Archive of Our Own

“I prefer Robin training,” Jason muttered and glared at the cutlery.

Bruce lifted up the correct fork and knife, “you and me both. But with the gala coming up, we need to focus on etiquette. Alright so, back straight, shoulders high, elbows low but off the table, and when you use the cutlery make sure your wrists are bent. Like holding a pen. Not stabbin—”

“Ima stab myself in the eye.” Jason hissed and folded his arms, leaning back rebelliously. 

Bruce sighed and put the cutlery back down. “I guess we can call it a day—”

“Awesome! I’m gonna get warmed up!” Jason cheered and jumped off the chair, sprinting towards Bruce’s office to get to the Cave.

“Perhaps, Master Bruce, next time you could actually try to interest the young lad.” Alfred tsked at him from across the kitchen where he was polishing the silver. 

Bruce groaned, “I don’t see why you can’t teach him how to act at an event. He likes you more.”

“In that case, would you prefer to teach young Master Jason cleaning techniques while I engage him in social interactions? Or you may interest him in culinary skills whilst I dawn on the mask?”

 “Aright, fine, I get it.” Bruce huffed and got up from the chair.

“I wonder what my vigilante name might be.”

“Alright. I’ll stay in my lane.”

“Excellent, Sir.”

“Dick!” Jason cheered at the sight of his adopted brother at the breakfast table.

“Hey, kid.” Dick raised an arm to allow for a side hug. “How’re you doing?”

“I didn’t know you were coming home!” Jason grinned and sat right next to him. “Are you here for the gala?”

Bruce was quiet at the head of the table, only glancing up when Dick took a moment too long to respond. 

But Dick’s smile was plastered on his face when he said “well, something like that. Mostly ‘cause I missed you guys!”

Jason seemed to accept that answer and started to gather up items around his table as his breakfast. His aura was always lighter when Dick was around. Bruce couldn’t blame him, being alone with two adults must become boring at times. 

Bruce watched as Dick interacted with the younger boy, his energy levels higher after some pain meds and a good night’s sleep. Bruce was still not over the events from last evening. He had put his eldest to bed and ensured that Jason was also asleep before investigating on Mirage and ways to get rid of her. He needed to research further and create a contingency plan that coordinated a discreet attack. 

But for now, he was content to watch his sons happily interact with each other. 

“You would say, ‘thank you for asking, sir. I am currently in the sixth grade.’” Bruce demonstrated.

“Ew,” Jason grimaced. “I’m not saying that. Some weirdo asks me about school, I'll tell them to mind their own business.”

Bruce gestured to Jason and turned to Dick as if to say ‘see what I’m dealing with?’

Dick, as helpful as ever, just laughed. “I regret not doing that now.”

“See? You don’t want me having regrets, Bruce.”

Bruce sighed, “imagine Alfred is asking you to do this.”

“I’d still tell them to buzz off.”

Bruce had to admit that Jason was trying to curb his language and it was showing. Still, if only he could curb his pathological demand avoidance attitude. “It’s two hours, three max. People want to meet you.”

Jason frowned and crossed his arms, turning away from him. “I’m not some circus freak—”

“Hey!”

“—I don’t want weird old rich shits pinching my cheeks and asking me all sorts of personal questions.”

Well, he wasn’t fully there in regards to censoring language. “No swearing. Especially at the gala.”

Jason groaned. “Whatever. I’ll say my please and thank yous. I’ll dot my i’s and cross my t’s. I’ll dance around like a good little puppet. I won’t embarrass you in front of your friends. Can we go patrol now?”

Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose. They’ve certainly hit the limit tonight with Jason’s tolerance for “rich bitch shit” as he so eloquently named it. Bruce missed Dick’s innocence at twelve where he just named everything by putting “bat” in front of it. 

“Alright, suit up.”

And it was worth it when Jason grinned large and vibrantly. The stark contrast from when he first arrived at the mansion. Tense and untrusting. 

“He’ll be fine,” Dick encouraged as Jason ran off. “He won’t actually bite anyone’s head off when it comes down to it. I think.”

Bruce grimaced, “let’s hope so.”

He was getting nowhere with Mirage. It was making him agitated. His eldest was enjoying a movie night with his brother but all Bruce could picture was the defeated slump of his son’s shoulders from the other evening. 

He doubled down his efforts. 

