I am sooo sorry that this has taken as long as it has! I am overjoyed that so many people liked this story. Like I have said before, Steph never gets the love she deserves so it's about high time.
As always, I own none of the rights to the characters as they belong to their original owners.
Please enjoy and let me know how I am doing!
Ages:
Alfred- Immortal
Bruce – 45
Barbara -27
Dick-24
Jason – 21
Cass- 20
Tim- 17
Damian- 12
Steph- 8
Steph sat outside under a large willow tree in the backyard of the grand Wayne estate facing the calming waters of the large pond. Surrounded in a small opening of a wooded area.
Fortunately, it was close enough to the manor that Alfred would let her wonder but far enough away for some privacy.
With her knees pulled up to her chest, she was able to carefully think over the latest information she acquired in the last few hours.
What Zatanna has said about this being a curse and permanent at that put knots in her stomach. What did this mean for her? Would she be kicked out? Forced to return to her parent and her shitty life? Never knowing where the next meal was coming from. Whether her dad was going to snap and take his anger out on her and her mom? If her mom would bolt and save her own skin?
But what other choice did she have? If they kicked, her out it was not like she had a lot of places willing to take her in. even with the constant supervision and orders of the bossy rich guy was better than being completely forgotten in Gotham's slums.
While racking her brain for solutions to alternative living places a new and insane idea entered her head. What if she could find this Zarius guy and get him to reverse it? Sure, Zatanna said he was dangerous but that was 95% of Gotham.
While contemplating ways to find him, a friendly voice called out from the trees behind her. Turning, Steph saw the oldest two boys' approach. Dick and Jason, she thought their names were.
"What're you doin blondie?" the taller boy (Jason?) asked with a mischievous smirk as he and the guy that never stopped smiling (ultimately making him Dick) approached.
"Nothing, just thinking." Steph returned to the earlier position of her head on knees and eyes focused on the calming water. Golden blonde hair framing her face.
Big brother sense going off, Dick plopped down next to her gracefully to rest in a crossed legged position like a child in class. The pure smile never leaving his face.
"What about?" glancing over, Steph could not resist, like many people she was sure, the power of the smile and those bright blue eyes. Something about them wanted her to just trust him. But even beyond that, there was something in the back of her mind telling her she could. That she knew him.
"I just…feel lost. Like everything is falling apart around me." She says with a dejected look. Even with their claims to have known her as an adult, she could just not see herself getting that comfortable with someone.
"That's understandable. You have been through a lot the last few weeks. It is hard for anyone." Dick defended with a sympathetic look. One that pissed Steph off but also gave her a warm, tingling feeling inside at someone noticing her distressed state.
"I guess." She hesitantly agreed
"Dickie's right kiddo," Jason affirmed before moving closer and leaning against the tree behind them. The smirk changing into a kind smile, getting a return smile. Something about the older boy appealed to her. Like he truly understood what she had gone through.
"Steph, we know it has been a huge adjustment and even harder with you not really remembering who we are. But we truly only want to help you." Pulling her attention back to him, she was greeted with that kind smile that proved how honest his words were. A feat that few in Gotham could accomplish. Steph let the return smile slid over her face as a result.
"Okay." Seeing the easing of her tension, Jason pushed off the tree and offered her a hand up.
"Great if we are done with this sappy love moment. We should be getting back. Alfie's bound to be worried by now." For some unknown reason, Steph realized she was far more relaxed than over an hour ago when she first ventured out. An occurrence that seems to happen whenever she was around the family for long periods of time. Maybe it was a coincidence, but a voice in her head was telling her that was a lie.
While she would never admit it. The two older boys had a playful yet protective that came across whenever she was around them. Almost like an older brother.
Steph could not help being drawn to them as she spent most of her days alone and afraid with no siblings to help fill the void. What would brothers and sisters have been like to have? Would they have gotten along like she did with the Wayne family, eh except Damian, or would they have left her too? Would they have protected her from her father?
Pushing the thoughts away, she accepted the offered hand with a small smile. Which was awarded with a hair ruffle from the older boy.
"Ah. Dude don't!" Steph laughed as she moved away both boys laughing.
As they made the short walk back, laughter filled the air as they pushed each other and joked.
The rest of the evening was uneventful as the family ate dinner and got ready for tonight. Cass was out of the country working with Barbra and the rest of the family had left to beat up scumbags.
After being denied the chance to at least listen into down in the Batcave, Steph was sent to bed, like a 5-year-old, where she tossed and turned for a good three hours.
Sitting up, there was no way she could just lay here while everyone else got to go after the guy who did this, it was her life he fucked up. Deciding then it was time to take things into her own hands.
