Disclaimer: If I own DC Comics, Warner Bros., or Cartoon Network I'll be freaking rich. But nah.

A/N: I am truly blessed to have a friend who willingly uploads this for me T_T Btw, he said he kinda pity you because I'm such a pathetic writer and I keep leaving you hanging. Well sorry *insert glaring- pouty face directed at him* Anyway here it is!


Chapter 4: Voice of an Angel

5 months later after the previous chapter…

Bruce was typically not someone who blames someone for something. But this? He got nothing to blame but Alfred and Lucius- and blames them he does.

Right now, they're in a limousine going to the park where a charity concert (sponsored by Wayne Enterprises and Gotham's City Government) was being held. Sure, those kinds of events were typical to Bruce; he goes to different kinds of events as long as it's for a good cause. But that doesn't mean he likes it- especially when he needs to wear a monkey suit, especially now that Richard is with him.

In Bruce's opinion he wouldn't bring Richard with him at all, nor would he let Richard leave the mansion until he's 30 - the reporters and the public be damned. But no, he has to bring him for the public and the reporters! Alfred and Lucius had been pestering him about this since last week, saying that the public needs- no, dying- to see Richard (they could die in their curiosity for all Bruce care) and if he wants to avoid rumors spreading then he has to satiate their curiosity. It doesn't help that since Richard live with them he attends less and less parties (he still donates thou) and that there is no single public appearance with the two of them together anymore after the first time he introduce Dick to the world and the various interviews he accepted almost half a year ago.

This will be the first time in months.

Bruce sighed silently. Deep down, he knows that Alfred and Lucius are right; it is time for Richard to be shown in public whether he likes it or not.

And no he's not nervous; not at all- never mind that he keeps glancing outside the windows, keen eyes searching every corner of possible attack of rabid reporters or fans, his body tense as he held Richard on his lap, bringing him closer to him tightly, his-

"OW! Daddy you're squishing me!"

Bruce started and looked down at Dick, who was looking at him with a half-annoyed, half- amused expression on his adorable face adorned with a slight pout.

"Can you let go of me a little bit?" Dick asked, his voice muffled slightly by Bruce's muscular arms. Bruce grinned a bit sheepishly and loosens his arms around his baby bird (just a teeny tiny bit), enough so that Richard can cross his arms and glared lightly at him.

"I can't play my toys if you keep squishing me!" Dick pouted cutely. "And now they've fallen to the floor."

Chuckling to himself, Bruce bent down (as much as he can with Dick in his lap) and picked up the fallen toys- a toy version of the Batmobile and the Batplane he himself created just for Dick. And since he's an overprotective DaddyBats, the toys serve another purpose. The Batmobile serves as an alert if ever someone broke to Dick's room again and the Batplane serves as a first line of protection and defense; it can shoot darts with a sleeping potion and release a smoke screen. Even the Bat plushie got a camera installed in it.

"Here you go, chum." Bruce said, handing Dick his toys. Dick's face brightened up instantly and accepted his toys happily.

"Thank you." Dick chirped and proceeded to make car and plane noises while he played. Bruce watched him for a moment before returning to his previous activities, it didn't last long before Dick interrupted him.

"Nobody is gonna attack us Daddy, stop worrying. We're in a car."

"Yes, baby bird, but this is Gotham, you'll never know."

"I think what the Young Master wants to say is that nobody can attack us seeing as the limousine is bullet proof and missile proof and I'm currently driving as fast as I can. I don't see either how can a mob of reporters or fans can attack us." Alfred commented from the front.

"Exactly." Dick nodded eagerly.

"But I'm afraid you can't stop worrying now Master Bruce, we have arrived." Alfred said as he pulled up at the park's entrance. "I'll be back whenever you wish to go home."

Dick openly gaped at the park through the dark windows, it's HUGE! He's practically bouncing now in excitement, after all this is his first time outside the manor's grounds ever since…well pretty much since his Daddy brought him to Gotham. Sure, the manor is big and he got lots of places to run and discover to; but sometimes he missed the sea breeze and the smell of the sea in the wind whenever he run around. Maybe he could convince his Daddy to visit the Amazon Island soon?

His sparkling baby blue eyes took in the view, a huge grin on his face until he caught sight of the reporters and the fans rushing towards their car. His grin vanished and he clutched to Bruce tightly, he flinched every time someone's camera flash got through the dark tinted windows. In response, Bruce held him more tightly and moved over to him in a protective manner.

