Bringing My Children Home
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Disclaimer: I am only borrowing the Bat family to practice my art.
I hope my version of Damian is satisfactory. Everyone seems excited about him, so I'm a little nervous he's going to disappoint you.
Chapter Five
Stephanie
Considering the look Talia had given Tim, especially when counted with the little boy's fierce look at the same, Stephanie felt it was not the best idea to leave Tim in charge of seeing to Damian's welcome. Tim would know how to be utterly polite and hospitable, as his upbringing demanded, but she could not help thinking Damian would take it as an insult. Cass paid little homage to politeness. For all her poor childhood, Stephanie knew how to be the friendliest.
"Hi Damian, I'm Stephanie Brown. Bruce is taking care of me while my Mom is sick. This is Tim Drake. His parents travel a lot, so he lives here. And this is Cass, your adopted sister," Stephanie quickly spoke up before Tim had calculated his proper response. Cass was obviously content to just observe.
"Tt. I know who you all are. Mother made sure I knew all about Father's Charity cases," the little boy sneered. "I am surprised that Grayson is not here."
"Dick is here a lot, but he has an apartment in the city too," Stephanie replied. "He's adopted too, right, Cass?"
"Dick and Jason," Cass agreed.
"Are you excited about having siblings?" Tim offered. He gave a pleasant smile, which made Stephanie proud. "When Dick said we could be brothers, it was one of the best moments of my life."
Damian glared at Tim.
"Father won't need any of you now," he said.
Stephanie's heart sank. For a terrible moment, she imagined losing all she had gained in the past two weeks. When Cass took her hand, however, she remembered that Bruce had promised. This would be a test of those promises, but Stephanie did not think blood relation mattered more to Bruce than his chosen family.
She straightened her shoulders and continued to do what she could to distract Damian from Tim.
Bruce
Bruce could say with all honesty that he had never wondered if Talia had had a child. When he had taken his place in Gotham, he had been very careful to avoid getting someone pregnant. There were certain women who wanted his children, so they had a claim on his fortune. With Talia, he had never thought about it. He had been young when infatuated with Talia. It had not occurred to him that it had been a possibility.
While he would run the DNA test, he was certain the boy would prove to be his.
Alfred had foreseen that Bruce would not be able to stop Talia from dropping this on him, and had taken the suitcases away. For a moment Bruce wondered if Alfred would put the boy in the same wing with the family, or in a guest wing. Of course, it would be the family wing.
This could not have come at a worse time. Bruce was still trying to adjust to Stephanie belonging to him. He needed time to work with her, to train her, to assure her that he had been wrong to reject her, and she was part of his family now. What would this interruption do to her? Bruce had nearly lost her life, now he might lose her trust.
Then there was Tim. With Tim's parents still alive, and publicly known, Bruce was not able to adopt him as he had Dick, Jason, and Cass. It had taken a lot of work to make sure Tim's doubts were reassured. Tim was so self-reliant that it would be easy to set him to the side if the others demanded his attention.
What of the boy, of Damian himself?
In the parlor, Stephanie was chattering, only a little crease in her forehead betraying the tension she was under. Cass was leaning on Tim's shoulder, for which Bruce was grateful. Tim gave Bruce a little smile. It did not hide his worry.
"Here," Damian pulled a few hairs from his head and offered them to Bruce. "Mother said to give you some hair, so you can have proof that I am your son."
Bruce looked over the boy carefully. There was a good deal of resemblance.
"I will run the test. No matter the result, I will be sure you are not abandoned," Bruce said, wearily. "Has your mother told you everything?"
Damian nodded proudly. "She told me you were Batman and the others are your servants."
Stephanie and Cass both snorted. For a moment, Bruce wanted Dick's easy manners to help here. Then he realized that it would come with a good deal of teasing and joking. Although, he could not avoid that now. More than likely, one of the teenagers had already let Dick into the know. Barbara, too.
"My children are my partners, not my servants. Have you been introduced?"
