I’m staying with the Noblesse idea for a bit, cause I’ve read that manga like 5-6 times. Part 1
Bruce doesn’t mind using his powers for his family. He’ll push his body for the extreme for the city and beyond what it can take for his family.
The only thing he wasn’t willing to do was formally accept them into his bloodline.
It would change them, for better or worse. They would become monsters like him, have power beyond what would be possible for a normal human being, live way longer than anyone around them, time would pass slowly, and they would be left behind by the people they call friends and family. They would undoubtedly resent him for it at some point, even if they’re asking for it now. Begging for the power to protect others, begging to join Bruce in his mission to make the world a better place, but he would absolutely never allow them to suffer like him.
The only time he’d ever considered it was when Jason’s burnt body laid in his arms.
If he gave him his blood and made him part of the family, there was a chance he would survive this. He would be able to live his life, but he would not be human anymore.
He would be tied to Bruce until his dying breath, never being able to truly live with other people anymore because he would outlive them.
He held Jason’s body until his body grew cold.
Carried it home to be laid to rest with the rest of the people he could once called family before he knew better.
When Dick had finally heard he had been angry.
He knew Bruce could have done something, knew he had the power. He just wasn’t willing. He had been beyond angry when Bruce said he considered it, but had decided not to.
Tim never asked about being part of the bloodline, he’d even said he never even mentioned it unless it was to know the limits of Bruce’s powers and if it had a negative effect on him.
It was only to keep him safe that he added extra protection and artifacts to Tim’s armor. To make sure nothing like Jason’s situation ever happened again, Bruce would never be late again.
He hadn’t expected the new Crime Lord to take such an issue with it.
It was like he became even more ruthless when, in a particularly ruthless encounter, the red powers of one of the artifacts broke had created a protective shield around the Robin.
When he finally revealed himself he was angry. He was always an angry child, feelings too big for his small body and big heart.
Why, even at the end, was he not worthy to be added to his family. Why’d he let him die even with all his power.
Bruce couldn’t explain that the ‘Wayne Family graveyard’ that spanned a large portion of the back gardens had only been built in his time.
He’d desperately wanted to help every one of them.
The few times, in his youth, when he had still believed his powers were mostly good, and a blessing, he had given his powers to someone he had believed would never leave him, never betray him and someone he believed wouldn’t regret it.
He had to kill them with his own hands.
The powers of a monster was not something that should ever be considered a blessing.
So he let his kids hate him.
Let them resent him for the misunderstanding that he didn’t love them enough to make them ‘true’ family.
But the decision to let them live as human would be his greatest gift to them.
When Damian revealed himself, he didn’t think he could feel so much sympathy for someone else.
