#man bad parent bruce wayne kinda

[ahfrickenfrick]

how dare you come into MY post and make it ANGSTY SMH (/j)

———

Jason was having a hard time breathing, and yes he has been in this scenario dozens of times, but that doesn’t make it any less painful to get through.

It was a bad night, an Arkham breakout, all hands on deck. And as luck had it, when the Joker was finally spotted, Jason was closest.

Even with warnings and callings to wait, Red Hood jumped in.

It’s a blur, and he’s stopped listening to the pleas coming from his comm, he’s managed to fight off the goons, and the Joker got away and that’s his blood isn’t it, that’s not good, his head hurt, hewasloosingfocusohgodithurts

“ROBIN, REPORT.”

The yelling in his ears stopped, his head cleared for a few seconds, Batman, he needed to inform Batman, he was alive and breathing and- “Broken ankle, fractured wr- fractured wrist. Four- five deep lacerations- vision is swimming, I’m tired B…”

———

The minute the words Robin Report had left Tim’s mouth, he knew he messed up, because he was there with Batman, and he saw him tense and completely take a hit he could’ve blocked.

He let out a curse as Jason listed off his injuries (clearly concussed), and brushing past a still semi frozen Batman, Tim kept up the voice, because it was now the only thing Jason was responding to in his state of adrenaline and pain. Even as Cass and Steph tried communicating to him over the comms.

“Stay put Robin, t-minus five minutes, I’m on my way.” He grumbled, and Red Robin grapples off the building and towards his brother.

Leaving a guilt ridden father behind.

nightwing being hurt in the field, and over comms he can’t get out what was wrong, nearly in shock, and jason puts on his best batman™️ voice and says “robin, report.”

and it snaps dick out of it enough to say concussion, possible broken ribs, and a gash in his side.

no one talks about it, and then a year later, damian does the same thing to tim

[starry-bi-sky]

Unpleasant Revelations - DPxDC Ficlet Idea for the Stillborn Au

"Have you met my youngest, Damian, Mr. Masters?"

Its only from twenty years of long, hard experience and practice that Vlad doesn't increase the room temperature from 'borderline uncomfortably cool' to 'unbearably hot' the moment Bruce Wayne pulls his youngest and "only" biological son out in front of him.

He puts only in quotations because twelve year old Damian Wayne looks scarily, uncannily like one Daniel Brown. Jack and Maddie's foster son, second victim of their foolishness, and only other halfa in existence. Second only to him.

It's nauseating how similar they look. From the scowl and terrible glare on the young boy's face, to his brown skin -- which was only a few shades lighter than Daniel's, the shape of his nose, and even the strange winged edge of his eyebrow. Something that Vlad has long since come to find endearing on the child he considered a son of his own. The only difference was that Damian had dark, sharp green eyes.

Daniel's eyes were blue. The same glacier shade as his father's, who stood behind Damian with a proud, oafish smile on his visage.

It was infuriating how similar they look. Vlad might not have rapidly swung the room temperature from one extreme to the other, but he can't stop himself from letting the fury burning within his core from slipping out and raising the temperature up a few degrees.

Because it really only meant one thing.

Damian Wayne and Daniel Brown were related.

Damian Wayne and Daniel Brown were brothers.

Standing in front of him, it was clear as day. He can already picture a phantom image of Daniel standing beside Damian, the same scowl written on his face, the same glare carved into his eyes. The only difference being the dark, exhausted circles beneath them that seemed to be permanently painted onto his skin. The only thing missing being the permanent loneliness and vigilance permeating his being like a scar.

This, if revealed, would be enough to ruin Bruce Wayne's reputation. Or, at the very least, darken it quite a bit. The great philanthropist Bruce Wayne with another secret blood child? One related to his youngest? One that had been put into foster care? Seemingly thrown away?

It would be a firestorm.

One that Vlad is not keen on starting.

It would ruin Bruce Wayne's reputation, yes. But it would hurt Daniel in the process -- the harassment he would face alone might just be enough to break that fragile child completely. That was just not something he could allow. Or, even worse, bring him into his biological father's care and custody -- something Vlad was even less willing to allow.

It's not out of kindness to Wayne that Vlad will keep mum about this.

His grip on his champagne flute tightens, just a bit. He's still aware enough of the world around him to not let it shatter in his hands. His plastered, pleasant smile tightens around the corners, and he forces his focus to slide from Damian to Wayne.

"The resemblance is uncanny, Mister Wayne." He says, slanting his smile to the side slyly. Although he's not talking about the resemblance between Wayne and his son. Rage simmers beneath his skin, burning coal and embers in the core of his chest, nestled between his lungs, as he meets the man's eyes.

Wayne swaggles his head proudly, his ditzy smile widening as he squeezes his son's shoulder affectionately. Bastard, Vlad wants to spit.

He breathes in through his nose, and exhales out through his mouth. The champagne in his hand cools, and stops its unusual bubbling.

The Damian boy scoffs under his breath, his mouth still coiled upward into a scowl. With the revelation of his blood relation to Daniel evident, Vlad's not sure if he should find it endearing or not.

He is not Daniel, so he decides that it's just simply irritating. He decides to ignore it.

"And you said he was your only biological son?" He asks, voice lilting and head tilting. He knows its a suspicious question at worst, insulting at best. But considering Wayne's past proclivities, he can hardly call it an unexpected question.

Damian puffs in great offense, face twisting angrily. It reminds him of Daniel when Vlad insisted that he was wrong about something or other, and for a moment his heart swells, fond.

But this is not his child, and so the feeling quickly crashes and burns, simmering back into rage. This was not Daniel -- this was his replacement. A replacement that Wayne was free to keep.

Wayne chuckles, idiotically, as if he'd said some funny joke. Vlad's other hand, the one gripping his cane -- something he's required ever since he was dispatched from the hospital all those lonely years ago -- tightens instead. He grinds his teeth -- him and Jack Fenton would get along like a house on fire, he hates it.

"I can understand why you'd ask that, Mister Masters," Wayne says, squeezing Damian's shoulder again, "but yes, Damian is my only biological son. Although that doesn't mean I don't love my other children any less."

Bastard.

For all his posturing and flouncing about caring for his city and his children, Vlad never would have thought the Prince of Gotham capable of abandoning one of them.

But, well.

They all have their dark secrets.

And what one man throws away, another man picks up. If Bruce Wayne didn't want the treasure child that was Daniel Brown, then Vlad Masters was more than happy to take him instead.

"I see."

[science-lings]

you know you're fucked when you start getting fic ideas

[red-phantom-0]

Neglected Reader x Yandere Platonic Batfam

-> au where reader is neglected but like they don't really care ? Like, yeah, it sucks that their own adopted family don't really care about them, but like they make their own life and are happy? Basically, the reader is just a chill guy man.

More of this au. 🍁🍁 , 🍁🍁🍁 , 🍁🍁🍁🍁

- reader's life starts off normally. They have a loving mom and dad who cared about them a lot, but one day, their parents got caught in a crossfire between the police and Joker and ended up sadly dying.

