Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was Wednesday and Dick’s birthday was coming up in a week, and Bruce hadn’t thought of a gift yet. It didn’t make it easier that Dick didn’t really wish for things either. If you asked him, Dick always said that celebrating with his family was enough (but Bruce never heard him complain when the others brought him gifts, other than an ”Oh, you shouldn’t have!” before brutally ripping the paper open like a toddler).

This year Dick turned 22 and Bruce wanted to get him something special. That might seem like an odd number to want to celebrate specifically, but Bruce had been 22 when he took Dick in. Bruce didn’t regret it, he loved Dick, but thinking back, it was a mistake. 22-year-old Bruce didn’t have the time or love the 8-year-old boy needed. Thank heavens for Alfred.

Anyway, a special birthday.

Money obviously wasn’t a problem, and it was a week until Dick’s birthday, so he had time. There was just one problem. Bruce was terrible at picking gifts. He could ask Tim for help, but the kid would just suggest a new phone, and Bruce wanted it to be a gift more personal than that. Asking Damian was out of the question, as the twelve-year-old would insist they bought an elephant for his big brother and Bruce was pretty sure Alfred wouldn’t allow that. Then there was Jason. He’d always been good with gifts, remembering conversations where the person mentioned something they liked and based a gift on it. It was very considerate and showed that he listened and cared. And Bruce did listen, but Dick talked a lot, and the notes made from their conversations over the last month were full. Bruce sighed as he remembered a few of them, such as superman comics, a new fire alarm that would speed dial Aquaman, his bike fixed, a live pokémon, ice cream, and so on. But all of that was things anyone could get.

.
.

”You want to give him something personal then.” Jason said when Bruce approached him about the subject. His second oldest had been lying on one of the couches, reading a book. They had been on better terms lately, and Jason had started hanging around the manor more.

”Yes, but I don’t know what I could give him.” Bruce sat down on the couch next to Jason, who had now marked the page he was on and put down the book.

Jason thought for a moment. ”Well, photographs are nice, and an experience is always fun. He’d love a trip to Disneyland.”

Bruce nodded. ”I thought about that, but it seems very.. typical.” Besides, it would turn into a whole family vacation and he wanted it to be special, personal, something from Bruce.

”I want it to be more unique.” Bruce grumbled.

Jason leaned back on the couch, drawing his legs up under him, getting comfortable. ”Something only you can give him then?”

Bruce hummed in agreement, before sinking into thought.
It was quiet for so long that Jason picked up his book again, and continued reading.

”.. How about adoption?” Bruce asked, hesitantly.

Jason let out a surprised laugh behind his book, eyes not leaving the page.

Bruce almost looked embarrassed. ”I’m serious! I’ve wanted to do it for a long time, but just never .. did it.” He waved his arm around as he talked. He must be nervous, Jason thought, looking at his dad from over his book.

”He’s 22, Bruce, you can’t adopt him.”

”I can! He’ll just have to sign the papers and it’s done.” Bruce snapped his fingers to emphasize how fast it’d be done.

Jason sighed. ”Do you even think he wants to be adopted? He likes being independent. Besides, why 14 years later?”

Bruce looked down at his lap again and sighed. ”You remember patrol three weeks ago?”

Jason thought for a moment. ”The one with the zombies?”

”No, the killer rabbits.”

”Right.” Jason said and shuddered. The Mad Hatter had outdone himself, pulling hundreds of Monty python killer rabbits out of this hat, and an hour later they had tippled in number, and Gotham had been crawling with-

”Yeah.” Bruce interrupted his thought. When he didn’t say anything else, Jason huffed.

”Let me guess. You were reminded of our mortality and that we could die any day, and you decided to live by carpe diem.”

Bruce hid a small smile. ”Pretty much.”

”Well then. Ask him.” Jason swung his legs over the couch, standing up.

”Wait, Jason, you have to help me.” Bruce stood up as well, looking desperate.

Jason shot him a look that made Bruce rephrase. ”Please help me.”

Jason crossed his arms.

”. . What do you want in exchange?”

Jason smirked. ”Now we’re talking.”

- - A week later - -

Since it was Wednesday and Dick had been at work all day, the family had to wait for the celebrations until the evening. Tim had spent some time with Jason and Damian decorating the room and setting the table before Dick had arrived at the manor. That was a little over an hour ago, and Dick had just walked through the door along with Barbara and Wally. After hugs and greetings, they moved to the dinner table. Alfred had spent all afternoon in the kitchen and they could now sit down to a wonderful dinner.

As they were eating Tim glanced at Jason, who was next to him. Dick was sitting in between Wally and Barbara, and Tim, Damian and Jason across from him, while Alfred and Bruce were sitting at the ends of the table. Tim didn’t voice his thoughts, but Jason had been acting weird. He’d been smiling to himself all day and Tim even caught him chuckling. Jason was usually not interested in his brothers' birthdays or in a good mood, so this was.. unsettling. Tim decided to ignore it for now but kept it in the back of his mind.

When everyone had finished they waited for the cake in anticipation.

They all stood up and sang for Dick as Jason walked in with the cake (which was new since that’s usually Alfred’s honour, but it wasn’t unusual for Jason to help Alfred in the kitchen so Tim didn’t think too much of it). Jason walked to Dick’s side of the table. Tim saw Dick lean back when Jason put the cake down in front of him, not trusting Jason not to smash it in his face. However, the cake was peacefully put down and it looked gorgeous. It was a typical cake coated with whipped cream and topped with berries and 22 lit candles. Dick took a breath and blew them out, all in one go, and Tim joined the cheering.

— —

When the candles were put out and the smoke had cleared, Dick could see something written on top in frosting. Dick stood up to see more clearly and stopped. Wally stood up as well, next to him, and read out loud;

”Happy Birthday-”

And then

”-Dick Grayson-Wayne”

Dick looked at Jason for an explanation, only to be met with a wide grin.

Everyone else, including Bruce, had stood up to read what the cake said. It was a weird thing to write, but Dick brushed it off as Jason joking with him. When no one said anything else Dick broke the silence with;

”So who wants cake?”

”Who could refuse Alfred’s baking?” Barbara smiled as she held out her plate.

But when Dick tried to cut through the cake it was tough. It was as if something had been baked into the cake and -

Then he sees something IN the cake. It blended well but it was clearly not part of the dessert. Managing to grab a corner he pulled, and two or three papers come out. From the cake.

Alfred looked shocked. ”Oh my.” He said. Jason looked really proud of himself and Bruce, well, he looked like he was regretting some life choices.

Anyway, after much trouble wiping away cream and jam, Dick could make out the title

Adopt n of D k ray so

It was hard to read and the paper did have a few stab holes (he had tried to cut through it)
”Adoption of Dick Grayson” Wally read over his shoulder, again.

Before Dick could say anything, Bruce, who seemed to have come out of some kind of shock, hissed to Jason;

”You put them in the cake??”

Jason just smirked as he walked over to Dick, ”Don’t worry old fart they’re obviously copies. The original is here.” And pulled out papers and put them on the table in front of Dick.

”What is the meaning of all this?” Damian asked.

”Bruce is trying to adopt an adult.” Tim said hesitantly next to him, clearly seeing the actual adoption papers in front of Dick across the table. Tim would recognize them anywhere after Bruce had put them in front of him a few years ago. Tim tried to look at Bruce but the man would not make eye contact.

Dick still held the whipped-cream-and-jam-dripping papers in his hand and when he looked at Bruce, he looked so confused.

Bruce steeled himself, looking up from the table and straight at Dick.

”I would like to adopt you.” Bruce blurted out.

Dick’s brain stopped for a second, not hearing what Bruce said. Then he asked ”What?”

Alfred muttered an ”Oh dear.” and Wally snorted ”What, you’re going to Co-parent?”

Barbara smacked the speedster and hissed ”Wally!”

”What, it’s not as if he doesn’t know” The redhead shrugged. Then Wally saw Dick’s pained expression and stilled as he realized.

”. . He doesn’t know.” Wally dragged a hand across his face, trying to process what Dick was telling him. ”Dick, you said you’d tell him!”

”Well, I obviously didn’t!” Dick was still almost whispering, which was unnecessary since everyone could hear them in the otherwise quiet room.

”I demand an explanation.” Damian stated, staring at Bruce. ”Now, calm down master Damian.” Alfred said gently. The man had stood beside Bruce and was still eyeing the dripping papers and mushed cake with distaste. He was going to have a word with master Jason if any of that got onto the carpet.

Dick turned to Alfred and tried to force up a smile. ”Yeah, I, I mean this is, I, uhm.”

”What he’s trying to say” Barbara cut in ”is that he’s already adopted.”

”Of course he is. father adopted him long ago, I have seen the papers.” Damian said, rolling his eyes.

It was quiet. Jason glanced at Dick with a look saying ’I’m gonna tell him’ and Dick looking back ’Don’t you dare-’

”Demon, Dick has no actual legal connection to this family. The second he turned eighteen he outgrew the ward title.”

”.. That’s harsh, dude.” Wally said as he glared at Jason.

Bruce finally seemed to catch up with the conversation. ”Already adopted? What do you mean?”

”Wait, you’re serious?” Jason asked. Dick didn’t respond and that was all the proof Jason needed.

”Well shit.”

”Master Jason.”

”Sorry Alfred."

”Stop this joke Grayson it is not amusing.” Damian was not happy.

”He’s not joking kiddo” Barbara answered and Damian scowled at being called a kid.

”Did anyone know this?” Tim asked and looked around. Alfred was suspiciously quiet but made no indication to acknowledge his question.

Dick sighed. ”Well, now you all know, thanks to Wally here.” He glared at his friend.

”Dude they were going to find out sooner or later anyway!”

Dick slid a hand over his face and muttered. ”It’s been five years, Wally.”

”Five years?” And then ”Since you were seventeen?” Tim asked, doing some quick math.

Bruce was at a loss for words. Five years. His child had been adopted by someone else, for five years and he didn’t even know-

”Who?” Bruce finally asked.

Dick couldn’t make himself say it so he just pulled out his wallet and picked out his driver's license, handing it to Bruce, but before he could take it Damian snatched it out of his hands.

”Richard John Grayson Wilson” Damian read, with a slight disgust at the name Wilson.

”Who’s Wilson?” Jason asked, looking around the table.

Dick didn’t want to talk about this. He took his license back, carefully putting it back in his wallet to have something to do with his hands. When it was clear Dick wasn’t going to answer, Tim locked eyes with Jason. The older nodded and quickly hugged (held still) Dick from the back, securing his arms at his sides.

”Jay, what-?”

Tim then yelled ”HEY SIRI, CALL WILSON ON SPEAKER!”

”What? No!” Dick yelled as he tried to pull out his phone from his back pocket and cancel the call, but it was too late. Jason snatched the phone before Dick could get it. Wally held Dick back as he tried to reach after Jason.

”Let it happen, Dick! You can’t stop it now!” Wally yelled as he struggled to hold Dick still.
”It’s time! Accept it!” Barbara said as she too held Dick back.

Calling Wilson. … beep- … beep-

”No! Siri stop! Don’t call!” Dick yelled as he struggled to pull free and get his phone.
Jason was a safe distance away now and looked at the calling phone. There was no profile picture, and the contact was just labelled S. Wilson. He put it on speaker and placed it in the middle of the table. After two more rings, someone picked up.

.
.

”Hi Dick! Dad’s in the study. What’d you want?” A female voice said. She sounded young, maybe in her twenties.

”Terra!” Barbara yelled as soon as she heard the girl’s voice. ”Get your dad! Dick has something to tell him!”

”Oh hi Barbara! Wait, is this what I think it is?” Terra asked, sounding excited.

Meanwhile, Dick was not giving up. ”No! Terra don’t! I swear if you-mmmh!” Wally covered his mouth.

”Just a sec, I’ll get him.” Without waiting for an answer she could be heard hurrying out of the room.

Dick just managed to let out a muffled ”Traitor!”

Oh god. What was his dad going to say? What was Bruce going to say? Oh, this would be bad. He was no longer struggling in his friends' arms, more hanging onto them in despair and dreadful anticipation.

Dick was still holding onto hope. He knew this needed to happen sooner or later but he’d avoided it so long, and if Slade didn’t answer then maybe he could avoid this, the battle could still be won-

”Richard?” A male voice spoke this time, and neither Bruce nor the boys recognized it.

Damn. The others looked at him expectantly, since they didn’t know what to say.

”.. Yeah?”

Slade could tell something was up since Dick sounded embarrassed and defeated.

”You told them?”

”Not outright, they’re . . in the process of finding out.”

”About time.” They head a huff ”And he calls himself world’s greatest detective.” There was amusement and a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Bruce took offence to that and spluttered ”I don’t call myself that.”

Tim cut in before Wilson could hang up. After all, they still didn’t know who he was.

”Sorry, sir, but we’d like to know who you are.” He said.

”Why don’t we meet face to face, I’m sure Richard would approve.”

”Do you have to make this worse than it already is, dad?” The others stared at him when he called Slade dad but he didn't notice his slip, as he called Slade dad all the time when they talked.

”I absolutely do.”

”.. Fine. Tomorrow at the park?”

”See you then.”

”Oh, and dad? Just you.”

”They already met Terra.”

”Alright, you and Terra, no more.”

Slade hung up and smiled. Tomorrow would be interesting.

- next day -

”Just don’t be weird, okay?” Dick said as they walked to the park.

Jason was weirded out.

Damian was ready to behead anyone who tried to take Grayson from him.

Tim was mostly just curious.

Bruce was terrified.

The party was walking towards the park when they were spotted by Terra and Slade. Terra jogged up to them as Slade walked behind her.

”Dick!” she hugged him before peering at the others.

”And you must be The Others, hi, I’m Terra, Dick’s big sis.” She had blue eyes, long blond hair and was wearing casual clothes.

”You’re not, we’re the same age.”

”Not mentally.”

Slade had caught up and Tim wanted to snap a photo of Bruce’s face. The man was large, taller than Bruce even. White hair suggested he was old but he couldn't be more than forty or fifty. He had an eyepatch across his face which was surprising. He was wearing casual but stylish clothing, suggesting wealth but not showing off.

”About time we’re introduced. ” Slade said and glanced at Dick, who stepped forward.

”Yeah, um, dad meet B, B meet dad.” The men shook hands.

”The name’s Slade.”

”Bruce.”

”Nice to meet you.” Slade said and the handshake grew visibly tighter.

”Very.” Bruce responded. Once they let go both of their hands were slightly white.

”Let’s just, sit down or something.” Dick said and led Tim over to a bench.
When they sat down Slade and Bruce sat down opposite of each other and Dick didn’t dare choose a side when they looked at him. ”Oh look, Ice cream, why don’t we buy ice cream and you two can start talking?” Dick said as he saw an ice cream stand not far from there.

Both men pulled out their wallets, and when they noticed they both held out their cards, they locked eyes in a silent war.

”It’s alright, I got money on me.” Dick held up his wallet and dragged Jason away, who was protesting because he would die to hear their conversation.

”Come on, I want to hear!” He complained as Dick dragged them all away.

”Don’t worry Todd, I placed a microphone under the table.” Damian said and pulled up his phone to listen.

”Oh god.” Dick sighed.

”Move over! I wanna hear too!” Terra said as she shoved at Todd's shoulder, and he moved so all could hear.

Dick went and got them all ice cream in the meantime.

—

”So.”

”So."

”You adopted Dick?” Bruce was glaring.

"Well, he’s a wonderful kid as I’m sure you know.” Slade shrugged.

”That’s not what I meant.”

”Then please elaborate.”

”Dick already has a home and a family.”

