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Bruce rarely returned to his mansion after his identity was uncovered by Kal. When he did, he came alone.
It was the anniversary of Dick’s death, and Bruce’s heart ached. He’d practically raised the boy, taught him how to be a vigilante, and Dick had grown up into all Bruce was and more. Dick was his sunshine, the opposite to Bruce’s darkness. He had been Bruce’s crowning achievement in life - he was so proud to be Dick’s father.
And now he was dead. Taken away by Damian by some stupid game they used to play. Bruce would never forgive Damian for taking his eldest son away, never. It was on that day that Bruce’s heart died too - he became bitter and sad, much like how Kal must be feeling when he lost Lois and his son. While he usually couldn’t go to Dick’s grave due to being ousted as Bruce Wayne, Bruce made the effort to visit on the anniversary of his death.
Bruce had brought Dick’s favorite flower to the gravesite - yellow daffodils, the same color as his cape when he was Robin. He had gotten the exact number of flowers to match Dick’s age when he died, wrapped up in a red bow so he could place them in the vase on Dick’s headstone. Bruce wiped away a stray tear as he made his way towards the headstone. He was less than a few yards away when he noticed something-
-he wasn’t the only one there.
A familiar silhouette stood in front of Dick’s gravestone, blue roses in hand. Bruce couldn’t believe he was seeing Kal standing in front of his son’s grave. Yes, Dick had been close with Kal before Lois’ death, but this was still Kal, the man whose actions ultimately led to Dick’s death.
Still, he hung back and listened for what Kal was saying. Kal put the roses down and put his hands together as he kneeled, saying, “You were a wonderful man, Grayson. You brought hope to Gotham and kept all of us heroes together. In a way, I'm glad you aren't alive to see what's become of this world since your passing - you were the light for many of us, and we still miss you. Damian chose the flowers, he said that blue will honor your time as Nightwing.”
Kal rose from his kneeling position and asked, “Don't you know it's rude to eavesdrop?”
Bruce approached and frowned, “You aren't welcome here, Kal. Not when your actions lead Dick to his death.”
Kal reminded him, “Dick was like my son too. I also miss him every day.”
Bruce was firm, “Get out of here, Kal. You grieve your son, let me grieve for my son in peace.” To his surprise, Kal got up to his feet and flew away without arguing, though he remained in earshot range, which Bruce was unaware of.
Bruce clenched his fist, wanting to grab and throw the bouquet that Kal had brought off of Dick's grave - Damian had chosen them, and he was still livid at Damian for causing Dick's death. How dare his son’s killer bring anything for his son?
However, he held back and said to himself, “You'd probably have forgiven him already. You always did have a big heart.” Instead, Bruce picked up the blue roses and mixed them with the yellow daffodils he brought. Then he placed all the flowers into the vase that was built into Dick's gravestone with trembling hands.
Bruce may have a stoic demeanor everywhere else in his life, but Dick was the exception. It was for Dick that he shed tears openly. At once, tears ran freely from Bruce's eyes - he was with his baby boy again and yet he wasn't able to hold him, see him, or even speak to him, nor would he ever be able to again. He would never hear Dick laugh, argue, or cry ever again - and it was all because of a war they were fighting to the death.
Bruce fell down on his knees and lay on the long slab headstone, sobbing. He remembered crying like this when his parents died, letting tears run freely for him - he hadn't done this in decades. He began to speak in a hushed whisper, “I’m so sorry Richard…I should have been there, I should have been able to stop Damian. I failed you as a father.” Bruce clenched his fist and lightly banged on the gravestone, like he would be able to wake Dick up from the grave…like he would wake up from a bad dream and everything would be okay. Bruce curled up into the fetal position and breathed slowly, trying to get his emotions under control again.
Unknown to him, Kal was listening to his sorrows from high in the sky, and he wiped away a stray tear of his own imagining Bruce’s suffering of watching a child grow only to lose them. After some time, Bruce’s belabored became more even and Kal silently floated back down to Earth. He never thought he would live to see the day where Bruce was sprawled out on Dick’s gravestone, asleep from crying. His eyes were puffy and tears were dried on the exposed skin from under his cowl.
Kal approached silently, making sure to not disturb the man. Ensuring that Bruce’s breathing was indeed even and that he was truly asleep, Kal reached down and scooped Bruce up in his arms. Even with all the armor and protection around him, Kal felt like Bruce had lost weight from the last time they'd teamed up together. Clearly, the war and grief had taken its toll.
Kal floated them inside the remnants of Wayne Manor, bringing Bruce back to the remains of the room he once had. Kal noticed the pictures of Bruce with his kids had been left undisturbed by the destruction - they decorated the walls and Bruce’s bedside table. Kal lay Bruce down in the dust-covered bed and looked to the side - one of the most prominent pictures on the bedside table was one of a young Bruce, Kal, and Dick.
Kal said aloud, certain that Bruce would not hear him in his sleep, saying, “I meant what I said at the grave, Bruce. He was a son to us both and I too will miss him.” Without another word, Kal flew out of the burnt out window, he would let Bruce rest and grieve - tomorrow, they would return to each other's throats.