Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

David was known to be over-optimistic, his been told off about it by more people than he could count. It wasn’t often the counselor would panic over campers' activities, even now that he was running Camp Campbell, David only saw the joy of the place. 

However, in all honesty, the red hair was freaking out.

About a week from now, was their second attempt at Parents Day. After the disaster last year, with Mr. Campbell’s arrest, and parents getting *ahem* touchy-feely, it was over when it started if it weren’t for the persistence of Ered’s parents to try it again this year. 

So over the school year, David spent most of his time fixing up the camp, getting better food and medical supplies, establishing better, non-shady financial aid, and trying to get requirements to run certain camps. All in all, he was more confident they weren’t going to get into legal trouble. Except for Mr. Campbell's shenanigans. He wasn’t even worried about the kids, from what both counselors saw and dealt with, they knew the kids inside and out. No, so David wasn’t freaking out because of the kids, he was freaking out because of the parents.

Unlike the campers, the redhead had little information on any of the adults, only what little they put in their files. So any form of trying to form some trust with small talk was almost off the table, half the stuff that goes on in camp could get them shut down on mentioning, not to mention their reputations. Worst of all he couldn’t count on who would show up! An–

“DAVID!” The door to the counselor cabin slammed against the chipped wood. A dark-skinned woman on the other side, dark velvet hair riddled with leaves, and a work shirt covered in dirt.   

“Quit mumbling and help me with the Kids! Dinners are about to start and we don’t need another food fight breaking out”

“Oh, right, I’ll be out in a bit,” He said, staring at the open plain office cabinet. Thin packets fell out by the parents staring directly into his face. “Just have to finish up sorting through this.”

“Really?”

“Yes, we do not want a repeat of last year Gwen,”

“Do we don’t” Gwen softly spoke, before going to close the drawer just before David could grab the last packet. “ We also don’t need another stressed adult taking care of 20-something kids, that spot’s already taken.”  they went on their way to the mess hall, just stopping right out of the main doors.

“Ok, but what if Mister Campbell shows up, what if the parents try to take the kids out of camp, or they don’t even show! Or–”

“Aye! Breath!” she grabbed him by the shoulders, and with little effort, the usually chipper counselor was now face to face with her. “ Campbell is locked away in Schwalmstadt prison,” she continued, as moved to his side, one hand back to her own side as she walked them both to the mess hall doors. “If the parents wanted to take their kid out of camp, they would have.”

“And we could always just call them too, get a heads up if someone is not going to show.”

Once she finished talking, the doors opened to unsurprisingly a disaster, Nurf, his red hair and freckled face covered in mashed potato. At the same time, he chases Nerris and Space Kid with a spork, Harrison and Neil seemingly arguing about something while Nikki and Max try to sneak into the kitchen.

Gwen could only sigh at the sight, just before pulling out a whistle. The noise that came out of it had everyone covering their ears, all previous actides halting.

“Alright, you little shits! Line up for dinner!” In mere minutes, considerably better food was being fed to the now relaxed campers. “We should probably tell them about Parents' Day before calling anyone.” she finished the dirt and leaves now gone from her hair and clothes. 

David's smile grew at the proclamation. Like a light bulb went off above him. “Oh! Right, gosh darn it what would I do without you, Gwen?”

“Cry, catch fire, end up in the hospital.”

“Heh, probably…”

With the work done and campers so calm, the tall lanky man could only get the start of a word out before a fork nearly hit his head.

“Max!”

“What? I didn’t hit him,” The kid stated, words dry as he chipped away at the wood on the table, black hair slightly covering his eyes. Two kids on either side of him, not paying any mind to their friends' nonsense.

“Anyhow, I would like to announce this year’s upcoming Parents Day!” Collective groans filled the building before Neil sitting to the left of Max spoke up “ I thought that was a one-time thing after you know…” he waved his hands, forming crued motion, getting a laugh out of Nikki, whose teal hair still had sticks and leaves in it.

 “Yeah! Even though I am all for the DRAMATICS! I would rather leave my grandma out of it…”  

“I thought the same too, but after Mr. Campbell’s arrested, the Miller’s wanted to keep it going for “investigation” purposes,”  he repeated back what Ereds’ dads told him. They didn’t tell him or Gwen what they tended to investigate while it was still running, but a part of him thought they just wanted a non-creepy way of checking on their daughter. “However, We are more prepared this time around and decided to take precautions if something happened. So I would like each of you to prepare an act related to your camp before this Saturday! If any of y’all have questions feel free to ask them now.” The room fell into silence once the counselor finished. Just as David was about to speak a hand went up. 

“Yes, Max?” his voice came out with its usual cheering tone, but inside he felt more doubt, not because of the kid in question, more so the type of question he would ask. Over the years both Councliers became more aware of what the boy’s home life could be like, and Parents Day settled their suspension.  