- reader is taken into the foster care system . Foster care system was kinda shitty , you know normal Gotham shenigans of misusing funds and staff corruption. Despite how shitty foster care was , reader still manages to make connections with foster siblings and make the most of it .

- after the reader's foster parents get arrested for allegedly selling drugs, the reader is placed into Bruce's care .

- first day of reader being at the Wayne's mansion , Bruce leaves her in Alfred's care before leaving to attending to do work . Alfred's introduces the reader to their room and reader is just amazed they got their own room .

- reader meets Jason first at a week of living at the mansion , and the reader gave them a simple 'hi' but Jason just looked at them like they were weird ? Reader didn't really care and just went about their life because like why should they care what some random thinks ?

- reader indulges themselves into learning law - finding it so fascinating how cases unravel out and plans to pursue it for their future .

- reader meets Dick like two months in and he tried being nice but didn't really engage with them unless necessary which reader didn't mind they were busy with other things.

- reader is a literal programming prodigy and literal has a whole programming side hustle that brings them in millions.

- reader meets Tim after five months of living there, and they both just glare at each other because Tim's like, why are they here? The reader just thinks he looks like a zombie.

- reader continues on their life - thanks to their programming hustle , reader gains a network of persons who can help them in their law career .

- five months living there and reader feels so bored there so they take up after school activities like boxing and debate .

- so far, only Alfred's been the one to talk to the reader, not that they mind they think he's pretty cool .

- reader discovers their vigilante life one night accidentally when they came home late from their boxing class and saw NightWing being patched up by Alfred in the kitchen. Reader pieces together that if Dick is nightwing then the others must be batman and robin.

- reader continues on her passion for law and ends up getting full ride scholarship to Harvard law and they immediately jump at the opportunity. They pack their stuff and tell Alfred goodbye and that they're going away to further their education and leaves the mansion since they can live on campus.

- despite leaving the mansion, the reader still keeps in touch with Alfred because they feel a little bad for leaving him behind .

- years pass and reader graduates and becomes the most sought after lawyer in America . Reader makes a name for themselves and is living up her life with her pet cat in her private penthouse in New York.

- one day Bruce is facing some legality issues and randomly brought it up around Alfred and Alfred is like " you can always ask your daughter/son they are literally America's best lawyer " .

-Bruce sits there shocked because what, for you mean he has a daughter /son, that's America's best lawyer . Damian walks in that moment and questions Bruce about it like, " Why hasn't he met them ?"

- Alfred then buts in with " Oh you haven't met them because when you arrived, they were already left to go to Harvard " . Bruce's jaw literally drops to the floor because he literally has a kid that went to Harvard without him knowing -.

- thus Bruce makes an appointment with you along with Damian and Dick because they were both honestly shocked at the news and low behold. Here, they are sitting in your fancy office waiting for you.

- you walk in looking all fancy and professionally in your tailored suit as you welcome them . You swear they look familiar but can't place it . Bruce and you go back and forth with the legalities - still in shock that you are his kid -.

- after their appointment, Damian can't shut up about how cool you are and asking Dick and Bruce questions about you only for them both awkward since they didn't know about you.

- the three of them tell the others about you and everyone's now very much invested in your life .

- Bruce arranges another appointment with you and you're like hellah suspicious because like y'all can communicate through emails or something you know but you shrug it off thinking he's old and that he doesn't know how to properly do emails yet.

- Regardless you met Bruce at the arranged appointment meeting place, and before you could even do anything, Damian literally picks you up WWE style and throws you into the limo . Bruce literally starts lecturing him on the spot about how ' kidnapping is bad ' as if he doesn't make himself cozy in the front seat .

- and thus they drive off, and you're just sitting there like ' wtf ' .

[queeniewithabeanie]

The Nappers

Dpxdc Prompt #10

Danny was really excited to spend the summer with his second cousin(?) he didn't really remember, but apparently Jack Fenton's cousin was Gotham billionaire Bruce Wayne, a serial adopter.

Jazz had discovered the connection and gave him a call to see if he'd mind Danny staying over for summer because Danny decided he was going to tell his parents at the end of summer about his ghost problem, and Jazz wanted him to have a safety net.

He didn't really have a big family at home, with his parents being largely... absent and Jazz moving to Gotham for college. It would be great to be in a house that wasn't empty again.

Now if only his newly discovered family could stay awake long enough for Danny to talk to them.

"So how's living with our cousins?" Jazz asked him through his Fenton-phone. He flopped onto his bed and groaned.

"They're all seem nice but I haven't really seen enough of them to know yet."

"Danny, you've already been there a week, shouldn't you know them at least a little bit? You usually warm up to people quickly, as long as they aren't trying to kill you."

"Man I kinda wish they were out to get me, then I'd probably see more of them than I have already."

"..."

"..."

"Okay Danny walk me through our family, and what you know so far about them."

"Well first there's Dick, he apparently lives in Bludhaven and supposedly comes back to Gotham to visit fairly often, haven't seen any of him yet though."

"Then there's Jason, I've seen him come over after dinner a couple of times, but he's seemed in a really bad mood and I'm getting weird vibes from him so I haven't talked to him much yet either."

"Cass, Steph, Tim, Damian, and Bruce are the ones that actually live here at the manor and outside of when I first arrived I haven't actually seen them awake enough to talk to me. Anytime I've caught a glimpse of them they're taking naps and I'd feel bad waking them up, Tim especially (he looks like he needs the rest)."

"What are they, nocturnal or something?

"That's what I thought too! But the Manor is even more dead during the night than the day. If I had wanted to live with a bunch of zombies I'd have spent summer in the zone, not come all the way here."

"The only people that have stayed awake long enough for me to actually get to know them are Duke and Alfred! Duke's great, but he seems to have a day job so I only see him for breakfast and dinner and any time I can catch him before he sleeps after. Alfred's amazing, but he already has so much to do around the Manor, I feel bad bothering him."

"It is only the first week you're there, and there was a huge Arkham breakout your first day so everybody around Gotham is a bit tense while the Bats are trying to recatch everyone. Could you give it another week for me? See if it'll be an option for if our parents react badly?"

"For you, Jazz, I'll give it another week, but I can't just trade one empty house for another."

"Thanks, little brother."

"Love you, Jazz, bye."

Danny hung up the phone and sighed, he new there was something off with his cousins, but he couldn't quite place it. Constantly napping, disappearing during the nights, but always on guard when they were awake.

He had a week to figure it out, but if he didn't there'd be no real lost love. He'd come up with some excuse, stay with Jazz for the summer or something. If his parents reacted badly and he didn't have this safety net, it'd be difficult sure, but Danny and Jazz would figure it out.

Danny thought it would be nice to have some other family that had his back for once, but hey, maybe he just had shitty luck when it came to blood relations.

