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Bruce was sick of waiting.
He had called for Jason to get ready about half an hour ago, and since his shout of approval, he hasn't heard from him.
He sits next to the batcomputer dressed fully in batsuit armour. He's beeing ready for hours.
"Jason!" He calls again, standing from his office chair, staring up the stairs to the manor. Where in the hell was he? He's never taken this long to get ready before. Is he alright? Did something happen?
Before his thoughts spiral any more, he heads up the stairs to the mansion, taking the time to clear his head. He's fine. He probably just got distracted. He's fine.
He reaches Jason's room and pauses. He doesn't want to just barge in and destroy any semblance of privacy this kid has, but he should've been ready ages ago. He opts to knock urgently instead.
"Jason!" He calls. "Are you ready, yet?"
He hears a cough clearly attempted to be muffled by a pillowcase, then, Jason mumbling, "Y-yeah.. Just.. gimme a minute.."
Shuffling. Then he opens the door. Infront of him stands his son, Jason Todd. Expect the boy he sees looks nothing like his son.
His hair is unkempt and messy, which wouldn't be unusual for Jason, but it looks like it was combed through once or twice to make it seem like it isnt messy. He has massive eyebags and his cheeks and nose are bright red.
He's wearing the Robin suit, but It looks like it was thrown on last minute.
Bruce just stares.
Jason stares back.
"I'm uh..-" He clears his throat. I'm ready."
"Jason." Bruce begins, then stops.
"I'm.. I'm fine..."
Bruce ignores him, placing the back of his hand against his forehead. He's hot. Extremely.
Jason shrinks away from his hand, whining slightly.
"I said I'm fine.."
"I doubt that." Bruce replies.
Jason stumbles slightly on the doorframe, and Bruce grabs his shoulders to steady him. "Sit down." He commands, guiding Jason back onto his bed and sitting down on the edge beside him.
"I'm fine..." He mumbles, again, laying his head down onto Bruce's shoulder.
"Shh..." Bruce consoles, purely on instinct. Bruce hadn't much experience in comforting children, but Jason needed him, and he'd try his damndess.
"Go back to sleep." Bruce decides.
"B-but-"
"Go. To. Sleep."
Jason lays his head on the pillow, and Bruce runs his fingers through his hair.
- A couple hours later -
Bruce silently unlocks his son's room, he had decided he could skip patrol just this once. He slowly walks inside, sitting on the edge of Jason's bed, brushing a stray strand of his black hair off his face.
Jason's eyes flutter open. "D-dad..?" He whispers.
Bruce falters, then picks himself back up. "Hey.. How are you feeling?"
" 'm cold.." He mumbles.
"You're burning up." Bruce responds. Reaching to hold his hand.
"We should watch a movie.." *He whispers.
"A movie?"
"Yeah..."
Bruce chuckles. "What movie?"
"I don't know.."
"We'll find something." Bruce replies, lifting Jason from the bed with ease. Jason's head rests against his chest.
He walks down the stairs to his theatre room with Jason in his arms. He sets him down gently onto one of the seats. Bruce sits down beside him, grabbing the remote.
"Have you decided what you want to watch yet?"
"No..." He whispers.
"Alright then.." He presses play on some corny family film that he's sure Jason won't even watch fully.
Jason rests his head on Bruce's shoulder and shuts his eyes. Bruce wraps his arms tightly around Jason, and Jason falls asleep yet again, this time, in the arms of his father.