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“There is no fucking way,” Jason said, “That this is Dickwing.”
The child in Bruce’s arms glared at him, a fierce expression for such a little itty-bitty thing. Another point in the “this random child with black hair and blue eyes is not Dick” column. Dick, from the stories Jason remembered getting out of Bruce and Alfred, hadn’t been this small. And Jason doubted Dick liked being carried around because he had been a, well, dick until just before Jason died.
“Jason,” Bruce replied, tone a bit harsh. He’s stressed. Jason’s supposed that was a point in the “holy fuck, Dick was turned into a literal child” column. “Don’t curse. And, yes, this really is Dick.”
“B,” the itty-bitty child said, with an accent thick with each syllable, “Who is that? When did you get so old?”
Bruce sighed, but a soft look caressed his features. Jason shifted uncomfortably – it had been a while since he had seen that expression, and judging by Tim’s surprised look, it had been a while for him too.
“Well, you’re normally much taller.” Bruce replied.
“Oh.” Dick – holy fuck, his brother was turned into a literal child – said. He looked down at himself, as if trying to envision himself bigger. “But I’m not a baby, B! I’m a big kid! I’m just not small because you carry me!”
“What the fuck.” Jason whispered.
“Of course, you are.” Bruce said, as if anything Dick had just said made any sense. He bent slightly, moving to set Dick onto his feet and the kid scrambled to stay in his arms.
“No,” Dick scowled, “Not yet.”
“Okay.” Bruce said. He righted himself and turned to the rest of the room that was, for lack of better words, gaping at him. “Dick ran into some magical trouble. I’ve already contacted the League; Zatanna should be here tomorrow to assess the spell. For now, Dick is nine.”
“I’m ten.” Dick reported dutifully, pouting as he lifted two fingers. “I turned ten two weeks ago!”
Bruce frowned at him and observed him in an over dramatic fashion. He said, “You’ve gotten so big.”
Dick kicked his feet, lighting up with a smile for the first time since Bruce arrived back to the Cave with the literal child version of his eldest son bundled up in his cape. The kid proceeded to lean forward and bite Bruce’s ear and Bruce smiled. It wasn’t one of his small, barely there dad smiles. This one was soft and seemed nostalgic, contorting his face in an obvious – Obvious! What has the world come to?! – smile.
“What the fuck?” Jason said again, because, honestly, what the fuck?
Jason was still reeling by the time Wally appeared in the dining room. He skidded to a stop and practically ran into the wall in front of him upon seeing Dick munching on soup and crackers at the table.
“Oh my god!” Wally crowed, beaming, “You’re adorable!”
Dick’s eyebrows furrowed, and he looked at Bruce questioningly. “This is Wally.” Bruce said. “I’m not sure if you know him yet, but he was Kid–”
“Kid Flash!” Dick gasped, turning back to Wally with wide eyes. “Woah, you still run into walls!”
Wally smiled, looking completely endeared. “Sometimes.” he admitted, “Don’t tell anyone.”
Dick’s nose scrunched up slightly, “Why would I tell anyone, you run into walls all the time. Everyone knows.”
Wally laughed, “I guess you’re right.” he looked over to Bruce for a moment before looking back at Dick. The excitement seemed to have worn off as a worried expression started to pull at his smile.
“Zatanna will be here tomorrow to check him out.” Jason comforted because Wally wasn’t that bad of a guy, and Jason can’t really imagine what it would be like to see your husband as a ten-year-old when he had been twenty-seven just hours before.
“I see.” Wally said, smiling tensely. “Did you get all his Nightwing gear?”
“I did.” Bruce replied, “It’s in the Cave.”
Wally nodded his head. He smiled at Alfred when he placed a place full of food in front of him, and Alfie – like the saint he was – gave the speedster’s shoulder a pat. Dick observed him carefully, but seemed less tense around Wally than he did around Jason or Tim. Probably because he already knew Wally at that age, and to him, Jason and Tim were two kids that Bruce seemed to take in.
Oh boy, Jason thought, just wait until everyone shows up.
Then he cringed. “You taking Damian to Blud?” he asked.
