Life in the Shadows Series
Learning to Fly
Man, I have so many plans for this. It's gonna be a huge series so I hope you are all ready. I'm going to try and power through as much of this as possible while I'm on my DC hyper focus binge. Detailed notes are at the end of this chapter.
Prologue – A New Life
Gotham City, New Jersey – June 18th-June 24th 1990
Bruce's POV
Failure and regret were nothing new to Bruce Wayne.
He'd made many mistakes in his life and continued to live with those regrets to this day. He'd failed to do anything to save his parents; though Alfred, the family butler and closest person to a father Bruce had had since his parent's deaths, insisted it was not his fault. Logically he knew the older man was right but knowing and believing were two different things. He lived with the regret of being partially responsible for The Joker's existence. He lived with the regret of failing to save many innocents who'd fallen victim to the numerous criminals and villains who called Gotham City home.
Tonight, he was faced with the results of yet another failure. This one, he wasn't so sure he could simply walk away from.
It had all started when he began investigating the mob boss, Tony Zucco. The detective had tracked the man to Haly's Circus of all places, arriving in time to witness him leaving after a discussion with the Ringmaster. It was apparent that the conversation hadn't gone the way either of the men had wanted, if the furious looks both had sported where anything to go by. Frustrated at having missed the interaction, he'd strongly considered donning the cape and cowl to speak to Mr Haley but decided to follow Zucco instead. The mobster had slipped away during the ensuing fight with his lackeys.
Knowing the cirrus was only going to be in town for one night, for a charity show Bruce himself had organised nonetheless, he'd decided it may be his best chance at catching Zucco. He'd hoped he would spot the crook in the crowds or see one of his henchmen sneaking around behind the stands. That was how he found himself among the audience that night, watching in horror with the rest of the crowd as John and Mary Grayson fell to their deaths, the screams of their twin sons would haunt the caped crusader for years. Two more deaths he'd failed to prevent. Two more boys who'd have to live with witnessing the deaths of their parents.
It was obvious to everyone sabotage had been the cause of the night's tragedy. As he watched on from the sidelines, he could see the investigators examining the ropes while his good friend, Commissioner James 'Jim' Gordon, spoke to the Ringmaster. As he prepared to leave the Big Top, he found his gaze being drawn to the two young boys curled up together in the stands; nine-year-old Richard John and Harvey James Grayson.
The boys were near identical in appearance. Light cream skin, black hair, wiry builds, short. Both boys were wearing glasses though they'd been nowhere in sight during the show. Contacts perhaps? From the back it would be almost impossible to tell them apart. However, there were a few obvious differences which set them apart. Richard had blue eyes while Harvey's were green. Richard's hair was neater, though only just, while Harvey's was all over the place. Richard's jaw was slightly more pointed while Harvey had more prominent cheekbones. The most distinguishing feature of all though had to be the lightning bolt scars both boys had on their foreheads, Harvey's to the right and Richard's to the left. The scars seemed very clean cut, unlikely to have been caused by an accident. He had to force down the flare of anger that swelled up at the notion the scars were most likely deliberately inflicted. The obvious age of the wounds hinting it had to have been years ago too.
The brothers shifted slightly, enough for Bruce to clearly see the bloodshot eyes and tear tracts on their faces. He felt his heart break in sympathy. After all, he knew all too well the pain that came with losing your parents at such a young age and in such a horrific way. He should leave. Zucco was still out there after all. But…
Seeing Jim had finished up a quick, but no doubt difficult, conversation with the kids, he wondered over to speak to his friend and the officer just in time to catch the end of Jim's order.
"…an APB on this 'Zucco' character now." Zucco. Bruce frowned. He was involved then. The mob boss wasn't an easy one to catch. The police would have a hard time apprehending the man. Batman though…That could wait. There was something more important right now. "What about the boys?" Bruce inquired, stopping next to Jim and the officer.
"My Wayne?" Jim looked at him curiously. Bruce wasn't surprised. While the commissioner and Batman had been working together for years, he only really knew Bruce Wayne by name and reputation outside of a few conversations. Perhaps it was time to change that.
"I was in the audience. Couldn't leave after this." He explained, casting a saddened look over his shoulder at the arena. The billionaire's blue eyes then flickered over to the stands again. The twins hadn't moved from their spot, though they did seem to at least be talking to each other quietly. "Do they have…anyone?"
Jim shook his head, a world-weary sigh breaking the silence. "No, no family. Some of the circus people want to take them in but frankly, I'm afraid Zucco might try to shut them up. They boys are material witnesses. We'll be here tonight but I might need to find a safe house." He explained, looking remorseful at the prospect of having to take the children from the only home they had. Bruce couldn't blame him. It was terrible but the commissioner was right. Zucco didn't like to leave loose ends. It was why he was one of Gotham's most prolific and dangerous mobsters. The boys would be in grave danger if they stayed here.
This was a stupid idea. Surely there was a better option, right? He should just leave it to the professionals.
