A/N: Thank you reviewers and followers! This chapter is just a short one as I wanted to get something up before I'm away for a couple of weeks and therefore unable to update but I'll be working on the next chapter where hopefully there will be some more Avengers interaction and 'action'. If anyone has any tips on writing any of the characters I've used I'd be glad to hear them, or any requests for something you'd like to see I'm open to ideas if it fits with where I want the story to go.
Chapter 2
Bruce sighed as he leaned back in the limo and loosened his tie, Jason's was nowhere to be seen and Dick's was shoved in his pocket after Bruce had caught him with it tied around his head on the terrace with the archer from the Avengers. The pair had been shooting people below with a sling shot - and various projectiles - that the other man had for some reason found necessary to bring to the charity function. Bunch of show boaters, that's all they are the man thought to himself, Batman gave them six months before their little team fell apart. He looked around at his sons who looked more pleased than he would have expected them to after an event such as this, excepting Damian of coarse who had – according to Jason – almost come to blows with some poor person who had dared to spill their drink on him. He supposed they were just pleased that now their social obligations were fulfilled they could enjoy their family holiday in New York. They had decided to take the time to have some family bonding when Alfred's visit to friends in England had coincided with the annual Green forest preservation charity gala being held in New York. Without Alfred at the manor they probably would have all starved if they hadn't taken the trip.
Tim could see Jason grinning slyly at him out of the corner of his eye. He tried to ignore him but the older boy kept up his Cheshire cat impression. After several minutes of trying to ignore his adopted brother and concentrate on the city outside the car window he couldn't stand the feel of the laughing eyes on the back of his head and turned. "What? Jason, what?" The other boy shrugged and his grin widened infuriatingly as he held out his phone for Tim's inspection. "So? You got some guys number. Have you got a confession to make Jay? Who the heck is Steve anyway? Hang on, Steve? Steve Rogers! As in Captain America!" Jason snatched the phone away before Tim could make a grab for it.
"Yeah, he wanted to hang out sometime y'know, take in a ball game or something. I guess he can just sense a fellow hero when he sees one." Jason bragged enjoying Tim's annoyance. "Don't worry Timmy, I'm sure he won't mind you tagging along. But I'll only ask if you promise not to go all googly eyed like you were with Stark back in there." The last part Jason laughed out and ended with a poke in the ribs for Tim catching their father's attention.
"Stark? He wasn't bothering you was he Tim? If he was I'll..." Tim opened his mouth to cut off the threat but was beaten to it by Damian.
"On the contrary father, Drake was pestering him all night, practically hanging off his every word." The boy finished with a sneer in Tim's direction. The second youngest rolled his eyes and ignored the child; he was all too familiar with Damian's distain, had been since the boy had shown up over a year ago now. Bruce pursed his lips at the unwelcome information; he didn't like the idea of Stark hanging around any of his boys. Even though they could all take care of themselves they were still kids and Stark was still a bad influence no matter how many aliens he fought. He supposed he couldn't really forbid Jason from taking up the Captain's offer, who could really tell their son that no, he couldn't keep America's favourite hero's number or hang out with him. Herding the boys out of the car and into the hotel Bruce kept quiet not wanting to chastise Damian thereby taking away Tim's chance to stand up for himself. The boy said nothing but he didn't seem to be upset by his youngest sons tone so Bruce let it be for now. He decided instead to get back to the topic of Stark.
They made their way through the large lobby to the elevator, Bruce began cautiously he didn't want to come across as jealous – which he certainly wasn't – he was just uneasy that Tim might begin looking up to Stark, it had nothing to do with the fact that it was usually himself that Tim looked to in both personal and academic regards. Before he had a chance to begin his forming speech on the evils of Stark however, Dick was commanding his attention listing all of the things he wanted to do while they were here. He cringed when ice skating was mentioned and he was sure that Jason wore a twin expression from the groan he let out from his seat on the sofa. The growing itinerary Dick had apparently planned drove the thoughts of stark away from his mind as he tried to explain that no, they couldn't rent ice skates for Titus, he's a dog Dick. By the time Bruce remembered what he had originally planned to say Tim and Dick were in bed Jason was asleep in the armchair and Damian was asleep curled into his father with Titus' head in his lap, in a position he never would have allowed had he been awake. He sighed and mentally noted that he would give his lecture tomorrow as he scooped up his youngest and deposited him in the bed in the adjoining room the boy would share with Dick. After doing so he nudged Jason awake carefully and guided him into the other bedroom to the bed next to Tim's. This left Bruce himself to sleep on the pull out couch in the living room. It was times like this he was glad to be extremely rich, he honestly didn't know how normal families kept from killing each other when all stuck in one room, after the manor even the penthouse they were currently in felt claustrophobic. Also most 'normal' people wouldn't be allowed to bring a large dog with them to an up market hotel, the name Wayne really was useful sometimes, it made the facade he had to maintain almost bearable.
