"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth" ~Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Boy Detective
It was far, far too early when Tim stuck his head under his pillow to get away from the world and groaned.
"Goooo awaaaaay!"
Jason rolled his eyes at his little brother and tried to pull the blankets off the dozing boy as a tiny grin flashed across his face. "Tim, come on ya dope. Time for breakfast."
"Nnnhn…" Tim curled up and tried to hide further under his pillow as his older brother began to shake him. "Nooo~, I'm tired! And I hurt all over!"
Jason winced and guiltily pulled away from his brother as though burned. "Yeah, I have to admit that that last punch looked like it hurt."
"Was that before or after I almost got hit by that truck?"
At the time, seeing his little brother take a violent hit to the face and fall in front of a truck during patrol had scared him; more than he would ever admit. But Robin had swooped in and grabbed the boy in the nick of time and in the reassuring light of morning he could push away that fear and laugh about it.
Grinning, the older boy stood. "Does it matter? Heck, that guy looked like a semi-truck. Now, get up before I sic the demon child on you."
As the teen ran down the hall, listening to his little brother's irritated ranting, he grinned at Dick, who was coming from his room. The young man nodded to him and finished buttoning his shirt. "Morning Jay, is Tim up yet?"
"Almost. Man, what happened to sleeping in?! It's only 8:00!"
Dick rolled his eyes. "I've been up since five."
"Stupid morning person…"
"You know it. Where's Dami?"
Jason shrugged as he reached the stairs. "He's your psycho, not mine."
Bruce sighed as his listened to the bickering of his sons as they trooped into the dinning room. Alfred had prepared breakfast for the boys and the youngest boy was already seated, working his way through eggs and hash browns. Dick plopped next to him.
"Hey Dami!"
"You are too loud." Damian scooped more fluffy eggs into his mouth and glared at Jason. "And you are annoying."
Jason rolled his eyes but said nothing as Tim wandered in and sat next to him. All present winced at the violent bruising on the boy's jaw. He made a face. "I know, I know…"
"We're going to need to put make-up on that." Bruce sipped at his coffee thoughtfully. "People will ask a lot of questions if we don't."
"Couldn't I just stay home?" Tim asked hopefully.
"Nope." Bruce replied happily.
"Was worth a shot…"
As the boy slumped in his chair, Dick turned to Bruce. "Am I still going in with you this evening?"
"Yes, I want to introduce you to Marcus, one of my assistants." Bruce leaned back in his seat and eyed Jason. "Homework status?"
"You know, living with two straight-A 'wonder kids' really hurts my self-esteem." Jason rolled his eyes. "I've got a little math and the rest of my science paper."
"Good…"
Dick got up from his seat and ruffled Tim's hair as he headed for the door. The boy was scowling at Bruce in a way that made the man want to smile. He knew that would just make the boy even angrier and restrained himself.
"I'm sorry Tim, but it's your turn to go with me. Jay went last time."
"But, it's not even my turn! It's Dick's…" He trailed off as the teen in question, who had returned to grab his cellphone, paused and coughed violently into the crook of his arm before muttering an apology and leaving again. Tim slid down in his seat as Bruce looked at him expectantly. "When he's better, he's taking one of my nights."
Bruce smiled at him kindly. "Thank you."
Although the kidnapping incident was behind them, Dick was still fighting off a cold as the result of his time in the walk-in freezer. It was just a minor irritation but a reminder of what the eldest boy had gone through. And since none of the boys liked thinking of Dick in pain, they were relatively happy to help out in any way possible.
"Master Tim." Alfred looked at the young man shrewdly. "After your afternoon with Master Bruce, perhaps we could partake in one of our programs? I don't know about you, but I would like to finish the season sooner, rather than later."
Tim's face lit up and he nodded vigorously. Jason snorted. "Geek."
Tongue stuck out, the boy snapped back. "Just because you can't follow a simple plot-line-"
"Seriously, how many twelve year-olds watch British TV shows?"
"The smart ones with good taste."
Chuckling, the man wandered off and entered his study. As he sank into his seat he pondered his sons. He never expected to have a family, much less four incredibly intelligent sons. He smiled and ran a hand through his hair; Dick and Tim were naturals, true detectives. Tim would surpass him before he was much older…
Tim… Bruce often worried that his middle son was being excluded from things. Jason and Dick were close in age and Tim was often left out of outings and events that he was just too young for. It never seemed to bother the boy but it was hard to determine what his child was thinking. Tim was a solitary and independent kid. It had to be infuriating to be so much wiser than your age…
"Bruce, have you seen my suit-jacket?"