He looked over once more to the two orphans, this time he found himself staring into two pairs of eyes: one, an emerald green and the other, sapphire blue. He sighed.
"I may be able to help…"
…LtF…
Bruce had honestly expected having two kids in the manor to be more….loud? Chaotic? Tiring? Instead, he'd found it would be all too easy to forget the twins were there at all.
He often saw them sitting together in the room they shared, they had been given a room each but had insisted on sharing for now, or in the loungeroom on the couch by the window. On the day they had arrived they had been given a tour of the manor with the permission to explore as much as they'd like on their own, but they had quickly retreated to their bedroom instead. They didn't talk to himself or Alfred unless spoken to first. It was a far cry from the cheerful, grinning kids he'd seen at the circus before the show.
It'd now been one week since the death of the Graysons. The funeral, s small but moving affair, had been two days after the tragedy. Everyone from Haly's Circus had been in attendance as well as Commissioner Gordon, Alfred, Bruce and of course, Harvey and Richard. It'd been the first time since bringing the boys home that he'd been able to hear more than a few words at a time from them. Bruce found it more than a little concerning, but Alfred had been quick to remind him that Bruce had been much the same after losing his parents and had insisted they'd open up more in time.
Bruce spent most of the last few days at the manor, working from home and making arrangements for the Graysons' funeral. After dinner he went out as the Dark Knight to try and track down Zucco. He was determined now more than ever to bring the man to justice. The third night into the search though had provided another obstacle for the vigilante, one he wasn't quite sure how to handle as of yet.
Following the funeral, Harvey and Richard, or Harry and Dick as they had finally insisted on being called, had decided to turn in early. Bruce had allowed it, after the boys had eaten enough dinner under the watchful eye of Alfred.
He'd then set out once more to continue the search. He'd followed one of Zucco's men, hoping he would lead him back to the mob's base when he saw them. Two small figures hiding in the alley, admittedly well-hidden to the untrained eye. Bruce cursed under his breath. Harry, Dick, what the hell are you doing here? Deep down though, he already had a pretty good idea. Getting a closer look, he could see the boys crouched behind the dumpster, the tall shadows of the dingy apartment building keeping them out of sight of the mobster. The two seemed to be whispering to each other frantically before coming to a decision.
Bruce wasn't sure what that choice was and didn't care either. Swooping down, he landed silently in the alley behind the twins before grabbing them both firmly by the shoulder before they could move after the criminal. The two twisted around in terror but thankfully didn't scream, which would have immediately drawn the attention of the criminal just metres away. Smart. "What the hell are you two doing here?"
While the boys seemed to flounder for an answer, both unsure of what to say and uncertain about the run-in with Gotham's most infamous vigilante, Batman watched as the mobster disappeared around the corner. Tracking Zucco down would have to wait for another time.
Dick seemed to recover from the shock first, glancing uneasily at his brother before turning determinedly to the caped crusader. "We're looking for Tony Zucco."
Bruce narrowed his eyes behind the cowl. He figured that was what they were up to. He understood it even. Didn't mean he was happy about his new charges' deliberately chasing after a mob boss in the middle of the night though. "You shouldn't be. You'll get yourselves killed."
Harry glared defiantly. "He killed our parents. We're going to make him pay."
Dick nodded, squaring his shoulders determinedly. "We're gonna stop him before he can hurt anyone else."
Bruce looked from one boy to another. Grief, anger, determination. He could see the same emotions simmering in the twins' eyes that Bruce had seen every day when looking in the mirror since his parents were gunned down in that alley. The hurt, but also the desire to fix things, to prevent anyone else from suffering the same fate.
It was all too familiar. He knew where that path could lead….
"I'm sorry for your loss. Zucco will pay for his crimes, I'll make sure of it, but you both need to go home. It's too dangerous." Batman replied, tone brokering no room for an argument. Harry tried anyway. "But that's not…"
"No," the vigilante snapped, "I'm taking you both back home right now and don't want to hear any complaining. The Narrows are no place for children, especially at night." Come to think of it, he did have to wonder how the boys managed to not only sneak past Alfred but make it all the way here from Wayne Manor. Part of him was impressed, another part deeply concerned.
Thankfully the brothers seemed to have realised it was a losing battle to argue and had followed him, albeit grumpily, to the Batmobile with little protest. They had reluctantly told him the address for Wayne Manor, not that he actually needed it of course, and then they were off. The ride back gave him time to think over the night's events while his two wards were preoccupied with the car; staring in awe at the various bottoms and gadgets inside; previous brooding forgotten for the time being.
Dick and Harry were unfortunately not the first children he'd encountered in his years as Batman. Gotham was at times a truly twisted and cruel place. Many a child had been made an orphan in its streets. However, the Graysons had been different. He'd seen a lot of himself in the way the boys acted, the way they had not so subtly been listening in on the police conversations at the circus, the way they had observed the fallen rigging; horrified but determined to find some clues as to what happened. Tonight had proven him right. They wanted to stop Zucco, even if it meant putting themselves in danger to do so.
