INSECURITIES

Jason Todd suffers from nightmares often. It's a known fact, and he's pretty sure everybody in the hero biz suffers from them because of what they experience. Jason obviously goes through more terrible ones because he was dead once.

Memories of him being beaten by a crowbar and digging himself out of his own coffin often flashes into his eyes when he's in the dark and alone. The wooden slivers being engraved into his nails, the blood seeping out of his skin, and many more images often pop up when he least expects it. Sometimes, he thinks of how though he calls them nightmares, they're merely memories. This fact scares him much more than what a fearless outlaw is supposed to act.

He didn't mean to go asleep in the Batcave. He shouldn't even be in there in the first place. He and Bruce got into another fight about killing thugs, but he'd be damned if that rapist would live another day in his watch.

He can practically feel Bruce's glare to him from the other side of the cave. He promised Alfred, though, that he can check a nasty cut from his side that he suffered because of his mind wandering in the moment. As much as he would love to leave to let Bruce brood in peace, he knows Alfred is worried, and he doesn't want him worrying about him even more because of a stupid cut that would only take a minute to check.

The moment he felt himself because sleepy, he knew he should've left. He tried to fight it, but the exhaustion kept coming. His fight with Bruce definitely took a lot of energy that three hours of sleep couldn't cover. The Batcave lights became dim until he entered a state to pitch dark.

The first thing he heard was that God awful laugh. That was the first sign that this night would not pass pleasantly. Slowly, the Joker came into view, the crowbar glinting in the light. Jason was tied onto a chair, and there was nothing he could use to escape. It seemed like it was going to be a regular nightmare of him being beaten until he wakes up. However, standing right beside the Joker was Bruce. He felt his breathing starting to escalate, his desperation getting to him. Bruce shouldn't be here, he wouldn't let the Joker beat him, right? God, he didn't know how wrong those questions were.

The first hit was painful, but nothing he couldn't handle, usually. But since Bruce is here, nothing is usual now.

The hits keep coming, each making his head ring and blurs the lights. Bruce keeps standing there, like if he was in a trance. Maybe if I try hard enough, Jason thought, he can snap out of it!

"Batman! Batman, snap out of it! Help me!"

He still didn't snap out of it. C'mon, he thought, you need to try harder!

All of a sudden, Bruce's face became angry. Maybe he finally snapped out of it, he thought. But he looked angry at Jason, not Joker.

"Batman! Are you hearing me? I'm Robin! Fight it, Batman," Jason yelled, desperation getting to him.

"You're a failure, Jason. I never should've let you become Robin. You're just a disgrace to that name," Bruce spat out.

"Bruce! This isn't you, you need to try!"

"Dick was so much better than you. And Tim was everything you never could be. You're a mistake, Jason, and I should have gotten rid of you long ago."

Jason's breath felt taken away, this was so much worse. The Joker continued to beat him until he started activating the bomb. God, he should've known this is all his fault. The Joker left and locked the door, but Bruce stayed. Jason had to get him out somehow, there has to be a way.

"'uce, you have to get out," Jason coughed out, blood dripping from his mouth.

Bruce didn't seem to hear him at all. He stood there, with an angry look.

"Bru-" he coughed out, his lungs feel as if they're giving up. He needs to get Bruce out of here, he can hear the bomb ticking.

"Bruce, just go! Leave me!"

He isn't reacting at all. Jason looked at the bomb with his only eye that wasn't shut.

One minute.

His desperation ran rapidly, and he felt himself acting on instinct. He dislocated his thumb, his shattered hand barely being able to move, and started finding a way to untie himself.

40 seconds.

Jason found it and quickly started untying himself, cursing his slow movements because of all of his injuries.

15 seconds.

"Bruce! Leave now!"

He still wasn't reacting.

10 seconds.

Fucking shit, he thought. He started moving as fast as he can towards Bruce.

4 seconds.

Jason jumped on Bruce, wrapping his arms around him to try and protect him from the blast.

"Bruce, I love yo-"

The first thing Jason felt was somebody's arms on him, the ringing of the bomb still happening in his mind. The lights were so bright that he squinted and tried to cover his eyes. That's when he felt the tears dripping from his face.

"Wh-what happened?" Jason stuttered out, visibly shaken.

"You were screaming in your sleep. Are you okay?" Bruce asked worriedly.

"Yeah... yeah, I'm fine. I'm just tired."

He's ready to leave, Alfred can check his cut later. He can't seem to look at Bruce in the eyes, his nightmare too fresh in his mind to look at him.

"Jason... you're not a failure, you never were. You're my son, and you make me proud every day. I know I failed you once, but I'm trying so hard not to fail you now. I know it may seem that my actions seem cold towards you, but I care about you, Jason. You're my son, and I'm sorry that sometimes I don't treat you like one."

"Th-thanks Bruce, I, uh, really needed that."

Jason started getting up from his seat, the cut straining some of his movements. He stumbled a bit, but Bruce was there to hold him straight.

"I uh think that I'm going to head to my place now, so I'm goi-"

"Stay here," Bruce interrupted, sounding desperate.

"Your room is exactly the same as you left it. We- I miss you, Jason. Can you just stay the night?"

A small smile stretched onto Jason's face.

"Yeah... yeah okay, I'd like that. Just don't expect me to get along with the demon brat, old man."

"I wouldn't even dream of it," Bruce said, with a small smile plastered on his face too.

A/N: So that's the end!! If you guys have any criticism, please comment it!! I definitely need all the help I can get. Thank you guys for reaching the end and I hope you guys enjoyed it!!