Episode 4. Roots and Branches
Bruce and Selina were staying at a hotel resort on the Red Clay Raven Reservation. Selina had already been down to the pool to swim, and Bruce had already done his morning workout.
They were just sitting down to breakfast when two of their children, their two biological children: the twins, stood beside the table via Selina's holophone.
Celine Martha Wayne stood with a serious expression on her face, but this was nothing new. She usually wore a serious expression. Selena named their daughter after one of her favorite movie characters: a beautiful warrior woman. Bruce gave their daughter her middle name: after his mother. Celine was beautiful like her mother, but everyone said she was much more like her father. The only time most people could tell she and her mother were related was when she did something particularly challenging and dangerous. Celine showed no fear, and she always seemed to have the time of her life, even if she mostly conveyed this with her eyes and a brief smile. When she was a baby, Bruce was the only one who could ever get her to stop crying: when she did, which was rare. She was a daddy's girl, but she would never admit to it. She had his quiet resolve, piercing, observant eyes. She had his smarts too. She'd never let anyone else say it in her presence. However, Selina knew the moment Bruce had her cradled in her arms. She understood.
Celine had black hair: a short length, straight-ish, a bit wavy. One of her eyes was green, and the other was blue. Her makeup, blush, eyeshadow, and lipstick, were muted colors. She had her acoustic guitar on her back in its case. Her voice was quiet but strong. She sang with genuine emotion that could tug at the heartstrings of the coldest, deadest, heart.
"Mother," Celine said. "I spoke with Alfred. He said you two were still traveling. Father. Is everything all right?"
"Everything is fine," Selina said. "We're having breakfast. Your father's working. I came along for the ride. We'll be back in Gotham soon."
"I told her not to worry," their son said, "but you know she never listens to me."
"I'm not worried," Celine said. "I'm just curious. You admitted and agreed it was odd that they would leave Gotham, especially without mother telling us."
"She's got me," her brother said. "I also said they're adults. They don't have to tell us every move they make." He knew he had her because she didn't reply.
A Day Ago
Celine finished a cover of a song: Somebody That I Used To Know.
She repacked her guitar in its case before she sat back on the stool in Jason's garage. She waited. Jason came from up under a truck. He sat on the stool near him.
"Are you trying to tell me something?" Jason asked her. "Like with your cover of Hands Of Time?"
"This family has secrets," Celine said, "even you, and even me. I usually prefer not to ask because everyone deserves their privacy. It's something my brother occasionally has to remind me of. Alfred won't say anything. As the head of the Jokerz, I imagine you know a bit more about why father suddenly left Gotham."
"Your message has been received: loud and clear," Jason said. "You'd like me to be more present in the family." Celine nodded. "As for secrets, Gotham is seeing a rise in crime: one it hasn't seen for a while."
"Father has always been invested in Gotham's safety and well being," Celine said.
"Wealthy people are coming under attack," Jason said. "They've been threatened to remain silent. Powers Enterprises has been hit heavy as well. It's something it's been keeping under wraps. A new vigilante and a new villain might be in town. One of them or both murdered the mayor."
"Father is trying to find out the root of the problem," Celine said. She nodded to herself. Jason said nothing. "Why is he not letting Batman handle it like he normally does?"
"I think whatever's going on might be tied to his past," Jason said. "It's before you and me. Nothing to question, but I know you will anyway."
"Batman, Batgirl, and Robin will take care of it before father gets back," Celine said. "Father doesn't usually express what's on his mind and heart. I will try and talk with him. Thank you for helping me understand. Tell Greta I said hello. Call my nieces and nephew. Don't be a stranger."
Celine ended the call.
"Jason," Greta said, stepping into the doorway. "There's been another murder."
Jason cleaned himself. He went and stood in the doorway with her. He towered over the blonde, blue-eyed woman.
"Thank you for letting me know," Jason said.
"Listen to Celine," Greta said. She placed both her hands on his chest, smiled to herself, and then left him but not before she added: "Be careful. Love you."
Romero Alfred Wayne wore the broadest grin as he took a load off and leaned back in a chair. He balanced on its two back legs while he had his arms crossed. Bruce named his son after a man he deeply respected: a criminal justice professor he had, who died making sure his wife and daughter escaped and survived a home invasion. Bruce and Selina both agreed on the middle name. Neither had ever met a better man than Alfred. Romero was born a handsome, blue-green eyed daredevil. He did almost everything fast. He loved trying new things and testing everybody's patience: in a good way though. It was tough on him, he didn't always catch on as fast to things, but he never gave up. He went from crawling, walking, running, to jumping off things. His mother trained him to take on cat-like reflexes for his safety. That's how everyone suspected they became so close. He definitely was a momma's boy, and even though he was chill 98 percent of the time, calling him a momma's boy or doing anything to upset his sister would make him ready to fight. He was no slouch in a fight either. Selina partially blamed herself because she began training him in boxing when she found out Bruce was training their daughter in martial arts. Romero, like his mother, also used his wits and masculine wiles to pull him through any sort of trouble, except trouble from his family. Loud and proud, however, like his father, he was good at hiding his true thoughts and feelings. No matter how mischievous, sneaky, sly he was, Bruce knew that he shared the loving, giving heart Selina had tried to hide from him all those years ago.
