Batman (2016) #36

Look its about how sometimes alfred will threaten to/talk about resigning from his job and wondering about the dynamic of how alfred would have raised bruce as an employee instead of a parent and the skewed power dynamic and how threatening to resign might have been one of the ways alfred was able to actually get bruce to listen to him and how it would have been so effective because bruce was a child who lost his parents violently and would not want to lose another and its about how this relationship shapes the way the Batman and Robin dynamic works. Does love make the most sense when its a job. Is firing robin a test to see if they love him when they dont have to or is it him proving to them he loves then when it isnt a job. I dont know what im talking about but do you see where my mind is at

Having Bruce meet his younger self is such a power move and also so fucking dickhead of every writer who ever does it because-

Thats a fucking kid

That is a child. Bruce can’t with children. He cant- he cant be cruel he can’t not reach out and try to comfort

But thats also him. Its him goddamn it and that well of self-hatred goes deep. 

Its him but its a young him, a grieving him, and goddamn it he can’t see a child in pain, and damn he reminds him of Dick and now he’s hugging his younger self but also he’s repulsed and can’t and 

Arghhh its so hard for me to articulate but but but you see what i mean right???😭 please tell me someone understands…

ok wow all hell- y'all took this post to a place i never expected- and also ouch I think y'all hurt me more than I hurt you which is not fair-!

Anywho- to clarify- yes when I originally wrote this I had full intentions of you interpreting it to be a young Bruce- as in newly orphaned, eight or nine or ten year old Bruce who is just struggling and trying to survive day by day

But then y'all started fuckin talking about older Bruce- like early twenties- and then about what age he meets his young self at- whether a dad or not yet- and ouch now you have me thinking about more- so I'm gonna rewrite this post and include allllll angles:

Bruce(age 40 or smth, has kids and dealt with the world and his self hatred is lower but never zero) with his younger self(ages 8-10ish): Bruce sees this child, kneeling alone and sobbing and mourning and he steps closer without even thinking about it, settles down, squats nearby, the way Jason liked, the way Stephanie was partial to- no forced contact- don't initiate touch, wait for them to come to you, let them know you are present and there for them- but don't crowd. And after a few moments of sniffling silence, this boy turns to him, and Bruce almost falls back because ouch. He knows this alley, of course he does, but its been more than a few years and he's lived and grieved and seen much worse and somehow nothing can compare to watching your parents get gunned down in front of you. And that's the emotion on Lil Bruce's face. He's small and whimpering, and he's missing his parents and now here is someone who is gentle and kind and weirdly familiar and he rushes Old Bruce and hugs him and Bruce can't turn this child away, can't deny him contact after so many touched starved, contactless years, and after a slow moment his hand rests on the boys back and he curls around him, and before he can stop himself he's murmuring words of reassurance, that it will get better, that he can still heal from this, that these things take time- and that he shouldn't rush his grief. Maybe, just maybe, if he can spare his younger self this, then it won't be as hard later on. If he can spare Lil Bruce the crushing, all consuming grief he never let settle, instead allowed to fester and never let consume him whole but swallow him, lodged in his throat and stomach and forever sinking it in- maybe things will be better.

Bruce(age 22 or smth, newly Batman, still living his life as a suicide mission but trying at least to help) meets this little hunched figure, Bruce, age 8-10ish, and can't breathe. Immediate and all consuming rage floods him and he can't help it. He sticks out his foot and Lil Bruce goes flying. He lands hard, face scraping against the concrete, and Bruce is fairly certain he hears a wrist snap as Lil Bruce hits pavement, a small whimper squeezing from his throat. And Batman disappears before the boy even sits up, looking around for the source, angry screams of "How fucking blind to your surroundings can you be- how weak-" echoing in his ears as all the voices of his toxic mentors and his own all consuming thoughts erupt within him. And a while later it happens again- but this Lil Bruce is running, running from the bullies, the big kids, and he slam into Older Bruce and cowers, and Bruce hates the feeling of joy that rises within him, hates how he relishes the fear on Lil Bruce's face, but the bullies are coming, and Lil Bruce ducks behind a trashcan, completely concealed because he's so small. And Bruce sits there a moment, contemplating, because he can hear the running footsteps, the smacking of those tennis shoes from those boys at school that he remembers all too well. And nothing would delight him more than to beat them the way they did him. But.. they haven't yet. And Lil Bruce screams at him, but Batman doesn't listen, not as he drags the boy, kicking and flailing from behind the dumpster and dumps him in the older boys path, whisking away on a shadow before the sounds of his younger self's screams can reach him.

