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Bruce is acutely aware that he is staring. He hasn’t taken off the cowl yet, and the lenses only make it more visible, going as far as making it look like he’s squinting. He’s not. But he is staring.
There is, a bruise, on Jason’s jaw. An ugly, dark purple on the edge and too-serious-black in the centre, big and disturbing bruise. On Jason’s jaw.
And Bruce isn’t completely stupid. Bruises are normal, they fight without superpowers, without weapons most of the times, against threats to the world – a bruise is expected. Finishing the night with just a bruise is great, actually. Bruce’s heart always pinches a little when he sees his children hurt, but they’re safe and not in danger and proud so, he’s learnt to deal with it. Difficultly.
But Jason has weapons. Jason has guns and knives and bombs and actual body-armour. More than that, Jason has a helmet . Jason is the leader of the new trend of Gotham vigilantes wearing head-protections and Bruce absolutely supports this trend. Jason’s face shouldn’t be bruised, unless something Bad™ happened, in which case Jason should have more than a bruise.
But he doesn’t. Jason is diligently filing reports and doesn’t look like he’s in any pain at all – and though his posture makes Bruce’s cringe a little – he looks fine .
Jason didn’t have a bruise when he came by the Batcave the day before. And sure, it was more than a few hours ago, but Jason isn’t like Bruce. Jason isn’t Gotham’s most helpless CEO. Jason doesn’t have a secret identity to protect and a public persona to maintain.
While Bruce can’t exactly defend himself if he’s attacked as a civilian, there’s nothing stopping Jason from kicking the ass of whoever’s trying to hurt him. Plus, with his frame, Jason isn’t usually a target, he’s tall and big and he can look particularly mean when he tries.
But there is a bruise on Jason’s face. Bruce doesn’t know how he got it, knows that it doesn’t matter, in the end, but seeing that ugly stain on his son’s face makes something in him twist.
He uses all the training and stealth he has to put an icepack near Jason without being noticed before leaving the Batcave.
**
It’s when they’re vigilantes that they should be the strongest. They can defend themselves, they’re armed, people’s perception of them help and most importantly, they have allies.
In reality however, the most vulnerable Bruce has ever seen his family is at night, wearing a domino mask. There must be something in the Batcave, the air maybe, or perhaps the light, that makes them lower their defences. Maybe the bats’ cuteness convinces them that it is safe, or maybe Alfred has made the atmosphere into something so much more comforting.
The first time Bruce had seen Dick slumped at the Batcomputer, he’d felt panic rush through him before remembering that the boy had come home perfectly safe, and that he knew that because he had been with the acrobat the whole time. And because he doesn’t want Dick to sleep in such an uncomfortable position, in such a cold place, Bruce makes sure he’s a little louder than usual when changing and pretends he doesn’t see the red marks on Dick’s face when they leave the cave.
Then it happens again and again and again, and slowly, Bruce changes his setup. The Batchair becomes better and better, more comfortable but better for your back as well, the batdesk is raised and the layout rearranged. Blankets are bought, and the soft, bat-themed one Bruce bought to make the boy laugh becomes part of the décor.
The number of blankets grows throughout the year, but when Bruce sees one of his sons falling asleep in the Batchair, a blanket around their shoulders, something in Bruce’s chest softens.
**
Defining Robin is more complex than you’d believe at first glance. Robin isn’t only a vigilante, isn’t only a beacon of light, isn’t only a person.
Robin is a symbol.
“My bad, I didn’t think you were getting your riddles from facebook.”
A very sarcastic symbol, Bruce thinks drily. Not that he doesn’t appreciate sarcasm, but hearing some of the things his children says to people who wouldn’t hesitate to kill them… Sometimes he wonders if it’s because they’re teenagers, or if they simply do not know fear.
Riddler glares at Robin for a second, but finally turns his gaze back towards Batman, “Riddle me this-”, only to be interrupted by a loud yawn. Riddler glares again.
“Sorry, dude. I only have so much energy I can devote to aesthetics and shitty monologues if I want to survive…”
And Bruce is extremely proud of his sons because they are brave and funny ; but he would also rather they didn’t try to piss off the people who want to kill them.
So he does what he does every time, and pretend Riddler is the only true rogue in his heart , his nemesis, his arch-enemy - the most threatening man this side of the universe. And he solves the goddamn riddles instead of brute-forcing his ways through.