Archie isn’t entirely sure what’s going on with Bruce. He’s…jittery. Frightened. Like a cornered animal—back to the wall, eyes unfocused and staring at invisible threats, head on a swivel, jumping at noises only he can hear. It’s incredibly concerning, but Archie does his best to remain calm and level-headed. His own anxiety has no place here, not when Bruce needs one of them to be steady.
“That’s right,” he nods. “I’m right here. You’re alright,” he tries. “You’re at home, Bruce. You’re safe.” He keeps his hands up where the other man can easily see them as he slowly moves a bit closer, watching the other man’s expression carefully. The last thing he wants is to frighten Bruce further.
“Whatever you’re seeing, or hearing, it isn’t there. It’s just us.” He pauses, listening for a moment. “Alfred is in the kitchen.” Archie is about to offer to go and get the man—or, more likely, bring Bruce to him, because he doesn’t plan on leaving the man’s side for even a moment, when he’s in this state—when Bruce speaks.
Brows furrow in confusion, his head tilting slightly to one side. “The cave?” He has absolutely no idea what cave Bruce is talking about. No idea if it even exists or if it’s just something his mind has come up with in its current state.
But if this ‘cave’ will make Bruce feel better—if it will make him feel safer—then Archie will do his damnedest to get him to it.
Again, he nods, a bit slower this time as his mind whirls. “Then we’ll go to the cave.” Carefully, he holds one hand out for Bruce to take, should he want it, though Archie is careful not to get too close to touching him. It’s entirely possible that Bruce won’t want to be touched at all, right now, but he doesn’t see the harm in offering the man something solid to hold onto, if it will help even a little. “Lead the way.”
