Change is inevitable

It's the love that empowers bravery and the willingness to sacrifice for others. It's the love that gives hope for a better future, if you're willing to work for it. It's the love that will let a person fall into hell for their loved ones. It's the love that causes a demigod to willingly take on an entire prophecy to protect his younger cousin.

@dailyprongsfoot prompt April 2026 | 22: penguin AO3

James watches the small penguin scrambling up the rocks, a shiny pebble firmly in the grasp of his beak. He's on a romantic mission, ready to court the penguin he selected to woo as a mate. If he's lucky, his chosen companion will accept the offering.

If they are all lucky, really. While for the little penguin it means building a nest for future eggs, for him and Sirius it means a prime spot to get some good photos of their doings.

Next to James, Sirius lifts the camera as the small penguin gets closer to his target. He's going to capture the moments of success or failure of their tiny friend.

James keeps his fingers crossed for him. His heart beats faster in anticipation as the small penguin finally stops. His hand goes into his pocket as he watches, gloved fingers brushing over something small and hard in there.

It's for good luck. For both himself and the penguin, really, because if their little penguin manages to make a successful move, James has made up his mind to try for one as well.

Penguin fate will show him if he should risk it.

Their penguin friend drops down the pebble in front of the other penguin and pushes it closer towards them with his beak. The other penguin looks down at the offering critically.

It's a few moments of tense waiting before the other penguin reacts at all. They bend down their head and push the pebble closer to themselves. James muffles a cheer in his thick glove so he won't startle the new pair.

“That was a success. Well done, little one.” Grinning, Sirius lowers the camera. “It's a great nesting spot too. It will be a little easier for us to stay out of the wind.”

James looks at Sirius, his cheeks pink from the cold and snowflakes stuck in his hair. His eyes shine with the excitement of exploration and discovery.

He's beautiful, like always. He's the best thing in James' life.

(Sorry, little penguin, but you're only second on the list right now.)

Without thinking much more about it, James pulls his hand out of his pocket and brings the small, hard object along with it.

He holds it out to Sirius, offering it to him.

A small, pretty pebble.

It's smooth and shiny, shot through with red and gold veins that give it an interesting pattern. James found it three days ago when they made their trek up the cliff for the first time to watch penguins during breeding season.

Sirius looks at the pebble in James' hand. He tilts his head slightly to the side, then looks from the pebble to James.

“It's a pebble,” James says helpfully.

“I see that.” Amusement tugs at the edge of Sirius' lips and James really hopes that's a good sign and not the prelude to heartbreak. “But we already live together, James.”

“I know,” James says, his free hand going for his hair to card his fingers through it, like he always does when he's nervous, but all he manages to do is to nearly knock his hat off his head. “This is less about building a nest together and more about the courting part of it all.”

“The courting part,” Sirius repeats slowly.

“Yes,” James says and tugs his hat down over his ears. “Courting and mating.” He briefly closes his eyes, barely resisting the urge to bite off his tongue for babbling nonsense, and takes a deep breath. “Not like mating mating... I mean, I'm not opposed to that, clearly.”

“Clearly.” Sirius' lips twitch. He looks very much like he's trying hard not to laugh.

Maybe it's not too late to fall off the cliff.

“What I mean is... being together,” James tries again, hoping against all hope that he can somehow save this. “As a couple... you and me...”

Sirius keeps looking at him. Slowly, James' heart sinks. While their little penguin was largely successful with his courting attempt, it looks like James only managed to make a perfectly good friendship really awkward. It's probably in the penguin's favour that he can't talk and make a fool of himself that way.

James closes his fingers around the nice pebble and tries to pull his hand away in defeat, but Sirius grabs his wrist before he can put the pebble back into his pocket or fling it off the cliff.

“Don't you dare take away my pebble, Potter.”

James blinks at Sirius. The words take a moment to sink in. Then, slowly, a hopeful smile spreads on James' lips. “So, you want my pebble?”