“Jason,” Bruce greeted Jason as he descended down the stairs and into the Batcave. “Come over here.”

Bruce had chosen to have this conversation by the weapon armoury station. He wanted a place where Jason would feel safest. If it was too private, like Jason’s room or Bruce’s office, then there was a chance that Jason would feel trapped. It hadn’t been too long since Bruce took him in. Jason still got prickly when he felt threatened. And he felt threatened very easily. 

If they had this conversation in a more public space like the kitchen or family room, then Jason might clam up, refusing to share where he may be overheard. 

So the Batcave near the weapons was perfect. It was a safe space that Jason was familiar with, anyone was welcome to walk in on them at any point so he wasn’t trapped with Bruce, and if Jason truly felt uncomfortable then he was welcome to grab a weapon to throw at Bruce. 

“What did you want?” Jason came to sit on the training mat in front of Bruce. 

Bruce forced in a deep breath. Here goes nothing. “I need to discuss more of our gala training.”

Jason groaned and rolled his eyes, letting himself fall backwards till he was laying on the mat. “Can this party be over already!”

Bruce smiled at the behaviour and tried his best to calm his nerves. This was a conversation they had to have. It’s a conversation he’d had with Dick. It’s unfortunately a conversation he’s had to repeat with Dick a few times. As recent as a few nights ago. 

“This is important. Can you sit up?”

Jason pulled himself up and scowled at Bruce, giving Batman a run for his money. 

“Very funny,” Bruce shook his head. “This is serious now. I need you to understand how to defend yourself in the gala.”

Jason blinked in interest and leaned in, “why would I need to defend myself? You’ll be there, right?”

“Right,” Bruce quickly agreed. 

“And Dick said he was staying for awhile and will join us.”

“That’s right. You won’t be alone. But this scenario is for if you ever might be. And let me make it clear that you won’t be for a while.” Bruce held in the urge to bounce his leg in nervousness. 

“Alright, then. But I thought I wasn’t allowed to use Robin training around civilians?” Jason asked curiously. 

Rip the bandaid. “I wanted to discuss what you might do if an adult made you uncomfortable at the gala.”

Jason flinched back and scowled, “what?”

Bruce winced. It’s not like he had given Jason the birds and bees talk but he knew that Jason was aware of sex, if his jokes and comments proved anything. But Bruce didn’t know how much he knew about safety. They had to broach this topic. He’s failed Dick too many times to let this slide. 

“If any adult approaches you at the gala, and does something that might make you feel uncomfortable in any way, then I need you to—”

Jason’s frown darkened and he tensed. 

“—immediately get away and find me. Or Dick or Alfred. Or another trusted adult like the Commissioner or Clark if they’re around. I need you to get away from the scenario at the exact moment anyone makes you feel bad.” Bruce clenched his mouth shut. Watching for a response. 

“Find you?” Jason asked, bewildered. He crossed his arms and glared to the side. “What would that do?”

Bruce blinked at the question. “I would protect you—”

Jason scoffed. 

“I would ensure that you are safe and then deal with the situation.” Bruce stressed. “So at the gala, actually no— in any situation, if you ever feel like an adult, or anyone really, is saying or doing something they’re not allowed to. I need you to come and find me. Or one of the others.”

Bruce watched as Jason’s furious face reddened and to Bruce’s horror, his son’s eyes welled up. 

“And then what? You'll get them to sign an NDA and pay the pedo a couple thousands to shut them up?” Jason spat and held himself tighter. 

“What?” Bruce frowned. “Of course not. I would see to it that you’re safe. Make sure you’re okay. I would then find the person and ensure their arrest. Either as Bruce Wayne or Batman. They are not free to walk the streets if they tried to hurt you.” Bruce felt his breathing grow heavy as he imagined the scenario. He recalls having had to perform this scenario more than once in the last few years and his fury build higher. But he hid it for Jason. And he doesn’t share the stories. They’re not his to tell. 

Jason, for some reason that Bruce doesn’t want to think too deeply about, seems shocked at his certainty. “You’d arrest them? But what if… what if I’m making shit up?”

But Bruce only shook his head. “I trust you know better. And I don’t care how unreliable the scenario may be, I will always believe you. Your safety comes first.”

Jason stared at Bruce in disbelief. It made Bruce angry that someone had instilled such distrust in his child. “What if it’s like, one of your billionaire friends?”

