Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a dark and dank night in Gotham, Bruce was just about done with the rounds. When he saw some muggers trying to grab a lady’s handbag, he jumped down from the gargoyle he was perched on and descended to the ground. He uppercut and shin kicked the assailants into submission, but one was still able to speak they uttered and slurred and spat the words out “ZmUR-En-ARrrh”.

Bruce didn’t think much of it, he heard crooks mumble and bumble all sorts of things but this stuck out to him. He had a feeling he was forgetting something wildly important that he locked away for some reason. He texted the police the location of the crooks and left to go to the manor, as he used the grapple gun he heard a voice. “You should let me have the reins, chum.” Bruce was baffled who was it this time? Scarecrow? Joker? The villain of the day? He usually didn’t hear voices, and this concerned him greatly. “It’s so easy, just give up!” The voice sounded like him contouring his own voice into something unique, passionate and emotive. If he could put a finger on it it kinda sounded like Zorro? From the legend of Zorro, he didn’t like to think about the movie ever since he was 8, whe-when.. no he wasn’t going to think of it now.

No, he was going to page his kids. Tell them he might be compromised. “Chum.. Really? You don’t trust me?” “I’m trying to help you.” “We’ve know each other for so long! And still you don’t trust me?” Bruce was slowly reaching towards his pager, he felt like he was moving through honey. Time slowed down, his own hands started to go against him. He was struggling to remember what it was that was so important, the words they held meaning. What was it?? Bruce couldn’t move his hands, he couldn’t do anything. He felt trapped in his own head, like so many times before.

His hands moved to his utility belt, opening a compartment that held his snacks. His defiant retaliations, yielded no regainment of his body. “Damn, these are so good.” Said the voice aloud. Bruce was completely racked, nothing made sense. out of all the possessions he’s lived through, they didn’t last long. And now that he was thinking, wasn’t there something he did to shield himself against such threats??

He couldn’t remember, and the more he stayed trapped in his head the less he could see through his eye’s. He tried desperately to think of something anything, but nothing came.

And then there was nothing, but a black void. He tried to look around but all there was, was big black void. He tried to talk, words came out but they felt muffled. Looking around he saw nothing, this was different from the other times he’s been possessed. He could see, feel, but not regain his body. This, this was different. It felt familiar, maybe it was the concussions that came with the job, maybe it was the collapsing unconscious that he did annually, but this felt like his unconscious.

He looked at himself, expecting his suit and cowl to be on his face. But he was wearing a black tank top and long black pants, with long black gloves. Strange, this is usually what he wears when out of the cowl, and out of W.E business. He feels like someone is watching him he looks around and sees a small child, no older than 8. Being Bruce Wayne, father of 7 he asks the kid who he is. since the chance that this kid is possessing him is very high.

The kid looks at him with cold icy blue eyes and walks closer, he sits down next to him “Bruce, you might know me?” the kid said meekly and quiet. Bruce was now VERY confused, out of all the mind trickery he’s been through this takes the cake. This kid can’t be him, yes he has black hair and blue eyes, yes he is eight, and yes he knows he is in his head right now. But it can’t be 8 year old him, it doesn’t make sense. “Who are you? A circus strong man?” The kid said, this time more matter of fact and not quietly. “Bruce Wayne, isn’t that funny?” He said.

“Huh, that’s my name too. Are you my cousin?” The kid said. Now bruce was worried, this has never happened in his 25 years as batman. Out of all his enemies he couldn’t think of any who’d even try anything like this, mad hatter only affected his dreams and his madhat tech doesn’t work on him, joker couldn’t dream of doing anything like this, Ra’s doesn’t even have any motive for putting him where ever he is, (he’s very dead.) Jarro is at the watchtower, starro is dead, he wasn’t in contact with any magic users, the only thing that happened was that mugger saying nonsense. “No I’m not your cousin well I don’t think? Where are we?” Bruce said to the kid. “Oh, you know. My head, this is where I go usually.” The kid said.