Dick had had a family since Bruce took him in at 8 years old and he still had that same family. This whole, 'already adopted' thing, Bruce wasn’t entirely convinced this was not a joke. As such, he would treat it as a joke and be sceptical.

Slade huffed. ”That explains why he was alone in a city across the country at sixteen.”

Bruce had to tell himself not to react and just gather information. ”You’re avoiding the question.”

Slade eyed him and was direct. ”What’s the problem here?”

"He’s my son!” Okay, Bruce was maybe starting to react.

”Technically, he’s my son.”

”I don’t give a- !” He had to stop himself. Deep inhale. Calm down. ”Just tell me what happened.”

”Hm. Well, we met when he was sixteen, and a year later I adopted him and he moved in with me and Terra.” Slade glanced over at the teens eating ice cream. ”I adopted her a few months earlier.”

”You want me to believe that? That you met him and then adopted him.”

”Is that really so hard to believe?”

”yes.”

Slade huffed out a laugh and shook his head. ”Wayne, what do you want me to tell you? That I kidnapped him and that he stayed out of Stockholm syndrome?”

”I’m not ruling that out.” God, he hadn’t thought of that. Was that why Dick was so uncomfortable? Why it had been secret? Could this actually be a-

Slade laughed, seeing Bruce think. ”You really are paranoid huh? There was an official investigation, I was deemed suitable for adoption, and Richard signed the papers. There isn’t an evil backstory to this or ulterior motive, believe it or not.”

Bruce decided to get back on track with the info gathering. ”He lived with you, in Jump?” This was a trick question because at sixteen Dick was Robin and lived with the Titans. It didn’t make sense, how would he have time to be a civilian and get adopted when he was a full-time Titan?

”Oh yes, he lived with his friends during the week but came home for the weekends.”
Bruce cringed at the word ’home' meaning somewhere else than the manor.
”And before you ask, yes, I know about his, and your.. ’hobby’. That’s how we met actually.” Slade held up a hand. ”No, he didn’t tell me, it was not that hard to figure out.”

hm.

Sigh. ”Wayne, why are you really here?”

"I want to adopt him.”

An arched eyebrow. ”Hate to break it to you, but he’s taken.”

”He wants me to adopt him.”

”15 years ago maybe.”

”Okay, I want to adopt him.”

”I already told you. It’s too late, I’m his legal parent.”

Bruce didn’t believe a word. When he saw the papers, maybe. When he had checked all the facts, there was a possibility. Even then, he’d be sceptical. ”We can figure this out.”

”Why should we.”

”Because he’s my kid."

Slade started to get irritated. It was like talking to a child. Besides, he didn’t like the way Wayne talked about adopting Dick. First of all, Dick was already adopted. Was that so hard to understand? Second of all, trying to make it sound as if Dick had suggested this instead of just saying, ’I love my child and want to adopt him’ - was that so hard? Slade had always assumed Dick exaggerated a little when talking about how cold Bruce could be. What right did a man like this have to even have children, huh?

”No really, why. Why now. Is it because I did it first? You can’t stand him having a real home outside of your shitshow of a ’family’?”

Bruce’s face hardened. ”Listen, you’re the stranger here.”

”Am I?”

Okay. Being defensive hadn’t really worked so far. Time for a different approach.
”I want him close to me, I could lose him anytime.”

Slade was seriously getting tired of this. ”Bullshit. Both of you have done your hobbies for years. Why now? … Is, is this a way to tie him down? Make sure you secure a place as one of his loved ones?”

”W-what? No?”

Slade hummed. ”Mmmhmmmm. Control freak.”

Bruce looked Slade in the eye now. ”Alright, I want to adopt him because I love him. He’s my child and I don’t want there to be any doubt. But now, It’s also because I don’t trust you.” He pointed a finger at Slade.

”As a parent?”

”Yes.”

”Yeah you would know what a good parent is.”

Bruce would not be offended by this man. ”I want to see your house.”

Another arched eyebrow. ”You do realize he is a grown adult with his own apartment?”

And another glare to answer that.

”You know, why not. It’s been some time since he was home. Why don’t I invite you and your family for dinner on Friday, and then you can compare all you want.”

Bruce stood up. ”Deal.”

”I believe the term is thank you.”

Chapter Text

Just like that, it was Friday. The alarm was set at seven but Bruce was already awake. After shutting off the clock stayed in bed a bit longer instead of getting up.

Bruce was .. nervous. He’d stayed up long past bedtime thinking about the meeting with Wilson and the coming dinner.

Bruce released he had not made a good impression. Honestly, he was still not 100% sure this was not some joke from Jason and Dick but it started to seem more and more real. And if that was the case, he had just seriously insulted the man who took care of Dick when Bruce didn’t. Also, he embarrassed Dick with his behaviour, which was bad as well.

He turned around to lay on his side.

He still didn’t know the details of how Dick and Slade met, but it had seemed so sudden. As if they met and then *poof* adoption. Bruce frowned. Had Dick really been that lonely, just picking a parent off the streets? Didn’t he-

Bruce stopped the train of thought as he felt a blush creep up his face. That was .. quite literally what he had done with Jason. Picked a kid off the streets because Bruce was lonely. (And because Jason needed a home but Batman could have just put him in an orphanage if that was all.)

Hiding his face in his pillow in shame he sighed. He needed to stop judging Dick, he had no idea what his kid had been going through. Those years when Dick was a Titan were never spoken of, and Bruce had never pried.

Bruce also realized Dick probably talked about his problems with Slade, and went to him for help and advice. And Bruce was glad that Dick at least felt he could talk to someone, he was just sad it wasn’t with him. And no, no matter what Slade thought, it wasn’t because he was selfish. He just wanted Dick to feel like he could trust him, that he had a shoulder to rest his head on. And the more Bruce thought about it, he realized that he had not been the shoulder Dick needed. He hadn’t meant to, hadn’t deliberately turned away, but admitted he hadn’t made himself very approachable. And it must be hard for Dick, as he clearly loves Slade and Terra, but he also loves Bruce, Alfred and his siblings, it must be like living with separated parents.

Determination set in.

He was going to change. He was going to be whatever Dick needed him to be, and if that meant co-parenting with Slade, then so be it.

He threw off the covers and went to find his phone. It’s never too early to start, and he was going to send a text to Dick, saying good morning. Bruce had never done that before but how hard could it be?

After staring at his screen for two minutes he decided it was indeed very hard. He didn’t have a real purpose for contacting Dick, and what if he interrupted something? Bruce had to tell himself not to be silly. Dick was probably still asleep and would notice the text later, so it was fine.

He started typing;

’Good Morning Dick’

No that sounded kinda weird.

’Good Morning Richard’

No, that sounded like Dick was in trouble, Bruce never called him Richard.

’Good Morning son’

No, that just sounded petty after finding out Slade adopted him.

’Good Morning’

Bruce smiled. That was short, to the point, and not too awkward. Confident, he pressed send.
The message said:

Sending...
Delivered
Read

Wait, read?

Suddenly his phone started vibrating and the screen went black.

.. Dick Grayson is face timing...

Bruce threw the phone on the bed, freaking out. He didn’t want Dick to call! He had just woken up, he wasn’t ready! But he couldn’t hang up or ignore it, Dick just read his message he knew Bruce was awake! And what if something was wrong?

He pressed accept and Dick’s face popped up.

”Hi B!” Dick said and smiled. Bruce could see he was in his apartment and seemed to be walking around.

”Hi Dick, how are you?” Bruce decided to drop the awkwardness and be as normal as he could. couldn’t help but smile at Dick’s messy hair, which probably mirrored his own.

”Oh I’m fine, I’m gonna grab something to eat before I head off to work.” Dick set the phone down on the counter as he started making some cereal. ”How are you? You look like you just woke up.”

”I did.”

”Really? Kinda thought you’d pull an all-nighter after yesterday, making plans.”

Bruce chuckled. ”That obvious, huh?”

Yesterday he had not been very open-minded, he realized. Bruce had always been very protective, and the thought of someone else just made him.. jealous. Angry. Ugly feelings that he didn’t want to feel when thinking about Slade or Dick. He owed the man so much for taking care of Dick.

That was another thing that bothered him. Dick had met a man, who had the courage to say he loved him and wanted him as family, and Dick had said yes. Had it been Bruce that asked, would Dick have accepted? Bruce didn’t know but he envied Slade’s courage.

”I’m excited for tonight.” Dick said as he started eating. ”You two will get along just fine in time.”

”I hope so too.”

He was silent for a moment when Dick chugged down the last of his breakfast before saying
”It was nice talking to you, B. See you later?”

”Yeah, we’ll pick you up tonight.”

”Okay bye, love ya!” And he hung up before Bruce could respond. What would he say, anyways? Thanks? Same? Love you too? Bruce was still new to this.. ’showing feelings’ thing, so he didn't feel ready for the big L word yet.

He put on his robe and walked down to greet the others at breakfast. Jason was back at his place so it was just Damian and Tim eating breakfast.

”Good morning” He greeted as he went to pour himself some coffee.

Tim and Damian glanced at each other.

”You’re in a good mood?” Tim asked.

”Yeah” Bruce picked a mug. ”Why wouldn’t I be?”

”Because we’re going to Wilson’s tonight?” Tim asked. ”I got the impression that you didn’t like him.”

”Well, everyone deserves a second chance.” Bruce didn’t mention if it was Slade or him that needed the second chance.

”Damian, what are you still doing here? Aren’t you late for school?” Tim glanced at Damian, who glared back.

”I called in sick, Drake, as we have much to prepare for tonight.”

”Damian, you’re not skipping school.” Bruce said.

”Alright Father, then I presume you have bought a gift, picked an outfit, prepared questions and everything you’d like to compare or check tonight, as well as research Slade Wilson and make sure the legal adoption papers are legit?”

”…”

”Tt. Get it together. Besides, today is a school trip to a farm and I assure you that is not something I will regret being absent for.”

Tim cut in, looking at Bruce. ”But you have at least done some things, right? You know it would be stressful to plan everything today.”

”…”

”.. Right, I’ll stay here. You’ll need all the help you can get.” Tim sighed as he chugged down his coffee.

———

Tim was in the cave searching up everything he could find about Slade Wilson and checking if the adoption was legit, while Damian and Bruce set out to buy a gift.

At first, they stopped at the liquor store, at the wine shelf. That was the typical, classical gift, but what to give? Bruce didn’t know what food they would be eating, and he didn’t even know if Slade drank alcohol.

”If you’re unsure we can come back later, and walk around the mall to see if there is something else we can purchase.” Damian suggested and Bruce nodded.

What to buy? Bruce pondered as they visited store after store. A flower would seem suitable, but that required the person to take care of it, and what if someone was allergic? Was it weird to give a flower?

Chocolate was always nice, but that seemed like something you’d give a date.

A coffee machine was fun and useful, but Slade probably already had one.

Furniture was hard, he didn’t know what kind of style Slade had.

The same went for any kind of decorations, it just didn’t feel good enough.

Bruce had spiralled deep in despair about what to buy and he had just considered buying the Wilsons a two-week vacation when Damian stopped and turned to him. ”Father, we have been here for two and a half hours now. We should eat lunch so we’re hungry in time for dinner. Call Alfred and ask what he thinks would be an appropriate gift.”

Bruce called Alfred, and he said he’d make some cookies they could give.

”Cookies?” Bruce had asked.

”They’re master Richard’s favourite. The best way to make Mr Wilson happy, considering you don’t know him, is to make someone he cares about happy.”

Of course. Alfred was a genius.

When they got home they met up with Tim in the kitchen for a late lunch.

”Drake, report.”

”Well, there isn’t much to tell you” Tim pulled out a notebook and read what he had gathered. ”Name Slade Wilson, 54 years old and lives in Jump City, and has lived there since he divorced his wife, Adeline Kane, 13 years ago. He lives in a calm neighbourhood in a big house, has two cars and a motorcycle. Two adopted children, Richard Grayson and Terra Markov. Served in the military when he was younger.”

”He seems..-” Bruce started.

”Suspicious” Damian cut in.

”-.. Ordinary.” Bruce finished.

Bruce gave it some thought throughout the afternoon before Damian came and demanded everyone shower and wash before they left, as he ’would not be associated with stinking pigs’.

After the shower, it was outfit time. Bruce settled for a marine blue shirt and trousers, along with his Rolex and newly polished shoes.

He texted Dick to be ready as they would pick him up in about half an hour.

Bruce pulled a hand through his hair. Showtime.

Chapter Text

Even though both Jason and Bruce had offered, Alfred had insisted on driving. Tim heard him mention something about the two of them being ’too excited’ to drive safely. Now, Tim would not have described Jason and Bruce’s feelings as ’excited’, but he kept that to himself.

They had just picked up Dick, who hopped in the backseat with his brothers, before driving again. Dick sat next to Jason in the back while Damian and Tim sat in the middle and Bruce and Alfred in the front. They had not taken a limo, because that’s too flashy (even for Bruce), instead settling for their family-friendly car. That didn’t mean it wasn’t equipped with camouflage and all sorts of protection, but it was discreet enough not to draw paparazzi and had six seats to fit all of them comfortably. Admittedly, they rarely ever used it, but it came in handy now and then.

Despite there being six of them, Tim had thought the ride would be quiet, or maybe a big argument, but instead, Dick made sure to entertain (distract) his brothers with some insane cop car chase story he heard at work.

”And then Amy and Dellson had to run across the street to an old car, and she busted the window with a kabam and then-” Arms gesticulating wildly, Dick did a punching motion.

Jason huffed ”Yeah as if she punched the window open.”

”Yes, I expect you would know a thing or two about stealing cars, Todd.” Damian said and leaned forward in his seat to avoid the slap Jason tried to aim at the back of his head.

Dick didn’t let the comments stop him from talking.
”-Dellson had to hot-wire the car, all while the bad guys were getting even further away, but then wrrrrrrow the engine roared to life-”

”At least I’m old enough to drive a car, kid.”

”Quiet Todd, Grayson is telling a story”

”- and justice was on the way! But that wasn’t all, the bad guys had some friends! They came up in a car next to Dellson and Amy, and- ”

”Yeah, it’s a story alright.” Jason rolled his eyes.

” -they were almost pushed off the street, but then Amy said ’I got this, Dallas’ before she took over the wheel from beside Dellson, and banging the car into the other, and the cars went sceeeeee with how they were scratching against each other, and Dellson whipped out her nail gun and had to lean out the window to get a clear shot at the car in front of them, but she couldn’t reach so Amy had to drive with one hand and the other holding onto Dellson’s foot as she leaned halfway out the car to shoot the tires,- ”

”I thought you liked stories, Todd. You seem to read them all the time.”

"I read literature, this could barely classify as horse shit."

”- and she hit them, causing the car to slide and flip, and Amy and the other car had to split to avoid a collision, but the sudden turn caused Amy to lose her grip, and Dellson went flying through the window, and Amy didn’t have time to grab her until the other bad guys stopped and got out of their car, and Amy was suddenly one against three, and -”

”Young masters, we have arrived.” Alfred said as he parked the car.

Dick paused to look up, and they had indeed pulled up in the driveway.

”Oh, we’re here!” Dick said as he jumped out of the car. Jason quickly unclasped his seatbelt, pushed past Tim and followed. Tim left the car as well and made sure to ’bump into’ Jason as he went past. He and Jason were on better terms, the death threats and murder attempts had stopped a long time ago, but Jason took every chance he could to irritate Tim. As the three of them had to wait for Alfred and Bruce and Damian to get out as well and get the gift, Jason nudged Dick with his elbow.

”So, uh, what’d Amy do?”