“I’d believe you immediately.” Bruce did his best not to let his anger show. “I don’t care if I know them, I’m punching them.”

His son huffed, “you’d cause a scene?”

“Yes.”

The tears seem to well more in Jason’s eyes and the boy shook his head violently. “I don’t get it. Why?”

Bruce sat there, genuinely in disbelief. Dick had taken this conversation in stride. He rarely fought so hard to disagree on this subject. Well, he supposes it must be a good sign that Jason had yet to throw a Batarang at him, at least. 

“Because you’re my son. I want to protect you and I will protect you. You are my priority. If anyone tried causing you harm, I don’t care if I know them. You have to understand that I will take your side. Always. And I know for a fact that Alfred and Dick would do the same.” Bruce ducked so that he could look at Jason straight in the eye. “And I don’t care if we’re in a formal public gathering. If you can’t get away from a situation, you whip out your Robin training and fight.”

That bewildered Jason more than anything else. “You want me to fight? But you’re always on my case about not fighting!”

“Not in this scenario.” Bruce stated. “Whether you’re in a gala, or kidnapped as Jason Todd, or in a park, or at school, or anywhere; I don’t care who’s around. If someone is making you uncomfortable then you remember your training and you fight with all you got.” Bruce tried his best to center his breathing. “And you come find me.”

Jason sniffed, ducking his head, his face red and angry. “You really mean that, old man?”

“More than anything, Jaylad.” Bruce promised. 

Jason scoffed and stood up from the training mat. “Whatever. Is that’s all?”

“You can leave,” Bruce nodded. 

Not looking back, Jason ran off upstairs. Bruce almost wondered if he should follow him and figured that Jason needed some alone time to let his tears fall. He’d probably send Alfred to go check on him in a little bit. It must have been overwhelming and awkward having to have this conversation with Bruce. He felt bad for Jason. But at least his son now knew. It would have been… nice, had Alfred explained this to Bruce all those years ago. 

He still needed to tell Jason about emergency codes but he’ll save that for another time. It was all a little too much for even Bruce at the moment. 

But Bruce didn’t get the luxury to rest. He had to now research more about shapeshifters. 

Two days were left until Jason’s first gala. Bruce was settled at the Batcomputer. It was too early to justify suiting up so he busied himself in as much online work as he could get away with. He also needed to find some time to design detailed lessons on sexual safety and assault for the Titans. He heard footsteps coming down the stairs, too light to be anyone else other than Jason. But he also caught onto how the steps paused before hesitantly resuming more than once. 

Bruce finished off typing mid-sentence as Jason shuffled over to Bruce. Uncaring of his work as Jason was evidently nervous and coming to him with a delicate matter. “Jason,” Bruce greeted and tried to communicate ease in his body language. His newest adoptee was too suspicious when it came to any small sign of aggressiveness, real or not. 

“Hey.” Jason’s own body language was tense. Like a taut tightwire on the brink of snapping. His fringe was covering his flushed face and his gaze was directed downwards, refusing to look at Bruce while he gnawed a sore lip. His shoulders were up to his ears and one hand was holding tightly onto a piece of paper ripped out from a notebook, crinkling it slightly. 

Bruce smiled encouragingly, trying to calm his sense of panic at his son’s unease. “How are you, Jason?”

“Um,” Jason’s worn out sneaker rubbed against the tile beneath him. “Good. Um. Can we… talk?”

“Of course,” Bruce tried not to pounce. Tried to keep his tone casual. “What did you want to talk about?”

Jason chewed mercilessly at his lip, moments away from breaking the skin and Bruce held himself back from telling him not to. The last time he did so, Jason had rustled like a threatened kitten and ran away. 

“About the gala… about our last training session?” Jason managed to say through a tense jaw. 

Bruce swallowed thickly as he recalled the nature of their previous training. “Sure.”

“The thing you said,” Jason’s index finger started scratching anxiously at his thumb on his free hand. “About how you don’t care about who it is that… makes me uncomfortable? Even if you liked them? You’d still… I don’t know, do something?”

Bruce furrowed, perplexed by the question. “I would. I would always take your side. I’ll believe you no matter what your claim is and I’ll keep you safe.”

“And I won’t get in trouble?” His voice asked, small. 

Bruce felt a desperate urge to prove otherwise, “no! No, of course not. You’d never be in trouble for something like that.”

Jason’s fringe fell over his eyes more as he curled subtly into his body. “What if it was my fault? What if I went and asked for the trouble?”

