AN: We did it, people. We are at the epilogue. Let's see how everything ends shall we?
Summer314: I'm happy you love the title! Titles are hard but I'm proud of this one. Brothers-in-mind indeed. We're lucky that they like each other because can you imagine having a person you hate stuck in your head? Nightmare material.
Damian and Cass have such a sweet bond in this fic. She made him eat several slices of humble pie but Damian is eating them with grace and humility. They shall become two of the best siblings (and the scariest). Jason will be so happy that 'Dickwing' has caught on. Dickwing less so. :D
The characters indeed have a different view on forgiveness. I'm glad you like it. I find it more interesting than making all the characters just hate or love Bruce. Thank you for your nice comment!
Epilogue
Dick climbed through the window of their shared flat. He halted on the windowsill when he saw the collection of people in their living room. Jason had been right. On the way back, Dick had doubted if he had made a mistake. If he had misheard or if his mind had started playing tricks on him. But no. They were all here. Just for him and Nightwing.
Dick shook his head in disbelief. Never in his life had so many people showed up for him. It made him feel warm inside.
"Surprise", Jason said, "You didn't really believe that we would leave you in the dust while we play happy family with Wayne?"
Dick was speechless. He couldn't do anything but look at them and revel in the fact that they really had shown up for them. Jason and Damian were standing next to each other directly in front of Dick. The Birds were grouped together with Stephanie's hand resting on Cass' shoulder. And awkwardly by the side there was-
"Tim", Nightwing pushed himself into the forefront taking control of their body.
It was disorienting to be pushed back so easily. Dick needed some time to get used to it but he didn't protest. Not when he could feel the joy radiating from Nightwing's mind. Also, Dick needed some time to process things himself. He actually had more people than Jason now who would show up for him.
Nightwing hurried towards Tim gripping him by the shoulders. Nightwing's gaze darted over Tim as if he wanted to make sure it really was his little brother.
"I thought I'd never see you again", Nightwing was beaming like an idiot.
Tim seemed cautious. He hadn't moved yet. His mouth twitched into a tense smile.
"I wanted to see you. I was curious", Tim said, "It's cool to have a brother from another timeline. I know I'm not the Tim Drake you know but I hoped we might meet up or something. Reconnect- You know-"
Tim stuttered around his feelings. Dick felt sympathy for him. He knew what it was like to constantly expect dismissal from everyone he met.
Nightwing ignored Tim's stuttering and pulled him into a hug: "Nothing of that, Tim. I'd love to get to know you as a brother. Dick, too. We have a habit of collecting little brothers."
Dick didn't protest at Nightwing speaking for him. Not when it was correct. Dick would love another little brother. He had always wanted a big family.
"But don't you miss your Tim Drake? Would I not be a reminder of him?", Tim looked up at them with.
Dick saw hope in his eyes. The eyes of a person who was too afraid to let himself hope but couldn't help himself anyway. Dick had heard that Tim was an overthinker. Nightwing seemed used to it the way he didn't even hesitate in his answer.
"I miss him more than you can imagine", Nightwing tightened his arms around Tim, "But that doesn't mean I can't get to know you."
The fear vanished from Tim's gaze and he allowed himself a soft smile: "You don't even understand how happy that makes me."
"If you are anything like my Timmy, I think I do", Nightwing sounded slightly sad.
Tim frowned as if he was pondering about this answer.
"Rich kid", Jason said, "Leave some of them over for us."
Jason pulled Nightwing towards the table. They shared some of Alfred's cake. It was heavenly. Dick almost regretted being in the backseat now that he could only taste it second-hand. Sensations their body experienced were always dulled when Dick didn't have control.
"Steph", Nightwing raised his voice, "I met a little girl on patrol who told me you are her favourite. She told me she loves your purple costume."
As expected, Stephanie was ecstatic at this statement. There was a beaming grin on her face.
She jumped up and danced through the room: "Spoiler best hero: Confirmed."
Barbara exchanged an amused glance with Selina.
"She deserves it", Barbara muttered to the other Birds.
Nightwing allowed Dick to take over again.
'It's not fair of me to hog all the fun', Nightwing said in their shared head, 'It must be scary that I have the ability to just take over.'
It was scary indeed that Nightwing could just overpower Dick's mind whenever he wanted. In theory, Nightwing could lock Dick away in their shared head. Just take over always. But Dick trusted Nightwing not to do that. The hero wouldn't hurt Dick like this.
