Batman
"My Three Sons: Batman Style"
Summary: Bruce tackles raising three sons: Dick, Jason, and Tim.
Author's Note(s): For the purpose of this story: 1) Jason Todd did not die. He, like his older brother Dick, outgrew the Robin persona and created his own: Talon. His costume is black, except for three red slashes across his chest. 2) Dick is eighteen, Jason is fifteen, and Tim is twelve. 3) Barbara didn't become Oracle, was never shot, and chose to make herself into a new crime fighter called Kestrel. 4) Cassie Cain lives with Babs and Commisioner Gordon rather than Bruce. She's Batgirl. 5) The two girls are the same age as Dick and Tim.
Warning: This story will contain the corporal punishment of teenagers—even an eighteen year old—and adolescents. If this bothers you, DO NOT READ OR REVIEW THIS STORY. YOU HAVE BEEN PROPERLY WARNED!!
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I just wrote this story for the fun of it.
Chapter 6: Busted
The rave was in full swing.
"Are you sure you should be here, Roy?" Dick asked his best friend and fellow crime fighter, Roy Harper (the adopted son of Oliver Queen, a.k.a. Green Arrow). "I mean, you know there's bound to be drugs…"
"C'mon on, man," Roy exclaimed, clapping him on the back, "don't start in on me. It's been a tough week and I want to relax. You're starting to sound like my old man, worse even, your old man!"
Dick winced. That was pretty bad, but he couldn't help it. Ever since he'd found out, at fourteen, that Roy was addicted to drugs he'd been super over protective of the guy. "Sorry, man," he apologized. "Let's just have a good time."
Roy smiled brightly. "There's the ticket," he said, laughing. "Besides, I had to come. It's not every day that the Monk wants to sneak out. I just had to see that."
"The Monk" was Roy's pet name for his younger brother, Connor Hawke, the biological son of his adopted father who had—until a year or so ago—been raised in a Tibetan monastery. Since being found by his father, the fifteen year old had become a crime fighter in his own right, fighting along side his dad and brother. He also had become best friends with Dick's own younger brother, Jason—which had taken them all by surprise. Connor, usually, was the soul of virtue of honesty and obedience, while Jason lived for secrets and disobedience. It certainly proved true that opposites were drawn to each other.
"I still can't believe Jason lied to the old man," Dick said, shaking his head at his brother's stupidity. "If Bruce finds out, man, I'd hate to be little bro then."
Roy smirked. "Didn't you lie to the Bat, too?" he asked, smugly. "You don't sound nearly as worried about yourself."
Dick snorted. "Get real, Roy," he said, rolling his eyes. "I'm eighteen, after all. What can he do to me?"
Roy looked at him as if he had lost his mind. "This is the Bat we're talking about, man," he exclaimed. "I'm more afraid of him than I am Ollie—and that's saying a lot because Ollie is plenty scary. Your old man makes harden criminals, men who'd sooner kill someone than look at them, whimpering like beaten dogs just from a glance! And you're asking me what he could do to you?"
Dick glared at him, annoyed. "It doesn't matter anyway," he grumbled, sourly. "He's not going to find out, so let's just find our brothers and enjoy the rave." He turned and waded into the crowd.
Roy chuckled. "Sure you're not scared," he said, sarcastically to himself. He then followed after his friend.
They found their younger brothers beside the drink table, obviously about to take a sip of something that looked suspiciously like beer. "Hold it," Dick exclaimed, snatching the cup out of Jason's hands just as he was about to bring it to his lips. "I don't think so!"
Jason glared at him. "C'mon on, Dick," he said, glaring. "It's just beer!"
"And you're just fifteen, Jason," Dick said. "It's illegal."
Jason snorted. "It's illegal for you too," he reminded him, "and I'd bet Dad would just love to know you and Roy go bar hopping instead of "studying" like you do." He was referring to the older boys' monthly "study" sessions that really were just excuses to get out from under the ever watchful eyes of their fathers. Sometimes, being the kid of a superhero, just plain sucked.
Frankly, so did being the brother of a superhero.
Dick sat the cup down. "That's a low blow, Jason," he growled at him, "even for you!"
Jason shrugged. "Alls fair," he said, "in love and war, big bro."