"Now Dick, remember what I said before we leave the manor?" Bruce asked him, slowly inching towards the door. Outside, the security guards are ushering everyone to the sidelines and are forming a protective line from the car's door to the park's gate.

Dick gripped Bruce's suit more tightly before answering. "Never go anywhere three feet away from you. Never leave your side. Never talk to strangers. Never answer the reporter's questions. Never take off my locket. Squeeze your hand if I'm uncomfortable. Never eat anything that has sugar on it."

Bruce nodded and frowned slightly at the last statement; that was probably Alfred's rule not that he has anything against it. "The locket serves as your tracker just in case we ever got separated. If ever that happen and it was taken away from you that's okay you got a sub dermal tracker implanted in you, remember? Just don't panic and don't mention it to anyone and remember that no matter what happens I'll come after you, okay? That's a promise." Bruce run his hand through Dick's hair and kissed him softly on his forehead. "Not that I would ever let anyone take you away from me." Unless they want to be put in a body cast for years.

Dick nodded and Bruce squeezed him briefly before reaching for the door's handle. "Take some rest Alfred."

"Have a good time, sirs."

Brilliant camera flashes greeted them as Bruce stepped out of the limo; Dick clutched tightly to his chest. Some security guards flanked them protectively and guided them among the throng while the others hold off the mob. They walked quickly; translation: like a football player running across the field until they reached the concert grounds. They all breathed a sigh of relief until more reporters came out of nowhere and scrambled to get to them. The guards quickly push Bruce and Dick through the entrance and shut the gates just in time the first reporter broke through.


"Darn it! They escaped!" Lois Lane screeched. "I was so close!"

Jimmy Olsen, photographer and cub reporter from the Daily Planet, merely raised an eyebrow at his co-worker. He watched amused as Lois stomped her heeled feet on the grass and started to pace while muttering out a few colorful string of curses.

"You know if CK was here, he'll probably be puking right now on the nearby bush because of your language," He finally commented because they were starting to get odd looks from anyone passing by and Lois was making him quiet dizzy with her pacing, "and then he'll give you a soap to wash your mouth with." She stopped much to his relief, but then she whirled on him.

"If Smallville was here we'll probably get that before- concert interview we want with Bruce Wayne! And didn't you see him run through? He was with his son! This will be the first time Richard is seen in public again with him! We have to get that scoop or at least a picture of those two together!" Lois hissed in his face.

Jimmy backed away a step from her, the hand that wasn't holding the camera rose up in a surrendering gesture. "Okay, okay, calm down feisty woman." He brought his hand down and adjusted the lens of his camera. "First of all, if CK was here we'll probably be still stuck in that throng when Bruce Wayne passed by, he isn't exactly known for shoving people out of his way, you know, unlike you." Lois winced and nodded, accepting his point. "And second, why are you rushing anyway, we got a pass remember? And an exclusive interview lined up with Bruce Wayne." He said and hangs his camera on his neck, finally satisfied with its lenses. "Seriously there's no need to rush."

Lois scoffed at him. "But that wasn't until the concert's break! And they wouldn't let us in until its 30 minutes before the concert started! We wouldn't be able to scoop anything interesting during those times! We'll only get the concert and Bruce Wayne's interview!" Besides, that exclusive interview is scheduled tomorrow afternoon, Lois grumbles in her mind. She remembered the day that she and Smallville went here to Gotham to have an interview with Mr. Wayne−only for her to get dragged out of the building and have a scheduled interview with him only after 5 months from that day; which is tomorrow, because apparently that's the only free time Mr. Wayne have. Unbelievable.

"Isn't that's the goal?" He asked scratching the back of his head.

"Of course not!" Lois said indignantly. "We should be able to get something like Bruce Wayne and the mayor's interaction at the back stage or even his interaction with his sonor maybe even better some juicy gossip about Gotham's socialites or the gold itself, something about Batman."

"Oh."

"Yes, oh," Lois huffed. "Seriously you're starting to sound and act like Smallville, you must be hanging around him too much and it's−" Lois stopped and turns to Jimmy with a sly smirk. "You are starting to sound and act like Smallville!"

Jimmy only shrugs his shoulders at her and murmured to himself. "At least, I'm not starting to sound and act likes you."