“I want more than just your pebble, James.” Sirius tugs at James' wrist, making him stumble forward on the snowy path, nearly colliding with his chest. “Clearly.”

James doesn't get a chance to say anything more to that before Sirius is kissing him.

It's a little off centre and their lips are chapped from the cold, but it's still the best kiss James ever had.

Sirius lets go of James' wrist so he can wrap his arm around James' waist, pulling him closer while still holding on to the camera with his free hand.

James sighs into the kiss and slides his hand into the pocket of Sirius' jacket. He drops the precious pebble safely into it before he wraps both arms around Sirius' neck to kiss him properly.

Peter: Mr Stark, i swear to god, that is NOT WHERE THAT GOES?

Tony: i make the rules, 'roos. and i say, it does in fact, go right here.

Peter: did you do any math? like...at all? you have like, a bajillion doctorates, and yet you haven't done the math for this?

Tony: hey i did- i did the fuckin' math, Pete.

Peter, amused: okay.

Tony, hesistant: ...okay, what does THAT mean?

Peter: no, i'm believing you. you did the math.

Tony, actually terrified: shit, what the fuck am i missing? i did the math, Peter, i swear. what the actual fuck are you on about?

Peter: *snorts* oh, NOW you're thinking your missing something?

Tony, distracted: uh huh, yeah. hey, pass me that screwdriver real quick?

Peter: yeah, catch- *hums* nice. anyway, you're good now.

Tony: mhm- wait, what?

Peter: you're good.

Tony, confused, and a little scared: ...underoos. what the fuck are you on about?

Peter: take a look at the equation you were following, what you actually did, and what you almost did.

Tony: ...oh my god i almost blew up the lab.

Peter: yeah- *snorts* yeah, you did.

Tony: how did you catch that?

Peter: well, unlike someone in this room, i've actually slept. when was the last time you had a proper meal and like...a minimum of five hours of sleep?

Tony: irrelevant.

FRIDAY: three days ago, Mr Parker.

Peter, smug: yeah, that's what i thought. thanks FRI, you're my favourite.

Tony: SHE'S YOUR FAVOURITE?

Peter: she tells me the intern gossip if i ask for it. by the way, lab 14D's coffee machine broke, and they sent a repair request that you never answered. they're gonna start a coup if you don't replace that.

Tony: FRIDAY?

FRIDAY: already ordered, boss.

Tony: if the interns start a coup, you're getting the company early. actually, what do you think of-

Peter: if you haven't talked to May, i don't wanna fuckin' hear it.

Tony: ah, yes. aunt hottie.

Peter, flat-faced: *gets up and just starts walking closer*

they're talking about how they're no longer interested in dating because their female friends treat them better than boyfriends do. they're realizing that being single is always better than being in a bad relationship. it's becoming a lot more normal and fun and hot for women to be single at any age. the women who have settled down with truly good men in truly happy relationships are encouraging other women to not take any shit because the right man won't need to be "trained". they're talking about how their mothers and grandmothers warned them to get a job and not get married, and they followed the advice.

This is the same girl who saw Annabeth as a respectable leader after she judo flipped her boyfriend on a diplomatic mission. Percy dodged a bullet by not dating her. Maybe Jason dodged a bullet too. But everyone has to kiss Annabeth's backside even if she's lowkey trash so maybe I should be pitying Reyna.

“Yup.”

“Like really you weren’t joking about that?” Hal said and Batman looked at him for a long while.

“Hey, sorry I asked.”

“No I’m counting. Yes I do, I have about ten. But I consider more than that to be my responsibility.” He said turning back to his report.

“… how do you have any time to yourself?” Hal asked and Bruce laughed softly and shook his head amused.

“I don’t.”

“No but seriously, how do you do it?” He asked and he thought about it thoughtfully, setting down the tablet.

