Jason sat by the table after saying goodbye to Roy, Raven, and Lian and putting Danny to bed. After the revelation of Mar'i, the adults had sobered a little, and it had gotten awkward. Thankfully, the kids kept playing though Danny would side-eye Jason every once in a while. His knowing look reminded Jason that Danny was a sixteen-year-old trapped in the body of a five-year-old.
Jazz sat across from him with two cups of tea. She gave one to Jason and asked, "How are you feeling?"
Jason frowned; how was he feeling? A part of him was disappointed, but he understood.
"Jazz, when I came back, I killed people. I hurt Tim. It makes sense that Dick never told me he had a daughter. I'm doing the same thing now with Danny! Besides, nobody in their right mind would let a murderer around their child."
"Just because you understand and can rationalize it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt."
Jason smiled softly at her, "What are you, my psychiatrist, now?"
"I don't have to be a psychiatrist to know this affected you more than you want to let on."
Jason sighed, "I understand; really, I do. But what pisses me off is that Roy told me that Dick is obsessively looking for me. All of them are. How can they freeze me out of the family, not at least tell me, 'Hey Jason, you're an uncle,' and then call me family and use that as an excuse to hunt me down like a rabid animal?"
Jazz sipped her tea, "I think they're probably feeling guilty now because they managed to chase you away. From what I've heard, they like to be in control."
Jason snorted, "Yeah, they're all control freaks that have no issue invading others' privacy. Starting with Daddy Bats."
"Do you miss them," she asked quietly.
"I do," he answered in the same volume, "but I burned those bridges long ago."
They stayed in silence for a while.
"I hope I'm not overstepping, but you have become my family. I see how you act around Danny, and I am grateful that you parent and love him the way a parent loves their child. Our parents weren't the best, so I'm glad Danny will get a second chance at childhood, and it's all thanks to you."
Jason smiled, "Well, at least I'm doing right by Danny."
"You think—you think you'll ever talk to them again?"
"Not when there's a chance they'll take Danny away from me. They see me as unstable, but I won't ever hurt Danny. I don't know if I'm a bad parent, but Danny has helped me more than I've helped him, and he's keeping me sane."
Jazz shrugged, "I'm not precisely sane myself, and as long as you don't verbally tell Danny he's the only reason you feel your mental stability is better, then I see no harm in it. It's bad when a parent puts that pressure on their child. However, I have a feeling you're saner than you think you are."
