a nosy socialite at an event, leaning down: “Oh Richard, it must be so hard for you in that house, what with Bruce’s…proclivities for nighttime guests.”
Dick Grayson, fully aware at age 13 that Bruce Wayne is a Loser™ whose only “nighttime guest” is Clark Kent, who comes over to “review cases” with Bruce before/after patrol while both of them awkwardly ignore any and all tension between them: “Something like that.”
Thinking more about the rumour if how Bruce Wayne acquired his two eldest boys because they both are carbon copies of him and everybody at first thinks that Bruce fathered them with the same woman on the side but for some reason didn't marry her or couldn't for some reason but then...
Then Superman flies into Gotham to rescue Bruce and the kids. And everybody is like, "wait a damn minute" because while Dick and Jason are copies of Bruce, they do sort of look like... And Superman is very intimate with them, hugging Dick and crouching down to talk to twelve year old Jason who looks a little wary and then there's Bruce. There's Bruce, who is smiling, not that ghastly social smile or that flirty smile but something real, and he looks so comfortable around Supes and... Did Superman just brush something off Bruce's Wayne face? Immediately rumours start spreading and Gotham has a new reason to loathe Big Blue from Metropolis:
#Gotham looked at Superman and Bruce Wayne and really said yup that man carried and birthed those babies#Gothamites chucking stuff at Superman yelling: pay your child support and visit your kids#Bruce does it for the bit#Jason changed out of his Robin costume for that bit#Clark eventually has to start showing up to events as superman to beat the deadbeat baby daddy allegations#But then people see Tim Drake and Cass Cain with Supes and Bruce and get mad all over again
Imagine this starts before they form the Justice League. What will the other heroes think? Ollie will give Superman so much shit because that Brucie was his childhood friend and he deserves better. Diana is so disappointed.
(I'm unsure how the others would react.)
I’ve been laughing at “fuck this lemon you take it” for several minutes
Everyone's all "ohhh 2026 bring back physical media" until I start talking illuminated manuscripts and then suddenly we're not on the same page anymore
I made an illuminated manuscript skin for AO3? So im doing my part!
Of course I switched my Ao3 skins to this.
superbat week 2025 day 2: fake/pretend relationship (continuation of this piece from superbat week last year!!)
I’m feeling in the mood for Bruce whump so the concept of Bruce completely stopping fighting his kids back… well written he usually only goes in the defensive when they attack him but one day it reaches a point where he just gets sick of it and stops fighting back altogether.
Picture one day in the cave, some or the other problem has been happening. The blame gets thrown around until it lands on Bruce, as it always does. One of the older kids is yelling, as is the norm in the fallout of these things and they go up to Bruce and push him in their anger. Bruce stays rooted on the spot but doesn’t raise his arms to fight back, quietly watching, eyes hidden behind his cowl lenses.
This only makes the kid angrier and eventually they throw a punch, expecting him to deflect or dodge. He doesn’t. His nose is dripping blood onto his suit but he doesn’t acknowledge it, doesn’t react beyond a minuscule flinch and a slightly forceful exhale at the pain. They keep yelling for him to fight back, pushing further and further to get him to react, something, but he just stands there and takes it. The cave is eerily quiet when the kid starts calming down, realising they had just beaten on a man who hadn’t defended himself even once. Bruce doesn’t say a word, just walks over to the medbay and starts treating his wounds, efficiently as ever.
This keeps repeating, it doesn’t matter which state of mind they’re in, he refuses to fight back. It reaches a tipping point when he almost dies due to refusing to defend himself when a brainwashed kid was sent to kill him.
After a while, it actually changes things. His kids start trying civilly solve issues before they resort to violence, even amongst themselves. It only took a few more scars and bruises on his already heavily scarred body, that’s a sacrifice he was more than happy to make.
I couldn't resist, so here a mini idea from me...