But this was his head, not the kid’s. unless the kid really was younger bruce, it’d make sense if this was something he concocted in his mind but with every passing moment he’s starting to think that this is the strangest possession he’s ever had. “What do you mean your head? This is my head.” Bruce said. “No, this is my head?” The kid said. “Are we the same person?” Bruce said. “No, we aren’t. I’m bruce, you’re a Wayne.” The kid said. “Okay Let’s say I’m a Wayne, why do you think I might know you.” Bruce said. “I think I’ve been you before, you know that Boy Scout? I know he’s clark, because I was you.” The kid said. “When was this?” Bruce asked. “Hnn? The first meeting at the league remember?” The kid said confused. “I was there yes, what do you mean?” Bruce said. “I was watching, duh.” The kid said. “I’m getting nowhere, are you the mad hatter because this is just annoying.” Bruce said. “No, I know who he is I’m defiantly not him. He wears… a green hat? And has… red hair?” The kid said. “Yeah that’s him alright, seen him?” Bruce replied. “Nope, not in awhile” the kid said popping the P. “How do you get out of here?” Bruce said. “Oh, I don’t know. It just kinda happens, I think you say a magic word like in alibaba and the 40 thieves. But that wasn’t always the case, I don’t think I’ve seen anything in a long time.” The kid said. “Do you know what the magic word is?” Bruce said strained, every minute in here means whoever has my body can do whatever they want. “Umm, it has something to do with what my dad said last. Zor-ten-ark?” The kid said. “Zur-en-arrh? I think that’s what it was.” Bruce said. “Maybe it will work maybe it won’t, I think that’s the other guys name though.” The kid said. “Who? There’s other people?” Bruce said. “Oh yeah, there’s two more. Ones a bat? Thing? Shadow? He terrifies me. And the other one is like the bat, but more colourful and happy. He plays with me sometimes, he tells me stories about the bat’s adventures! He’s just as cool as the Grey ghost! But not cooler, the grey ghost stops all the bad guys and isn’t terrifying.” The kid said. “I dress up as a bat” bruce said. “No.. wait, are you the bat? That’d be so cool, so did you ever figure out who the clown guy is?” The kid said. “Yes I did, his name is jack, jack Napier.” Bruce said. “Whoa, that’s cool. What’s your favourite episode of grey ghost!” The kid said excitment bubbling off him. “Oh, I think it has to be the bomber episode.” Bruce said. “Oh mines the episode where spectre is introduced! He’s my favourite!” The kid said.

Bruce just started relaxing for the first time in what felt like decades, maybe it was that he wasn’t in control of his body. Maybe it was this kid, that’s some sort of version of kid bruce. But he was having a nice time, he and the kid talked for as long as it was. Time doesn’t exist here, they talked about things that interested them. Like Grey ghost, and history and how some of the meta’s worked. It was so weird, bruce was happy. He felt like himself for the first time in forever, thoughts melded words weren’t spoken. He felt real again, he looks around expecting the kid but no-ones there. He takes everything around him into account, he was back at home at the bat-computer. He was writing something, about a patrol he went on. He was wearing a completely different set of clothes, not the suit but yellow pants and purple tee-shirt. He didn’t even know he owned such things, yes he had a good couple of yellow sweaters and suits. But he doesn’t remember these yellow pants in his closet, or the dreaded purple tee-shirt. He swore to never wear the colours, where’d did this one come from? He thinks back to that one time he confiscated some of jokers clothes that one time, and how he kept it in the cave for if he ever needs it. He takes off the shirt to better look at it, it’s the joker’s alright. He throws it aside disgusted, how long was he wearing it? He walks up the stairs to the manor, yawning what time was it? Probably morning.

