"So let me take it!"

"Terry, don't start-"

"I know there's something wrong about this, I know there is! I'm not suggesting I do it all myself, all I'd need to do is just find some evidence and bring it to the police!"

"And there's no guarantee they'd be able to do anything with it, Terry. Besides, we haven't actively operated in this city for years, we don't know if-"

"Would you stop making excuses? My dad was murdered and I could help bring his killers to justice, don't you care about that!?"

It had to happen eventually, Dick supposed. Though part of him was glad Terry felt comfortable enough around them to freak out, he wasn't sure getting a celebratory plaque that read 'Baby's First Shouting Match' was appropriate. It felt like they had all had this argument, at one point or another. The ever popular "why you should let me, a child, use ancient sea magicks to punch a dude in the face". And he got it, he really did, just a few decades ago it had been Dick screaming at Bruce for those exact same reasons. Dick was sure B was having major flashbacks right about now. It probably hit a nerve, too. Too many people in this cave could relate too strongly. The case of a young boy with a murdered parent and the need to do something, anything to try and make it better hit a little too close to home. Which is why Dick was sure this encounter was about to go to the trenches.

"Yes." Bruce bit out, voice suddenly a deadly, cold sort of angry that made Terry pause. Old hands shaking just a little with the effort to keep them still. "I understand, even. I know what you're going through."

Despite the morbid course of the conversation, Dick couldn't help feeling a bit proud of his dad. The old mer had come a long way in regards to being forthcoming with information. When Dick was Terry's age, Bruce probably would've just dropped a dramatic "yes" before swimming off into the deep.

Terry's brow was still furrowed in that way that reminded Dick of Bruce, but he seemed to be considering Bruce's words.

"What do you mean?"

Dick wondered how much of the story Terry knew. The Waynes, once a staple of Gotham high society, had fallen into reclusion a few generations back for unspecified reasons, making fewer and fewer appearances until almost no one remembered their faces even though many could still see the traces they had left on the city. To the land-dwelling public, the name Wayne had become synonymous with gothic architecture, social welfare programs and the mysterious mansion by the water. To those in the know, however, the Wayne's withdrawal had been due to their sudden involvement in the undersea world. Alan Wayne had fallen in love with and married Cathrine Van Derm. The two had a half mer son, Patrick Morgan Wayne, who in turn had his own son, Thomas Wayne, who married the mer Martha Kane, who had Bruce. By the time Bruce had been born, Wayne's Enterprises had changed its name to Tide Enterprises, but still conducted itself through a trusted intermediary of the Wayne family so as to keep control of the company while gaining minimal attention. Couldn't have a mer showing at the office, after all.

"It's the reason I developed these pendants, Terry. The reason I set out to become the Bat at all. My own parents were murdered as a child, so yes, I do understand."

Terry looked sufficiently guilty at that, but still determined enough to press.

"So you know why I need to do this, then."

"I understand where you're coming from, but this also puts me in a position to say no. I spent years training before I went out into the field, we are working on this case, and we can involve you in the research if you want, but taking the pendant out is not an option."

The boy still looked like he wanted to protest, but seemed to sense that if he did they'd just be stuck arguing in circles. So instead he shot one last glare at Bruce before stomping off toward the stairs and up to the manor.

Bruce ran a hand over his face and let the tension bleed out of his shoulders as the sound of the clock-door closing echoed through the cave.

"I take back every ill thought I ever had about Alfred." he sighed.

"Didn't you do that years ago?" Dick replied with a too-sharp grin.

"Yes, but now I take it back double."

Dick laughed as the two ducked under the water to make their way to the lower levels.

"Well, Alfred did always say he hoped you had ten children just like you. What does this make, the ninth?"

"Hm."

"Don't worry B, you'll be free of the curse soon."

Bruce let out a good natured huff as Dick gave him a consoling pat on the shoulder.

"I'm not getting another kid."

"That's what you say every time."

"This time I mean it."

"You say that every time too."

Bruce didn't dignify that with a response so Dick counted it as a win by omission.

"B," he began as the two settled into the alcoves in the common room. "Don't worry about Terry, he'll come around."

"What, like you?"

"I have no idea what you mean by that." Dick smirked. "But seriously, he's a teenager whose dad was just murdered and has now discovered a pod of magical crime fighting mer and that he can turn into one of said magical mer. His cause-and-effect skills aren't the sharpest yet, so all he sees is a solution to his problem. We just have to keep up the investigation and set a good example for him. It might even be a good idea to give him a little bit of training. Just enough to keep him from doing anything drastic."

