#this is my attempt at writing a proper bruce reacting to his kid almost dying

[haveihitanerve]

Dad

His mouth tasted like ash. His nostrils burned with the smell of gun powder and his eyes felt caked in mud. “Dad!” There was a voice to his left, a voice he knew. His eyes slowly adjusted and he tried looking around, but could barely move. What he did see made him frown. This wasn’t the park. The boys had been unable to come to an agreement on what to eat, so Bruce had taken them out to the park to grab food from whatever food trucks were around while Selina stayed back with the girls. It had been peaceful and while the boys had fought occasionally Bruce had felt whole. And then it had all gone wrong. They were in a large warehouse, by the looks of it, and the only source of light at the moment was the wide open doors on the other side of the room. “Chum?” He rasped. By the sounds of relief made around him he could tell all his sons had awoken before him. His eyes adjusted to the faint light and he tried to move his arms but they were wrapped in a rope and tied above his head. Dick, Jason, Tim and Damian were all lined up in a row in front of him, hands tied behind their backs. “Dad!” Dick called again. Blood began pounding in Bruce’s ears. They weren’t in costume. He wasn’t Batman with his sidekicks and allies. He was Bruce Wayne with his sons. Tires screeched and a van appeared in the open warehouse door. “Well well well. What do we have here?” A high pitched voice came. Bruce could feel his face drain of color. Jason was staring at the floor, mouthing words desperately, squeezing his eyes tight. Jason, who had never gone to church, who didn’t believe in god or anything else that he couldn’t see. Was praying. Bruce looked at Tim. His third oldest son was staring straight ahead, not moving a muscle. Bruce swallowed hard. He was dimly aware of goons surrounding them, but that was nothing as the Joker stepped through the doors. He couldn’t know. He couldn’t. But why else had he kidnapped Bruce Wayne and his sons? “You’ve been quite the pain in my ass lately Brucie.” The clown said, stalking forward, a pistol held loosely in his hand. Bruce glared at him. “What do you want Joker?” He snarled. Joker laughed and Tim flinched. Dick reached his tied hands for his younger brothers and they linked fingers. Damian shuffled, pressing his thigh against Jason’s. There was fear, pure, plain fear written across all of their faces. Except Damian and dicks were more afraid for their brothers than themselves. “You’ve stopped quite a few of my plans with your donations and goody two shoe acts,” the joker drawled. “And I thought, what better way to get back at the orphan adopting billionaire than to kill one of his poor orphans!” The joker let out a loud cackle. Harley had gotten out of the van as well and stared at him in shock. “Kill the kids puddin?” She asked. Joker turned to her. “Why yes of course. He can just replace them, the way he has before.” Jason and Tim turned green. Harley bit her lip. Joker started to walk behind the four boys. “But the question is who? Who who who WHO?”

 He cackled again. “The heir?” His gun knocked against dicks skull. His oldest son winced but didn’t give anymore of a reaction. Despite the circumstances Bruce felt a sense of pride welling up in him. “The prodigy?” Joker went on, tapping Tim’s head with the butt of the gun. Tim was frozen. “The blood son?” Joker asked, twirling his gun around Damian’s head. “Or the forgiven son?” He pressed the gun against the back of Jason’s head. His son was trembling, eyes closed and lips pressed tightly together. Something seemed to flicker over his second oldest son's face and when he looked up, pure determination and resignation was in his face. “No!” Bruce pulled at his ropes. Joker let out another laugh. Jason bit his lips, eyes tight. “No!” Damian whimpered, tugging at his ropes. Bruce looked at Harley. She was watching the whole thing, biting her lip. “Please.” He begged. Joker laughed again, believing the plea had been aimed at him. Harley’s eyes snapped to him. “Please.” He begged her. She looked away. Dick met her eye. His lips moved and Bruce could hardly breathe. “Please Auntie.” He had mouthed. Harley’s face flickered with something and she looked back at Bruce. Firm resolve spread across her features. Casually, she started to walk towards him, taking a place behind him. The goons immediately spread away. Before he could register the cool knife that pressed against his arms, cutting the rope, Joker turned his attention back to him. Harley froze, but kept cutting, sending Joker what Bruce figured was a flirty smile. “But then I thought, why not inflict real pain? I’m sure you pretty spoiled boy have never felt that. So-!” He aimed the gun at Bruce’s leg. “Noo!” To Bruce’s surprise, the shout came from Harley. But it was too late, the joker had pulled the trigger. Bruce braced himself, waiting for the pain as the bullet shredded through his thigh, through muscles and veins and tendons, but it never came. 