Wally made a face, likely coming to the same conclusion he had. Who cared how Dick would react to Damian – Jason was worried about how Damian would react to his older brother/father figure being a child. But then there was the fact that Wally’s husband had turned into a child, he must be worried and would probably want to be there for when Zatanna showed up, not babysitting his sort of son.
“I can take him to my nest.” Tim said, staring at them from over the top of his steaming coffee. “Kon can bring Jon over. Keep him busy.”
Wally smiled, looking relieved, “Thanks.”
“Who is Damian?” Dick asked, cocking his head to the side.
“My youngest son.” Bruce explained.
Dick pursed his lips, looking a bit upset. Alfred swooped in and placed a juice box in front of him and Dick angrily stabbed the straw through it.
“What the fuck,” Jason whispered, slapping Tim wildly as he watched tears build up in Dick’s eyes.
Dick curled in on himself, slurping his juice box loudly, and blinked to try to keep his tears from falling. Bruce looked constipated, sending Alfred looks that could only read as “help me”.
“Was I not good enough?” Dick snapped finally, sniffling and wiping his face.
“Of course, you are,” Bruce said stiffly, looking awkward as he tried to decide if he should pat Dick’s back or ruffle his hair.
Dick pushed away from the chair, “I’m not your son anyways!” he yelled, and then scurried out of the room. Bruce sighed heavily.
Wally grimaced, “Uh. Maybe you should go tell him you love him anyways? Give him a hug?”
“Yes,” Bruce grunted, “Yes, thank you, Wallace.”
“Oof, full name.” Wally muttered when Bruce disappeared after his oldest-now-youngest son.
“Dude, I can’t accept that’s Dick.” Jason said, because he couldn’t. It was kind of difficult to look at the kid and see his strong, annoying older brother.
Tim shrugged, “This is Dick probably only a few months after his parents died. He’s not going to be anything like he is now.”
“Bet you’re going crazy,” Jason muttered, shooting Tim a sharp grin because everyone knew Tim was just a bit obsessed with their older brother. But then again, Tim was obsessed with everyone in the family – Jason's pretty sure he had a photo book of everyone that had been captured without their knowledge.
Tim rolled his eyes. After a moment, he sighed and finished off his coffee, “I better get downstairs, Damian won’t be pleased to find out he’s staying with me.”
“Thanks again, Tim,” Wally said, sneaking a few of the crackers Dick had abandoned.
“Don’t mention it.” Tim said. “Seriously, don’t.”
Wally laughed and Tim grinned satirically before he turned to leave the room. Bruce took that moment to walk in with Dick perched on his shoulders, his blue eyes irritated by tears but a small, happy expression on his face.
Tim hesitated for a moment before he smiled his usual small smile. “I’m going to head home. I’ll see you guys tomorrow?”
Dick blinked at him with wide eyes before he nodded. “Okay, bye-bye.”
Wally, once again, looked enamored. Tim seemed just as fond of little itty-bitty Dick Grayson.
Dick was placed in the chair he had previously been in, and started to scoop more soup into his mouth. He pouted when he noticed a few crackers missing.
“Kid Flash!” He said, a whine. “You ate my crackers!”
“Sorry,” Wally chuckled, “I’ll make it up to you later, Rob.”
Dick harrumphed, but seemed to accept it, and crunched up all his crackers into his soup. After a moment, his sharp eyes were over at Jason, and Jason felt oddly exposed.
“You’re my little brother?” Dick asked.
“Well, right now you’re my little brother.” Jason said, because what the hell. Might as well roll with Dick being a kid. “But, yeah.”
Dick lit up, “Does that mean I’m even taller than you?”
“Nope,” Jason grinned, “Sorry, I’m the bigger brother.”
Dick frowned, “But I’m the big brother, so I have to be bigger.”
“You’re taller than Tim,” Wally said, smiling. “But Jason’s the tallest son.”
Dick scowled slightly as he scooped at his mushy cracker-soup. “Am I taller than you, KF?”
“Sorry, Robbie.” Wally replied.
Dick frowned again but he didn’t seem as upset about it than he had with Jason being taller. Jason watched, mildly fascinated, as his brother finished his soup and proceeded to drape himself over Bruce. Bruce ran his hand over Dick’s hair before picking the boy up.
