bruce has struggled with sleep ever since he was 8 years old. if not nightmares, he just passes out into a pure black slate that feels suffocating and has him waking up in a cold sweat, somehow even more tired than when he fell asleep.
and then, one day, sometime into his, what? second year with the league? third? the core 7 are having a casual hangout, evolving into a movie night. and bruce feels himself falling asleep. he feels comfortable. warm. safe. so he dozes off. and the league members are shocked. they've never even seen this man take as much as an innocent power nap during their time together. so – of course – they cannot mess this up. blankets, pillows and cuddles are required now.
bruce finally found his safe space. with them.
(does this give off poly vibes? i didn't mean to, but now it really feels like it. i love a little poly JL, so it's up to you <3)
Specifically imagine this Aquaman because he looks squishy and cuddly and I love him.
J'onn abruptly stops speaking, and Diana's attention leaves her conversation with Kal, moving over to him as he winces. Before she can even open her mouth, however, he raises his head, and directs an irritated gaze across the room.
"Aquaman would like your attention," he notifies, "though I would like to remind him there is no need to yell at me."
Diana gives her usually calmer friend a wary look, then seeks out Arthur, and—
Arthur's panicked gaze meets hers, but she cannot focus on his mouth silently pleading for help, captivated by Batman's usually harsh features softened by sleep, cheek even smushed up in the epitome of indignity where he lies slumped against the Atlantean's shoulder.
"Do we have a protocol for this?" Hal whispers, and Barry chokes on his drink, whacking him in the arm.
"What do we do?" Kal asks out of the side of his mouth, leaning in towards her.
They nod at each other, but as soon as Diana stands, Barry appears in front of her, arms laden with bedding from the bunkrooms.
When Kal approaches with one of them, Arthur tries to edge away from Bruce, and Diana hurries to pin him in place. "Do you plan to disturb him?" she hisses, and ensures her glare translates that there is indeed a correct answer.
"No," he grouches, sagging back onto the couch, and Diana gratuitously pretends not to notice when an arm snakes around Bruce, holding him close against the Atlantean's large build, to the point Bruce's face is all but completely obscured by his blond mane.
Hal drapes one final blanket atop Bruce, neatly tucking away his feet, because apparently she is not the only one to notice the Bat's habit of tucking his feet under the lip of his blankets when they're bunking down.
"What do we do now?" J'onn asks, head tilted to the side as he studies Arthur trying to pretend he isn't actively cuddling the Bat.
Barry grins at them, wrapping a blanket around his own shoulders. "I know what I'm doing."
