Herbert Verse; adjusting to life on the farm

[takingthemdown]

Jason had chosen to stay behind when Bruce returned to Gotham. He knew that his operations could go on without him for a few months, and honestly he didn't like the danger factor his being around Bruce could bring. Not to mention how bad it would be if Vicky Vale recognized him, plus he had promised Ma to help out around the farm. He wasn't as strong as Clark by any means, but he was strong enough to help out.

She had to help him with a lot of it. He was a city slicker through and through, hell even the sound of coyotes had gotten him up with his guns once. The quiet left him on edge a lot, but after a few weeks he settled into a nice rhythm. He was reading a lot more at night on the couch and listening to Ma talk about Jonathan, and stories of Clark as a kid. After the first week he stopped hiding the fact he drinks from her. He didn't drink as heavily as he did in Gotham, but if Superman could have a beer in the house, why couldn't 19 year old Red Hood? It's not like he had anyway off the farm short of going to town with her.

Then the text message was misfired and he loved teasing Bruce.

It just so happened that same day he went to town with Martha, he hadn't brought much in clothes when he decided to stay, not that he had much anyway, but helping with the barn he had ripped his favorite shirt and decided to go to town with her to buy a new one. It felt weird having a Wayne Card in his wallet but he didn't use it. He took out Cash from an ATM and paid for a few things including a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of whiskey bought with a fake ID and both hidden in the bottom of the bag. Which was tossed in with the groceries.

When they got back to the farm he helped her unload the truck before realizing a car was approaching. Just someone trying to sell her something. When Martha didn't seem worried he carried the bags in and walked up to his room to stash his stuff. A few hours later, he had lost track of time, while he straightened up the barn. He knew her timing by now, she was making dinner. So he leaned against the wall inside the barn away from the drying paint and lit the cigarette. It ahd been weeks but the nicotine hit him enough that he all but sighed the smoke out. Another drag taken as he lifted it from his lips.

"God, I needed this." He grumbled to himself. Half of what he loved about the farm was how quickly he lost track of days and how much solitude there was.

Comments

[dressedlikeabat]

After that text conversation, Bruce decided that he needed to go down and pay M--Ma Kent a visit. It wasn't to check up on Jason. No, not at all. He just wanted to see how Herbert was doing. And Jason. And if he was behaving well for the older woman. And if he was going to run off again. His car, well, actually, the car that he had bought for Jason pulled up the road to catch up with Ma.

After catching up with her, he followed the path that he saw Jason take around the house and toward the barn. He stopped in his tracks when he caught the younger man take a deep drag.

"When the hell did you take up smoking?"

[takingthemdown]

Jason thought he had heard the rumble of an old engine awhile ago but shrugged it off as small town. Classic's had to be all around. He didn't even think about Bruce stopping by, and he knew he'd know if Ma was coming, but Bruce. Bruce had a way of getting around his training.

So when he heard the voice he choked, which hadn't happened in years. It took him a moment to get his breath under control as he ashed to the side in a wet puddle near his feet. His eyes locking on Bruce, forever defiant.

"When I was seven." He spoke honestly. "I smoked the whole time I was Robin to." He admitted with a shrug. It was awkward but he was always head strong.

[dressedlikeabat]

"I would have noticed if you did smoke the entire time you were with me."

Either or that or Alfred's soft spot included hiding the evidence of his smoking habits from Bruce.

[takingthemdown]

"Trust me B, you nearly caught me a few times. I mostly did it on patrol or when i'd go exploring the property. I wasn't stupid enough to do it in the house after Alfred caught me the first time." he lifted his boot to scrape the cherry off so it didn't endanger the barn before taking out the new pack and pushing it back in.

"You forget, my mother taught me how to hide things from people who don't want to see. I was addicted long before you met me."

[dressedlikeabat]

"We can help you break the addiction," Bruce replied.

He knew he's failed Jason in so many ways, that much was clear. Now was a chance for him to make things up, as M--Ma Kent put it. She reminded him that Jason was his responsibility and while he had a body of a young man, he was very much still a scared little boy.

[takingthemdown]

"B, look I get your you, and you want to help, but this is one thing I dont want help with. I've already been dead and I don't think smoking is going to be what takes me back out." He grumbled a bit before stepping up a bit closer, and not making eye contact despite puffing up a little. That way he does when he wants to be heard but expects to be ignored.

"So, how about we forget this, and you tell me whats brought you back?"

[dressedlikeabat]

"Because I care about you."

That was his honest answer for all of it. He cares about Jason. He knew that Jason felt wronged. He wanted Jason back in the family. It took Clark to help him learn how to express his emotions better.

"Jason, I care about you, that's why I want to help you with this."

[takingthemdown]

He made a face before he sighed and let himself slump a bit. "It's not that easy. It can't be that easy. I get it, your Super boy scout is making you see things, and want to fix things. But, B, I'm broken, and you cant fix me. Nothing can. I'm stuck with this. Look at Ra's he's nuttier than a fruitcake sometimes, and that's right where I'm heading. I have the pit in me now to." It had stained his hair and his eyes, the once sky blue eyes now had a green tinge and he had the white streak in his bangs. Like Ra's had white streaks near his ears.

"I'm going to snap one day, and nothing can change that. I came back at a price, and its a price I dont want you to have to pay." AS much as he had come to addore Ma Kent, he knew it was safe for him to be there, with just her. Clark could show up and end him if he ever snapped, and Bruce wouldn't have to see it.

"I smoke becuase it reminds me of mom... and becuase it helps calm my nerves when I can feel the dirt under my nails and hear the water all around me... I wake up every night feeling like Im drowning or trapped in a box again... and I dont even think you can fix that."

[dressedlikeabat]

"Do you really want to fix that? Or do you want help with that?" he asked. He understood the need to be reminded of one's mother. Bruce had his own ways to remember Martha Wayne. None of them as toxic as smoking a cigarette but...

"You're still you. As much as you are the Pit's and as you are Ra's, you're still the kid that tried to steal the wheels off my car. That's what matters to me, Jason. If you snap one day, big if, I'll be there to bring you back this time. Ma will be there. Alfred will be there. So many of us would be there to help you not lose it like you think you will."