Out of the two of them, David grew attached to the boy, growing to expect more dark questions and sharp remarks. He was prepared for most gloomy questions thrown his way. 

“What if our parents signed us up for two camps?”

And in an instant, the redhead was silent. Like a buffering computer, it took him a bit before the question hit him. “Can you repeat that?”

“What would we do if we were signed up for two camps? My Dad didn't read the papers properly,’’ Max repeated as if what he was asked was the dumbest thing he heard. It would have been if it weren’t for Max, being the one asking such a thing. 

“Uhm, I guess you could pick one or split the act in two, get two birds with one stone!”

“Yeah, whatever” the short 11-year-old hopped off the bench, half-empty tray in hand as he headed towards the door “Come on guys, let's go.” All three walk past both adults, not before both Nikki and Neil give them confused looks.

The day seemed to fly by afterward, activities went and came, and the bonfire was all chatter from the kids who were going to show their parents or guardians. Like Clockwork, by the time everyone was sleep, David was back to digging through the same filing cabinet this morning, pulling out the one he couldn’t get to.

In the front in bold letters was Max’s name, the file itself was not empty like before, but now held little to four different papers, medical information, payment information, parental contacts, and more than enough emergency contacts. The last piece of paper, one that used to lay bare with only the kid’s name and age, now held neatly written cursive, containing information that used to be hidden from them.

Name: Max Wayne Todd 

Age: 11 

Parent/ Guardian: Jason Todd 

Camp: Gymnastic & Music 

Address: Gotham, New Jersey, 12345 

 Jason Todd, Crimelord and protector of Crime Alley, the zombie version of Gotham multi-millionaire Bruce Wayne's second son, was currently at his limit. Not only did his patrol end in shit and earn him a new stab wound that he had to stitch up but he also got called to the tower at 4 AM just to be told about another off-world mission that does not involve him. He had better things to do, like fixing broken weapons, looking through his men's reports, or re-reading The Enchanted April or Pride and Justice.

 The meeting lasted for over an hour before the man could get home. He kicked the door closed, flopping on the couch. He let out a very loud and possibly dramatic sigh as he did so. The pain in his back loosened, and the pressure in his legs slowly disappeared. He slowly dozed off, letting sleep take over, black-filtering his version.

Jason shot up from his spot to his phone in his coat pocket vibrating, ringtone too loud for his already increasing migraine. “God fucking damn it!” He said, pillow muffling his voice. “I swear Dick, If it's something stupid, I’m gonna–”

“What?”

 Okay, That's not Dick. The Former crime lord sat in silence as he silence to the sounds of nature and chaotic child-like noises that came from the other end. Not to mention the different muffled voices that did not belong to the Golden Boy.

“Hello!? Is this Jason Todd?”

“Look, if you're trying to sell me something or calling about the noise, you might as well cut your losses.” He said not one to hide the irritation he garnered from his interrupted sleep.

“What? No. I’m calling in to tell you about Parents Day! Where family members partake in camp activities their children were signed up for!”

The man on the phone only got a hmm from Jason before the sound of distant explosions went off, and a woman was shouting on the other line. “Nurf put down the knife!”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes, everything's fine, now it says under contacts and personal information that you're Max's guardian, and due to last summer's mishap I would appreciate it if you could swing by and participate in this one.”

“Of course, I can't miss a chance to embarrass my kid now can I?” Jason said. looking through the hallway closet before pulling out a black and white duffle bag, uneven random pieces of different fabrics sewn on, the strap decorated with sloppy embroidery designs. 

“Well, ain't that just swell! Have a good afternoon Mr.Todd, see you this Saturday!”

“Uh-huh, bye.”  

*click* tossing the phone back on the couch,  the morning traffic and fights could be heard from outside, the light traveling through the window flooding in, most photos that cover some walls illuminated by it, a few of him and his siblings, while others were of a kid no older than eleven. 

The closest photo of them is of them at the fair in Metropolis for the first time. Curly black hair sticking out under a bear hat, blue and green eyes. A bear in a Robin outfit held tight in his tiny hands, a smile full of excitement. Another photo of his kid and youngest sibling suits lightly battered, no injuries to be seen, most damage done to the gala, and criminals in masks were visible on the floor behind them. Looking over them from across the room, the rising annoyance with the world sizzled to almost nothing.

It has been nearly six years since Todd started taking care of a four-year-old kid named Maxwell. After catching him trying to steal ammo from one of Jason’s safehouses. Face bruised and grim covered what used to be a light blue hoodie, sickeningly common when faced with street kids of Gotham. And it seemed after that, The city itself kept having their paths meet.

