Chapter Text
“Come on, Joey!” Edwin calls out, attempting to tie his shoes while hoping around. When Joey doesn’t reply, Edwin sighs, walking through the small two-bedroom apartment to Joey’s room.
“Joey? We have to leave-.” He says before noticing the small lump under the covers. Edwin can hear sniffling noises coming from the lump and his face softens. “Joey?” He says softly. “What’s wrong, bud?” He moves to sit down on the edge of Joey’s bed. Slowly, the little boy peeks his head up from under the covers. His eyes are bloodshot and red.
Edwin holds open his arms in a silent invitation and Joey takes it, wrapping his arms around Ed’s middle. Joey continues to sniff, some stray tears rolling down his cheeks. They stay like that for a second, Edwin resting his head on top of Joey’s head. The older man pulls back a little, looking down at Joey.
“Whats up?” He asks quietly. Joey buries his face into Edwin’s chest. “Don’t wanna go.” He says and Edwin frowns. “Why?” He says. “You’ve been excited about meeting my family for weeks.” Joey just shakes his head.
“Are you nervous?” Joey doesn’t respond. His silence tells Edwin exactly what he’s thinking. “Joey, you don’t have to be nervous. They’ll love you.” The boy pulls back, wiping his eyes. “B-but your dad is Batman and my dad is Deathstroke. So Batman won’t like me.” His bottom lip wobbles and Edwin frowns. “Hey, hey. I promise you that won’t happen.” He strokes the back of Joey’s head. “Even if it does, it doesn’t mean he hates you. He was a bit mean to me at first.” Edwin chuckles, remembering when he first met Bruce years ago.
Edwin stands up with Joey’s arms still wrapped around his middle. “Guess who else will be there?” He asks and Joey makes a noise of confusion. “Dick Grayson.” Edwin says and Joey’s eyes light up. “Really?” He says, excitement bleeding into his voice. Edwin nods, smiling at Joey’s excitement. “He’ll love you. Now come one, we’ll miss out train.”
The train slowly came to a stop at Gotham Central Station. Joey runs out, his backpack on his shoulders as Edwin follows after him.
“Joey, wait up! You’ll get lost.” Edwin calls. The station is packed with people and Joey quickly disappears into the crowd. Edwin follows after him when the lights in the station go out, plunging the room into darkness. People scream and someone bumps into Edwin. The screens around the station flicker on, revealing what looks like a mangled corpse wearing a burlap hood. “Greetings, Gotham. I am Dr. Jonothan Crane, and I am here to deliver a message.”
Edwin’s eyes widen at the name. “Scarecrow.” He whispers. The people around him are quiet, watching the screens in rapt terror. “As of this moment, Gotham is mine. An army has taken hold of the streets. You are not safe. Gotham. This is your only warning. Abandon this city... or I will unleash your greatest fears. Batman will not save you this time.”
The screen goes black, and people begin to scream, pushing and shoving each other in an effort to get out of the station. Edwin desperately looks around for Joey and even with his modified eyes, its still hard to see with all the different bodies crowing around him.
“Joey!” He calls out. “Joey, where are you?” Edwin cups his hands over his mouth, turning desperately. Then he hears Joey call out: “I’m over here!” Edwin turns to where the voice came from and he pushes through the crowd, seeing Joey pushed up against a wall. He grabs Joey, holding him tight. “Hang on, we’re getting out of here.” He says and the little boy grips the back of his shirt.
Edwin rushes up the stairs of the station, eventually reaching the polluted air of Gotham. There are people screaming as buses and police swarm the street with people boarding in an effort to escape. “Change of plans. You’re gonna stay with Alfred for a while. Remember when I talked about him?” Edwin says. “I have some work to do, okay?” He says to Joey as he flags down a cab. “Wayne manor.” He says and the driver starts to protest. Edwin holds out a $100 bill with a ‘just drive.’
The cab pulls up outside of Wayne Manor and the gate swings open. Rain drips down Edwin’s face as he gets out of the car, walking up to the large double doors as the cab speeds off. The doors swing open and there stands Alfred Pennyworth. His eyes widen as he takes in Edwin and Joey.
“Miss Edwina, is that you?” Alfred says and Edwin shakes his head. “Its Edwin now. This is Joey.” He gestures to the 10-year-old in his arms. “Is he…?” Alfred asks and Edwin shakes his head. “No, I’m just…. taking care of him.” Alfred nods. “Come inside, you’ll catch your death.”
“I always had my suspicions…” Alfred says as the three walk further into the manor. “I just have one question.” He stops and turns to Edwin.
"Master Edwin, are you happy?” Edwin is taken aback by the question, but he nods anyway. “Eddie look!” Joey suddenly calls out, pointing at a suit of armour standing against a wall. Edwin chuckles and puts Joey down. “Be careful.” He says as Joey runs to marvel at the suit.
“Alfred! Is everything-?” A voice comes from down the hall and Dick Grayson rounds the corner, only to be met by Joey running at him. Dick catches the kid, laughing. “Hey, Joey!” He says, picking the boy up. Dick’s eyes meet Edwin’s, and he smiles. “Hey Ed.” He says and Edwin waves, walking towards the former Robin and hugging him.
They break apart and Dick’s face darkens. “Not that I’m not happy to see you… but you picked a pretty bad time to visit.” Edwin nods. “Yeah. We saw the video. Rushed over here as soon as I could.” Joey wiggles in Dick’s arms and the older man sets him down. Joey runs over to Alfred, hugging the butler around the middle.
Alfred gives a small smile, patting the boy on his head. “Come, young master Joseph. Let us leave them. Their conversation is not one for young ears.” Joey groans and Alfred leads him away, leaving Edwin and Dick alone.
“Soo..” Edwin starts. “I’m guessing Bruce is down in the cave?” Dick nods. “You should talk to him, Ed.” Edwin sighs. He knows he should talk things out with Bruce. If Scarecrow is serious, then Edwin’s grudge against his kind of adopted father won’t do Gotham any favours. Bruce will most likely shut him down, something along the lines of ‘I don’t need help’ or ‘I work alone’. Or, if Edwin is really lucky, Bruce will grunt at him and then proceed to ignore him.
Either way, this conversation would be painful. But Edwin needs to be the bigger man. Maybe Bruce has changed in the last two years, Ed can only hope. He sighs in resignation, giving Dick a half-hearted wave as he starts off in the direction of the cave entrance.