Chapter 9. Daniel: Family Introductions
Note: I am doing other people's point of views soon, definitely Cass. I can't do Bruce; I can't get in his head. I am open to other POV suggestions.
W.E. is Wayne Industries with an E. Spell correct doesn't like it.
Daniel
We entered the large doors and saw a huge room. A large set of stairs were in front of us, to the left a large sunroom, to the right leading off to a hallway. The stairs, walls, and floors were all made of a dark wood that shown in the sunlight. The stairs were covered in a red fabric, a rug? The room was beautiful, but it felt empty. Dust covered the art along the walls, the rich red beginning to fade. It felt like this was once well tended, now it was left. No one to care about the once grand beauty anymore.
Abby clutched at my arm, her hand reaching my wrist, her bag in the other hand. She was seeking comfort from my heartbeat. Yes, she can hear heartbeats, but feeling a heartbeat often calms her down much faster. With her black hood down over her eyes, she looked almost like the first time I saw her. Scared, heartbroken, searching for someone to love and someone to love her.
"Ok, you two don't come out till you hear your cue." Jason said.
"Our cue?" I asked, reshouldering my own bag.
Actually, it was a large rucksack that I had found in the garbage. Abby had mended it, which now carries the cooking things, most of our weapons, majority of our clothes, and a couple lengths of rope. Abby is carrying medical equipment and smaller items like fishhooks, water bottles, and string.
"You'll know. Just stay here." Jason apparently wasn't sure what he was going to say.
Me and Abby waited in the hallway; the door was left ajar. I heard many voices. "Ab's" I whispered; she squeezed my wrist to show she was listening to me. "How many people are in there?"
"Umm... with Damian and Jason, nine people in total."
Who are all those people? Was it necessary to meet so many people at once?
People were talking. A man's voice said, "Little D, where have you been?"
"TT, Richard. Do not refer to me by that insufferable nickname. Now release me before I make you."
I frowned at Abby. She had a slight smile on her lips, her eyes were covered. "Damian got a hug." I had to grin myself. I just wished I could've seen it.
"So, do you mind explaining why we're here? I was in the middle of an important case when Dick picked me up." A woman's voice asked. The woman sounded annoyed but not harsh.
"Yeah, I was in an important call during a board meeting at W.E." Another male voice.
Jason spoke up. "Yeah. Sorry that we took time away from your such busy lives."
"Damian, is the reason for this meeting the reason you didn't return last night from patrol?" A deep male voice, familiar, but I couldn't place it.
"Yes father." Father. Batman. Great, just great.
"Then please explain."
"I was patrolling last night when I discovered two adolescents about to be torn apart by thugs. I intervened before that occurred."
"How bad are the thugs? In the hospital or worse?" The voice complaining about the W.E. meeting spoke up.
"TIM!" The voice who called Damian 'Little D' chastised.
"TT, for your information Drake, the thugs fled as soon as I made myself known. I then discovered that one of the two adolescents had been stabbed and proceeded to take the two to the closest safe house, which was unfortunately occupied by Todd."
"Why didn't you call in back up?" a new male's voice. Gentle and curious, he sounded almost concerned.
"I wanted to get a statement myself."
"Did you? Who are they? Where are they?" Damian's father asked. A silence went over the room. Abigail frowned. Before I could ask, Batman spoke again, sounding angry. "Is this true?"
"Yes father."
"In fact, they are right outside the door." Jason said casually. "Come on in you two."
I froze. How did they know? Abby's grip tightened around my wrist. "Daniel." Abby's soft voice was filled with worry, doubt, fear. Her forehead pressing into my shoulder blade.
Distinct thuds, someone walking to the door. Abby didn't relax as the person got closer; however, she wasn't becoming more tense. The door that had been left a jar was pushed towards us, revealing Jason. His eyes were scanning the pair of us, trying to determine what the issue was. The smell of take-out food wafted behind him. I couldn't see anything or anyone in the room as Jason's wide frame was blocking the doorway. His brown leather jacket open across a simple black T-shirt, and blue jeans.
After a moment or two, Jason spoke. "Come on. These guys won't bite you. Well, Damian might. But you already met him, so you're already doing pretty well." His joke, even if it wasn't the best, was enough to make me move again.
