scathefires | ic inbox.

I know not everyone here's from the same place. I mean--my dad's here, but he's not my dad. ( it's complicated and painful in ways he doesn't want to talk about, doesn't want to think about, because while clark may be here, it's not the clark he grew up with, the one who picked him up when he fell, who held tight onto him. he's still clark, he still treats jon with love and respect and he loves him all the same, but. . it isn't the same. ) But I think you're wrong.

( eyes focus on jason instead of the massive pile of dogs around them, blue staring deep into blue. jon's gaze is steady, determination shining bright. ) I think that. . you've been through some stuff probably, just like Damian has. I think that you try really hard not to be someone who has a family, but you still had Bruce once, right? And these guys love you a lot, see? ( he'll even pick up a stray puppy and set it down on top of jason's leg. they'd love most people, but that's not the point. )

I think everyone's capable of being loved like that.

[It's heartbreaking, how much this kid believes. Was Jason ever like this? Maybe a little bit, in that time before his death, when he had Bruce to support him, a partner, but never quite like this. His heart was always tainted by the harsh awareness that the world was not a fair and just place, even as a child of Jon's age, and after? As he got older, grew up, saw more of the sickness that held sway over his city? Forget it.

He hates himself a little for what he's about to tell Jon. But there's no point in hiding it; most of it's already been mentioned on the network.]

Bruce ... [he starts, meeting Jon's unshrinking gaze, but stops again, mouth pressed into a thin line. Even just saying his name hurts.]

When I was a kid, probably just a little older than you, that's when I met him. Both my parents were dead - I was alone. And he took me in, trained me to be Robin. I thought - maybe I could do some good, make a difference. I wanted to be the best, you know? Make him proud. Show him he wasn't wrong to take a chance on me.

[He pauses, inhales a slow, shaky breath, drops his gaze back to the dogs, those pairs of warm eyes all turned on him.]

When I was sixteen - we were out on a mission, and I screwed up. I got caught, and I got killed. A Lazarus Pit brought me back, but - it didn't matter. Bruce didn't care. The psycho who killed me, he's still running around, terrorizing people.

[Which isn't a direct lie, but it isn't the full truth, either; the Joker was locked away in Arkham until the Red Hood provoked the Black Mask into breaking him out. The Joker's recent spat of mayhem happened because Jason set the conditions for it to happen. Jason gives the nearest dog a final pat on the shoulder and looks back to Jon.]

You remember how beat up I was when I showed up here? Bruce did that.

[Again - true, but not the whole story. Bruce said he didn't want to fight Jason, and Jason insisted. Him or me - decide, now! Jason shakes his head, expression pinched from holding back the pain.]

Does that - any of that - sound like a guy who's got a family to you?

( jon has been learning to catch onto lies, to hear the verbal ticks, hear the way heartbeats skip a bit when someone starts lying through their teeth, to see the way someone's face responds when they know they're telling something wrong--the twitch of an eye, corner of their lips, whatever. things once would think twice when seeing, but he doesn't catch any of that on jason's face when he speaks. jason levels with him, opens up to him, is honest with him, which is. nice. he appreciates it.

lips press tight together when he finishes speaking, brows pinched tight together and nose wrinkled because that. well. he can't say it doesn't sound like bruce wayne, like batman. but it doesn't match up well, either. he'll have to ask tim or damian for the full story later. )

No, it doesn't. But I'm sure there's more to it than that, right? Why would he hurt you? ( doesn't even start with the whole being orphaned at around jon's age. he hasn't had his parents since he got here, sure--but he's had damian and kon, so jon hasn't been alone. he wouldn't know what to do if his dad and mom died. )

But I'm so sorry that happened. All of that. No one should ever have to lose both their parents or. . or die that young. I'm really, really sorry, Jason. ( his voice cracks a little, on the verge of tears but not quite there. )

Didn't like what I had to say, I guess.

[Again, this is more or less true, though incomplete. What Jason had to say was that Bruce should've killed the Joker in retribution for his own murder, to prevent the Joker's future misdeeds, to put a stop to his brand of sickness, once and for all. Jason instigated the fight, and Bruce responded predictably - with his fists.

Doesn't matter anymore, Jason thinks, and even he knows that's a lie. He's never going to get over that betrayal, that loss, that heartbreak of knowing he wasn't important enough. He was forgotten; he was replaced, with a blood son.

But Jon - he's just a kid, he doesn't need to hear all of Jason's assorted bullshit. He's already heard enough, especially if he's got issues with his own dad, and he's a good kid, Jason can tell - he's more upset by the circumstances of Jason's life and death and life again than Bruce ever was.]

Hey - don't worry about it. All that sh- [no, Jason, no swearing in front of small children] - stuff's in the past. I've been on my own for a long time now - I'm used to it.

[He's better off on his own, in his opinion. Some people just aren't cut out for things like friends, a family. Jason's self aware enough to recognize that he's one of them.]

And you know what they say - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

[Or maybe in his case, it's what does kill you that makes you stronger. His mouth twists into a faint smile as he gives the pup settled in his lap a good scratch behind the ears, and the dog's tail thumps enthusiastically.]

These are some good dogs you've got, Jon.

( jason stuttering over his words doesn’t go unnoticed, but jon’s already used to others cursing around him—so it doesn’t necessarily bother him at all. the topic of batman actually being an awful person does a little, he can’t pretend it doesn’t. it shows on his face, in the curve of his lips and the light to his eyes. jason isn’t lying, which means he truly does believe all of it. jason’s smile doesn’t lessen jon’s own unpleasant expression at all, but it does help him feel at least a little better. )

No one should ever have to be alone. ( that’s too lonely. too sad to think about. the fact that this jason has been on his own for years almost makes him want to cry. but he doesn’t. the last thing he needs is a second robin calling him superbaby all the time. damian is bad enough. ) They’re good until you live with them all the time! They like to wake me up at night barking and scratching at the door to get out.

( dogs is a safe topic, he’s sure. ) Want to go on a walk? It’s about time for me to take them out again, anyway.

[Yeah, a topic change is a good idea. Jason already has a couple of regrets for saying as much as he has. Jon doesn't need his bullshit. Kids should be allowed to be kids, and this place makes it hard enough as it is.]

Yeah ... a walk sounds good. You got leashes for 'em all?

Yeah, of course!

( it's easy to swing himself back up onto his feet, rocking forward on the balls of his feet before taking off towards the open closet. he swings the door the rest of the way open, pulls off a pile of leashes from where they're hanging on the inside of the door. )

We can walk them around the horse stables, they like that.

[He nudges the dog in his lap up and climbs to his feet, careful not to step on any tails or paws with his giant boots.]

They all know how to sit when you tell 'em to?

They answer to whistles.

( which he demonstrates, lips pursing tight and making an obnoxiously loud, high-pitched sound through them. all the dogs immediately sit in response. except for the mastiff. )

[Jason laughs quietly and nods, clearly impressed.]

They're very good dogs. [Except maybe the mastiff.] All right, which leash goes with which dog, or does it matter?

They're color coded to their collars, but it doesn't really matter too much. ( jason notice an array of justice league-themed leashes and collars; the mastiff, in example, has a nice, green leash to match his green collar, brucie has a yellow and black leash to match his collar, clarkie has blue and red, lo has blue and purple. . )

[Jason makes his way over to the collection of leashes and grabs a handful, starts sorting and attaching them according to collars. He doesn't speak while he works, but Jon will probably notice him carefully petting each of the dogs on the head or scratching them gently behind the ears.]

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