Work Text:
Pov
Gothams city lights faded into a blur of different streaks of light as Duke drove back to the cave. Getting off his motorcycle he slumped into the closest chair, well settee, he could find. Between his finals and patrolling, this week had been especially exhausting. But he couldnt complain— no.
All he wanted right now was a nice long relaxing bubble bath and some alone time.
Escaping the clutches of the couch Duke changed out of his Signal uniform and found himself back in his room. His pajamas were already layed out, spread across his bed, because Alfred took the liberty to press their clothes— which was nice and Duke was grateful. But even after two years in the manor, some things still felt relativ fictitious. Like having a butler. Shaking his head he pushed that thought to the very back of his mind and went to his bathroom.
Foremost Duke scrubbed his body clean before settling into the bathtub and relaxing for the next hour. With a hydrating mask on his face and the soft buzz of 1920s jazz Duke couldn't help but feel himself relaxing as the warm water washed over his body. It was pleasant. Still after a while he did find his eyelids growing tired, which indicated for him to get out of the tube.
Following through with that, Duke found himself collapsing into his bed, eventually drifting off.
Not even two hours later a screech echoed through the manor and Duke jolted awake. He recognized the scream as none other than Stephanie's and to his dismay it could be anything from actually serious to utterly ridiculous. Nonetheless he stood up and shuffled downstairs in a somnolent haze.
The main lights were off as the small lamps, that spread around the area, covered the common room in a soft glow.
"Thomas? I was told you were resting in your room" Damian addressed as Duke stood at the entrance, hands brushing his face, eventually turning the motion into a stretch.
" mh heard someone scream" he yawned out.
Following Damians glare, Duke found Tim and Steph sheepishly grinning.
"I apologize for their incompetence Thomas. Pennyworth informed us earlier that you were resting, but some people can't seem to moderate their volume" he informed Duke as his glare somehow intensified.
Sensing Damians irritation a whine escaped Alfred the cat as they settled themself into his lap.
"Sorry Duke that was kind of my fault— but Steph is the one who screeched like a burned chicken" apologized Tim which Stephanie reciprocated. "I'm really Sorry, but Tim cheated at Monopoly!" She argued. Duke motioned his hand brushing of what happened with a muffled "It's 'right I guess"
"Do you wanna join? We're playing UNO next"
"Didn't Bruce prohibit it?" because Duke was absolutely sure that game was banned in the manor after what happened last time the family decided to play. "Well" Steph stretched "yes.— But! He doesn't have to know" she grinned a bit to sweetly. And she was right, Bruce was off world, a literal galaxy away with the Justice League on a diplomatic mission.
Before Duke could answer, Damian interjected "Did you ever consider that Pennyworth is still here? And he will tell Father"
"Actually I did! He is baking and Cass is keeping him company. Which means we won't be bothered by anyone stopping us, besides Babs on her way with Dick for a rematch" Stephanie argued.
"Is Jason not coming?" Wondered Duke, knowing Jay would never pass up the chance for a rematch.
"Todd's in the Backyard"
"He's in the Backyard"
Damian and Tim said in unison. Turning to one another Tim took the initiative and blurted "Jinx!" Which Damian immediately shut down "I will not entertain such childish games"
"Aren't you like seven?"
"For being oh so smart, it's embarrassing that you can't seem to remember digits as simple as these. I am fifteen Drake" he spat the last part bleeding into a frustrated groan.
Well Duke understood were the irritation came from. Both Jason and Tim tended to age Damian down everytime it was brought up, whether in public or private and it really messed with Damian.
It was a running joke that everyone in the Batfamily was aware of but before the situation could escalate Steph intersected with a cheerful "So you gonna join?" directing the conversation back to Duke.
And Duke really wanted to join. Game night with his family was exciting, they brought him a sense of belonging as a wave of nostalgia always seemed to wash over him. Remembering the game nights with his parents.
On the other hand Duke thomas really cherished the quiet moments he got to have in the manor. So he declined.
Ultimately he closed the door to his room as he slumped down onto his chair. He wanted to rest, but sleeping wasn't an option anymore. It flew out the window, the moment Duke decided to leave the comfort of his bed sheets.
So poetry it was.
Poetry helped him organize his thoughts and convey his feelings into words. And much like his drawings, poetry was a form of art. Art Duke created intended for only himself and possibly his closest friends and family.
Time passed, Duke didnt really bother to check how much, but the noise rose again. Or more like the voices. He had slid off his headphones a while ago, basking in the solace of the silence. But that wasn't for long.
