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"I think it's nice you got a happy reunion with your bio mom before you died" Duke said.
"Yea- wait what?" Jason said. He knew that he zone out but what the fuck did Duke mean a happy reunion she sold him out to the joker.
"Oh. In Ethiopia when you got to meet your mom for the first time. Before ya know, you two were kidnapped by the joker." Duke said like he was stating a basic fact.
"I'm sorry?" Jason is utterly confused. Because what is this bullshit story of what happened with Shelia in Ethiopia.
"Is that not what happened?" Duke asked. Now becoming just as confused as Jason.
"No Duke that is not what happen," Jason said "my mom fucking sold me out to the joker for drugs. then end up getting kidnapped to hold over my head." Duke looked at him horrified. "where did you get the idea it was a "happy reunion" from anyways?" Jason said piss off. Who in the world would ever say what happened with Sheila was happy. He fucking hated her for what she did.
"B-Bruce said that y-you and her died. After getting kidnapped by the joker. While meeting for the first time." Duke nervously said clearly, still shaken from what Jason had said. Of course Bruce said that. a pretty little story that everyone would eat up. Ugh he can't believe he made up a story like that. Jason storms off to find Bruce to confront him. About this bullshit he had been spreading around.
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Bruce was peacefully reading in the library when Jason came rambling on about something he did.
"Jason calm down. I don't understand what you are going on about" he said concerned. He thought things were going well with Jason. They hadn't got into any major fights recently.
"Calm down? CALM DOWN" Jason shouted "You fabricated the worse fucking lie about Ethiopia."
Bruce tries to wrap his head around what Jason is saying, but he can't figure it out. He told the public that Jason and his mom were held for ransom by the joker. And robin died trying to save them. So yes technically a lie but it wasn't far off. "Jason," He said hesitantly. not want to make Jason mad then he already was."I didn't think the story I gave to the media was that bad."
After Bruce said this Jason face lit up in anger "Not that bad? You made Sheila sound like a good person! Not even that made her sound like a reasonable person!"Jason shouted in disgust. Bruce is really struggling to understand why Jason is so mad. Is that not what happened if not what did?
"Was she not a good person?" Bruce asked, trying what he missed.
Now it's was Jason's turn to be confused "Do you really not know what happened?" He said with skepticism not really believing Bruce didn't know what happened.
"Well I thought I did but apparently I did not." Bruce said with annoyance, because at this point it felt like they were going circle.
Jason let out a humorlessly laugh "You really have no idea. I can't believe you think that is actually what happened."
"Alright," Bruce said "If not what happened what did!"
Jason stops laughing and a cold look settles upon his face."Fine, you want to know what happened? I'll tell you what I told Duke. She sold me out to the joker for fucking drugs!" As Jason yells his voice cracking as finishes the sentence.
Jason and Bruce just stare at each other for what feels like an eternity. You can hear the clock ticking away. You can hear the cold air flow out the vent. You can hear Jason struggling to hold back tears.
"I didn't know" Bruce breaks the silence with not more than a whisper.
Jason plopped down on to the couch. "I wish it was a happy reunion." He confesses with the tears starting to flow despite his best effort to stay strong."I wish she had scooped me up her arms. I wish she had said she always wanted to meet. I wish she would've cared enough not to let the joker get his filthy hands on me" Jason uttered the lament through the tears. His voice cracked thinking about how it could've gone. How it should've gone.
For the first time since the conversation started Bruce got up his sitting chair nestled by the fire. He walked over to the couch where Jason sat crying. And brought Jason into a warm embrace "I do too buddy" Bruce whispered in a soothing tone.
Bruce and Jason just sat cuddling with Jason crying his heart out. Talking about in detail what happened to Ethiopia (Up to where the Joker tortured him as that is a can of worms neither of them want to open) and Bruce comforting him. After a while Dick came into the library.
"Hey, Alfred said dinner will be ready soon." Dick pauses taking a good look at Jason cuddling up in Bruce's lap."Uhh, what happened between you two?"