Damian sat there, grinning to himself as Jones brought the mystery of the superheroes from the previous night and the mysterious paperwork which had appeared on Peter's desk.
It was amusing to hear them talk about him without knowing that he was there. It was probably the best perk of a secret identity.
"Caffrey!" Hughes barked, giving him the double finger point. Peter was standing a step behind the old agent and it made his stomach sink. They were an intimidating pair normally but terrifying when they called him out.
Damian grinned though as he followed them into Hughes' office. He knew that Peter had been in here all morning, discussing the paperwork. He didn't know much else though.
Jones had mentioned Peter taking the paperwork in and Damian hadn't been able to plant a bug inside the office. At least, not one that hadn't somehow stopped working as soon as he left it alone.
"What do you need?" he asked with a grin.
Hughes placed a new contract onto the table. "An updated contract. Bancroft liked your idea. I like it a little less but maybe that's because I'm aware of the chaos you can cause."
Damian started looking over it. It was a quick read and he found nothing out of the ordinary. The money would still go to June as she was his landlord and it would pay his rent but he would also be paid independently as an outside contractor. But he noticed something else.
"So I run a security company now?"
"I'm sure you know a few people who can be in your employ every now and then," Hughes pointed out. "If not, then you can claim to be working for yourself."
Damian was impressed. This was a good plan where they all benefited. He signed the contract.
"Don't you want a lawyer to read it or something?" Hughes asked.
Damian chuckled. "I can read contracts. There's a few loopholes so you better hope I never have to get a lawyer to take advantage of them."
Hughes sighed. It sounded like there was something in there Damian could exploit. Even if Hughes wanted to fix the contract, Damian had signed it. He glanced at Peter, who shook his head slightly. It was a lost cause then.
"I hope you don't have to use them either."
Damian was surprised that Hughes would admit it but he could respect that. "If everything goes well, I won't. It's just in case the wider FBI decides to try something."
Peter didn't think that the wider FBI would do something like that but, then again, he had dealt with Agents Ruiz and Rice before. They were both more self-serving and willing to put Neal in danger than he was.
"So now what?" he asked Hughes.
"Now we move on like normal." Hughes looked at the paperwork Peter had handed him. "And hopefully we don't have any more incidents like this. Superheroes can be dangerous and difficult to work with."
"Sounds familiar," Peter muttered with a glance in Damian's direction. Damian huffed.
Damian noticed someone unfamiliar walking up to Hughes' office. Moments later, a blond lady in a wide-brimmed hat was being escorted out. Hughes talked happily with her as he guided her down to the entrance.
"I'm sure that we can help you once you've spoken to the people at the front desk."
The woman agreed but walked slowly to the exit. She looked back and frowned a little as Hughes just smiled and waved at her.
Damian also recognised her. "How'd you know she wasn't legit?" He had no idea what story Stephanie had told to get in but she wouldn't have told the truth.
"There are processes that people have to follow normally Caffrey," Hughes explained. "And while she tried to slip past them, I've been here too long for that to work."
Damian felt a chill down his back. He wondered what would happen if Hughes and Pennyworth met? They were terrifying enough alone.
Damian's thought became a reality a few days later. Having booked an appointment, Alfred Pennyworth walked into the FBI office. His butler suit was in impeccable condition with not a piece out of place.
"Alfred?" Damian questioned in surprise.
"Master Damian." Alfred looked him up and down. He inclined his head in approval of Damian's attire. "You certainly have better taste than your brothers."
Damian was reminded that Dick's wardrobe contained a few atrocious patterns that shouldn't exist as clothing.
"I was given these as a gift from a lovely lady," Damian answered, feeling his face go a little red. He really hoped that Alfred would keep his voice at the low whisper it was at now. He knew that, thankfully, no one was close enough to hear what was being said.
"I'm assuming the lady June, who graciously extended part of her home to you."
"Correct."
Alfred hummed in approval. "Now, could you show me to the office of the man in charge? I have words to bring him."
"Your own or father's?"
"I have been asked to deliver your father's words at least." So Alfred had some words to impart as well. With a smile, it wouldn't do to sigh in front of Alfred, he guided his grandfather-figure up to his boss.
Alfred delivered a letter to Hughes, who opened it and frowned. Damian felt a chill run down his back.
"I'm afraid this doesn't apply to the current situation. Neal Caffrey no longer exists in our system."
Alfred raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Damian. By way of explanation, Damian lifted his pant leg to show his bare leg.
"As you can see, Damian Wayne doesn't have an anklet and is not bound here by force. He signed a contract to assist Agent Burke as a CI."
"CI's don't usually have desks in FBI offices."
"Damian is an exception as his group has signed an exclusivity deal with our office."
"Ah. That explains the sudden redirection of some of his funds." Damian coughed. He hadn't expected Alfred to learn of that so soon. "Yes. Your father hasn't noticed yet as he's blinded by the 'working with the FBI' bit but he'll soon notice your new... occupation."
"Security."
"I'd advise you to have some kind of plan for when Dick notices that his daughter is one of your employees."
"I will."
"If you would leave me to have a couple of words with your boss..."
Damian left the room. The air outside was much warmer than inside.
"You okay?" Jones asked. "You look pale."
Damian muttered something about exiting a tense situation and stumbled into the conference room for a few moments of cooldown.