Author's Note: According to the reviews, you want me to keep this story going, so here's the next chapter! Let me know if you want anything specific to show up in the story (anything you want, even if it's completely random and doesn't seem to pertain to the story, I'll do my best to fit in there). This is just the reactions of everyone else to the new kid in the house. Some will be longer and some will literally be a paragraph. Read, review, and enjoy!
Response to Guest Reviews:
Guest - You asked me to put the ages, so here they are: Damian is 18, Colin is 18, Jason is 17, Tim is 15, Roy is 15, Stephanie is 14, Cass is 13, Dick is 11, and Wally is 9. Boom. There you go. Thank you so much for taking the time to review!
HotPursuit123 – Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! And Young Justice will definitely be formed at some point during this story.
Theawesomeflash – Oh, I am one hundred percent going to make Wally a bat. There's no doubt about that. I'm not sure on the name or how he figures out the whole running bit yet, but I'll get there, I swear. Thanks for reviewing!
Disclaimer: I do not own YJ or, I guess, Batman stuff
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Bruce could feel Alfred's gaze on him as he walked up the steps of the orphanage and knocked lightly on the door. As he waited for a response, he turned and asked Alfred bluntly, "What?"
"Oh it's nothing, Master Bruce." Great, Alfred was using that tone with him. The tone that made him feel all of ten years old and feeling guilty for breaking another vase. Bruce's withering glare did nothing to deter the forcedly indifferent look his butler had adopted.
Before Bruce or Alfred could continue, the door swung open and a young woman stepped out, flour caking her hair and hands. She looked at him curiously for a second before recognition flashed across her face and her mouth dropped open slightly, unsure how to react. Before the star struck woman could get a word out, another woman, significantly older but no less covered in flour, stepped into view. She whacked the woman on the shoulder, sending a puff of dust in the air before turning back to Bruce and Alfred, "I'm sorry, Mr. Wayne. My daughter here can't seem to mind her manners. Why don't you come on in and wait in here for a second. Sally will go get Wally real quick." Sally, her daughter, nodded quickly and scampered off, throwing one more glance Bruce's way.
"I'm Ashley Adams, by the way. I'm the new head of this orphanage. They decided to get rid of the Catholic title and it's just a regular old orphanage now. We're greatly appreciative of your very charitable donation, by the way, Mr. Wayne. It's going to help the children a lot and I think that we can really get this place up and running again. My daughter and her husband work here part time with a couple of their friends, by the way. We've got a good system going and I hope that you'll visit again sometime and let me know what you think of how much the place's changed. It's going to be spectacular." A warm smile from Ashley did nothing to ease the irritation Bruce was feeling from her rambling. A second later she spoke up again, "What is taking Sally so long? I'm going to go check on them real quick and bring them down myself. You two get comfortable and I'll be right back. If you want something done right, you should do it yourself, am I right?" Bruce forced a laugh and a smile and Mrs. Adams finally left.
Alfred's voice immediately filled the blessed silence, "Are you really sure that adopting this boy was the right decision? Are you trying to get a blind boy into crime fighting now?"
"You didn't see him, Alfred. I knew right away that I could protect him if I adopted him. Besides, I'm not going to let him do crime fighting. There's no way I would put him in that kind of danger." Bruce immediately retorted.
Alfred's slight twist of the lips showed his disapproval, a quiet, "That's what you said for Master Dick, and Mistress Cassandra, and Master Jason, and Master Timothy."
Bruce was prevented from responding by three sets of steps starting down the stairs. Wally tapped his way down first, one hand tapping the stairs with his cane and the other pressed against the wall. Mrs. Adams watched him like a hawk, making sure he didn't hurt himself, while Sally carried Wally's suitcase with her.
Bruce took a moment to study his newest son. He could tell from their first meeting that the kid was intelligent. The Braille science textbook his saw peaking out of the ragged suitcase testified to that further. The billionaire had also been told by interim head of the orphanage that Wally had been recommended to skip several grades in school and was going to go into his eighth grade year at school. Apparently the school he had been attending had a Braille printer that had been used by the teachers to print out all of Wally's school work and he had been in all honors classes. Bruce felt immensely proud of his son despite not having had a proper conversation with him until that day.