“I patrol as Batman at night, I go to work in the morning and I can come home to take care of my kids and everything else in the afternoon. And I can train in the evening.

I sleep in twenty minute intervals. It’s highly effective. I can operate on three hours of sleep a day, freeing up time for my other roles.”

“So... what do you do when you have free time?” He asked and Batman just stared at him.

“I spend time with my kids.”

“No but like, when you have time to yourself and you’re not working?” He said and Batman looked frankly alarmed.

“I don’t have free time.”

“You don’t have-“

“No, that sounds awful. Well… I guess I meditate for the mission.” He said and Hal shook his head stunned.

“That’s… that’s not free time that’s staying sane.”

“Yes. Although I suppose twenty minutes is a bit much… I could probably function on ten minutes of sleep at a time” he mused and Hal grabbed his arm.

“No?!?”

“No?”

“No!! The hell do you mean, that’s insane. Batman you know that’s insane right?” He asked and Batman shrugged.

“It works.” He said, turning back to his tablet before looking at him again.

“But that’s why I push for more efficiency within the Justice League. This is my fourth role and it takes time away from other things I could be doing.

Every second we waste here on non significant things is a second I could have been spending saving lives in Gotham, or being with my children. I don’t wish to miss their events and other things that are important to them but sometimes I just don’t have the time.

I understand wanting to ‘goof off’ with your friends, but if you could do it in your own time and not during the meetings I am present that would help.” He said and looked down at his watch as he stood.

“I must go. My son needs me, I’ve spent the time I should have been completing this report talking.” He said looking sadly at the report.

“I-I’m sorry I didn’t mean,” Hal stammered and Batman shook his head.

“No it was necessary. It’s good to know how your teammates function. I should have phrased the information in a faster way.” He said with a sigh and stood up, stumbling slightly.

“Whoa, you alright?”

“Yes.”

“How long has it been since you last slept?”

“… yes.”

A black and white thinking means that one think in absolutes and does not believe in grey areas. The whole thing about Bruce is that he believes in rehabilitation and second chances, he does not believe criminals to be a lost cause. Yes, sometimes he says harsh things to them, but it's because they can be better and they are making the choice to hurt others.

Him being against killing is not him having black and white thinking, it's actually a proof that he doesn't have one, that he does not categorize people into two categories, the one that shouldn't be killed and the one we can kill. There are no absolute, everyone deserves the same amount of chances, which is infinite as long as they are alive, so he is against anyone dying.

Also, this mischaracterization of Bruce has having a black and white thinking has led to people saying that he would treat badly someone who killed in self-defense, WHICH IS NOT TRUE. It would sadden him, he would prefer if it didn't happened, but he never has judged a victim for defending themself.

Because he doesn't have a black and white thinking, he knows there are grey area, he sees everyone as grey (except children, children are white, which is why it is very disturbing to him when a child kills), there are no black and white. Except for Batman: Black and White, go read it

Batman, dropping down from the ceiling: Red Hood

Goons, trembling in fear but standing up to fight: Shit… what’s the Bat doing here

Red Hood, aggressively: What are you doing here, old man?

Batman, pulling out a lunch box: You forgot your lunch in the cave *walks over and hands it to him before peppering his cheeks with kisses*

Red Hood: Oh my gosh, Pa! Stop! You’re trying to embarrass me on purpose! *pushing Batman away and blushing under his mask*

Batman, taking out his grappling hook: No idea what you mean. Stay safe. Bye *leaves*

Goons, stunned: Whoa… boss, you are so red

Red Hood: Shut up! No I’m not! *shoves helmet on to cover his blush*

——

Tim, squished in a chair with Bruce: … so tight… so uncomfortable…

Bruce, typing away on his computer: That’s your fault. It was a perfectly fine chair with only me in it, then you suddenly came

Tim, squirming: Yes, but…

Bruce: Want me to move? You’ll have the chair to yourself

Tim, practically in Bruce’s lap: No

——

Bruce, watching TikToks in his room: Hmm *watching a video about Velcro babies*

Bruce, looking up: Hrn…

Jason and Duke are playing Sorry!. Dick is allowing Cass to adorn his hair with accessories. Steph is painting her nails. Damian is snuggled into his side, drawing. Tim is asleep across his lap. All of this was done on his bed

——

During an interview

Bruce: -So I believe that it would be best for us to leave that land alone for the native wildlife.

