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Edward tried his best to hold back burning tears.
He managed to stay put over the trial, he kept a strong facade on as he left Arkham, he didn't speak much over the car ride, he schooled his features into a controlled mask at home.
Home.
Bruce offered him a real, legal home, by setting up a special sentence for him: instead of being kept under Batman's watch to work with the vigilante on cases, he managed under his civilian identity to convince a (probably paid) jury to give Bruce Wayne his entire custody; the billionaire pretended he felt guilty on the behalf of his parents for what happened in his past and intended to gift the Riddler a better way of life in order to recover plus definitely move on.
Edward didn't shed tears over the afternoon in their shared place when reading a fairytale to baby Steph then playing with her, making funny faces then hiding his eyes with both hands to make her laugh whilst she wriggled, on her back in the middle of a nest of pillows, busy gripping her tiny feet with her minuscule fists.
He didn't cry when putting the little girl on his lap as Bruce secured a baby bottle at her level for her to drink.
He didn't cry when eating his own refined dinner with the owner of the house and the snarky British butler who engaged in light talk with the boys. Alfred's unreadable though serene expression gave the impression he knows... much more than they do about themselves.
He kept his cool when showering, brushing his teeth, then carefully washing Stephanie's small frame in the large sink of the bathroom located at the bottom of Bruce's parental suite, while the vigilante showered in the opaque cabin nearby.
No tears rolled down his cheeks either when he put his baby, wrapped in her cute purple and blue pajamas, in her cradle.
He patiently waited for Bruce to exit the bathroom, place a soft kiss on Stephie's blonde head to wish her good night, turn off the bedside lamp then slip under the blankets with him.
Watching the cradle and its sleeping occupant, Eddie didn't react to the feeling of the arm lazily wrapping around his waist as Bruce naturally fit in the big spoon role.
This was so domestic. So... 'couple-like', even if the Bat refused to consider their partnership anything romantic. Lately, he blushed a lot more than he used to previously when around Ed, nevertheless he didn't broach the relationship topic, so the former rogue wouldn't either. He may be in love with Bruce with every fiber of his being, he won't confront him again about unrequited feelings.
"Bruce?" He whispered in the dark, the sole lights entering coming from the moon and shining stars visible from the large bay window.
"Yes?"
"Are you... alright? I mean... aren't you going to... regret the decision you took earlier...?"
Despite staying mostly collected, Ed could hear the pain in his own voice at the idea Batman may invalidate the sentence to keep him under his watch and... throw him back in Arkham over the rest of the journey he has to undertake to fulfill his reformation program.
Bruce snuggled closer to him, in an awkward but sincere attempt to express comfort.
"I took that decision a long time ago," he murmured with an audible fondness. "Before you brought Stephanie home, when we became... friends while investigating, I was already determined to keep you around. Now that we are raising our daughter together? I can't even imagine you going back to Arkham between two cases. I... I need you here. I love to... have you here. With Steph, Alfred and I. Like..."
"Like a family?"
"Yes. My family."
This was not quite a declaration, it rather resembled Bruce addressing his abandonment issues by refusing to let go of the semblance of a patched-up team he created.
Yet... Without a doubt, this was 100% genuine.
Bruce is not playing games. He won't go back on his decision. He won't... cast him out of this family life they forged together.
The Bat didn't say anything when Edward turned around, buried his face into the fabric of his pajama top and cried, at last, weeping silently like he did at night in the orphanage, trembling between the strong arms that held him close.
Bruce didn't comment, he just hugged him and rubbed small circles on his back until Eddie calmed down and fell asleep, relieved to attest he is fully accepted into this new chapter of their book.
A small, peaceful smile printed on Edward's face at the sweet contact of Bruce's lips against his forehead when the Bat promised:
"I will never, ever let you down."