He could admit they had some skill. They'd made it all this way on their own, had managed to find one of Zucco's men and had even shown good awareness in finding the darkest spot in the alley to remain out of sight. Still, they were untrained and would have no doubt been killed if the thug had found them.
He let the boys out at the gate, having already notified Alfred of the night's events. Said man was waiting at the door to let them in, no doubt with a lecture ready for the runaways followed by a warm cup of coco and some words of comfort. The man had always been good at knowing when a firm hand was needed, and when a hug and empathetic ear were best. Bruce honestly had no clue how he did it.
He'd taken the Batmobile to the cave, getting dressed back into civilian clothes and debating on whether to confront the boys himself or let Alfred handle it for tonight. The choice was made for him when he went back to the manor to find the twins fast asleep on the couch, two empty cups of hot chocolate on the table and a blanket carefully draped over them.
It could wait.
Turned out though the next day had been a chaotic mess, leaving no time for the new guardian to have a sit down with his wards and discuss what happened the night before. The press had decided to camp outside Wayne Manor, wanting to question the philanthropist about some supposed scandal he'd been caught up in. What they were on about, he honestly had no clue. They weren't taking no for an answer though and it had taken the police arriving to move the nosy journalists along before he could leave for work. He was subsequently late for the half-yearly board meeting which ended up running well and truly overtime. Round two with the reporters when it was time to leave resulted in him not arriving home until it was past the boys' bedtime.
That was how he found himself once again observing the two boys, sneaking down the back roads and dodgy pathways of Gotham's underbelly with the ease that could only really have come from training by two of the world's top acrobats. Four nights had passed, each with the boys making an attempt to track down Zucco. The first night Alfred had caught them in the act. The second Bruce. The third, they had managed to get away and made it halfway to The Narrows before being caught by Batman. Now tonight…
Bruce could certainly admire the drive and courage it took to do what the boys were doing. However, he knew this couldn't keep happening. No amount of words had swayed them, grounding hadn't made a difference either. If they kept this up they'd run into the wrong person around here eventually, and sheer will and a few circus tricks would not be enough to save them. Not only that but constantly needing to locate the runaways each night had given him far less time to patrol Gotham and locate the mobster who started this all.
Yes, something needed to change. He had one last option to take. He just hoped it would work.
The boys had ducked behind a burned-out car, lying in wait for their target no doubt. Bruce tensed his muscles, ready to leap down and once again confront the pair when two men rounded the corner.
He recognised them immediately. One of them was the man the two had been following the first night he had found them, the other was a relatively high-ranking member of Zucco's gang. Batman watched as Harry wasted no time in stepping out from behind the car, dressed in all black and holding a sharp kitchen knife in hand. "Take us to Zucco!" He ordered as Dick snuck around the other side of the car, a long pole in hand.
Bruce cursed in a mixture of fear and rage as he drew two batarangs from his belt. The thugs had swung around, drawing pistols immediately but had frozen in surprise; whether at the sight of the nine-year-old or the declaration of 'us' despite only seeing one person was anyone's guess. Dick charged just as Bruce went to throw the weapons, the boy swiftly knocking the firearms from the men's hands. The Dark Knight changed trajectory with the skill of someone who had years of experience in the field. The batarangs struck the criminals between the eyes before they had the chance to recover from the surprise attack. They hit the ground, unconscious, with Batman landing just a few feet away.
Dick and Harry both swung around to face the hero, caught somewhere between frustration and fear. Bruce didn't care in that moment. All he could see were the guns half submerged in a puddle of stale water, the shiny metal taunting him with just how close that had been to another failure. Seeming to have sensed the thunderous mood he was in, Dick had scurried back to his brother's side, both waiting to see what would happen next.
Deciding that he didn't trust himself to speak to the kids right now, Bruce instead turned to the criminals, cuffing them to a pole and firing off a message to Gordon to pick them up. The boys had wisely stayed in place. Remaining quiet for now, he gave them both a pointed look and began to walk back down the alleyway to the Batmobile. Taking the hint, Harry and Dick silently followed him. Not a word was said till they reached the Batcave.
…LtF…
Dick's POV
To say the last week had been a rollercoaster of emotions would have been one hell of an understatement. He'd gone from being a part of a happy family of four, where the only concerns were ignoring the jeering from strangers on the street at the 'circus freaks' and being ready for his and his twin's debut performance, to an orphan living in a strange new city with only his brother as a connection to their previous life. Gone from sharing a small bed with Harry in their family's small train carriage to living in a giant manor with his very own room. Gone from dreams of flying through the sky and being the best acrobat in the world to nightmares of his parents, and sometimes himself or Harry, falling to their deaths in the Big Top.
His whole world had been turned upside down and he had no idea how to handle it. He was at least grateful he didn't have to figure it out alone though. Harry had been his rock just as much as Dick had been his since the incident. It terrified him to no end to even wonder what may have happened if he'd lost his brother as well. The scariest part being that it had been so close to reality too. Harry had been seconds away from leaping off the platform for his part of the routine when the cables snapped. If they'd held on for just a few more seconds, his brother would have fallen to his demise along with their parents. The thought had kept him awake more than once. He hadn't dared to ask Harry if he felt the same.
