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Jason had patterns.
He had only been in the manor for about a month.
They were still learning each other, learning how to live with one another. Leslie and Alfred had assured him that Jason likely just needed time. That he would acclimate and oppen up when he was ready. But Bruce wasn't so sure.
It was always 2 repeatable habits.
If he was upset, he would leave.
If he was scared, it would only flash for a moment before it emerged in anger.
Basically cornering himself into two emotional brackets, content and angry.
0o0o0
They had been in the cave, progressive Jason’s evasion skills for his Robin training.
“Tighten your core,” Bruce instructed as Jason landed. Only the slightest bit unsteady as he landed on his feet.
Jason exhaled – to harshly to be a sigh – before repeating the move.
Except, this time, he stumbled harder. Forcing Bruce – as his spotter – to help steady him.
Jason shrugged him off almost instantly.
Bruce had tried to offer direction, “tighten your core and–”
“I KNOW,” Jason had screamed at him.
Bruce paused. Staring down at him. His fists were clenched by his sides. His chest rising and falling much too rapidly as his nostrils flared to try and keep up.
Jason turned, putting Bruce at his side once more before trying the move again.
Bruce followed him as his spotter. Realizing, Jason wasn’t mad because he had been corrected, but because he hadn’t been able to get the skill as quickly as normal. He was struggling, unable to force his body to do what his mind wanted it to.
0o0o0
Mostly, when they would butt heads about a disagreement, Jason would walk off. Deciding that isolation was a better option than whatever was bothering him.
Bruce hadn’t been able to find where Jason disappeared to every time. Usually it was his bedroom or the library, but sometimes… it was under the kitchen table. Bruce would watch from the cave, see him crawl underneath the old wooden kitchen set with a book. He would be under there for hours –seemingly reading– before coming out on his own hours later.
Bruce had been getting concerned, however, based on his research into the matter, none of Jason’s patterns fit personality disorders. The closest fit was BPD but even then it wasn’t close enough for him to consider looping a medical professional into the loop of their lives.
It did however, match with child abandonment; hypervigilance, emotional instability and hyper-independence.
He was still stuck in the survival mindset.
0o0o0
Bruce had watched Jason disappear from the sparring mat, fuming with his anger as he yet again failed at completing a combo correctly as he stormed to the showers. Bruce stayed at the computer, pretending to keep his undivided attention on the work at hand while he was actually keeping most of his attention on the door to the locker room behind him.
After about 20 minutes, Jason re-emerged. His hair damp and wearing a pair of navy sweats and a black t-shirt. His socked feet leading him towards the stone stairs leading up to the Manor above.
Bruce let him go, feigning his attention on the screen before him.
0o0o0
Bruce walked through the quiet halls of his childhood home. He had followed Jason’s path on the camera feed, knowing that the boy had gone to the kitchen to sit under the table once more to read.
As Bruce approached the kitchen, he altered his walking pattern, making it so his footsteps would be heard. He crossed the threshold, walking slowly to the table before lowering himself to the ground a few feet away from the legs. As Bruce made himself as comfortable as he could on the cold tile floor, he made eye contact with his son.
Jason stared back at him, eyes slightly widened and his shoulders raised as he held his book in one hand. His finger marking his page with the book closed, keeping his page.
Bruce broke the silence, “what do you usually do when you’re upset.” He didn't bother with the preamble, even though Dick had explained to him numerous times that bombarding someone with questions wasn’t the way to be a parent.
Jason furrowed his brows and tilted his head slightly in confusion. “What?”
They stare at each other for a few moments, both confused for different reasons.
Bruce had noticed that Jason’s only coping mechanisms seemed to be anger or running away from whatever was upsetting him. He just didn’t know if Jason was aware he was doing it.
0o0o0
They had found a body on patrol. A woman had overdosed on her rooftop, her body was in rigor mortis when they had found her.
Jason had been quite on patrol following that.
His grappling tendencies altered slightly so that he remained closer to Bruce for the rest of the night.
Now, as Bruce sat at the computer, –typing up his report for the night as Jason emerged from the showers – in the reflection of the screen before him, he noticed that Jason had his hood over his head. Bruce continued on as he was, typing up the report as Jaosn approached quietly. He was staring at the ground, his hands in his pockets as he all but waddled closer.
Jason stopped to stand by his side. He didn’t initiate anything, just quietly stood by Bruce’s side as he typed. Continuing to stare at the ground with his face hidden and his hands in his hoodie pocket.
As the months had ticked by –as they had grown accustomed to each other– Jason had opened up in his own way. He didn’t know how to ask for it, when he himself didn’t really understand what he needed. In those instances, he just kept close. Likely finding that proximity helped.
Bruce had tried to address it before, somewhat hovering. It had resulted in Jason lashing out before running away to isolate himself for the next few days.
Since then, Bruce had never acknowledged it, just accepted it.
Bruce continued typing, only halfway done with the report when something touched his arm.
Bruce paused his typing, looking towards Jason to be met with the top of his hood as Jason reached up to poke his bicep. “Yes,” Bruce asked.
Jason didn’t reply, but he lowered his arm. Resting his hand on the arm, rest for a moment before giving it a light pull. It was hardly even a pull, more so just Jason trying to convey to Bruce that he wanted Bruce to swivel his chair.
Bruce obliged, turning so that he was properly facing Jason.
Then… nothing happened.
Jason continued to look at the floor as Bruce looked down at his hooded crown.
They stayed like this for almost 20 seconds, a stand off of Bruce not wanting to scare Jason away as Jason worked up the courage to do…something.
Eventually, he did.
Jason reached out again, this time, his hand finding Bruce. He pulled at Bruce’s wrist, and Bruce followed his guidance. He extended his arm and Jason guided him. Once his elbow was straight, Jason continued to pull without taking a step back.
Bruce leaned forward, confused but accepting the odd behavior.
Then, Jason let go of his wrist, taking a tentative half step forward, he raised his arms so that his loose fists sat under his chin as he pushed his forehead into chest.
It wasn’t a hug, or cuddling.
Jason was stiff, his shoulders raised and his breath short and rapid as he remained on alert.
Bruce lowered his arm, wrapping it around Jason's shoulders, moving slowly.
Jason accepted it. He tensed for a moment before settling into it though.
0o0o0
Jason’s soft breaths were painting the underside of his chin. The boy fast asleep in his lap as Bruce saved the report for the night's patrol.