OKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY
Believe it or not, this IS important to the PLOT (the chapter, not my note, but my notes are AWESOME so keep reading, my little communists...)
ANYWHOO
I'm really, really, reaaaaaaaaally trying to build up the Blaine n' Dick mischeviousnessess in heres, so NO FLAMES, please... (their relationships as 'TWINS' is very important.)
SRRY, no Alfred, Terry, or Babs in dis CH...
I OWN NOTHING (except for Jason and Blaine, so technically, half of dis chapter!)
Don't know what else to say...
WARNINGS: fluff and fighting
Alfred was off for the week, to see his family for once. It was almost the start of school, and his niece was going back to college soon, so he wanted to bid her farewell. Problem was, she lived in Texas. So, Alfred flew out to Texas, leaving Bruce alone with his three foster children. Oh, wait, I mean five, technically. Barbara was in Kansas, visiting her grandmother. (The only reason Barbara doesn't live with her 'Grammy' is because the old lady couldn't afford to 'keep' a teenaged girl.) Terrence was off at a friend's house for a sleepover. That left Jason, who was recovering from terribly bruised ribs (Thaaaaaaaaaanks, Uncle Jack!), Blaine, who was livid (to be spoken of later), and Dick, who was, as of the moment, using the gym equipment for his physical therapy.
After the news reports on Joker's attack of Wayne Manor, in his attempt to steal all of the money (which he ended up doing, no thanks to Flash and Green Arrow, in Bruce's opinion), Dick had been put back into surgery for his leg. Now, the doctor said, Dick would make a full recovery, if he went through physical therapy.
So, while Bruce- or rather, Batman- was out, Jason was watching with extreme curiosity as Dick hung upside-down on the newly installed trapeze rings from his feet, curling his body up, then down, up, then down, re-strengthening his injured calf. Blaine was playing with a couple of dolls as she sat on the floor next to Jason, who was flipping from History to Algebra to Dick and his acrobatic feats of terror and then to Science.
There came an anguished cry, and suddenly, Dick was falling.
It took about .5 seconds for BlackHawk-mode to kick in, and Jason caught the boy. Sweating, blinking from the shock, Dick squirmed out of Jason's arms. "Thanks..." he said softly, scrambling back up the bars.
Jason bit his lip. "Dickie, are you sure you're up for more? I mean, you've been at this for what, half an hour already?"
Dick was doing flips on the rings now. He paused, head facing down, legs high in the air. Blinking his baby blues at Jason, Dick tilted his head. "Why? I did this for hours back at the-" His face blanked, and the boy's lip quivered dangerously.
Jason immediately changed the subject. "Look, Dickie, it's almost... what? Almost midnight!" Jason exclaimed as he examined his watch. He had promised Bruce to have them in bed by eleven thirty. Time flies by when you're having fun... Jason thought as he picked up his books. "C'mon, kiddos! Bedtime!"
Blaine grumbled but picked up her dolls, none the less. Jason turned to Dick, who was still doing flips. "C'mon, wonder boy."
"Wonder boy?" Blaine furrowed her brows. She grinned suddenly and snapped her fingers, obsidian eyes gleaming. "Howabout 'Boy Wonder' instead? Like, like a nick-name!"
Dick was down from the rings and gulping down some water as he- slightly- limped towards his foster-siblings. "Boy Wonder?" He tilted his head thoughtfully. "Dick, the Boy Wonder..."
Jason chuckled. "Nice. Now, onto baths, then bed."
Growling and groaning, the two walked off.
It took about thirty minutes for both of them to have their baths finished. Dick was lying in the black on Blaine's bed, her body pressed up against his as she read 'The Three Little Pigs' to him. But, by the time they were finished, neither was tired.
Blaine sat up, fingering her damp hair, which hung all the way down to her waist. "Not tired?" Dick asked as he sat up, his own black locks falling into his eyes. It was high time for a haircut, but neither wanted one.
Blaine shrugged. "Wanna go bug Jason?"
Dick grinned mischievously. The boy's slightly demonic behavior had only just been revealed- which was somewhat good, as it showed he was getting more and more used to living with his new family. His eyes flashed brightly. "Sure!"
