Sorry for the short chapter and long wait. I'm having a bit of writer's block for this story but I don't want to abandon it so I had to make myself write something. Hopefully, the next chapter will be a bit better, enjoy the chapter.
Kagome found that she actually really enjoyed picnics. A picnic was just eating outside, sitting on a blanket, but it was still fun. Alfred had packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, apple slices, string cheese, and pudding for dessert. She watched Dick and Jason bicker back and forth as Damian threw in a sarcastic remark every now and then. They were about halfway through their meal when Mr. Bruce came over to check in on them. He talked to Dick for a bit before starting to leave. She glanced to the side just in time to see the brief frown on Damian's face. Did he want Mr. Bruce to stay?
"Why don't you join us B?" Dick asked casually, though he had also caught Damian's disappointed frown.
"There are things I have to get done, maybe next time boys," Bruce said as he started walking away.
She hesitated for a moment, fear of approaching an adult she wasn't sure about yet building up in her, but she steeled her nerves as she got up. She jogged over to him and grabbed the bottom of his shirt before he could get too far away. Mr. Bruce stopped and looked down at her. She sent a pleading look up to him, trying to convey her thoughts through looks alone, 'please stay'. If Damian wanted him to stay, she would try and help him. She wasn't sure why he didn't just ask him himself, but she would try her best. Besides Jason, Damian was her favorite so far. Damian was being really nice to her, he play-fought with her, let her watch him draw, and helped her through her fear of Titus. She wanted to repay him as well.
Bruce looked down in surprise; for one he had barely heard her move, secondly, he was shocked she approached him at all. She had been keeping her distance from him as much as she could since he had gotten home last night. The look on her face clearly wanted him to stay, but why? Was it because Dick as asked him and she was just trying to lease? He glanced over at his three boys, Dick looked amused; Damian had a slightly surprised look on his face. Jason, however, was glaring at him, daring him to deny the girl. He let out a sigh of defeat; there were things he had to do, but he supposed they could wait until later. It was pretty good progress for the traumatized kid and he didn't want to be the one to slow that progress down.
"Very well, a few minutes I suppose." He relented.
A smile overtook her face as she pulled him back to the blanket. She strategically placed him between Dick and Damian before re-taking her spot between Damian and Jason. They spend the next half-hour simply enjoying some time together.
Eventually, Jason stood up and stretched. He grabbed her and started heading back towards the house, "Alright, we're done. See you, idiots, later." By now Alfred should be back and Shi could finally change into something that actually fits her. Plus, they should probably change her bandages. He had more than enough 'bonding' time with his family. Maybe he would just read a book to her or something for a while. He could always steal some of the demon brats drawing equipment and let her go to town on that. Whatever it was he needed a break from these people.
As he got back to the house, he set Shi back down on the ground. Alfred was waiting for them at the door, "I have put a selection of different clothing up in your room for Miss Shi. I suggest you get her changed into something more appropriate." He turned his attention to the newest and youngest member of the household, "After you are changed Miss Shi if you would like to join me in the kitchen for a cup of tea."
Shi smiled up at him and nodded. She liked making tea with Alfred. She felt Jason grab her hand and start pulling her along. She followed without complaint.
Jason took her back to his room and started looking through what Alfred had bought. He had gotten a good bit of everything. All of the pants that Alfred had bought he had already altered to fit her tail through. He really had no idea how Alfred worked so quickly.
A few minutes later Shi was looking at her reflection with stars in her eyes. She had never worn such colorful clothes in all of her life. She loved it! She loved it so much! She had bright pink, warm tights on. On top of that, she had a yellow skirt that fell almost to her knees. A white long-sleeved shirt that had a picture of a unicorn on it. Jason had even put her hair into a braid, she had never had a braid before. Shi beamed a smile at Jason, her love for him grew even more. Jason was the best!
Jason chuckled quietly at Shi's obvious delight. He had plopped himself on his bed as she changed into her new outfit, "Glad you like it Shi." She had probably grabbed to brightest and most colorful clothes that Alfred had bought. He didn't mind though. If what he suspected was true, she was used to just a simple white dress. She had obsessed over Damian's old sleeping pants last night, so he was pretty sure that had been a first with her.
He grabbed the book that he had started earlier and prepared to settle in for a bit of quiet time. He glanced back over to her and she was still staring happily at her reflection. At the moment she was softly touching her hair like she was scared she would ruin it by touching it. He had learned how to braid when Stephanie joined the family. She would drop in unexpectedly and chat about everything that had happened to her since they last hung out. She had practically demanded that he braid her hair while she talks. He sucked at it in the beginning and he got tired of her complaining that he sucked. He knew how to do a bunch of fancy-ass braids now. He had done Shi's hair up in a French braid. It had been a bit of a challenge to braid around her ears but it had turned out pretty well. Unlike his brothers, he actually liked his sisters. They were cool and they treated him like a normal human being.
"If you want to go have a cup of tea with Alfie feel free." He offered to her.
Shi started out of her trance and glanced back at him, giving him a questioning look.
"I'll be right here when you get back. I feel like avoiding the rest of the household for now."
Shi nodded and made her way out of the room and downstairs. This was strangely surreal. She was allowed to just roam freely, without supervision. She could do what she wanted when she wanted to do it. She didn't need permission to leave a certain room and she was able to eat and drink whatever she likes. Whenever she likes. It was extremely odd, just she really liked it. She was just scared for when she would inevitably have to go back. She wasn't stupid, she knew that the mean doctor would eventually find her. Nobody could beat him; he was just too strong. She would eventually have to go back, but she would enjoy her freedom while she could. After that, maybe she could join Yasha. She would not go back quietly and she would not be his slave any longer.
As she walked down the hall, she realized that her tights made her be able to slide down the halls a grin spread across her face. She slid happily down the halls silently giggling. Very shortly she made it to the kitchen to find Alfred waiting for her. Alfred gave her a small smile in greeting as he looked over her. She looked a lot better now that she had clothing that fit her. It looked like Master Jason had also done her hair up, a talent that he didn't normally advertise. He brought out the tin of tea and handed it over to her. She had seemed to like the process of making the tea so he would let her do it mostly by herself. He helped her make the tea, but he let her do most of the work which made her really happy. It made her feel useful. She shared a nice quiet cup of tea with the butler.
Afterward, Alfred got an idea in his mind, "Miss Shi would you perhaps like to help me make some cookies? You could give them to Master Jason later on, we could make his favorite."
Shi's eyes lit up and she nodded her head happily. She had never made any food before; this will be something else new! This place was great. They spent the next hour making a few different kinds of cookies. She had a lot of fun and learned she really enjoyed baking. Once the cookies were cool enough Alfred gave her a small plate of Jason's favorite and sent her off.
Jason looked at the door as it opened. To his surprise, Shi had a plate of his favorite cookies with her. He smirked at her, "Alfred went on a baking spree, huh?"
Shi nodded and pointed at herself as well.
Jason raised an eyebrow in surprise, Alfred let somebody help him cook? He never let anyone in the kitchen. Like Never. With a huff, Jason patted her head and helped her on top of the bed. He glanced at his bedside table and saw a few books that had been left there a while ago.
"Hey Shi, have you ever had a book read to you?" He asked. He knew she had never read one since she couldn't read.
Shi shook her head no slowly, that had definitely not been something that was necessary at the labs.
"Alright then, that's got to change." He settled her down right next to him and grabbed one of the classics that he always kept in his room. They got themselves comfortable and started reading Alice in Wonderland together while eating delicious cookies.
