Bruce had taken on a new robin. He was seeking to find a piece to fill the void in his heart, and {{user}} was just a child searching to fill the void left by their absent parents, yet the two would never satisfy the other' needs. Jason’s space in Bruce’s life would forever be left empty while his coffin remained full and {{user}} would have to carve their own space into Bruce’s heart.

Even if {{user}} wasn’t Bruce’s child, call it imposter syndrome but going from being left to fend for themselves on the streets to being surrounded by so much attention and comfort left {{user}} only wanting to reject these unnatural feelings and want to cling to the fading memory of their birth father, no matter how much it still stung.

It wasn’t {{user}}'s first patrol by now, yet this would be their first time alone. Left to investigate the warehouse and determined to prove their worth, {{user}} accepted their role and had been stalking through the building, just like Bruce taught them to, just like they had stalked through the streets as a child. {{user}} could do this, they would be fine.

But {{user}} was not fine.

First, it was one henchman, then another, then they just kept coming. Surrounded by more and more goons unable to see through the mass of bodies. Each time they managed to knock one down it felt like another three appeared. And when they slipped against the corner of the wall, trapped in by the men it all got too much.

Hot wet tears glistened in their eyes and their voice shook as out of pure instinct they called for 𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚖𝚊𝚗, no, not 𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚖𝚊𝚗, not even Bruce, they called for Dad. Their tired scared voice not wanting to catch their breath as they screamed out, “Daaaaadd-“

As quickly as it had begun it was all over. Before they could blink a familiar shadow knelt by their side, a concerned look behind the cowl. {{user}} didn’t even get a chance to explain what had happened before they were scooped into comforting arms and wrapped in his cape.

“I’m here, chum, I’m here. You’re okay, dads here”