The young millionaire sighed and didn't bother to look up from his desk at the sound of his eldest son's voice. "That monstrosity of a jacket with holes on the elbows?"
"Bruce." Dick leaned on the doorframe and rolled his eyes. "That's the style. It's just got patches, there're no holes. Where is it?"
"Check the coat closet. If not there, maybe Alfred burned it." The man looked up, realizing that the teen was standing right in front of him. He knew that look… "No."
"Bruce…"
"Dick, I respect that you have your beliefs and schedule but we've discussed this; I have my own."
Dick sighed. "Just a suggestion. We're heading out."
Roughly three months after Dick's arrival, Alfred had brought the tiny boy to church with him. Since Bruce was accustomed to sleeping in on Sunday, his one rest day, Alfred had allowed the shy boy to come with him and his closest friend, Leslie Tomkins. Afterwards they had gone out for their usual Sunday supper and when the elderly man had asked Dick if he wished to join them again the next week, he fully expected the boy to either say no, or yes in order to get another free meal.
What he hadn't expected was, "Yes. We're gonna learn 'bout David and Goliath. My mom and dad used to tell that story and the teacher said I could be David…"
Alfred looked at the slender teen with a fond smile as the boy helped Damian with his tie. Dick was chatting with that ever-present smile as Damian scowled. The youngest boy had joined their group shortly after he had come into their lives, since Tim and Jason were not into babysitting and Bruce was a hopeless case. Damian seemed interested enough, at the very least with the coloring books he could use during the sermon and Dick's company.
Tim's blue-green eyes flickered open as the sound of a knock on his door rang through the expansive room. With a sigh, he hauled himself up from his desk and opened the door.
Alfred smiled kindly at the boy as he handed him some cocoa. "We're leaving, so you and master Bruce are alone; Jason is at a friend's home for the afternoon for a 'study' session." The tone in the man's voice left Tim with no doubt of how much studying the butler thought would be accomplished. "But he'll see you at dinner tonight."
With another heavy sigh Tim nodded. "Any chance of getting out of it?"
"None at all."
"Was worth a shot."
The teen wandered over to his bed and flopped down. He was so bored. So very, very bored. He reached out and grabbed for a massive black bound book, flipping it open and beginning to read.
"God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate play such tricks with poor helpless worms? I never hear of such a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'"
The boy jumped at yet another knock at the door and, placing his now cold and un-sipped cocoa on the night-side with his book, hurried to open the door. Bruce was smiling. "Loose track of time?"
Tim yelped as he looked at the clock and dashed for the closet as Bruce sat on the edge of the bed with a chuckle. He looked at where Tim had left off with the book. "The Boscombe Valley Mystery? Haven't you gotten past this one? How many times have you read the whole thing through?"
"This is my third time."
Bruce laughed again as Tim came out, and the man helped his son with the thin red tie that went with his black button up and slacks. "So…what do you think, does Holmes do the right thing?"
"He had to hide the confession, it would have ruined the lives of the man's daughter and the boy."
"But the old man killed someone Tim."
"He would have died in prison, and well…" He looked up. "He wasn't a bad man. Is it worth putting him away if all it accomplishes is to ruin three lives?"
"It's a good question isn't it?" Bruce stood and ruffled the boy's hair. "There may be no real answer. All you can do is decide for yourself."
Bruce looked around the lounge, nodding to associates, and just barely talking to people, taking in the warm lights that pulsed with the jazzy beat that filled the crowded room. Tim watched as he flashed his 'plastic' smile at a group of giggling girls and had to stop a smug smirk. At least Bruce wants to get out of here too. Tim guessed they wouldn't have to be at the opening for too long.
"Bruce!"
Tim turned and looked curiously at a young man who was waving at Bruce from a table. He had reddish-blond hair and pale green eyes highlighted by a mass of freckles. As they approached him, the boy noticed that he was dressed in designer clothes, had shadows under his eyes and smelled slightly of alcohol. Bruce smiled warmly at the young man and sat next to him.
"Roddy, how are you?"
"Fine, I guess. Introduce me to your young friend?"
Tim smiled politely and sat across from the man.
"This is my son Tim. Tim, this is Rodger Midas."
