#so had bruce

[flwrkid14]

Tim Drake: Always the Almost

There’s something about being almost.

Tim Drake was never meant to be Robin. Not really. Not in the way Dick was—the bright, acrobatic first son. Not like Jason—the reckless, fiery second chance. Tim? Tim wasn’t supposed to be a hero at all. He wasn’t chosen. He chose himself.

But even when he did everything right, even when he saved Batman from himself, he was still almost.

Almost Robin.

Almost Batman’s partner.

Almost part of the family.

It’s exhausting being the one who holds it all together, who sees all the cracks but is never quite enough to fill them. He was the one who picked up the pieces after Jason died, the one who figured it all out, who knew Bruce was spiraling long before anyone else did. But when Bruce looked at him, he didn’t see Tim. He saw a kid trying to fit into a suit too big for him. He saw someone filling a role, not someone who belonged.

And Tim did it anyway. Because that’s what Tim does. He steps up. He takes the hits. He keeps going.

But that doesn’t make it any less lonely.

Even when he became Robin, it wasn’t the same. Dick was the golden child. Jason was the one everyone mourned. And Tim? He was the placeholder. The one who kept the legacy going while the real Robins cast their shadows over him. And when Damian came along, when Bruce’s actual son showed up, it was like the universe confirmed what Tim always feared deep down:

He was never supposed to be there.

Damian made it clear from day one. He didn’t need Tim. Gotham didn’t need Tim. Hell, Bruce didn’t need Tim. Not anymore. Damian was the son, the heir. And Tim? Tim was expendable. Replaceable.

It shouldn’t hurt. But it does. It always does.

Because no matter how many times he saves Gotham, no matter how many times he proves himself, Tim is still almost. Almost enough. Almost part of the family. Almost loved.

And the worst part? The part that no one ever sees, because Tim is so good at hiding it—he wants to be enough. He wants so badly to be seen, to be valued, to be the person they miss when he’s not there.

But he knows they wouldn’t. Not really.

Because Tim Drake is always almost.

And that’s the part that will break him.

[demonicsuffrage]

8 year old freshly adopted Dick, throwing the moths and flies he caught on Patrol directly at Bruce's face: I got you dinner!

Bruce, who was just bombarded with insects: Chum?!

Dick, smiling cheerfully: Bats eat insects!

Bruce:

Dick: I just read it in a book

Bruce:

Bruce: Bats also eat fruits and nectar

Dick: So you're a fruity bat?

Bruce:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dick, throwing an apple at him the next day: Dinner!

Bruce:

[noka-exe]

duality of man….

[fanaticalthings]

next thing you're gonna tell me is that the butts match 🙄

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[ashoss]

my lovely son waking me up to tell me he threw up.

us waking up my wonderful butlerfather to tell him he threw up.

[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.

[minnow-doodle-doo]

Then Jason never kills again.

[frownyalfred]

something something Jason Todd not realizing how much Bruce was actively keeping his body language neutral and his stature non-threatening until he himself got dunked in the Lazarus Pit and came out just as massive and had to figure out the hard way that he and Bruce can’t just cross their arms or stand at their full heights without scaring civilians

[batfamhastwitter]

Part 34! Alfred let Tim leave the poster up for a day before he makes him take it down

Prev ~ Beginning ~ Next

[dcxdpdabbles]

Duke: I know I'm new, but are we going to talk about the thing clinging to Alfred? Damian: What are you babbling about? Duke: The thing made of shadows and glowing green eyes. It's wrapped around Alfred like 24/7 Jason: I've never seen anything like that around Alfred. Tim: Me neither. Duke: Are you sure? I used to see it even before I was officially taken in. There are some photos online, too. See? Damian: *squints* That just looks like some bad lighting. Hey, isn't this your paramour's conspiracy blog, Drake? Tim: Yeah, that's Bernad's page. Hold on, let me give him a call and see if he knows anything. A few hours later Tim: According to Bernard, there is this whole theory that Alfred is being haunted by some demon because before the Waynes were killed, many photos with the butler in them always had some kind of shadowy figure wrapped around him. In Batman's early days, some thought the shadowy figure was Batman. Duke: Yeah, I've always been able to see that thing around Alfred. I just assumed it was Batman's kind of BS that we all ignored. Dick: Are you guys talking about Danny? Damian: It has a name? Dick: Yeah, apparently, it was a family friend. Alfred's mother, Samantha, knew him in life, but he vanished when they were fourteen. He supposedly came back and just stuck around when she got married. Then Danny moved to Alfred when his mother died. Maybe one day he'll pick one of us! Bruce spraying on holy water: That someone will not be me. Alfred cleaning a vase: Danny says not to fight the inevitable Master Bruce. Bruce: You tell Danny to GET OUT OF MY HOUSE.