So, quick as a snap, the two were shuffling their way down three different hallways and then into a parlor where a certain grandfather clock stood. Blaine reached forward and unlocked the door with a key hidden under the mat. She set the clock to three thirty-two, and it chimed before opening to reveal- yet another- lock. Dick retrieved the key from under the nearby vase (he was careful not to knock this one over- for an acrobat, Dick was rather clumsy) and just barely reached the lock on his tip-toes. Blaine didn't berate him for his height- now, knowing Dick for almost three months, the two had grown to be more like twins than younger/older siblings.
Creeping silently down the navy, stone stairs, Blaine blinked harshly in the dim lighting.
Grunts and loud WHOOPS, like cloth against something heavy, could be heard.
Full in her nightgown, and full in his flannel PJ's, Blaine and Dick crept forward behind a huge stalagmite that hid both of their tiny bodies from view. They saw Jason, in nothing but black sweat-shorts, his muscular body gleaming from sweat, duking it out with a punching bag. The two children just stood there, watching the older boy for a good full twenty minutes.
Jason was breathing huskily as he untapped his knuckles, reaching out for a towel to dry his face. But, as he turned, he caught sight of blue flannel and long, wet blonde locks. Rolling his eyes, Jason hung the towel around his shoulders and walked up to the stalagmite, swiftly turning-
To see nothing.
Nothing.
Fifty feet up, Blaine had her arms and legs wrapped around Dick's body as he clung tightly to a light fixture. How the boy had managed to climb all the way up, Blaine had no clue, but she was thankful as she giggled at Jason's fiercely confused expression.
Shaking his head, Jason began his stretches.
Dick scrambled back down the lights and pipes, Blaine clutching to his PJ's as he went. But, as they passed under the light, Jason's eyes caught sight.
"AHA!"
"AUGH!" and "WOAH!" came the two replies as Dick fell about five feet, right on top of Blaine. Jason took in a sharp breath as Dick rolled over, moaning. Blaine sat up, shaking her head, and knocked Dick's with her palm.
"Ouch!"
"Well you fell on top of me!"
Jason grabbed both kids by their hair and dragged them, squirming and whining, over to the Bat-super-computer before sitting both of them down on Bruce's coveted Slovakian leather chair. Dick was blushing fiery red, looking at his hands in his lap, while Blaine sported a paler face, twirling her hair around her fingertips as she watched her bare toes moving. Jason sighed heavily. When did I sign up for babysitting? Oh, yeah! The day Bruce took in four other squirrely kids with AD-freakin'-HD!
Sighing heavily, Jason crouched before the kids.
"Couldn't sleep?"
Both shrugged and said in unison, "We're not tired."
Jason grinned at the almost-twins. "You're not tired, eh?"
Dick shook his head, and Blaine said softly, "No..."
Jason knew that Bruce would kill him for it, and Alfred, too, for that manner, but he couldn't resist. Standing up straight, hearing his back crack and pop as he did so, Jason rolled his neck. "Alright... Who's up for training?"
Both kids looked incredulous. "What?" Dick asked as Blaine gaped, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
"I said," Jason enunciated, "who is up for training?"
"Training?" Blaine seemed to have found her vocal cords, and she now vibrated in her seat. "Ya mean, like, to be a superhero like Bruce?"
Jason frowned, crossing his arms, and said in almost a whiny voice, "Heeeey... I'm a hero, too!"
"A junior hero," Dick affirmed, somewhat shyly.
Jason couldn't help but smile. Dick was just too cute!
"C'mon, kiddos. Let's see if we can't find some stuff for you to wear."
Some of Barbara's older spandex fit nicely on Blaine's immatured form, and some more spandex (that had shrunk by accident in the wash) hung a bit loosely on Dick's frail frame. Nodding at his work, Jason stood back, hands on hips. "Alright," he nodded as Blaine tied back her hair. "First lesson- blocking."
"Aw..." Blaine whined. "When do we get to fiiiiiiight?"
"When you're fourteen. Now, firm your feet to the ground, like as if you're digging your feet into sand." Jason grinned as Dick did a rather clumsy job. Blaine, however, was doing it almost perfectly. Jason fixed up- both youths' stands, and then continued, taking a stance himself.
"Now, when you hear people shout in karate, it's not to look like a cool little ninja." After getting odd looks from Dick and Blaine, Jason rolled his eyes up to the chattering bats. "Okay, maybe a bit, but really, it's to tense your body for the hit."
Jason let out a 'HYA!' as he formed a defensive stance, his hands up in fists as they crossed over his chest. Looking over at Dick and Blaine, he nodded. "You try."
