A/N: These moments are inspired by a parent sitting by their child's bedside telling them things, expressing the feelings that they can't when their child is awake.
YJ: Moments 3
Bruce sat down on the side of his adopted son's bed looking down at the boy. The child looked so small and vulnerable lying there in the large king size bed. Perhaps Alfred was right. This room was not a room for a child. Perhaps Alfred was right he was ready to take care of a child. Yet every time he looked at the boy he couldn't help but see himself. Bruce knew first-hand how lonely the large Wayne Manor could be for a child. Perhaps the child would have been better off placed with a caring family with two parents and maybe some siblings. A whole family, something Bruce never had and could not give. The child cried out in his fitful sleep tears running down his face – a nightmare. Bruce recognized the signs all so well having suffered through countless nightmares in his youth.
"Shh, it's okay…" Bruce said gently stroking the boy's hair. His large hand covered nearly the entirety of the child's head making him further aware of how small the child was.
"I know it doesn't seem like it now… but someday the pain will fade… someday it will better. Until that day comes I will be here. I will protect you." Bruce knew he was being naïve, the boy was too old, too old to just forget. The death of his parents that he has witness with forever be carved into his memories, will forever change who this child is. Just like it did Bruce. Bruce wiped away the boy's tears and caressed the tear stained cheeks.
"I can't promise you a normal life, I can't promise you that I will be the best father figure, but I can promise you that I will try my best to be there for you, to be what you need me to be. I can promise that I will love you with my heart and soul and I will give you the love that you deserve."
Dick laid on his large bed so broken, so small covered in bandages, tubes and wires. A few short moments before Bruce wasn't even been sure if the child was going to make it home alive.
Bruce was frantic when he had called Alfred to get Dr. Leslie Thompkins to the manor. Bruce had carried the broken boy in his arms from the Batmobile his senses were overwhelmed with the smell of Dick's blood that was draining from the boy's body onto his Batsuit. Leslie had given him the most disapproving look before ordering him to put Dick down on the examination table so she could work on him. An hour the tired doctor announced that Dick was stable. Bruce had never felt so relieved.
"Bruce, he is stable for now, but if he doesn't wake up in the morning he could slip into a coma. We won't be able to determine the extent of the brain damage until he wakes up." Leslie said softly, "You can't do this to him Bruce. It is one thing that as an adult you chose this life, but he is just a child Bruce." Leslie was going to keep lecturing Bruce for putting a child she had come to love like a grandson in danger, but Alfred led her out leaving Bruce alone with his son.
"I am so sorry." Bruce whispered taking Dick's little hand in his own once they were alone. "This was never the life I had wanted for you. When you chose this life I was secretly glad, you have so much potential and it made your feel powerful. It helped your nightmares go away. I made myself a promise. A promise to protect you but I've failed." A tear slipped from his eyes as he looked down at the boy's unconscious form. It was his fault the boy was so broken.
They were outnumbered and surrounded, they were separated and for a moment Bruce lost sight of Dick. The boy was strong but there were simply too many. Bruce was just finishing with his attackers when he heard Dick scream. Bruce's heart stopped. Bruce took down the goons that were wailing on the child with crowbars and pipes so fast the men didn't even see him coming, but he was not fast enough. Bruce vaguely wondered what monsters could hurt a child like this, and then he remembered that he was the monster that bought the child into the dark world of the Gotham Underground. Leslie was right he didn't have the right to do this to Dick. Dick was only a child. "Please just wake up. I won't ever let this happen again. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again. Please. Just wake up."
Bruce had stood silently by the door as Alfred told Dick his bedtime story and tucked the boy in. Bruce smiled fondly at his own memories of being put to bed by the old butler. The poor boy was a so exhausted Alfred didn't get much further with the story before the boy slipped into dream land. Alfred turned to leave and noticed Bruce standing at the door, the old man just smiled and left the room, Bruce alone with the sleeping boy. Bruce sat down on the side of the large bed that Dick has insisted on keeping. Bruce gently smoothed out the boy's jet black hair and a small smile graced his face as he watched Dick sleep peacefully. There were many nights where Bruce was left unsure if letting Dick be Robin was a right thing to do, that if adopting the child was the right thing to do, but nights like tonight Bruce was glad he did.
Tonight, Bruce realised that he needed the boy as much if not more than the boy needed him. It has been a rough night. Batman and Robin have been on the trail of a murderer who stow into family's homes and murder the children leaving the kids for the parents to find in the morning. When Batman has finally caught up with this monster the man used a child as a shield. Robin was able to snatch the child out of the monster's hand allowing Batman take down the deranged killer. In a fit of rage Bruce had lost himself. He knew he was hitting the man too hard, too many times, but he couldn't bring himself to care, this man deserved it. It was then a pair of small hands caught his arms and stopped him.
"Stop Batman, we got him." Bruce can still remember Robin's words. "The kid is safe. We won."
Now the boy lay sleeping so peacefully satisfied simply knowing that tonight they had won a small victory. From all the years he has been doing this Bruce has lost sight of these small victories. His vision has been clouded by all the suffering and pain Gotham that he forgets he was making a difference. Having Robin with him reminded him of what they were doing and the good they've brought. Dick was Bruce's light; he kept Bruce sane with his childish sense of justice and wonder. Bruce kissed the sleeping boy softly on the forehead.
"Thank you."
Bruce opened the door and crept into Dick's room silent as a night. The boy was already asleep. Bruce sat down on his usual spot at the edge of the bed and watched the child sleep. It has been four years since Bruce first brought Dick into his life, and Bruce has watched the boy grow. Over four short years the boy has grown so much so fast Bruce didn't realise it until tonight. As he sat beside the boy stroking his hair he noticed that the boy was a lot bigger than he once was. Dick was no longer the scared little boy hiding from nightmares, no longer just Batman's sidekick, he was a hero in his own right.
"You kids did good today." Bruce said to the sleeping boy. "Even though you disobeyed my order, and put yourself in a dangerous situation, you pulled you and your team out." Bruce admitted to the sleeping boy, because he could never express these feelings to Dick when he was awake. "I know you are more than capable, but it doesn't stop me from wanting to protect you. The other teens can barely look after themselves, much less look after you. I know you are smart and strong for your age, but we all have limits, and I am afraid that you won't know your limit and get hurt. I know I can't keep you forever and I have to let you go eventually…" Bruce trailed off with a sigh. "It just seem like it is too soon for you to grow up and leave me. I was just getting used to being a mentor, a father."
"Time flies Master Bruce." Alfred's voice took Bruce by surprise he had been so absorbed in his thoughts he allowed the old man to creep up on him. "Watching your child grow up is part of being a father, and being able to let go." He said putting a hand on Bruce's shoulder. The two watched the child sleep peacefully so proud of the child they had raised.
"It is late. I think I will turn in for the night." Alfred said moving to the door.
"Good night Alfred. I will go in a minute." Bruce watched Alfred leave before turning back to Dick. "I guess I will have to let you go. I will still watch over you. Always." Bruce pressed a soft kiss to Dick's forehead. "I am so proud of you my son."