This is a repaint of Hellelil and Hildebrand, the Meeting on the Turret Stairs which is one of my favourite paintings ever. The forbidden love and the secret moments of softness just reminds me of Bruce and Talia.
This is still a wip because I didn't finish on time oops but I will definitely be posting the fully painted piece once i'm done.
➳ brutalia day two: canon divergence AU | second chances
➳ .6k | rated t | m.list
“Did you have a good time with Talia?” Bruce asked, welcoming Damian into the house. Damian nodded, raising a bundle wrapped in brown paper up towards Bruce.
“Yes. Mother brought me downtown and we visited the art store.”
“That’s great,” said Bruce genuinely. Ever since they’d started working towards co-parenting, he and Talia had been collaborating with one another a lot more in regards to Damian, who seemed fairly pleased with the new system. “I’d love to see it all in a moment.”
Damian didn’t quite smile, but the harsh lines of his face softened, a sight that always pleased Bruce. They were leaps and bounds away from the angry child he’d been when he’d first arrived to Gotham.
“Goodbye, Habibi,” Talia said, leaning down to hug Damian, who leaned into her touch. He’d hit a growth spurt recently, so she didn't have to lean down as far as she once would have. Bruce turned slightly away as Talia kissed Damian’s forehead, not wanting to intrude on their moment. Damian squirmed slightly, but didn’t try very hard to get out of her hold, most likely because he truly didn't mind it. “Be good for your father, okay?”
Damian looked up at Talia. “I always am, Mother. You should be telling him to be good for me.”
Talia straightened, eyes dancing with amusement. “Should I? Has he been acting up?”
Damian nodded seriously. “Remember the history project I was telling you about? He will not let me make a replica of one of the Tameranean blaster guns. I even said I would take off the lethal settings!”
“Preposterous,” Talia agreed, but she was smiling.
“Damian,” Bruce began, knowing it was fruitless. When the two of them teamed up, he was no match. “I already told you. No using technology normal students wouldn’t have access to to create a weapon, that again, normal students shouldn’t have access to. Especially since you’ll be bringing it to school, and last I checked, your school has a very strict no-weapons policy.”
“Bah,” Damian huffed, and it was Bruce’s turn to smile. “What is the point of making a replica of something to do with superheroes if I cannot even make anything interesting?”
“There are lots of interesting things you can make, Damian,” Bruce pointed out. “You just don’t want to make anything for show only.”
“Well, why would he?” Talia asked. “If he’s going to make a replica, it should be as close to the source material as possible.”
“Stop,” Bruce groaned. “The both of you. Damian, go see if Alfred wants any help.”
“Fine,” Damian agreed with a long-suffering sigh. “Goodbye, Mother.”
“I will see you next weekend, Habibi,” Talia said, and Damian disappeared into the house, leaving just them.
“You should really stop encouraging him,” Bruce admonished lightly. “Heavens know I already have trouble with Jason giving him ideas.”
“But however else shall I entertain myself?” Talia asked innocently, widening her eyes. Bruce scrubs a hand down his face, even as his chest fills with warmth.
“I’m sure you can find something.”
Talia only laughs. “Have a good rest of your weekend, Beloved.”
“You too, Talia,” Bruce replied. “And thank you for taking him to the art store. I’d been meaning to take him, but haven’t had the time.”
“Consider it nothing.” Talia waved her hand through the air. “I’m only further establishing myself as the ‘better parent’, you know.”
“Right, right,” Bruce said. They’re quiet for a moment, but it’s a comfortable sort of silence, one that doesn’t need to be filled.
“It’s nice getting to do this,” Talia says, as if she’s divulging some great secret. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.” Bruce doesn’t let himself think too hard about the words he’s saying. “I believe Damian is happy too.”
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted for him,” Talia said, looking past him to where Damian had scampered off to.
“I know,” Bruce said. “I know.”
leviathans-watching's work - please do not copy, repost, or claim as your own
Be sure to not take too long to start working on any fanworks you may be contributing, if you haven't already. As a reminder, it will span from July 11th to July 17th, and the prompts are the following:
Day 1: Masquerade | Justice League Finds Out
Day 2: Canon Divergence AU | Second Chances
Day 3: Royalty AU | Getting Back Together
Day 4: Secret Relationship | Talia Needs/Gets A Hug
Day 5: Bodyguard | "I Want My Beloved To Be Happy"
Day 6: Childhood Friends AU | Bruce Needs/Gets A Hug
Day 7: Unexpected Pregnancy | Free Space
I'd also recommend reading over the About Section, Rules, and/or FAQ if you're feeling especially forgetful.
Thank you so much in advance to anyone who is thinking of participating, and I wish you all the best of luck with your fanworks!
