Disclaimer: Not mine, DC owns them. No money is being made by this piece of fiction.
Fatherhood
By Arlene
The two fathers sat in the solarium in silence, watching their children play outside on the lawn.
"She's grown since I last saw her."
Roy Harper tensed, startled that the man seated next to him actually spoke. Willingly. To him.
"Um, yeah. Guess it's been a while, huh, Bruce?" He hesitated going any farther, trying to gauge the Bat dressed as Bruce Wayne. They hardly ever discussed matters outside of "business."
"Yes." Bruce was back to one-word answers. After a pause, he added a bit sadly, "They grow so quickly."
They observed the battle before them: Lian Harper squirting Dick Grayson with the garden hose or, more precisely, Dick allowing himself to be squirted. Squeals of delight and yells of mock anger reached the men even through the closed glass doors.
"Kids," Roy tsked in amusement.
Bruce grunted in agreement, smirking a bit in satisfaction as his son was doused by the little girl. "She has your aim."
Roy flushed with pride. Compliments from the Bat--no, Bruce--were rare, and when it involved Lian, he had to contain himself from bursting, lest he embarrass himself.
Dick retreated to a wall, bent over and grinning evilly, picked up a filled bucket. Lian stopped the water flow and ran, still holding the hose.
"Oh oh," Bruce commented. He glanced at Roy with a raised eyebrow.
The archer sipped his iced tea. "Watch," he instructed.
Just as Dick prepared to empty the bucket in the direction of his soaker, Lian swung the hose as if she were playing jump rope and caught one of his feet in a loop. Then she pulled.
Bruce laughed out loud as Dick went down with an indignant yelp, dropping the bucket and splashing himself with water. Roy beamed as Lian ran around the prone figure as fast as her little legs could carry her, wrapping her prisoner in the hose. Satisfied, she then picked up the bucket, stuck it on Dick's head and proceeded to pound the bottom like a drum while sitting on his chest.
By now, Bruce was doubled over in laughter. A huge smile split Roy's face; his baby girl made the Bat laugh. It was kind of creepy hearing such a joyful sound coming out of Him of all people, but he was human after all. At least for today. "That's my girl," Roy murmured to himself.
"Thank God for security cameras," Bruce wheezed, finally catching his breath.
Getting out of his chair, Roy felt a rather unnerving kinship with Bruce. Probably a Dad thing, he thought to himself. "C'mon, let's go save your boy from my baby." He even dared to offer Bruce a hand up. Realizing the significance of the gesture, Bruce accepted.
"You did a good job, Roy." Bruce squeezed his hand lightly before letting go.
"Ditto," he said with quiet pride, thinking about how lucky they both were.
The two fathers ambled companionably out to their children.
End