batfam-is-a-feeling

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

<1>. <2>. <3>. <4>. <5>. <6>. <7>. <8>. <9>.

——

Tim: I have never seen you as an obligation- as a means to an end

Bruce: … Neither have I

——

Bruce slowly sipped his chamomile tea. Alfred had somehow noticed his back flaring up and brewed him a nice cup of tea to help with the inflammation. Bruce had asked for extra honey and sugar, which the older man generously allowed.

“I can feel you staring at me, Tim.” Bruce rumbled, taking another slow sip, making sure not to slurp. Both he and Tim hated the sound of people slurping their drinks; it was horrid. “Drink your tea, sweetheart, it’s good for gut health.”

Tim let out a small hum of acknowledgment but didn’t look away, his own chamomile tea going untouched in his cup.

“Switch?” Tim asked, pushing himself up from the couch he was sprawled out on and carefully bringing his full cup to Bruce. “Want yours.”

Without a second thought, Bruce took Tim’s teacup and placed his own on his son’s saucer, grabbing two more sugar cubes and plopping them in the tea for Tim. “Still hot,” Bruce warned, watching Tim as he took a sip and let out a soft hum, making Bruce smile softly.

The two lapsed into another comfortable silence; the only sound audible in the study was the soft clicking of their teacups every time they set them down on their saucers.

“Hey.” Bruce looked up from the newspaper he was absentmindedly skimming, tilting his head at Tim. “Say I love you.”

Bruce blinked but complied nonetheless. “I love you. A lot. I love you very much, Timmothy.” Bruce stated, his face remaining in a relaxed expression.

Tim wrinkled his nose at his Dad using his full name, trying to hide the flush on his cheeks from Bruce being able to say the three words so easily, compared to how it was before. “Ew, you full named me.” Tim pouted, hiding a grin behind his teacup as he heard Bruce chuckle lightly.

“Me too, by the way…” Tim set down the teacup, looking into Bruce’s eyes before shifting them to look at his forehead. Much easier than actually looking into his eyes. “I love you lots, Dad.”

This time, Bruce wrinkled his nose in confusion. “Did your brothers put you up to this?”

Bruce’s voice wasn’t accusing, but then again, it never really is when he talks to his children. He always gives them the benefit of the doubt.

Tim scowled, feeling a twinge of embarrassment bubble up in his chest. “No. Why would you think that, Bruce?”

Uh oh, he was back to being Bruce right now. Bruce let out a small huff of air from his nose and folded his hands over one another. “You and your brothers have been acting… strange. Coming here, to me, once a week and interrogating me over… menial topics.”

“Menial?” Tim’s voice took on a sharp edge once he heard the word. “You made Dick cry and Jason looked like he was in fucking shock. Obviously, those conversations were important.” Tim accused, pointing his finger at Bruce.

Bruce blinked, the only sign that would tell he was surprised by the change of tone. “I did no such thing. I have no idea why that happened, and they refused to tell me. You can not blame that on me, I will not allow it.” Bruce asserted.

“You’re supposed to know!” Tim raised his voice.

“How am I supposed to know when no one will tell me?! You guys always get mad at me for ‘snooping’ or ‘going through your business’ on normal days! How am I supposed to know when it’s appropriate?” Bruce struggled not to raise his voice at Tim. He knew Tim would shut down immediately and this… conversation would devolve into a screaming match that would rival the ones with Dick and Jason.

“You told Jason that you think we hate you! How could you do that?!”

Bruce threw his hands up in the air. Fuck! Not this stupid conversation again. Was this the only thing people wanted to talk about in this household?

“When someone says they hate you, you tend to believe that!” Bruce shouted, immediately regretting the action when he saw Tim curl into himself and his face harden.

Bruce let out a shuddering breath and ran a hand through his hair, grateful that he had forgone putting gel into it. He did not need to be overstimulated on top of this talk with Tim.