His siblings were playing downstairs and he needed to find a quiet place.
SCRASH
Yeah he had to move.
Grabbing his essentials including his headphones, notebook/ drawing blog and actual phone, Duke made his way to a place were no one would currently be at.
The Batcave.
"Dick?"
Richard stood at the Batcomputer barely acknowledging Duke with a grunt.
His movements were steady yet slightly frantic as he typed away.
"I thought you were upstairs with the others?"
"Something came up and I thought I could wrap this up quickly but... well this is going to take a while— what are you doin' down here anyway?" Dick finally turned his head. "I was looking for someplace quiet" Duke deadpanned.
"Oh. Game night... right. Sorry for the others" Dick was very much aware of how competitive his younger siblings could got during games. And as oldest —next to Babs of cours— he always tried to be the reasonable one who kept things from degenerating. Well that is what he told himself because at the end of the day, it was a lie.
Dick Grayson is one of the most competitive players in the manor and the reason why UNO is banned in the Wayne household.
Reversing back to the Batcomputer Dick started typing again. From his expression alone, Duke could tell the situation was quite serious and he really didn't feel like imposing.
"Do you know where I could just ....idk just somewhere quiet I guess"
"You could always use the Watchtower" suggested Dick typing away at the computer. "Really? The Watchtower?" Asked Duke slightly tilting his head. "Yeah, you've been there before so you can always just use the tubes to go again. I'll tell Babs later that I gave you permission"
Babs? Huh. Duke shrugged. And Dick was right he'd been up at the Watchtower but that was once. Eight months ago when Bruce had insisted for Signal to assist the Justice league on an operation to get acquainted with space missions.
To be honest Duke would have never thought that Dick would suggest the Watchtower out of all places, afterall it was still the Justice Leagues headquarters. And Duke honestly didn't consider his need for quiet important of a reason enough to zeta up. But either way, he wasn't complaining.
So without further ado he grabbed a domino mask (for precaution ofc) and bid his elder brother goodbye which Dick absentmindedly returned.
The Watchtower was quiet, save for the distant pulse of machinery. Duke stood before the viewpoint, hands tracing the metal bars that stretched across the station. His eyes fixed on the curve of earth below, watching clouds drift like pale ghosts across blue oceans.
His reflection hovered over it as he took in the scene in admiration. It may have been true that he'd already been at the Watchtower but that was for a mission. The last time he was there he'd been moving so much, he failed to take a moment and truly admire the view.
It was breathtaking.
It took a moment but Dukes awe striken gaze settled into a soft smile (he also changed his lock screen after snapping a pic).
Moving along Duke eventually found himself in the Watchtowers common room. The windows like most others were standing tall and curved. The design itself was rather simple— not that he minded. It mixed the high tech into a cozy living area.
He strolled passed the coffee table and curled into the edge of the plush circular formated couch. Relaxing into the armrest Duke slipped on his headphones that rested on his neck and opened his notebook.
----
"Has someone seen Duke?" Steph asked, cookie in hand as she sauntered into the room. "Isn't he in his room?" Came from Jason.
"Actually, he's in the Clocktower"
"And why is that?" Steph raised a brow. "Well you guys were loud and he needed some quiet" shrugged Dick.
It did sound reasonable but Barbara knew the Clocktower like the back of her hand. And there wasnt any notification as to, if someone had entered.
Something wasnt exactly wrong, it just ...didn't seem right. So she opened her camera feed that connected to the clocktower.
"Duke isnt at the Clocktower" she eventually stretched out her arm for the others to see. Their eyes fell upon the device and sure enough, no one was currently occupying the Clocktower.
The scent of freshly baked cookies drifted through the room as Cass walked in. Hands firm on the bowl, her expression faltered. "Can't find Duke" was all she managed.
He wasnt in the kitchen. Cass had checked his room, the theater, searched the library and kept an eye out in the hallways. Cassandra had searched the entire house yet there was nothing. Nothing but the silence that haunted the corners of hallways long forgotten in the mids of the chaos in their every day life.
"Did you?" She asked placing down the bowl.
Stephanie didn't answer right away. She didn't need to. Cass could see it in the way her slumped posture ever so slightly stiffened as her shoulders tensed up and her fingers twitched against the fabric of her clothes.
