#Bruce being a good dad

[d-1hater]

honestly one of the main reasons I like dc is that they can’t keep a storyline straight for shit. anything I don’t like is just *not real*. that’s different storyline babes what are you talking about???

like at this point I can consider shit like wfa and hell even well written fanfics as canon bc who knows what’s going on with those funky little people?? certainly not the dc writers

[haveihitanerve]

Okay but bruce is 100% the type of dad who treats his kids like an adult because he doesn't know how to handle kids so he treats them the way he treats adults except, y'know, after dick he learns a little and is also soft and gentle with them and learns how to treat kids, but for the most part bruce is a gentle parent, listening to all of their problems, believing the things they say without a seconds hesitation (until of course he learns them well enough to tell a lie from a truth) but just like- imagine how much of a mind fuck that must have been for his kids

Dick- newly orphaned, and instead of being treated the way most adults are treating him, here is bruce, who understands, and treats him normally. He treats him with sorrow of course, but he also acts like dick is an adult, like he knows that dick can handle things after his parents death

Jason- who was beaten by his father for ‘telling lies’ is now believed automatically by bruce, no matter how outlandish it is(because they live in Gotham so everything is outlandish)

Tim- who was ignored by his parents and told to shut up when he spoke is now waited on, listened to, comforted

Cass- who had her vocal cords ripped out and broken- bruce learns sign language for her, touches her gently, offers quiet words of support and always allows her to read his body language

Damian- silenced by older assassins who know better, every member of the family stops and listens when he speaks, lets him finish what he needs to say, trusts his words without doubt- no punishments dealt out for being wrong

[sidewalk-cracks]

The batkids encountering distressed children and calling them "sweetheart", subconsciously mimicking how Bruce would and will call them sweetheart when they're distressed, and not even realizing it?? Don't speak to me. I can't.

[batfamhastwitter]

Part 44! Fun fact, I actually am a natural ginger, but I have been able to gaslight a specific few people into thinking that I'm blonde and just dye it. They've thought that for at least two years at this point. I want to see how long it can go lmao

Prev ~ Beginning ~ Next

[flwrkid14]

Jason Todd: Dad Mode Activated

There’s a new dynamic in the Batfamily, and nobody saw it coming. Jason Todd—Red Hood, former Robin, perennial black sheep of the Wayne family—has apparently decided that Tim Drake is his son. And no one, least of all Tim, knows what to do about it.

It starts subtly, if you can call Jason “subtle.” He starts showing up when Tim’s been too busy to eat, tossing him a burger or some takeout with a gruff, “Eat, Replacement.” He’s there when Tim’s working himself to the bone, slamming the laptop shut and growling about how his kid isn’t going to die of exhaustion on his watch. When Tim’s in over his head, Jason’s suddenly there, guns blazing, a protective shadow with a deadly smirk.

Tim’s confused. Very confused. Jason has always been... antagonistic, at best. But now he’s... scolding him? Encouraging him? Telling him he’s proud when Tim does something impressive? The man even started calling him “kid” instead of “Replacement,” which is somehow worse because it makes Tim feel all warm and fuzzy inside. What is happening?

Eventually, Tim asks. And Jason, in true Jason fashion, gives an explanation that doesn’t explain much at all.

“Look, Dick’s already treating Damian like his own kid, Bruce is busy helping Duke figure out his place in the family, Cass and Babs are practically attached at the hip—like sisters or something. And you?” Jason shrugs. “You’re my kid.”

Tim stares. “I’m your what?”

“My kid,” Jason repeats, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “You’re smart, you’re resourceful, you’ve got my stubbornness—which, yeah, is annoying—and someone’s gotta make sure you don’t get yourself killed. Congrats, kid. You’ve been adopted.”

It doesn’t really explain anything, but Tim decides not to argue. After all, Jason’s kind of a good dad? He feeds Tim, checks in on him, teaches him things like how to hotwire a car (Tim already knows, but Jason’s so enthusiastic about it that Tim doesn’t have the heart to tell him). And Jason has his back in a way that feels steady, solid. Like he’s not going anywhere.

