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[batsymbol]

It's more or less as you saw it. I was just working on a mask.

( Which is when he glances down to Jason then — namely his pants. Something he still needs to decide on for him. )

[copsormasks]

Did you go with goggles?

[Jason minicks wearing them by circling his eyes with his fingers.]

[batsymbol]

Yeah. Reinforcing them though.

( So they're not just goggles. )

[copsormasks]

Reinforcing them?

[Jason drops his hands.]

With what?

[batsymbol]

Whatever I can find useful at the junkyard or the shops when things show up.

( He doesn't have his experimental Wayne tech here to work with, but. It's not as though there's completely nothing he can use. He's just being a bit more creative with it all.

A glance to his face, he nods then. )

How's that doing?

( His nose, he means. )

[copsormasks]

Still being a pain.

[He touches around the worst of it and shakes his head.]

Barbara said it could take weeks.

[batsymbol]

Give or take. Luckily it wasn't too bad.

( Could have been worse, basically. )

Are you settling in ok?

[copsormasks]

It’s weird. Being in one place. I’ve been running for a while.

[Jason shrugs.]

It’s what I did before Bruce, too.

[batsymbol]

( He nods. Quiet. Hands slipping into his pockets then — what with the grapple gun set aside now — as he stands there. )

You ever feel like you need to be away from here, just keep in touch.

[copsormasks]

Wait, really?

[Jason looks startled as he stares at Bruce.]

[batsymbol]

This isn't a prison, Jason. I won't force you to be here if you don't want to be. But you always have a room here for as long as you want and I won't turn you away.

( In case Jason didn't know that... which it seems he didn't. )

[copsormasks]

[Jason is so used to nomad-ing his way around Etraya and his experience with the Titans that being offered a no-strings place to stay is a bit of a mind screw at first.]

I mean I like it here. I’m— I’m still waiting for the belfry to show up somehow.

[Despite Bruce indicating that the belfry doesn’t know he’s here.]

[batsymbol]

They don't have much reason to come around here. I'm not the Bruce they know.

( He shrugs. Simple as that. )

They all stick together. I stay here.

( Because this is the closest thing he has to home. )

[copsormasks]

Then I’ll stay here.

[Jason says it firmly, looking at Bruce with intent.]

You might not be the Bruce I know, but that’s a fucking good thing. Don’t be him. He’s a dick.

[batsymbol]

( At that, his gaze drops. )

All I can be is myself. Whoever that is.

[copsormasks]

[Jason frowns and takes a couple steps toward Bruce before crossing the rest of the way over.]

Look, you don’t have to know. I mean, I thought I knew who I was but that wasn’t good enough for anyone.

[He pauses, realizing that what he’s saying isn’t exactly reassuring.]

You don’t have to know who you are. ‘s not like that’s gonna make me leave.

[In case that was a distant worry.]

[batsymbol]

( At that, he looks up — blue eyes sweeping over Jason's face and, after a moment of licking over his lips, he swallows. )

You're good enough for me.

( Even as he says that, it's done in a way that's soft and genuine. )

[copsormasks]

[If that isn’t an emotional gut punch, nothing ever will be. Jason looks down and away. After years of yearning for that affirmation, it’s weird to so suddenly hear it when Jason had been trying to comfort Bruce.

Then it begs the question that if he is good enough for this Bruce, why couldn’t have been enough for his own Bruce?

Instead of a response, Bruce is met with a heavy silence as Jason processes.]

[batsymbol]

( Matching that silence, he licks over his lips and lets his gaze drop then. )

No matter what happens here, I'm glad I got to know you, Jason.

[copsormasks]

[Jason furrows his brows as he looks up from the ground.]

No one’s ever said that to me before.

[batsymbol]

I’m sorry no one has.

( Doesn’t make it any less true for him, though. )

[copsormasks]

Ditto, though. About getting to know you. You’ve given me a lot more chances than anyone else has.

[His own Bruce included.]

[batsymbol]

You gave me a chance, too.

( Despite his reservations about being around Bruce Wayne, if even a different one. )

[copsormasks]

Well, you’re a lot easier to be around than my Bruce. He always preferred Dick.

[Jason tries to shrug that sentiment off.]

[batsymbol]

I don't have any of you in my Gotham.

( Whether or not they exist, well. He doesn't know yet. )

It's just me and Alfred. ( A beat. ) Gordon, too.