Nevertheless, he did his best to push the negative thoughts aside when he could. They'd chase him into his sleep regardless but at least in the waking hours he could do his best to keep moving forward. Their parents would want that. However, there was one thing that had been playing on both boys' minds that simply refused to be ignored. The one thing preventing them from truly being able to try and move one. A name; Tony Zucco.
The afternoon before the show, he and Harry had been racing each other around the showgrounds when they overheard an argument from Mr Haley's tent. Curious, they had hidden behind some crates near the entrance just in time to hear the ringmaster tell the 'Mr Zucco' to leave. The stranger had not been happy, telling Mr Haley that he should reconsider paying up or something bad may just happen. Mr Haley had refused once more, and the man left.
Dick had been more than a little freaked out by the exchange and Harry had suggested they tell their parents. They'd explained what happened, but the young couple had reassured them everything was fine. Security would be onsite at the show and Mr Haley would have sorted it all out. Dick had really wanted to believe his parents' words. Turned out, he shouldn't have.
After the fall, one of the gymnasts, Veronica, had ushered the distraught pair from the tent. She and a dancer, Kate, tried everything to calm them down, eventually allowing the kids to cry themselves out on their shoulders. By the time the tears had stopped, the police had already arrived, and their parents had been taken away to the morgue by ambulance. Despite the women's protests, the brothers had gone back to the tent, wanting to know what was going on, what had happened. They'd taken a seat in the stands when the officers had instructed them to stay clear of the arena.
They had watched as photographers snapped photos of the blood-soaked ground and snapped cables, watched as forensics had analysed the area for fingerprints, hair samples, fibres, anything to give a clue as to who tampered with the equipment. Eventually a man introducing himself as Jim had spotted them and asked if they could answer a few questions. Dick had honestly been unsure if he was even physically able to speak at the time. His throat had felt too tight, and he was shaking too much to be able to speak without stammering. Still, he'd nodded his agreement with Harry doing the same.
Jim had been nice, trying to be as gentle as possible with the phrasing and giving them plenty of time to gather their thoughts. Between the two of them, they had managed to tell the officer about the argument they overheard and how they'd seen the frayed cable far too late to warn their parents it was no longer safe. They'd described the man they saw leaving Mr Haley's tent as best they could and eventually Jim told them it was okay and they didn't need to say anymore.
They had watched as Jim went to speak with another officer and who they recognised as Mr Wayne, the man who organised the charity show. They pretended not to hear Jim tell the others they had no other family, pretended not to hear that they would be a target for Zucco. Dick couldn't resist looking up though when it was mentioned that they might have to leave the circus for a safe house. He didn't want to leave. The circus was the only life he had known. The idea of leaving it all behind was terrifying. At the same time though, he didn't want to stay either. His parents were gone and the thought of the circus continuing on without them was devastating. He looked to Harry who seemed just as conflicted, a myriad of emotions playing across his twin's face in seconds before his gaze shifted ever so slightly, seemingly catching the eye of someone. Dick turned to see Mr Wayne watching them thoughtfully. The billionaire didn't hold eye contact for long, turning his head to say something to Jim they didn't catch.
That night had been the last they would ever spend at Haly's Circus. They'd slept in one of the spare train cars, unable to return to their family's one after that night. The next morning, they had packed up their things and bid farewell to the rest of the circus performers.
Jim Gordon had told them he had found someone to take them in. A place where they would be safe until a more permanent solution could be found. Before they knew it, they were seated in the back of Jim's car, watching Gotham City flash past the windows. They hadn't seen any of the city when they arrived; the train having pulled in on the outskirts of Gotham where they'd set up for the one-night show. Gotham was…..interesting to say the least. A mixture of sleek, modern buildings and old gothic-styled exteriors. Some parts of the city reminded him of the other major cities they had visited over the years, like New York, Detroit or Chicago. However, the majority of the place felt like a world unto its own. Even in the daylight it was dark, dingy and seemed to have a permanent atmosphere of anxiety and oppression. Dick felt more than a little intimidated by it all but also deeply saddened. The people walked the streets huddled over in fear, cautiously looking over their shoulders as if they expected an attack at any moment. No one should have to live like that.
Minutes went by and then they seemed to be heading out of Gotham once more. Curious and mildly concerned, Dick looked at his brother who shrugged his shoulders in return. Around them they could see spindly trees and thorny bushes. As the road went from gravel to dirt, the woods grew thicker until finally they rounded a corner and the trees cleared. Up ahead on Harry's side of the car they could see tall, imposing fences with a lush, dark green hedge right behind the iron. Dick moved closer to the window, leaning on his brother to try and see what was behind the tall bushes but only gaining an elbow to the rib for the effort. Two minutes later the car slowed and turned into a driveway blocked by a gate. Jim rolled down his window and leaned over to speak to someone with a British accent over an intercom before the gate opened.