[toulousewayne]

Batfam and Batsis Headcannon: Ages 17-21

Tim:

Timothy Jackson Drake, was a little menace. Y/n knew that from the Time she found him on her doorstep. Tim was the first person Y/n felt like she had to really be careful of her actions in front of. Not because Tim would copy her but because she felt like she was supposed to set an example something she never had to do.

Tim becoming Robin was a bit of a blur for her, she just remembers them patrolling a lot and Tim asking her a lot questions in the beginning.

Tim didn’t live at the manor right away in fact it was a bit into his career before he fully moved in after his parents respected passings.

Tim felt guilty for not saving his father and Y/n spend a lot of time with him to help resolve this feelings because it wasn’t Tim’s fault.

Tim was the little brother she always wanted, he steal her eyeliner and she storm into his room and pick with him while Kon,Bart and Cassie would come over. They loved Tim’s cool older sister and she liked them.

Tim had trouble with words, especially with his feelings. It was no surprise to anyone that Tim walked into his sister’s room on a random Thrusday Night with blush on his face.

“What is it Little Bird?” She inquired while still having her face shoved in a Physics textbook.

Scratching the back of his neck and breathed out a strangled sign,” How do you know when you like someone?”

Y/n turned her gaze to him,”Like or Like Like?”

“Like like.”

“Boy or Girl?”

His blush grew even darker,”Well uhh..”

“Doesn’t matter to me, but just be your normal dorky self. Just don’t word vomit. You tend to do that Little Bird.”

Tim came out to his older sister first years later because she made Tim feel seen but not like it wasn’t a big deal.

Tim and Y/n formed a a very fun bond, it even rivaled his bond with Dick which made the older man a little jealous but it made him become more active with his younger brother which was something Y/n wanted him to do.

Patrol with Batgirl, Robin and Nightwing were the most comical nights Gotham had seen. You had a detective smartass Robin, a chatty hot headed older Bird, and the sassy and mysterious Batgirl. Riddler still has nightmares.

But things began to change and soon other additions became known.

Cassandra:

Y/n had made it clear to Bruce that she wanted a sister, not that she didn’t enjoy her time with Tim and Dick and even Jason. But she wanted someone who could relate to her.

One night after patrol Y/n returned to the Clock Tower and was introduced to Cass. She didn’t talk and once Barbara told her about what happened to her it only made Y/n more protective of her.

Between her and Babs Cass began to think for herself and not like how she was programmed by her father. Barbara taught Cass more about personal and emotional development, but Y/n showed Cass how to be a teenage girl.

She took her to the mall with Tim and let her pick out clothes she felt comfortable with, she let Cass take clothes from her closet in the end because it made her feel connected to people.

Y/n was training and Cass enter the room,”Sorry didn’t realize I was taking so long, I’ll clear out if you like.”

“No,your fine.” Cass responses. Cass takes a stance in front of her. Y/n gets in stance and they too spar. Cass can quickly match Y/n’s attacks and defenses.

The two sparred for a few hours before calling it. “Not bad Sis, how about a Root Beer Float on me?”

“Okie.”

Y/n wraps her arm around Cass and the pair walk out the gym. They two Wayne Sisters scare Bruce. And most men except Alfred.

Y/n was getting ready to graduate Gotham Academy with Honors and she felt kinda sad and Cass appeared before her and engulfed her in a hug.

“She would be proud.” She knew Cass was referring to Y/n’s Mom. “Thank you Sissy.”

Everyone attended,Bruce, Alfred, Dick, Barbara, Tim, and Cass. She was so happy and Bruce threw a party at Wayne Manor for the graduation class.

Y/n took Cass from a group of kids she met at school and took her to her room.

“Cass I your aware that I’m leaving in a few weeks for college in Metropolis.” Cass nodded.

“As much fun as it would be to tag along with Uncle Clark, I just won’t have to time or really need to patrol. Which is why I talked to Babs a few days ago and I’m stepping down as Batgirl.”

Cass understood what she was saying but she also knew how hard Y/n worked to become the new Batgirl.

Y/n took a black box and handed it to Cass. “Me and Babs think your ready and I couldn’t ask for someone else to carry on the mantle.” Cass tore open the box to find her own Batgirl suit.

Tears formed in Cass’s eyes and she hugged Y/n

“I won’t let you down.”

“I know sis, your gonna rock.” Y/n smiled and hugged her back.

Stephanie:

Y/n had taken a step down from being Batgirl full time meaning for a short time Robin patrolled alone. She felt guilty but soon she learned that her little bird had a friend.

Y/n meet Stephanie when Tim and her became official, this was only a few months before she totally resigned from the mantle but she did get to work with Steph a hand full of times.

One of the last times was when ClueMaster escaped from Blackgate and threaten Stephanie’s Mom.

Spoiler spring into action and Batgirl responded to Oracle’s request to assist her. The two formed a plan of action to enter Stephanie’s Mom job and save the hostages.

“You take the left side and I’ll go right. Take the goons out swiftly and hard.”

“Rodger that Batgirl.”

The pair made quick work of the goons, and finally found ClueMaster who had Steph’s mom hostage.

Once they save her she was anything but thankful and resented her daughter for re-prisoning her father.

Batgirl called her own and made the woman feel bad but the damage was done as Stephanie told Batgirl on a rooftop later that night, she learned that she wasn’t to blame for her parents choices nor should she have to atone for her father’s sins.

“Your Steph, never let anyone tell you stop being who you are and never stop being a light for others.”

Even once Stephanie and Tim relationship became more friendly and less romantic Y/n loved the blonde just as much.

Steph would drive up on the weekends with Cass and visit her in college. They would go shopping, try new restaurants and go fun amusement parks.

Stephanie and Y/n become really good friends and if Y/n needed to talk someone who was her siblings or Dad Steph was always willing to listen.

Jason Pt 2:

When Red Hood first emerged Y/n was away in school and no one told her. She had a long weekend and came home to surprise her family. Alfred was the most surprised to find her at the door but by the look on his face it didn’t seem like she was the first surprise this week.

She soon found out about Dick’s bruised ribs and broken leg, and Tim being attacked at Titan’s tower. Even Bruce had token a beaten from his last encounter with Red Hood and Y/n was furious.

“HOW DARE YOU NOT TELL YOU GOT HURT!” She scolded her father.

“y/n, please we didn’t want to worry you, we have everything under—“

She scoffed,”Like Hell you do! Your hurt Dick is black and blue,and Tim looks like he just did three tours in World War Two.”

She bit her tongue,”Who is he Father?”

Bruce sighed,”Y/n..”

“I won’t ask twice.”

Bruce didn’t answer her but instead pressed the button on the computer that light up with the DNA test he just got the results back minutes before her arrival.

Over the course of a minute several different emotions washed over her face and it landed on stoic. She turned on her heels and left the cave with Bruce calling for her to wait.

In a hours time she stood in front of a door in an abandoned apartment complex and knocked on the door. When no once answered she kicked the door down. And in the center of the room was a man laughing with a sack on his head as he was tied and chained to a folding chair.