He looked down. Harley was laying in front of him, a hole in her side. She had doven in front of the bullet for him. She had taken a bullet for him. “You useless bitch!” Joker snarled, reloading his pistol. Harley let out a whimper of pain, scooting backwards. “Stupid useless cow!” He muttered, cocking the gun. “Since you’ve ruined my fun with Brucey I have to now move fast.” He glared at her, before turning and aiming the gun at Damian. The crack as he pulled the trigger reverberated deep in Bruce’s bones. But it was nothing compared to the ice cold feeling that squeezed his heart as Damian closed his eyes in resignation and Jason dove in front of his little brother. Jason hit the dirt like a sack of potatoes, blood pouring out of his chest. A scream, horrible and bone chilling and agonizing, filled the warehouse. It wasn’t until a rag was stuffed into his mouth that Bruce realized it had come from him. Joker stared at Jason a moment, then shrugged. “Oh well. At least one son is dead.” He smiled at Bruce. “Toodaloo!” He called and started to laugh, hopping into the truck and driving away. Bruce spat out the rag and pulled. Dick was working the rope with his mouth, ready to free them all but bruce moved first, pulling. The already frayed ropes gave easily under his strength and he ripped free. Dick looked at him with wide eyes and quickly bit through his own, moving to Jason. Damian hadn’t moved. He was just stuck, staring at his older brother. “Harley-!” Bruce began, turning to his old friend, but she shook her head. “Help him.” She pleaded. Bruce nodded, rushing to his son's side. 

“Cal!!!!” He bellowed, skidding over the gravel on his knees as he reached Jason and Damian. “Cal!!!!” He didn’t care if Gotham heard him. He didn’t care if the world heard him. Jason was so pale. “Come on. Come on.” Bruce muttered, reaching for his pulse. It fluttered against his hand, faint, but there. “Cal!!!” Bruce bellowed again. There was a whoosh and Superman arrived. His face paled at the scene. “Take him to the hospital! Now!!” He barked. “Get Leslie!” Clark nodded and, gently, as though picking up a newborn, lifted Jason into his arms and took off. Bruce speed dialed his number on impulse. “Barry please!” In seconds the speedster had arrived. “Take Harley to the Batcave. Alfred will heal her.” The flash nodded, eyes darting around in concern, but willing to wait until things were less dire to ask, and lifted her effortlessly, speeding off. Bruce wrapped his arms around Dick and Tim, pulling them closer. Damian was just sitting there, blood covering his hands, staring at the pool of blood Jason had left behind. “Damian. Baby. Come here.” Bruce pleaded. But Damian didn’t hear him. Clark returned a second later. “Take Damian next!” Bruce told him. Clark looked at them all, then nodded. Damian didn’t even react as he was lifted and flown off. Flash arrived again. “I can take you all to the hospital.” He said softly. Bruce nodded, lifting Tim into his arms. “Take Dick.” “Dad-!” Dick protested softly. “No. This is not an argument. I’ll be there in a bit chum. Please.” Dick nodded and allowed Barry to lift him. Clark returned and lifted them both, flying to the hospital. 

“Where is my son!” Bruce asked the second he touched down. “Where are my kids?” “Bruce!” Bruce frowned, turning to the door. Selina Wayne had arrived. “Baby.” He whispered. She rushed to him, the girls and Duke following a second after. “Hey. How’re you here?” “Cal told us.” She said softly. “Where is he?” Bruce shrugged, helplessness filling him again. “Hey. It’s alright.” Selina cupped his face with her hands. “It was Joker.” Bruce whispered. Selina brushed her thumbs under his eyes. “He came for me. For them. It wasn’t even because of the mask. Just because I was Bruce Wayne. Because I had donated and-!” His breathing was getting labored and he was rambling so Selina reached up and gently kissed him. “Hey. It’s okay.” She whispered softly. “Mr and Mrs Wayne?” A doctor came out. “Your sons are ready to see you.” She eyed Tim, passed out in Bruce’s arms. “Does he need to be checked?” She asked softly. Bruce nodded. She tilted her head to the hallway and they followed. Another nurse came out of a room and Bruce allowed tim to be taken away and checked for injuries. “They’re in there.” The nurse said, nodding at the next room. “And Jason? The one who was shot? Where is my son?” 

