Chapter 44: Not Too Much Fuss
Chris' POV
"Hey Damian." I say on our way to the lunch tables.
"What?" He says in an irritated tone.
"Dad's birthday is coming up."
"I know that, Carter. I also know that Father does not care much about the day he came into this horrid world. So why are you bringing it up?"
He takes a seat at his usual table as I remain standing. "Just because he doesn't care doesn't mean we shouldn't. I think we should throw him a little party. Just take the whole family out to dinner or something, and we all split the check using our allowance. You, Tim, and I."
He begins to take out the lunch Alfred made him: chow mein. Yeah, Alfred can make everything. "I do not wish to spend my allowance money on some petty party, especially since Father doesn't take pleasure in his birthday. Go ask Grayson and Drake. Maybe even Todd, but I won't be a part of this."
I sigh. "Well are you going to at least get him a present?"
"I don't plan to. Now leave me alone I wish to eat in peace."
I make an annoyed face at him. "I'll just put your name on the present I get him." I mutter as I walk away.
"Carter."
I swiftly turn around at his words. "What?" I say in an exasperated tone.
"Your skirt."
I look down and notice that it's oddly folded in. I quickly fix my stupid plaid skirt and walk over to my table. I take a seat next to my friends. I look through my lunch pail and realize I need more napkins. "Be right back." I mutter to my friends.
I walk over to the cafeteria, grab some napkins, and head back to my friends. I stop walking when my path is blocked by an arm leaning against the outer wall.
"Hey girl." I follow the arm and find myself facing the class player: Derek.
"Get out of my way." I glare at him, but he keeps that stupid smirk and arched eyebrows on his face.
Derek Gilligan: a player. He's been with every girl in our grade who's been so desperate to have a boyfriend. He has brown-blond, wavy hair and grey eyes. He's basically a douche who thinks he owns the world. He's so spoiled, and his arrogance makes him revolting. And of course, he only does this stuff because he's a gold digger.
"Aw c'mon Chris don't be like that." Why are all players exactly the same? They literally all use the same lines.
"Only my friends have the right to call me Chris, and you are definitely not my friend."
"Now that's cruel. You should learn to be nicer. Here, lemme teach you." He touches my arm, and I tense. Disgusting.
I look to my left and see Damian getting up and Tim doing the same from his table. I glare at both of them, mentally telling them, "We don't want a fight. I got this."
I make a grab for his arm, but he just grabs my other arm.
"Let. Go. Of. Me." I force the words out. In his eyes I can tell he's a little startled, but he quickly recovers.
"You've always been playin' hard to get, huh. Why don't ya try loosenin' up a bit. C'mon, I know you wanna." He has a seductive look in his eye as he slowly leans close, but in response I lean back and start to back away. He keeps his grip on my arms.
"Derek, you jackass, back off." Someone pushes him away and steps between us.
"Hayden you're the only jackass here."
Tim chuckles. "Fine by me, but it takes one to know one."
Derek grunts. "Well kid, it's impolite to interrupt people's conversations."
"Cause he knows what's impolite." He mutters to me, and we both chuckle.
He ignores the comment. "Now if you'll move out of the way I was talking to pretty girl over there." He gestures to me.
Before Tim can speak, I step up so that I'm right next to Tim. "Okay dude, you're a jerk. Just thought you should know that. And we are never going to be anything to each other. We aren't friends, aren't whatever is beyond friends...hell, I don't even want to be acquaintances. Stop being such a douchebag and reflect on your life because trust me when I say it's going nowhere but straight down to Hell." I say harshly, my eyes narrowed.
I can sense Tim looking at me with some shock at my bluntness, but I know he has no objections. Derek, however, is in complete shock.
"Now we're gonna go." I say as Tim and I walk away. I feel a few eyes on us, but we just ignore them.
"Hey Chris?"
"We need to talk, don't we?"
He nods. We both walk in the direction of the bathrooms.
"Thanks for being there for me." I say without looking at him.
"No problem, not that I needed to be there." He smiles a bit, and I make an effort to smile back. The tension between us is so awkward I just want to die.
"It - it was you that night, right? Winter Ball." My heart races faster, and I marvel a bit at my own courage.
He stops walking, and I stop, too. "Yeah...um, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you I was coming and that I...umm..."
"No, no. Don't be sorry. Sure it would've been nice to know, but it probably would've been awkward anyway."
"Did I seem kinda like a player?"
"Ehh...kinda. But the whole situation seemed more like a little-too-lucky romance."
"Good, 'cause that's kinda what I was going for."
We both nervously laugh, until he makes the situation a little more awkward. "First kiss?"
"Yeah...you?"
"Yeah..."
We both just stand there in the silence as it eats away at us. I can't stand the silent pauses any longer.
"So you obviously have a crush on me..."
"And you obviously like me, too..."
"Soo maybe...we can stop being so awkward?"
"Maybe..."
"Okay look, I know it's weird since we're still freshman, and you and I both know that freshman year is too young for people to be together."
"Ugh remember all those kids who dated in like 6th grade."
"Ugh...disgusting people. Don't they understand it's not gonna last?"
He laughs a bit. "Yeah...idiots."
"Morons..."
"Imbeciles..."
"Stupidheads..."
"Buttheads..."
"Assbutts..."
He stares at me wide-eyed. "Wait, you watch Supernatural?"
"Of course. Wait, do you?"
"Uh, yeah."
We both grin widely at each other. Then we start laughing.
"So let's just be close friends who know they like each other, but aren't gonna act on it yet, okay?" He says.
"Yeah, okay. That works."
"Good."
"Yup."
"I'm hungry."
"It is already halfway through lunch."
We walk over to the tables again. In a brave act, I grab his hand while we're still out of sight just to know how those people in relationships feel. I have to say, it feels pretty good.
****Break****
Damian's POV
"Demon have you seen Chris?"
"Drake leave me-" I abruptly stop talking after my voice reaches a strangely high pitch.
Drake and I both just stare at each other for a while. "Did...did your voice just crack?"
"Um..."
"Has that ever happened before?"
"No...end your inquiries, Drake." I demand.
"Okay, okay." As he walks back to his table I hear him mutter in a mock baby voice, "Aww the little Demon's growing up."
"Shut up Drake!" I yell. He just snickers in response.
Mother taught me about this...and back when I was 7 I knew I did not want to go through it. Not then, not now.
I hate biology. I hate the human body. I hate what society has done to humans. I HATE THE WORLD.
I despise the process of puberty.