“I don’t understand why this is a topic of discussion in the household as of late.” Bruce continued quietly. “And I don’t know why you would insert yourself into something like this.”

Tim squinted his eyes, not understanding what the fuck that meant. Before he could ask, Bruce continued speaking.

“Look… I know how this relationship between the two of us officially started. I see you as my son, Tim, one of my own, and I’ll always love you as such.” Bruce reassured, but instead of it making Tim feel better, he felt like he was about to be dropped off into a gaping black hole. “But I know that this,” Bruce gestured between the two of them, “is nothing more than a… responsibility on your part.”

And just like that, the floor was swept out from underneath Tim’s feet.

“What makes you say that?” Tim could feel his lips move and feel the way his vocal cords vibrated to ask the question, but blood rushed through his ears, making everything sound muffled. "What have I done that could possibly make you say that?"

“You came to me because I was a danger to myself, which meant I was a danger to Gotham,” Bruce said matter of factly, like he knew what the fuck he was talking about. “I’m just glad that somewhere along the way you decided to stay with us, even if it wasn’t for me.”

The words leave Tim’s lips before they even have a chance to register in his mind. “But it’s the same for you!”

“The only reason why you took me is because I pestered you so much! And even then, you didn’t want me; Alfred was the one who gave me Robin.” Tim tried to pretend that his voice didn't break in the middle of his sentence, silently glad that Bruce didn't mention it and allowed him to keep his dignity.

Bruce tapped his fingers against the arm of his chair, peeling off the flaking paint and ripping it up into smaller pieces. He would run out of paint soon enough if people kept trying to lie right to his face that they didn't hate him.

“You became Robin not just because Alfred gave it to you, but because you wanted to do good. Because you are good.” Bruce let out a small hum. “If I could go back in time, I would change how our relationship started. How everything started.”

“Change how?”

“I would be better. I would show you that I love you.” Bruce nodded to himself, smiling softly as he turned to Tim. “I would tell you it’s okay to hate me, that you don’t have to pretend that you love me. I already know. Everyone hates me. I also hate myself.”

And truly, what the fuck do you say to that?

Because if Bruce could believe something so… twisted, then how could Tim believe anything that this man in front of him was saying?

How could he believe that Bruce truly loved him if Bruce didn’t believe that Tim loved him?

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

<1>. <2>. <3>. <4>. <5>. <6>. <7>. <8>. <9>.

Bruce doesn’t know why Jason is mad at him. At this point, it seems to be an everyday thing.

Jason successfully integrates his way back into the family, making it possible for him to hang out with his brothers without being coerced by anyone. He comes and goes as he pleases and struts around the manor like it’s his home again.

Bruce couldn’t be happier.

So why is his second/third oldest mad at him? It seems like nowadays Jason gets mad at Bruce for breathing the wrong way, or walking too slow, or something completely nonsensical.

It all comes to a head when Jason confronts him in his office when Bruce was just finishing up some paperwork.

“What the fuck is your actual fucking problem?” Jason hissed angrily, slamming his fist down on Bruce’s mahogany table.

Bruce distantly hopes that it won’t leave a mark, but for now, he’s more focused on why his son is swearing at him.

“Hello Jason.” Bruce decides to start, giving him a second to collect his thoughts and mentally see if he’s done anything lately. “I’m afraid I don’t understand-“

“Bullshit! Absolute fucking bullshit!” Jason spat, cutting Bruce off.

Bruce’s eyebrows wrinkled slightly at the many curses directed at him. It’s not like he wasn’t used to it; Gotham is his home, but he just doesn’t know why.

“When was the last time you fucking talked to me?” Jason questioned, rounding the desk and jabbing a finger in Bruce’s shoulder.

This causes Bruce to blink, somehow even more confused than before. “I don’t understand. I’m talking to you right now. And we spoke yesterday.”

“No, you walked into the room looking for Golden Boy, saw me and said some fake ass greeting before turning and basically running away!” Jason swung his hands around, making Bruce lean back in his chair to avoid getting hit. “Why are you avoiding me? I thought… I thought you had forgiven me and stuff…”

“What? Of course I have! You’re always welcome here!”

