#young batman

one of those aus where everyone thinks bruce, one of the founders of the justice league, is in his late thirties like everyone else, when in reality he couldn’t legally drink until that year, and he is even younger than barry, the thought to be youngest who’s 27. he is the idiotic teen who thought dressing as a bat and running around punching criminals as a 16 year old was a good idea, helped found a hero organization filled with adults at 17, and then he went and took in a murderous rage filled 8 year old when he was 18. what im going to focus on is the fact that on top of bruce barely being an adult, there’s dick being the leader of the titans/young justice gen 1, who are around 14-16, at like 10, and then billy is on the justice league and monitoring the titans/young justice at like 9-10. eventually when you get to like 5 years into being in the league, they’re gonna want to share identities and stuff, but bruce knows that absolutely under no circumstances can he allow them to know because if they knew that the big fierce batman was barely an adult, he would basically instantly lose all dignity and respect, and thats not even accounting for them learning that he’s bruce wayne, the gifted kid who was in college at 15 til he dropped out, and is now considered a big flirt.

Early Superbat where neither knows who the person behind the mask is but, they both clearly like what they see!! Or, Batman being a young innocent hoe and teasing the sexy alien he doesn't know he can trust yet

Superman is new to Metropolis and in essence the World considering he only just introduced himself a year ago. Still Clark feels that despite a few setbacks, he's done some real good for the people of Metropolis and society as a whole. Clark's civilian life is going just as well. Though Ma and Pa were worried about him being so far away from home, they knew that their darling son had to spread his wings at some point. So, they sent him off with well wishes and the demand that he come home for a proper dinner at least once a week. He was grateful that the internship he had at the Daily Planet during college became the full time job he needed to be able to support himself in the city after graduating. Things were going great if you asked Clark, he had friendship in Lois and Jimmy and mentorship in people like Perry White the editor in chief at the Planet. His apartment was small but inviting and Ma helped him set the place up to be more homey through video call. They would come down later to really see the place for his birthday next year. Clark couldn't have asked for more, good fortune smiling down on him as it was. And yet, even with all the good that had come his way recently, all the good he did for the people of his city, Clark couldn't really shake the loneliness that comes with leading a double life. Couldn't really keep up with what essentially was lying to his friends every time he had to "head out" early because of a major crisis happening down on 5th Street. He loved both his jobs but, the task of keeping one part of his life secret from the people in the other part was hard. Honestly, Clark really doesn't know how him and his parents were doing this in Smallville, really the only advantage they had was that Smallville was practically tiny compared to Metropolis. Still, Clark is hoping that soon he'll have another friend, one who he won't have to hide things from, someone who should understand him completely if the rumors are true. Maybe Clark is getting a little ahead of himself though, it's kinda hard to be optimistic in such a gloomy place like Gotham city.

Bruce made his way through the air using the roofs of Gotham to his advantage. It had been three years since he came back from training and two and a half years since he started working to rid Gotham of its filth and corruption, in spite of Alfred's vehement disapproval. It didn't take long to see some improvement in his city once he took up nightly patrolling and it allowed for him to test out some of his latest prototypes and additions to the grappling gun he used for more efficiency. However, recently Bruce's mind has been on something else entirely, something that should be in Metropolis right now, but for some reason was currently scanning the skies of Gotham as if looking for someone. The news of a super alien coming down to earth to save its people seemed too good to be true for Bruce. If they had been living here all this time why now? What made them come forward? And most importantly how did the people of earth know that the good intentions this alien had were truly good. For Bruce anything that was too good to be true probably wasn't true at all. So, Bruce did what he did best, investigation. So far, nothing has come up that would flag shady, unnecessary behavior from the so called Superman, but that doesn't necessarily mean nothing dangerous will ever happen, so Bruce keeps vigilant. Trying to gather as much information on him as possible in the event of a coup against earth. Right now Bruce was in the process of trying to figure out a list of abilities Superman could have. However, from where Bruce is lurking in the shadows, it seems like confrontation and first hand observation is the name of the game now. It is a shame though that this Superman isn't to be trusted, bodies like his are Bruce's type and the face is just as deadly of a combination.

