Fic: Silence

[bradygirl_12]

Title:  Silence

Author: BradyGirl 

Pairings/Characters: Bruce/Dick

Rating: G

Warnings: None

Spoilers: None

Summary: Must silence always equal regret, or something else?

Date Of Completion: January 26, 2007

Date Of Posting: January 26, 2007

Word Count: 267

Silence.
 
It hung heavily in the Great Manor, the house weighted down with centuries of quiet.
 
Silence draped over the Grand Foyer, the chandelier’s crystals clinking as a plane flew 
far, far overhead, only vibrations reaching Earth.
 
Through the library, the study, the dining room, and the ballroom, quiet steeped as if 
in a cup of Alfred’s favorite Earl Grey tea.
 
In the kitchen, there was only the occasional click of the stove’s timer as blueberry 
muffins baked in the oven.
 
Up in the bedrooms, silk was silent.  In one of the bathrooms, the occasional 
drip-drip-drip of a shower head was complemented by the whisper of a breeze-blown 
curtain at the bedroom window.  The silent rush of air slipped down through the hallway, 
down the polished mahogany stairs, passing through the grandfather clock, which ticked 
precisely, down, down, into the ‘Cave.  Batwings rustled and moisture dripped, computers 
humming.
 
Water lapped in the pool up on the grounds, the errant breeze blowing through the trees, 
their sighs echoing sadness from human hearts.  A robin chirped in the trees as 
windchimes tinkled delicately by the kitchen door.
 
Footsteps sounded through the house, a measured pace as they trod from room to room, 
pace quickening until finally leather glided across grass.  A slender figure stood at 
the seawall, facing the glittering ocean.
 
“Dick.”
 
The figure stiffened.
 
“I’m sorry.”
 
The voice was sad and defeated.  Dick turned around, eyes brimming with tears of…anger?  
Frustration?  Sorrow?
 
Dick reached out a hand and Bruce took it, his own tears shimmering as he pulled the 
younger man into an embrace.
 
Silence.
 
This time, healing.       
 

Comments

[bradygirl_12]

You're very welcome! :) Lyrical! Yes, that was what I was aiming for, a certain poetic rhythm to this short-short (kinda like Robin's pants). ;) Thank you, Merfilly!

[jij.livejournal.com]

Mmm, this had a wonderful almost cinematic quality. I could really see the camera "tracking" across the details you describe, with the tiny little sounds lost in the silence.

As a side note, I've often wondered how close Wayne Manor is to the ocean. Is there a canon answer to that? Because I'd love to imagine there was a view of the sea, or access to some rocky coastline on the grounds or something (says the Maine girl). The image of Dick looking out over the ocean alone was very nice as well.

[bradygirl_12]

Wow, Jen! You and Merfilly make me feel pretty good! I was aiming for just the qualities you ladies speak of! That makes a writer feel very good, knowing that she got across what she intended.

I'm not sure if the ocean nearby was ever canon. I thought it might be a good shot because Gotham is supposed to be on the East Coast (nearby Bludhaven's an old fishing town, I think) and since the wealthy Waynes have a lineage that goes way back from what I remember in my days of reading the comics, I figured they would have chosen not only a spot close to the woods but get an ocean view while they were at it. :) Many Old Money estates would locate on the ocean not only for the view but for the privacy.

A Maine girl! Excellent! My family spent many a happy summer up in that state.

[keitorin.livejournal.com]

As I was reading this, I could just feel the silence, and easily see it happening as if I was right there following it. It was beautiful, because I really love silence like that.

There was another part that particularly struck me.

the errant breeze blowing through the trees, their sighs echoing sadness from human hearts.

Haunting imagery. Wish I could put my thoughts down more coherently, but this was really like a breath of fresh air. Thank you. :)

[bradygirl_12]

Thank you, Keitorin! I'm a person who loves silence, too, which is rare in this noisy world of ours, I guess. I'm so glad you liked the imagery! :)

[keitorin.livejournal.com]

which is rare in this noisy world of ours

Very true, and annoying, but what can you do? XP

You're welcome!

