Officer Grayson

I was surrounded in darkness and was floating in comfort. For once I felt like I was absolutely comfortable. I snuggled further into the darkness and tried to lull my brain back down, but the voices kept getting louder and louder.

"Damian! Wake up! It's time for breakfast!"

"Damian, come on."

I felt someone shaking me and I went further into the cocoon I had made through the night. Mmmmm, I didn't want to get up, but food was there to be eaten. I groaned and sat up. I looked down to see Randal and Ash both standing next to my bunk. They were dressed in their normal clothes and were waiting for me to get up. I looked over to the window and saw that the sun was beginning to was just starting to peak over the sky scrapers. It was a nice scene and one that I enjoyed more inside than outside.

I hoped over the railing and landed on the ground, next to Randal and Ash. "Make you bed Damian. House rules." Ash said before he walked out the door.

"Jerry left some clothes for you on the dresser. Meet you down stairs when you're ready. Randal said as he ruffled my hair. I smacked his head away and watched him walk out. The two little ones were still getting dress. I walked over to the shared dresser and saw an air of pants that be two sixes too big and a red shirt with hoodie laid over it. I put on both and grimaced that the way the sleeves went down to my knees. Covering my hands.

Ben came over to me and pulled on the sleeve and giggled at it. He pulled on the sleeve a bit harder and stretched the material to make it longer. I pulled it out of his grip and swung the excess material t his head. It harmlessly hit him in the face and he laughed at it.

Once I was done and now had an overly large, but warm hoodie on me, it walked down the stairs to see a breakfast of oatmeal and oranges. Randal and Ah were already almost done, while Sally and Jane were eating more slowly.

"Alright everyone, listen up." Roxanne said as she stood in front of the table. He hands on her hips and her eyes commanding attention. "You 5 don't have school till after the weekend, but I have work and these 4 have school, so you will have to be stay here till you start. I expect no funny business. House rules stay. If I find one thing out of place I will end you." Ok, so no fucking around with Roxanne. She already made a death threat before 7 am.

"What should we do till everyone comes back?" I asked. I wasn't quite sure what I should do.

"You 5 will be staying here and just settling in. Read a book, watch some T.V, and look at some of Sally's old homework. I'm guessing you 5 haven't been in any type of schooling for some time." Roxanne said. She wasn't even looking at us anymore. She was putting on her heels and grabbing her Jacket. She yelled her goodbyes at slammed the door shut.

I sat at the table and looked at my bowl. It was warm and had a glob of butter in the middle. I grabbed my spoon and hefted a mouth full in and it was wonderful. It melted and slid down my throat. I quickly cleaned my bowl and picked up an orange from the bowl in the middle of the table. I saw Sally and Jane get up and walk over to the front door. They opened a closet and took out their coats and put on them on. When the three little ones came up to them, they helped them put on their coats too.

"We are going now. We should be back by 5, please don't burn down the place." Sally said as she ushered the kids out. Jane threw up some kind of hand sign at me and replicated it to her. She smiled and turned around and closed the door. I heard the door lock, before going back to my orange.

That left the 5 of us now sitting at the table, staring at our bowls.

"So much has happened in these past 2 days…" Jerold said. I had to agree with him.

"We left Gotham and now we have a home."

"They do seem nice. And we get to go back to school. I kind of missed it." Randal said as he pushed his orange peel around.

"Should we talk about what happened in Gotham? Damian?" I shrugged my shoulders. I honestly didn't even know what to say. Honestly I was just so used to being on my own. Not even my grandfather tried to shield me like these people did. Infect I'm pretty sure he tried to shove me further into all the types pain this world had to offer. Veronica though and everyone else seemed to want to help me. I remembered how I looked in the mirror last night. I was dying. I probably would have been dead if they didn't take me in. I probably would have frozen to death, or just gotten too tired and fallen down a building when was alone. I needed help. I needed someone to watch my back.

"I don't know what to say honestly." I said. It was the honest to god truth.

"Dami, we want you safe. Just like you want us safe. We have to stay together to do that." Randal said as he got up from his seat and walked around the table. When he got to me he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me to him. It felt nice, and so comforting. It felt like I could trust whatever he was going to say. That he wasn't trying to get anything from me.

"We can't keep each other safe when we are apart right?"

