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Jason…
It started two weeks ago. Two weeks of constantly worrying and building scenarios in his head about what could be the cause of Jason’s sudden change in mood. Bruce was used to the turbulence that was Jason and his weirdly understandable logic, but everything had suddenly changed. The otherwise confident young man had more or less gone into hiding, ignoring phone calls, pretending not to be home, and patrolling away from the rest of the family. The only reason Bruce even knew that Jason had been patrolling was because of the concerned messages he had received from his contacts that had seen Red Hood crashing through Gotham.
Bruce had tried to be worried from a distance, trying his best not to invade Jason’s privacy, trying his best not to be controlling and paranoid. He remembered all too well what had happened the last time he had used ‘tough love’ on the sensitive boy. Bruce would rather willingly die than put Jason through something like that again. Hell, he would even bring the murder weapon of choice if it meant never seeing the scared look on Jason’s face ever again. Not that the nightmares ever let him forget. No, Bruce had done something else this time. Something that left another kind of wound on the young boy. And he knew all too well what that something was.
Bruce was arrogant. He had sailed through the investigation, hitting jackpot after jackpot as if he was cruising down a long street, only hitting green lights. Sneaking into a bar in downtown Gotham, Bruce was all too shocked to see that he had made a major mistake. Carefully making his way out of the bar, Bruce called the nearest Bat for aid. Red Hood.
“What’s up, B?” Jason’s rough voice growled from behind him on the rooftop, making his heart skip. He hadn’t even heard him land.
“I need your help, Hood,” Bruce breathes, the admission sitting harder than he had first thought.
He isn’t at all surprised when Jason just leans back against the wall behind him, crossing his arms over his chest as he just waits for Bruce to get his shit sorted out for long enough to actually ask what he had to ask. When had Jason started reading him so well?
“I might have miscalculated,” Bruce starts, not giving more than he has to. “I need your help with the mission I’m on.”
“The robbery case?”
“How- Yes,” Bruce pinches the ridge of his nose through the mask, not even bothering to ask how Jason knew about the case. “It seems the bar has….few regulars,”
“And you want me to… do what about it?” Jason uncurls from leaning on the wall, taking a step towards Bruce. “Hold your hand?”
Bruce can no more help the snort that leaves him than the smirk that’s crossing his lips. Deep down, something in him screams for him to say ‘yes’, to grab his hand and never ever let go of it. But a bigger part of him booms with pride over the man that Jason has grown into. Bruce has always loved his dry humor, his sarcasm, and… if Bruce is being completely honest with himself, he has loved this side of Jason for longer than is strictly acceptable.
“It would look suspicious if I went down there by myself,”
“You want a wingman?” Jason clearly isn’t letting Bruce get this one.
“Could you be my partner on this one, Hood?” Bruce sighs, closing his eyes in defeat behind the mask.
“Gee… I thought you’d never ask, old man,” Jason snorts before slapping a pig hand on Bruce’s shoulder - and when did Jason get this big?
“Meet me in front of the entrance?” Bruce offers gently, grateful that Jason actually agreed to help him for once.
“Sure,”
And just like that, Jason disappears from the roof, jumping over the neighboring rooftops until he suddenly disappears, probably where he parked his bike. Sighing, Bruce pressed the button to call the Batmobile to his whereabouts, following the rooftops in the opposite direction as he closes in on a location closer to the car. He makes quick work of changing out of the Batsuit, choosing a black t-shirt and a pair of worn jeans over boots. It’s a casual look, one he hopes will draw no attention.
The clock moves quickly after that. Bruce stands outside the bar for five minutes - ten - fifteen before, in the distance, he sees Jason walking slowly towards him. The younger man is wearing a Henley that looks painted on his broad chest, a dark pair of jeans, and biker boots. If Bruce was an honest man, he would admit that something in his stomach flipped at seeing Jason approaching.
“I thought you were a no-show,” Bruce comments, all but kicking himself when Jason arches an eyebrow. “You look nice,”
“Thanks,” And okay, Bruce deserved that one, he admits it. As small talk goes, this one was off to a rough start - a very rough start,”
Nodding towards the entrance, Bruce takes them to the furthest table in the back of the bar. Surprisingly, it has a great overview of the small dive, one Bruce would use to his advantage. He’s somewhat surprised when Jason slips in beside him on the couch, pushing Bruce further against the wall. Looking at Jason, Bruce is reminded once again how much this young man was struggling. Ordering two beers, they sit in silence for the first ten minutes before Jason huffs a chuckle and shakes his head.
“This is ridiculous, Jason,” With the use of his own name, Jason looks at Bruce expectantly after shaking his head and putting the jug of beer down on the table.
It’s only then that Bruce once again realizes that he missed a vital part of his plan. They had never agreed on codenames, never agreed on backstories, or anything that would otherwise build their disguise. Blinking at Jason, Bruce tries to understand what is happening to him, yet comes to no other conclusion than arrogance. He’s becoming too comfortable in his research, with his mission planning and whatever that entailed.
Too caught up in his own head, he almost misses Jason throwing a few bucks on the table before scooting over on the couch, ready to leave. Grabbing Jason’s arm before he can fully stand, he manages to whisper a broken “Wait….”.
Bruce blinks up at Jason, noting - maybe for the first time ever - how green his eyes have become. Lost in their depths, Bruce doesn’t manage to say anything, freezing them both in this half-crouched stand until the bubble bursts.
“You alright, hon?” Their waitress comes to a stop before Jason’s half-crouch, while staring daggers at Bruce’s hold on Jason’s arm. Bruce lets go of Jason as if holding his wrist had somehow burned him.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m alright, ma’am,” Jason smiles gently at the small woman, nodding a thank you before sitting down again.
