Gifts From the Sea, a Batman fanfic by Raberba girl

Batfam Bingo 2019: AU: Zoo

Chapter 11 - Up In the Sky (rough draft 2)

Bruce was in the kitchen when he heard Dick yelling excitedly, "Dad! Come look, come look!"

Bruce obligingly went into the living room and found the mer almost right up against the screen, staring in fascinated delight.

"Dick, you're too close to the TV."

"It's Superman!" Dick crowed when Bruce picked him up and moved him back to the couch.

"Oh, wow," Bruce said indulgently, glancing at the news report. A set of newscasters were discussing the story as looped cell phone footage played of the colorful alien in Metropolis fighting off some sort of giant robot.

"He can fly! I love him!"

"Glad to know the criteria for winning your love," Bruce said dryly, fighting down a hint of irrational jealousy.

"Dad, I want to be Superman for Halloween!"

"All right, we'll...do our best..."

On the 31st, Dick went out with his friends, proudly sporting a cape, a cowlick, a big stylized S on his chest, and blue and red blankets carefully arranged to match the superhero's color scheme. He was happily exhausted that night when Bruce took him home, and they settled behind the house as usual, Bruce reading a book on his cot and Dick at the edge of the pool leaning his head on one arm as he idly sorted through candy with his free hand.

The alien's descent was so silent, neither of them noticed for goodness knew how long until Bruce finally looked up at the sound of a cape flapping in the breeze.

"What the-?!" He was on his feet instantly, but got tangled up in a blanket and nearly fell in the pool. Dick screeched briefly and latched onto him in surprise and alarm.

Superman held up his hands placatingly. "Sorry, I'm sorry! I just, er... I have, um, a friend, Clark Kent? You probably don't remember him, but he...told me about you a few years ago, and I saw the photo your friend Katie posted on Facebook tonight, and I, uh...just wanted..." He stared down at the mer, who had gotten over his shock and was now in the water beneath him, staring up in delight.

"You know you're technically trespassing," Bruce snapped.

"Sorry," Superman said, and he did sound contrite, but his eyes did not leave the mer. When Dick reached up with both hands to grasp his boot, he raised up his leg and Dick laughed to find himself easily drawn up out of the pool. Superman carefully took the child into his arms.

"Come down here," Bruce ordered, really not happy about seeing a stranger - one who had super strength and laser vision - holding his child.

"No, fly, fly!" Dick urged eagerly.

"Let's ask permission, first," Superman said sheepishly, and descended until his feet touched the ground by the pool.

"Dick, come here," Bruce said, reaching in an unsuccessful attempt to pull the boy into his arms.

"No! I wanna fly!"

"Dick, you know how I gave you that lecture about not going anywhere with people you don't know?"

"It's SUPERMAN!"

"I can carry you, too, if you like," Superman offered diffidently.

Bruce studied the man through narrowed eyes. He wanted nothing more than to throw the alien off his property and take his child inside and hide him somewhere safe and guard him all night, but Dick was so...excited. Dick loved Superman, was riveted every time the man showed up in the news and treasured all the merchandise he could get his hands on, and now his hero was right here, holding him, in no position to endanger him for being something other than human.

Bruce sighed deeply. "I'm coming, too, and if you hurt him, I will find a way to kill you."

"You both are safe with me," Superman reassured him.

Bruce, clinging to the alien's back and intensely worried for Dick, did not enjoy the flight much, but the mer was in ecstasy as they soared around the island and then a ways out to sea.

"Stars! Stars, Dad!" he shrieked, reaching up to them with one hand, then both.

"Dick!"

"Aaaahhhh!" the boy yelled happily.

"I won't drop him," Superman assured Bruce. "And even if I did, I could catch him easily."

It was Dick who dropped himself a few minutes later, suddenly twisting in the alien's arms and crowing in delight when he fell. Superman yelled in just as much alarm as Bruce did and raced to catch him.

"Again! More!"

"DICK DON'T DO THAT!" Bruce bellowed.

Dick pouted. "Drop him next."

"How about we don't drop anyone?" Superman suggested with nervous laughter.

Bruce was intensely relieved when they finally made it home in one piece. He snatched his son into his arms and glared, barely hearing Dick's excited rambling. "...and the wind like 'whaaaahhh,' fall through it so fast I like it Dad please again Superman I love please fly again yeeeaaahhh...!"

"I didn't mean to! I just wanted to see him...I've been worried about him," Superman explained earnestly. "Ever since he was released into the wild, I've been worried about whether he survived or not, and seeing that he's okay, that he's safe, I just..."

"You can't tell anyone," Bruce growled. "Not even Kent, I can't let this get into the news. If they find out Dick's living with me, they might arrest me for holding him in 'captivity,' or ABAZ might accuse me of theft, or poachers might come for him; you can't let anyone know."

Dick finally went silent, glancing back and forth between the two men and curling his arms around Bruce's neck to comfort him.

"I won't tell," Superman promised. "And if anything ever happens, I will do all I can to defend you and Dick. I just...wanted to see him."

"I love Superman," Dick declared.

The superhero smiled. "I like you very much, too, Dick. Would it be...all right if I visit again sometime...?"

"Yes yes pleeeaaase!"

"Only if you prove trustworthy," Bruce amended.

Superman smiled. "It was nice meeting you." He held out a hand. "Goodbye, Dick."

"Goodbye! Come back soon, I want to fly!"

After the alien left, it took a long time for them to go to sleep. Dick zoomed around and around the pool in his excitement, and Bruce sat there watching him, worrying, wondering what would happen if the world ever learned about his extraordinary child.

TBC