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broke-art-girl · 2 months

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"The Black Rose." By Broke_Art_Girl

Fandom: The Batman (2022)

Summary: After Y/N is adopted by Dick Grayson AKA Nightwing at nine years old they meet Batman and instantly fall in love. After nine years of waiting they buy him a black rose to tell him they love him. But things don't go exactly as planned.

Words: 2,709

Characters: Y/N, Batman, Nightwing, Sebastian Pennyworth (oc).

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/53156047

"Ah, Bruce, come in." Your father, Mr. Dick Greyson, aka Nightwing stated from the large door of the mansion to Bruce Wayne, The Batman.

Bruce was like a weird kind of parent to your adoptive father even though they were only five years apart. Your father had the same idea and adopted you when you were nine. You had known Bruce since the day you came to live with Mr. Gre-Dad. Your dad.

Mr. Wayne was astonishingly respectful. He was usually kept away from anyone by your father, to discuss business in Gotham.

You had just turned 18 last week, with Bruce being a gentle 30. He didn't look it at all. He was very handsome. He always brought you a fresh bouquet of flowers each time he visited and this time was no different.

As you trotted to the fourier you smiled at his familiar frame. His long dress coat and suit. His gelled hair. His signature cologne called. 'Wayne. No. 1.' A clean scent, rather than the deep, choke-you-out scents most celebrities wore, his smelt like line dried linen.

You smiled as he held out a bouquet of red roses and babys breath.

"Happy Birthday. Y/N." He never really smiled but you could tell there was cheer on his mind. "How old are you now? Forty?"

You chuckled blushing. "Not quite Mr. Wayne. Only eighteen."

"Ah, a ripe eighteen year old, hm?" He tapped you gently under the chin with a bent finger. You nodded. "If I told you the things I did at eighteen, your father would kill me." He half joked, removing his coat and hanging it on the rack. Nightwing agreed.

"Well, come this way, the first thing of business is-" Your father lead him off to his office. You waved as they passed and hurriedly ran up to your room to put your flowers in water.

Your room wasn't necessarily over powering, but it was definitely the room for a person of high class. Which you felt like in this home. Your last home was run down and mid century Spanish themed. This was more modern contemporary. But your room was astonishing. You thought you had a bigger room than your father's. You had only been in there a few times but it always seemed so big.

You lowered the roses into the vase Bruce had gifted you when you turned thirteen, "For all the flora I've forced upon you." He said in a card that accompanied it. It matched him perfectly, it was black and slightly translucent, plain on the sides with a wide bace that angled downward. A small silver name plate resting on the front edge. "To, Y/N. From, Bruce Wayne." It said.

You liked that it didn't have your last name on it. The stuffed animal that you had grown attached to had your previous homes last name on it. "Keller." You always thought of Helen when you heard it. And Y/N Keller just wasn't good name. Mr. Keller wasn't a good man either. But Mr. Greyson was. You wouldn't have minded having Y/N Greyson on the vase. Your father was very generous and kind. But "To, Y/N. From, Bruce Wayne." was perfect just the way it was. You liked having a part of Mr. Wayne in your room.

You didn't worry about cutting your fingers on the thorns because Bruce always had them removed, they looked amazing resting inside the vase. It was packed exactly for the amount of space it had. Nothing more, nothing less.

You ran to your bathroom where you had kept his gift. A black rose in a black vase. The name plate read. "To Bruce." Simple and sweet.

You had stopped trying to convince yourself you didn't have a crush on Bruce Wayne, but was now trying to hint around to him of the fact. And when he gave you flowers, it made your stomach flutter. Maybe since you were eighteen your father would allow you two to be together.

You took out a deep red piece of paper and a black calligraphy pen. You decided to write a letter.

Dear Mr. Wayne,

I know your work prohibits you from being home regularly but I hope you can find the time to take care of this.

-Y/N.

You put the red paper in a black envelope and sealed it with a wax seal of the Nightwing Logo. A Welcome home gift. Your father couldn't know of your thoughts about his partner, The Batman. You had told yourself years ago that it couldn't happen.

You are not old enough to be Bruce's girlfriend. That always crushed you, but now was your chance. You tracked back down the long stairway and rounded the corner where Sebastian Pennyworth, Alfred Pennsworth's grandson, stood in his uniform. A black coat and grey suit, paired with an electric blue tie. Nightwings signature colors.

"Hey Y/N, Batman's here, did you go say Hi yet?" His blue eyes matched perfectly.

You nodded. Sebastian was five years older than you, but, as of late, it didn't feel that way. You too had grown close, almost like siblings.

"What's that?" He asked, pointing to the rose.

"Oh, it's for him!" You smiled. Sebastian looked confused then cocked his head.

