#verse; batman

[optimisticrobin]

@ardynzunia liked for a starter.

It had been a long day, and whilst his suit was relatively bullet and knife proof, it wasn't Deathstroke-the-Terminator-proof. Though if somebody did manage to make something like that, it'd be a huge success. His relationship with Slade was a difficult one. They were enemies, sure, but there was a level of mutual respect.

It was why Slade had never used his identity against him.

Fights against Deathstroke were always rough though, and even though he'd successfully foiled the man's contract, he hadn't come out unscathed. The gash on his thigh was the worst, but nothing a few stitches couldn't fix.

With a limp, he climbed out of the batmobile and pulled off the cowl and made his way over to the computer. He'd patch himself up in a minute.

[optimisticrobin]

@bctglrl liked for a starter.

Dick had made Bruce a promise once – a promise that he'd don the cape and cowl again in a heartbeat if he needed him to – but it wasn't like he liked being Batman. At least it was only a temporary arrangement. Bruce was alive and well this time around. Not that it made it any easier.

"You know the worst thing about being Batman? The cape. It was the first thing I ditched when I became Nightwing. It's totally throwing me off balance." As if to make his point, he adjusted the damn thing as he took a seat on the edge of the rooftop. "Do you know how many quips I've had to bite back today? Good ones, too. Because Batman doesn't make jokes."

[optimisticrobin]

@datanexus liked this post for a starter.

"I don't know if I can do this, Babs..." He admitted as he slumped against the couch. He'd looked better. His hair was a mess, his clothes dishevelled, and he hadn't shaved in a while. It didn't look like he'd slept for a while either. "I never...I never wanted to be Batman."

No, that was a lie. There had been a time when he'd wanted to take up that mantle one day. Back when he'd first donned the cape and pixie boots. He'd grown out of that aspiration though, as kids often did. He'd loved Bruce. He'd admired him. But he wasn't him and Bruce had never wanted him to be. He'd taken him in so that he wouldn't end up like him, and sure, he spent most of his nights beating up masked psychos, but he didn't have that darkness in him that Bruce had.

He couldn't fill the man's shoes, and if he was being honest, he didn't want to.

"Every time I put on the cowl, I feel like a little kid playing dress up. It doesn't help that the cape throws me off balance after going without one for so many years." He let out a soft sigh as he ran his hand through his hair. "And then there's Damian. I thought that being Robin could help him, like it helped me, but I dunno. The kid doesn't respect me."

"I'm sorry for dumping all this on you but...I dunno. It feels like you're the only person I can talk to. Apart from Alfred, you've known me longer than anyone."

[optimisticrobin]

@twcfaces liked for a starter.

It had been a long time since he'd actually wanted to be Batman. Back when he'd been Robin, it had seemed only natural that he'd take over one day. As he grew up though, things had changed. He'd come to the realisation that he wanted to be his own person rather than a copy of Bruce.

But there he was, playing dress up because Bruce was gone. He was Batman, but he didn't feel like it. Everything about it felt wrong. The cape was throwing him off balance and his Robin was even more insubordinate than he'd been back in the day. The kid had run off ahead despite his order to stay put.

"I'm not playing your games, Harvey." Not this time. He knew all to well how the game was often rigged. "What are you planning?"