****Break****
As I walk through the doors, I'm thrown down by a heavy black hound as saliva starts covering my face. "Titus!" I laugh as he continues to lick my face.
After moments, he follows me upstairs and into my room where I begin my homework for physics or I won't be able to go out on patrol later. A slight knock on my door steals my attention as I slam my book shut.
"Yes Father?" I ask. He is wearing his usual work clothes and holding onto a briefcase. He opens the door wider and walks in through the doorway. I furrow my eyebrows. "Where are you going? The sun will set soon."
He gives me a small smile. "I'm going on a quick visit to an orphanage." I nod slightly, wondering why he is telling me this. "It's called The Stanley Litmus Home (idk...places can be named after random people, I guess...), and I was wondering if you would like to come along. We won't be there for long. I have some things to drop off personally."
It must be something quite important if Bruce Wayne has to drop something off in an orphanage in person. But what bothers me the most is that this orphanage sounds distinctly familiar.
"I normally would not ask you to come along with me, since this orphanage is near Crime Alley, but I thought it would be a good idea for you to come along to this specific orphanage."
My eyes trail father's black shiny shoes. "Alright." I nod slightly, unsure of what he means.
"Good, get dressed." He leaves my room without another word.
As I throw my uniform off and pull on a blue T-shirt and some jeans, Titus follows me around with his chin up as he whines slightly. I bend down and scratch his chin and rub his head. "Don't worry boy, I'll be back soon." I smile.
I head downstairs as Titus runs out of my room and down the stairs before me. Father exits his own master bedroom wearing a simple jacket, a polo, and simple jeans. Good idea. Wouldn't want to get mugged in dangerous territory.
Grayson walks up the stairs and into his room, still wearing his police uniform. "Hey Dad. Hey Dami." He greets and I invisibly flinch at the nickname. Sadly, anybody can call me that...it just wouldn't be the same.
But Grayson doesn't take notice and he simply asks. "Where are you two going?" He asks, heading towards his room.
"An orphanage, Dick." Father looks Grayson in the eyes and the oldest of Father's 'sons' simply nods.
"Oh okay. Getting on the father-son bonding huh?" He jokes half heartedly.
I roll my eyes. "Shut it Grayson." My voice cracks at the end and two pairs of blue eyes look at me. Grayson holds in a laugh and Father hides a face of horror.
"Little Dami's growing up." He mumbles, grinning and walking into his room to get ready for patrol tonight.
Father just looks at me awkwardly until finally he coughs. "Ahem...let-let's go." He says uneasily.
We both sit in the back in a comfortable silence as the driver takes us to the orphanage. Gotham city flashes by in a blur. The sky is mixed with a tangy orange, a light yellow, and a darker blue as the sun gets ready to set.
"Father...why do I have to come?" I ask out of curiosity and not disrespect.
"I just thought that maybe you would want to see some mutual friends."
I look at him in silence. "Is that why you hardly got mad when she'd come home late?"
Father doesn't keep eye contact with me. Instead his eyes set on the window. He shrugs. "Partially." He answers, simply dismissing the conversation gently.
We arrive at the orphanage. We both get out of the car and walk into the building. Everything is the same as it was, except it seems brighter than before, probably because up until now, some of the Christmas lights weren't taken down.
Most of the children run around in this division of the orphanage, laughing and grinning. It's almost hard to believe that every single one of these children have been abandoned.
As Father talks to an all too familiar old woman by the counter, I look around, taking in the brighter atmosphere.
The children running around suddenly stop and stare at me as I recognize some grinning faces. "Dami! Dami! Dami!" They run towards me. "We were wondering when you'd come back!"
"You're back! You're back! You're back!" Each of them grin.
One of them looks behind me. "And Mister Wayne is here too."
The little Jewel walks up to my father and tugs at his jacket. He looks down from the counter. "Are you Dami's daddy?" she asks.
I can see father's gentle smile as he picks her up. "And how do you know my son, little one?" He asks.
She giggles. "Dami's sister!" She grins.
Father's slight frown is only visible to those with a trained eye. Father nods slightly and puts her down. "That's good." He comments simply.
Father looks at the children pulling at my shirt to come play with them. "Why don't you go ahead, son. This might take some time."
"But Father-"
"Dami! Dami! Dami! Dami!"
They eventually pull me towards the courtyard, where a few of the children are playing with a tiny soccer ball. "Let's play! Let's play! Let's play!" A boy walks up to me holding the soccer ball.
I bend down slightly. "Hello Coby. Where did you get this soccer ball?" I ask him.
He grins with a front tooth missing. "Autumn gave it the last time she came! Now c'mon let's play!"
****Break****
We played a bunch of tiring games for God knows how long. But then most of the children eventually got tired and went inside to watch Spongebob all together.
A little girl in a wheelchair, along with Coby and I, sit by the large mango tree. I sit down on the grass by the little boy and the fragile girl.
We stay here as the faint sound of crickets fill our ears and as the sun begins to set. The little boy plays with the grass, twirling his fingers around the green blades of dry grass.
"So what happened over Christmas?" I ask, wondering why everything seems so much brighter.
"We decorated everything! We had a Christmas party and watched awesome fireworks!" Lisa says with bright eyes. "It was soo much fun!" She grins at me. "And now we have so many toys and clothes and stuff for school!"
"Then Ms. Anthony said that some of us might get adopted." I look down at the frowning boy who still hasn't looked up.
"You don't seem to be in favour of that idea." I state but he just shrugs.
Lisa, the girl, holds the soccer ball on her lap as she watches the thick puffs of clouds cover the sky. "Dami." Finally, the little boy breaks the uneasy silence. "When will Autumn be back?" He asks with a tiny little voice. Coby finally looks at me with big brown eyes. "She said she'd be back. The last time she came here was last year, just a few days before Christmas. She gave us a bunch of stuff like Santa's elf...but...she...she…" Coby doesn't finish his sentence.
"She told us she had to leave for a while, but she said she'd be back. But she didn't tell us where she'd be going." The girl finishes the sentence for him. They both look at me with innocent eyes. "Where did she go, Dami? When will she be back?"
I sigh and look up at the sky. "I don't know."
They both eventually follow my gaze and look up. The blue sky is filled with smog. The area is filled with the sounds of tiny chirping crickets and distant cars and the sound of the TV from inside of the compound. Artificial light comes from the house's screen door and windows.
"I hope she's safe." Lisa says.
"We'll just have to pray that she's okay." Coby says softly.
I bite the inner part of my cheek. She's dead. I can't tell them. Even if I was allowed to, how would I tell them?
