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Bruce stood before his children in Wayne Manor’s sitting room. This was it. All of the present children avoided looking at him. They probably assumed they’d been caught doing things they shouldn’t be doing.
Jason was cleaning a knife. Bruce made a mental note to remind him later that weapons weren’t allowed out in family areas. Dick was terrorizing his youngest brother. Damian was petting Alfred (the cat) and pretending like he didn’t enjoy Dick’s company. Tim and Stephanie were on their phones, both seeming completely absorbed in whatever it was they were doing. They were probably texting each other.
Cassandra had already vanished. Bruce sighed and rubbed at his forehead. He could already feel a headache coming on. Just to get it over with, Bruce said the dreaded words. “We need to talk.”
All eyes snapped to him. The slightest shift in the environment to his right indicated that Cassandra was still in the room.
Dick raised his hand.
Sighing yet again, and certainly not for the last time, Bruce said, “Yes, Dick?”
“Should I call Babs? Or Alfred? I think we should have someone responsible here if it’s serious.”
Bruce’s headache was getting worse and it was sitting right in front of him. “No, Dick.”
His eldest son deflated, putting away the phone Bruce hadn’t noticed him getting out. Jason laughed.
“Why are we here?” Tim asked.
Steph nodded rapidly next to him. “I have to study.”
Bruce sighed. “You all need to work more on your language skills.”
All of the children gaped at him. Bruce held up his hand, trying to stop them before they spoke. “I need to as well.”
Dick started bouncing his leg. “Does that mean you’ll savvy the palare?”
“...If you really want.”
“Mais oui, Bruce!” Dick all but leaped out of his chair.
The rest of the children just stared.
“¿Es necesario?” Jason asked, staring. “Sé todo lo que necesito saber.”
“Mange tes morts,” Tim muttered.
Dick gasped. “Tim!”
“What? You swear all the time.”
Steph rolled her eyes and signed, simply, “No.” Then she flipped him off.
Bruce rubbed his head again.
Cass materialized behind Stephanie and signed as well. “Dad practice. We know.”
He supposed he’d gotten himself into this.