The boy's mind went into overdrive as he went through everything he knew about the Midas family. Harvey Midas was a banker and a multi-millionaire; his company was doing well and had its hands in almost everything. Tim wondered quietly what the only son of such a man was doing at the opening of a nightclub and lounge.
"How's Diane doing anyway?" Bruce was deep in conversation with the younger man. "I haven't heard from her for a while."
The young man snorted as he reached for his glass. "She's engaged."
Bruce started. "But she's only twenty! Her coming out party was only five or so months ago!"
"Mama is marrying her off to some British Count or something. She was concerned because Di was seeing a clerk in dad's bank. Not the sort of connections mama wants." The man downed his drink and stared blankly at the table.
"What's the lucky man's name?" Bruce asked.
"I dunno… I haven't been home for a while. Dad and I are…at odds." The young man looked wistfully at a jazz triangle in the corner. "I have to go, nice talking to you Bruce."
Tim watched the young man and then looked at Bruce. "Kind of sad."
"You have no idea…" Bruce sighed. "Roddy used to be so fun, so happy. And his little sister Diane, she can't be pleased about this marriage. Harvey and Muriel were never very talented at understanding the needs of others…"
"Not like you." Tim smiled at Bruce and shifted in his seat. "Can we get some food? I'm really hungry."
Bruce chuckled and nodded. "Sure we can." He looked at Tim thoughtfully. "Tim, can I ask you something? Since we're alone for once?"
The pre-teen blinked and nodded as Bruce took a deep breath. "I get…concerned that you might feel a little left out at home. I've noticed how much Jay and Dick are together and-"
"Bruce." Tim smiled. "It's okay. I like being alone. They leave me alone sometimes because I ask them to. Do you honestly think they would let me be lonely?"
"…I guess not…"
Tim laughed. "Sure, look, I know how it looks but I like a little space and they're just respecting that. I also know you're worried that I don't have friends-"
"It just seems like you have trouble making them-"
"Also a choice. I'm just not very good with other people so I'd rather go slow and make a few good friends than a huge amount of 'kind of' friends. Jason has lots of those and if that works for him then good. But I can't be like that. And I can't be Dick, who has good friends, best friends, sort of friends…"
Bruce chuckled and Tim looked down, taking a deep breath. "Yeah. He's so…I dunno. And sometimes I think that you…expect us to be like him."
"What?" Bruce unconsciously raised his voice and as people turned to stare, the young man clenched his jaw and tried to steady himself. "Why would you-Tim, I would never ask you to be anyone other than yourself. Why do you think that? Does Jason-"
"I'm not sure. Bruce, I love you. You're…you're more my dad then my dad was. I would never think that you don't love me back, and you're a great parent. But you have a favorite kid." Tim smiled kindly. "I know it's not on purpose."
"…" Bruce looked down at his hands sadly. "I'm so sorry."
"Buy me a smoothie and you're forgiven."
The gleam in Tim's bright eyes made Bruce's heart warm and he stood chuckling.
"One smoothie coming up."
Jason rolled his eyes. "Well, #$!"
"Language!"
Jason stuck his tongue out at Dick and looked at his cell phone. "Almost three. Shouldn't Bruce and the twerp be back soon? Not that I'm not enjoying this riveting game of-"
"Checkmate."
Dick fell off the couch laughing, his book falling to the floor, at the sight of Jason's face as the teen stared at Damian from across the board. The small boy looked at him impassively and then glanced back at the board. "Checkmate. I win."
"Yay Dami!" Dick glomped on his brother and smiled sadly at Jason. "Sorry Jay, remember he has Bruce's genes."
"Perhaps you would all like to get out for a while?" Alfred smiled at his boys. "We can meet with Master Bruce and Timothy in town after a stop at the library."
"Yes!" Dick said a little too quickly. Jason rolled his eyes.
"You are such a dork…"
An hour later Jason wandered over to his older brother and nudged him. "You gonna, I don't know, talk to her or something?"
Blushing, the teen smiled unconvincingly. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the fact that you've been staring at that Gordon chick for almost fifteen minutes. You're like a love-sick puppy."
Barbara Gordon laughed and Dick bit his lip. The redhead was talking animatedly to a young man while she checked out his book. Her green eyes sparkled from behind a pair of wire-rimmed glasses and her freckled face was flushed as she laughed again and pushed a stray strand of hair back into her messy bun. Jason eyed her and shook his head.
