Epilogue: chasing after robins
Written by:janahjeanb
Batman simply said "yes" when superman profusely apologize when instead of being immediately promoted as a founding member of the justice league, batman have to go thru the rigors of recruitment process because his invitation have expired a month ago.
The recruitment was set the evening on a saturday in metropolis city (the justice league was blatant in favoring batman as they voted unanimously for that time frame for the convenience of batman) and the voices of the crowd of heroes wanting to join the roster for the jl team was waxing and waning with energy and an air of festivities. Most were just hanging out having already done in signing up on the table near the stage. Then batman showed up. The silence was immediate.
Some are gaping not believing for a moment that the batman exist, a few others seemed impress, a rarer few seemed to like really really find it funny to have a superhero named like "batman'. Most are rooted to the spot at the aura of darkness that covers the guy like another cloak.
Batman was oblivious to the commotion he cause as he is focus on the plan: Sign the paper and leave. He might have done so in just a few minutes except a bunch of thugs blocked him.
Man, he hates bullies. Metahuman bullies are even worse. Batman sigh. He curls his hands into fist. Here goes ...A few minutes later he stepped over the unconscious guys as he made his way out with a happy swoosh of his cape.
He cause another commotion a few days later in the superheroes world when he submitted a roster of a team he wants to lead in the jl team database. Approve as team omega, it means his team is assigned the lowest of the low in the hierachy of the jl squad. Batman remained impassive.
The third shocker is when the team that batman manage didnt even rise as quickly as flash had bet on considering that it is god-freaking-batman. Batman seemed placid.
##
"Try again!" Batman order with a growl when he caught his son balling his assignment in frustration and was about to throw it in anger.
It was a typical assignment of team omega and as such, both kids and adult spend most of it doing community service.
Jason who refuse to rescue cats off trees, Curse and began to flatten out the crumpled form of his math assignment. He was pressing the tip of the pencil very hard on paper.
Tim who is sitting besides jason and also wearing the colorful yellow green and red costumes of the robins was trying to be discrete in updating both damian and dick the tallies of how many cats, kittens they rescued that day thru his visual/comm shades. He ignore jason's scowl when he decided to try to just lie down on the picnic table and bask on the sunshine.
After a few brief minute of simply enjoying the rays of the sun, he grope for a piece of paper by his side and read the list. "Rescue cats, rake the leaves, clean the pond , bake cookies for the elderly house..." Tim slap it on the table. "Honestly," he said exasperated, "who made this shitty assignment?!"
Batman who was leaning on an oak tree with his arms across the chest was comfortable in blending in the shadow. He watch both boys with fondness. "Blame Superman." He said huskily
Tim snorted with an explosive "ha!"
Dick slap the picnic table and crowed "first!" He was smiling as he tried to catch his breathe. His robin costume have pixie booths and a silvery green scale short-shorts! He doesn't care at all if the villains and his brothers are laughing at his attire.
A few minutes later damian arrive at the picnic table equally out of breathe. His robin costume have green boots up towards the knee- ehhh just google the thing guys! "You cheated grayson!" He accuse his brother in regards to their race. He tried to shove the older guy.
"Hey. No real name on the field little bird" dick reminded the brat kindly.
Batman have a very small smile as he watch his sons bonded. Jason was alternating between pleading and threatening dick to help him with his assignment while tim was offering damian a bottle of water. The robins were living up to their name by being noisy birds.
Passerbys will comment on how adorable the boys are. They did not even know about the batman staying in the shadow.
Tim suddenly freeze. Batman have an inkling the boy hacked into the jl communication because sure enough..."the red cape is coming. Hideeee!" He squeal as he run towards his father and scream "up up up!"he scream.
Batman cup both hands and push his boy up towards the branches where he stayed unmoving and silent among the foliage.
Jason grab damian by the waist and calmly aim a grapple hook on one of the building.
Dick sigh as he grab at jason's paper and continue his paper.
"Hi robin" superman greeted cheerfully a few minutes later as the alien landed on the ground.
Dick beam a smile at him before he leap into the super heroes arm. "Superman!"
Superman chuckle before he put the boy down hastily. No need to goad the batman's jealous attitude. "So do you like metropolis so far robin?"
"It had its moments" robin said.
