Don't kill me! I know I promised more updates during the break, but I've been a really busy. I'm so sorry guys. Anyway, ON WITH THE FIC!
OoOoOo
Celeste stared at the ceiling in her bedroom, a million thoughts running through her head. Could my father really be Batman? she asked herself. It's impossible, right? I mean, the papers display him as a millionaire playboy. Batman is supposed to be stoic and cold. And Father is the complete opposite of that- Celeste's blue eyes widened as a thought ran her head. Just like me... Something clicked in her head. If her father really was Batman, then he was doing the exact same thing that she was. Hiding his true self by acting a completely different way around other people. I guess I really am his daughter...
Celeste's fists clenched at her sides. That meant that everyone could be keeping this secret from her. For all she knew, her brothers could be Nightwing, Robin, Red Robin, and Red Hood. That left another question. Did Rachel and Alfred know? Were they keeping this from her too? She decided to find out. The teenager marched out of her room and towards the one Rachel shared with Dick and knocked on the door.
OoOoOo
Raven opened her eyes and sighed in annoyance at the sudden noise. "Come in," she muttered begrudgingly. There was only one person who could be at her door right now. Her fiancé and his brothers were out for the day doing Azar knows what and Bruce was at the Watchtower, probably visiting Diana. Raven felt bad for their the girl. She knew what it was like to have a mom one day and then the next, she's not in your life anymore. That was rough.
Celeste entered the room, her arms folded. "Rachel, you would never lie to me, right?" she asked, her blue eyes meeting Raven's.
Raven shrugged. "Depends on what you're asking," she answered in her usual monotone voice, although she had a pretty good idea of what the younger girl wanted to ask her.
Celeste fiddled with her fingers nervously, her confidence suddenly draining. "I've, er, noticed some, um, strange things going on here in Wayne Manor," she stuttered. "And I was wondering-"
Raven rolled her eyes. "Spit it out, Celeste."
"Is my father Batman?"
Raven's expression didn't change. "You took a while to catch on," she said, amusement dancing in her voice. "I was starting to think that you would never figure it out."
"So it's true," Celeste stated. "My father is Batman. That would mean, going in order of age, that Dick is Nightwing, Jason is Red Hood, Tim is Red Robin, and Damian is Robin." She turned to her sister-in-law. "Am I wrong?"
"Nope," Raven replied. "You're spot on."
Celeste studied the older girl closely. "Wait a second," she muttered. "Purple eyes, gray skin..." Her eyes widened. "You're Raven! From the Teen Titans! That's how you got involved in all of this! That's how you met Dick! You were teammates! He must have been the original Robin and leader of the Titans! That's why you looked so familiar!" Her lips twisted into a wide grin. "Dude, you were my freaking idol when I was a kid! The only one I looked up to more was my mom!" And my dad too, I guess. Since he's Batman and all.
This thoroughly shocked Raven. "Really?" she questioned. "Girls that age tended to favor Starfire over me. Are you sure you're not mistaking me for her?"
Celeste was still beaming. "Nope!" she exclaimed brightly. "I liked Starfire too, I liked all of you, but you were my favorite Titan!" She then realized what she was saying and blushed a little. Celeste lowered her voice. "I thought you were really cool and mysterious and really powerful. And it also helped that your eyes are my favorite color."
Raven chuckled a little at the girl's admiration for her. She had to admit, it wasn't something she was used to. Kori and Dick were the ones who usually received all the attention the Titans got. That never bothered Raven as much as it did Victor and (mostly) Garfield, she liked to be in the shadows. But even she had to admit, it felt nice to be looked up to by someone. "Why do you think I'm here?" she inquired. "Your father didn't want you to be overwhelmed by the boys. So Dick decided to bring me along for the ride to keep you sane."
OoOoOo
Celeste decided to approach her father later that day. Now with the knowledge that he is in fact Batman, she knew they needed to talk. The youngest Wayne knocked on the door to her father's study. "Father," she began confidently. "I, er, can we talk? It's kinda important." So much for confidence.
"Sure," Bruce answered, his deep voice cutting through the door like a knife. "Come in, Celeste."
Celeste opened the door and walked in slowly. "Father, I wanted to ask you something," she said. "A-Are you Batman?"
Bruce wasn't fazed. "Yes," he answered, knowing she would ask eventually. "How did you figure that out?"
"The party you threw for me last week was a really big hint," she revealed. "Aunt Shayera said that they were all you, her, and Mom's friends. I figured since she's Hawkgirl and Mom's Wonder Woman, there was some common thread between the two of you. Also, Rex told me that his dead is Green Lantern and he was there too. I simply put the pieces together after that. Plus, I knew you all were hiding a secret the first week I was here." Celeste scratched the back of her head nervously. "Plus, I had a secret informative."
Bruce nodded, accepting this answer, though he already knew it was Raven. "I know that's not all you came here for," he said. He kneeled down and hesitantly placed a hand on her shoulder. "What else would you like to say?"
Celeste bit her lip nervously. "I was wondering if you could...train me?" she wondered. She began to become frantic. "Not that I would want to become a vigilante or anything! It's just, as the child of Wonder Woman and Batman, people are going to target me! I would like to be able to defend myself." Her cheeks turned pink. "I know you're really busy and all-"
"Celeste."
"-but I don't want to be a burden-"
"Celeste."
"-maybe one day I can help you guys-!"
"Celeste," Bruce said, grabbing his daughter's shoulders. "I'll train you."
Celeste stopped and looked at her father, stars practically in her eyes as she beamed. "Really?" she exclaimed. Without thinking, she leapt into her father's arms, hugging him for the very first time. "Thanks Dad!"
Bruce froze. This was the first time they had hugged. Matter of fact, they had more physical contact in these last ten minutes than they had had in these five months together. Pulling himself together, Bruce found the strength to hug his daughter back.