[1-900-mimicry.livejournal.com]

The descriptions of Wayne Manor were just spot on in this. It brought up every image and every panel of the place I've collected in the back of my mind over the years and just thrust them at me hard and forceful, until I could hear the silence, and follow the words through the house and just feel it all. Very beautiful and also eerie way to make the readers feel how much hinged on the silence in that particular moment.

And the words which are spoken inside of that silence? Sharp, pointed, and veiled with years and years of issues. I want to know what Bruce is apologizing for. What made him choose to apologize? It's just so easy to see it as a sum up of everything they've been through together.

I love how this fic gets me thinking. And that final image of them hugging with the Manor and the world as a background. Them alone and yet within their lonliness so very together. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

[bradygirl_12]

Thank you, Mimi! :) I've always been fascinated by Wayne Manor and I jumped at the chance to do a little blueprint, so to speak.

It *is* a summing up, I think. I didn't have any specific grievance in mind, but I knew all the hurt had boiled over and I wanted Bruce to finally do something about it instead of just regretting it and not *communicating*. I think all Dick wants sometimes is something beyond a wall of silence.

I love to make people think! :) And the Manor is very important to the Bat mythos and these two.

[silvertales.livejournal.com]

Your imagery and word choice is just so very vivid, everything comes alive and it's like watching a little movie in my head.

The end just grabbed me, seeing Dick there, tears in his eyes, reaching for Bruce and Bruce going to him, needing the connection they share.

[bradygirl_12]

Thank you, Silver! :)

A little movie! That is a great description of the story!

How I love these boys! :)

[ladybugkay.livejournal.com]

To paraphrase Simon and Garfunkel, you evoke the sounds of silence here and not just the idea of it. The way time itself almost seems to slow and stretch, and the way tiny, insignificant noises acquire a weighty significance, like in this line: "In one of the bathrooms, the occasional drip-drip-drip of a shower head was complemented by the whisper of a breeze-blown curtain at the bedroom window."

The silence here and the way the narrative moves throughout the house also emphasizes the emptiness of the Manor, and I thought for a while it would be about Dick having moved out.
Lyrical is definitely the word, and the writing is so gentle, without any harsh words or sharp, jagged phrases. Everything just...flows. Beautiful.

[bradygirl_12]

To paraphrase Simon and Garfunkel, you evoke the sounds of silence here and not just the idea of it. The way time itself almost seems to slow and stretch, and the way tiny, insignificant noises acquire a weighty significance, like in this line: "In one of the bathrooms, the occasional drip-drip-drip of a shower head was complemented by the whisper of a breeze-blown curtain at the bedroom window."

Thank you, Ladybug! It was exactly what I was trying for. :)

The silence here and the way the narrative moves throughout the house also emphasizes the emptiness of the Manor, and I thought for a while it would be about Dick having moved out.

Yes, it definitely could have been a fic about Dick moving out, as the Manor would be very empty indeed without him. Amazing how one person can completely change everything, isn't it? :)

Lyrical is definitely the word, and the writing is so gentle, without any harsh words or sharp, jagged phrases. Everything just...flows. Beautiful.

Thank you! Again, what I was aiming for.

I'm so glad you liked it, Ladybug! :)

[bat-angelwings.livejournal.com]

Lovely. Lyrical.

Those old houses sometimes have this kind of silence that makes you feel like you're already dead and buried for good.

Wayne Manor could easily qualify for having that gloomy, depressing silence but since a certain Little Bird flew into it, his light keeps the dark in check.

Beautiful.

Thank you.

[bradygirl_12]

Lovely. Lyrical.

Those old houses sometimes have this kind of silence that makes you feel like you're already dead and buried for good.

Wayne Manor could easily qualify for having that gloomy, depressing silence but since a certain Little Bird flew into it, his light keeps the dark in check.

Beautiful.

Thank you.

You're very welcome, Bat-Angel! :)

Old houses hundreds of years old fascinate me. They have so much history contained within their walls. One of the reasons I hated the fate of the Manor in Batman Begins. Grr!!

And Dick is just what the Manor needed after years of gloom after Thomas and Martha's murders.