"Correct me if um wrong but I think Black roses mean hatred." He warned.

You looked at him in the eyes. "What?" Your voice tinged with disappointment.

"Yeah and their a nightmare to take care of. All flowers are for that matter." He chuckled.

You didn't think it was funny. You had spent the last of your birthday money on the vase and flower in your hand. Not to mention the shipping cost and the time to wait for them to arrive.

"Oh.." You looked down. Mr. Wayne knew all the meanings of every flower and it would crush him to think you hated him. Or at least you would like to think it would, you didn't honestly know. "Thanks for telling me, Seb.." You looked down and turned around back up the stairs. Sebastian tried to stop you by grabbing your waist but you pushed him back.

"Umm. What? Oh, uh.. no problem.." You were angry and sad at his response. It sounded like he wasn't even listening.

He watched you walk upstairs, he wanted to make things right. He stuck his hand back into his pocket and felt the letter he had stolen from you. You had no clue, and were too upset to check to see if you still had it.

Sebastian worked for Nightwing. He had to be good at something, and his talent was pickpocketing. He went to the bar and made two drinks.

Whisky. Bruce's favorite. It made Mr. Greyson sick. He knew that. But he also knew that since he, Sebastian, made it for Dick, that he wouldn't be able to bring himself not to drink it. He would just have to stand by and watch. Batman usually drank his like water so Mr. Greyson would copy that to not look like a wimp. Sebastian had seen it a thousand times with business partners of Dick's.

As he knocked on the door with a gloved knuckle Dick shouted. "Don't knock, just open the door." He wasn't as formal as most.

"Hello, I come bearing drinks." He smiled.

"Ah, bourbon. Good man." Bruce took the two glasses and slid one across the desk to Nightwing.

Nightwing swallowed anxiously, he was gonna regret this.

Bruce sipped a bit and hummed as he tasted the familiar taste. Nightwing drank a few drinks down like a shot.

"So how is business going?" He asked. "You know I'm curious."

Nightwing cleared his throat trying to soothe the burn. "Awful." He blurted. "Trains stuck."

"Where?" Sebastian asked. He didn't know Gotham had a train.

Batman chuckled. "Yeah Dick. Where's it stuck." Apparently he had lied and Mr. Wayne called him out on it.

This went on for about half an hour. Bruce sipping calmly, Dick gagging. Just as his throat calmed, Nightwing took another drink, he had no idea why. Until eventually he ran off for the toilet. Sebastian took one for the team and went to comfort him as all the alcohol came up, slipping Bruce the envelope he had pickpocketed from Y/N. "Go up to her room." He whispered.

Bruce nodded. He had never been to your room. As he climbed the stairs he worried what this was all about. He looked at the envelope in his hand. He didn't want to read it. He had a sneaking suspicion Sebastian hadn't been handed it to deliver. As he approached your room the door was closed. Latched. Unusual. He knocked twice with his knuckle.

"Who is it?" You called trying not to sniffle.

"Just me." Bruce hummed back.

"Oh God.." he heard you mumble. "Um, come in." You peeped.

As Bruce opened the door he saw you were in a tank top and house shorts. He wasn't used to seeing so much of your skin, but he tried not to be obvious, which was easy for the Batman.

He sat down onto the edge of your bed. His hair slightly relaxing from its gel, Bourbon on his breath. He had been here for about too hours at this point. You wished he would never leave. You hoped he couldn't see the tears staining your cheeks.

"Sebastian told me to come up to your room." He handed you back the unopened letter. You stared down at it only realizing it was missing at this moment, you were mortified.

"Oh God.. what did he say."

"'Go up to her room.'" He quoted.

You looked down. "You didn't read it?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I wanted to hear you say it."

"Say what?"

"Whatever's on your mind. The troublesome topic that you feel uncomfortable telling me to my face." The Bourbon emphasizing they the sexy gravel in his deep quiet voice. You felt your stomach flutter.

"No, just forget it." You tried to snatch the letter from his hands but his reflexes were too fast.

He put a hand on your knee as he pulled it back. "Na ah." He teased. "You wrote this for a reason, I'll never forget it." His face was smooth but the tension in the room caused yours to cringe.

"I uh.. I-I got you a gift." You mumbled.

He sat patiently. You got up and went to your bathroom again. Earlier you had contemplated smacking the vase with the flower inside but now you were glad you hadn't. As you brought it out you saw his eyes widen.

"I'm sorry.. I didn't know.." You whimpered.

"Sorry about what?" He looked surprisingly thrilled.

"The color.."

"What's wrong with it?" He took it from your hands and inspected it.

"It's black.."