Again, Blaine did stunningly while Dick floundered.
Grinning like the Joker, Jason led them through several different defensive and offensive stances. Overall, they were both outstanding- with a bit of help. Jason soon discovered that, while Blaine was excellent with the fighting stances and even a few blows that she had un-knowingly hit her older 'brother' with, Dick seemed to be much more fluid, easily changing from stance to stance, even if the stances themselves were rather poor.
Screw what Bruce and Alfred say, Jason thought, these kids need to be trained...
Turning to Dick, Jason dragged him up onto the boxing rink. Looking rather distressed, Dick said, "W-w-whaaaaaat? Am I gonna fight you?"
Jason pulled on a mouth-guards and some gloves. No, he wasn't going to hurt Dick, but he wanted the boy to be scared, to see just how his instincts made him react.
"Dn't wrby," he mumbled through the clear plastic. "Jst dbwo bwat cms do you..."
Nodding, Dick took one of the stances warily.
The bats chattering seemed to drown out the evil silence. Blaine was sitting on the edge of the rink, her hands over her eyes as he waited to hear Dick scream in pain.
But, instead, she heard Jason grunting as he strained.
Slowly, Blaine dropped her hands and gasped.
Dick was doing all sorts of flips and twists to avoid Jason. The teen swung out, and Dick would dodge, rolling or jumping away. They did this game of cat-and-mouse for almost ten minutes, and Blaine could see the perspiration on both of her 'brother's' foreheads. It slowly dripped down Dick's neck, chilling the boy to the bone.
Jason decided to end it.
Spitting out the guard, he roared and rushed at Dick.
Instead of running away, as he had done many times before, the black-haired boy pulled himself into a perfect offensive stance, feet apart, seemingly leaning back on his heel, while really his body was evenly balanced as he raised one fist, close to his chest, and another flat fist out away from his body. As Jason was about to envelop the boy into a crushing bear-hug, Dick flung his legs out in a diving twist, knocking the older over, and then vaulted off of Jason's raised knees, flipping gracefully behind his sparring partner. Jason leaned his head back and saw a sweaty, black-clad little boy wearing a proud grin.
Jason stood with a groan, hearing his bones protest. Good God, already! I'm freaking sixteen! He smiled and nodded to Dick. "Good job, Dickie. I think I've got your style down."
He inclined his head to Blaine. "B. You're turn."
Rather nervously, Blaine climbed in as Dick clambered out. "Alright," Jason said, re-placing his mouth guard. "Jst dbwo bwat cms naburally..."
Blaine nodded and immediately took a fierce offensive stance. His eyes widening, Jason nodded and, Dick, desperate to be included, shouted, "BEGIN!"
Blaine cried out and rushed Jason, throwing a punch at his mid-section. Jason easily blocked it, throwing her back. But, instead of retreating to regain herself as Jason thought the young girl would do, Blaine rushed right back in, screaming as she did.
Caught off-guard, Jason took a firm punch to the gut. He moaned and thought of the blue skin on his chest. Shaking his head, he readied for another attack. Indeed, Blaine rushed him, but, instead of another all-out attack, she opted for the Grayson-approach, and tried to trip Jason. He simply jumped over her feet.
The fierce attacks and yelling went on five minutes. Blaine obviously had great stamina, as the attacks she opted for were only increasing with violence, but her aim was getting off. Jason didn't reprimand her. This was a test. He gave her a gut-hit, and the girl was flung back. She groaned and glared, but made no objections.
Gears churned in Blaine's head, and she understood now. It was all a test. Standing up, she took in several deep breaths before taking a defensive stance. Jason grinned and rushed her.
The next movements were a blur.
Blaine knew about a few pressure points, but not many. She knew about the one in your collar bone, though, and as Jason ran head0first towards her, she smirked.
Jason had no time to stop.
Blaine jumped off of the ropes on the edge of the rink and latched onto Jason's pressure-point. He fell instantly. Blaine grinned and bowed. Shaking his head as he sat up, Jason swore to never go easy on the Demon-Twins ever again.
"Nice job," he said to Blaine. "But your style needs work. You're great at offensive, but defensive should always be your priority, being so... well, little."
She scowled and stuck out her tongue, chest heaving. Jason returned the favor.
No one realized that, even though the battles had been short, they had been down for hours. It was now around three thirty, and a certain someone was returning early from patrol, having such an easy night.