The building the car had driven up to was huge. Made from light, creamy-brown bricks and standing at its highest four stories tall, the exterior resembled the kinds of mansions in fairy tales. Large windows lined the building and a magnificent fountain stood proudly in the centre of the driveway right before the large wooden doors. Off to either side of the building, luxurious gardens and topiary bushes could be seen, disappearing around the sides of the building towards the back of the estate. Dick had really wanted to go explore the garden but didn't dare ask. He had honestly been unsure as to what they were doing at such a beautiful mansion but figured they wouldn't be staying long.
When Jim told them to hop on out and went to grab their bags, well, that had been a complete surprise. He'd knelt before the twins, explaining that this was where they would be staying in the meantime and that he'd come visit in two weeks to see how they were settling in. While this was being said, the large double doors had opened to reveal none other than Bruce Wayne himself; dressed in tan dress pants, a white button up shirt and brown suit jacket with a black tie.
Dick hadn't paid all that much attention to the guy the night before. However, he took the opportunity now to study his appearance; over 6 ft tall, broad shoulder and strong with light skin, black styled hair, and light blue eyes. Mr Wayne held himself with the confidence and grace one would expect to see in an aristocrat. Dick would have found him to be very intimidating if it weren't for the easy smile and friendly wave. Next to Mr Wayne stood another man. He was tall but skinny, dressed in a black suit with a white button-up shirt and tied off with a black bowtie. He was a lot older than Bruce with a balding head of salt and pepper hair and an elegant black moustache. His grey eyes were sharp but caring.
Jim had introduced them to Mr 'call me Bruce' Wayne and Mr Alfred Pennyworth, the Wayne family butler who amusedly told them both 'I'd recommend you cease with the gaping young sirs before you start catching flies." Dick decided then and there that he liked Alfred.
They had been shown inside the manor once Jim left, the interior no less extravagant and yet oddly homey in places. The manor itself was surprisingly a mixture of dark, elegant rooms for public events and light, airy rooms intended for private, family spaces. The entrance hall had polished white stone floors and light wood walls, a grand marble staircase, large chandelier and an arching roof. The ballroom was done with rich, dark polished wood walls, deep red curtains, and gold accents. The main family loungeroom had white painted walls, soft blue carpets, plush blue couches, a cosy fireplace, large wall-mounted tv, light-wooden furniture and a pool table. The gardens were even more breathtaking than the small glimpse he'd caught from the front. Sweeping green fields, a magnificent flower garden surrounding a huge fountain, a spacious outdoor entrainment area for parties, a hedge maze in the far-right corner, a topiary garden to the back-left and left of the house was a huge swimming pool with a hot tub and fountain feature to top it off.
Once the tour was over, with both boys feeling a little overwhelmed at the sheer size of their temporary home, Alfred showed them to their rooms. The rooms themselves were already three times bigger than the train carriage they had shared with their parents. Done in neutral colours of white, grey, black and brown; they held massive, king-sized beds, a fireplace, wooden bookshelves, bedside tables and a desk. Each room had a built-in, walk-in wardrobe and the two rooms had a shared en suite with a toilet, bathtub and shower. The rooms, located at the back of the manor, had large bay windows overlooking the garden with heavy, blackout curtains to provide privacy. Altogether, the bedrooms were nice, if not very bare. Their home with the circus may have been smaller but it had always held that certain charm and character that could only be described as 'home'. These rooms felt too big, vacant, impersonal, and cold. He was more than a little relieved when Harry insisted they share for now.
The day before the funeral had passed in a blur of tears and exhaustion. He hadn't had the energy to do anything. Couldn't find it in him to explore this wonderous new place as he and Harry would have done usually. Couldn't bring himself to hold up conversation with Bruce and Alfred whenever they tried to speak to them. Instead, they spent the day together huddle in his room in sombre solidarity. The night before the funeral was one filled with relentless nightmares hounding them until the sun reappeared. The funeral itself passed in a wave of grief. He and Harry both spoke to the gathered crowd however Dick couldn't even begin to recall what either of them had said. A part of him felt he'd regret that someday, another part hadn't cared. No words would undo what had happened. No words would make any of it better.
Once the mourners had all left and they had been allowed to go to bed right after dinner, they had stayed up discussing their plan. Nothing they did would give them their parents back. It was excruciating to think about but the truth nonetheless. However, they could still do something to help, if not themselves but others. They could find Zucco and make sure he wasn't able to ever hurt anyone else. That night they'd switched their glasses for contact lenses then snuck out, using their aerialist skills to easily clear the fence before setting off for the city. They'd jumped onto a bus that took them to The Narrows, having heard it was the most likely place to find Gotham's mobs.
It had taken an hour, but they had eventually been pointed in the direction of one of Zucco's thugs by one of the many homeless people who called The Narrows home. They'd ducked behind a dumpster, hiding in the shadows while they debated what to do. They eventually decided to trail the guy, hoping he'd lead them back to Zucco's hideout. That was when Batman had found them.
