Things Bruce Wayne Never Did Again After Jason’s Murder
I was just thinking about how drastically different Bruce became after Jason died. Like, this man just stopped doing so much, especially when it came to his familial bonds and relationships.
Correct me if I’m wrong, (because I’m just spitballing here and maybe I just haven’t read a comic where it did happen) but there’s a couple things I’ve never seen Bruce do with the other kids in the comics after Jason died.
Being (emotionally) close with his children:
I’ve noticed Bruce point this out from time to time in his thought boxes; that letting people get close to him, by admitting that he cares about them, is what gets them killed. Or at least the fear of that doesn’t allow him to form attachments anymore.
Which I find interesting, because Bruce was so terrified of losing Jason during his run as Robin. Like, it was actually concerning to me how often this man would hallucinate or dream about Jason getting hurt or dying in the eighties...? Heck, Bruce’s mind on fear gas still went to Jason even after his death. But that didn’t prevent him from creating a bond with Jason during his child years (as you’ll notice his name wasn’t mentioned with the others above).
So I’m wondering if his murder was the point where this became a realised fear for Bruce and made him push people away because it came true.
Being easy with physical affection:
Bruce is always so stiff these days when it comes to patting his kids on their shoulders or head, or heaven forbid, giving them hugs if they look traumatised enough. He is just a very awkward man. Like, what happened to that other guy? The one who was always ruffling his son’s hair and tucking him under his arm like it was the only natural thing to do.
Being playful with his kids:
This one hurts. Like Bruce could be so fun with his first two kids. He teased and wrestled with them, played video games, took them out to movies and games and racetracks, and it was 90% completely non-mission related. Heck, he even made puns himself sometimes. He enjoyed spending time with them and put effort into doing just that.
After Jason was murdered, I never saw that again. Tim was always doing his solo thing, and didn’t really spend time with Bruce outside of cowl; (of course, he wasn’t exactly his son then like his predecessors were, so that might have come off as weird); Bruce and Cass have a very mission-focused (obsessive) relationship and Damian...oh, Damian. Yeah, Bruce wasn’t taking him out to the zoo or anything on weekends.
Driving the kids to school:
Well, Cassandra never really received any formal education as a child in a public school setting type-a-way, but I don’t believe Bruce has ever driven Tim or Damian to school. It was always Alfred who chauffeured them. I wondered if the thought bothered Bruce. Hence, I’m putting it down on the list of things Bruce stopped doing after Jason.
Calls the kids by nicknames:
I’ve never seen Bruce refer to Tim, Cass or Damian by any sort of nickname, despite the fact that he always seemed to be affectionately calling Dick and Jason some form of “chum,” “lad,” or “sport,” while they were Robin. Heck, I think Bruce might have even used “Jay,” more than Jason’s actual name when he was a kid.
Allowing the Robins to wear their uniforms upstairs.
This one was a three A.M thought to me. I know for a fact that Dick and Jason used to chill in the Manor in full or partial uniform during their runs and even kept their uniforms in their bedroom closets, but then when Tim became Robin, Bruce all of a sudden strictly implemented the rule of ‘no uniforms upstairs.’
Part of me wonders if he was trying to separate “Robin” from the family home aspect as a grieving thing. Like he needed to keep the two separate after Jason.
So apparently, "holidays aren't a thing," anymore during Tim's era according to the Bat-scrooge. Which is actually kinda funny, considering he would put up a full-on Christmas tree in the cave only a few years prior or at least make some effort so that his kids could have a jolly christmas despite unhappy circumstances.
However, I must note that although they (especially Bruce,) never celebrated in the Manor, the other Bats did attempt to have the holidays together on their own which is really cute. And good for them! Who cares about that scrooge Bruce?