Work Text:
Bruce could tell that something was off, between him and Dick, between him and his son…no, not his son, their son. And Bruce knew why, the steady foundation of their family-which had taken so long to construct-was shattered by a few simple words:
“But he isn’t your real son.” Bruce didn’t know if the man who said it wanted to inflict the pain he had, but intention didn’t matter the sting was there. Bruce was furious, if it hadn’t been for the public setting he had broken the man's nose. But there was little he could do, no real retort. Because in a way the statement was correct, Dick Grayson was not officially the child of Bruce Wayne, he was just his ward. And though he considered Dick his son, whenever he thought of it he felt ashamed. He remembered when they first used paternal words for one another, how afterward they had both sunken into silence.
The worst part was the look on Dick’s face, the deep hurt on display.
After that night the two struggled to communicate, the trust constructed was cracked. And Bruce knew that if he didn’t act quickly the trust would shatter.
These were the thoughts that flew through his head as he crossed from the Garden state into the Empire state. He had told Dick that he was on a business trip to Albany, but his real destination was in Saugerties. He needed to talk to an old friend, the only person who could help him.
When Bruce arrived in the idyllic town his thoughts wandered to images of Carlos Santana, Bob Dylan, Hendrix and other legends who at the Woodstock festival and in this town would become legends of music. But Bruce wasn’t here for music or history, at least not that kind of history.
Haley’s had been set up on a field on the outskirts of town, the giant tent was up while the rides, ramps, and other necessities of the Carnival were still being built. The trailers and tents for the performers and workers were already set. Bruce looked around and breathed in the sawdust, cotton candy, the smells of the circus, mixed with the smell of the burgoo like stew, make up remover, and gasoline that most guests don’t get to experience. It brought him back, back to his days at the circus.
It didn’t take him long to find Haley, the old Frenchman was supervising the set up of a slide. Haley had gotten older, Bruce had noticed it last month when the circus came to Gotham, but he didn’t want to say anything in front of Dick. But now in the plain daylight and without his…no their son with him to protect, he could see that Haley’s long nomadic life as a performer was catching up with him. Not that he had much time to process it all before Haley noticed him.
“My Boy!” Haley said gregariously as he spotted Bruce. Haley still had his strange European accent, mainly French but with every other dialect and language of the continent leaving its mark. Haley walked over to Bruce, having to occasionally use his cane for support, and Bruce in return closed the distance. Haley embraced Bruce, and Bruce allowed him too. Haley was one of the few people in the world who possessed that privileg. Most others would have been pushed away, or awkwardly avoided. But Haley was one of the few people who received reciprocation. “What brings you here my boy? We don’t see you often enough, and where is Ricardo?” Haley asked as the embrace ended.
“Actually this is about Dick, could we please speak?” Bruce said his on the ground as the familiar guilt creeped back in.
“Of course my boy, right this way.” Haley said with some seriousness, Haley always could read Bruce.
Haley’s trailer and office had barely changed, yes the various objects and photos which decorated it changed slightly but the feeling of both awe and safety was persistent. It was just like when Bruce was 17 and trying to escape the cold French winter, and in his search for shelter from the storm outside found a shelter from his inner storms as well.
Bruce trusted Haley, the two of them had a close almost paternal relationship. It was Haley who taught him how to throw knives with incredible precision, even when swinging from a rope and while mid-somersault. It was under his watchful eye that he learned how to ride a motorcycle in the wall of death, and to backflip off of one, to do a handstand on the handlebars while maintaining control, and even more incredible acts. Bruce still used the skills that Haley taught him while he fought crime in Gotham. Yes, Ra’s, Alfred and his other mentors taught Bruce how to fight like a fury, but at Haley’s Bruce learned how to fly, and with that and his other training he learned how to fight like a bat.
“So what is on your mind my boy?” Haley asked as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his hands on his belly.
“Well so as you, I have been looking after Dick and…” Bruce didn’t know how to keep going, the shame was rising once again.
“Has the rascal been causing you trouble? I love that boy with all my whole heart but he can be a handful.” Haley said with a laugh that was full of memories.
“No, I mean yes but no.” Bruce remembered Dick’s particular ability to cause mischief, but he never minded that. “It's about…well adoption.”
“Oh…” Haley responded slightly confused. “Well how can I help my boy?”
“Well, uh” Bruce’s heart fluttered “I need to know if…if they would mind.” Bruce’s heart sank as he said this.
Because that was the problem, he couldn’t steal their son. After everything that John and Mary had done for him, how could he posthumously usurp them? They were like family to him, they were his family. When Bruce arrived that winter night, hungry and freezing, fleeing from that cruel boarding school that WE’s board of directors deemed fit for him-away from Alfred and his cousins-they accepted him with no questions asked. John volunteered to show Bruce the literal and metaphorical ropes of acrobatics, and the two spent many a long night shooting the breeze talking to keep the thoughts away. And when Bruce was thrust out of sleep from the nightmares, nightmares of his parents’ death, of the cruelty of the school, of so much else, Mary was there to help him. She soothed him back to sleep. And they never demanded anything from him, no explanations, no rewards. Their kindness never came with a price tag.