It's only when Clark lands on a roof that he realizes he's no longer alone. 'it's showtime' Clark thinks to himself as he turns around only to come in contact with the most beautiful person he's ever seen in his entire life and that's with a mask on. Golly, here Clark was hoping the rumors of a guy fighting crime dressed as a bat were true, not even realizing that the Batman could also be hot as hell. It's hard for Clark to speak, distracted as he is and the Batman isn't helping the conversation along either, remaining silent as Clark stutters out his olive branch of friendship. God Clark hopes Batman doesn't follow the trail of his eyes that haven't moved up from the cinched waist, emphasized by the belt he had swung over wide, thick hips. 'No wonder Batman hasn't been seen by anyone, his thighs alone could start a riot, and his chest, Jesus'. It's then that Clark hears the low rasp that comes out of the man in front of him and nearly pops a boner right then and there. Why, because no one should have the right to sound that God damn delicious. Clark has to ask him to repeat what was said, praying Batman doesn't notice the ruffer, lower octave range of his own voice.

He is a ball of Neuro sparkleies and social anxiety, the tism is strong but he was lucky and able to turn his hyperfixation into a job. Yeah, he adopted someone with a barely 11 year age gap between them, yeah, he's kinda closer in age to the 14-17 yo Titans group than the main jl when it forms, and yeah he keeps an air tight lock on his identity around the league, but that's all fine! He has managed to craft a specific personality to make them all like him, even when he slips in habits and stims, while making sure they'll never get too mad at him that they leave! The theory calculations say it should work! :D

Hey @occasionalauthoring, I know you're busy with whumptober but I honestly don't know what to do with this one.

Clark, with one divorce, a full roster of enemies, and years in the justice league under his belt: I just want to know what you think you're doing here

Bruce, bleeding: fuck off

A young Riddler backed away from a young Batman terrified.

Riddler: Are you going to kill me?

Detective Comics #218, April 1955. Win Mortimer cover pencils & inks, Ira Schnapp letters.

Bruce creating the idea of batman while being that 8yr old boy covered in blood in a alleyway.

Bruce creating the no kill rule for batman and promising his parents bodies that he will get vengeance without killing.

There’s an eight year old, staring at him with the most intent expression he’s ever seen.

“CAN WE SEE HIM??”

He sighs, trying to maintain his scowl but it’s gone. Batman has now melted to Bruce, who stares down at his ward.

“It’s twelve in the morning. You need sleep.”

“I was in a circus, we never slept at your times.”

Bruce. a voice in his head pipes up. This is a child. This is a fragile being entrusted in your care. You cannot expose him to the dangers, to anomalies that could threaten harm in the future. Even those with god like abilities who’ve sworn to protect.

Especially those with god like abilities who’ve sworn to protect.

But it’s been three weeks. Dick hasn’t slept a wink, Bruce has been on edge as a result, and they both needed to rest. And both were too stubborn to admit it.

You’re doing this for a greater cause, he reminds himself as they watch from the shadows.

You’re doing this for Dick.

“The air smells different doesn’t it? Even the noises and the darkness. It’s not the same.”

He looks over to Robin, currently pinching his nose and making a face.

“Why do you think that is?”

He watches Dick blink, reading between the lines before finding the challenge Bruce poses. The child puffs out his chest, body tense as his eyes scan the area, doing a little break dance in the process.

“We’re not in Gotham!” Dick declares.

On seeing the nod of approval, Robin’s eyes bulge as he stills.

“We’re not in Gotham?? Why aren’t we in Gotham? Are we chasing down a new suspect? A bad guy? Did you want to go sight seeing? Or shopping? Because you need better clothes. Oh or is it-”

Bruce winces. He should be used to the onslaught of noise. And hyper activeness typical of a kid vibrating with excitement. But he likes the chatter, and lets the babble continue until Robin finally realises what it means to be a human and takes a breath.

Batman lets his mind go blank before it warns him of how everything could go wrong, lets his hand hover over the wood and knocks.

It takes three seconds before it swings open, and the embarrassed smile on Clark’s face dissolves when it sees the guests.

He watches the reporter freeze, mouth opening and closing as if trying to find the right words before Bruce decides to save him the trouble.

“Robin. Meet-“

“The reporter. You’re Mr. Kent right?”

That gets both his and Clark’s attention. Robin is by his side, one hand behind his back and squeezing Bruce’s cape for reassurance while the other is clenched.

He knows that look on Dick’s face. He’s trying to assemble an invisible puzzle, trying to place Clark in his world and assessing him.

Batman clears his throat.

“May we come in?”

Clark’s eyes snap to him. They knew each others identities of course, had worked together on several cases. He knows the thousand silent questions Clark was biting back right now.