“Inform the others for me, Jason?” he asked.
Jason nodded dumbly. Distantly the pit taunted him, wondering when it was the last time Bruce had trusted him with something like filling the others in. Jason told it to shut the hell up.
“Okay,” Wally breathed, shaking his head. “Dick is a ten year old.”
“I mean, are we sure that’s really him?” Jason asked, just because the disbelief still lingered even though he knew for sure that was his brother.
Wally shook his head, looking a bit amused. He stood up quickly, obviously jittery as his limbs vibrated for a moment. “Meet you in the cave.” he said, and then he was gone. Jason looked at the forgotten apple juice, shrugged, and snagged it before he headed towards the Cave’s entrance. Apple juice was apple juice, after all.
“Where is Richard?” was the first thing Jason heard as he made his way down the stairs. “I won’t leave until I see Richard.”
“Demon brat,” Tim sighed, pinching at his nose. “He’s fine.”
“Then why can’t I see him?” Damian snapped, sounding more and more upset with each passing second.
“Damian,” Wally said, “Dick’s asleep. You know how much he needs his rest.”
“Wallace,” Damian hissed, and eyebrows raised. It wasn’t every day Damian snapped at Wally, who was like a father to him. “Richard activated his emergency beacon. Father had to abandon post to rescue him. I do not care if I wake him up if I know he is safe!”
“Alright, kid.” Jason said. “You’re staying the night with Tim and the Superboys.”
“Kon goes by Supernova.” Tim muttered, rolling his eyes. As if Jason cared what the sueprbrat went by.
“I will as soon as I see Richard.” Damian said. “If he is dead, you must tell me. I can handle it.”
Jason observed his baby brother for a moment. He catalogued the way his hands shook subtly and how his eyes were already looking glassy. “Dick got de-aged.” he said.
“Jason,” Tim hissed.
“I am not a child,” Damian snapped before he paused, body going taut. “De-aged?” he demanded.
“Yeah, Dickface is ten right now.” Jason said. “Magic.”
“Zatanna is already on her way here.” Wally added quickly. “For now, we’re just trying to keep him comfortable.”
“And I won’t make him comfortable?” Damian asked, seemingly curling in on himself.
Damn, the little demon did have feelings. Jason didn’t really like seeing him all sad like that.
“None of us do.” Tim said. “So, just for tonight, stay with me, yeah?”
“Very well.” Damian sniffed. “Jon better be there.”
“He’s already waiting for us.” Tim replied, softer. “Let’s go.”
Damian turned swiftly, only to get caught in a quick hug and hair ruffle from Wally. He seemed to lean into the affection for a moment before he quickly hurried to Tim’s car.
“You coming back?” Wally asked when Jason started towards his bike. “Tomorrow?”
Jason really didn’t want to keep seeing his brother as an emotional toddler, but he knew the entire family could use support. And Jason wasn’t a supporting brother, not like Dick was, but he could at least manage to keep their minds off of the bad things, if Zatanna only had bad news. If not, he could be there to offer blackmail material. He was the big brother, for now.
“Sure,” He said, waving his hand, “Don’t run into anymore walls, Kid Flash.”
Wally shook his head, but seemed fond. He was gone in a flash of white lightning just as Jason started the engine.
“Richard, get down from there!” Bruce yelled, panic moving his arms as Dick swung himself from a chandelier.
Dick snickered loudly, flipping off the chandelier and starfishing out after a few flips. Bruce lunged to grab him, and seemed drained as he propped the young boy on his hip.
“I’m a pro.” Dick said. “Stop worrying.”
“You’re going to give me gray hair.” Bruce muttered in response. He looked over to the group of kids watching in concealed shock.
“You always say that.” Dick flicked some of Bruce’s hair, “Seems like I finally managed it!”
“Oh my god,” Duke said.
“Burn,” Steph winced.
Bruce sighed, shaking his head. Dick grinned widely, too much teeth, too hostile. It was nothing like the warm smiles Dick offered normally. Jason realized, quickly and suddenly, that he missed his annoying older brother.
Zatanna just laughed, “Alright, let me take a look at him.”
