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Jason doesn't remember how he showed up at the Manor's doorstep one day. He remembers a lot of green light. But the Joker had pumped him full of so many things, it might as well have been a hallucination. He must've escaped somehow. Or maybe someone finally got tired of tossing him around. And decided the Bats' wrath wouldn't be worth the hassle. He doesn't remember anyone dragging him out of his cell. Or being taken somewhere. He doesn't remember walking over the Manor grounds. Or ringing the doorbell. But he remembers someone scooping him up and a lot of shouting. He must've been really, really out of it because he could've sworn he had seen his dad. Not Bruce. Willis. Holding him and looking shocked and scared. And telling him everything was going to be okay.
He remembers waking up a little bit. Again and again. With so many different people at his bedside. And the huge pile of presents Alfred was arranging at his dresser when he had finally woken up. Get-well gifts, Master Jason, Alfred had said. Before hugging him tightly and crying. And then Jason had cried. Because he had made Alfred cry. Alfred never cried. Alfred never showed physical affection. But his kidnapping must've shaken him. Because he had held him for as long as Jason had cried. And he had cried a lot. And then Bruce had taken the turn holding him. He remembers Bruce kissing him and Dick petting his hair as he had fallen asleep, completely worn out.
The Joker had lied, his family loved him.
And the Joker was dead. Jason had had terrible nightmares for the first nights, before Bruce had held his sweat-soaked body and told him that most of the rogues were dead. And had reluctantly shown him the NEWS headlines on the tablet. They all had died brutally. And Bruce didn't want him seeing or reading the gore. But Jason had wept out of joy and Bruce had looked a little guilty then. His nightmares had lessened a bit. But they weren't completely gone and Jason would wake up screaming and shaking. But Bruce or Dick would hold him and tell him everything was fine. And it made it a little better.
They didn't find who had killed the Rogues. Bruce hadn't shared any hypotheses when he had asked. But his face had gone positively murderous. It had scared Jason a little. But Bruce had then stroked his hair and told him to go to sleep.
Everybody was so kind to him. Taking turns to meet him. And it still takes him back how protective they are. Treating him like he's precious and being so careful with him. Even his new siblings who he hadn't even met. And he has new siblings now! He's an older brother! And he was pissed about the replacement. But the replacement is just a tiny kid. The Joker hadn't mentioned that. The pictures must've been edited too. He's an older brother. And he has so dang much to make up for. And he's going to teach Tim all of the secret hideouts and places he can sneak out of. He's going to be the coolest brother.
It makes him worry a bit. How everything feels so different. But he hasn't been home for so long. Things have obviously changed. So, he doesn't bother thinking too much about it. And enjoys cuddling with his Dad, who snuggles with him and holds his hand, and tells him he loves him every day. Jason had felt his forehead for a fever the first time he had said it. But Bruce had just chuckled and hugged him and apologized for not saying it sooner. And then cried a little. But whatever, he was glad Bruce had overcome his emotional repression. Jason definitely hadn't cried a little too.
He enjoys spending time with Dick, who helps him do stretches and octopus-hugs him a million times daily and ruffles his hair. And sneaks him out to get ice cream the moment Leslie deems it fit. And the man in a domino who's at the manor a lot, for some reason, Dick had laughed so hard that he had collapsed when Jason had asked if Bruce had adopted a rogue. But hadn't stated otherwise. Domino had scowled the entire time. He has a rogue for a brother now, which is super cool. He teaches him to shoot and pretends he doesn't know that Bruce knows and allows it. He loves Jane Austen and they end up picking each other's brains about literature. And gives him the perfect book recommendations. And starts teaching him to cook as soon as he can walk with a crutch. Which is basically pointless. Because Domino picks him up and puts him on the counter as soon as he steps into the kitchen. And Alfred just allows it. His mustache twitching a little. How dare he! But secretly, he's grateful because he gets tired a little too quickly. He's still recovering. He's fallen asleep in so many random places, so many times, and has always woken up tucked in bed.
He enjoys spending time with Tim, who isn't even half-bad as the Joker had made him out to be. Jason's slowly working on telling himself that a lot of things that the Joker had told him were lies. And he's succeeding because he absolutely adores his baby brother who reads to him in his sweet still-high-pitched voice.
And Cass, who sneaks him contraband snacks and tickles him whenever they cuddle while watching movies. Cass isn't from a kind home. But Bruce hadn't told him much more. But his face had gone dark. So it must've been really, really bad. She hasn't seen any movies. And that's a crime. So now Jason has to introduce her to so many classics because apparently, Dick has been neglecting his older-brother duties too. Well, lucky for him. He's so going to be her favorite brother. And Steph. Who rough houses with him and speaks in cadences of Gotham's streets and tells him the funniest stories.
And the little kid Damian. Who's Bruce's son. Who's a funny kid once you get to know him? And he acts aloof. But his animals show up whenever Jason's having a bad time. And sometimes Damian does too. And reads him poetry in Arabic. He isn't from a kind home either. And Bruce hasn't told him about that either. His face had gone dark in a way Jason had never seen. And it had scared him. But it was gone in a moment. And Bruce had apologized so many times and hugged him and kissed him and told him he loved him.
(He had said he'd tell him everything once he was feeling better.)
And that's a new thing too. Everyone tells him they love him—except Damian maybe, but he's from an unkind home, and Jason knows how hard it is to trust people with his heart. Even the Domino. And after a few hesitant tries. He starts saying it back. And everybody's so happy when he does. Bruce hugs him so tightly when he says it, he's sure he's cracked a rib, but Bruce's touches are feather-light and careful. And Dick cries when he does. Tim tackle-hugs him and holds him for so long it's concerning. (His baby brother is so affectionate and touch-deprived. He has to remedy it. And he adds 4 more hugs to his daily 26 allocated ones.) Cass actually picks him up and swings him when he signs it. And he still hasn't forgiven her for the undignified sound that he made when she plucked him off the floor- as if he was light as a feather. His older sister was so freaking strong. Steph had cried too. And then had given him her secret chocolate stash. He was so going to be using that to his advantage a lot now.
Damian had frozen when he had said it to him. And disappeared. But an entire vase of roses had shown up outside his room. They smell amazing and don't wither. And he loves them and his little weird and lovable brother.
And Jason's grateful. He's actually happy. He's going to start therapy soon. And Bruce had let him snuggle against him on the sofa as they had vetted out the therapists together. With their histories and backgrounds. And then Bruce had talked about college and Jason had cried.
His family is a little strange now. And a little secretive. Their faces go dark and murderous whenever he mentions the things that have happened to him. And then completely blank. It irks him. And he asks. But they don't tell him everything's fine. But they do say that they'll tell him everything once he's feeling better. With the cuddles and the kindness and the gentleness. He doesn't mind. He really can't bring himself to mind. He loves his weird family with all his heart. And they love him viciously. And that's all that matters.