"I never would have guessed you liked the nerdy type."
"She's beautiful, so shut up!"
"Dude, seriously…"
Damian suddenly grabbed Dick's hand and hauled him toward the counter.
"I have books. Talk for me."
"Dami, no-"
"Dick!" Barbara smiled kindly at him and leaned forward, over the counter. "And this must be Damian!"
"H-hi Babs…"
The young woman carefully took the three picture books from the little boy and raised an eyebrow. "All these for you?"
For some reason, Damian seemed to be struck mute and merely looked up at Dick, who laughed nervously.
"Looks like it."
Jason watched Damian smirk in satisfaction as Dick chatted with the girl and shuddered. "That kid is way to smart…"
"He merely wants to help." Alfred came up behind the teen and nodded at the three. "It's about time Richard stopped pining after her and actually did something about it."
"So the fact that she's five years older than him doesn't bother you? I can see Dick being taken advantage of by an older woman…"
"I shouldn't worry too much. Miss Gordon still barely knows he's alive. It'll be an uphill climb."
Jason chuckled.
Tim pulled uncomfortably at his collar and looked around the crowded dance hall. The boy hated these kinds of formal affairs; they were full of un-filling food, watered down lemonade and the crème of society. Basically, stupid people and crooked people all milling together in ridiculously over-priced suits and dresses that could feed a family for a year.
Was it any wonder Tim really didn't like the rich?
Dick had started the evening with him but had run off upon seeing his friend Roy Harper. Tim had noticed the slight tightening of Bruce's jaw but the man said nothing; he was obviously becoming more and more at ease with Dick being around the former druggie. It probably helped that Roy, as Speedy, had saved Dick's life on occasion.
Jason was… Well, Tim wasn't sure where Jason had run off too. The teen hated parties even more than Tim, but all things considered, that was no great surprise.
He watched Bruce as the man walked about, his usual façade on his handsome face. Tim wished these people could see the real Bruce Wayne; not this empty headed, unintelligent and simply horrid fake. The boy faded into the background and slid to a crouch against a wall, watching silently.
"Good evening Timothy."
Tim looked up in surprise to see Leslie Tomkins smiling down at him before joining him on the floor; completely disregarding her expensive deep blue dress and slipping off a pair of white flats with a sigh. She flashed him a smile. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. And it's Tim, okay? How are you miss Tomkins?"
"Leslie, please. Well, to be honest, if I'm not out of here soon, I think I may punch one of these fools' face in."
Tim did a double take and then grinned; the woman had said it with a totally straight smile. "I understand."
"And yet, here you are." Leslie looked out at the crowd. "Well…read any good books lately?"
He chuckled. "Actually…"
"That her?" Roy Harper shook his head as he looked over the redheaded woman. "I dunno…"
"Why does everyone say that sort of thing?" Dick huffed and took a sip of what passed for lemonade as he nudged Jason. "Pass me some more cake."
The three teens were lined up on their stomachs under a table, peering out from under the cloth at the other partygoers as they snacked. Jason rolled his eyes as he passed over the dessert. "Because of all the drop dead girls that hit on you on a daily basis, you start crushing on mousy little Gordon."
"Oh shut up! Sunt înconjurat de idioți, nu am de a pune sus cu acest nonsens…." Dick snapped, getting up and moving to ditch them. Roy looked at Jason with a grin.
"Think we upset him?"
"Just a bit. He'll get over it."
Suddenly the teen was between them again, shushing them with a panicked look. They all froze and listened as a slightly breathy voice came from outside of their little fortress. "Dick? Di~ick? Where'd you go?"
Jason muffled laughter into his sleeve as his brother shuddered and huddled further from the edge. Roy raised an eyebrow. "Who was that?"
"Betty Kane." Jason smiled at Dick's blush. "Big bro's number one fan."
"She scares me…" Dick mumbled.
"She scares all men."
"…Seems to be making a lot of progress."
Tim nodded and finished making his napkin into a crane. "Yeah, Damian is a lot easier to live with these days. I almost think he's warming up to Jay now but it may take a while for him to like me, I think something about me irritates him."
"I know that feeling." Jason flopped next to him and nudged him. "Hey, where's Bruce? He ready to ditch yet?"
"I don't think so. Where's Roy?"
Dick squatted in front of them and shrugged. "He left. He and Mr. Queen have a long drive home. Leslie, would you like to dance?"
