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Sins against the Family

Ch 6: Misspeak

The aroma of lasagne filled the air. Selina wasn't sure if she made the sauce correctly but it smelled good as it baked in the oven. She would count it as a win.

She closed the door to the oven and set the timer for five minutes. She sat at the small kitchen table and waited for the food to finish cooking.

As she sat at the small table, she stared at the night sky. Her last moments with Bruce played like the beginning of a bad movie.

"Selina."

She paused with a towel against her wet hair. She glanced up to see a troubled Bruce looking at her. This wasn't the first time she saw him like this and she doubted that it would be the last time.

Yet, there was something about this troubled look that made her pause. Or, maybe it was the fact that he had been watching her with that look for weeks.

"We need to talk." He said as he sat on the edge of the bed with a sheet covering his lap. Even in his older age, he looked gorgeous.

"What is it?"

"I haven't been truthful with you."

"That's nothing new. I don't think that I can think of a time when you have ever been truly truthful with me." She resumed drying her hair while walking farther into the bedroom.

"I can't deny those words. But this is different."

"How so-?"

"I -" His phone rang. It was a unique ringtone. One that had been calling frequently for the last two months. And as always...

He reached for the phone, shut off the ringer, and stood up. "I have to go."

"Does what you have to tell me have anything to do with that ringtone?"

Their eyes met. "No." He answered. "Selina, I'm not cheating on you."

"Oh, I know." She threw the towel on the back of the chair that she sat down on. "You are too emotionally unavailable for that unless you're having one-night stands on rooftops. The only competition that I have is down there in that cave of yours." When he didn't say anything, she continued. "I'm not trying to be cruel. I'm just stating facts."

"I know. Selina-" His phone rang again. He did as before.

"Go, Bruce." She sighed. She was frustrated with herself for loving a difficult man and annoyed that she could never walk away from him without returning.

He nodded and marched towards the door. He paused once his hand touched the doorknob. "If ..watch over the Huntress. You two can lean on each other if you need someone to watch your back. "

He opened the door and left.

The timer rang. She wiped the tears from her eyes.

She got up, turned off the stove, and quickly placed the hot food on a plate. She surveyed the dish. To say this was the first time she cooked an Italian dish, it appeared to be perfect.

She picked up the plate and walked down the hallway of Helena's apartment. Various pictures of her family and friends hang in the hall. She knocked on the door. She waited until she heard movement before she placed the plate down.

She backed away from the door. A couple of seconds later, a tired Helena opened the door. She placed a dirty dish on the floor before grabbing the other one with food. She closed the door and Selina moved to grab the dirty dish.

"Selina?"

She paused. "Yes?"

"I'm thankful that you're taking care of me and all, but why are you here?"

"I don't know." She continued to bend down to pick up the plate. She grabbed it and stood back up. "Bruce thought that we should watch each other back."

"Why? Because we are the outliers in the family?"

"I don't know but..."

"Batman never does or says anything without reason."

"No, he didn't." She whispered.

"Selina?"

"Hmm."

"Your food sucks."

"So, are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" Jason laid on his bed, throwing the little red ball against the ceiling and catching it when it fell.

"Who said something is wrong?"

"We have been on the phone for about ten minutes without you saying a word?"

"That doesn't mean that something's wrong. I just don't have anything to say."

"You were the one who called me."

Silence.

"Does it have something to do with your dad?"

"No." By the tone of her voice, he concluded that it did.

"You know you can talk to me about your dad. I may hate the guy but I can relate and give you good advice."

She huffed. "Fine. I'll talk about my daddy's issues after you do."

Jason caught the ball. Did he have dad's issues? Of course. He used to hide under the table while his drunken father beat his mother before turning his fists toward him.

And as for the man that raised him? He dressed in a bat costume and ran around at night in tights. So, of course, he would gain some issues from that.

With all those issues, he was comfortable pretending that he didn't have any.

He resumed throwing the ball. "So, about that game last night?"

"Of course. " He heard the irritation in her voice. "We are only sex buddies that bonded together because of daddy's issues that we can't talk to each other about."

"Wait." Jason caught the ball and sat up. "I offered to listen to your problems."

"Without talking about yours." Her voice got stronger and louder. "You never talk about Batman with me."

"You know that it's complicated."

"And mine's not?"

"I didn't say that." He started to get irritated too. She was putting words in his mouth.

