( though the shadowy pool still remains there underneath him — underneath them, it doesn't seek to pull him under as it had been before. rather, it gently sways back and forth beneath them, as if waiting — as if considering, much like bruce himself is as jason speaks.

and, much like jason, his own voice remains quiet when he finally finds it. )

I saw what Joker did to Robin here.

( he swallows. jaw tight. dissociating for just a moment before he comes back. breath on his lips. )

He didn't even do anything for him. Didn't hunt Joker down and make him answer for what he did to him. What he did to you.

( he being the bruce— the batman they all know. the one before him. yeah. that's also something he's been dealing with on top of everything else. )