The thing is, Jason doesn’t stop there. He starts talking about Tim in ways that make Tim want to crawl under a rock. To Roy, to Kory, to anyone who’ll listen. “My kid’s a genius,” Jason brags, his voice filled with so much pride it makes Tim’s chest ache. “Runs a whole company and saves Gotham on the side. Kid’s got a brain the size of the Batcomputer.”

And it’s not just talk. Jason drags Tim along to meet-ups with other vigilantes or allies, casually introducing him like a proud dad at a PTA meeting. “This is Tim,” Jason says, grinning ear to ear. “My kid. Smartest of the bunch, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Tim flushes, stammering out an awkward, “Uh, hi,” while Jason beams like he’s just presented a Nobel Prize winner.

The height of Tim’s mortification comes when Jason introduces him to Talia—not as a fellow vigilante or even a respected ally, but as his son. Talia, who had become something of a mother figure to Jason after the Pit, is apparently now being roped into her new role as a grandmother. Jason insists it’s only right that she meet her “grandkid” and treat Tim accordingly. Tim, meanwhile, wants to disappear into the floor while Jason beams with unrestrained pride.

“Yeah, this is my boy,” Jason says, arms crossed, radiating smug pride. “Smart, resourceful, better than Bruce—don’t even try to deny it.”

Tim wants the floor to open up and swallow him. But he also can’t help feeling... warm. Embarrassed, yes, but also kind of happy. Jason’s over-the-top pride is ridiculous, but it’s genuine. It’s not something Tim’s used to—someone being proud of him just for being himself.

And of course, Jason’s newfound dad energy throws the rest of the family into chaos.

Bruce tries to scold Tim about something minor—maybe staying out too late on patrol—and Tim just raises an eyebrow. “I’m gonna tell my dad,” he says, completely deadpan. And then he does. Jason shows up at the Batcave later, tearing into Bruce about how his kid doesn’t need this kind of negativity in his life, and Bruce is left speechless.

Damian tries to insult Tim, calling him a weak link or some other scathing remark, and Tim smirks. “Careful, Damian. I’m your nephew now. Better watch your mouth, or Uncle Jason might have something to say about it.”

Even Dick’s thrown off by it. “Jay,” he says one day, watching Jason shove a plate of food at Tim with all the grace of a brick. “You do realize Tim isn’t actually your son, right?”

Jason glares at him. “He’s mine. I’m the dad here. You’ve got Demon Spawn, I’ve got Tim. Deal with it.”

Tim doesn’t understand how or why this happened, but honestly? He’s not complaining. Jason might not be the most conventional parent, but he’s a damn good one. And for Tim, who’s always felt a little lost in the shuffle of the chaotic Wayne family, having someone claim him so fiercely, so completely, feels... nice.

So yeah. Jason Todd: Red Hood, vigilante, crime lord, accidental dad. Who would’ve thought?

[iamliquid]

Epilogue: Jason listens to white girl music

Dick comes back to Gotham after having left for a while to stay in Blüdhaven and thought it might be a good idea to go see his family again.

As he zips around the city it was quiet. But too quiet.

Which was suspicious, but he did have a feeling that it had at least something to do with his family. Because no way GOTHAM of all cities would be this quiet. He always heard music playing at least from 2 radios around somewhere in the city.

He found it suspicious and planned on asking Bruce once he got back.

When he did eventually arrive at the batcave after a particularly.. worrying? Situation where as he was fighting with some criminals, they suddenly just froze when music zoomed passed spesficilly 'Look what you made me do'. The criminals hurriedly scrambled just handing Dick the things they stole and scurried off.

Walking further into the batcave, the sound of keyboard cackling echos. The very well known silhouette of the man who had taken care of him years before comes into view.

"Hey Bruce?"

"Yes chum?"

"So what's going on in Gotham? Why is everything on silent mode?"

"..." Bruce sighs pinching the bridge of his nose. "Watch this."

Bruce pulls up a saved security video on to the many monitors of the bat computer. The first frame showed Jason and Tim on Jasons motorcycle. Bruce presses the play button and the sound of 'Last Friday night' plays. As they zoom away you can see Jason hopping off the motorcycle mid drive, and Tim takes over driving away.

