#batman-centric

[admiringtheskies]

ok y’all if you like bruce-centric (and especially whump with a side of character study) you have GOT to read this fic, the premise is just fucking AMAZING, and the chapter that OP just posted today had me SCREAMING; like actually pls go just check this out, it’s brilliant and i need more ppl to read it

the specific quote from this newest chapter that actually totally unhinged me (yes i’m using that as an active verb,,, what can i say, my hinges have been banished by Good Words)—

Baking really was a test of patience. No wonder Alfred was so adept at putting up with Bruce. He could never be more frustrating than baking.

(Lies. People liked baking. No one liked Bruce.)

ANYWAYS the plot itself is also quite fascinating so i’m not gonna say anything else, just go read it if you want!!! and thanks/congrats to @SolaceInSpace on ao3 for writing an absolute BANGER of a fic👏🏽

[timdrakewhump]

Press, holding a microphone too close to Tim’s face at a gala: how are you settling in at the Wayne’s now you’re officially adopted?

Tim, with a confused face: What do you mean? I’m not adopted.

Press: ..What? No, you were adopted-

Tim: Bruce gave birth to me.

Bruce, behind Tim, nodding: Obviously.

[numberonedukethomasapologist]

Yall what if when Duke cries it's just a flashbang

Or when he's angry it just gets pitch black

*Bruce and Duke trying to bake a pie (without Alfred supervision) that duke's mom used to make*

Bruce: .. OH SHIT THE PIE

Duke: ...it's burnt..

Bruce:😟

Duke: mamas pie.. *sniffles*

Bruce: du-

*💥BANG💥*

*Duke writing poems at the dinning table with cookies and milk from alfred*

Damian: DRAKE-

Time: AH FUCK- *RUNS PAST AND BUMPS INTO THE TABLE*

Duke: Wtf??- ..

*the paper he was drawing on is drenched in milk*

Tim & damian: 🧍🏻‍♂️🧍🏾‍♂️

Duke: *locks eyes with tim*

Tim: wha- THAT wasn't my fau-

*room goes pitch black and all you hear is a chair break and tim and damians screeching*

[welcometogrouchland]

I have a LOTT of sketches I could post rn but these 2 are recent and I'm fond of them <3 Steph costume ideas and Tim/Damian cringe bickering inspired by Batman: Brave and the Bold #18!

[seronefada]

I have it under control, thanks.

A little art studio in Gotham. Everything looks normal, everything is normal. Except that its normal like really normal, nothing ever happens there. No villain goes in, no damage out of the ordinary ever happens. It's super strange for Gotham.

So people start hanging out there more, it technically belongs to a young rich woman named Samantha. So people go there draw on some Canvas that are free to use and look at the art of the young Manson and her friends.

Bruce is there to check why it's so safe there. He thinks it's suspicious.

But it turns out the owner just had everything under control. The Mad Hater came one time he got shocked. Some goon got a ball in the head.

In a bigger Gotham catastrophe, where the Joker was on Rampage. Batman was running to save the people in the studio, just to come and see him tied up. Manson and her to friends just look at him, when he comes. "I have this under control."

Her two friends just laugh, "Sam has this under control."

Batman is pretty sure she used to be a superhero.

Or a super villain.

There is not much to be found about her or the City she came from.

Her friends are kinda secretive.

One of her friends seems to be a child of crazy scientists.

Okay know he is pretty sure that Sam Manson was a Villain once.

But he will take future investigations.

[fanaticalthings]

"He didn't describe you as a failure, though. He said the failure was his. For not knowing how to make it better."

Finally, a DC writer who acknowledges that Jason's title as "Batman's Greatest Failure" is in relation to how Bruce felt he failed Jason, not the other way around :')

The Boy Wonder #2 By Juni Ba

[casscainmainly]

Though there are valid reasons to want characters to have their own identities, I think some people insist too much on the Batfamily having all individual, unique names. This is why the Orphan name persists so much in fandom, or even Wayne Family Adventures - it's a byproduct of seeing 'Batgirl' as transitory and lesser than. This is not only a misunderstanding of Batgirl, but a misunderstanding of legacy mantles. Legacy mantles aren't stepping stones towards individuality, but identities with symbolic and storied histories. Characters can, and sometimes should, end in a legacy role.

