#young batman

[confused-wanderer]

Bruce never asked for this.

There’s an eight year old, staring at him with the most intent expression he’s ever seen.

“CAN WE SEE HIM??”

He sighs, trying to maintain his scowl but it’s gone. Batman has now melted to Bruce, who stares down at his ward.

“It’s twelve in the morning. You need sleep.”

“I was in a circus, we never slept at your times.”

Bruce. a voice in his head pipes up. This is a child. This is a fragile being entrusted in your care. You cannot expose him to the dangers, to anomalies that could threaten harm in the future. Even those with god like abilities who’ve sworn to protect.

Especially those with god like abilities who’ve sworn to protect.

But it’s been three weeks. Dick hasn’t slept a wink, Bruce has been on edge as a result, and they both needed to rest. And both were too stubborn to admit it.

You’re doing this for a greater cause, he reminds himself as they watch from the shadows.

You’re doing this for Dick.

“The air smells different doesn’t it? Even the noises and the darkness. It’s not the same.”

He looks over to Robin, currently pinching his nose and making a face.

“Why do you think that is?”

He watches Dick blink, reading between the lines before finding the challenge Bruce poses. The child puffs out his chest, body tense as his eyes scan the area, doing a little break dance in the process.

“We’re not in Gotham!” Dick declares.

On seeing the nod of approval, Robin’s eyes bulge as he stills.

“We’re not in Gotham?? Why aren’t we in Gotham? Are we chasing down a new suspect? A bad guy? Did you want to go sight seeing? Or shopping? Because you need better clothes. Oh or is it-”

Bruce winces. He should be used to the onslaught of noise. And hyper activeness typical of a kid vibrating with excitement. But he likes the chatter, and lets the babble continue until Robin finally realises what it means to be a human and takes a breath.

Batman lets his mind go blank before it warns him of how everything could go wrong, lets his hand hover over the wood and knocks.

It takes three seconds before it swings open, and the embarrassed smile on Clark’s face dissolves when it sees the guests.

He watches the reporter freeze, mouth opening and closing as if trying to find the right words before Bruce decides to save him the trouble.

“Robin. Meet-“

“The reporter. You’re Mr. Kent right?”

That gets both his and Clark’s attention. Robin is by his side, one hand behind his back and squeezing Bruce’s cape for reassurance while the other is clenched.

He knows that look on Dick’s face. He’s trying to assemble an invisible puzzle, trying to place Clark in his world and assessing him.

Batman clears his throat.

“May we come in?”

Clark’s eyes snap to him. They knew each others identities of course, had worked together on several cases. He knows the thousand silent questions Clark was biting back right now.

But guess what? Bruce was tired. So. Very. Tired.

The door is pulled back, and they both enter, Dicks grip on the cape tightening.

“Is anyone else here.”

“No. Is there something wrong Batman?”

He looks between Clark and Robin, and sighs.

“Robin. Meet Superman.”

Clarks eyes widen, and Bruce savours the last few minutes of blissful silence before Dick processes the information.

There’s silent squealing, and Dick starts vibrating again.

“YOU’RE SUPERMAN?! OH GOLLY I ALMOST DIDN’T RECOGNISE YOU OH MY GOD SIR GOOD EVENING HOW ARE YOU WHERE’S YOUR COSTUME CAN YOU FLY-”

Clark’s eyes widen, clearly taken aback by the energetic chatter and curiosity the child has before his eyes soften and he kneels down before Dick, unbuttoning his shirt just enough for him to see the logo peeling out.

It was a playful gesture of mock secrecy, and that, Bruce notes with satisfaction, was the last straw.

Dick launches himself at the other, asking thousands of questions and rambling on and on about the stories he’s heard and begging Superman to show him his powers.

It’s clearly getting a bit too much for Clark, who takes a step back and shoots a pleading look at Bruce.

“He’s all yours. Don’t do anything stupid.”

And then Bruce leaves them both, ignoring the spluttering protests and helps himself to a glass of wine in the kitchen.

It takes less than two seconds before Superman follows him.

“Batman-“

Bruce raises a finger to motion for the other to wait, before he takes a swing of his glass. It wasn’t nearly enough to even make him feel tipsy, but the taste helped him pretend he could.

“He hasn’t slept for weeks, and he’s not listening to me. He’s been wanting to meet you though, so good luck.”

That shut him up. And if it didn’t, Bruce didn’t care. He had crossed his limit, played tennis with it and shot it into the sun before venturing so far back that he couldn’t even see it anymore.

Dick drags Superman back, latching onto his arm and demanding answers to his questions. There’s only enough time for Bruce to see the panic in Superman’s eyes before he’s gone.

Clark wouldn’t do anything to harm Dick, he tells himself as he watches Clark take off his plain clothes and don the cape. He has contingencies in place, Dick has kryptonite he’s been instructed to use just in case, and there were hidden devices locked onto their locations ready to fire at him and alert Bruce if anything.

It takes three hours of talking, flying and games of tag across the city before Dick’s eyes finally grow sleepy. The kid stubbornly refuses to admit it, and when Clark makes a comment about being tired he almost has a heart attack when Dick dives into the freezing water and then gives a thumbs up to say he’s not anymore.