The three of us looks up, wishing for the stars to come out. But as the distant sirens blow louder, I notice very few stars shine brightly, unafraid of the darkness, unfazed by the smog. Heroes in the night sky. Stars that will die trying to save the sky from the smog.
A determined look sets on my face as a familiar signal paints the smog in the sky.
****Break****
Dick's POV
"Nightingale, you're with me and Red Robin. Riddler has just recently escaped, and we have to stop him. Nightwing and Robin, I need the both of you to investigate the disappearance of Lex Luthor." Batman hands me a newly opened case file.
"Father, why do I get the boring jobs?"
"Lex Luthor disappeared?" Chris asks, putting on her mask.
Batman nods. "Just recently this morning. The media thinks he was kidnapped, but-"
"I think otherwise." I finish for him, flipping through the few pages of the case files.
He nods and moves over to the Batmobile with Chris and Tim not too far behind him heading to their bikes.
As I blink, they drive away.
I turn to Robin who's scowling. "Looks like it's just you and me Little D." He doesn't glance at me.
I sigh and look through the files as he heads towards the computer. "Might as well be productive." He mumbles.
"Says here Lex Luthor was last seen in Belle Reve. Wonder what he was doing there." I say.
Damian types on the computer. "You think we should investigate the place and make a quick visit to Waller?"
"According to the Daily Planet and MPD files, Luthor has been inactive since December, hardly seen around the media." Damian informs. "Just like the rest of The Light."
My face darkens slightly. "I know."
"His disappearance has to do with The Light, that much is obvious."
Damian walks away from the computer and heads towards his cycle. "Are you not coming, Grayson?" I nod and head towards my own motorcycle. Together we drive into the night.
****Break****
We look around Luthor's fancy hotel room, searching for any sort of evidence of his disappearance. Nothing is out of place. The room has a huge white expensive couch, lava lamps, a glittering chandelier, a mahogany desk, a huge glass window, and a soft king sized bed. All seems untouched.
As I look through the closets and only finding business suits, Robin observes the wooden mahogany desk. "Nightwing, I think I found something." I turn around to see Robin looking through papers with a serious look in his face.
"What is it?" I move over to him to find the desk drawer open and a bunch articles, documents, and a vial full of murky blue and black liquid.
I furrow my eyebrows, but just as I'm about to pick the papers up, I hear the two large doors click. In a swift blur, I grab the new piece of evidence and jump out the opening of the glass window.
****Break****
Tim's POV
"Let her go, Riddler." Batman orders at the face of The Riddler on the large screen.
He laughs. "Not until you've solved all my riddles!"
The three of us are in a room. The door behind us is shut tight, and there's a huge screen on the wall flashing the face of the riddler. Edward Nigma is keeping a woman named Emma Trainer - a Gotham University college student and one of the smartest women in Gotham with the IQ of 105.
The Riddler broke out of Arkham to try and prove that he is the smartest human being in Gotham.
"Tell me Batman-"
"Shut up Nygma. Let us go and you can come the easy way." Nightingale says. I turn to her, mentally telling her it's not gonna happen.
"Hey, Batman said to give everyone a chance. I gave him one." She whispers.
"I'm not an idiot, little girl. I'm the smartest person in this city! But...there are people who doubt my intellectual capacity. They say she's one ofthe smartest people in Gotham." He says, gesturing behind him to the tied up, scared woman. "But once she's dead...then they'll have to say that I'm the smartest one!"
"Riddler. You said that you'd let us out once we answer all your riddles." Batman says.
"Do you keep your promises?" I ask.
"Guys, and girl...I am insulted! I do keep my promises! Remember that one time...oh there's no time for reminiscing I've got a schedule to keep. But yes, I'll let you leave the room. But you have to answer all three riddles before time runs out. Or you'll come out as three piles of mush! "
"What's the first riddle?" I order more than I ask.
He starts a timer, large numbers flashing in red.
"Let's start with an easy one. The poor have it, the rich need it, and if I ate it I'd die. What is it?"
Before I can open my mouth, Batman speaks. "Nothing. It is nothing. Next riddle. Now."
"Good job! Let's see..." He puts on a thinking face and ponders as the walls begin to close in on us.
"Stop dillydallying and tell us the next riddle!" Nightingale says impatiently as we find a way to stop the walls from crushing us.
"A man forgets to turn on a light before he falls asleep. When he wakes up, he discovers the disaster he has caused. Explain."
"The man works at a lighthouse and forgot to turn on the big light, causing lots of ships to crash. Next!" Nightingale says quickly. Huh, she usually sucks at riddles.
"Having one means having something to follow. Once you question it, it means having none. People seek it, but some do and some don't find it. What is it?"
"Purpose. Now stop the walls and let us out!" I yell. At the rate the walls are moving, we have about 16 seconds before they crush us. Luckily, the walls stop moving, and when I look up at the screen the Riddler has a frown on his face.
"Fine...I'll let you go...but to let her go she has to solve my riddles! I'll give her 5! If she doesn't answer all of them, she dies!" The camera shifts a little and moves until it is right in front of Emma's scared face.
A creaking sound behind us makes the three of us turn around. The door slowly opens, and the three of us run out of the room. We all call our vehicles, and when we exit the building that we were in, our vehicles are all there waiting for us.
"Head back home. I can handle the Riddler."
We don't bother arguing. "Do you know where he is?" I ask.
"Danny's Auto Parts." Nightingale says. Batman nods. I go over what I saw before I left the room earlier in my mind. Then I see the screen. In the background, as Nygma was moving the camera, a tire with a paper label around it that said "Danny's" was on the screen for one second, then it was out of the frame.
"You better be asleep by the time I get back." Bruce says right before he hops into the Batmobile and drives off into the night.
"Tomorrow's his birthday." I say to Chris.
"I hope he never gets too old for this job."
"Really? Why?" I turn to her, and she looks me in the eye.
"Because that means one of you will have to become The Batman. And...well you know why that's not something to really look forward to."
"Who says we have to change?"
She shrugs. "Nobody, I guess."
"Then there's nothing to worry about, right?"
Again, she shrugs. And we just leave it at that as we put on our helmets and get on our bikes.
I smirk under my helmet. "Race ya." I say into the com inside my helmet."
"You're on." We revv up our engines and speed through Gotham.
****Break****
Bruce's POV
"Damn it." I mutter as I look down at Emma Trainer's dead body, a bullet through her brain.
There's a little note on her lap. I pick it up and read it.
Guess she wasn't smart enough. Couldn't get the last riddle. Can you?
