( bruce not only guards himself physically with the suit he wears, he guards himself emotionally with the people around him. sometimes he thinks he disconnects himself from whatever he feels. other times, it feels more like he replaces it all with anger instead.
but seeing his parents again β seeing them like that and seeing his father be shot again like he was... that shouldn't have been anything he had to witness again. not like that. not when it still hurts him so much. when he still feels guilt for being unable to bring them justice.
he lost in those thoughts when jason reaches up to touch his forearm and he snaps himself from them, looking to jason as he speaks.
he's right. he doesn't need to apologize for having feelings. but for what happened to jason? for his freezing up when he should know better and being unable to turn that fear into anger... that's his fault. that could have cost them a lot more.
he stares to jason for a little longer β doesn't let the heartache there in his eyes fall to his cheeks. instead, a slow lick of his lips, he gives a faint not before he presses the wet gauze to jason's cheek, cleaning up the wound his father gave to him. )
You did what you had to.
( his voice is soft β a little trembling before he clears his throat and just lets himself focus on cleaning up that wound. hopefully it doesn't sting too much.
letting his gaze drop back to jason's face, he pauses in what he does. )
You shouldn't have had to though.
( he should have been able to handle it, but. he couldn't.
setting the gauze down, he reaches for the tension bandages, placing them in jason's hand, keeping his own there with jason's for a moment. )
Thank you.
( because he doesn't think he could have been able to. not yet. )
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but seeing his parents again β seeing them like that and seeing his father be shot again like he was... that shouldn't have been anything he had to witness again. not like that. not when it still hurts him so much. when he still feels guilt for being unable to bring them justice.
he lost in those thoughts when jason reaches up to touch his forearm and he snaps himself from them, looking to jason as he speaks.
he's right. he doesn't need to apologize for having feelings. but for what happened to jason? for his freezing up when he should know better and being unable to turn that fear into anger... that's his fault. that could have cost them a lot more.
he stares to jason for a little longer β doesn't let the heartache there in his eyes fall to his cheeks. instead, a slow lick of his lips, he gives a faint not before he presses the wet gauze to jason's cheek, cleaning up the wound his father gave to him. )
You did what you had to.
( his voice is soft β a little trembling before he clears his throat and just lets himself focus on cleaning up that wound. hopefully it doesn't sting too much.
letting his gaze drop back to jason's face, he pauses in what he does. )
You shouldn't have had to though.
( he should have been able to handle it, but. he couldn't.
setting the gauze down, he reaches for the tension bandages, placing them in jason's hand, keeping his own there with jason's for a moment. )
Thank you.
( because he doesn't think he could have been able to. not yet. )