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It had been a long day, and an even longer patrol, and all Bruce wanted was to crawl under the covers of his bed and pass out for a few hours. And take a shower and eat.
“Hey I know,” Dick said, never seeming to get tired ever, “Tonight was rough. Let’s play flip cup or something to wind down.”
Bruce frowned. “Isn’t that a drinking game? I don’t think that-“
“We’ll play it with cups of juice or soda,” Dick said, shrugging and grinning. It’s the game that’s fun, not the drinking.”
“But drinking makes it more challenging,” Jason complained. “It’s no fun to play the non-alcoholic version.”
“But Tim, Dami, Duke, and Cass aren’t legal,” Dick said, “So…”
It was at that moment that Bruce realized there was a very real risk of his kids drinking if they partied without him. He’d have to join them, there was no other choice, surely Alfred had already retired for the night. “It sounds like fun, I’ll join you,” Bruce blurted out. “The non-alcoholic version of the game,” he quickly amended.
There was a moment where he could have heard crickets chirp (if they hadn’t all been killed off by years of industrial pollution in Gotham), and then his kids broke into laughter and smiles.
“Really, Bruce?” Tim asked.
Bruce nodded solemnly. It was his duty to make sure his kids didn’t get into too much trouble.
--
Fifteen games of flip cup later, Bruce was seriously regretting his decision. He was even more tired, he had a bad aftertaste of fruit punch and chocolate milk in his mouth, and he knocked the cup over or off the table more often than any of his children, to their shrieking delight. But it was almost worth it to spend this time with them. He so rarely spent carefree hours with his kids, when they were laughing, smiling, (and making fun of him), that it was a refreshing break. Aside from being bone-tired. Bruce was just about to excuse himself, when Jason decided to change the game.
“As much fun as it is to watch Bruce suck at flip cup,” Jason said, “this is getting boring. Let’s play ‘Never have I ever’.”
Dick groaned. “Let’s not. That’ll get angsty too fast.”
“Oh, but that’s what makes it fun,” Jason said, and his grin looked almost malicious.
Bruce sighed. This sounded like a terrible idea, but he felt a duty to keep an eye on his kids, and at least mitigate some of the potential problems.
-
It started innocent and simple enough, mostly because Bruce started the game with: “Never have I ever been Robin,” and his kids all groaned and took a drink, except for Cass.
“That is the most Dad way of playing this game in the history of dads crashing their kid’s parties,” Jason complained as he took a sip of pineapple juice.
“Oh, come on, it was funny,” Dick said. “It’s just a game.”
Jason grumbled and scowled.
Duke’s turn was next. “Uh, never have I ever not been intimidated by Batman,” Duke said.
They all laughed and Damian was the only one to take a sip. “I am intimidated by nothing and no one,” he insisted, as Dick tried to pull him close for a hug.
Then it was Jason’s turn, and he sneered at Dick before saying: “Never have I ever been Bruce’s favorite.”
There was complete silence, and Bruce shifted uncomfortably. “Jason, maybe we should-”
“No!” Jason shouted, “It’s my turn and that’s what I picked.” Then he scowled at Dick. “C’mon, Goldie, drink up. We all know you’re Bruce’s favorite.”
“I don’t have favorites,” Bruce grumbled.
“Maybe just a little?” Tim said. “Or what about when Dick was the only Robin? He had to be Bruce’s favorite then by definition.”
“I really don’t think so, probably least favorite,” Dick said, and he almost looked sad, like there was something he wasn’t saying. Maybe it was just too late and they were all tired. Bruce made a mental note to ask Dick about it later.
“Least favorite? He dotes on you, and you can do no wrong ever,” Jason countered.
“I’ve also been kicked out the most often,” Dick said, staring at the floor.
Bruce sighed. He had been young when he’d taken Dick in, too young to be a father really, and he’d made his share of mistakes. “I, uh I did lose my temper a lot more when I was younger, but that doesn’t mean I love any of you any less.”
Jason scoffed. “The Joker still being alive says otherwise,” he sing-songed.
“OKAY!” Steph shouted. “Moving along, never have I ever made out with Catwoman.”
They all laughed and groaned, and Bruce sheepishly took a sip of his juice. Dick blushed and also took a sip of his drink.
“I don’t even want to know,” Bruce said.
“I did not need to know that,” Duke muttered to himself.
It was Dick’s turn next, and he fidgeted with his cup, before taking in a deep breath and saying, “Never have I ever been adopted by Bruce.”
There was silence again, and uncomfortable shuffling around.
“Cut it with the histrionics, Goldie,” Jason said. “Bruce adopted all of us.”
“No,” Dick said, looking supremely uncomfortable. “Bruce never legally adopted me.” Then he stood up, swaying a bit. “I think I’m done, goodnight,” he said as he left the room.
Tim looked at Bruce, inquiring. “Bruce is that true?”
“I never legally adopted Dick,” Bruce admitted. “I thought he didn’t want me to replace his parents, and when he was older, he was always so independent, I thought he wouldn’t want it.”
Duke facepalmed. “And you thought he wouldn’t notice he’d been treated differently?”
“He never said anything,” Bruce said, standing up to go find Dick. “I never thought that he’d think I was treating him differently.”
“Damn,” Jason said, “Guess I shouldn’t have spiked Goldie’s drinks.”
--
Dick was in the hall, making his way to his old room when Bruce caught up with him. He had been crying tears streaked down his face, and it broke Bruce’s heart.
“Dick,” Bruce said, pulling his oldest into a hug. “I’m sorry. I never thought you wanted to be adopted, but I never thought of you as less than my son.”
Dick started sobbing and clutched Bruce’s shoulders. “You always kicked me out when we argued, Bruce, and you never adopted me, but you signed the papers for Jason a few weeks after you found him. What was I supposed to think?”
Bruce held Dick close. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I never knew you felt that way. I know I shouldn’t have lost my temper all those times, but afterwards, it never seemed to bother you, and I uh, I’m not good with talking about feelings, and I never brought it up.”
Dick let out a small laugh in between his sobs. “But when you never adopted me, and wasted no time in adopting the others, I felt like-”
“I never loved you any less than your siblings,” Bruce said. “I thought you wanted your independence, but I’m sorry I never asked. And if it’s really important to you, I’ll have Alfred get the paperwork tomorrow.”
Dick sniffed and continued to hold onto Bruce. “I’d like that.”