 Jason began to notice the kid the more he patrolled around Crime Alley, how the scrawny kid would appear after fights, looting dead or unconscious criminals after a fight, how he would pick fights with people 10 times bigger than him to keep eyes on him instead of their unfortunate victims. And it wasn’t till one of those fights, with an unknown Child murderer Jason, as Red Hood, decided to introduce himself (Not before putting a bullet through the bastards chest). 

Ever since then, Jason became attached to the street kid, “mini Red Hood” Tim would call him when he found out. 

He put Maxwell in school, Taking him around Gotham when his family wasn’t patrolling certain areas. He sends him up to a camp far from his previous parents during the summer, ( He almost lost it when the couple didn’t notice their own kid gone)

 But now, it's been a full year since the crime lord officially and legally adopted Max Wayne Todd. It was a whole mess, having Max’s former parents send threats and try to even kidnap his kid, which did not help them in court.

So after all the struggling, Jason was able to be in the boy's life, meaning it would be the first time Jason would be able to attend his events. 

It felt strange getting texts and calls at first and still is from time-to-time, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Half of them didn’t have the luxury of having parents see them join their first sports, or attend after-school activities that weren’t in high school. Damian was the only batkid that went to teacher vs. student games. So he’d be damned if he missed any event for Max.

Jason would also be damned if he missed the opportunity to embarrass Max.  

The crime lord, now unable to sleep, left the comfort of his couch with phone in hand as he headed to the small kitchen in his flat. Taking medicine before going through his contacts.

“Hey, Dick, need you to gather up bats.”

Chapter Text

To say Max was anything but done with his week would be an understatement; to say he was ready to burn the place to the ground was closer to it.

 Ever since David announced the second attempt at parents' day, that’s all everyone was talking about. No time for a messed-up adventure or other camp activities, the only interesting thing that happened was the failed raid by the WoodScouts. Not to mention the many, many questions about his “surprise” adoption.

Why didn’t you say you were adopted?!

What’s your dad’s name?

Were you kidnapped?!

I thought you hated your parents?

It irritated him to no end, but it wasn’t as bad as both David and Gwen pulling him to the side each time they wanted more info about Jason. At some point, Max, Thursday, maybe, he started to take moves from his family and disappear out of nowhere.

But now that the day has arrived, he doesn't need to hide in the shadows like his dad taught him.

He sat in his usual spot between Nikki and Neil, along with their parents, patiently waiting for his phone. He got a text from Jason not too long ago that he had a surprise he would be bringing. Knowing him, it's probably something like a new gear or something like that; it wouldn’t be as exciting as his dad being able to come to camp.

He kept glancing at the mess hall doors, more restless each time they would reveal someone who wasn’t his adopted dad. It didn’t help that David also kept staring at him for the same reason.

“So Max,” Nikki started with food in her mouth, if his uncle Damian were here, he would have already called her uncivil. “When’s your dad going to get here? I want to see if he’s as cool as you made him sound.”

The boy just rolled his eyes as she continued smacking her food. Jason, cool? The guy who used to read  Max bedtime stories in a small plastic chair, the guy who was almost in tears when Max got sick on a mission, the same guy who walked around the apartment in Wonder Woman Pajamas and ghost slippers. 

“I didn’t make him sound cool, and he should be here any moment. His motorcycle probably broke again.”

“Having a motorcycle is cool! You think he’ll let me ride it?”

Max, knowing how she would react if he answered her, went back to staring at his phone, not David’s that he stole two years back, but the phone the giant furry insisted on buying him(he refuses to call him grandpa or even Bruce). The screen remained blank and text still labeled as read, he was just about to put it away when the screen lit it.

Bat-Shit-Insane:

Dickhead: We're five minutes away mini Hood!

MadMax: The fuck you mean we???

Clown Lover: Language 

‘Kid’napper: Don’t tell my kid what to do

MadMax: Yeah, don’t tell me what to do

How are you Alive?: Just like his father…

MadMax: Shut up, Timothy . Jason what does he mean?!

‘Kid’napper: He means prepare for the most embarrassing moment in your life

Max wouldn’t admit he jumped when Grayson’s car's all-too-familiar horn or the screeching of tires coming to a halt snapped him from his state of shock. Instead, Max pretended not to be affected by the noises and just waited, watching as everyone headed towards the door. As it swung open, silhouettes of not one but nine people blocked the sunlight.

 “Families’ here,”

Slowly and as silently as a mouse, Max left his seat, weaving between curious kids and Shocked parents, until standing in the open space that separated the block people and campers. He did nothing but look up and stare at the person that seemed to tower over him: what he knew to be a fake leather jacket shone a little under the natural light, white and black hair fell in front, blocking out the man’s face.  If Max were back in Gotham at least seven years ago, he would have freaked out like everyone else. 