Slowly opening the door, she looked both ways down the long hallway. When she was first given a room, she didn't miss the fact that they put her in the middle of everyone. That way if she tried to bolt someone would know. To her right was Damian's room with Bruce being a couple of doors down from him and Cass's was to her left. Directly across from her was Tim's room (which made her happy) with Jason's to his left and Dick's to his right.
Making her way out of the room and towards the grand staircase, she knew that she couldn't walk into this empty handed. What she needed was a way to defend herself, and possibly fight.
Quickly she found her way to the room with the marble statue head and pressed the nose in like she had seen Alfred do. Wanting to jump with cheer when it worked, and the wall moved to reveal a stone staircase leading into a dark abyss.
Wasting no more time, especially on how creepy going down there was by herself, she bolted down the stairs and quickly moved to the shadows. No was she got caught before leaving the house. Moving as quickly and quietly as possible, as she kept one eye on Alfred who was focused on the bat computer.
Having successfully moved past him undetected. Steph looked over the various weapons that lay on the table. There was a bat-shaped boomerang looking thing (sharp enough to cut her finger when she picked it up), some small orb looking things, and a pile of tiny pellets.
Not knowing what any of it really was, only that it had to be dangerous to be down here, she soundlessly put them in the bag. After swinging it onto her back she looked around to see Alfred where she found him. Just as quietly as she came down she tiptoed back up the stairs.
After the door slid back into place, the next step was to think of the perfect place to sneak out of. A family this wealthy and paranoid will surely have an extreme security system. The front and back doors were always a big no. the first level windows were probably just as bad as bad, which left only one logical option left. The bedroom windows. The second level was so high off the ground where they were probably never worried about someone unwanted coming in that way.
Rushing back up, she threw open the glass doors leading to her balcony. Counting her blessings that there was a large tree reaching right over to the railing. Smiling she hopped onto the railing's edge before making a small leap to the large branch.
Swiftly she made her way down before racing across the yard, which seemed bigger than she remembered. Upon approaching the edge of the property, a large metal, black gate came into view. Looking both ways there was no doubt in encompassed the entire estate.
This was another roadblock as sometimes people put security systems on their gates as well. With this family, it was always a probability.
But there was no way she was going back now.
Since it was slick and so tall she had to use all her upper arm strength to get her over. Panting, she landed on the other side with a victorious smile as she jogged to the city.
After finally making into the notorious city she headed to the last place she remembered, the bank. That was where Tim said he found her, so maybe that is where this guy did something.
As she walked, hands tight on the backpack straps. Steph couldn't help but focus on coming up with a plan for what she was going to do if she actually found this guy. Was he really that dangerous? Zatanna seemed worried when she mentioned him.
As she continued her pace, deep in thought, she didn't notice the three men whose attention she caught as the pointed and smirked over at a child wondering the city alone so late at night. It wasn't until the called out that she wanted to smack herself for being so careless.
"Hey, baby girl. Whatcha doing out here all alone?" the tallest guy with a greasy hair and undoubtedly the leader of these nimrods asked with a smile that was created by pedophiles. Steph tensed as they approached and the other two moved around behind her.
Having grown up around disgusting animals like this her whole life, she had a very good idea of what they wanted.
"I am not alone. I am meeting up with my family." Which was not a complete lie since moving in with the ragtag group, that had begun to worm their way into her heart. For one they cared about her far more than her parents ever did. Of course, the sleazeball seemed to see through her pathetic excuse.
"Really now? They just let such a beautiful girl like you walk around a city like this at this time of night?" Steph wanted to gag when he moved closer and the smell of serious BO filled her senses.
"Why don't you let us walk you the rest of the way. There are a lot of creeps running around Gotham."
'Yeah I am looking at one' Steph thought but instead, let the logical side of her brain prevail.
"Thanks, but I am good." She clarified as she hiked the bag higher and closer to her body when she felt one of the other creeps tugging at it. Starting to walk away, a hand grabbed her bag and yanked her backward.
"Oh, but baby we insist." Pervert dude said with that rapist smile.
Realizing that talking to these dumbasses was going to get her nowhere, she moved to plan B. with as much strength as she could muster she launched a punch right into the greasy asshole's nuts, yanked herself free and ran like a bat out of hell.
In the distance a faint "that bitch! Get her!" was heard over the wind rushing around her.
Not bothering to turn back, Steph pushed her legs to move faster and her lungs to take more air as she raced down the sidewalks. Unfortunately, the men had much longer legs and were quickly gaining on her.
Darting into an alleyway, hoping to lose them in the tight spaces, dread filled her as the on she placed her escape on was a dead end.
"Well girly looks like you ran all out of luck. You're gonna pay for that cheap shot." Whirling around, she took a step back for everyone they took forward.