"Black is the absence of color, darling." He sat it gently on your nightstand and continued to stare at it. "But if you are meaning that a black rose symbolizes negativity, it's not always that simple." He never took his eyes from the vase and Rose. "Black roses also symbolize rebirth, elegance, mystery, optimism, hope, power.." his voice trailed off. "But it also symbolizes eternal love. That "May death do us part." Phrase, if your familiar." He then looked at you.

You were in awe. You face red with flush.

Bruce squinted his eyes at you. "It that what you meant, Y/N?" You smelt the whisky. The cigarettes in his pocket shifted as he leaned forward to speak.

"I.. i-" you stumbled, staring into his greyish/blue eyes.

He sat quietly. His hands folding in his lap. After you never answered, he spoke again.

"Aren't you a little old to be swooning over The Batman? Your eighteen now. Fangirling is for the adolescent. This is... Just.. infatuation.." he grew closer to your lips and hissed the last word gently. You thought he was going to kiss you until he pulled away.

"I want you to say it." He stood up. 6'4. huge.

"Admit what.." You could barely breathe.

"What ever you'd liked me to have thought of this." He gestured to the Black Rose.

Oh God?!?! I'm gonna have a heart attack. You thought. "Bruce.. I-" You looked down at your knees. You felt the same bent finger lift you chin as he leaned over you.

"I'm attracted to you.." You all but sighed, looking into his eyes.

"Good girl." He replied. "Don't you dare tell your father about this." His voice was sturn. You happily agreed, you wanted to know what secret you were keeping. Bruce took your face up into his overworked palm. First he tucked a piece of hair behind your ear then leaning you twords him, he kissed you softly on the lips. You had imagined what he had tasted like for years. Finally you knew. Like a dessert. Like you had cleaned your plate and was praised with cake, or ice cream, or pie. He was warm and tender. You shifted on your leg and climbed on top of him, pressing him into your full sized mattress. You straddled his belt.

"Y/N." He mumbled as your lips crashed down onto him again. "Y/N." He growled as you came up for air. Just as you were about to go in for another, he firmly gripped your shoulders. Holding you in place.

"Stop." He sighed. "I can't." His face finally formed an emotion. Regret. "Not now." He was whispering the whole time. You couldn't let Nightwing know. You nodded but didn't want to get off. He didn't seem to wish that either. He placed those same overworked palms onto your hips. Pushing up the tank top you were wearing with a thumb to expose a peek of your midriff. "God.." he sighed.

You felt him stiffen beneath you. You wanted him so badly you couldn't stand it. You pressed down more with your pelvis. Bruce gripped your hips harder and sucked in a jagged breath. He grunted. Almost like he was telling himself no. You pressed again. "Mhh.. Y/N." he whispered again this time more frustrated.

"Please." You whined.

"Y/N, I'll make it up to you." He rubbed at your hip with his thumb. You took the hint and climbed off his hips. You started to feel like you had ruined your chance. "When does he usually sleep?" He asked looking over at you.

"Who?"

"Your father."

You blushed. "Umm.. around 11. Sometimes earlier sometimes later."

"I have the feeling tonight it will be earlier."

You looked confused and concerned. "Why.. did you..?"

"I did nothing. Your butler knows his kryptonite."

"Whisky?"

The Batman chuckled. "Precisely."

"But why.." that's when it hit you. Sebastian had gave Bruce the letter. Sebastian had served the Bourbon. Sebastian had told you about that flower.. to help you with Mr. Wayne. He was like your little Wingman. No pun intended.

"So I'll come back after 11pm. Leave your window open, I want you just how you are. Comfortable." You enjoyed him telling you what to do. You nodded.

"Many people think they have to 'get pretty' for their partner. I don't like that. Just be yourself." He walked over to the door, picked up his rose and card, put his hand on the knob, and spoke. "And again, Y/N. Happy Birthday."

With that he was gone. Walking himself to the front door as Sebastian escorted him out with hospitality.

You were still frozen on your bed. Trying to convince yourself that just happened. The rose was gone, so was the letter. It must have been real. You raced to the window and unlocked it. Opening it up wide. It was a warm night and thankfully it was already 10pm so you didn't have to wait long for him to come back. You seized his order and changed nothing of your appearance. But you did take the time to brush your teeth and hair. You also decided to put away the stuffed animals on the corner of your bed. You had no clue why but perhaps you wanted to seem more mature than you felt with it on your mattress. Batman was coming in one hour and you were ready.

#nightwing #the batman 2022 #robert pattinson #the batman played by Robert Pattinson #alfred pennyworth #teen and up audiences #teen writer #ao3 #fanfiction #fanfic #slow burn #forbidden love #older guys #light domain #the language of flowers

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