I tried to go for a home-video style snapshot of a universe where Talia chose a life with Bruce over Ra's. (I'll go into my detail under the cut)
Dick is still slightly salty about Talia technically becoming his stepmom, but he figures it's worth it for his two (for now) little brothers. Although he and Talia never really get comfortable around each other, they learn to respect each other for the part they play in their sons/siblings lives. Doesn't mean Dick wants to see his Dad kiss her though
Jason never dies in this au because Talia simply wouldn't allow that happen (and also because i said so). He gets adopted just after Talia re-enters Bruce's life so he begins to see them both as his parents pretty quickly and doesn't mind it when they're being gross in front of them because it shows how much they love each other.
Damian is raised with his two very overprotective and doting parents and some very annoying brothers (and eventually a sister). He is just a tad spoilt read a lot spoilt but in general he comes out much better adjusted then he did being raised in the league.
Alfred is the one filming behind the camera and you can almost feel the pride radiating off of him that his son managed to find a little bit of contentness and stability despite his questionable life choices.
➳ brutalia day four: secret relationship | talia needs/gets a hug
➳ .9k | rated g | m.list
Dick tip-toes down the stairs to the Batcave, knowing full well he isn't supposed to be up. But how is he supposed to go back to sleep when he had had a nightmare? It isn't his fault!
Voices float up to him as he got closer and closer to the Batmobile, and he pauses, trying to make them out. One of them is definitely Bruce’s, but the other, he can't quite place. It is definitely a girl’s voice, Dick could tell that much, and he gasps. Who could he be talking to, especially down in the Batcave? Maybe it is Ms. Diana?
Continuing his descent, Dick tries his very best to be silent, like Bruce had taught him. He knows he shouldn’t be snooping, but B wants him to be a detective, doesn't he?
Slowly peeking over the railing, Dick squints into the dim light. There’s Bruce, at the Batcomputor, but the angle is all wrong so he can’t see who’s on the screen. B doesn’t have his mask on, which only further’s Dick’s hypothesis (look at him using one of his vocab words! Bruce will be so pleased!) that it’s Ms. Diana. But, even as he congratulates himself on his super awesome detective work, he knows that that’s not quite right. The voice is huskier and more accented than Ms. Diana’s is.
Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, Dick gulps. Will Bruce get mad at him if he gets caught snooping? He hasn’t gotten mad at him yet but it could happen! What if Dick gets grounded, or worse, benched?
Steeling his nerves, Dick reminds himself that Bruce said good detectives have to take risks sometimes. He can do this!
Sticking close to the wall of the cave, Dick creeps to the left, trying to get a better look at his computer. He can’t believe B hasn’t noticed him yet; his skills must be really improving!
His bare feet make the slightest noises on the stone floor, but Dick doesn’t think it’s loud enough to attract Bruce’s attention. He finally gets to a spot where he can see Bruce’s friend, and it’s not someone that he recognizes. She’s dark-skinned, and kind of looks like one of the performers in Pop Haly’s circus group who had been South Asian. Maybe she was from somewhere similar?
Curiosity growing, Dick moves forward, crouching low to stay out of the web cam’s view. He turns hus attention to the conversation, and realizes with a start that they’re talking about him!
“Yes, Dick is a very smart boy,” Bruce is saying, and a frisson of pride runs through him. If Bruce says it, it must be true! The lady says something in return, but he still can’t quite hear her, so he gets even closer, until he’s right behind B’s chair, able to peek up and around it at the lady.
“I’d like to meet him sometime,” the lady says, and Dick waits eagerly for Bruce’s reply. When it doesn’t come, he does something really brave.
“Hi!” Dick says, popping up from behind Bruce. “I’m Dick!”
Bruce startles so badly it makes Dick snort. So much for being aware of everything as Batman!
“Dick,” Bruce says, a little panicked. “What are you doing up?”
“I had a nightmare,” Dick says with a pout, almost having forgotten all about it. Bruce softens and Dick takes his chance to climb up into his lap so he can look directly into the camera. “What’s your name? Are you B’s friend?” He gasps. “Are you his girlfriend? Oooh, Bruce, I’m telling Alfred!”
“Why, hello there, Dick,” the lady says, and Dick thinks she’s very pretty. He tells her as much and B makes a really weird, strangled sound.
“Dick,” he groans, and Dick looks back at him innocently.
“Hm?”
“This is Talia,” Bruce says after a long moment. “She’s a very special friend of mine.”
“Everyone knows ‘special friend’ just means girlfriend,” Dick says with a roll of his eyes. Even he knows that much because he overheard two of the older boys at school talking about it.
“Ah, you caught me,” Bruce says, still making a weird face. Dick turns his attention back to Talia.
