Chapter 7: On Fathers
AN: Bold italicized is dialogue from the show or comic.
Gotham
Year 2010
August 3rd
7:30 EDT
Jason is 10
Cass is 9
Tim is 8
Robin is 13
Batgirl is 14
Batman is 30
Bruce sighed as he came back in from another meeting. He hated coming to Metropolis to meet with Luthor about anything. Each time he turned him down. Especially since a lot of Luthor's recent offers weren't even about anything he had a right to decide. Drake Industries might be in his hands until Tim was old enough but he wouldn't do a thing, especially make a deal with Luthor. Tim already was starting to understand about running a company. He'd sat in on enough of Bruce's meetings. He missed his kids here and couldn't wait to return home later to them.
Then there was a crashing sound. Bruce stopped his pacing in front of the office window to watch a bus dangling dangerously at the edge of the bridge. He walked over to the bust on his desk flipping it over to push a button and see a hidden Batman suit. Then a streak of red flew past his window as Superman flew to the bridge. In front of him a black haired boy in a black shirt and jeans leaped from the top of a building towards the bridge.
With a pair of binoculars Bruce watched Superman fly past the bus getting the bridge stable. Superboy landed hard on the bridge making it crack a little more as he got a car away from the edge. The bus tipped closer over the edge and Superboy grabs the back end trying to pull it up. Then suddenly it flew above him as Superman flies up holding it from under. Bruce sighed putting down the binoculars. Superboy had just been trying to help, even if he went through with it in the wrong way he just needed someone to show him how to use the experience.
Then his comm buzzed.
"Yes?"
"Batman, it's Green Arrow. Black Canary and I are fighting a killer robot that can use all the League's powers. We need everyone's help."
"I'm on my way. Have you called everyone else?"
"Just finished with Superman."
Bruce watched him streak passed and pulled out the suit. As he pushed his comm again.
"I already got the alert Bruce."
"I know Clark, but we need to talk."
This couldn't go on. Dick's talk hadn't worked, neither had his children blacklisting Clark or anything else. He would get through to the Kryptonian. Superboy couldn't continue without a mentor and a real home. Then he followed the Man of Steel to the Zeta tubes to help the rest of the League.
"What happened? This wasn't from your meeting with Luthor." Robin asked as he walked out from getting ready to leave to the cave to see Bruce sitting on the chair in front of the Batcomputer with bandages all around his ribcage. It had been a little over four and a half hours since he'd seen Superman and Superboy in Metropolis.
"League mission. An android, a dangerous one, I'm arranging the transport of it's parts to different STAR labs facilities. I'm just here for a few minutes. I have to get back to Metropolis."
Robin groaned. Then he looked at Batman pointedly realizing something. "You used the Zeta?"
"And I will again," Bruce told him. "After I finish this. Though I'll be back tonight. Especially because I found the identity of our vigilante."
Robin leaned forward interested. The last three days reports of a female vigilante, a blonde teenager, had appeared in Gotham. The thing is she was dressed in green and used arrows. They'd managed to get pictures and footage. She was good, but she was also masked. "So who is she?"
"Artemis Crock. She's fifteen and she's no amateur," Bruce said. "I wouldn't be surprised if her father has been training her for years."
"Her father?" Robin asked surprised. He was suddenly thinking of Cassie who was playing with Harper Row and Tim upstairs.
"Lawrence Crock. Sportsmaster. Her mother was Paula Nyugen, Huntress. And if my information is correct her sister has been working for the League of Assassins," Bruce told him.
Robin's eyes widened as his face steeled. "Her mom was just released from Blackgate, right? Her dad is definitely still active. If she continues we'll help her."
"I'll talk to Oliver about it. You have training now," Bruce told him. "And I need to get back and finish making sure this happens so I can talk to Clark."
"Finally!" Robin cheered. "I'll see you later Bruce."
Batman sighed closing the files pulling on his shirt, suit and tie then going back to Metropolis. Robin would be seeing him sooner than he thought if the League agreed with his plans. He'd send it over comms now to be final.
Litchfield County
August 3rd
20:08 EDT
Robin and the team stood ready on their motorcycles. Batman stood nearby with the rest of the leaguers ready to send four decoy trucks and several real ones to different cities. Batman saw Robin's eyes following him as he walked over to Superman with an approving nod. Then he turned to follow Superboy and the trucks leaving Batman with the League.
"We need to talk."
"What?" Superman asked as he looked over his shoulder to see Batman. He turned around.
"Bibbo's Diner," Bruce said. "I'll get you some of your apple pie."
"Fine," Superman sighed as he took off looking down at Batman. "After your meeting with Perry I'm guessing."
Batman smirked. There were perks to owning the Daily Planet. He walked over to Green Arrow then. "I need to talk to you too."
"Is this about Roy, because that's not the same situation as Superboy."
"No," Batman shook his head. "Roy's the issue in that situation. Superman is the issue with Superboy. You can keep trying your best to get him back. All of us will. But I have something else to ask you for help with. A chance to make up for the mistakes you made with Roy. To help someone else do better."
"What do you mean?"
"Come by tomorrow night," Batman told him as he left.
Outside Gotham City
Robin held onto his comm switching the channel as he drove after Superboy towards Gotham. He pressed it thinking that thinks couldn't be worse and at least praying that someone would answer.
"What's up Robin?" Batgirl's voice answered.
"The team is coming towards Gotham. The parts to an android that beat the earlier have been stolen while we were guarding them."
Wally approached just then in full uniform.
"One second," Robin told Batgirl.
"So you changed too?" Wally asked looking at him. "I feel naked in civvies. You still tracking the parts?"
"They were heading through Gotham, but they veered." Robin looked at his glove to read they were 26.5 miles away. "Wait! Dude, they're at my school!"
