I'm back! Sorry for the wait, but you need wait no more! Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: Nada.
Once everyone had finished freaking out about how Robin had a girlfriend, and Wally, Dick, and Babra had finished laughing at them, they continued on with the tour. Wally explained that he had known about the dating situation already- in fact, he had been one of the founding members of the 'get-Dick-and-Babs-together-already' committee, apparently run by Alfred- and so was free to enjoy their shock. Artemis then smacked him and demanded to know why he didn't tell her even though they were dating.
Wally laughed nervously. "Love you, babe, but they asked me not too, and honestly, I'm more afraid of the troublesome duo than I am of you." He started backing away apprehensively as she took a step towards him. "Not that I'm not terrified of you too, of course. Um. Should I start running?"
"Probably." Dick advised him. Wally took off, prompting a game of run away from the angry archer/assasin/girlfriend.
Babs watched more a moment and the leaned over to whisper to Dick. "Does this happen often?"
Dick nodded. "All the time. Seems like they're always fighting, although it's gotten better."
Babs grinned. "Awesome. Does it affect missions?"
"Sometimes. What do you think of the team members you haven't met yet?"
"They seem great too- is Superboy always angry?- I hope B will let me join soon."
"Me too."
Dick then moved to rescue Wally. He walked into the middle of the room and announced, "The tour will now be moving upstairs. Anyone not by the stairwell in 10 seconds will be left for the bats."
Artemis stopped short in surprise. "There's an upstairs?"
Dick rolled his eyes. It was weird, actually being able to see the movement. "Well, we don't live down here, do we?" He turned and headed towards the stairs. "Coming?"
The team scrambled to follow.
Dick led them up the stairs towards the house. "This leads to the study. The entrance is through this old grandfather clock. You move the hands to a certain time- which I will not be telling you- and it swings open. There's two large portraits on the wall opposite, since I know you'll ask. One's Bruce's parent, one's mine." They reached the top and Dick pushed the door open.
Two little boys jumped and looked at him guiltily.
"Um… hey, Dick. When'd you get back?" The older asked nervously.
Dick narrowed his eyes at them. "Were you trying to break into the Batcave again?"
The two boys avoided his eyes guiltily. Dick sighed.
"You know why we don't let you down there by yourselves, you could get hurt, and we don't want you running off alone."
He knelt and gave them a hug. The elder squirmed out of his hold quickly but the younger one willingly accepted his embrace. "Sorry." They heard him say. Dick chuckled and stood up, still cradling the boy. "Team, I'd like you to meet my brothers."
There was a beat of silence.
"I… wasn't aware you had siblings." Kaldur half said, half asked.
"They're adopted. We got Jay when B found him jacking the Batmobile's tires-" The team gaped at the boy, while he stuck his tongue out at them "- and Timmy was the next door neighbor, we adopted him after his parents died."
"Oh!" Megan gasped. "I'm so sorry!"
"S'okay." The young boy slurred cutely. "Dickie's my family now. An' Bruce, an' Alfred, an', an'…" He trailed off uncertainly. "an' Jay, I guess, when he's being nice."
"Of course we're family." 'Jay' scowled. He looked at the team suspiciously. "Did you ask Bruce if you could bring them here?"
Dick ignored him. "Their names are actually Jason and Timothy, but I prefer to use the nicknames. Jay might attack you guys, though…."
"Don't call me Jay and we'll be fine."
Wally laughed and zipped over to mess up his hair. "Whatever you say, Jay-bird." Jason glared at him.
"Why does a kid know how to do the Batglare?" Artemis demanded indignantly. The kid glared better than she did!
"They may be young, but they're already in training. Jay mastered the Batglare pretty quickly, but then again, he alread had a street-kid glare, so he didn't have too far to go."
"Dick said I'm too cute to glare." Tim pouted. "Or throw Bat-a-rangs."
Megan giggled. Artemis blinked, a detail catching her attention.
"Street kid glare?"
"Mmm-hm." Jason nodded. "Parents died, and I was stuck on the street, which led me to stealing which led me to here."
The team stared. They had been through so much, but had soldiered through it and made a new life, a new family. It must have been hard for them all, but watching them interact, the Team couldn't feel sorry for them. They were happy, and that was all that mattered.
Yeah, I gave you a long one to make up for the wait.
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