Interlude: Bruce Wayne
AN: I'm sorry this is another Interlude, and that it's focused on the Bat fam. They were not supposed to be such a big deal, but then… yeah.
The good news is: this should be the last interlude (I promise nothing). The better news is: the story should get back on track soon. I know it's been a mess lately. This should teach me the importance of adhering to outlines.
The bad news is: I promise no regular updates for the near future. I'll try – I'm really excited for the next bit – but I don't want to make a promise I can't keep with my current schedule.
Anywho, enjoy for the moment.
XxXxX
Bruce uses Batman's skills to great effect in his effort to silently close the door to his middle son's room. Jason is, for once, sleeping peacefully. If it weren't for the streak of white that stands so bold against dark hair on a dark pillow, Bruce might even fool himself into thinking his son his whole. Still, Bruce will take his blessings where he can, and chooses to appreciate his son being alive and home rather than cursing the pieces that are still missing, even after all this time.
Bruce checks on Damian next. He too is asleep; not sneaking out to train or patrol for once. The king-sized bed really should be too large for the child, Bruce muses. It would be, too, if it weren't for the menagerie of pets his youngest son had acquired to fill the space. Alfred disapproves, but Bruce just couldn't say no. He has his own problem with taking in strays, after all. Said animals shift to watch him when he moves to stroke his son's cheek, but none try to top him. Assured that the boy was safe and sound, Bruce sneaks back out of the room and continues on his way.
He passes Alfred on the way down to the Cave. The Englishman is up late ensuring the Manor's 'secret' cookie stash is well stocked. Bruce doesn't stop to talk; Alfred is in his domain and Bruce has long known how unwise it is to interrupt Alfred when he's baking.
He finds Cassandra curled up on the sparring mats. Bruce covers her with the blanket Alfred keeps down here for just such occasions; the ex-assassin is uncomfortable enough with the luxury of the mansion that she sleeps down here more often then not. The League had rescued his middle 'daughter' from the League of Shadows only a short while after Barbara's… accident at the Joker's hands. J'onn was the one who realized how willing Cass was to switch sides, should she be given the chance. Ollie, thinking of Artemis, pushed for her to be put on the Team. Clark then decided to return Bruce's own advice over Conner, and Barbara and Dick pushed to add her to the family… Well, it was only a matter of time before Bruce caved, and the second Batgirl was born. She's since graduated to the name of Black Bat so that her 'younger sister' could take the Batgirl mantle.
With Cass taken care of, he continues to the far side of the cave. He never shut down the cave's computers after patrol tonight, so it only takes a moment to log on to the mainframe. With a few strokes of his keyboard he confirms his other children's positions.
Barbara, bless her, is still on the Watchtower. The poor girl has been stretched far too thin lately, coordinating information across the world and – increasingly often – across dimensions. She's been spending more and more time each day in the monitor womb; she doesn't trust anyone else to track her Team's movements and needs as they battle the Anomaly. He makes a mental note to ping Zatanna. The League's magician is one of the few that might be up to the task of dragging Oracle away from her beloved computers and forcing her to enjoy herself for a little while. Bruce can spare a few hours at lunch on Tuesday to cover Barbara's post, he'll suggest that time to Zatanna… For the moment, he can just appreciate that she's at least in her own room. Probably not working, then; she might even finally be getting some sleep. Good for her.
Tim and Stephanie are in their respective homes. Good. The Drake's security cameras are clear; Tim should have a peaceful night. Likewise, the security system Bruce installed in Stephanie's run-down apartment in Crime Alley show no disturbance. He can accept that, for now. He's tried to convince the runaway-turned-Batgirl to move into the Manor or the Tower more than once, to little avail. It's frustrating, but also makes him smile a little inside; the girl has Dick's cheerfulness and Jason's obstinacy. If he could just give her Tim's listening abilities, she would be perfect. Or possibly terrifying. In any case, he double checks the alerts he has on their homes, and shuts off the feed to their security systems.
They're fine.
Everyone is fine.
A small part of Bruce is finally able to relax. With so many heroes in the family, it's so rare that they're all home and safe at the same time.
Well, they're not all home and safe.
Bruce's heart aches at the thought of his eldest son and the dangerous mission the boy has embarked upon.
Oracle's latest reports place all five members of Alpha squad in the same dimension. That only happens when they've confirmed the Anomaly's position. The timing of this with Artemis' disappearance and sudden reappearance has everyone on edge. They want to know what the Team has gotten themselves into this time.
Bruce knows, though, and it's the hardest secret he's ever had to keep.
Our Wally is actually your Wally. Don't let us keep him.
His counterpart's message is encrypted enough that neither Red Robin nor Oracle should be able to get to it, but it still makes Bruce nervous. Everyone moment that he knows and he doesn't tell them adds to his guilt.
He knows about Bart's breakdown, of course. Most everyone associated with the Team does, actually. Fewer know that Flash still requests a leave of absence every year on the Anniversary.
Only Bruce knows that their suffering is in vain.
He can't tell them though. The Team is there – they have to know, Dick has to know – and yet they haven't said anything. They haven't come home. Batman's logic says that they must have a tactical reason for their silence, for their continued absence. Bruce's worry says that the Anomaly might be too much for them to handle, and fears they might already be broken, or worse. They can't fail, though. The other League will help them. They care greatly for Wally. They won't let him die.
Right?
Of course, that's the other part of what worries Bruce, isn't it? That man, that broken shell of what Bruce could be, fears his own possessiveness. And, Bruce thinks, if he's willing to steal Wally, how much more willing would he be to keep the happy, loving Dick Grayson?
It's so hard, knowing his son is facing danger on two fronts, and being unable to go to him. Dick's an adult, he tells himself. I have other children to look after, he thinks. It never completely silences the voice in the bottom of his heart that says, if you don't protect him, you're going to lose him too.
And… he can't. He can't lose another one of his children. It kills him, every day, to watch them head out and fight for his mission. Knowing that they might not come back, and even if they do, they might not be whole…
Because he lost Jason to the Joker's cruelty. He almost lost his life and the lives of his friends to the courts of Rimbor, only to return and discover how close he came to losing Tim too. He saw Barbara get crippled, and stood by, unable to help. Cass is already broken, and he doesn't know where to find all the pieces. He came this close to losing Stephanie to Black Mask, and even so, it took her months to heal from that torture. He found Damian, and learned that he lost his son's childhood.
He may have already lost his eldest son, and he doesn't even know.
He may face the most guilt over it all, but he knows he's not the only one suffering. Barbara and Tim, at least, have risen to the challenge admirably. They're running the Team, helping Jason re-integrate himself, teaching Damian teamwork… and holding this family together. They're working so hard so that Bruce doesn't have additional stress from this. Even Batman can see the cracks though.
Tim is drawing into himself. Barbara is become more desperate. Jason's lashing out more. Damian's growing ever more derisive. Steph's missing her idol. Cass is reverting to the voiceless pawn she was once was. Even Alfred has become increasing morose as the months drag on and still Dick hasn't come home for more than a few days at a time.
In a way, their reactions are reassuring. Let this Batman try to keep Wally. The Team won't stand for it. And if he tries to keep Dick, well. Bruce is confident his family won't like that one bit. It really doesn't pay to upset the Bat Clan.
More than that, though, Bruce reminds himself to have faith in his son. When had Dick – when have any of the Team – not been able to do something they've put their mind to? If this really is their Wally, they won't let the Anomaly take him. Heck, with any luck, they could be home within the week even!
This confidence is enough to allow him to shut down the computer and head for bed, content in the knowledge that his family is safe.
The guilt and worry and fear return by morning, though.
They always do.