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While Stiles never quite lied about his past to his friends, he did keep a few secrets. Those few secrets have altered and impacted his life more than any of his friends knew about. Stiles Stiliniski while raised by the dear Sheriff was not in fact his son, Stiles did not go to camp every summer, but home to his beloved mother, and he was not and has never been weak. No matter what others might think.
What his friends did know about him could be considered somewhat limited at times. Perhaps they realized that he was deeply morally gray, quirky as all hell, and damn well knew how to keep a secret. So, it should not have been as big of a surprise when after graduation he packed his bags and moved to Gotham City. He said he was joining the family business and working a little magic on the side. He gave them each a hug and left with a wink over his shoulder barely a word otherwise.
(Note: Stiles is kind of dark at times and an asshole. I feel like living and working with those in Gotham that he does would toughen him up a bit)
Several years later with much anticipation the pack including Scott, Lydia, Jackson, and Malia found themselves hopelessly lost in a city known deeply for its crime and justice: Gotham. With only a hope and a pray, Scott called a number he had almost forgotten had existed in his phone. It rang for almost a full minute before Stiles answered on the fifth ring much to Scott’s dilemma and when he answered he did not sound like their happy almost go-lucky friend. “Who is this? I’m off duty.”
Scott almost seemed to shudder, “It’s me, Scott? This is Stiles, right?”
Stiles snorted, “Damn man I didn’t know you still had my number after all these years. But umm yeah what you need?”
Scott seemed to find just a little spark of hope then and said, “Man, let me tell you we are hopelessly lost in this damn city and was hoping that you could give us a little bit of a hand. We need to find a place to stay that is not a drug den and does not cost a few grand. Would you be willing to meet for dinner so we can talk?”
Stiles had a strange tone to his voice when he agreed and then decided that the place closest to the pack's location would work best.
Half an hour later, Stiles strolled into the small Chinese place they had found in tight black jeans, a grey tee shirt and red leather jacket with little back gems embedded in the fabric. He looked good; the pack couldn’t help but think. He looked comfortable in his own skin and walked with smooth ease. He waved to the cashier with a familiar relaxed type wave before reaching their table flashing them a stunning smile, “Heya guys, good to see you.”
Lydia smiled back, “You look good, Stilinski.”
Stiles looked at her scanning her for something, “Quinn actually. It’s Stiles Quinn to my friends and Mischief to some who aren’t and those who are.”
Jackson snorted, “What did you finally find someone willing to settle down with you?”
Stiles grinned, a faraway look in his eyes, “Something like that. Anyway, how did you guys end up this far in the East side?”
Lydia shot Malia a dirty look, “Malia was getting us plane tickets to the annual pack convention hosted this year in Gotham and got us the cheapest tickets which of course landed us here. Then Scott and Jackson had to bicker about the map which landed in the harbor and we have been hopelessly lost since.”
Stiles hummed, and looked at them all over, “I’m surprised you haven’t been robbed, they would see y'all as easy pickings.”
Jackson huffed, “And what you aren’t?”
Stiles flashed him an almost feral grin, “Not anymore, maybe not ever. But that’s not the point if you guys want my help you gotta understand something for most people it does not come cheap. I’m not the same person I used to be, and this is my city. What I say goes because in this city one wrong move and your dead. The police aren’t going to help you and anyone who says they will do something for free is really going to rob you blind.”
Lydia looked over at him wearily, “What do you mean by that?”
Malia for the first time that evening looked up from her food, “What he means is he’s dangerous and this is going to come at a price.”
Stiles grinned and sat back, “You would be right my once dear friend. Is there anything else you would like to know before we get a move on?”
Scott looked up at him with a shy smile, “Have you ever meet the supes, you know Batman, the Joker, and those types.”
Stiles’ eyes darkened, “Yah.”
They finished their meal in almost silence and soon after they left the restaurant, Stiles started to lead them through a series of alleys before halting suddenly, “So what happened to your hotel?”
Lydia frowned, “When we missed our check in time, they said we lost our room.”
Stiles frowned and asked, “And you let them?”
She huffed, “What was I supposed to do? Demand they wait for us?”
Stiles rolled his eyes, “You got a lot to learn about Gotham. Here if you want something you better be willing to take it, fight for it, or kill for it. This is not Beacon Hills. But since you lost that option and got 100 bucks between you, we might have to improvise.”
Jackson looked up at him sharply, “How did you know that?”
Stiles flashed him a deadly grin and threw Jackson back his wallet, “Like I said this isn’t Beacon Hills, you need to learn when someone is picking you and when someone is going to hold you at gunpoint.”
Jackson growled and Scott looked at the pack apologetically, “Hey, Stiles man maybe this was a bad idea. We clearly caught you at a bad time or something.”
Stiles sighed and looked at them all his eyes softened just a bit, “Look maybe I’m not who you guys want me to be, but I’m not going to hurt you. I am going to get you a place to stay and one day if I show up in town you guys return the favor. I’m not here to steal your money, it's just dangerous out here and you need to see that. If you don’t you might end up in a body bag and I don’t want that.”
