That's about right. And he feels kind of dirty for taking that tack, but it cut to the heart of the matter.
And put up Bruce's walls, probably.
"... Sorry. It was the easiest approach to blame on the toxin if I was wrong." Which is still playing dirty pool, he knows. The toxin could also be affecting his judgement in tact, and in fact probably is, but it's not an excuse, and it's not worth voicing. Bruce knows the effects of the toxin better than he does, anyway.
Some day, maybe Bruce will stop carrying that target over his heart, but it hasn't happened in his experience, and this Bruce is - so young. Different. In ways Tim has noticed, and ways he's sure he's missed, his mind skittering away from having to accept that this is a different Bruce, one who knows him but wanted to avoid him. But he's also sure he won't appreciate being compared. Who would?
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And put up Bruce's walls, probably.
"... Sorry. It was the easiest approach to blame on the toxin if I was wrong." Which is still playing dirty pool, he knows. The toxin could also be affecting his judgement in tact, and in fact probably is, but it's not an excuse, and it's not worth voicing. Bruce knows the effects of the toxin better than he does, anyway.
Some day, maybe Bruce will stop carrying that target over his heart, but it hasn't happened in his experience, and this Bruce is - so young. Different. In ways Tim has noticed, and ways he's sure he's missed, his mind skittering away from having to accept that this is a different Bruce, one who knows him but wanted to avoid him. But he's also sure he won't appreciate being compared. Who would?
"You could have just said."