AN: This is old. This is also entirely in response to a panel in Genesis that creeped me out. That's it. (Said panel is included with the Tumblr edition of this, for the curious/foolish.)
EchokittyCat-Comic rec time! :D The Cult is one of the few (maybe the only?) standalone arcs with Jason's Robin. Basically, Batman gets brainwashed by a cult in the sewers. It's very, very creepy. It's also the comic that Deacon Blackfire (weird preacher-guy sidequest in Arkham Knight) hails from. So while this one-shot is just a nightmare, it's a nightmare response to trauma (though Bruce, obviously, does not sacrifice or even consider sacrificing Jason at any point).
Meli-Mel150-I know the feeling. Eat healthy and drink lots of water!
Jason can't feel his arms. He can feel his shoulders-a steady, throbbing pain from being wrenched up and back, but anything past the rotator cuffs may as well not be there.
That's his first thought. The second is, when did I wake up?
Because he was asleep, or unconscious. He knows he was because he didn't hurt, then, and it must've been nice dreams because his face is wet.
He's not sure which is worse; nice dreams or waking nightmares.
Whatever the case, he's awake now and he doesn't know why, just that he is and that he's hurting.
The overhead light's still out, but the candles are lit-the flickering behind his eyelids would be enough even without the faint smell of wax. He always hopes, a little, that they'll burn the place down (if they take him with it, well, he'll be out of his misery), but they never do.
It's quiet. And he doesn't understand why, because if he's going to be awake shouldn't he be here? He's not quiet, he's all laughter and bad jokes and oh, come on, Todders, participate in the conversation!
Bruce?
If Bruce is here, why is he still…
Bruce isn't here. Bruce isn't coming, he has a new one now. Jason'd forgotten, for a minute.
M'I dead?
Is this Hell? He doesn't…did he do somethin' to deserve Hell? He'd wanted to help people, honest, and before that he'd just been tryin' to stay alive, but maybe wants don't factor in 'n-*
The tape over his mouth has never seemed more restrictive.
He unsticks his lashes (blood? Sweat? He can never tell anymore.) and cracks his eyes open to slits, hyperaware of the puffiness of the lids.
The light's burning bright and it takes him a second to recognize the dots and slashes of yellow as eyes and teeth.
He's here.
He's here but he's silent and that's worse, somehow, because how long has he been there and what has he done now?
Maybe if he doesn't move, he'll go away.
The eyes don't blink and the splintery yellow teeth seem to multiply and he finally closes his eyes in an effort to…to pretend, at least a little, that he's not there.
When he risks peeking again, the yellow is gone and the candles are out.
He doesn't go back to sleep.
THE END
*There is a comic where Batman sees Jason (well…sorta…) in Hell. And. You gotta be kiddin' me here. Bad DC. BAD. *smacks with rolled-up newspaper*