Chapter Text
As he steps out of the zeta into the cave, Dick looks around at the multitude of eyes boring holes in his head and winces. The Batcave is more than crowded enough.
“So…” Jason sidles up next to him, ignoring Bruce’s disapproving presence. “I hear you, Kid Idiot and Fishboy went rogue.” He grins. “And you didn’t take me?”
“How do you even know about that?” Dick gapes at his little brother. “I don’t think there have even been any reports filed yet!”
“Babs hacked the Justice League communications.” Steph chirps from where she is perched next to Cass on the hood of the Batmobile, a plate of cookies and a grumpy preschooler in between them.
Dick shoots a glare at his red-headed school-mate, who simply shrugs, looking quite comfortable seated in front of the Bat-computer, her cowl down and green eyes amused. “It wasn’t just me. Tim hacked the traffic and security cameras around CADMUS. We got to see your grand finale.” She gives him a stern look. “Which is why I know that you are going to let Alfred look at your ribs. Wally may be fine in a couple of hours, but you don’t have accelerated healing, Boy Wonder.”
“Where is Tim?” Dick asks as he resignedly hops onto the medical table and strips off his tunic as Alfred begins poking and prodding at him.
“He had to go home.” Steph volunteers through her mouthful of cookie. “His new housekeeper actually pays attention sometimes, so he can’t stay over too late too often.”
“And you?” Dick shoots back, cutting off short with a clench of his teeth as Alfred finds a particularly sore spot.
“Sleepover.” Cass supplies, lifting Damian down from the hood and landing lightly beside him. “Mrs. Brown said we could.”
“I however,” Barbara says cheerfully, getting to her feet. “Need to get home. My Dad’s shift should be ending soon and if I’m not in bed when he gets back I will have a lot of explaining to do.” She hugs the girls and ruffles Damian’s hair, ignoring the death glare he gives her for it. “See you later kiddos! Batman, Alfred.”
She disappears from Dick’s line of sight behind the cases that are currently all empty except for Cass’ BlackBat uniform, and a few seconds later he hears her motorcycle start up. He is distracted by Alfred beginning to clean his cuts and by the time he can really focus on anything again, Babs is gone and Damian is standing in front of him, glaring up at him fiercely.
Dick knows he is grinning like an idiot and doesn’t particularly care. “Hey Dami!”
If possible, the miniature scowl grows darker, the effect somewhat marred by the generous amounts of baby fat Damian has. “Gwayson.” He growls.
Dick’s smile gets bigger. “Yes, Little D?”
Damian just scowls harder before marching up to him stiffly, giving the harshest, shortest hug of all time to Dick’s ankle (It is all he can reach) before turning and marching off again towards the stairs. The entire family watches him with varying levels of amusement, Cass and Steph following him towards the upstairs, waving goodnight to Dick as they go.
Jason hops up on the opposite bed, sitting cross-legged and giving Dick a very focused stare. “So. A clone of Superman? Any idea how that happened?”
Dick shrugs, then winces at the pain the movement causes. "Nope. Nothing. I didn't have enough time to get into their systems."
"You okay?" The casual way Jason asks almost hides the worry in his eyes. "You did get a giant building dropped on top of you."
Dick shrugs again, knowing from the left-over twinge in his ankle that he must have wrenched it earlier, no way had Damian’s hug-thing caused that all by itself. “Yeah, I'll be pretty sore for awhile though. I just don't want anymore super-powered heavy people standing on my chest again anytime soon.”
A grin that makes Dick a little nervous. "You have a total fanboy freakout over mini-Supes like you did with the big one?"
Bruce is suddenly there, looming, still dressed as Batman, though the cowl isn’t up. “Jason. Go upstairs. It’s past your bedtime.” Jason pouts, but slips onto the floor, tossing a sympathetic (and slightly gleeful) look at Dick over his shoulder as he bounds up the stairs.
Alfred switches to inspecting his ankle and Dick wishes he were a million miles away as Bruce turns to him.
He is going to be grounded for the rest of his life.