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Jason was eating dinner at the manor this evening.
He didn’t really want to, but Alfred insisted, and Jason loves Alfred.
Bruce was glad to see his son at home. Even though their relationship was a little difficult sometimes, Bruce wanted to see his son more, to bond with him again.
The diner started as always: an awkward silence as Tim, Damian, Dick, and Bruce tried to think about what they could say or ask Jason without risking making him angry.
But then, something happened, something that never happened before.
Bruce and Alfred started to fight.
Bruce and Alfred were not fighting a lot, and usually, it was for useless things, and it was easily over.
This time, Bruce couldn’t even remember what it was about. He just remembers that they started arguing in the middle of the diner, and then they were yelling.
After what seemed like a dozen minutes of arguing against each other, Bruce realized that Damian and Tim seemed completely panicked and Dick was trying to get his attention.
“What?” Barked the adult, still angry.
“Jason.” Answered Dick, and his voice was strangely cold.
Bruce noticed at that moment that Jason was missing and he looked at his older son.
“Where did he go?”
“Under the table.”
Bruce didn’t understand at first. But then he remembered in an instant that Jason’s parents used to fight almost every evening and that the young boy used to hide under the table with his dog, trying to call the 9-1-1.
“Shit. Jason.” He mumbled and sat on the ground to have a visual of his son.
Jason was a mess. Sobbing and shaking as he was visibly on the phone with someone —Bruce really hoped it was not the 9-1-1— Titus was there too, and Jason was hugging him tightly, probably to protect him. It also seemed like he had thrown up, and his face was pale and clammy.
“Titus! Come here!” Ordered Damian and Jason let a strangled scream as the big dog left his shelter.
“You’re okay, Jason. You’re home please.” Tried Dick, but Jason seemed not to notice him. He was clinging to the phone and nodding at whatever the person on the phone was telling him. Fat tears were rolling down his cheeks and he was way too pale for Bruce’s liking.
Bruce hesitated for two seconds before slowly joining his son under the table.
“Jaybaby, look at me. It’s okay, nothing bad happened, you're safe here. I’m here, I’ll protect you, alright?”
Jason shook his head and let out another sob, breaking his father’s heart a little more.
“Jaylad, please. Can I… Can I touch you?”
Jason seemed to hesitate before nodding slowly, allowing his father to take him against his strong torso. “Perfect baby, now breathe. You’re fine, you’re safe here.”
“Jason, are you still on the phone?” Came out a feminine voice from the phone.
The younger took a shaky breath before answering: “Y-Yeah… I thought… I thought I was somewhere else… I’m sorry. My father is here now.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Can you pass the phone to your dad, please? I’ll check on him too?”
Jason nodded, even though the operator couldn’t see him, and gave the phone to Bruce.
“Hello?”
“Good evening mister. My name is Laura and I’m a 9-1-1 operator. Is everything okay?”
“I fought with my friend, and it triggered my son, he… he used to be in a less loving family…”
“I see…” the operator, Laura ’s voice seemed sad. “Is your son okay now, does he still have trouble breathing? I could hear him throw up.”
“He’s…” Bruce stopped a second to look at the man in his arms. “He’s very pale, shaking and his skin is clammy. His breath is fast, but we know how to calm him down. Jay, how are you feeling? And don’t say you’re fine.” He whispered, bringing his attention back to his son.
“M… ‘M dizzy… Everything hurts…”
“Sir, do you know when is the last time your son ate?” Asked Laura who had heard the conversation through the phone.
“Yesterday… Yesterday for lunch.” Mumbled Jason and Bruce sighed. More than twenty-four hours.
“Honey, we’ve talked about it. You need to eat more often, baby.”
“Sorry…” whined Jason and Bruce shushed him gently. “It’s okay, chum. Let’s get you something to eat, alright?”
Bruce thanked the 9-1-1 operator and coaxed Jason in leaving his “shelter”. Jason didn’t want to, at first. He struggled against his father’s hold, but he was still weak and Bruce managed to lift him slowly to take him to the nearest seat.
“Alright, I’ve got you. You should eat something, Jay. What would you like to eat?”
Before Jason could answer, Alfred offered him a Chilli dog. It could seem weird, but Alfred knew that it was Jason’s comfort food, and started to make one when he saw that his fight with Bruce had triggered the poor boy.
“I’m so sorry, my dear boy,” sighed the old butler, “I shouldn’t have yelled for such futilities.” He kissed Jason’s hairline and pressed Bruce’s shoulder at the same time, as a silent apology.
Bruce let his son eat slowly the food, as his brothers were looking at him with worried eyes. The adult knew Dick was doing all he could not go cuddle his younger brother to death.
Once Jason had eaten, Bruce helped him to the living room. The boy was still very pale and shaking, but probably because his body had barely recovered from the shock yet. The rest of the family followed them, and Alfred sat on the other side of the boy, sandwiching him in a hug with Bruce on the other side.
After a few minutes of breathing exercises led by Bruce, Jason still sniffed a bit, but he seemed calmer.
“I’m so sorry I scared you, lad. You must have been terrified.” Whispered Bruce as he was slowly petting his son’s hair.
“Sometimes, family fights. It’s not always a bad thing as long as it's not too often.” Added Alfred as he was standing to go make warm drinks for everyone, and Dick hurried to take his seat next to Jason.
“We’re here, Little Wing. Our family might not be perfect, and sometimes we can be all a little bit messed up, but we love each other. Always.”
“We even try to love Drake.” Damian grinned and the others rolled their eyes. Damian let Titus sit in front of Jason, so the older boy could pet the big dog as an apology for his excessive behavior.
Cass, as silent, as usual, ran a hand down her brother’s arm before sitting on the loveseat next to them.
Then Alfred arrived with a trail of warm drinks as hot cocoas, coffees, teas, and warm milk and they all huddled on the couch. “What movie do you want to watch? Jaybaby?”
“I don’t know… as you want, dad…”
“Let’s watch a Disney movie,” Steph suggested as she scrolled on Netflix.
They ended the day watching Beauty and the Beast. Jason, who was supposed to be there only for dinner was fast asleep in his father’s arms, and Bruce vaguely wondered if his son ever watched the end of a movie.
“Master Jason must have been really tired,” whispered Alfred, watching the kid fondly, “I don’t think he’ll make it home tonight.”
“He’ll stay here for the night.” Bruce agreed.
Once the movie was over, Bruce took his son in his arms and carried him to his bedroom, not wanting to let his son alone after that. He tucked him in bed and kissed his forehead before disappearing into the bathroom to take a quick shower and brush his teeth.
When he came back to the bed, Jason had rolled in the middle of the mattress, hugging his pillow. Bruce smiled and laid next to his son, taking him in his arms: “I’ve got you, sweetheart. You’re safe, I’m here.” He whispered again, letting his eyes closed, and falling asleep too.