It's also interesting that this anti-legacy philosophy is exactly what DC adopted during the New 52. They destroyed virtually every legacy they could, including wiping Tim's Robin history, erasing the JSA, and deleting Cass and Steph's histories. We all agree New 52 was bad, but most people focus on the content/ramifications on a specific character, when it's the philosophy that was wrong. New 52 was an effort to diminish the power of legacy titles, and to dismiss many characters that fall under the legacy umbrella.

Some characters should grow out of their mantles, of course. But that doesn't make the mantle they grow out of less meaningful or important than the mantle they step into. If we want to leave the New 52 behind, we need to leave its anti-legacy philosophy behind, too.

[tianshanb]

A head canon of mine that baby damian was ALLOWED to be a baby. Just with extra assassin trianing.

Like you know those parents that start their kids on sports, or languages, or instruments as babies etc. Talia just started him on assassin training early. But he's just a baby

Cue dmaian walking into training with a pacifier and clutching a blanket.

Just imagine damian with a tiny wooden sword copying the moves of his instructor. Once it's break time, he toddles to the other corner of the room where he plops down on a bunch of pillows and blankets waiting for him, and most importantly, his bottle. Training is tiring he needs a drink 😤

He may also take a nap mid lesson cz he's just a babyyyyy. He brings his favorite plushie to "watch him" when he train. Instead of playing house he plays secret assassin mission with the toys.

As he grows older. 4 to 6 years old. The pacifier is gone by then, and he no longer brings his toys. The new instructor seeing this mature soul in a child body confidently walking up to you with their nose turned up... the illusion is shattered when they open their mouth and half their teeth are missing. Then, mid trianing damian take a drink from their sippy cup thats batman themed (it was a gift from his mama from her latest mission).

Yep just a child.

7 years old is when his training gets super hard. That's the age where your viewed as starting to mature.

I imagine at this age where Ra's is like finally he's old enough to start his real trianing, and Talia is no longer the one responsible for him. This continues to increase in difficulty until he's 9. And shaped off to batfam.

But hoenstly:

Sword trianing?? Imagine this aggressive toddler swinging this sword around. A thing about babies is they LOVEEE swinging shit around, hitting things, throwing things. So training would BE fun.

Eventually he'd had to learn how to break his fall, how to get tackled, etc. Dmaian just sees it as a game and it makes him giggled. KIDS enjoy being tossed around. Like roughhousing is a thing for a reason, the same reason why people throw babies in the air when they play with them.

When he goes to the batfamily. He's just a random 9 year old. One thing about why I can never take the little guy seriously is no matter how intimidating and scary you wbat to seem... your voice will still be that of a child. Another hc is when he's angry he gets on his tippy toes cz he's soo tinyyy. I imagine an argument geting super heated and finally dmaian doing on his toes and suddenly whoever he's arguing with can't take his seriously cz he smol, like this big 👌, and missing some teeth. He has a bed time and can't watch horror movies, like seriously are u arguing with him?

Another thing is Talia had limited screen time and access to devices and technology. She also had parent control on every device. Bruce just does not have that. Dmaian is going to Bruce, and being excited, he's old enough to use a device without parental supervision, or the parent app is so excited that he's seen as a grown-up! (In reality, Bruce just firgot. He never had kids this young with smartphones existing). He's bragging to tim about it one day when bruce overheard, and he's like, hold up a minute.

Extra:

This idea came to me once my friend told me about a student she has. Me and her are tutors and she tutors math. At her centre, there is no specific grade, everyone just advances through the levels as long as they pass the previous level.

In her group, there is this 2 year old toddler who's parents put in tutoring since he was 18 months old. This baby is dropped of by his parents, walking in with a pacifier in his mouth with the clip on to shirt thing. Sometimes in his pj's and sometimes clutching his 'blankie'.

This little dude does advanced algebra. That's right HIGHCHOOL LEVEL ALGEBRA.

He's barely toilet trained 😭 and he asked for help to go to the bathroom, his grip on the pencil is shaky, he still baby talks... but I bet he's better than u at maths.

[hundredpoundsofsassyandunstable]

I bring Autistic Duke Thomas to the table where others may fight it.

AUTISTIC DUKE THOMAS!!!

[on-the-clear-blue]

So you know how there is a common fan theory that ghosts go through their death again on their death day? What about Jason going through it?

Feeling angsty crew, prepare yourselves

Trigger warnings: Jason death and all that comes with that, SA implications.