Then immediately the next frame he can hear distant screams and yells of agony.

"Huh. That explains it.." Dick says with not so much surprise, honestly he was kinda proud.

[kens-ramblings]

so ik it’s not cannon accurate but,,,

i need a fic of tim just crashing out.

like he gets so sick of like damian and jason talking about how weak he is and shit like that that he’s like “yall realize lady shiva was my one of my FIRST teachers, and i was the first robin she trained. i had to train under b AFTER he already lost a robin. you DONT think he was 10x harder on me than any of you guys???? there’s a reason my training videos are mainly redacted without bruce’s or my permission. i got ra’s al ghul BEGGING ME to join his league or have my children. i get gifts from him WEEKLY. do you KNOW how many of his little ninja i fight per DAY??? nahh im sick of this shit let’s take it to the mats” and just demolishing both of them at the same time.

i just think it’d be very funny. i just like fics of people who pretend to be weaker than they are(or they just never really have a reason to go full tilt so they just don’t) get sick of holding back and just losing it :D

[noxcheshire]

I think I’d be really funny, if Bruce was a reincarnated Vlad.

This is going to be based off of a prompt I saw (I will find you) where Bruce suddenly remembered his past life as Vlad.

HOWEVER, my take on that is the de-aged Ellie and Dan because the amount of ANGST and self hate that Bruce will go through thinking his past self was not only a villain, but also that sort of person?

It will eat him alive.

It will eat that man alive every time he goes to sleep and another burst of memories pass underneath his eyelids.

It burns him when he wakes up with the phantom touch of a body underneath his hands, of a boy just as young as Damian and thinner too, struggling to escape a grip of a man whose hold was too possessive, and too cruel.

It feels like acid swishing down his throat when he wakes with the taste of oily words filled with threat and something more whispered over the form of a boy. A young boy whose blue eyes blazed furiously back and yet tried to hide the quiet bursts of fear underneath.

It feels like Bruce cannot scrub the man he had been right out of him, even when his skin blisters red until it bleeds. Vladimir Masters had woken spitting and screaming, burrowed like a cold sore underneath everything that is Bruce.

Bruce hates it.

Hates the monster he had once been and still is — because despite the fact Vlad is now Bruce, living and breathing and existing here in Gotham — Vladimir Masters still exists.

He is out there right now in a little place called Amity Park, pulling weight and blood just to get what he wants.

A man who has used and abused for far too long…

Perhaps it was time to see to it, that however and whatever way that Bruce came to be, that it began with Vlad’s unfortunate circumstances back into the Ghost Zone.

[littlefankingdom]

It's funny how in fanfics, people write Clark giving parenting advices to Bruce, when in the comics (see: World's Finest: Batman and Superman) and other media (see: Young Justice), Bruce is the one giving parenting advices to Clark, and he is always very serious about it.

After all, Bruce has been a father figure and mentor for longer and more kids than Clark. Of course he doesn't need to call Clark for help to learn how to take care of his kids, Clark is the one calling Bruce for help when he has an issue and Ma Kent is busy.

[haveihitanerve]

i have this head cannon that Bruce has a wall in his study dedicated to bad pictures of his kids. like, the exact moment when jason got sprayed by the hose? framed and hung. tim slipping and dropping pudding on his head? up there. dick falling from a chandelier? his open mouthed scream is the first picture up there. he has bad hair days from steph, failed pranks from dick, mid spin photos of cass, half asleep pictures of babs, everyone is up there. And then Damian comes and he sees the wall and he must be up there. But Damian is an absolute unit behind a camera, he does not have a single bad picture. ever. After an intense waterballoon fight they take a group picture and everyone is soaked and miserable and laughing but Damian is glowing, his hair swept away by the water just so and it infuriates him.

[everwalldigan]

Under the red hood alternative story where Jason doesn’t go the drug lord “choose me or him” route and instead hatches a plan to make Bruce love him ‘again’ and get attached to him and then he lets himself get killed again cause CLEARLY Bruce didn’t mourn him enough the first time. It totally makes sense.

