Bruce Wayne/Batman (2)

((A/N)): Back at it again. Usually, I won't write pregnancy or baby fics, but... this was already a pregnancy fic before I rewrote it, so...


Anyway, I'll say this one is set in the Injustice Universe, but not exactly. Kind of an AU, but not at the same time, so that's how Harley knows Bruce's identity, why she's kind of reformed, and why she has a kid. It's canon in the comics 


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Pregnant.


Bruce still couldn't believe it.


Of course, he had made kids before, but unlike Selina and Talia, you were the woman he loved, the woman he married.


And also unlike the births of Helena and Damian, he would be seeing this one through personally.


Bruce was at a loss for what to do. For all the detective work he did, you found it amusing that he couldn't figure the first thing about caring for a pregnant woman.


Hell, Damian had more experience than he did.


He sighed, resting his head in his hands and rubbing his eyes, taking them off of the Batcomputer screen for the first time in hours.


Behind him, he sensed movement. Dick stood by his side.


"What's going on, Bruce?" the first Robin asked knowingly, leaning his arm on the back of Bruce's chair.


"It's nothing you need to worry about, Dick".


"It's about Y/N, isn't it?"


Bruce turned to glare at him, even though he was right. The younger man simply grinned.


"Look, I know you've been researching down here. Alfred told me. Maybe you just need another woman's perspective, face to face. Maybe... you should talk to Dinah. Maybe even Selina or Talia. Hell, even Harley".


Bruce sighed.


"Not a good idea, and you know it".


Dick shrugged.


"Why not? Selina and Talia already gave you two kids. At least they can speak from experience".


Bruce fixed his oldest son with his best Bat-glare, hiding his amusement. Dick held his hands up in surrender.


"Alright, fine. Maybe seeing your exes isn't a good idea. But Harley is trying to change for the better. She could be potential".


He reached forward and patted Bruce's shoulder as he took his leave.


"At least talk to Dinah, Bruce. Y/N is counting on you".


Alone in the Batcave again, Bruce knew Dick was right. You meant the whole world to him. You were his anchor, you kept him grounded, talked him out of decisions that he may have regretted forever. You comforted him and held him at night, and on top of that, his kids adored you. Even Damian had started calling you "Ummi".


For all the times you had been by his side, he wanted to return the favor, even if he knew you would never ask it of him. It was only right.


He sighed, typing away at the Batcomputer until Dinah's face-time popped up on the screen.


The Black Canary's brow furrowed in concern when she saw him. Even now, she had three-year old Connor on her hip.


"Bruce? Is something wrong?"


"How soon can you meet up?"


Dinah paused before grinning slowly.


"Baby problems?"


He didn't say anything.


"I've got you. You wanna come to me, or I'll go to you?"


"I'll go to you", Bruce responded.


Dinah saluted him before ending the call.


"Right. See you later, Bats".


~


Bruce adjusted his shades as he pulled up to the curbside of the cafe he was supposed to meet Dinah at. He immediately spotted the blonde bombshell, waving him over. He carefully pulled out the chair across from her and sat.


"So", Dinah said casually, taking a sip from her iced latte. "What do you want to know?"


"Anything. Everything", he said, confidently.


She leaned back, eyes thoughtful.


"Whatever craving she gets, and I can't stress this enough. Get it for her. She needs it".


Bruce couldn't help the little amused smile he let slip on his face, recalling earlier in your pregnancy when you had burst into tears over your craving for chocolate chip pancakes.


"Anytime she asks you about your opinion about baby names, or what color the room should be, never, EVER say anything along the lines of 'it's all the same to me'. Trust me, that got Ollie a good uppercut to the jaw", Dinah fixed him with a glare. "Whenever she asks for your opinion, it's because she wants you to be as much a part of preparing for this kid as she is. She needs to know that you're as invested as she is".


Bruce sat still, absorbing the information.


"And what about the mood swings?"


"If her mood swings, just walk away. No stopping a pregnant woman when she's pissed".


Bruce raised an eyebrow.


"Just walk away?"


"Tell her you'll be right outside the door if she needs you. You have to let her know that you're there", Dinah reiterated. "But you don't need to be at her side 24/7. She's a capable woman, Bruce. She can hold her own".


Dinah's phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at him apologetically.


"I've gotta go. Connor isn't having the best time with daddy today", she laughed. Her face switched to serious again as they both stood up. "But let me know if you need anything else, okay? I'm here for you, Bruce. For both of you".


She bumped his shoulder with her own in a common gesture of comradery within the Justice League.


"Oh, and one more thing", she threw over her shoulder. "Say hello to Y/N for me".