Cass, Steph, Duke and Babs paled. Selina pressed a hand to her mouth. Clark clearly hadn’t given them all the information. The nurse hesitated. “We have him in critical condition. Dr. Leslie is working on him right now.” She hesitated, looking around. “Mr. Wayne,” she lowered her voice. “I don’t know what connections you have with Superman but whatever they are, they saved your sons life. It’s not clear yet if he will live but we’re more hopeful. Your alien friend scanned him and gave us some medical information which allowed us to start operating right away instead of having to scan him. It may be the thing that makes a difference.” Bruce nodded, swallowing. “Thank you.” She smiled, taking a few steps back. “I think he deserves the thanks. They’re right in there.” And she turned and left. Bruce pushed open the door and rushed to his sons. Dick was sitting on a chair, Damian cradled in his lap, still staring at nothing. They had both been cleaned of blood but Bruce knew they still felt the phantom touch of it. “Hey kiddos. You alright?” Dick looked over and his face immediately relaxed. “Mom!” Selina rushed to them. “Oh kitten.” She murmured, pulling both against her for a hug. The hug seemed to awaken damian slightly and he clutched at her shirt, burying his head in her shoulder. “Oh baby.” Selina whispered, cradling him close. The door creaked open and Bruce turned, smiling in relief when Tim walked in, also in new clothes and cleaned. “Tim!” Steph rushed to him and he managed a faint smile, linking his fingers with hers. Selina stood, taking damian with her and so Babs walked over to Dick and took his place, murmuring softly to him. He just nodded, wrapping his arms around her and burying his head in the crook of her neck. Cass touched Damian’s back gently and the tears started flowing. Selina smiled sadly and handed her youngest over to her daughter, allowing Cass to comfort him. She walked over to Bruce and took his hand. “Jason?” She whispered. 

At his name all the kids looked over. Bruce sighed. “They caught us at the park and tied us up. Joker arrived. Said that I had ruined some of his plans by donating and such. So he said,” Bruce swallowed. “He said he’d take one of my sons from me. Because I would just replace them anyway.” Steph inhaled sharply and wrapped an arm around Tim. He relaxed against her. Bruce swallowed. “Harley tried to cut through my ropes and.” He stopped. “She took a bullet for me.” Selina squeezed his hand. “She should be alright. I sent her to Alfred with Barry.” Selina nodded. “Then he aimed it at damian-“ Bruce cut off, blinking hard. Damian buried his face deeper against Cass and she rubbed his back soothingly. “But Jason jumped between them.” Selina took a shuddering breath. Damian let out a sob. “Hey. Prince.” Bruce crossed over to his son and lifted him into his arms. “It is not your fault. Okay? Jason chose to jump in front of you. He chose to protect you. It’s not your fault. It’s jokers. Alright?” Damian sniffled, but nodded. Bruce kissed his nose. “Good.” “Bruce?” Leslie appeared in the doorway. “He’s stable. You may go in but be careful. He’s not awake yet.” “Will he make it?” Bruce asked, handing Damian to Selina. Leslie smiled. “Yes. We are very hopeful.” Bruce breathed a sigh of relief. They followed Leslie over to the room Jason was staying in and filed in, but Bruce paused. “Bruce!” Clark came hurrying towards him, wearing regular Clark Kent clothes. Bruce wrapped his arms around him. Clark blinked in surprise, then hugged him back. “What’s wrong?” He murmured, squeezing him. “Shit sorry I know what’s wrong.” “Thank you.” Bruce whispered. Clark frowned against his shoulder. “The doctors said that you gave them information that they needed so that they could immediately start operating. He wouldn’t be alive without you. Thank you.” Clark smiled, running a hand through Bruce’s hair. “Always.” Bruce pulled away and smiled too. “You messed up my hair Journo. That’s off your salary.” Clark rolled his eyes, reaching for Bruce’s head again. The man dodged him, walking to the door. “Come on. Leslie said we could talk to him.” Clark followed him into the hospital room, slipping his hat off of his head. 