She marched to him and ripped off the sack and there was bloody and bruised Joker.

“Ooh hello your the beautiful Wayne Daughter that left. Welcome back cupcake.” He chuckled. The sound of the gun clicking filled the room with Joker’s blooded laughing.

“Turn around.” The deep voice ordered. Smirking to herself, “if you were gonna shot me you’d pull the trigger already big brother.”

The room is silent and before Red Hood screams in pain, when Y/n turns around his hand is bloody and a Batarang is on the ground.

“Stand down Jason, he’s not worth it.” Batman brooded.

“You never understood me Old man, I never wanted to kill innocent people. Not Harvey,not Bane just him. He took me away from you..from her. From everything.”

The two had a heated argument and fight that ended with Bruce shielding Y/n from the explosion of the building.

Y/n returned to Jason’s grave and laid flowers. Sighing to herself she stood up and turned to the tree adjacent to his grave.

“You could have found me, I would have helped you Jay. I still can.” Jason appeared in a hoodie and refused to look her in the eyes.

“You always saw the best in me, even when I didn’t deserve it.”

“Bullshit Todd, you can play that song all you want but it doesn’t work on me.” She snapped.

He finally met her gaze, it was the first time since prior to his death did she see his face. His blue eyes now a deep green, a white tuff of hair at the base of his hair, a scare on his left cheek, his eyes look tired as well.

“I’m not who I used to be, I’ve changed, I’ve killed and I can’t change that. They don’t see it but what I do is stop the murders, rapistst the monsters from hurting people.”

She signed,”I won’t lie and say Dad’s ways have flaws but so do yours,” she glanced at the tombstone and dusted it off.

“I remember you taking to me, you visted me all the time.” He grinned .

“And now your back.” She smiled

He didn’t meet her gaze,” it’s not gonna be happy in the Manor, maybe never again.”

“You could try to find out what you want Jay, not many get a second chance at life.”

He nodded and with that he sighed with a grin,”I make no promises, I’ll see you around sis.” And he left the graveyard and she sighed to herself knowing that it was possible but it would take sometime for them to get Jason back.

When she returned to the manor she heard shouting and screaming. She rushed into the living room where Bruce and Dick were trying to keep Tim and and a young boy from killing each other.

“That fucking Demon cut me!” Tim shrieked.

“And I’ll draw more of your pathetic blood imposter.” The boy hissed being held in a tight grip by Dick.

“I can’t leave you idiots alone for five minutes!” Y/n snapped and all the eyes turned to her.

The boy with the deep copper skin and jade eyes was the first to speak,”Is she another one of your bastards you plucked off the sidewalk.” He hissed at Bruce.

Y/n eyed the boy before she turned back to her father,”And who might he be.”

“Damian, he’s your little Brother Y/n.” A tired Bruce clarified.

“Brother!”

“SHE’S MY SISTER!”

[watercloud7]

BATFAM PROMPT:

Feral Talon Dad Bruce Wayne AU

The bat kids are raised by a Cryptid zombie horror murder man who loves them very very much❤️

Bruce is sent to kill the Graysons by the court of Owls and kidnap their child to make him a Talon.

Dick witnesses the whole thing but because he’s so young in this AU like basically a toddler he’s terrified and when Bruce picks him up to take him back to the Owls Dick snuggles into him and sobs and screeches and he’s angry and confused and scared and tiny but This massive murder monster who killed his parents is the only comfort he has.

Dick is alone and he has no one. No one is coming to save him, no one is coming for him , his mama and daddy are gone and the only thing left is …. Whatever the hell this cryptid horror zombie is.

So Dick, takes his comfort where he can, which today comes in form of zombi does Bruce Wayne and that’s what it takes i guess.

Bruce breaks out of conditioning and vanishes into thin air with the kid. Only he doesn’t go back to the court.

Maybe this Bruce takes baby Grayson away and raises him as a feral murder baby.

They live secluded and away from anyone and anything. Maybe the mountains in Nanda parbat. They’re so discreet and good the league of assassins doesn’t even know their mountains are technically compromised.

Bruce raises Dick in complete secrecy. Literally like a wild child, Bruce occasionally travels to the town over to bring back toys and books and whatever he finds that he thinks would make Dick happy.

Dick sees and longs for peoples and connections and more. He loves Bruce but Bruce is basically like Ariel’s dad WORSE he’s basically mother gothel, he’s seen so many horrors and he’s so paranoid. He just wants his son to stay alive and away from any harm.

keeping Dixk locked away and safe from the Owls that mean him horrific torture and agony. Safe from the world, Safe with Daddy😭❤️.

SIGN LANGUAGE ENTHUSIAST BATFAM HEADCANON.

Bruce’s voice is … zombified and uncomfortable to use, so he teaches himself sign language and then teaches Dick. They invent their own dialect. Just for them😭

Dick gets big enough to want to see the world, to understand what happened, to find himself outside of his adopted eldritch Dad, and MAYBE! Make a damn friend like he’s been seeing in those picture books Bruce brings for him every week.

He “runs away” in a fit of teenage rebellion or whatever you wanna call it, after Dick gets caught sneaking into a village a couple kilometres from their Cosy little cave they like to call home.

Bruce is furious and terrified and he’s everything a scared father is after finding your kid missing from their room when they were supposed to be home hours ago.

Dick explodes in frustration and tears and off he goes.

He goes back to the beginning. To Gotham.

A half deadly Half sunshine all Feral Dick Grayson is roaming the world all alone when he stumbles across a considerably less feral

Less deadly Jason Todd.

Jay is an orphan and this weirdly affectionate clueless terror of a guy just imprinted on him

and won’t leave him alone.

I mean Scary bird boy is a stage 5 dumbass, zero bark, Zero bite 100% cuddles kinda guy.

(Seriously this dude has no concept of personal space and it’s bordering on infuriating) but Jason is like 99.9% sure he just saw him down crime alley snapping the resident rapists necks.

The men that call girls avoided and the police did isn’t care to arrest, so clearly bird boy is not a bad guy but he’s definitely not Harmless either.

Jason likes his style though.

Maybe the court of owls tries going after Jason or tries to kidnap Dick again.

Bruce finds them in the nick of time and slaughters every single one of the Owls once and for all.

Shenanigans ensue and they all bond.

Love love love. Bruce literally adopts him the minute he sees him.

Bruce and Dick teach Jay sign language.

Jason teaches Bruce and Dick how to read.

Jason loves his feral dad and brother.

MAYBE! Tim parents were Owls.

The rich wealthy elites of Gotham succumb to their nefarious ways in an ironic and cathartic end, survived by their heir Timothy Jackson Drake. Who up until now they had been grooming into becoming the next Owl man, he’s been trained to kill and torture and every other bad guy skills he needs to be their evil little successor.🫡

Bruce gets rid of them though.

WOMP WOMP.

Maybe after killing Timmy’s parents Bruce is just like…

Bruce: awwwwww this reminds me of how Dick’s surprise adoption went!