"Didn't your mother ever tell that being a pedophile was wrong asshole." A deep voice from above called out before a man, a very tall, built one, dropped down in a soundless crouch before standing. Wearing a black bodysuit with a red helmet, a red bat symbol, and guns strapped to his side, he was one intimidating presence.
"Get lost freak. This is none of your business." The greasy pervert tried to keep the fear out of his voice but was not successful in doing so. While the vigilante was completely relaxed.
"Actually, dickwad the fact that you have some kid cornered in an alley makes it my business." The deadly voice answered as he shifted his footing and in a split second launched at the three criminals.
While standing with her back against the wall, Steph watched in amazement at how agile and dangerous this mystery man was. There was such power but control with every strike and decision.
Before she knew it, it was over. The three scumbags laid groaning on the ground as the vigilante pulled out one of his hand guns.
Steph pales as the realization of the situation overtook her. Flashbacks to when her dad would get particularly pissed off at people who he deemed incompetent or could not put his clue together.
Without thinking she rushed forward and grabbed the man's arm and pulled it away from where it was aimed at the criminal's heads'.
"No! Stop!" even if they were sick bastards. No one deserved to die in an alleyway and be forgotten like trash.
The red hooded vigilante turned his attention to her and it was hard not to be terrified with those non-blinking eyes staring into her. But no way was she just going to stand by and let a murder happen.
"You can't just go around shooting people." She lectured with a look of determination.
"They deserve this. They are not people. They are monsters." He stated in an eerily calm voice.
"Even still. If you go around shooting whoever you want then you are not better than they are." she all but pleaded. The last thing Gotham needed was another psychopath running around.
After what seemed like hours of intense silence, he finally holstered his gun. Steph sighed in relief, as he handcuffed the criminals and called the GCPD, had having surprisingly won that argument.
"Alright, kid lets go." Steph head snapped up at that.
"Go? Go where?'" As much as she appreciated the save, she had all the creepy guys she could handle for one night.
"To meet up with the boss man." Steph paled. How could they have found her already? The man laughed at her expression.
"Did you really think we wouldn't plan for you sneaking out? Agent A let us know as soon as the security system around the gate was tripped." He explained as an embarrassed blush overtook her face. Looking up through her lashes she asked.
"How pissed is he?" No explanation needed for who he was.
"On a scale of one to ten, I would say 11." Dread filled her at his honest answer. Soon followed by fear at what he would do. Sure, she could run but how far would she get with ninja boy following her. Seeming to sense her distress the man reached out to place a hand on her head.
"Look, kid, he may be mad but something you should know about the Bat is he only gets this way when worried about one of his kids." A warm feeling filled her heart at being considered one of Batman's kids. The fact that there was someone out there they cared for her filled her with a whole new feeling.
"But I am not one of his kids." She whispered refusing to make eye contact. This only resulted in a hair ruffle from the kind but dangerous stranger.
"You are good as." Eyes widening, Steph used all her willpower to not let the tears that were begging to be freed flow down her face. Instead offering only a small nod. Luckily he cut off any need for more conversation on the matter.
"So, like I said we should get going. I already told them we are coming. If we take too long they will track us down here." Steph nodded again as he took out his grappling gun and reached down to scoop her up. Holding her under her legs and she automatically wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Hold on tight kid." With that, they took off into the night sky. As they soared Steph could not stop the smile the overtook her face or the laughter that left her body. Most people probably would have been terrified, but for her, it was a freeing experience. A short time where nothing could touch her, and it seemed like anything was possible.
All too soon they landed on the top of the GCPD building next to the bat symbol. As the vigilante put her down she could help but let out a final giggle.
"Do it again." This earned a chuckle from the man as he once again ruffled her hair. As she came down from her adrenaline high she noticed four figures come out of the shadows. One was obviously Batman and his partner Robin both with matching scowls. While the other two, Red Robin and Nightwing she thought, came into the night light with unreadable faces. Going based off body type and personality it was easier to put faces to the vigilantes with them all standing together. Quite proud of herself for putting the pieces together.
Not that it mattered when she sensed the anger and worry in the air, all previous happiness left her. Before she could even contemplate bolting, Red hood pushed her closer to the other vigilantes which were the last thing she wanted to do especially with how pissed they looked. While Robin looked more annoyed at having to stop patrol for this than anything. So at least that was one less person to worry about.
Once with reaching distance Nightwing rushed over to check her for injuries. Incapable of turning off his overprotective brother mode for even a moment.
"Are you alright?" Unable to keep the worry out of his voice as he searched her head and scanned her body.
"I'm fine." She clarified as she pushed his hands away and took half a step back. Unsure how to react to all the attention and concern radiating from the man.