'What's green and purple but covered in red and yellow?'
You remember that one, Batman?
I guess Riddler has a better memory than I thought. Better add that to his file.
But today's mission was an absolute failure.
A lady died tonight...because I couldn't make it here in time.
Don't beat yourself up over this Master Bruce is probably what Alfred would say, but I can't help it.
Every life taken because of the criminals in Gotham is a burden for me. It's my responsibility to prevent these kinds of things from happening. And when someone dies, I fail.
Emma Trainer was somebody's daughter, sister, friend...and now she's dead.
I hear the police sirens outside. I exit the building out the back door and get into the Batmobile. As I drive away from the scene, I call Commissioner Gordon. Then, I think better of it and end the call.
This has not been a good night.
****Break***
Tim's POV
"Jason?" I open the door to see him walking out the bathroom door with a towel in hand while getting his hair dry, he's wearing nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants. "Aren't you going to help out?" I open the door wider and let myself in.
He nods. "Yeah, yeah. In a minute."
"You better hurry up, though. Everyone's already downstairs and-"
"What's today?"
"February 19. It's Bruce's birthday."
He pauses, staring at me for a long time with his teal green eyes. "Damn." He mutters.
I close the door behind me. "Why?" Then I roll my eyes out of realization. "You didn't get him a gift."
"Guess I forgot." He says sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Well, you better get one now, if you don't wanna end up giving him coupons again this year."
"You knew about that?"
I shrug, smirking slightly. "I"m a detective, remember?" A few years ago, I did some snooping around and found some homemade coupons saying.
Happy Birthday Bruce!
One free car wash
-JT
I guess Bruce never used them, 'cause he had a whole stack of them. He still has them until now.
Throwing on a t-shirt and some jeans, he grabs my wrist and drags me out of his room.
"Wait! Where are we going?" I say, trying to release my hand from his grip.
"I'm gonna go get him a gift and you're coming with me, Baby Bird."
That's when I stop, and because he's holding my wrist he stops, too, and turns over to me. "C'mon! We ain't got all day!"
"Did you just call me Baby Bird?"
A long silence stretches between us.
"Wha- no! Now let's go!"
I can't help but feel something tug at the edge of my lips and make me grin. "Okay! Okay! But I'm not going out in these!" He lets go of my hand, realizing the same thing.
"Fine, go get changed. But if you try to escape, I swear I'll-"
"Not do anything cause you can't!" I say, walking into my room as I wave my hand, dismissing the subject as if he's bluffing, when I know he's not.
****Break****
"So where are we going?" I ask, unable to suppress the little grin etching at my lips.
He keeps his hands on the wheel, but he spares me a suspicious glance before turning his attention back to the road. "What are you so happy about?"
I look at the road, cars driving in front of us. I shrug. "I don't know. I'm just excited that I get to spend the day with my brother."
"God, Replacement, you're starting to sound like Grayson."
I scowl halfheartedly. "Gross." I mention before he momentarily chuckles.
"Oh, God. Dick." He laughs. "Fun fact Repla-...Tim, Grayson once tried to grow a mustache."
"Whaaa...really? You have to be joking."
He shakes his head, eyes still glued to the road. "I'm not kiddin'. That rat on his upper lip."
I burst out laughing. "I can imagine!" I can imagine him constantly stretching it out like one of those stereotypical Italians and making stupid faces, and then moving his mouth just to make his mustache move side to side.
"You shoulda seen it!"
"Haha! Yeah Dick's fashion sense is the worst!"
"Ha! You don't know the half of it! You know his first prototype Nightwing suit? Priceles. The look on his face when Bruce had to break it to him that it just wasn't workin' out for him!"
We both start laughing. "So that's what that weird blue and gold costume's all about in the cave!"
"You should have taken a picture." I tell him, and he smirks. "Oh I did. It's in my room somewhere."
"You mean that dump?"
"Hey! It's not a dump! I keep it perfectly-"
"It's chaos in there now that the occupant is back!"
"It's called...organized chaos!"
"No...it's called dumping everything under your bed."
He rolls his eyes, failing to suppress his grin. The car stops. "We're here, Replacement." He opens the door and I do the same, walking out.
We walk towards the mall coming from the parking lot.
"Okay. What would Bruce want…" He looks down at me. "What did you get him?"
I smile, looking down. "That's a secret." I say, sounding pretty cryptic.
He rolls his eyes. "You fail at your social skills Baby Bird." He ruffles my hair and as soon as his hand leaves my head, I try to fix it with a small scowl.
"See! There it is again! You just called me Baby Bird!"
He stares at me with blank eyes and a small confused frown. "Why don't we start looking?" He starts walking to one of the shops.
We look around every shop, searching for something suitable for Bruce, but we've got nothing.
We end up on one of the mall benches, both of us groaning. "Dammit! What do you get the man who has everything?" Jason says, rubbing the back of his head.
I shrug. "I dunno."
I look around the shops and spot a bookstore. My face brightens. I've been meaning to buy a new book to read and keep my boredom in check. When I really have nothing to do, which is when all my homework is done, the sun isn't down yet, and I don't feel like talking to any of my few friends, I either make my room spotless or read an interesting book.
But I've finished all the books on my shelf already, and it's no fun rereading something I already read.
And so I want a new book to read.
I stare at the bookstore for a long moment as Jason mumbles some things.
I want to, but I shouldn't...I wouldn't wanna waste any of Jason's time. I'll just buy a new book when I find the time alone-but then when will I find the time to go all the way to the mall alone? It's not like I can drive a car (not that I don't know how, it's just that I don't have a license and will be caught).
I have enough money in my pocket but...
I look over at Jason. He's probably busy with all those college projects and in a hurry to get Bruce a gift. No...I shouldn't. Me buying some things I want isn't worth his time.
"Why don't we take a break for a minute and do some other stuff. Maybe I'll find something whilst taking a break."
I turn my head to him and nod. "Okay." I say simply.
He stands up and stretches. "Okay, so what do you wanna do, Baby Bird?"
"Could you stop it with the nickname, please?"
He looks at me and grins. "Well since it annoys you so much...then I guess I just won't have to stop. Baby Bird."
I roll my eyes and stand up right next to him.
"So Baby Bird. What do you wanna do?"
I look at him and take a small step away. "What I wanna do?" No one's ever asked me what I wanted, not back then, and I don't think I've ever heard Bruce ask me that, not even Dick.
I shrug. "I uh, I don't know…" Gotothebookstore. Gotothebookstore! My mind keeps rattling on, but my insecurity kicks in. "What do you wanna do?"