Bruce, age 40ish, meets Batman, age 23ish. And the first thing he feels is sorrow. Such aching, bone deep sorrow. His younger self looks at him, sizing him up, that inflated ego still there, the hatred brimming up to the surface, and the first words out of his mouth are snide, rude. "You look old. Weak. Is this what I become?" Bruce reaches for him, and Young Bruce flinches back, but before he can argue Bruce has his windpipe crushed beneath his fingers, watching his younger selves face turn blue, and wonders where it went wrong. Where he went wrong. If he does this now... does it end his suffering? Young Bruce were years he hated and now, despite all he's overcome, can never admit to. They were... dark times. The Darkest even, which is saying a lot. But Bruce releases, steps back, as visions of black hair and blues eyes drift across his eyelids. Young Bruce wheezes and staggers backwards, eyes blown wide. Bruce doesn't know what to say. So he does what he did best then. And he flees.

Bruce, age 30ish, meets Bruce age 20ish. And Bruce has lost. He has lost so much. And he sees Bruce 20ish, just back from his tour of the world, fresh with training and no real life experience, and he sees red. He rips into the younger version, no remorse, no pulled punches, and at some point he's just hitting a punching bag, because his younger self has stopped fighting back. But Bruce can't stop- because because because- because he's sloppy and he's weak and if he can't protect himself how can he ever expect to protect Dick? To protect Jason? Younger Bruce doesn't know who all comes to rely on him- doesn't know what he is risking and it makes Bruce livid and he won't stop- can't stop- not until Bruce is limp beneath his fists, his breathing shallow, not until he is coated in his own blood, not until at least twelve bones are broken in his body, not until he can feel tears streaming down his cheeks because he had so much. And he blew it. And why doesn't his younger self understand that? Why can't he just understand? And he curls around his younger self, tucks his hair lovingly out of his face and hugs him as he cries in a pool of his own blood.

Bruce is about 40-50ish and meets himself, age 20ish. And before the younger version can flinch back or criticize or do anything, Bruce has the younger man crushed in a hug. And Bruce flinches, freezes up. He doesn't hug back. But he also doesn't fight. And it's all Bruce can ask for. "I'm sorry." He whispers, the only thing he can say. "I'm so sorry." He cannot stop or save his younger self from what he will go through. He cannot change what future awaits him, and he cannot warn against it. But he can offer this. A single moment of comfort. Of solidarity. Of genuine affection, when his younger self will have so few to look forward to. "I'm so sorry." he says, and means it with his full, heavy, guilt ridden, grieving, and healed heart. "I love you."

oh ouch that took something out of me. Have this chunk of my soul that y'all etched from my body. Uh. Thanks. I hate you. Bye. Enjoy. Ouch. I love you.

@malfiora @karmawillcollectyourdebt @themiraculousec @theoneswhotry @space-specs @itsgirlcraft @jackolo25 @cosplay-and-fandom-shit @transacespacecase @batsy-bueller @yeriminder @emperorsfoot @science-lings @daydreamerwonderkid @salparadiselost @superbattrash @sinningissuprisinglyfun @sreppub @mrsd-writes @cronusamporaofficial @sparklingpurplewaffles @astainex @figgz1 @aeturnum-mendacacium @the--firevenus @tsuku-yomi-yomi

-so i tried tagging everyone who reposted im so sorry if i didnt catch you pls tag them if you know they did and i didnt um anyway you all shot a bullet at my heart so yeah we're all in this together✌️

Having Bruce meet his younger self is such a power move and also so fucking dickhead of every writer who ever does it because-

Thats a fucking kid

That is a child. Bruce can’t with children. He cant- he cant be cruel he can’t not reach out and try to comfort

But thats also him. Its him goddamn it and that well of self-hatred goes deep. 