“So well mannered.” The waitress risks at him with a smile, “You let me know if you need anything, sweetheart,”
“I’m sorry,” Bruce starts, but Jason’s harsh stare shuts him up quicker than that of Alfred.
“What are we doing here?” Jason demands, leaving no room for Bruce to continue his apology.
“The - The man at the bar, his brother is the key to the operation,” Bruce starts, whispering low under his breath. “They’ve been in and out of this bar all week but I’ve been unable to get any recordings of what they’re talking about.”
“And how do you suggest we do that from this distance? Over this music?” Jason counters, not at all impressed.
“Do you take me for a fool?” Bruce growls a little too loud, earning another harsh scowl from the waitress across the room.
“Trust me, you honestly don’t want a reply to that question,” Jason arches an eyebrow creating the same deadpan expression that never fails to irritate him to no extent.
“I’ve got these,” Bruce opens his hand beside them on the couch, showing Jason the new listening devices he’d come up with, just for this case. “I need to get close enough to attach them underneath the counter. Figured ordering another beer would do the trick,”
“Well, that’s not a bad plan,” Jason smirks, leaning back on the couch and crossing his ankles. “So what have you been up to lately?”
“I don’t think -” Bruce starts but Jason lolls his head over to stare at him, arching his eyebrow yet again.
“That’s just it, Jason, you sometimes don’t,” And then Jason smiles and it’s absolutely devastating.
“Nothing much,” Bruce finds himself mumbling, “Al’s been nesting at home, complaining about family dinners and missing guests,”
“Well, you can tell Al I’ll come this Sunday, I was planning to anyway” Jason smiles, winking at Bruce.
Something wasn’t right here. Bruce felt as if he were in a dream, where the plot kept playing without his say-so and where he had no other choice than to just follow suit. In this exact dream, Jason is his prince in shining armor, the very dream Bruce has never allowed himself to entertain. Yet, here he sits, squished between a wall and the man of his dreams in the back of a random bar in Gotham.
“I’ll go get us some new drinks, Jay,” Jason smirks as if he just saw Bruce’s thoughts.
“B-beer, Bruce” The words feel heavy as they fall from Bruce’s lips.
Taking Bruce’s hand in his, Jason kisses his knuckles as he looks into Bruce’s eyes. Distantly Bruce registers that the listening devices are taken from his hand, but as Jason gets up with their empty jugs and moves towards the bar, Bruce is stuck staring at Jason’s fine form as he walks. When had he grown so broad over the shoulders? When had he… -
“You deserve a kinder man, hon,” He can hear the waitress say through the earpiece as Jason stops at the bar.
“He tries his best, ma’am,” Jason replies, but Bruce can’t see his face.
“Doesn’t look like it,” Bruce’s target pipes up behind his glass before locking eyes with Jason, “If you want a real man, I know one of your kind. Good man too,”
“Thanks, but I’ve found my man,” Jason replies too kindly, “He doesn’t look like much, but he treats me like his king,”
It stings to hear the words fall from Jason’s lips so easily. Bruce would have loved for nothing more than to treat Jason as his king, but with their history and their line of work, it felt like they were on two sides of the same war. Jason turns back to look at Bruce for a split second, smiling gently before turning back to take their drinks from the bartender.
“Make sure he does, kid,” The bartender gruffs before letting go of the beer jugs.
The concern for Jason warms something inside of Bruce, but it also makes him take a step back to look at himself. How could two strangers and a criminal worry better for Jason than his own family? It didn’t sit right with Bruce. With the exception of Alfred and at times Damian, the rest of the family had done nothing more than frown upon Jason since he returned.
“Wipe that scowl off of your face and go back to looking lovey-dovey or whatever,” Jason growls almost inaudibly as he sets the drinks down on the table.
Bruce doesn’t dare do anything but. To his genuine surprise, the rest of the evening seems to pass by them in a flash. An hour or so later, the mark’s brother walks in, but by then, Bruce and Jason are already deep in conversation and laughter. The audio recording is pristine however and even though Bruce learns new things about Jason, things he never thought he would be honored with, the audio records the two brother’s conversation, giving Bruce everything he needs and then some.
They’re three and a half jugs into their evening when their conversation lulls to a halt. Somewhere along the way, he found Jason’s hand, intertwined their fingers, and was caressing Jason’s hand with his thumb. Jason in turn looks flushed and warm, soft. Before he knows what he’s doing, Bruce’s other thumb is caressing Jason’s cheek as he cups his face, watching as Jason’s long dark eyelashes flutter shut before slowly opening again.
Leaning forward, Bruce gently captures Jason’s lips beneath his. He can feel the sudden intake of breath against his skin, but then Jason deflates and presses against him, deepening the kiss. Bruce doesn’t need to be told twice.
By the time he emerges from the bubble they’ve created, the mark has left, leaving his brother at the bar. Bruce’s lips feel too big, raw, and dry, yet moist and warm. Leaning his forehead to Jason’s Bruce watches as ever so slowly, deep green eyes flutter open to look into his. Jason is absolutely gorgeous like this with cheeks flushed a deep pink and lips with lips as red as blood. Against his pale skin, they color him more alive than Bruce has seen him in many years. Whispering gently to wake him up from their daze, Bruce sees the exact moment Jason comes back to himself. His warm eyes grow cold, distant and Bruce knows it’s time for them to leave.
“Thank you for tonight,” Bruce smiles as he leaves their tab money and extra tips on the counter, making sure to remove the listening device.
