There should've been more Raven in this chapter but I hope you guys get the vibe that all the siblings love and support each other. Anyway, eight chapters left after this one, here's hoping the fic will be finished before 2024 lol.

Also, coincidentally, I also just went to a pizza arcade (Not Chuck E. Cheese) so feel free to assign this assortment of prizes I won today to Victor, Richard, and Kori: Bouncy ball, mesh ball (one of those ones you squeeze and it squishes out of the mesh), two small plastic dinosaurs, and one purple birthstone ring that I'm pretty sure I already lost and also isn't my birthstone.

Everyone except for Gar would claim to be too old for Chuck E. Cheese, but at least the seven-year-old was thoroughly delighted. Once a month they did a big outing as a family and this month it was Gar's turn to pick, so they were eating rat pizza.

Right now, Gar was happily drawing on the provided place mat while Richard and Kori were squabbling over tickets and Victor played skee ball, but Raven sensed that something more was going on. She could see by the look in Gar's eyes that he had a plan. Because her happy-go-lucky little brother could be a mastermind when he wanted to be. Normally Raven would decide this wasn't her problem, or, if she was feeling charitable, let Bruce or Alfred know that something was up. But their dad was preoccupied with Richard and Kori and Alfred was visiting the Kents, so for once, Raven decided to join in on the scheme.

She signed to get his attention and then, still signing, asked him what his plan was. Gar made the "R" symbol with his hand and then brushed it against his nose twice, and Raven understood. Gar had chosen to go to a rodent-themed restaurant to cause rodent-themed chaos.

"How can I help?"

They decided that the two funniest places for a real rat to show up were either in the bathroom or the play place and were trying to narrow it down when Bruce came back, the other kids in tow, so they could eat their pizza.

Gar innocently nibbled on his pizza before asking Bruce to be excused to the bathroom.

"Do you need me to go with you?" Bruce asked, always worried about his kids and specifically his youngest.

Gar gave him a look that conveyed that he was seven, not three, and Bruce let him go alone.

Raven sat back and ate her pizza, awaiting the screams.

"THERE'S A RAT IN THE TOILET!"

Richard and Kori began snickering.

Bruce bolted for the bathroom and they could distinctly hear his bellowing voice yelling, "GARFIELD LOGAN WAYNE!"

Raven patiently, innocently continued to eat her pizza.

Gar was forced to sit still and not do anything while his siblings finished playing arcade games and redeeming their tickets for prizes. He was soggy and fidgety but he didn't complain. Raven didn't own up to egging Gar on, but she sat next to him the whole time he was being punished.

Bruce was clearly pissed. He didn't have to punish Gar very often and he didn't want to start now but he couldn't let any of his superpowered children think that it was okay to use their powers for mischief. He fought too many bad guys who did bad things just because they could, he was not going to let his own kids follow that path too.

So when they got home, Bruce sent his other kids to their rooms to play with their new prizes and sat Gar down for a lecture.

"That was bad," he said, simple, to the point, his voice stern.

Gar signed that he was sorry. It had been funny for a little bit, but the joke had worn off when he'd had to sit at the table in his damp clothes while his siblings spent his tokens.

"I know you're sorry, Gar, but you can't do stuff like that. You know that not everyone has powers like you. You're special. And because you're special and have these powers you have to use them responsibly. You can goof around at home but right now you are simply not allowed to transform in front of other people outside of our family, okay?"

Gar sulked, not making eye contact.

"Garfield," Bruce said, "I need to know you understand me."

Gar held up his fist and flicked up his pointer finger, the sign for understand, but he still wasn't looking at Bruce.

Bruce softened a little, "Buddy? Look at me, okay? I'm not trying to be mean, I just don't want anyone getting hurt."

Gar looked at him and burst into tears, and Bruce pulled him into his arms, rubbing his back.

"Okay buddy, let's talk about it. You want some paper?" Sometimes when there was a lot going on, it was easier for Gar to write or draw it out.

Gar nodded, rubbing at his eyes.

Bruce carried him into the kitchen to get some paper and then they sat down at the breakfast table together.

"Okay, buddy, tell me why you turned into a rat today."

Gar took a few calming breaths before beginning to write.

