( everything about this should make him tense up β should make him stare like a deer in headlights almost and yet... he doesn't. there's something about this β about what they've both been through today and the previous time and the previous before that that has bruce sitting there. quiet. feeling some sort of way that makes him wonder if this is how it all starts. if this is how he starts to want to be there for them, starting with a young and newly orphaned dick at some point.
this connection so strongly felt through so much pain that he can almost feel it himself. even if different β even if not entirely the same, it's familiar to him and he hates that there are those around him who feel this, too.
it's then that a thought touches him. i do what you can't, jason had said to him and sure. he's right. so maybe for him it's more... i'll do what he β the other him β can't. or at least... try. no matter how tired it makes him, no matter how much he might wonder if it even matters. just like with gotham, he needs to try.
letting jason lean against him like he is β taking the moment to just try and keep it together in ways bruce has felt and done himself when it's just been himself alone, he lifts the hand up closest to jason, and gently presses it to the crown of his head, fingers softly carding their way through dark strands of hair as he does. unspoken, the sentiment is still there regardless; i've got you. )
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this connection so strongly felt through so much pain that he can almost feel it himself. even if different β even if not entirely the same, it's familiar to him and he hates that there are those around him who feel this, too.
it's then that a thought touches him. i do what you can't, jason had said to him and sure. he's right. so maybe for him it's more... i'll do what he β the other him β can't. or at least... try. no matter how tired it makes him, no matter how much he might wonder if it even matters. just like with gotham, he needs to try.
letting jason lean against him like he is β taking the moment to just try and keep it together in ways bruce has felt and done himself when it's just been himself alone, he lifts the hand up closest to jason, and gently presses it to the crown of his head, fingers softly carding their way through dark strands of hair as he does. unspoken, the sentiment is still there regardless; i've got you. )