"So I keep you safe and you keep me safe?" I asked. Ash smiled at that. Randal absolutely beamed at that.

"Exactly!"

"You are stronger than us Damian. Remember you saved us first. With your fists!" Jerold laughed out. Throwing his fist up.

"And we keep you safe by making sure you don't do anything too, ummm, you?" Veronica put in. she was right. Most of the time I make bad decisions in my own care. I chuckled at that.

"Ok, I will protect you and you make sure I don't do anything too me?"

"It's a deal!" Randal yelled out.

"Make it a promise to do no more running away too!" Jerold bargained.

"Yeah Damian. No more sneaking off. And if you get any ideas, just come talk to us."

"Please just come to us!"

"You keep almost dying on us!" I chuckled at that. Yeah I did.

"Ok. I promise to not run away anymore. I'm too tired to anyway."

"Pinking promise it!" Jerold thrusted his little finger up into my face.

"Good idea Jerold. Damian Casper Strudel. You must picky promise before I let you go!" Randal declared as he hugged me tighter.

"That's not my name!" I joked back and made a weak attempt to get out.

"Well considering we just found out that your name is Damian and that you're 12 Freaking years old! I think we go with that name." Veronica said as she leaned forward to put her pinky out. Ash did so too, and linked his with hers. Jerold did so too and Randal wiggled an arm out to get his pinky in the mix too.

"Randal, I'm going to need at least one arm, before I join that mess of fingers." He loosened his hold on me some more and I was able to slide my arm out and link my pinky with them. It was an odd sight to see. My finger was smooshed between all of theirs and they all squeezed mine so tight. Randal's arm still around me and everyone's hands clasped over mine.

After our little heart to heart, we cleaned up the table and did the dishes. When we had the dining room cleaned we went our separate ways. I went to the boy's room and looked around again. I saw that jerry had left his copy of the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy on his bed. I grabbed it up and began to read it. I crawled up to my bunk and sat on it, and just read.

I lost track of time reading. When I heard the front door open and slam shut I looked up. I could hear Ben and David talk loudly to Jane about their day. Sally gave the command for Isabella to give her. Her coat and go do her homework. It wasn't long before I heard David and Ben come up the stairs and running into the room.

"Hey Damian! Guess what we did today!"

"Yeah, at school we learned about alexander the Great! And we learned about the stars too!"

David and Ben went into what exactly they learned about the man and his history. Apparently they had to do a packet on his work for homework. They asked if I could help them and I agreed. I came down from my bunk after I looked at the page number I was on. I sat down on the ground with them and they took out their packets from their backpacks. I sat next to them and read over the questions. That when I felt an off sense of knowledge hit me. I knew that I had a large amount of knowledge about the man from before. I've had tutors for all over the world to make me perfect. To round me to the greatest emperor I could be. That was till I ran off, but this was weird. I could feel this odd amount of fondness about the man. Like he was a fairytale.

I sat with them doing their packets with them. Every time I answered a question with them, I'd go into the story of what happened. Try to make it sound just as amazing as it was in my head. They seemed to be enrapt in my stories. Making sounds of amazement as I would reach the high points of the stories. Once they were done with their homework, we were called down to do our chores. Sally gave me the job of cleaning the doorway.

The door way was muddy and needed to mope. I did so and looked over to see Randal and Ash teaming up to finish the living room. Ash was Vacuuming and Randal as wiping down the table and windows. I heard Veronica and Jane in the kitchen talking and pots banging. I went into the dining room to see the little ones setting the table. I smiled at them and helped them carry in the larger plates.

Roxanne came in around an hour later and did a sort of expectation of the house. She looked at my work in the entrance and nodded in approval. She then went into the living room and looked over Ash and Randal's work. She patted the sofa's cushions and grimaced. Ash and Randel both gulped at that, but when she turned around and saw their worried eyes she laughed at them.

"It's fine. You two did fine." She said and then disappeared into the kitchen. Ash and Randal let out a breath and went up the stairs to the room. I was torn at what to do. Dinner wouldn't be ready for another hour so I could go back up to read. That's what I did till it was time to go down stairs. Roxanne called for everyone to come down. I put down the book and hoped down. I was almost done, but I was enjoying every minute of it.

