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( At that, he puts both hands on Jason's shoulders. )

Jason. Listen to me. I will pull you out, no matter how deep you think you're in it. I will not let you drown.

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[Jason looks up at Bruce.]

I have to do this. Otherwise I’m gonna keep having nightmares and you’ll fire me too.

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I’m not him, Jason.

( Another squeeze to his shoulders. )

I’m right here.

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[Jason looks away as the memory of him and Bruce in Crime Alley plays in his mind. When he raises his head, his teeth are clenched.]

You promise?

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( Hand coming up to hold the back of Jason's head, he keeps him there — nearly presses their brows together. )

I promise to be here for you.

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[Jason knows he probably shouldn’t lay so much trust at Bruce’s feet and the worry that Bruce will fire him continues to linger, but maybe Bruce can help.

Maybe he can dig Jason out of this mess he’s created for himself.]

It’s Crane. And he connected me to a guy named Silco.

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( He had suspected much when he mentioned the fear antidote. At that, his hold to the back of Jason's head grows a little more desperate. )

Listen to me. Crane is not your friend. He's dangerous and he'll use you to get what he wants.

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He’s the only one who can make the antidote

[Jason understands what Bruce is saying but he can’t give up on the antidote. Not now.]

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( Still he holds to him, afraid to let him go. )

We'll find another way. You don't have to do this alone.

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There isn’t another way.

[Jason sags a little, growing more and more aware of just how deep a hole he’s dug for himself.]

If I don’t keep going back, he’ll think something’s up.

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( The desperation is not only in the way he holds to Jason, but in his voice, too, then. )

I lost one son already, I'm not going to lose another.

( Damian is here — alive — sure. But he doesn't remember him or their time together and if something like that or worse were to happen to Jason, well. He can only take so much. )

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[The word ‘son’ temporarily halts Jason’s spiraling thoughts. He remembers when his Bruce last used it, just before calling Jason a mistake.]

I can’t, Bruce. I can’t stop.

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( Softly: )

You can, Jason. Because I believe in you.

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[Jason looks away again, down at his food before shaking his head.

I have to do this, Bruce.

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( He lets go of the back of Jason's head — drops his hand to his side and just stares down. Numb. Maybe he was right. He can't do this — be what any of them need. No one needs him.

So, he nods. Slowly. Turns back to the food and stares to it before he pinches the bridge of his nose. Headache still there. He'd forgotten in his concern for the other. Looking ahead, he licks over his lips, eyes distant. )

I need to lay down. Head's hurting again.

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Bruce, wait. [It looks to Jason as if Bruce is giving up on him.]

I’ll try, okay? Please. Please don’t give up on me.

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I'm not.

( He's just giving up on himself. )

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[Jason has heard this before. But is the antidote more important than approval?]

I’ll do it. I’ll go straight to Crane.

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I know.

( Nothing he says is enough for Jason. )

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Bruce. I promise. As soon as I wake up I’ll go talk to Crane.

[Jason’s desperation grows.]

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( He wants to slip back into the darkness and disappear within it. )

Or you could just stay here.

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I could do that.

[Jason watches Bruce, in case he’s about to drop him instead.]

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Then stay.

( If reaching out to him as he had... if calling him his son isn't enough to persuade Jason... then maybe he really isn't enough for him. )

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I… [Jason nods before studying Bruce a moment or two.]

Did you mean what you said? Calling me ‘son’?

[He rolls right into,] My Bruce said that like ten seconds before he called me a mistake.

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I wouldn't have said it if I didn't.

( Bruce— this Bruce is very wary of who he lets into his circle and when he comes to care for someone, no matter how much he might try and deny it to himself, eventually the truth comes out. Like it had with Damian as well. )

And you're not a mistake. You never have been.