#hope this is 1) coherent and 2) not annoying i am Unwell

[breadandblankets]

Probably not what you were thinking about op, but i got to thinking about their one canon one on one interaction (that i remember someone correct me if im wrong) but they are Sassy little shits [im going to cut this cause its longer than i anticipated]

this is from the New Talent Showcase (2017) this section is more action and mentoring than any discussion of feelings but it is an interesting look at how they interact. duke is smart and quick on his feet, obviously not as skilled as an experienced league trained fighter, but he's learning! Duke also knows where to go for the fucking kneecaps with Jason which is good, someone needs to push buttons now and then.

Duke is definitely coming from the perspective of someone who is not emotionally attached to Bruce in the way that Jason is. You're right in that I also think Duke doesn't really see the situation as Bruce failing him, but youre right, Jason would take that as more proof.

Duke, I imagine, would not appreciate being used as a piece of evidence, as is his right.

Jason says this:

Which is kinda funny that Jay is giving this advice to Duke, probably the character who has Most found his own way before even being in Batman's orbit.

But I think Jason is coming from a place of protectiveness, kinda like a "things you wish you could tell your younger self" sort of thing. (duke is everything Jason's younger self probably wished for but that another story)

Plot happens and at the end we get this parting panel:

Like i said, sarcastic little shits. Duke ribs Jason a lot but Jason seems to take it a lot better than with some of the other batfam, not to fanonize Jay too much but he probably genuinely likes having a younger mentee/sibling that doesn't come with the same baggage lmao, for Duke's side this weird guy fights good and has all his weaknesses out an available for hitting.

They seem like characters that would probably interact pretty well. Jason's proactive viewpoint and laser focus on the little guy would jive well with Duke, even if the methods don't necessarily work.

I have some other thoughts but this is already long so calling out to the universe talk to me about Jason and Duke

I’ve started reading Duke Thomas comics and I’m really curious about how he and Jasons interactions will go, if they do ever interact.

Batman failed Jason, but he’s also failed Duke so many times, thought I don’t really see it that way and neither would Duke but Jason definitely would.

Batman couldn’t save Dukes parents and him not being there is the whole plot of We Are Robin, where one of Dukes friends literally DIED. Because they were trying to do Batman’s job for him.

And Duke still loves Bruce, like that’s his very good friend/mentor, he and Jason have such different perspectives on Bruce’s failures. I wanna see them tussle about it :)