"Brown tried to, but there is no need. Mother made sure I knew everything about them."
"Your Mother is only telling you her point of view. You should not accept whatever you are told. Would you want to watch me run the DNA test?"
"I have some training. I could assist. Mother made sure I have at least begun learning skills that you can use," Damian said. "I am an excellent warrior, I am a genius like you, I am better than the others could ever be."
This was going to be a very long day.
Jason
If not for the fears of two of his family members, Jason would have made himself popcorn and followed the newly met father and son around. With no fears that this would steal Bruce's affection, it was hilarious to Jason that the Batman had been surprised. Being a big brother came first.
Cass did not need a big brother. She was leaning on Tim, asking him to help her work on her computer skills. The same neglect that had left her mute and illiterate when Bruce had taken her in, meant that computers were as foreign as words had been. Tim had been her best advocate. He and Stephanie had taught her to talk and read. Right now, Cass would be Tim's support and keep him from overworking himself to prove he was worth Bruce's affection.
That left Jason to work with Stephanie.
He had admired her spunk from the first. Where Tim had doubted he had any worth, Stephanie had always believed herself worthy and capable if given a chance. Tim had worked hard for his place, but he had done so out of the belief that there was no one else to do it. Stephanie had been fighting for a place because she knew she could hold it.
She did not need someone to keep her from overworking. She needed someone to validate her confidence. That Jason could do easily. Not in the subtler arts the Bats used. Bruce and Tim could teach infiltration, deduction, and manipulation better than anyone. No, Jason could teach her bluntness and flair. There was no doubt she already had audacity in spades. He would show her how to use it.
"Come along, blondie. You and I will get in the way when Timmy goes Techno. Let's go research our new 'brother'," Jason said, draping his arm over her shoulders. "I can't wait until Dick gets here."
"Are you sure Tim doesn't need us?" Stephanie asked as they left.
"He'll be fine. Cass will make sure he's distracted, and Dick will make sure Bruce knows he needs reassurance. In the meantime, we need to figure out what the little brat's game plan is."
"What if it's just to be Bruce's son?" Stephanie asked. Of course, she felt sorry for the little runt. It was entirely possible that Damian could become a real member of the family, but Jason was not going to hold his breath. The way Talia had looked at Tim had raised his hackles.
"Better safe than sorry," He answered her. "Talia pretty much threatened Tim. Who knows what she told the kid to do?"
Startled by that thought, Stephanie followed him to the room Alfred had just finished preparing, to help snoop through Damian's suitcases.
Dick
Having been with Bruce for over a decade, Dick had to admit Jason's news was not as much of a surprise to him as it was likely to the others. Bruce had only been about twenty-five when he had taken Dick in. Although Bruce had become his father, the first few years, it had been more like having a serious, heroic older brother. Something had changed after one of the more serious injuries Dick had suffered.
Dick could remember when Bruce had played the play boy far less circumspectly than he did now.
While Jason had been unable to stifle his delight in the new events, Dick had to admit being surprised by the knowledge of who was the mother. Jason had not shared the age of the boy, nor had Dick remembered to ask. Knowing that would likely give some answers. For now, getting to the manor was most important.
Dick did not know who would need him most. Bruce could be the easy answer, but Stephanie and Tim were also good possibilities.
The manor seemed deceptively peaceful when Dick arrived. That was strange. For a family that were technically trained ninjas, who could elude superpowered heroes and villains alike, the manor was their safe place where they could be silly, emotional, weary humans. And humans did not live in ninja silence, so the manor generally rang with noise.
Alfred was the first one he came upon.
"Ah, Master Richard, it is good to see you home. This has been a day of surprises for the Family. They will all be happy to see you," the staid butler said.
"It's always good to be home," Dick replied. "What should I expect?"
"Nothing as dramatic as you anticipate. I am certain that will come later, but Miss Cassandra and Master Jason have undertaken to reassure and distract Master Timothy and Miss Stephanie. Master Bruce and … the boy are down stairs."
"And the boy?" Dick interjected wryly.