Hand in hand, Bruce walked them out of the bar, holding the door for Jason to pass through before following him, fingers still linked. For a few blocks, they say nothing as they walk. Bruce can feel the heat rolling off of Jason’s body, yet his hand has grown disturbingly cold as they walked. Parting ways, Bruce caressed Jason’s cheek before putting him into a cab, paying the cab driver extra to drive safely.
Bruce had cracked his case wide open after that and within the following week, Bruce sat at the Batcomputer filling in the last details on the now-closed case. He had worked night and day to round up the last of the criminals, sorting everything out with the Commissioner as the case crossed another that the GCPD were working. With the case finished and filed away, Bruce finally had time to let the stranger-than-usual silence fill the Batcave.
Looking back at the memory, Bruce feels a part of himself die slowly. He had sat in the back of a random bar in Gotham, making out with Jason for hours on end. Of course, the kid was furious with him. Still, Bruce had expected angry words, avoidance, a fist to his face, or a kick to his balls - something. Yet nothing happened. Jason was as sunken into the earth, just like… no. Bruce would not go there. Bruce would never go there.
With a new resolve, Bruce sets off for Jason’s apartment. He didn’t know what he would do once Jason opened the door but before he even got out of the door, the emergency Batalarm went off.
“Robin in danger.”
Robin in danger. The last time that exact alarm had gone off, Bruce picked up the broken pieces of Jason’s body in Ethiopia. Before he knew what he was doing, Bruce was off in one of his cars, speeding through the gate before it had time to open properly. Rushing through the streets of Gotham, Bruce only had eyes on one thing; the blinking Robin mark indicating Jason’s location on the car’s navigation system.
Coming to a halt at a rundown building complex, Bruce doesn’t even bother stopping the car before he’s following his phone to the blinking Robin. Taking two and even three steps at a time, Bruce climbs seven stories faster than he’d ever done before. The mark leads him to a heavy-set metal door that doesn’t budge when Bruce puts his shoulder to it. He’s come unprepared, unprotected, and without any tools. Like a headless chicken, he ran across town just to get to his boy.
Looking around the rundown staircase, Bruce notes a few broken bits and parts he could use to force the hinges off of the door. Getting to work, Bruce does all the surveillance he will allow himself to take the time to do before getting the parts he thinks he might need. In the back of his head, he can still hear the beeping navigation, just like a clock, from last time, can still feel the heat from the blast as he sees the warehouse explode into a billion pieces, taking HIS Robin with it.
Breaking the top hinge off of the wall, Bruce doesn’t bother with the rest. There’s a small opening at the top and although he’s a big man, he will be damned if he doesn’t crawl through that impossibly small crack. His shirt rips before he even gets his chest through the hole, but with his head inside the… apartment? Bruce could hear the whimpering and wet cries from where he struggled to get inside. There’s an alarm blaring from inside and the door is hooked up to some kind of electricity, but Bruce doesn’t stop.
With an ungraceful plop, he crashes to the floor in a big heap as he finally gets through the small hole from the broken hinge. Distantly he notes that this has to be one of Jason's safehouses, but in his stressed-out haste, all he does is run toward the sound of his Robin. All he can see is rubble and burning concrete as he navigates through the halls until finally, he sees his Robin.
In a far-off corner, in what looks like a closet, blankets and duvets are wrapped around Jason as he cries heartbrokenly. He’s sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth as he runs his arms forlornly. His eyes and face are red from crying, his cheeks wet and blotched. Small words are falling from his lips in a broken whisper, but Bruce just rushes into the bedroom, tearing the wardrobe doors from their hinges as he crashes down to his knees on the floor before Jason. Desperately he pulls at Jason’s blankets and duvets, not noticing how Jason starts to cry harder, the word falling from his lips clear now that Bruce is close enough.
“B-Bruce…” The word is so raw, so rough that it breaks Bruce’s heart.
Like a mantra, Jason repeats his name. Checking his Robin - his Jason - for injuries, Bruce bundles him up in his arms when he finds nothing. It’s not as easy as it once was, but Bruce holds onto that feeling, knowing that it means his boy survived, that he’d grown into a man. It made the situation no less dire though. Wrapping his arms as tightly as he could around Jason, Bruce rested his head on top of Jason’s where it rested over his heart, rocking them both.
“I’m here, Jason, I’m here,” Bruce whispers, raking his fingers through Jason’s sweaty hair, pressing his head to his chest. “I made it, you’re safe,”
Bruce doesn’t know how long they sit like that, he only knows that Jason needs him, had been stressed out enough to set off the alarm Bruce has chipped all of his Robins with for emergencies just like this… just like… In the background, the alarm kept blaring but until Jason calmed down, The world could burn for all he cared.
“Breathe with me Jason,” Bruce whispers into his hair, repeating it until Jason breathes somewhat normally.
“I see a pair of white shoes,” Bruce continues, “Do you see them?”
“Dr-d-dresser,” Jason stuttered, obviously used to this kind of tool of orienting himself after a panic attack.
“That’s great, what else do you see,” Bruce confirms, keeping Jason talking until the man in his arms exhaustedly slumps against him.
“You did well, Jaybird. So well,” Bruce praises, kissing the top of Jason’s hair.
The realization that Jason’s been struggling by himself with PTSD and panic attacks doesn’t sit well with him. All these years he could have been by Jason’s side, helping him get better, possibly even working on himself so that Jason wouldn’t have to deal with his shit. But what had he done instead? He’d beaten him even further down, demanded that Jason follow suit, that he stayed within the lines the Batman had set. Lines even he had problems following most of the time. Well, it would stop here.
