#Jaybin lost voice au

[swift-creates]

category: Gen

fandom: Batfamily

characters and relationships: Jason Todd (Robin) & Bruce Wayne - platonic

warnings: mentions of torture, aftermath of non-con surgery

Summary:

@ailesswhumptober Day 15: Waterboarding, removing body parts, “Don’t break down on me yet.”

Bruce rescues Jason from his torture at the Joker’s hands, but something’s missing.

—

Jason heard the sound of gunshots in the distance and forced his eyes to open, expecting to see a maniac with a knife looming over him again. But there was no one there, and the room where he’d been cut and bled for the last few hours (days? it was impossible to tell) was empty. Since waking up he’d become slowly aware of his throat burning from all his screaming and the cuts and the dry food they’d shoved down it earlier (yesterday?), and he held back a whimper at the jab of pain when he swallowed. 

The door banged open, but instead of a mime goon or the clown himself, it was Bruce. 

“Robin.” He rushed to Jason’s side, slicing through his restraints and pulling him into a sitting position. Jason winced but reached out to hug him back.

“Thank God you’re here, B,” he wanted to say. 

Nothing came out. 

B? He gripped his father’s arm in slowly growing panic, one hand going to the sharp stab of pain at his throat. His fingers brushed stitches over a vertical incision before Bruce pulled them away, squinting at his neck. Then the white lenses of his mask widened abruptly. Jason didn’t think he’d ever seen the Batman shocked before. B, what’s going on?!

“Hold on, lad. We’re going home.” Just tell me what’s wrong with me, Jason wanted to scream, his chest heaving as Bruce scooped him up like he weighed nothing. He didn’t say a word all the way to the Batmobile or on the drive back, just glanced over at Jason every so often and then looked away just as quickly. That almost scared Jason more than the pain and the brief brush of thread against his fingers had. 

Bruce stopped the car and went around to Jason’s side to pick him up again. He carried him to a soft bed, and Jason must have fallen asleep sometime during the process of Bruce and Alfred patching up his many wounds, because he woke up next to see Bruce sitting in a chair next to the bed dressed in civilian clothes, holding his hand. He smiled a tired, sad smile as he said, “Morning, Jaylad.”

Logically, Jason opened his mouth to reply, “Morning, Dad”, but nothing happened, and he winced as his throat burned again. He tugged at Bruce’s hand, trying to keep the panic from rising in his chest again. B, what happened to me? he mouthed slowly. Bruce looked down — actually broke eye contact — and took both of Jason’s hands into his. Jason had to tug him again to get him to look back up. Just tell me.

Bruce closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. When he opened them, they were a storm of fear, anger, concern and pain. “The Joker removed your voice box.”

What? Jason stared at him, grip tightening on his hand as the words started to sink in. The blood roared in his ears, and he felt his breathing quickening as the world narrowed around him. Wh- But how? All of it? B, what’s going to happen to me, B help me help me help- 

“Jason. Jason, slow down. I-” There were hands cupping his face, and he was choking on tears. “Shhh. Listen to me, sweetheart. You have to slow down. Just breathe. Breathe, Jason.” He struggled to stop crying, tugging at Bruce until he moved to sit on the bed next to him, pulling Jason into his arms. “It’s okay, honey, I’m here now. You’re safe, just breathe.” Jason buried his face in Bruce’s shirt, trembling. “I know, I know. You’re okay now. Shhhh.” Bruce gently stroked his hair, wiped the tears off his cheeks. He couldn’t hear himself crying. 

Baba- Ba, I’m scared, he mouthed when Bruce pulled away to look at him. 

“I know, Jaylad. Me too,” he whispered. “But we’re going to get through this, okay? I promise.” 

Okay. Okay. He promised. And if Bruce promised it, he was going to keep the promise. He’d never broken a single one before. It was only logical. Jason took a few shuddering breaths, felt the tears slow, then stop. 

“That’s it, sweetheart. You’re doing great. Breathe — you’re good, Jaylad. You’re okay.” He pressed a kiss to Jason’s temple, and he curled up tighter to his dad. They stayed there for a while, just breathing together, until Jason felt like he could let go without bursting into tears all over again.