Where bats can have many different names, colors and identities - and still make fun of each other.

Part 1 - Chapter 3: A Social Flock of Bats

The Bat-Cave, Batman's secret hideout and training facility, now occupied almost every time by at least one of the members of the… Bat-Family? Bat-Clan?

The name was still being workshopped among them.

"Have you started already?", asked Barbara Gordon, the red haired librarian, as soon as she left the elevator and started removing her jacket, hoping she had not been late for tonight's entertainment.

"Nope!"

The peppy blonde Stephanie Brown suddenly appeared from the small cooking area that had been set up a few months ago, after much discussion between the "Bat-Kids" and Alfred - Bruce, wisely, kept himself out of such debate. The Batman, hard headed as he may be, knew when not to get himself into family squabbles.

Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce's butler ("Surrogate father figure", the younger members would correct) was in complete disagreement on the construction of a smaller kitchen at the underground section of the Wayne Manor.

Mainly, because it would make it even harder to keep the vigilantes out of the batcave. Understandably, he wanted them to at least get some normal quality time outside their subterranean bunker.

The 'Kids' (and oh, how they despised being called that) argued back that, sometimes, they only had time to stop by to grab a bite and did not want to take off their suits and equipment to go upstairs and risk their elder's wrath.

Alfred was very strict on the matter of them dirtying the Manor with whatever they ended up bringing from their patrols.

A compromise had been reached, as it usually happened. The small cooking area (Bat-kitchenette, as they affectionately called it, to Bruce's frustration) was installed with just the smallest mini-fridge and microwave oven, a cupboard and a sink. Just enough for light snacks, a dozen cans of assorted energetic and caffeinated drinks and enough washroom for just a few dishes.

And lots of popcorn, as demonstrated by the large (custom ordered on the site 'Whereupon') 2-gallon bowl being carried off by Stephanie Brown, once aKa Spoiler, then aKa Batgirl, then aKa Robin, now aKa Batgirl again.

The rest of the Bat-family was resting in an improvised area, where they set up a holo-projector that they HADN'T borrowed from the Batcomputer equipment and set up for their monthly get-together.

Stephanie left the big bowl between Tim Drake (former boyfriend, former Robin, now Red Robin) and Cassandra Cain-Wayne (former Batgirl, now Black Bat) and waved to Jason Todd, their second eldest 'brother' (former Robin, current Red Hood), who tossed her the remote control.

Jason - his presence there taking advantage of Batman's absence - was talking with Dick Grayson, the first adoption case of Bruce (former and first Robin, currently Nightwing), and Lucas 'Luke' Fox (the current armored hero Batwing) who was the newest addition to the family, but not the youngest - that actually was Damian Wayne (current Robin), who was sitting near Cassandra while beating up Duke Thomas (former unofficial Robin, current The Signal) in a friendly game of chess.

Stephanie snapped her fingers twice, "All right everyone, we are gathered here because of our long and respected tradition-"

"It's our third time gathering like this, Steph", said Tim, reminding her.

"Quiet now, Mid-Nite Jr.", Stephanie replied, shutting him up and earning snickers from the rest of the family.

"I liked the old cowl, the old cowl was cool.", Tim mumbled, to which some of his siblings retorted almost simultaneously: "No, it wasn't"

"A-hem, as I was saying, the traditional 'Blunder of the Month' is in section!", she proclaimed, pressing the button of the remote control, for dramatic effects, and turning on the flat holoprojection.

"As we all know, we are the most well trained fighting force for good against the evil and the cowardly lot that roams Gotham City!", then with a smirk, added, "But it doesn't mean we are perfect."

"Some of us are" - "Quiet, Dammy, the grown up is talking", and an annoyed 'tt' sound was the reply heard to that.

"Last month's winner of the title of Boy Blunder was our dear colleague Jason and his fight with Killer Croc…"

Steph pressed a button, the grainy security footage of the Red Hood being swat aside by the large scaly arm of Waylon Jones, slamming against a wall, falling into an open dumpster and the lid closing just after, in a perfect comedic timing.

Many claps followed the scene, and even Jason took a bow in response.

"... and the previous month's was Dick's unforgettable encounter with the perilous, the merciless, the menaceous" "That's not a real word" "Shhh!" "- the Condiment King!"

Cue the holoprojection of a police department's camera footage, with much better showing a frustrated Nightwing tossing the royal-themed "villain" over to the police, both criminal and hero were covered in ketchup, mustard and relish.

Luke gave the more experienced hero a look, which made Dick feel even more embarrassed.

"One of my wing-dings hit a Vinegrenades in his belt pouch, which caused a chain reaction that blew up his condiment canisters and covered us both in most of his 'ammo'."

The newest hero stopped for a second, and Tim, realizing what was going on, helped out: "Nothing Dick has just said is made-up, no one here wants to face the Condiment King out of fear we will end up looking like a Pollock and smelling like a food court's trash bin."

Luke turned his attention back to Grayson, and gave him a solemn and respectful: "Dude."

"Anyway! There have been two Boy Blunders, are we going for the Third?", asked Steph, dramatically. "Following the order, maybe it's time for Timmy's coronation?", she pointed at the teen sitting on the floor, unamused. "Or maybe it is time for a Girl Blunder? Let's see this month's candidates!"

It had been an interesting collection of messes of the month, including but not limited to:

Cassandra's missing a grappling hook shot and uttering the cutest "Poop", which made Batman stare at her in shock;

Tim mistyping an order for his favorite brand of coffee and having to explain to both Alfred and Bruce how it was an accident (and that he did not have an addiction) and would not have bought sixty boxes of italian espresso beans instead of six bags;

Stephanie pressing the wrong input and self-destructing her own utility belt ("I didn't even realize there was that function");

But the most promising candidate had just guaranteed his inclusion at the contest after a very peculiar encounter, a couple days before.

"The votes are in, and the winner - by a landslide! - is our very own Daywalker, Duke Thomas!"

Barbara patted his shoulder, kindly adding "Just accept it, we all have messed up at a patrol before.", while everyone around applauded him.

He nodded, while replying back "But you never had it live-streamed in 4k quality, had you?"

"Well, remind me later to tell you about the time Dick and I had to fight a guy called Crazy Quilt…", she whispered, as the holoprojection showed a repeat f the awkward exchange again.

"-of that before. But, wouldn't that make you also an illegal climber?"

"... That's… I mean…"

"Well, my fellow lawbreaker, allow me to remedy this!"

And at that moment, Duke noticed, Barbara gave a pointed look at the strange spider-guy in the holoprojection.

"Something wrong?", Duke asked, worried.

"No, it's just… something familiar, maybe?", she narrowed her eyes. "Or maybe it's just nothing…"

To be continued!

Author's notes:

First of all, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Fourth chapter you've read, thanks!

Short chapter, just showing the small initial impact of Peter's presence.

More things to come, stay tuned!