They'd heard plenty of stories during their time with Haly's about superheros who saved lives and protected the world from evil. They'd even seen some of the footage on TV. The existence of Batman in Gotham therefore wasn't much of a shock to them. However, they had not anticipated ever having a run in with the Caped Crusader. When the vigilante had ordered them to go home though, the awe had given out to frustration. Why should they go home? They were just trying to help give Zucco what he deserved! In the end though they had known better than to argue.
The lecture from Alfred upon their return did nothing to chip away at their resolve. They'd just have to be sneakier next time. Night two of their mission had been a bust, so had nights three and four. They weren't giving up though. It did make Dick feel guilty in a way. He knew Alfred and Bruce were worried. However, this was too important for them to simply back down. They would find Zucco and take him out, for good.
What had driven them even more though was the discovery that their current caretaker was none other than the Batman himself. The brothers had guessed as much after the, very short, conversation they'd had with Batman in the alley. The voice, the build. It matched. Still, they'd needed more proof. When Alfred caught them after their second attempt to find their parents' killer failed, they'd decided to look for evidence to fit their theory instead. Waiting for Alfred to go to bed, they'd started exploring the massive mansion.
After a few hours of searching, they had eventually stumbled upon the grandfather clock in the main study. Noticing it wasn't working Dick had nearly left it be. The clock looked old, so the fact it may have been broken but kept because it was a family heirloom wasn't hard to believe. Harry had insisted they check it out though. After all, heroes always had some kind of hidden secret base. After fiddling with the clock hands for what felt like ages, they had finally done something right. The clock swung open, revealing a stone staircase.
Excited by the find, they had immediately hurried down the steps, the entrance swinging closed behind them. He had felt a brief spike of panic at that, not sure how they would get back out but decided to leave it be for now. At least Alfred was unlikely to find them here if he decided to check up on them again and saw they were missing. The two followed the steps down, lights embedded in the rock switching on and off automatically as they passed. Once they reached the bottom of the staircase, all the boys could do was stare in astonishment. Dick hadn't been sure what to expect but this wasn't it. It was far better.
The area they had stepped out into was a massive underground cave. Overhead, a small opening allowed a tiny bit of moonlight to seep in, highlighting a colony of bats making their home along the ceiling. Various floodlights around the cavern had switched on when they entered, enough to light the important parts of the cave while still keeping a lot of it in shadows. The space before them was mostly open with a massive computer system to their right up against the stone wall. There were various screens of different sizes, all turned off for now. The bench in front of the screens held several keyboards and stacks of paper files. A small table to the right contained a single empty coffee cup. In front of the desk was a high-back, office wheelie chair.
Behind the chair was an open circular space, surrounded by railings. Behind the railings and to the boys left were three platforms. On one to the left stood a motorcycle. It was a sleek silver bike with black markings towards the front and the iconic Batman insignia on the front in yellow. There was a touch screen on the top between the handlebars. On the platform to the right stood a very innocuous looking car. It was navy blue and as far as the boys could tell, didn't have anything particularly special about it. The centre platform stood empty though Dick could easily guess which vehicle was usually parked there. Behind the three platforms was a path seemingly leading out of the cave, though it was too dark for the nine-year-old to tell for sure. The path was surrounded by steep drops on either side. The faint sound of rushing water below suggested they lead to an underground river.
Looking up, Dick could see two more stories above them but was unable to tell from where they stood what was up there. A staircase directly to their right seemed to lead up to the next level with another staircase to their left leading down to the fourth. On their right, another tunnel in the rockface could be found though where it went, they had no clue.
Overall, the place was absolutely amazing. Harry had suggested they explore, and Dick had agreed, wanting to see what the other levels of the base held. However, the distant sound of a roaring engine from down the driveway had quickly shot down that idea. The two had high-tailed it back up the stairs, finding that it was a simple matter of pressing a button to open the secret door and get back into the manor. They could hear the steadily-rising sound of Alfred approaching the study and had ran the opposite way down the hall to their room as quietly as they could. It had been an extremely close call, but they had got their answer. Bruce Wayne was indeed Batman.
The revelation had left Dick with mixed feelings. On one hand, their temporary guardian was a hero! I t was awesome, and he had so many questions he wanted to ask. How had he become a hero? Who taught him to fight? Where did he get all the cool gear? On the other hand, he was annoyed. Bruce was Batman so he knew they wanted to find the man who killed their parents. The vigilante knew they wanted to help. Why didn't he just tell them who he was? Why wouldn't he let them help? They'd made it all the way to The Narrows on their own after all.
The following day had been awkward to say the least. Bruce had sat them down in the loungeroom, telling them in no uncertain terms that they were not to try sneaking out at night again. That it was dangerous in the city at night, and they could get hurt. It had been the first time the twins had actually seen Bruce look angry. Well, not the first time but their guardian didn't know that. He'd asked them why they were trying to sneak away. Dick found it ironic since the man already knew. They had told him in the alleyway after all. However, they had not told Alfred or Bruce what they were doing, only Batman. Dick knew this was a perfect opportunity to come clean about it all. To tell Bruce they knew his secret, that they wanted to stop Zucco and maybe even ask if they could assist Batman in bringing the murderer down? He exchanged a swift glance with Harry, but the other boy shook his head. Dick sighed but didn't argue. They'd instead refused to answer Bruce and the man left it at that for now.
