Jason shook his head, opening his mouth to argue. As everyone seemed to like pointing out, he hadn't always listened to Bruce or done what he was told to. That was what had gotten him killed in the end. But little things, like 'wait here' or 'don't just charge in' were one thing. He had had a good idea of how far he could push before Bruce would decide to throw him back out. But if something really mattered, if disobeying would have gotten him dumped back in Crime Alley? He would have done anything for Bruce, fucking anything to be allowed to stay. Pretending otherwise would be a lie.
He abruptly stood up, pacing restlessly again. "It's not- I could have left-" If he wanted to? But that wasn't right. He'd been Bruce Wayne's adopted son and who wouldn't try and return a kid to the richest man in the city? Maybe he could've left Gotham if he wanted to escape Bruce but he wouldn't have had any way to get a job so he'd be back to fending for himself like before. And Batman wouldn't tolerate an ex-Robin stealing.
He hadn't wanted to leave anyway - he'd believed in Batman and what they did. Most if the time. When he didn't though, he still did things Bruce's way no matter how he felt. Jason sighed in frustration, trying to find the right words. "My- The guy who adopted me. He wasn't bad. I used.... used to think he was the best person in the world, even if he didn't care much about me. But."
But what? If Bruce had killed the Joker.... or if he'd just let Jason himself do it... If he'd come and found him that night in the cemetery or after that.... Would he have gone back?
yesyesgodyesplease
Bruce didn't want him, hadn't ever wanted him, he knew that. But. "I don't... It's a lot easier. Not getting to make the choice." It wasn't a good answer, was barely even a answer but it was the best he had.
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He abruptly stood up, pacing restlessly again. "It's not- I could have left-" If he wanted to? But that wasn't right. He'd been Bruce Wayne's adopted son and who wouldn't try and return a kid to the richest man in the city? Maybe he could've left Gotham if he wanted to escape Bruce but he wouldn't have had any way to get a job so he'd be back to fending for himself like before. And Batman wouldn't tolerate an ex-Robin stealing.
He hadn't wanted to leave anyway - he'd believed in Batman and what they did. Most if the time. When he didn't though, he still did things Bruce's way no matter how he felt. Jason sighed in frustration, trying to find the right words. "My- The guy who adopted me. He wasn't bad. I used.... used to think he was the best person in the world, even if he didn't care much about me. But."
But what? If Bruce had killed the Joker.... or if he'd just let Jason himself do it... If he'd come and found him that night in the cemetery or after that.... Would he have gone back?
yesyesgodyesplease
Bruce didn't want him, hadn't ever wanted him, he knew that. But. "I don't... It's a lot easier. Not getting to make the choice." It wasn't a good answer, was barely even a answer but it was the best he had.