Cassandra was a prodigy, raised as a weapon of destruction. She learned to read a body down to its faintest movement, before she ever touched a book. Every movement it made, every sound it let out, she caught them all. The twitch of a finger, the way it's weight shifted from one foot to another, the subtle tightness around the jaw before someone spoke. To anyone else they meant nothing. To her they were sentences spoken in the silence of ones presence.
She could tell when someone was lying before they even opened their mouth. When fear slid behind a smile. When curiosity fought with caution in the stillness between breaths. Which meant she also understood the way the air tensed up after a reveal of some sort.— which seemed to be he case right now.
Cass' gaze flickered across the room for the briefest moment and she could tell something wasn't right. Maybe not wrong, but definitely not right. She could read it in the uncertain expression of her siblings faces that radiated something bordering worry.
----
Hours flew by as duke spend his time soaking up the comfort of his own presence. He placed every brush stroke as calculated as possible as he sketched his favourite Justice League member. Rocking his head back and forth to the beat of his music, his hand gradually stopped.
Someone was there.
The Watchtower was the most secure base in the world space, with access that only a handful of people had. Including but not limited to the Justce League.
Someone was there and by going purely off of the way that person— no, these people moved it were his siblings.
He'd initially go with the Justice League but the core members were on a diplomatic mission, a galaxy away and shouldn't be back for another week. If it were one of the newer JL members, they'd be up here alone as most of them were more friendly acquainted not exactly close friends. Leading to the very obvious conclusion that his siblings came to check on him.
He was wrong.
Very wrong.
Honestly, Dukes deductive skills were pretty impressive to say the least. But not once did he consider that the literal Justice League would be the one to walk through those doors. Or well a one-third of them.
"Who are you and how did you get here?" The question came after a full minute of tense unspoken eye contact between Duke and the others.
Duke Thomas was known as a natural leader— observant, resilient and sharp. Even without the Bats training, he had the kind of mind that saw patterns where others saw chaos. Connecting dots in places others would've never looked. He was a genius. A prodigy in the making that could think his way out of any situation through sheer determination and instinct.
"Is that ...Flash pajama merch?"
Or almost any situation.
----
Objectively speaking, Oliver Queen had seen some wild shit throughout his years as vigilante. But this was just getting downright ridiculous.
As a league member he had fought monsters and gods alike. Protecting his home planet from intergalactic threats (along side his colleagues turned friends), civilians could never even begin to comprehend.
They had protocols, training regimes and contingencies for any and all situations and scenarios imaginable that could proof threatening towards the earth. Not to mention the fact that most of their missions, didn't even reach the news.
That is how good they were.
And yet, somehow Oliver was baffled, not by some obscure creature but by the sheer absurdity of the situation unfolding before his eyes.
"Em... hi?"
The silence that followed was deafening and the present League members didn't know what too make of it. It wasn't until a few seconds later, when Green Lantern walked in, that the thickness of the air seemed to die down.
"Could you guys— oh. Signal...?"
Oliver turned to his friend, puzzled expression betraying his face.
"You know him Lantern?"
" 'course I do. He's the vigilante that Spooky brought on the space mission few months ago"
And that did make sense. If Batman of all people brought one of his vigilantes, it was a calculated move. A strategic approach. A contingency of sorts for a troublesome scenario of the future.
It also meant they probably had an entry code themselves. Which explained how they were able to access the Watchtower without a present Justice league member.
However before the conversation could spiral into anything else the rest of the league strolled through the opened door.
"Signal what are you doing here?" Asked Batman in a mix of his usual deep voice and something else Oliver couldn't quite decipher.
"Sorry B, wethoughttheTowerwasemptyandWingallowedmeupherebecauseIneededsomewherequietand—" the boy rambled on faster than he probably meant to.
"Wait Wing? As in Nightwing?" This time Barry was the one to interrupt, which Arthur took as cue to comment his thoughts "I wasn't aware that a Gotham vigilante was that close to Nightwing. Although with Blūdhaven being its sister city, it does figures"
" So he operates in Gotham?"
"Friends, I know you have question for the young warrior here, yet I do believe we should get some rest before you start your interrogation.— but I know my fellow colleagues well enough that, that wont stop you. So I urge you to at least sit down." Wonder woman turned to Duke "you can settle in aswell"
The members followed Dianas lead and scattered around the room. Barry made his way towards the fridge before settling into a bean bag. J'onn and Arthur each took an armchair. Oliver and Hal went straight for the bar (they had somehow convinced Batman it was a necessity for Team bonding nights), Clark and Victor placed themselves on the couch, while Diana did the same but propped herself against the armrest. Batman on the other hand went straight for Signals corner. He carefully placed himself next to his ward, which Duke appreciated as he leaned against Bruces side.
