Chapter Text
Oliver was pissed. Red Hood was out on the streets of Gotham again. And this time, they had more than just Roy. Sure, they’d seen Roy with Red Hood again, in another damn alley on his knees with Hood’s dick in his mouth. But they also had one of Bruce Wayne’s kids and one of Brucie’s… not-kids. Those two weren’t in quite the same compromising position, but enough that Oliver was angry.
Richard, Richie to the party crowd, Dick to those who he thought of as friends… they’d seen him in a similar alley, begging for a score. Hood took him to a sleazy hotel, because Dick had been concerned over reporters getting a compromising picture of him.
Then there was Steph, Brucie’s not-quite daughter. And she was definitely dating Cass, from what Oliver remembered. She’d been dragged into the same hotel and come out high.
So, if Batman wasn’t going to do anything about Hood, maybe the rest of the League could convince their benefactor, whose family was being effected, to force Batman’s hand.
So, here they sat, in Wayne Manor, in Brucie’s office. Oliver had been here dozens of times. He was friends with Bruce Wayne in his civilian life. But now, he was Green Arrow, and it was safer for his friend not to know.
“Mr. Wayne,” Dinah said, as if they weren’t friends outside the mask. “This is far more serious than you think.”
“I’ve heard what Batman has to say on the matter,” Brucie said. “It seems to be handled.”
“The drugs being trafficked through Gotham are ending up in all our cities,” Flash said.
“I’ve heard that Batman is working on it.”
Oliver glowered at his long-time friend. He was always so flippant about even the most important situations. He tapped at the arm of his chair. “We know who’s behind the drug ring.”
“Is that so, Mr. Arrow?”
“The Red Hood. He’s been on our radar for a while, but we couldn’t connect anything to him properly until now.”
Bruce raised a brow. “Then why are you in my house?”
“Batman has removed him from our custody.”
The air headed Brucie smile split across his face. Usually, Oliver didn’t mind it. He would usually feed off of Bruce’s energy at galas, using him to help Oliver fade into the playboy Ollie. But right now, he just wants to punch him in his prefect, grinning face.
“Do you need a mediator?” Bruce asked. “I have a few family therapists that I’ve used for my family. Not quite the same as a team of superheroes, but—”
“We know what Red Hood has on you,” Oliver snarled. He pulled out the pictures and threw them on Bruce’s desk. True, the images weren’t as damning as Roy blowing Red Hood in various alleys, but Hood’s groping hands and the sleazy hotel he dragged them into, the rumbled clothes and the drugged stagger of Stephanie leaving with bruises on her arms and collarbone.
Bruce’s gaze dropped to the images, before settling back on Oliver, losing some of the mirth. “From what I’ve heard, Batman doesn’t let you all into Gotham, which means you went behind his back to get these.”
“You seem to know a lot about us and Spooky,” Lantern muttered.
“I have put tens of billions into your little group. I am familiar with the vigilante that patrols the streets of my city.”
Oliver couldn’t help the derisive scoff. “You’re his sugar daddy.” He stood and pressed his hands to his side of Brucie’s desk. “You hold his leash, and Red Hood has dirt on your brats.”
Something passed over Bruce’s face, an expression Oliver had never seen before. Something far more serious than he’s ever seen Bruce. But before Bruce could respond, an alarm sounded through the manor. Bruce stiffened, eyes flicking over the League.
“Not exactly how I planned for this situation to go,” he muttered.
He stood at the same time as the door to his office burst open. Dick, Stephanie, and Damian hurried in. Damien was in a hoodie and sweatpants, which was as casual as Oliver had ever seen the kid. Stephanie was in a skimpy party dress, make-up barely hiding the dark circles under her eyes, and the track marks on her arms. Dick was barefoot in sleep pants, rubbing at his face like he’d just rolled out of bed.
When Oliver turned back to Bruce, he was standing in front of the old grandfather clock, messing with the hands. Then it opened, and so did part of the wall. There was an elevator beyond it. Bruce stepped in, while the kids pushed through, not even acknowledging the Justice League members sitting in the room.
