CilanTheGreat: Welcome to the new Avenging Justice!
DarthJennab: It's been so long… too long
CilanTheGreat: Very long...
DarthJennab: BUT WE'RE BACK AND BETTER I PROMISE
CilanTheGreat: It's also a new semester so new us too~
DarthJennab: NO MATH MAN, IT'S GONE FOREVER
CilanTheGreat: Last year of that nightmare…
DarthJennab: So if you're re-reading, thanks :) but, we've revised and changed some parts to make more sense!
CilanTheGreat: If you're new then that's great! You don't need to read 'Avenging Justice' to read this.
DarthJennab: Turns out, Avenging Justice is a pretty common name… BUT ENOUGH STALLING, ON THE THE FIC!
It was dark, gloomy and wet, an everyday
setting in Gotham City, Tony gripped the umbrella handle, his knuckles turning white. It just wasn't the city for him, the atmosphere was depressing, it seemed to be always raining and trouble could be found around every corner. It wasn't as if New York had any less trouble, far from it. There was something about Gotham that just rubbed Tony the wrong way. To be completely honest, there was only one reason why he would ever be in Gotham at all.
Bruce Wayne; Gotham city's white knight, shining prince, their very own genius billionaire playboy philanthropist that you either loved or hated. In Gotham's eyes, he was the perfect ingma, no one except for a select few knew who the real Bruce Wayne really was. They only knew the fake, the wolf in sheep's clothing but Tony knew the truth.
Tony knew how reckless he could be, how he could barely take care of himself if left alone for too long. How sad he always was but would always try to hide it behind his angry bat persona. How he was always worried and how him worrying always led to stress and how could Tony forget that brain? How absolutely brilliant he was in his own way, how he could solve problems almost instantly and always seemed to know what to do with the information he gathered. He always seemed to rely heavily on the people around him never realizing how much they depended on him too, in Tony's mind…
He was perfect.
Now when it came to himself well…Tony was just the freaking urban dictionary definition of a mess. Tony was unstable, he'd probably forget where the hell he was 90% of the time if it weren't for Jarvis. He was clingy, annoying, obnoxious, self doubting yet at the same time completely self absorbed and was one of the most over protective bastards you would ever meet… He was nothing like Bruce.
He was chaotic and completely overbearing, where Bruce always seemed to have a steady train of thought, a calming aura about him, but today he seemed dismal, unsteady. Today, Several years ago Bruce and Tony had met, It was several years ago today that Bruce buried his parents.
Tony could remember how the atmosphere surrounding them was sombre, as he uneasily shifted from left to right, watching the beautiful twin ebony caskets as they were slowly lowered into the ground. This wasn't the first funeral he had ever been dragged too but it was the first funeral where he could remember people actually looked genuinely heartbroken.
They were in Gotham, home to the "Wealthy Waynes". Tony had never met them but he knew that his father and the owner of Wayne Enterprises were close. When he wasn't drunkenly retelling his stories about his time in the war with Captain America, he was telling him about how great Thomas Wayne was and how much of a spark Martha Wayne could be. His father never praised many people, so the Wayne's had to be a real something if his old man thought so highly of them. He had told himself that if he couldn't meet Captain America then he might as well meet these Wayne's...he had never seen them in person before and now he never would.
Tony wanted to leave, he felt like a piece of him was also being buried underneath piles of dirt and he didn't even know these people. He hated this feeling and he hated his parents for dragging him along to this thing but of course his father had his reasons.
The youngest Wayne.
Jarvis said his name was Bruce, Tony could see him from where he was standing and the kid looked absolutely broken. He did just lose his parents so Tony didn't expect him to be smiling in any way but seeing him like that didn't really sit well with him. His father did say he should try and make friends with him, it sounded like a bad idea but then again it couldn't hurt. As his Aunt Peggy would always tell him "Better to try and fail than to never try at all."
He quickly left his father's side (not that the man even noticed) and slowly made his way to the charcoal haired boy. There was an older man standing next to him, seemed to be around the same age as Jarvis. The older man also seemed to have Jarvis' creepy perceptive skills since he noticed Tony instantly. He didn't seem angry though, he actually smiled. It was a sad smile but a smile nonetheless.
"Um hello, I'm Anthony Stark and m'sorry for your loss…" He didn't get a reply but at least the old man seemed to be paying attention to him. "That is very kind of you , wouldn't you say so Master Bruce?" Bruce glanced up at the older man (who Tony was now guessing was his butler) then looked back at him, his eyes a dull shade of blue and seemingly empty. "Why are you sorry?" That seemed to surprise Tony and the butler "I- I don't understand?" "Master Bruce show some respect!" Bruce ignored his butler and stared Tony right in the eyes, as if he were reading his every thought. "What's not to understand? There's no reason for you to be sorry you...you didn't do anything. I-It was my fault, I could have done something, I could have done anything but I just stood there like an idiot!" Bruce was crying now and Tony couldn't help but frown, he didn't get what Bruce was talking about and his logic didn't make much sense to him at all. "How is it your fault?" Bruce glared at him but Tony didn't falter under the steely gaze. "What do you mean 'how is it your fault'? I should have stopped him from shooting them, maybe if I did something instead of standing there than I could have-"
"You could have been dead?" It was Bruce's turn to be surprised now "I'm not sure about you Bruce but I'm pretty sure I can't stop oncoming bullets and you seem to be just as human as I am." Tony could feel everyone's eyes resting upon his back but he didn't let that deter him from his little rant. "If it isn't my fault then it isn't your fault either, you couldn't have done anything! If you did, then I'm pretty sure we'd have three graves here and not two." Tony lifted his hands then rested them on Bruce's shoulders, gripping them tightly. "Aunt Peggy always tells me that we gotta live on for every tomorrow for the people who can't. Take what the future brings us so we can become stronger! This will make you stronger Bruce! With this you can have the courage to make your parents proud!" Tony was grinning now, he honestly had no idea what he was saying, only relaying what his Aunt had told him but it seemed to be working since Bruce's tears had stopped falling. "You're right I um- well I guess I'm just trying to say…"
"Thank you?"
