MEETING

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— The reason for today's meeting is to talk about...

— ... How terrible you are! — Jason interrupted his father with a wicked smile on his face.

— Worried about me, son? — Bruce smiled in a corner. The others who were seated at the big dinner table laughed at the blush of the "family's rebel", mainly because he was silent — To resume: today we will decide what to do about your brother.

Barbara immediately raised her hand and, without even waiting for everyone's attention, she started to speak:

— I'm not trying to take everything seriously, but here is the right place for this type of conversation? — She looked around, everyone seated at the table as if waiting for a dessert or something — I mean... — She ran his hand through his hair — ... downstairs we have more... — She stared at the huge windows, which they overlooked the mansion's garden — ... privacy — She waved to Damian. The little one was playing with the dogs outside.

— Exactly — Alfred gave a simple smile, placing a tray of cookies in the center of the table and, soon after, starting to serve tea — You will have all the privacy in the world, but Damian will be suspicious.

— The brat may even be a little child now, but it is hard to hide everything from him — Jason explained while stuffing two cookies in his mouth at once — Alfie, why give me a plastic cup? I am not the baby of the house! — Perhaps the slurred speech or the lost look already denounced everything, but Alfred insisted on answering:

— Because you are forbidden to carry potentially dangerous objects while you are under observation — The butler explained sweetly — In fact, I hope we do not have any kind of heated argument with the tea set being used as artillery.

Everyone looked at each other.

In a meeting with so many different opinions, the least that could be expected from the participants was a fight... but not at that moment. Bruce and Selina were watching their son play outside; Jason was on tranquilizers; Barbara, Tim and Dick would not start a fight with the weakened state of others.

— I think we can start now... — Richard commented with a hopeful smile, he wanted to propose alternative methods to deal with his little brother.

— If you need anything, I'll be with Master Damian — Alfred warned while walking towards the door.

— Alfred, you are as necessary here as any other...

— Everyone already knows my opinion, Master Bruce — the butler interrupted him — Just in case, make Miss Kyle's words mine too.

And so the butler withdrew from the meeting.

In the end, all that excitement would only serve as a small dose of tranquilizer for everyone's mood. No one wanted to face the frightening truth that nothing and no one would be able to help Damian.

The answer was not a meeting, nor was it voting for the "next step".

The only thing they could do, regardless of the way, was to wait.

— Master Damian... — The butler called and, when the child of the house looked at him with those beautiful green eyes, he continued: — ... I brought cookies! — announced, earning a huge smile from little Wayne.

Alfred, who has dealt with far more cruel guidelines than that, was resigned. He would expect Damian to return to being the same as before, enjoying the company of that lovely boy, which he believed was the most correct.

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1st Proposal

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Out of question! — Bruce rested his hands on the table and stood up, facing his eldest son as if he had received an offense.

— Why!? — Dick repeated his father's actions — Raven's powers can heal him in seconds, what is the cost of trying!?

— It can cost the little sanity that my son still has! — the eldest accused and pressed the temples. He took a deep breath and finally ended that little disagreement: — I don't want this girl near him! From his mind!

— But Bruce...! — Dick took a deep breath, looked at Selina and pointed at her with both hands — Look at her: it doesn't even look like that pile of burnt and twisted meat! Do you know why? — He looked at his father again, he was angry — Raven healed her! It healed without demanding anything!

Jason, who until now was completely lucid - despite the lethargy -, felt his stomach turn. Just by imagining that scene, he felt chills, he had to control himself not to put the cookies out...

— Enough, Richard! — Selina also got up.

— The only thing you should have is a little gratitude and trust in her! I'm sure that if I had let her do something when they found Dami on the day of the accident, she...!

— Enough of this shit! — Jason demanded, getting up and forcing Richard to return to the chair.

Bruce and Selina sat down too.

Everyone was silent.

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— Mr. Pennyworth... — Damian stared at him — May I ask for something?

— Whatever you want, Master Damian — He smiled.

— ... Can you teach me how to make cookies? — whispered the request as if it were a big secret.

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2nd Proposal

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— They are keeping him hidden from everyone and everything, maybe when he sees other people he starts to remember... — Barbara stared at the "godfather". She was sitting next to him and facing the brothers.

