Bruce Wayne who is not Batman, who was groomed and sexually abused as a child by the high society and barely got out of the other end alive. Bruce who barely got out, with Alfred's kill count rising in dozens in a single night.
Bruce Wayne, who's escape comes at the price of his Alfie, sentenced for life.
Timothy Drake who ends up an orphan at the age of four. Bruce Wayne who doesn't want to see another orphaned aristocrat child go through what he did. Bruce Wayne who looks more like a nymph with too-long hair and more eldritch than man with his too-long limbs and uncharacteristic tone and language and gestures.
Bruce Wayne whose frame for what love is has shifted and deformed through the years so much that he doesn't know what is considered acceptable socially. Bruce Wayne whose only deciding factor for the right way to love is what hurts and what doesn't.
Gentle, gentle Bruce Wayne with gentle, gentle hands and a gentle, gentle voice that tries to give Tim love nevertheless.
Too-young Tim Drake waking up orphaned and injured in a hospital bed at the age of four. Unfortunate Tim Drake whose house gets robbed just the day his parents finally get home from a too-long business trip. Loving Jack and Janet Drake who spent months working and getting as many things done as they could as fast as possible to spend more than a month at a time with their brilliant, brilliant son. Jack and Janet Drake who still die, trying to protect their little boy.
Tragic Jack and Janet, whose son doesn't remember them much. Who is too young and spent too little time with them to remember much.
Bruce Wayne who gets Tim fitted for a crutch after the robbery leaves him not just orphaned but disabled too, and who buys him new glasses with dragons. Bruce Wayne whose kisses and hands linger a little too long. Bruce Wayne who gives out affection in abundance and whose affection doesn't hurt.
Bruce Wayne, who works a thumb inside little Tim Drake's mouth trying to wipe away celery stuck between his teeth, whose hands caress Tim's back and hands and hair with Tim on his lap while watching a movie. Bruce Wayne, who stands a little too close. Bruce Wayne who carries Tim in one hand and his crutch in the other. Bruce Wayne who helps Tim get dressed, to bathe, to eat. Bruce Wayne who is always touching his son. Bruce Wayne who sleeps cuddling with Tim.
Too-young Tim Drake who loves being loved and Bruce.
Bruce Wayne, whose frame for love has been trashed and burned and violated again and again. Bruce Wayne who just loves Tim, who just wants Tim to be happy.
Bruce Wayne, whose love isn't normal, whose love is different.
Bruce Wayne whose love isn't meant to hurt, whose love is unusual, whose love doesn't hurt.
Bruce Wayne who is broken and beaten down and ruined, different, different and not normal.
Bruce Wayne whose love is still just love.
Bruce Wayne who is not normal, whose love is not normal, both warped things that wear the illusion of normalcy to fool searching eyes, but—
But who's to say different is bad and not normal is bad?
Bruce Wayne who is a man but who is also a child in a dirty alley soaked in his parents' blood, who is also a mindless boy running among the stars above, running away from unwanted hands and touches. Who is also a boy clinging to Alfie as they take him away.
Bruce Wayne who is a man who is Tim's mother now.
Bruce and Tim, against a world that wants to hurt them, in a little cocoon of their own, being each other's normal. Tim and Bruce, whose normal is a little different from everyone else's, but it's a normal that doesn't hurt, that is warm and lively and joyful, and it's a normal that doesn't kill what shouldn't be killed. It's a normal that lets the innocent be innocent, and it's a normal that's theirs.
titsay
gummygunk
romaincrisis
janainaart
blakekathryn
kaledo-art
snowghoul
prguitarman
