“Bruuuuuce,” Dick whined, smacking a howling Robin again. “I’m an adult. I can make my own cosmetic decisions.”
“Your decisions are bad,” Bruce said bluntly. “Keep the eyeliner, ditch the hair.”
“...my mask is on. How’d you know I was wearing eyeliner?”
“I’m the world’s greatest fucking detective.”
Jason dropped to the floor, tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. Dick pouted, shooting a glare down and taking a step back. “How about you insult him?”
“I’m not insulting anyone. I adore you and despise your trashy fashion sense. Jason is a delight and he always looks fine.”
“Edward Nygma is the best damn Rogue I’ve got and I don’t care who knows it. His sense of style-- the commitment, the panache.” His expression went mournful and he slumped back into his chair. “Why couldn’t you be more like Edward, son?”
“Bruce, he’s a supervillain!” Dick’s voice edged upwards and Jason, who had just about gotten his laughter under control broke down again.
“He’s brilliant and misunderstood and all he wants is attention.” Bruce countered. “He hardly ever hurts anyone. Sure, he gets over excited, but my G-d, the mind on that man. One day, he’s going to be rehabilitated and we’re going to be best friends.”
“Best friends?” Jason’s voice was edging towards hysterical, a full octave higher than normal.
“He’s the worst clown!” Bruce snapped, throwing his arms up. “He’s not even good at crime! All he knows is smash ‘em up jobs and grinning at people until they back down. Even his whole ‘half the crimes are silly, half are deadly’ shtick doesn’t pan out, because he is predictable. All you have to do is think ‘if I were an idiot in clownface with all edge and no point, what’s the edgiest, the fucking assholeriest, the most ‘oh I’m so dangerous’ stunt I could do?’ and then go there, because that’s where he is!
“He’s too good. It’s disgusting. He says ‘golly’ unironically, he ‘opes’ inanimate objects, he drinks powdered coffee, and his ass is flatter than the stupid Kansas grassland he grew up in. How does a man like that have such a terrible ass? He has no right.”
Jason, already giggling, howled at the scandalized look on Dick’s face. “Bruce, you can’t say that!”
“It’s true.” His face flushed darker and he slapped a hand on the arm of his chair.