And they trusted him, trusted him with the most valuable person in their lives. He still remembered John’s words. They had come to the manor, all three of them and as Alfred showed Dick and Mary the library John pulled Bruce aside.
“Hey Bruno,” John said, looking Bruce in the eye.
“My name is Bruce John,” Bruce replied with a laugh “I only used Bruno to avoid suspicion.”
“Eh whatever I prefer Bruno, anyway you know we live a dangerous life. And well if something were to happen, well…” Suddenly John got very serious, “we know that they won’t let Dickie stay with the circus, he will be dragged off to some orphanage that knows nothing about him, and I don’t want that.” Bruce felt incredibly nervous as he anticipated what came next, “Bruno if something happens, we want you to take him, to protect him, to raise him.”
“But nothing is gonna happen John.” Bruce said, reassuring his friend as much as himself.
“You never know that my friend, and I need to know that my son will be safe.” Jon said sternly. Bruce swallowed before responding.
“Of course John, I swear that I will.”
“Thank you my friend, thank you so much.” Jon said as he embraced Bruce, and Bruce accepted.
And then of course something did happen, Bruce had to witness their deaths. So did Dick, who had to stand there helplessly as he lost everything.
After wrangling with bureaucracy and stubborn nuns, Bruce managed to bring Dick home. And though at first it was difficult, the two warmed up to each other. And with time when Bruce would look at the boy, he stopped seeing the child of his two dearest friends but started seeing his child, and he felt ashamed, ashamed that he would take Dick from them.
“I can’t take him from them, Haley.” Bruce said, with his eyes still glued to the ground “They did so much for me and I loved them so much, I can’t just…I can’t just replace them!” He felt a lump in his throat as tears formed in his eyes.
“Oh my child.” Haley said with grave concern and compassion. “You would do no such thing. Ricardo IS your son.” Haley said as he placed a comforting hand on Bruce’s shoulder.
“But…”
“No buts about it!” Haley said with slight vehemence, “Now my child you have told me your story and so I ask, do you not consider Alfred to be your father?”
“Yes but…” Bruce responded before being cut off.
“And did he replace your other father? By accepting Alfred did you forget and push away the father you had lost?”
“No.” Bruce responded.
“Exactly, look here my child. John and Mary loved you, Mary loved you as if you were her little brother. They selected you because you were family. And they choose you not only to protect their child but to raise him, to be his father. And so you must, for them, for yourself, and for him.”
Bruce saw the truth in Haley’s words. Haley knew John and Mary better than anyone and he was speaking truthfully. Bruce wiped away his tears and got up.
“Thank you very much Haley, if you’ll excuse me I have to go talk to,” Bruce paused for a second “Talk to my son.” he said with a small smile.
“You do that my boy, you do that!” Haley said as he embraced Bruce once again. “And godspeed, my boy!” Haley said as Bruce got into his car.
The drive back was uneventful, even if Bruce played a little fast and loose with the speed limit, he had a place to be. He got back to Gotham at dusk and calmly pulled into the driveway and headed up the stairs to the manor. As he entered Alfred greeted him.
“Ah good to have you back Master Wayne.” Alfred said with a smile.
Bruce walked over to Alfred and pulled him into an embrace, which though confused at first the elderly butler gladly accepted.
“Thank you Alfred, for everything. I really appreciate you.” Bruce said as he held his father close.
“I appreciate you too Bruce, I appreciate you too.” Alfred responded as they released each other from the embrace.
“Um do you know where Dick is?” Bruce asked.
“He’s in the living room, master Bruce.” Alfred said with a smile.
“I have to talk to him.” Bruce said before heading towards the living room.
Dick was watching the TV and drawing in his notebook, he seemed somewhat bored.
“Hey there Chum.” Bruce said as he entered the room.
“Oh hey Bruce, welcome back.” Dick said, turning his attention towards Bruce. “How was Albany?”
“I didn’t go.” Bruce responded.
“Oh…” Dick said, confused.
“I went to talk to Haley.”
“Oh,” Dick said even more confused, “why did you have to talk to Monsieur Haley?”
“I’ll tell you later, could you come to my study with me real quick?” Bruce said.
“Oh sure.” Dick said getting up and following Bruce.
When they entered the study Bruce went directly to his desk and removed some paperwork from one of the drawers. Dick sat in one of the chairs opposite the desk.
“So,” Bruce said nervously, placing the paperwork on the desk “I thought that, if and only if you're ok with it…” Dick picked up the piece of paper and started to read some of it “that I could you know,” Dick’s eyes grew as he realized what he was holding, adoption papers, “adopt you. That you could officially become my son. So that you know the government knows.”
“I uh I would,” Tears formed in Dick’s eyes and Bruce immediately went over to his son to comfort him “I would love that.” Dick said, the two embraced. “Where do I sign?” Dick asked as Bruce released him from the hug.
“Right here.” Bruce said with tears of his own. Bruce’s signature was already on it, he signed it the moment he got the paper. Dick signed it with a pen on the desk and fell into his father’s arms.
“I love you B!” Dick said teary eyed, as so much of his anxiety about belonging, about being left behind once more was washed off by the ink on that paper.
“I love you too son, I love you too.”