"That's your problem. You don't say anything. You're just as emotionally unavailable as your father."

"That was low." His voice dropped as his hand clenched his phone. "No one said anything about you being like your psychopath father who destroys everything in his path."

"You just did!"

"Because it's true!"

Click.

"Shoot!" He immediately dialed her number back; it went straight to voicemail.

He growled and swung his arm. When he heard the sound of a thump and cracking, he looked at his right hand.

He had thrown the phone instead of the ball.

"Great, just great." He sat on the bed with his hands on his head.

They were toxic to each other. They were explosive, aggressive, and hit where it hurt. Low and hard.

They knew it.

They both saw the signs before. Yet, they tended to seek comfort in each other's arms when they were at their lowest when they had no one else to turn to.

And what made it worse he truly cared about her. However, outside of sex, they were only able to show each other their worst.

It was what brought them together and tore them apart. And a part of him liked it.

"Mr. Drake."

"It's Wayne." Tim corrected. "For business purposes."

The black man with peril white teeth and a British accent smiled. "I understand. My apologies." Tim nodded. "Mr. Wayne, as I was saying, I prefer to do business in person. It helps determine what kind of man I'm working with."

"With the pandemic going on, that would be nearly impossible. Besides, Bruce is currently out of the city for an uncertain amount of time to handle personal affairs."

"I'm aware of the-" The man stopped talking and leaned over as his secretary, whispered in his ear. The man showed him something on his phone. The two nodded before straightening back up.

"My apologies, gentlemen, but we must leave this meeting. My secretary just brought an urgent matter to my attention that I need to see. I hope that we all can meet again soon. Good day." The man ended the video conference call for everyone without waiting for a reply or a goodbye.

Tim closed his laptop and waited three seconds before Lucius Fox called. He answered the call.

"What do you think?" Lucius asked.

"On the surface, he seems fine. Nothing out of the ordinary. His company is in good condition. Yet-"

"He has a unique ability to become the owner of companies that he partners with. "

"Exactly. Doesn't anyone else find it strange?"

"A few folks did but nothing came of it. Everything was found to be clean and legit. Even our own investigation bore the same results."

"Even so, their company doesn't align with any of our current goals or is no reason for us to work with them."

"I completely agree with you. However, Bruce was adamant about working with them."

Tim raised an eyebrow. Bruce left most of the business decisions to Lucis. "Did he say why?"

"No, he didn't go into detail with me."

"Hmmm. I guess we should set up another meeting with him. Maybe I can figure out what Bruce was thinking before then. "

"I will get my secretary to do it."

"Also-"

"The masks are almost done. I will send a box out to everyone when they are already."

Tim smiled. "Thanks and also thanking for-"

"Don't thank me for that. Alfred is a friend and my Thursday afternoon gossip buddy. I would've done it anyway." Tim nodded even though Lucius couldn't see him.

They were able to bring Alfred home thanks to a personal connection of Lucious. It had been difficult to find a nurse to help transport Alfred due to the limitation of staff and resources.

However, Lucius's friend, a retired nurse, was willing to take the plane ride from Chicago to Gotham with Alfred before going to New York to volunteer.

They talked business for a moment before hanging up.

Tim got up and walked toward the board that contained information and red lines. "What were you doing Bruce?"

Another memory came forward.

They watched as the priest sprinkled water on her head before he handed the crying baby back to Rachael.

She kissed Aliza's tears away while rocking her side to side. Soon she quieted down. She glanced up at the priest and smiled. "Thank you."

"A new addition to the kingdom of Heaven is thanks enough." The priest replied. "I will leave you with your family."

The priest nodded to the group behind Rachael and left. She turned with Aliza to see Trent's beaming face.

"Can I hold her, Tia?"

"Trent, you hold her more than I do." She teased truthfully.

"I know. That's because she likes me better."

"Well, you can hold her later when she needs her diaper changed. For now, let the others hold her."

"Fine but I get to hold her as soon as they leave." He moved out of the way to allow Rachael to move closer to their guests.

"Here, Alfred, you should hold her. You get to see her the least."

Alfred took baby Aliza, who began to cry. Trent appeared beside him and started to give him directions that she was sure he didn't need.

"Where's Slade?" Bruce questioned as they walked out of the church with Alfred and Trent in front of them.

"Church isn't his thing. Besides, his concern isn't for Aliza."

"He is dangerous to have around."