“Jason,” Bruce wished that his son would look at him. He needed to convince Jason that he was wrong. “You are a child. If an adult does anything to make you feel uncomfortable, I don’t care about anything, it would never be your fault. You won’t be in trouble. If anything, Alfred would make you all the cookies you could ask for. You’d be cared for.” Bruce really hoped that Jason could believe him, even just a little bit. 

Jason’s sneaker kicked at the tile. Not even smiling at Bruce’s attempt at lightening the mood. “But what would you do to them?” Jason lifted his head to look at Bruce angrily. Bruce’s heart stuttered at the red rims around his eyes. 

He wanted to make Jason feel better but he wasn’t hitting the nail in the head. “Justice. You know how I feel about criminals. If someone hurt you, especially in that way. I’m hurting them back double and locking them away forever. You’d never have to worry about them again.”

Jason was still staring at Bruce with his red eyes. Scowling as he tried to read the man. “Promise?”

“I promise, Jaylad.”

And he truly meant it. 

“Okay,” Jason inhaled a staggering, painful breath and Bruce watched him suppress a shudder. He wished to pull the twelve year old into his arms but kept his hands strictly on his lap. “Okay, um. Here.” Jason thrust the crinkled paper at Bruce. 

Cautiously, Bruce took the paper and straightened it out. In Jason’s barely legible writing were a list of names spanning down both sides of the page. An address scribbled under some names that the Batman in Bruce recognised as Crime Alley corners. He knew most, if not all, of these names. Majority of them were listed to make an appearance at the upcoming gala as they always did. Very big names that Bruce was surprised Jason even knew about. 

Carefully, reading through the list of seventeen names, Bruce looked back up to Jason who was hugging himself tightly with his now free hands. “What is this?”

“Names,” Jason gritted out through clenched teeth and turned his deadly gaze towards an undisclosed space away from Bruce. “Names of people who have made me ‘uncomfortable’.”

Bruce felt his heart rip from his chest. “What?”

Jason held himself impossibly tighter. “From when I was homeless.”

With his chest battling for air, Bruce looked back down at the list of names. Bruce knew that name. And that name. And he shared a business dinner with that name. He frequently emails that name… “Jason.” Bruce said breathlessly. “There’s seventeen names on here.”

Jason shrugged and Bruce noticed his eyes start to well. “I can’t remember the other names. I’d probably recognise them though.”

There were more?

But he was only twelve. 

He was only twelve years old. 

What monster…

“So?” Jason asked, his voice thick. “Are you gonna do anything?”

Bruce, in a haze as he felt his heart being ripped away piece by piece, set the paper behind him on the Batcomputer keyboard. He slipped off his chair and knelt in front of Jason who was still refusing to look up at him. He didn’t go too close. Even so, Jason twitched away minutely. 

Jason, who hated touch. Jason, who distrusted everyone in this household for months after moving in. Jason, who still hated anyone getting too close. Jason, who always locked his room at night. Jason, who begged Bruce to train him to fight, to teach him how to defend himself against someone bigger. Jason, who never explained the panic attack he experienced that one time after Bruce had pinned him down during a training exercise. Jason, who was always so scared of anyone bigger than him. 

“Jaylad,” Bruce choked out, “I will deal with this. You will never have to think about these names ever again. I will keep you safe.”

Jason sniffed and shrugged. “Whatever.”

“You don’t…” Bruce thought about Jason’s annoyance surrounding the gala. The hatred he had for it. 

‘I can’t remember the other names.’

“You don’t have to go to the gala.”

“What?” That had Jason whipping his head back up to meet Bruce’s gaze. 

“I will deal with this list. Tonight. No one from this list will ever be near you or another child again. But if you don’t have all the names—”

Jason’s arms went from hugging himself to clenching into fists at his sides. “I can still go! What if I can recognise one? Then… then…”

His boy was struggling to draw a breath. 

“Then you could tell me and I could deal with it. But you don’t have to.” Bruce said placatingly, keeping his anger out of his voice. 

“But the other kids,” Jason whined and Bruce didn’t know if his heart could take any more when a tear escaped and ran down Jason’s cheek. 

“I’ll hack into the cameras of Crime Alley. I’ll keep an eye out. I’ll do something. You don’t need to push yourself.” Bruce promised. 

