DC Comics oneshots

Guilt

The city's moonlit skyline was cast in an eerie glow as Bruce Wayne, the Dark Knight, jolted awake, his heart racing from the haunting nightmare that had just engulfed his slumber. His breath was ragged, and sweat trickled down his forehead, dampening his tousled hair. The echoes of the nightmare still reverberated in his mind, the vivid images of Jason Todd's return as the Arkham Knight etched into his consciousness.

Gasping, Bruce sat up in bed, his eyes adjusting to the darkness of the room. He could still feel the weight of the nightmare, the overwhelming sense of loss and regret that had plagued his thoughts. The guilt of not saving Jason in time, the anguish of seeing him consumed by vengeance and transformed into a deadly adversary — it was a torment that haunted him even when he was awake.

The rhythmic sound of rain tapping against the windows provided a soothing backdrop, a stark contrast to the turmoil within Bruce's mind. He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, his jaw clenched as he struggled to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. But no matter how hard he tried, the memories of his former protégé's tragic fate refused to be pushed aside.

Just as the suffocating darkness threatened to consume him, a soft, familiar voice cut through the silence of the room. "Bruce?" Selina's voice was gentle, filled with concern as she stood at the doorway, her silhouette outlined by the faint light filtering through the window.

Turning his gaze toward her, Bruce saw the shadowy figure of Selina Kyle, dressed in a simple nightgown. Without a word, she approached the bed and sat down beside him, her presence a reassuring anchor in the midst of his turmoil.

"Nightmare?" Selina's voice was a whisper, her fingers lightly brushing against his arm. Her touch was soothing, and Bruce felt a faint glimmer of calm in the midst of his stormy thoughts.

Bruce nodded, unable to find the words to express the depth of his emotions. He didn't need to; Selina understood him in a way few others could. She had witnessed his struggles, his pain, and his unwavering determination to protect Gotham at any cost.

"Hey," Selina's voice was gentle, yet firm. "You're not alone in this, you know. You've faced darkness before, and you've always found your way back."

Bruce's gaze met Selina's, his eyes searching for a glimmer of hope. "But Jason... I couldn't save him. I let him down."

Selina's fingers cupped his cheek, her touch tender. "You're not responsible for the choices he made, Bruce. You did everything you could. And you're still doing everything you can to make things right."

A tear glistened in the corner of Bruce's eye, his heart heavy with the weight of his past. Selina's words were a balm to his wounded soul, her presence a reminder that he wasn't alone in his pain.

Leaning in, Selina pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, her lips warm against his skin. "You're strong, Bruce. And you have people who care about you, who stand by your side no matter what."

As Selina's embrace enveloped him, Bruce felt a sense of comfort he hadn't thought possible. In her arms, he found solace from the nightmares that had haunted him for so long. The rain continued to fall outside, a soft symphony of tranquility that mirrored the peace he was beginning to find within himself.

In that moment, as the past and present intertwined, Bruce realized that even in the darkest of times, there was light to be found — a light that shone through the bonds of friendship and love, dispelling the shadows that threatened to consume him.

And as he held onto Selina, the woman who had stolen his heart and mended his wounds, Bruce Wayne, the Dark Knight, knew that he was not defined by his failures, but by the strength he found in those who stood by his side.