"I'm just here for support," Romero said. "I knew there was nothing to worry about. Plus, I haven't seen you two in so long I was starting to forget what you looked like. Glad to see you're doing well. This is a nice resort too."
Selina tried not to smile, but she couldn't help it.
Romero had black hair, but right now it was blond: his mother had wanted to do it together and Romero was all about making women happy, especially his mother. He had a bandana tied about his head: his hair sticking out of it unruly. He had a short ponytail too. His face bore a mustache and scruffy beard. His rugged appearance usually made it hard for people to believe he was a Wayne.
"Mom," Romero said, "Dad, we weren't trying to interrupt. We really just wanted to make sure you didn't need us. Things are getting rough in Gotham. It's better you two aren't there right now. Let Batman handle things, then head back."
Celine nodded in agreement.
"Father," Celine said. "Whatever's going on with you, it's not something you have to handle alone. That's what I wanted you to know, what I wanted you to hear from me."
"We don't know how long we'll be," Selina said, "but once we return I'll let you two know."
"Dad," Romero stood. Selina and Celine couldn't help remain silent to eye their interaction. Romero had never beat Bruce at anything. And surprisingly, Bruce and Romero liked it that way. They felt it kept them connected. "We're your children, but if you need anything, if you need anything of me, you have it."
A serious Romero made everyone serious. He made rare appearances, but everyone agreed it was when he was most like Bruce.
A Day Ago
Romero flipped onto his feet from a walking handstand. His acrobatics were almost as good as Dick's: almost.
"You can't show off with me," Dick said. "I'm circus folk, remember?" He was climbing down from the trapeze wire. He actually was a gymnastics and acrobatics instructor in his free time. He'd coached a few of his students to the Olympics.
They were in the gym he had built in Bludhaven. Dick had his portable holophone ear piece in his ear during instruction in case of an emergency. He was closing up for the night.
"To what do I owe the pleasure buddy," Dick said, meeting Romero at the pommel horse. He leaned on it; Romero hopped on top of it.
"Came to talk to you about dad," Romero said.
"What about him?" Dick asked.
"I wonder if he trusts me," Romero said.
"He doesn't trust anybody," Dick said.
"He trusts you and Clark," Romero said.
"He and Clark have known each other for I want to say almost 40 years," Dick said. "They have a deep respect and love for one another. I might even say that Clark is his first and only best friend. If you didn't know, Bruce hasn't always been a people person."
"He's so good at playing one though when he's out in public, Romero said.
"As for me," Dick said, "he trusts me enough, but we're different people. That's why he couldn't, even if he wanted to, trust me completely."
"You know," Romero said. "That makes sense."
Dick watched Romero. He couldn't tell where this conversation was coming from or where it was going.
"Our family has its quiet ones Cassandra and Duke, its rough ones Jason and Damian, its cool ones you and Babs, its smart ones Carrie and Tim, its insightful ones Celine and Matt, its wild ones Stephanie and Terry," Romero said. "Everyone has their role. I want to be someone dad can count on: not just count on to be the troublemaker or lady's man."
"Babs said when you got to college you'd take a hard look at your identity and where you wanted to be next in your life," Dick said. He smiled.
"College isn't for everybody," Romero said. "Because of dad, I can take any course I want, get any degree I want. But I feel like I don't deserve it. I learn more from people. I want to do more. I volunteer, I have a side business that's X-rated, I farm, go out on fishing boats, I've explored with women and men. Yet, I have this sense of urgency: to do more and not having enough time left. I don't even know what I'm saying." He laughed.
"I get where you're coming from though," Dick said. "So I can say this. Bruce saved all of us: one way or another. And I like to think, we managed to save him too. Be whoever it is that's you. He'll trust that person. He'll count on that person. And hey, everybody knows no matter what you'll always be the one to look out for Celine."
"Thanks Dick," Romero said. "I know how much Gotham means to dad. It took me a while, but I realized how much our family means to him too: even if he doesn't always express much in words. I won't let anything happen to either. Have a good one."
"I know you won't," Dick said. "Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you need back up. You too."
"I never do," Romero said. He laughed and ended the call.
"You're the cool one," Zatanna said. She chuckled. "If only he knew you back then."
"What are you doing here?" Dick said, turning around. He had a smile on his face.
"I was in town and thought I'd visit an old friend," Zatanna said: a woman with straight black hair, which reached to the middle of her back, containing only a few gray streaks, and crystal blue eyes that she let rest on him. "Also, I thought I'd let said friend know that there are mysterious forces coming from the west, and they're convening on Gotham."
"I need you to leave the ladies alone," Bruce said, "and graduate."
Selina and Celine laughed. Romero frowned. Bruce nodded to him. Romero nodded back. They had an understanding.
"Alright Sister," Romero said. "Let's pack it up. I'm going rock climbing, and I have a statistics test to study for. You know how I feel about statistics."
"Love you two," Celine said.
"Love you back," Selina said.
"Be good," Bruce said: more to Romero than Celine.
They ended the call.
"We need to leave soon," Bruce said to Selina, "but I have two calls to make before we go."
"Terry and Clark," Selina said: not a question.
Bruce headed for the balcony, but Selina stopped him in his tracks.
"Thank you for giving me such a big, loving family," Selina said. "I think it's the one thing I always wanted that I never thought I could get."
"Thank you for helping me believe that I deserved to have one," Bruce said.
