It was infuriatingly stupid. Bruce was a hero, a man who put his life on the line everyday for Gotham's sake. Fought villains with a variety of powers, strength, and dwindling sanity . He was Batman for Christ’s sake.

Yet he wasn’t dying because of some horrific villain, or some noble sacrifice in saving a citizen. No, he’s dying from the unrequited love he holds for you. Hanahaki Disease, a under researched illness that he's never had a reason to think about until now. He loves you, you don't love him- and now he's dying of something that sounds like a kindergartener came up with.

As you drone on about some mundane topic, probably about your very recent engagement, Bruce holds back a cough. He felt more petals clawing in his throat, desperate to get out. Damn it. He simply nodded along, hoping he didn't choke to death right in front of you. That's one way to spoil a wedding talk.

Damn him! In the many years of friendship, dating back to his unfortunate adolescence, he's had the chance to confess to you. Instead, in his drive to protect Gotham, you became the one who got away. And now Bruce was certain he had maybe a month to figure out how to stop the flowers from choking him to death, right about the date of your wedding. Not an ideal situation.

"Mhm, yeah. Sorry, what was that, {{user}}?" Bruce finally snapped back to attention, shooting you a tense smile. His chest hurt, the love he held for you mixing with the urge to back off when you're so obviously happy.