Chapter Text
??? POV
I can't believe this is happening, standing in front of the Wayne manor. That's right, the Wayne manor. How did i end up in this situation in the first place? How could a teenager like me just suddenly end up getting adopted by the Bruce Wayne?
Let's start from the beginning shall we?
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It was rainy that night, as if the sky knew something would happened. Something in my gut was churning, something lurking in the darkness that i couldn't comprehend but could feel. I knew my gut was right, something was happening. I just didn't know what it was.
I stayed in my bedroom, the rain pelted against the window making a good background noise for what i was doing. It wasn't much but i like tinkering and making stuff, right now i'm making a car toy into a real transformer. Yes a normal car toy, not the kind that's pre-made to be a transformer.
Something was amiss, it was too quiet in the house. Usually my parents would argue and my ears would've suffered all night long. I couldn't even sleep well these past few days, making small mistakes that cost my grade. I can't afford to do that, i need a scholarship to get far away from this rundown apartment at a crime-littered city. Get away from my family and the haunting gazes of them, staring at me like i was a disappointment since the day i was born. A bad omen they said, but what made them think that? What made them so vile to call their own son something such as "bad omen". Ridiculous.
It is ridiculous, but my heart can't stop aching. Even if my brain said it was dumb for me to feel that way. But i couldn't help it, no matter what... They're still my parents.
I heard something crashed from the kitchen. I tensed up. Was there an intruder? I wouldn't think twice of it as such the life in this murky, filled with crime, city. I heard people arguing, the arguing turning into full fledged screams of fear. My curiosity took the best of me and I checked. This is definitely how people die in a horror movie.
What i saw was horrifying to any person living on earth, but it wasn't anything new to Gotham. A robbery, both my parents are to say the least silence (not dead). Tight up in the corner, huddled up like some kids trying to get away from their parents.
I snorted before the robbers looked straight at me for the noise i made. Great, now i'm also involved in this. Sure i seemed like i didn't care for my family but i do. My eyes gazed at them, filled with fear but something else was lurking. Something dark...
My heart raced as they lunged at me. And i was knocked unconscious. I didn't know what happened after that, everything went black and the only thing i remember was police sirens.
After waking up, i found out my parents were dead. My gut was churning, i didn't know what to make of it. Should i be in sorrow and cry for them after all they've done?
"You're a bad omen to the family! Your aunt died because of you, look at what you've done. You should've died instead of her, this way we'll never live like this. In poverty and barely scrapping by."
"Stop cursing your mother, brat!"
"With you here, we'll never sleep in peace you bastard!"
I could still hear their angry voices. I couldn't understand why they're so angry at me, is it true that i really did kill my aunt? Because i'm a bad omen?
Even if my thoughts were filling up with dread and their aching words, my heart aches. Hot tears fell down my cheeks. How could that be? I-i don't know why i'm crying i just—
The nurse calmed me down the best she could before telling the news that the robbers were caught red handed by one of the vigilantes. I didn't get to hear the name when someone suddenly burst into the room. The nurse was startled but I didn't pay attention. I was filled with dread and exhaustion and-and everything. It was a mess, i'm a mess, i don't know what i'm feeling. Is it normal that i felt relief after my parents died? Is it normal that i felt guilty for what happened to them even if I can't do anything about it? Their words echoed in my head.
"Useless chump, why're watching tv? You think you could be one of them? Hah! You wish! You could never save anyone, even if you did try it's all your fault for failing to do so."
I could hear the laugh my father gave at my mother's words. It tore through me, it left something in my head after that. Every little mistake i made filled me with a sense of dread i couldn't comprehend.
I stayed in the hospital for a while, before getting discharged and being told about getting adopted. What i didn't expect was that who adopted me was Bruce Wayne.
Yep, that's how i got into this situation.
Standing in front of the mansion with sweaty hands was not on my bingo list for my entire life. Not to mention i wasn't alone, someone else was with me the whole ride here. What was his name again? Right, Duke.
He was wearing a red jacket and looking casual. Unlike me who looks like someone who just got discharged from the hospital (which i technically just did). His hairstyle remind me of the shape of wings, just me? Ok.
He and i talked a bit on our way here, introduced ourselves and all that boring stuff. He asked me how i got adopted and i just told him i didn't know either. He just nervously laughed at that and didn't ask anymore questions. The long ride here was more awkward after that. But i truly do not know why i was adopted in the first place!
"I still can't believe this is really happening."
Duke's voice caught me off from my thoughts as i glanced at him, seeing him carrying a box for what i assumed was his stuff. Then i noticed there was a moving truck not so far from the main gate of the manor. Wow he got a lot of stuff. I just have a bag of stuff that i got from my old home (mostly books and stuff i got attached to, but who cares?).
I decided to help Duke with moving in his boxes, he thanked me at my offer as we both headed in together.
Someone who clearly only knows how to wear black (same ngl) appeared in front of the door to greet us both. He's quite old and brooding? That's what i get from this old man anyway. And wow he got a jaw alright... Now that i think about it, he's probably Bruce Wayne isn't he?
"Welcome to your new home, both of you. I do hope the both of you are happy here."
Then someone else appeared behind Bruce. Oh i like this guy already, based on the vibes alone. Damn is he sophisticated, very British. Has that dad vibes around him too, oh yeah we're definitely gonna get along pretty well.
