Chapter Text
Bruce walked up the stairs towards a room filled with bubbling laughter. The door was open, Tim and Jason had Dick pinned to the floor, and Dick laughed as he managed to force them both off of him, Tim quickly switching sides to help pin Jason.
“No fair!”
“I didn’t complain when you ganged up on me!”
Bruce reached out to knock, making his presence known as he stepped through the doorway. The four boys scrambled off of each other sitting neatly in a row on the bed.
“Hey B, is dinner ready?”
“Nearly, but I wanted to talk to the four of you first,” Bruce moved to sit on the edge of the bed, facing them.
The boys seemed to stiffen at his words, he raised his hands, "Don't worry, lads. You're not in any trouble."
The boys relaxed at that and stared at him as they waited for him to speak.
Bruce sucked in a breath, “I wanted to let the four of you know how grateful I am for your presence here in this house. You’ve managed to bring it to life in a few short weeks, far more than I have been able to in my whole life.
“I wanted to offer the four of you a home here, but I will not pressure you, nor force you to stay. If you wish to go elsewhere, I will do everything in my power to aid you and find you a safe home. That said, I want you to know that this is your home, if you want it to be. You will always have a place here, and I promise I will always do my best to look after the four of you, so long as that is what you want.”
Bruce looked up tentatively and was met with four sets of bright eyes.
“Are you serious?” Jason was staring off into the distance as he processed Bruce's words.
“Of course I am serious.”
“All four of us?” Dick had a protective arm wrapped around Damian.
“Of course. I would never attempt to separate you from one another.”
Tim’s eyes grew watery and his lip began to tremble, “Do we really get to stay?”
Bruce’s gaze softened and he felt as if his heart would shatter at the wobble in Tim’s words, “Of course, sweetheart. If that is what you want.”
Tim burst into tears and flung himself at Bruce. Bruce wrapped his arms around the small boy's frame, wiping the tears from his cheeks. The other three boys soon followed, and Bruce wrapped his arms around all four of them as they buried themselves into his shirt.
“Yeah, B. I think we’d like to stay,” Dick shot him a shy smile.
“Yeah, yer stuck with us,” Jason was tucked under his arm, pressed against his side.
Damian stared at him with soft, deep green eyes.
Bruce’s heart melted faster than ice on an open flame. He didn’t hold back the smile or the tears that found their way onto his face, only moving to pull his sons closer to him.
“My boys.”
There was still so much that Bruce wanted to tell them, so much he wanted to say. Perhaps when Damian is older, they’ll talk about his mother. But for now, he was content with the four birds wrapped up in his arms.
“It’s snowing,” Jason turned to see Tim staring blankly out the massive library window as white flecks began to fall from the sky.
Jason moved to join Tim by the window. The younger boy always grew listless in the winter when it snowed. Jason jostled his shoulder, bringing the boy out of his stupor and handing him a cup of hot tea Alfred had brought into the room. Tim sipped it and stared out the window.
The snowfall was light, not nearly enough to actually stick, but it meant that Autumn was coming to a close. For a moment, Jason could feel anxiety building in his chest. He glanced around, taking in his surroundings. The fireplace in the library is lit, filling the room with warmth. The warm tea on the table was letting off steam, and his brothers were all safe somewhere inside the manor.
He let out a breath and stared back out at the snow. For the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel the dread that usually came with the end of autumn. For once, this was a winter Jason wouldn’t have to fret over Tim as he shivered endlessly under thin blankets. Wouldn’t have to worry about Damian losing a finger to hypothermia. Wouldn’t have to worry about Dick giving his rations to his brothers so they might better survive the winter.
This time, they had shelter, they had warmth, and they had each other. This time, they had a home.
Alfred moved to stand behind Bruce as they watched the four boys running about the meadow, attempting to catch snowflakes as they fell.
“Master Bruce, the first frost is setting in, and I do believe it is time for those cloaks to be replaced. I finished the project just this morning. I’d say the timing is quite impeccable.”
Bruce regarded him with a curious look and nodded, “I agree, it will be much too cold soon. Thank you, Alfred.”
“Very well, Sir. When they are ready, do bring them inside.”
Dick carried a sleepy Damian on his back while Jason pulled a giggling Tim into a headlock. Dick laughed and reached out, brushing the snow out of his little brother's hair as they headed inside.
They’d spent most of the day outside as the first snow fell, only venturing inside to warm themselves. They made their way to the den where they found Bruce already waiting by the fire.
A soft smile crossed the man’s face as they entered, “Lads? Alfred and I have a surprise for you all.”
Dick set Damian gently onto the couch, pulling a wool blanket off the arm and swaddling the youngest as he slept. Jason and Tim crowded onto the couch, leaving enough space for Dick to join them.
“What is it, B?” Jason said in a curious tone, the usual trepidation absent from his voice.
