Enthusiastically Strange

I mean, with all the years of being exposed to bombings, shootouts, collapsing buildings, other miscellaneous explosions, as well as an unknowable number of concussions and head injuries, chances are Bruce’s hearing is kinda shot.

I think one ear is probably worse than the other, from an instinct of turning his head away on a usual side from blows or loud noises. Both are probably bad, but the family (mostly Alfred) pressure him into getting a hearing aid for the worst ear when they realise Bruce can only hear them from one side, unless theyre practically on his shoulder.

He gets a discrete one, of course, because its for the best that society and the press don’t notice his hearing loss. Mostly, because it could raise questions: what is Brucie Wayne doing that made him lose his hearing? (In a lesser capacity, Bruce’s minuscule sense vanity; he gets called old enough by his kids, he doesn’t want the tabloids calling him senile just yet).

It’s certainly an improvement. He finds he no longer has to let out a hnmh? In question when the kids say something across the cave; seems to be getting less bruises to that side of his body after patrols. The last bit is probably unrelated, though.

No-one outside the family knows he’s hard of hearing, or uses a hearing aid, until he’s on patrol one night.

Firefly’s struck an apartment block; the Bats and the FDGC have been pulling people out of the blaze for what feels like hours. Bruce comes out with the last survivor, a little boy in his pyjamas and tears tracking down his cheeks. Batman tries to console him, ask him if he can see his parents, but the boy keeps shaking his head and murmuring, tapping the side of his head. Bruce connects the dots: his cochlear implants are missing.

Bruce sits the boy down on a nearby stretcher, facing him. Thankfully, he knows ASL (and Cass’ been keeping him well-practiced in it). He signs to the boy that it’s alright, they’re gon a find his parent or guardian. Is he hurt anywhere? Can you see your parents around?

The boy watches in awe. He responds to each question, lightening up with each signed inquiry. When Batman’s done, he signs: How do you know sign? With a kind smile, Batman pulls the side of his cowl back a little revealing his ear, and points to the hearing aid, making sure the boy sees it. Even though it’s meant to be discrete.

Not long after, the boy’s moms come rushing over, and Bruce moves away with a sweep of his cape, but not before catching a blinding smile and rapid signing about how Batman knows ASL, and has a hearing aid, and its soo cool.

I DON’T CAAAAARE

Batman being abusive to his kids is so fundamentally wrong and makes him a one dimensional character and I personally hate it.

“Oh the dark gritty character is dark and gritty and mean” hey how about the dark gritty character is dark and gritty because he has to be. He’s such a bleeding heart that he can’t let his enemies (and sometimes allies) know how much he loves and cares. He loves so much. He loves his city, he loves his kids. He’s full of so much love yet he can’t express it because he’s never been taught how. And maybe he’s harsh but it’s because he couldn’t imagine what he would do if he lost another kid.