Dick was placed in front of the magician, and she carefully started to look him over. She whispered a few spells, and nodded to herself after a few minutes. “It’ll wear off soon.” She said, “He’ll be back to normal in no time.”
“Thank God,” Jason muttered.
“I see, thank you, Zatanna.” Bruce said. He placed a hand on Dick’s shoulder and Dick casually bit him. Bruce did not react.
“Of course,” Zatanna replied. “It’s no trouble.”
“Does anyone else see Dick biting B’s hand off?” Steph whispered.
“Yeah, I think we all see it.” Duke replied.
“Nice, nice.” Steph said.
Dick looked over to them, and tilted his head. His eyes were sharp as he observed them, and then he nommed on Bruce’s palm again before he spun on his heel and wandered off. Bruce muttered a few curses before he went to follow after the boy.
“Dick keeps disappearing.” Wally said as he munched on a speedster bar.
“Shouldn’t you be watching him then?” Steph asked, “There’s no way baby Dick could sneak away from a speedster.”
Wally gave them a smile.
“Of course, Boy Wonder managed to slip away from you.” Jason rolled his eyes. “At least we know he’s going to be back to normal soon.”
“Yeah,” Wally said, looking to where Bruce was returning with Dick on his shoulders. “It’s a relief.”
“B,” Dick said, tugging at Bruce’s hair slightly. “I’m hungry.”
Bruce sighed, “Alfred is making breakfast.” he said.
“Cool,” Dick grinned. He kicked his feet slightly, looking impatient. “Can we go?”
“Yes, chum.” Bruce said. The look he sent them practically screamed “help me”.
Wally swooped over, “Hey, Rob. While we wait, want to try getting carried by a speedster?”
Dick looked at him for a moment before he wiggled in Bruce’s hold and started over to Wally. Wally held him in a piggy back hold before giving them a wave, and disappeared in a streak of lightning, much slower than Jason knew he could go. Bruce sighed and ran a hand through his hair, looking exhausted.
“Man,” Jason whistled, “Looks like Dick gave you even more grey hairs.”
“Not now, Jason.” Bruce replied, almost pouting.
Steph giggled and slapped his back before heading to the kitchen.
“So, this is Richard when he was Robin.” Damian said as soon as Wally appeared in the dining room with Dick on his back. Their hair was rucked up and Dick was laughing slightly, smile seemingly genuine.
Dick looked over to Damian before he focused on Wally. Wally shuffled him into his chair, and waited patiently as Dick bit his wrist. The speedster playfully nipped the air back, and Dick kicked his feet, looking giddy.
“How was it, Master Dick?” Alfred asked as he placed a plate of pancakes in front of Dick. Jason has never seen anyone look as excited for those as Dick did.
“Wally runs really fast now.” Dick said, smiling. “And he didn’t run into any walls!”
“How exciting.” Alfred murmured, and smiled fondly and Dick grinned and attempted to bite him.
“Okay, what’s with the biting?” Jason mouthed at Bruce over Damian’s shoulder.
Bruce waved him off dismissively, and in turn Jason flipped him off. Fuck him too.
Dick reached for the syrup, which in turn had Bruce scrambling to pull it away from the kid. The glare he got in response made even Jason wince; never mind that Dick wasn’t one for glares (he was more of a disappointed sigh or a silently walking away from the argument, type of guy) but it wasn’t every day that Dick would send a look like that to anyone in the family.
But, well, it wasn’t every day that he was ten.
“Ration it, please,” Bruce muttered as he leaned over to pour a bit of syrup over Dick’s pancakes. Dick pouted but seemed to accept that he wouldn’t get much more than that. He seemed content to ignore everyone in the room, simply eating his breakfast and staring at people when they tried to talk to him.
It was halfway through the meal that Dick placed his fork down loudly. “Is Zucco still alive?”
Silence descended upon the table.
“Dick,” Bruce sighed, and that may as well have been an answer.
Dick pushed away from the table, his features contorting with rage. “He deserves to be dead!” he yelled, slamming his hands on the table before he started shouting in Romani. Jason only knew a few words of Romani, but he didn’t need to know the language to know that what Dick was saying wasn’t pretty.
“Dick, listen to me.” Bruce said sternly, and Dick hissed at him.