“Flash,” Oliver said.
Flash leapt into action, planting himself in the way of the elevator door.
“Get on, or get off,” Bruce snapped.
All four the Justice League stepped onto the elevator. There were no buttons just flat metallic walls. In hindsight, it might have been a bit dangerous for all of them to jump on, especially since they hadn’t mentioned to anyone they were making this particular stop. Bruce opened a pack he had in hand and held out a wipe, a makeup wipe from the label.
Stephanie sighed, taking the wipe. “I’m so glad this bullshit is over. The make-up was getting annoying.” She rubbed the wipe over her left arm, removing the concealer over her track marks. “Keeping up the continuity was so damn tedious.”
Oliver froze as not just concealer came off, but the track marks as well. He watched as every hint of drugs vanished from her left arm. She took another wipe from Bruce and did the same to her right arm, all signs of drug use coming off on the cloth. “What the fuck?”
Damian snorted. “Honestly, did you really think Brown and Richard would allow themselves to be compromised by illegal substances, Queen?”
Oliver froze. “What did you just say?”
Before anyone could say anything more, the elevator door opened. Damian, Stephanie and Bruce walked out, while Dick lingered with a cheeky grin. “Oh, please, Uncle Ollie.”
Oliver felt his blood run cold. How could civilians know who he was? Who else was compromised?
“Think about it. Two well known party boys, one of whom has a known drug history, and a wannabe socialite wouldn’t draw any attention meeting up with a suspected drug trafficker. Makes intel drops a lot easier than if we were dressed as Arsenal, Nightwing and Spoiler.”
They hurried after him down a short corridor toward the light of— holy shit.
They were in the Bat Cave. Oliver had only seen a very small sliver of it when Batman had videoed in, unable to make it to meetings for one reason or another. So, yeah, Brucie was Batman’s sugar daddy.
There were a row of small pods off to one side, one of which Dick walked into, and inside, Oliver caught a glimpse of the suit he’d seen Nightwing wear. The Batman armor lay on a table outside the pods. Oliver looked around and saw a platform with a bank of computer monitors. There were five people there, and two he knew well.
Roy stood there, almost fully kitted out as Arsenal, holding a bloody cotton ball to the inside of his elbow. So he was back on drugs. Oliver wasn’t surprised. Actually, he was livid that Roy would shoot up with Lian right there. She was sparkly purple leggings with fluffy bat slippers on her feet. She also wore a hugely oversized red sweatshirt that nearly consumed her.
“Alright, Peanut, time to go upstairs with Alfie. Daddy has to go to work.”
Lian turned toward him, saying something in another language, one Oliver didn’t recognize, which was saying something, since he could at least generally identify most. Roy seemed to respond in the same language as he crouching in front of her. She stuck out her hand, and he locked his pinky finger with her. He leaned in and kissed her cheek.
Then Lian turned and raced across the platform to Alfred, who swept her into his arms. He walked toward the elevator, passing by… Red Robin of the Teen Titans. What was he doing in the Bat Cave?
“Go, Oracle,” came Batman’s signature growl.
Oliver turned and saw… fucking Bruce putting on the Batman armor. Oh, he was so fucked.
“Last intel we had was Hood getting close to the higher ups,” said the woman sitting at the computers. “He was hoping to get a meeting with them soon, which was supposed to be the intel Spoiler would be picking up tonight. We don’t know if he’s compromised. All we know is that he hit his panic alarm. That could mean he’s in trouble, or he’s meeting the top dogs.”
“Wait,” Flash said. “Hood, like Red Hood?”
Roy glared. “Yeah, he’s one of ours. And you assholes bumbled into fucking Gotham and just about fucked up ten months of a deep cover sting operation.”
“You really think you should be anywhere near a drug operation?” Oliver snarled.
“Arrow,” Dinah hissed.
Roy picked up a folder from the desk then a page from the printer. He leapt down from the platform, vaulting the railing, and stalked over to Oliver. Roy slammed the folder into his chest. “There’s the proof I’m not the fuck up you seem to think I am. I’m five years clean. And that’s a clean test every day for the last year.”