Jason, while hugging Bruce after the DNA test came back positive, grinning evilly behind his back: hahahahaha yeah this’ll fucking show him!

Except. He miscalculated. Severely. Suddenly the thought of dying is a terrifying one because his life has never been this peaceful. Bruce helped him finish his school education and convinced him to enrol into university, even helped him take over crime alley’s underground in the meantime.

Jason, while spending time with Bruce, not fighting and just existing peacefully in each other’s company, realising that he doesn’t really fancy dying anymore and his plan is effectively Ruined: fuck.

[shower-phantom-ideas]

Bruh emotional support ghost kid? Well thats what they are calling him

Suicide cases in gothem are about to fucking plummet boiz cause this one weird blue eyes, black haired boy is now heading to your location.

How does he know where to be? Having a bad day and are all alone? No the fuck your not cause don’t turn around now but theres some shiny blue eyes coming at you from that dark ally. Oh shit hes here to drop some information about you and your lost loved ones that he should know. Oh god the closure. How could you have been afraid on this sweet, creepy, boy who just helped you find your way.

Meanwhile Danny is chillin in Gothem cause the GIW hate it there (none of they equipment actually functions in Gothem so it’s either super haunted or actually not haunted at all). Then all of a sudden he gets approached by a random ghost begging for his help because their sweet baby girl is about to do something horrible. Oops now all the ghosts are following their most loved ones around just to make sure they are there to rush to Danny for help when all else fails. Now hes getting to fulfil his protection obsession double time because one hes helping protect people from themselves and two hes protecting everyone in Gothem by stopping people from becoming villains for revenge. Plus he gets to see first hand how hes making a difference because all those people he saved are sending him some good vibes from all across Gothem.

Thank god he followed Jazz around so much to slightly absorb some of her phycology knowledge over the years. Plus it was actually pretty interesting so she gave him her old text books. Shes also helping him deal with the rare events where he can’t save someone. Just a moment too late or he stops them but they later succeeded in the hospital. Neither are his fault. Now only if he could convince his core of that.

Anyway why Gothem you ask? Amity Park would have been just as good tbh but imagine Batmans face when he finally gets to be face to face with the emotional support ghost boy. Why is he here? Bruce is fine. Batman is fine. Hes not gonna do anything crazy. It’s just a hard time of year. Around their death always gives him grief. But hes an adult and can manage it.

“You know they are so proud of you.” The boy states. As if it’s clear as day, even though it’s Gothem and never a clear day. Batman blinks at him, stunned for a moment. “What?” This boy can’t possibly know that. No one will ever know that, Bruce can only hope. “They see their home, full of such life. That big house that felt so empty, so cold, to them as well for years. Then you filled it with Family and Love like they had always wanted for you. They are so proud of what you have turned it into. Somewhere full of life and warmth.” A small smile graces his face as finally “you have made your parents so proud” and its all he can do to contain himself. Emotions are running high and sue him because he really did need to hear that ok. The boy suddenly looks to Bruces right with a confused face “aren’t all basements like that though?” Before Bruce can even get a word in hes gone. Just vanished before his eyes.

[batfamhastwitter]

A little mini update while I work on part 8! I just wanted to do a little explanation on jason's thought process and why he didn't tell people.

Prev ~ Beginning ~ Next

[casscainmainly]

if you had a graph with the x axis being from "doesn't view batman as a father" to "views batman as a father" and y axis being from "doesn't view bruce as a father" to "views bruce as a father", where would you put each batkid?

btw, i love your recent metas <3

This is such an interesting ask!! Here's my rendition of it:

I'm going to add a little reasoning because these are contestable!

Dick: I personally don't think Dick separates Bruce from Batman the way some other Batkids do. Even if he did, Dick has been with Bruce so long, is so steeped in both his vigilante and civilian lives, that he's Bruce's son in any identity. Their bond transcends any 'Bruce vs. Batman' division.

Tim: Similarly, I don't think Tim separates Bruce/Batman, especially since he came into his life knowing both identities. The reason he's lower than Dick is because Bruce wasn't his dad originally; I'm a little biased since I'm now reading Batman: Contagion, but the presence of Jack Drake in much of Tim's tenure as Robin prevents Tim from being as strongly attached to 'Bruce/Batman = dad' as Dick.