Night three had yielded no results. Bruce had caught them trying to sneak away and they'd been subsequently grounded. They'd decided it would be best to not sneak out of the room again that night and spent it planning for the next night instead. A part of them almost hoped if they could show they had some skill, some talent, maybe Bruce would let them help.
Night four had almost been a success. They'd slipped out of the room after midnight, going to one of the upstairs spare bedrooms and climbing with expert ease down a trellis to the grounds below. They'd jumped the fence at the back of the property so no one would spot them out the front of the manor. However, Batman had found them before they could begin searching The Narrows.
Night five was supposed to be it. They'd figured out the best way to escape the manor undetected. Found a new bus route to take through Gotham, Dick outright refusing Harry's suggestion to steal the Batcycle instead. They'd even piled up pillows in the bed to make it look like they were still asleep. Truthfully, they doubted that would work but hey, it was worth a try, right? They both knew Bruce would inevitably follow them but that was fine. They would just have to be quick. All they needed was to find Zucco and kill him. They would be doing everyone a favour by getting the murderer of the streets. Whatever happened after that wasn't important. Dick had resolutely ignored the faint shake in his hands at the idea of killing someone. It was justified. They were going to do the right thing.
Knowing Batman would show up at some point had put a kink in their plans. Hiding in wait and following the thugs wouldn't be good enough. It would take too long, and they couldn't afford any more mistakes. Who knew how long they'd be staying at Wayne Manor, how long they may stay in Gotham? They'd snuck two knives from the kitchen their first night in the manor but this time when they did reach the city, Dick found a metal pole as well. They had a plan. They'd force the crooks to take them to their leader. It was risky, dangerous, but heroes had to take risks sometimes. It was for the best.
If Batman's reaction was any indicator though, it wasn't.
The ride back had been made in complete silence, neither Dick nor Harry daring to speak. They'd messed up big time. They both knew it. When they'd reached the dirt roads approaching Wayne Manor, they had been slightly surprised to see the car take a different turn, disappearing down a barely visible road deep into the woods. They'd made a few turns before they'd suddenly found the vehicle rapidly approaching a cliff face. Before they'd even had a chance to shout in panic, an opening had appeared in the wall and the car was plunged into a faintly lit tunnel. Less than a minute later they were driving down a familiar path and coming to a stop between the Batcycle and blue car.
The Batcave.
Batman got out of the car, taking a few steps down from the platform and crossing the room to stand Infront of the computers. He turned around, realising neither boy had made a move to follow. "Out." The order was sharp but not nearly as angry as they had been expecting. The twins scrambled to follow, stopping a few steps in front of the Dark Knight. All three remined lost in their own thoughts for a few minutes before the eldest began to speak. "What you did tonight was incredibly dangerous. Do you both realise just how close you came to being killed?"
Dick looked up from where he had previously been staring at the floor. It was hard to make out the man's expression under the cowl but from what little he could see; a lot of the anger had fizzled out. Next to him Harry chose to speak first, tone clipped. "We had it under control. I distracted them while Dick knocked the guns away."
Batman turned his focus onto the green-eyed boy, expression showing just how unimpressed he was. "And what exactly did you plan to do next? What if they had more firearms on them? What if they managed to disarm you? And if they had agreed to take you to Zucco, what exactly did you think would happen?"
Neither boy had an answer.
"What you did was foolish. If I hadn't arrived when I did any number of things could have happened. You have no training, no experience in the field and went in with half a plan at best." Batman continued, voice frosty as he stared them down imploringly.
Dick looked down again, shame flooding his veins. Bruce was right. They really had been stupid to think that plan would ever work. They just hadn't wanted to miss their chance. Zucco had to pay for what he did. He couldn't be allowed to walk free and hurt others. They just couldn't let that happen.
"You took knives with you. You weren't just planning to catch him and have him arrested, were you?" Batman stated when neither child spoke. It wasn't a question. They all knew the answer.
Dick looked up, tears starting to gather in his eyes that he refused to let fall. He'd done enough crying this week. "We…we just wanted to make sure he couldn't hurt anyone else."
A sigh, then a hand came to rest on his shoulder as the Dark Knight crouched before them, the other hand resting on his twin's shoulder. "I know but this wasn't the right way to go about it. Killing isn't the answer. As much as it hurts. As much as we'd like to get revenge on the ones who hurt us, who hurt our loved ones, we have to be the better people. Zucco will be brought to justice for what he did to your parents. I promise you I will make sure it happens, but we can't kill him."
Dick nodded slowly. He didn't completely understand, not yet, but a small part of him was relieved that Bruce had stopped them that night. Harry stepped forward, facing the Caped Crusader with a confident stance and gleaming eyes. "We want to help."
