Batman #7

Setting: wayne manor gardens.

All the children are asleep and bruce is wandering the garden.

scenic moment as he walks through a section of night blooming flowers feeling nostalgia.

Bruce: mom… dad… you would have loved this…sighs 

He stares at the sky.

Dark Shadow is seen climbing over the wall. he is a good distance away from the maze so the kids shouldn't hear what happens.especially since they are always whispering.

Bruce rolls his eyes and sneaks up on the man and grabs him covering his mouth.

Bruce: now listen here you son of a bitch. I am the owner of the house you are trespassing on.

The man quickly breaks out of bruces grasp and pulls out a baton and bruce let's him cracking his knuckles.

Bruce: on any other knight I would make you beg to go to arkham. But I’m feeling generous tonight. Leave. Now.

Man: or what rich boy?

Bruce: no one will hear your screams.

Man: is that supposed to be a threat?

Bruce: no. its a statement of fact.

The following battle ensures Bruce is showing off his assassin training in this fight

The man charges at bruce and tries to hit bruce over the head with it but he blocks it and pulls the baton out of the mans hands and tosses it over the wall. The man stares at bruce surprised and bruce tilts his head smirking before punching the man straight in the solar plexus and knocking the wind out of him making the man curl over. Then bruce grabbed the man by the shoulders and slammed him into the ground putting him into a surfboard stretch with the mans face on the ground until he yields. This combat should take up 2 pages at least.

bruce let's the man go and the man climbs back over the wall. Pushed off it by bruce when he got over it shaking his head dusting off his hands and shirt.

Bruce: first attempted break in in a while… 

Dick: that was so cool!

Bruce froze turning to where dick stood with gripping chalk on his hands

Bruce’s eyes widened as he realized that dick saw the whole thing

Bruce: dick. You should be in bed. Why are you up?

Dick tensed realizing he made a mistake and hid his hands behind his back.

Dick: needed a cup of water.

Bruce: out in the garden?

Dick: I got lost?

Bruce steps up to dick looking at him analysing dicks current appearance.

Bruce: after i just showed oyu around the manor?

Dick: the place is really big.

Bruce: with athletic grip chalk in your hands… you were trying to make your way to the gymnasium weren’t you?

Dick flinched and turned his head away trying not to give anything away

 bruce smiles

Dick: no… no im not.

Smile slowly fades as some dots click for bruce.

Bruce: are you trying to avoid bed time?

Dick sighed letting his hands fall to his side, nodding.

Bruce: Look at me dick. I  promise I'm not mad. Not with you.

Dick did as he was told making eye contact with bruce.

Bruce: you told me something about nightmares when we first met. Are oyu afraid of having those nightmares again?

Dick: being scared of nightmares is for wusses.

Bruce clicked his tongue

Bruce: if that makes someone a wuss then I suppose that makes me one. I’m always terrified to go to sleep. But I still do. Now tell me dick. Are your nightmares your reason for avoiding sleep?

After a moment of silence dick nodded and bruce smiled softly.

Bruce: okay. I know things that can help with nightmares. And it starts with sleeping in a place that makes you feel safe. Take my hand. Or would you rather I carry you to bed?

Bruce raised his hand and dick stared for a moment before taking it.

Bruce then walked dick to a specific section of the house that was different from where the other kids were sleeping.

Dick: where are we going?

Bruce: the safest bedroom in the house. The one i used to sleep in when i was a kid.

Dick nodded letting bruce lead him to bruce’s old bedrooms.

The were glow in the dark stars littered across parts of the wall and ceiling and zorro posters among other things decorated the walls and a comfy looking full sized bide in the middle of the bedroom with plush blankets on top

 bruce let dick into the room.

Bruce: you can sleep here for the night, and I’m staying in here with you until you fall asleep.

Dick looked at him with wide eyes and crawled into bed.

Bruce tucks him in and gently kisses Dick’s forehead.

Bruce: goodnight dick.

Bruce quietly steps towards the doorway to stay there and let dick have space

dicks eyes flutter closed yawning.

Dick: goodnight… Bruce

As Bruce watched him sleep from the doorway a soft smile crossed his face.