Unsuspecting Hero (Batjokes)

Chapter 29

(Set straight after the last chapter. These boys make my heart into mush!

I split this chapter up into two or three parts, because It's going to be a loooong chat between these boys. Jack's got a lot of feelings to figure out.)

Bruce managed to coax Jack back to sitting with him, and once their breakfast had arrived, they ate in silence. 

He could see the furrow of Jack's brow, the way his lips opened like he had something to say, just to close it once again. Like he didn't know what to say. Or wasn't sure how to start. But that was okay. They had all morning for this. So he patiently cut into his breakfast, letting the silence linger to help Jack grasp onto his own thoughts. After almost half an hour of silence, it was finally broken. 

"I killed Harvey"

"...I know" Bruce spoke, unsure how to quite respond to that little statement. Still, his uncertainty didn't dissuade Jack from continuing. "Does that make you..." The hesitation was back, as he turned away from Bruce. "Are you..." Bruce could see the small tremor of his hands as he held onto his cutlery, and wanted to reach out. To comfort him, but he held himself back, unsure with the reaction he would get. "I-I broke our deal"

That...hadn't been what Bruce was expecting. "Our...our deal"

"Yeah..." His voice was quiet, like saying those words out loud would cause an angry reaction from Bruce. "It was the only rule you gave me. A-And I broke it. I just...I didn't mean to kill him. I-I promise, Bruce. But, I know your angry, and I...I understand if you want me to go"

"No, of course I don't want you to go, Jack-" The words were out of his mouth before he could think about it, but Jack cut him off, slamming his cutlery down onto the small tray on his lap. "B-But you will! I-I'm not an idiot, Bruce. I know you better than I know myself! With your stupid no killing rule, because you have a better moral compass than all of Gotham. You'll forgive me, I know you will. Because you have the biggest heart in the world, because you always dumb it down to me not being 'mentally-sound', but you won't forget it! You'll feel all of this guilt because you're forgiving a murderer. A-And I can't...I can't live with myself knowing your thinking that"

Bruce fell silent, eyes wide at this revelation. Yes, Jack was right. He couldn't deny that. He'd done it so many times, blindly and guiltily forgiven those who have done wrong. Heck, how many times had he done it to the Joker? But this was different. A different situation, different circumstances, and Bruce didn't feel that way right now. He'd seen Jack grow, he knew the person Jack had become, and the thought of blaming Jack for this made a dark pit grow in his stomach.

No, he could never blame Jack for this.

Maybe Bruce should feel concerned about that. After-all, this was Harvey Dent who had died. Bruce knew Harvey, an old friend from way before he became Two-Face. He should feel bad about his death. He should be grieving like he always did, for every life lost under his watch. 

But he had seen what Harvey had done to Jack. To Bruce, to his family, to Harley Quinn and Edward Nigma. And feeling guilty about his death was the last of his concern.

"Jack, I could never blame you for this"

Jack turned towards Bruce, confusion twisting his features along with so many other emotions. "B-Bruce-"

"You did what you needed to do. I could never blame you for that"

"Well then what about Batman!?"

"What?" It was Bruce's turn to be confused now, watching as Jack stood up, restless staying still. "Can Batman forgive me for this? Because surely you realize that me being this sudden exception ruins your entire persona! Batman wouldn't be able to live with himself if he let another criminal go. I've seen you, Batsy! Spend months tracking someone down because you have to deliver your justice. Well, what about now!? Where's my justice, Bats!? J-Just hit me, or punch me, or something, because this fucking pity you are giving me is too much!"