Gently placing Jason on the bed, Bruce got his first good look at his Robin after finding him. Blotchy and shivering, Jason looked cold, but otherwise well enough. Drying his face with his shirt, Bruce went in search of some warm clothes, finding them in the dresser Jason had first located. Pliantly, Jason raised his arms with the shirt, giving Bruce a glimpse of his autopsy scar before hastily pushing the warm hoodie down over his chest. Packing a bag for him, Bruce gently helped Jason to stand before slowly moving through the apartment, asking if there was anything Jason wanted to bring.
Getting Jason’s apartment locked up well enough was another struggle. Standing behind him, Jason held onto the hem of Bruce’s shirt as he moved around, sealing off the apartment. In silence, they rode home, Bruce fully focused on Jason, taking his hand when the younger man seemed to space out. Unsurprisingly, there were workers at the gates, trying to fix the gate Bruce had burst through.
“You ruined the gate,” Jason rasps limply, but Bruce just squeezes his hand in response, not really caring about the gate.
“Pray tell, Master Bruce, but what in the world - “ Alfred starts the moment Bruce is out of the car, “The state of the Maserati! My dear boy, I have not taught -”
Alfred never finishes his rant though. The very second Bruce opens the door and Jason becomes visible, the older man ushers him away before Bruce even knows what’s happening. Pushed to the side, Bruce is left walking after Alfred and Jason, the older man supporting Jason as well as he’s able to, although Bruce knows Jason doesn’t need help walking. He would be the last one telling Alfred that though, he was in enough trouble as it was. Bruce follows Alfred and Jason down into the cave’s med bay, watching as Jason pliantly sits on the bed, letting Alfred fuss over him until the older man is satisfied.
“What happened?” Alfred whispers as he comes to a stop beside Bruce.
“I’m not completely sure,” It’s the honest truth. Bruce has an idea, but until he gets Jason talking, all he can do is speculate.
With a nod, Alfred looks back at Jason before leaving them alone in the half-lit, cold space. Bruce hadn’t ever paid attention to how cold the med bay in the cave was until just now. Lifting his gaze to rest on Jason’s form on the bed, Bruce takes in the form of the one Robin he could never get over. The last time he saw Jason before his death, he had been a thin, beany thing with small muscles. When Jason had come back from the dead, he had been all but unrecognizable to Bruce. Filled out in almost all the right places, Jason looked…well. The years that followed only added to that.
The young man now sitting on the med bay’s bed had grown up to be a handsome soul. Slowly approaching him, Bruce tried his best to come up with the best way to handle Jason, a softer way if he could help it. In the end, he guesses he should try the one thing he never had the guts to do before.
“What do you need, Jason?”
Without saying anything, Jason just leans forward, bumping his forehead to the middle of Bruce’s chest, and sighs heavily. Unable to help himself, Bruce wraps his arms around Jason before leaning down to kiss the top of his head.
“I’m so confused,” Jason all but whines, rubbing his forehead against Bruce’s chest.
“About what?” It comes out as nothing more than a hum, but Bruce knows that Jason hears him by the way his back stiffens.
“About you. And me. And that day,” It only mumbled, but Jason could have just as well shouted it.
Bruce is unable to keep his lungs from sucking in air in response. He hadn’t thought this would affect Jason to the point of spiraling. After finishing the case, even before finishing the case, Jason was all Bruce could think about. The softness of his lips, the green of his eyes, the way Jason fit perfectly in Bruce’s arms as they kissed, all wrapped up in a bubble of their own. Up until this very moment, Jason had been on Bruce’s mind 24/7.
“Jason,” Bruce repeats, firmly this time, enough to have Jason meet his eyes. “What do you need?”
The blush that spreads across Jason’s cheeks as he quickly looks away, says more than enough for Bruce. Taking a step back, Bruce lifts Jason’s chin with his right pointer finger, gently pushing his head up until those beautiful green eyes met his once more. Filled with uncertainty and unease, Jason looks away again only to look up at him short moments later.
“Can I kiss you?” Bruce whispers, never breaking eye contact with Jason.
Bruce watches as Jason’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise, his eyes going wide as he tried to find the catch. Instead, Bruce doesn’t allow him to come to the wrong conclusion. Slowly leaning down, Bruce gives Jason more than enough time to pull away if he wants to. When their lips meet once more, it’s like every screaming voice inside of him stops to stare in shocked silence.
Stepping in closer, Bruce deepens the kiss, breathing Jason in as he crowds between his massive thighs. The heat he finds there is exhilarating when Jason’s thighs squeeze around his hips, locking him firmly in place. Encouraged, Bruce crowds Jason, gently pushing him to lean back against the bed. It creaks threateningly beneath their weight, but if Bruce knows anything, it’s that his gear will hold, even if it’s holding up the masses of both of them at the same time.
Kissing leads to touching and touching leads to undressing until suddenly, Bruce’s hands freeze inside Jason’s briefs, hand cupped around what should have been Jason’s cock, but somehow… isn’t? In its place, a warm plastic-like shell greets him, hard and relenting beneath Bruce’s touch. Before he knows it, Jason’s knees greet his chest, pushing him away from his body, away from the bed. Bruce watches as Jason all but curls in on himself, embarrassment or shame creeping down his shoulders and chest from his red face.
“Is this what you like?” Bruce asks without any judgment in his voice.
It obviously isn’t what Jason had expected to hear, which in turn makes fury at himself flare up inside of Bruce’s chest. How had he managed to repeatedly fail Jason like this? He was obviously expected to be shamed, to be looked at weirdly, or straight out rejected. Jason couldn’t be further from the truth though. Bruce doubted there was anything Jason could do to squash Bruce’s feelings for him because that is exactly what they were; feelings.
