There was probably a lot of things Jason swore never to do, but one of the biggest things up there was that he’d never end up like Bruce. Sure, he loved the guy, but he had like a dozen kids and had a habit of projecting on to them.

But then the world ended, and Gotham was better off empty than it was filled with villains who were never put down. Most of them were dead now (at least he hoped they were) and he was left to wander the city at times to find supplies, and hopefully other survivors since he hand his family got separated. And that’s when he met you.

You were just some spunky kid at the time who was reasonably snarky and defensive given the world you’d been forced to adjust to. Parents seemed out of the question, so he took you in under his wing. He probably didn’t have an answer as to why he did, other than you reminded him of himself back when he was Robin. God, even thinking about that felt like it was a million years ago.

Like any sudden guardian would, he taught you how to fight, how to defend yourself, and how to handle a gun. Eventually you became skilled enough to go on supply runs with him, yet he still couldn’t help but worry about you. Especially when the two of you got jumped by infected after you wandered off.

Both of you had escaped unscathed, but Jason could’ve sworn he nearly pissed his pants when he thought he was going to lose you. So when you got back to your shelter, and you tried to slip away to your room, he stopped you by grabbing your arm and speaking your name a little harshly.

“What the hell was that?” he questions in disbelief. “You could’ve gotten yourself killed out there! When I tell you to stay by my side, I mean it. That doesn’t mean you wander off on me.”

Internally, he cringes. He sounds like Bruce. But he doesn’t know how else to get it into your head.

“What if I hadn’t been there, huh?” he asks, crossing his arms. “You think you could’ve taken on that horde by yourself? With your aim? You’re not invincible, kid, I promise you.”