---

The first time it had happened it was in a LOA base, still catatonic and barely speaking, Jason was forced to train through the dark bruises that slowly appeared on his body, from his ribs and chest, to his fingers getting bent and crooked.

His trainers watched, not filled with concern but curiosity, an effect such a this had not been seen in the leauge in some time

As smoke was coughed up from his lungs and as bits of his flesh turned the same ghastly green as the pits, they watched, documenting it, unable to look away as the man boy seized and went still, finally.

---

The second time it happened, Jason was in Gotham, set up in a safe house, sirens and gun shots ringing out into the night, the sounds of his childhood.

He hadn't planned to stay long, only stopping by the safe house to grab a restock of ammo

Then came the phantom pains, tightness around his wrists, a deep, ever increasing sense of dread.

Jason staggered at the first ghostly strike to his head, hands flashing to his guns, scanning the room for what ever invisible foe that had struck him.

The next blow brought Jason to his knees, it hurt, oh God did it hurt, his head was pounding in a way that he barely remembered.

The feeling of his ribs crack robbed him of breath, a bone spur puncturing his lung, then came his hands, finger bones broke one at a time.

Jason curled himself up in a ball, just as he tired to years ago, tears streaming down his face under the metallic hood. The ticking demination of a clock ringing cruelly in his ears.

Then came the explosion, leaving his ears bleeding, eardrums ruptured, brain addled even more than the blunt force trauma caused.

With broken hands, Jason struggled to take off his helmet, as smoke poured out of his already damaged lungs. Smoke that clogged the helmet filters, that trapped it all around his face.

Jason Todd died a third time, the same way as the first two time that night.

---

It was a few years after the first time (that he remembered), that he found himself on a very bad day, he had found out that it always happened on the day he died, and he still didn't know what God had cursed him to relive it over and over again.

To add even more crap to his shittiest day, he was stuck in Wayne Manor.

The sense of dread was running though him, his hands were shaking terribly as he tried to just get away but his body wouldnt listen, he needed to leave get to his room, any room, hid away from his family, he didnt want them to see him like this didnt need them to be worried for him, he was so stupid, so idiotic to have forgotten what day it was, so wrapped up in having his family again that he forgot his curse.

---

Dick had a smile on his lips as he was about to jokingly throw a gaming controller at Jason, knowing he would likely start something to get his gaggle of siblings to do something together.

Yet it never left his hands, as he noticed Jason's eyes had gone glassy, a distant look in them, and a dull green sheen emanating from them.

Fear wormed it's way through him, Pit episodes had become less and less of a thing with his brother, something he was more than happy to see, but...this didn't seem to be the same thing.

Sending a concerned look to Tim, who has just walked into the room, even though he hoped (he thought they were over these, that Jason was getting better) Dick waved him back, if this was actually a Pit episode, he didnt need Jason to go off on Tim anymore than he had in the past.

Slowly approached his brother, Dick saw his eyes look into the middle distance, lost in his own head, "Littlewing? Jay I-I didnt..." His hand moved cautiously, coming into Jason's space and-

He flinched...Hard. Eyes flashing up at Dick but not seeing him, stuck deep in something else

Dicks heart dropped, Jason hadn't flinched when he had tried to touch him in years, not since a small boy in a ratty red hoodie was in Dicks old room, crying as he begged to not be sent back to the streets for them to "P-please don't t-touch me...I-Im sorry I-ill be good I promise"

But the words that came from Jason were far more haunting than what he uttered in fear, a voice hoarse and small came from him, slurred and heady with pain "Just...just let her go...C-can do anything to me...j-just let mom go..."

Bile, that was all Dick could taste as he held back what wanted to come up, he knew in a second what Jason was seeing, who Dick was to Jason's mind, trapped in memories.

He didn't know when he took a step back, didn't know when he had pulled away from his little brother until his back hit the wall, taking a shaky breath he forced himself back, He needed to be there, be there for his brother unlike...unlike last time.

"Jaybird it's me, Dickie? Jason..." he reached out agian, only to cringe back as his little brother flinch back, curling in on himself, his head tucked between his legs.

Dick didn't know Jason could look so small still, a distant thought bubbling up about maybe that's why he got so big, so he could never be that small again...but yet he was...

And Dick Hated It.

His hands fumbled for his phone, his fingers felt like lead, and all he could do is dial Ina number.