"That… might be reasonable."

"It worked for the rest of us."

Bruce's smile was weak, but it was there, so Dick counted it as a win.

They went to Terry with their proposition the next day. Well, more specifically, Dick went to Terry with the proposition, because the kid appeared to be pulling the classic 'avoiding all conversation with Bruce' maneuver.

"Terry," Dick called from his spot in the waterway nearest to the computer. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Terry's eyes flicked up from his homework for only a second. He gave nothing more than a glum shrug of acknowledgement, but Dick could see that his stylus had slowed to a stop after a moment. Alright, so the kid was moody. Dick could work with moody.

"Look, we both know Bruce brought up some pretty good points last night, as much as I hate to admit it." no smile yet, but he'd get there. "On-site vigilante investigation into the motives of the Jokerz? That's a big ask to just spring on B like that. He gets real harsh when he's scared, and I'm sorry he freaked out on you like that." Terry's grip on his stylus had tightened, but other than that, still nothing. Dick could sympathize all he wanted, but that was an apology he needed to hear from Bruce.

"We're already looking into it though, okay Terry? If you think there's more to your dad's death than a random gang hit, we're going to take that seriously. Bruce already spent a bunch of time on it last night. He thinks you might be onto something."

That got a reaction out of him. The kid sat up straight and whirled his chair around to face Dick.

"Really?"

"Yeah, Terry. This is important, he's not going to just leave it be."

"But he hasn't been the Bat Mer in years!"

"He hasn't done fieldwork in years. Too old. He's a detective though, so he can still work a case."

Terry seemed to think that over for a moment.

"Won't you need someone, then? To go in the field?"

Dick couldn't help the smile that formed on his face. Babs was right- this kid really was the sweetest.

"If we need someone in the field we'll pull Duke or Cass or Damian. They've got the training and experience needed for a mission." The kid looked a little crestfallen at that, but didn't protest. Choosing instead to turn back to his computer screen as Dick spoke again. "I appreciate you wanting to help, Terry, but this stuff is dangerous and we don't want you to end up like your dad." a low blow, but Terry needed to understand why they said no, he was too much of a rebel to fall in line otherwise.

"But, this actually brings me to my next point, Terry. I want to make you an offer."

That got the kid to stop rubbing a hole in his jeans for a moment, though he didn't turn to face Dick again.

"We're willing to let you start some training. Self defense, investigation, that sorta stuff. We don't ever want you going out to bust goons on your own, but we're not opposed to you learning. We've been sitting back when it comes to surface matters for a while now, but with how things have been going the past couple years we're thinking about running a bit of intervention. Either way, everyone would feel more comfortable knowing you can take care of yourself if someone connects you back here."

"Would I get to use the pendants?"

Dick gave Terry a disapproving look but the kid was determined. Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile indeed.

"Terry," he sighed, running a hand over his face. "I just explained to you why that's a 'no'. Dami and the others are adults, they'll handle that side of things. A little bit of training does not mean you're becoming the next Bat Mer."

"I know that! I just, like, wanted to know, ok?"

"Didn't you want nothing to do with magic?"

"That was three weeks ago! I was a little freaked out at the time, sue me for not wanting to deal with all that!"

"Ok, Terry! Ok, I get your point, no need to yell." Dick sighed internally. Teenagers. "If you feel ready we can start you with some lesser transformation pendants. Get you comfortable with the whole mer schtick. Then-" and here Dick shot Terry a sharp look, "there might be a possibility of training in majiks, but we'll have to wait and see."

Terry huffed but seemed to accept that this was the best he was going to get because he didn't press further. Brat.

"Yes or no then, kid."

"What?"

"Yes or no. To the training? You still haven't answered my question."

Terry did the Double Blink of Surprise. Seemed as if someone forgot about the original offer while trying to pick a fight.

"Uh, yeah. That sounds good."

"Great! Glad we could get that all settled. I'll leave you to it, then." Dick made to drop back into the water before he remembered one more thing.

"Oh, and Terry?"

"Yeah?"

"Jay will be home in about an hour."

And finally, there was that smile.