~


Bruce slid back into his car and sighed. That had gone easier than he had expected it to. Surely Dinah's advice would make things a bit smoother for both him and you.


Still, he felt like he was missing something. He needed more.


He made his decision in five minutes, preparing himself for whatever came next.


For Y/N, he reminded himself.


Pressing the speaker on his car's bluetooth, it didn't take more than a minute for Alfred to pick up.


"Send me Harley and Delia Quinzel's address, please".


~


The address Alfred had given him had led Bruce to a small but comfy house in the suburbs of Gotham. A perfect, safe place to raise a child, he noted.


Stepping up to the porch, he rang the doorbell, expecting one of the Quinzel sisters to answer. Instead, when the door swung open, he looked down to face a little girl, about 6 years old at most.


She was definitely Harley's child. He could see the resemblance straight away. Bright blue eyes, red hair tied into a side-pony, little freckles dotting her cheeks, and the same toothy grin.


"Hello", he said, crouching down to her level in an attempt to make himself less intimidating. "Is your mother or aunt here?"


The girl, Lucy, if he recalled correctly, nodded shyly.


"Mommy! Aunt Delia! Someone is here to see you!"


Next thing he knew, Harley appeared in the doorway, scooping a giggling Lucy into her arms.


"Brucie! What brings you to this side of town?" she asked cheerfully.


"I need your help. It's Y/N. She's pregnant", he explained.


Harley's eyes widened and glittered.


"Ha! I thought you'd never ask! Come inside, Bats!"


He stepped inside tentatively, following Harley into the kitchen. She set Lucy down on the ground, tousling her hair.


"Alright, Lucy. Go see if you can track down Auntie Delia, okay? Take some of your cars with you".


The little girl beamed, giving her mother one last hug before running off. Bruce watched her go, noticing how she stopped to scoop up a little toy car with a tutu off the floor.


Harley noticed and grinned, gesturing to the seat across from her before they both sat down.


"She always did love playing with cars. And tutus. She loves the idea of a ballerina car, and I think that makes perfect sense".


Bruce noticed how her ever-present smile turned loving just for a split second before becoming erratic again as she turned back to him.


"So! How's Mrs. Bats doing?"


"She's fine, Harley. I need... advice. Anything you can tell me".


A look of rare sadness passed the jester's face. She tried to cover it up with an immediate smile afterwards, but Bruce caught it.


"Don't be a deadbeat", she joked. "Sometimes, all a girl really needs to know is that you're there for her".


There was that look of sadness again. It didn't dissipate as fast this time.


"So don't go not noticing her for a year".


Bruce stood up, laying a comforting hand on Harley's shoulder.


"I'm sorry, Harleen", he said, stoic, yet sincere. "Thank you".


Harley smiled, less Harley-ish and more... Harleen. She really was making progress, Bruce noted.


"Thanks, Bats. Wish the wifey good luck for me".


~


Two down, two more to go, Bruce thought, back in his car, headed for Selina's apartment in the Narrows.


Even though he was alone, the atmosphere was filled with a tense silence as he mentally prepared himself for the meeting. Chances were, you wouldn't be happy knowing that your husband was meeting with his exes, even if it was just for advice, given their history.


He eventually settled on "what she doesn't know won't hurt her", but still felt guilty as he knocked on the door.


Selina was dressed casually in a black turtleneck and jeans, her cats nuzzling up against her thigh-highs when she answered the door.


"Bruce. What brings you here?"


She held the door wider to let him in.


"Y/N's pregnant", he said, turning to face the cat-burglar. "I need you to tell me everything you can".


"Pregnant?" Selina smiled. "I remember that".


She draped herself across her beat-up sofa, looking thoughtful, almost wistful.


"I suppose it differs with every mother-to-be. I know Helena was a fighter".


"Wonder where she got it from".


Selina grinned at his subtle tease.


"Oh, hush. The best advice I can give you, is just be prepared. She's gonna be in a lot of pain, Bruce. I'll bet you don't want to see her like that".


"No. I don't", he said quietly.


Selina stood up from her seat, approaching the billionaire slowly.


"Hey. Just remember, a little pain makes you stronger", she said seriously, looking him square in the eye.


He allowed her to hug him slowly, in a way, knowing she was letting him go.


That was one thing he had always admired about her: she never bullshitted anyone, not even herself.


He, too, felt a sense of closure, knowing that Selina had moved on, when she pulled away.


She patted his cheek playfully.


"Go on, Bats", she said, smirking. "Run along to your wife. And send my love, would you?"


~


Here it was. The final mission. The hardest one.


