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Bruce was deeply asleep in his bed. Patrol was uneventful but the kids were there, so it was nice. They even managed to stop by batburger before returning to the Manor since his family loved to make fun of the way he eated. All and all, it was a decent night which didn't explain the nightmare he was having.
He was in the countryside, in a small town, alone and scared. Bruce was standing outside a cave grieving for someone like him but not quite. Now feeling like himself. The clothes were off somehow, but before he could dwell on it, he was at a bar.
He was dressed differently as his body was different too. A smile made him hopeful but a hotel room broke his heart, that was the moment he saw violence and blood and screaming; the feeling was overwhelming: Alone, helpless, outcast, alien…
It was the firing of a shotgun that had startled him awake.
When Bruce realized he was in his room, he forced himself to calm down. His heart was racing, his breathing frantic, and the sweat was making the sheets cling to his body.
His usual nightmare involved Jason - doesn't matter the fact that he's back and happy to antagonize the batburger clerks who refused his sixth request for a Red Hood special - so after finding his center, Batman went back to the cave and sent an alert to J'onn using his JLA communicator.
'Batman?'
This was the first time they were using their new link since the Martian had healed enough to speak like an earther.
'i had a nightmare'
'are you seeking comfort, my friend?'
'no, J'onn. You are seeking comfort.'
The mental link was new to Bruce and since he wasn't a telepath, unless the Martian was actively trying to listen, the intention needed to ment.
Disbelief, concern, care, understanding, unconditional partnership.
J'onn transmitted to his friend the exhaustion he was feeling along with his resignation.
'I'm sorry, my friend. Didn't mean to disturb you. I'm fine now, so you can go back to your room. You are getting cold down at the cave'
Bruce let out the breath he was holding. At least his partner admitted to him that something had happened.
He shivered and started his way upstairs, running away from the cold making his joints ache.
'Okay, I'll bite. How did you know I was at the cave?'
'You pinged me from the JLA communicator and I can feel the cold through our connection. I hope I didn't overstepped'
'you didn't. Now tell me about the dream. I remember seeing that cave when you shared your soul with me, but I don't know what it meant'
'it's easy if I show you'
And with that, vivid images similar to their dream were shared in the right sequence. Bruce could taste the food at the bar, smell the gunpowder, the sensations so intense that when the memory was over, he could feel tears wetting his cheeks.
When he finally reached his bedroom, he crawled inside the bed and buried his face on the pillow.
'My friend, I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to distress you. I can cut the link and tomor-'
'Don't you dare'
The Martian remained silent…
'Don't you dare cut this link without my explicit request, this is not negotiable. Is that clear?'
Command, care, distress, sadness
'yes…'
'listen j'onn, and listen carefully. We are one now and you can't hide from me. The lack of a link partner is one of the reasons you are having this nightmares in the first place, but I'm here now. You are not alone'
'thank you, my friend'
Gratitude