"Greetings to both of you. I shall introduce myself to you, Master Achilles. As far as i could tell you're very much clueless to what's happening. My name is Alfred Pennyworth, the only butler in this manor. If you ever need anything, you shall call my name and i'll be there. You can call me by Alfred."
"I suppose you and master Duke has already introduced yourselves to each other?"
I looked towards Duke nervously before answering, "yes pretty much."
"That is great to hear. On another note, i suppose master Bruce hasn't introduce himself?" He side-eyed Bruce which makes him nervously smiles before frantically introducing himself.
"Right", he coughed before continuing. "my name is Bruce Wayne but you do not need to call me by my full name. I prefer if my children calls me Bruce."
He tried to sound friendly and professional (he's not an expert in the friendly part tho).
"Master Bruce and i will oversee the movers. Why don't you let master Damian give you a tour? He's very excited about both of your arrivals."
Damian? Why is that name so familiar... Then again I don't remember mundane stuff like that. Besides this guy has so many children already, how could i remember them when they're not that important in my life at all?
"That's okay. Maybe i can help you guys instead?" Duke said with a nervous smile.
Huh?
Alfred didn't take that and nudged him (more like pushed him) inside the building towards a kid. I just noticed him there, he was so small I didn't notice him until now.
The kid was wearing a green jacket and cargo pants i believe (I'm not into fashion and you could tell from my clothes). He looks a lot like Bruce. Like a lot. Is he the kid that's Bruce's biological son? Probably. The uncanny connection between them can really be seen by his scowl that he puts when he sees Duke. He definitely didn't want to do this at all, doesn't seem all that excited to greet us...
"Nonsense, we have everything covered here. Off both of you go."
I walked beside Duke before Damian took us up the stairs to see a full on gallery. Damn. That's a lot of art.
"Wow, it's one thing to visit. It's another to realize i'll be living here." Duke said in fascination as he took a look a round the place.
So he's been here before? Noted.
"The family. Minus Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Brown, Luke Fox, and Kate Kane. Father has been meaning to get the portrait updated." Damian said as he pointed the family tree or pictures.
Wow there are definitely a lot of members in this family. I took a good look at it and imagined myself beside geniuses. I look like a puny and next to elephants. It made me feel more awkward about this situation.
Damian probably already knew Duke, that's why he was silently glaring and judging at me, a new person in the family that was recently adopted. His glare is definitely menacing for a kid his age. Makes me question what happened to him to make him like that. Also does he not bother on asking me who i am? Wow, rude.
"Do they all live here?" Duke asked, which is a great question. Welp even if they did, the manor wouldn't even feel cramped. It's how big the manor is.
"Father, Pennyworth, and i are the only permanent residents. The others are in and out." Noted, only the judge-y child, the Bruce Wayne, and the cool butler Alfred. Now there 2 additional permanent residents to say the least.
Damian decided to walk us all into what seemed like a bedroom. The room was super big and clean. The king sized bed, got a whole drawer, a big window, and a damn sitting place on the corner.
Is this one of our bedrooms?
"Does this room suit you?" Damian asked which i'm not sure whether he cares or not about whether we like it or not.
"Who's room is this?" I asked out of curiosity. Damian just glared as if it was obvious, "it is obviously Thomas' bedroom." He stated as a matter of fact. Wow, this kid is really something else.
"Uhh... Yeah, it's great!" Duke changed the subject, already feeling the tension in the room.
After we left the bedroom (that was now Duke's bedroom). He led us to another bedroom, it was probably mine by the looks of it.
The room was smaller than Duke's but i found it cozier than his. I could tell that it doesn't have much since I didn't own much anyway. All my stuff is in my backpack after all, i don't have furniture or boxes of stuff to unpacked. The room was clean (of course it is). The difference is that i didn't have a seating place, instead i have a desk of my own coupled with empty bookshelves. As if they knew what i like really. But overall it's the same stuff as Duke's.
"Is this mine then?"
"Yes, it's yours. Now stop with stating the obvious, it is unnecessary." Damian said before walking out of the room completely. Gosh this kid has something going wrong in his head.
"Wow... Your room has a completely different vibes to mine." Duke said, changing the subject again before any dispute happens between me and Damian.
Damian, Duke, and i walked through one of the many hallways in the manor. Damian was talking about what's happening around here in the manor.
"Father sometimes hosts parties here to maintain his identity. There's so much small talk, it's terrible." Damian said with an annoyed tone. I could tell he was annoyed by the parties his father or... Our father keeps hosting. That sounds weird, welp— this situation is weird in the first place. I didn't know how i got adopted by Bruce and not just thrown into an orphanage for teenagers like me. I'm sure it's nothing new considering we're in Gotham.
Damian walked us through the hallway again and stopped in front of what seems like a kitchen. Even from the outside, i could tell it was huge.
"This is Pennyworth's domain. He'll decide if you have cooking privileges. Father has a lifetime ban." Damian said before i hold back a snort. Damn, Bruce can't cook? The Bruce Wayne? Pfft—
Then i was left behind for some odd reason, Damian just said something like "it's none of your business newcomer." He says something just like that in more fancier terms that i don't remember at all. It's like he got a dictionary in his ass or something...
I got lost when i tried to get back to my room. Not my fault the manor was big as fuck. Like seriously, why is it so big? Sure he has money to blow but like— how can people get around this manor all the damn time. But honestly, the people here are weirdos. They seemed to be hiding something from me, what is it that they're hiding?
I shouldn't think about it right now, the most important thing is finding a way back to my room. Great.