“Seems a bit excessive,” Oliver muttered, flipping through the folder.
“I wouldn’t let him take part unless he stayed clean,” Bruce said as he tightened his armor, sounding more like Batman than Brucie. “Only way to ensure it was daily tests.”
“Father,” Damian said, stepping out of one of the pods, dressed in a suit with a domino mask in place. “Are Queen’s interpersonal inadequacies really a priority? Todd could be in danger.”
The woman, Oracle, continued to rattle off information, while… Didn’t Batman work alone? But while Oliver watched, Dick stepped out dressed a Nightwing, the same with Steph dressed a Spoiler. Then Red Robin turned away from the computer bank and took the domino mask Dick offered him, putting it in place, Timothy Drake-Wayne. Cassandra Wayne seemed to appear from the shadows in the similar costume to the Bat himself.
“Signal will meet you there, he was wrapping up his patrol when the call came in,” Oracle said.
Bruce and Cass pulled on cowls as everyone else made sure their dominos were in place. So… protecting Gotham was a family affair. Well, a family affair plus Roy. A family affair plus Roy and Red Hood.
Then everyone climbed onto motorcycles, except Batman and Robin who got into the Batmobile.
“We’re coming with you,” Dinah said.
Everyone paused and looked at Roy, like it was his call. Roy blew out a breath. “Oracle, make sure they get to coordinates and patch them into the comms. You got yourselves here, you can get yourselves where we’re going.” Then he shot off into a tunnel, the other bikes falling in line behind him, followed by the Batmobile.
When Oliver finally pulled up to the coordinates they’d been given, everything had well and truly started going down. Dozens of what he could only assume were bad guys were bound by zip cuffs, some unconscious, others bleeding. They slipped into the warehouse just in time to see Roy raise his bow at Red Hood, who in turn raised a gun. Neither flinched as they both shot. Roy’s arrow flew over Hood’s shoulder impaling a goon who had been sneaking up behind him.
Gunfire erupted, and the pair dove for cover. To his horror, Oliver saw Hood remove his helmet and slam it around Roy’s head. He was putting explosives on Oliver’s kid’s head. And Roy was fighting him.
“Put on the fucking helmet,” Hood’s snarl sounded through the comms.
“You’re not wearing a domino, Jay,” Roy hissed.
“Yeah, and those motherfuckers just sent drugs into the air. You are not breaking five years of sobriety.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?” Oliver saw him shift and sit beside Roy. “A little airborne narcotics might fuck me up for a day, but the Pit will burn it out of me in no time.”
But the fight drew Oliver away, having to take on goons who had realized they were there.
By the time everything fell still, the Bat clan were checking each other over. Batman swept in. “Where are Hood and Arsenal?”
“You worried about us, old man?” Hood called, stepping out of the shadows while taking some of Roy’s weight as he limped over.
Oliver began to move toward him, but Batman beat him to it, kneeling beside him as Hood lowered Roy onto a crate.
“I’m fine, B,” Roy murmured. “They got a lucky shot in, and a bullet ricocheted.”
“We’ll have Dr. T standing by in the cave.”
“Hood has a collapsed lung.”
“Snitch,” Hood muttered.
Roy lifted his hands to Hood’s helmet on his head, but Batman stopped him. “Not until decon. You’re not breaking your sobriety.” Oliver had never heard Batman sound so soft. It wasn’t quite Bruce. It still held the abrasive gravitas of the Bat, but it was gentle, fond. When had Bruce become fond of Oliver’s kid.
As the Gotham police commissioner showed up, the vigilantes began to slip away. Oliver tried to insist Roy come back with him, but Hood snorted. He threw his leg over Roy’s bike, and Roy followed, wrapping his arms around him.
When they arrived back at the Bat Cave, Alfred was waiting for them. He refused to let them out of the garage, instead herding them toward a line of showers, most of which were already in use. “If you would leave your suits in the provided bins, I will see they are properly decontaminated. There are clothes waiting for each of you after your decontamination shower. If you wish, temporary domino masks can be provided, but everyone here is aware of your identities.”
