Legends of the Wayne Family

Chapter Sixteen – Photos & Family Pet Bets

The first time Dick visited Wayne Enterprises, he'd been overwhelmed and frankly uncomfortable in the expensive and rather tall high-tech building. The second time he went with Bruce for a day of seeing what Bruce actually did- which was, as Tim claimed, damage control. This first trip however, resulted in a memorable experience because Bruce decided Jason and Tim should come as well.

So, when Dick returned for a third time to his guardian's workplace, he had hopeful expectations, though honestly just wanted to make it back home before something went wrong. Bruce however, seemed to have overflowing hopes that the day wouldn't end in tragedy and insisted on finally taking Dick on a tour around the building.

He and Bruce made it up to Bruce's office, planning to drop off Bruce's briefcase and Dick's backpack full of colouring books and a few toys, before heading back down to the lobby and starting the tour. This plan was derailed when Bruce's secretary told Bruce he had an urgent call from their branch in Metropolis.

Bruce hesitated, going to pick up the phone from his desk before stopping and turning his attention to the nine-year-old before him.

'It's fine Bruce, I'm gonna start colouring.' Dick allowed Bruce to answer the call and just as he said, got out one of his colouring books and starting to colour. He set himself up in a chair that was now facing the massive floor to ceiling window in Bruce's office.

Dick spent the next 40 minutes colouring before Bruce finally got a break in calls- that had been coming in since they arrived.

'You okay sport? I'm really sorry about this- I'll finish this issue with Metropolis and then we can go for that tour.' Bruce called, getting up from his desk and coming to crouch next to Dick. Dick nodded and continued to colour.

'Why do you get so many calls? Aren't the CEOs meant to not have any work to do?' Dick asked as he finished colouring in the Flash and then started to draw Wally next to the speedster since Wally was fast too.

'I wish, but no. If any big changes happen during the design and building phase, I have to okay it before it can go ahead. And since we regularly have over a hundred projects in development month to month, it means I have a lot to okay and check.' Bruce simplified, his office phone buzzed and his secretary's voice came through, saying there was another call from the planning and marketing department.

It unfortunately wasn't till Bruce's lunch hour that he was free of calls- all of them going to second in commands instead. And as much as Dick wanted to go out and eat somewhere in Gotham city, Bruce was often eating in the building- even in his office in case any really important calls came through.

Only as Dick took Bruce's CEO chair at his desk did Dick notice the photos across the desk. Three were graduation photos, Terry, Damian and Duke graduating from Gotham Academy. Two other photos that were taken in the foyer of the manor, one had Tim while the other had Jason, both in Gotham Academy uniforms. Then there were another three photos, one of Dick sitting on Bruce's shoulders, both of them smiling. One had a group photo of all of them together (including Alfred) but was missing Duke, it had been taken two months into Dick's stay. The last photo had much younger versions of Terry surrounded by Damian, Duke, and Tim.

In total there were eight photos set up along Bruce's desk, all of which had a one or more of the Wayne kids. Dick looked up from the desk and searched the room with his eyes for more photos, Bruce was still by the door getting the lunch he and Dick had ordered.

Then he spotted it, a medium photo frame sitting atop a shelf on the far side of the office, a grand old photo of a young boy and two adults. Dick knew this photograph, there was another copy of it in Bruce's study at the manor. Thomas and Martha Wayne, with their son Bruce.

For a CEOs office, Bruce sure did have a lot of memories he kept close.

'I like your photos.' Dick called to Bruce, the man was finally walking back into the office, their orders for lunch in his hands. Bruce looked up surprised before looking from his desk to the shelf.

'I like them too.'

16

Not to sound like a broken record, but at Wayne Manor there were six constant residents, Alfred, Bruce, Damian, Tim, Jason and Dick. Then there were the visiting past residents, Terry and Duke. And then there were two other regular visitors, Jon and Stephanie.

Then there were the not-so human residents.

Ace, Bruce's German Shepard that Dick had been told was Bruce's favourite son and had hidden somewhere in the manor, a stash of socks from each of the Wayne family members (this excludes Alfred because Ace respects the manor's butler).

Titus, who was Damian's dog and had an odd obsession with peanut butter and eating Tim's boxers. Dick had also been mildly scared of the big tall black dog till Damian had told him Titus had a super power. 'He scares away all the nightmares, did it for me when I was your age and I'm sure if you ask him nicely, and give him some peanut butter, he'll protect you too.' Which had than resulted in Dick feeding Titus peanut butter every Sunday so the nine-year-old wouldn't get nightmares during the school week.