Scott looked at him with a small smile on his face, “Okay, but try and play nice from here on out?”
Stiles nodded, “I got to make a call and I’ll probably have you a place to stay.” He pulled out a phone and walked a few paces away.
(Note: The other character (to be revealed shortly if you haven’t read tags) is a normally formal character that's why I tried to make their dialogue more formal, but it certain points I relax this when he is talking to Stiles because I feel like there would be a level of him mimicking how Stiles would speak as romantic partners often do)
“Hey babe. Can I ask a favor?”
The voice on the other end answered had a slightly amused tone, “And what would that be, Mischief?”
Stiles stepped from foot to foot, “I feel weird about this baby, but could a few friends of mine crash at your place for the night and maybe have someone come pick us up?”
The voice hummed, “Only if you stay as well. I will have to ask Father of course but you know that is only a formality. I believe Alfred and I will be on our way shortly, my love.”
Stiles grinned, “I will see you soon. Love you.”
The voice whispered, “And I you.”
The pack and Stiles waited on the park bench for a bit making light conversation until a black 1950 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith rolls up to the curve, Stiles bounds up and walks up to the window leaning on the door, “Heya Al.” He calls as the window rolls down to reveal a man dressed in a black suit.
“It’s nice to see you, Master Mischief.” the man answered. He looked over the pack with only a raised eyebrow.
Stiles grinned and pulled open the back door, “This is going to be a bit of a crunch.”
Stiles ended up on the dark haired man’s lap in the back who was glaring at the pack like they had personally offended him. Lydia and Malia crunch into the front while Jackson and Scott shared the back with Stiles and his partner.
Lydia swirled around looking over the dark haired young man, “You’re Damien Wayne, aren’t you?”
The dark haired boy barely spared her a glance before answering, “You would not be incorrect in that statement.”
Their friend cuddled into the other boy and Scott watched with a speculative look on his face. Scott sighed and threw a friendly smile on his face, “So what do you do for work, Stiles?”
Damien snort quietly and Jackson shot him a dirty look, “What is he your housewife or some shit?”
Damien had a smirk on his face when he answered, “I have no need for a wife nor a housewife. But I am wondering what Stiles is going to tell you is all.”
Stiles elbowed him slightly before turning to his old friends with a wild grin, “I do odd jobs mostly, I like to keep people on their toes, and I work magic when its needed. I joined a family business of sort.”
Jackson huffed, “What does that even mean?” but his question was only met with silence and soon after Alfred turned up the music.
Stiles looked over at the people he once would have considered friends and wondered if they would accept the person he was. One that worked with his mother, Harley Quinn, and would do just about anything he was paid to do within certain parameters. He had killed people, but he had also saved people. He like who he was and those close to him understood that while he would never be the most noble person he wasn’t like his father.
The music continued to play as they reach Wayne manor and even Lydia sucked in a breath when they came into view of the manor. Stiles looked only to Damien, who only rolled his eyes at their reactions. Stiles who had faced harden criminals (hell was friends with a few and enemies with others), the batfamily, and a vat of acid in his time in Gotham was nervous. This felt too personal for people who barely knew the real him.
***
Stiles always took after his mother; her intelligence, her smile, her athleticism, her morals and well her ability to fall in love. Damian was someone Stiles probably shouldn’t have fell in love with after all he was the son of Batman and Thalia Al Ghul but that didn’t really stop him.
The pack was in awe even after several minutes of being in the house. Scott’s eye locked onto Stiles with a warmth, “Thanks man this is more than we could ever ask for.”
Stiles just shrugged from his place on Damian’s lap while said boyfriend rolled his eyes with a scuff.
Lydia with a coil to her lip asked, “So how did you met?”
Stiles raised an eye brow, an amused look across his features, “We met through my work.”
“You still haven’t really said what you do for work,” Malia pointed out.
Stiles shrugged again, “Its not really all that important.”
“Isn’t it though?” Scott pressed, “Like your being weirdly shady about it.”
Alfred spoke spooking the group of supernatural creatures, “Dinner will be served in 10 minutes.”
Stiles stood stretching before looking over the pack firmly, “Look it’s for the best you drop it. Now let’s go eat.”
Damian stood elegantly as ever saying softly to his partner, “It is family dinner night.”
Stiles nodded a wicked look in his eyes, “Good.” He then whispered quietly, “That should take their attention off of me.”
The Pack stood following behind the two almost cautiously and once more being in awe at the large table in the next room. Other were taking their places around the table Jason in the back corner Roy by his side and Lain on his lap. Dick was chatting loudly with him Wally be is side eyeing the food in a way only a speedster could. Tim had his head down on the table groaning about something while Kon gently rubbed his back. Bruce was at the head of the table making heart eyes at Selina while she played with his watch a wicked, but playful look in her eyes. Barbara was at the end other end of the table arguing with Stephanie and Cass in a mix of English and sign language. Alfred was calming taking it all in setting the last item down before taking his seat.