A gasp sounded from one of the showers.
“I swear, Little Wing,” Dick’s voice came from another shower, “If you and Harper are doing anything—”
“Just because I’ve blown him in shitty alleys,” Roy called back, “doesn’t mean I’d do anything with the demon brat around, and certainly not with either of our dads in the same building.”
Damian scoffed. “Harper, you and Todd have certainly had intercourse in this house. You two are nowhere near as subtle as either of you think.”
Roy groaned.
“Jason!” Came the indigent cry from multiple voices.
“I’m not doing anything!” Hood cried. “He wears skin tight pants, and trying to get them off without making his leg worse is a bitch.”
Alfred cleared his throat. “Could I provide a pair of trauma shears?”
“Please,” Roy said.
Alfred slipped away for only a moment, before passing the tool into one of the showers. He pointed them into the spare showers. While Oliver was cleaning off, Bruce and his kids finished up, bickering the entire time. And it was like Oliver was seeing a whole new side of Bruce. He wasn’t Batman, he wasn’t Brucie. He was just… Bruce.
When Oliver left the showers in rather comfortable sweats, he followed the soft voices to what appeared to be a small medical facility with Red Hood hooked up to various sensors and monitors, an oxygen tube under his nose. Roy was in the bed beside him, with a doctor wrapping up his thigh.
The elevator sounded, and a blur of sparkly, purple domino mask and massive red hoodie blew by him. “Papa!”
Lian scrambled onto Hood’s bed and all but threw herself into his chest. Oliver was about to protest when Hood wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “Hey, Peanut.”
“I missed you,” Lian mumbled into his shoulder.
“I know, sweet girl.” Hood caressed her hair. “I’m sorry it took so long.”
“Daddy’s been sad without you.”
Hood slid his gaze over to Roy, who had gone painfully doe-eyed as he looked at the pair with a small smile. He murmured something to the doctor, and she nodded. Roy climbed out of bed and limped over to Lian and Hood. Hood shifted over so Roy could slide in next to them.
“What?” Oliver breathed.
Roy tensed, and Hood slid a glare at him. Then Hood covered Lian’s eyes. “We’re gonna be icky.” With his other hand, he grabbed the back of Roy’s neck and dragged him into a kiss. Oliver froze as Roy softened and brought both hands to the sides of Hood’s face. Then Roy was full on making out with Hood.
“Are you done yet?” Lian grumbled. “I want to see Auntie Cass.”
Hood broke the kiss. “Cass, the pipsqueak wants her favorite Auntie!”
Cass appeared from the shadows, moving as quietly as ever. She swept Lian into her arms and carried her away, murmuring to each other. Roy watched them go until they were a good distance away. Then he turned back to Hood.
“Once we’re given a clean bill of health, we’re going somewhere where I can fuck you for days.”
Hood groaned. “You make that sound like a punishment, babe.” He wrapped his arms around Roy, drawing him close. “Fuck, I’ve missed you, Roy Harper.”
Roy ran his hands over Hood’s back. “I missed you, too, Jason Todd.”
“What is this?” Oliver snarled.
“I’m his husband, Queen,” Hood— Jason snarled. “Fuck off. We haven’t properly seen each other in nearly a year.”
He felt the air leave his body. Husband? Roy had gotten married? And to the Red Hood of all people? “You didn’t invite your own father?”
Roy snorted. “You made your view on me seeing guys painfully clear over the years, Ollie. Why would I invite you?”
A wave of nausea crashed over him. Why would Roy think he was some bigoted asshole? When had he ever said… Oh.
Oliver stepped closer, making Roy tense and Jason bristle like he was about to go on the offensive. “Roy, I never had a problem with you liking guys.”
Roy rolled his eyes.
“I had a problem with you being with your dealers.”
His kid met his gaze, eyes flitting over him, like he was trying to see the lie. The doctor chose that moment to walk back in and glance around at everyone. She handed Roy a document, that Jason leaned in to read.