'I wouldn't', Nightwing said, 'I know how depressing it is to always be back there. Sharing is caring.'
Dick smiled to himself. He found himself sandwiched between Damian and Jason.
"Are you smiling, Dami?", Dick nudged his little brother (surrogate son?).
"I refuse to be insulted by this notion, Grayson."
"It could be Nightwing talking to you right now. Who knows?", Dick grinned.
"I always know the difference", Damian looked up at him.
His gaze was open. Burning with sincerity. Dick found himself putting an arm around Damian's shoulders.
"You ever play a video game called Cheese Vikings, Dami?"
"Why should I play such a silly game?"
"I have it from credibly sources that you are likely to love it. We could go play together at some point."
"If it makes you happy, Grayson", Damian's words pretended to be reluctant, but Dick could see the smile that he was trying to hold back.
Damian had made such strides. Still, Dick hoped that he could be completely open with them at some point.
"He will", Nightwing sounded proud, "My Damian did. He was the best."
Dick couldn't add anything to that. So, he didn't. He just let the moment sit.
"Dickwing?", Jason's voice was quiet.
They had retreated to the couch at some point to watch a movie. The movie was long over and most of their guests were either asleep or half-asleep, huddled in blankets. Damian was sleeping against Dick's side. A rare expression of vulnerability. Dick tried his best not to startle him awake. Dami's sleep was light.
"Yeah?", Dick said.
"I was worried about you on that call. Both of you", Jason was sitting on the other side of the couch with Damian and Tim between them.
Jason had sat quite close to 'rich-kid Drake' despite insistences that he couldn't stand him. Dick suspected that there was a bond brewing. He wouldn't dare mention it to Jason though.
"We feel better now."
"This isn't a sustainable solution", Jason said.
Dick knew what his brother was implying. They needed more than this temporary band-aid no matter how good it felt. They needed long-term coping strategies.
'Since when did Jason become so responsible?', Nightwing said.
It was doing Jason a disservice. His little brother had always cared even if he hid it behind a rough exterior.
'You are right', Nightwing sighed, 'I guess I just don't like talking about these things. I never wanted to burden anyone with my problems. And I always managed on my own. But now it's two people in this head.'
"Jason is right", Dick muttered.
Jason must have heard it because a shit-eating grin grew on his face. He didn't interrupt their deliberations though – knowing that they were at a crucial point.
'You are feeding his arrogance.'
Maybe. But Dick couldn't deny Jason some pride after everything he had done for them.
"So, what do we say?", Dick muttered.
'I'll do it if you do it.'
Dick snickered: "Isn't it more the other way around? You could pull me to therapy if you wanted to. And you could keep me from going if you didn't want to."
Nightwing was silent for a while.
He sounded sincere though when he said: 'I don't think I would go on my own. I never went on my own at home because I- I just couldn't. Lend me your mental fortitude, Dick.'
"My mental fortitude? You are the vigilante."
'You always act like you are profiting of me being in your head. But this is a two-way street. You are brave in ways I could never be. I don't know what I would have done tonight without you to pull me back.'
Dick felt taken aback by that. He didn't know what to answer.
He chose to focus on the practical angle instead: "We're gonna need someone who isn't weirded out by our unique situation."
'I'm sure Oracle can find someone. She can do everything', Nightwing sounded reverend.
Dick smiled to himself. Apparently, their admiration of Barbara Gordon was a universal constant. Dick wondered if Nightwing and Barbara had ever dated. He waited for an answer.
'You'll never get one.'
The non-answer was answer enough though.
Dick quietly sang to himself: "Nightwing and Barbara sitting on a tree-"
'Stop or I'll take over.'
"So?", Jason was apparently growing impatient with their one-sided bickering.
"You are right", Dick said, "We need someone to talk about these things with."
Jason's face lighted up: "It was easier to convince you than I expected."
"I guess two Dick Graysons in one head will muster up enough reason to come up with good decisions", Dick said.
Jason snickered.
"Thanks, Jay", Dick said, "What you did for me- for us."
"It's nothing."
"It's not nothing. I guess you were the true MVP in this story after all. I mean you dumped two bodies god-knows-where for me."
They stayed quiet for a while. Silently enjoying each other's company. It had always been the two of them even when no one else in this world had cared.
Jason smiled slyly: "I disintegrated them into a vat of acid. Gotham's goons share one to get rid of evidence."