Stiles grinned at his one time friends before waving them to take a seat and calling out across the table, “Is this everyone tonight, B?”
Bruce turned to him, the tiniest smile on his face, “We’ll see.”
Stiles shrugged and Damian snarked at Tim about proper manners.
Lydia taking the seat beside Stiles gripping his arm, “Who are all these people?”
He turns to her an eyebrow raised, “I’m sure you follow the news this is the Wayne family.”
Dick overhearing, “B has an adoption problem.”
Jason rolls his eyes, “Yeah you can say that again.”
The pack snaps to the door when a loud laugh can be heard for the foyer, “Is there room for three more suga?”
Harley Quinn, herself was standing in the doorway, one hand on her hip the other in the hand of a green women. An African American teen standing beside her shakes his head and slips into a seat by Alfred.
Jackson voice barely whispered, “Is that who I think it is.”
Stiles shot him a look before standing with a grin, “Hey, Mom!” He pulls the women into a hug before turning to Poison Ivy, “Hey, Pam.”
While he is walking over with them and they take their seats Jason turns to the pack, “Dinner rules no talking or fighting about each other’s morals.”
Dick nodded, “Or night jobs.”
Time lifted his head finally looking around with tired eyes, “Anyone can come just don’t start a fight.”
Malia was tearing into her food while the other just looked wide eyed. Jackson swallowed the lump in his throating asking, “So like Two-Face could show up?”
Wally stuffing his face started coughing. Dick rolled his eye fondly, “Oh Walls.”
While Roy huffed and waved a hand, “Nah that guy’s a prick.”
“He’s actually been really quiet lately,” Bruce muttered with a soft almost nonexistent smile as he looked over his family.
Jason nodded, “Yeah I changed his coin to a weighted one now it should land on tails most of the time.”
Barbara threw in a remark next and soon the dinner was like always little conversations and snark taking place all around the table. People jumping from one conversation to another. Overall it was loud, but it felt like family.
Scott in the mean time was making puppy eyes at Stiles, “Since when is Harley Quinn your mom?”
Stiles gave him a confused look, “Since like birth.”
“You never told me,” Scott said softly.
Stiles gave him a rare sad smile, “How could I?”
Scott continued almost ignoring what his friend said throwing his arms wide, “What is all this?!?”
Stiles looked around fondly at Damian chatting with Ivy about being vegan, his mom taking about psychology with the girls signing as she went, Jason holding his daughter, Tim chatting with Bruce about the company, Selina talking to the boys about their days, Wally stuffing his face while making heart eyes at Dick, and overall it felt like home. He gave his once friend a fond smile, “It’s family. Messy, complicated, and wonderful.”
Scott’s eyes grew sadder, “I thought we were family.”
Stiles sighed, “You could never see the world in shades of grey like we all do and I think that’s why we can’t ever be what we were before.”
“What about the pack?” Scott asked even softer like he was losing his voice.
“I haven’t been pack in years, Scott.” Stiles said as kindly as he could. He gave him one last sad smile before turning back to the mass of people shouting something at Kon to pull him into the conversation.
Scott sat back ignoring the food on his plate looking over Stiles and seeing the scars that had no place being on his friend. One’s that spoke of a life with people like Harley Quinn. He looked at Damian and saw the hard lines to his face that spoke of a life full of grays. Looking around he saw it in each and everyone of them and maybe just a little bit of understanding flooded him. He turned to observe his own pack noticing that other than Malia they didn’t carry the same weight to their shoulders as while as they struggled to keep with the conversation of the group.
He gently snaked his hand into Malia’s even when she gave him a strange look. Stiles might not be part of his family anymore, but he still has a small one.
***
The next morning, Stiles drove them to the address of conference a soft smile on his features.
Lydia looked at Stiles a sharp question in her eyes, “So when you say you are part of the family business do you mean that you rob banks and cause terror?”
Stiles shrugged, “Sometimes other times we stop robberies and save people.”
Lydia not expecting the honestly looked like she swallowed a lemon.
Stiles smiled gently, “But more often than not I can be found at a bookstore that I own. I wasn’t lying when I said I did a little magic on the side I just do it in the back of a book store.”
Scott gave him a fond smile finally maybe getting a little truth out of his friend, “So are we ever going to see you again?”
Stiles grinned, “Of course you owe me a favor now after all.” He then gave them each a warm hug before heading back into the crime filled streets of Gotham.
Malia grinned wrapping her hand in Scott’s and Lydia watched the car drive away a soft look to her. They all turned to go in the conference hall pulling out their tickets.
Jackson turned patting his pockets for his ticket before exclaiming, “That asshole stole my wallet!” He pulled out a piece of paper his ticket wrapped inside with a note that read: Told you that you need to learn to feel when someone’s picking you ~ Mischief