Tim:…. Bro you can’t just murder my parents and call this a surprise adoption.

Bruce: we can call this a kidnapping if you wanna keep it 💯 but either way you’re coming home with me

Tim: …. I ain’t even like em like that fr. Let me just pack a bag real quick.

The Drakes parenting was abhorrent so after Bruce kidnaps him ,Tim is viciously violent at first but after Bruce shows Tim patience and kindness.

Tim develops Stockholm syndrome like instantly and just latches onto Bruce like it’s the first instance of true love and care he’s ever felt.

Jason is actually the most normal and well

adjusted out of his Psychotic family. Ironically he’s the only one out of all of them that hasn’t killed someone lol.

Tim latches on violently to Dick & Jason, it’s adorable and scary and very creepy in a wholesome way. Tim absorbs any kind of attention like a sponge and has separation anxiety. He likes to watch them sleep and follow them every where they go like a puppy, only he does it in the shadows and takes candid pictures of them he collects religiously.

He’s a complete weirdo.

Dick finds him Absolutely delightful, he wants to gobble him all up and cuddle at every opportunity, he enables all Of his bad habits and Jason does his best to damage control and encourage Tim to dabble in more healthy hobbies and ways of showing affection but ultimately Dick Grayson remains undefeated as a bad influence.

Dick is a good big brother, so obviously he’s gotta participate in his baby brothers love language so Timmy can feel seen and appreciated.

So now Jason has TWO stalkers shadowing him everywhere he goes. 3 when Bruce is feeling sentimental.

Jason tolerates his families psychotic and feral behaviour because he loves them more then life itself and if anyone else said anything like that about them he’d snap their necks.

Jason shows his affection in normal ways like beating up peoples trying to start a fight with his brothers and cooking for them because they can’t cook to save their lives.

Sometimes Jason will wonder on how exactly Dixk survived all those years in that cave with an immortal Bruce who doesn’t need to eat.

(Bruce would catch wild animals and Dixk

Would eat the meat raw, sometimes he’d hold his blood soaked hand full of flesh out wanting to share with dad, but Bruce would just drag Dick closer to him and nudge him to keep eating his dinner)

Jason feels bad and bakes him sugary monstrosities included but not limited too:

Oreo chocolate chip maple soaked marshmallow pancakes.

Sour candy lucky charm jam filled donuts.

Triple Chocolate Nutella and peanut butter Reese cookies.

Jason is appropriately horrified at what he’s created every time.

But Dick tasted sugar for the first time and doesn’t know how to act.

The kids are living their best lives but Bruce Is SPIRALLING.

The more kids Bruce acquires the more stressed he gets.

There’s a really angsty scene where Bruce breaks down holding onto his kids and crying. He’s not a monster, he just wants these kids to be safe. He doesn’t wanna kill anymore, he doesn’t wanna hurt things anymore.

He wants to go home with his babies.

He wants to take all of them back to their busted creepy cave in nanda parbat.

But Dickie Isn’t a baby anymore, he wants his family close but he also wants MORE, he wants to be around people he wants to discover the world. Jason was born and raised in Gotham and Bruce can’t in good conscience rip his life apart like that.

And then there’s Timmy. Honestly the Tim is this AU is an unhinged obsessive gremlin, he just goes wherever his family wants to go, nothing else really matters to him but them.

And so Bruce decides to stay in Gotham and hides them all in an abandoned building. It’s kind of like a nest.

Bruce stashes his babies in a Makeshift safe house until he can figure out a way to make all this work.

Maybe Alfred finds their weird little makeshift Family when he stumbles into their safe house and manages not to get immediately killed.

Alfred is VERY worried about the state in which these kids are living.

He vows to lure them and their Dad to a safer better living arrangement.

Maybe Bruce gets severely hurt and the kids kidnap Alfred to patch Bruce up.

Alfred is appropriately horrified at the undead creature growling and hissing while he treats their mortally terminal wounds, but keeps as much composure as an ex-military general would about it.

Bruce like totally imprints on Alfred And like a cat, he drags each and every one of his kids into Alfred life for him to babysit and look after while Bruce goes out to do whatever zombie dads do.

Alfred has no choice in the matter and has effectively acquired spontaneous grandkids and a son.

Bruce: daddy?

Alfred: …. Boy do I look like-⁉️

They move in with Alfred basically over night.

Damian is either created Through the league of assassins who stole the courts strongest talon’s DNA (Bruce’s DNA) to recreate it. Or any other way I guess I donno? Maybe Talia and Bruce got jiggy with It at one point when they were in those mountains. PFFFF LOL GIVE ME IDEAS.

Gonna run with the first idea ?

Damian is created in a lab, Maybe the Drakes latest project was too recreate their greatest success which had been Talon!Bruce.

Tim revisits his parents lab randomly and discovers this. An abandoned lab and abandoned cryogenic chamber containing a baby.

Tim grabs the kids and runs back home.

Jason is exasperated and Alfred panics a bit cause…. Huh?!?!

Jason: Seriously guys? We can’t afford Another surprise adoption right now.

Alfred: do you mean a “kidnapping”

Jason: don’t be mean! It’s their love language 😡

Alfred: wonderful… is it safe to assume I’ll be raising yet another grandchild?

Jason: that’s the spirit, anyway we gotta find a much bigger apartment than this, it’s getting crowded.

Alfred: Ah, my sincerest apologies for the inconvenience caused by my oversight. It seems I should have anticipated my being abducted by a feral street urchin and his entourage of lethal pets. Quite the oversight on my part, I’ll begin apartment hunting right away sir.

Bruce, Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian: *living their best life while Alfred tries to wrangle them out of shenanigans*

Anyways They take Damian in and he’s just as feral and eldritch horror as his daddy. He’s got his big brother’s trademark behaviours too!

Tim’s severely anti social mess , Dick’s creepy uncanny valley nature and Jason’s love for baking!

It’s so sweet how much he takes after his sibling and Bruce couldn’t be more proud of his litter of horror.

Alfred is honestly such a trooper through all this, salute the GOAT.

I wrote this on a whim! If y’all wanna hear more about this AU, if you want it written, let me know!

[gaybirdlovescrackers]

Okey here's a bit of a BATMAN idea rant.

But I kinda want a comic where Batman's parents weren't really good people.

Like I know there are such comics, but like hear me out.

For me, it was interesting when The Batman (2022) movie kinda teased that the Wayne's might actually be corrupt. And even though they pulled it off in the end, I was still disappointed when it turns out Thomas Wayne was extorted by a Mob Boss.

Like, especially with how the world is seen nowadays, old rich people fall more and more into being greedy and selfish, other than generous philanthropists.

So it was interesting how, for a moment, Pattinson's Batman had to choose to be good, not in the name of his parent's legacy, but because being good is the right thing to do.

So what if the Wayne's were corrupt? Is it really a bad thing that Brucie Wayne hates everything his parents stood up for?

