Chapter Text
Rain pattered against the vast windows of the manor, causing an echo within the building. A loud thunderclap made Jason jump out of his skin. The shaking got worse as the rain and thunder became louder and louder. He heard the door creak open, and the familiar pattern of footsteps that belonged to none other..
“Jaylad?” Bruce gently spoke, as to not spook him even further. As he stepped into Jason’s room, he spotted a small figure curled up under the covers. He also noticed the violent shaking. Bruce had just come back from a mission and immediately rushed back home to check on Jason.
He knew how hard thunderstorms were on him, though he didn’t fully know why, if it was a normal child’s fright of thunder or if it was something deeper. Only that he should always be there for him during those times.
“Dad?” Asked a small, trembling voice. Jason peeked out from under the covers, and once he saw Bruce, he kicked off the covers and ran to his dad. He clung to him so hard; he was afraid if he didn’t, he would disappear.
Bruce held him in his arms, tightly. “It’s okay, Jaylad, I’ve got you. I’ve got you,” he whispered reassurances into his son’s ear in that soft tone he always uses with him.
“I’m scared, dad,” he admitted, the tremble in his voice less than when he first spoke. “I’m a big boy, I shouldn’t be scared. I need to be brave.”
Bruce’s heart clenched at the thought of his 8 year old thinking he shouldn’t feel fear, a regular emotion everyone feels. “Jason, darling, would you mind telling me where you learnt that from?” He asked in a gentle tone. He was already 99% sure where he learnt it from, but just to check.
Jason fiddled with the hem of his shirt, a sure sign that he’s nervous “Willis,” he answered meekly, not looking Bruce in the eyes. “But it’s okay dad, he was right. Boys shouldn’t cry, it makes me weak.”
Bruce tried his best not to show the anger he felt towards that twisted man show onto his face. “Hey sweetheart, I need you to listen to me very carefully, okay?” Jason nodded slowly. “Crying does not make you weak. Showing emotion does not make you weak. Having feelings does not make you weak. Every person feels scared, they feel anxious, they feel sad. That’s normal, Jaylad,” he gave Jason some time to process what he just said.
“Even I cry sometimes; does that make me weak?” He knew it was unfair to ask that of him, but he needed his son to understand.
“No, dad! You’re the strongest person I know! You’re not weak!” Jason argued frantically, eyes wide, desperately trying to reassure Bruce that he wasn’t talking about him.
“It’s okay, Jay, thank you for letting me know. See? I cry, and I’m still strong, right? So are you, my love,” Bruce explained gently, trying to make it make sense for him.
Jason sniffed and looked at him with those wide, glassy, blue eyes. “But that’s different.”
“How so, darling?”
“You can cry because you save the city, You’re Batman! You help people, it’s okay for you to cry. But for me,” he paused, eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I’m just some dumb kid. I shouldn’t cry, it makes me weaker than I already am.” A particularly loud thunderclap made Jason flinch and hide his head in the crook of Bruce’s neck. Bruce’s hold around him tightened.
“Jason, listen to me. You are one of the strongest people I know. You have been through things most people your age don’t normally go through. Not many people come back from that, you know? You recovering, and moving forward despite what you went through proves that you are strong, my love. You are so strong, my sweetheart,” Bruce said confidently while rubbing Jason’s back.
He hoped and prayed that this made Jason understand he wasn’t weak, and that sorry excuse he had as a ‘parent’ can go rot in hell ten times over.
“So-so even if I cry because of thunder, I’m still-I’m still strong?” Asked Jason, while trying to contain his sniffles and hiccupping.
“Of course, my darling. Did you know adults are also scared of thunder?” Bruce asked, hoping to see his son smile. It had the intended effect as Jason turned his neck so fast, Bruce was concerned he’d get whiplash.
“Really?!” He exclaimed happily, a wide smile plastered on his face, showing off the gap that belonged to the tooth he lost last week. “Is Wonder Woman scared of thunder?”
His son’s obsession with Wonder Woman came as a surprise to him at first, when Jason very shyly admitted it, thinking Bruce would be upset. But from then on, he found it to be such an adorable admiration.
“Not exactly, but it is a Justice League member,” he told him, wanting to lift his spirits by making him guess.
“Hmm, is it…Superman?”
“Nope.”
“Hmmm, is it Green Arrow?”
“Close, but no.”
“Close as in they’re related to the color green, right?”
Bruce really was raising a smart child. He nodded.
“Hmm. Oh, oh I know! Green Lantern!” Jason guessed excitedly, unable to stop himself from bouncing up and down on Bruce’s lap. Bruce let out a small laugh, unable to stop himself from laughing at his son’s antics. “Great job, Jaylad! You got it, my love,” he picked him and spun him in the air. Jason let out a giggle filled with absolute joy.
“I love Green Lantern. His ring is so cool and green. And it glows!” Jason was babbling while Bruce was guessing where Jason would choose to sleep. “Have you ever touched the ring, dad?”
Bruce, mildly startled out of his thinking, replied somewhat confused. “Uh, no, no, I don’t think so. He’s really careful about it and he doesn’t let anyone touch it.”
“Aw man, I wish I could touch it,” Jason pouted.
“Sorry, Jaylad. We’ll ask him in the future, but right now I need to know where you would like to sleep tonight, darling,” Bruce asked his son, who was clearly thinking about a certain green ring.
“Huh? Oh, um. In your room, please,” Jason answered shyly. He still was getting used to actually admitting out loud when he needed to sleep with Bruce. He’s done so many times, it’s just admitting it is what troubles him.
“Thank you, Jay,” Bruce kissed his temple. He picked up Jason’s Batman and Wonder Woman plushies, along with his Green Lantern blanket, and made his way to his room.
Once he got Jason all tucked in and made sure he was comfortable, Bruce headed to the bathroom to get ready for the night. And if Bruce hugged Jason a little tighter that night, that would be his business, and his business only.