His eyes fluttered open to the bright warehouse lighting. They shot closed again, trying to adjust. The lights left his eyes burning as he felt a single, warm tear run down his cheek. The room looked the same as it did before he blacked out, or at least, that's what he assumed had happened. The last thing he remembers seeing was his crusty, red smile. The last thing he remembers hearing was "see ya later, alligator," and the same demonic laugh that has haunted him and Bruce for years.

Bruce.

This was the first time he thought about him. All this time he's been trapped here, and this was the first time Bruce crossed his mind. God, the thought of what Bruce could be doing to himself right now left Jason in knots.

"It's not your fault, Bruce," he thought to himself as if that would make everything alright. He was dying. He was dying and Bruce wasn't going to save him this time.

He reached around to his back. He felt the blood pool almost immediately. He grimaced as his hand returned with streaks of red. His eyes were becoming heavy. He wasn't sure if it was because he was dying or exhausted, but either way, he fought to keep them open.

"God, I hope you don't find me, old man," he hoped as he surveyed the floor around him. His blood coated most of the area. Whatever it didn't, Joker had taken care of. He could vaguely see the outline of one of his calling cards, the crowbar he'd used to do his bidding, and a photograph. He crawled over to it with all the strength he had left.

It was a picture of himself and Joker. He was unconscious and Joker was posing with that damn smile and the crowbar. It made him sick. He turned his head towards the ticking sound that he'd heard since he woke up. 2 minutes 31 seconds.

"I really wish I got to see you one last time, Bruce," Jason admitted. He'd never been one for sappy goodbyes, but he'd also never died before. Death changes people. "I don't ever want to forget you."

He felt the hot tears streaming. He could still remember what it felt like to be wrapped in one of Bruce's hugs, or how it felt to be asleep in his bed, or how it felt to laugh with him.

"I wasn't strong, Bruce," he admitted, "I cried. I cried a lot. I didn't want to be weak, but Bruce, I'm just so scared. I don't want to die alone."

1 minute 22 seconds.

"You were always the strongest man I ever knew. I wanted to be just like you, did you know that? You're my hero."

Bruce always told him to hold onto hope. That when the odds seemed impossible, there was always a way. Not this time. The Joker had won. Jason wasn't even sure if Bruce knew where he was. He was out of time, him and Bruce both.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't hold on. I tried."

He just wanted to say goodbye to him. He can't even remember the last thing he said to him. It was torture knowing that Bruce would find him one day. That he would have to see his body. He feared that would be the new image of his nightmares.

"My time's running out," he said, "I love you, old man, so much. Please, don't add me to the weight you carry."

He couldn't stop his tears now.

"This was not your fault. I am not your fault. You did everything you could, do you understand me? Everything."

25 seconds.

"These are the things I should've said when I still had time,"

He managed to stop his tears. He would die with a bit of dignity. He focused his eyes on the timer and waiting for the end.