My good friend - and as of now, dread nemesis - @deathchrist2000 is heading up the new Comic Book Herald series Who Watched The Watchmen? on the legacy of ‘the greatest comic of all time’, with tons of great pieces from excellent writers coming up. I was given the honor of kicking off the feature. I was given the agony of doing so by rereading, and thinking at length about, DC Comics’ Legends.
Warnings: Mentions of pregnancy, children feature predominantly, divorce mentions
Summary: Years after Bruce Wayne had gone into hiding, his whole world was turned upside down and he comes to see you. That’s when he finds out there’s more to you then he remembers.
Wordcount: 2.1k
A/N: Yes, this was aimed as being the Christian Bale Batman but honestly, it could really fit for any of them. This just follows certain plot lines from the Dark Knight Rises
You watched the TV, staring at the screen in front of you. It was a scene of Batman, soaring through the streets on the motorbike that was oh so familiar.
The man underneath was familiar too. You hadn’t seen him in five years since you had broken up and he had dropped your partnership for renewable energy.
You had known him and Rachel for years, and after her death he felt so guilty for letting his best friend die he became a recluse. But you were okay with it, as long as the two of you were together. And for three years you would stand by each other no matter what.
“Mama,” a small child called out, the little black haired boy running into the room with a smile on his face.
He didn’t know he was the heir to the Wayne company at the mere age of 4 but he was content with this house and this life. You had tried to tell Bruce for months before giving up.
“Alfred, please let me in,” you had begged, holding the raincoat against your body, “I need to talk to him,”
“He’s not taking any visitors right now Miss, I’m sorry,” he said, a sad look on his face.
He never wanted to turn you away, the girl of Bruce’s dreams, but the master of the house had been determined to not let anyone into the house, not even you.
Especially not you.
“I’m pregnant,” you admitted, tears in your eyes as you looked at the Butler who you had always been fond of, “I have a letter for him, can you at least give it to him,”
“I can do Miss, and I hope it works out between you and Master Bruce,” he said before taking the letter and stepping into the house.
Bruce had watched as you got into the car, driving away from Wayne Manor for the last time when Alfred walked up, handing the lonely man the letter.
“She isn’t safe with me, I can’t let her stay,” he stated, not even opening the letter because if he read your words, he knew he’d run right back to you.
“Master, I think it would be wise for you to read the letter. She has some life changing news for you,” he pleaded but it fell to deft ears.
Bruce picked up the letter with his name inscribed and threw it directly into the fire, turning his back to it as he stared down the dirt path he had just witness you drive down, “I don’t need to know,”
Now years later and you were living with Alfred in your apartment that had been secretly paid for by the Wayne foundation all these years. Alfred had made sure his godson grew up in the best life style that he could and that you two would never have to worry about anything.
So after he had quit his job at Wayne Manor, you of course gave him a place to stay and Tommy was glad he was here as well.
You threw the daily newspaper on the floor, the headline reading that Bruce Wayne has gambled away all of his money to the stock market just before they had crashed and now he was without any power and was essentially broke.
You sighed, head in your hands. You worked as a scientist sure, but it wasn’t enough to afford this apartment and this carefree lifestyle you had been so comfortable in. There was probably enough money for the next few months, but after that you may have to find a new place.
You watched Alfred playing lego with Tommy in the other room, the little boy giggling away to himself as he played with the legs car, speeding along the road. You sighed, shaking your head.
It was clear he had too much of his fathers daring and risky attitude in him already.
Whenever you looked at your son, you saw the man you were once in love with. They had those same compassionate eyes and a mop of untameable black hair on their head. You couldn’t help but worry for him though when - or if - he found out who his father was. Would he be disappointed? Happy? Upset? For now, you thought, that wouldn’t be a problem.
Until you heard a knock on the door. You quickly walked to the hallway, with all the crime going around recently and the attack on Gordon, yeah, you were a bit scared. You peeked through the keyhole and scoffed when you saw Bruce in front of it, waiting nervously.
You opened it, raising your eyebrows as you looked at him. Sure, you had seen a few pictures of the hermit that he had become over the years, but he was still the most beautiful man you’d ever laid eyes on.
His breath hitched as well when he saw you, dressed in casual clothes but still as beautiful as when he would dress you up and take her to galas and be in her arms all night.
“What the hell do you want Wayne?” You asked, already knowing it wasn’t for you or your son.
“I’ve come for Alfred,” he said, the two if you not breaking eye contact, “I’ve come for help,”
“He doesn’t want to go back, it seems you manage to push away everyone you’ve ever held dear,” you said, turning your nose up at him.
The little boy ran into the doorway, stopping as he saw the tall man that towered over him. He smiled, “I’m Tommy,” he said as he saw the man, instantly not feeling threatened by him.