— He remembers some things when he sleeps, nightmares... — Bruce turned his face — He is so scared...

— Maybe it is better to wait a little longer before introducing more people, Damian is much more uneasy since he woke up — Selina finished discarding that idea. She carefully held the boyfriend's hand, trying to provide some support.

— He reacted very well to Barbara — Dick grunted a little jealously. The redhead laughed, took something out of her purse and removed the puzzle:

— Strawberry candies! — Showed some to the boy — Damian loves strawberries.

— Fruits in general... — Jason completed, yawning shortly thereafter.

— Anyway, he seems to like meeting new people — Tim commented and lifted his shoulders. Despite bad first impressions, Damian seemed more than willing to try to please anyone.

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— Then just bake them in a medium oven. I believe I have not forgotten anything, but just in case the recipe book is in the pantry — Alfred smiled. He wanted to squeeze Damian's cheeks. The little one had his eyes shining so brightly, he looked like a child when he receives Christmas presents.

— ... So... incredible... — whispered — It's so incredible!

— I'm glad you enjoyed it. A few drops of vanilla essence make all the difference, really.

— Not the cookies, Mr. Pennyworth... but they are wonderful! — Corrected yourself, taking one more — It is amazing that you turn flour into cookies! It even looks like magic...

— Well...! — Alfred let a laugh escape, embracing that child as if he didn't want that moment to end — And you turn graffiti and a piece of paper into a work of art, Master Damian.

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3rd Proposal

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— ... And that is why I think the two things are related — Tim finished his explanation and faced the other participants. He had a simple smile, euphoric for feedback.

— ... I still think it's a good idea to let Raven come here.

It is not a good idea — Bruce replied.

— ... Ok, does anyone have any questions about divergent timelines? I can take the computer and show the results of the simulations — the nerd suggested, still hoping to be heard by someone.

Jason raised his hand.

— You don't need to raise your hand, Jay, just ask — Timothy was smiling from ear to ear. Everyone else looked rebellious with some apprehension about the question.

— What was in my tea?

— ... What does this have to do?

— To do with what?

— ... Jason, I spent the last five minutes summarizing my work for the past three months. Did you even hear?

— Of course not, I was distracted! — He lifted his shoulders and yawned — B, what was in my tea?

— Did anyone hear me? — Timothy got up — Could someone at least repeat a part of what I said!?

— What was in my fucking tea!? — Jason got up too.

— Soothing! — Bruce finally replied, squeezing his temples — They are just soothing, Jason... Tim, despite admiring all your dedication to the study of these divergent lines, is unlikely to be the cause. Damian is like that because of the accident and...

BECAUSE OF YOU! — Jason interrupted his father, just did not move on him because Timothy arrested him — It is your fault! Your! — He was out of control, with the look of a real maniac.

Bruce just turned his face away, he didn't want to face those accusations. He was already so tired of everything that he would try to ignore and ignore what hit him there. He needed to do this, because he felt couldn't take it anymore, he couldn't take it if anything else happened to that family... he needed everyone together.

— SHUT UP! — Selina demanded, standing up and resting her hands on the table — It is your fault for only making bad decisions, Jason. Your! — shot coldly — The last was the brilliant idea of blowing up a warehouse full of chemicals! What he wanted? Kill yourself!?

— ... No, I... — The rebel rethought his actions. Now he was confused, as if he didn't even remember what just did — ... I... I didn't want to kill myself. B, I didn't want to kill myself...

— Then why did you go alone!? — The cat continued.

— ... Because... Because I... — Jason sat down again. Selina seemed terrifying to her: a monster speaking cruel truths, a monster with burnt and distorted flesh... He could smell the smoke — ... I'm scared again…

— The drugs take effect, son — Bruce murmured running his hands over his face, he already had a few drops of sweat sprouting.

Selina noticed her boyfriend's condition and sat down next to him again, running a hand over her back in an attempt to comfort him. As much as Bruce disliked displays of affection in public, it was what he needed.

Timothy sat down too, resenting the lack of attention.

— ... So, next? — Barbara suggested, placing a hand on Wayne's shoulder.

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— I will not disturb, Mr. Pennyworh? — Damian asked the same thing for the third or fourth time. He carried the tray to help Alfred.

