It’not who I am underneath, but what I do.

I have one power: I never give up.

[amazingflyingdick]

gothamcity-knight:

“I’m not bending and lifting right now,” Is all he said, giving Dick a flat look to hopefully stave off a lecture he felt sure was coming. When he didn’t, he relaxed and just bent over to open the box with a soft groan. It was easier to pull out each item than it would be to lift the whole box. “Don’t embarrass him about it. It’s new. Jon is a good kid,” As much as Bruce weirdly hated to admit it, Jon would probably be a good influence on Damian who was, on the whole, a good kid, but rebellious. He had raised him that way. He could only blame himself. “He does, he and Roy have Roy’s little girl now. Lian. She’s a toddler, very cute.” He shrugs, looking over at Dick. “Have you seen him? He’d appreciate it if you stopped by… in his own way.” He agreed.

Dick couldn’t help a wince when he saw Bruce bending over. “Here, just… sit on the floor and hand me the things in the box. You’re going to pull something and then I’ll have to rush you to the ER and Alfred will show up and give us both that look he gets when he’s disappointed.” It was probably the worst look to ever get.

“I’m not going to embarrass him.” He gave Bruce a look. “I’m glad he has someone to bond with.” It was difficult for Damian to relax around anyone, although Dick had seen a different side to him that not many people were privy to. “Besides, I like Jon. Haven’t seen him in a while, though. How is he?”

Pausing, he nodded slightly as he tossed a few pieces of silverware into a drawer. “Yeah. He came to the station. Surprised me a little… but you know him. That’s a big step.”

[gothamcity-knight]

“I’m not going to sit on the floor like a child and hand you things. It’s alright. I’m alright. Just sore. Don’t worry,” he says shaking his head but he does smirk a little. “Yeah well it’s been forty some years— you get immune-ish eventually,” he jokes.

“I just mean he’s sensitive about it. We don’t talk about it,” He chuckles a little and shrugs. “Seems fine. Clark is nowhere to be found but he and Lois seem good. He’s a good kid you know? Straight laced. Probably a good match for Damian if he wants.” Bruce wasn’t one of those parents who butted in in that way. He wasn’t planning their wedding or meddling — he would just let it be.

“Yeah Uh— And it went okay?” He asks standing and looking over at Dick. He hoped Dick knew what he meant— Jason’s temper wasn’t just reserved for Bruce.

[gothamcitylazarus]

gothamcity-knight:

Bruce got up and started a pot of coffee, after sniffing the old one to make sure it was indeed old. “What do you mean as I can tell?” He asks, pressing the button to start the drip. He turned toward Jason, quirking an eyebrow.

“Is she alive? Well? And now sleeping? That seems pretty great to me. Sometimes kids are frustrating, It’s why they’re cute and pudgy, because if they weren’t, no one would deal with their shit,” Bruce shrugs. “Not that you’re asking for parenting advice from me, but you’re allowed me be annoyed or frustrated, doesn’t mean you’re bad at it.”

Jason shrugged. “I mean, it’s pretty clear that I’m not really cut out for this stuff. I haven’t had many role models.” He paused. “Not to be a dig at you, but it’s just like—I don’t know who the fuck gave me the right to be a dad, you know?” Jason snorted softly, shaking his head. “Yeah, I guess you’re right, but it’s not like it makes me feel very good.” He leaned forward against the counter, rubbing a hand over his face. “What’s going on with you?”

[gothamcity-knight]

“I won’t play defense to your character here but, you’re doing a great job,” He all he planned to say on the matter. He went looking for coffee mugs, only pausing briefly at Jason’s words. They stung even if he didn’t mean them too. But he was right. Bruce just shrugged and schooled his demeanor into something unbothered. “It’s just something you try and do your best at. There’s no master list of things that have to get done. Try and be better than you were a while back, you know?” He says as he sets two cups down on the counter.

“Me? Nothing out of the norm,” Well that was kind of a lie. “Mera, Ollie and Zee approached me about a team.” He says, crossing his arms over his chest.

[gothamcity-knight]

amazingflyingdick:

“Fine, but don’t make me get one of those vibrating ones. I hate those. A regular old toothbrush is just as good and it’s like one tenth the price.” Dick had to laugh when he saw Bruce pushing a box into the kitchen with his feet. “It’s not that heavy, unless, you know, you have an injury that prevents you from heavy lifting.” He gave Bruce a look, but he wasn’t going to lecture him. He knew that Bruce was going to do what he wanted to do. 