Bruce: Taking and destroying such precious land for a profit is disgusting, and I think Lexcorp should really start to think of the environment more

Bruce: Anything to add, baby?

Damian, half asleep on Bruce’s hip: … fuck Lex Luther

Bruce: …

Bruce: Well… you heard him

——

Tim, high on morphine from a procedure: Dad…?

Bruce, carding his finger through Tim’s hair: Yes, baby?

Tim, starting to cry: Daddy… I have something t-to tell you!

Bruce, panicking: Tim? Sweetheart, what’s wrong?? Do you feel pain? Are you-

Tim: I-I like girls a-and guys!

Bruce: What?? Oh… oh sweetheart. I already knew that

Tim: Do you… Do you still love me??

Bruce: More than all the stars in the sky. Why don't we try to get some sleep, hmm?

——

Reporter, running up to Batman: Mister Batman! Mister Batman

Batman: … *debating on escaping*

Reporter, holding up a picture of Signal: The world wants to know... is Signal yours?

Batman: …

Batman: What’s that in his chest?

Reporter: The symbol? … I guess it looks like a bat

Batman: Okay. Now stop asking me stupid questions. Use your brain.

Batman: I own the bat. Why else would anyone wear it? *disappears*

——

Steph: Hey, B man

Steph: I want a piggyback ride

Bruce: To where?

Steph, tense: Nowhere. Yes or no, man

Bruce: ? *wants to ask if she’s ok, but she’s got a vibe about her*

Bruce, in a joking tone: What’s in it for me, toots?

Steph, relaxing at not being interrogated: Undivided physical contact with me, your lifelong dream

Bruce: Deal

——

Alfred, strained: I love you very much

Bruce, searching his face: …

Bruce, genuinely confused: When did you get so bad at lying?

——

Duke, delirious from food poisoning: I… I can see a light

Damian: Shush, Thomas, you’re staring straight at the lamp

Duke: G-Grandma Wayne? Is that you?

Bruce: You’ve never met your Grandma. Stay with me, Duke!

——

Cass, sending Bruce a fit check video: -and then the boots you bought me last time

Bruce, texting back: Is that my jacket?

Cass: Nope

Bruce: I’ve been looking for that. You know I’ve been looking for that

Cass: No clue what you’re talking about dad

Bruce: Princess…

——

Bruce: I’m in Stephanie’s Hulu

Dick: We both know you have enough money to buy the company itself

Dick: Why are you on Steph’s Hulu

Bruce: I dunno, but I am

Bruce: She made an account for me, and she changes my profile picture every day

——

Duke: We’re supposed to talk about our emotions

Damian: Like what a healthy family is supposed to do?

Duke: Yes!

Bruce: Yes, we’re all in this together

Bruce: Like a hostage situation

——

Texting

Tim: Daddy-o, where are you

Bruce: I’m currently at the mall

Tim: You hate the mall?

Tim: Whore you with

Bruce: Please use an apostrophe

Bruce, sending a zoomed-in forehead pic of Stephanie grinning: Guess

Tim: You ever think it’s weird how my ex-girlfriend has integrated into our family?

Bruce: No

——

Alfred, sorting through a mountain of bouquets: …

Bruce, popping his head in: What are you doing? Why are there so many flowers?

Alfred: They’re all for you, Master Bruce

Alfred: I suppose someone is trying to woo you

Bruce: Oh…

Bruce: So what are you doing?