But guess what? Bruce was tired. So. Very. Tired.

The door is pulled back, and they both enter, Dicks grip on the cape tightening.

“Is anyone else here.”

“No. Is there something wrong Batman?”

He looks between Clark and Robin, and sighs.

“Robin. Meet Superman.”

Clarks eyes widen, and Bruce savours the last few minutes of blissful silence before Dick processes the information.

There’s silent squealing, and Dick starts vibrating again.

“YOU’RE SUPERMAN?! OH GOLLY I ALMOST DIDN’T RECOGNISE YOU OH MY GOD SIR GOOD EVENING HOW ARE YOU WHERE’S YOUR COSTUME CAN YOU FLY-”

Clark’s eyes widen, clearly taken aback by the energetic chatter and curiosity the child has before his eyes soften and he kneels down before Dick, unbuttoning his shirt just enough for him to see the logo peeling out.

It was a playful gesture of mock secrecy, and that, Bruce notes with satisfaction, was the last straw.

Dick launches himself at the other, asking thousands of questions and rambling on and on about the stories he’s heard and begging Superman to show him his powers.

It’s clearly getting a bit too much for Clark, who takes a step back and shoots a pleading look at Bruce.

“He’s all yours. Don’t do anything stupid.”

And then Bruce leaves them both, ignoring the spluttering protests and helps himself to a glass of wine in the kitchen.

It takes less than two seconds before Superman follows him.

“Batman-“

Bruce raises a finger to motion for the other to wait, before he takes a swing of his glass. It wasn’t nearly enough to even make him feel tipsy, but the taste helped him pretend he could.

“He hasn’t slept for weeks, and he’s not listening to me. He’s been wanting to meet you though, so good luck.”

That shut him up. And if it didn’t, Bruce didn’t care. He had crossed his limit, played tennis with it and shot it into the sun before venturing so far back that he couldn’t even see it anymore.

Dick drags Superman back, latching onto his arm and demanding answers to his questions. There’s only enough time for Bruce to see the panic in Superman’s eyes before he’s gone.

Clark wouldn’t do anything to harm Dick, he tells himself as he watches Clark take off his plain clothes and don the cape. He has contingencies in place, Dick has kryptonite he’s been instructed to use just in case, and there were hidden devices locked onto their locations ready to fire at him and alert Bruce if anything.

It takes three hours of talking, flying and games of tag across the city before Dick’s eyes finally grow sleepy. The kid stubbornly refuses to admit it, and when Clark makes a comment about being tired he almost has a heart attack when Dick dives into the freezing water and then gives a thumbs up to say he’s not anymore.

Yep. Clark figures, swooping up the shivering kid before going to someplace warmer. just like his father. Too damn stubborn they might just escape fate just because of spite.

The minutes tick by, and as Superman carries Robin and flies above the city, silencing the noise and the bustle it isn’t too long before the chatter ceases, and Robin slumps.

Clark breathes a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy the boy’s company, or that they weren’t having fun. But Batman had always kept his distance, always been closed off and refused help, or even assistance when the situation was dire. Yet here he was, barging into Clark’s apartment with his child in tow.

Clark dared to hope.

Was it a sign of trust? of the beginning of an actual friendship? Or was it a test?

They silently enter his apartment just as the morning light starts to peak through the shadows, and Clark freezes.

Batman, feared protector of Gotham, cold, paranoid, vigilant batman who didn’t let anyone near him, who never showed his wounds or vulnerability, was fast asleep on his couch.

The mask was off, and the normal grimace on his face was gone, replaced by a calm, peaceful look that Clark didn’t want to disturb.

Dick mumbles in his sleep, awoken by the lack of movement and makes grabby hands towards Bruce. Clark chuckles. Bruce really did have a soft spot. Who would’ve thought?

He gently placed the kid next to Bruce, who stirs when Robin latches onto him but just grumbles before an arm protectively covers Dick and promptly falls back asleep.

They don’t acknowledge it the next day, and by the time Clark gets home from work they’re both gone, with a note from Robin demanding Superman meet them again.

Superman jokes about it years later when they partner for a case, saying that Dick saved Bruce from a lifetime of solitude and loneliness. He never expected the other man to have a fond look on his face before he agrees.

And even now, years later when Robin has now become Nightwing, the entire league at some point has seen Batman dump an overly energetic Nightwing onto Superman before leaving.