[ But Bruce can feel it, the upward curve of his smile against his skin. And it makes him hold Dick closer, a little tighter, still conscious of his injuries but just holding onto him- reminding himself that this isn't a dream. That this isn't something that will go away the moment he wakes up.
If the Barge is an illusion - and he still thinks it can be, because he never cancels out possibilities unless he has evidence - then it's an illusion he wants to believe in. If only for this. If only for the fact that Dick and Jason and Tim are all safe in one way or another- and that he hasn't failed Dick.
That despite all that he has done and not done- it's fine. He doesn't need to blame himself for being unable to save Dick's parents that day; he doesn't need to worry so much about being an inadequate replacement and causing Dick too much pain- well he does, still. He always will.
But he knows now that at least with his oldest, he has done- well.
He doesn't speak. Words are useless in times like this. Bruce knows the words for 'I love you' in more than fifteen languages but he can't say any of them. ]
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If the Barge is an illusion - and he still thinks it can be, because he never cancels out possibilities unless he has evidence - then it's an illusion he wants to believe in. If only for this. If only for the fact that Dick and Jason and Tim are all safe in one way or another- and that he hasn't failed Dick.
That despite all that he has done and not done- it's fine. He doesn't need to blame himself for being unable to save Dick's parents that day; he doesn't need to worry so much about being an inadequate replacement and causing Dick too much pain- well he does, still. He always will.
But he knows now that at least with his oldest, he has done- well.
He doesn't speak. Words are useless in times like this. Bruce knows the words for 'I love you' in more than fifteen languages but he can't say any of them. ]