Ch. 10
Bruce sat at his computer adding information that Selena left for him the night before. He had been worried about how she would handle talking to Harvey Dent, but she had managed fine on her own.
He leaned back, tapping a pen on his chin as he closely studied his notes. Not much had changed from the newly acquired case notes he had collected except for the mention of a second child. Of course, Bruce checked the name against a local database.
A young boy by the name of Jack Brawden had popped up on his screen. The boy had silky blonde hair and green eyes that stared dull and lifeless into the camera. Poor child probably had no idea the trauma that plagued his subconscious.
Bruce had wondered if the boy's father was still alive, but according to the public records he had died of a freak heart attack three years prior. Bruce shook his head at the tragedy. Not even ten years old and he had no family left.
He hummed softly. It reminded him of a certain ward playing upstairs. What is it with Gotham and orphaned children? If he hadn't been Batman perhaps in another lifetime, he'd take in as many orphans as he could. That is if he had ever found a wife. He doubted he could manage them all just by himself.
One energetic child was enough. Though Dick was a simple boy, he was quite a handful excluding his emotional struggles. Alfred had told him that Dick was smart, not only in education but in practical pranks. The other week, Alfred had opened one of the closets to get a broom when a box full of feathers fell onto his head.
Alfred had no idea where they had come from, except for the fact that down feathers did not belong in the linen closet. He called for young master who ducked behind his book to keep from smiling.
Apparently, Dick wanted to pay his butler back for making him eat raw broccoli at dinner. Alfred was insistent that the grisly tree-like vegetable would extend his health. The poor kid just poked at the green tree-top with a sour face. Alfred refused to have mercy on him, so when he left the table, Bruce took it upon himself to help his ward.
He handed Dick a bottle of ranch. Dick glanced at him confused, but once he gave it a tentative try, he discovered it wasn't so bad. When Alfred returned every green object on both their plates had disappeared. Bruce laughed when his butler looked thoroughly bewildered.
"Sometimes, it just takes a little encouragement," he said leaning back in his chair. He winked at Dick who happily grinned back.
"Well, I'll be," Alfred mused sitting back down.
Bruce pondered whether it would be worth taking a trip down to the foster family that looked after Jack. He doubted at that age that Jack would remember anything about the night his mother and sister were taken. Perhaps his foster parents could shed some light upon the subject. However, he didn't want to impose more than necessary.
The question now was should he go as Bruce Wayne? No. That would raise too many questions. Batman would be too extreme and intimidating, so that was out. His homeless disguise would be useless and irrelevant. Maybe he could go as an undercover detective. That would fit his profile and be the least likely disguise to be questioned.
Goodness knows how many police detectives Gotham hired. One more with a quick written background that would pass any nosy person should suffice. Bruce pulled up an empty credential log under the GCPD Detective archive and began to build his profile. Another advantage to being a friend of Commissioner Gordon. A vigilante with roots into the local police department.
After an hour of typing, Bruce looked over his handiwork and leaned back satisfied. Now that the paperwork was taken care of, he just needed to put together his disguise. He got up and walked over to his closet of out-sourced material that contained several sets of different types of clothing collected over the years. Thankfully his build hadn't changed much over the years, so Alfred's thread and needle weren't needed.
He selected one dark navy-blue police uniform complete with GCPD patches with a matching set of boots. He then picked out a corresponding jacket and a black and yellow police cap. He set the outfit down on one of the tables before going over to a drawer that contained multiple types of badges taking out the appropriate credentials.
Satisfied, he went to grab some extra plastic pieces for his face. Even though the foster home was outside the city limits, he didn't dare show up as is. He would be immediately recognized as Bruce Wayne. His disguise would give him a Roman hooked nose, long sideburns, a beard and colored contacts would take away any doubt of who he could have been. Added with his newly acquired vocal talent in mid-range bass, he'd transform into a completely different person.
Bruce glanced at his watch. Alfred would soon be down to notify him of dinner plans. Tonight, was special though it memorialized his fallen parents. This evening would mark nearly twenty years since the death of Martha and Thomas Wayne. It would also be the first time he would take his ward outside of Wayne Manor since his arrival.
Dick had seemed nervous at the thought of venturing into the city once more, but Alfred reassured him that they would have private reservations. Bruce hadn't been sure at first since no one knew he had taken in a child except for a select few and he wanted to keep it that way.
Bruce had been worried about Dick's reaction upon hearing what this date meant, but he seemed to take it alright. They each shared in one another's tragedies and over it their bond grew stronger. Dick became less reserved and closed off as his true self began to slowly emerge.
Bruce discovered the other day that Dick held a keen interest in microscopic activity. Alfred had given him a science kit and the next thing Bruce knew the child was looking through the lenses of a microscope in awe. The kid was barely scratching the surface of the world, yet he loved finding the smallest of details. Sounded like the beginning of a young detective. He chuckled to himself. The last thing he wanted was a younger version of himself.