After a minute of writing, he passed the paper over to Bruce, who read it aloud to himself since none of the other kids were around.

"If I'm special, why do I have to hide? I don't feel special. I feel like nobody can see or hear me."

Bruce winced. Gar was always so content, or, well, maybe he was just quiet. Gar had always been able to communicate with his family, had always been able to be himself in front of them, Bruce had never thought that that might not be enough for him.

"Have you felt that way for a while, Gar?"

Gar nodded.

"I'm really sorry, buddy. I didn't know that you felt that way, but I should have been paying more attention."

Gar shrugged, he wasn't mad at Bruce, he was just tired of feeling overlooked.

"Do you want to use your powers so that people notice you more?" Bruce guessed.

Another timid nod. Gar signed that he was sorry.

"No, no, it's okay, Gar- for heaven's sake, I dress up as a bat and fight crime, I know what it's like to want people's attention. Right now it's not safe for you to use your powers in front of other people but I know you're really going to help people with them one day. And until then…"

Bruce hesitated, dreading what he was about to recommend. Garfield was his little boy, his baby, and Bruce liked to hold him close to his chest. Though Bruce was happy to take Gar out in public now and then, and few people would mock him for his broccoli-colored skin when they knew he was Bruce Wayne's child, Bruce still hadn't felt comfortable sending Gar to school with the other kids.

He'd reasoned that because Gar was nonverbal it would make more sense to get him a tutor who could use and understand sign language. But it wouldn't have been that hard to put his youngest in school and make sure his needs were being met.

"Hey, kiddo? How would you like to go to school with your siblings? You could make some friends. Do you think that would make you feel seen?"

Gar thought about it and then nodded vehemently.

"Okay, you can start school with the others in the fall. But you can't shapeshift at school, and I will still have to punish you for today."

Gar sobered up and nodded again.

"Two weeks, extra chores with Alfred."

Gar flashed a thumbs up.

"And I want you to stay in your room until dinner."

Gar let out a dramatic sigh but headed upstairs without arguing. All in all, he was pretty happy with the outcome of this lecture. Getting to go to school next year, plus a chance to spend extra time with Alfred? Not too bad of a punishment.

His siblings swarmed him when he headed upstairs.

"Are you in trouble? Are you grounded forever?" Richard asked.

Kori flung her arms around him, "Please do not be in trouble, Gar."

Gar hugged her and then pulled away, reassuring his brothers and sisters that he was alright and adding at the end how he was going to go to school with them soon.

Richard didn't know why anyone would want to go to school but Gar was smiling so he didn't say anything.

Raven could literally feel the excitement radiating off of Gar's body and she had felt how sad he was just a few minutes before.

She didn't bring up his inner turmoil, instead choosing to offer him half a smile.

"Everyone at school is going to love you," Raven said, hoping to cheer him up a bit more.

Victor echoed the sentiment, causing Gar to beam at their assessment.

Then, reluctantly, Gar went to his room like dad had told him to, still daydreaming about finally going to school.

Downstairs, Bruce collapsed on the couch, exhausted after their monthly outing and the lecture. He felt terrible that he hadn't noticed Gar was struggling before now, but also he felt incredibly relieved that they were figuring it out now. He was glad Gar felt comfortable opening up to him about things and that they'd been able to work out the source of the acting out before it became a regular occurrence.

"Are you alright, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked, returning from his visit to the Kent farm.

"Mm-hm. I had to punish Gar today. He will be helping you with extra chores for the next two weeks."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

"I think I've been smothering Gar… I didn't realize how invisible he's been feeling and it caused him to act out today. Obviously, none of them are ever going to have a "normal" childhood, but I just… I need to let go, a little, so he can actually live his life. So I'm gonna enroll him in a real school this year, I guess."

"I'm proud of you, Bruce," Alfred said, surprising him.

"What? Why? I let my son down."

"You messed up, you recognized your mistakes, and you put in the hard work to fix it. I know this isn't easy for you but you're making the right decision for you and for Gar. Because you're both tougher than you know."

Bruce nodded, still a bit unsure but ready to face whatever happened next with his family in tow. He just probably wouldn't go back to Chuck E Cheese for a while.