Work Text:
Bruce always did his best not to stare at that scar. A reminder of the rift in their friendship, something they hadn't even spoken about. In all Bruce's visits to Arkham and the subsequent month of John living together with him, somehow, neither of them had brought up the topic of Joker or the pact or Waller or anything of the sort. As if it would disturb the peace they've settled into.
But it never really was peaceful for Bruce. One time, John had laid his hand over Bruce's as they were out for coffee. Bruce hadn't managed to catch himself staring at the scar as John's voice started fading into the distance.
John must have asked a question because he then noticed Bruce wasn't paying attention. He noticed Bruce staring at the scar, then awkwardly retrieved his hand.
Bruce snapped out of his trance feeling incredibly guilty. A moment of silence passed between them. "John, I'm s-"
"Well? Three eyes or three arms? Come on, buddy, you haven't answered the question yet." John said with a smile.
The moment wasn't brought up, but it would never leave Bruce's mind. He wanted to know how John really felt. Whether he still held grudges. Whether he was worried Bruce held grudges. Whether John even forgave him for the events leading up to giving him that scar.
The day it was finally brought up, John and Bruce had ended up tangled up together on the sofa as John explained the intricacies of sewing one's own clothes.
Bruce's hand eventually came up to play with the strands of John's hair and John's musings devolved into content sighs. His other hand found itself intertwined with John's.
John suddenly sat up from where he was leaning on Bruce.
Bruce was about to ask what was wrong when he realised he'd been absentmindedly thumbing the line where his batarang had rammed through his love's hand.
Before John could pull away, Bruce clasped the hand within both his own. He wasn't going to avoid this.
John's eyes were wide for a moment, then he smiled awkwardly, flexing his fingers. "Guess I deserved that, huh?"
"You didn't deserve to be lied to." It was being brought up for the first time and for Bruce, it felt like a floodgate being opened. "You didn't deserve to be stuck in Arkham's horrible conditions and the way people treated you on the outside was just sick. You didn't deserve to be taken advantage of or used by everyone close to you…" His eyes dropped to the hand grasped in his own. "Including me. I am so sorry, John. I've been meaning to tell you that. I made you feel like I didn't care, and that's the last thing I wanted." He looked back into John's eyes. "John, I care about you so much. I just hope you can believe me."
John's mouth hung slightly agape and Bruce could feel his quickened pulse under his fingers. "You… yeah, you do care about me. I think I know that now. It- uh, it can be hard to grasp that kind of thing, you know?" He bit his lip nervously, then brought his scarred hand up to Bruce's face, caressing gently with his thumb. "It's like a dream, knowing that someone you love cares about you this much. Feels too good to be true."
Bruce's heart lurched almost out of his chest. He slid John's hand on his cheek over to his lips and kissed the damaged skin of his palm. "It is true." He kissed the scar on the back of his hand too.
John gasped quietly. "Bruce, you… I…" he seemed to collect his thoughts for a second. "Back then, those agents… I can't say I'm sorry for what I did."
Bruce nodded.
"But I am sorry for some things." He then sat up on his knees facing Bruce. "There's- uh, something I wanna do, if you'd let me."
"Like what?"
"Just-" John pushed Bruce by the shoulders till he was lying back on the couch. "Just trust me, okay?" He lifted the hem of Bruce's top just an inch.
Bruce's eyebrows shot up. He had a few guesses as to where John was going with this but he hadn't expected it right then and there. Not that he'd turn John down but maybe they needed to talk about this some more-
John looked at him, waiting.
"John, are you sure?"
John nodded. "Please, Bruce?"
Bruce took a deep breath. "Okay."
John lifted Bruce's top higher, enough to reveal his abdomen, thought for a second, then decided to lift it off all together. His eyes roamed over Bruce's bare torso and soon after, so did his hands. He gently traced over the lines of Bruce's muscle and scars. Bruce watched him, still curious at what John was planning.
John's hand finally made its way to the wound in his side that was still sensitive. Where he was impaled the day Joker blew him up. Ever so carefully, John touched the area lightly with his lips. A faint kiss.
Bruce could feel his face heating up as John kissed him there a few more times.
"Oh," was all Bruce could say.
John smiled up at him and laid one more kiss over his heart. "So, we're good?"
Bruce let out a shuddering breath, just coming down from the high of the intense moment. "Yeah," he breathed. "We're good."