Bruce had waited for you to go to bed before boarding his private jet and setting off for the al Ghul's base. He trusted that he could make it there and back in one night, which was why he had gone without backup, but still. Just in case things went south, he had let Alfred know.


Standing before the base, he once again mentally prepared himself for dealing with the most difficult of the women he would meet.


Talia al Ghul was fiercely protective of both Damian and her father's legacy, another admirable trait, until she took it too far. Bruce even recalled a fight between you and the Demon's Daughter.


He knew she wanted Damian to either be his ultimate heir, the next Batman, to complete the League of Assassin's ultimate goal through the mantle, or become the next Demon's Head, and anything that could potentially take that away, especially you, was considered a threat to her.


He would have to tread carefully.


Approaching a set of double doors ahead, Bruce pushed them open, the heavy scent of incense and lotus blossoms reaching him.


Talia was sitting cross-legged on the floor, presumably meditating, with her back turned to him.


"Welcome, beloved", she called.


Bruce took his next steps carefully.


"Talia. I need your help".


"My help? Or my father's?"


Bruce scowled down at her.


"Your's".


The Demon's Daughter stood up, turning to face him. Her face remained unreadable as she studied him.


"It's your wife. She is with child, is she not?"


Bruce hid his cringe well. If Talia knew, then you, and his unborn child, were in danger.


Talia seemed to know exactly what he was thinking. She turned her back on him again.


"It matters not. What's done is done. Though it would do her well, both of you, to remember who your first blood son is".


"Another child doesn't mean forgetting the others, Talia", Bruce finally spoke up.


"And yet, another woman meant forgetting me".


There was a fight coming, he could sense it. If she had any of her bodyguards on her, they weren't there yet, but Bruce had had enough encounters with the al Ghul's to know that nothing was as it seemed with them.


Talia turned to face him once more.


"Tell her it will not be quick. It will not be easy. It will not be beautiful. It will be very slow, very painful".


Bruce said nothing, knowing more was coming.


"Tell her she must focus on the task at hand: getting the child out".


She said nothing after that. Bruce took another step forward.


"Talia..."


She waved her hand.


"Do not waste my time with pleasantries, detective. I have long since moved on from you. Damian is my main concern. Go. You are free to leave".


Bruce hesitated, but tuned to go, anyway.


Taking careful steps, he kept his guard up, surprised when he boarded his private jet again with no ambush along the way.


Once in flight, he collapsed into one of the leather seats, pulling his phone out. He should arrive back at Gotham at around 2 in the morning. First, he had a call to make.


"Master Bruce?"


"Alfred. Is Y/N awake?"


"She is not, sir".


Bruce felt relief rush his system. He was probably going to tell you about his quest anyway, but didn't want to worry you. Not until he was safe at home again, and you could see that he was fine, at least.


"Good. I'm on my way back. I'll see you then".


~


He tried his best to stay quiet as he slid into your shared room, relieved to find you fast asleep, clutching your baby bump. After splashing his face with cold water, he slipped under the covers beside you, your back facing him.


He looped his arm loosely around your waist and was dozing off when...


"Where were you?"


Shit.


You rolled over on your side to face your husband, not angry, but amused, a small smirk playing on your lips, knowing that he probably thought he was going to get away with leaving you on your own that night.


Instead of answering, Bruce leaned forward to kiss you deeply. You hummed into his mouth, happy to have him back.


"I was... seeking advice", he admitted, brushing some of your loose hair back.


"Oh, really? What kind of advice?" you teased.


"Dick thought I should ask about pregnancy from another woman's perspective".


You laughed at that, snuggling into his side.


"And how did that go?"


"Dinah was helpful. And Harley. They both say hi, by the way".


You smiled. Dinah had been one of your best friends since discovering Bruce's secret identity, and Harley, sweet Harley. You knew she was trying.


Still, as pleased as you were to hear from your friends, you knew Bruce was still keeping information from you. It was one of your best talents; you could always call Bruce out on his bullshit and force it out of him.


"And...?"


Bruce knew he was caught. He sighed.


"And Selina and Talia. Selina sends her love".


You propped yourself up on your elbow, glaring down at him sternly.


"Talia? You flew all the way across the world to ask Talia al Ghul for advice?"


Bruce took your smaller, softer hand in his larger, rougher one, gently tugging you back down. He kissed your forehead, holding you to his chest.


"I don't want you to think I'm not here for you, Y/N. You're not alone. They helped me. I can do the best I can for you now".


You blinked in the dark at him for a few seconds before leaning forward to kiss him again.


"Oh, Bruce. You already are the best for me". 

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