Dick threw a pillow at Jason, jostling Damian: "I didn't need to know these details."
"Grayson", Damian protested, still half-asleep.
'No. Tell me all the details', Nightwing said, his vigilante-mind undoubtedly already filing away the information.
Dick found himself laughing. This was his life now. Dick couldn't believe what he had slipped into. But it seemed oddly fitting now – despite all the challenges they would encounter. He could deal with this. They just had to go on.
Bruce still sat in his armchair even more than two hours after the children had left. He didn't have the energy to stand up, too caught up in his feelings of guilt and loneliness. Bruce sighed, running a hand through his hair. He deserved this. It was his own fault.
Bruce's thoughts wandered to the time machine. Wondering if he had made the right decision by letting this timeline exist and the old one die.
"Hey Bruce", Martha sounded subdued.
Bruce looked up at her. Despite everything that had happened, his chest still became warm every time he saw his parents. His old family was here, his new one lost. Bruce had unwittingly made a choice. A choice he had paid for.
"Where are the children?", Martha asked.
"They are in Blüdhaven with Dick", Bruce closed his eyes, "It's better like this. Most of them didn't want me around."
"You can't force them to come to you. You can only welcome them with open arms if they change their mind."
"Yeah", Bruce's voice felt rough.
He knew that some of his children would never change their mind. Dick first and foremost.
He would never forgive Bruce and Bruce could understand that. Bruce had utterly destroyed any chances he had with Dick. Ripped through the life of his eldest son without any regard for what Dick wanted. A reunion with Jason was also doubtful because of his loyalty and rebellious nature. Duke was lost as well. He was living a happy life and Bruce wouldn't disturb it. Duke deserved better than to question everything about himself because Bruce was too selfish to stay away.
Maybe Damian would want to see his Dad again in a few years. Or he would want to move on completely. Bruce had no way to know. And he had no way to control this. He would just have to accept whatever Damian decided.
So, he sat in his armchair by himself for now.
Bruce's phone buzzed. A message:
"Lunch is still scheduled tomorrow right? There are some details about the prototype I would love to talk through with you.
Greetings, Tim
PS: Dick and Nightwing seem happy tonight. They like being around family."
Bruce smiled at his phone. Not everything was lost. Bruce could still build something with Tim and Cass for the meantime. He would do everything he could to be the Dad to them they deserved.
And Tim's message was also reassuring in another way. Dick had landed on his feet. It was reassuring to know that his eldest was still out there, rebuilding his life after everything Bruce had done to him.
"Good for you, Dick", Bruce muttered, "I'm proud of you."
They could only move forward from now on.
AN: Thank all of you so much for reading! (Also for bearing with me with my delays for this fic.) It's always amazing to write something and see people getting invested in it and ending this is very bittersweet (in more ways than one).
Special shoutout to Summer314 who was a MVP commenter on this fic. Your comments were always so sweet and encouraging so thank you so much!
Little (interesting?) side bit:
I actually planned in the beginning that Bruce would somehow restore the old timeline and come out of it learning a lesson. The Dick/Nightwing mindmelt wasn't planned. But then I kept writing in the new timeline and noticed that I couldn't erase it anymore. It would make these ten-thousands of words written in the new timeline ultimately not have many consequences. I guess my development was similar to Bruce's in that regard.
Bringing Nightwing back was a way for me for Bruce's past to still haunt him even if the old timeline wouldn't come back completely. I'm ultimately very happy with this choice because it feels more impactful and unique than the ending I envisioned first. Also, I got attached to my AU-timeline. Sue me.
It makes the first chapter very dark in hindsight though because all these characters 'died' – except for Bruce and Dick.
Just a little insight in how those fics can develop. Feel free to tell me which ending you would have preferred. If you had preferred the other one, you can scream at me in the comments.
I also have a new story going. It's a sequel to my Talon!Dick-AU called 'A Codified Dilemma'. Yes, I'm writing a series. Wish me luck because I've never done that successfully in my life. There is something about sequels that is hard for me but I think I can crack that secret now.
Jason and Dick are also best brothers in there because I love them as brothers and they complement each other so well. Also, I think this is the only thing I've ever written where Bruce is actually a great dad. Feel free to check it out if you love Talon!AUs as much as I do.
Finally: Wishing all of you the best! Each fic is a journey and this was a fun one to take.