"Uh, wheres the batman?"
"Here." Batman replied curtly.
"So uh, enjoying your assignment so far?" Superman asked between parched lips as the human glare at him.
"It had its moments" batman was irritated that the boy scout from the sky decided to check on him. He didn't admit that the assignments were just excuses anyway for him to spend time with his boys.
Superman grin fracture. He lie miserably that he needs to rescue some people now due to his super hearing. He fly away looking miserable.
The brothers did their ninja move and appear beside the batman
"It's like kicking a sick puppy dad!" Jason crowed delighted.
Dick deck his brother. "Take that back!" The eldest howled.
"Oh boy " tim thought.
Batman feeling belatedly guilty promise to uhm...he look for his comm and say his sorry best by leaving a voicemail saying that he is giving two tickets for a baseball games for superman and his friend.
##
"This is absolutely lowest of the low" jason shouted angrily as their next assignment involves travelling thru the sewers in canetown city. "It stinks!"
"Nah. You stink!" Dick tease.
Soon the two boys were grappling and pushing each other and was being left behind. Batman who was holding hands with the two youngest just sigh.
Tim was lost in the colours of the readings in the gadget in his other hand. Mapping this sewer is kind of fun. He stop when batman let go of his hand to plant another device on the sewer wall and just as absentmindedly move in step with the bats when the older male regrabbed his hands.
Damian who was wearing an oxygen mask that cover half his face was shooting rats or anything with a water pistol meanwhile. "Pew pew pew" he mentally was making gun noises.
"Team omega acknowledge " batman growl out of nowhere to the person on the other end of the comm link. The robins perk up and gather around him eagerly. Batman and his team is the closest superheroes on a reported robbery that will take the policemen 10 minutes to prevent.
"A mission! An actual honest to goodness mission! Finally!" Jason uncharacteristically was crying with happiness as he tackle batman with a hug.
"Holy cow batman!" Tim said stun. He like things to be predictable and...this..is...well..
"Hey hey timbo. Calm down" dick patted the kid when he was starting to have a panic attack.
"Boys focus!" Batman bark glaring at damian who was doing a victory dance of the arabian. "Here is the plan."
##
It was the scariest five minutes of the robbers lives when they tried to make a quick get away with their stash on their car from the grocery store and then -
"Jesus!" They shriek like girls when a pair of heavy duty boots broke the car's front glass thing. Suddenly the driver was yank out of the car thru the window.
The cut off scream unfreeze the three other men and they bolted out of the car.
"So...that's...B-batman?" The guy who was facing one on one with dick asked with doubt. He watch the costumed vigilante pummelling his struggling and fighting companion on the hood of the car.
"Yup" dick replied as they circle each other warily. He popped his "p"
"What is he doing in canetown city?" The fifty year old man mused out loud as he pause in circling. He glance at the kid. "I suppose that makes you...batboy?" He prodded the kid politely.
"My name is robin sir!" Dick said puffing his chest out
" down kid. No need to twist your panty in a bunch."
"Red Hood for God's sake! Stop hitting that guy like an animal!" Batman somehow managed to yell as his opponent tried to push his head away as he caught Jason pummelling his opponent on the face on the parking lot floor.
"Oh yeah?! Says the pot to the kettle!" Jason shout back. " besides he hit me with a CROWBAR, boss!" He whine while seating on the guy's chest
"Jesh. You and your crowbar obsession!" Batman gripe before he knock his opponent out and manacle both the guy's hand and feet.
Meanwhile tim was trying to alternately scold damian about trying to kill the robber and shouting at the robber to stop provoking his brother. Being a mediator sucks! He ended up fighting both guys who amazingly teamed up! His life is getting weirder.
Batman jump after his boys on the manhole and into the sewer later as the sound of the police siren were getting stronger.
###
Sad to say, batman disbanded the team after the incident where the justice league and then some have to unite against an alien force that threaten humankind. It was just a coincidence that it occurs right after summer break is over.
Batman had risen again to the occassion and prove his bravery, ingenuity and the ability to command and so oh yeah, that sweet sweet 7th spot on the justice league council became officially his.
Unofficially it was already his several months ago anyway.
an: currently working on "picnic by bats". Queuing is "the great pretend"
Meh.