I feel like it gives him more agency and more independence. Because he would have to realize that even what his heroes (parents) were doing wasn't enough. He had to really see and think about why he wanted to help. He had to think beyond: "it will make my parents proud."

I think that's one of the reasons why people like Tony Stark's character arc in the first Iron Man movie. He was a greedy piece of shit who didn't realize he hurt people because he was too focused on making a quick buck. And the only way he changed was by living the hurt he caused first hand.

They kinda teased about it in the Christopher Nolan movies as well. Bruce Wayne loved his parents, and they were nice, but what made him want to change the world was the fact that it needed to be done. The world was a shitfest despite nice people living in it.

So what if Brucie Wayne isn't just a stupid rich boy persona to help up cover his identity? What if both Batman and Bruce Wayne made a change, one through fear and one through example?

Sometimes we need both. We need a Bat to scare the bad people away, and a Bruce to use his resources to make sure the changes happen.

(Then I went into a 10k rant about other stuff that really weren't about Batman but I feel like this is enough.) Yet I kinda want to keep talking about it.

But maybe ILL DRAW IT???? MAYBE????

[princess-of-the-corner]

You're reblog with the explanation of the Maribat salt prevalence got my brain kinda stuck on on the potential of a possible non-salty Batfam x ML crossover.

As someone who is an actual DC fan and an ML fan but has never touched Maribat with a 10 foot pole, here are a couple plot points I can picture if ML actually crossed over with the Batfam (more of a WFA style one though, considering the nature of ML)

The bats aren't really shocked or concerned Bustier lost a student, if that happens, because they've dealt with far worse from the school systems. They're more curious why the FUCK someone thought Gotham would be a good international tourist destination.

They're not shocked about the international magic terrorist or the children fighting him because *gestures vaguely at every iteration of the Teen Titans ever*, they're just kinda surprised they didn't know about it.

The batgirls are people that exist, and they would get along SO well with Chat.

Especially Stephanie. Which one of them am I describing here? Comedic, joke-cracking blonde cinammon roll who's also a TERRIFYING motherfucker when they wanna be, in love with a hyper-competent black-haired individual who's also a bit of a social disaster, considered too reckless and irresponsible and inexperienced by their teammates/mentors and frequently left out of the loop because of it, AND has an asshole villainous theatre kid for a father. They're SO similar, it's not even funny.

Also, the batgirls get chat on hormone therapy

Max, Markov, and Barbara have a coding fight that Barbara wins, but she's still really intrigued by Markov, spends hours chit chatting about it, and offers to teach Max coding remotely.

Tim trains/hires Lila somehow. This man gets like 3 separate villains working for him in Red Robin, and under his rules too. Tim doesn't really give a shit about your morality, if you're skilled and can be directed, he'll get you on his payroll.

Selina meets LB and CN and is absolutely gone on Chat. She thinks he's so adorable. She likes Mari too, but the punny catsuit kid strikes a chord with her.

Harley meets up with Juleka and they punch things together.

Nino and Harley commiserate about bad clown-themed fashion choices.

Forget Bruce Wayne. Helena Bertinelli, a.k.a Huntress, a.k.a someone who is a teacher as her day job has a field day shepherding the whole miracuclass around and teaching them how to use crossbows.

Just some thoughts running around in my head thanks to that RB. There really is quite a bit of potential here, especially if you allow the Batgirls to exist and let Chat run with the Bats.

Honestly there's so many oppurtunities for fun and shenanigans in a ml/batman crossover when it's actually an ml/batman crossover and not 'Mari as a mary sue who is sooooo beloved and perfect except her old class are evil people worse than Literally The Joker™ despite being dumb teenagers and she's gonna go fuck off and have fun with Batman instead!!!"

Honestly just the fact that the Bats would be more likely to pick up Lila than Marinette. Like Marinette is a girl who has loving parents and a wonderful life and sure she'll be recruited as Ladybug but Lila? Lila and Tim are going to team up to take over the world and there;s nothing we can do about it

[frownyalfred]

hi! I hope this doesn't come off as aggressive or too much (sorry if it does🥹), but I have so many feelings about Bruce as a parent and I really dislike those "Bruce Wayne is a terrible father" blanket statements, because no?? First of all, just to get it out of the way, it's (some of) those shitty writers who make horrible character and plot choices so they can sell more comics for the fans to rage-read. Now, I'm not saying Bruce is perfect, no one is, and he is traumatized, but he is absolutely not an abusive parent I will fight anyone on this.

Second of all, even if he was pretty goth pre-Robin, you're telling me having a tiny 8-year-old Dick Grayson as his ward didn't soften him up? Didn't bring light into his life? Didn't rearrange his priorities? The boy is a literal symbol of hope. I genuinely believe those early Robin days were a time of huge character development for Bruce.

All Bruce's kids have made a big impact on him as both Bruce and Batman (just like he made an impact on them), but I feel like people kinda forget the magnitude of the difference a flippy little acrobat kid can make on a man whose house has been hauntingly empty, cold, and silent for years.

Bruce Wayne is a Dad and I will die on that hill.

(Idk if you can tell but I can talk about Bruce and Dick for days)

I understand. I get why folks want to read/write Bad Dad Bruce Wayne, just as I understand folks who want to write Good Dad Bruce Wayne. Usually I read and write fics somewhere in the middle, since it feels the most realistic to me (as realistic as a Batman fic can be, at least).

Bruce isn't a perfect person. But overall, the point is that he tries. He messes up and causes harm, but he usually tries to fix or address it. That's why I love using the tags "Bruce Wayne's B-/C+ Parenting" lol.

[rubydubydoo122]

Do you think Bruce Wayne is an abuser in canon?

Personally, it seems undeniable but??? Apparently not.

I think he is, but I also think Golden and Silver age Bruce would never.

See, Golden and Silverage Bruce had a good mix of good person trying to help these kids, but you can kinda tell he might not be the best parent, but that's because no parent is perfect. But you can still tell Bruce loves his kids

then you see in after Tim Drake that there's a bit of a push that the Robins aren't really his sons, (which fair, Tim had parents at the time) but also, it kinda changed the dynamic for Batman and Robin.

I am a firm believer that Bruce is a good person, but a bad Parent, but then I remember the times he's literally brutally beaten his children into submission and-- recent Writers don't understand that you can't write an abuser to be a hero. You just can't. How are you going to have BATMAN BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF HIS KIDS???

as an immigrant child, I can excuse a slap here or there (If I ever had kids I would NEVER, but culture and time), but slapping your kid so hard they fall to the ground? punching them hard enough to the point where blood is flowing? That's Abuse. Capital A Abuse.

it's ooc, but most of these events haven't been retconned, and Bruce is continued to be written as this macho man who beats his kids for dominance, so he's an abuser.

[monster-fucker69]

I've seen people debating if Bruce Wayne was a good parent to some of his kids and I'm gonna be honest;

No, no good parent let's/helps their child endanger themselves every night

I'm kinda tired of this debate cuz, wasn't that Jason Todd's whole point?