— Of course not! — the butler replied with the same smile as the other times — What harm would he have in helping me with lunch?

— ... Have I helped you before?

— No, not that I remember — He opened the kitchen door and gave way to Damian — But gastronomy was never something of interest to the Wayne in general — He smiled — Who knows, it is more a hidden talent of yours, waiting to be polished.

Damian left the empty tray over the sink, smiled and looked at the butler with an air of childlike curiosity, then asked:

— Mr. Pennyworth, has my father ever tried to learn to cook?

— ... He does an excellent job using the microwave, something beyond that goes beyond the capacity he was able to develop.

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4th Proposal...

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— We can continue another day... — Barbara suggested, she was really worried.

— No, I just need one more minute — Bruce said as low as in a whisper, squeezing his temple again — It is already passing, it is just a malaise.

— It's just your high blood pressure rising even more — Selina corrected — Bat, you need to take care of yourself...

— I just need less hassles.

— It really would help... — the cat agreed.

— Jay is also not very well... — Dick commented passing a hand on his brother's back, Jason was leaning over the table.

— It is still the effect of the Gas of Fear, it will take a few days to get through — Tim explained, he had gone through something similar to the Happy Gas.

Everyone kept quiet, talking in whispers until the patriarch was finally better off to continue the meeting. However, before that happened, Jason decided to make one more appearance:

— What if we take Dami to the circus? — Faced the others.

—Jason, this is not a meeting to choose tourist spots for Damian — Bruce replied, dismissing the idea immediately.

— ... The brat is very stuck, sure he will improve more if he sees life outside — He cleared his throat, trying to ignore the horrible figure of Selina sitting in front of him — When I was bringing him from the clinic, I managed to distract him with the moon in an earache crisis or something. He needs to be more distracted, being alone in here is doing him harm... — He yawned.

The father ran his hands over his face, murmuring something like "give me patience". Selina, who still had that horrible shape in Jason's eyes, made her boyfriend rest his head on her shoulder... Todd saw a horrible scene, with that thing trying to hurt Bruce. He chose to lean over the table again and hide his face.

— Until it makes sense... — Gordon commented with an encouraging smile — Damian will like to go out with Jason for a while. He obeys what you say, doesn't he? What harm would it do?

— Yeah, I understand these childish things... I take care of Bizarro! — He raised his head again, smiling, proud of his potential.

Bruce was going to counter that pointless justification, but Selina took his voice:

— Jason, you are not going to take my son for a walk with that alien friend from a laboratory! He's dangerous, not as much as you are, but he is!

— Looking this way, I withdraw what I said — Barbara looked away. There were countless reasons why Jason didn't take care of a child, she was remembering them.

— No, no... Just me and Bizarro didn't — Jason tried to speak fast, but his tongue was starting to curl — Artemis would be there too! — He smiled, as if that was a great reason.

— Do you want to promove yourself to your friends using your little brother? — Bruce finally said something. He stared at Jason in disbelief that that kind of suggestion really made sense in his rebellious son's troubled mind.

— Worse... — Tim sighed — He wants to promove himself to Damian using his friends.

— Sure he will enter the motorcycle on fire in the arena! — the older brother commented trying not to laugh.

— If he went with you, I bet he would be doing those pirouettes in the air with fire in the a...!

— The two are enough! — Bruce put an end to the little fight of the older children that had not even started — You can only be trying to kill me... Damian will not set foot outside this mansion!

— But...!

— Without "but"! Joker is loose, Scarecrow is loose! I don't even want to think about my son susceptible to... — He couldn't finish, his head was throbbing.

Timothy looked at the older brothers and said, just before he lowered his head on the table:

— I can't believe I woke up early for this...

Dick ended up turning his face. He didn't want to admit it, but taking Damian outside could be a great idea, at some point he might remember something - or bump into a friend with magical healing powers...

Jason just leaned over the table again. He hated tranquilizers... even more so when they took effect quickly.

— Guys... — Barbara got up — Look at the state of Bruce... of you. It is not too much to ask everyone to take this here more seriously, we are talking about Damian — She looked at everyone present, sighed and addressed the most problematic brother: — Jason, wake up! At least try to defend your proposal with some valid reason!