Alfred: Putting them away

Alfred: One pile for the wilted and dead. Another for my compost bin, and a third to donate to the women’s shelter

Bruce: …I don’t get flowers?

Alfred: No one is good enough for you, my boy

Alfred: I’ll buy you flowers later

Bruce: Okey. Yay <3

——

Bruce, on the couch, cuddling with Damian for the past two hours and watching Gray Ghost: *looks up when Tim enters the room* Hi, love

Tim: Can I-

Damian: No!

Damian: You had Baba all to yourself yesterday while I was at school

Damian: He’s mine today

Tim: Jealous bitch-

Bruce: Tim!

——

Cass: You okay?

Bruce, visibly on the verge of tears: Yeah *emotionless*

Cass: You are a lying liar who lies a lot

——

Bruce, rubbing his temples: Urg…

Jason: Whoa, what’s up with you?

Bruce: I’ve got this insistent headache that won’t go away… It’s killing me

Jason: Shit… did you get poisoned?

Jason: What was the last thing you ate?

Bruce, thinking: …

Bruce, thinking harder: …

Jason: …

Jason: When was the last time you ate something?

Bruce, thinking: …

Bruce, thinking harder: …

Jason: Dad! *dragging him to the kitchen*

——

Steph: *trips and falls on her face* Ack!

Bruce, desperately trying not to laugh: Oh, gumdrop *helping her up*

Steph: You sound incredibly condescending *allows Bruce to brush her off and hug her*

Bruce, hiding his face in Steph’s hair so he doesn’t laugh: No, of course not

——

Dick: Strongest immune system? You don’t count

Bruce: Hmm

Bruce: Could be Duke. He keeps eating shit off the ground, and we’re in Gotham

Duke: Hey!

Dick: True, it’s probably radioactive

Duke: I’m literally fine! You guys are mean!

——

Bruce: Hi, I’m Bruce, and when I was eight years old, my parents and I were coming back from the movie that I begged to go to on my birthday, when they were shot and brutally killed in front of me in a botched mugging

Bruce: I then had to stay with their dead and cooling bodies for hours in an alley way, covered in their blood, holding their hands, with people walking past and seeing me but not calling anyone, until the police finally arrived in the morning where they continued to ignore me for hours and kept me sitting in a pool of my parents blood, and when they actually started talking to me the first thing they did was ask if I was the one who killed them

Bruce: And people till this day question why my parents decided to go down Crime Alley, but it literally wasn’t called that back then. It was just Park Row. The crime was the murder of my parents. That’s why it’s now called Crime Alley, literally because of the crime of my parents’ murder. Their deaths fundamentally changed all of Gotham

Bruce: And I brought jumbo sour gummy worms

Duke: … Damn, coming out with the big guns right away

Cass: I told you this wasn’t the right ‘mood game’ to play in this family, especially

Dick: Now, if I follow up with my parents dying in front of me, it sounds like I’m copying you

Dick: Also, you being there made it significantly better for me

Jason: That’s why you gotta have more than one dipshit

Dick: I do have more than one! That’s just the first one

Steph: Wait, that’s seriously why it’s called Crime Alley?

Steph: Damn…

Bruce: I tried going for the least traumatizing thing that’s happened to me… I guess

Tim: I’m just glad you didn’t start the cult story; that one scared me

Bruce: … which cult?

Tim: ?

Tim: The super scary one that you were telling me about

Bruce: …

Bruce: That actually doesn’t narrow it down for me

Damian: Baba, the fact that there are so many that you don’t know is truly worrying

Cass: I’ve killed some clut members…

Steph: Inspiring Cass, truly

Cass, shrugging: Felt like I needed to say something

Cass: Can I have that as my thing?