Yep. Clark figures, swooping up the shivering kid before going to someplace warmer. just like his father. Too damn stubborn they might just escape fate just because of spite.

The minutes tick by, and as Superman carries Robin and flies above the city, silencing the noise and the bustle it isn’t too long before the chatter ceases, and Robin slumps.

Clark breathes a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy the boy’s company, or that they weren’t having fun. But Batman had always kept his distance, always been closed off and refused help, or even assistance when the situation was dire. Yet here he was, barging into Clark’s apartment with his child in tow.

Clark dared to hope.

Was it a sign of trust? of the beginning of an actual friendship? Or was it a test?

They silently enter his apartment just as the morning light starts to peak through the shadows, and Clark freezes.

Batman, feared protector of Gotham, cold, paranoid, vigilant batman who didn’t let anyone near him, who never showed his wounds or vulnerability, was fast asleep on his couch.

The mask was off, and the normal grimace on his face was gone, replaced by a calm, peaceful look that Clark didn’t want to disturb.

Dick mumbles in his sleep, awoken by the lack of movement and makes grabby hands towards Bruce. Clark chuckles. Bruce really did have a soft spot. Who would’ve thought?

He gently placed the kid next to Bruce, who stirs when Robin latches onto him but just grumbles before an arm protectively covers Dick and promptly falls back asleep.

They don’t acknowledge it the next day, and by the time Clark gets home from work they’re both gone, with a note from Robin demanding Superman meet them again.

Superman jokes about it years later when they partner for a case, saying that Dick saved Bruce from a lifetime of solitude and loneliness. He never expected the other man to have a fond look on his face before he agrees.

And even now, years later when Robin has now become Nightwing, the entire league at some point has seen Batman dump an overly energetic Nightwing onto Superman before leaving.

Flash even commented that it reminded him of a grumpy cat tired of her kitten and dumping it on the golden retriever to take care of it for a while.

[mylifeingotham]

[violetbumblebea]

Bruce Wayne, the world's greatest detective, seeing a picture of a man he thinks he recognizes: *draws a red smiley face on the picture* Gasp! Joker!

[skuntgod]

// THE BAT //

Had to draw a lil Robbat/Battinson for the hell of it.

[pichichu-studio]

Family tradition 🥰🥰🥰

Inspired by:

[fakeicecubes]

Reasons why the rest of the JL believes Batman and all of his children are metas/cryptids

-Weirdly good instincts

-They only see the bat and kids at night

-Hasn’t died

-If they have died, they came back within the year

-The JL has seen all of them at one point or another stay up for 96 hours straight and act semi-normally

-One time Batman was stabbed and started bleeding green(it was slime Bruce packed for kids to play with if they were at a crime scene)

-Red Robin didn’t cry while watching A Dogs Purpose for Young Justice’s movie night(he did, the mask hid his tears)

-They all know an absurd amount of Golf facts

-Somehow none of them age

-All of them are friends with a super

Wonder Women has the list and they update it after every mission.

[vivianthepigeon]

Tim: “I need to tell you something”

Bruce: “What did you do??”

Tim: “when Alfred was doing our taxes he noticed a missing check”

Bruce: “what did you do???”

Tim: “Before I answer do you trust me enough to understand that it was for a good reason and just leave it at that?”

Bruce: “What. Did. You. Do.”

Tim: “it’s all Jason’s fault! He is a BAD person, I’ve been telling you for years!”

—————

Bruce to Jason: “WHAT DID YOU DO?”

Jason: “okay now before I answer that-“

Bruce: “just tell me whatcha did”

Jason: “I got a DUI”

Bruce: “Jason!”

Jason: “it’s not as bad as it sounds”

Bruce: “How is driving drunk not bad???”

Jason: “I wasn’t exactly driving”

Bruce: “I don’t follow.”

Jason: “I was at the bar with Damian and I had a few”

Bruce: “DAMIAN?!”

—————

Damian: “With God as my witness I’ve never been to that bar in my life.”

Jason: “He knows.”

Damian: “Oh I’ve been there a bunch”

[imma-dragon53]

You’ve heard of “justice league doesn’t know Batman has kids”

Now prepare for “the Team doesn’t know Batman is Robins dad”

[litta-jpg]

missed drawing yj so muchhh

[spidertams]

some timmy sketches from some months ago!!

[confused-wanderer]

When Jason was little, he wanted to sound as intimidating as he could for Robin, and so copied Batman’s behaviour and voice, and would also imitate Dick because he was the first Robin and just so cool Jason couldn’t help look upto him as the standard (still is to a certain extent for present day Jason though he’ll never admit it).

So today, Jason can not only perfectly embody their body language so much so that if you couldn’t see his face you would think it’s them, he can also uncannily mimic their voices.

He uses this to their utmost advantage and it results in chaos every time. Just image scenarios like you’re in Gotham trying to rob houses in peace at night, you hear “Well well well something darks happening.” and of course you’re fucked but it’s Nightwing so you’re not that fucked and when you look to the source of the sound you find yourself staring down the feared crime lord Red Hood aiming a bazooka at you.