Slowly up the stairs, he went. opening the secret passage, to the rest of the manor. He quickly remembered that he didn’t remember anything that happened other than the long but weird talk with the kid, and he was out on patrol. He walked to his room to grab any other set of clothes, he Currently was just wearing the yellow pants that he didn’t put on. Looking at the grey scale that his wardrobe was had filled him with great comfort, he took out a nice long sleeved grey sweater and black slacks. And headed to the kitchen, he heard life coming from there and was hungry. He glanced out the windows, it was midday and the Gotham sun that rarely shone was shining bright. “Morning.” Bruce said. dick and Tim were sitting at the bench watching Alfred make pancakes, they took notice in Bruces arrival. “Bruce… why do you sound different again?” Dick said. “What do you mean?” Bruce said with the gusto, and grumble he was lacking before. “Bruce you.. how do we explain this? were completely different sounding. I thought it was just random voice training for undercover work, you said that’s what it was for. You really do some weird things, but you don’t remember the last like? 3 weeks?” Dick continued. “Um, oh. Okay, well I think I’ve been compromised.” Bruce said. “YOU WHAT, no tell me this is a joke?! BRUCE WHAT.” Dick cut off Tim who was about to say something. “Dick, I noticed like straight away. so I did alot of tests and checks. Nothing came up, no mind control, no brain rewriting, no hidden agenda. Just bruce.” Tim interjected.

He obviously wasn’t himself because he didn’t remember any of the last 3 weeks, but maybe it was that other guy that the kid told him about. “Well that wasn’t me, I also talked with a kid in wherever I went in those 3 weeks.” Bruce said. “What, master bruce?” Alfred said just joining the conversation after finishing the pancakes. “I don’t know Alfie, I Don’t remember the last three weeks.” Bruce said.

Alfred’s eye’s widened, he lost his composure for a second but found himself shortly. “Master bruce, have I been serving a imposter again?” Alfred said. “I.. don’t know, I think it’s something I did to myself? I can’t remember, the kid said something about a code word.” Bruce said. “A, code word? Since when do you have a code word that activates an alternate personalty??” Dick said. “Honestly, I think it has something to do with that man.. you know the man, his name is blurt? Curt? Doctor Crut?” Bruce said. “Wait doctor hurt? Why Yes master bruce, I remember him. You said you did something to acquire mental barriers against foes long ago.” Alfred said. “But you also said that the process got interrupted in someway, could this be a result of that interruption?” Alfred continued.

Bruce thought hard, it was so long ago. It was barely after he adopted dick, he tried to kill joker for good he thinks. He also remembers a strange looking batman with yellow, purple and red accents dawning his suit, he wasn’t sure where this memory comes from. But he remembers it. “Yeah, I think that’s right. Strange, I have a great memory when it comes to anything but this. Strange, I wonder why.” Bruce said masking his confusion.

He looked at his loving family, and face palmed. This was bad, this was REALLY BAD. How many times has this happened and he not noticed? Or anyone noticed, this was bad. Maybe he should just say he was testing them? Then they wouldn’t worry and make everything worst.

he needs to meditate and try to get in contact with that kid in is head. He knew something he didn’t, and that was never a good combination. “Okay you passed, this was a test. Disregard everything I said, you did great.” Bruce said nervously, though his nervous was a cooler calmer voice. “Really B? Okay, you are paranoid as all hell so I don’t know why I didn’t expect this.” Dick said. Alfred nods as he starts dishing up pancakes. Tim looks proud, as he did the right thing in the quote unquote “test”.

Bruce stabs a fork into his freshly made pancakes, his knife slices at them. While he thinks of things to check on, this was gonna be a long day.

Chapter Text

Well it had been a while since that day where he lost control of his body and met the kid version of himself in his head, that had been weird. He’d gone about his days since then like normal, this “fake batman” seemingly having disappeared.

he’d been at one of the computers in the watchtower typing away about one of the rogues when it happened, it was strange again. He was at the computer and he dazed off lost in thought, and when he snapped back he was in the league meeting scheduled for well next week.

He looked over to the rest of the league who were looking at him funny. bruce was saying something, not that he could remember it now. The entire league held onto his every word, what could he have been talking about?

Bruce does a stage cough and looks at hopefully his notes quickly. “Batman? Uh, why are you looking through the brief?”

Bruce does a little bit of a double take, no. what could be happening? He racks his brain for the file or the memory that could contain the information just on the tip of his tongue. All of a sudden he hears a voice in his head.

“Heh, okay I’ll tell you. So mr mind the weird caterpillar freak is taking over Fawcett again, yes he’s green and adorable very, very, mean though. Know that the hard way.” The voice says, a young boy’s voice says.

