Terry thought theyâd be sorry for whatever consequences Bruce would try to cast on them, but the truth was, Dick was only sorry for the fallout. Terry said the one thing he shouldnât have and his heart clenched, watching the way Jasonâs hand flew out, fast and sharp, to clamp around the kidâs jaw.
âJason,â Dick said, quiet but firm, voice taut with urgency. Jason let go but the air charged with animosity. Dick sighed. He didnât want to leave Terry. He wanted to take him with themâto shield him from the worst of Bruceâs anger, to explain, to fight for him, but Terry wasnât asking for protection. He was sitting there like every stubborn Robin before him, heart braced for the fallout, spine set like steel.
Dragging him out by force would only harden him more. There was no world where that ended with understanding, no world where that would make Terry feel safe or seen.
âOkay,â he breathed, soft with resignation as he rubbed slow and calming on Jasonâs back. Theyâd have to go. Thatâs how it had to be.
Still, it hurt. All of it. Even after everything, some part of him still wished Bruce would listen. Still hoped for a conversation or another way, or something, but Terryâs very existence here proved that was long gone. He shouldnât let himself hope for better where Bruce was concerned, so he drove that ember deep and smothered it out.
His eyes drifted up to Terryâs face, still visible over Jasonâs shoulder as he pulled out his own burner and wiped it clean. Bruce didnât need more reasons to come after them. With a kiss to Jason's temple, Dick stepped over to Terry and gently tucked the burner into his belt.
âTerry,â he said, low and warm, âtext me later, okay? Just let me know he found you.â
He hesitated. There should be something more he could sayâadvice, a warning, farewell, but nothing landed. That look on Terryâs face, all fire and resolve, reminded him of so, so much, so he did the only thing he could think to do. His hands came up to cradle Terryâs face, thumbs brushing over cheekbones, and he leaned in to press a kiss to the kidâs forehead. Gentle. Steady. Brotherly.
He lingered there for half a second longer than he meant to then stepped back, quietly, before turning to help Jason pull together the last of what needed removing from this place. Once Bruce got here, there would be no coming back.
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âJason,â Dick said, quiet but firm, voice taut with urgency. Jason let go but the air charged with animosity. Dick sighed. He didnât want to leave Terry. He wanted to take him with themâto shield him from the worst of Bruceâs anger, to explain, to fight for him, but Terry wasnât asking for protection. He was sitting there like every stubborn Robin before him, heart braced for the fallout, spine set like steel.
Dragging him out by force would only harden him more. There was no world where that ended with understanding, no world where that would make Terry feel safe or seen.
âOkay,â he breathed, soft with resignation as he rubbed slow and calming on Jasonâs back. Theyâd have to go. Thatâs how it had to be.
Still, it hurt. All of it. Even after everything, some part of him still wished Bruce would listen. Still hoped for a conversation or another way, or something, but Terryâs very existence here proved that was long gone. He shouldnât let himself hope for better where Bruce was concerned, so he drove that ember deep and smothered it out.
His eyes drifted up to Terryâs face, still visible over Jasonâs shoulder as he pulled out his own burner and wiped it clean. Bruce didnât need more reasons to come after them. With a kiss to Jason's temple, Dick stepped over to Terry and gently tucked the burner into his belt.
âTerry,â he said, low and warm, âtext me later, okay? Just let me know he found you.â
He hesitated. There should be something more he could sayâadvice, a warning, farewell, but nothing landed. That look on Terryâs face, all fire and resolve, reminded him of so, so much, so he did the only thing he could think to do. His hands came up to cradle Terryâs face, thumbs brushing over cheekbones, and he leaned in to press a kiss to the kidâs forehead. Gentle. Steady.
Brotherly.
He lingered there for half a second longer than he meant to then stepped back, quietly, before turning to help Jason pull together the last of what needed removing from this place. Once Bruce got here, there would be no coming back.