Damian smirked. "Look at Todd, intrigued by a horse shit story."

Jason sent a nasty glare at him before turning fully to Dick, ignoring Damian's mocking.

”Amy? Oh, right,” Dick smiled. ”Well, Dellson was bruised up with some broken ribs but she brushed it off and snuck around the bad guys' car, and by then Amy had taken out two of them, but the third had a gun pointed at her. The bad guy smirked as he said ’Sorry about your partner, but she ain’t got your back no more.’ And just as he said that Dellson had come up behind him and said. ’I got her back. Who got yours?’, and then there was a badass arrest, taking all of the guys with them.”

By then the others had joined them and Dick jogged up to the door and rang the bell.
Just a moment later an older man, Tim would guess around Alfred’s age, opened the door.

”Dick!” The man’s face burst into a smile as he pulled Dick in for a bear hug. Dick laughed as he hugged back and murmured into the man’s shoulder. ”Missed you too, Will.”

The man looked over Dick’s shoulder and spotted the others standing in a group behind him.
”I see you brought company! Well, come on inside, all of you!” He opened the door widely and gestured to them to come in. Tim noticed the man’s slightly faded British accent.

Once they had all made it inside and stood in the hall, Will spoke again.
”Now, you may hang all your clothes in the closet” he gestured to their left to several closets, ”While I call the others down to greet you.” He smiled and turned a corner down the hall.

Tim had just hanged up his coat when he could hear footsteps thunder down the stairs. He saw the man Dick had called Will come down first, followed by Slade and Terra, and thee other people he didn’t recognize. One girl with long white hair, just like the two older men, a blond boy and another boy with dark hair.

Dick moved to the front of his ’ Wayne family’ to meet his ’ Wilson family’. They all smiled when they saw him and Dick exchanged hugs and hello’s from everyone. Tim felt a little awkward just standing there, but as if on cue Dick clapped his hands together.

”So!” He said, and put on a brave smile, ”Time for introductions!” He looked over at his Wayne family and his gaze landed on Damian. ”Well, uh, youngest first, perhaps?” Dick gestured to Damian, and then to everyone else in order. ”This is Damian, Tim, Jason, Bruce and Alfred.” then he turned to the Wilsons and did the same. ”Meet Terra, Rose, -”

Rose was the girl with white hair, pulled back in a high ponytail. She also had a prosthetic eye that Tim hadn’t noticed before. He would guess she was in her twenties, but the white hair made it hard to guess.

”-Joseph, -”

Joseph was the blond kid, and he gave a smile and wave when Dick mentioned him. He seemed nice and welcoming.

”- Grant, -”

Grant was a big guy. Not like Slade or Bruce, but he reminded Tim of Jason. The brown hair was cut short unlike Joseph’s blond curls, which went just past his ears. He didn’t seem very impressed and didn’t try to hide his small frown at the sight of them.

”- Slade, and Wintergreen.”

Slade gave a nod but was otherwise hard to read. His posture wasn’t intimidating or unwelcoming, but not very relaxed either.

Wintergreen was the old man that had greeted them at the door, and he seemed nice.

Dick then looked between the two families.

”So, brothers, Bruce and grandpa, meet my brothers, sisters, dad and grandpa.”

Chapter Text

”It’s a pleasure meeting you.” Wintergreen said as he looked at Damian, Tim and Jason, but his smile became slightly strained when his gaze landed on Bruce. It only lasted for a second but Bruce noticed it.

Wintergreen carried on. ”Food is due half an hour, so why don’t the rest of you give a quick house tour while I finish dinner?”

”If you don’t mind, Mr Wintergreen, I would be more than glad to help.” Alfred offered.

”Nonsense, you’re our guest!” Wintergreen protested.

”I won’t get in your way, and I’d love to see what you’re making that smells so wonderful.”

And indeed, the whole house smelt of homemade food.

”Well, who am I to deny such flattery?” Wintergreen smiled. ”Right this way, Mr Pennyworth.”

As the two men walked past the two groups to head for the kitchen, Slade waved his hand for the rest of them to follow him. The house was big, but not quite built like the manor. There were two floors with a total of seven occupied bedrooms as well as four guest rooms. There was a kitchen, a living room and four toilets, two on each floor. Bruce took extra care to remember where those were in case he’d need to excuse himself later tonight, and he noticed Damian do the same.

It was mostly quiet during the tour, except for a few questions and comments. Slade was leading the way and Bruce and the boys trailing behind, and Rose, Joseph and Grant walking behind them. Dick didn’t need the tour but he tagged along anyway.

They soon ended up in the living room again.

”Grant, Rose, Joseph, help set the table while Dick, you get them settled. Dinner should be out in a minute. Wayne, you can come with me and I’ll show you where to put your gift.”

That left Jason, Tim, Dick and Damian in the living room.

Jason leaned against the back of a chair. ”I don’t know about the rest of you, but Alfred seems to be the only one making friends here.”

”Alfred and Will? They know each other already.” Dick said nonchalantly, sitting down on the chair next to him.

”They do?” Jason had never heard Alfred talking about someone named Wintergreen.

”Yeah, have for years.”

”The world is small, huh.” After he said that he noticed Dick being very careful with his poker face, just sitting casually in his chair. To anyone else, that would seem normal, but Jason had learned to recognize the ’unbothered look’ as a secret poker face to conceal any reaction. The question was, why would Dick use it now? Was this maybe not a coincidence? Considering what they had found out just two days ago Jason would say not much could surprise him anymore. Curious, he decided to push the topic and see if Dick would bite.

Jason then shrugged and pretended to be completely oblivious as he said ”I mean, that Alfred, who spends 95% of his life in the manor, would just happen to be friends with Slade’s dad. The odds have to be minimal.”

Dick looked at him briefly. ”Oh right, you wouldn’t know, but Will isn’t my actual grandfather. He and Slade are old friends.”

”Right.”

Tim’s head then shot up and he snapped his fingers in realization. ”Aha!”

Jason, Dick and Damian looked over at him.

”You introduced them!” Tim stated proudly.

Jason stared. ”He what now.”

Dick couldn’t help but smile as Tim realized his little secret. ”Smart ass.” He laughed.

”You want to share with the class?”

”It makes sense. First of all, Dick said Wintergreen and Alfred had known each other for years. My first guess would be that they knew each other from back in Britain since Mr Wintergreen does have a British accent just like Alfred. That makes sense as well since they seem roughly the same age, and were maybe friends from school or the military.” Tim had sat down on a chair now as he continued.

”But, there was something from earlier that I hadn’t figured out yet about the adoption. See, when a child is set up for adoption, a potential adoptive parent is evaluated by the government. If the child had a family before this, and a social worker did not see them fit, the family would have no say in the matter. But, since Dick had an already governmental approved family, Dick would need their signature to approve the adoption, and considering Bruce didn’t know..” Tim let his silence speak for itself.

”Pennyworth agreed to this?” Damian couldn’t believe it. ”He signed the papers?”

- Meanwhile-

Grant, Rose and Joseph went into the kitchen to get plates and everything they’d need to set the table.

Alfred and Wintergreen were sitting at the kitchen table talking. They greeted them when they entered, before going back to their conversation. Grant started piling up plates in one hand when he huffed.

”I don’t like them.”

Joseph rolled his eyes. ”You don’t like anybody” he signed.

”I’m not sure about them either, but we have to try. For Dick’s sake.” Rose said as she passed several glasses to Joey.

Grant nodded. ”For Dick.”

— Meanwhile —

”Why are we going so far away?” Bruce asked as Slade led him further down the corridors.

”So no one will hear you scream.” Slade stopped and turned around slowly.

Bruce stopped abruptly. In a split second, he was ready to fight but realized he had a cookie jar in his hands. Should he hold on to it? It might make a good weapon. Or should he put it down so it wouldn’t hinder him? Before Bruce had decided what to do with the jar, he heard Slade laugh at him.

”I’m joking, Wayne.” Slade turned around and walked a few more doors. ”Right in here, I’ll lock it away later.”

Bruce did not feel reassured.

”Lock it away?” Bruce asked, and saw a safe in the corner of the room.

”Those are Alfred’s cookies. Need I say more?”

Chapter Text

Terra had left right after the introductions, slipping out the front door. It wasn’t as if anyone noticed anyway. Okay, considering they were all either trained assassins or bats, everyone probably noticed. She didn’t really care though, she wanted to get some air before dinner and be alone. She had been in a sour mood today. Bad timing, considering Dick’s other family was visiting. And Terra wanted this to work out, but in all honesty she knew it was going to end in disaster.

Dropping the smiling facade Terra sat down on the stair right outside the door, putting her hand on the stone step, using her powers to feel people inside walk further into the house. No one came out to get her right away. That was a relief at least.

She didn’t have anything against the bats personally, but she was worried for Dick. As a Titan, he didn’t ever speak about his family, and Terra never asked. She knew what it was like to have shitty parents and they kind of silently bonded over that. She didn’t know the details at the time except that Batman and Robin were not on speaking terms. A few years later, after Slade had adopted him, Dick eventually started talking to Bruce again, and there were suddenly more members joining the (bat) family.

Terra and Dick’s adoption had been pretty smooth. It started kind of weird though, with them being heroes and Slade being a villain that was more or less trying to kill them.

Slade had taken an interest in Robin first. It wasn’t surprising, considering Boy Wonder was already famous, but also because he was the only Titan without powers. Robin soon took an interest in Slade as well, obsessing over how to defeat him. At first, Terra didn’t understand why a villain like Slade would be so interested in destroying the Titans. Sure, they had stopped a few of his contracts, but they were rarely in Jump anyway, and Slade wasn’t a showy villain that tried to take over the world. Mostly, it was Slade who sought them out. On some mission she asked him what his deal was, to leave them alone, and he responded something like ’the world is too dangerous to play hero in.’ That should have been her first clue, that Slade disapproved of children being in danger, but she brushed it off as him not wanting heroes interfering.

She couldn’t pinpoint the moment Slade stopped hating them and started caring instead, but there was a particular moment she remembered.

—
The Titans had gone out for pizza for dinner that night to celebrate the decrease in crime in the city over the last month. Beast boy did surprisingly much research concerning these things, always looking for a reason to celebrate (*cough* eat pizza *cough*).
Afterwards, while the others returned to the tower, Terra and Robin stayed behind to scour an area with rumours of a drug trade. It would be a quick stop just to check it out, so there was no need for everyone to come. Robin wanted to check out the rumour, not wanting Jump to become as infested with drugs as Gotham, and Terra had offered to join. She claimed she could use some walking to help digest the pizza she'd eaten. ("I'm starting to understand why you eat salads instead Robin, I feel like I've eaten a brick.")
They ended up sitting on a rooftop, looking out over the street the rumour had mentioned, waiting for eventual drug dealers. After sitting on the ledge for about ten minutes, Terra started shifting around.
"Sit still." Robin told her. The whole point was to not be seen.
"I can't help it, my ass hurts from sitting on this." Terra winced as she shifted to try and sit more comfortably.
Robin glanced at her, feeling the corner of his lip tug up in a smile. "Really? I thought out of everyone, you'd be the one with a rock-hard butt."
"Hey now-" Terra stopped and looked at him. "Wait, did you just make a joke?"
Robin fought not to smile, face remaining neutral. "No, I didn't."
"Yes, yes you did! Mr serious pants made a joke!"
"Name calling? Why Terra, you're getting boulder."
Terra laughed behind her hand, before mimicking Robin with a straight face. "You're right Robin, good relations within the team are important. I should not take it for granite."
Robin nodded. "My sediments exactly."
Terra fought not to smile. She'd never joked with Robin like this, and she was determined to see how long she could keep him going. Besides, no one knew more rock jokes than her. She looked back over the street. "So do you think anyone is coming tonight? Or did they get coal feet?"
"I hope they do, we'll need concrete evidence to arrest them."
"Yeah, and if they don't show up, they'll have a rock-solid alibi."
"Hm. After some interrogation, they'll crack."
"What would they admit to? Basalt and battery?"
"You know Jump, alkynes of criminals here."
"Still, most of them fluorite over the police's heads."
Both of them were laughing now, and Terra wasn't sure she had ever seen Robin relaxed and joking like this. She was giggling and it seemed to be contagious because Robin had his head turned slightly away from her in an attempt to pretend he wasn't laughing, although she could see his shoulders shake with mirth and lips pulled back in a smile. It was a nice change, seeing him so carefree.
However they were interrupted by voices coming down the street, and both quickly sobered up. It was a few drug dealers trying to start a business, and the heroes dealt with them and waited until the police came.

The officers took them away, and Terra and Robin called it a night. As they were heading back to the tower, however, they heard a strange scream in an alley and stopped to check it out. It had sounded like a hurt child but turned out it was just a cat fighting off a rival from her territory.
"Look at that, she's also out on patrol, making sure no other cats get too close."
Robin didn't say anything, but the pitch-black cat and the fleeing brown cat reminded him of Batman chasing Superman out of Gotham. Still, unlike Batman this cat was cute, so Robin sat down and reached out his hand. They had no rush to get home, after all. The cat looked at him, hissed, and jumped on top of a trash bin and over the wall. Robin did look a little offended and Terra raised an eyebrow. Maybe the cat was more like Batman than he had thought.

”You should be glad it didn’t attack you, bird boy.” Robin nodded, although he sent her a look for the nickname.

As they were leaving, Terra stepped in a surprisingly deep puddle of mud that splashed up her leg.

”Aw, man!” she looked down at her leg and now muddy pants. As she looked down, she happened to see a bouncy ball lying against the wall. Must have been a kid that lost it. Ignoring her boot, she reached and picked it up, turning it in her hand. It was a bit damaged with some rough edges but seemed otherwise fine. Robin had walked ahead but turned to see if she was coming, tilting his head slightly to the side in a silent question as to what she was doing. Terra then got an idea and smirked as she started bouncing the ball like a basketball, dribbling it between her hands.

”Terra takes the ball, she dribbles past Jessi” pretending to avoid another player ”and she passes to Robin,” she bounced the ball over to Robin.

He caught the ball, bounced it once and smirked as he decided to play along. ”Robin catches, and dribbles past the ghost player,” Terra rolled her eyes. Typical Robin to not have enough imagination to make up a name.

They passed it back and forth a little before one of the edges of the ball made it bounce straight to the left. Both Robin and Terra stared in surprise as the ball hit the wall and bounced back even faster.

Terra shrieked and laughed as the ball sped up. ”Ghost player takes the ball from Robin!” as she tried to catch it.

Robin snickered as she fumbled with the ball but let out a yelp when it suddenly came flying for his face. ”Ah! Terra attacks Robin! Foul!” He said and laughed, the ball was bouncing all over the walls of the small alley.

Now, instead of catching it, they just tried to slap the ball to give it even more speed as it bounced wildly all around them. Both of them got hit several times and both of them would have bruises tomorrow but they were having too much fun to care. Eventually, the ball flew over the wall and they couldn’t get to it. They watched it disappear and realized it was gone. So was playtime, because it was about time to get back to the Tower. And just as they left the alley, Terra thought she felt something with her powers and turned around. She paused and tried to see in the dark, but couldn’t see anything, so she shrugged it off as a rat running around.

It wasn’t a rat. A figure had been watching them.

Slade had caught sight of Terra and Robin heading back to the tower and saw them walk into an alley. Slade shook his head, Robin should know better than to trap himself like that. Getting closer and watching them from the roof, Slade contemplated whether he should jump down and fight or simply drop some knock-out gas and kidnap them when he saw them pick up a ball and start to play with it. He was almost stunned. He'd never seen Robin like this, laughing with Terra, and he marvelled at how their youth started to show. Slade had always thought the Titans were too young, too childish, unfit for battle. Despite that, this was the first time he ever actually thought of them as.. children. Sure, they were teenagers and all of them had experienced much in their life, but watching them play, Slade started to wonder how old they actually were. His best guess was around 15. That meant they would have just finished high school.

