[The sincerity, compassion, and empathy Jason sense from Robbie are powerful enough to startle Jason and pull him before he could disassociate further. Jason's own emotional and psychological guards are dropped. All of Jason's feelings and thoughts are free for Robbie to sense.
When was the last time someone was compassionate to Jason without him thinking there was a catch to it? Without him thinking things will eventually fall apart? Jason's well aware that his actions are extreme and that most people don't agree with him. Most people can't understand the things he's been through. Plenty are also quick to judge from their high horses. He had already resigned himself to being alone for the rest of his life.
With his family it's complicated. He misses having one but knows none of them will ever agree with what he's done or with what he still wants to do. Even with Bruce and despite their talk last month, it's hard not to think his love is conditional. Coming to this alternate Earth and meeting additional adopted siblings hasn't helped as now he struggles to think if he was replaceable. Bruce has told him he's not but still. It's hard to trust him again after he chose to keep his moral code. It's also hard to believe anyone in the family when they tell him that eventually he'll reconcile and come back into the fold. After all, he has no regrets about what he's done.
Jason's learned that in the end, he can only depend on himself.
Jason looks back at Robbie. He's heard from so many other people now (especially from Bruce) about how wrong his actions are. The way Robbie is talking to him is different. Instead of the usual morality debate, it's about Jason's own well-being. How often does that angle get used?
In the shared mindspace, Jason knows what Robbie is doing isn't a ploy. Everything he's saying is real. It's shocking but also comforting. It's a level of comfort Jason hasn't had in years.
This also reinforces what Jason had concluded after going through Robbie's overwhelming despair, guilt, and depression. Monsters don't feel what Robbie feels. Monsters don't have empathy for others. Robbie isn't a monster. Undoubtedly the Stamford Massacre is a tragedy but Robbie's connection to it isn't that of being a sociopathic mass murderer]
Thank you.
[The words come out almost like a croak. The feelings Jason sense from Robbie are almost overwhelming. He's not used to them but they're also comforting. Jason can't help but become deeply appreciative for what Robbie's doing for him]
I can't say I understand everything you've gone through either but I know true evil.
[Jason takes a deep breath in and then slowly exhales before continuing. He's trying not to have his mind slip back into that warehouse again]
I know true evil and that's not you. They don't feel the way you do. You still care. You still feel guilt and compassion. That's a lot more than what some other criminals have. What you're doing now by talking to me says a lot about you already.
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When was the last time someone was compassionate to Jason without him thinking there was a catch to it? Without him thinking things will eventually fall apart? Jason's well aware that his actions are extreme and that most people don't agree with him. Most people can't understand the things he's been through. Plenty are also quick to judge from their high horses. He had already resigned himself to being alone for the rest of his life.
With his family it's complicated. He misses having one but knows none of them will ever agree with what he's done or with what he still wants to do. Even with Bruce and despite their talk last month, it's hard not to think his love is conditional. Coming to this alternate Earth and meeting additional adopted siblings hasn't helped as now he struggles to think if he was replaceable. Bruce has told him he's not but still. It's hard to trust him again after he chose to keep his moral code. It's also hard to believe anyone in the family when they tell him that eventually he'll reconcile and come back into the fold. After all, he has no regrets about what he's done.
Jason's learned that in the end, he can only depend on himself.
Jason looks back at Robbie. He's heard from so many other people now (especially from Bruce) about how wrong his actions are. The way Robbie is talking to him is different. Instead of the usual morality debate, it's about Jason's own well-being. How often does that angle get used?
In the shared mindspace, Jason knows what Robbie is doing isn't a ploy. Everything he's saying is real. It's shocking but also comforting. It's a level of comfort Jason hasn't had in years.
This also reinforces what Jason had concluded after going through Robbie's overwhelming despair, guilt, and depression. Monsters don't feel what Robbie feels. Monsters don't have empathy for others. Robbie isn't a monster. Undoubtedly the Stamford Massacre is a tragedy but Robbie's connection to it isn't that of being a sociopathic mass murderer]
Thank you.
[The words come out almost like a croak. The feelings Jason sense from Robbie are almost overwhelming. He's not used to them but they're also comforting. Jason can't help but become deeply appreciative for what Robbie's doing for him]
I can't say I understand everything you've gone through either but I know true evil.
[Jason takes a deep breath in and then slowly exhales before continuing. He's trying not to have his mind slip back into that warehouse again]
I know true evil and that's not you. They don't feel the way you do. You still care. You still feel guilt and compassion. That's a lot more than what some other criminals have. What you're doing now by talking to me says a lot about you already.