Shrugging, he tore open another box. “He’d be good at your job. Admit it. Tim’s more like you than any of us.” He had a lot of faith in Tim - he always had - and had no doubt that he’d be successful with the new group he was putting together. “Ohhh, Damian. I’ll have to ask him about that.” His relationship with Damian was different. They were close. Well, as close as anyone could be with Damian.

Dick laughed. “Better than Officer Boyscout.” He paused, pulling out a few police manuals. “You know Jay. He always goes his own way.” That wasn’t to say Jason wouldn’t pop up if he were needed, but even that couldn’t be counted upon. “I don’t mean it as a bad thing. He has a family to think about.”

“I’m not bending and lifting right now,” Is all he said, giving Dick a flat look to hopefully stave off a lecture he felt sure was coming. When he didn’t, he relaxed and just bent over to open the box with a soft groan. It was easier to pull out each item than it would be to lift the whole box. “Don’t embarrass him about it. It’s new. Jon is a good kid,” As much as Bruce weirdly hated to admit it, Jon would probably be a good influence on Damian who was, on the whole, a good kid, but rebellious. He had raised him that way. He could only blame himself. “He does, he and Roy have Roy’s little girl now. Lian. She’s a toddler, very cute.” He shrugs, looking over at Dick. “Have you seen him? He’d appreciate it if you stopped by… in his own way.” He agreed.

[gothamcity-knight]

gothamcitylazarus:

Jason narrowed his eyes at Bruce. “Don’t even make that joke right now,” he replied, shaking his head. Jason, while a good father, was crap at doing it on his own if only because he felt like he was constantly felt like he was being tugged in multiple directions, all to the whims of a tantrum-prone toddler. It was exhausting—but he wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Sitting at one of the stools in front of their counter island, Jason pushed both his hands through his hair, shoving it out of his face—he really did need a haircut, but he was too busy and too lazy to deal with that. “Roy had to go into work so I’m here with her on me own. And, as you can tell, I’m not great at that.”

Bruce got up and started a pot of coffee, after sniffing the old one to make sure it was indeed old. “What do you mean as I can tell?” He asks, pressing the button to start the drip. He turned toward Jason, quirking an eyebrow.

“Is she alive? Well? And now sleeping? That seems pretty great to me. Sometimes kids are frustrating, It’s why they’re cute and pudgy, because if they weren’t, no one would deal with their shit,” Bruce shrugs. “Not that you’re asking for parenting advice from me, but you’re allowed me be annoyed or frustrated, doesn’t mean you’re bad at it.”

[gothamcity-knight]

bats-orphan:

Cass just shook her head at Bruce’s antics, a small blush rising to her cheeks as surrounding customers looked over at their table. She just ducked her head, staring down at her toes as she felt the eyes roam over her and eventually back to their own lunches. 

“I like the idea.” Cass reiterated as she took another bite, “And I don’t … mind Damien’s opinions or putting him in his place. He is … just violent.” At Bruce’s following question, she smiled. “Not long…I plan on staying.”

“He’s getting better with age,” Bruce says with a nod as he wipes his mouth, picking up his cup and takes a deep sip from it. “He’s more even-tempered these days,” Kind of… “And what are you doing while you’re here? Working? School? Catch me up.” Bruce says with a small smile. He was trying to be better.  He was trying to be more involved.

[whatever-baywatch]

Diana: Good job today Jason.

Jason: Thanks, mom.

*everyone turns to look at Jason*

Jason: Why is everyone staring at me?

Dick: You just called Diana “mom.” You said “thanks, mom.”

Jason: What? No, I didn’t. I said, “you’re the bomb.”

Diana: Do you see me as a mother figure Jason?

Jason: No. If anything I see you as a smother figure, cause you’re always smothering me.

Dick: Hey, show your mother some respect!

Jason: I didn’t call her mom!

Diana: Do you want to talk about it while we fight some bad guys?

Jason: …yes.

BONUS

Bruce: You don’t even call me dad???

[wndwmn]

[ @gothamcitylazarus ] [ @gothamcity-knight ] [ @amazingflyingdick ]

[justiceleague]

[wndwmn]

{ @gothamcity-knight }

[quarian]

[batmantas]

-trixiefirecracker:

Apparently this distresses Batman greatly.

[missharleenfquinzel]

He’s jealous he can’t pirouette like that. 

[propertyofjoker]

[ @gothamcity-knight ]

[gothamcity-knight]

zeezatanna:

ZATANNA: I don’t like any of this. I want to go too, but, I don’t know, I can’t give up, even though we’re going in circles. How’s babysitting Ted as he fixes the generator going? Has he made any progre- [A little gasp escapes her as she hears the telltale sounds of fighting, going quiet so he can focus until he speaks again.] I’m not helping anyone right now. Wait… [There’s an odd sound of distortion as she casts a spell on her end, the magic fritzing technology as it tended to, before it clears up again. She waits until it’s quiet on both sides to speak, her voice even but genuine.] I can’t help but worry. How about you be safe? I know I’ll be safe. We haven’t even run into that many and they’re… not a problem, not for us. No one powered yet.