Steph: No

Jason: We’ve all killed a few cult members before, you’re not special

Damian, nodding along: Yes, it’s quite easy

Duke: The fact that you’re not saying anything against that statement is concerning, Bruce

Bruce: Technically… I only indirectly caused their deaths… mostly

Dick, sneaking a hand into the bowl: I’m learning so much about you

Bruce, smacking his hand away: Don’t eat the gummy worms before anyone else has gone!

——

Bruce: I promise to rest for at least a week

Bruce: No, I swear it. On my life

Alfred: Master Bruce, you are suicidal in the highest degree

Alfred: Swear on anything else

——

Bruce, giving Dick something he hasn’t had since childhood: Here

Dick, ecstatic: Whoa! How’d you remember I liked this?

Bruce: Photographic memory. Total recall, chickadee, remember?

Dick: No, but you obviously did *kneels over laughing and slapping his knee*

——

Jason: I’m gonna torture you

Bruce: I told you, I didn’t even eat the last brownie

Bruce: I'm only a calorie deficit for a photoshoot

Jason: I’m gonna gather every single person you know

Jason: And we’re gonna form a human circle around you

Bruce: Where is this going?

Jason: Then we’ll just shout compliments at you! And they’ll be meaningful and deep, not surface-level!

Bruce, horrified: Don’t you fucking dare

——

Bruce: Damn, Alfred is inquiring about upping my anti psychotics

Dick: Ha, loser

Bruce: Bitch I’ll make him up yours too, don’t test me

Jason: Since when do you two need psych meds?

Bruce, looking over at Dick: Uh

Dick, sweating: Umm, you know, it doesn’t really matter

——

Duke: You ever notice how a swarm of bats always follows you?

Bruce: Hm?

Duke: Like, when you're bat-manning. Bats come out of the woodwork

Duke: It really adds to your whole aura

Bruce: I… I don’t think that’s a thing

Duke: It is

——

Jason, angry: Why do you keep walking away from me when I’m talking to you?!

Bruce, refusing to look at him: You talk with your hands

Jason: …

Jason: Fucking so?!

Bruce: So.

Bruce: You’re carrying your gun. You keep waving it in my face

Bruce: I can handle a lot of things from you, but not that

Bruce: Never that

——

Bruce, sick: Oh, it’s a cold, cruel world out here

Steph: I can ask Alfie to make you hot chocolate

Bruce: No, he makes it with water instead of milk

Bruce: It’s nasty

——

Alfred, trying out a new bread recipe: What do you think, Master Bruce?

Alfred: It is made from whole wheat flour and a small amount of cornmeal. It also contains oats, chia seeds, flax seeds, and hemp seeds. I also took the liberty of adding walnuts, almonds, and pistachios.

Bruce, chewing on the grainy and crumbly piece of bread, close to tears: I feel like a bird…

Bruce: Is this punishment? Did I do something wrong?

Alfred, offended: It’s healthy

Bruce, already crying: What did I do??? I don’t like this! *crumbs flying everywhere*

——

Batman: Between hurtling into traffic at 180 mph and changing this song

Batman: I will change this song

Dick: Dad! Both hands on the wheel!

——

Bruce: I so sleepy

Alfred: Go upstairs and take a nap

Bruce: Noooo. I won’t be sleepy if I have to move

Alfred: You can’t nap here, you’ll get a crick in your neck

Bruce: Everyone has to make sacrifices

——

Bruce, pale: Urgh…

Jason: Damn, Pa, what’s up? You lookin' fucking horrible

Bruce: I’m supposed to hang out with Cass and Damian today…

Dick: And…? What’s that gotta do with you looking sick

Tim: Oh, I get it. It’s an anxiety thing

Jason: Huh

Bruce: It’s just… leading up to an outing is always the worst. The impending sense of doom is very strong

Bruce: I know I’m gonna have fun when I get there, and I’ll enjoy myself. But I wanna cancel, I feel like throwing up, and I’m so fucking nervous

Jason: Yo… these are your children you’re hanging out with

Bruce: I know, you’d think my body would get the memo and chill out, but no

Tim: Yeah, I get it all the time

——

Texting

Bruce: Oh my gosh, why is nobody answering their fucking phones

Bruce: I’ve called you all a million fucking times

Bruce: What do I pay your stupid ass phone plans for

Bruce: Someone, come pick me up

Bruce: NOW

Bruce: I just got hit by a car pedestrian style

Bruce: I’m so fucking embarrassed

Several people typing at once

——

Tim: You ever think it’s weird how we can’t see Dad’s face when he’s wearing the cowl?