I came down to the dining room and I saw something very similar to yesterday. Everyone was seated and talking with each other. With Roxanne at the head of the table. And her hands clasped in front of her. Listening to everyone.

"So tell me what you 5 did today?" Roxanne asked, though she had a glint in her eye.

"Me and Randal found monopoly and spent a few hours trying to finish it." Ash said.

"That's very nice. And you others?"

"I took Jerold into the girl's room and we went over some of Janes old lessons she left for us. Trying to catch up."

"Very responsible of you Veronica. But what about you young man? What were you doing by yourself?"

"I found the book Jerry was reading last night and spent the day reading it."

"Ahh the Galaxy one?"

"Yeah, it's really good. I'm almost done with it."

"That's good. That's one of his favorites."

"I can see why. I lost track of time reading it."

"Good. Glad to see you 5 had a good day." I smiled and dug into dinner. The girls made mac and cheese with broccoli. I ate it all and went upstairs once I had done my part of cleaning up. When I went up I laid back down on my bed and finished the book. Once I was done, I laid there listening to the noise around the house. I could hear music going in the girl's room and voices downstairs fighting over what I assume was a monopoly war. I looked at the clock and saw that it was almost 9. I went to go to wash up and get ready for bed. I went into the hall and grabbed a towel from the hallway closet. I went back and grabbed a pair of sweats from a pile of clothes I assumed were Jerrys. I walked down the hall and went into the bathroom. I showered and reveled in the heat again, but I didn't stay as long. I got out and dried off. I got dressed in the sweats and went threw my old clothes into the hamper. I left the bathroom and walked out fresh. I went to the boy's room and climbed up to my bunk. I picked up the book and looked it over. It was nice being able to spend a day reading something that wasn't going too applied to some kid of test.

I laid there for a while. I wasn't asleep, but I listened to the others begin to get ready for bed. Around 10 o'clock I sat up and threw the book back on Jerry's bed. I laid back down and waited for Roxanne to come in again and turn off the lights. She did so and we all said our goodnight. I fell into a light sleep. Around 11 though I was awoken. I heard the front door open and close silently. I heard Roxanne hushed voice speak and she move around the first floor. I could hear Jerry voice next. I heard a heavy sigh and soft footsteps go into the dining room. They sat there for a while. Light conversation and silence echoing around the house. I listened to what I assumed was Jerry's footsteps come up the stairs. Then the door opening up and softly close. I heard him shuffle forward and his hands fumble in the dark for s pair of pajama pants. He changed and threw himself onto his bed which made the whole frame rock.

"I heard you liked my book." He whispered. I rose up a bit and looked down at him. He was staring at me and was smiling.

"Yeah I did. It was really cool."

"It's my favorite." He sighed and closed his eyes. He looked tired. He laid there for a moment before hauling himself up. He swung his legs over the bed and crouched down and reached under the bed. He pulled out a closed bin.

"You like books?" I nodded yes.

"Me too. When you have some free time, you can pull out this bin and take one of these out. I've been collecting them for a while now. Most of them are good. Just make sure you take care of them and put them back. "I looked over and saw that the box was filled books. I was curious, so I swung myself over and hung upside down by my knees. He backed up out of surprise, but quickly recovered a shook his head. He handed me one of the books. I grabbed it and squinted my eyes to try and see what it was about. It was too dark to see, but he closed the box up and shoved it back under.

"It's late. Time to go to sleep." He then flipped me back over the railing and pushed me forward into the bed. He threw the blanket over me and left me to try and figure myself out. I let out a humph and laid back down again. I heard him laid down again, and sighed out contently.

"Goodnight Damian."

"Night Jerry…also thank you." I added the last part as a second thought. It would be nice to spend some more time reading.

When I woke up and heard the little ones giggling. I looked over and saw them still in their pjs and playing with some kind of action figures. I got up and looked down to see that Randal and Ash were up too, but they too were still in their sweats. I got up and hoped down. I went and grabbed another pair of clothes that was left for me on the dresser. I changed out and went down stairs to see Roxanne running around the living room. She was folding laundry and talking to Jane about what her plans for the night.

"But its Saturday! I don't have school tomorrow and I don't have homework! Why can't I go to the concert?" Jane Whined.