[andstuffsketches]

vanity

[animemangasoul]

Tim: If I wanted to murder someone, would you help me cover it up?

Damian: Of course Drake. Surely there is a brotherhood code for such things.

Tim: Thanks, demon.

Dick:......

Dick: I'm highly concerned but also *wipes tears* so touched. You've come so far, guys.

Bruce:......

Alfred: Perhaps this is why you ought to raise your own children Master Bruce.

[violent138]

Think of how insanely cool it must've been for Dick to see Batman learning from him, or struggling with something Dick could do easily and getting to teach Bruce.

[theaceofarrows]

Damian: [walks into Bruce's office with his hands behind his back]

Damian: Father, I would like to congratulate you. You are now a grandfather

Bruce: [seconds away from a heart attack] W- what?

Damian: [reveals the hamster he was holding behind his back] Meet Ferdinand

Bruce: [slumps against desk] Next time... please- please lead with that... I'm begging you

-

Jason: [hiding in the vents with a camera] He actually did it, the crazy little son of a bitch

[prlssprfctn]

Batfamily get tired of Bruce and Jason's insanity and as true hypocrites buy them monthly sessions to the therapist that they cannot ignore, like, at all. That ensues some troubles.

Jason: *sprawled on the couch in the Batcave* Bruce: *brooding around* Jason: What's up with you? Bruce: I am dreading over the upcoming therapy session. Jason: Oh, lmao, they forced you, too? Bruce, irritated: That's a ridiculous waste of time. I don't even need it. Jason: Yeah, same. Wanna tip, though? Gaslight the shit out of your therapist. Bruce: ...What? Jason: Lie to them. Forge fake stories. If they are a good therapist, they will catch you. But you know what? Mine believes me. Can't wait to find out just how far it can go. Bruce: That's wrong on so many levels. Bruce: ...I'll try.

Of all things that could mend Bruce and Jason's relationship, this makes a trick. They start discussing their therapy sessions all the time. But not because they receive some kind of useful feedback, but because they keep giggling about gaslighting their therapists.

Bruce unleashes his full Brucie Wayne potential on that poor therapist. Like, yeah, he will discuss his traumas... No, no, not his parents' death! He, of course, meant that one incident with Oliver Queen, when they were seventeen and drunk, and-

Bruce: I think I genuinely didn't have so much fun since forever. Therapists truly can help. Jason: I have an amazing idea how to make it even more hilarious. This one is a little insensitive, but hey. Whatever makes it funnier. Bruce, squinting: ...Jason. Jason: Are you in or not? Bruce: ...

*a few hours later, in the living room of the Manor, with all family members gathered*

Bruce: Jason and I asked you to come since we have news for you. As you know, we had been visiting therapists for a while, and it was an immense help to our mental health. As it was expected, in the middle of the sessions we came to the topic of our relationship. Jason: Yeah, uh. We kinda decided to get a separate therapist for this. Like, family one. For us to go together. And fix things. Bruce: Yeah. We just wanted to update you on this. All support would be appreciated. Dick, wiping his tears away: Guys. Guys, I am so proud of you. Jason and Bruce: *high-fiving each other behind their backs*

Do they actually go to the family therapist? Yeah! Do they still continue creating fake ass stories to test their doctor? Yeah! Do they actually by the accident start oversharing their own emotions during acting by an established scenario and actually get a whole mental breakdown in front of terrified therapist? Yeah...

Therapist: So, uh... *checking scribbled notes of a messy drama that Bruce and Jason rehearsed a night before* ...H-how about we think about where it brings us now? Mister Wayne, do you feel guilt about what happened? Bruce, answering automatically, out of prepared lines: Of course, I feel guilt. I always do. Therapist: Okay, why won't you try to apologise before your son? Bruce, stammering: I-I don't know, I am a prideful person Jason, also abandoning their script: Oh, wow, and I am not?! Therapist: O-okay. Uh, mister- Jason: Like, not saying, but it would be nice to see you discarding some of your pride, when all I do is to stomp on my own to please you! Therapist: Okay, okay, how about... Jesus Chirst, mister Wayne, mister Todd-Wayne, are you crying? Jason and Bruce, sniffling: NO!

[monkesupreme]

Starving and wasting away etc etc

bonus:

Hes tall and huge and HEAVY and he is so overly active that he has to maintain an insanely high caloric intake to make sure his body doesnt collapse from the strain of everything. He will eat virtually anything but he is spoiled from the best takeout Gotham has to offer: 11$ shrimp and broccoli from the chinese food spot that closes at 4am- among other things.