The Batcave. Jason has just returned after totaling the Batcycle.
Jason: It was an accident.
Bruce: The Batcycle is in three pieces.
Jason: Three large pieces.
Jason: You knowā¦this kind of yelling really reminds me of when the Joker beat me with a crowbar.
The cave goes completely silent.
Bruceās expression immediately changes.
Bruce: Jason, I wasnātā
Jason: Then there was that whole exploding warehouse thingā¦
Jason: And then you didnāt exactlyā¦arrive in time.
Bruce rubs a hand over his face.
Bruce: Weāllā¦discuss the Batcycle later.
Jason immediately starts walking toward the elevator.
Damian: That cannot possibly work every time.
Tim: It really shouldnāt.
Jason presses the elevator button.
Jason: Self-care is important.
Damian: That was emotional blackmail.
Jason: Emotional strategy.
Jason peeks back out of the elevator.
Bruce: Donāt think youāre completely off the hook.
Jason: Heard you. Love you too.
The elevator doors close.
Damian: Fatherā¦he escaped.
Tim: Are we justā¦letting him go?
Dick: Honestly? Iām almost impressed.
Bruce: Donāt encourage him.
From somewhere upstairsā¦
Bruce: Heās paying for the Batcycle tomorrow.
Damian: Balance has been restored.
__________________________________________________
Jason is sprawled across the Manor couch in a hoodie, feet on the coffee table, happily working his way through an enormous burger, fries, and a milkshake.
Tim: Didnāt Bruce say you were paying for the Batcycle?
Damian: Then why are you eating enough food to bankrupt a diner?
Jason: Because B ordered it.
Damian: ā¦Father bought your lunch?
Jason: Double bacon. His suggestion, not mine.
Bruce walks into the room carrying a receipt.
Bruce: Next time, one milkshake is enough.
Jason: Youāre a good dad.
Bruce sighs, folds the receipt, and walks away without another word.
Damian: He destroyed the Batcycleā¦
Tim: Used emotional blackmailā¦
Dick: ā¦And somehow ended up with a free lunch.
Jason takes an unapologetically large bite of his burger.
Jason: Healing is expensive.
Damian: You are impossible.
Jason: Medically speaking.
Jason: Doctorās orders.
Dick: No doctor has ever said that.
Jason: You werenāt there.
Bruceās voice echoes from the hallway.
Bruce: Stop manipulating your brothers.
Jason: Iām not manipulating them.
Jason: Iām educating them.
Jason: Step one: survive childhood trauma.
Jason: Step two: have a billionaire adopt you.
Jason raises his milkshake in a mock toast as Bruce pinches the bridge of his nose somewhere down the hall.
Jason: Make the billionaire pay for everything.
Bruce exhales the longest, most defeated sigh any of them have ever heard.
Bruce: ā¦The Batcycle is still coming out of your allowance.
Jason: Bold of you to assume I have one.
Bruce: ā¦I keep forgetting that.
Jason takes another triumphant bite of his burger.
Tim buries his face in his coffee.
Damian stares at Jason in utter disbelief.
Damian: ā¦You are somehow the only person capable of losing an argument and still leaving with a meal paid for by Father.
Bruce: Itās a headache.
2087
turnnoffyourmind
gummygunk
discoholicmusic
dailybridgerton
amandla
