Unsuspecting Hero (Batjokes)

Chapter 39

(I wanted to go into depth for this trigger warning as I wasn't sure what to label it as. Oversexuality to cope with trauma is something I feel like Jack would experience. Nothing actually happens, but I wasn't sure if that was a bit of an iffy topic

I think my favourite chapters are the ones where we truly get to see into Jack's mental state.)

Jack woke up to arms around him, and the familiar smell of Bruce's cologne. "Bats..."

"You need to stop this, Jack"

Jack's brow quirked, looking up at Bruce. "huh?"

"Not telling me things, sneaking around, not telling the whole truth to Doctor Bailey. I only want to help you. You won't get better unless you tell me these things"

The grogginess of sleep was lost on him, as he scoffed. "Says the one who is notorious for being terrible with communication. We still haven't talked about that promise you made me. I still don't understand. You promised you'd make me understand"

"And I will. But not right now, Jack. Not with this Jason stuff going on. It isn't safe-"

"When have I ever cared about safety? I didn't as Joker, and I don't feel much different about it now. Jason is powerful, Bruce. We both know that. And we also both know that he is very angry. He won't stop, until either he dies or I do. I'd rather the latter happens, so that all of this just stops-"

"Jack, will you stop talking like that?" Bruce sighed, pulling Jack tighter into him, protectively. "I won't let you die. You need to stop feeling the need to die"

"No, Bruce, because this isn't the same as Harvey! Jason was your son. Even as Joker, I had enough sense to know that killing Jason would make you never forgive me. It isn't much different now. This stand-off can only end one way"

"Death doesn't have to be a part of this. There are other ways to stop Jason"

"Nothing effective, though. You gonna send him off to Arkham? He'll be out in a week. You gonna lock him in your little bat cages? Out in a month. You gonna banish him from Gotham? You won't. I know you fucking won't. This isn't going to end happily ever after. Your naivety is cute, Brucie, but get your head out of your fucking ass. Choices are going to have to be made, ones you aren't going to like. It's unavoidable. Why am I the only one seeing that so clearly?"

"He wouldn't be a threat if I left him with the Justice League-"

"What? Permanently? That's not realistic, Bruce. You know it isn't"

"We can find a way, Jack. Jason is much more careful than Harvey is. We have more time. Once he realizes Axel and Jest aren't coming back, he will have to come up with a different plan. I'm not going to let you go. Jason is important to me, yes, but so are you. You mean everything to me, Jack. We don't need to rush this."

Bruce felt the man relax in his hold, a small sigh leaving Jack's lips. "Okay, Bruce."

"Now please, talk to me. Why did you feel the need to visit Axel and Jest?"

"I can't fix what I did to Harvey, to Jason, to majority of Gotham. But Axel and Jest, they were right there. I can fix that. Nothing I could do could bring Axel's parents back, but I can fix the damage."

"Jack, this isn't healthy. It's great you want to fix the past, but not with Axel. Jest, maybe. But Axel did something unforgivable, no amount of revenge could excuse what he did to you. Maybe one day, you can learn to truly forgive him, but that'll take time"

Jack frowned, eyes turning away from him. "I already forgave him"

"I don't believe you have. Not really. Your rationalizing his behaviour towards you because you think you deserved it-" "Are you me now?!" Jack huffed, brows furrowed. "Last time I checked, I was perfectly capable of telling myself how to feel!"