“Hi, Ms. Talia!” He grins at the camera, and Talia smiles back. Dick decided he likes her. “Are you two in a secret relationship?”
“One could say that,” Talia says gravely, and Dick wiggles in excitement. So cool!
“So nobody knows?”
“Very few people do,” Talia answers, and Dick looks back at Bruce. He’s so going to tell Alfred on him!
“Talia, I should put him back to bed,” Bruce says after a few more minutes, and Dick pouts. He wanted to talk with Ms. Talia more!
“Can we talk again?” Dick asks, and Bruce sighs.
“Sure, but not right now, okay?”
Pacified, Dick says his goodbyes to Ms. Talia, who also seems sad to see him go. When Bruce hangs up the call, Dick looks up at him with puppy-dog eyes. “‘M not sorry for eavesdropping because I was just being a good detective, okay? So I can’t get in trouble!”
“Is that right?” B asks, and Dick nods vigorously. Bruce moves to stand, and Dick clings to him, forcing Bruce to hold him when he does.
“Can I sleep with you tonight?”
Bruce shifts Dick until he’s mostly on his hip. “Only if you don’t tell Alfred on me.”
“It’s a deal!” Dick says, but his fingers are crossed behind his back. He’s totally going to tattle!
leviathans-watching's work - please do not copy, repost, or claim as your own
➳ brutalia day one: masquerade | justice league finds out
➳ .7k | rated t | m.list
Bruce felt numerous eyes on him, trailing over his dark figure. While he knew who many of the guests around him were despite the masks fitted over their eyes, he knew most were oblivious as to who he was. That was the point of a masquerade after all- anonymity, intrigue. The lights were dimmed for a reason.
The mission was simple. One of the more affluent guests of the party was suspected to be involved in an underground trafficking ring, one that had only popped up recently. Bruce felt his blood boil just thinking about it. How could anyone do something like that to children? To innocent, defenseless kids?
Smoothly accepting a thin-stemmed glass of champagne from a passing waiter, Bruce pressed his lips to the rim of the glass, not actually drinking any of the liquid. It was cool in the slightly warm room, and Bruce couldn’t stop himself from licking his lips as he pulled the glass away. His target for the night was too busy laughing with an elegantly dressed blonde woman to pay any attention to the other attendees of the party. His mistake.
“Why, hello there,” someone purred in his ear, and Bruce whirled around. How had someone approached without him noticing? As he took in the person before him, that, at least, started to make a bit more sense.
“Talia,” he said. Even with the ornate mask covering the top half of her face, no doubt real gold, he still recognized her.
“Beloved,” Talia acknowledged. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” She swept her long, dark hair back, golden bracelets jingling slightly, barely audible above the music. “Shall we dance?”
Though the question caught him slightly off-guard, Bruce accepted without hesitation, taking her callused hand in his. The waltz was simple, and they moved in tandem, the movements coming easily to the both of them. Bruce’s mind flashed back to the last time they had danced, in Talia’s quarters in Nanda Parbat, and he knew, without asking, that she was thinking of that night too.
“Why are you here?” Bruce asked quietly, aware of the eyes on him, now them, that have multiplied tenfold. “You’re pretty far from home.”
“For the same reason as you, I suspect, although unless you’re also focused on the blonde woman over there, I doubt we have the same person of interest.”
Bruce followed her gaze but he already had a feeling he knew which woman she was referring to. And he was right, as she had indeed pointed out the lady leaning into his target. “No, but coincidentally I’ve been focused on the man currently with her.”
“A coincidence indeed,” Talia murmured as her hand slid down his back. He shivered the slightest bit, something that undoubtedly didn’t escape her notice. “What did he do?”
“Child trafficking,” Bruce replied, and her lips twisted in clear displeasure. “And her?”
“Art smuggling.”
“Not your usual type of target,” Bruce observed, and Talia shrugged fluidly.
“When it’s items of great historical and cultural value that rightfully belong at home in my country I’m a little more inclined to pay attention.”
Bruce had no response for that so he simply turned her with a little more vigor than he had been. The music was slowing, the song coming to an end, and Bruce knew that their time together was also coming to a close. There was nothing he could do about it, and it was for the best, and yet he still ached deep inside, remembering their time together when he had trained with the League.
As if she could sense his thoughts, Talia reached up and stroked her knuckle down the side of his jaw. “Do not fret, Beloved,” she said lightly. “You’re much more handsome when you’re calm, though I doubt the shadows under your eyes will ever be fully banished. But you and I, we will see each other again soon.”
She pressed a firm but chaste kiss to his stunned lips as the last notes hung in the air, then pulled away, disappearing into the throngs of masked attendees. Bruce watched where she had vanished for a moment, but he knew that he would not see her again that night.
leviathans-watching's work - please do not copy, repost, or claim as your own
