( bruce's own temper is one to be rivaled with and one he hasn't let get the better of him since he's arrived here. if anything, he's bottled the majority of everything up that he's felt as a means to try and either dissect it at some later time [which never seems to come] or because he just doesn't have time or want to deal with it. he doesn't know what the angle is here with this place. being told that he's here as a representative, of sorts, to make a case for his world β his gotham β to be saved. he figured being around others meant they were against each other. each vying for their own world. but then aurora has the audacity to play games with them β to try and get them to get to know each other and even work together... the very same people who, in theory, should be the ones you're against. he's wondered if it's a ploy. to get them all comfortable with each other, only to flip the tables on them at some point and have them see if they're capable of going against one another for the safety of their worlds.
he wouldn't put it past her.
and it's why he's cautious about getting too close. to anyone.
having to embrace a traumatized damian β a version of a son he never even knew he had β not once, but twice now when he doesn't even know the first thing about being a father figureβ strains his own with alfred at times and now regrets it with the current state of him back in his own gotham... how long before he and damian are forced by this place to be on opposite ends of a game or a mission where only one of them can be considered the victor? this place doesn't put killing others past itself. it's a genuine concern and worry for him and maybe it's just better to disconnect while he's not too deeply intertwined with any of them.
because bruce doesn't kill. he won't. and the thought that that means he might sacrifice alfred and so many others back in his gotham β his world β because he won't kill damian or dick here... it's weighing on him far more heavily than he'd like it to. along with everything else.
his mind tells him to scoff. to walk away. leave. it's literally the easiest option here and untangles him from anything that might be here between them. but dickβ this dick is a little different in the sense that they're a lot more alike than he is with the others. they're both flying solo here β without anyone else here from their gothams, and having to deal with being around those who know some other version of them. in dick's case, that other version is actually here. there's a brotherhood there. he knows it. he just... shouldn't want it to be there.
but, to even maybe his own surprise, he doesn't walk away. doesn't leave dick there in the kitchen by himself. honestly, there's a part of him that wonders if he even could, what with how stubborn the other man is, but. instead, he stares to him. harsh at first. but then relents some and flicks his gaze off towards the side. teeth sinking down into his bottom lip. )
no subject
he wouldn't put it past her.
and it's why he's cautious about getting too close. to anyone.
having to embrace a traumatized damian β a version of a son he never even knew he had β not once, but twice now when he doesn't even know the first thing about being a father figureβ strains his own with alfred at times and now regrets it with the current state of him back in his own gotham... how long before he and damian are forced by this place to be on opposite ends of a game or a mission where only one of them can be considered the victor? this place doesn't put killing others past itself. it's a genuine concern and worry for him and maybe it's just better to disconnect while he's not too deeply intertwined with any of them.
because bruce doesn't kill. he won't. and the thought that that means he might sacrifice alfred and so many others back in his gotham β his world β because he won't kill damian or dick here... it's weighing on him far more heavily than he'd like it to. along with everything else.
his mind tells him to scoff. to walk away. leave. it's literally the easiest option here and untangles him from anything that might be here between them. but dickβ this dick is a little different in the sense that they're a lot more alike than he is with the others. they're both flying solo here β without anyone else here from their gothams, and having to deal with being around those who know some other version of them. in dick's case, that other version is actually here. there's a brotherhood there. he knows it. he just... shouldn't want it to be there.
but, to even maybe his own surprise, he doesn't walk away. doesn't leave dick there in the kitchen by himself. honestly, there's a part of him that wonders if he even could, what with how stubborn the other man is, but. instead, he stares to him. harsh at first. but then relents some and flicks his gaze off towards the side. teeth sinking down into his bottom lip. )
I'm sorry.