Jaosn shrugs and slaps his lap with his hands. "C'mon. It's a big mall. There's lots of stuff to do here. There's gotta be something you wanna do."
He stands in front of me, wearing his leather jacket and jeans, his back turned to the bookstore.
BOOKSTORE! BOOKSTORE! TELL JASON TO TURN AROUND!
No.
But he said that I can do whatever I want!
No! I don't want to waste his time doing the things I want!
My eyes set on the bookstore and the red and white sign that says Fully Booked.
Jason looks into my eyes as if he's reading me like a book, then he turns around and I look away sheepishly. "Fully Booked huh? That's what you wanted."
"Wha-no! I mean, I'd rather not. We'll spend too much time in there and-"
"You know, if you wanted to go there, all you had to do was ask." He starts walking towards the bookstore. I stand here, watching as he walks towards the bookstore, and I smile.
All you have to do is ask.
I smile and jog towards him.
Dick's POV
My hands wrap around the doorknob and I turn it, swinging the door wide open. "Hey Dami have you seen Ti-"
I'm cut short by the scene before me. The curtains are slightly open letting a few rays of sunlight in. The atmosphere is calming and soothing, with soft old music coming from an iPod. A canvas is placed right in front of the boy with spiky black hair as he holds a paint brush and sits on a chair, moving his paint brush up the canvas with light strokes.
Finally, he takes notice of me and his eyes slightly widen. He rushes in front of the canvas, trying to block the picture from me. He scowls. "Have you ever heard of knocking, Grayson?" He growls as his dog lifts his head from it's quiet slumber.
A smirk forms at my lips. "I didn't know you liked painting, Dami!" I smile and shut the door behind me as I walk up to him. He attempts to hide his face. "Aw, there's nothing to be ashamed about!"
"I am not ashamed! Now leave me be Grayson!" He says, still standing in front of the hidden canvas.
"Oh, I'll leave. After you show me your painting."
"That is absurd! Why would I do such a thing!"
"Because I'm your brother and brothers get along."
He scowls at this. "That is untrue Grayson. I despise you all too much to get along with any of you."
"Riiight, but you didn't deny that we're brothers unlike all those times before."
He takes a slight step back, but not enough to topple over his work. "Just leave me at peace Grayson!"
"Not until you show me your work!"
He pauses for a moment, thinking it over. "You really won't leave now will you?"
I nod. "Yup, and if you move out of that spot to attack me, you could either destroy that painting or I could take a quick peek at it if left unguarded." I grin, watching as logic takes over him. "You know very well I won't be moving from this spot until you show me."
He glares daggers into my eyes. "Fine." He barks sharply and steps aside for me to look. I raise an eyebrow at him. It's not like Dami to give up easily. Maybe he does want someone to take a look at his painting...just for reassurance maybe?
As I take a look at the still wet painting my mouth falls slightly agape. "It's...wow…" I gasp slightly and turn to him. "You made this." I state as if I'm realizing this just now as I look at his only paintbrush in his hand. "Why didn't you tell me you liked to paint? I would've bought a bunch of canvases and paint brushes for you."
He looks away, setting his eyes on Titus. "I didn't think it mattered." He mumbles, and at that sentence my heart cracks, and I frown.
"Of course it does." I walk to him and push his hair away from his face. "It matters Dami. You matter."
He pauses, his eyes still on the Great Dane. "Do you think...Father would like it?"
"It's his gift, isn't it?" I smile as he nods slightly. "I'm sure he would." I say soothingly. "When did you start getting into painting?"
He shrugs heavily and bends down to pat Titus' head. "A few months ago."
My head cocks. "A few months ago?" From the look of his painting, it looks like he's been painting for years. "That's a lie." I half heartedly accuse him.
He shrugs. "I used to paint back when I was younger when I was recovering from my injuries from training. When my mother dropped me off here, I forgot about painting for the past three years. But when my mother came to see me, she gave me a canvas and this paintbrush."
He met his mother? I'll have to look into that, but better not bring it up right now. It will just ruin the moment.
"You've got a talent, Dami. Who else knows of this?" I ask.
"Just you."
****Break****
Jason's POV
As Tim looks through all the books, I spot the comics area and walk up to it, but not too close. Far enough to see a younger image standing in front of a younger Bruce.
I was holding up a Batman comic book with a large grin that my eyes almost looked like lines.
"Please Bruce. Please!"
Even though the flashback image of Bruce has his back turned to me, I can imagine him pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing but hiding an ironic smile nonetheless.
Then the image of me changes into an image of my little sister holding up a comic book of Deadpool, and the image of Bruce changes into a past image of me with my hands in my pockets and my back turne to me.
I stare at the memory for a while as Autumn jumps up and down, giggling, and me rolling my eyes and pulling out my wallet.
Then the memory slowly fades away along with the childlike laughter.
"Jason?" I turn around and see a pair of baby blue eyes staring up at me. "Are you okay?" The fifteen year old tugs at the sleeve of my jacket like a little kid.
I nod. "Uh, yeah, yeah." I rub my eyes with my thumb and index finger. Tim still looks at me with a worried look, but that's when my phone buzzes in my pockets. I pull it out and look at the caller ID. It's Isabel.
I turn around and stick the phone to my ear.
"Yeah?"
"Jason, where are you?"
My eyebrows furrow. "Huh, what?"
"We're supposed to head to the movies with Roy and Kori, remember?"
Dammit. "Uhhh…" I almost forgot.
"We're here at the Elseworld Mall where we're supposed to meet up in the Starbucks at the top floor right now. The movie will start in 10 minutes, all we're waiting for is you." They're in the same mall I'm in. They're just one floor above us. I could just run up there...
"You better hurry up. We've been talking about going to see this movie since yesterday. I really want to watch it." Isabel says over the phone.
"Hold on Isabel. Actually, I'm right here in the-" I turn my head to see Tim still staring at me with his baby blue eyes. His eyes fall to his feet.
"Jason? Jason? Hello?"
I turn my head back straight ahead to talk to Isabel. "Actually Isabel. I'm really busy right now. You guys go instead. I've got something really important to do. Maybe I can just watch a different movie with you next time. Okay."
"O-okay." Her voice is slightly annoyed and unsure.
I end the call and shove it back in my pocket. I turn around to see Tim still staring at me, but now he's in shock.
"You just cancelled your date." He states.
I shrug. "It wasn't really much of a date anyways." My eyes drift to the large book in his hand. "So, is this the book you want?" He nods slowly, then his eyes fly to the book, letting go of the subject.
