Four: Chirp

"We've got a problem, B."

Lowering his newspaper a bit, Bruce looked up from an article about the opening of an exhibition of Egyptian antiquities that focused primarily on the goddess Bast (he made a mental note to be sure to attend since he knew it would be too good of an opportunity for cat-lover to pass up) and saw Dick hurrying into the kitchen. He was frowning as he adjusted his hold on a squirming Damian, who was pushing at his arms for Dick to release him. Dick was ignoring him, apparently favoring speed over Damian's wishes to toddle to breakfast on his own. Not that Dick usually did let the child do so. He loved to carry him more than just about anything.

"Gway, down," Damian demanded but to no avail.

Jason glanced up from his cereal as Alfred placed a fresh glass of orange in front of Tim. Tim carefully wrapped both hands around the glass and began to drink while they waited for Dick to continue.

"What is it, Dick?"

"Damian's learned a new word," he replied as he shifted him around to keep a hold of him.

Bruce turned a frown to Jason just as Alfred's eyes narrowed on the boy as well. His spoon clattered loudly against the table as he sat up straighter and looked between Alfred and himself.

"I didn't do anything," Jason snapped.

Rolling his eyes, Dick said, "Not that kind of word."

Jason sank down into his chair and glared at his cereal bowl. "Told you."

Ignoring him, Dick said, "Watch."

He turned Damian around so that he could see everyone in the room. Bruce knew what Dick was about to do before he even began. It was a favorite game of his to help Damian learn how to speak and what things were called. Alfred had been the one to suggest it after they realized the Talia, or at least the women she left him in the care of, hadn't bothered to teach him any English just yet. As young as Damian was, changing his primary language to English wasn't much of a challenge, since he had only begun to speak a few months prior to his coming to live in Gotham.

"Damian," Dick said before pointing to himself, "who am I?"

"Gway," Damian replied before glaring at him. "Down."

"In a minute," Dick said. He then pointed over to Jason who was now rather bored by the whole thing since whatever word Damian had learned didn't come from him. "And that's?"

"Todd."

Jason's last name was one of the few words that Damian could say clearly and correctly, which was a source of pride for Jason for awhile and misery from Dick. However, two-syllable words were still beyond Damian right now, and he refused to call anyone but by their last name.

It was something else that Bruce needed to ask Zatanna about.

Dick slid his finger over to Tim. "And who's that?"

Damian's eyes narrowed a little. "Dwake."

Tim frowned back in return and asked, "Why does he only call us by our last names?"

Jason shrugged. "Because he's the demon spawn."

"Jason," Bruce said.

"What?"

Ignoring them, Dick turned towards Alfred and asked, "And that's?"

"Enny."

Finally, Dick pointed towards him. Bruce held in a sigh as he prepared for Damian to call him "B" yet again. All of them had tried on several times to get Damian to refer to him by "Dad" or "Daddy" or even "Dada", but he would have none of it. Much like the boys being referred to by their last names, he had become use to it.

This time, however, Dick gave Bruce a look before asking, "And who's that?"

Jason rolled his eyes. "Come on. You know he's just going to say – "

"Batman."

Silence fell over the table as all them stared at Damian, who had gone back to trying to get out Dick's arms.

Dick was right. This was a problem.

"Huh, first big word," Jason said. "That one going in your scrapbook, Grayson?"

AN: Just a silly little thing. Wanted to tell you guys I'm taking prompts for this. If anyone is interested, just let me know.