He could see the slight turn of Wally's shoulders that indicated nervousness and slight fear. It was only understandable. Bruce had read the case file on Wally's parents and had learned exactly what they had done to him. He was also instrumental in the arrest of George Whitshaker, so he knew that the child didn't have the best track record with parental figures. His biological parents had abused him and blinded him. Father George had used him as a lookout during criminal meetings for two years. Bruce only hope that he could help this poor child learn to stop being afraid.
AAAAAA
Alfred had been left alone with young Wallace while Bruce had to fill out some final paperwork. He had to admit that the boy had a definite aura around him that just made one want to hug and him and make it all better. This was much the same feeling that Alfred had around all of the children Bruce had brought home. Alfred turned to the boy and asked politely, "I am Alfred Pennyworth, your new butler. It is a pleasure to meet you, Master Wallace."
Wallace turned in his direction and attempted a smile, the corners of his lips faltering slightly. He switched the hand he held his cane in and held out his right hand in Alfred's general direction. The elderly butler couldn't help but smile at the sight. The child was obviously trying his hardest to seem normal. He had probably been teased about his lack of eyesight for however long he had the disability. Alfred took the boy's hand, shaking it firmly and was pleased to notice that Wallace's grip was just as firm. Wallace's head ducked and he responded shyly, "It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Pennyworth. You don't have to call me Master Wallace by the way. You can just call me Wally."
Alfred smiled to himself and responded, "Well then, I insist that you simply call me Alfred then, Master Wally." He saw the boy blush and allowed himself another smile. Wally was polite and intelligent and just the right mixture of shy and cheerful that it came off as enduring. Alfred had a feeling that the rest of the family was going to take to Wally as well, if not better, than they took to Master Dick.
The silence started to stretch to an uncomfortable length and Alfred decided to continue the conversation, "What kind of cookies do you prefer, Master Wally? I will make sure to have them ready for you after dinner."
The dumbfounded expression that the young child blessed him with was enough to make the butler silently chuckle. Then Wally's voice broke into the air, so much brighter than Alfred had heard it insofar, "You would do that for me? Really? Er, I mean, you don't have to do that. I, um, couldn't ask you to do that." By the end of his final sentence, Master Wally was practically whispering, foot scuffing the floor gently and face tilted down. Alfred frowned to himself; this submissive behavior that seemed almost… afraid would need to go. He could only assume that Wally had been the victim of abuse at least once in his life for him to act this way.
He answered, his voice gentle, "Of course I would do that for you, Master Wally. It would be my genuine pleasure. You need only inform me of your preference."
Wally's head tilted up as if to peak up at him, but more likely to make sure he heard him correctly, "Really?" A nod confirmed the statement and Wally added hesitantly, "Um, I really like double chocolate chip cookies, but I'll eat any kind really."
The child seemed nervous, as if Alfred would laugh, but the elderly man simply smiled again and said firmly, "Then you shall have your double chocolate chip cookies tonight." Alfred thought to himself that he could definitely understand Bruce's enchantment with this child. Wally would definitely be a good addition to this family.
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To be honest, Dick was nervous about meeting his younger brother. That was why he had forced Roy to tag along. Although, in spite of all of his grumblings, Dick knew that Roy would do anything for him. He wasn't quite sure when the two had become so close. Roy was closer in age to Tim and had met Jason first, so Robin wasn't entirely certain what it was that appealed the archer to him. He was pretty awesome, but not awesome enough to deserve such an amazing friend. At least, he didn't think so anyways. All of his older brothers, his older sister, and Bruce were kind of hard shoes to fill. They were all successful and so amazing and can do whatever they want whenever they wanted. Even Stephanie as Spoiler and Colin as Abuse were super asterous on the field and at home.
Dick didn't get a chance to continue in his self-wallowing as the door opened. Wally looked much better than he did that night four days ago. His fire red hair was shorter if not neater. The several inches of vibrant locks seemed to have a mind of their own, sticking up and lying down at completely random points. Somehow it worked. He had on clean, brand new pair of tan khakis and a nice white button down. Dick had to assume that Alfred had sent him some new clothes. His shoes were nice brown dress shoes and he seemed to be shifted from side to side in them, obviously uncomfortable. Wally introduced himself and Dick didn't waste another second and launched out of the chair. At the last second, he latched onto to Roy's arm and pulled him along. He could tell that he startled the teen by the sudden curse that the archer whispered. Dick held in a giggle, not wanting to embarrass himself in front of his new brother.