“Might help,” Jason whispers, still refusing to meet his eyes.
“What might help?” Bruce urges gently, interested in any information Jason was willing to share with him.
“Said a cage might help,” Jason fills in a little louder, “The anxiety thing. Said it could be grounding,”
Bruce didn’t have to be a genius to fill in the blanks. He knew multiple ways to ground oneself while having a panic attack, though sexual coping was somewhat new to him. But then again, maybe this wasn’t sexual at all.
“Makes sense,” Bruce starts, which makes Jason’s head snap up to stare at him, “Could you explain to me what it means to you?”
“Website said lotsa stuff ‘bout grounding shit,” And wasn’t that just lovely. Jason always went rough whenever he was embarrassed or insecure, something that even death hadn’t robbed him of.
“Stuff?”
“Medical kink?” Jason’s ears are crimson where he sits cupping his caged cock on the bed. He’s folded in on himself, trying to appear as small as possible but failing miserably.
“What kind of medical kink are you into, Jason?” Bruce approaches him slowly, lightly running the back of his fingers up Jason’s shin, noting how the skin breaks out in goosebumps.
Narrowing his eyes at Bruce, Jason spends a few moments deciding if Bruce is being genuine or not. He hopes the truth shines through, hopes that Jason still knew how to read him the way he did before. Sighing, Jason eventually closes his eyes.
“I don’t know much about it. Never done anything but this cage.” He admits, at last, Jason’s voice so soft and vulnerable. “Anxiety was getting out of hand and after… well, I thought it was worth trying.”
“And did it help?” Jason just shrugs, obviously not too impressed by the effect it had on him.
“Can I see?”
Breathing heavily, Jason eventually lets his thighs fall open to reveal a black cock cage, at least a size too small by the looks of it. That couldn’t possibly be comfortable. Keeping himself from letting out a displeased sound, Bruce slowly approaches to have a closer look. The cage is definitely too small, the skin around the hard plastic, red and irritated.
“Do you have the key?”
Shaking his head, Bruce understands that the key must be in the apartment Bruce had found Jason in. Thinking hard, Bruce figures that he can get the cage off with little trouble Later, he would order Jason a quality cock cage that actually fits so that Jason could try it for real.
“It’s a little too small,” Bruce starts gently, “Can I take it off?”
He doesn’t move as Jason thinks it through, eventually nodding, giving Bruce the green light he needs. Stepping back, Bruce walks over to a shelf by the wall, reaching for the top shelf where he retrieves a small screwdriver set. Making quick work of the cheap plastic and the screws holding it in place, trying his best to hide his annoyance when he sees the red marks on Jason’s cock. Reaching out, he gently cups Jason with his hand, closing the entirety of it over the abused, flaccid cock, gently rubbing the hot member. Leaning onto Bruce’s shoulder, Jason suddenly hisses loudly, his breath coming in hard as he clutches onto Bruce’s arms.
He doesn’t realize what has happened before the sudden wetness in his hand starts to cool off. Like lightning dancing over the dark Gotham night scene, Bruce realizes that Jason has found his completion, cupped in Bruce’s hand. It’s a heady thing to bear, one that makes something bloom within Bruce’s chest as his stomach flutters wildly. Leaning in, Bruce captures Jason’s lips once more, the kiss more heated than the last, yet, not building up to anything more. With all that he is, Bruce tries his best to pour his feelings into the kiss, hoping that Jason would understand.
Bruce isn’t disappointed when Jason grows boneless in his arms, his sweat-tussled curls falling over his forehead as he allows Bruce to take care of him. Lifting Jason from the bed proves more difficult than Bruce had first anticipated, the young man in his arms so much heavier now that he’s boneless and somewhat content. Still, Bruce gets him into the shower without too much fanfare, gently placing him in the shower seat before stripping the rest of his own clothes.
For once, he sends a silent ‘thank you’ to himself for installing instant hot water in the cave too. Spreading his fingers through the falling water, he finds Jason’s preferred temperature, the small detail one he could never forget about Jason. Just like in his Robin days, Jason pulls towards the heat of the falling water, all but falling towards it where he bonelessly sits. Lifting him up once more, Bruce steps into the warmth, letting the water cascade over Jason’s back until Jason tucks his face against the crook of Bruce’s neck and breathes a sigh of relief.
Bruce holds him up until his muscles go numb and the young man in his arms has fallen asleep. Only then does he shut off the water and grab a warm fluffy towel to drape around Jason’s body, drying him off as best as he can. Walking up to the manor and through the halls to his bedroom, Bruce gently put Jason to bed, draping the soft duvet over his shoulders. Jason looks peaceful where he sleeps, but it doesn’t hide the dark circles underneath his eyes or the hollowness of his cheeks. Brushing the curly bangs from his face, Bruce leans forward to leave a soft kiss on Jason’s forehead. He has a lot to think about and even more to prepare for when Jason wakes up again.
Jason doesn’t wake up, however. Bruce gets to slip in behind him, gets to wrap his arm around Jason’s waist, and kiss the nape of his neck, only for Jason to turn in his sleep and wrap his own arms around Bruce. With a smile on his face, Bruce falls asleep, and with a smile on his face, he wakes up to green eyes and a gentle finger tracing his eyebrow.
“Smiling suits you,” Jason rasps, his voice rough from yesterday.
“Hmm…” Bruce just hums before closing his eyes again and burrowing into Jason’s touch.
“Bruce?” The vulnerable uncertainness in Jason’s voice has his eyes popping open and alert in less than a second. “What is this?”