Its him but its a young him, a grieving him, and goddamn it he can’t see a child in pain, and damn he reminds him of Dick and now he’s hugging his younger self but also he’s repulsed and can’t and 

Arghhh its so hard for me to articulate but but but you see what i mean right???😭 please tell me someone understands…

Here are two facts:

1. That man hates himself more than anyone

That man would throw away his life without a second thought if anyone around him is in danger, there is canon material that proves he created Batman to have a "meaningful death" like his father did, that his Mission is a long winded suicide

He thinks of himself as a monster, a robot, a mask [non human]

2. He's weak to children, he always thinks the best of people but prepares for the worst–but for a child? He can't even fathom them doing anything evil (remember that one comic where a girl killed her parents and he just can't solve the case because he doesn't (want to) see the clues that point to the girl.... Yeah)

Batman was created so no other child grows up to be him

Here are two statements that Bruce holds to be True:

1. He killed his parents

If he hadn't made his parents go to the theater they wouldn't have died

If he hadn't made them leave early they wouldn't have died

If he had tracked someone down to call the police instead of standing there useless as his parents bleed out then they wouldn't have died

So yes, he killed his parents and he'll never forgive himself

2. Children will always be victims to whatever the cruel world puts them through

They never asked to be born, no, instead they are forced to face life and play all of her sick jokes

So standing in front of his younger self..... It messed him up bad

He looks at himself this child and reflexively finds himself giving comfort, holding him even if the child's hands have dried up blood (HIS PARENTS) flaking off on his suit

But he can't force himself to let go because the child is sobbing so hard it shakes his tiny (God, was he actually this small?) frame, he's just lost his whole world and keeps living, so he continues to soothe the young child

BATMAN AS: AND THE CHILD IS RIGHT

“What is it that the child has to teach?

The child naively believes that everything should be fair and everyone should be honest, that only good should prevail, that everybody should have what they want and there should be no pain or sadness.

The child believes the world should be perfect and is outraged to discover it is not.

And the child is right.”

― Tzvi Freeman, Wisdom to Heal the Earth - Meditations and Teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

Detective Comics (2016) Issue #999

The batkids, no matter how much time passes, how much trust and love and safety and security they build with their team, still will not break. Will not show any sign of weakness or grief or sorrow or pain. The only place they collapse is around Bruce, because he’s safe, because he loves unconditionally even if they don't consciously admit it, because they know he will stay. 

Nightwing gets stuck in a haunted underground tunnel system with Flash, Superboy and Viktor for two weeks. By the time they make it out, Barry hugs Hal for so long he loses feeling in his arms, Kon buries himself in Clark’s embrace and calls Lois, and even Viktor asks for Dinah to talk. They all marvel at Dick, at his ability to stay calm, to keep them all together, to remain unruffled after the massive toll. 

But then Batman arrives, harried and billowing into the room(idk plot maybe he was on a search mission with someone else for Dick) and Nightwing spins on his heel from the opposite side of the room, and beelines for his arms. 

Bruce scoops him up bridal style and carries him to the Zeta Tubes and no one hears from them for three days. 

Dick breaks the second they breach the Batcave and its all Bruce can do to hold him and brush his hair and whisper “i love you you’re safe you’re home baby you’re home” to keep himself from crumbling as his adult baby boy son cries in his arms and won’t let go. 

“You didn't even break a sweat!” Barry laughs in awed disbelief, thumping him lightly in the side with an affectionate grin, and suddenly Dick’s forced smile twinges a little, because, sure, in the moment he hadn’t broken a sweat, yeah. But he had also spent the last three days with a fever above 100 due to the mental and emotional strain of staying composed and strong and also hadn't been able to sleep unless he was curled in Bruce’s arms.