Something settled in Slade’s stomach. What were fifteen-year-olds doing, going after drug dealers and fighting crime? They were children, teens, younglings. They should be in school, be home with their families.

Ah.

Slade knew most Titans were practically orphans, or alone. Cyborg had his father, Raven had a (not so good) father, Starfire had her sister and Beast boy had his mother, but Terra and Robin were alone. Well, Robin had Batman, but he had been replaced the second he left. Slade remembers seeing the newspaper about the ’new Robin’ and getting irritated. It was obvious the boy had been replaced. The new kid had a different fighting style and an angry personality. The bat should have made a new costume and name because to pretend it was the original Robin was a joke. And that wasn’t even mentioning the irritation that Batman had brought another child into crime fighting.

Slade has kids. He wasn’t a great parent. He struggled, but he still had protective instincts, fatherly instincts, that didn’t like seeing these ’kid heroes’ out there. Alone.

Suddenly, Robin and Terra lost the ball and left to go back to the Tower. Slade had forgotten his planned attack and felt slightly ashamed to have intended to attack them from behind when they were distracted. He knew they could take it, they were all good fighters, but once Slade had seen them be children, he couldn’t unsee it.

That night Slade went home, bothered. Before going to bed, he checked on his children. Grant was old enough to still be up, but Slade checked in on Rose and Joseph, to find them sleeping soundly in their beds. He lingered in the doorway, looking at them lovingly, in a way he used to never do when they were awake to see him. He used to reserve his love, keeping it deep inside him, unreachable sometimes because he was scared to show it. He thought love made him weak.

Now he knew, that love made him stronger than hate ever could. His life had a turning point when all three of his children almost died. Almost died, because he hadn’t shown them he loved them. Since then he’d changed because he loved them.

When he had allowed himself to love, other feelings soon followed. Feeling proud of someone else. Feeling like he belonged. The feeling of being loved calmed his temper, soothed his worries, and soon, the house he lived in became a home.

It wasn’t easy for him or his children but slowly, Slade built stable relationships with them. Spent time with them, talked to them. It was a long process but the results were more precious than anything to him.

He closed the door to Josephs's room and that feeling hit him again. If he didn't look too close, he could imagine Robin and Terra lying in the beds, asleep and safe, as they should be.
Did Terra sleep well? Did Robin? Or did they wake up screaming from nightmares, crying themselves back to sleep? Alone?

Slade stopped attacking them as much after that, but he was more interested than ever. Terra was the first to notice Slade following them around since her powers allowed her to feel his steps from far away. Slade usually tried to follow her when she was alone since she was easier to approach than Robin. The boy would attack the second he saw Slade, unlike Terra who usually waited to figure out what Slade wanted. The titans noticed he mostly followed Terra and they got more protective, making sure she was always with one of them.

After a long time, he did manage to find her when she was alone. He made sure to keep a distance, at least a rooftop away, and didn’t carry any guns or weapons that could hurt her from that distance or seem threatening. As soon as she saw him, she prepared for an attack. Terra was distrustful and careful. Slade was known for manipulating and getting into people’s heads.

”Slade!” Terra said as she lifted two boulders in the air, ready to attack.

”Hello Terra.” Slade said, and to Terra’s surprise, sat down on the roof crosslegged, getting comfortable. ”I don’t want to fight you.”

”You’re a bad liar, Slade. What do you want?” The other Titans weren’t here and she should leave, but she can’t turn her away from Slade. That’s like asking to be shot in the back.

”I want to play a game.” Slade said and pulled out a bouncy ball.

”I don’t want to play.” Terra growled.

”Ah, but if you win, I’ll give you something.”

”I don’t want anything from you!” Terra was getting irritated and nervous. What was he getting at?

”I’ll permit you to slam me off this roof as hard as you like.”

Terra narrowed her eyes. What kind of prize was that? Though she had to consider it. It was tempting. No, what was she thinking? Slade was up to something, nothing is ever as it seems.

”And if you win?”

Slade was impressed Terra was even asking about the terms and hadn’t slammed him off the roof already, game or not. He had thought this out, and the prize she could win was smart. That way she could take her anger out on him, but it also didn’t involve or require him to do anything, which would have been troublesome since she doesn't trust him. And as for his prize, if he wins, he went with something simple.

”If I win, you have to juggle stones.”

It would be too strange if he didn’t win anything, and asking her to do something like juggling was harmless, but still offered him amusement.

Terra thought and realized she probably wasn’t getting out of this safely if she didn’t play, so she sighed.

”Fine. First to miss loses.”

Slade stood up, and he threw the ball so it bounced once on the roof between them and onwards to Terra, who caught it and threw it back. Slade at least tried to pass it to her in the beginning, but Terra threw it hard and way off to the sides, giving Slade a hard time catching it.

”Hey!” He said when she aimed for his face.

”What, it’s a competition, right?”
Slade threw it back, mimicking Terra by throwing it to the side, and she had to pull up a rock that the ball could bounce back on, like a tennis racket.

It got more intense until at last, Terra missed the ball.

”Ha!” Slade smiled. ”I win.”

”Well then.” Terra said and her eyes started to glow. Slade didn’t have time to gloat before a giant boulder smacked him off the roof. More or less sprawled on the street he looked up dumbly at Terra who laughed at him.

”Joke’s on you.” She said and turned and walk away. ”I can’t juggle.”

Chapter Text

Terra shook off the memory and stood up. Dinner would be ready any minute and Will would have her head if she was late. She went back inside just in time to catch Slade and Bruce coming back from further down the hall, walking in silence. She supposed it was too much to ask that they get along, but at least they weren’t at each others throats.
instead she smiled in greeting and Slade perked up at seeing her.

”Just in time, dinner is ready.” Slade said as he lead Bruce to the dining hall, but when she made to follow, he turned around. ”Wash your hands.”

She made a quick detour to the bathroom before joining the others at the table. Joseph, Grant and Rose had just sat down with Jason, Dick, Tim and Damian. It took some shuffling around but soon they were all seated, just in time for Alfred and Will to come with the food. It smelled wonderful. The table was rectangular and the seatings were as follows, with Bruce, Jason, Tim, Dick and Damian sitting on one side, Alfred on the short side to the right, and Slade, Grant, Terra, Rose and Joseph on the other side, with Will on the short left side of the table.

Everyone was hungry and digging in, and Dick tried to ignore the glances his families kept shooting each other. He still couldn’t believe this was happening. If someone had said to him just a month ago that he would sit down and have dinner with his two families, he would have called Leslie and had them checked out. He was surprised at how accepting Bruce had been, he'd almost expected him to refuse but he knew that it was probably the batman trying to lay low and gather as much information as possible while Brucie did the charming work. Dick sighed mentally. It was all good now, but he knew this was probably the calm before the storm.

On another note, he was delighted when he noticed the meal was vegetarian and he’d have to remember to thank Will for remembering that Damian avoided meat. And indeed, Dick saw Damian look over the meal with approval, and that was a small victory for Dick. He had sat down next to Damian since the only other person close to Damian’s age was Tim, and they had been banned from sitting beside each other last year by Alfred. Well, that’s a story for another time. Anyway, Dick felt like he could offer some comfort to his littlest brother, since Damian reacted badly to the news of his adoption.
— —

Damian mused as he was eating. He didn’t care about the adoption, not really. It was just papers anyway. Dick had shown him that legal parenting didn’t mean anything if they weren’t acting like parents. What really bothered him was Grayson’s other family.

He glanced around the table, and they seemed friendly enough, but Damian had a feeling he couldn’t place. He knew he had seen Slade somewhere before, or at least he reminded him of someone from long ago. He didn’t have a name or a place, it was just a feeling he couldn’t shake. He tried to ignore it but the bat in him, the Robin in him, refused to let it go completely. Until he remembered, he would stay cautious around the man and his offspring.

— —

It was mostly quiet around the table, except for the occasional ’could you pass me that, please?’, and Jason would have thought someone would have broken the ice by now, but apparently not. Anyway, now was as good a time as any.

Jason turned to Slade, ”What was he like, as a teen?” He had been dying to know, (pun intended). Jokes aside, Jason actually wondered sometimes. Dick was barley a teen when Jason took over Robin, and when Jason came back Dick was barely a teen anymore. Would they have gotten along, could they have been brothers if things were different?

Slade put down the glass he had been drinking from and turned to Dick, who was glancing at him, daring him to say something he shouldn’t.

Grant cut in, ”Violent, angry and reckless, to sum it up” At that he sent a meaningful look to Dick who feigned innocence by looking away. Jason .. had not expected that. It sounded like himself at that age. Well, he was technically never that age but whatever.

Slade smiled, ”Yes he was, and still is sometimes, but he was also strategic, cunning and-”

”- determined, just like I was at that age” All five of his kids, said in a choir, finishing his sentence. They laughed and Rose grinned. ”We know, dad.”

Tim joined in on the conversation, smiling ”Sound’s like Robin!”

Grant smirked around his bite of potatoes, ”Indeed. Robin was a force to behold in the field, but you take that stray cat home and he’ll turn into a cuddly kitten.”

”Oi!” Dick said

Jason leaned back in his chair to get eye contact with Dick and mouthed ”Cuddly kitten?”

Terra shrugged her head towards Grant and looked at Jason. ”Don’t mind him, he just likes Dick the best ’cause he’s the youngest.”

And either Terra didn’t notice all the Waynes take a moment to imagine Dick being the youngest, or she simply didn’t care, as she continued, returning the question.

”Well, what was he like as a kid then?”

Dick frowned. ”I’ve told you about when I was younger.”

”Yeah, but only a parent knows the good stuff, you know? The embarrassing stories?”

Bruce’s chest bloomed in warmth at being called Dick’s parent, and he smiled as he remembered a certain story.

”Well, there was that one time when he was nine and-”

And Dick, knowing exactly what Bruce was talking about, quickly cut him off.

”Right, that’s enough about me!” Trying to change the subject, he turned to Will. ”The food is really good.”

A chorus of agreement went over the table before people fell back into smaller conversations with the ones next to them.

— —

Bruce had kept conversation to a minimum, not knowing what to say. As Brucie Wayne, he could keep up conversations about nothing for hours, but this was Dick’s.. family, and he was unsure what to say. Everyone was having small conversations, and chatter filled the table as people were enjoying themselves.

He broke out of his thought when Jason nudged his arm with his elbow.

”Has Alfred cooked this before?” Jason asked, gesturing to his meal with his fork.

”Not that I remember, no.”

”Hm. Maybe you’re right.” Jason paused a second, then looked him in the eye. ”I just feel like I’ve eaten this before.”

Jason was telling him something. His son broke eye contact and continued eating. ”I might have had it at a friend's house. But then again, lot’s of dishes with potatoes.” He dismissed and then started a conversation with Tim, ignoring Bruce.

Bruce looked around the table and made eye contact with Damian, who heard the conversation. To mask that he was looking around, he asked for the water next to his youngest. As Damian passed it to Bruce, he made eye contact.

”I too, find the taste familiar.”

Jason had recognized someone or something here, and when Bruce confirmed he didn’t, Jason said it might have been at a friend's house. Another location then, possibly outside Gotham. Damian joining the conversation, stating he recognized something too, was not a coincidence.

And the only place Jason and Damian had in common that excluded Bruce, was their time with the Al Guhls in Nanda Parbat.

Chapter Text

It was time to investigate. The moment Bruce switched to Batman, meant he could finally be Robin. Damian had been itching to leave the room for a long time now, although on the outside he didn’t let it show. His patience was something his mother had made sure to train to perfection, but just because he didn’t act didn’t mean didn’t want to. Still, he’d gotten permission from Bruce to leave (a slight nod, but Damian would take that as a yes whether it meant it or not.)

The annoying thing was, no matter how sneaky, discreet or innocent Damian played this out, the bats had a sense for these things, and would know Bruce was up to something. That meant someone could accidentally say or do the wrong thing and alert the enemy, which was unacceptable. No one could know.

- - -

Jason knew, of course.

Tim knew, it was hard not to.

Dick knew, all too well.

Alfred knew, Wintergreen knew, Terra knew.

Joseph knew, but he pretended he didn’t.

Rose knew, but knew she shouldn’t stop it.

Grant knew, and wanted to stop it.

Slade knew, and let it happen.

So, no one batted an eye the Damian left the table, claiming he needed to use the restroom. Dick did give some quick directions but he waved them off, because of course he knew where the toilets were. As he left the room he could feel someone’s eyes on his back but didn’t turn around to see who it was.

Crossing the hall Damian knew wasn’t visible from the dining room anymore, and let a frown settle on his face. The feeling he’d had since they came here, put him on edge. He would take it to his grave that he had a ’funny feeling’, but he did feel uneasy, not knowing what it was that was familiar. Even more so when Jason confirmed his thoughts, which only made the little knot in his stomach tighter. Neither Tim nor Dick had acknowledged the hidden message at all, and since Jason and Damian only shared a time in Nanda Parbat, that was most likely where they remembered something from.

Problem was, Damian couldn’t pinpoint it. It was probably a person because an object or a smell would trigger a stronger memory, but the feel of someone’s presence in the shadows was harder to pin down. He did have a feeling Slade was the primary source but there could be something else, something he was missing.

Damian knew he probably had about 10 minutes before they started wondering if he was coming back soon, maybe 15 before someone came to check on him.

He needed to start somewhere, and a good start was the bedrooms, to check for something, anything. Any clue to lead him onwards.

Damian started right away with finding Slade’s bedroom. Something about the man was familiar. Still, Damian couldn’t ignore that maybe it was Bruce he was reminded of. They had a similar build, biological and adopted kids and a British butler, it was almost laughable. But it was also the personality, the.. energy they emitted in the room. Powerful, strong, something to be respected, or feared. This was also the reason Damian felt like he’d met Slade before. The man hadn’t displayed much of those emotions tonight, but Damian still recognized it. It was starting to irritate him that he didn’t know why. Grayson would probably call this a Child’s intuition or something equally silly.

The hallways did have mats so he could sneak around quietly, which he was thankful for. He could still sneak around soundlessly without the mats but they made the process easier. Reaching the area Damian remembered Slade’s bedroom to be, he opened it to reveal an ordinary bedroom with a bed, desk and a closet.

It was tidy but someone clearly lived there. He was careful not to touch anything with his fingertips, more pushing things around with his closed fists, so he wouldn’t leave fingerprints. Better safe than sorry after all. Ideally, he would have gloves but he’d left them in the car.

Damian was pulling back the covers on the bed, checking the wardrobe and the desk but he ended up empty-handed, except for a small gun and a knife hidden in the bedside drawer. It wasn’t even suspicious, considering how infected this country was with weapons. He made sure everything looked like it did when he entered before closing the door and continuing to the next bedroom. He glanced at his watch, and he’d spent two minutes in Slade’s room. 8 to 13 minutes left.

Then he found Terra’s room. It looked like a normal room, with a few posters and a messy desk.
Before he left her room caught sight of photos on her desk, and lingered just a moment to see a family photo of all the Wilsons. Wintergreen must have taken the picture, but other than that all of them were there. They were on some mountain, probably hiking. Terra was sitting on Rose’s shoulders to the left in the picture, Joseph was sitting on Slade’s shoulders in the middle and Dick on Grant’s shoulders to the right, and the three of them were holding hands and smiling for the camera. Damian remembered Dick saying something about wanting to go hiking last year, but everyone protested. Seems like Dick got to hike after all.