Jason doesn’t specify, but he doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know exactly what Jason is referring to. What are they doing? What are Bruce’s intentions with him? Will he be used only to be spit out again? The questions bundled up in Jason’s careful words are clearer than glass to Bruce now.
“This is me not running, Jason.” Bruce starts gently, tracing imaginary patterns on Jason’s back, “This is me opening up, letting you take what you need or what you want without any expectations,”
He expects his honesty to bring a sense of calmness to Jason, but instead, his eyebrows furrow as his nose scrunches up. For a long time, Jason thinks, battling something within him that Bruce doesn’t know of yet. With a patience he doesn’t know where comes from, Bruce waits for Jason while continuing to trace doodles on his back.
“I don’t understand,” The admission is so innocent, so genuine that it halts Bruce’s movements for a moment.
He doesn’t mistake the words for Jason not understanding what he meant, however. His boy was more intelligent than any of his other Robins could ever dream of being. Jason knew people, knew how to read their body language, how to read between the lines - a trait none of the others truly possessed. No, Jason was asking for direct clarification so that he wouldn’t have to come to his own conclusions.
“I’m in love with you, Jason, and if it is something you would want, I would very much like to start a romantic relationship with you,” Admitting this makes Bruce’s cheeks burn bright, something Jason notices immediately.
“And if I say no?” Jason prompts, eyebrow arched in a challenge he had no reason to voice this time.
“Then you can take what you want from me and leave it at that. This is up to you, Jaybird,” Gently pushing a loose strand of hair from Jason’s forehead, Bruce watches as Jason’s body slumps in what he hopes is relief.
“Sometimes, you’re too much, B” Jason sighs before turning those oh-so-green eyes over at him, all but staring through Bruce’s soul once more.
Huffing a gentle laugh to himself, Bruce shakes his head at the surreality of it all. Lately, it had felt like Jason stared through his soul multiple times a day, yet, Bruce wished that the younger man would stare at him more, just so that he could feel that incredible heat spreading through him all the time. Rough but gentle fingers trace his jawline as Jason continues his search for something only clear to him. Bruce hopes he finds it.
“Why now?” It’s not what Bruce had hoped for, but he had promised to be honest with Jason.
“I don’t know…” Bruce starts, lightly lifting the corner of his mouth in reaction to Jason’s quickly scrunching face, “I guess I had reached the end of my rope, no longer able to deny my feelings for you.”
It’s clumsy and cheesy, but Bruce doesn’t know what else to say. This is the truth. The whole entirety of it. He’d been denying his feelings for Jason for as long as possible, holding on with both hands until suddenly, the rope had ended and he’d stood there with no further directions. Instincts had taken over, instincts that had never steered him wrong before, instincts that wouldn’t start now. No, lying here beside Jason, watching his beautiful face - watching him mull over yet another confession - Bruce was exactly where he wanted to be, where he needed to be.
Jason’s face smooths over and Bruce just knows that acceptance has been reached. Reaching over to cup Jason’s cheek, Bruce watches as his eyes flutter shut and his chest rises in a deep intake before slowly letting the air out. He feels like they’ve been doing that a lot lately. Breathing. Sighing. Staring…
“If we’re to do this Bruce, this can’t be a one-time thing or a short-term solution to feelings you don’t want to face,” Jason opens his eyes again, staring right into Bruce’s, holding him prisoner while he waits for his words to land. “I won’t be your secret and you won’t be mine,”
“You were never my secret, Jaybird,” Bruce whispers before leaning in, smiling slightly at Jason’s quick intake of air.
Their lips meet in a gentle reunion, this time more confident as there lay no secrets between them. Well, no immediate secrets anyway… Jason rolled over on top of Bruce, pinning him to the mattress, making them dip deliciously with their combined weight. Deepening the kiss, Jason holds Bruce’s head still with both hands, taking control in a way that makes butterflies run wild inside of Bruce’s stomach.
Grabbing hold of Jason’s generous ass, Bruce thrusts up into him while pressing Jason down. The friction and pressure are delicious for both of them. Jason breaks the kiss, instead collapsing entirely on top of Bruce, his head hiding in the crook of Bruce’s neck as he moans wetly. Bruce needn’t be told twice. Repeating the motion, Bruce’s fingers dig into the soft meat of Jason’s ass, parting his cheeks. With a dry finger, Bruce ghosts over Jason’s pucker, feeling the small furrowed flesh beneath his pad. He couldn’t wait to sink into Jason, couldn’t wait to feel his heat around him.
But first, Bruce would cater to Jason’s needs. He had not forgotten the younger man’s confession last night. Medical play. Bruce didn’t know much about it, but if Jason wanted to try his hand at it, then Bruce would give it his best. As for their first time together, he hoped a medical examination and the cock cage he had rush-ordered last night would do. Hopefully, Alfred would have placed the box outside their door. Rolling them both over, Bruce experienced a full-body shiver as his weight on top of Jason made the younger man moan even more filthy against his neck.
“Need to get stuff,” Bruce mumbles between kissing Jason’s neck, watching as the beauty beneath him stretches his neck to give Bruce better access.
He’s going to the door, he is… He’s just, he just needs to - Kissing Jason is so addictive. Sucking on his skin, watching it bruise - alive - do something so carnal to Bruce he almost loses his mind while devouring Jason. His cock is rock hard and leaking all over their hips, making the small space between them slick and hot as they rock like rutting animals. Jason is nearing his peak, steadily building rhythm as his breathing catches against Bruce’s shoulder. Bruce eventually manages to slip his hand between them, grabbing hold of Jason’s base just in time to press down hard enough to cut Jason’s orgasm short.