— Hun...? — The boy murmured and looked up again — That is why we have to take him to the circus.

— ... So what, Jay?

— Everyone likes circus!

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— Your talent with knives is really surprising, Master Damian! — The butler smiled, collecting the various vegetables cut in perfectly symmetrical cubicles — Could you cut those apples too? I will prepare a pie for dessert.

— Of course!

— Let's finish lunch well in advance... how about enjoying your free time in a game of Dirt Ralle? — Alfred looked at the child sideways while stirring one of the pots.

— ... Realy!? — Damian left the apples aside — Can you teach me how to play, Mr. Pennyworth!?

— It is not to brag... — The eldest smiled, taking a spoonful of the sauce and taking it for the little one to try — ... but I was the one who taught all the shortcuts to this game to his father.

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5th Proposal

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— Better take Jay to the room, before he drops the tablecloth... — the cat commented while helping her boyfriend to get up.

— You still lack, Selina... — Barbara found, helping her with Bruce.

— My opinion on this I think everyone already knows. Alfred thinks like me...

— I still don't know... — The redhead stared at her.

— She wants the gremlin to continue without remembering anything — Tim replied in her place.

— No, it is not that — Selina looked at Timothy so seriously that even Jason - more asleep than awake - was afraid of her — I just want my son not to freak out. The attacks, they stopped since Damian woke up, but he still has the chance to remain... — she was unable to conclude.

— Epileptic? — Barbara asked softly — But if he remembered or not, he wouldn't change that... would he?

— He is starting to have some memories and that is enough for him to have nightmares, I do not want him remembering everything at once... his mind would not support — She was embraced by Bruce, proof that that subject it was much more delicate than it seemed — It is best to let him remember alone, little by little, without forcing...

— And the best thing is to keep lying to him? Lie about everything? — Dick said letting on how wrong he thought that — I hate lying to him! He... he trusts everything we say, it is so wrong to use this to make him believe that he is only afraid! If we speak the truth at once, he would understand! It could even get better... allow other people to help!

— Dick, your brother is scared — Bruce looked at his eldest son — scared of his own memories.

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As they walked into the games room, Damian looked quickly into the room. Everyone was there, having fun, it seemed.

— Mr. Pennyworth... — The little one stared at the butler — ... what are they doing?

Alfred cleared his throat and tried to come up with an explanation good enough to convince young Wayne that he was not left out of anything fun, but something important.

— They decided to have a small company meeting at the mansion, so that no one would be away from you for a long time — Smiled — Isn't it great?

— Yes it is! — He smiled too — I like it when everyone is together... it is... it's good, it feels warm — He was thoughtful, as if he were really trying to remember something — ... Mr. Pennyworth, everyone works at same company?

— It is not exactly that, your father likes to keep everyone informed.

— And did I participate in these meetings? Before... — Damian looked away — ... from being like this? — He found no other way to explain how insignificant he felt most of the time. He was afraid that was just disturbing everyone, that was no longer needed... that they wouldn't want him around anymore - like now.

— Yes, but only out of obligation — Alfred touched Damian's dark hair, so smooth and heavy... it was past time to cut it — You always found these meetings a drag — He smiled, trying to put the strands back — I have to me, Master Damian, that this was due to the requirement of a more... — He looked for a simple word that fit there — ... more formal! If pajamas were allowed, it would be more fun, don't you think?

— Yeah, I think so — The little one tried to smile, but he was still discouraged.

— Fortunately, now you can escape the meetings and have fun playing video games while they talk about boring subjects — He held the boy's cheeks — And best of all: wearing a beautiful dinosaur pajama.

Damian ended up laughing, an adorably contagious laugh.

As much as he wanted little Wayne to return to normal, Alfred loved that spontaneous sound of joy. I would miss those laughs...

— You know... — He cleared his throat — His father likes dinosaurs so much that if he could, he would have one in the living room — He got closer to Damian, as if he were going to tell a big secret: — He already tried to put a T-Rex there , but it was not tall enough!

This time, Damian burst out laughing. His cheeks were reddened when he managed to stop laughing.

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6th Prop... 4th Disagreement.