Wow, he was really going to be a big brother. He started spewing something about being a big brother and best friends and something about Roy. He was pretty sure that he insulted Jason at some point and made a mental note to apologize, but for right that instant, he was too excited. Dick could see a hint of something mischievous in the set of Wally's shoulders and in the slight curl at the corners of his lips. He also saw a defensive tilt to his stance and a determined furrow of his brow that told the young acrobat that the boy in front of him had been through something horrible and was trying to hold everything in and hold it all on his own shoulders. He knew that look because he used to see it when he looked in the mirror in his first couple of months in the manor. He didn't think it began to go away until he became Robin.
The others introduced themselves as his thoughts whirled. Would he have to keep that fact that he was Robin from his new brother? He really didn't want to! Dick bit his lip as he realized that this could drive a wedge between the rest of the family and Wally. Everyone else was a superhero and he obviously couldn't become one. He would have to sit on the sidelines and worry while the rest of his family was out fighting crime and getting hurt and throwing themselves head first into dangerous situations. He knew the feeling because that was how he had felt in the time between finding out Batman's secret identity and going out as Robin the first time too.
The thing was, though, that he knew that he was going to become Robin and get to go out and fight crime. Wally didn't have that cushion to fall on though. Richard was pulled back into the conversation when he heard the most gleefully sinister tone come from his new adopted brother as he asked, "Dami, huh?"
Dick couldn't help the cackle that came out. It was the one that struck fear into the hearts of criminals and would probably scar Wally, but Dick was just happy that he had pegged the kid right. He was just as wickedly impish as Dick wanted him to be. Richard continued after his laugh, "I wouldn't try it if I were you. Damian doesn't let anyone but Colin call him by a nickname. Apparently he 'doesn't do' nicknames." Dick then watched with barely hidden glee at the puppy dog face that Wally made. Dick could help him form a better one, but this was pretty good. Coupled with Colin's puppy dog face, Dick knew that Damian would give in. This was going to be perfect. He could tell now that what he said was true; they really were going to be best friends.
They would share everything with each other and hang out all the time and help each other out when the time came. He would train the youngest Wayne to become the perfect pranking machine. The two of them – no, the three of them, he couldn't forget Roy – were going to be force of destruction raining down on the Wayne household and it was going to help everyone lighten up more. They would be the light in the Bat Clan.
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Roy slightly regretted coming to this. He was completely bored and he couldn't even clean/sharpen his arrows like he normally did when he was bored because as of right then, Wally didn't know that any of them were superheroes. Roy sighed again, but realized that he wouldn't have missed coming to this for the world because Dick was practically vibrating with nervousness next to him. Damian had even forcibly sent Dick to Oliver's flat because he was getting so annoyed with the rants about his 'new little brother'. They would have been more adorable and less annoying if he hadn't had so little information to talk about. All he knew was the kid's name and how he met him. Roy had skimmed some more information about the orphanage Robin used to stay at, so that was a plus, but overall he was generally annoyed.
Then the door opened and Roy realized that this kid wasn't going to be a complete pushover like he thought. He knew the kid was blind (he had only heard it a thousand times), but he still wasn't quite prepared for the way he never really looked in the right direction. He was always close, but just a little off. Roy wondered idly if he'd been blind his whole life or not and figured that he and Robin were going to have to find a way to get those glasses off once the kid warmed up to them.
Roy wasn't an idiot and he wasn't completely oblivious to what other people were feeling; he just chose to ignore it most of the time. He could tell, however, that Wally was drowning in nervousness. It made him wonder what his life was like before this. The only thing he, or any of the other kids really, knew about him was that he was blind and went to a corrupt Catholic orphanage. They literally knew nothing else. Roy wasn't even sure what the kid's last name was. As far as he could tell from Dick's ramblings, the kid was nine years old.