“Well, it is cold in the mountains, and I know how much you lads favor your freedom and the outdoors, so Alfred and I took the liberty of putting together some winter gear for you all, though I will admit that Alfred did most of the hard work.”
At that moment, Alfred entered the den carrying four linen bags, “Indeed I did, Sir.”
Alfred handed each of them a bag. Dick accepted it curiously. It had been years since he’d received a present… He’d tried to get his brother's gift on their birthdays, but it was hard at the orphanage when they had no way to make money–– legally at least, and Dick wasn’t fond of Jason’s pickpocketing habits.
Dick marveled at the bag in his hands. It was heavy but malleable–– he wondered what it could possibly be…
“Go ahead and open them, lads.”
Dick laughed as Tim practically dove into his bag. Jason inspected his own with intense scrutiny.
Dick pulled the drawstrings loose, peeling open the bag–– he froze, staring wide-eyed at the contents. He reached in and gently pulled out the vibrant material.
It was a blue cloak, lined with warm furs and banded with intricate silver markings. He stared at it, running his hands over the soft cloth.
“Wow…” He whispered as he turned it over in his hands.
The runes that lined the edges of the cloak were embroidered in a silver thread that shimmered in the firelight. Dick ran his fingers along it, admiring the detail. The cloak itself was very similar to the one Bruce often wore, and Jason had said it smelled like magic. Dick wondered what magic his own cloak was capable of.
He glanced over to see his brothers in similar states of wonder. Tim had pulled out his cloak and thrown it over his shoulders. It was a soft yellow color covered and lined with runes similar to the ones on Dick’s own cloak. The cloak itself practically swallowed Tim, enveloping his small frame.
Tim gasped as he looked at the symbols on the cloak, “B! We match!”
Bruce smiled, “That we do, chum. These cloaks possess the same magic imbued in my own. It will help protect you, and keep you warm. And if you are ever lost, it will help me find you.”
Tim giggled, swaddling himself further into his cloak.
Jason held up his own red cloak, inspecting it curiously and glancing over at Alfred. The Butler only winked in response, and Jason relented, slowly removing his old cloak, and replacing it with the new one.
Dick chuckled before throwing his new blue cloak over his shoulders, relishing in the warmth of it. Damian watched them with curious, sleep-heavy eyes as the youngest tried to stay awake.
“Do you want me to open your bag, Dami?”
Damian nodded, and Dick opened the bag to reveal a small deep green cloak.
“Look, Dami! This is for you! Just like your old scarf!”
Damian held onto the old green scarf protectively, eyeing the cloak.
“Don’t worry Dames, you can still keep your scarf.”
Damian seemed to relax at that, moving to allow Dick to replace his old furs with the new cloak.
“Young Masters, you will find that I have added runes to best adapt to your strengths. I can explain exactly what they do in time.”
Dick beamed at Alfred, glancing around, seeing all of his brothers in their bright cloaks. Damian was swaddled asleep in his cloak. Tim was running around the room, letting his cloak trail out behind him, and Jason was meticulously inspecting each of the runes drawn at the edges of his cloak.
“Thank you, Alfred. And thanks, B. I’m not sure if you know how much this means to me–– to us.”
Bruce smiled, “Of course, sweetheart,” He opened his arms and Dick lept in for a hug, “I want to keep you boys safe and protect you. I will always do my best to support you and give you what it is you need to feel safe and happy. This was the least I could do.”
Bruce ran a gentle hand through Dick’s hair, and Dick was happy to stay where he was for as long as possible. Of course, his reprieve was interrupted by two blurs of red and yellow leaping onto his back and forcibly knocking him and Bruce over.
“Hey! Get off of me, you guys!”
Bruce let out a deep laugh as Tim and Jason climbed over them, forcing their way into the hug. Dick squeezed his face in between the tangle of limbs and spotted Damian sound asleep on the couch. At least he was safe from the cuddle pile.
Who was he kidding? Dick loved cuddle piles.
They’d used them often–– often to keep warm in the winter, but now, he was warmer than he’d ever been, sandwiched between the chest of the man who’d saved them from the cold and the warmth of his brothers. Dick smiled into the crook of someone’s arm. Who’s arm? He wasn’t sure, but he was happy to stay bundled together with his family for the rest of his life.
“Now, lads. How would you like to test these cloaks out?”
The three boys nodded excitedly and sprinted out of the den. Bruce carried a sleeping Damian as he followed the boys as they made their way outside, wrapped in their new winter cloaks. He stopped on the porch as the boys ran out into the yard.
“Alright then–– Alfred?”
“Very good, Sir. Master Dick, if you would like to leap down from the branches of that tree, the cloak will slow your fall.”
Dick stared at them, wide-eyed before scrambling up the tree and leaping off. Sure enough, several of the runes along the edges of the cloak lit up, and he gently floated to the ground.
“No way! That’s so cool! Thanks, Alfie!”