Turns out, Terry's hunch about his father's case was more than just survivor's guilt. Which was... actually something they needed to talk to Terry about. In fact, they should probably start the whole McGinnis family on therapy. He'd bring it up to the others later. For now, they had a series of suspiciously sanctioned then shut down projects by the Powers Tech. R&D that all listed Warren McGinnis as a key staff member. On the surface the projects looked fine, typical marine biology research. Digging a bit deeper, though, revealed their research to actually be about combining sea magicks with a chemical bomb, a concoction that would have disastrous effects on lifeforms both in the air and underwater. It looked like they were currently in the process of creating a gas version- which was a biowar hazard that the world did not need. Like, ever. What, exactly Warren had done to have a hit ordered on him was still unclear, but the project was listed as directly under one Derek Powers, a man not known for mercy in the underground circles.

The whole thing was alarming, to say the least. They knew what they were doing when they pulled their operation out of the Gotham shore-side, but that never meant any of them had been happy about it. The circumstances had been extenuating and now they were… well here, Dick supposed. Gathered in the main cave hanger, planning a topside search for the first time in decades. Talk about nostalgia.

"We should ask Terry to go through his father's old stuff. See if there isn't anything incriminating left. If the two worked together regularly and Powers wanted Warren silenced, there's a chance Warren knew what sort of people he was dealing with." said Tim, not looking up from his laptop perched on the desk next to the main computer. "Plus it's a good way for Terry to feel involved." he said as an afterthought.

"That's because he would be involved."

"Well, yeah, but- you know what I meant, Steph."

"Did I?" said Steph, not even bothering to sound innocent.

Tim just sent her a halfhearted glare.

"It's a good idea," said Duke. "if he's comfortable, of course. If not, Tim could go over in his stead."

Barbara let out a hum of acknowledgment.

"We'd need to train him on what to look for, then." said Dick, because apparently no one rememberd that Terry had only agreed to training that afternoon and would not meet Bat Inspection Standards.

"Suspicious documents? Cryptic journal entries? Research files? I dunno man, I think we can just tell him to look for stuff the folks in Law & Order go after. Seems pretty straightforward to me." said Steph with a smirk.

"We should probably have Tim go in anyways," said Duke, pointedly ignoring Steph's comment. "Find a time when Terry's folks are out of the house and have the two of them do a sweep."

Barbara hummed again.

"How's the hack coming, Babs?"

"It's already through, actually. Unfortunately, what they're planning to do with their research has been kept off all digital records." she said with a frown pulling at her lips that suggested she was more frustrated than she let her tone of voice express.

Rightfully so, because that tidbit just made this investigation that much more complicated. No clear motive, no clear objective, no idea why, exactly, Warren was off-ed. They might find clues as to what happened with Warren once they searched the McGinnis's, but until then, they were in the dark, and not the nice kind. (hopefully the man had done the moral thing and gotten cold feet, but if Terry's dad turned out to be shady- well, they practically had a support group for that in this family.)

"The great commissioner, hacking into Powers Tech. databases?" gasped Steph in a horrible impression of Doris Day "why, officer, isn't that just the slightest bit illegal?"

Barbara's answer to that was a quick flash of a certain rude hand sign while the rest of them chuckled.

"Does it look like they're moving to use it soon?" asked Tim, sobering the mood once again.

Babs shook her head, "all signs indicate the weapons aren't quite ready, and I have yet to find trace of any buyers, but that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't there. Still, it's nearing completion, so we'd better move quick."

"Lovely."

"Hm."

"Are you gonna leak that info?" asked Dick.

"Course, but my folks topside will still need to investigate this anonymous leak and there'll be a court case for sure. It might be wise to shut this op down manually on top of that."

"A.K.A, one of us is gonna have a rough night real soon." said Steph, dragging out the 'e' in real.

"My people could cover the brunt if we get a warrant fast enough. Actually, finding something from Warren could really help with that so Tim- clear a block for tomorrow. How soon I drop this info will depend on if you two find anything."

"But those're still heavy "if's", right."

"Yeah."

A pause.

"I'll shoot Terry a message to let him know I'll be there around three." said Tim, fishing his phone out of his jacket pocket.

"Pm?"

"Am."

"He's not even gonna see it." sighed Duke.

"Well yeah, but it's more of a courtesy thing anyways so-" Tim stopped short.

"What?" asked Steph, voice gaining an edge.