Speedy sighed to himself as he realized that Oliver was going to make some sort of comment about how his only friends were little children and how creepy that was. Oh well, Roy would just make a comment about him and Dinah's relationship (hopefully when Dinah wasn't present). Watching the delight that lit up Dick's features and the relaxation that spread across Wally's face when the two talked made Roy realize that he would be seeing a lot of the blind kid and all he could think was that maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.
JJJJJJ
Jason tilted his head when Wally walked in. He really didn't want to deal with another obnoxious brat that he had to watch his language around and who he couldn't smoke around or make lewd comments about women (or men, really; he wasn't picky).
But when Jason saw Wally interacting with the others, he realized that the kid wasn't so bad after all. He had potential. Jason could see it now. This was the perfect kid to groom into the ultimate wing man. Anyone who had a blind kid with them instantly became a chic magnet. Apparently it makes you seem more appealing or something. He would make sure to train up Wally's sweet side and work on developing his flirting skills.
Jason grinned to himself; maybe it wouldn't hurt him to spend more time hanging around the manor if this kid was going to make the place better.
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Tim didn't like this. Well, he liked the fact that Stephanie was sitting all pretty in his lap, but he didn't like this. He didn't want another brother. He didn't like the ones he had. They were annoying and rude and generally unintelligent fools. Yes, Dick was at some points intelligent but he dedicated too much of that intelligence to pranking people. Some of his siblings were bearable, but others (cough Jason cough) made him want to bang his head against the wall for hours at a time. They drove him crazy so how was this kid going to be any better! Besides, he was technically a criminal! Aiding criminals and obstructing justice is a criminal offense and yet, instead of being reprimanded and sent to juvie or something, he was given the life of a billionaire's son. Wasn't Batman all about justice? How was this justice?
Then Tim froze because he couldn't have seen what he thought he just saw. Wait, he saw it again! There, peeking out of the corner of Wally's suitcase was a textbook with a title in Braille that, even if he could read Braille, he wouldn't be able to read it from this distance. On the cover, though, there was a raised skeleton with lines leading to the names of various bones. It didn't even look like a child's textbook! That had to mean that he was smart. Or, at least, he wanted to become smart. He was a nine year old reading about anatomy! Red Robin started to get excited and introduced himself in a much more chipper manner than usual because he finally had someone intelligent to talk to. Sure, he was a couple of years younger, but Tim would groom him into a little genius.
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Cass was excited to meet her new brother. She didn't really mind another guy coming to live with them. Stephanie's friendship and Alfred's constant understanding was all she needed in that regard. Besides, she wanted to see if she could read his body language as well as she could the others. The rest of the family knew her as the quiet one who relied on actions as opposed to words and they were right. Hopefully Wally would understand her and hopefully she could make a great friend out of him. She just had this feeling that they would get along great and she hoped that her feeling wouldn't fail her this time. She'd make a great listener out of him if it killed her.
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Stephanie was really there just to stay with Tim. She was glad they were dating again. The reason they had broken up last time had been completely ridiculous and she was devastated. Cass was there too, so that was great. It was always nice hanging out with the generally reserved girl. Stephanie could get her to do some crazy things during sleepovers and it was amazing. She wondered if Wally was going to be the kind of guy who would braid girl's hair if they asked, or watch movies with them and paint their nails.
Stephanie had had a friend like that once. He was amazing. He totally did it just because he was a complete sweetie who would do anything for his girlfriend. On second thought, though, Wally couldn't watch movies with them. He probably couldn't paint their nails without eyesight either. Stephanie mentally shrugged to herself; she would find something that he could do that would be super sweet and adorable. The door opened as she was making plans to turn him into a dream boyfriend. She had to literally suppress her squeal of delight. He was the cutest thing ever! No offense to her wonderful boyfriend, but this one was a keeper. Any girl who got him as their bae was going to be in heaven. If he wasn't so much younger than her, she would have dumped Tim for him right away (not really, but it felt like it in the moment). Well, Stephanie thought to herself, it won't be hard to make that into perfect boyfriend material.
Author's Note: There you go. Once again, constructive criticism welcome and any little scene or any little tidbit that you want to see in this story, let me know and I'll do my best to fit it in. Five reviews and I'll make another chapter!
