Violetbumblebea - Bumbling Around

Alfred, entering the Cave with a tray of pills: are you certain you won’t need pain relief tonight, sir?

Bruce, swathed in bandages and in the middle of a handstand: Ra’s taught me how to meditate the pain away, Alfred. I just need to keep moving, and I can bear it.

Alfred: certainly, sir. in other, entirely unrelated news, Master Richard has declined to take his pain medication either—

Bruce, nearly falling out of his handstand: you bring those back to him RIGHT NOW and tell him he’s not allowed on patrol tomorrow if he doesn’t take them. non-negotiable. do you understand?

Are YOU keeping your chicks warm through the winter? Why we should take notes from Bats on childcare

one night in Gotham, there’s some sort of disruption, strange magic, or curse. all of the Batkids go down and come back up with powers that reflect their vigilante personas in some way. Dick can fly, Jason has super strength, Tim can read minds nearby, etc. they freak out, try out the powers a little, and decide to return home early from patrol because Bruce is gonna be pissed, right? he’s going to want to figure this out and study it. Duke is laughing his ass off all the way home (he got called for backup while they were processing) and enjoying a boost to his own powers.

they get home and Bruce isn’t in the Cave. he’s not in the Manor, and Alfred doesn’t know where he went. Duke gets a hit on the distant grounds, out by the lake. It’s Bruce, but not Bruce. whatever strange kickback of magic/power that gave them their new abilities is nothing compared to this.

Gotham has possessed Bruce, in every single way possible. he’s perched on a cliff overlooking Gotham, dressed only in sweatpants, uncaring of the cold. his eyes are sunken pits into Gotham’s foundations. his teeth are the gleam of bone. he is so beautiful and so terrible, all at once.

their new abilities, these powers, are a boon. they’ll take back Gotham from the night, as he foot soldiers. but they will never have Bruce — Bruce — ever again. that is the price.

Bruce: who are you? A new crime lord?

Jason: *takes off his helmet*

Bruce: *squints suspiciously* a new crime lord who looks like a grown up version of my dead son?

Jason: *sighs in annoyance and forces a bright smile*

Bruce: JASON THE NEW CRIME LORD???