“Robin” John Blake - The Dark Knight Rises
Context: Basically it takes place a little while after the end of The Dark Knight Rises. If y’all don’t know, the character’s whole name is technically “Robin John Blake” and isn’t officially known as the real Robin in the movie, but it is left open ended so no one really knows for sure. Anyways this is while Batman is still believed to be dead from Bane’s atomic bomb, and since Batman has trusted John enough to give him the coordinates, John has made it to the Batcave where he has been contemplating and preparing to become his own hero with Bruce’s equipment and such. However, the reader is basically super worried about him, especially since the last superhero of Gotham “died.”
IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE MOVIE (or need a refresher):
Basically, if you have no idea what I’m talking about, John used to be a cop before he quit (and was revealed to have the first name “Robin”). Basically Bane (villain of the movie) had sectioned off and imprisoned Gotham with an atomic bomb threat. If anyone entered or exited the premises it would be immediately triggered by an anonymous ally of Bane, instantly killing those within a 6 mile radius. However, the bomb was expected to go off at a certain time due to its instability anyway. Because of this, John attempted to save as many lives as he could (ultimately a bus filled with kids from a boys’ orphanage), but was unable to do so with other officers denying him access across the bridge, who were, at the time, not given accurate orders and were unaware the bomb was expected to detonate regardless of the situation. Had the bomb not been stopped by Batman, he and anyone on the bridge would have been killed.
A/N: Hey! So honestly I wanted this to turn out a lot better. :( Problem was, there were so many pieces of dialogue I wanted to put in the story that I kinda got off track and literally forgot my original plan. Woops. Still turned out okay though. I mean, it’s a oneshot about Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character, what’s not to love?
“You know you can’t do this,” you call out, your voice echoing towards the figure standing in front of a wide expanse of computer screens and police scanners. “You’re not a cop anymore, John.”
You can’t hear it over the roar of the Batcave’s waterfalls, but you can see his hunched shoulders depress as he sighs. When he turns from the wall of gadgets you capture his gaze as you approach him.
Your shoes splash into the puddles of water on the ground as you walk towards him. “It isn’t your job to take the law into your own hands and you know it.”
Despite what you’re saying, he gives you a warm smile and a short laugh. “Try not to sound so thrilled to see me.”
You stop in front of him, so many thoughts and questions and concerns going through your head that you’re not sure what to start with first.
So you start with the simplest thing you can find on your long mental list of questions. “You just got promoted to detective, would it have killed you to stick with it?”
“Y/N, you know why I left.”
And he’s right - you do know why. And it makes you worried. Anxious. And you realize that however much you worried about him while he was on the squad won’t compare to how much you’re about to worry for him on his own.
And apparently your face shows it, because he feels the need to keep explaining, as if to remind you.
“I’m sorry, but you know why I have to do this,” he tells you. “Ever since that day on the bridge I just… I knew what had to change. I was there when my fellow officers refused to save an entire bus loaded with kids, all in the sake of following orders.” His eyes bored into yours, reflecting with all his intensity and passion and zeal. “And that day I swore to myself I would never be put in that same situation again. I would never place anything at a higher priority than saving the lives of others.”
Even if that means sacrificing your own? You immediately think, but quickly scold yourself for thinking so selfishly.
You gently shake your head at him. “You’re too good,” you say quietly. “Putting others before yourself comes too natural to you.”
“It’s not hard - not when you have to protect the things you care about.”
You study his face: his eagerness for you to understand, his compassion to go into the world and save all the lives he can - just as he believes he‘s called to do. Your eyebrows furrow; your eyes water and it feels as if you’ve already lost him. “I don’t know if I can watch you do this, John.”
“Then watch someone else,” he tells you gently. “Watch Robin.” He lifts his hand, and in it he reveals a thick, leathery piece of fabric. “Someone once told me that if you’re working alone, wear a mask. Because the mask isn’t for you, it’s to protect the people you care about.”
Your eyes water even more; you’re terrified for him.
“Don’t do this for me. Please.”
He gives you a little smile, his deep, dark eyes moving to each of yours, back and forth. For a fleeting moment he doesn’t reply, but before he finally does, he gives you a little smile, knowing you’re terrified for him but still trying to get you to understand all the same.
“I never said who I was protecting,” he starts. His smile tugs at his lips a little more. “But I always knew you knew it was you.”
And then he takes a small step towards you. He lifts a hand to take your head in his palm, and he waits for you to give him that adoring and concerning look in your eyes before he kisses you - sweet and loving and so entirely sure that this is what you’ve both been waiting for all this time. Over three months, each day more dangerous than the next - so under pressure by Bane’s rule that neither of you could afford to have hope in being with one another.