"Dad? Jason needs you..."

---

Bruce tore through the halls of his home with a fervor, his mind spinning with thoughts, from Dick’s description of what was happening this was a Pit episode of some sort, far different than any he had seen before.

The halls of his home never felt so long and never felt so claustrophobic.

Old demons in his mind cackled, bringing back the doubts of himself...if only he was just a little faster, a little less prideful...

Coming into the den, Bruce scanned the room, seeing his eldest kneeling by Jason, trying to be soothing while not touching him.

Dick face was hard and worried when he looked up at Bruce.

They shared a silent conversation, ending with Bruce taking Dick place on the floor, Dick in turn leaving to try and figure what was happening.

"Jaylad, Sweetheart, you have to breath, Jason?" It hurt to see his son flinch as he reached out, but Bruce pressed on, his fingers softly pressing against his son's pulse point on his wrist.

Dread spreads across Bruce's mind as he can hardly find a pulse, pulling his hand back the dread turns to horror as he see red and deep blue bruises start to from across Jason's face.

His eyes were open, dull instead of the bright they should be, his breathing sounded forced and-

It was his nightmares all over again.

Pushing past the fear, Bruce forced himself to pick Jason up, holding his dear boy so...so close to his chest, jaw shaking as he rushed through the halls once again.

He can't let his son die in his arms yet again.

---

Hours later, Bruce watches as Leslie called time of death, they did everything they could but it wasnt enough...his mind is disconnected from his body, a deep dark numbness burns within him and he just can't understand why...

Why the world seems to determined to make his family suffer? What had he done other than try and help, to cure the throbbing cancer that is Gotham? To help his fellow man live better and be happy...

His numbly looks around the med area, his children gathered, Dick is crying onto Cass's shoulder, Cass herself has tears but she refuses to shed them, Duke held his head in his hands, small shakings in his shoulders could only be crying, Stephanie was by Leslie, demanding answers and what happened with emotions think in her voice

Tim wasn't there, he was on the other side of the cave, running through data files, looking for anything that could cure this...Bruce would need to tell him to stop, that it was already over.

And Damian...his youngest just stood there, arms crossed and...politely blank was all Bruce could see, no mourning as the others. Just...waiting.

He was the only one not shocked when Jason groaned, sat up, cursed and promptly fell back onto the bed.

---

Damian sauntered over to where they had placed Todd, all of them still so careful with him, as if he would up and fall dead if someone was to as much as sneeze in his direction.

"Tt, Honestly it is as if they don't know this happens every year..." His own reliving of his deaths was far less dramatic.

Todd had the gall to look at him with confusion, and it took a moment for Damian to realize what his look ment "You never told them did you, Tt...Typical" shaking his head, Damian sat next to Jason's has-been death bed.

"Not all of us brought back from the dead suffer so spectacularly as you do Todd, as Jon would say...I believe this is a *Skill Issue*? Hashtag get good?" He didn't use the lingo lightly,

And of course, instead of being offended as he should, Todd just stared dumbly at him "This is when you banter, or has your repeated blunt force truama to the head bludgeoned you into stupidity?"

Shaking his head, Damian tutted "Clearly I have to do everything in this poor excuse for a social interaction" clearing his throat Damian put on a deeper voice as to mimic Jason "Shut it Demon Brat. I do truly hate that nickname. Oh woe is me why am i just a little bitch that can only suffer. Worry not dearest fuck up of a human being I can help you. Oh glory be you, you turly the greatest Robin. Oh only you say it now~"

Damian gave a dead pan stare at Todds slackjawed look, "Shut it, Jon is rubbing off and me and i cant for the life of me make it stop...but honestly if you wish to know more, seek out Phantom, though...you look pathetic enough that he might just find you first."

[roses-and-revolutions]

The people of Gotham both fear and revere The Signal. As they do the rest of the Batfam but for Signal it's a bit different.

For starters, he's the only daytime hero. The other Bats usually only come out at night when the city is quieter. And while it's far from asleep, they prioritize stopping the numerous crimes that occur in the shadows. Civilian interactions far and few. Most pictures of them online seemed more like cryptid sightings than heroes soaring through Gotham skies.

