Title: Memories
Rating: PGish
Characters/Pairing: Jason Blood, Bruce Wayne, hints of Jason/Bruce
Word Count: 628
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Author's Note: For arch_schatten's birthday! :D *glomps* Happy Birthday, Mina! And an extra big thank you to jen_in_japan for the beta!



Jason watched the young man sleep, the man who had come to him today and all but demanded that he teach him. He was different from others, he had seen that as soon as he had first laid eyes upon him, felt the Demon reaching forward in interest. He had pushed him back, but could feel him regarding the young man - just as he was.

Yes, he was different. But then he always had been. Jason remembered the first time he had seen him, bright armour glimmering in the early morning sunlight, clearly exhausted as he had returned from some noble deed. His squires had been at his side, one a knight himself but staying at his mentor's side nonetheless. Jason remembered standing atop the castle walls on guard duty, watching them riding through the streets of Camelot, seeing the joy lighting up the city as the people realized that Lancelot had returned. Perhaps that was when he fell in love with him, seeing him then, wearily accepting the wishes from the people. He knew the effect he was having, didn't care for it, but went through the motions anyway.

He remembered seeing him again, the night of his return. He was sitting in the great hall, at the top table at the feast being held in honor of his return, sitting at the right hand of the king. Everyone's eyes had been on him, staring at him in adoration, the king's eyes among them, gleaming in the light of the fires. Jason had seen, known somehow, that he would have preferred to be anywhere else but there, away from the responsibly of being the best and noblest knight in the lands. Was he not renowned for going in disguise, for abandoning his name at times to be a nameless knight errant? Surely this hall, full to overfilling with people, was the last place he would wish to be.

Jason had seen the look that Lancelot and the king had shared, only for a moment, but enough for him to know. He had felt his heart break only hours after it had been beating fiercely with joy. He had known that he had no chance, that everyone was in love with Lancelot, but it hadn't stopped him from hoping anyway. But there was only one he would ever love.

Then Camelot had fallen, out of jealousy and envy and scorn. Jason remembered the last battle, and seeing Lancelot return too late to prevent the evil from happening. He was one of the few to live, mortally wounded himself yet still looking for his love. Jason remembered the look on his face when he did, and his stubborn refusal to not disobey the king's last request. Lancelot had taken the sword and given it back to the Lake, then returned to the king's side.

Jason had watched them die in the same moment.

Jason sighed, his thoughts returning to the here and now. Yes. This man before him was too young to be the knight he had known, but it was, unmistakably, him.

The Demon was reaching forward, eager to see what havoc it could wreak upon him, but Jason pushed him back once more, forcefully. He could feel the Demon considering then, could feel his insistence that the Demon was not going to taint this one.

The man - Bruce - moved slightly, for a moment looking exactly like Lancelot. Jason wondered when Arthur would show up, for surely he wouldn't have let his knight go far without him. Jason turned to look at the fire. Yes. Training this young man was going to be... very interesting, indeed. And maybe, maybe this time, he would have him before Arthur returned.

Jason smiled.