Why Not?
Author's Note: Sooo... some of you return readers will remember my Glimpses and Little Robin Red stories, along with 17 Robins, and the 7 Times Batman Died. Those are technically from this same comics-ish continuity I'm using, but, outdated. I've added new characters to the family, changed up the timeline details a bit, and just flat out improved in my storytelling. So, from here forward, while I won't remove or alter those posted stories, please consider them more or less obsolete.
You'll have more fun reading these new ones, I hope.
-Tri
Year 2038
"Alright," Dick said, just loud enough to command the attention of everyone else gathered around the computer area of the Bat Cave. "Who's going to cover while Damian's gone?"
Damian himself was not present to scoff at that - a League mission in space had gone wrong, sending Batman, Offspring, White Canary, Morphic, and Lantern Reyes to the far side of the universe as they dealt with aliens intending to invade Earth. It was possible they'd return within a few months; more likely, the trip back would be filled with enough tangents to drag out to a year or more.
Gotham needed Batman sooner than that.
Sitting in the main chair, cane planted on the floor between his feet, Bruce studied each of the young men gathered there in turn.
Jake Grayson, Dick's son, looked to be at ease as he stood beside his father, but the mere fact that his feet were on the ground rather than floating an inch or two above it, as usual, was a dead giveaway of the twenty-two year old's discomfort.
Duke Thomas, on the other hand, was clearly much more relaxed - but also wore his Signal uniform, sans helmet, and Bruce knew he'd push all other options forward before accepting the mantle of Batman, if he turned out to be the best choice.
Luke Fox had a thoughtful frown on his face, as he too studied the others. There was something circling in the back of the man's mind, but Bruce couldn't discern what it might be, and probably wouldn't until Luke started speaking.
Jason and Jeremy stood together, a bit away from the others, one watching the proceedings with supposed disinterest, the other with an intense concentration. Bruce didn't think the eighteen year old was yet ready to handle such responsibility as being Batman - but nor did he think Jason would let his boy take it on, either. Jeremy handled himself perfectly fine as Red Bat, but he was still small for his age, an unfortunate result of the coma he'd been in for the first two of his teenage years. Both his father and sister tended to be overprotective of him because of that, as well.
In the lingering silence following Dick's question, Jake took a deep breath.
"I don't want it," he said quietly. "I mean, I would if no one else could, but I love being Nightfire too much."
Duke smiled at that. "Probably a good thing. Imagine the criminal underworld's surprise if the Bat suddenly started shooting starbolts at 'em when he got pissed." Several of the others chuckled, Jake included. Dick also placed a hand on his son's shoulder, giving it a brief squeeze of reassurance.
"What about you, Uncle Duke?" The young man asked. "You've definitely got the experience..."
"Heh, yeah. But, I've been the Signal longer than you've been alive, kid - changing my habits and sleep schedule at this point would be a nightmare." Even as he spoke, though, Duke gave Bruce a level glance; a look that said I will, if you need me to. Bruce nodded back.
"Personally, I think we've got too small a pool to work with, here," Luke suddenly said. More than a few eyebrows were raised at him.
"What, you want to try and drag one of the retirees back in?" Jason drawled. "Or grab some of the boys even younger than Jer?" The teen shot his adopted father a quelling glance, which he blatantly ignored.
"No, I'm not talking about any of the other guys."
It took a moment for Luke's meaning to sink in, and even Bruce blinked when he considered the idea.
"One of the girls?" Dick asked, having gotten over his surprise quickest. "How would that work, exactly?" Luke started to respond, but he and everyone else stiffened when a new voice (identical to Damian's, if they hadn't known better) rang out from deeper in the Cave.
"Pretty damn well, once the work is put in."
Bruce frowned slightly at the dark figure who appeared out of the shadows of the training area - and frowned deeper as they approached, since he couldn't determine which of his family members it was. They walked confidently, with a steady stride, long heavy cape just barely brushing the ground. The suit was, unmistakably, a new take on the classic Batman design, with barely noticeable additions to the armor and padding, giving what had to be a female body a much more masculine appearance. Perhaps most striking was the addition to the cowl, a seamless stretch of fabric covering their entire face and jawline, probably hiding a vocoder that altered their voice to sound identical to Damian's, and, minus the scratchiness of age, his own.
The newcomer didn't halt until they stood in the center of the group, standing just in front of Bruce and staring down at him. "Convincing enough for you, old man?"
He simply raised an eyebrow.
Jeremy was the one to give voice to their collective shock. "Hot damn." He then further surprised the others, by adding, "You look great, Aunt H."
Jake coughed, Dick and Duke both gaped, and Jason let loose a bark of laughter as Luke grinned. Bruce's other eyebrow joined the first.
A portion of the new mask twitched, probably indication of a sly smirk. "Thanks, kid. Couldn't have asked for a better reveal, either." And with that, Bruce and Selina's twenty-nine year old daughter pulled off her cowl.
She was indeed smirking, with a satisfied glint in her green eyes that dared her father to protest. He didn't bother, instead peering closer at the thick cloth in her gauntleted hands.
"Plaster sculpting, to make my jawline a bit broader," Helena explained, holding it out for him to inspect. "And to hide the distorter for my voice."
"You put this together in the two days your brother's been gone?" Duke asked incredulously. Helena snorted at that.
"Please. I've been tweaking this suit for years, in case Dami ever disappeared or got hurt." She met Bruce's gaze again, addressing him alone with her next words. "I can do it, Dad. I've been Robin, and Batgirl, and Nightwing - and I'm not putting down the work the others have done, or their potential to do this, but it's in my blood, and I want it. More than any other uniform I've worn."
Silence reigned as Bruce studied his daughter. He didn't look at the suit, or the belt, or the cowl; he just stared into her eyes, searching. And finding.
"Then you'd best get started," he finally said. "Batman."