Jason sniffed and scrubbed at his face when another tear escaped. “I’m not a baby! I’m still going!”

“Okay,” Bruce hushed. He drew in a loud breath and slowly exhaled. He repeated, trying to model calm breaths during Jason’s panic. “You can do what you want, Jaylad.”

“Good,” Jason hissed. “I’m going to.”

Bruce nodded, “thank you for the list. You’re so brave.”

Jason frowned incredulously. “I only wrote some dumb pedo names.”

Bruce flinched at the word. How young was Jason the first time…

Bruce was going to make these names pay.

“You chose to come to me, you didn’t have to. I know this wasn’t for you. I know you did this for the other kids. I’m proud of you, son.” 

Jason scowled darkly and turned away. “I’m going to do homework.”

Bruce felt like a puppet whose strings were cut and his shoulders dropped. He wanted to help his boy more. He wanted to help him feel safe. 

He’d have to start by proving himself and bashing open the skulls that belonged to those names. 

“Alright.”

Bruce watched Jason all but run away up the stairs. 

He noticed there was a drying wet spot on the crinkled paper. A teardrop. 

He had a lot of work to do. 

The sun had risen hours ago by the time Batman dragged himself unceremoniously into the Batcave. A very unordinary time for him to be wrapping up the night. But he had a lot of work to do. And now it’s been handled. 

“Master Bruce,” Alfred raised a brow from where he sat. Obviously unamused by the odd time. Bruce had warned him he’d be late but this was still more than the usual. 

“Sorry, Alf.” Bruce sighed and leaned heavily against a glass suit case. 

The evident exhaustion was enough to make Alfred get up from the chair. He quickly made his way and started helping Bruce out of his armour, piling up the blood covered clothes. 

“Any injuries, Sir?” Alfred asked as he lifted Bruce’s cape off. 

“No. The blood’s not mine.”

“Hmm.” Alfred took off a glove. “Then I suggest you have a decontamination shower and hasten to bed. I will provide you with a meal when you wake up on your own accord.”

Bruce could only nod, the weight of everything pulling him down. He could still feel the bones crushing under his hand. He remembered the sounds of the screams as his steel-lined boots stomped down and crushed the appendages those monsters used against his child. 

No one was there for Bruce when it was him, but he will always be there for his kids. 

“The boys?” He had to ask. 

“Still asleep upstairs, Master Bruce. Both are safe.”

He didn’t in the past, but Alfred always knew what to say these days.

Later that evening, when Bruce had finally woken up and Jason was back from school, Bruce had found him in the library. 

“Jason,” Bruce walked over.

Where he was sat reading on the couch with his feet up, Jason scowled and pulled his knees closer to himself. Not saying anything but glaring at Bruce. 

“It’s handled.”

Jason blinked, his shadow disappearing. “Wait, for real? It’s not even been a whole day.”

Bruce shrugged, “it was urgent.”

Jason only stared at Bruce, his face open and exposed as he reeled through his thoughts and feelings. Bruce knew he felt shocked. Knew that Jason had underestimated how far Bruce was willing to go. 

Bruce didn’t want to push, but “is it alright to discuss something more?”

Jason just shrugged, his confusion leaving him more open. 

Bruce swallowed down the weight in his throat. He couldn’t believe that he was about to broach this topic with his twelve year old. “I want to keep you safe. I want to make sure your body is at its best at all times. That’s why we have those meal plans and training regimes to get your weight back up.”

“Uh huh.”

“And in light of the… recent events. I want to do a test. Just to make sure you’re safe.”

Jason visibly bristled, his legs protectively coming closer to his body. “What test?”

“A blood test.” Bruce shrugged to convey a message that it wasn’t a big deal despite it very much being so. “A test to make sure you’re healthy.”

Jason, as Bruce had predicted, tightened his grip angrily on his book and his expression darkened. “You wanna see if I’ve got STDs.”

“Yes.”

“And if I say no?”

“I hope you understand that it’s for your own safety.” Bruce said gently. “It’s not urgent. We can do it whenever you like. The main issue has been dealt with, so now it’s your turn again to let me know when you’re ready.”

Jason suspiciously watched Bruce and huffed. As if frustrated that it made sense. “Like a toxin test?”

“Exactly.” 

“And the others…?” Jason asked carefully. 