Actually, he had gotten there before the sparring even began.
But, being the odd little bat he is, Bruce (he had his cowl off, but costume on) hid in the shadows, analyzing each of Dick's moves as the boy flipped and twirled.
He's defensive... Good... But he needs work... He can surprise the opponent easily, that's good, too... Excellent form on that pose, Richard!- OUCH! That looked like it hurt...
Then, Blaine was up. Bruce's eyes widened at her offensive take.
She's much stronger than she appears... Shocks the opponent... Nicely done... Good, good... Oh, crap! JASON! Not so hard... She's a bit too offensive, but- ah! Adda' girl, B... OUCH! I feel somewhat sorry for Jason...
Jason was now applauding the two juniors, who were both bowing sillily. "Dick, awesome job of monkey, but you need to get to the attack a bit faster, but not too fast, mind you, or you loose the element of surprise, which you did have... Oh, God... You had it..." He rubbed his ribs and looked at Blaine. "You're stronger than you look, y'know, B?" She blushed. "But, still... Excellent, excellent job... Surprising, your take on attacking rather than defensive, I mean, no offense, but being a girl, and your age, they'd expect you to do the same as Dickie... You need a bit more work on balancing attacks with defense, but you'll be a great hero- someday."
The two beamed.
A gruff voice said, "I didn't know that I had approved training."
Jason didn't jump- he was too used to the bat by now- but Blaine shrieked, and Dick cried out before dashing behind Blaine.
Bruce stepped into view, trying to hide a smirk. "Nice job, Jason. You've got their styles down, and I agree with your assessment."
All three kids were- basically, shocked.
Bruce's almost-smirk disappeared to be replaced by underlined anger. "But I never approved training." He eyed Blaine, who was rubbing her ribs, just like how Jason had done earlier. "Much for that reason."
Jason moaned, "C'mon, Bruce! We all get a few bumps and scrapes, but didn't you see her? And him? He moves like... like... well, I can't describe it, but they're good! Much better than anyone could have expected, Bruce. Admit it."
Bruce's face softened when he saw Dick's and Blaine's faces of worry, frustration, and hope...
He sighed, ruffling up his own black hair. "You can train-" Both yelped with joy and hugged. "-BUUUUT..." They groaned. "NO field work, WHATSOEVER, got it?"
Dick nodded. "Boy Wonder got it!"
Bruce raised an eyebrow at Jason, who mouthed, "Later..."
Bruce approached his youngest 'children' and patted their shoulders. "On with you two, now. Alfred would kill Jason and I both for tonight."
They said in unison, "But we're not..." They were both (in unison) cut off with yawns.
Chuckling, Bruce shuffled them towards the stairs. "I'll be there to tuck you in in a minute."
They said nothing as they trooped up the stairs.
Now, punishment... Bruce turned to his eldest 'son', who was looking at his feet, suddenly interested in his toenails. Bruce sighed. "They did do good, Jason... But, son, why go behind my back?"
"It wasn't like that!" Jason exclaimed, defending himself. "They said they couldn't sleep, and I thought, well, with all of their squirrely ADHD-ness that, well-"
"-Training would help?"
Jason squirmed under the Bat-glare. "Y-yeah..."
Bruce sighed, almost growled, and Jason flinched. "Jason, you can't just go beyond direct orders-"
"You never said they couldn't train!"
Bruce opened his mouth, but it snapped shut. He had never said they couldn't train...
He was silent, then, for a few moments, pondering what would happen next. "You'll help me train them." It was a demand, not a request.
Trying to hide a grin, Jason nodded in reply.
"Alright," Bruce said, "I've got papers that need to be filed."
"Did you deal alright without you Batgirl and BlackHawk tonight?"
Bruce smiled and kissed his son's forehead. "Yeah, but I sure do love having them there."
Jason smiled and kissed his dad's cheek. "Love you, too, dad..."
And he trooped off after the 'twins'.
Bruce abruptly slammed his head against his desk.
What the Hell was he up against now?
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW... Jason and Bruce bonding! (forgive me, I had to...)
Do you like my take on where "Boy Wonder" came from?
TEE HEE HEE...
ANYWAYS NEXT CHAPTER!
1. Bruce has a 'talk' with Jason and Barbara
2. Dick is kidnapped
3. Superman is PO'd at Bruce for something... (OF WHICH I WILL NOT SPEAAKS!)
4. ALL OF THE ABOVE!