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— At least I try to make him remember showing his old room! — Richard stood up — And you, who tried to kill Damian twice! — pointed to the youngest present, accusing him.

— Go to shit, Dick! I already said that I didn't blow that stupid bird, he blew himself up! — Timothy was demanding the best of himself not to throw the cup of tea at him.

— AND WHY DID IT GIVE SOMETHING DANGEROUS FOR A CHILD TO PLAY!? — The oldest hit a punch on the table.

— AND WHY DID YOU NOT TAKE ACCOUNT OF IT!? — Unfortunately, Tim lost his self-control and disobeyed Alfred: he used the expensive shah set as artillery.

— Enough! — Bruce tried to impose some authority on the two, but the only thing that prevented one from jumping on the other's neck was Jason, sleeping sitting between the two brothers — Stop throwing things at each other, they will end up hitting...! — Before he could even finish speaking, Dick had already thrown a saucer at Barbara by accident.

— YOUR...!

Normally, the commissioner's daughter would take a deep breath and try to maintain her composure. However, spending hours in the company of everyone, enduring the nerves to the skin and the childish behavior of the "brothers" made it even worse than them: in seconds she had already climbed on the table and was playing everything she saw ahead on top of them.

Dick and Tim clung to each other and tried to dodge the chinaware while delivering offenses and blows. At a certain point in the heated fight, they ended up on the floor - they even knocked over Jason's chair, luckily the rebel continued to sleep.

— Hey! Enough! — Bruce tried again, generating absolutely no results.

Bruce Wayne, Batman or any other respectful figure that that tired, finished, unshaven man could be; he broke away from his girlfriend, clenched his fists against the table and shouted the order to his children:

STOP NOW!

It worked perfectly... in the first five seconds.

After that, Richard threw Timmy at Jason - the youngest was hanging on him trying to give him an armbar -; then Barbara hit her older brother with one of the chairs; Dick tried to get one of the seats to hit her too, but Timothy knocked him over to the floor before that.

Anyway, the fight resumed with even more force.

The patriarch settled back in his chair, watching that pointless spectacle. The pressure was already high, the vision was already blurred, the heart was already racing... really, he didn't know how to deal with his own children without Alfred for more than ten minutes.

The only thing he did was rest one hand on his chest and start a kind of caress, a relaxing massage to relieve some of the stress. It was the little he could do there, besides ignoring his children - despite feeling a little sorry for Jason, who looked more like a dead body on the battlefield.

— Bat, I will go to see our baby — Selina warned in the lowest possible tone, leaving stealthily soon after. I didn't even want to imagine what those "children" could do if the fight continued in the other rooms in the house.

She looked for her son in the garden, in the kitchen, in his room... she would be nervous already if she wasn't absolutely sure that Alfred would be with him. He found them both in the games room, laughing, they looked like two children...

— I won! — The youngest raised his arms, celebrating — I can't believe I won!

— It was a tie, Master Damian! A tie! — the butler reinforced — But it was a great victory — he smiled.

— So my Dami won a game? — she asked, settling next to his son.

— Yeeees! — Damian made a point of prolonging the "e" while hugging his mother — Mr. Pennyworth taught me how to play!

— Apparently it taught very well! — Selina ended up giving in to her wishes and hugged the little one, filling him with kisses on the face. She loved seeing him so happy... she felt happy too.

— So well that I will let you play against a great competitor — the butler announced extending control to Selina — I imagine that Master Bruce is in need of more tea... — He sighed, wondering how badly the meeting could have ended.

— With chamomile, Alfred... — She held the remote and stared at the butler, she was visibly tired.

— Is my father nervous? — Damian looked at his mother suspiciously, then at the butler and waited for an explanation. The older two looked at each other and replied in unison:

— He always gets nervous at these meetings...

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NOTE

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In fact, I will use these final notes to give two important warnings!

The first is that soon the divergent timelines will finally be explained. Yes, the most important proposal was discarded, left out... Poor Timbo.

The second warning is that I will post the fanfic Revive: Summary. Literally, it will be just a summary of this fanfic for everyone to follow without actually reading anything. Tell that to your lazy friend, that you asked to read the fanfic and he didn't want to because they had a lot of words, kkkks. It is also good to remember the chapters, as it will take me a little longer to release updates.