Actions

Work Header

(Re)starts

Summary:

Bruce Wayne hated starting tasks. But the one he loathed the most, without a doubt, was (re)starting the training of a new Robin.

Notes:

just pure sadness, i'm sorry; the prompt for the story was "beginnings"

Work Text:

The first beginning was when the Graysons' lives came to an end. Richard Grayson was the sole survivor, and Bruce knew what that felt like, so he adopted the boy and did the best he could: he trained him, and thus the first Robin was born.

Batman and Robin—it sounded and worked well. But, as everything in life changes, Dick became Nightwing, an independent hero. Batman no longer had a Robin, but Bruce couldn't have been prouder.

Then came Jason Todd. His beginning was sudden, but the decision to adopt and train him was an easy one: Bruce stepped into his role as a mentor/father like it was an old cardigan; in no time, Batman and Robin were patrolling Gotham again. However, the end came abruptly and unexpectedly, just as his beginning had: the mantle of Robin was now stained with blood.

Tim Drake came next, and his beginning was the most peaceful; he found Bruce, not the other way around. So, amidst memories and nightmares, Robin was (re)born. Different, but with the same message: hope . Batman now watched over his companion religiously, but he couldn’t control the actions of others. Eventually, Robin died.

Enough! he thought.

But then Stephanie Brown appeared. Robin's training (re)started, this time with a girl. Bruce thought this would change the inevitable, but he was wrong . Another tombstone to honor.

Hardened and fearing the loss of anyone else, when Damian Wayne appeared at his door demanding the mantle of Robin, Bruce refused. No more losses . But Damian was persistent and had trained with the League of Assassins. Surely there wouldn’t be a problem, right?

Wrong .

Robin died once more, this time his own flesh and blood .

Batman kept on, unchanging and relentless: an idea and a promise of justice in the midst of darkness. 

But Bruce Wayne?

He was buried, alongside each of his children.