“Then why are you avoiding me? You don’t invite me places, y-you barely speak to me nowadays…”

Bruce picked at the peeling arm of his swivel chair, peeling off a small portion of the black paint and ripping it into smaller pieces before dropping it on the ground. Alfred would probably make him clean it up. “I’m giving you space.”

Jason blinked, looking down at Bruce in confusion. “Space? Why are you giving me space- so much space? You're never fucking around anymore!”

“Well… because you hate me?”

“What..?”

“You told me…” Bruce says slowly, barely stopping himself from scratching at his arm in the tense silence, a habit Alfred made sure he broke. “You’ve told me multiple times how you hate me… and that I’m not your Dad.”

Jason gaped at Bruce, taking a moment to sit on the edge of Bruce’s desk, running a hand down his face. “Fuck Bruce! I-I wasn’t- ugh! I wasn’t being fucking serious!”

Bruce squints, his eyes darting around Jason's angry and confused expression.

“But… you said it? Why would you say that if you didn’t mean it?” Bruce asked quietly, his chest tightening like it does when he wants to cry.

He hasn’t felt this way in a long time. At least, not so strongly. The kind of feeling that you get when you know everyone around you understands something that you can’t. Why would Jason say something he didn’t mean?

Why did Bruce have to be so fucking stupid. He's supposed to be the world's greatest detective, so why does he always have a hard time deciphering what people mean? Especially his children.

“I don’t understand,” Bruce repeated, his eyes stinging as he flapped his hands before drumming them softly on the arm of his swivel chair, trying to calm himself down. “You’ve said it. You say it all the time.”

“Bruce-“

“All of you say it! You say that you hate me, so you hate me!” Bruce insisted, no longer looking at Jason, the study felt significantly smaller now. “Why would you say it if you don’t mean it? Why would you say something so mean?”

“… Dad…” Jason whispered softly, slowly taking Bruce’s hands in his own. Bruce hadn’t even noticed that his fingernails were painfully digging into the palm of his hand, leaving angry red half moons.

“Dad, if you think that we hate you, then why…?” Jason gestures widely, pointing at nothing in particular yet everything at the same time. “Why do you do this for us? Why are you still here?”

Bruce tilted his head in confusion. Not a single second of this conversation has made any sense to him but he knows this part, it is woven into the very fabric of his being. “Because I love you. I love all of you.”

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

I need Tim comic recommendations. Please some kind soul give me something (important to know I star comics like a week ago)

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

Everyone enters the cave, each doing their own thing and having their own conversations. Dick is rambling on about Bruce while Bruce sits at the Bat-computer doing Batman stuff

Dick: and since Damian look so much like you I think---

Bruce interrupts him without taking his eyes off the screen

Bruce: No, he looks more like talia

Bruce speaks without hesitation, not a suggestion or an opinion. His voice has that tone you get when he's speaking an absolute truth. Everyone stops and turns to look at Bruce, as if the guy had suddenly gone blind.

They're talking over each other. The cave is divided into factions.

"Look at his eyes!!! That's all talia"

"What are you talking about? Those cheeks are obviously wayne features"

The discussion reaches a point where individual images of Bruce, Talia, and Damian are being projected while all the bats discuss the three's factions.

Damian just rolls his eyes and decides to leave the room, calling them all ridiculous for getting into pointless arguments. When he leaves, a small smile forms on his face with shy pride.