Bruce wasn't sure what had happened this time. There had been injuries, Tim was among them, and Dick was furious. Furious with him (nothing new).
Because Bruce hadn't been careful.
Because he hadn't been fast enough. Because he hadn't acted.
(He'd done everything he could, but it wasn't enough.)
And now, Dick was furious.
"You almost got us killed out there," the boy shouted, all righteous fury and spite, "Do you even think we were there, or are you happy to sacrifice us for your mission?"
(He could never sacrifice one of his own children, but that didn't mean much when he'd already buried three, did it?)
He didn't answer. Because Dick was right. What was the point of arguing? In the end, it was still his fault. That was fine. He could live with it. But then, seeing that he wasn't reacting, Dick resolved to deal with things as usual, and prepared to strike.
Bruce was ready (when will he stop disappointing them all?)
But the punch never landed. Superman had blocked Nightwing's wrist. "Your brother's not going to get better by blaming him," the alien said, calmly, in contrast to Dick's stormy exterior. "Especially when it's not his fault."
"It's not his fault? He was in charge of the mission..."
"And Red Robin chose to pursue another plan, ignoring Batman. How is it Batman's fault he ended up getting hurt?"
Dick froze. "He should have stopped him."
"He tried. Red Robin didn't listen. How is it his fault?"
"He..."
"He did what he had to to help you, and instead of taking responsibility, you put it all on him." Superman's tone was much less calm now, his eyes red, "You're not kids, Nightwing. You know there are consequences. And you should stop looking for blame elsewhere when Batman is doing his best. Can you say the same?"
Now with a complete fanfiction @loonstar4477 @whatalovelydaytodie @imsorrybruce
Put my heart on the line, but it never seems to work
Summary:
"Do you even think we were there, or are you happy to sacrifice us to save Earth?”
No, of course not. Bruce could never do that. He'd burn the Earth to the ground if it meant keeping them warm. He'd already gone so far as to do something unforgivable once to protect Damian, gone to Hell and back, collaborated with the damned Lex Luthor.
There was little he wasn't willing to do for them. But it didn't matter in the end, did it?
It didn't matter because he was the reason they lived in constant danger. It didn't matter because it was his fault they were there, and Dick knew it, and always reminded him.
Bruce had the blood of his children on his hands, and he could never do enough.
He wasn't good enough. So, he didn't answer. What was the point of arguing?
But then, seeing that he wasn't reacting, Dick resolved to deal with things as usual, and prepared to strike.
But the punch never landed. Superman had blocked Nightwing's wrist, eyes glowing red
"Your brother's not going to get better by blaming him," the alien said, calmly, in contrast to Dick's stormy exterior. "Especially when it's not Batman's fault."
Kal-El’s spacecraft crash-landed on Earth in the heart of a bustling city. Confused and disoriented, Kal-El emerged from the wreckage and discovered that he had incredible powers under Earth's yellow sun. However, he had no control over his newfound abilities.
As Kal-El ventured through the city, he inadvertently caused chaos and destruction wherever he went. His superhuman strength damaged buildings and his accidental laser vision ignited fires. Despite his attempts to communicate his peaceful intentions, the city's people feared him and fled. Some even shot pellet-like objects at him, which didn't hurt but weren't welcoming either. Kal-El felt disheartened.
Amidst the chaos, a black creature resembling an eight-legged cat from his home planet (though this one walked on two legs) fearlessly approached him. Kal-El perked up, as he absolutely loved cats. His eyes sparkled in delight as he petted the creature's head, scratched behind its pointy ears, and cooed at it.
The cute creature looked unamused, but it put away the sharp object in its hand, made some growly sounds, and stomped off. It didn't seem hostile, so Kal-El decided to follow it. Along the way, he tried to pick it up for a cuddle, but the creature struggled so much that Kal-El had to put it down to prevent any harm. He did manage to land a kiss on top of its head, though.
And that’s how Kal-El met his first Earthling friend.
The tags are amazing
