Chapter Text
Hands.
Large, rough hands that slapped against Jason’s backside repeatedly until his skin was red and sensitive. Hands that grabbed his hips so tight they bruised him.
Jason heard the smirk in Willis’ voice, the taunting tone as he rasped about how much Jason desired being beat like this. How it was the only food Jason would receive for the week, so he better enjoy it.
Willis loved Jason’s helplessness, bathing in the power and fire it gave him.
Jason screamed again as he felt a belt come down on his back instead of a hand, breaking the already sensitive skin. Blood trickled from the wounds. Jason barely fought the urge to throw up at the feeling.
“Daddy—Sir, please!” He sobbed. His vision was swarming and his limbs trembled violently as they struggled to hold his body up. Jason had surely blackout at some point, only jolting back to consciousness at the intense pain of Willis’ fingernails digging into his neck.
His mind was foggy and his muscles went uncomfortably lax because of the dominating hold. No matter how frantically he fought it and struggled, he couldn't get free.
The burning on his back was inescapable. He sobbed again as he tried and failed to suck air into his lungs. But the beating continued on and on, and Jason couldn’t escape and he could breathe. He was trapped.
He was never going to escape Willis or the hurt the Luciferean inflicted. White-hot agony spread through his body and another loud wail pushed itself out of his mouth and—
Jason gasped and sat up quickly. Utter darkness surrounded him so he couldn't make out a thing. A horrible panic built up in his stomach at his lack of information. He couldn't remember where he was. He swore he was just with Willis, he could still feel the phantom pains on his back, but Willis was nowhere to be found. His eyes flicked up and immediately his eyes latched onto the darkness in front of him that stood out from the rest. A shadowy figure was sitting in front of him, and Jason shrieked at the proximity the figure had to him. The incubus scurried backward on his bed until his back hit the hard backboard. A pained shout escaped his mouth as the tears flowed heavily down his cheeks.
“Don’t, please,” Jason whimpered. He pulled the blanket up tightly to his chest, using it as a barrier from the unknown person. A high keen was stuck in his throat, the inner demon inside him viciously craving the protection of a pack. He swallowed the sound with a violent shudder.
“Jaylad,” a low, familiar voice whispered. “You’re safe.”
Jason desperately wanted to believe it, but he knew he would never be safe from his father. Willis always caught him and dragged him back to their hellhole of an apartment. Every time he tried to escape, the pain got worse. Jason stopped running away once Willis started beating his mother in his place as punishment.
He shook his head rapidly, trying to calm his bubbling sobs. It was another lie to get him pliant and easy. He couldn’t believe it, he couldn’t—
A tug.
His breath caught. A tug at his bonds, a familiar one, but more importantly, a safe one. It radiated nothing but concern and unwavering love.
“Bruce?” Jason whimpered, risking opening his eyes and truly looking at the figure in front of him. It was Bruce, unease painted Bruce’s face and his hand was frozen in the air, like he wanted to reach out to Jason but didn’t know if he could.
“You’re in the manor, baby. No one’s going to hurt you here,” Bruce promised. Jason nodded rapidly, his tears starting up again but for a different reason. He launched himself at Bruce, clinging to his father as he shook. Bruce wrapped his arms around Jason just as tightly, gently resting his head on Jason’s.
“Daddy,” Jason wept. He buried his head further into his father’s chest, knowing he was safe as long as he was close to Bruce.
“I’m here, my impling.”
Bruce rocked them slowly, rubbing a warm hand against Jason’s back. It felt nice, and Jason couldn’t help but grow drowsy at the feeling despite the fear plaguing him of closing his eyes.
“I think we should try to go back to sleep, Jaylad. Do you want to sleep with me for the rest of the night?”
Jason nodded without hesitation. He couldn’t bear the thought of being alone. Bruce shifted Jason slightly in his arms and stood. Jason purred sleepily against his father’s shoulder. The short walk to Bruce’s room was soothing and just the right level of calm Jason needed. He had to blink hard to keep his droopy eyes open.
Bruce gently deposited Jason on the bed and crawled in next to him. Now that they were back in bed though, Jason was afraid. He didn’t want to have any more nightmares. He didn’t want to be trapped with Willis again.
He stubbornly kept his eyes open, staring at the wall as Bruce pulled him close.
“Sleep, Jason,” Bruce murmured into the boy’s hair.
“Don’t want to,” Jason mumbled back.
Bruce shifted, rolling Jason over so he was now facing Bruce. Bruce sighed quietly and ran his large fingers through Jason’s hair at the exact pressure Jason liked.
The impling’s eyes fluttered as a loud purr broke from his throat.
“Chum, look at me,” Bruce requested, voice full of authority. Jason titled his head up so his half-lidded eyes met Bruce’s. Bruce blinked slowly, not breaking eye contact with Jason.
Jason whined half-heartedly as he snuggled closer to Bruce’s chest. “Not fair.”
Bruce’s lips quirked up, but he continued methodically slowly blinking at Jason, and Jason couldn’t help but mimic the motion, waves of exhaustion and comfort rolling over him in slow waves.
“I’ll keep you safe, Jaylad, I promise,” Bruce whispered. Jason nodded weakly.
Between the hand running through his hair, the warmth radiating from Bruce, and the loving, firm blinking Bruce was directed at him, Jason couldn’t help but give in to the pull of sleep.
His eyes slid shut, breath immediately evening out.
The last thing he felt was a light kiss to his forehead and love illuminating from the pack bonds.
My baby boy, my impling, I’ll keep you safe, my Jaylad.