Chapter Text
“No,” Jason snapped, shoulders tense, hand straying to his gun holster. Bruce tilted his head.
Since the mission, Jason had been…off. Shy and skittish. One minute he claimed to be fine, the next he had a concussion. Bruce’s dad senses were tingling.
They shared a brief stand-off before Jason huffed. “Well? Are we done here?”
Bruce hesitated a moment, looking Jason over one more time before nodded. “Yes, Jaylad, we’re done.”
Bruce could have sworn Jason flinched. Something had to be wrong, but it was impossible to tell with the red helmet concealing his face.
Bruce locked eyes with Dick, and an unspoken understanding passed between them. Dick nodded and whipped out a wing-ding in a flash. It sliced a three-inch gash into Jason’s back tire. He barely made it ten feet before screeching back.
Jason climbed off his bike and inspected the gash. He cursed.
“Great,” he said. “Just great.” Jason yanked his helmet off and raised his eyes to the ceiling.
Dick took a step forward, reaching out a hand. “Little wing—” Dick froze and his eyes widened considerably. Bruce raised his eyebrows.
Jason had jerked hard, and the room thickened with tension. Dick took a few steps back and raised his hands in surrender. Jason’s eyes flicked to Bruce, then Dick, then to something behind them.
Bruce’s heart cracked. “Oh, Jaylad,” he murmured. “It’s okay. You’re safe. We’re in the Batcave, and everyone is okay,”
Dick frowned, confused, but Jason relaxed just slightly. Bruce cautiously stepped forward, choreographing his movements as not to startle his son. Jason watched warily but did not protest. When Bruce reached him, he opened his arms in silent invitation.
Soon, Bruce’s arms were full of a shaking, two hundred twenty-five pound vigilante.
“Shh, it’s all right, I’ve got you,” Bruce soothed.
“It’s so loud, Bruce,” Jason whispered, voice thick, “they just won’t shut up!” His voice cracked.
Bruce risked a kiss on Jason’s head, and he melted against his chest. Bruce led him to the medbay, where Dick already had an antidote prepared. He injected it into Jason’s neck and stepped away.
Bruce mouthed a thank you to Dick and turned his attention back to Jason, whose trembling had ceased. His eyes fluttered, exhaustion tugging at the lashes. Bruce barely hesitated before heaving him into his arms in a princess carry.
“‘M too big, B,” Jason slurred.
Bruce only smiled. “You’ll never be too big for me to carry, lad.”
Jason nodded off several times on the way to the master bedroom. As expected, the rest of the family lay curled on the bed. Dick had somehow beaten Bruce up there, as he was the only one still awake.
An empty spot, just big enough for Bruce and Jason to fit, awaited them in the center of the cuddle pile. Bruce laid Jason down first and climbed in. He pulled Jason against his chest and sighed.
Jason snored lightly, the tension out of his bones, and the furrow in his brow finally smooth.
Bruce smiled. All his children, safe, and loved.