“If you still want to go to the gala, you let me know. Me or Dick will be with you the entire time as was planned anyways so you wouldn’t be alone.” Bruce explained. “Actually, while we’re on the topic. I was wondering if I could share an emergency code with you. Dick made it up a few years ago—”

“‘Course he did.”

“—it’s if we’re in public or if you can’t communicate with me easily if… if someone even looks at you wrong. Then say or text ‘did you know the dot on the i is called a tittle’ or even just ‘tittle’ and I’ll be there.”

Bruce watched expectedly as Jason blinked at him. 

And blinked. 

And then laughed. 

“That’s so dumb!” Jason blurted hysterically. 

Bruce raised a brow in amusement. Slightly offended but couldn’t help a small smile as the air around Jason shifted. 

“I get the whole code thing, really, but I’ll just text you ‘pedo alert’ or whatever.”

Bruce tried not to wince.

“And honestly, you’re a butthead but I think you’re not that dumb to not get social cues. I’ll let ya know, old man.” Jason grinned at him. The awkwardness around him from earlier despitated. 

Bruce felt his chest loosen in relief. 

“Alright. But just so you know. You come to me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jason waved off and lifted his book to continue his reading. 

Feeling dismissed, Bruce turned to leave. 

“Hey, Bruce?” 

He stopped, turning to see Jason hiding behind the pages and his ears tinted red. 

“Thanks.”

Bruce sighed a smile. “Don’t thank me, Jaylad. I’m happy to.”

And he left, the blood covered list of seventeen names burning in his pocket. 

Bruce felt more stressed than he’d ever been at a gala. 

Jason, in contrast, seemed to be enjoying himself more than he’d thought he would. He’s pottering around, following Dick or Bruce and making polite conversation. He bristled slightly when an older woman pinched his cheek but didn’t bite any fingers off. He even tried making friends with the Drake’s kid. He was doing great. 

It was Bruce who couldn’t settle his heart. His mind was still reeling over the fact that he had been making pleasant conversation with child rapists this entire time. He knew the wealthy families in the hall were secretly dabbling on the wrong side of the law. But he thought their line was found at drugs, not children.

Tonight, he kept his eye on both Dick and Jason for the first time. Watching for their facial expressions and body language when conversing with anyone who had the potential of offending them. Especially his youngest. So far, so good. 

‘Till it finally happened. 

Jason had been passed back to Bruce as Jim and Barbara Gordon entered the hall, so as usual Dick had gone to find his friend. Jason was starting to get tired and Bruce noticed that he had resorted to people watching while he daydreamed. 

“Ah, Bruce! Sorry, I’m late. You know how kids can be.” A familiar voice called out and Bruce plastered on a smile as a hand came to shake his shoulder. 

“William! It’s great to see you made it.” Bruce said. Trying to get through the pleasantries as quickly as he could. “Have you had a chance to grab a drink?”

William Harris’ hand slipped off his shoulder. “No, not yet. But I have to say, I need one. These kids are driving me crazy! I don’t know how you managed to keep yours so well behaved. I could never bring mine to a formal, they’d go wild.” He joked. 

Bruce held back his grimace, always disliking whenever people used their own families as the butt of their jokes. He opened his mouth to change the subject when he felt a small hand desperately grip onto his trouser leg. 

Bruce looked down to find Jason, he had a deathly grasp on Bruce’s leg, wrinkling the ironing as his knuckles went white with the hold. His face had also lost colour, pale as he impolitely stared at Harris. Eyes wide and pupils shaking and his breathing quickening. 

Oh. 

Oh. 

Oh.

A rage so verbally indescribable blasted through the very being of Bruce’s soul. Driven by a force that screeched in pure red hot hatred, Bruce turned back to Harris. To the monster. 

He’d maimed seventeen men the other night. He was happy to make it eighteen. 

“Ah, the star of the show himself! Jason, ri—”

“You don’t talk to him.” Bruce didn’t recognise his own voice as he spoke. 

Harris blinked back at him, “Brucie?”

But Bruce ignored him when he felt the hand clinging onto him like a life force tug. With a gentleness that contrasted the fury which was built up in him, he laid a protective hand on top of Jason’s trembling one. 

“Hey, let’s go find Alfie. Hm?” Bruce smiled softly at his boy. 

Jason finally ripped his eyes away from his boogeyman and his wide eyes turned to Bruce. 

“C’mon.” Bruce eased and led Jason away with a soft nudge. He’d deal with Harris later. The man had nowhere on this planet to hide. Right now, the priority was his child. 