Bruces heart clenched at the sight that greeted them. Jason was lying in the white plastic hospital sheets, face almost as pale. Tubes were stuck in his arms and his eyes were closed. But he was breathing, and according to the heart monitor, his heartbeat was steady. Dick was seated on a chair on the left side of his bed, holding his left hand, while Selina sat perched on the right, holding Damian with one arm as Tim leaned against her side. Babs, Steph, and Duke sat at the foot of his bed, staring lost at his face. Cass was seated on the windowsill, looking out. Clark politely moved over to her side, offering his silent presence but nothing more. Bruce moved to Selina’s side, tugging Tim to lean against him. “He’ll be alright.” He murmured, more to reassure himself than anyone else, but it worked. Tim released a quiet sigh of relief, and the others even managed faint smiles. Dick just clung to Jason's hand. Bruce didn't know how long they all stood there, staring at him, but after a while Selina started herding the kids to the empty bed on the other side of the room and Clark left and returned with blankets and some better than hospital food, along with an update that Harley was recovering, and soon six of the kids were tucked into bed together. Bruce didn't know how many of them were actually asleep, but all of them had their eyes closed, and were curled together so cutely that had it been under any other circumstances he would have cooed. Dick still sat at Jason's side, holding his hand, and Cass had moved to his side, also refusing to try and sleep. “Im going to go check on Harley.” Clark murmured to Bruce. “Holler if you need anything yeah?” Bruce nodded, pulling his friend in for another quick hug. “Thank you. Tell barry thanks as well from me.” Clark nodded. “I will.” 

Selina wrapped her arms around his waist and Bruce sank into one of the uncomfortable hospital chairs, letting her rest her head against his shoulder as he stared at his son. Despite his attempts, Dicks eyelids started to drop, and soon he and Cass were snuggled up together on their chairs, snoring softly. Selina smiled and stood, lifting them and carrying them over to the bed to sleep, tucking them in gently. “He could've died Lina.” Bruce whispered. She came to his side, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear. “But he didn't.” “we weren't in the suits.” Bruce croaked, voice hoarse. His eyes blurred with tears. He hadn't allowed himself to cry this whole time, knowing he had to be strong for his kids. To be their rock. But now, with just him and Selina. Selina gently wiped the tears away, sitting on his lap. “Its okay.” she whispered. “He’s going to be okay. We’re all going to be okay.” She murmured, kissing the top of his head. Bruce buried his face in her neck, wrapping his arms around her tightly. “Dad?” someone croaked. Bruce shot off his chair and reached for his son. Jason's eyelids were fluttering open slowly, and he squinted. “Hey. Hey buddy.” Bruce whispered, taking his hand. Selina took a seat next to him, stroking jason's hair. “How're you feeling kitten?” she asked. Jason frowned. “Like i've been shot.” he supplied helpfully. Bruce managed a faint laugh. “Oh bud you scared me so bad.” He scooted closer, wrapping a careful arm around his son to pull him closer, pressing a kiss to his head. “I know.” Jason whispered. “Im sorry. But he was gonna kill Dami. i- i couldn't let him kill Dami. Or tim. I was so awful to them. I couldn't let him-” “you're an ass and a damned idiot.” tim choked out, appearing at the foot of the bed. Damian stood at his side, clutching his hand. “Nice to see you too Replacements.” Jason greeted, smirking. “Fuck you.” Damian squeezed out. “Prince!” Bruce chided. “Language.” Selina laughed, lifting him onto the bed. Jason opened his arms and both boys crawled over, cuddling against their older brother. “Im okay you mother hens.” he muttered, laughing. “Ol’ Joker cant kill me twice.” The boys managed a laugh at that, and the other kids woke. “Jason!” Jason grinned as dick threw himself at him, barely holding back from squeezing him because of his injuries. “Hey dickwad. Im alright. Promise.” “You scared us Tampon.” Steph said, punching his shoulder lightly. “I know.” Jason said quietly. “Im sorry.” “forgiven.” Cass signed. “Just don't do it ever again.” Duke added. “Or ill leak all of your search history.” Babs warned, leaning over his head. Jason laughed. “Understood. No dying again. Got it.” “that goes for all of you.” Bruce grunted. “No more dying on my watch okay? I cant handle any more gray hairs.” Dick laughed. “You drive a hard bargain old man. But okay.” “i guess we’ll just have to find new ways to give you gray hairs then.” Tim said with a grin. Bruce laughed, pressing another kiss to Jason's head. “Thats fine by me kiddos. Just no- no more dying okay?” The kids all nodded, cuddling closer to Jason and their father. “Promise.”

#batfam #bruce wayne #good dad bruce wayne #let bruce be a good dad dc damnit!!! #this is my attempt at writing a proper bruce reacting to his kid almost dying #and obvi i had to throw in some batcat #selina kyle #batkids #batman