#batman asks

the worst moment of bruce’s life atp is sitting in his parents blood, holding their hands as they breathe their last. it’s the reason bruce does what he does, it’s what fuels his compassion for others, and it’s what created his life’s mission.

and when bruce is older and at joe chill’s hospital bedside, he’s holding his hand as his heart slows and stops. but its also representative of the solution to bruce’s mission - a belief in people’s ability to change and want to make amends, a hand extended to those who need it most, restorative justice for gotham.

it is very full circle!

it's been forever since i've read it so i'm fuzzy on the details but i remember thinking it seemed like a really good way for Bruce to more neatly tuck away the grief from his parents death while affirming the correctness of his path as Batman

No not at all. It depends on which time frame it’s in. Late 60s early 70s, Dick was trying to break free and be on his own but Bruce was being over protective and wasn’t letting it happen.

From most to least likely; how willing are they to let him rest?/let go of him?

hmmm that's a good one.

Cass and Steph are most likely to let him rest, Steph doesn't need him the same way the others do and Cass is more likely to respect Bruce's wish to rest

i think Duke would stand somewhere between Steph and Dick but i wouldn't really know. like Steph i don't think he really needs Bruce and would be more willing to let go, but it might depend on whether or not he thinks the city needs Bruce as Batman

Dick is middle of the pack because he did canonically dump Bruce's body in a lazarus pit already but that was only after Tim campaigned hard for why Bruce was secretly alive somewhen else. Dick's need for Bruce to be in his life would fight hard against his desire to let Bruce rest, and what else was going on in his life at the time could tip the scales either way

i think Damian comes in next as slightly more likely, i would put him as very likely when he was younger and had control of the situation and less likely if he was older and had mellowed out and learned to balance his vs other people's needs