“You’re better than me, Dick.
It’s like you said. Half of your life isn’t a masquerade. I let this mask take over my identity. I am Batman. I always will be. I’ve left myself nothing else.”
Batman, Detective Comics #725
*sobs quietly in a corner*
I love how much respect Bruce has for Dick.
And I love how much respect Dick has for Bruce.
Like… they love each other to a million pieces, but there is also so much mutual respect there.
And Bruce is sometimes just so baffled by Dick, because Dick is just so different than he is, but at the same time he’s wise enough to see how in a certain sense Dick’s way is actually much healthier than his way, because Dick doesn’t let himself fall into the darkness as much.
And so many people don’t understand just how strong that makes Dick. Because sometimes, it takes so much strength to hold on to joy and optimism and humanity, and Bruce doesn’t always know how to do that. Sometimes he just lets himself get totally consumed by The Mission, and so when he looks at Dick, he has so much admiration for the person that Dick is. Because he knows how much strength it takes to be that way, when you’ve had to suffer through so much.
It’s just… UGH. And I know Bruce isn’t always the best parent, but my god, you cannot deny how much he loves those kids. How much he loves Dick. He would sacrifice himself for Dick in a heartbeat, because he loves him that much, because he values the person that Dick is that much.
*silently flails around with feelings*
AND THIS, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, IS WHY THESE TWO HAVE BEEN MY TWO FAVORITE FICTIONAL CHARACTERS FOR THE LAST THIRTEEN YEARS.