Instead, he walked closer to the man, built like a frigid, little hands raised in the universal “pick me up” sign, and gently placed on the tall man's shoulder.

“Hi, Dad,”

Campers and counselors watch in surprise as the  11 year old menace, know for hes cynical world views and chaotic nature on good days, rest his head on a random man's shoulder, like a fucking sleepy cat. The room was eerily silent when the supposedly loving scene took place, they were only lucky that the man now sporting the calm version of Max was the first to speak.

“Hello, I’m Jason, Max’s Dad,” He said, boasting the boy as he continued, “hope you don't mind, but I brought my family.”

“ Oh!” David sounded as he strolled up to them, “It’s fine! Nice to finally meet Max's family in person, this is Gwen, co-counselor.” 

Jason simply nodded her way, and nothing else was exchanged between the three. It was weird, and one of the few times Jason felt unprepared, like a kid on their first day of school, the other man was about to say something else, but his attention was drawn to the blue-haired kid who ran straight into his legs. 

“Hi! I’m Nikki, do you have a motorcycle, and can I ride it?!”

“Uhh, hi?” he said, noting the snickering that could only belong to steph, Duke, and Dick from behind him, along with the way Max didn’t even react. He didn’t know what to say, but he didn’t have to, as another woman, whom he assumed to be the girl’s mother, did the talking for them.

“Nicolette, what did we say about jumping on strangers?” 

“But mom,” She whined, letting him go; he didn’t even realize how strong the girl's grip was till the blood in his legs started flowing again. 

“He has a motorcycle,” she said it as if it were a good reason to hold his leg hostage, not a good enough reason for the older blue-haired woman as they stepped back closer to the tables. The rest of the families seemed to go back to whatever they were doing, letting David speak to them and the rest of his family.

“Sorry about that, some of the campers have more energy than the others.”

“That’s fine,” a new voice entered the picture, more chipper than the former, “You live with at least six siblings, you learn to deal with chaotic energy all the time.”

“Ah, I'm sorry, who are you again?”

“Richard Grayson, a.k.a Jason's older brother and Max’s oldest uncle,” Dick said, ruffling both father and son’s hair much to their displeasure.

“His also the one that’s going to have to find a ride home, if  he doesn’t stop fucking with my hair,”

“Come on, baby bird, don’t be like that, besides, Alfred was the one who drove us,” he stated, arm slung over his brother's shoulder, that was swatted instantly. The camp owner stood there watching the oldest of the two pettily argue, more confused than concerned, as Max seemed perfectly fine nestled between the two.

David cleared his throat, maybe a bit too loud, but it seemed to get the three’s attention more rather talking, “Well…It’s a pleasure to meet you, too! If you two don’t mind, would either of you like to introduce us to the rest of your family?”

“ Of course! Starting from the left, that’s our baby brother Damain, next to him, the girl with black hair is our sister Cass, next to her, the dude in yellow is  our newest brother, Duke, the other boy is our second youngest Tim, the blonde girl is Steph, and the tall brooding man is our father Bruce, or know as Max’s Grandfather.” He finished with such speed, both Gwen and David still were trying to put faces to names, yet seemed not to be gifted with even that before Max sat up as best as he could in Jason’s arm, glaring daggers at both Richard and his grandfather.

“ He is not my grandfather.” Max spat, as if even associating him with an insult, knowing him, it probably was. 

“Now come on, mini red, can you play nice for a day?”

“I rather hang myself Dick” 

“Max! What did we say about calling people derogatory names,” 

“Oh, don’t worry, that’s his actual name?” Jason said, grin on his face, while others behind them snickered at their older brother.

“ How do you get Dick from Richard? Is it like a cultural thing?” Neil asked, now away from his dad and Nikki's mom’s weird flirting.

“It’s an old person thing Neil,”  Richar–Dick gasped, hand on his chest as he stared in absolute betrayal at the 11 year old, “Old! I am in my late twenties!”

“Along with a grave dickwad,”

“You're the one to talk,” someone said, most proberal person being Tim, if the jap from Steph and glare from Bruce was anything to say about it. 

“It’s ironic when you’re one bad patch of caffeine away from being six feet under Drake.” 

Tim mumbled something under his breath, something that got the second youngest Wayne riled up enough for a sibling argument to start. Dick trying to calm them down, Jason and Max more than happy to feed fuel to the fire as Bruce watched in dispane, while Duke, Steph, and Cass watched with snacks nobody saw them grab. It was like something out of Gwen’s TV shows, entertainment at its finest. 

If it was behind a screen and not directly in the middle of their Mess Hall.

 And if both Gwen and David didn’t have to drag out the med kit, along with a fire extinguisher for what is to come.