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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.

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[Jason blinks a few times to really absorb what Bruce really means. ‘Son’ is a part of a unit, ‘son’ is part of a family.]

Son. [Jason repeats out loud.]

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( He ducks his head then, licking over his lips some. )

If it's... too much for you...

( He knows he had a relationship with the Bruce he knows, regardless of how difficult and, in the end, upsetting it became. Like with Damian, he's not his father — not even his father figure and it's foolish of him to think he could be, but. Sometimes... it just happens. To care for someone. )

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No! [Jason surges forward as if afraid Bruce might rescind the offer.] It’s not. It’s not too much.

[Jason watches Bruce for a moment.]

Just don’t take it back.

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( At that, blue eyes lift their gaze up to catch Jason’s and he stares to the boy. Quiet. A softness there in those eyes of his he doesn’t always show others. )

Not even with my final breath would I do that.

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[Jason watches Bruce for a moment before nodding.]

Then yeah. Call me ‘son’ if you want.

[Which is honestly monumental.]

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( At that, he slowly licks over his lips — lets go of a soft breath. )

You don’t have to call me anything other than Bruce.

( Damian called him father, but. That’s just how Damian is. )

I mean I don’t expect anything. I’m fine with being Bruce.

( And that alone is a strange thing for him to say. )