Damian closed the door and continued down the hall. He had 7 minutes left, 12 at best. Quickly searching each bedroom he passed, he grew slightly frustrated. Joseph and Rose’s rooms were ordinary, nothing special. Next was Grant’s, which looked most basic, probably because he had moved from home some time ago and taken his stuff with him. The same went for Dick’s room, and once Damian was in the hallway again he paused to think.

Grayson often said ’what would you do, if you were them?’ And Damian would respond ’If I were them, I wouldn’t have been caught.’ Referring to the criminals they were looking for.

But if Damian had something to hide, where would he hide it?

He almost huffed. The Bat cave, obviously.

The.. Bat cave.

Surely, they don’t have a-

Before he knew what he was doing he was checking behind paintings, vases, and pulling carpets.

He checked his watch again, and he only had 3 - 8 minutes left, and he’d found nothing so far!

Pulling on the last carpet, Damian was thrilled to see a hidden door. Quickly rolling the carpet to the side and crouching down he found a keyhole. Annoyed, he looked up. If someone kept it on their person it would be almost impossible to get to, and Damian didn’t have time to run around a second lap through all the bedrooms.

The lock was attached to the door and quickly taking a look around he decided to risk the noise and slammed his heel down right next to the lock, breaking it off the door. The dark staircase led down to a basement.

He didn’t have long now, and the noise was sure to have been noticed by someone. The light barely reached the end of the room once he got down, but Damian could see rows of weapons. But once again, he cursed his luck. All of it was hunting gear. There was even a deer’s face on the wall, and Damian went up to it.

Looking at it, he saw the ear was slightly twisted. Imbeciles, he thought, who would kill an animal and not even give it the respect of stuffing it properly? As he twisted the ear ever so slightly, he heard a click next to it. Had he not been trained since he was born, he might have missed it.

Pushing on the wall gently, one of the planks moved, and he could remove it enough to reveal a handle. The door opened and revealed another staircase down. Thankfully this time there was a light switch and the stairs lit up.

The stair was long, but by the time he got down, he wasn’t disappointed. It was a version of the bat cave, the space was enormous with giant gears turning in the ceiling. The roof was so high that this had to be a different building and considering how long the stairs were, it was possible.
The space was blank and empty, but along a wall there was a computer.

As he started tapping on the computer it came to life, and after some hacking he got in. Damian didn’t know what he was looking for but his fingers stilled once he came across a file named ’Robin’

He opened it up, all screens lit up and Damian's eyes widened. Pages, upon pages, were shown. Photos, videos and articles of Robin.

It was disturbing, this was at least a year of stalking material, maybe more. a log book with everything Robin did or said. Everything was organised, tabled and filed perfectly.

Among everything, something caught his eye. A side folder, named ’Apprentice’.

Clicking it, a holographic image appeared next to Damian and it was a life-size Robin, as tall as Damian, dressed in a black and orange suit.

Black and orange.

Black and orange.

That could only be-

*Click*

Damian’s eyes widened as he heard the door open.

He spun around and saw a figure walking towards him.

”You’re just like your brother, I see.” Slade said as he closed the door behind him.

”Deathstroke.”

Slade paid him no mind, walking up to him but still blocking his path to the door. He didn’t even look at Damian, instead eyeing the Robin hologram.

”He used to sneak around all the time you know.”

How did he find him so fast?

Slade raised an eyebrow as if he knew what Damian had been thinking. ”You think I don’t know everything you’ve been doing?”

Motion sensors? Cameras? The light switch might have triggered an alarm.
More importantly, if he was Deathstroke, were the others...
He needed to get back, now.

”Indeed, you should get back. The others must wonder where you are.”

Damian pushed past Deathstroke, not wanting to wait for another second to see if he would stop him. He ran up the stairs but Slade didn’t follow him.

He barged into the dining room and got everyone's attention. He didn’t see it but Joseph, Rose, Terra, Grant and Dick shared a look as if to say ’this is it’ before Damian announced;

”It’s Deathstroke!”

Jason flew out of his chair, pushing it back to the point it hit the floor, grabbing the knife he’d been eating with.

It caused everyone to stand, although the Wilsons took more protective stances than aggressive ones.

Dick stood up as well.

”Jason! Put the knife down!”

”Deathstroke.” Batman said, glaring.

”Bruce it’s not what you think-”

”You knew?” The full-on rage turned to him now, and Dick fought the urge to cower.

”He’s changed, it’s not what you-”

”He’s a killer and that’s all I care about.”

”Would you just listen!”

”We’re leaving. Now.”

”I’m not leaving.”

”Now.”

Batman tried to grab Dick’s arm but he jerked away.

”Stop it!”

He grabbed his arm in a hard grip, and Dick had to push him back to get free. He bumped into the table, and batman glared at Dick but this time there was no cowl to hide the absolute disgust in his eyes, and Dick almost choked on a sob as Batman pushed past him.

”God just, stop it!” Dick felt like crying. He felt so helpless.

Tim pushed past as well to follow Bruce like a puppy. Jason took Damian’s arm and led him out, not looking at Dick. But Damian looked back and broke at how sad Dick looked. Shoulders slumped and blank eyes, Damian wanted to comfort his brother, but Jason wasn’t stopping. Alfred walked by and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder before leaving with the rest of the Waynes. Alfred would have very much liked to stay but he needed to get the bats out of there before they did more damage.

Grant walked up to Dick and put his hands on his shoulders.

”It’s such a mess!” Dick sobbed out as his eyes watered.

”Hey, calm down. It’s alright.”

”I just wanted everyone to be happy” Dick had pressed against him and was shaking with his sobs.

”I know” Grant hugged Dick close to cancelling out the last yelling and slamming of the door before the house settled in silence. ”I know, Dick.”

Dick was crying because he was sad and distressed, but also because a weight had lifted from his shoulders, that had weighed him down for years. He hadn’t noticed how heavy it had gotten. But now it was gone, because now they knew. He let himself be held by his big brother and soaked in the love and comfort he was given.

Soon Slade came back from the basement (where he had stayed to avoid an actual physical fight from breaking out) and his gaze softened when he saw Dick crying.

He joined in on the hug to comfort Dick.

Slade wanted to punch Batman, to hunt him to the end of the world for making Dick feel like this, but all that mattered now was to be there for him. The worst was behind them now.

Chapter Text

Bruce hadn’t stayed upstairs longer than to take off his coat and shoes. He also hadn’t stayed upstairs long enough to hear Alfred offer Jason to stay the night or notice how quiet Damian was.

Instead, he was sitting at the bat computer, scarcely remembering walking down the stairs. Now that he was alone, worries washed over him. Was Dick alright? Had Deathstroke hurt him? Was Dick even there willingly, and did he know the extent of who Deathstroke was? Who was Bruce kidding, of course he knew, but he chose to stay anyway? Did Dick choose him over Bruce?

Don’t think like that, he scolded himself. Dick loved Bruce, everyone knew that. Sure, they had their differences and fights, but sooner or later Dick always made peace with a hug. It’s something Bruce treasured throughout the years, considering (himself,) Alfred, Jason, Tim and Damian were rarely emotional or affectionate on a physical level, and Bruce had to admit nothing beat a long hug from Dick after a stressful week.

He had never said as much in words, but Dick knew Bruce secretly loved hugs. Still, Bruce himself would rarely initiate a hug, so Dick took it upon himself to hug-attack the man whenever he felt like it, and no matter how much Bruce pretended to huff and complain, Dick knew he adored them. That was amazing about Dick, he understood how Bruce felt without him having to say it, and that was worth literal gold to someone like Bruce who could not express feelings with words.

Dick could read Bruce inside and out, but Bruce seemed to have lost that over the years. How could he not have known? Bruce kept trying to remember, what had he been doing these years, not checking up on his son better? What had he been doing while Dick was with Deathstroke?

Bruce knew exactly what he had been doing. He’d been sulking after their last fight, the biggest one they’d had, firing Robin. He’d been angry and butt hurt that Dick left. He’d also been busy with Jason and after that, he was trying to make the kid with the camera go home, but the boy insisted to make Bruce’s life hell until he took him in. Tim was nothing if not determined.

The bat computer chimed as there was an incoming call from Clark. Bruce ran a hand over his chin. He suspected Alfred had asked him to call.

”Hi, Bruce, how are you?” Clark was in his parent's house, sitting in the kitchen with a cup of tea in his hands. He was wearing a T-shirt and his hair was slightly messy so he had probably been out helping his mom and dad with the farm.

”Clark.” He greeted.

”You okay?” Clark looked a little concerned.

He looked down at the keyboard and grunted, ”Dick is adopted by Deathstroke.”

”Oh.” Clark’s eyes widened and he slowly put the cup down in front of him.

Bruce hummed. The shock was expected. After all, even Bruce hadn’t known.

”He told you?” Clark asked.

Bruce’s eyes snapped to the screen, eyes widening, ”You knew?”

Clark rubbed a hand behind his neck, tilting his head and gave a little smile as if that was by any means an answer.

”And you didn’t tell me? You didn’t stop it?!”

”Stop it? What are you talking about.” Clark was frowning now.

”I mean, stopping a serial killer from taking my son.”

Clark sighed as if he knew this day was coming and he knew Bruce would be difficult. ”No one is taking Dick, Bruce." Clark paused. "I understand you're upset, but open your eyes. Meeting Slade was the best thing that happened to Dick after your fight, and I will not apologize for supporting him.”

”Deathstroke is a killer.” How did Clark not understand?

”Yes, he was." Clark thought to himself, 'how does Bruce not understand?'
"He’s also a loving father. Just like Damian and Jason are your beloved sons.”

”Don’t you dare compare them or try to justify Deathstroke’s actions. Damian didn’t know better and Jason was gone in madness.”

”Now who’s trying to justify?”

”Be very careful what you say, Clark.” They were good friends but the man was on very thin ice right now.

”So what happens now, then?”

What happens now, indeed. Bruce could not ignore the fact that Slade was a mercenary. Still, he could grant Dick the mercy of not turning Deathstroke in since the mercenary had been retired for a while now, and he did owe Slade for taking care of Dick. This would pay off that debt. While that took care of Slade, what would he do with Dick? The boy hadn’t actually done anything wrong, so Bruce could forget this.

Dick would not forget this, and Bruce knew if he tried to force him to come home his son would never forgive him either. Well then. The answer was simple.

”Dick needs to choose.”

”You’d make him choose between people he loves? Between the two people he considers his parents?” Clark hardened his voice. ”No Bruce, it’s you who needs to choose. You make the choice. Your son’s happiness or your pride.”

Clark looked him dead in the eye before hanging up.

”Don’t make the same mistake twice.”

- - -

Tim hung up his coat and almost ran to his room and closed the door before settling in front of his computer.

The news had been a shock, to say the least. And Tim was curious. To some degree, he almost felt ashamed. He’d had no idea at all Dick was adopted by Slade Wilson, Deathstroke, and had been for years now.

Seriously, stalking was Tim’s speciality. How could he have missed this? Not to be creepy or anything, but even after Dick left Gotham to be Robin with the Titans, Tim had checked in on the original Robin every so often. He did split his attention though because Batman was still in Gotham and so was Jason, the new Robin at the time. And Tim did live in Gotham too so he was limited to articles and any civilian-taken videos he could find since he couldn’t observe (*cough* stalk *cough*) Dick in person.

Although that wasn’t a real excuse either, because Dick had moved to Bludhaven years ago, had trained with Tim, gone on patrol with them, been his brother for years, and Tim hadn’t noticed. Dick probably hid it with his life in the beginning, but he must have stopped after some time, considering Dick now carried his ’Grayson-Wilson’ driver's license in his wallet, for anyone to see. Still, Tim had to admit, it wasn’t something he would notice unless he was looking for it. Well, now he’s looking for it, and he wants to find all the clues he missed before.

Tim started typing on the computer, his fingers familiar with the process of linking up with the bat computer. After a bit of digging, Tim could say that indeed, Dick had hidden it well. The first three years there was no footage, no evidence or records at all. Gradually during the fourth year, Dick stopped deleting all footage, and he could even be seen at gas stations or coffee shops close to or in Jump. Then the fifth year (this year) he didn’t bother at all.

- - -

Bruce sat in his chair in front of the computer. He’d ended the call and the cave had fallen back into silence, except for the occasion bat fluttering around.
He’d have to choose, Clark had said. Still, he wouldn’t have to be choosing at all if he’d just kept an eye out for Dick back then. Bruce cursed his pettiness of not wanting to read the articles about Robin’s success with the Titans. He hadn't wanted to know just how much Dick was thriving without him, while he'd felt like he was crumbling.

Even without his pettiness though, he’d had no reason to track Dick’s every movement, and he hadn’t had the time either. Now he knew, he should have kept Dick closer. Letting him roam free for years like that, and his boy had gone straight to trouble. To a killer.

Bruce didn’t know Deathstroke personally, and the man hadn’t been seen in the streets for about four years. He had rarely come to Gotham, only a handful of times, (maybe more than Bruce was aware of, which was possibly the case since there were apparently many things he didn’t know about.) Bruce sneered.

He would never let this happen again. He would keep the ones he loved close, out of reach to the world and its killers, and he would make sure he knew everything. Because knowledge was power, and Bruce never wanted to feel so helpless again.

- - -

Damian saw his Father head to the old clock but didn’t follow. Tonight he’d been tense, annoyed, excited and shocked, but now that he was standing in the hallway all he could feel was some form of sadness. The last glance he had seen of his brother he’d looked so heartbroken, and all the triumph he'd felt about his discovery disappeared and morphed into guilt.

”Hey.” Jason’s voice startled him out of his thoughts. ”You okay?”

”You’re still here?” He asked instead of answering, but he sounded more tired than rude. Damian didn’t feel like fighting Todd tonight. After taking his jacket and shoes off he made his way up the stairs to his room. Closing the door, he crawled onto his bed and pushed his face into his pillow. He lay there, just breathing, before turning over to his side and staring into the wall.

Damian had his phone in his pocket and hesitantly pulled it out, opening Dick’s contact. Was Dick okay? Should he text him? His fingers hovered over the keyboard on the screen but after a few seconds he put the phone down, not able to think of anything to write. What could he possibly say after what he’d done? He’d ruined everything in seconds, that Dick had worked so hard to keep secret for years. Damian’s fists clutched the sheets hard and he scolded himself. He hadn’t even thought about it, just gone running to father, like a mindless puppy running to its owner. He hadn’t even considered not telling Bruce right then, not considering talking to Dick first, no, Damian had barged into the dining room and announced to everyone that Dick’s other family were murderers. Right in front of batman, who also just happens to be Dick’s father. Damian closed his eyes tight and pressed the pillow against his chest. Of course he had to mess everything up! Dick surely despised him now, for turning father against him and those he loved.

Could he ever be forgiven?

Damian felt his eyes water. He wanted his brother.

How selfish.

Dick was probably feeling worse than him, and all Damian wanted was his brother, as if Dick wasn’t sad too, because of Damian. Still, a voice in his head reasoned. Dick had a whole other family to comfort him now, while Damian didn’t. The thought of being alone again, like he was before he met Dick, made him choke on a sob.

He didn’t want to be alone. He wanted his brother.

Damian quietly cried himself to sleep that night.

- - -
Jason saw Damian go to his room and close the door. He lingered in the hallway, torn between if he should follow or not. He and Damian were not close but they did spend time together sometimes. The last time was a month or so ago when Damian had messed up on patrol and been benched. Dick had been away but the kid was clearly upset, so Jason had barged into his room, very uninvited.