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

Okay, consider this au

The night Bruce finds Jason is the same night Nightwing finds baby Tim Drake stalking around

Now, Dick originally wasn't going to be on the manor, they're not on speaking terms much but Alfred sounded so defeated on their weekly call, and yeah, maybe Bruce is an ass, but it's also his parents death anniversary and they were also Alfred's friends-

And sure, Bruce sucks, but he got a package with Alfred's food and an old poster of the flying Graysons that Bruce is not fooling him into believing it wasn't from him, and that was when it was the anniversary of his family-

So, he visits, to be with Alfred he says, and at night, when Bruce is out until later than usual, he goes out to search for him, just to be sure he didn't die, he says

But when he's not too far away yet he hears something crack behind him, and when he goes to look he finds a kid who fell out of a tree and has a camera in his too tiny hands, and now its looking at him with eyes that are mix between panic and admiration, he tries to get him up but the kid hurt his leg when falling-

The cave is closer than Leslie's and as long as he doesn't look the way it should be fine, also this kid looks static, why not give him something cool to remember?-

Cut to Bruce and Dick pointing at each other like the meme while Jason is next to Bruce and Tim next to Dick

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

witnessed by deepspace (2/5) - ❄️🎀

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

Since I'm not doing anything. Here is one of my favorite parts of my detective comics compilation

I just love the way this is written. The introduction of two-face/Harvey was just my favorite part and how the comic shows that he is good and evil. Kind and ruthless, all just depend on the coin that changed his life. It's just beautiful. I can see why he is the favorite of many

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

Okay, so maybe I just obsecible reed my batman detective comics compilation and finished early that expected.... next weekend I'm going to a trip to the second-hand comic store to find more batman stuff

Any recommendations for a new reader??

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

Yesterday, I bought a compilation of detective comics. Is supose to have 80 years of batman comics (or at least the most iconic ones since 1939)

Pray for my family because I'm about to become the most annoying and insufferable person to be around for at least 3 months.

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

thought about damian’s unique position as a son of the al ghuls and the bats for too long and got sad about it. also i miss my grandpa + listening to sad music on loop = i have to make this everyone’s problem.

chinese version below! thought i should start including two translations since i’m fluent in both and i might as well allow more people to enjoy the same art. i would also do a japanese version but i can’t be confident in that one at all HAHAHAHA

我知道我寫的字很醜、我太久沒手寫中文了。請您們原諒我⋯囧rz

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

I hate talk to people but not in a "ugh people" way more in a "What if I talk to them and they think I'm the most annoying pice of human trash on earth" way. So I have implemented a system where I would never call someone my friend unless they call me their friend first.

And since I give my problems to my comfort character now, bruce is the same.

Like, he and Clark have known each other for about 10 years. They have seen each other in all their moments. The good, the bads, the ones that probably cause the end of the word. All of them.

But Bruce refers to Clark as his coworker, acquaintance, the guy he saves the world with, Dink's hero. But never his friend because Clark has never told his face in clear specific words that Bruce is his best friend.

And bruce knows he is complicated and not really the most pleasant person to be around giving it the option so he is not going to belive that Clark sees him as his friend unless he says it directly

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

Nap time at Wayne Manor :)

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

✨✨ DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE ✨✨

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

Dami meeting a very fat cat for @arcaneprism ! Another @dcforgaza prompt fill lol

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

somebody requested for hiring jaybin to stare. so here he is

[batfam-is-a-feeling]

Losing my mind but the prospect of Damian being so otherworldly beautiful and thriving at the face of catastrophe is so tragic to me idk why.

Like oouuughhhhh little boy how does it feel to look like the moon and the stars before you implode and your stardust gave birth to a new constellation???

Like baby boy my baby why are you the sole hope for humanity to exist and the key for peace and co-existence?? Little Damian did you know that your hands are the gentlest in the future where that would cost you?

How are you the embodiment of horror and all that is bad yet the symbolism of love itself?

Why are you in hell and looking up to heaven while cradling creatures of the fiery pits? What do you mean you found a companion in the shape of something you don't even know while laying in the midst of bloodshed of your own doing??

You are cruel yet so, so kind. You look at something so grotesque and decide to cradle its face with tenderness and care. You look at something so unlovable and decide to love it first.

Damian al-Ghul Wayne why are you so tragically beautiful when you're not supposed to?