Three Bruce
Robin yawned and cracked open the paper. Nana had started ordering them, and when the paper came in the morning, Robin or Raven would read them to her. The front page headline stopped him cold.
"Well?" Nana asked. "What's it say?"
"City Wonders At Hero Disappearance." Robin read. "For the past several weeks, whenever crime had called out to the Titans of Jump City, one new face has taken the place of two beloved and well-known figures. Speedy, reported member of the Titans East, apparently is filling the shoes of not only the Boy Wonder, but the dark sorceress Raven as well.
Though many theories, ranging from the sensible to the extreme, abound, many are simply curious as to the mysterious disappearance of Jump City's two most famous 'birds.'
One theory suggests that they have gone deep undercover to crack open a criminal ring. Another is that they have fallen in the line of duty. However, this author's favorite is that they have simply taken some vacation time to get to know each other better."
Raven had walked into the kitchen with Jasper. "Oh yes, that first one's likely." She said dryly. "How about the last one, Richard dear?"
"It's not funny, Raven. Why would they assume right off that we're dead?" Robin asked, pouting.
"Robin, please, you're as bad as Jasper." Raven said. She paused, considering. "No, Jasper's still more mature."
"That hurts, Raven." Robin pouted again. "That hurts a lot."
Raven walked into the living room later that day to find Robin sitting on the floor, laughing.
"What's wrong with you?"
Robin sat up, and wiped at his eyes. Smiling, he replied. "I must really be getting into this undercover babysitting. I was watching something on TV, and this bratty kid was acting up." Robin's smile turned into a grin. "I swear, Raven, this thought crossed my mind: My son Jasper would never act up like that."
Raven sat on the couch. "That sounds…really weird coming from you." She smiled. "But I know what you mean."
"Oh really?" Robin asked, arching an eyebrow. "How so?"
"When we were at the store, I actually said to Nana that 'my son is being nice and quiet.'" Raven said. She stopped speaking when she saw the look on robin's face. "What?"
"Raven, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to give Jasper up." Robin told his teammate. "I don't think I can."
"So what do we do?"
"We adopt him. You and me." Robin said.
"And just how would we do that?" Raven said, fighting to keep her composure.
Robin grinned, and moving fast enough Raven couldn't back away, he wrapped his arms around her waist, and bent down to kiss her.
The moment was ruined by Jasper's sudden insistent whine, and by Robin's communicator beeping. He slipped on his mask, and answered. "Whoever this is, this had better be damn important."
"Yeah, uh…" Cyborg's voice answered. "Batman just called."
"He wants to know where I'm at." Robin stated.
"Yeah, pretty much." Cyborg replied. "And, Dude, he is the scariest man on this planet."
"No, he's the scariest man in the universe." Robin corrected. "When he communicates again, tell him that I will make contact as soon as possible." Robin flipped off his communicator, and looked up when Raven walked into the room, shushing Jasper.
"Up for a road trip?" Robin asked.
"You'll be all right, Nana?" Raven asked as she secured the car seat. "We hate leaving you."
"Child, I've been living blind for nearly nineteen years now. I will be fine." Nana said, laughing. "You'll remember to bring that boy back around here, so I can say hello."
"We will, Nana." Robin said, shutting the trunk. Raven took Jasper from the old woman, who waved them off from her doorway.
"Okay." Robin said, moving down the road. "Everything's all set, the Titans know where we'll be…sort of. We've got all of Jasper's things?"
"Richard dear," Raven mocked. "We'll be fine. Now, how about you tell me where exactly we're going?"
"The Batcave." Robin said. He watched her reaction from the corner of his eye.
"So, I can stop pretending I don't know Bruce Wayne is Batman?" Raven asked, her sarcasm thicker than ever.
Robin was quiet for a few miles, then he asked a question. "Something's changed between us, hasn't it?"
"Yeah." Raven answered, not surprised in the least when Robin's hand took hold of hers.
"Raven, we're here." Robin said, waking Raven from a light nap. "Jasper's asleep, too." Raven saw a look in his eyes, and glanced out the front windshield at the small rusty car.
"Commissioner Gordon is here." Robin said. "He doesn't know, okay?"
"Sure thing, Richard." Raven said, opening her car door.
"Dick?" Gordon said, surprised as Alfred led the two titans into the study. "I'll be damned."
"Commissioner." Robin said, shaking hands. "This is my wife, Rachel, and my son, Jasper."
Bewildered, Gordon took Raven's hand, and gave Jasper the appropriate attention. He missed the look Bruce gave Robin. "Have we met, young lady? You seem familiar."
Raven smiled. "Afraid not, sir. I've never been to Gotham before today."
Gordon nodded, then turned to Bruce. "So, we'll see you at the Officer's Ball, then, Bruce?"
"Wouldn't miss it, Jim." Bruce answered. He walked with Gordon and Alfred out of the room. As soon as they were gone, Robin broke into a cold sweat.
"Oh, man. He's really, really mad."
"What?" Raven asked. "I didn't sense anything."
"Because this is Batman we're talking about." Robin said down. "He's dealt with more magic and insanity than the Titans ever had. Mumbo would be a joke to him."
"Its good to know I still impress you, Dick." Bruce said, walking back in with Alfred. "I assume this is Raven, and since she's here, she already knows everything." Bruce frowned. "The private study…now."
It took the better part of an hour, but Raven and Robin managed to convince Bruce that what they were telling him was the truth. (For her part, Raven had never imagined a normal human could be so intimidating.)
At last, Bruce sat back in his chair, thinking. "Do you still have the note found with the infant?"
"Its is the evidence ward at the Tower." Robin answered. Bruce waved him silent and looked at Raven.
"Miss, go with Alfred and find the old crib in the manor. I believe you know where it is, Alfred?"
"Yes, sir." Alfred escorted Raven up the stairs.
"How long has she known?" Bruce asked.
Robin swallowed, and told Bruce about the night he'd been gassed with Slade's hallucinogens.
"She's trustworthy. That's all I wanted to know." Bruce said. He suddenly smiled. "Then let's get started."
Robin frowned at Bruce's back. He would never, ever figure out the man.