man it's like. a running gag at this point that Bruce cannot have a healthy romantic relationship in the comics
like, he's gotta keep up appearances, so he'll have his arm candy and sometimes that becomes a little more than arm candy, and sometimes he actually kinda likes that arm candy so he'll intentionally screw it up to keep them at a distance
other times it's women that know him as Batman, which you'd think would make things easier for him, but nope! when it comes to interpersonal (especially romantic) relationships, he's driven even more by fear, so once again he'll attempt to control the situation and keep them at arm's length.
and of course, he can't allow himself to prioritize his feelings over the mission (it still happens though! and that's what he's afraid of). most of his romantic "relationships" are little more than tools to dodge scrutiny, but there are times when he genuinely falls for someone and he still can't loosen that grip on control for very long.
from the Watsonian (in-universe) perspective, it makes sense. too many secrets, too much at stake, and a man with OCD, control issues, and a massive guilt complex operating in a city that is almost always out for his blood. no room for romance! and the one time he tried to make that room, to let someone in, she left him at the altar (i haven't read that one yet, so idk her reasons, but damn that's sad)
it's much easier to look at the Doylist (writer's) perspective though; the writers MUST keep the man single, while also making him a "ladies man", and they constantly set him up for failure in regards to loving someone like that
so his ideal romantic partner is actually gonna be another hero outside of Gotham. someone he doesn't have to lie to about his double life, someone who can keep up with his emotional rollercoasters, someone strong enough to shrug off attempts to hurt them to get to Bruce, someone he's fully and utterly trusted for years....
-glances at Clark and Diana-
yeah.....
