The Family
The encounter with almost half of the bat family leaves me to wonder about the rest. With lust breaking through, I try to real her in. Deep breaths, trying to think of anything but Jason.. Jason? I mean Dick. Why was I thinking of him. Of both of them. Dick dresses in the bathroom as I try to think over the conversation. "I'm sorry, he can be too much sometimes." Dick emerges from the bathroom.
"It's fine" I awkwardly stand in a fluster thinking about Jason Todd's biker jacket.
"You okay?" He worry's.
"Just hormones have me a little wonky" I smile lightly.
"Okay." He kisses my forehead. "I love you Rachel."
"I love you more." I smile giving him a kiss back to the lips.
My sigh rings out as I'm unsatisfied with the interruption between Dick and I. Also with the thoughts of Jason. He leans down grabbing my hand squeezing it in his as we walk down the hall. "I forget that you already know them all in a way." He lightly smiles.
"But they don't know me. I only know them from your perspective, Dick." I smile. All those years ago when Slade's mask drugged Dick, almost killing himself. I casted the bond, seeing into his mind. I saw the death of his parents, him becoming Robin when adopted by Bruce. Jason's adoption after he left Bruce. His kisses with Barbara, how she was his first love. His true friendship with Alfred. The rest I only know from Richard telling me.
"They'll love you, just as I do" he smiles opening the door to the large dinning room.
In the head spot where he sat for lunch is Bruce. He almost seems more relaxed now. I guess taking some aggression out in training makes the man not seem as rigid. On his left sits Damian sitting next to him is Jason with the same smirk. He balances a knife on his index finger staring at me as I walk in. Barbara is on the other end of the table. I take the seat closest to her as Dick seats next to Bruce. Being an empath the room here is so quiet. It's a peaceful feeling. Everyone eyes me, but doesn't speak.
"Alright." Jason sighs loudly. "Ill do it. Dickie! Whose your friend?" He grins.
"This is Rachel." He looks to me, "she was on my team in Jump City."
"Ah makes sense on why you looked so familiar." Barbara smiled. "I'm Barbara, it's nice to finally meet someone from when Dick left."
"Yes when Dick was living in a giant T." Damian scoffed.
"Jealous much?" Dick retorts.
"Not at all, individuals my age are not on my level of intelligence. I want nothing to do with them."
"Sounds like you need friends your age." I look to him, "nobody wants to be alone."
"Except Brucie." Jason smirks pointing his knife to him.
"I'm not alone. I have Alfred and Damian. And now Dick is home"
"Home?" Jason looks shocked, "what happened to 'I've got to break free'" he adds dramatical hand gestures he continues "'I don't want to live under his shadow'"
"And I'm not, I'm home for Rachel." He looks to Jason Steen.
"Rachel? What does she have to do with you being home?" Barbara looks puzzled. My face goes red and I look to Dick who quickly slides his hand over mine, underneath the table.
"To protect our child." He states.
Barbara immediately gets a look of worry on her face, meanwhile Jason starts cackling. "Woah woah woah!" He is trying to catch his breath. "So you're telling me golden boy, fucked up?"
"Are you sure it's yours?" Damian pipes up.
"Damian!" Dick yells in a scolding manner.
"Yes it's Dicks." I reply.
"When did this even happen?" Jason says still trying to contain himself
"When I sent him to Seattle to talk to Oliver Queen, back in February." Bruce chimes in
"How do you know?" Barbara looks puzzled.
"I stopped by Dick's house when he didn't come to Gotham. They were.." he trails off. Jason begins to howl, cackling loud.
"You let Bruce catch you in the middle of procreating?" He can hardly breath.
"Well we didn't mean to procreate." I sigh, "and he didn't catch us in the middle, it was after"
"Same thing!" He wipes the tears from his eyes.
"I'm so glad you find humor in that." Dick glares. "Because I need your help."
"Our help with what?" Damian glares at Dick.
"No, only Jason." He looks towards him.
"No, no, and no" Bruce states firmly. "How many times do I have to say it."
"You think I wanted this?" Dick looks stern "because I don't. It breaks my code too."
"Dick, we don't kill period."
"I'll do it" Jason pipes in but is unheard
"Jesus Bruce, he cut the womb out of a woman and left it for Rachel." He slams his fist down standing up.