[bodyfrmabalcony]

jason's autopsy scars cause some confusion at the red hood annual pool party

[kaidatheghostdragon]

Crack prompt: Danny has declared war on the curses in Gotham. He is armed with a water balloon gun, but the balloons are full of medical-grade ectoplasm. He targets any location, ghost, or liminal being tainted by curses and/or corrupted ecto - absolutely drenching them before yeeting off again.

This includes the Bats. Danny is smart about it, though. He lived in Gotham for several months before acting, so he could get the lay of the land. He also waits for patrol to be finished before hitting the Bats - he doesn't want to interrupt their Quest to Better Gotham (or be labeled an invader to their haunt).

One night, Danny happens upon Batman patrolling alone and waits for him to finish cleaning up a crime scene before hitting they guy with a half-clip of balloons. Batman gives chase, like he always does, and Danny runs, like he always does. He knows by now that, for whatever reason, Crime Alley is off limits to Batman. The whole alley just gives off "no (other) bats allowed" vibes.

Red hood is just more territorial. Whatever.

At any rate, Danny is enjoying the chase, using just enough ghost powers to stay ahead of batman, almost-but-not-quite taunting him. Crime Alley isn't too far, so instead of turning invisible around a corner like he usually does, he makes his way to the Alley to see if the no-trasspassing rule is enough to stop Batman mid-chase. He leaps across rooftops and weaves through fire escapes, ecto-balloon-gun bouncing by its strap against his back, until finally he's at the border, slightly tapping into flight to make the jump across a slightly wider road into the alley proper.

He turns around immediately, spotting Batman skulking on the rooftop on the other side of the road, stopping the chase and suit half-covered in healing ectoplasm.

"Sanctuary!" Danny yells, pumping his fists in the air from getting caught up in the exciting rush of adrenaline, "I claim sanctuary!"

"Who the fuck is claiming sanctuary in my territory?" Red Hood booms from almost directly behind Danny. He would have yeeted out of his own skin from surprise if he hadn't spent years honing his ghost-fighting instincts. As it was, Danny instead whirled around and emptied the clip of balloons into Hood, purely out of reflex.

Hood stood there, drenched in ecto like his fellow Bat one rooftop over, glaring murder at Danny with glowing eyes. But his haunt betrayed Hood's true emotions.

Surprise, concern, impressed, you-little-brat.

Danny booked it to the fire escape and turned invisible the second he was out of sight.

[sophiasrant]

hc that no one on the JL (or any of the teams) will let bats do the heavy lifting, ever

Like one day they need to carry an unconscious Flash after a battle and someone else (who has a broken arm) is like “who is well enough that they can carry him” and Batman, ceo of ignoring his injuries™️, is like “I got this” but his mouth starts leaking blood while he’s carrying flash. Superman (who was holding up a building) x-rays him & is like “YOU HAVE THREE BROKEN RIBS AND INTERNAL BLEEDING. WHY ARE YOU CARRYING FLASH?” “…I am well enough to carry flash”

anyway this applies to all bats. Someone asks if someone else can volunteer to help them lift something and, no matter what, Kon puts his hand over Tim’s mouth bc of the broken leg incident™️. Tim will never even be allowed a chance to make a case or attempt to answer the call.

Someone asks if Robin can help to carry something and Jon immediately replies “no he can’t. I’ll do it tho.” bc Damian once tried to conduct cleanup (lifting pieces of broken buildings and concrete) post alien-invasion with a stab wound (it was multiple stab wounds but only Jon figured that out)

Someone asks nightwing if he can carry stuff to the car and all of a sudden you have eight people shouting “NO” bc he once offered to carry someone’s old 60 pound box TV to storage while he had a gunshot wound. They only learned about the gunshot wound after he fainted & the tv fell on top of him.

Jason leaves before anyone can ask him to help with anything

Edit:

Steph and Cass fight over who carries the thing for the other person, but usually neither of them volunteer. They're gone the second the battle is over. Babs never has to carry shit even if it's a loaf of bread because she goes "wow, really? have the wheelchair bound girl carry shit for you, sure" so the person stammers and she gets away with it every single time.

Duke is allowed to carry things. (Other teams have yet to find out about his injuries.) In fact, they compliment him on being responsible enough to not over-exert himself. He smiles back. (He's trying not to laugh.)

[kartsie]

I’m sick and miserable so it’s time to read all the baby batkids with their batdad I can get my hands on

[audhd-nightwing]

*introducing Grayson to the og JL (they don’t know bruce’s identity yet)*

bruce: this is my ward, robin

robin!dick: hi!!

clark: …batman, how old is robin?

dick: i’m ten! :D

diana: *frowns in concern*

bruce: …he would’ve went out on his own if I didn’t train him

clark: i’m not sure i believe that…

dick: no he’s right! i did actually go out on my own before he offered to let me work alongside him

diana, impressed: you patrolled the streets of Gotham on your own?

dick: mhm! at night, too!

clark, horrified: …i need to sit down.