"What was that?!" Lois asked sharply, her eyes narrowed suspiciously at him.

Jimmy gulped and pointed at something at her back. "Oh look! They're letting the reporters in now! Come on, let's go!" And rushed towards the gate. He couldn't help but think that what a bad timing it is for CK to go and visit his parents...

Lois followed him with her gaze, eyes still narrowed dangerously. Then she sighed and looks up at the sunset sky; now bordering the dark night sky. Where is Smallville anyway, isn't he supposed to be around here right now…she looks back towards the ground and strode after her co-worker. Well, better see what this Bruce Wayne is made of and see if the rumors on him are true or not, and find out who is Richard Thomas Wayne really is.


"20 minutes before the concert starts! Hurry up everyone!" the Director of the event shouts using a megaphone making everyone near him cringe. "YOU! I told you to put that back! YOU! Check the status of the host and the performers in the trailer outside! And YOU! What do you think you're doing with that Batman costume!? Why on bloody earth are you removing it?! I told you to put that on didn't I?!"

"But it's so stuffy." Whined a skinny man in a- lo and behold- a BULKY Batman costume.

"I DON'T CARE!" yelled the Director back at him. "Put that on RIGHT NOW!"

Bruce, who was standing nearby, winced when he saw the Batman costume. It was horrible. It was an obviously cheap and a half- hearted attempt to imitate his costume. Rare people saw his costume anyway so he really couldn't blame them but… For what do they need a Batman costume for anyway? Bruce thought confusedly.

On the other hand, Dick was obviously having a great time, it's the first time he has seen so many people around him. He keeps giggling cutely at the rush around him that every so often a few workers would stop what they're doing and gush over him until the director shouts at them to get back to work so he himself can spent some time with the cute little boy. Honestly, they can't help it, the boy was just simply too adorable not to notice, plus the boy's presence helps alleviate some of their stress. Bruce knew what they're feeling all too well so he lets them, as long as they don't make his baby bird uncomfortable.

"Someone's having a good time." A female voice said and Bruce turned around to see Mayor Marion Grange (1) walking towards him.

"Mayor Grange, it's always a pleasure to see you." Bruce said with a charming smile on his face that turns into a smirk. "Got kicked into the backstage too?"

Mayor Grange rolled her eyes muttering something about "rabid press." "So do you."

Bruce shrugged and replied, "It's quite alright since we are meant to be in the backstage. We aren't supposed to be in the front until the host introduces us."

The mayor finally stopped in front of him and raised one delicate eyebrow. "The host- the reporter- Vicki Vale," her tone clearly implying that she's aware of the rumors surrounding the stunning reporter and him. "Seriously Bruce, when are you going to drop your playboy act?" She leans closer to him and whispered exasperatedly. "We both know that among the hundreds of girls you've brought as your dates you only slept with three of them... and that's before you got Richard."

Bruce copied her and raised an arched brow too. "Hundreds is an exaggeration, Mare." (2)

Mayor Grange or Mare rolls her eyes and swatted him playfully. "Do not ignore my question. You can't keep acting forever you know."

Bruce was about to reply that yes, he can just to tease her when Dick came barreling to the back of his legs squealing with laughter. Bruce turns and looks down at his baby boy's flushed face, baby blue eyes sparkling like diamonds, his naturally messy hair looks messier than usual but still looks like it's styled to be that way and a huge contagious grin across his face as he clutched one of his muscular legs.

"Daddy! Barbara's chasing me! − Oh, hello Aunt Mare! − UP! UP! UP!" Dick said excitedly and a little breathless as he bounced up and down a little, while still latched to Bruce's leg. Bruce smirks down at him and scoops him up into his arms easily. As he straightened, a red headed girl came running around the corner and flipped gracefully over some worker who was fixing his shoelaces and landed in front of him like nothing just happened.

"Hi again, Mr. Wayne." Barbara Gordon beamed. Her face was more flushed than Dick's, but she isn't out of breath like Dick was, her bright blue eyes held the same spark in Dick's eyes and her brilliant red hair that had been in an elaborate ponytail earlier had fallen into disarray. She turns to Dick with a mock pout and whined. "Hey, I said no going to Mr. Wayne."

Dick stuck his tongue at her, giggled and laid his head on Bruce's left shoulder; his eyes drooping slightly. "Uh-oh somebody's already tired. Sure you can make it through the night, chum?" Bruce murmured playfully. Dick nodded furiously, but then an adorable yawn escaped his mouth and continued nodding.