”Todd!” Damian had been sulking on his bed. ”At least knock!”

”No can do, Deedee.” Jason closed the door before joining him on the bed. Damian tried to kick him off but Jason sensed his intentions and dodged.

”Ah ah ah, careful! I have precious cargo here.” He said and put the tray he’d brought on the bed, making Damian scooch over. It was Alfred's cookies and two large helpings of vanilla ice cream, Damian’s favourite. Damian glanced up at Jason who was making himself comfortable in Damian's bed and helping himself to a cookie.

”You are in my bed, spilling crumbs everywhere, you pig.”

Jason ignored him and reached for the laptop on his bedside table.

”What do you wanna watch?” He said as he scrolled through movie titles.

After a while Damian gave in and made himself comfortable next to Jason, leaning forward so he could see the screen as well. Damian glanced at Jason, who noticed.

”Listen kid I’m just a stand-in tonight. As soon as Dick is back, he’ll be first in line to comfort you, but in the meantime, I’ll sacrifice myself, as the good big little brother I am.” Jason said, eyes not leaving the laptop.

There was a beat of silence where Damian almost looked confused at what he had said, and Jason would almost call it cute. Damian looked at him with that slight confusion and raised an eyebrow.

”You consider yourself a good brother?”

Jason shoved him in the shoulder and Damian smiled.

Jason did not go up to Damian, instead having some tea in the kitchen before going to bed in his old room.

Chapter Text

- Five years ago -

Dick was alone in the gym. Someone was usually here but it was late and the others had retired for the night. It had ’officially’ been four months since he moved in with them and by now he’d learned everyone’s daily schedule, and he knew he’d have the gym to himself for the rest of the night. It’d been a stressful day and Dick just wanted a warm-up so he could stretch properly before bed since it loosened his muscles and helped him sleep better. He’d set up an obstacle course just for fun, with some balancing, climbing and a jump at the end. He was barefoot and ran a few laps around the gym for an extra warm-up.

As he passed the course on his lap, he stopped to view it over. The last two plinths were maybe a bit too far apart. He hadn’t thought about it when he set it up, but he should be able to make the jump, so he didn’t bother to change it. 

Hm. Maybe it was a bit too far, Dick thought as he failed for the fifth time. He could easily just move the plinth, but now it was a challenge. If that had been a distance between rooftops, the house wouldn’t move because it was too far. No excuses or cheating, he had to make it. Holding in a groan from the rough landing, he stood up. A voice in his head whispered, ’Not good enough.’

And he jumped, rolled, pulled and crawled through the course but on the last jump, he just couldn’t make it. Each time he got more tired, disappointed and hellbent on making it. He had to make it, he just needed to push himself a little more. 

Slam. Dick crashed into the plinth and narrowly avoided smashing his face into it.

Again. 

Thud. He didn’t jump far enough and fell on his back, knocking out his breath. He rolled over to try and suck in a breath.

Again.

Boom. Dick crashed into it with his legs, almost knocking it over.

Again.

Shaking his shoulders and arms, he took his place at the start of the course and started again. He made it through the course just like every time before, and he sped up into a sprint for the final jump. He pushed off as hard as he could, but soon came crashing to the floor. He tried to roll when he landed to minimize any damage but his limbs were almost shaking. He was surely littered with bruises now, after his 28th try. Dick tended to keep count since it reminded him of his failure and need to work harder. 

29. Fail. Again. 

30. Fail. Again.

31. Fail. Again.

Dick was panting and his legs were shaking. Sucking in a breath and focusing, he started sprinting. He ran, pushed off, and maybe he’d reach it this time, maybe-

He crashed onto the mat once more and slumped down onto the floor.

”God fucking DAMNIT!" Dick screamed as he punched his fist into the mat. Dick barely registered the pain in his hand, just sitting there, chest heaving. He had to make it. He was Robin, and he knew better than anyone that a mistake, any mistake, could cost a civilian their life. He had to be better.

Taking a deep breath, Dick stood up, the voice firm in his head.

Again.  

- - -

The mirror covered the entire wall at the entrance of the gym, and it was like that of an interrogation room, on one side it was a mirror but on the other side it was perfectly see-through. It was mostly because a mirror in the gym was practical, and it was also possible to see from the outside of the gym was occupied without having to enter. Slade had walked down to look for something, but stopped when he saw Dick in the gym. He hadn’t meant to stay and watch, but Dick had jumped 11 times now, all with bruising landings. It had been slightly amusing at first, although it quickly turned to Slade just waiting for Dick to stop.

Dick did not stop.

Even with one eye Slade could see Dick’s legs slightly shake, surely exhausted. When Dick failed once again, Slade watched him scream and slam his fist into the mat. Well, Slade thought, he’ll stop now.

Dick did not stop. He heaved himself up and had every intention to start over. 

That’s when Slade stepped in.

”Dick?” He said as he opened the door.

Dick didn’t listen, but Slade honestly wasn’t sure Dick had even heard him. All his focus was on the jump, and once again, he failed. Dick dampened the fall with a roll, before standing up and heading to the beginning.

”Dick?” Slade called again. Dick looked over at him and nodded in greeting, before starting the course over again.

Dick’s legs didn’t have the energy to make the jump after almost 40 tries now, but Dick paid it no mind, even as he failed again and ended up on the floor. 

”Dick, stop.” Slade walked closer and Dick stood up, brushing past Slade. He didn’t make it far, however, as Slade grabbed his arm.

”I said stop.”

Dick smiled up at him, although it didn’t reach his eyes. ”It’s alright, I almost got it now.”

”You’re hurting yourself.”

”No pain no gain, right?” Dick joked and tried to pull his arm out of Slade’s grip but he held firm.

”You’re not gaining anything but bruises from this.”

”I can do it.”

Slade eyed him. Dick was tired. He’d been training for hours today already and he’d run around all morning doing chores, and Slade knew for a fact that Dick hadn’t slept well that night either. No fake smile could ever make it past Slade. ”You should go to sleep, it’s late.”

Dick huffed a mock laugh, not sure if Slade was serious. When Slade didn’t say anything else, Dick tried to assure him.  

”I’ll go to sleep as soon as I’m done.”

”When will you be done?”

”Won’t be long, you don’t have to wait.”

Dick was trying to make Slade leave. Well. Slade had decided either he was leaving the gym with Dick or not at all.

”You’re right. It won’t be long until you collapse or hurt yourself and I'll have to carry you upstairs.”

”Very funny. Seriously, let me go, I gotta do the course again.”

”So you can fall, like the last twenty times?”

Dick was not amused by that. ”So what, I took a fall or two. I’m fine.”

Slade was not having it and started turning around, still holding onto Dick, leading him out of the room. ”You’re done for tonight.”

Dick stared at him wide-eyed and tried to wrench his arm free with more force.

”Let go!”

”No.” Slade kept walking and Dick dug his heels into the mat, trying to resist. 

”Let me go! I’ll do it!”

”No.”

Dick was pulling full force by now and tried to pry his arm free.  ”Let me go! I’ll do it! I’ll do it this time, I promise!”

Slade had never seen Dick like this in the four months he’d been living with them. 

”Calm down Dick! What’s wrong?”

”I promise, please, I’m sorry!”

Why was he promising he’d make it?

”Dick, it’s alright, you don’t have to.”

”I’ll do it, I promise just let me try again, I’ll make it!” Dick was pulling his arm to try and get back to the obstacle course.

Slade weighed his options and decided the gym was not helping Dick calm down, so he bent down and slung Dick over his shoulders. Dick gave a shout of surprise and then protest, trying to get free. Slade had a hard time holding onto Dick while walking up the stairs with how much he was trashing around. 

At last, Slade reached Dick’s bedroom and set him down on his soft bed, quickly wrapping his boy in a fluffy blanket to calm him down (and minimize escape), tucking him close to his chest. Dick had no chance of escape at this point but he was still slightly struggling against Slade’s chest, and Slade could feel Dick’s heartbeat was still pretty fast. He started rubbing Dick’s back.

”Breathe with me.” 

Dick felt Slade’s steady heartbeat and inhaled, as his body automatically tried to match it. After a few minutes, his breathing wasn’t shaking.

Slade glanced down but all he could see was black hair. ”Do you feel like talking or do you want to wait a little longer?”

Dick felt so tiny in Slade's arms as he nodded, and Slade loosened his grip enough for Dick to lean back so Slade could see his face. 

Dick's shoulders were slumped, and he looked guilty.

”I’m sorry.”

”You haven’t done anything wrong.”

”I overreacted, and I’m sorry. But I’m fine now, so you don’t have to comfort me. You have more important things to do.” Dick tried to distance himself from Slade again but Slade would have none of it and made sure to hold Dick close. 

”What could be more important than making sure you're okay?”

Dick didn’t say it out loud but reports, patrol, meetings, work and interviews flashed through his head. Basically anything. 

Slade’s gaze turned to concern. ”Did you hurt yourself before? Your wrist looked swollen.”

Dick had taken a fall where he practically landed on his wrist and twisted it, but he just pulled down his shirt sleeve. It wasn't that bad, nothing worth attention, at least, Dick reasoned.

Slade tried to gently take Dick's hand so he could look, but Dick flinched back and pressed the hand protectingly against his chest (as best he could in the blanket).

”I’m fine.”

”Let me see.”

”It’s nothing.”

”Dick, I need to look at it”

”I said it’s fine!”

Dick was now tightly gripping his left shoulder, wrist forgotten. He seemed to realize when he followed Slade's gaze and quickly let go. Dick then hesitantly let Slade take his arm. 

”It’s swollen.”

”It’s nothing.”

”I’ll get some ice for it.” Slade made a move to stand but Dick quickly stopped him from getting up.

”I said it’s nothing!” 

Slade sat down again and looked at him. ”Dick, why are you reacting like this?”

”I’m not acting anything” 

Dick was hurt, tired and acting strange. Until Slade figured out why Dick freaked out in the gym, it was a danger for him to go out in the field. Slade wouldn’t let Dick get hurt because he didn’t do his job as a parent. ”Until we figure this out, you’re not going back to the Titans.”

Dick’s eyes widened.

”No, no no no no I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Sir please I won’t be any trouble, I can still work! I promise I won’t be in the way!” 

That was not the response Slade was expecting, and his heart ached at how desperate Dick sounded. Dick's pleading faded and he slowly started sobbing, curling his arms around himself.

”I’ll do it, I’ll do the jump, just .. just please not again, please I can’t, not the Titans please..”

Slade ached at how distressed his child was. He cupped his finger under Dick’s chin. ”Dick, I love you, you know that right?”

Dick didn’t respond and looked down, trying to hide his tears. Slade used his thumbs to wipe away the falling tears.

”Say it, say you know I love you.”

Dick hesitated, but mumbled, ”I know you love me.”

”Good, now say it louder.”

”I know you love me.”

”That’s right. So let me help you. Dick, what’s going on?”

”I don’t need help.” The response was automatic, but Dick realized he’d snapped and slumped his head against Slade in apology.

The word ’help’ seemed triggering. He’d try to avoid it for now. Instead, he tried to start from the beginning. 

”This started with the jumping, are you upset that you failed?”

Dick chokes on a breath. Slade mentally added ’fail’ to the trigger list.

Dick was stressed about this but his voice was filled with sadness and guilt instead of the previous anger and despair. ”I can do it, I’ll show you, I’ll do it.”

”Dick..”

”Please, please I’ll do better!” Dick sobbed into Slade’s shirt, his hands clutching the fabric. Slade was at least happy Dick felt like he could cry in front of him, and more importantly seek comfort. It had taken months of nightmares before Dick started to trust Slade and let himself be comforted. 

Slade wrapped his arms around Dick in a hug, secure and protective. After a while, he felt Dick sneak his arms around his middle as well. 

Dick still seemed anxious, unsure.

”I’ve seen you jump between buildings and rooftops, I know you’re capable. Why are you upset?”

Dick waited, before mumbling something.

Slade rubbed his back. ”I can’t hear you, sweetie.”

Dick tilted his head to the side but didn’t let go of Slade.

”.. last time I..failed, I lost everything. And that’s why I can’t fail, because I don’t want to lose you and the Titans too.”

As the realization hit Slade he held Dick closer to his chest. His gaze hardened and he cursed the bat for ever harming Dick to such insecurity that he thought he couldn’t stay in his own home because he failed a physical task. That his worth lay in his abilities, and that’s why he tried over and over again, panicking when Slade wouldn’t let him continue. 

The shoulder. Slade knew Dick had been shot there, and the wound hadn't been more than a month old when Robin first came to Jump. 

Was that the reason Dick had left? Or rather, was he kicked out? Batman’s child got hurt and instead of nursing him back to health, the bat’s solution was to kick him out because of his ’incompetence’? No wonder Dick thought Slade would make him leave if the exact thing had happened to him before.

”It’s okay to fail, Dick. I still want you to stay. We all do.” All Dick's siblings loved him, especially Grant, although he would rarely admit it. 

”But I failed.” Dick didn’t seem like he believed it. Did he really think it was too good to be true?

”Dick, If you want to make the jump, I’ll help you train to reach your goals, but please know I love you regardless, and you’ll always have a home here, kid.”

Dick still didn’t seem to believe him, and Slade knew he had to make sure he felt wanted and secure, and pour love on him to chase away those insecurities.

Dick mumbled ”Not your kid.”

Slade smiled. ”Would you like to be?”

Dick quickly shut down the hope threatening to rise and decided to accept that it was a joke. ”Ha. Ha, very funny.” 

”I’m serious. I would love to, but it’s your decision.”

”I’m almost seventeen, you can’t adopt me.”

”I can.” 

Dick allowed himself a smile.

”Really?”

”Mhm.”

”I mean, Richard John Grayson-Wilson does kind of have a ring to it.”

Chapter Text

It was the day after the disaster, and Slade was not in a good mood. Partly because of said disaster, partly because the cause of the disaster had invited him over for lunch. Slade also hadn’t gotten much sleep last night, since he’d had five upset children he needed to calm down. (That’s what Slade told anyone that asked, in truth Will had six angry children to take care of, Slade included.) All of them were understandably upset and during a heated discussion the dining table was flipped over and a vase crashed into a hundred pieces. Slade wasn’t even sure who it was. Could have been Grant, Terra, or even himself, but nonetheless it was an hour extra cleanup. But none of that could compare to how Bruce had broken Dick’s heart. Those shatters would take more than an hour to put together again.

Slade tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

His youngest had left to stay at Wally’s place that night, and Slade suspected Barbara was there too.

Slade slowed down the car and stopped at a red light. He took a moment to look out at the sky he wasn’t surprised he saw thunderclouds rolling in. Gotham was never sunny.

Waking up this morning Slade had called Dick to ask how he was doing and tell him about his lunch invitation. Dick hadn’t said much except he wanted Slade to talk to Bruce. Slade had assured Dick that yes, he had a few words to say to that piece of garbage- .. but Dick had stopped him and asked him to talk to Bruce. As in, listen to him too. Slade wasn’t too fond of the idea but if it would make Dick feel better, then he’d do it.

Slade parked his car and jogged up to the doors of the house. He rang the bell twice before stepping back a little. Soon enough, Slade was face to face with the owner of the house. He had promised to talk to Bruce, and he would. Slade had however never promised not to hurt Bruce for what he’d done.

"You absolute ass” Slade said as he slapped Bruce Wayne across the face.

Bruce’s head snapped to the side from the impact. The slap was expected (or a punch), but Bruce hadn’t dodged. Once Bruce straightened up again, he swiped his hand across his now throbbing chin before returning the favour, slapping across Slade’s face. ”Fucker.” He replied.