Like yea he missed the mark of the message a few times (beating up Tim ect.)

But the point still stands, that's child engagement.

Even if we put that aside, there's a bunch of other bs there too, some more "intentional" than other sh*t.

Him hitting his kids. (I'm pretty sure he hit dick after Jason's death)

Him being emotionally like That. (Not communicating ect.)

To flat out lying about his children, especially Jason (yes I'm a Jason Todd fan, sorry there's not a ton of dick examples here I'm sure they exist) I mean he would literally make Jason out to be this impulsive angry kid for no reason, because he wasn't AND THAT WASNT EVEN WHY HE DIED.

The last one he even used to emotionally control his kids.

Also for the Tim fans, Bruce Wayne needed a child to stop him from almost ending people. A child he didn't even really know. Because he didn't recognise that if he's beating people up that bad, that he maybe shouldn't be out and about.

This is not me saying to not like Batman/Bruce Wayne.

I'm a Jason Todd fan and that man has done some insane stuff (aka beat up Tim for no good reason) cuz canon is just a suggestion.

So yea like Bruce Wayne and write fanfic about him being a great father.

But if you're debating if he really was/to which kids he was, please remember that that is a man that dresses up as a humanoid bat and goes out to beat people up in the night because He Can.

[flyingcatstiel]

SuperBat Week 2024 fic recs

Day 5 - WE ARE FAMILY Meeting the in-laws | Parent trap | Tired dads

the cost of being a good dad by Mawiiish [T, 96,500 wc]

Dick, Jason, Tim and Damian are all tired of watching Bruce struggle with the stress of trying to handle the newly formed Justice League. He needs an outlet, he needs to relax, he needs to get out of the house, he needs... he needs to start dating. And what he doesn't know won't hurt him, right? “Excuse me, I don’t know who you think I am, but I think there’s been a mistake.” “Bruce, right?” the guy says, albeit less confidently this time. He looks slightly concerned and if Bruce is not mistaken… a tad embarrassed. “Bruce Wayne? You look just like your pictures.” “My pictures?” Something finally clicks in Bruce’s mind, and he takes a small step back and plasters a smile on his face as to not rouse suspicion. Stalker. “Ah, of course, I’m sorry but I’m late for an appointment.”

Comment - Great "Parent Trap" kinda story with Bruce's kids having too much interest in his dating life and too much skills in setting up him with a handsome stranger. What could go wrong?

I (Know) I Wanna Marry You by ClarkeStetler [T, 23,800 wc]

Clark loves Bruce and has been dating him long enough that he's absolutely certain he wants to marry him, build a life with him, etc. But before he can do that, he has to make sure certain people are okay with it... and very few people have done too well going against seven Bats.

Comment - Clark wants to do things right, and that means asking Bruce's family to give him (them) a blessing. But first he needs a plan how to approach them. (#meeting the in laws, kind of)

Interviewing & Counseling series by Ginevra_Benci [G, M, 18,119 wc, 5 parts]

Clark is falling apart. Bruce Wayne, of all people, helps sort out the pieces.

Comment - While the fic is more about Clark finding a place where he belongs, Bruce Wayne and his sons are essential in this process. Also, some wise words from Nightwing to speed up his date with Batman. (#meeting the in laws, kind of)

This Side of the Stars by architeuthis [T, 43,900 wc]

After Clark's death, Bruce finally gets to know him.

Comment - The fic takes place after Batman v Superman movie which means that Clark is slightly indisposed for the most duration of the story. Instead, Bruce is there to help Martha Kent and to learn about the man he couldn't save. (#meeting the in laws, kind of)

who's coming to dinner by shipyrds [G, 4,160 wc]

Beyond the onslaught of comestibles are Ma and Pa Kent. They’re seated next to each other, which isn’t traditional, and also makes this feel even more like a job interview Bruce is failing. He thinks. He’s never actually had a job interview, never mind failed at one. That may be part of the problem. “So,” he begins, a tentative foray into the awkward silence broken only by the sounds of Jonathan’s fork scraping mashed potatoes onto his plate. “How’s the, ah, harvest this year?” “Bad,” Jonathan says, and does not elaborate. Three visits to Smallville over a year.

Comment - Bruce wants to succeed. The Kents don't make it easy. (#meeting the in laws)

My other superbat fic recs are here

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Summoning of Scion

by Fishhfood With the limited time she had, Talia's plans could only account for so much. She counted on Father and the guards being occupied with the traitor to allow her the time she needed to get the boy into and out of the pit. She had planned a route through the compound with the least chance of encountering either regular staff members or highly trained agents. She had planned for a single man to wait at the base of the cliff, the only blind spot along the escape route. The plan seemed laughable. If someone from her team had suggested something so sudden and reliant on something as intangible as hope, especially when the outcome seemed so dire, she would have dismissed them outright. There are so many variables that haven't been accounted for, so many potential points of failure, and Talia has to fight against thinking about them as she guides Jason to the pit. What she didn't expect was what also came with him. ** Rewritten version of “trash of gotham” with De aged cale! Words: 1247, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: 백작가의 망나니가 되었다 - 유려한 | Lout of Count's Family | Trash of the Count's Family - Yulyeohan, Batman - All Media Types, Robin: Son of Batman (Comics) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: Other Characters: Bruce Wayne, Jason Todd, Stephanie Brown, Tim Drake (DCU), Barbara Gordon, On (Lout of Count's Family), Hong (Lout of Count's Family), Ron Molan, Dick Grayson, Cassandra Cain, Alfred Pennyworth, Batfamily Members (DCU), Talia al Ghul, Ra's al Ghul, White Star | Cale Barrow, Damian Wayne, Duke Thomas, Cullen Row, Harper Row, Kate Kane (DCU), Titus | Damian Wayne's Dog, Damian Wayne's Pets, Helena Wayne, Batman Ensemble, Ancient Powers (Lout of Count's Family), Lout of Count's Family Ensemble, most are mentioned - Character, Luke Fox, Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo Relationships: Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo & Everyone, Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo & Bruce Wayne, Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo & Batfamily Members, Everyone & Everyone, Talia al Ghul & Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo, Talia al Ghul & Damian Wayne, Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo & Damian Wayne Additional Tags: Badass Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo, De-aged Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo, Kid Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo, Protective Batfamily (DCU), Good Sibling Cassandra Cain, Jason Todd and Damian Wayne Meet in the League of Assassins, Jason Todd is a Batfamily Member, kinda they’re relationship is complicated, they all care for eachother, Good Parent Bruce Wayne, Bruce Wayne is Bad at Communicating, Damian Wayne is Bad at Feelings, Damian Wayne Has a Heart, Im gonna try to include ever batfamily member pls tell me if i missed one, Good Parent Talia al Ghul, She loves her kids, Not beta read we die like Jason via https://ift.tt/AmpWSRg

[caffeinatedattorney]

Here are my thoughts about batman unburied: fallen city because no one asked but I wanna yap a bit lol:

It feels so much different in a bad way. My og post got deleted, if you saw it no you didn't. And I tired to like it? I heard it, thought about it, but it feels like something heppened along the way and there is less going on than in the first or second season. I think the team was smaller, the eps were def shorter and the story doesn't get to go in places the other two seasons could.