Bruce rises to his feet in anger, "did you learn nothing in training today?"
"I learned how pissed off you are." He retorts.
"Hello, I'll do it." Jason tried to intervene.
"Yes I'm pissed off. Do you know what happens to children in this family"
"They are tortured, beat, killed." I stand too. "But the children in this family didn't have me as a mother either. And you have no idea what the hell I'll do to protect my child" I rise standing next to Dick. This ends their dispute but they still stand glaring at each other.
"What can you do?" Damian looks to his salad not minding me much.
"She's a Jack of all trade. What can't she do." Dick huffs out.
Suddenly Damian's mouth turns into a slight smile. Before I notice a knife is a foot from me when I stop it with a shield.
"Damian!" Bruce screams.
"Well if she's going to be apart of the family I need to know what assets she holds" he looks grumpy to his father.
I smile, "okay, let's play." I let loose, igniting my magic to unfold. The black whips of my magic snake quickly, ripping him out from under his chair. Dragging the boy under the table. Quickly he throws another knife in my direction, and I dodge it, releasing my powers from him to throw a shield. He's up running fast at me with his knife ready to attack.
I focus my energy sinking into the floor, I emerge behind him and grab his hoodie, sinking him into a vortex with me. We emerge from the ceiling as I dangle him by his hoodie. Most kids his age would be scrambling but he stays cool.
He swings himself forward trying to get momentum. I release him, dropping him from the 12 foot ceiling. I fly down softly as I open a portal safely dropping him to the ground.
Damian is pissed. He breaths heavy beginning to charge, when suddenly Dick body slams him. Losing momentum he falls to the floor. "Enough!" He barks, "Jesus Damian, she is pregnant."
"I'm sorry, I started it Dick" I walk towards him while he is seething.
"I know, and I'm ending it. You can't over exert yourself this much. You have been so sick." He looks angry at me.
I look down immediately regretting my choices. "You're right Dick, I'm so sorry"
"Are we ready to eat, perhaps" Alfred comes in with the main course.
"Yes, I think food might change this mood" Barbara smiles lightly
"We're not done." Damian huffs at me, walking to his chair.
"You are Damian." Dick snarls, "you touch her, I'll beat your ass"
"Enough! Come eat!" Barbara puts her foot down.
Dick huffs putting his hand on my lower back leading me to the table.
"How bout we talk later Dickie." Jason smiles as Alfred puts a plate in front of him. Dick nods his head.
"So a baby.?" Barbara smiles, "how exciting. How far along are you?" She doesn't seem too thrilled but wants to act it.
"10 weeks." I look at my plate. While everyone else has been served Turkey, I received a large portion of roast.
"We must talk later Rachel, on what your diet is" Alfred walks out.
"Morning Sickness?" Barbra presumes.
"Yeah, a lot of it." I pick up my fork.
"Luckily Alfie made her this for lunch earlier and she actually ate for the first time in weeks." Dick smiles lightly.
"Such a shame you knocked her up on your first go Grayson." Jason shakes his head
"Who said it was our first time?" I look over.
"How long have you two been an item?" Bruce leans back looking at us.
"Since I was 16, and he was 17." I smile. "On and off though."
"Ah, so not long after you left" Bruce takes a bite of his food.
"Damn, I mean that bodysuit was tight" Jason eyes me up and down. "I would have hit it"
I blush and smile looking into my lap feeling nervous.
"Quit it" Barbara hauls off throwing a roll at him. "Before Dick whoops your ass"
He bites his lip looking at me. "I love pissing Dick off."
"You two can take the honor of beating on each other later when you're taking patrol." Bruce announces.
"Nightwing showing up in Gotham?" Barbara asks.
"He's came and gone as needed. Besides, I haven't been in Bludhaven for a few weeks. It'll explain where I have been." Dick talks as he chews.
"So what next? Gonna quit the force?" Damian asks.
"No, transferring to Gotham. I start Tuesday. I will drive to Bludhaven to continue my duty there as Nightwing."
"Tuesday? Why not tomorrow?" Bruce asks.
"I have a doctors appointment tomorrow." I finish my plate. It's as delicious as lunch.
"Yeah." Dick smiles, "I can't wait to see the baby again" he leans over kissing my cheek. I guess this wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Not as great of a dinner as it could be. But breaking news like this isn't easy as hero's.