“Of course. Now, Master Tim, you’re cloak functions much the same, but it will shroud you in darkness when you require it too. Try stepping into the shadows, my boy.”
Tim did as Alfred told him, and sure enough, he vanished into the shadow of the tree.
“That’s awesome!”
“Wait–– that means he’s gonna win hide and seak every time! No fair!”
“You’re just jealous,” Tim popped out of the shadows to stick his tongue out at his brothers, disappearing again before Jason could grab him.
“Master Jason, your cloak has an ability for built-in self-defense. It acts as a shield for both magical and nonmagical attacks. Master Tim, would you be so kind as to huck something at Master Jason?”
A snowball darted out of the shadows. Jason raised his arm to protect himself, but the snow was deflected by a shield that was momentarily visible. Jason grinned, a full smile spreading across his face.
“Oh, we’re definitely having a snowball fight today!”
Jason took off in the direction of the snowball, and Tim darted out of the shadows with an “eep! ” as his brother began to chase him.
Dick laughed and turned back towards them, "What about Dami?"
"I am afraid Master Damian's cloak is more generic at the moment, as he is too young for us to truly know how it will suit him best. The good news is, the cloaks are made to be adaptable."
Dick nodded, his attention returning to his brothers as Tim and Jason laughed loudly in the meadow.
For the first time in a long time, Tim felt at ease as he ran around with his brothers in the snow. His pretty yellow cloak billowed around him as Jason chased after him, a mostly dirt and grass snowball in hand.
“Jay! Stop! It’s cold!”
“Not with that magical cloak s' not!”
Tim ducked as the snowball flew at him, but he was too slow and it nailed him in the back. Tim fell to the ground dramatically, using the moment to scoop what little snow there was on the ground into his hands.
He waited for the perfect moment.
“Timmy? You ok?” Jason approached him cautiously, getting just within range.
Gotcha.
Tim whirled around and shoved the grassy snowball in Jason’s face–– Tim’s smile wavered as a mischievous grin spread across Jason's face.
“You’re gon’a get it now, baby bird!”
Tim shrieked as he ran with Jason chasing after him and dumping snow onto his back as he tackled Tim to the ground. Tim giggled and shoved more snow back into his brother’s face before squirming out of the hold and taking off again.
“Not so fast!”
Tim skidded to a stop as Dick cut off his exit, two snowballs in each hand. Before either Jason or Tim could react, Dick launched the snowballs at them, hitting Tim in the shoulder and the others bouncing harmlessly off Jason’s cloak.
Tim brushed off the snow, catching Jason’s eye and grinning. They both knew what to do next. Dick must’ve seen the look because, in the next second, he was bolting back towards the manor with Tim and Jason hot on his tail.
Bruce watched from the porch, cradling a sleeping Damian in his arms, as his other three boys chased each other through the snow. He smiled at the scene, relishing in the warmth that filled his chest.
He looked down at the sleeping boy in his arms, brushing the hairs out of his face. Damian snuggled further into his chest. Bruce’s heart felt like it was about to burst.
A shriek drew his attention to the yard, and he watched as Jason tackled Tim to the ground before Dick launched two snowballs at each of them. In the next moment, Dick was sprinting towards Bruce, smiling wide as Tim and Jason chased after him.
“Incoming!” Dick bounded up the porch, diving for cover in the confines of Bruce’s cloak.
Tim and Jason didn’t hesitate to dive in after Dick. Bruce laughed as the three boys ran around his legs under the cloak, before darting back out and chasing each other around the yard again. Damian stirred in his arms at the commotion but stayed sound asleep.
“My my, Master Bruce. I do believe they are going to tire themselves out at this rate. Perhaps I should prepare an early dinner?”
“I think that’s a good idea, Alfred. Thank you.”
“Of course, Sir.”
The boys did indeed tire themselves out. Alfred prepared stew and fresh bread for dinner, and they scarfed it down.
After dinner, Bruce carried all four boys upstairs to their bedroom–– or rather Dick’s room, as the four of them had insisted on sharing a room for the time being.
He set the boys down, finding multiple sets of hands gripping tightly to his cloak.
A sleepy Tim peered up at him through half-lidded eyes, “Don’t go, B. S’comfy.”
Bruce was seriously going to need to get his heart checked out because it kept nearly exploding every other moment he spent with his sons.
“Of course, sweetheart. I’ll stay right here.”
Bruce kept his word, moving the boys so that they were all resting atop him, the four burrowing closer to his sides the second he laid down.
Soon, the room was filled with the soft steady sounds of sleep. Bruce smiled, sleep threatening to overtake him as well.
He wasn’t sure how to put it into words. Bruce couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so much warmth and love. Was it before his parents' deaths? Maybe celebrating his birthday with Alfred when he took him hunting for the first time?
All he knew now was that he would protect this feeling–– protect his family with every fiber of his being.
He fell peacefully into slumber, free of the nightmares that frequently plagued him, surrounded by the love of his children.