Harvey and bruce have this cordial relationship, kinda of reminds me of btas but without the trust. Harvey's gf is suspiciously into Bruce and harvey hates it. There's a twist to it of course and it's how his gf is actually thalia and it's strange bc. It's not like you expect a twist, after the twist.

It's a court of owls plot. Batman has to grapple with his parents death being a conspiracy and not some random act. Harvey doesn't matter past the first half. He makes a joker voice which I attribute to the reduced cast and I hate it so much.

Then! That's when you find out Harvey's gf who's been helping you is actually thalia al ghul and that the court is controlled by the one who cannot die, drum roll, ra's al ghul.

And, okay, I'm a big fan of noir batman and I've never been the biggest fan of the bigger conspiracy plots aside from a few times. But this feels like a worse version of gotham knights where at least the characters didn't speed run their arcs to get to the point.

The court feels so weak in this. Batman just met them and they're folding to an earthquake and aerosolized adrenaline. The talon is another of Bruce's allies and although I appreciate the emphasis Bruce Wayne rather than batman but how the hell does the court know every single detail about Bruce's life and routine and behavior but don't figure out he's batman? Am I missing something????

Then, the al ghuls part is so cartoony. They really speedrun the ra's al ghuls whole point in two eps where thalia and him argue about protecting people and ra's is a huge asshole and obvs thalia betrays him and she disappears and I love her but wow.

Barbara gets some cool moments where she fools some cops and her whole hacking thing. But man why does she have to drag Jim Gordon? Why wasn't he involved in other first place if he's so burned out? It feels so, bad considering he's only mentioned in the riddler season and the first season. Why is he here?

And it might just be me, but this feels, like a regression? For Bruce? Barbara as oracle is there so you'd think Bruce would know better than try and protect everyone? Idk maybe the fact harvey appears only now makes it seem to me like it's earlier in his journey. It's a fine switch up, but harvey highlights how... Inmature this batman is?

They took stories that occur in the early years (ra's, harveys denting) and combined it with one that happens way way later in his career (the court of owls and the conspiracy) and it's so... Strange. Like there's both missed potential and too much at once for the sake of hitting the next plot point.

It doesnt do anyone any favors. I wanted to like it. And ra's is compelling. The idea of the court using harvey agaisnt Bruce (turning him into a talon maybe? ) is cool but this feels... Like a misuse of what they can do. It's off.

Then ra's, you don't have time to process and digest the fact he's an old guy, who has a way to live forever, the fact he believes he can change the world with a strong hand, the fact he wants to duel batman, the fact he has a daughter, the fact he's been here before and founded(? ) the court. There's a lot going on and it's dizzying.

Oh well.

[dcficrecs]

I'm A Good Pretender - Chapter 2: I Got Lots Of Problems

By shipNslash on AO3

My last post was an excerpt from the first chapter of this fic. I've finished it now and I like most of it, but there's something in Chapter 2 that I just have to talk about. This whole fic is a Robin origin story. It has seven chapters, so it drawfs in comparison to the 'Firework' fic by paganpunk2 on fanfiction.net (I posted about that too, maybe my favorite fanfic ever). Still, I really like it. It's written with excerpts from days. It starts with day zero, where Dick's parents are killed and Bruce comforts him. Day one is him meeting Alfred at the orphanage, and it goes all the way to day 262, where Commissioner Gordon meets Robin.

Anyway, in this particular excerpt, Dick is scheming to sneak out of Wayne Manor and kill Tony Zucco himself, and has to guilt trip Bruce in order to be alone long enough to escape even though he feels bad about it. He likes Bruce, but he isn't quite a father figure to him, yet. Dick has inherited Bruce's old bedroom, something very sentimental to Bruce. The excerpt starts with Bruce giving a tour of his old room. Bruce also gave Dick a note, saying to ring the service bell when he wakes up. He does, and it calls Bruce to his room. Dick keeps the note in his pocket. Also, a slight trigger warning for mentions of sexual abuse against a child.

So Bruce awkwardly shows Dick around the cavernous bedroom. The dresser is full of generic clothes in his size and Bruce promises they can get his stuff from their trailer later today and go shopping soon for anything he's missing. He shows him how to work the computer at the desk and the TV on the wall, and even points towards the staff lift at the end of the hallway that will take him directly to the kitchen. The bathroom is in the bedroom and almost as huge, with a sink and toilet and a big shower/bathtub combo already filled with a bunch of different soaps.

"I wasn't sure what you'd need," Bruce mumbles when Dick comments on the variety. "We have different hair types."

That's…surprisingly thoughtful, Dick thinks, and Bruce's folded note feels like it's burning a hole in his pocket.

He ignores the guilt and smiles. "Thanks, Bruce. I appreciate it."

"I want you to be comfortable here," Bruce whispers back, even quieter than normal.

Dick pushes the guilt down, down, down. Now is as good a time as any and Bruce is already uncomfortable. Now if Dick can just get him to leave…

(Never talk about sex, Mama always says, grown ups hate when kids even mention sex.)

"What about rules?" Dick asks, pitching his voice a little higher and widening his already big eyes just a little bit bigger. "One of the older boys at the detention center said rich people only foster kids to warm their beds. I don't know what that means, but I'll try, if you teach me."

And bingo.

Bruce's pale skin goes practically gray and he flinches back until he's outside of the bathroom. "That- No, I- You won't ever-"

"Did I say something wrong?" Dick asks, adding in a small sniffle and not letting up on the eye contact. (He's already learned that Bruce Wayne hates eye contact.)

The man is still backpedaling, now well to the hallway. "No! No. I'll… see you at breakfast." When he steps out of the room, his shoulders sag. "Kitchen. Eight." And then he's gone, latching the door shut behind him.

Dick sighs and flops against the bed. That was almost too easy. He feels… kinda bad.

Still. Eight o’clock. That's just over three hours, according to the clock on the wall.

"Alright," he mumbles to himself and carefully rocks to his feet. "Like Mama says, make a list."

So, he does.

Stretch my poor, atrophying muscles

Shower off the scent of the detention center

Find out where Haly's went

Sneak out

Catch and murder Tony Zucco

Run away to (re)join the circus 

There, that doesn't seem hard now that he's made a list- Mama's always right.

Something about "I don't know what that means, but I'll try if you teach me," is literally so well written. Obviously, gross, but Dick using something that makes Bruce obviously uncomfortable to his advantage against Bruce is so Dick coded. Dick absolutely knew what it meant and purposefully used it to horrify Bruce. Guilt tripping Bruce Wayne is so easy, as long as you're Dick Grayson. He's a little gremlin and I love it. Also, the list he makes is adorable, literally went from zero to a hundred real quick.