Alfred, is another of Damian's pets, except Alfred is a cat who Dick hadn't even seen till his second month with the Wayne's. Alfred the cat isn't very interested in people, Terry and Duke have told Dick many times that Alfred acts exactly how Damian did when he was young. But Alfred- when he does seek out pats, it a very soft white fluffy cat, Dick often would even find dust or dirt in the cat's fur too which was a bit surprising being because Alfred the cat wasn't meant to be outside.

So far, the manor had two dogs, one cat, and a cow. And now Dick hoped to add his elephant to that list. Especially because Bruce had refused to allow him to get anything exotic like an elephant. Dick, who had grown up surrounded by unique animals from lions and elephants, to zebras and monkeys, often found that everyone else's' 'normal' animal companions weren't his normal.

As such, a bet had started- Bruce and Dick unknowing of its existence, while the older siblings and butler wagered.

Damian and Jason betting that Dick would eventually win over Bruce, Damian claimed it would be within the next month, while Jason said within the next two weeks. Terry, Tim and Stephanie had agreed that Bruce would only allow another animal if Dick rescued it, similar to Bruce and Ace's meeting. Duke and Jon had said Bruce would win, swearing that The Batman would probably be able to resist Dick this time.

Alfred, as usual won. The butler's bet stating that the nine-year-old would be refused at every turn- simply because Richard's idea of a family pet was too… exotic.

'Bruce, can we get an elephant?' Dick had started one morning before school, promptly gaining everyone's attention at the table, even Tim had looked away from his phone.

'Sorry sport, we can't take care of an elephant.' Had been Bruce's response, exchanging pleading glances with Alfred as though asking for help from the butler. Alfred had left Bruce hanging, returning to the kitchen with a smirk.

'Bruce, do you like monkeys?' Dick asked during one of the family's games & movie nights- something that was rare and difficult to plan successfully. 'I'd like it if we could have a monkey around.' Dick finished as he made his move around the board before looking up to his guardian pleadingly.

'Not particularly Dick.' Bruce answered, though Tim also spoke up- stating his dislike towards the small beings.

'What about a llama, he could just eat the grass around the manor and he wouldn't bother anyone.' Dick suggested, walking out of the elevator into the Batcave where Batman turned away from his monitor where the Flash's face was present.

'No Dick, we don't need a lawn mower.' Flash had started laughing on the other end of the video call, which had in turn distracted Dick. Bruce ended up with a lap of his youngest as the nine-year-old spoke to the Flash before asking for Wally.

An hour later Batman and Flash had been talking on the video call while Wally and Dick spent that time talking to each other in the chat room for the call.

'Alfred? Is something wrong?' Bruce answered the call, picking it up in his office as he sat down at his desk. It was only quarter-past three in the afternoon, which meant the boys should be in the car heading home by now with Alfred.

'Everything is fine master Bruce, however, young master Richard wanted me to ask you- for him, if he could get a parrot?' Alfred's voice was awfully calm and Bruce could nearly hear Tim, Jason and Dick in the back seats eagerly awaiting his answer.

'Thank you, Alfred, could you tell Dick that he can get a parrot when he's older.' Bruce coped out, hoping that Alfred would translate his answer with far more formality.

Bruce had grown up as an only child- alone aside from Alfred most of his childhood, he knew how attractive it sounded to have a pet. He had given in with most of his children.

Damian got his dog, cat and cow. Tim got his turtle. Cass had her rabbit. Even he had Ace. However, Terry, Duke and Jason had never requested a pet, which surprised him partially, if it weren't for the fact that at the time Wayne Manor had two dogs, one cat, one cow, one turtle, and one rabbit.

Damian had needed animal companions, growing up alone only to move into a new life and be surrounded by just as much nothing. Tim had stumbled across his turtle, who helped Tim calm down after anxiety attacks and encouraged him to sleep on those difficult nights. Cass had needed her rabbit, having been raised an assassin and it subjected to horrible experiments, they seemed to rely oddly on each other.

Then of course, Duke and Cass had grown attached to her rabbit, it helping them both. The same had happened between Terry and Titus, the large and tall dog reaching the boy's soft heart. Even Duke and Tim had grown closer over their love for Tim's turtle.

Having pets, especially in a large family helped. And maybe one day Dick could get a pet.

But till then, he hoped having two dogs, one cat, one cow, five siblings, one butler and a guardian was enough for Dick.

Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long since the last update, but happy to report that this chapter and the next two should be released within the week, and as per a- now old, request/comment, the next chapter is an Sick Duke story line, while the one after is finally introducing Cass!

Hope you're enjoying these stories, and let me know in review/comments if there's any short story/chapters you'd like covered.

Stay safe!