Well aware of the anxiety building in his son, he walked them towards the exit. On the way they bumped into Dick.

“What’s going on?” The eldest asked, concerned by the way his brother was shaking. 

“There’s been a situation.” Bruce replied shortly as they finally made it out and shut the large doors behind them. 

Dick followed the two as Bruce directed them to the kitchen. “What kind of situation?”

But Bruce can only focus on one son, and it had to be the twelve years old struggling to breathe. With ease, Bruce lifted him onto a chair and knelt in front of him, meeting his eyes that were flitting around the room, searching for an exit. 

“Jaylad. Hey, I need you to breathe. You’re okay.” Bruce tried, keeping his hands to himself and watching helplessly as Jason tightly hugged his body as if holding the pieces together. 

Jason gasped, obviously paining his chests as his breaths gradually became more rapid. 

“Jason,” Dick tried. “C’mon man. You gotta breathe. Here, hold this.”

Bruce lifted a brow at Dick handing Jason a half-filled bag of flour. 

In his confusion and haziness, Jason blindly grabbed onto whatever was put in his hands, squeezing the bag as bits of powder fell onto his lap. 

“There, how does that feel?” Dick asked tentatively. 

Jason’s breath hitched and he squeezed the bag tightly. Bruce winced at the thought of it exploding everywhere. “Soft.” His broken voice replied. “Squishy.”

Bruce glanced appreciatively at Dick. His odd strategy was helping. Bruce made a mental note to try this the next time Dick was thrown into a panic. 

“That’s right!” Dick praised. “What colour?”

Jason sniffed, glancing down at the flour. “White.” He sniffed again. And again. And suddenly he burst into tears. “I’m sorry!”

Gasping through his sobs, Jason dropped the bag and Bruce let it fall. Dick winced at the volume of the boy’s cries. 

“I’m sorry!” Jason screamed as fat tears slipped down his cheeks and off his chin. “I didn’t w-want to cause a s-scene!”

“Shh, Jay. It’s alright. You didn’t cause a scene. You’re okay.” Bruce begged him to understand. “You did the right thing. I’m proud of you. I told you to tell me.”

To Bruce’s complete shock, Jason utterly stunned him by reaching out his hands for Bruce. 

Not hesitating despite his surprise, Bruce reached and carefully grabbed the boy and pulled him into his lap for a hug. Holding on loosely so that Jason could escape the moment he wished. But holding on solidly enough that Jason could feel safe and protected and loved.

Bruce heard Dick sit next to them on the kitchen tiles. He glanced and saw his eldest watching Jason; distressed and anxious. He nudged Dick with his knee, smiling comfortingly as he rocked Jason side to side. 

“Shhh,” Bruce soothed. “Don’t be sorry. You did everything perfectly. I’m going to handle it for you. I promise.”

Jason loudly cried in a way that Bruce had never witnessed before. He’d always tear up and barely let one fall before running into his room. He never allowed Bruce to see him fall apart and never asked for comfort. 

As happy as Bruce felt to be trusted, his heart was shattering. 

“I- I know him.” Jason sobbed. “I didn’t want- I remember- it was snowing and- and I was cold and hung- hungry and he said his ca-ar was warm- I didn’t wa-ant to but it w-was cold!”

Bruce shut his eyes in despair as he listened to his son’s story. As he explained his pain and punishment for being a homeless child. As he confessed to Bruce the way in which wealthy adults took advantage of his vulnerable situation. 

“What?”

Bruce whipped his head towards Dick. He forgot. So invested in Jason’s anxiety, he forgot that Dick didn’t know. 

Dick’s face began to flush in red. His eyes blanched in horror as he turned from Jason to Bruce and back again. “What?”

“Dick,” Bruce started. What if Dick was triggered from Jason’s situation? Mirage was such a fresh wound still. “I’m handling it. It’s alright.”

“Fuck, it’s not alright!” Dick exploded, his hands shaking with the need to hurt. 

“Shh,” Bruce begged when Jason flinched violently in his lap. 

“Shit, I—” Dick deflated instantly, his hands coming up to smother his face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to shout. I didn’t know.”

Jason sniffed, “it’s okay.” He whispered quietly. His teeth gritting painfully together as he tried to repress his cries. 

Dick just shook his head. 