Bruce does another stage cough and resumes “so, Mr mind is attacking Fawcett that is why I have assembled you all together, he has uh” bruce stammers.

“Psst, he’s taken over the minds of the Fawcett citizens it’s in his name! Bruce 2 you really should be on top of this!”

Bruce continues “he’s taken over the minds of Fawcett citizens, he’s dangerous and has the ability to spread his take over outside of Fawcett.” Bruce finishes.

“You know what? I think you do okay, could have been better but you did okay? but.. Wow bruce 2 you really should get better at this!”

Bruce wants to draw attention to the voice in his head, but it’s that same kid he met in his head. Who was also him, and is it really a worry if it’s himself? He doesn’t know.

“Pfft! Bruce 2 you really crack me up, no don’t worry about this. It’s a me job! A batman job, and well.. you supposed to be normal, as normal as we can be really. Did you meet the other kid? That must have been what happened!” The young voice continued.

bruce didn’t quite understand what the kid was talking about especially the Bruce 2 stuff. But he continued on as normal.

“Meeting adjourned, I will see you at Fawcett” Bruce told the league.

“Okay, okay since you know about me now. Hi, I’m Batman. Yes, the Batman. no, I’ve been around forever. Yes, I’ve been Batman the whole time. No, it’s not just you in our head. Yes, you are Bruce number 2 since you like that name for some reason why? I will never know. I hope that explains all your questions I really have to focus on the task at hand and stop pouting at me because you can hear my true voice it’s so cringe.” Batman replied.

Bruce kinda just floundered, and before he knew it he suddenly wasn’t in control of his body anymore. Like before, he was pretty freaked by it honestly.

“Why are you doing this to me?” Bruce says faintly.

“PFFT, okay old man. Well I am an old man but that’s besides the point, I’ve been Batman the whole time it was my idea anyway Alfie must have explained it all to you during one of the early years concussions that’s nice. But nope you are not Batman, I’m Batman have been my whole life! I guess I could explain to you give you the whole rundown, I haven’t really told anyone yet.” Batman said.

“Well, it’d be nice not to be left in the dark you know” Bruce said a bit pissed of he was being honest.

“Okay, weirdo. So way back when, when we were 9 going on 10 our parents were shot by a robber, Joe chill you may be asking ‘who the hell is that!’ Don’t worry your pretty head.” Batman said.

While Batman is explaining to Bruce in his head he begins to suit up and takes the zeta tube down to Fawcett, Mr Mind’s worms are everywhere and the Fawcett citizens are all walking like zombies under his tyrannical regime.

“So, BAM! KABLAM! Our parents get murdered, and well it was pretty traumatic so little I guess you Bruce split into 2 parts, you and then me and then the kid o the other one I think that’s the one you talked to anyway” Batman continues.

Batman smacks the side of a person running at him at break neck speed, a small green worm comes out of the ear of the person.

“So, well. This whole being multiple people in one body thing has been happening since we were tiny. You know the court of owls? Yeah those guys, tortured us and all that so we would become a part of their weird little cult. They kidnapped us every single night at about 1am and you know tortured us they wanted us to love them and never go against them, eventually our parents found out and stopped them from doing it but the damage had been done and all that. So if you’re wondering that’s why Zur is a thing, he’s the guy you met before!” Batman continues yet again.

“So, why didn’t I know? Why did nobody know?” Bruce replies.

“Well, it’s kinda a huge weakness of ours." Batman stopped to sucker punch another Mr mind controlled person. “You know.. we have huge triggers, it’s a pretty glaring weakness of ours. Plus it’s again kinda cringe, oh no Batman is actually incredibly traumatised and you can take advantage of that to manipulate and weaken us oh nooo! Obviously I’m being sarcastic but it’s pretty annoying” Batman continues 

“I do have a question why are you so talkative and.. Happy.” Bruce asked

“I always am, I just have an incredibly gravelly voice. I am the dark knight after all I gotta be scary, it’s my thing! And I like our friends and family why would I be sad?” Batman snips.