"Miss al Ghul called him Damian. He is nearly twelve years old. I foresee some complications, Master Richard. He was raised to believe he has all the rights of Master Bruce's sole child. I fear he has already caused a disruption to Master Timothy's peace."
"Alright. I'm going to head down stairs."
Wherever the other four had gone, which was far more places than one not used to the sheer size of the manor would guess, Dick did not see or hear any of them. Not until he made it to the cave did he see any other member of his family. Bruce was seated at his computer, clearly in the middle of research. A short, dark haired boy was seated possessively in the nearest chair, the one that Dick himself used when in the cave.
Although Bruce would have run a DNA test, the first sight of the child made it clear that he was Bruce's child.
"Did you clone yourself, Bruce?" Dick burst out. It was a regrettable interjection, but Dick felt less remorse than he should have. Father and Son both leapt to their feet, having failed to hear the light-footed acrobat descending. Bruce relaxed when he saw who it was, but the boy did not, glaring at the interloper.
"I hardly think you would be here today, if one of your siblings had not told you what happened this morning. Jason, I presume."
Dick grinned. Sure, given time Tim would have called, but not as quickly as Jason had. The grin answered Bruce's question.
"I reserve the right not to incriminate myself. Certain members of our family can be almost sadistic in revenge."
No, Jason was not part of the more violent pranksters in the family. Dick and Barbara were the worst offenders. This may have something to do with the violence the others' families of origin had raised them in. One of the first lessons they all had learned in their training was not to abuse their strength. Not that Tim could not be especially creative.
"Damian, I know you are aware who this is, but all the same, meet my first son and the strangest of my children, Dick."
"Don't listen to Bruce, kid. He has no sense of humor. Honestly, we all know that Alfred is the strange one of the family," Dick pointed out.
Ha! Success! Bruce snorted.
Well, half-success. The newcomer scowled viciously.
"You forget that he was MI-6," Bruce retorted.
"You make my point! No one else in the family belonged or belongs to a government institution. Certainly, Timmy has been scouted, but – "
"Why do you call the butler family? He is just a servant!" The boy exclaimed. "Father may have had some excuse to call his charity cases family, but not a servant!"
Ah. That explained the stress in Alfred's face, those little lines that no one outside the family knew meant he was upset. All the work Dick had done to lighten his mentor's mien was shattered instantly. A strong desire to throttle the boy spasmed Dick's strong hands.
"So, that's the battleground," the acrobat said softly. He straightened to his full height and stalked towards the boy, permitting himself to display his full strength and grace. Bruce let him in silence, aware as Dick that the boy was unlikely to respond to anything but strength now. The sheer arrogance of the boy startled Dick when even the clear display of power did not shake a moment of doubt from him.
What had Talia raised the boy to believe?
All Dick's anger died away. The boy's whole world would be shattered soon enough. Bruce was arrogant, stubborn, and could be hard to work with, but he had never claimed his long, illustrious line of ancestors made him better than the children he had taken in. Damian would learn soon enough that the mere fact that Bruce's blood ran in him gave him no rights. The elite of America ran through Bruce, but he was the only man Dick knew who followed the oft spoken, never followed creed that man was not worthy by his ancestors, but by his own deeds, his own strengths, his own intelligence.
"I assume you ran a DNA test," Dick said to Bruce, though he kept his eyes on the boy's face.
"Talia spoke the truth. His age fits the timeline of my last days among the league of assassins, when I thought I might be able to pull Talia out of that life. It never occurred to me that she would hide something like this from me, but the tests prove it."
"I will take my rightful place at your side, Father. Mother has trained me to do so. You will have no need of the others. I promise I am worthy," Damian said, straightening his young, small shoulders.
Dick had barely won the right to be Robin when he was thirteen, after a year of training. Jason had been thirteen when pulled from the streets, and fourteen before he was permitted to be Robin. Tim had been twelve when he thrust himself into their life, but had to go through a year and a half of training. Now this eleven-year-old expected to be allowed into the field.