The woman smiled and allowed the teen to help her up. "Why, I would love to dance, Mr. Grayson."
"Should we be concerned about him?" Jason jerked his head at where Dick and Leslie were joining the throng of dancers. "He only seems to talk to nerds and old ladies."
Tim hid a laugh behind a cough and smiled contentedly as he and his brother watched the crowd. Jason stretched and made a face.
"I'm soooo bored…"
"Meh, me too." Tim stood and held out a hand to help Jason get up. "Wanna get out for some air and maybe some real food?"
"You paying?"
"Yeah, sure."
Dick watched them wander off and smiled to himself. Looking at him shrewdly, Leslie chuckled. "You three are adorable, I hope you know that."
Dick blushed and shrugged. "Yeah, sure. So how are things at the clinic?"
"Going well, Bruce's help with the new equipment was very welcome. I hear you're going to be interning at Wayne Enterprises."
"Ah, yeah…" Dick managed a smile.
"You have no interest in business do you?"
"None at all. Just don't tell Bruce."
Jason munched happily on his fries as Tim scanned his phone, sighing. "Dick wants to warn us that if we're not back before the party ends we'll be in trouble."
"We got time. Pass the ketchup."
Tim yawned and looked around the room thoughtfully. Late as it was, there were very little patrons and the soft sound of a popular song mixed with muted conversations as people went about their business. Jason slurped his milkshake and grinned at his brother as the younger teen pulled out an iPad and opened a book app. He glanced at the title, The ABC Murders, and leaned back in his chair. "I got a question for ya. I know you think you're a pretty good detective and that you're always reading those things. What's the best mystery you've ever dealt with?"
"What do you mean?" Tim looked up but didn't close the program.
"What is the one case you think you did the best on?"
Slowly closing his iPad, the boy looked at his brother and hummed thoughtfully. "I'm not the detective Bruce is but… You know how Bruce brought me into the loop after I turned ten?"
"Yeah?"
"I already knew."
Jason choked on his fries and stared at Tim. Tim sipped his soda and looked at Jason.
There was silence.
"What?!"
"Do you remember that time before Bruce adopted me when my parents were actually home and we all went to watch Dick do that show with his circus friends? He did that quadruple somersault and everyone was impressed because supposedly only three other people could do that trick and they were all at least twenty? Well, about a week later I was sitting in my room playing while my nanny folded my clothes and watched the news when I heard something about Batman and Robin."
"So of course you started listening." Jason grinned.
"Duh. Well, they'd caught video of them fighting…I don't even remember who it was…The Penguin I think, and Robin made this flying leap and suddenly I knew."
"How?" Jason was shaking his head. "I mean seriously…"
"Don't you get it? It was the same trick! It made sense in a way, so I started researching and realized that Robin showed up six months after Dick's parents died. And that Red Hood showed up after you got adopted. And it made sense when I found out about Bruce's parents and I just…knew."
They sat quietly for a while, just staring out into space when Jason suddenly started laughing. "Man…big brains all over the world have been wondering who Batman is for years and some nine year old manages to figure it out…man…"
"I know, I know…" Tim shrugged. "I never mentioned because I get the impression it would kind of tick Bruce off if he knew. He'd start getting paranoid…"
"And none of us want to see that happen." Jason crumpled his trash together and loaded it all onto the tray. "Well come on, let's blow this joint."
"Sure-"
The sound of gunshots interrupted the younger boy and both hit the deck as they watched two men in dark clothes walk into the restaurant and make for the cashier.
"Only in Gotham…" Both boys chorused as they made their way towards the bathrooms.
Red Hood smirked as he watched the cops drag off the gangsters. "It's so much fun to fight them when they're high. Of course, why else would they hold up a fast food joint?"
"Do you have any clue how many people visit these kind of places every day? It's not a bad place if you're looking to illegally pick up some cash." Red Robin noticed the look being sent his way and shrugged. "Anyway, you're right, they were easy."
"Good thing, I didn't want to have to bail you two out."
Wincing, the crime fighters turned to smile weakly at their older brother, who glared at them. Robin sighed. "We left early to come look for you two. Well, since you're already in costume, let's patrol."
"Without Bats?"
"He said as long as we stick together. He's got a JLA case anyway…"
Both younger boys whooped and began to sprint across the rooftop. Red Robin made it to the edge first and lunged off with a big grin. "Come on guys, the game's afoot!"
