So I intended to write about Bruce teaching Jason how to swim. 1. Because it makes sense to me that he would have never learned and 2. Because Bruce would consider it a requisite skill for being Robin. So I wanted to write something gentle and sweet, drawing a contrast with Jason's abusive past. This. Is what happened instead. I'd still like to write that but, in the meantime… enjoy?
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Jason spun slowly in Batman's chair. Bruce, cave, massive computer. Bruce, cave, massive computer. Round and around and around.
"Whyyy?" He whined, throwing his head back against the tall chair back.
"Harbors, the river, the ocean, pools." Bruce listed, not looking up from the adjustments he was making on a grappler. "Not to mention aquariums."
Jason rolled his eyes. "Pff! Yeah right."
"It's happened." Bruce insisted without a hint of humor. "There are any number of bodies of water you could end up in while patrolling. I've ended up in many. Dick too. Preparation is the difference between life and death."
"I can grapple out of the water." Jason offered as Bruce passed out of his view and then back into it again.
"Not in open water. And not if you're panicking because you don't know how to swim or tread water."
"You can just save me."
Bruce looked up and turned to face him. His glare said everything necessary. Jason spun on past it, this time with a sheepish yet somehow completely unrepentant grin on his face.
"Knowing how to swim is non negotiable." Bruce continued as he picked up the next grappler for adjustments. "When I get you trained to the point you're ready for patrol but you haven't learned to swim, you're not going out." He stopped speaking and let Jason consider what he'd said.
Jason stuck his leg out to the desk, stopping the chair abruptly, and frowned up at the giant blank screens. He had no objections to any of the other skills Bruce said he'd have to learn. He'd come really far in a handful of them already. He loved training and there were so many more skills ahead, both physical and mental. He was genuinely pumped to get started, but swimming? Swimming lessons were for babies. It was bullshit. He had foolishly banked on Bruce forgetting all about it after the first time he'd listed it along with all the real skills Robin would need. That was stupid. Bruce didn't forget anything.
"Here are the options." Bruce began again, this time to the back of Jason's chair. "You can take lessons from an instructor at a local pool or I can teach you here. You can decide. Third option," he paused. "You can choose not to be Robin. Not knowing how to swim is a dealbreaker."
Dealbreaker. Jason did not like that word. Bruce, in shop talk mode, forgot that Jason did not like that word. Months back, early on in their relationship, Jason had silently developed an extreme anxiety around it that had culminated in a one sided screaming match. "Tell me what the fucking dealbreakers are, Bruce!" And then he'd been crying. "I can't keep guessing when you're gonna throw me out!"
"I promise you, Jason." Bruce had told him in a steady voice, hand firm but gentle on his shoulder. "There are no dealbreakers. This is your home as long as you want it to be."
Jason understood that in this moment Bruce was only talking about Robin and not about living with him. He knew it! But his body didn't. Alarms in his stomach started screaming. He suddenly felt floaty and rigid at the same time, cold but his skin prickly with heat. Almost automatically he drew his feet up onto the chair and wrapped his arms around his legs. He ducked his head into his knees for good measure. Just get smaller. Disappear.
Footsteps, so much louder in the cave than other places, rivaled his heartbeat pounding in his ears. He felt the chair turn slowly. Risking discovery, he peeked over his knees and saw Bruce crouched in front of him.
"Jason." It wasn't a 'Get the hell out!' voice.
"What?" He mumbled, trying so hard not to look away. It was Bruce and Bruce promised. He promised!
"For being Robin." Bruce said slowly, his gaze gentle and intense. It didn't flare with irritation or disgust.
Jason felt tears stinging in his eyes.
"There are no dealbreakers for being here. I shouldn't have used that word. I'm sorry."
A sob escaped out of Jason's chest and he pressed his forehead into his knees. "You promised." He cried.
"I did. And it still stands." Bruce put a hand on one of Jason's sneakers, squeezing it lightly. "And I'm still moving forward with your adoption regardless of whether or not you become Robin. As long as that's still what you want."
Jason's shoulders heaved as he began to sob in earnest. He felt Bruce spread a hand across his back and the pressure of his forehead settle against the top of his head.
"Jason." Bruce whispered. "It's ok. You're ok."
It took a little while to calm down, just breathing with Bruce, eyes squeezed shut. Bruce didn't pull back from Jason until he finally lifted his head.
Kneeling back on his heels, Bruce met his eyes. "You ok?"
Jason nodded and ran his arm across his red face. "I'm sorry."
Bruce just shook his head. "You did nothing wrong."
Jason leaned back in the chair. His arms stayed wrapped around his legs. He just felt steadier that way. Bruce stood up and backed against the desk where he leaned with arms folded across his chest.
Jason closed his eyes and took a few deep, tremulous breath. "I wanna be Robin." He said after a long exhale.
"I know, Jason."
"I'll let you teach me swimming." He opened his eyes. Bruce was still looking at him, his expression patient. It wasn't a face that wanted to throw him out.
He nodded. "Then I'll teach you."
"I won't have to use any baby shit?" Jason asked as he began to uncoil slowly.
Bruce tilted his head slightly, eyebrows furrowing. "Baby shit?"
"Floaties! Crap like that." His hands were now at his sides, tapping idly on the chair cushion.
"I'll be teaching you to swim. Without help. Baby shit," Bruce added air quotes which made Jason's mouth twitch into a smirk. "would hinder that goal."
Jason nodded thoughtfully. "Ok."
"Ok." Bruce echoed. "I'll ask Alfred to take you to buy swim clothes." He started to walk back to the work table.
Jason suddenly spun the chair to face that way and declared, "I get to pick!"
Bruce picked up a grappler and turned to eye him. "Nothing Superman themed." He said cooly.
Jason snorted a laugh. "Deal."
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Shout out to "Laughing Fish", one of my favorite BTAS episodes!