Chapter 6: Blood Son

Bruce's POV

I swing on my grappling hook, running on the roofs of each building I land on. My shadow darkens the streets as I jump from roof to roof. Dick isn't far behind me as we patrol the city. So far, nothing interesting has come up, just a few dealers selling to kids.

"Slow night huh?" Nightwing comments. "Quiet one too."

Usually Chris would keep rambling about whatever's going on at school or something like that (I rarely pay attention), but she isn't on patrol with us today. She and Tim are both grounded for today, so they're stuck on monitor duty. I can still hear Chris complaining in my ear about that weird kid in her class she was talking about yesterday.

"Batman." I hear Tim's voice over the com.

I press my finger on my com. "Batman here." I stop in the middle of the roof of a building with Nightwing waiting right beside me.

"It's Talia." I keep a straight face while Robin continues. "She's sent a distress call. She didn't give me much, just where she is, or where she thinks she is. Apparently she thinks that she was kidnapped because the next thing she knew, she was in Gotham."

"Send me the coordinates." I don't even bother wondering how Talia could've sent that distress call.

"40 degrees 52'1"N, 73 degrees 31'55"W." Gotham Bay...

"Right, we're on our way"

****Break****

When we arrive at Gotham Bay, a black submarine is waiting for us on the docks. The hatch opens all of a sudden; at first Nightwing and I both hesitate before walking towards the submarine and entering.

"Could be a trap," Nightwing points out.

"Give me one good reason why Talia would send a distress call to me - I mean us." I reply.

Nightwing and I observe our surroundings. It reminds me of a party boat I was once on, with a mini bar, some red fancy curtains, and an expensive stereo in the corner. Suddenly, Talia emerges from behind the curtains.

"Hello, Beloved," she greets.

"Talia, what do you want?" I get straight to the point.

She walks to the mini bar and pours a glass of wine and tries to offer me some. "Last time I took one, it didn't go so well," I say, and Nightwing takes a step back. "Am I missing something here?"

"Irrelevant," I quickly state. "Oh, actually it is very relevant." Talia interjects.

"What do you want?" I repeat.

"Alright, I shall get straight to my point." she moves towards the curtain she emerged from. "We have a son." A boy steps out from behind the curtains. At first I don't believe her, but just by looking at him, I already know that he is my son. It's like looking at a younger version of me.

"Hello father, I thought you'd be taller."

"Umm...I think I see the resemblance..." Dick says.

"His name is Damian. I think its time he meets his father." Talia says.

The boy walks to me and examines me, then he looks at Nightwing, who seems shocked (why wouldn't he be?) "Who is that?" He points to my eldest son. Dick doesn't answer. He just slightly sways back and forth. I'm still processing this shocking news. I. Have. A. Son...one with my blood...

****Break****

We climb up the staircase and exit the Batcave. I still can't believe I have a biological son... Dick, Damian, Alfred, and I enter my study. I'm about to head out to the living room with my sons when Alfred keeps me back.

"You'd better keep your eye on him, Master Bruce. He was raised by the League of Assassins, I presume."

"Of course."

"Then you have no idea what he's capable of."

I nod at him and exit my study just as Tim comes down the stairs. Halfway down, Tim abruptly stops and asks, "Who's that?"

Before I can say anything Dick replies, "Bruce's son with Talia al Ghul: Damian."

"Huh? Bruce, you never told us you have a son!" Tim says with a shocked look on his face.

"I didn't know until today." I reply.

"Father, is this the Drake you were telling me about?"

"Yes." I direct my attention to Tim. "Get Chris."

Tim hurries back up the stairs as Dick takes a seat on the couch. I look down at my son, whose brow is furrowed. "Father, I can't call two of my siblings Grayson, so what shall I call this "Chris?"

At that moment, Chris emerges from the hallway and starts walking down the stairs, followed by Tim. She doesn't notice Damian immediately, but when she does, she keeps looking from me to him, as if she's looking for similarities between our faces.

"I had no idea you have a biological son. You should have told us." Her voice doesn't portray it that much, but her facial expression shows that she is very surprised.

"Father didn't know about me." Damian replies to her.

"Ok then..."

"Father, I thought that I have three brothers." Damian looks at me with a puzzled look.

"Chris is just your sister's nickname. Her real name is Christine."

"That's foolish. Girls shouldn't be addressed to with boys' names." Damian bluntly states.

I glare at Damian, but Chris's response catches me off guard.

"That's your opinion. I ask people to address me as Chris, and no one seems to mind. Deal with it." Her voice is slightly harsh.

I happen not to be the only one who's surprised. Tim, Dick, and Damian are all staring at her wide-eyed. I've never heard Chris speak like that to anyone, not even that girl she claims to despise from her class. She's changed much from that sweet, innocent girl I adopted more than a year ago. Finally, Damian speaks up.

"You should not talk to me that way, woman. Women are below men."

"Damian!" I yell at him, but Chris just ignores his comment.

"Boys." She mutters while rolling her eyes. "Well it was...nice...to meet you, Damian. I'd better get some sleep; I've got something going on tomorrow. Night guys. Oh, and Damian, if calling me "Chris" makes you feel...uncomfortable... then you can call me Carter." Chris says before she turns around and heads back upstairs.

"Girls." Damian mutters. "Why Carter? Isn't that a boy's name too?"

"That was her last name before she changed it to Grayson." I reply.

"Oh ok. Father, I don't like her. Banish her from your home." Damian orders.

"That's not the way things work around here." I say in a serious tone.

"Fine." He replies rather reluctantly. "Pennyworth, take me to my room."

The two of them head upstairs while Dick and Tim remain downstairs, watching the two of them as they ascend the staircase. When he is out of sight, Dick speaks up.

"Well that was...interesting." Dick says.

"Yes it was." Oh boy... This is going to take some getting used to. I just hope those two end up getting along because I wouldn't want to end up on either of their bad sides.

A/N Hey guys! I hope you are liking the story so far! Please leave a review! Thanks!