"This is weird" said Oliver. And it wasnt condescending, really. It was genuine confusion mixed with quiet anticipation. The intruder they had found turned out to be a vigilante with close relations to two league members. Nightwing and Batman. If it were just Nightwing, Ollie could somewhere understand. He may be one of the only human members but Nightwing was extremely skilled and efficient in battle. There were even whispers around the tower, that he rivaled the dark knight himself and Oliver could see it. But unlike the dark knight, Nightwing was easy going and cheerful. A symbol of hope, not fear in their community.
And from what he could tell, Signal —that's what Hal and Spooky called him— would gravitate more towards Nightwing.
The fact that he felt comfortable enough to lean against Batman and for Batman to allow it, it wouldnt be far fetched to say, they may know each other behind the mask. It seemed logical enough, as not even Wonder Woman and Superman could get away with getting that close to him. Even with the years of battle, camaraderie and trust they had built.
And if Signal knew Batmans identity wouldn't Nightwing know aswell, because they are close enough, for Nightwing to allow him access to the tower.
"I just wanted to be somewhere quiet were I could draw and write"
Or maybe not as Ollie could still clearly remembered the day Superman and Flash both recommended him. Batman was firmly against it but didnt have a solid argument that could back him, which lead for Nightwing to be voted in.
When Nightwing started officially working with them, Oliver had slight doubts because of that, but they were soon shaken as he got to know Blüdhavens vigilante.
Batman on the other hand kept it professional. Even so Green Arrow noticed the way Nightwing seemed to gravitate towards the big 3, especially Batman. And to their credit they worked together like two peas in a pod. Flawless.
So after a while Oliver did start to theorize on what their relationship might be.
"Why didn't you stay in the Cave?"
That sentence caught Ollies (and the others) attention. In the 15 years the Justice League had worked together, none of the memebers have ever been at the Batcave. The fact that Batman asked him so nonchalantly about it meant, Signal's been down there already. This reveal really just strengthened Oliver's hypothesis that they knew each other behind the mask.
"Wing was doin' something important 'nd look stressed"
Right. They had contacted the batcave because their ships coordinates seemed off. But that didnt explain why Nightwing of all people was down there. Oliver was sure that the infamous Agent A was the one, who had helped him.
If it was Blüdhavens beloved vigilante, it suggests that Nightwing might also know who Batman was.
But that left Oliver again with the question; 'what was their relationship?'
"Hmm. Other rooms?"
"The others were playin' UNO" deadpanned Signal, as if that would explain him being up here.
"Hn. I'm sure I banned it" and it seemed like it did. "You can stay, if you'd like"
Before anyone could ask a question, the door bursts open revealing five— no. (There was a kid with them...?)
Six faces covered in domino masked, talking over each other. The conversation appeared to be about Signals whereabouts as they bickered, not realising they weren't alone.
Superman cleared his throat which seemed to grab their attention.
"Oh" Came from the blond haired girl, who stood between another girl with a bowl in hand and a boy with the same black hair, styled in a center part with medium length bangs. "We tracked Signals phone here, because none of us knew were he went" explained the boy which left a visible confused expression on Batmans face. Meaning he wanted them to see his irritation. "I thought Nightwing agreed for you to be here?" He turned back to the boy.
"He did" all eyes fell on the eldest of the group who stood next to the youngest.
"Yeah that... my bad— I may have misspoken earlier. I meant the Clocktower...not Watchtower"
Batman groaned. And it wasn't one of his exasperated ones. It was a tired groan. Worn out, not by the years of relentless battle in blood but by the exhaustion of a parent long lost against the battle of reason.
"Can someone please explain who you guys are? — 'sides Nightwing ofc. But how did you get into the JL's Headquarters and why does Batman seems so chill about it?" Pointed Barry. And he had a point. This situation had Oliver's had spiraling, manifesting in a slight frown. He had never heard of most, if not all of them. Yet they seem so well acquainted with the Batman. It was unsettling.
"They're Gotham based vigilantes" Answered Batman with a sigh escaping his mouth. "Your point is?" Came from Hal, who'd been unusually quiet up until now. "I thought the Batman works alone" this time Aquaman spoke, which caused a series of snorts to escaped the kids. "Batman has never worked alone if we count penny-one and especially not in the past seventeen years (robin/dick)" wheezed the blond girl. "I'm sorry what?" Voiced a very confused Green arrow, knitting his brows.