I can see why Abby immediately took to the man. Yes, he tried to rescue her first, and he gave Abby her name. Besides that, there is something in this man's stance, personality, aura? That just felt safe. I wonder if this is how Abby sees me.
Jason held the door open, standing to the side. He raised his hand a little, as if he wanted to put it on one of our backs, but he thought better of it. Good. Yes, he has a good record with Abby, still doesn't mean either of us completely trust him. We barely know the man.
The room itself was grand, though also a slight gloom hung in the air, just like when we first stepped into the place. Three long, leather, couches formed three sides of a square. Two of the couches were facing each other, while the other faced a large fireplace. A couple of armchairs, of the same leather, were placed in opposing corners. A large dark wooden table occupies the space in front of all the couches, currently covered in takeout food. It smells like Mexican. Behind the couches, were glass doors that led outside to a garden. Above the fireplace, hung a family portrait, ten people in all. All the people in the portrait were right in front of us, except one elderly regal man.
Jason gestured for Abby and me to sit, but we didn't. We stood in front of the fireplace; it seemed that a fire hadn't been lit there in years, adding to the gloom of the house. Jason stayed standing once he figured out that we weren't sitting. Abby still had her head pressed into my back, and holding my arm, though not quite as tight. Damian was in the closest armchair to our right, looking relaxed for once with a large black dog by his side, and a black and white cat on his lap. Who knew Damian likes animals?
The eldest man in the room appeared to be about 40 to 45 years old. Hair as black as night, light skin, deep sapphire blue eyes. He was Damian's mirror image, just 30 plus years older. A black turtleneck, and black jeans. His face was unreadable, glaring at me and Ab's. Is Abby having better luck at reading this man? He was the only other person in the room sitting in an armchair, in the best position to look at us head on. I would've thought he was a king if he didn't have takeout food in front of him.
On the couch to our left, closer to the older man, was a tall man probably in his late twenties or early thirties. Raven black hair, tan skin, a lighter shade of blue eyes than the middle-aged man. Almost sky blue. He wore a questioning grin, obviously confused about us. Lean, though his shoulders are somewhat built, muscular. Shorts and a light blue T-shirt.
At the other end of the couch, was a blonde girl who seemed to be physically late teens or early twenties, dressed in purple. Purple shirt, purple pants, purple shoes. Currently, her mouth is stuffed with food, making her look like a purple chipmunk. Light skin and lounging on the couch like a monkey in a tree. Blue eyes grew wide when we entered.
On the couch to our right, a red head was sitting, also in her late twenties, a wheelchair behind the couch. Her green eyes sparkled in curiosity and intelligence, behind simple glasses. Light, freckled, skin. A grey shirt, blue jeans, and a black jacket. She seemed like a normal girl, but anyone who knows Damian can't be normal.
Another young man, this one younger than Jason, but older than Damian, so early twenties tops. He was thin and lanky, but muscles could be seen under his baggy clothes, which wasn't helping with the skinny effect. Baggy red shirt, baggy grey sweatpants. Black hair, crystal blue eyes which were sharp, intelligence clear in his eyes. Light skin, clutching a mug for dear life. Dark circles hung under the man's eyes. He apparently doesn't get a lot of sleep.
On the couch directly in front of us, two more people sat. The man closer to the left side of the couch had dark skin, the darkest in the room. Caring brown eyes, coal black hair, a yellow shirt, and blue jeans. His frame wasn't extremely built, but it was obvious he didn't waste his time sitting around. His head was cocked a little to the side like a curious dog.
The last person in the room was a girl with short black hair, cobalt blue eyes, and light skin as well, but in a different way from most of the others in the room. Her face seems shaped different too, like a mixture of oriental with something I couldn't quite place. She seemed about the same age as the blonde. Though her posture was relaxed, her eyes were moving too fast, looking us over, too fast to be considered normal. A grey sweater, with blue jeans covered her build, though I wasn't going to put her down any lower on my list of wariness.
The middle-aged man spoke, in a bit of a growl. "Son. Why exactly did you bring these two adolescents here? Putting our family at risk?" That voice. I had only heard it once before, on a rooftop where Damian and I fought each other, but I couldn't forget that voice. Batman.
