Chapter One
Nightwing ran his hands through his hair. This was going to be a long day. There was no denying that. Not only did he have to train the Team, but he had to ensure that his younger brother Tim had somewhat of a normal childhood (he was thinking about taking the boy out to a baseball game), and hopefully ask Barbara out for a date. If he still had his guts at the end of the day.
"Alright everyone. Today we are going to work on hand-to-hand combat. And before you go protesting," He said raising a hand, "yes; powered heroes must go through this. Inhibitor collars are made for a specific reason, and should one find its way around your neck, you will need to be able to defend yourself."
There were a few groans from the Team.
"Keep an attitude like that, and you'll be cleaning this mountain top to bottom, with toothbrushes," Nightwing said in his best Batman voice.
There was immediately straightening up by the meta-humans in the room. Tim smirked over in the corner. He knew that that was the preferred punishment back at their own cave. He hadn't had the pleasure of doing that, yet, but word around said that Dick had to clean it more than once, courtesy of Alfred.
"Alright, grab a collar and begin with the sparring." Nightwing turned and walked over to his younger brother. He crossed his arms over his chest, surveying the young heroes. Occasionally he would correct errors made.
"Cassie, move your leg. You place too much weight on your one foot. One swift kick to the knee, and your down and out for the count."
"Connor, don't overextend yourself. There you're doing it again!"
Soon the sparring was over and everyone was panting and sweating.
"Good job guys. Now hit the showers, you all stink."
There were grumbles and a few laughs as everyone exited the training room and hit the showers. Tim waited a few moments from his position leaning against the wall before getting up and beginning to walk away. He only got a few paces away before he was pulled back by his brother.
"What Dick?"
Nightwing lifted an eyebrow from behind his sunglasses. No names were supposed to be used in this cave. He released his brother's arm and the boy stood still waiting for his brother to speak.
"So I was wondering if you wanted to go out to a baseball game later this afternoon?" Nightwing finally said.
Tim uncrossed his arms and smiled. He appreciated his adopted brothers effort to give him somewhat of a normal life after his… father… passed.
His face clouded and Nightwing recognized the expression. He'd seen that very expression in the mirror many times. Before he realized what he was doing he walked over to his little brother and gathered him in his arms.
Tim crumpled into the older hero's loving embrace. There was only a moment between wrapping his arms around Nightwing in return and bursting into sobs. Nightwing cooed and brushed his little brother's hair from his face.
"It's alright Tim," he said ignoring the rules. His brother needed Dick at the moment and damned if any of the rules were going to keep him from comforting his brother.
Together they slid to the floor. Tim curled in on himself, trying to make himself smaller. He fit easily within Dick. He held his brother close to him, in an attempt to share his pain. He wished he took take it away.
Recognized: Batgirl B16
Nightwing looked up at the announcement of his oldest friend. She only had to look at her partners before she rushed over and embraced both of them. She understood their pain to an extent. Her mother left when she was a young child, never to be seen or heard from again.
She looked at Nightwing. There was a look of understanding that passed between them. There wasn't anything that could be done, but hold him and pray that someday he'll be able to handle the pain.
"Tim? Timmy? Timmy, look at me," Barbara whispered and held the young boy's chin.
He faced her, tears streaming down his face from behind his sunglasses. Barbara reached and pulled them off. His blue eyes were filled with tears ready to spill. She gingerly whipped them away.
"Tim, listen to me. There was nothing that you could have done. Things like this happen all of the time. It doesn't mean that we are allowed to sit around feeling sorry. And you haven't been, you trudge on like the little soldier you are. I know it's hard. I know that the pain is hard to bare. We're proud of you Timmy. Your Dad would be so proud of you."
A small smile peeked its way through the tears and the sadness. He knew.
They all hugged each other a little tighter for a moment before breaking apart and standing up. Tim returned his glasses to his face after wiping away the remaining tears and tear tracks.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"No problem buddy. Now, about that ball game I mentioned earlier- OW!"
Barbara whacked him across the back of the head. She was giving him a look, a look that would make ordinary men weak in the knees. Nightwing shut up and Tim laughed out loud.
"Thank you for the laugh. I needed one."
He exited the room, chuckling under his breath. There were only two people in the world that could control Dick Grayson. Batman and, Barbara Gordon. Tim didn't know why, but he had the sneaking suspicion that those two held more feelings for one another than what they've expressed out loud. But it was only a hunch.
The older bats watched as the newest addition to their family walked out of the room. They stood in silence for a few moments, just enjoying the presence of each other's company. They looked into each other's eyes, well almost. He looked into her blue-green eyes, while she imagined his startling blue ones behind his shades.
"Thank you, Babs. I'm not sure how that would've played out if you hadn't come," Nightwing said rubbing the back of his neck.
Barbara waved off.
"It was nothing. If there's one thing that I learned how, is to make those around you feel better. First you dry all of their tears, and then you do something that will make them laugh. It's not always a simple fix, but it helps. Plus I needed to stop you from finishing that sentence."
She smirked at her partner.
Nightwing stared back. This was why he adored her. She was the only one that could make him speechless.
"Close that gaping hole you call a mouth. You keep it open like that then birds are likely to fly in."
"There would have to be birds in here in order for them to fly into my mouth," He retorted. He smirked back at her. He was going to enjoy playing with her.
He charged her and threw her over his shoulder. She yelped with laughter.
"Put me down Di-Nightwing! This isn't funny!" She laughed out.
"Really? I thought it was pretty hilarious," he answered shifting her weight, glad that she didn't have her utility belt with- never mind.
With her utility belt digging into his shoulder he began carrying her away from the training room. He continued to smirk as she protested being the sack of potatoes thrown over his shoulder. She hit him lightly on the back, trying to get down. He wasn't giving in to her. She was considering hitting lower, when something else caught her attention.
A large blue light filled the room they were exiting. Instantly, Barbara was back on the ground. They took defense stances. Nightwing stood slightly in front of his partner, ready to push her out of the way at a moment's notice. The door lock would be two steps away after that.
There was a loud crack and the blue light flashed before disappearing. Both heroes covered their eyes for a moment but were quick to recover. They scanned the room for any sign of villains. That was not what they saw.
Standing there in the middle of the training circle was a teenager, black hair gathered in a ponytail, and a small boy. The boy clutched the older girl's hand as his life depended on it. His eyes were squeezed shut, as if he were watching a scary movie.
The older girl looked at the little boy and sighed.
"Jamie, I told you it wouldn't take but a second. We're already here. You can open your eyes."
The little boy closed his eyes even tighter for a moment before opening his eyes. He looked around at his surroundings in awe, before looking at the people accompanying him and the girl in the room. His face lit up for a moment and he began to take a few steps away from his companion. The girl gripped his arm and pulled him back to her side. She crouched down and talked with him, rather sternly the partners noticed.
When the two strangers stood again, the boy watched in fascination, the girl with suspicion. They stood in a very unthreatening way, there were no weapons on them that could be seen, but Nightwing and Batgirl's guard stayed high.
"Who are you?" Nightwing called, breaking the silence.
"I am Ellie, this is my little brother Jamie. We come in peace." The girl answered.
Both parties raised an eyebrow. The Bats at the clichéd way of greeting. The strangers at the lack of response from the Bats.
"-And then I told him that if he wanted to see it, he would have to shove it up his-"
Cassie broke off her sentence as she, followed by Tim, M'gann, and Connor, entered the room. All four of them were quick to get into a defense position. The young boy, Jamie, hid behind his sister.
"Who are you?"