mention his own guilt. "Can I talk to you?" he swallows and then adds, "Please?"
This catches Jason's attention, he turns around to face Bruce and crosses his arms, tapping his foot impatiently. He nods his assent for him to continue.
"I- The other Batman, I could have easily gone down the same path. I almost did, too. When you... died, it was devastating for me. Not because you were my greatest failure, far from it, because you filled my life with so much presence. When you were gone, it was all that I could see - empty spaces where you should have been. The Manor seemed larger and emptier than ever."
Bruce pauses. Jason stares at him in silence and what with his Hood on Bruce can't figure out what he's feeling. Not for the first time, he curses the Helmet despite the additional protection but then again he never could read Jason, especially after he came back - not like he could Dick or Tim or even Damian. Jason, however, is glad for his Hood. His face is a myriad of expressions and he'd feel too vulnerable without it on.
"The only reason that I didn't go that far was because I had Clark, Diana, Alfred, Dick and Tim, so many people, helping me, pulling me back from that edge but even then it was a near thing. That's why Dick moved back to Gotham for a while, I was getting aggressive during patrols even while fighting with muggers and common goons. And he was worried."
Jason hadn't known that but before he could think about it more, Bruce continues. "When you came back, it was like a dream. I didn't know how to deal with it so I kept acting like nothing had changed - because it was easier for me. For that, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for letting you down all those times, Jason." The fact that he was using Jason's name out on the field was unlike him but Bruce couldn't worry about that, not when he had one final chance to mend things with his second son.
Jason was frozen, an apology after all this time. This wasn't what he had expected when Bruce asked to talk to him, he expected another lecture on morals and half-arsed excuses, not proper apologies and explanations.
"Jaylad... I've always loved you. I never stopped, not even when you came back hell-bent on killing me and Tim, not when you started killing people. I’m sorry I made you feel like I didn’t. You're my son, chum, I know I should have said this before and it's probably too late but I'm proud of you," Bruce said, his throat thick with emotion.
Jason did not expect this at all, he was reeling. He vaguely considered the idea of a clone or maybe possession or even a cruel prank but it doesn't seem likely. This was his father finally trying to mend things with him. He could feel himself tearing up, he's cried too many times this past week, he's not sure if he likes it.
"You'll always be family and always have a home at the Manor. Please never doubt that, Jaylad." Bruce waits nervously for Jason to say something, anything in response.
After a poignant pause, Bruce wonders what Dick would do in this situation - probably hug Jason. Bruce thinks about it and decides to risk it, moving forward and slowly raises his hands to give Jason time to see what he’s trying to do.
Jason stumbles back, his body tense. He shook his head. Bruce tries to unsuccessfully stamp down the flare of hurt he gets from being rejected. It was too soon, he should have known. Jason never forgiving him is a possibility that Bruce doesn’t try to linger on but it’s still a very likely possibility and Bruce worries that he’s being faced with it. That his attempt is too little, too late.
Although this is what Jason had wanted for a very long time, he's overwhelmed when faced with it. He needs to take some time and think things through. He knows an apology won't be a magical fix-it for their relationship, there are still too many things unsaid on both sides but it's a start. Jason allows himself a small smile under the Hood and says, "I might visit more often - but only for Alfred's cookies."
And with that, he grapples off into the night. Bruce smiles at his dramatics, feeling better for the first time in weeks. They’ll get there eventually but for now, baby steps.