A/N AU where Bruce got his boys when they were much younger.
Requested by a Guest. I hope you enjoy ;D
Dick - 8
Jason - 6
Tim - 3
Damian - 14 months
Never in a million years could Bruce have seen this coming. Alfred had told him, of course, that he would eventually grow tired of the nightlife and parties and settle down, but Bruce hadn't expected that to happen for a few more years. Or at least until he'd gotten married.
But life had had other plans. He'd found Dick and then Jason and finally Tim, and they had changed his whole world. And when he'd found Damian, his biological son, on his doorstep, their little family was complete.
He had gone from Gotham's playboy to Doting Daddy. And he loved it. But to be fair, his boys made it easy to love them.
The hard part was balancing running Wayne Enterprises during the day, protecting Gotham City at night, and still spending time with his sons. He often found himself having to choose between playing with his boys and sleep. More often than not, the boys won.
Today the boys had Bruce all to themselves. The sun was shining over the city, making it a perfect day to spend the day in the park.
Damian gurgled happily between spoonfuls of his breakfast as Bruce wiped smudges from his round cheeks. He glanced over to his older boys. Dick and Jason were stealing food from each other's plates while Tim watched with amusement.
"Call for you, Master Bruce," Alfred reported from the doorway. "It sounded important."
"Dick, come feed your brother." Bruce called as he left to take answer the phone. Dick bounded over from his seat to kneel in his father's chair so he could reach Damian's highchair. "Open up Dami." Dick said cheerily, holding the tiny spoon of oatmeal up to the baby's face. Damian merely blew a raspberry at his big brother.
"Problem Master Bruce?" Alfred asked as he noticed his oldest charge returning, looking less happy than when he'd left moments before. "Tabitha Desmond." Bruce sighed. "She demanded to move her meeting to this afternoon, and she refuses to meet with 'my corporate lackeys'. I need to go into the office."
"But what about Daddy Son Fun Day?" Dick asked. Bruce winced. He had hoped the boys weren't paying attention, but by the disappointed frowns on their faces, it was clear they'd heard every word. Even Damian, who was far too young to understand, was pouting at him.
Bruce scratched the back of his neck for a second before an idea came to him. "How would you boys like to come to work with Daddy?" The boys' faces brightened. It may not have been the fun they'd had in mind, but it could still be pretty good.
"Are you sure this is a wise plan, sir?" Alfred asked once the other boys had all run off to get ready. "A place of business may not be the best place for four boys under ten years of age to spend the day."
"I know, but I hate to see them upset." Bruce said, lifting Damian from his chair. "Besides, they'll be with me the whole time. What's the worst that could happen?"
III
"Take it in boys," Bruce said proudly as they entered the lobby of Wayne Enterprises. "Your inheritance." The boys looked around with awe. They'd never been to the office before and were excited to see where Bruce spent so much time.
Every few steps, a secretary would come over to coo at them and pinch their cheeks and comment on how cute/handsome they were and how they looked just like their Daddy. They were just getting settled in Bruce's office when there was a knock on the door.
"Ah, Mr. Wayne, I heard you were in today." One of the executives said. "I was just checking if you were going to sit in on the morning briefing or…" She trailed off, glancing between her boss and his kids.
"We'll be ok Daddy." Jay promised, plopping himself in Bruce's desk chair. Bruce got them some pens and paper to keep them busy and headed for the door. "I'll be right across the hall." He assured them.
III
Bruce stifled a yawn as the presenting executive droaned on. He was beginning to remember why he tended to skip these smaller meetings when he could. This guy had been taking for two hours and hadn't said a single substantial thing.
"Daddy?" A small voice called, and the room turned to face the door. Dick was standing in the doorway, holding Damian a bit away from him and Tim trying to hide behind his legs. "Dami needs a change, and Timmy says he's gotta go." Dick reported.
Bruce thanked his lucky stars as he told the executives to continue the meeting without him and ushered his boys away.
By the time he'd finished helping Tim in the bathroom (praising him for being such a big boy) and changed Damian (the baby laughing every time his father gaged from the smell), Bruce decided it was too late to go back to his meeting.
Instead, he took the boys to his office and showed them how to make paper hats and planes.
A few hours later, Dick and Jason had mastered the art of throwing the plane so it flew in loop de loops. They were all laughing as Tim tried to catch the planes before they landed, and Damian toddled after him, with Bruce chasing them both around the room.