"I knew, they don't know much about Gotham. But them not knowing about us? Jeez B?" Jason said, voice laced in playful judgement. "You trust them, ...no?" Cass stated more questioningly than an actual statement while she positioned herself next to Bruce.
"I do. It's just...-"
"Then tell them who you are or at least share some of yourself with them" this time it was Dick who intercepted, giving an encouraging smile.
"That fifteen years of partnership have failed to bring them any closer to recovering your identity is frankly astounding. I was sure they would have at least picked up something" stated Damian.
"Sorry for tryin to respect a colleagues privacy, but okay ig"
"I am sure the Batman would have respected our wishes as well, so it was only reasonable to not prey into his business" J'onn declared.
The conversation went on for longer than necessary as both the Batkids and league memebers collaborated to assure Batman it was okay to trust his friends with his civilian identity.
To be honest, Batman was aware of how much he could trust the Justice League with his life. They had worked together for over a decade, building camaraderie and respect for one another. They'd come to be his friends. And he trusted his friends.
But just because he trusted his friends with his life, didn't mean he trusted them with the life of his children.
Bruce was well versed with the fact that his kids could protect themselves and the league would never intentionally hurt them. Yet he couldnt help but stay wary.
It was with good reason too, because there had been to many instances were one memeber— especially Superman, the man of steel aka strongest man alive, had been brainwashed or mind controlled. Clearly it wasnt Clark's fault for being targeted but Bruce couldn't risk it. He had already lost them at one point, he couldnt go through that pain again, knowing they'd eventually become a faint memory to the public, while he'd grieve them forever. As if he had lost a part of himself— which it would actually be.
"Just know it's your call B" said Duke, a small smile gracing his lips as he cuddled closer to his guardian.
"I... " but maybe it was time to push those thoughts to the back of his head and lock them up in the deepest parts of his mind. "Okay"
Batman sat up slightly straighter while he moved his hands towards his cawl. "You know me as The Batman but my name is" Lifting it over his head the cawl crumpled
"Bruce Wayne"
The reaction wasn't immediate but the first one to break out of the trance was Green Lantern with an oh-so encouraging;
"I'm sorry, what the fuck?"
Which was followed by Flashs
"I-.... That cant be real"
"Well that is quite the revelation Bruce" Diana beamed "Thank you for sharing"
"Pause... you striped half naked against a fountain at the Iceberg lounge as Batman...?" If Clark thought about it, it was actually a genius move to portray himself as a 'billionaire himbo' , but right now, he didn't care. He was wrapping his head around the image of Brucie Wayne and the Batman to be the same person.
"Bruce, wtf. We've known each other for more than 30 years and you never even thought to trust your best friend, who you know is a vigilante as well with this matter? Seriously"
"It was a safety measurement Ollie"
"My gosh, you practiced kissing on me! I'm the safetest you've got" Oliver exhaled exasperated.
"...."
"Come again?" Came from Dick, judgement very evident in his question. "Of all people, you chose Oliver Queen for such task Father?" Damian asked, expression matching Jason's to a tee. Revolt (and utterly disturbed by now being aware of that fact).
"Ignoring whatever the fuck we just heard and going back on topic.- Why are Gotham vigilantes at the Watchtower?"
"That I would also like to know" expressed Cyborg who had just observed, up until now.
"I baked. Wanted to give little brother some" Answered Cass honestly. "Why didn't you wait for him?" Ask J'onn. "They almost finished them"
Maybe it doesn't seem like that to the public because the Wayne manor is a literal estate filled with enough food to go through a heavy winter. But more often than not, the inhabitants of said estate act like they haven't eaten in weeks, when someone bakes. That someone usually being Alred, Jason or Cass.— Cass wanted to share some freshly baked cookies with her little brother before the greedy members of her household ate everything.
"I see"
'Well Bruce, I certainly don't' Hal thought, rolling his eyes.
To say the least, the night went fairly eventless.
Bruce properly introduced the Batkids to the Justce League, formally bridging the gap between his life as the Batman and Bruce Wayne.
Duke on the other hand stayed closely to Bruces left side as he made himself comfortable next to B. Occasionally he would shift his position a bit when one of his other siblings would rest next to him. It was a pleasant night, Duke used to get to know the Flash and other heros as he munched on Cass' cookies, which he shared ofc.