Dick: Hm?

Jason: Oh, the shadow thing?

Tim: Yeah!

Steph: It freaked me out the first time it happened

Steph: Like, no matter where I moved or what I did, I couldn’t see his face

Damian: Yes, I was… shaken the first time, when I could only see his white eyes peering at me from the shadows

Damian: His silence and stealth are unimaginable

Dick: Oh yeah… I guess we’ve all gotten used to it, huh?

Tim: I don’t think he even knows he’s doing it most of the time

Jason: Pa makes himself scary, but he’s oblivious to the fact that he' didn’t do that to make him scary 's scary without trying sometimes

Steph: You think it’s enchanted?

Dick: Like the cape?

Tim: Oh my gosh, the fucking cape!

Tim: I tried to figure out the logistics of that thing and almost gave myself an aneurysm

Jason: I went nuts the first time he became a blob in front of me

Steph: Love when he does that

Steph: Is it weird to call a grown man cute?

Damian: It makes me wonder where Father sourced his items

Dick: Dad makes them with regular fabric, believe it or not. He’s been making them since before I came around

Jason: Then what the fuck??

Steph: This is giving me a headache

Tim: Think he’d tell us if we asked?

Damian: Baba? No

Dick: True

——

Bruce, walking into the theater room: What’s everyone-

Dick: Shhh!

Steph: Yeah, man, the movie’s about to start

Cass: Been waiting on this release for two years

Duke: My hands are shaking. Literally, I’m dying

Jason: I’m only here because they forced me-

Tim: Shut up! You’ve been waiting for this since forever, just like the rest of us

Damian: Quiet, heathens! It’s starting!

Watching the movie silently in awe, then Bruce comes on screen

Cass: … what

Tim: Dad, you need to start suing someone cause they took your likeness

Bruce, raising an eyebrow: Thanks, but no. That’s me, sweetheart

Bruce: I am famous, remember?

Dick: When did this happen?!

Bruce: A while ago? Dickie you were there

Dick: …

Dick: I have actually nothing to say in defense of myself. I thought it was just a regular shoot and fell asleep

Jason: You’re such a fucking idiot

Steph: What the fuck, man?!

Damian: Baba, you should have told us you were going to star in such an important movie for this generation

Bruce: It’s literally on my calendar

Bruce: You’d know that if any of you bothered to look at it

Duke: Do you have other movies and shows lined up?

Bruce: *shrugs* Check the calendar

——

Tim, angrily: I can take care of it myself. I don’t need your help

Bruce, rolling his eyes and so over it: Sure thing, burger boy, I’ll leave it in your capable, greasy little hands

Tim, offended: What?! Burger boy?! Greasy little hands?! *shrill and high-pitched voice*

Bruce: Hey, you’re the one who named yourself after a fast food restaurant

——

Damian, trying to sneak out through the front door: …

Bruce, walking by: Ah ah *snaps fingers and points upstairs* Go

Damian: Ugh! *planning to sneak out the window*

Bruce: Don’t even fuckin think about it.

Damian: How did you-

Bruce: Oh, please. Do you see how many siblings you have? I’ve seen it all

Alfred: And done it all too

——

Steph, walking into the library: Whoa, what the fuck is happening?