BRUCE: Ted doesn’t really need baby sitting as much as he seems like a child sometimes. He’s doing a good job, not that I really doubted him. It’s going fine. Only a few people have meandered into her. I just want him to finish so I can get out of here, go do something useful. The second he does — ah. Speak of the fucking devil. It’s done, generator back up. [Bruce pauses at the crackling sound in his ear. It was clear he was running now, the sounds were louder, he was closer to the action.] What was that for? And I’m always fine, aren’t I?

[gothamcity-knight]

zeezatanna:

@gothamcity-knight

Zatanna: I hate riddles. I fucking hate riddles. Magic is over-goddamn-inundated with riddles and I hate them and I’m out of practice and I can’t even track this asshole arms dealer because apparently I’m useless at the thing I volunteered for and I- [Her voice hitches as she stops suddenly, nothing traveling over the coms unit as she tries to calm herself. When she speaks again her voice is soft, and terribly worried.] Are you okay, B? How are things on your end?

BRUCE: What are you complaining about? [Bruce adjusts his ear piece to hear her more clearly] the riddles? Yeah. I want to go to the gazette, I’m worried about them but I can’t leave Ted and Mera here alone, it’s [He grunts, as someone engages him in combat.] You’re not useless, stop. Who is that helping? Not you.  [He heaves a heavy sigh as he drags someone toward the entrance o f the jail, letting SCPD deal with him now] Hey Z, I’m alright. Don’t worry about me, okay? Just -- make sure you get out of this safe.

[hellabatfam]

(Dick’s first year as Robin)

Bruce: Hey Dick, can I ask you a question?

Dick: Of course Batman!

Bruce: Why are we laying on the ground?

Dick: Well you were knocked out by some bad guys, so I laid down next to you so people would just think we’re chilling.

Bruce: Dick, we’re in an abandoned warehouse.

[amazingflyingdick]

[ @gothamcity-knight ]

[galgadotssss-deactivated2016071]

[queen-of-atlantis]

[ @ollicqveen @gothamcity-knight ]

[gothamcity-knight]

gothamcitylazarus:

Jason was frazzled, to say the least. It was his one day off—the day that Roy, of course, had to go into the office—and he was stuck with an overtired, tantrum-prone little girl who had spent the better part of the afternoon shrieking. When Jason finally got her down for a nap, he felt like it was his turn for the nap, too, but instead, he opened the door to find Bruce there. Hopefully, whatever conversation ensued didn’t drain him of the last of his energy. He raised a hand to press a finger to his lips. “If you wake up Lian, you are never allowed back here,” he said, moving aside to let Bruce in. “I was just going to make some coffee, you want some?”

“Damn there goes my plans to bang pots and pans together,” Bruce shrugs. “I won’t wake up Lian,” He looks Jason over. “Why don’t you sit and I’ll make some coffee, you look beat,” He said, thrusting the basket at Jason’s chest and stepping in after him, closing the door very quietly behind him, turning the handle and using both hands to cushion the sound. “Where’s Roy? Do you have her alone today?” He asks as he follows Jason into the kitchen. Not that Jason couldn’t handle it, Bruce had every faith he could just, well, he looked like he was on the losing end of a very temperamental two-year-old and Bruce had to assume there was a little truth to that.

[gothamcity-knight]

amazingflyingdick:

“I could’ve sworn I packed it. I’ll probably find it in three weeks or something, but for right now? Teeth feel grimy.” Dick winced. “I think I manage to be a mid to low average adult. Subpar is a bit harsh.” Grinning, he ripped the tape off one of the boxes he had in the kitchen. “But I did throw out all my dishes just so I wouldn’t have to pack them.”

It seemed like just yesterday that Tim had started school at all. “Of course, yeah, tell Al to let me know when it is. Time flies. Sometimes i forgot that Tim isn’t… you know, fifteen.” The time he’d spent away had made him temporarily lose touch with everyone, but he’d never cared any less or stopped thinking about them. “…Tim’s dating Jon? Really? He didn’t mention that.” 

Dick nodded. “Yeah, I’ve seen what’s been going on in the news. Figured you guys could use my expertise,” he said jokingly, sitting backwards in one of his dining room chairs and folding his arms over the back of it. Some of his light demeanor faded and he tapped his fingers against one of the rungs. “I’m back on patrol. I’ll keep an eye on them… as much as I can, anyway. Tim and Damian are good at what they do, Bruce. They’ll do fine. And Jay… well, he’s got his own life.”