Dick snorted. "What are you now?" he asked, sarcastically. "Shakespeare!"
"Please," Connor spoke for the first time, "do not fight. We are here to enjoy ourselves, aren't we?"
Dick and Jason glared at him, but backed off each other. "Yeah," they agreed, "we are."
"Great!" Roy exclaimed. "So, let's go party!" Clasping Connor about the shoulder, he pulled him towards the dance floor and a couple of really cute looking girls in very short mini-skirts.
Dick and Jason followed. "You think Dad and the Brat's all right?" Jason asked, off-handedly.
"The Brat" was their nickname for Tim.
Though he really wasn't, he could be a downright pain in the butt when he wanted to be.
Dick shrugged. "I'm pretty sure," he said. "As far as I know, tonight was supposed to be a routine patrol. Joker, Ivey, and the rest of the nut jobs are still locked up in Arkum as far as we know."
"So," he asked, hesitantly, "you think maybe you could give me a lift?"
Dick raised an eyebrow at that. "Afraid the old man'll beat you home?" he asked, smirking.
Jason snorted. "No," he said, "besides, my door is locked and the camera turned off. He won't know I've gone anywhere…"
"I wouldn't be too sure of that," a deep male voice spoke from behind them, causing them to jump.
Both froze, recognizing the voice. They turned and found themselves staring at a tall, broad shouldered man wearing a wool cap, black wool sweater, and blue jeans. He had stumble—applied, they knew, by cosmetics—and held a toothpick in between his teeth.
"Fancy meeting you two boys here," Matches Malone, a.k.a. Batman (a.k.a. their Dad!) said, grinning.
Both Dick and Jason had gone quite wide eyed. They were busted and they both knew it.
Bruce decided to drop the act a moment, and glared at Dick. "I don't see Barbara anywhere," he said. "Did she get her applications finished?"
Dick blushed at that, knowing he'd been caught in a lie and ashamed of himself for it.
Those piercing blue eyes turned to Jason. "Funny," he said, "this is quite an unusual place to do study research." He also had the good taste to blush.
"Hey, guys," Roy exclaimed, coming up to them with Connor, "you've got to come meet these two chicks…Holy shi—"He had just recognized the man they were talking to.
Bruce glared at him. "I wouldn't finish that phrase if I were you, Mr. Harper," he said, glaring at the red headed eighteen years old. "Connor, I thought you had better sense than this."
Connor didn't blush, he didn't look ashamed, nor did he look apologetic. He was intimidated by the Bat, something none of the others of his circle could understand. "Jason asked me to come," he explained, quite calmly. "I made a promise to a friend and I always keep my promises."
"Some promises shouldn't be made," "Matches" growled at him, spitting out his toothpick. "I would suggest you and your brother head home…and I think your father will have a few things to say to you two in the morning."
"Yes, Sir," both Roy and Connor replied.
"Go on then," he ordered them, sternly. "Now!"
Giving their friends looks of sympathy, or at least Roy did, the two teenage archers turned and headed for the exit—rather quickly, too.
"Matches" turned his attention back to his boys. "I'll be done here in a little bit," he told them. "I'll expect you home when I get there."
"Yes, Sir," both boys answered, blushing again.
"In the study," "Matches" told them, firmly.
Both boys paled at that. The only time they were told to meet him in the study was when…yep, they were in BIG TROUBLE. At least, Jason knew he was. Dick just looked back at the man with a hardened expression.
"Something on your mind?" "Matches" asked him raising an eyebrow.
Dick's jaw tightened. "It can wait," he said, stiffly.
"Matches" nodded. "Go on then," he growled a them. "Now!"
Like their friends before them, they turned and headed straight for the exit (and Dick's waiting bike out front) very quickly.
"You were saying?" Jason asked him, glaring.
"Shut up," Dick growled, hopping on to the bike and starting her up. "Just shut up."
Hopping on behind him, Jason snorted. You're just mad cuz Dad's gonna roast your ass the same as mine!
Almost as if he could read his brother's mind, Dick tightened his grip on the handle bars and gunned the engine. They sped off in the night, headed for home.
They were busted, in more than one way, and they both knew it.
This was not going to be pretty.
TBC…