The Signal on the other hand was the people's Bat. They got to see him soar through the sky, or ride his bike in all his golden glory. He gave autographs, took photos, and joined them on their daily commutes. He was a regular at mom-and-pop shops, made sure the troubled kids made it to school, and checked in on the sick and elderly. And while he did work with them when necessary, he mostly liked to fuck with the police, like a true Gothamite would.

All in all, he was the sweet sunshine that Gotham needed. He was far more human than the others. Not that he was human, oh heck no! NONE of the bats were human! But it felt that way. Until you were reminded that he was INDEED a Bat.

The way he merged and appeared out of the shadows despite his bright yellow suit, and moved without a sound. He knew about people and things before they happened. And had an intelligence that was absolutely terrifying when thought about. And the way he took care of crimes?

The Signal is cold, borderline brutal, and efficient (with commentary that leaves you agape and a chill down your spine) when dealing with criminals. It was always jarring to witness the sudden change from Gotham's sunshine boy to stone-cold Bat, and back again. It almost gave you whiplash to realize that this was the vigilante that you were talking to about your puppies a few moments ago. And it really instilled the Fear™ that that bats were known for.

The other Bats were terrifying, shadowy demons that moved through the night. Stopping crime in the darkness. Gotham knew and appreciated this. But the Signal? He was the bright light at the end of the tunnel and the warmth of the brilliant sun. But he was also...

'Gotham's Darkest Angel'

[gothamite-rambler]

Jason (on the phone): Hello—

Person (high-pitched voice, on the phone): FUCK YOU!

Jason (pausing for a second, then repeating): Hello, who are you?

Other person: You ruined my day, asshole!

Jason (speculating): Is this the Scientologist I shot?

Person: No.

Jason: The Planned Parenthood protestor I kicked in the balls?

Person: No.

Jason: Um, are you… the person who keyed my friend's car because she parked in a handicap spot, shouting that she stole your spot, but when you saw her in a wheelchair leaving the physical therapy office, you ran off, and I shot out your back tires?

Person (shouting, enraged): Yes!

Jason (raising his voice, rightfully mad): How did you get my number?! You better be glad I'm not face to face with you, asshole. I'll shoot your fucking kneecaps this time!

[timdrakewhump]

Something something Tim tearing up at his first Christmas with the Wayne’s because he’s used to presents being ordered by assistants while his parents are on digs and it’s always generic but Bruce gets him a personal present based off an inside joke and no he’s not crying it’s just he wasn’t sure if Bruce was just pretending to be happy he wasn’t here for dick’s sake but Bruce remembered and went out of his way to find the silly present and it’s cheap and stupid and nothing like what his parents would give him and it’s perfect because it means Bruce knows him, really knows him—

[numberonedukethomasapologist]

Bruce at 3am walking downstairs to see Duke halfway out the window: Duke?

Duke: *falling on his ass* heeeeyy B😁

Bruce: what are you doing??

Duke: *leaning so he blocks the veiw of the windiw* oooh ya know- just chillin-

*CHIRP*

Bruce:🧍🏻‍♂️

Duke: 🧍🏾‍♂️

Bruce: *quickly walking up to the window*

Duke: NO NO- BRUCE WAIT-

Bruce: what the hell..

Damian and the baby skunk he tried to sneak into the house: 🧍🏽‍♂️🦨

[vulpas]

Here’s a little rant about something, I‘m sure, is only bothering me,

but recently I have (out of funsies) searched up opinions on about what hypothetical superpowers the Batfam would have. And there were pretty cool ones.

Like Dick being able to fly,

Damian being able to talk to animals or having actual assassin powers,

Bruce not having to nurture himself (sleeping, eating etc.),

Jason being able to see ghosts,

etc,etc…

But then comes Tim.

What do you mean Tim‘s only power is being smart?? Every interpretation of him is either just him being smart or being a good detective, like, he’s already these things without superpowers😭

There was one with the idea of him being a lie detector and I was like ‚okay yeah that’s pretty cool‘ but then I looked at the post and all the ideas for the other members were so detailed and throughly researched and his was only ‚not being able to lied to.‘ AND THAT‘S IT.

Is that the middle-child syndrome or do people lack creativity? Idk😔

[phoneduk]

Villain: *doesn't get a good look at Signal's costume and assumes that he's white like the majority of the batfam*

Villain: "You're only beating me up because I'm black! That's racist! Signal is racist!"

Duke: *stumped* "Firstly! You just robbed three different banks and took two people hostage. Secondly! I can't be racist. My TV is black."