"The Academy?" Batgirl asked. "Black Bat, Red Hood and I are nearby."
"No. Batman will kill us if you're discovered."
"Is that BG?" Wally asked. "Yeah. Tell her and the others we got this handled. We can celebrate together at the cave with Alfred's cookies after we win."
Robin rolled his eyes as he repeated that. Then added something else. "Red Robin are you there too?"
"Yeah. With Agent A."
"Keep a full eye on the situation for me. I'll be listening and you can call Wally too. Batgirl, Black Bat, Red Hood?"
"We're heading back, but I really want to help fight this robot," Jason's voice complained.
"No Master Jason. Or Master Bruce will have all of your heads. Robin tell Mr. West that there will be enough cookies ready for him afterwards," Alfred's voice came through. "He can have Master Bruce's he's out with Master Clark for dinner. Both of them will probably be having dessert."
"Thanks. Sorry to cut your patrol short guys," Robin said before turning his comms back to the teams channel. He looked at Wally. "Agent A says we have cookies."
"Yes!" Wally cheered as he sped up. Robin took off after him.
Sadly Wally did not get his cookies. They were called back to the cave for a debfriefing with Green Arrow, Black Canary, Red Tornado, Martian Manhunter and Batman. The latter was looking at them all.
"Complications come with the job. Your ability to handle them has impressed the League," he told them.
Superboy looked at him disbelieving. "THe whole League?"
"Given time, yes. Kryptonians, as you know, have very hard heads." Batman could see Robin rolling his eyes at that statement. They'd have to talk about what happened with Clark and what to do next. It might be time to bring in Lois and the Kents. Nothing could help convince him more than his fiancée and parents. "Of course, there's no shame in asking for help. That's why the League exists. Because there's some problems even we can't handle individually."
"Please. If we needed help, we'd never even get the chance to ask ." Robin pulled out the arrow he'd found at the gym. It was different than Green Arrows usual ones but it wasn't hard to believe that Batman had someone following the team in Gotham. Batman had followed him all throughout his first patrol, and through Barbara's, Cass's and Jason's. He was sure he'd do the same for Tim. If he was in Gotham on a mission he'd know that Bruce was tracking him. If he wasn't with the team he might've understood. But Bruce was just supposed to let him be now.
"Look familiar? You were following us. Babysitting! You still don't trust us."
Batman took the arrow passing it to Green Arrow who pulled an arrow from his quiver for comparison. This was another thing they'd need to talk about, to both Oliver and Dick. He understood Dick's complaints and that could be addressed another time. But this arrow meant he and Oliver would have to talk sooner than he thought. Especially if she'd discovered the team.
"We didn't follow you."
"And that's not your arrow…" Robin's eyes widened meeting Batman's. This was from Gotham, from their case and their new vigilante.
Wally however knew none of that and took another path. "Speedy!"
"He has our backs," Aqualad smiled as Kid Flash took the arrow and declared it a souvenir. Green Arrow exchanged a look with Batman while Superboy walked over to Black Canary. Robin watched them with a grin before following Batman through the Zeta Tube.
"I do trust you you know," Batman told him as soon as they were back in the Batcave.
"I mean, I had a reason to doubt. You've followed me on patrol before," Dick said pulling off his mask. "And don't think I don't know about all the trackers you have on us."
Bruce rolled his eyes. "You guys did good. You did good, getting Batgirl, Black Bat and Red Hood out of the way before the others realized they were there. Artemis could have seen them when she was there too if you hadn't."
"I figured this was hers. Roy's always used yellow or red fletched arrows. I'm guessing we'll have another girl on the team soon. Though I'm not sure how happy Wally will be with this one."
"We need to make sure of a few things first," Bruce reminded him.
"You're scared that she's actually working for her dad or sister," Robin shook his head. "I mean sure. But no, not really. I think she's like Cass, she's wanted to escape what her family forced on her and when she had the chance she took it."
Bruce was thinking fast. If they accepted her they'd have to have eyes on her at all times. A scholarship might do the trick, then Dick and Barbara could watch her when she wasn't with the team. But Artemis and her father reminded him of a different issue. "Superboy. He didn't handle the mission well today."
"He's learning," Dick said after a moment. "I'm sure Black Canary will fill you in later. I'm guessing you didn't get through to Clark."
"I tried. He's adamant he's not Superboy's father."
"He's still his family," Dick said. "He doesn't need to be Superboy's dad. He just needs to be there for him. Everyone needs someone to help them. I just got lucky, so did Jason and Tim."
"I'm the lucky one," Bruce told him with an arm around Dick's shoulder. "Fine. We'll get Clark to agree to it another way. He might not be ready for a son. I was sure I needed to help you before I took you in. But Superboy is old enough to be something else."
"We can introduce him to Ma and Pa," Dick suggested. "He could be like Clark's a lot younger brother or cousin. I think Clark's just scared. He only wants a son after he and Lois get married, which they still haven't chosen a date for by the way. We can try dropping hints but he'll have to figure this out on his own."
Bruce nodded as they walked up the stairs. "I hope you know what I said before was true. You can always ask the League for help. I know you won't need it often but it's there. We're already relying yours and the teams help."
"I know," Dick agreed. "We're good Bruce. Now can I go to sleep?"
Bruce shook his head amused. "Go ahead. I haven't said hi to the others yet since I've been back from Metropolis. Alfred will be waiting with food for me I expect too."
"Isn't he always?" Dick asked. Bruce watched him ago and the thought he'd said before repeated in his mind. That he was sure about. He was the lucky one now, that he'd had a father when his parents had dies. One who supported him in everything and was still there for him everyday. He was lucky to help these kids that needed him. Clark, so much like him, adopted parents and a child reaching out for his help, needed to learn that too.