"If you call almost getting grabbed by some pedophiles okay than sure." She could hear the sarcasm in his voice and undoubtedly the rolling of his eyes as she turned to glare at the older male at having ratted her out. At hearing this she gains even more attention as Red Robin and Nightwing postures grew tenser. Batman and Red hood growing angrier, if that was possible, and even Robin flashed a worried look her way for a second.
"Seriously guys I am fine. Hood showed up at just the right time." Trying to appease the immense overprotect aura that was exuding from the men around her.
"You should not have been out here, to begin with." Came the deep growl of the Bat as he moved closer.
"Well of you had kept me in the loop from the beginning, I wouldn't have had to sneak into the city for answers." Steph offered as she took an irritated stance in front of the Batman. Someone that made most criminals pee their pants with just a look.
"You had no need to know because there was nothing you could do." Someone the growl deepened even more to one that screamed 'submit to my rules and that I am the boss' which made her want to laugh as she didn't submit to anyone.
"Says you asshole! This is my life that this guy fucked up." Steph all but screamed back as she wanted nothing more than to punch this jerk in the face. Of course, this had been the wrong thing to say as the look on his face instantly darkened. Had she not been so stubborn she would have been terrified right now. After a few seconds of him staring into her soul, he motioned to the others on the roof.
"Leave us." Her stomach dropped at the thought of being left alone with such an intimidating person.
"B-." Nightwing started.
"Now. Go finish patrol. See if you can find anything else about this Zarius." Batman ordered as he broke eye contact and switched it to the younger vigilante, so they could see how serious he was. With a sigh, Nightwing cast her a sympathetic smile before flipping of the edge and disappearing into the night. Robin 'Tt' as he followed suit. With Red Robin and Red hood going in an opposite direction.
Now that they were alone, Steph's courage was quickly leaving her. It was always easier to be brave in front of others to prove a point. But when the only audience you had was yourself it suddenly became much harder.
"When I tell you to stay put I mean it." The comment pulling her attention away from the night sky and back to the other occupant on the roof.
"This may surprise you big man but I am not a dog to be ordered around."
"Have you ever been treated as such? You are treated like a child who should be listening."
"And who pray tell should I be listening too? My deadbeat parents or you?" Steph scoffed at both options. One thing she has learned in her short, long? life is that adults can not be trusted. That they will use you and abuse you until they don't need you anymore.
"Yes. When you are in my care my word is how things are going to be. If you cannot there will be consequences." Batman stated with concrete conviction.
"Well if I am such as a headache for you, why don't you give me back to my parent? One less problem for you to deal with!" While the last thing she wanted was to see her father again, anything was better than being treated like a servant by this rich ass hole.
As soon as the comment left her mouth for a split second there was a look of grief on his face before the shields went back up. Why would he be sad about her parents? Did something happen to them? A feeling like ice water flowed through her at the thought of something happening. While they tended to be shitty parents, they were her shitty parents.
"What? What is it?" When he didn't answer she grew even more irritated. But in reality, it was more from not knowing something about her family that was causing the unease.
"For once can you just not be so secretive and tell me the truth! Did something happen to my parents?" Steph demanded as the feeling of alarm grew. Sighing he allowed the sympathetic look to come out.
"Stephanie. Your parents passed away over two years ago." And just like that, her stomach fell to her feet at the news.
"What." Seeing her freeze. The feeling of ice-cold water flowed through her veins; her parents were dead? the only people she had left in the world had truly left her behind in the worst way. She all alone.
With those thoughts, the tears that she didn't know were being held back freely flowed as she fell to her knees. Without realizing it the Bat had moved closer to give her comfort with his presence.
"They left me all alone." She sobbed as she looked up with tears pouring out of her sapphire blue eyes. Not caring how weak she looked, she continued to cry her heart out. From not only the loss of her parents but also all the pain they had caused her over the years.
"You are not alone." Looking up Batman was right in front of her staring with his cowl pushed down. Amazed that he would take such a risk for her. But what shocked her more was that it was not Batman or Brucie looking at her but Bruce Wayne, fellow orphan. Showing that at his very core he knew the pain she was going through.
"Y-you p-promise." She managed to get out between hiccups.
"I swear." He confidently responded as he brought a Kevlar gloved hand to wipe away some of her tears. That action was the last thing that truly broke her as she launched herself at him and gripped him tightly. Like a lifeline. In turn, he wrapped those powerful arms around her and never in her life has she felt safer.
Yay! Finally, an update!
I tried to make this one longer to make up for the lack of other ones. I hope you enjoy.
If you guys ever have ideas on how it should go, please let me know. I promise I don't bite. Unless you're into that kind of thing. haha