“No!” Dick yelled, “No, no, no! He should be dead!”
“Dick,” Wally said, appearing by his side suddenly. “If you thought that today, do you think he’d still be alive?”
Dick blinked, looking flabbergasted. “But...he killed them.” he said, voice weak.
“I know,” Wally murmured, “Would they have wanted you to kill him?”
Dick stared at him for a moment before he sat back down. Wally patted his back for a moment before he handed Dick his forgotten fork.
“Where were you when I was raising him,” Jason heard Bruce mutter, and couldn’t stop the dry laugh that left him.
“Brings back memories, old man?” Jason asked.
Bruce shook his head, “Like you wouldn’t believe.”
Jason cautiously eyed Dick when the boy wandered into the room. Dick had seemed to turn running away from his designated watcher into a game. Seeing him alone was more often than all of them would like.
“Richard,” Damian said stiffly.
Dick tilted his head at them, before he cautiously made his way to the couch. He sat next to Jason a bit warily.
“Sup, shrimp.” Jason said. Dick’s nose wrinkled but he didn’t refute the nickname other than looking unimpressed.
“You’re Robin, aren’t you?” Dick asked suddenly, looking at Damian.
Damian scowled slightly, but nodded. “Yes. Richard gave me the title.”
Dick’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “My parents used to call me Robin.” He said quietly.
Oh. Oh shit, Jason did not sign up for emotional talks with the kid-version of his brother.
(It did explain why Dick had been so upset when Jason took the Robin mantle, he realized distantly.)
“I know.” Damian replied. “Richard told me the tale of how Robin was created.”
Dick nodded his head, “You’re Bruce’s son.”
“That doesn’t mean I can’t be anyone else's.” Damian replied.
Dick looked thoughtful, and looked over to the doorway as if expecting the man to barge in. After a moment, he just grinned. “Cool.” he said, and then bounced off the couch and disappeared out the door swiftly.
A second later, Bruce appeared in the doorway, looking winded. “Where is Dick?”
Jason jerked his thumb in the direction and Bruce grunted and rushed down the hall. They heard Dick’s laughter a few seconds later.
“Dick is missing!”
Groans erupted out of everyone. “When isn’t he?” Steph complained, shoving her phone into her pocket.
“Whoever finds him first,” Tim started.
“No one will make bets with you, dude.” Duke interrupted.
“Yeah, when you don’t win, you end up blackmailing us.” Jason grunted. He still didn’t know how the twerp knew what was under his floorboards in his seventh safehouse, but fuck him. He can have bombs if he wanted them.
Half an hour later, they were all meeting up in the first living room. “Yeah, I can’t find him.” Jason said.
Bruce ran his hand through his frazzled hair. “Okay,” he said, “Okay. The trackers are off and Alfred hasn’t found anything on the security. He’s still in the manor.”
“But where?” Steph threw her hands up.
“Where have we not checked?” Tim asked.
“Fuck you guys,” Jason said, “I’m making lunch. That’ll draw the little fucker out.”
“I’m down to eat.” Tim agreed.
“He’s obviously not hurt.” Steph shrugged.
“Guys.” Bruce sighed.
“Trust me, B.” Jason grinned. “My cooking will solve this.”
They all shuffled into the kitchen, only to freeze when their eyes landed on Wally and Dick. Dick who grinned over at them, twenty-seven instead of ten.
“Hey guys!” Dick chirped, “You look rough, what happened?”
“You did, fuckface!” Jason yelled, “What the hell? You’re back to normal!”
“Oh, yeah.” Dick flexed his hands, “I woke up like this! Crazy, right?”
“And you didn’t think to tell us?” Bruce demanded.
“Nah, I went to Wally’s room.” Dick winked at them, and snickered when his husband turned scarlet.
“Richard!” Damian snapped as he made his way to the front of the group.
“Dami!” Dick cheered, “Wally, it was so weird with him being taller than me. My little sugar snap all grown up!”
Wally laughed and wound his arm around Dick’s waist. “Tell me about it.”
“I fucking hate this family.” Jason groaned.
Tim sighed, “Does this mean you aren’t making lunch?”
“Fuck you,” Jason said. “I’m only making lunch because I’m hungry too.”