"Because I don't know what is going to happen there, Jane. How am I supposed to raise you if I lose you." Ouch. Roxanne went to the throat. Jane stepped back and crossed her arms. Probably to think of a report.

"What if I brought Sally? And that new girl. That we can stay safe together."

"Veronica is still settling in. she probably doesn't want to be too far from her brothers."

"Who knows? Maybe she wants to live a little? Just like me." Roxanne took a moment and looked up to the ceiling.

"If you can get both of them out and be back by 11 then fine." Jane was already jumping for joy and running up the stairs to go ask Sally and Veronica.

"I swear, that girl needs a leash some times. Good morning Damian. Or should I say good afternoon. You must have been tired to have slept this long." I looked up and saw that the clock said 12:21. How did that happen?

"Sorry about that. I didn't realize it was so late." She waved me off and went back to folding a pair of jeans.

"It's alright, boy. You are tired. At least you're dressed. You, sally and I are the only ones that bothered." I looked down and chuckled to myself.

"Well now that you're awake how about some lunch? Must be hungry by now and everyone else would be getting puckish too." She left and started to walk towards the kitchen. I followed her and helped her with making the Pb&Js' for lunch. I put each sandwich on a plate and set up the dining table. I sat down at the table and began to eat my sandwich. Roxanne yelled up that there were sandwiches ready for everyone and I heard feet running around upstairs. I was half way done with mine when Randal and Ash began to eat theirs.

"Roxanne, Jerry forgot his lunch again. Should I go and get it to him?" Sally asked as she came out of the kitchen and into the dining room.

"Yes, I noticed. I was going to ask if you'd mind, but I'm sure Jane has already bugged you into going with her tonight. So I will go myself."

"Thanks Roxanne, but it's kind of a long walk. Sure you can do it?"

"And what are you saying young lady?"

"That you're old?" Sally said as she tiptoed away from the dining room with her sandwich.

"Humph, I'll remember that for later. I will take Damian here with me then." Wait what? I looked up to see her smirking at Me." he's already dressed and I'm sure, him being a young boy, had want to go out and explore the city for a bit." I didn't have a choice. She told me to go and grab one of Jerrys old jackets and a pair of worn out sneakers from the back of the front door closet. I did and within a moment, Roxanne had her coat on and was handing me a bag that was Jerry's lunch.

The moment we were outside, I felt a chill go up me. I looked up and saw Roxanne lock the door and step down the stairs. We began to walk down the street side by side.

"So, Damian, tell me more about yourself. I've managed to talk to the others more, but you are quiet."

"I don't know what to say about myself, honestly."

"Well, tell me small things then. Like what do you like to do? What's your favorite color? How about what's your favorite movie?"

"Ummm, I like drawing and reading. I'm partial to red. And movie wise, I'm not sure. I can't really say I've seen many movies."

"That's too bad. I personally love to watch movies. What movies have you seen?"

I paused to think for a moment. I can't really say I've seen any movies. I feel like I would have. Something was nagging at me though a name.

"Oliver twist? But it was old. Black and white." I said.

"Yes! That was great one." She laughed and started to go into a whole list of movies that she enjoyed. I listened to her and would ask questions about each one. We reached the small restaunt that had a green overhead that said Paul's diner. Roxanne went in and was greeted by the hostess who looked way to young.

"Damian, this is Rosie. She's Paul's Daughter. She's 13, so close to your age. You guys might see each other in school." I shook Rosie's hand and smiled. She blushed and her face was red as her hair.

"Is Jerry on break yet? He forgot his lunch. Thought I might take this one here so he can get acquainted with the block."

"Not yet. I'm sure he will be happy that you came by. We've been packed." Rosie smiled at me again. "Let me go and get my dad. He would love to see you Mrs. Roxanne." Rosie left and went into the back. A moment later, jerry came out and smiled at seeing the two of us.

"Hey you two. See ya brought my lunch. Thanks." Jerry came up to us and took the bag from my hand. He patted my head and turned around to go back to the kitchen. Before he could though a middle aged man came out, wearing a dirty apron and wiping his hands with a rag. He had a large smile on his face.

"Roxanne! Good to see you. I see you bring in new blood." He gestured to me. I looked up to him and held his gaze for a moment before I held out my hand.

"I'm Damian."