Can’t risk it

The duck of creativity. I waited so long for it.

oops

im not risking it

Beware of the great duckie 🤐

I’m already having writer’s block, maybe this’ll help me out lol

I HAVE SO MUCH TO FINISH

Definitely not risking it 😱

ALL HAIL THE DUCK OF CREATIVITY!!!

XD

I need the motivation

I’m in desperate need.

Love me a good ol duck

i have art block p l e a s e

please my writers block is making me suffer

:C

I really need the motivation ;<;

Oh look, it did work

Yes it did

O Duck of Creativity, deliver unto me ideas for my unfinished writing projects

Bruce tried to avenge Jason, not Dick

This is just a rant about a lil thing that keeps coming up in fics I read. Often, Dick is "forgiven" by Jason because he "avenged Jason" by killing the Joker and Bruce "ruined it". Or Dick is written to have tried to kill the Joker after Jason's death but not Bruce, and Bruce may have tried to stop him.

First of, Dick did not try to avenge Jason. Y'all really want him to be okay with killing and ready to kill to avenge his loved ones, but Dick is better than Bruce, and that also means he is less likely to cross the line. No, Dick did not want to kill Zucco (Apart from the Titans show, but this show's characterization is awful), and no, he did not want the Joker dead. When Dick killed the Joker, it was in a moment of rage because Tim was in danger. He did not plan it and he immediately regret it. Bruce, with the help of HELENA who is fine killing people, brought the Joker back to life for Dick, because it would have broken him. And Dick still hates himself afterward, for killing the Joker even tho he is alive. And, again, he did not do it for Jason.

And, sure, you can have your hc, but the moment they are in conflict with who the character is (Dick is disgusted by the idea of being a murderer, killing someone or letting someone be killed, even the murderer of his brother), then we are going to have a problem.

Now, about Bruce. Upon discovering Jason's body, Bruce was settled on avenging him. It's why he took away every evidence, so he would not have anyone interfere between him and the Joker. He spent the days following Jason's death, and then Jason's funerals, looking for the Joker to kill him. He refused to call Dick because he did not want him to interfere, he was only thinking about his revenge and did not think the emotional importance of telling Dick about Jason.

The man is not thinking straight. And when he thinks he found where the Joker may be, Superman shows up, telling him that a Gotham's criminal is now under diplomatic immunity and the US gov doesn't want Batman being a bitch about it. And Bruce punches Clark in the face. That's how fucking unstable he is at this point, punching Clark without kryptonite because he is standing between him and killing the Joker.

Clark learns the Joker killed Jason, and he tries to make Bruce accepts to only kill the Joker, the only justice Bruce is accepting at this point, once he isn't a diplomat. YES, SUPERMAN DID NOT STOP BRUCE. Batman nearly succeeds in killing the Joker, but the helicopter they are in is going down, so Superman saves him. Bruce, the fucking madman he is, obsessed over bringing justice to his boy, doesn't care about his safety, he wants the Joker's body! And when it isn't found, he isn't satisfied but accepts to go home.

The Joker will come back at least a year later, and with some ptsd from his last encounter with the Bat and escaping death. Bruce, doing better mentally now that he has a new child to take care of (which he sends with his whole class to Japan to protect), is afraid he will kill the Joker. He keeps bringing up to Alfred how much he wants to kill him for TAKING JASON FROM HIM. But Alfred reminds Bruce again and again that he is a good man and he will resist. He does. This was not the last time Bruce faced the Joker after Jason's death and thought about killing him for Jason.

And, let me be clear, I do not expect Jason to know Bruce did that. The only people who know he did that are Clark, Alfred and Bruce himself (who will probably never tell Jason himself what he did). And maybe Dick, if you want to think (like me) that Bruce sat down with him (way later, after Tim is in the picture so Bruce is better mentally) and explained his mental state when Jason died, and how he didn't tell him not because he was trying to push Dick away, but because he was obsessed with killing the Joker he wasn't thinking rationally about his decisions; not to excuse his actions but to explain how it happened.