Before the idea could be shot down, Dick began to explain for his brother. "Not just with Zucco but all of it. We saw all the criminals in the alleys, all the people in the city living in fear. You can't handle it all on your own. We want to help you, help them."
The man was only mildly surprised by the declaration much to their confusion. It was almost like he'd been expecting them to say something like that. "You understand what you're asking. This job is extremely dangerous. It's not a case of you may be hurt, only when and how bad. One wrong mistake can be the difference between life and death."
The boys didn't really need to consider it. They'd already discussed the risks at length together, but they still pondered the question for the sake of not appearing overconfident or reckless. "We know. It doesn't change anything though. It's what we want." Harry declared.
Batman stared off to the side for a few seconds before seemingly coming to a decision. The two boys watched as he reached up, removing the cowl. When the action garnered no reaction, he raised an eyebrow questioningly. Harry shrugged. "We already knew it was you. We found the entrance to the cave in the main study the other night."
Instead of being angry like Dick half expected, Bruce smiled. "Guess I underestimated you two." He studied them for a few seconds before trying one last time. "This isn't a job you need to do. I can help you find a job when you're older where you can help others. Police office, soldier, doctor, fireman, social worker. Whatever you want I'll happily cover the costs. It doesn't need to be this."
Dick was surprised and touched by the offer but shook his head. "Police officers haven't been enough to stop the city getting to where it is. The law didn't save our parents. Sometimes breaking a few rules is the best way to make a change."
Bruce sighed but finally relented. "Okay, if I let you help there are going to be some ground rules." He ordered, tone leaving no room for argument; not that the twins planned to. "For starters, you aren't going out there until you have sufficient training that meets my standards. It won't be easy. If you can't keep up or don't meet my expectations, this won't happen. You will only use what I teach you on criminals. If I find out you've used your training on a civilian, regardless of who they are or what they said, for any reason other than self-defence, you are out. You will follow any orders I give you, whether you like it or not. Most importantly, you will only use as much force as is necessary to take down your opponent. We do not kill. If I feel you are taking things too far, you will be fired. Am I understood?"
Dick nodded and from the corner of his eye he saw Harry do the same.
Bruce stood back up, gesturing for his new students to follow. "Okay, let's begin."
A/N – Not my best work yet but this will do for a starting chapter. Mostly just context and worldbuilding here. The next chapters should be more interesting. I hope you like it anyway.
Timeline:
31st July 1980 – Harry and Dick are born.
18th June 1990 – The Graysons are killed by Tony Zucco.
19th June 1990 – Harry and Dick go to live with Bruce Wayne.
20th June 1990 – The Graysons funeral. Harry and Dick first encounter Batman whilst trying to find Zucco.
21st June 1990 – Alfred catches the boys trying to sneak out. They explore the manner, finding the Batcave.
22nd June 1990 – Bruce catches the boys attempting to sneak out. They are grounded.
23rd June 1990 – The boys nearly make it to The Narrows before Batman finds them.
24th June 1990 – The boys confront two of Zucco's men. Batman saves them and takes them to the Batcave. He reveals his true identity and offers to train the boys.
To address a few things:
1. Magic – The Wizarding World does exist and how the twins will fit in with this will be explained later. While HP characters and locations will play a role in this story, as well as the war with Voldermort and the prophecy, Harry and Richard won't be wizards as such. Can't say more without spoiling the story so just bear with me here. Another thing regarding the HP characters; if you're a fan of Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape or the other Slytherin students, they will not be treated as the good guys here if they make any appearance at all. No Drarry or Snape Dad here.
2. DC Universe - I'm slowing becoming more acquainted with the DC universe. Up until recently I mostly only knew about the Teen Titans cartoon, Batman the Animated Series and Krypto the Superdog. I saw Batman: Under the Red Hood and the new Batman movie recently though and what can I say, I was inspired. That being said, don't expect to see any of the Justice League or extended DC universe involved here other than a maybe cameo from Superman if it fits the story. The Teen Titans will play a bigger role going forward but that won't be till the sequel, I think. I'm also way out of my depth when it comes to the various universes and stuff so I'm mostly just picking and choosing parts of cannon and piecing it together how I see fit.
3. The Batfam – Jason, Tim and Damian will all be involved in this story at some point, though not for a while. Jason's story will be quite different though, as you'll see the reason for soon enough, but he'll still stay as true to character as I can get. As for other members of the 'Bat Family', I'm not familiar with them and they will most likely not make any appearances. Barbara Gordon being the only potential exception but that remains to be seen. Zatara and/or Zatanna will be there at some point but nothing significant.
4. Pairings – Romantic pairings are not a focus for this story and will most likely not be involved in any significant way. There will be some undercurrents of Catwoman/Batman and Damian will have to be born somehow but don't expect any romance scenes. Harry will also not be paired with any of the HP characters. Oh and don't expect Talia to be treated as a good person in this. She's gonna be pretty evil.
That's about it for now. Next chapter should be out soon.