"This was great Daddy." Jason said wistfully as he plopped down on the couch. Bruce just smiled and plopped down next to him, purposely hard enough to make the boy bounce up a bit.
Jason being Jason, took this as a challenge and started bouncing on the cushions. Tim and Dick joined him, and soon the game was launching themselves off the couch and seeing if their Daddy could catch them one-handed (on account of Damian taking up his other hand). They were all having so much fun that they didn't hear the office door open.
"Mr. Bruce Wayne, I presume." A crisp, no-nonsense voice called over the noise. The Waynes all looked up. Standing in the doorway was a dark-haired woman in a scarlet suit. She had a stern, disappointed look on her face as she took in the state of the CEO's office. Bruce could see the literal fire in her eyes and stood up a bit straighter.
"Ah, Tabitha, glad you could make it." Bruce smiled, extending his free hand. The stern woman just stared at him. "I hope you run this business better than you control these children." Without another word, she turned and strode to the boardroom as if it was her building.
"Ms. Desmond is not a fan of children." A meeker-looking woman in a black suit explained before going to get settled for the meeting. "Good luck Daddy." Tim said softly as Bruce followed the woman out.
Despite the rocky start, the meeting ran relatively smoothly. After giving his opening remarks, Bruce even could have sworn he saw a slight smile on Ms. Desmond's lips. He should have known things were going too well.
"Daddy, we're hungry." Jason called as he came through the doors with his brothers on his heels. Ms. Desmond grimaced. Before Bruce could respond, there was a scream from down the hall. Seconds later, a masked man holding a gun burst through the doors.
"Valuables in the bags!" He ordered, tossing a sack onto the table. "And if anyone tries to call the cops…" He fired a bullet into the ceiling. He meant business. Bruce pushed the boys behind him, motioning for them to be quiet. Unfortunately, Damian didn't understand and started to fuss and then cry.
The gunmen whipped towards the sound. "Shut that kid up!" He ordered. "He's scared and probably hungry." Bruce said definitely, bouncing the baby in his arms and shushing him gently. "His food is in my office if you'd just let me get it."
The robber grunted his annoyance but nodded his permission. Bruce walked slowly to his office and reached in Damian's bag for the bottle. The gunman stayed behind him every step. He was so focussed on Bruce that he seemed to forget the other hostages.
Out of nowhere, Jay and Tim took running slides, knocking the thief off his feet, sending his gun flying through the air, and landing in Dick's outstretched hand. The force and suddenness of the fall onto the hard floor knocked the robber out, but Tim gave him a swift kick in the neck, just to be sure.
"Is everyone alright?" Bruce called. Everyone started to give answers in the affirmative when an overly indignant voice rose above them. "Is this the kind of house you keep Wayne?" Ms. Desmond snapped. "Common thieves running amuck and having blundering children disarming them?"
"Ms. Desmond, those boys saved our lives." The woman in black pointed out. "Pure luck." She scoffed. "The little street rats could have been spotted. The gypsy could have not caught the gun or even fired it. Either way, I will not do business in this place of madness."
"Tabitha!" The no longer meek woman scolded. "Apologize this instant! We owe these children our lives!"
"You dare speak to me in such a tone?" The other woman sneered, her face growing as red as her suit. Do not forget your place."
The woman in black smirked. "I have not forgotten that 50% of this company is mine, sister dear, and as such, I have the authority to sign with Wayne Enterprises myself if I see fit. And I do!"
Tabitha began to sputter then stormed to the elevators. "My people will be in touch, Mr. Wayne." The other Ms. Desmond smiled as she gathered her things and left.
Bruce rewarded his boys with ice cream and a trip to the toy store. He spent the rest of the day gushing over how proud he was of them. (Even Damian for his impeccable timing.)
Alfred, of course, knew what had gone down by the time they got home but opted not to say anything in front of the children. He did, however, corner Bruce on his way from tucking the boys in. "I know what you're gonna say." Bruce sighed. "I never should have taken them, and I should have been more careful."
The old butler just smiled. "Those boys handled themselves quite well. Gotham should feel safe and proud knowing that they are her future protectors."
Bruce grinned as his oldest friend headed off to his room. As usual, Alfred was right.
A/N Hey guys! Keep making requests and I'll do my best to honor them ;D