"I believe it will soon be dinner time. Did Jason get to take the girls shopping?"
Bruce sighed.
Damian
Of all Father's strays, he had thought the least about Grayson. Despite being the first, he was now his own man, and the numerous disagreements between Father and the First Robin had caused Damian to think he was not a real threat. It took Damian five minutes in the man's own presence to realize how false that idea was. Father had visibly relaxed and brightened when the acrobat entered the cave.
Worse of all, the man had not been intimidated by Damian's blood status. He had been angry momentarily, but that had died into a look of pity. All the strays, even Drake for a moment, had looked at Damian with pity. This should not be tolerated!
Further shocks were in store, starting with the supper table.
First, the strays were all seated when Father, Damian, and Grayson entered. They were met with a chorus calling the eldest Robin's name. Drake left his seat to meet Grayson's embrace. While Damian watched this strange display of emotion, Father had taken his seat at the head of the table. The two seats beside him were occupied by Brown and Cain. Damian stalked to Brown, who had the right-hand seat.
"That will be my seat," he informed her.
"I already called it. You have to make it here first to choose your seat," she laughed at him. His fist tightened, but he knew it was not time to start something. He was sure the strays would band together, and while Father was still realizing who Damian was, Damian would need to be calm.
"You can sit by me, Damian," Grayson offered as he slid into the seat next to Brown, across from Drake. The only other option was to sit at the foot of the table, with several seats between him and the rest. For tonight, Damian would take the lower seat at the table.
Unfortunately, this put him across from Todd, who kept grinning like a lunatic.
"I believe we will have to rearrange patrol a little tonight," Father said once they were eating. "Dick, I know you aren't here for that, but perhaps you could partner with Tim tonight."
"Sure. Don't tell Bruce," Grayson said to Drake in an audible whisper, "but I know a 24-hour café that gives dashing vigilantes free coffee after ten."
"Sure, Dick, feed the caffeine addict," Todd snorted. "I feel left out. Should we partner up, little sis? I can find something better than coffee."
"Ice cream?" Cain asked.
"In the meantime, Stephanie and I will monitor from the cave," Father continued as if his strays had not made plans for fun in their duties. "Damian, you may join us."
"Ooh! Can Damian's call sign be Son of Bat?" Todd crowed.
"He will not need a call sign," Father replied. "He is a child several years younger than any of you were when you began."
Something more was implied in the conversation, something Todd came close to saying, but a nudge from Drake made him shut his mouth. Todd was proving to be quite an irritation, but was possibly the weak link in Father's strays.
Stephanie
Batman was not an easy teacher, but he was thorough, and he was far more patient than anyone would have expected. He was being gentler than she had seen him be with the others, hopefully just until they became comfortable with this new relationship. He was feeling guilty about her father, even though Stephanie knew it was not his fault. In time, she wanted the strict orders barked at the others, the confidence of him walking away, knowing she would follow, the respect that she was, not the best, but still worthy to be in his ranks.
"Tt, if you are having to train her now, after she's been trying to help for years, why keep her around?"
There was the fly in the ointment. Just when she had begun to gain what she wanted from Bruce, there came another. There was no doubt Damian knew how to fight. He moved with the certainty and grace of someone who had been training for years. Nor was he lacking in intelligence. He had already found certain weak points in them, their fears and insecurities.
"Damian, I know your mother has told you that you are worth a good deal as the son of a Wayne and an al Ghul," Bruce interjected, surprising both his son and Stephanie. "You should know that here that means much less. As my son, I have a duty to you and I will not shirk it, but I have chosen Dick, Jason, Tim, Cass, and Stephanie to be here as well, and my duty to them is no less than that to you. You may either retire to your room now, or you may watch in silence."
His hand came to rest on Stephanie's shoulder, warm and solid. It was a promise of its own. Even in the good days, when Arthur had not yet descended into villainy, she had never had that promise. She had always demanded her right to be seen, but for the first time she knew it was finally respected.
She was home.
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