Cass: Of course Cass separates Bruce and Batman very clearly, as she does with many people, such as herself and Babs as Oracle. For the early part of their relationship she didn't know Bruce, nor did she care; Batman is her father, Bruce is just the guy Batman happens to be sometimes. (I think this is less true recently, but she still thinks of Batman first and Bruce second).

Damian: Struggled with him because he definitely thinks of Bruce as his dad under any name, but I do think it's Batman that matters to him. He is the 'blood son' but it's the Robin mantle that establishes his relationship to Bruce (Robin, Son of Batman, not Damian, son of Bruce). This may have changed recently with the current Batman and Robin run, but for the majority of Damian's time I think it's fair to say he thought of himself as the son of Batman, not Bruce. (He is not anti Bruce though, which is why he's not that low).

Jason: Jason for sure thinks of Bruce as his dad - the entirety of UtRH wouldn't have happened if Jason didn't believe to his core that Bruce loved him as a son. That belief is so strong that Bruce overshadows Batman, in a way. Jason spars with Batman on the moral front, but his conflict is ultimately always with Bruce, which is the name he consistently uses in UtRH. This is the one I'm least sure about though because I've not read lots of Jason's runs.

Stephanie: Like Cass, Stephanie didn't know Bruce at all, so a lot of her relationship to him is Batman-only. She definitely doesn't think of either Bruce or Batman as a father - her desire for Batman's approval has shades of him being a father-figure, but it never goes as far as an actual desire for a father-daughter relationship. The only reason she's higher than Duke is because of the somewhat complicated way he echoes a father (and she, to Bruce, echoes Jason).

Duke: Duke doesn't really care about Bruce, and he cares about Batman only as a mentor. He basically tells Bruce he's only useful as Batman; even then, Duke doesn't have a super deep emotional attachment to Batman. He also loves Doug, who's still alive (though MIA), and wouldn't replace him in any scenario. He explicitly calls Batman a 'mentor' and 'friend'.

These are just my takes, I'm sure there are other interpretations of every single one of these. It's one of those questions that highly depends on your preferred dynamics for the characters, where canon can go either way. Even if this is horribly incorrect, I hope it was interesting! Thanks for the ask <3.

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt in Memes 6

Let's make it some in-world memes this time :)

[gothamite-rambler]

Bruce Meets His Son: Damian (Part 1)

Talia: Bruce, this is Damian. Damian, this is Bruce.

Damian extended his hand for a handshake. Bruce obliged, unsure why he was being introduced to the young child.

Damian (confused): Why is he dressed like a bat?

Talia (mock sweetness): It’s his thing.

Bruce (offended): Okay, you don’t have to talk about me like I’m not here. Why are you showing me this child?

Jason, standing behind Bruce, covered his mouth to stifle a chuckle.

Talia: He’s my son.

Dick (instant realization): He’s your son? That is your son? Which means… Oh wow. Wow!

Dick started to laugh, but stopped when Bruce shot him a confused stare. He turned back to Talia and Damian.

Damian (waving): Hello.

Bruce (not putting two and two together): Hi… And Talia?

Dick: Oh… Oh, you don’t get it?

Jason: He doesn’t get it. Hahahaha!

Bruce indeed did not understand what was going on.

Talia: Bruce, I’m going to hold your hand when I say this.

Talia took Bruce’s gloved hand. Ra's al Ghul walked over, holding up a camera to record the exchange. Dick and Jason stood by, eager to see how Talia would word her revelation.

Talia: He is my son… and he is your son.

Bruce blinked, momentarily speechless. He heard what she said but wasn’t sure how to respond. Looking down at Damian again, he was finally able to see the resemblance to both of them.

Damian (confused): The guy in the giant bat suit is my father? This is the Bruce Wayne?

Damian tapped his chin thoughtfully.

Damian: Not the craziest thing I've had to deal with. Although, mother, when you said he was odd about what he wears, I did not expect this.

Talia nodded, but when Bruce remained silent, she grew concerned.

