Hello peoples!
So apparently I lied when I said I would post this next week. But I finished part of it and decided, what the heck? Let's post it now! :P
This is the sequel to 'Shifter' so you may want to read that first, though it is not entirely necessary to understand the story. It would make it easier though. Anywho, this is when the second little bird gets thrown into the mix! Yay!
And for the record, Dick and Sophia are now eleven and Jason is nine.
Now that that's settled, ONWARD!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, 'sept Sophia
The sound of a piano drifted through the hall as Alfred walked toward the sitting room that Sophia and Dick had claimed as their own. Sophia was no doubt the one behind the music; she had taken up piano right after her tenth birthday, stating that she wanted a hobby that didn't involve masks and capes. As it turned out, she had quite a talent for it. Alfred was quite proud of her decision as were Dick and Bruce, though the later would never admit it out loud, they could all see it in his eyes whenever she played.
As Alfred entered the room, he found exactly what he expected to. Sophia was sitting at the piano, eyes closed, slim fingers skimming over the keys, softly singing under her breath. She had grown quite a bit in the past two years, though more emotionally than physically (she was still rather small height wise, but was quite proud of the fact that she was exactly four inches taller than Dick). Her hair was longer, the sliver locks almost reaching her shoulders. She was still slender, but it was a healthy slender, her bones no longer strikingly visible. She had become much more confident and outspoken as well. She had also embraced her powers, often using them around the manor just because she could.
A few feet to her left, on the couch closest to the piano, sat Dick, typing away on his laptop, a soft smile on his lips. The boy had grown as well. His hair was longer, falling into his eyes. He was going to need a haircut soon, if Alfred had anything to say about it (and he would). He had taken on a big brother role to Sophia, often taking care of her and protecting her on patrol. He did, however, let Sophia baby him from time to time.
Alfred cleared his throat, causing the two to look up at him. Sophia turned away from the piano, giving him her full attention, and Dick closed his laptop.
"Master Richard, Mistress Sophia, Master Bruce wishes to see you in the foyer. And please try to refrain from using your abilities to get there; we have a guest."
The siblings blink, then turn to each other, their faces breaking out in identical grins. The two suddenly bolted down the hall, flipping over each other and laughing the whole way. Dick made it to the stairs first, straddling the banister and sliding down, a cry of victory escaping his lips. Sophia, not one to give up so easily, jumped down the first fifteen stairs before flipping onto the banister as well. The two reached the bottom at the same time, landing in a heap on the floor, laughing as they tried to catch their breath.
The sound of someone clearing their throat made the two look up. They saw Bruce standing over them, arms crossed over his chest, eyebrow cocked. Next to him was a boy maybe two, three years younger than they were. He had long, black hair that fell into his face and bright, curious blue-green eyes. The look on his face was challenging, aggressive. Dick and Sophia scrambled to untangle their limbs and stood up.
"Hey Bruce," Dick said, a disarming smile on his face.
"Who's this?" Sophia asked, curiously.
Bruce put a hand on the boy's shoulder, and while he didn't shrug it off, they noticed how he tensed under the touch. "This is Jason Todd," Bruce said, "He's going to be living with us for a while. Jason, this is Sophia and Dick."
"It's nice to meet you," Dick and Sophia said in unison. Jason blinked. "Sorry. We do that a lot. You get used to it." They said, shrugging.
Jason rolled his eyes. "Great. I get to live with the playboy billionaire and the freaky physic twins."
Sophia looked at him, expression blank. "Well, yeah. Who would want to live with normal people? Normal's boring," she deadpanned. Dick started laughing and even Bruce's lips turned upward. Jason raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "So," Sophia said turning to Bruce, Jason's sent finally hitting her nose and peeking here curiosity, "where'd you get him?"
"I'm not a dog!" Jason cried. Dick snickered behind his hand. Sophia feigned innocence and waited for Bruce to respond.
"He's from Crime Alley," Bruce said slowly, knowing full well that she had already guessed, or knew, where the boy came from. Jason scowled, waiting for the scorn he knew was coming. Or thought was coming anyway.
"Yes!" Sophia cried, "Another street kid!"
Dick sighed. "I feel so left out."
Sophia threw an arm over his shoulders. "It's okay, Dickie, we still love you."
Jason's scowl turned to a look of disbelief. "You were a street kid?" he asked, the doubt clear in his voice.
"Yup!" Sophia said proudly, though both Dick and Bruce knew she was anything but.
"You don't seem the type." Jason countered.
"Ah, that would be the kind and caring nature and the sense of justice my Dad instilled in me at an early age." Sophia reasoned. Noticing Jason's skeptical look, she added, "Besides, I got the scars to prove it."
Jason frowned, brow furrowed. Just as he opened his mouth to tell her to prove it, Dick interrupted. "Soph," he whined, "you're being depressing. Come on, let's show Jason around. And maybe we can get Alfred to make some cookies after he puts Jason's stuff away!"
"Brilliant!" Sophia smiled and grabbed Jason's hand. "Come on, Jay! Alfred makes the BEST cookies!"
Bruce watched in amusement as the twins dragged Jason down the hall, telling him about life at the Manor.
"I do believe the young Master and young Mistress are quite taken with the boy." Bruce didn't have to turn to see Alfred behind him. "Perhaps he will be taking up a more permanent residence with us?"
"That is up to him," Bruce said the ghost of a smile on his lips, "Though, as he is now, I suspect he would refuse."
"Indeed," Alfred said, "Perhaps a week or two here will change his mind. In the meantime, I had best get started on those cookies."
YAY! First chapter done! Reviwers can have some of Alfred's cookies!