Whining and all but sobbing beneath him, Jason’s fingers claw at his back with desperation and frustration. Getting up on all three, Bruce breathes heavily as he continues to hold the base of Jason’s cock, feeling the twitching beneath his fingers. The man beneath him looks absolutely ravished where he lies spread and open, sweaty and flushed. Letting go of Jason’s beautiful cock, Bruce manages to step out of their bed, taking a moment to get himself under control while he listens to Jason’s heavy breathing.
“Don’t touch yourself, Jaylad,” His voice is rough when it comes out, raw and heavy.
Pinning Jason’s arms above his head, Bruce gives him a chaste parting kiss before walking over to the door. Listening intently, Bruce dares to open it just enough to see the box that indeed is sitting right outside, waiting for them to pick it up. Locking the door behind him, Bruce quickly gives Jason a stern look before entering the bathroom. The cock cage should already have been prewashed, but Bruce didn’t want to risk anything.
When he emerges, Jason is breathing slowly in the same position that he left him in. Smiling fondly, Bruce’s chest swells with pride as he watches the younger man. Jason is such a good boy for him. His cock has grown flaccid, perfectly waiting for what Bruce has in store. Walking around the bed, Bruce sits down beside Jason, running a finger up the muscle bicep closest to him. He can’t help the pleased smirk that crosses his lips when Jason’s skin erupts with goosebumps.
“I don’t know if you remember it, but yesterday, you wore a cock cage that didn’t quite fit,” Bruce starts, noting how immediately Jason’s face darkens as his eyes shift away. “I took the liberty of ordering one in the right size for you,”
Opening his hand, Bruce is relieved to see Jason’s eyes trail down to the metal cage in his hand. To have been a rushed job, it looked pretty good. The metal rings were all coated in a glossy black while in the middle, around the base, a yellow Batman symbol sat. Sure, it was a bit clichè, but Bruce hoped that claiming ownership over Jason in these situations was what the younger man needed.
“Why am I not even surprised…” Jason snorts before closing his eyes, a happy smile on his lips.
Grinning wider, Bruce leans over Jason’s powerful thighs, taking this moment to have a closer look at Jason’s beautiful cock. He knew that if he stared too long, he was in real danger of getting a knee to his face, but while at eye-level with the thick, pale, pink-dusted member, Bruce couldn’t help himself. Before he even knows what he’s doing, he’s licking the slick head, nibbling on the foreskin hiding the darker head from his eyes. Pulling it back, Bruce isn’t disappointed when Jason’s perfect shape emerges, a bead of pre-come already gathering on the slit.
Taking Jason’s cock into his mouth comes without thinking. It’s the most natural thing he could have done, the motion a series of demands his own body has to please the man beneath him. Jason tastes sweet behind the initial bitterness, his scent so heady and warm it makes Bruce’s heart skip in his chest. On his tongue he can feel Jason twitching, his cock rapidly filling as a response to the stimulation Bruce is showing it. Sliding off of Jason’s cock, Bruce is pleased to see that his cock is mostly flaccid still.
Unlocking the cage, Bruce makes quick work of caging Jason’s cock. It’s a perfect fit, just as he had predicted. The black against Jason’s pale flushed skin looks beautiful. Unable to help himself, Bruce leans forward to lick the new drop of pre-come from behind the rings. It makes Jason’s thighs tremble beneath his arm. Pleased with Jason’s responsiveness, Bruce leans back to sit on the bed, staring down at Jason’s body.
“You’re beautiful,” He whispers, smiling gently down at Jason when the younger man’s blush darkens. “Get up on all fours for me,”
He doesn’t have to wait long. Clumsily, like Bambi on the ice, Jason gets up on shaky legs, generous ass in the air as his broad back spreads to a comfortable hold where he can rest easy. Palming the pale flesh before him, Bruce notes how the massive muscles beneath Jason’s skin quiver as if he’s afraid. Leaning forward, Bruce kisses the small of Jason’s back. Rubbing Jason’s flanks, Bruce notes how the touches make his breath catch.
“I forgot the gloves, but for now, bear with me, Mr. Todd,” Bruce whispers beside Jason’s ear, feeling the full body shiver beneath his own where he’s leaning over Jason.
Pressing unnecessarily forward, Bruce reaches for the nightstand, retrieving the bottle of lube from the drawer. Jason’s breath hitches as Bruce pulls back, sitting behind Jason while he lets the younger man wait. Popping the cap, Bruce smirks at the way the sound spreads through the room before pressing a generous dollop of lube on his fingers. Spreading the lube over his fingers, Bruce waits a millisecond before gently running his fingers through Jason’s crack, ghosting past Jason’s tight pucker. The reaction is instantaneous, Jason tensing up as Bruce rubs clinical circles to coat the tight muscle.
“You will feel a slight discomfort when my finger goes in, but it will pass quickly,” Bruce starts, trying to sound as uninterested and dry as possible. “I want you to push out when I push in,”
And without getting a reply, Bruce pushes his middle finger against Jason’s hole, feeling how the younger man tenses up before remembering his instructions and starts pushing out. Bruce’s finger suddenly goes all the way in, making both of them gasp. Spreading his hand over the small of Jason’s back, Bruce can’t help himself and rubs soothing circles to calm Jason. It seems to do the trick as short seconds later, Jason moans deeply, the sound so rich the hairs on Bruce’s forearms stand on end.