Talia (worried): Bruce, are you going to say something?

Dick: Bruce?

Bruce gulped. Jason clapped while laughing.

Jason: This is great. I’m so glad I got to witness this today.

Bruce (finally speaking): I’m sorry. I must have hallucinated when you said the little boy standing in front of me is my… son.

Talia (repeating herself): Bruce, he is your son.

Bruce (in disbelief): No, he’s not.

Jason (enjoying the moment): There’s the denial.

Talia (exasperated): Yes, he is.

Bruce (panicked): No… no, he’s not. I can’t have kids; my swimmers are broken.

Damian: Swimmers?

Talia quickly covered Damian’s ears.

Talia: They most certainly are not. That prophylactic was, though!

Dick: You can have kids? Prophylactic? The condom broke?!

Jason: I know, right!

Dick could no longer contain his laughter and joined Jason, cackling uncontrollably.

Bruce (stammering in denial): He’s not… I’m not… The kid is not my son.

Talia (uncovering Damian’s ears): Yes, he is! I got a DNA test done! He is your child. I have your blood from a… not important, but he is yours! The baby is yours!

Damian: I’m eight.

Dick (laughing): Oh God.

Bruce (in a state of shock): Eight?

Bruce remembered that night—the night of regret, with a wallet that had one gas station condom, now linking him to Talia forever.

Talia: Mm-hm, remember when you were really sad and I was there to comfort you? One thing led to another. Surprise. Damian, hug your father.

Damian: Um, okay, I’ve been planning for this.

Damian hugged Bruce, who was still in his Batman suit, embracing the son he just found out about. Jason walked around laughing and clapping again.

Ra's al Ghul (continuing to record the reaction): She unfortunately speaks the truth. I’m disappointed you share DNA with him, but we have the test. He’s… yours.

Bruce had a million thoughts swirling in his head, but all he could focus on was that the son he did not know about had been around Ra's al Ghul for 8… years!

Damian (surprised): The guy dressed as a bat is my father? I’m sorry to repeat myself, but he’s dressed like a bat. It's so odd.

Ra: I know. I know.

Dick: Bruce, say something other than “No, he’s not” or “He’s not mine.”

Bruce stood stunned and silent. His oldest son waved a hand in front of his face.

Dick: Oh, he’s actually speechless. Yeah… yeah, that’s a fair reaction.

Talia (sighing): To be expected. Jason, I’ll send you a video of his reaction like we discussed.

Jason: Thank you.

Dick: You knew?!

Jason (laughing): For 8 years! Yes!

Damian: Hi, akh brother Jason.

Jason waved at Damian as Dick tried to come to terms with the fact that Jason had known for 8 years.

Dick: Why didn’t you say anything?

Jason: I was furious with him and wanted revenge, and this… this is the best revenge. Long-term silent revenge is my new favorite thing.

Dick: I’ll deal with you in a second. Bruce, are you with us?

Bruce fainted, falling backward. Damian looked down at the man in the batsuit.

Damian: I’m not sure I want him to be my father.

Ra (ending the recording): I agree with you, child, but it is what it is.

He walked off with the camera.

Ra: I’m going to burn this onto a DVD and keep a copy.

Talia (frustrated): You do that, father.

Dick walked over to Damian, stepping over Bruce.

Dick: Um, Bruce is just a bit shocked that he can actually have kids without adopting them. He’s a good guy, though.

Damian: Are you sure about that? Jason told me he was ‘not bad.’ I’m not really seeing it.

Dick glared at Jason. Jason shrugged with a smile. Dick turned back to Damian.

Dick: Not bad is actually a good description for him. He’s an amazing crime fighter and usually can compose himself. I’m Dick, by the way. I guess we’re brothers.

Damian: That’s your legal name?

Dick (upset, but hiding it): My birth name is Richard Grayson.

Damian: Why do you go by—

Talia and Jason: Don’t ask.

Dick groaned in annoyance and held out his hand. Damian shook it respectfully, still perplexed by his strange new family—which says a lot.

Previous ---> Jason knew about Damian's existence

---> Dick confronts Jason about keeping this secret

---> Bruce meeting his son part 2