Bruce frowned slightly; worried. "I thought you were only playing tag inside the backstage. Did you go out too?" Bruce asked Barbara.

Barbara was two years older than Dick and they only met over half an hour ago. She and Dick instantly clicked especially when she told Dick that she does gymnastics. They had been playing together ever since but Bruce never let them out of his sight. Barbara obviously got fed up with this and decided to teach Dick the ultimate weapon ever known against overprotective fathers: The deadly puppy dog eyes. Needless to say it worked and Bruce finally let them play around as long as they follow his conditions and they scampered off mere minutes before the mayor came to him.

Barbara shook her head and straightened her stance. With a voice like she's reporting to her military leader, she said, "No sir, we didn't. We followed your orders. We stayed inside the backstage. We didn't break anything although we ran some things over. We didn't shoved or disturbed any people working, we kinda flipped over some thou. We didn't talk to any strangers. And we didn't cause as much havoc as you expect."

To Bruce's side, Mayor Grange covered her mouth with a hand as she tried to stifle some laughter. Bruce slightly glared at her before deciding to introduce her to the kid. "Barbara, this is Gotham City's mayor, Mayor Marion Grange. Mayor, this is Barbara and Dick."

"Hi!" Barbara chirped brightly. "My name's Barbara Gordon and I just turned eight yesterday! Oh! Thanks for the gift Mr. Wayne!" Bruce nodded happily at her.

"Hello Barbara, congratulations on your turning of age." Mayor Grange said warmly. "I'm Mayor Marion Grange, but you can just call me Mare. Are you, perhaps, the commissioner's daughter?"

"The one and only~!" Barbara said proudly, lightly puffing her chest out. "Can I refer to you as an Aunt?"

"That's fine, I like that." Mare's smile broadened but then frowned slightly. "So where's your Daddy Barbara? I don't see him around."

Barbara rolled her eyes. "Daddy will be late. He said he has some important things to do at his office first."

Translation: He has some intern's mistake to correct to. "Oh? Well he'd better hurry up, the concert's about to start." She winked at her and Barbara retuned it with a giggle. Mare turned to Bruce and Dick only to be greeted by such a heart- melting sight. She heard Barbara released a soft "aww" besides her.

The little boy was fast asleep in his father's arms. He was facing them so they can perfectly see his angelic face; messy beautiful black hair framing his face perfectly, long naturally curled lashes lightly touching his rosy cheeks, his pert nose slightly flushed with color, and pinkish lips opened slightly letting out soft snores. His little hands gripped his father's suit tightly, but miraculously, it didn't cause any wrinkles (Alfred's work). The father himself was a sight to behold. There was no denying the well- known fact that Bruce Wayne is devilishly handsome and can pull in every women (and men) with just his smile. And right now, seeing him holding and rocking his son gently in his muscular arms with a serene and loving expression in his face, his head bent slightly near his son's ear, his gorgeous navy blue eyes peeking through his half- lidded eyes and his own beautiful long lashes lightly touching his own cheeks as he sings a lullaby in Romani in that beautiful baritone voice of his that seems to reach deep within your soul is absolutely...breathtaking.

Some workers noticed the mayor and the girl staring entranced at something and decided to look for themselves what's the matter. It only took a second for them to get enchanted at the sight before them too. Soon, more and more people noticed and a hush filled the whole backstage as they were captivated by the scene and by Bruce's unearthly melodious voice that was now filling the whole place. Everyone feels like they were being sung by an angel, and were looking at said angel with another angel in his arms.

It was truly an amazing sight. It was…it was just…it was just TOO MUCH!

Now where was that spotlight?


"Umm, Lois," Jimmy started nervously, afraid of angering the woman who is grinning mischievously as she walks ahead of him, "are you sure that this is the right thing to do?"

Lois stopped, slowly turned towards him and scoffed. "Technically, this isn't the right to do…" she smirks at him, "But this is what we have to do."

Jimmy groans. "Can't we just wait until the concert finishes up so we could have those long awaited interviews?"

"I told you I'm not satisfied with just those boring, probably scripted on both parties interview," Lois said as she quietly walks on again, moving silently and cautiously like a spy on a mission, "I want some juicy scoop."