"Uh...yeah. But, I don't know."
****Break****
We ended up getting three books and a deck of Bicycle cards (don't ask).
Now, we're back to walking around the mall searching for a gift for Bruce. I look at Tim as he walks with his head slightly down and his eyes to his shoes.
I know his story, how his parents always expected so much from him but never really had the time to see him reach these expectations.
He's a smart kid, way smarter than I was when I was his age. But he's too afraid. He likes to play things careful 'cause he's afraid of making a mistake and disappointing someone - and when I say someone, I mean Bruce.
It's obvious.
Because I know what it's like.
But I don't blame him.
I don't know why I call him Replacement anymore. He was replaced too. He's not Robin anymore, and now he knows how I feel. We're just toys, toys that are tossed away when broken.
Except none of them died...
And I'm going to make sure it stays that way...
Even though I failed one of them already…
****Break****
Dick's POV
I walk up to the couch where Chris is sitting flipping through the channels. At one point she stops at the news network.
"39 people were found dead in Nigeria this morning. It seems that they have been caught in some sort of unusual battle." From what it looks like, some of the bodies have lost limbs, some were burned to death, some are frozen solid, others are just plain limp.
Which doesn't make sense because the only people capable of these things are either locked away or on the good side.
"Hey Chris."
She turns her head. "What?" She asks, turning the TV off.
"Let's go."
She cocks her head to the side. "What? Where?"
"Remember. This morning you told me you were going to choose the cake."
"Cake for what?"
"Can you stop forgetting?"
"I'm serious, cake for what?"
"Bruce's birthday!" I say almost too loudly.
She pauses for a long moment, furrowing her eyebrows and rattling her brain. "Today's his birthday?"
My eyes widen in frustration. "Yes! We've been talking about it since last week!"
Another long pause as she recalls. "Ooooh yeaaaah!" She jumps off of the couch and heads towards me. "Where's dad anyways?"
I sigh. "You know where he is."
She nods in understanding. "He's been down there for how long?"
"All morning. Trying to figure out where The Riddler is." She nods.
"Did you find anything last night about the disappearance of Lex Luthor?" Oh that she remembers, but she can't remember Dad's birthday?!
I nod. "Yeah, I wrote it down in my report last night."
"Okay."
"Well? Aren't you going to get dressed?" I ask, referring to her pj tshirt and shorts.
"Oh yeah, I'll be right back." She says, rushing up the stairs to put new clothes on.
****Break****
"So do you want this one? Or this one?" I look at all of the cakes. "Or would he like this one instead?"
"Dick, I thought you said I get to choose the cake!"
I pause for less than a second and move back to stand beside her. "You're right. Ahem. Yeah, you go ahead now and choose your cake." I tell her, standing up straight and pushing her slightly towards the glass case of cakes.
She gives me a raised eyebrow while heading towards the cakes, then she turns to look at them. "Hm…"
"This one looks good." She says, pointing at a large strawberry cake.
I nod. "Okay...but-"
"Nope. I like this one." The woman that looks around my age (and is pretty) at the counter looks at us and smiles warmly. I smile back charmingly.
I look at the one Chris is pointing at and then the large vanila cake, then back at her and then the vanila cake, then back at her, then back to the vanila cake. Then she raises both eyebrows and I sigh, pulling out my wallet and grumbling. "Fine…"
I walk up to the counter. "Then send the cake right here please." I give the woman that looks around my age the name of the place on the piece of paper. "Then whilst your at it, why don't you give me your number?" I smile at her charmingly and she giggles.
"Alright Mister Wayne." She smiles at me.
I smirk, giving her the money for the cake and receiving the receipt. I turn the reciept around and find her number on it. I smile at her as she heads into the kitchen of the cake shop. "Thanks." I wave.
I move towards the door where Chris is already waiting with a confused frown on her face. "Barbara won't be too happy." She says as I open the door and walk out.
We walk to the car and I open the door. "Relax. It's just for show." I stuff the receipt in my back pocket and plop myself down at the driver's seat. "You know Babs is the only one for me." I start the car and head back. "What did you get Dad for his birthday?" I ask her.
"A ceramic shard. You?" I give her a confused look, but she doesn't explain further.
I smile. "Alfred and I got him something really cool."
"Way to be mysterious, Mister Phony Playboy." She rolls her eyes whilst fiddling with her phone.
"Who are you texting?"
"My friend." She says without giving me a single glance.
"You sure do have a lot of friends." I mumble.
"Yeah, so?"
I sigh. Why can't we just have a normal conversation without me realizing that my little sister isn't so little anymore.
"Dick stop!" My head darts back to the road and I step on the brakes. The car stops with a loud screech.
My hands tighten around the wheel as I look back at Chris who's staring wide-eyed ahead in shock but otherwise fine. "And that's why we wear seatbelts."
I look back at the road. Two cars crashed into each other. The are two police cruisers and four policemen standing around as two paramedics wheel a man into an ambulance. "Dick, what's going on?" Chris asks, more curious than scared.
"I don't know, but I'm checking it out. Stay here." I open the door and walk towards the car crash.
"Grayson."
"Officer Dominguez. What happened here?" I ask, heading towards one of my work mates in the GCPD.
He shakes his head. "A car accident. Ain't it obvious?"
"How many?"
"Three. One of the three is injured." He gestures to the man who's being taken away to a hospital.
I walk towards the smaller car. The windshield is broken and shattered, the paint job is more than scratched, and the front is smashed.
My eyes narrow as I look at two dead bodies.
One is the driver, a man with blonde hair on the seat with blood dripping down his forehead, his clothes, and his mouth. He also seems to have bruises and deep scratches on his face.
In the passenger seat is a 13 year old girl with the same blonde hair as the man, with blood dripping down her hand and her face.
I lean in closer, inhaling the stench of blood and take a look at the girl's position. She's facing the man who seems to be her dad, but then there's a bloody knife in her hand. I look back at the man and the blood on his clothes.
My eyes widen.
Multiple stab wounds.
Then my eyes go back to the girl gripping the knife.
I get out of the car. "Officer, the girl. What's her name?"
They all look at me. "Aren't you off duty, Grayson?"
"What's their names?"
"Julius and Katie Remmer."
"She's his daughter."
They nod. My brows furrow. "This isn't an accident. Julius Remmer did not die because of this car crash. Take a look. Multiple stab wounds. An autopsy needs to be performed, I-"
I see Chris looking at me with an almost disappointed look in her face.
I turn back to Officer Dominguez. "I'll check this out when I'm on duty." I head back to the car and get inside. I take a detour back to the house.