"Tt. Father, I thought you trusted me." If Batman relaxed at Damian's words I couldn't tell.
The blonde chipmunk managed to swallow the food in her cheeks, "Umm, Dami, who are they?"
Damian looked over to me and nodded. I sighed. "I'm Daniel. This is my little sister, Abigail." Damian's eyes narrowed when I called Abby my little sister. I lifted my left hand to take off my hood, as Abby was still clutching my right arm. She hasn't changed her position since we've entered the room.
I closed my eyes then I tugged my hood off. Just waiting for what is going to happen next. The feeling of eternity passed within a moment. I heard nothing other than Abby's breathing. I couldn't stand it any longer, I opened my eyes.
Only three people in front of didn't seem shocked. Jason, Damian, and Batman. Even the dog seemed shocked. Was Batman's face born in stone? No one moved for another couple of minutes. If this is how they react to me, wait till they see Abby.
Finally, the girl with short black hair right in front of us moved. She… didn't speak but she used her hands to talk. Sign language. Of course, now it makes sense why there was silence before. I know some signs, though apparently not enough to keep up with this girl. The girl noticed that we didn't understand, and she looked towards the only red head in the room.
"Can we please see your face, Abigail?" The red head translated.
Abby tightened her grip, letting lose a small whimper. I looked over my shoulder at her, she was so tense. Why…? Oh, she didn't know any of these people. We don't know their names. To quote Abby, 'How can you trust someone if you don't know their name?'
I was about to explain this when the same girl who signed seemed to read my or Abby's mind. "Cass." The girl pointed to herself.
Most of the rest of the family seemed shocked that Cass willingly told us her name. Cass looked over to the dark-skinned boy on the same couch as her. Dawning reached his eyes. "Hi. I'm Duke Thomas. This is Cassandra Cain, though she likes being called Cass." He pointed to Cass, making sure we understood the point.
I could feel Abby relax a little, just by knowing two names she didn't before. Cass smiled, seeing Abby's posture relax a little as well.
"Duke, Cassandra? What are you two doing?" Batman asked, more ice in his voice than before. He clearly wasn't happy that these people were telling us anything.
Cass started to sign, and this time Duke translated for us. "Daniel already said their names and revealed his face. Abigail doesn't trust us. Names help."
"There is no reason to trust them, Cassandra." Batman's voice is becoming harder. Abby tensed again at his voice. "We do not who know either of them are or who they are working for. I met Respawn briefly working with his father. They could be working for the league or worse!"
I know Abby was clenching her teeth. Whatever small trust started to bond with these people just shattered because of this man. I spoke up before Batman could say anything else. "We. Will. Never. Work. For. The. League. Willingly." I put as much venom in my voice as I could. Stressing every word to make the point crystal clear. "And my name is Daniel. Not Respawn."
Cass and Duke seemed to be the only ones on our side. Well, Jason and Damian may be too. I was ready to walk out of that room, my sister in tow, when the blonde spoke up again. "I'm Stephaine Brown, you can call me Steph. Everyone but B and Damian do." She gave us a small smile. She is cautious yes, but she is trying to help. Apparently, they call Batman, B. Maybe B stands for b!tch.
The red head spoke up. "I am Barbra Gordan. Call me Babs or Barb. Me and Steph are the only people here not officially apart of this family." Her green eyes, still calculating, softened once she realized what Cass and Duke were trying to do for us.
"I'm Richard Grayson." The tall, sky-blue eyes, man said. "But everyone but little D calls me Dick." I gave the man a strange look. Why? Just why? Why would he call himself that? He just grinned at my confusion, giving me no answer.
The young man holding the mug, looked cautious. However, a glare from Cass, he sighed then spoke. "Timothy Drake. Call me Tim."
Batman still glared at us, giving us no comfort or reason to trust him. Abby took a deep breath. Knowing the only way for Batman to trust us was for her to take her hood down first. Her hand went shakily up to her head.
"It's ok Ab's." I whispered. Making sure she would be the only person to hear it. With my small reassurance she pulled her hood off of her head. I did not expect what came next.