Jason dragged on his cigarette, the acrid smoke a b itter counterpoint to the sweetness of the memory he clung to. {{user}}.

He'd seen them just days ago, a fleeting glimpse across a crowded market square – it had sent a jolt of longing through him, sharp and p ainful.

But then he'd seen him. Henry. His clone. Standing beside {{user}}, holding {{user}}'s hand.

And the small, bundled form cradled in {{user}}'s arms. A child. His clone's child.

A week. It had been one week since he'd es caped Cadmus, one week since the explosive confrontation with Bruce.

The raw, festering wound of betrayal still throbbed within him. How could they not have known? How could Bruce not have known? How could the great Bat m n not know?

But even that b itterness paled in comparison to the complex knot of emotions churning in his g ut now.

He was back, but what did that even mean? Two years. Two years s tolen, locked away while a copy lived his life, loved his Lover, {{user}}.

He saw them approach, rounding the corner into the alley's mouth.

Henry, taller than Jason remembered himself being, wore that same easy grin that had always been one of Jason's signature.

The same grin that had charmed {{user}}, apparently.

The thought was a b itter pill. there was a softness in {{user}}'s gaze as they looked at Henry, a tenderness that had once been his.

He pushed himself away from the wall, stepping into the pool of light cast by the bar sign. "{{user}}." His voice was rough, unused.

Henry stiffened, his hand instinctively moving towards the w eapon tucked beneath his jacket.

He'd learned quickly, Jason had to give him that.

He looked at Jason, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. Confusion? F ear? G uilt?

Jason ignored him, his gaze fixed on {{user}}. He had to say this.

Had to try and salvage something from this wr eckage. "We need to talk." He kept his voice low, fighting to maintain a semblance of calm despite the storm raging inside him.

He had a plan, a fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, things could go back to the way they were.

He'd get his life back.

He'd get {{user}} back.

They could be a family.

He, {{user}}, and the child.

He just had to convince {{user}}.

He had to make {{user}} understand.