"I agree but we all are a package deal now. You can't have the one that you want without the one that you don't want. He won't hurt us as long as Trent's alive."

"And if something happens to Trent."

"Nothing will happen to Trent."

"If it did?" Bruce stopped, causing her to stop. "Are you planning on doing what you did in Blüdhaven?"

"I already said that I won't." She sighed. "You can't turn it off, can you?" He raised an eyebrow. "The Bat." She explained. When he didn't comment, she continued to walk, prompting him to follow beside her.

"I didn't mean to upset you, especially today. I'm just concerned."

She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. "You. If something happens to Trent and Slade attacks us. I'm depending on the plan that you have to stop him."

"Who said I have a plan."

"You are Batman. Batman always has a plan.

"Hmmm."

"In the future Bruce, you will have to watch your emotions around Aliza. She will be able to see under your interior until she can control her power. So, try to be happy."

"I'm happy." She raised an eyebrow. "50 percent of the time." She raised the other eyebrow. "I have moments of happiness."

She nodded and faced forward.

"One of those moments is knowing that you and Aliza are happy and safe."

She faced him again with a small smile. "We're happy and safe, Bruce, so be happy."

Aliza opened one eye and peeked at Dick.

She didn't think that he would have been able to meditate for this long. Yet, he sat with a straight back, his legs crossed and his hands resting on his knees. He was focused and from the emotions that she couldn't feel, she could tell that his mind was clear.

"Focus, Aliza."

She jumped slightly, causing her other eye to open. How did he know?

A small smile formed on his face. "Focus. We're almost done."

"Ok," she whispered. She closed her eyes and inhaled then exhaled until she created a rhythm with her breathing.

Soon a timer went off. They both opened their eyes. Aliza smiled at Dick, who smiled back.

"Thank you. You're a good partner."

"Anytime. How do you feel?" He asked, standing up. She stood up too.

"Centered. I feel at peace."

His smile widened and her heart warmed. "Good."

"Now, it's time for ice cream."

His smile dropped. He frowned at her. "Maybe you should lay off the ice cream today. You have been eating sweets since you came here."

It was true. She had been eating ice cream every day since she arrived. But it helped her relax. She told him so. "Besides, you bought the ice cream for me. It wouldn't be polite if I didn't eat it."

He rubbed the back of his head. "True. I only wanted to make you happy at that time. I didn't mean for you to eat it every day."

A frown now graced her face. "You don't want me to be happy anymore."

"Of course, I want you to be happy but I also want you to be healthy."

"Which one is the most important to you? My happiness or health?"

"Both are."

"Then I can eat ice cream as long as I work out later. " She smiled.

"No. You need to cut down on the amount of ice cream that you eat."

"So, my health is more important than my happiness."

Dick's eyes narrowed. "I know what you are doing, and it's not going to work. I'm not going to let you neglect your health because you think that you need ice cream. This is my way of showing that I care about you."

"You don't care about me. You see me as a responsibility."

"I-"

She stopped him from lying. "I'm an empath, remember? What you feel for Damian, Jason, and Tim. It is different from what you feel for me. And I understand. So, you don't have to lie."

"I have known them longer than you, so yes, I care about them more. But that doesn't mean I don't ca-"

"You see me as a responsibility."

She didn't understand how the conversation shifted. One moment they were talking about ice cream then they were arguing about caring and responsibility.

She wanted to restart the conversation. She wanted to tell him that she understood that she couldn't eat ice cream every day. Her mom only had allowed her to eat it once a week. She wanted him to smile at her again. Yet, something compelled her to speak differently as the normal angry voice in her head chuckle.

"A-"

"If you find out I wasn't Bruce's daughter, would you take care of me?"

They stared at each other before he answered. "No, I wouldn't be a good father figure to you."

"But you would've tried if I was."

"I owe it to Bruce."

"Like I said you don't care. You only see me as a responsibility." She bit her bottom lip.

"I do care for you. That's the truth. I-" He stopped talking when he noticed her sitting back down.

She closed her eyes. She inhaled and exhaled.

When she heard a soft thump beside her, she peeked and opened her eyes to see Dick sitting next to her.

"You don't have to meditate with me. I want to be alone."

He opened his eyes that were closed. "You're right. I do see you as a responsibility. I don't know how to add you to the puzzle that Bruce created. Nevertheless, it doesn't mean I don't care about you.

