Leslie Smiled At That, Proud Of Him For Doing So Well. People Often Forgot How Difficult Education Was

Leslie smiled at that, proud of him for doing so well. People often forgot how difficult education was for children and underestimated the effect it could have. But it didn't feel like an issue at the moment.

She nodded, adding a note to her book, tilted just out of Jason's line of sight. "Excellent. And how about the journaling task I set you last week? How have you found it?"

Hel–Heck yeah.“

Jason smirked, opening his can of coke. ’‘I told you, doc; being Robin is the best thing that ever happened to me. I can do good. Batman needs me.”

It had earned more than a few notes down in his journal. He was good enough, he was earning his keep as Robin and as Jason. All their worries… he was good. Even Barbara had said so.

"Thank you for coming to pick me up. I'm almost done. Shall we get take out? "

Sat in the clinic awaiting @docthompkins to finish her shift so we can go back to hers to snuggle on the sofa.

jp-todd-rp​:

And Jason couldn’t help it.

He scoffed.

“Jason Todd is worth nothing compared to Robin,” he bit back, fury and shame burning bright in his gut. “He had to resort to crime to make it through the winter. He scrounged his meals from dumpsters. As Robin, as Bruce’s partner, I can make a difference, both for myself and for the city. Why would want to ‘just’ be Jason Todd, when I can be so much more?”

Leslie was calm, unflinching, allowing Jason to snarl, the self loathing in his voice ringing out clearly.

"Well that's just the thing. Isn't it? Jason Todd had to do those things. If he had been given a choice? An alternative. If things had been different? Would he have done the same thing if given another chance?

Discreetly, Leslie caught the time on her wristwatch and fought against the urge to sigh. They were just starting to get into it...

"I have a challenge for you. If you think you're up to it." She allowed just a hint of doubt into her voice in an attempt to goad him slightly.

jp-todd-rp​:

Jason got ready to argue with her, telling her that wondering about ‘what if’ wouldn’t help him. How could it, when all it did was fill him with resentment towards Willis, his mom and himself for not being there for him. For not being better. For not being good enough to keep them around.

But Jason’s eyes darted to the clock once he saw her subtle glance to her watch.

Time’s up.

Game over, doc.

But her parting comment, made Jason pause. He eyed her suspiciously. ’'What kind of a challenge?”

“It’s more difficult than it seems.” She forewarns him. “But it’s just a thought exercise. I do it myself.”

If she could pitch this right, then maybe, maybe he might come back for another session. 

Taking the blank, moleskin journal from the table between them, she holds it in both hands. “Three things, every day, that you are grateful for. Different things. Every day. It can be something as simple as being grateful that the birds were singing outside. Or more complicated... I’m wondering if you’d be up to trying it between now and... Well, whenever we see each other next.”

She held the journal out to him, waiting to see if he’d take it.

Leslie answered his suspicion simply. "I have no intention of actually reading it. Unless there's something in it that you choose to share. And I can make a point of telling Bruce its off limits to him, if you'd like."

Getting the immediate sense that his next question would be something along the lines of 'what is the point then?', she elaborated. "It is a thought exercise, something for you to sit with and think about. Do it every day, ideally the same time of day, then when you're ready, come back and tell me what you think about doing it. Even if you hated it. Ideally, I'd like for us to continue talking."

Stilling for a beat, she added with a hint of conspiracy in her voice and a quirk of her lip. "And if nothing else, it's an excuse for you to use with Bruce. You did mention he was worried."

jp-todd-rp​:

Jason got ready to argue with her, telling her that wondering about ‘what if’ wouldn’t help him. How could it, when all it did was fill him with resentment towards Willis, his mom and himself for not being there for him. For not being better. For not being good enough to keep them around.

But Jason’s eyes darted to the clock once he saw her subtle glance to her watch.

Time’s up.

Game over, doc.

But her parting comment, made Jason pause. He eyed her suspiciously. ’'What kind of a challenge?”

“It’s more difficult than it seems.” She forewarns him. “But it’s just a thought exercise. I do it myself.”

If she could pitch this right, then maybe, maybe he might come back for another session. 

Taking the blank, moleskin journal from the table between them, she holds it in both hands. “Three things, every day, that you are grateful for. Different things. Every day. It can be something as simple as being grateful that the birds were singing outside. Or more complicated… I’m wondering if you’d be up to trying it between now and… Well, whenever we see each other next.”

She held the journal out to him, waiting to see if he’d take it.