Bruce knows what it’s like to feel all alone.

It wasn’t something he would wish upon anyone, much less a child. Losing his parents was an experience that changed him irrevocably as a child, and he’s sure he would have sunk if it was not for Alfred.

Bruce doesn’t have experience with children, but he tries, for you. After you’d lost your parents in a mission gone wrong, Bruce formally took you in as a ward. The first few weeks left him a nervous wreck — you were only a child, and he had saved you as Bаtman, but he could hardly hide his true identity from you if he was to take you in.

It turns out, he was worrying over nothing. One pinky promise was all it took, and you’d said nothing since.

That doesn’t mean he’s equipped to be a father. He finds himself scrambling after you most of the time, tugging at his neatly styled hair until he looks a mess. He’s sure you’re going to make him turn grey, soon.

This? This might be the single most stressful experience of his life.

“Alfred,” Bruce whisper-yells, his body coiled tight. His eyes are wide, and he looks downright terrified as he gazes down at you. You, curled up innocently against him as he works, sleeping peacefully. “The child is drooling on me.”

He isn’t sure what to do in this situation. There isn’t a quick reference ‘new dad’ handbook that starts with the child already half grown up. And he’s grateful you’ve warmed up to him so quickly, truly, but he can hardly get work done like this.

He doesn’t dare move. He doesn’t even breathe too heavily. Bruce is sure that if his finger so much as twitches, he’ll disrupt your little nap. He could never forgive himself for such a transgression.