"If you want to stay with us, I won't kick you out unless you want to go. It would be an adjustment but we can adjust to each other. However, I must warn you. This family comes with issues...and trouble."

"I think that I can handle it." She said softly.

"Then welcome to the family." He smiled.

"Thank you." She smiled back.

"That's what family is for."

"So, can I have ice cream?"

"No." His face was serious. "Now focus. Let's meditate for another thirty minutes."

She closed her eyes. The voice gave a soft chuckle again.

"So, were you all able to get the information on Black Mask?" Kate asked. Her voice strained as she did another push-up.

"We were able to gather some information but the people that we picked up didn't know much. There is some conflicting information going on in the group." Luke answered.

"Man, I wished that I was out there. I'm going crazy in my house."

Luke chuckled. "It would be nice to have you out here as well. It's kinda lonely without the others running around on the rooftop."

"What? You and Batgirl are not getting along with each other?"

"We are...it's just not the same."

Kate stopped in a plank position and smirked. "So, you two are sleeping together?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Luke replied quickly.

"Hmm. You don't have to lie." Kate continued with her push ups. "I know the signs. I have dated within a team secretly too. More times than I can count. First, there is the light bantering followed by constantly picking them as your partner. Next thing you know, you are taking longer to come back from patrol with them. Then there is the sudden distance. Tell me, the sex was trash, wasn't it?"

"The sex wasn't trash." He rebutted and groaned immediately

Kate smirked. "So, you two are sleeping together."

"Just keep it to yourself."

Kate did her last push-up and changed her position to do her yogalate session of her workout. "Who am I going to tell? I hang out with you the most out of everybody in the family."

It was easier to bond with Luke than the others due to serving time in the military and 'forcing' their way into the family. And despite being Batman's little cousin, she expected Luke to have her back in any situation compared to the others.

"Still...and why are we always talking about my love life? We never talk about yours."

"Don't ask, don't tell, remember?"

"Really, Kate?"

"Wait...I think that my dad is calling me. Got to go." She tapped her Bluetooth and ended the call.

"I don't remember calling you." Retired Col. Jacob Kane said from the door of their workout room. He held a towel and a bottle of water in his hand.

"I could hear you a mile away, dad. You are losing your touch." She said with a smile as she went into another pose.

"Maybe, I am...Katey, I think that you should wrap it up."

"Thirty minutes, dad."

"You have been at this for three hours."

"And sometimes, I have to fight for three hours." She moved into a downward dog. She knew where the conversation was heading and she didn't like it.

"You aren't training now to get stronger. You're training to run away from your problems."

The workout was over. She stood up and marched towards her dad before grabbing the water bottle in his hand. "Thanks, Dad." She moved past him to enter the hallway of their home.

"Why don't you call and talk to her?" He yelled after her.

She reached her room. She opened and closed the door behind her after she entered.

She knew that her dad meant well but he didn't understand. She and Renee were done for good this time. She was getting married and it wasn't to her.

The person had decided: They would free them from the curse of the cowl.

These foolish children. It is time for them to stop playing dress-up.

The person sealed the last envelope, gathered the others, and walked out of their office, leaving one envelope with the name Dick Grayson on it.

"So, you're telling me that you allowed the Book of Scar to be stolen." Greed said as he stepped over the long legs of his brother Sloth to sit on a clean spot on the couch.

The area that surrounded Sloth was a giant mess, to say the least, Nevertheless, he allowed it because Sloth was useful. Plus, the maid that he hired did an excellent job of cleaning up after him.

"I didn't," Jared, or whether his brother Wrath, refuted. "Lust did."

"I was curious to see how far he would get if we gave him a head start. How was I supposed to know that he would leave town and head to another state."

"Well, gentlemen. It seems that you have a personal problem on your hands that you all need to solve."

"Don't be like that Greed. We can use your help retrieving it. It's easy. Just track the book using our magic. The book is already calling us."

"Sorry but no can do. Time is money, and I don't have time to waste cleaning up the mess that you made." He bent over slightly to end the call. Just as he was about to push 'end', Wrath's words stopped him.

"What did you say?"

"I said that the person that stole the book is a half immortal."

Greed turned to Sloth, who was now interested in the conversation too. Their eyes met and a grin rose upon their lips.

"Well, you should've started with that."

"Greed, don't eat him." Lust warned. "It's Gluttony's turn to have a bite."

"I'll try to keep that in mind, but you know it's not in my nature to share."