Roy seemed to sag in relief, and Jason pressed a forehead to his jaw. “That’s why I made you wear my helmet. Because I’ve been exposed, and I’m technically high right now, but you’re still clean.”
Then Dick walked in, looking at the League. “B wants you guys to do a report, since you were there.”
“Can’t we do it later?” Oliver asked.
Dick raised a brow. “You want to tell that to Batman?”
Ooo, yeah, better not.
It had been a week since everything went down. Oliver sat next to Dinah at Wayne Manor, only he wasn’t there as Ollie, and he wasn’t there to see Brucie. There were no facades in place. They were staring at each other with the same calculating expression, waiting for the other to break the stare-down.
The door opened and Lian skipped in. She went straight to Bruce and threw her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek. “Hiya, Grandpa Brucie.”
Bruce melted, tugging her onto his lap. “Hey, kiddo. How was school?”
“Boring. I just want to stay with Daddy and Papa.”
“You had all weekend with them. You know school is important.”
She scrunched her nose. “Well, Daddy and Papa never finished school.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“Uncle Dami.”
Bruce sighed and rolled his eyes. “Well, they still finished eighth grade, but all your aunts and uncles went to university. Now, why don’t you run off to the kitchen. I think I saw Alfred with the flour out.”
She beamed and rushed off. It stung that she hadn’t even given Oliver a glance. She was his grandkid.
“Jealousy is unbecoming, Ollie,” Bruce said. “You made your choices, and now you have to live with them. You made Roy feel like he didn’t have a place in your home.”
“What would you have had me do?” Oliver snapped. “Pat him on the head and tell him begin a drug addict is okay? If I hadn’t cut him off—”
“I’m not saying cutting him off was a problem. It ensured his finances were limited, but that also sent him down a path that led him straight into the darker parts of society. He was lucky he ran into Jason and not someone who would use his skills while keeping him addicted.”
“What do you mean?”
“Jason has a group of vigilantes that ultimately dabble a bit to closer to being in the underworld than I would like. He chose the name The Outlaws. I may not like how Jason handles things, that sometimes, he has to traffic the drugs and pimp out the prostitutes to keep his reputation in the criminal underworld. But the prostitutes he has, he protects them viciously. I know of one client that thought he could push the girl’s boundaries and knocked her around. He ended up in the ICU. And if the girls want out, Jason helps set them up. He has a vicious and bloody reputation that he well deserves after what he did when he arrived back in Gotham. But the people he terrorized then have gotten over it.”
“Did he threaten them?” Dinah asked.
“He cut Tim’s throat and nearly beat me to death. But we realized he was half mad from the Lazarus Pit and half brainwashed by the League of Assassins. It took some time to get him to come home, and he’s still not as family oriented as I’d like, but he knows we’ll come if he calls. Family is messy, even for normal people. But we have the skill and training to make that mess a more physical issue.”
“How would you have handled Roy?”
“After Jason had managed to get him to admit he needed help, we locked him in a cell in the Cave to detox him. Jason was there the entire time, sitting outside, and when he got bad, asked us to lock him in, too.”
The door opened. “Hey, old man, have you seen the pipsqueak?” Jason stopped in the doorway and scowled at Oliver.
“She’s in the kitchen,” Bruce said.
Jason brushed away without another word. A while later, Oliver and Dinah were leaving, and they found Roy laying in a pillow fort, asleep wrapped around Jason. Both men were covered in make-up with nails painted with the skill of a seven-year-old. Lian was snuggled up to Jason’s chest, playing a game on someone’s phone.
And Oliver realized something. He may not like how Roy had gotten where he did, but he had everything Oliver had hoped for for him. He had someone who clearly adored him, who also adored Lian, someone who made him better. He hadn’t expected it to be in someone who had been on the Justice League’s Most Wanted list for years, but…
Jason sacrificed his own safety just to ensure Roy didn’t get high on a job. He valued Roy’s goals over his own health and wellbeing. Yeah, Oliver could get behind that. He could put up with the… shadier things the two needed to do, if it meant reconnecting with his kid and grandkid, he would do whatever it took.