Bruce glanced up when Alfred stepped inside. He nearly laughed, the more the merrier. 

Alfred walked over towards Dick calmly, but Bruce noticed the rage in his eyes. Bruce winced when he realised that Alfred would have overheard the earlier conversation. 

“Master Dick, will you assist me in saying farewell to our guests? This way, Master Bruce can take care of Master Jason with his full attention.” Alfred said in a calm pretence. 

Bruce looked up at Alfred gratefully, he knew his father figure would demand answers later. But as for now, he could use his unquestioning help. Dick was very obviously annoyed but understood the situation well enough. 

After all, Dick has been in this situation more than once. 

Bruce’s heart filled with despair and he shut his eyes as Alfred led Dick away. Pulling himself together for the sake of his son. 

“Just you and me, Jay.” Bruce whispered. “You’re going to be okay. I’ve got you now.”

Jason buried his face into Bruce’s chest and whined. 

“Come, I’m going to make you some hot chocolate.” With one arm steadily holding the boy, Bruce stood up. He’s dealt with heavier things as Batman. He could carry his underweight twelve year old in one arm. 

He pottered around the kitchen, stepping over the spilt flour as he mixed the milk and chocolate together. He allowed Jason to keep his face buried in Bruce’s neck. Shushing gently whenever his shaking spiked. Now that Jason finally trusted Bruce to hold him, he wasn’t about to let go. 

Wetting a flannel with warm water, Bruce gently pulled Jason’s face up and wiped away the sweat, tears and snot. Jason watched with wet eyes and a quivering lip as Bruce sat on a chair, placing Jason on his leg and helping him take a sip of the hot chocolate. He decided against carrying Jason to his room, he didn’t think Jason would appreciate Bruce in his private space that much right now. 

The more sips he took, the calmer Jason slowly got and his hitching gasps died down. Soon, Bruce allowed Jason to hold onto the mug on his own, letting him take control. 

The mug was half empty when Jason stopped drinking and stared at it blankly. “I’m sorry.” He whispered again. 

Bruce shook his head. “You did exactly as I asked you to. I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you to come tonight.”

Jason frowned. “I could handle it.”

“You could. I know. Doesn’t mean you should have to.” Bruce brushed away the hair falling in front of Jason’s face. “I love you, Jay. I want to keep you safe. You weren’t very safe tonight.”

Jason was quiet for a moment. “Yes, I was.”

“Hm?”

“I was safe. You were there the whole time. Like you said.” Jason turned to look at Bruce, the red on his face from embarrassment this time around. “You promised you’d be there.”

“I did.” Bruce choked. “I will always be there, Jaylad. I wish I was before.” He wrapped his arms loosely around Jason and his heart swelled when his son leaned into him. He was so happy that he was finally trusted. 

“Is Dick okay? He was pretty mad.” Jason asked sleepily. 

“At Harris, not you. He’ll be alright. I’ll talk to him later.” Bruce had a lot to discuss with Dick. His eldest was so quick to feel. So quick to hurt for others. And especially if he recognised the pain. Bruce sighed at the ache in his heart. Why his sons?

“I did like tonight though. I liked Timmy.” Jason commented. 

“The Drake’s boy?”

“Uh huh, he’s really quiet though. He looked lonely so I stayed with him till his Dad came back. Was pretty irresponsible to leave his kid alone.” Jason kicked the air aimlessly. 

Bruce agreed. Especially after the recent revelation. These galas weren’t as safe as Bruce had once believe them to be. 

Jason yawned.

“Do you wanna go to bed? You’ve got school tomorrow. Did you finish your homework?” Bruce reminded him. 

“Hmm, there was just History and that’s easy. Our usual teacher is on maternity leave so we have random cover teachers. My favourite is Mr Reynolds. He’s cool, he lets me stay in during lunch when I don’t wanna go out.” Jason sipped at his chocolate again. 

“That’s nice of him.” Bruce said and he noted the name down mentally. It must be a new teacher. 

Jason turned to face Bruce, “what are you going to do to Harris?”

It was like cold water was dunked on Bruce when he asked. “I’m going to make him wish he never even looked at you. You’ll never have to worry about him again. Or any of the others. I promise.”

Trustingly, Jason laid his head back against Bruce’s chest. “If you promise. Thanks, Dad.”

Bruce’s heart paused for a moment. He adjusted his grip and hugged his child a little more. “I love you, son.”