It was almost time to go, so he trudged back upstairs to the main house to get ready.
Half an hour later, the three of them slid into one of Alfred's favorite cars. An old red Volkswagen. Dick glanced at Mr. Wayne confused as to why they weren't taking the regular car.
"You'll see," he replied with a grin.
The car pulled out of the mansion and headed toward town as the light from the sun slid closer to the horizon.
Golden rays splashed across the countryside road as small homes turned into family condos that wound its way toward the city. Soon they emerged into thick traffic that clogged the highway into downtown Gotham as families began their route home. It was nearly 6:00pm and Bruce was grateful he had Alfred place their reservation for 6:30. Even when they left early, he knew they would run into what seemed like the biggest traffic jam in the world.
Bruce watched Dick's eyes widen at the sight of the tall skyscrapers that towered over their small car. He had never been this deep into the city or had seen it as it took on a whole new glow of night life. Haley's Circus had stuck to more of the outskirts of the city suburbs hoping to attract the interest of citizens with families.
"Will you show me where you work?" Dick asked swiveling to look out the back window.
"All in due time," Bruce replied smiling.
Alfred pulled into a gently lit parking lot that was half full, but soon to be overrun with customers.
"We have arrived," Alfred announced placing the car in park and hopping out. Before he could pull open the door, Dick scrambled out a bundle of raw excitement.
"No way! Is this what I think it is?" Dick exclaimed bouncing on his toes.
"Indeed, Master Grayson. It is," Alfred said as Bruce got out of the car.
A flickering bright red sign flashed with the words OPEN. Below it in bold black letters read Giovanni and Luigi's Pizza and Sandwiches.
Bruce walked over to Dick who stood there beaming.
This was the best restaurant in Gotham for pizza and Dick had dreamed of going there ever since he'd heard of the place. He had begged his parents to let him go, but their schedules had always gotten in the way. The only time he had been asked to go was by a friend, but he had been fighting a cold and had to decline to his utter disappointment.
Not only was it a restaurant, but it also held a museum of antique collectibles and a small arcade for kids. As Alfred and Bruce soon discovered that pizza was one of Dick's favorite foods, they couldn't pass up the opportunity to surprise him.
Alfred found their table complete with menus and proceeded to order their drinks while Bruce showed Dick the entirety of the place. Though Dick was young he loved venturing down into history and the past. Bruce suggested they order before exploring further into the museum and arcade.
Dick agreed and followed him back to the table where he preceded to gawk over the multitude of pizza options. He asked what Mr. Wayne and Alfred wanted, but Bruce waved him off saying he could order whatever looked good. Dick decided to go for a create your own deep dish. He ordered a pepperoni and mozzarella cheese completed with black and green olives, green peppers, onions, and mushrooms. He couldn't wait to sink his teeth into that beauty.
As they waited for their food, Bruce told Dick that this was a place his father would take him.
"My father loved this place. His dad would take him here and so it became a family tradition of sorts." Bruce paused in his sentence and glanced at Alfred who gave a reassuring nod.
Dick followed Bruce's gaze until it landed on him. Bruce extended his hand across the table and took Dick's small one.
"Uh, Mr. Wayne…"
"Dick, I want to carry on that tradition. I want to memorialize my parents by bringing in someone new and special. And that someone is you. Dick, I want you to be part of the family."
"Mr. Wayne, I don't understand. I thought I was already." The kid's eyes swam in confusion.
Bruce chuckled eyes soft. "You are, but I want to make it official. Not just as my ward, but as my son. Dick, I want to adopt you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a manila folder sliding it across the table.
"This contains the proper paperwork and it's all signed and dated, but only if you want it. However, I understand if you're not ready…" He trailed off as Dick withdrew his hand.
The kid looked up with tears in his eyes. "I... I don't know what to say. I thought I could never have this again. A family. You really want me?" His voice wavered cracking in mid-sentence.
Alfred reached over and wrapped an arm around his small shoulders. "Master Grayson, you have breathed life back into the Wayne family, more than you could ever know."
"But, I'm so damaged," Dick responded face flushing slightly.
"No, no my child. Perhaps, a bit off here and there, but nothing that time can't fix." Alfred squeezed his shoulders lightly.
"Alfred's right, and we want you, damaged and all. So, what do you say, kid?" Bruce said his eyes flooded with warmth.
A smile that could rival jolly Saint Nick's split across Dick's face. "Yes!"
And before Bruce could even move, the child slipped out of Alfred's grasp, and crashed into Bruce's arms.
"Thank you, Mr. Wayne for saving me. Thank you…"
"No, Dick. It was you who saved us. Welcome home." Bruce whispered softly into Dick's ear as the child buried his face into his chest. Bruce smiled at Alfred across the table who tried to discreetly dab at his eyes.
Today would mark a turning point for Dick whether he knew it or not. On a day when family had been lost, another one had been found.