"Nothing. It's just- his location tracker says… maybe he left his phone here? But no wait it's-"

Tim cut himself off at the familiar click-hiss of the clock door opening, followed by footsteps pounding down the stairs as a disheveled Terry McGinnis burst into view. Tired and panting, with a bruise forming on his jaw, the kid came to a stop just in front of Dick and Duke at the water's edge as he collected himself enough to choke out a strained "Power's has it. The evidence. My dad's evidence." before gracelessly flopping to the floor.

Then the cave exploded into chaos.

With the knowledge that his homework was done, the Bats were looking into his dad's case, and that he would be starting training soon, Terry felt like he finally had enough emotional energy to really confront the… files he'd found while going through his dad's old things last night. The files he took one look at before promptly switching the computer off because… yeah. That was all just, a lot. And he had school in the morning so you know what? This was a problem for future Terry.

But now it was the future, and he didn't have any distractions left to keep him away, so he'd tackle that situation… after dinner.

If dinner felt like it came and went a bit too quickly, that was because he was feeling anxious- not because the universe was conspiring against him. Dana had told him that line of thinking was "cliche" and Max had called it "melodramatic", but neither of them were living out the events of an old fashioned penny dreadful, so maybe he could indulge in a little melodrama right now.

Actually, forget penny dreadfuls, staring at the file titled "In the event of my death or disappearance" on his computer screen made him feel like he was in a spy movie. Especially now that he was taking a good look at the contents. Notes and tables and calculations and graphs for… something. The word weapon was used a lot. As was biohazard and casualties. He didn't understand everything, but he understood enough to know that this was bad. Bad enough for his dad to update his will a few months back (a fact that they had recently had reason to find out), bad enough for him to take safety precautions (guess it finally made sense why dad was suddenly so keen on knowing where Terry was going, with whom, for how long, etc. etc. when he hadn't much bothered before. Terry figured it'd had to do with his time in juvie, but this certainly helped explain things), bad enough for his dad to begin amassing evidence to use against Powers Tech., who he must have known would have an extreme reaction if the title of the doc was any indication. If the title of the doc… oh.

It hit him then. Like water in your nose when you land wrong in the water. His dad- his dad- the guy who used to toss him onto the couch for fun and narrate his cooking process in funny accents. The guy who'd save him all the purple freeze pops and buy him dolphin themed items to fuel Terry's lifelong love of the animal. That guy, the same one, had worked on some sort of bioweapon meant to kill people. Had apparently had a falling out with the project directors over that particular fact- because the body of Warren McGinnis was now lying in a cold coffin under the ground.

The realization left Terry nauseous. Nauseous, and angrier than he had ever been in his life. Angry enough to feel it in his whole body. In the tightness of his throat and the clench of his stomach, in the tense of his shoulders and the shaking of his fists, in the fact that he couldn't even think beyond the need to hit something right now.

So he did. Pillows were useful for more than sleeping, after all.

His outburst left him feeling marginally better, but it did clear his head enough to let him think. His first instinct was to go to his mom. Even though logically he knew she couldn't do a thing about this, he just wanted to feel better and for this all to go away. He wanted his mom to hug him and rub circles on his shoulders and tell him it was gonna be ok. But it wasn't ok, and this couldn't be fixed by a hug from his mom. His second thought took him to that old mansion on the seaside where a certain pod of mer lived. A pod that was currently investiating his dad's murder.

He was up in a flash, throwing on his jacket and bag, swiping up the file and putting it in a protective case before stuffing it in his pocket. He hadn't taken his phone out during dinner, so he gave a quick lie to his mom about leaving it at the research centre before rushing out the door and toward the rail station with a single minded determination. He had just made it to the final stop and was walking outside the sparsely populated station to the bus stop when a sleek hover-limo veered to a halt on the sidewalk in front of him- the window rolling down to reveal Derek Slagging Powers.

Terry froze. Dad had worked for Powers. Dad had worked on a weapon for Powers. Then dad had been attacked by Jokerz, but… there had been one little detail that had been bugging Terry for weeks about his dad's case. On that night, the door hadn't been broken down, it had been unlocked from the inside. Warren McGinnis always checked the peephole. Terry had assumed that the Jokerz that had followed him to Wayne's Bluff had somehow gotten a good enough look at his face to track him and come for his dad in retaliation, but that was before he'd found out about this.

Terry's blood ran cold. The evidence in his pocket was motive enough for murder, and he was staring his dad's old boss in the face.

Derek Powers smiled.

It was the fakest smile Terry had seen in his entire life.

"Hello, Terrence," said the man, "have you ever taken a ride in a limousine?"