“We’ll get you a new damn toothbrush,” Bruce shakes his head in exasperation. “Subpar. I said what I said, and you heard me,” Bruce smirks, copying the motion and opening another box, pushing it to the kitchen so he doesn’t have to pick it up. “Jesus Dick, come on,” He groans. “I will pass it along, but also you can tell Al to let you know, cut out the middle old man,” He nods. “Nope, he’s not fifteen. He’s gunning for my job,” He deadpans. “No! No, no, Damian is dating Jon. Tim is — well I don’t know what Tim is doing in that department, he isn’t exactly the most forthcoming with that sort of information,” and it wasn’t like Bruce to ask, really.

“We were doing fine without you, Officer Bigshot,” He scoffs. But Bruce was glad Dick was here. At the end of the day, he was dependable — someone Bruce could count on. “I know you will,” Bruce straights up, looking at Dick, an eyebrow arched. “Why do you say it like that? About Jason?”

[gothamcity-knight]

bats-orphan:

Cass’s smile got larger at Bruce’s good-natured comment. With a spark of playfulness in her eyes, she picked up her sandwich and took a large bite looking pointedly at him. She chewed laboriously because of the enormous mouthful but refused to let any regret of the decision show on her face. Once Cass was able to get down most of the food, she responded, “Sounds…fun, but might end in fight. Damian doesn’t like being…wrong in opinion.” 

Bruce just pursed his lips against a smirk and quirked an eyebrow, “If you’re picking up the tab, say nothing,” He says as she chews. “Waiter! She’s getting the tab!” He says loudly, but to no one really. “What’s there to be wrong about when everyone wins and we all get food and Al doesn’t have to cook?” He shrugs. “Seems like a win to me. And Damian is just a boy, surely you don’t mind his opinions? And if he’s a jerk, since when are you afraid to put him in his place?” Bruce asks as he picks up his burger, taking a bite. “How long have you been in town?”

[gothamcity-knight]

wndwmn:

“I think it might be the other way around.” Diana retorted playfully, though her smile faded into a look of concern when he continued to speak, and she had to look down at her feet, as if she knew what he was saying was true. But it couldn’t be; they could save the world, maybe not today, but tomorrow. “We have to try.” She shook her head, frowning, “If you want to sit out, you know you can tell me. I at least won’t judge you for that.”

“I’m not sure we do, Diana. Not all of us are Amazons, or gods, or whatever else. Some of us are human and we fight for what is right — always, and in some ways that is fighting for the world, but sometimes you have to start small before you cant think big,” Bruce shrugs. The city was in so much peril it was hard to think of the world outside of it. Sure he watched the news, but beyond that — in a much more personal way, it felt like the fight was here. “So said anything about sitting out?” He asks, his eyebrows knitting together, face pinched in annoyance. “I never said I was sitting out, I’m just being realistic, or did you forget I was the one charged with that usually?”

[gothamcity-knight]

ollicqveen:

“That’s good to hear. I need your validation so badly, Bruce,” he joked. “Please, won’t you tell me that I’m marginally better than the people you hate again? I love to hear it. It’s so sexy.” Ollie knew he was being dramatic, and when it came down to things, he’d cut some slack for Bruce—he knew that Bruce was fundamentally different than Ollie, and Ollie couldn’t blame him. 

Bruce was always pretending to be the playboy billionaire. It was all a facade he kept up to hide his true nature. Ollie, however, had truly been that person before the island—it was a real part of his personality, something that still came out now and again.

He nodded. “Friendly sounds about right,” he replied. “At least, it’s nice to know you’ll show up if I’m in the maw of some horrendous beast. Or another similar situation.”

“I thought you might. I mean I haven’t been doing enough charity work lately, so I figured,” He shrugs dramatically and gestures between them. “Just trying to make sure my image stays good in the public — philanthropy helps.” Bruce gave him a dry look before he smirked, shaking his head. “You’re a shithead.” Ollie was a good guy. His personality flaws aside, Bruce liked him. And far be it from Bruce to cast aspersions toward anyone for being unlikeable in any way. Ollie had seen him in high-stress situations where he reacted less than charmingly — it was a miracle anyone from the League still talked to him honestly.  He wasn’t Clark — always charming and well-meaning. Maybe that’s what bonded he and Ollie a little bit, in an unspoken way — they were a little similar like that.

“Yeah, definitely man. Just — you know, probably don’t call me if you want to talk about the new season of Game of Thrones, but if something is eating your, then definitely, you know… call Alfred,” He smirks.