"What happened?" She asks.
I shrug. "It was an accident."
"Oh…"
A silence as I continue to drive on home. "Hey, Chris."
"Yeah?"
"You have friends of lower grade, right?"
"A few. Why?"
"Did you know a...Katie Remmer?"
She pauses for a long time. "Yeah…"
"What does she look like?"
"Blonde hair, gray eyes."
"Could you tell me a little bit about her? Was there anybody in her family that had anything to do with homicide or some kind of mental disorder?"
She thinks for a while. "No, I don't think so. We're not really close. We're just working together in a play."
I nod. "Did she seem a little suspicious?"
"No. Not really. Top student, good actress, likes All Time Low, Financial District resident, lives with two parents. Good and normal life actually." She says, sounding a little jealous.
"Hmmm…anything off with her actions lately?"
"No. I don't see anything wrong with her, just your typical 8th grader."
"I meant about her actions nowadays. Within the week."
A long silence. "I wouldn't really know. I haven't been seeing her around school lately. She hasn't been coming to any of the practices for the past few days. Her friends say she's been sick for three days."
I nod. "Okay…"
Katie Remmer, I have to look her up. I can't imagine an average girl wanting to kill her own father...why would she do that? How can she do that? It seems to me that they were just on their way somewhere, then she got a knife and started stabbing him.
"She died in that car crash back there, didn't she?"
I sigh. "Yeah."
****Break****
Bruce's POV
This is unusual for The Riddler, not his usual M.O. Breaking out of Arkham, giving me a few riddles, and then disappearing. I went to Danny's Auto Shop last night and found nothing. He wasn't there...he was never there.
"Master Bruce." Alfred says from behind me firmly. "Time for dinner."
I sigh. "When I'm-"
"Master Bruce, you haven't eaten anything, seen any natural light, or even talked to any of your children."
I turn my chair around and sigh, standing up. "Fine." I growl.
"And I suggest you put something fitting for tonight's dinner." He tells me as we both walk out of the study.
I raise an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Your children have something different planned for this celebration."
"Celebration?" I stop in my tracks right in front of my room as he heads down the hallway
****Break****
"Make a wish, son."
"Bam!"
"Nooooo!"
"I-I just wish for them to come back."
"I can't stay in your shadow anymore."
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
"Jason...no"
"Chris! Come down here!"
"Please. Batman needs a Robin."
"Father. I imagined you to be taller."
When I was younger, I never imagined having a kid. Not once did I even think about it.
But somehow, all of them managed to wiggle their way into my life.
They all have their demons, and I know all too well how much they want to make me proud and not disappoint me, and it hurts every single one of them whenever they think I'm not proud of them, that I don't care about them. I know what it's like to strive so desperately to make your father proud, how difficult it is. I know all too well.
They try so hard to make me proud. But they don't have to try.
No matter what they think...
I'm proud of them. All of them.
I just can't find the words and the emotions to express how proud I am.
I walk in the dining room. "Happy birthday!" A loud yell echoes through the dining area and a large cake is set in front of me on the table with candles lit.
I can't help but smile.
At all of them.
All of my kids.
And I can't thank their birth parents enough for sharing them with me.
"Bruce! Make a wish!" Tim grins.
I smile and blow it out.
"What was your wish Dad?" Dick asks.
I smile at him. "Isn't that kept a secret?"
"Aw, c'mon Dad!"
"Can we eat the cake first Father?"
"No. Damian. We're going to eat dinner first, then we'll have cake."
Alfred has outdone himself with all the food prepared.
I look at all of my children, talking, bickering, laughing. And secretly, I smile, ever so proudly.
I remember so long ago…
"Happy birthday Bruce!"
"Wow! A toy train! It's awesome!"
"I hate this day…I-I...I just want them to come back home..."
Comparing that gloomy day, the first birthday I had without my parents, to today. The first birthday with my entire family together. Alfred, Dick, Jason, Tim, Chris, Damian. Everyone.
...not everyone…
I glance at the empty chair at the end of the table. The only part of the table which looks gloomy and dark. The only part which isn't lit.
An empty black hole at the end of the table.
A stiff figure is supposed to be sitting on that chair. A figure who tries not to draw any sort of attention to herself, who keeps her head down at the table and never dares to speak unless spoken to.
I guess she did somehow crawl her way into this family. Into all of our lives.
"Yes Sir."
"I'm sorry Mister Wayne."
She never really called me Bruce or Dad. I wonder if she was afraid of me.
For a moment, I think I can see an illuminating white light flickering on the chair, showing the ghostly face of a small little smile.
I shake my head and turn my attention back to my children.
"Okay! We're all done! Now, can we eat the cake?" Chris asks.
I nod. "Alright."
Alfred slices a piece for each of us and I taste it. "It is a good cake."
"I picked it!" Chris bellows, sticking her tongue out at Dick. "I told you he would like it!"
"Well, I paid for it so ha!" He grins and she shrinks back into her seat, grumbling something about being able to pay for it herself.
"We thought Alfred had so much work on the dinner that we would just buy a cake instead." Dick says.
"No need for that now, Master Richard. I could have taken care of that myself." Alfred only half tries to protest, knowing that Dick only came up with that excuse to spend time with his sister.
Dick shrugs.
"Oh yes, Father! I must give you something. I shall go and get it." Damian alerts me, running out of the dining room. Jason stuffs his mouth with cake before running after Damian upstairs. "Oh yeah it's upstairs!" He says with a mouthful of cake.
"Ugh Jason! You got cake smush on my face!" Chris wipes her face in disgust but still grins.
Alfred cleans the table up until there are no more plates or food.
A few moments later they come storming back down and plop back down on their seats, breathless, with some things wrapped in their hands.
"Well, I guess we should start giving you our presents!"
I wonder what they got.
"I guess I'll go first." Chris says, getting up and giving me a gift wrapped neatly in a nice gift wrapper. She gives me a peck on the cheek. "Happy birthday dad."
I open the gift, a mug with the words "#1 Dad" on it. "I know it's really lame and cheesy. But it's the thought that counts."
My smirk turns into a smile. "I know. Thank you." I give her a hug, and she whispers in my ear, "I'll give you your real gift later." She walks back to her seat.
Jason walks up to me and hands me a gift wrapped in wrapping paper but hardly neat. "Happy birthday Bruce."
"No coupons?"
He shakes his head with a grin. "Not this time old man."
He says, smiling slightly as I open the gift. It's a shiny medal that says 'Best Dad In The World' written on it.