— — —
Flashback yesterday Bruce

Last night Bruce had been upset after his talk with Clark.

He decided to meditate to calm his brain down and properly think, not just act and talk, which he had done unsettlingly often since meeting Slade. His meditation didn’t bring him any apparent answers, but it relaxed Bruce enough to realise sleep was probably a good idea.

Bruce did his little night routine, to check all the windows were closed and doors locked. Satisfied, he started heading to his bed, when he heard sobs from Damian’s room.

Bruce stopped to listen at the door.

”Damian?” He asked softly, so as to not wake Tim or startle Damian if he was awake. No response.

Bruce cracked the door open and Damian was asleep, crying. Bruce’s heart ached at the sight and he slowly walked in and sat on the side of the bed.

”Damian, it’s okay. You are home, and you are safe. You can wake up, it’s just a dream.” He said, in the same soft voice to not startle his son awake.

Bruce knew first-hand not to touch Damian when trying to wake him up, so he sat just out of reach, for Damian’s comfort.

Then Bruce noticed Damian blinking up at him, and Bruce hoped he was freeing him from whatever nightmare he’d had. Damian sat up slightly and started wiping his face from tears. Bruce slowly reached out and put his hand on Damian's shoulder, giving him time to indicate the touch was not welcome, but Damian did not lean away. Bruce just sat there a moment, before asking.

”Are you going to be okay?”

Damian was looking at the sheets but slowly nodded, so Bruce squeezed his shoulder and said,

”I’ll be in my room, you can come at any time if you need me.”

But as he made to stand, Damian suddenly reached out to grab him, making him sit down again. The action surprised bruce and Damian seemed a little surprised too, but didn’t let go of his dad.

Damian didn’t say anything either, so Bruce smiled kindly.

”Want me to stay for a bit?”

Damian nodded.

Bruce sat and rubbed his thumb over the back of Damian’s hand.

”Grayson hates me.”

That was.. unexpected. ”What makes you think that?” Bruce asked.

”Because I told you about Wilson, even though I knew you’d get mad, and now I’ve ruined everything for him.” Damian pulled his hand back from Bruce’s.

”Damian, none of what happened is your fault, and Dick loves you regardless.”

Damian looked up at his dad, eyes still red and tired from crying. ”He won’t forgive me.”

Bruce slowly reaches out his hand and cupped Damian’s face, rubbing his thumb over his cheeks.

Damian was sad, and Dick was sad, because of him. Bruce’s heart twisted at the realisation.
But what had Alfred said, that if you want to make someone happy, you should make someone they love happy?

… Maybe it was time to talk to Slade. On friendlier terms. .. Well. Less hostile at least.

”I made this mess Damian, and I’ll fix it. For Dick, for you, for everyone.”

Flashback end
— — —

Slade straightened up and the two dads stared each other down, but that introduction seemed to have satisfied the worst of their urge to physically hurt each other.

”If you two are quite done, please close the door.” Alfred said, standing a few steps behind Bruce.

Bruce stepped aside in the doorway, silently inviting Slade in. Slade broke his deathly glare once he caught sight of Alfred.

”Good day, Mr Wilson.”

”Good to see you, Alfred, I hope you are well.”

Alfred nodded and turned to Bruce. ”Shall I prepare some tea, while you two talk things over?”

And the indication was there, that they would talk, or help them both from Alfred's wrath.

”Yes please, Alfred.” Bruce looked at Slade. ”We’ll sit in the living room.”

Chapter Text

Slade didn’t know what to expect from all of this, but he hoped it would clear the air with Wayne and bring some peace to Dick, if only a little.

Bruce didn’t know what to expect either, but he wanted to settle for a truce.

In other words, after the little spectacle at the door, both men were willing to listen.

They had both just settled in the couches when someone in the doorway poked their head in. ”We’re having a tea party in here?”

Slade and Bruce turned to look at the black-haired man who’d invited himself in.

”Dad, Slade.” Jason said as he gave them both a little nod.

”What are you doing here?” Slade asked. Slade actually rather liked Jason, and from what Dick had told him, the two of them could get along quite nicely. Still, they didn’t know each other and had only met a couple of times.

”Well, I am the priest.” Jason said, putting his hands together to look the part. ”I’ve come to bless this wedding and witness your vows.”

”Jason, seriously.” Bruce frowned.

Jason huffed. ”Alright.” He put his hands down, walked up to Bruce and poked him in the chest.
”I'm here because maybe I don’t trust you to talk properly.” He looked over at Slade, pointing at him. ”Maybe, I don’t trust you to listen.” Jason brushed past them both and settled on the sofa. ”And maybe, I want this to work.”

Slade shared a glance with Bruce. They both knew they would need all the help they could get, and maybe Jason was just what they needed. He liked and disliked both of them, and agreed and disagreed with both of them at the same time too.

No one voiced a complaint for Jason to leave, so he considered himself officially part of the conversation now. ”Don’t mind me, you two just start talking.”

”Alright. Let’s start from the beginning then.” Bruce suggested.

”Hmh.” Came a disapproving sound from Jason’s side of the couch.

”Something you’d like to say, Jason?” Bruce sighed. They hadn’t said a word yet, what was already wrong?

”Ah, well since you’re asking.” Jason said nonchalantly. ”There is no need for backstories or long monologues.” He got silence for an answer. Jason sat up a little. ”Oh come on, both of you are extreme stalkers with paranoia. You both know everything about each other. Ask more direct questions, about what you actually want to know.”

Slade liked Jason’s no-bullshit attitude. He looked over at Bruce. ”Why did you take Dick in?”

”I saw myself in him. Newly orphaned, scared and alone. I didn’t want him to go through what I did, Dick didn’t deserve Gotham’s system. I gave him a chance at a better life.”

And yes, that may sound a bit rich, Bruce calling himself a saviour. but over the years Bruce had entertained the thought of where Dick would be if they had never met. Sadly a lot of scenarios involved the Court of Owls, but even if Bruce ignored them, Dick wouldn’t have had a nice start to life. The circus couldn’t take him, which left him in Gotham. Dick wasn’t even placed at the orphanage so his chances of actually getting adopted were slim to none. He would have grown up at juvenile. Dick was small as a child and had been until his late teens. His size along with his struggle with the language would have made him a target his entire time at juvie, which meant beatings, stolen food and no friends.

In juvenile Dick would have three options, none of which Bruce liked to think about. Firstly, he could die from beatings, starvation and neglect. If Dick survived that, he would then be tossed out on the streets at the age of 18, with no family, no education, and nowhere to go. He’d likely die or end up in a gang, in which he would probably also soon die. The third option was if Dick ran away from juvenile, then he could either try and track down Zucco, or he would take his chances on the streets, and then too, end up in a gang. Bruce sometimes imagined Dick could have met Jason that way if he hadn’t taken them in.

Slade countered. ”You took him from juvenile and the system, but you could have robbed him of a caring foster family.”

Bruce agreed. There was always a possibility, no matter how small. ”I might have. There is no way to know.”

There wasn’t much to argue about there, if it wasn’t for Bruce then Dick wouldn’t be the man he is today and Slade might never have even met him.

”Alright. Your turn Bruce.” Jason said.

Well. It was only fair of Bruce to return the question. ”Why did you take Dick in?”

Slade thought for a moment and Bruce willed himself to believe it was to formulate the sentence and not to figure out a way to manipulate the truth.

”He looked like he needed a father. Someone to lean on.”

And wasn’t that a stab to Bruce’s heart. He was the one Dick should have been able to lean on. He should have understood that if he stopped being Dick’s Batman halftime, he needed to compensate and be his father full-time.

Slade paused. ”And I think I needed someone too. My relationship with my kids has been rough at times, and Dick showed me, all of us, that love didn’t have to be so complicated.”

Slade smiled a little at the thought of Dick until his face hardened and he leaned forward. ”Why did you kick him out?”

Bruce could almost hear the sound of the door slamming shut as Dick left all those years ago.

”I didn’t want him to leave, but after our argument, I doubt he felt welcome. I made a horrible mistake and spoke in anger and fear. I don’t regret taking action to try and keep him safe, but the way I did it wasn’t right.”

Slade pressed. ”And still, you didn’t come after him. You didn’t stop him, and you didn’t protect him.”

Bruce slammed his hand on the table. ”I was trying, goddamnit!”

He sighed and took a breath. ”I realized very quickly that taking Robin away was wrong, but it was too late. Dick had left, and I thought he just needed to cool down. I wanted to give him space. But when he hadn’t come back by morning, I checked on him and his tracker showed he was in Jump city. I was surprised, but I was also relieved. Jump is a nice city, with no psycho villains, and Richard Grayson isn’t famous there, so low risk of kidnapping. Then he started the Titans. He was Robin, and he was amazing. Of course, I wanted him back. But I had made clear that I didn’t want him to be in danger and in trying to protect him, I hold him back. I always kept tags on him until Jason told him about the tracker and he dug it out of his arm.”

Jason grimaced, but Bruce continued.

”But he was safer in Jump.” He looked up at Slade. "Do you understand the types of people that live in Gotham? Insane villains who kill for amusement. Class differences with rich people bathing in champagne and kids living on the streets, starving. Robbing, kidnapping, drug deals, weapon shipping, it’s everywhere. At least in Jump, he could be him, without the insane dangers. He was with several friends, and as long as he was safe I could almost live with what I had done.

Slade hummed. ”If you love him, let him go?” His eyes narrowed. ”Do you have any idea of the abandonment issues Dick has?”

”I don’t like what happened. And even though I didn’t deserve it, Dick came back, and we started to forgive and repair the things I broke.”

”And if Gotham is so dangerous and Dick was safer in Jump, why would you pick up another child soldier from the streets?!” Slade gestured to Jason. ”And then another, and another!”

”I helped all of them, and I learned from my mistakes with Dick!”

Slade was baffled. ”You’re joking, right? Has any one of them even NOT died or nearly died at some point?”

A new voice from the doorway spoke up with disgust.

"That’s rich coming from you.”

That shut Slade right up. Damian looked tired and furious.

”You sit here, judging father when you have done all the same mistakes.”

Damian held up what looked like a phone, and pressed a few buttons before tossing it on the ground between them. ”And you’ve had your share of child soldiers too.”

A holographic image lit up, a life-size Renegade standing in a black and orange uniform. Slade’s eyes widened a little, he hadn’t noticed the brat swiped it from his computer.

Bruce stood up, eyes wide in disbelief. He circled the hologram. It was life-size, and it reached just above Bruce’s shoulder. It was no doubt about who it was, the mask was identical and Bruce had seen Dick in a mask for years.

Bruce looked at the young face, his back to Slade. With a voice like ice, he addressed Slade.

”Explain.”

Slade at least had the grace to be ashamed. Damian was right, he had done quite a few things he wasn’t proud of.

”I was considering taking him as an apprentice.” Slade risked a glance at Bruce but he hadn’t turned around. ”I’m sure you can understand that.”

”And make him a murderer?” Bruce whipped around.

Slade narrowed his eye. ”I said ’consider’. I never made Dick do anything. That isn’t him in the uniform, it’s a prototype for the suit.”

Bruce took a moment to collect himself. He held a hand to his face. He was so tired of this, all of it. He just wanted Dick to come home.

Damian walked in briskly. He stopped right in front of Slade, keeping intense eye contact. His eyes were slightly red, but Slade couldn’t be sure if it was from earlier tears or lack of sleep.

”Swear you never made Dick kill. Swear on your life that you didn’t force him into anything.” It was a sore spot for Damian. It had broken him to know that his big brother might have gone through what he did as a child, and still be so loving in a way Damian was still trying to learn.

Slade held eye contact. ”I swear.”

There was a slight pause where Damian seemed to judge Slade. Then he nodded and took a step back.

”Then I choose to trust you.”

Jason was baffled, to say the least. He’d been sitting in his spot, just watching the scene unfold. The brat was being brave here, and Jason owed it to Dick to try, He stood up, also piercing Slade with narrowed eyes.

”You’ll protect him, no matter what?”

”Always.”

Jason nodded. ”Then I choose to trust you.”

Bruce watched his sons reach out, and after sharing a look with both of them, it gave him the courage to take a leap of faith.

”Do you love him?”

Slade stood up to meet Bruce’s eyes. ”Like my own.”

”Then I choose to trust you. Do you trust me?”

”I do.”

Bruce felt hope. This was a new beginning.

Jason clapped. ”I hereby declare you, husband and wife.”

Chapter Text

If someone had told 15-year-old Dick that he’d be adopted and have two dads, one of them Bruce, he would have escorted them to Arkham himself. Dick at 22 years old still had trouble believing it. Seriously, Slade and Bruce telling Dick Bruce could be, wanted to be, his second legal dad.

Dick said yes. Over the years Dick had mostly accepted not being adopted and didn’t think of it too much, but he did find appeal in being an official Wayne. Not for the money or fame, but for the connections he’d legally have to the family. If something happened to Bruce, (as it had before), Dick needed to protect his family. Not as Nightwing, but as Richard Grayson. However, without the legal Wayne title, he had no claim to any of his brothers. All of them were still under 18 and if the situation needed it, Dick wouldn’t be able to take custody of any of them.

- - -

”I can’t believe this is happening.” Dick said as he walked through the doors of the adoption centre, Wally close behind him.

”What, being adopted as an adult, or that you’re late for your adult adoption?”

”Both.” Dick cringed. ”And don’t call it that, it sounds weird.”

Wally huffed. ”Yeah, because it's not actually weird or anything.”

The lobby at the entrance was empty. Dick ran a hand through his hair. ”We’re late. They must have started already.”

Wally crossed his arms. ”Well don’t blame me, I was ready to go way before you.”

Dick stared. ”It is your fault.”

Wally rolled his eyes. ”Oh, you’re full of it.”

”Full of-” Dick said, baffled, stepping into Wally's space. ”You’re full of it!” Poking an accusing finger in Wally’s stomach. ”Literally! All my food!”

”Hey!” Wally pushed the finger away. ”I was hungry!”

”You ate everything in my fridge! I hadn’t planned to go grocery shopping until next week, and you know Alfred made me promise not to skip breakfast anymore since he found out I did that occasionally, thanks to you.”

Wally put his nose in the air and took a step back towards the door. ”Well, if you don’t want me here..”

Wally didn’t make it far before Dick kicked the back of Wally’s knee, making him stumble backwards and get caught in a headlock.

”Agh!” Wally tried to pry Dick’s arm off. ”I was joking!"

”Well it’s not funny! I’m in this because of you, and you’ll stick with me through it.” Dick paused, and then leaned in to whisper ”Or I’ll tell Alfred what really happened to his favourite frying pan.”

Wally paled. ”You wouldn’t.”

A young man came out from a second room, greeting them with a slight french accent, startling them both.

”Welcome! One of you must be Mr Grayson.”

Dick straightened his jacket and smiled as he shook his hand. ”That would be me, and this is my friend Wally.”

”Wonderful. Your guardians are signing the papers in this room. Mr Wally is welcome to come along as well.”

_ _ _

Half an hour earlier

———

Bruce had checked his watch surely a hundred times by now. The appointment was scheduled to begin in ten minutes and Dick was still nowhere to be seen. A part of Bruce was terrified Dick had decided to bail on him and not come, but that just wasn’t like him. A glance to his left showed Slade much more composed, relaxing on the sofa they were sharing in the waiting room.

Slade, as if sensing Bruce’s unease, turned his head, looking him up and down with a raised eyebrow.

”Didn’t think you’d be the jittery type.”

Bruce looked straight back. ”I’m not jittery.”

Slade turned back to watch the wall opposite of them. ”Really? Because your leg is making the whole sofa vibrate.”