"...yeah."
To Tony that was the start of a beautiful friendship, although you would never hear Bruce say it. "Alfred told me you'd be out here." Tony had arrived at Wayne manor first only to have Alfred tell him Bruce was 'visiting his parents.' Tony had told the butler he'd bring the brody bat back then set out to the cemetery near the manor where he found Bruce crouched down in front of two tomb stones . "Come on Bru-Berry let's go, you're worrying Alfred!"
"Don't call me that, Tony"
"What? Bru-Berry? It's not like you have a better nickname! Bru-bru, Brucey, Bru-bear, batsy?"
"Not in public."
Tony snickered, "Then Bru-Berry it is, let's go home~" Bruce nodded slightly, eyes slowly moving from the tombs to a grinning Tony, who was holding an umbrella above them. Then slowly got up and followed Tony back in the direction of the manor.
"I'm surprised you didn't bring a car."
"The manor is right there Bruce!"
"Weren't you the one who said they were allergic to walking?"
"Bruce?"
"Hm?"
"Shut up."
^._.^ *Batsy the line break*^._.^
"Welcome Master Bruce, Master Anthony."
"See Alfred? I told you I'd bring him home!"
Bruce and Tony were completely soaking wet from the rain, the umbrella having no effect on keeping Tony dry or keeping Bruce from getting wetter than he previously was. Alfred couldn't help but sigh at their state, "Yes sir, you are truly a saviour to us all."
Tony grinned at Alfred's sarcastic tone and the butler couldn't help but smile slightly back, "May I suggest a warm bath and a new set of clothes?" Bruce nodded appreciatively, "That sounds like a great idea Alfred, thank you." Tony followed Bruce up the grand staircase that led to the master bedroom but was confused when Bruce went straight for a guest room instead.
"Tony we need to talk." Tony gasped dramatically, bringing his hand to rest upon his head as if he were about to faint. "Bruce, are you breaking up with me?" Bruce couldn't help but smirk at that remark, this was part of the reason why everyone thought they were low key dating behind the scenes.
"This is serious Tony-" "Hey, something smells good, what's Alfred making?" Bruce sighed in agitation, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't know, smells sweet-" "Do you think it's cookies, Al's cookies are divine but wait you don't like sweets Bru-Berry?" "Stop calling me that, they aren't for me-" "Are they for me then? Al's cookies are the best cookies-"
"TONY!"
"...Yes Bru-Berry?" Tony could see that he was getting on Bruce's nerves, it was always fun seeing the normally calm collected bat lose his cool.
"There's someone I'd like for you to meet…"
"Meet?"
"Yes…"
"Bruce what are you hiding? There's something you aren't telling me."
"Well you aren't the sharpest tool in the shed-"
"Bruce."
"Tony"
Tony huffed exasperatedly as he watched Bruce stop in front of a guest room door and knock gently. After a few seconds, the muffled sounds of small feet pattering on the floor filled the air followed by the creek of the old wooden door swing open. There standing in the open door way was… a kid.
"What in the actual fuck Bruce."
"I'm a foster parent. I took in a ward yesterday"
Tony stood there silently, staring at the kid in disbelief. Bruce Wayne, Mr. Tall, dark and brody took in a ward and this was the first time he was hearing about this!
"Tony this is Richard Grayson, Richard this is Tony Stark."
Richard frowned, small arms crossing over his chest, he seemed to be staring Tony down. Evaluating him as if he were fresh meat gone bad or something and Tony didn't like that one bit. Bruce glared at Tony not liking the look plastered on the others face, he knew what the other was thinking but refused to comment on it.
Tony glanced at Bruce then looked back at Richard, his frown turning into a small smirk. "It's nice to meet you Dickie." The boy frowned at the nickname, not liking how the man said it.
"Likewise Mr. Stark-"
"Please Mr. Stark was my father, call me Tony...or you can call me Uncle Tony, that works too~" Tony could see the boy's nose wrinkle in discomfort and couldn't help but chuckle a little bit.
"Are you Bruce's boyfriend or something?"
Bruce frowned, while Tony burst out laughing, this happened every time. "No Dick, Tony and I aren't in a relationship, he's just a very annoying childhood friend."
"C'mon Bru-bru, I know you love me~" Dick hesitantly stood in front of Tony, his gaze fixed on his fidgeting fingers.
"How did you two meet?"
Bruce was silent, his eyes and Tony's meeting in an instant the two sharing a visual conversation of sorts, Tony looked back at Dick, a sheepish smile finding its way onto his face. "Let's just say it wasn't on the best circumstances."
Richard nodded, understanding that the two didn't seem like they wanted to talk about it and Tony's respect for the kid went up…
but only by a bit.
