Work Text:
Tim exits his room rubbing his sore wrist. It’s bruised all the way around from a tussle with Riddler’s goons.
He sighs. He’s still got so much casework to do. He needs coffee, and Alfred confiscated the coffee machine he kept in his room so he has to go to the kitchen to get any.
He goes to walk down the stairs when he sees something dart out from under his foot. He curses as he stumbles down a few stairs trying to avoid it. When he’s stable, he looks back.
It’s a cat. Tim narrows his eyes. He doesn’t recognize that one. It’s a pretty orange tabby with bright green eyes. It stares at him.Tim stares back.
When did Damian get another cat? Tim thought Bruce had said no more animals. Tim narrows his eyes again.
Well. Whatever. He’s not going to do anything about it.
He has a coffee pot to empty.
—--
Jason winces as he pulls his shirt over his head. The cuts on his arms and torso from being tossed through a window have no right to sting so much for how small they are.
He’s hungry, and he plans to take advantage of the manor’s amazing kitchen. Maybe he’ll bake some bread. Some garlic butter rolls do sound quite tasty.
He hums to himself as he starts pulling out ingredients.
He’s just started to mix together the yeast with warm water when he hears a quiet noise from the doorway. Thinking it’s one of his siblings he turns to remind them that Alfred doesn’t allow them in the kitchen.
He freezes.
That’s not one of his siblings.
That’s not even a human.
It’s a dog, and not one he recognizes.
Did Damian get another pet? He thinks he recalls Damian complaining on patrol last week that Bruce had banned him from getting more pets.
It’s a pretty little thing, black and fluffy and missing one eye.
Whatever. It’s not Jason’s problem if the demon brat snuck another creature in. He’s going to make some bread, and then he’s going to sit down and reread Pride and Prejudice .
—--
Dick stares at the lizard that’s sitting on his dresser staring back at him. He’s pretty sure it’s a bearded dragon, but he’s no herpetologist so what would he know.
He sighs and shoots Damian a text with a picture of the lizard.
His brother responds quickly.
I didn’t realize you got a pet lizard, Richard.
Dick rolls his eyes. He picks the lizard up, lets it attach to his shoulder and walks to Damian’s room where he sets the lizard down on a heating pad he finds next to Damian’s bed.
It’s not his problem if Damian has another pet. He lives in Bludhaven.
Bruce is the one who needs to take care of it.
Besides, it’s important for a kid to have pets.
—--
Bruce comes up from the cave and promptly almost trips over a calico cat that is curled in front of the grandfather clock. He frowns. He doesn’t recognize this cat. He frowns harder. He knows he told Damian that he couldn’t have any more pets.
He sighs. He’s going to have to talk to him.
It goes about as well as can be expected.
“You’re allowed to have all the bats you want downstairs, why can’t I have all the pets I want upstairs?” Damian argues, arms crossed in front of his chest, his chin tilted up.
Bruce sighs, dropping his face into his hands.
He’s too tired to deal with this. Alfred can take care of this.
—--
“And what is this one’s name?” Alfred asks.
“Her name is Theodora.” Damian replies, motioning to the black dog. “And this,” he holds up the lizard, “is Sahara.”
“They are both very lovely.”
Damian smiles gently, which for him is practically beaming.
“Why don’t you introduce me to the rest of your newest pets?” Alfred asks.
Damian grins wider.