Alfred rushed out, breathing heavily, “I’m sorry Ma'am, I couldn’t stop him,” he said and you nodded, an awkward blush on your face.
“Go on Thomas sweetie, you go play with Alfred and don’t cause any trouble,” you said with a smile.
When you looked back up, Bruce had tears in his eyes. You’d never seen him so vulnerable, almost like he was imagining a world where he hadn’t left you. Because he knew. He knew as soon as he saw the little boy with black hair and inquisitive eyes who had inherited the name of his father.
“How old is he?” He croaked out, looking down at you with tears welling up in his eyes.
“Four,”
“Is he mine?” He asked, almost begging to know the answer, “He looks just like me,"
You didn’t answer for a second, meticulously deciding on how to explain to him the last four years whilst also letting him know he no longer had any say in your life or yours son.
"That’s none of your business anymore, you didn’t even read the letter did you? Listen to any of the voicemails I left?” You asked, folding your arms across her chest.
“Can I come in?” He asked and you opened your arms, inviting him in, the man stepping into the apartment. He knew Alfred had been sending money to a strange place each month and now he knew that it was all for you.
The apartment felt like a home. Pictures of you and your son littered the back wall, a few pictures of Alfred were also with the two of you. Then he saw one that had been slammed down on the table on the side, almost like it had been collecting dust for years.
“I’m sorry,” He began to rock on the balls of his feet slightly, “I didn’t want to drag you down with me,”
You scoffed, “Well you’re currently still a wanted criminal as Batman and you are completely broke so yeah, maybe I’m glad me and my son aren’t involved,”
He reached for your hands but you pulled away, “I never stopped loving you, I pushed you away because I couldn’t bear the thought of you knowing I was Batman and then being arrested,” he explained, a singular tear rolling down his cheek.
“I had just given birth to Thomas when you sent me those divorce papers,” you explained, now it was your turn to begin to get upset, “He’s your son, it says on his birth certificate. But the minute I signed those papers, I knew you weren’t coming back for us,”
“That’s where Alfred’s been going on his vacations, to see the two of you,"
You nodded, "He’s always known, he’s paid for this apartment all these years, he’s my son’s godfather,”
“Our son,”
You pointed your finger at him, an angry look on your face as you stepped closer to him, blood boiling at the prospect of him claiming any power over the boy you’d raised, “My son. You haven’t been there for him and if you hadn’t cared so much that your butler quit then you never would have,” you spat out, tears rolling down your cheeks as you hit him on the chest, “You weren’t there for me,"
He pulled you against his chest as you sobbed and you hated the comfort that you found as soon as he wrapped his arms around you. He pressed a kiss to the top of your head and he realised just how much he missed this.
"I’m sorry, I should’ve been here. If I’d have read the letter, I’d be sitting here with you and our son and everything wouldn’t have gone to hell,” he whispered, your name on his lips like a prayer, “I love you,”
“I’ve always loved you,” you whispered back, pulling away to look up into his eyes, “But how can I trust you?”
“I’m going to fix this, then you can come back to the Manor, all three of us, as a family,” he promised, taking your hands in his, “And Alfred,”
You laughed, a smile on your face.
He wiped away the tears, “There’s that laugh,” he said so quietly he wasn’t sure you’d even hear.
“Alfred,” you called out and the man stepped out of the room, the little boy standing behind him to try and get a look at the scene, “I think Bruce needs to talk to you, but first-” you crouched down, “-Tommy come here,”
The little boy rushed into his mother’s arms, looking up at the man with wide blue eyes. He seemed curious and Bruce knew this was his son, he was perfect.
“This is your dad, you wanna go say hi?” You said and he nodded, running up to the man and wrapping an arm around his leg.
Bruce chuckled, prying the boy off slightly before kneeling down and wrapping him in the largest hug he’d ever given in his life. Tommy giggled, smiling up at his father as if he’d always been in his life.
“I love you son,"
"Love you too daddy,” he said and Bruce teared up, watching as you came and pulled the two boys into a hug.
“Once he’s done what he needs to do, he’s going to come back for us, for you. And we’re going to live in a nice big house with Alfred all the time,” you promised and the boy stood up.
“Come look at my legos,” he said, grabbing the larger hand of his father.
He chuckled, the widest grin that Alfred had seen in a while on Bruce’s face, “Of course, then I’ve got some business to attend to, is that okay kiddo?”
“Yeah,”
He looked back at you, a smile on his face as he looked at you with tears in her eyes. This was it. This was what he’d always wanted.
“You know he never submitted those divorce papers,” Alfred said as he stood next to you, the two of you watching as Tommy gave Bruce a guided tour of his room and all the little things he had, “He could never bring himself to lose you forever,”
You smiled to yourself, “Well he’s got to do better, I’m not going to forgive everything in an instant, but I’m willing to make it work,”
And for the first time in years, neither you nor Bruce needed to be scared, you had each other.
