"Like Alfred did." He can't always keep his own sadness out of his voice or eyes when the name comes up, but he manages right now. Because Bruce needs that. "Not just for you, but for all of us as well.

"But you will make things better, Bruce. Even Jason admits, usually, that there wasn't anything our Bruce could have done to stop him ending up where he did, couldn't have stopped what happened." No, the problem there was the Joker's continued existence. Something that Dick...sometimes even agreed with Jason on, honestly. "I know it doesn't look like it from where you're at. But you're going to do so much good for Gotham."

He reaches out, taking Bruce's shoulders. Wonders if Bruce had ever wondered if shoulders so small could handle the burdens that would be heaped upon them. If he'd wondered the same things Dick wonders now. "You being here. It's awkward, but it's not making anything worse for any of us." He raises a hand and waves it before Bruce can protest. "Jason might say that, but Jason is an asshole. That's not our Bruce's fault." Entirely. "That's the way he is. We kinda like him like that, even when it makes us want to punch him."