Chapter Text
Bruce, Dick, Tim and Damian had been on a mission near Gotham Harbor.
Nightwing had intercepted a message about a trade going down near the docks. The details of the trade were scarce. All he knew was that the 'weapon' was a person and he had to save them before they were killed.
He had contacted Bruce for help when he found out that the trade would happen in Gotham and all four of them had geared up to go.
When they arrived at the docks, the scene was brutal. Each party was dead and the victim was laying there, unmoving, his blood pooling around him.
The three boys immediately went to his side to try and help him as Batman was securing the area. The man looked up at them, groaning in pain.
Nightwing put on his most comforting voice, "It's okay, sir. We're here to help."
The man makes complicated gestures with his hands. At first they assume it is sign language, but it's not any they know. The man continues making these gesture and all three boys are suddenly blinded by a bright light. All Dick could think was, 'of course it's a magic user.'
In their minds, the man tells them that he will erase just one memory of their choice as a thanks. Be it a painful memory, an embarrassing one, or just something they just don't want to remember.
"..."
They can't remember what they told him once the spell wears off.
Once they arrive at the Batcave, Bruce steers them to the medbay.
"Stay here. I'll contact Zatanna, see if there are any lasting damages from the spell."
"B, we're fine. I don't think he did anything," Tim mumbled.
"You never know with a magic user."
They heard footsteps coming down and turned to see Duke coming down. Duke walked over to them once he saw them. "You guys are back early."
"Yeah, we ran into a magic user and B is being paranoid," Dick said.
Duke chuckles, "When is he not paranoid? Anyway, have you either of you seen Steph?"
"She and Cass left for London a few hours ago," Bruce grumbled. He didn't like it when his kids, even though Steph still insisted she wasn't his kid, were too far from him. "Steph got Cass tickets for an art exhibit."
"Why do you need them?" Tim asked.
Duke sighs, "I'm supposed to do Steph's paperwork."
"Tt. Why do you need to do Brown's paperwork?"
"Oh, well, she covered my shift for me, so I promised to do her paperwork."
Dick frowns slightly, "She covered your shift? Did something happen?"
Duke immediately shakes his head, "No, nothing bad. We were having a bake sale at school. I wouldn't have been able to make it back in time for patrol." He looks up at Bruce, smiling. "Thanks again for coming."
Bruce nods, "Of course. Now, I'm gonna try to contact Zatanna." He turns and walks away to make a call.
Once Bruce has left the room, Tim turns to Duke. "You said he came to your school event?"
Duke nods, grinning. "Oh, yeah. He turned the Brucie persona up to eleven. It was fun."
Tim frowns. "Oh... he's never been to my school events."
Alfred overhears this and his lips tilt downwards. "That's not true Master Tim. Master Bruce has been to your school event. A science fair, I believe. Though, you did forbid him from attending anymore and from speaking about it. You too, Master Dick."
"What? I don't remember that, Alf." Dick mumbled confusedly.
Barbara speaks up, having been listening in, "Yeah, you did, Dick. You had a gymnastic... whatsoever at your school and B went with you. You guys didn't talk about it, but you stopped talking to him for, like, two weeks. You were really angry at him for something, but you never said what."
Alfred nods before Dick could interrupt. "And you, Master Tim, had a science fair. You came home narky and wouldn't say what for. I pitied the thugs who faced you in that mood."
Both Dick and Tim glance at each other, frowning, and Dick speaks up, "Alfred, I don't remember that. And by the look on Tim's face, he doesn't either."
Damian glances at the two of them before letting out his usual scoff, glaring at both his brothers. "You imbeciles. You let that witch erase your memories of father."
That is the moment Bruce returns to the cave. He doesn't look up at any of them as he speaks, "Z will be here shortly."
Dick steps forward towards him, "B-..."
Bruce just shakes his head, cutting him off. "I'm going out again. Jason called in for backup and I'm the only one currently available."
He turns to the Batmobile, driving out of the cave and leaving the remaining occupants in tense silence.
Zatanna drops by about 15 minutes after Bruce left.
She checks over the boys to see if the spell had any side effects or if it was reversible.
Once she's done, she walks up to Alfred. "They're fine. The spell will wear off on its own since its user is gone."
"And you are certain there will not be any... unseemly side effects?"
She nods and repeats, "They are fine."
"Thank you, Miss Zatanna." Alfred nods and shows Zatanna out.
-
A few minutes later, a distress signal from the Red Hood comes through the Batcomputer.
Alfred immediately answers it, all of them gathered around the computer. "Master Hood?"
"Oh, Alfred. Thank God. It's B."
All five of them immediately tense at those words and the panic in Jason's voice. The fact that he also called Alfred by his name instead of the normal Agent A moniker they use when on patrol put them all on edge.
"What's wrong with B?" Duke spoke up.
"It was Klarion. He hit him with a spell a-and... God, he's so small Alfred. And he won't wake up." He spoke quickly, stumbling over his words.
"Master Jason, breathe. Bring him back to the cave."
"Yeah, we're on our way. We'll be there in 10. But you need to prep the medbay. He is covered in bruises, Alfred."
"We'll be awaiting your arrival, sir." He hangs up, going to the medbay to prep.