Bruce hadn’t realised he’d been bouncing his foot and abruptly stopped.

Slade just leaned back, not bothered at all.

”He’ll be here.”

Bruce didn’t respond and they sat in silence a while longer. Batman was a hero, and he wasn’t scared of anything. But Bruce was a dad, and he worried a lot. Worried about how his kids were doing, if they were sleeping and eating enough when they weren’t home under Alfred’s watchful eye.

Bruce hadn’t realized he’d zoned out until he felt the sofa shift as Slade stood up. A lady with rosy cheeks and a kind smile had entered and Bruce saw Slade shake her hand before his brain caught up with him and he rose to greet her as well. She showed them to her office, a setup with her desk and three armchairs opposite it.

”Oh, it’s always such a joy to help bring a family together.” She said as she sat down and pulled out a file from a drawer.

Slade and Bruce sat down, and the lady, (Bruce had noticed the name on the door, Donna) noticed the empty chair and sat down. ”I see Mr Grayson seems to be a bit late, any idea when he’ll be here?”

Slade answered, “He was with a friend this morning, something must have come up but I’m sure he’s on his way here right now.”

Donna nodded. ”Oh well, he technically doesn’t have to be here until the end to sign, so it should be fine to start the paperwork without him.” She added apologetically, ”Sorry to rush, busy schedule and all that.”

Slade chuckled. ”He won’t mind at all that all the boring stuff is sorted out when he gets here.”
She laughed. ”Kids, huh? No patience.”

Donna didn’t wait for an answer before sorting through a few papers and looking them over.

”Well then, I’ll start by making sure everything is in order. Since Mr Grayson was a minor when these were written I do not have access to all information, so I would just like to confirm some things with you.”

She pulled out a paper and looked at Slade.

”From what I can see, Mr Wilson was in the custody of Mr Grayson first, and now wish to extend that with Mr Wayne?

”That’s right.”

”How lovely.” She smiled and scribbled something down. She put her pen down and paused, looking at both of them. ”I just want to say that I am glad you waited a few years to do this.”

Bruce and Slade shared a glance, not understanding what she meant. Donna picked up on the uncertainty and explained.

”I know you were married many years ago Mr Wilson, and as a single parent you know the importance of being there for your child. A child needs security and stability, and temporary partners can be very stressful.”

Slade’s brain short-circuited ”Partners?” He held up a hand between himself and Bruce ”No, we’re not-”
For some reason, the part Bruce’s brain decided to respond to was ”Oh, no he’s not a child.”

Donna nodded. ”I’m sure he’s very mature for his age.”

Bruce tried to explain ”No he-”

”They’re forced to grow up so fast, but I’m glad you’re both there for him now.”

Slade was speechless.

There was a knock on the door and Donna perked up. ”Oh! That must be Mr Grayson. Please, come in!”
She put her hands together. ”Well, here comes the little-”

Donna's eyes fell on Dick and she faltered.

”- full grown man.” She finished.

Chapter Text

Jason was patrolling alone tonight. If it could even be called a patrol. He’d been out for a while and so far he’d just told a group of teenagers off for trying to break into an old abandoned building.

Well, if hiding in said building and scaring the batshit out of them counts as ’telling them off’. There were five of them, some guys and girls trying to get some thrill or prove themselves to their friends. Seriously though, the building was old and unsafe, and Jason had to teach those kids a lesson. He waited until they were fully inside with their little flashlights going in all directions, before snapping an old plank (for the classic ’crack’ sound) and then throwing down a smoke bomb. Best to keep it simple, and let them think the building was collapsing themselves. Their screams echoed before a girl screamed ”Fuck this!” And ran out, the others close behind her. Clever girl. Once he got down, Jason was pretty sure one of them had dropped their own little smoke bomb, if you know what I mean.

Jason chuckled at the memory. That had been about three hours ago, and since then not much had happened. He was currently sitting on a rooftop ledge, trying to spot any stars through the clouds. It wasn’t any particular spot, but it had a nice view over the city and the streets below. He’d listened in on the comms earlier, and it seems only the bat and Red Robin are out tonight since Damian has a school project due tomorrow. It wasn’t unheard of for Damian to sneak out anyway, but they hadn’t needed all hands on deck for a while now, so Jason probably didn’t have to worry about Batman calling him to bring the kid back in.

The family wasn’t half the mess it had been a few years ago and now Red Hood frequently teamed up with the rest of the bats. It was nice, having a family again. When Jason came back, he craved destruction. Punching and shooting things felt good. It was a release, and it felt justified. And it was justified. He’d been left behind and forgotten, and he came back jealous, and angry.

A shell, a ghost of a boy he once was, sent to claim his own revenge.

And he took his revenge. He shot Dick and almost killed Tim.

It wasn’t enough.

He needed more. He went after the Joker, and even then it wasn’t enough. After a while of killing everything that deserved it, Jason knew it would never be enough. After all, if all he wanted was more, if he wanted everything, did that mean he had nothing?

Que Nightwing swinging in to check on his little wing.

If Jason was being honest, Dick pretty much saved him. He kept terrorizing him, saying he was family, forcing him to hang out. It gave a sense of normality and a sense of belonging. Somewhere along the lines, the green shifted from what he wanted to what he had. He became protective of Nightwing, which instantly gave him kudos from every hero ever, but mostly the bats. Then one thing led to another, and Jason found himself rarely dealing with the green anymore.

The clouds shifted and covered the star he’d been looking at. Jason pulled his leather jacket just a bit closer. His neck had started aching from looking up so Jason laid down, only his legs hanging off the building.

He had a more comfortable position now. There was something poetic about the stars looking down from above, peaking through when the clouds shifted just right, if only for a second.

Hell, Jason needed some poetry right now. Something to make sense of what he was feeling. Because around others, he acted all cool with Dick having a second family. Jason was happy for him, he really was, because Dick has a second family that loves and accepts him for who he is.

And maybe, jeez, sue him, Jason is jealous.

It’s just, it’s not Dick he’s jealous of. Everybody loves Dick (hah) including Jason, but.. Jason’s angry too. Because he had to fight tooth and nail to have the love he has today, still fights every day, sacrificing for that love, but Dick just stumbles upon a family that promises to love him forever?

Don’t get Jason wrong, he’s very grateful. Even being on speaking terms with his family was good, (considering their history, it was great even,) but maybe Jason didn’t have all he wanted.

Jason also didn’t know if it was a blessing or a curse that since the cat got out of the bag, Dick had spent most of his time in Bludhaven with at least one other Wilson, at all times.

To be fair, they had some catching up to do. His other siblings had probably never seen his apartment or the gymnastics centre he works at before, Dick’s paranoia had kept them far away from Bludhaven and Gotham. It had paid off since no one knew about it, but Jason wondered about the price Dick had to pay for that.

Anyway, now the Wilsons could roam free without being hunted down by the bats. Only in Bludhaven of course, Gotham was still not welcoming of metas, extended family or not. Seriously, if Batman didn’t allow superman, his best friend, in Gotham, no one was allowed. Well, allowed was a strong word. Batman couldn’t stop them from getting in, but the whole ’unwelcome’ part would be made clear.

Jason shook his head, he was rambling. What had he been thinking about?

Oh right, Dick.

Hah. (Seriously, enough with the dick jokes. Jason smiled anyway.)

Still, Jason knows everything wasn’t suns and rainbows over in Bludhaven. Dick seems happy, and he probably is, but Jason takes no small amount of pride in that he could tell through the ”togetherness" and "family bonding” Dick was starting to get annoyed.

Everyone knows, Bludhaven is Nightwing’s city. The whole point of Dick not being in Gotham was to get out of his dad’s shadow, but now his other dad is starting to overstay his welcome. Independence was always something Dick had to fight for, growing up with Bruce (*cough* control freak). So Jason knew it wouldn’t be long before Dick sent the Wilsons back to Jump and things would quiet down again. Dick wouldn’t want them to get too comfortable in Bludhaven, after all.

Footsteps broke Jason out of his thoughts. His mood soured instantly from being interrupted in his stargazing. In a second he rolled to the side and was up on his feet, ready for anything and anyone.

Slade was standing a few meters from him, in civilian clothes. Okay, slightly unexpected.

”Slade.” Jason couldn’t quite keep the irritation out of his voice.

”Red Hood.” Slade greeted.

”What are you doing here?” Jason wasn’t in the mood for Slade at all. Jason wasn’t done thinking about stuff, but now he wouldn’t be able to settle down enough to continue tonight.

”I could ask you the same thing.” Slade looked him up and down, narrowing his eye. ”A little bird told me you have a shoulder injury and aren’t supposed to patrol for another week.”

Jason froze. Shit. He felt like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. If Dick found out he had gone out despite technically promising not to, he would have to deal with an angry and protective Dick Grayson and he’d probably be grounded for weeks.

”I wasn’t patrolling. I’ve been sitting here peacefully until you came.” Jason defended, trying to plead his case. Don’t snitch Slade, goddamnit.

Slade hummed. He walked to the edge of the roof and looked down, emphasizing that they were indeed on a skyscraper. ”So you didn’t use your grappling hook to get up here? Which, say, you’d have to put high pressure on your shoulder to do?”

Damn it all to hell.

Slade took some pity. ”Tell you what. I’ll follow you back to your place and get you cleaned up, and if you don’t make any trouble, I’ll consider not telling Dick about your little adventure tonight.”

Jason didn’t trust Slade not to tell Dick anyways, but if he didn’t agree now Slade might call Dick here on the spot.

Sigh.

”Deal.”

— — —

Jason sucked in a gasp when he climbed through the window and his shoulder tensed at the movement. Being out in the cold hadn’t done his shoulder any favours. Worst of all, he knew Slade heard him and it wouldn’t help convince anyone that Jason was ’perfectly fine’.

Jason wanted Slade out of his hair as soon as possible, so once he got in he went straight to the couch to take his shoes off. The sooner he got this done, the sooner Slade could leave and Dick would never have to know.

It had been a pain to lace his boots earlier that night and it proved to be just as difficult to get them off, especially with just one hand. He could use his other arm but he didn’t want to make his shoulder worse. Jason had taken painkillers before going out but they had lost effect long ago, but he hadn’t noticed because he'd been chilling on the rooftop, but now he felt almost every movement.

He’d gotten the injury a few nights ago. He got in some trouble and might have dislocated his shoulder and possibly got shot there as well. It didn’t penetrate his suit but the impact hurt like hell. His shoulder was probably as black and blue as Nightwing’s suit at this point.

Slade walked past him to his kitchen table, placing a file there.

Ah.

The one Jason had asked Dick about for a case last week. That explained Slade being in Gotham, Dick had sent Slade as the messenger.

While trying to kick his boot off without making it obvious he was struggling, Jason twisted so his shoulder tensed and he had to squeeze his eyes shut for a moment as pain shot through his arm. When he was certain he wouldn’t whimper or scream, he opened them. Jason kind of wished he hadn’t. Slade was right in front of him, looking down disapprovingly.

Jason set his foot with the boot he’d been wrestling on the ground and glared.

”What.”

Slade gave a pointed look at his boot, miserably still half on his foot.

Jason ignored him. ”I’m home. I got the file Dick sent you to get me. I’m all set. You can go now.”

Slade didn’t move. ”If you can’t get your own shoes off, how can I trust you to tend to your injuries?”

Jason was about to bite back how it wasn’t his business when Slade leaned forward and poked a finger in Jason's chest.

”Listen closely, kid. You’re not the only one who’s going to have to answer to Dick if you don’t get your ass in bed with clean and bandaged injuries and a wrapped shoulder.”

When Jason didn’t answer or move, Slade stood back up and gasped over-exaggeratedly, accompanied by a sarcastic smack to his forehead.

”Well in that case! Then, why don’t I call Dick here right now -” Slade pulled up his phone.

Jason reacted faster than he could think and shot up off the couch, smacking the phone out of his hands. Slade could not call Dick. Jason would be fussed over for months, it was unbearable.

All he could think was to take the phone or at least stop the madman from calling. He got up quickly, but with his boot half off his foot, it wasn’t so surprising when Jason felt his ankle twist and gravity take hold of him. Jason barely had time to widen his eyes before he crashed face-first into Slade’s torso, who just managed to grab him before he fell to the floor.

Bless and curse Slade’s super-human reflexes, because it would have hurt like a bitch but Jason would rather have face-planted the floor than deal with the embarrassment he felt now.

Heat rose through his neck and face. What an absolute fucking idiot he must look like. He’s hanging onto Slade, having grabbed the front of the man's jacket to steady himself and not put weight on his foot, but that’s not all.

It gets worse.

Slade has one hand on Jason’s bicep, and the other in an iron grip on the scruff of his jacket.

Slade was holding him up like a kitten and Jason just hung there.

Ah, the consequences of his actions.

Slade holding him up because he can't stand properly. His ankle couldn’t take any weight, and his other leg felt like jelly. Yeah, no. Jason would have rather had a permanent imprint of his face on his floorboards from falling than be caught like this.

Slade lowered Jason back onto the couch slowly, clearly aware of his ankle. Slade shrugged off his jacket and placed it on the couch before rolling up his sleeves.

”I'll untie your boots. Tell me about your injuries.”

Jason had officially given up on fighting back. He leaned back as Slade got to work on unlacing.

”No open wounds. My shoulder hurts, and my ankle just joined the club.”

Slade nodded. He'd taken off the boot on Jason's good foot and was now gently holding the other.

”I don’t think it’s broken, but this will hurt. Ready?”

A twisted ankle wasn’t such a big deal as long as you didn’t put pressure on it. Slade had completely removed the shoelaces so the boot came off pretty easily and Jason was proud to say his face was blank the entire time. Almost. When Slade set the shoe down, he said ”There we go, good job.”

And Jason didn’t, (he didn’t!) light up at the praise. Not at all. Shut up.

”Is your medical kit in the bathroom?” Slade asked as he stood up.

”Yeah.”

By the time Slade returned with the kit Jason had taken off his jacket, but he couldn’t unzip his kevlar with only one hand.

”Could you, I can’t..” Jason gestured to his back and mimicked pulling a zipper with his hand.

Slade felt around for a second before he found the zipper by his neck and pulled it down. As gently as possible they peeled his top off, and yes, his shoulder was still black and blue. Slade didn’t speak as he applied the cream, and Jason didn’t feel the need to talk either. Once it was applied Slade bandaged it.

Slade admired his work before poking around Jason’s chest, back and ribs, checking if Jason truly didn’t have any other injuries hidden. Once satisfied, he backed off.

”I assume you haven’t eaten. Can I make you something?”

Jason was kind of hungry. ”There should be some bread and cheese.”

Slade made some quick toast and gave Jason some painkillers with his meal. Jason thought Slade would just stand and look at him while he ate, but Slade went into his bedroom instead and Jason heard him ruffle around with the pillows and blankets.

Slade came back just as Jason finished, and motioned for him to get up. Jason might have exaggerated the difficulty of getting up, but he wanted to try something. And boy, did Slade take the bait. He scooped Jason up in bridal carry (which wasn’t exactly what Jason had been aiming for, but oh well.)

Slade carried him to the bedroom, careful not to jostle him, and put him down on the bed. All the pillows were arranged so Jason was basically locked in place, unable to roll over to his side in his sleep.

Jason would be a big fat liar if he said he didn’t enjoy being tucked in. His childhood had been short and once in a while, he wanted to let his guard down like this.

Lulled to sleep by the feeling of being tucked in and a hand running through his hair, Jason had the best sleep he’s had in weeks.

Slade smiled as Jason melted into the pillows and fell asleep. He was adorable.