Pressing down, Bruce goes in search of Jason’s prostate, finding it rather quickly. Rubbing against it, Bruce smirks when Jason bucks and gasps, only resulting in pushing Bruce’s finger harder against his prostate. Falling down to his elbows, Jason’s ass rises higher in the air, exposing more of him to Bruce. Jason is beautiful all over… Licking his lips, Bruce makes a list of all the things he wants to do to Jason when they get the time to, but right now - right now - Bruce focuses on rubbing the first orgasm out of Jason, all but bathing in the way Jason’s body sings for him.
Loose and unguarded, Jason’s buttery soft hole opens beautifully for Bruce’s fingers. One finger becomes two, then three while Bruce rubs up and down Jason’s taint, loving in the way it pulls the most beautiful sounds out of him. By the time Jason’s third orgasm is wrung out of him, Jason is a sobbing mess in the sheets, knuckles kneading on the pillow beneath his head, as his long black lashes lay spread and wet as he closed his eyes.
Rolling him over on the other side, Bruce pulled back the covers that now held a big wet spot from Jason’s come. Slotting himself between Jason’s spread thighs, Bruce was surprised to find the metal warm against his abdomen when he leaned over to kiss Jason’s lips. Losing himself in Jason, Bruce doesn’t know how long they lay there kissing, just holding on to each other. Bruce would have been pleased with how their morning went, but when Jason’s wet green eyes blinked up at him and his raw, red lips whispered a broken “please” Bruce was helpless to resist.
Spreading his massive thighs wider, Jason held eye contact as Bruce guided his cock to Jason’s entrance, the slick, buttery soft hole all but suckling on the head of his cock as he waited there. Finding Jason’s lips again, Bruce slowly slid inside, meeting no resistance before bottoming out, slotting his hips to Jason’s generous cheeks. Moaning, Jason arches his back as best he can beneath Bruce’s weight, the hot breath ghosting over Bruce’s lips as they breathe heavily. Jason is hot inside. Hot and wet, and suckling, and… Biting his bottom lip, Bruce tries his best to hold still, painfully losing the battle when Jason’s walls squeeze down on him, effectively milking his cock. Gasping, Bruce’s hips thrust hard enough to make a smacking noise in the otherwise quiet room.
The cock cake between them rolls with Bruce’s motions, Jason’s cock inside it trapped and effectively caged. Breathing hard, Bruce looks down into Jason’s face, watching the display of pleasure and desperation mix. Jason’s face is beet red and sweaty where he stares at Bruce in between moans and full-body shivers. Opening his arms, Jason wraps them around Bruce’s neck, holding onto him for dear life as Bruce rocks, all but ready to reach his own blissed end.
“I love you,” Jason whispers, and at first, Bruce doesn’t register what’s been said, until suddenly he does.
His orgasm comes so fast he doesn’t really know what actually happened. Collapsing onto Jason, Bruce almost misses it when Jason’s hole squeezes around him, and moisture slides between them while Bruce continues slowly thrusting. He doesn’t know how long he keeps up the rocking, all he knows is that for the first time in his life, his cock doesn’t grow flaccid after coming. Turning his head, Bruce kisses Jason’s neck, kisses his jawline, his cheek. Getting up to his elbows, Bruce catches Jason’s lips, slowly pouring all of his love into him.
Gently pulling out, Bruce smiles at the boneless man in his bed. Jason lies staring at the ceiling, a content smile on his lips before his head lolls to the side. Clear green eyes find his and just like that, Bruce knows that he would go to the ends of both the known and unknown universe for Jason. Stepping out of bed, Bruce lifts Jason’s considerable weight out of the bed, carrying him bridal style into the bathroom and into the shower. The heat of the water is delicious when it sprays down on them.
Wrapping his legs around Bruce’s hips, Jason finds his lips in yet another bone-crushing kiss. Moaning into Jason’s mouth, Bruce isn’t prepared when Jason’s fingers guide his still-hard cock into him once more, the slide so hot and slick Bruce can’t help the goosebumps from spreading. Grinning, Jason rises and falls as best he can, setting Bruce off enough to wake him from his temporary sleep.
Thrusting into Jason, Bruce loves the way the water makes their skin smack together, the stall quickly filling with the sound of their fucking. Jason is divine where he’s pressed up against the tiles, cock caged and full as it lulls between them. Bruce loses himself in the thrusting, in Jason’s kisses, the way he claws at Bruce’s back when the walls clutches onto Bruce’s cock for a final time as his cock tries but fails to show Bruce his pleasure. He isn’t far behind Jason after that, emptying himself as deep as Jason’s body allows him to go.
Putting Jason down, Bruce isn’t at all surprised when the young man struggles to stand. So just like the night before, Bruce sits him down on the seat before washing Jason’s body, stealing glances every now and then, beyond happy to see that Jason’s eyes follow his every move with a smile on his face. By the time Bruce has managed to dry him off and change the bedding, Jason is a boneless, sleepy mess in his arms once more. Kissing the still-damp curls, Bruce takes a moment to think about how he got this lucky. In his otherwise miserable life, he was given this second chance at love. He wasn’t going to waste it, no matter what came with it, Bruce would stand tall by Jason’s side.
“I love you so much, Jason,” Bruce whispers into the curls, smiling at how it makes the sleeping Robin on his chest stretch in his sleep.
Once they woke up again, Bruce would sit him down and let Jason know exactly how much he was loved and adored. No matter how many times he had to repeat it, no matter where he had to say it, Jason would know and he would never have the chance to doubt Bruce. Curling his arms tighter around Jason, Bruce closed his eyes with a smile on his lips. He never noticed when he fell asleep or how the man in his arms held onto him just as tightly. They would have a long way to go, but now that the rough details of their feelings were out in the open, honesty would be easier for them both.
~ The End.