Dick is better than Bruce, which is why he grieved Jason surrounded by his friends, people that would support him and listen to him. He did not went on a vengeance mission because he had a support system. Was he mad? Yes, but he tried to open about it to others (the Titans, Koriand'r who was his gf,...) Bruce, on the other hand, is one unhealthy mf that immediately isolated himself once Jason died. He stayed in the cave and dedicated himself only to work, taking all his emotions out on beating people up because he was sharing it. And when people tried to talk to him, he would explode the moment they say anything that he could interpret badly (Clark telling him the Joker has immunity, Dick blaming Bruce for Jason's death...) This is why Bruce tried to avenge Jason and then went out every night being extremely violent and suicidal, and not Dick.

Dick did not avenge Jason and he did not try to, but that doesn't make him a bad brother. He cared deeply about Jason's death, but he is not Bruce, he is better, and that means he is also better at handling grief and not become a self-destructive bomb like Bruce was.

Avenging our loved ones is, in Batman & co's comics, demonstrated to not be the healthy way to deal with grief. Revenge isn't the healthy way to deal with lost, it will only lead to more destruction and pain. It will not bring the dead back, it will only add more bodies in the ground, and it will not heal the wounds.

of course Dick is a universal donor. Of course he is. It's about the metaphor, you see. You can give everything you are and everything you have to the cause and even after you've given everything you have, you still have the very blood running through your veins left to give! Dan Watters when I catch you!!!!

If Batman/Nightwing: Bloodborne still happened in the current continuity, this would imply that Bruce is also O-. Which is somewhat further supported by Bruce receiving an O- transfusion in Batman Annual #3. Meaning they can both give blood to anyone, but can only receive blood from each other.

“they can both give blood to anyone but only receive blood from each other” this is so beautiful. im like. seeing the implications of this across everything like. they both give everyone else everything -- they dedicate their lives to helping other people, they give and they give and they give. even their blood types are representative of how capable they are of endlessly giving. but, in the end, all you has to sustain yourself... to save yourself... is what he gave you….. now im thinking so hard about bloodbourne + that one line that dick has somewhere which is like "all i have now is what he gave me" that i can't place. someone help.

There does seem to be a lack of understanding of what actually like... happened in the transfusion in Bloodborne. Dick didn't just give half his blood supply to Bruce, if that was the case they wouldn't have been talking about him being exposed to the virus and would instead be talking about how that's losing too much blood. What he did was circulate both of their blood between them, so that for a minute there they were essentially just one giant circulatory system between two bodies.

And this is why if Dick is type O-, Bruce would also have to be O-. While any type can receive O-, O- can only receive O-. If Bruce was any type other than O-, receiving Bruce's blood could just as easily have killed Dick.

^^^^^ my feelings exactly about this

POV: You live in the Athenide world and you searched for “Perse” on Wikipedia

Perse Athenide, goddess of loyalty

Perseis, wife of Helios

Perses, son of Krios

Perses, son of Helios

Perses, brother of Hesiod

Perses, son of Perseus

Perseus, son of Zeus

Perseus, son of Nestor

Perseides, descendants of Perseus

Persephone, wife of Hades

Perse, Italian olive oil brand

Perse’s, famous pizzeria in Brooklyn, NYC

Perse's is an accidental temple (to Perse), by the way. Demigods are attracted to it like moths to a flame.

Monsters can’t enter either. The workers are properly paid for their labour. The food is excellent. The owners are surprisingly good people.

Except they CAN enter, but not with the intention of harming demigods. Like they literally cannot harm them physically. The moment they get such a thought they are blaster out of the door.

The workers on the restaurant are really confused on WHY people just be entering their establishment and then leaving after tripping very dramatically on their own feet

It would be Tyson's favorite restaurant :] it's probably like a safe haven for him too

Batman Absolute wants us to understand that "The Batman" is an elaborate suicide attempt.

Batman does not have a retirement plan.

[ @basalting’s tags are an insanity-inducing contagion that needs to be spread, actually]

"Truth is, I'm not such a fan of myself."

Enough (2018). Batman: Secret Files, Issue #1.

Going to throw up.

Forever Evil #6 and Batman/Nightwing: Bloodborne