He scratches the back of his head. "I know it sucks but...I couldn't find anything else you'd want."
I smile at him, and I can feel it actually touching my heart. "Best dad in the world huh?" I smile. "You really think that?"
He nods. "Well yeah. You are the best...Dad." He smiles and for a moment, he turns back into that raven haired twelve year old boy again.
And that's the best gift he could ever give me.
"Thank you Jason."
He goes back to his seat and mutters "Copycat" to Chris. She mutters back "Shut up." I chuckle lightly.
"Can I go next?" Tim asks quietly and he stiffly walks up to my side.
He hands me a box and watches me as I open it.
My shoulders slack and I can't help but remember those memories as I stare down at the toy train.
"I cleaned it up."
I look up at one of my boys. "Where did you find this?"
"Up in the attic. I thought maybe you'd want it back. I hope it's nice enough."
"Thank you Tim." I smile. He smiles back.
"Here Father." Damian says with a small frown, handing me something hard and quite heavy wrapped in wrapping paper.
"It's not very nice though…" I open it and find a beautiful painting with contrasting colors and amazing shades.
"Oh my god." Chris mutters.
"Did you paint this?" I ask him.
He nods quietly, looking unsatisfied with his work. "I'm sorry Father. It was quite rushed."
I shake my head. "No, no, it's amazing work Damian. I need to hang this by my room." I smile, and he looks at me questioningly and finally smiles back.
"Do you truly think it is satisfying work, Father?"
I shake my head. "More than satisfying Damian. You've outdone yourself." I grin and he smiles back.
"My turn!" Dick plops something heavy on my lap and I open it curiously. He grins as I unwrap the paper. "Alfred helped make it...or I helped Alfred make it. I'm not very good at arts and crafts. But I took the pictures...some of them...:"
It's a photo album.
A Family
****Break****
After everyone leaves the table, I thank Alfred again for the food and walk upstairs. Instead of going straight to my room I stop by Chris' room.
"Christine?" I open the door and see her looking at me as she sits on her bed. At first she's frowning in confusion, but then her eyes light up.
"Oh yeah!"
She goes to her desk and opens one of the drawers. She pulls something out, but keeps the item in her fist so that I can't see it. I walk over to her.
"This one's also kinda cheesy, with the whole 'super symbolic' thing. Sorry I didn't have time to wrap it."
She places something in the palm of my hand. I look at it, first not understanding how this is 'super symbolic' but then it hits me.
"Is this the-?"
"Yeah. Still have it." She smiles sheepishly.
In my hand is a broken ceramic piece with some blue swirls on it inside a transparent, rock-shaped thing as protection. The shard is a pendant for a simple, black chord that is made out of the same thing as hair ties.
I chuckle as I begin to recall. "You were ten, but you seemed seven. It was still your first week. You were walking down the hall and I startled you, causing you to accidentally knock over that vase."
She laughs. "I apologized a million times, and I nearly cried because I was so worried and scared about what would happen next. You knew I was scared...scared of you at the time, so you asked me why."
"You just said 'Because you're a stranger, and I don't know anything about you.' And I replied saying-"
"I'm not a stranger anymore. I'm your father." We both smile at each other.
"Then I told you to keep the shard because I wanted you to remember that there's no need to be scared of me and that I'll always be there for you. I told you that I would be a great father and that you'd be loved."
She nods.
"Then why are you giving this to me?"
She pauses. "Because you seem to be forgetting how much of a father you are." She pauses again before continuing. "You're a great father, but you seem to be doubting yourself. Well that's to remind you. I had that made into a necklace so that you'll always remember how much we love you and how great of a father you are. That moment was the moment I knew I could trust you, and I finally understood genuine caring. You brought some more happiness into my life, and I'm grateful for that. So thanks Bruce. Thanks Dad."
She smiles at me, and I pull her into a tight hug. "Thank you."
She mutters into my shoulder, "I love you, Daddy."
I know I don't have to worry about answering because the silence is enough for her.
****Break****
I change into my pajamas and sit down on the bed.
All these gifts are amazing. A few years ago, I didn't even want to think about my birthday. I really wanted to forget this day. But today, my sons and my daughter reminded me that there's always hope, there's always light, always a reason to remember.
I hang the painting on my wall parallel to my bed so that it's the first thing I see every morning.
It's a painting of all of us standing in front of the manor side by side smiling: me, Alfred, Dick, Jason, Tim, Chris, Damian, and even Titus and my parents standing behind me. Then at the edge of the painting, hiding behind a familiar oak tree is a little pale girl with dark hair in a white dress as if dressed for a funeral. She looks like she's almost fading away and looking at all of us with a small and sad smile.
I open the photo album, looking at all of the pictures that Dick took.
The first one is of me and my parents standing behind me with soft smiles.
The next one is of Damian laughing while being tackled to the ground by Titus.
One is of Chris sleeping on Jason's shoulder and Jason drooling with his head lolled back on the couch.
Then there's Dick noogying Tim in front of the school theater.
The next page is of Autumn watching as Dick attempts to ride her skateboard in some kind of underground place.
Then there's a 10 year old Dick and a younger me standing in front of a rollercoaster.
Then Jason the first time he played the grand piano, looking so passionate.
Chris hugging me so tightly after we watched an opera.
Dick, Tim, Chris and Damian swimming in the beach and posing behind a huge sandcastle.
Then me standing behind Jason as he rides a bike for the very first time.
Damian in bed, sick with the flu, and Dick taking care of him like some mother hen would.
Alfred sitting at the kitchen table drinking tea while Autumn reads a book to him.
All of them tackling each other, laughing as Alfred scolds them.
A milkshake on Jason's head as Autumn laughs at him.
Dick's hair glued to the bed while Chris and Damian laugh at him.
Then Chris' first day to school.
After those are a bunch of blank pages waiting for photos to be stuck into them.
I close the book and smile as the rain trickles down from the sky. I put my head down on the pillow and fall asleep.
****Break****
Alfred's POV
I open the door and find all the boys on Master Bruce's bed, sound asleep, clinging onto Master Bruce.
Somehow they all managed to fit there with their father without Master Bruce waking up.
Then someone walks past me. It is MIss Christine with lowered eyelids groggy movements. "Good morning Miss Christine." I say, but she does not greet back. Instead, she walks to Master Bruce's bed.
She pauses for a moment and glances at her brothers and father. Noticing there is no space left, she suddenly collapses on top of her father, her face smashing into his back.
I can't help but smile at the pile of sardines on the king sized bed. I raise the camera and take a picture.