Cass, actually on the verge of tears: Dad is ignoring me

Bruce, reading peacefully on a nearby couch: …

Steph: No way, B-man would never purposely ignore us when we’re not being shits. Especially not you

Bruce, turning his head and looking surprised: Oh, hello, girls

Bruce, taking out his ear plugs cause he was overstimulated earlier: Honey, Cassandra, hello. When did the two of you get here?

Bruce, looking at Cass, concerned: Are you alright, princess?

Cass, completely embarrassed: Peachy. Let’s go *tugging Stephanie out*

Steph, elated and laughing: Super assassin who notices everything did notice that-!

Bruce, confused: Hrn? Oh well. *puts earplugs back in*

——

Dick: Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving the country for two weeks?

Bruce, holding his luggage: Well, hello to you too, Richard. Yes, my plane ride was fine, I’m good, how’re you?

Dick: Cut the shit. You can’t just go missing like that

Dick: What if Gotham needed you or something?

Bruce: I wasn’t missing

Bruce: I told the people who needed to know

Dick: I-

Bruce: Besides, you haven’t talked to me in a week. Why would I tell you?

Bruce: Did you realize you needed me for something? Is that the only reason why you reached out and noticed I was gone?

Dick: That’s not-

Bruce: Dick. I just got home. Before we start another screaming match, can I see my other children first?

Bruce: I’d like to see Damian and Tim while I’m still in a good mood

Dick: … mhm

——

Tim: Hey, Dad-

Bruce: Not now, child number three

Tim, looking confused: Child number- *muttering to himself*

Bruce: Duke, Damian, and Cassandra are causing a ruckus

Bruce: If I don’t intervene now… people will die

Tim: The fuck are they doing?

——

Bruce: Alfie, I got a paper cut *holds up finger*

Bruce: See? It’s bleeding

Alfred, very serious: Oh my, that’s quite serious

Alfred: Shall I bring out the big guns? Dinosaur Band-Aids?

Bruce, also very serious: Yes, dinosaurs are very necessary

——

Batman, jumping from roof to roof during patrol: …

Marco, a seven-year-old boy who lives nearby: Mister Batman, Sir! Hello!

Batman: Hrn *jumps down* Marco

Marco: Oh, yay! You remember me! That’s good

Batman: Are you safe?

Marco: Yup! I just wanted to give you this! *holds up drawing* Mama said you’d really like it, so I did my best

Batman, gently taking the paper and exchanging it for a lollipop: I do. Thank you

Marco: Ooo, candy! Thank you, Mister Batman! Have a good day- I mean, night fighting crime! *runs away waving*

And I absolutely LOVE the way they show Arjuna and Krishna's friendship in this.

*Batfam member does something inexcusable for the mission*

Fans:Omg leave them alone they’re traumatised!

*Batman/Bruce does the exact same thing*

Those same fans: Omg what a shit dad. Who does that! Batman is the worst fucking character!

Batman makes says something wrong but apologies/makes up for it*

Those Fans: Shit dad. Abusive dad. Is a shit person. Bad hero.

*batkid does the same exact thing*

Fans: Awwww see so sweet! Our precious angel who can do no wrong.

Me:????

Ok so people do this a lot. It’s the same with certain comics they’ll all get up at Bruce for something but someone else in the family does it and suddenly it’s all sunshine and rainbow. For one: ‘Ohh Bruce didn’t kill the joker’ ok? Stfu. Like nor did Alfred. Like nor did WonderWomen his idol. Nor did Dick. Like Bruce lost his son and was mourning and yall were like idgaf kill Joker. And all got up at him when he actually tried to but was stopped by SUPERMAN. It took SUPERMAN and waller to keep Batman from murdering that clown bitch!

Also I feel like people who call Bruce a bad parent are a bit weird because. I have a very shit dad and know what it’s like to have someone to be cold and distant and to push their values onto you as a child. And out of all the movies and comics I’ve read, I’ve never seen him do that or anything similar.

In that fic alfred didnt do SHIT to help bruce other than advicing tim to let him be.