"But that sounds like Cat's job," Jimmy whines.

Suddenly, they both felt their surrounding's change as they went deeper into the backstage area. It was unnaturally quiet, but not creepily so, almost like something important or reverent is happening close by. It wasn't long before both reporters heard a singing voice carried by the wind…and damn, was it beautiful.

Both Jimmy and Lois froze; heads and ears tilting to the direction of the captivating voice. It sounds like the voice is singing a lullaby in an unfamiliar language, but it still manage to tug at their heartstrings and was touching enough to bring tears in their eyes. Jimmy and Lois unconsciously closed their eyes, relishing the wonderful voice that feels like heaven.

"Hey, what are you two doing here?!"

Startled, both reporters jumped at the voice, the spell of the enchanting voice that was cast upon them was broken as a burly guard marched towards them.

"Oh!" Lois smiles sweetly at the approaching guard. "Perfect timing! We're both looking for the bathrooms; can you kindly tell us where it is? We kinda got lost."

The guard stopped in front of them and eyed them suspiciously, his gaze lingering on their press ids, but Lois kept smiling at him innocently that he finally gave up with a heavy sigh. "Follow me."

The reporters let out a sigh of relief silently and followed the guard.

Looks like we can't scoop around after all, Lois thought sadly. Still, I wonder whose that voice is…


As Bruce brings the song to an end, he finally noticed that the place had gone unnaturally quiet and an uncomfortable amount of eyes are boring into them. He finished the song quickly and looks up; he was greeted by some slaw jacked and some wide, teary eyed people who were staring at him like he just did something miraculous. Bruce stared back at them.

After 3 seconds of complete silence, the whole place bursts into applause and cheers, some burst out crying because it was 'truly beautiful' and Bruce jumped slightly when multiple thumps! were heard. Three people had fainted; including the director. While the crew looks like they were having their own concert right now, Bruce could only looked around confusedly wondering what on earth was happening. He turned to the mayor and Barbara for help and found that they were both beaming proudly at him.

"If only you're not a billionaire Bruce," Mare said, shaking her head, "you could be an actor, a model and a singer."

"YES! That was truly amazing Mr. Wayne!" Barbara said happily, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Bruce expression turned from confused to realization and to embarrassment within a second. He blushed deeply and swallowed lightly causing the two girls to burst out laughing. The doors suddenly barge open and everyone quickly fell silent as a huge man made his way inside.

"Whew! Glad I made it in time! Hey Barb-what's going on here?" Commissioner Jimmy Gordon was clearly out of breath as he entered the backstage, his face flushed a deep red and his hair's a mess as he stared confusedly at everyone who was staring back at him. "What? I'm not late am I?" he looks at his watch and grinned proudly. "I got 1 minute and seven seconds left."

At the mention of the time, everyone burst into chaos, scrambling to get the last minute touches done and rousing up the director and the others. This caused his daughter to laugh harder and he could only stare at her wide- eyed; he scratched the back of his head making his hair even more messier. A passing make- up artist caught sight of the state the family was in and screeched.

"You two look like a mess!" She hissed as she grabbed hold of the father and daughter and starts to drag them away. "You cannot go out there looking like that!"

Gordon, in his confusion goes without a protest unlike his daughter, but as he passed Bruce he couldn't help but ask him. "Seriously, what's going on?"

Bruce could only look at him helplessly.

Barbara suddenly piped in, "Daddy why can't you sing like Mr. Wayne does?!"


A/N: Yehey! More chapters! Oh, and here's the footnotes:

1) Mayor Marion Grange is the only Mayor of Gotham City that I actually like. So there she is! Although in some she's a male.

2) Mare is just a nickname I've created for her because it's kinda tiring if I kept calling her Mayor Marion or Mayor Grange or even the Mayor of Gotham City or just simply Mayor. Plus, it's a reference to one of the most badass novel heroines of all times~ if you know what I mean xD. (Honestly, nobody has guessed who the heroine I'm talking about till now is. If you know who she is− without searching in Google− why won't you go and take a guess? xD)

Replies:

lunatex65noestoyloca: Umm… are you glad that this chapter is uploaded immediately? xD And sorry, thank you and please do continue to read my story~ ! ;)

wildtrance: Honestly, I don't even know why I keep trying to suspense you guys, haha. I seriously think the summary and the characters I provided are already a HUGE spoiler. HAHA.