"Why hello there Damian. I'm Paul Johnson, but you can call me Johnson." He laughed real loud and went to talk with Roxanne. They walked over to a booth in the corner.

"Damian, ask Jerry to get you a pop." Johnson called to me. I went over to the counter and sat. I waited for Jerry to come over to the small window that separated the kitchen and the counter. When he noticed I was at the counter he leaned over the window to talk to me.

"Sup Damian. Roxanne get you to come down with her?"

"Yeah, she said you needed your lunch and Sally was going with Jane to some concert."

"hehehehe, she knows I can just make my own lunch here. She probably just wanted to get out of the house for a bit. Did you start to read that book I loaned you?"

"Not yet. I slept in today."

"That's good. You look like you could use some sleep."

"so what's it about anyway?" he went into talking about how the story was about this guy who woke up after losing his memory and how he needed to make his way through a futuristic world that was falling apart. It sounded cool. We were interrupted when Roxanne and Paul came up behind me.

"You two seem like you have a nice chat." Paul said as he leaned forward.

"Yeah, we are talking about this book he landed me last night."

"That's good. So Damian, Roxanne and I were talking and she told me that you seem like a very studious boy. And she pointed out we need a bus boy around here."

"You see Damian. I feel like you'd like to make some extra cash. Paul will pay you under the table if you work with him and his daughter."

"You see Damian, it just me Rosie and Jerry here. And we get so overwhelmed. We need an extra hand and you seem like you'd like to make some cash."

"Of course, school comes first Damian. The moment you start I want you to study and make good grades, but the option is open to you."

"So what do you say?" I didn't know what to say. It was honestly a bit weird, but make sense as to why Roxanne wanted me to come with her for something so simple. I looked up to Jerry for some kind of guidance and he shrugged.

"Would I be with Jerry until he come home?" I asked.

"Yes, but you wouldn't start till 5. That way you can get out of class and do your homework. You'd be on the same schedule as my daughter. See she handles it very well." I thought about it for a moment. It might be nice and a bit of cash couldn't hurt.

"I'd like to work here Johnson."

"Great! You can start tomorrow!" that way we can get you used to it before your school starts. I nodded. I felt good. I was going to have a small job. Roxanne seemed pleased with my choice and she rubbed my shoulders. She kept smiling down at me. Paul started talking about how it was such a good idea. When barely even noticed when the bell to the front door went off. Signaling that a customer was here. Paul left us and Roxanne was saying her goodbyes to Jerry and telling him that shed see him tonight. I was making my way to the door and was about to push it open when it was pulled open before I could grab it. I looked up and saw a young man wearing a police uniform. I couldn't really see his face, but I saw that he had short black hair and he was very tall. He seemed to see me last moment and put a hand out to steady me before I could crash into him. I looked up, but I just saw his name tag. On the silver plate it read Grayson.

A quick note. There's been issues about how I'm portraying my characters. I'm sorry if you don't like how I've passed this story or how I've portrayed one of the bat family, but this is my story. one person had an issue with how I had Damian leave the bat cave and I understand that it would in fact be much more difficult to leave than I had it done, and I did think about making it more realistic so he didn't leave or more like he wouldn't be able to leave, but then I wouldn't be able to do parts of the story I wanted to get in. for example, if he didn't leave he wouldn't have gone to bludhaven and I wanted that as a part of my story. If I had gone that way, the story would have been much shorter and would have ended much earlier. So I made it as easy as I could and I will go into how unbelievable it was later, but for now consider it a plot convenience. If there is a demand enough for me to fix it I will but it would not be part of this story. It would become a "what if" project for me.

On another note, to the person who has issues with how I'm making Damian too weak willed, I'm trying to get across that he is a 12 year old boy who only can remember his grandfather and though later on the story we will see Rhas I wanted to make it a point that Rhas showed no warmth or love to Damian because he thought it would make him weak again, and make Damian betray him again. This is a story of how Damian grows strong again with the help of friends and later his family. He needs to learn to trust those around him, and granted it is taking a long time, be patient. If there are other stories that you feel are better please go read them and recommend them to me. I am a young writer and am just doing this for the fun of it. I have much to learn, for the time being, let me portray Damian the way I want.

Any way thank you for reading this and message me if there are any questions or comments you have.

Walls