Chapter Text
On one peaceful Saturday morning, after breakfast, Bruce calls Tim and Jason into his study.
"Um, please sit." He gestures to the plush chairs. Bruce is suspiciously more awkward than normal.
Jason looks at Tim. Tim looks back at Jason.
"Is this because of what we did last week?" Jason blurts.
"I didn't mean it, Bruce!" Tim says. "And no one is hurt. Maybe the Calendar Man is a little bit traumatized…"
"I didn't go as Robin in this event, so you can't punish me for breaking the nighttime's code!" Jason continues.
Bruce stares at them. "I did not call you here for that event… but now you two will talk about it later. I want to talk to you about this." Bruce takes a deep breath, fidgets, and breathes again. All the confidence of Batman and Brucie Wayne is nowhere to be found. Finally, he pushes two sets of papers to Jason and Tim. "Here. One for each of you."
They both take them.
Bruce is talking even before Jason lands his eyes on the paper. "First, you can say no. You can always say no, or say yes then back down. Or say no then have a change of heart then say yes. Anytime." He clears his throat. "In these two years I have had you two in my life, you are like sons to me since the start. And, and, if you're okay with that, I want to make it official. I want to, ah, adopt you. Both of you."
Bruce finishes his speech and fidgets, avoiding looking at the kids in the eyes.
Jason looks at the adoption paper, then looks at Tim, who is staring at the paper with unconcealed happiness in his face.
"You want us?" Tim says. "To be your forever sons?"
"You already are. This is only if you want it in the eyes of the law."
"You big softie," Jason comments and ruffles Tim's hair. "Hey, Tim. This will make you a legally forever brother with me, and Damian, and Dick too!"
"Yes!" Tim jumps up and down. "One big family. Yeah!"
However, Jason notices Bruce's adoring fatherly gaze dim a little bit at the mention of Dick. "B?"
"Um, I don't realize you aren't aware of that, ah, Dick and I, er." He looks like he's in physical pain to say this. "If you talk in terms of a legal aspect, Dick… is not adopted."
Tim gasps, then kicks Bruce in the shin. "Bruce! I read parenting books near your head every night during the first year so that you made up with him."
Bruce clears his throat again. "Some of it dod help… but when you two came into our life, Dick was just shy of reaching eighteen, just a few months… then many things happen, we do reconcile, but his adulthood has come, and I…" Bruce's voice tapers. "I miss my chance."
He looks dejected, like an old dog denied its master's affection.
Bruce does insist they think about this thoroughly before giving the answer. So Jason and Tim are in the entertainment room. Jason absently plays Pokopia, with Tim backseat gaming.
Jason glances at Tim. "You're gonna say yes."
Tim turns to Jason. "Of course. You too, right? Why wouldn't we? In these two years, Bruce is more of a parent than my parents ever were."
"Yeah, I guess," Jason says, directing his Ditto onscreen. "But Dickie…"
"Yes! It's weeeeiiiird, Jay. Bruce is surely a parent to us both. But he raised Dick for twelve years! Everyone with eyes, or even without any eyes, will know instantly that they're truly father and son. They do love each other like father and son, like a family. I don't think not-family can fight each other so cut-throat like that while still loving each other," Tim says rapidly.
Jason nods. Dick is, in all senses, Bruce's firstborn. Look how proud he is every time B reads news about Nightwing's new heroic feats. And no matter what Dick says, every time Bruce acknowledges his deeds, he beams like a daddy's boy.
"It's a little bit bummed. I mean, I know now Dick is my real-real brother, like you. But when I say yes, I will be real-real-real brother with Dami and you, but only real-real brother with Dick," Tim says dejectedly.
"Yeah…" Jason replies, thinking. Eyeing the screen, then, his hand pauses. He turns to Tim. "What about we make them have a change of heart?"
"Huh?" Tim looks back at Jason.
"Well, not like a change, but more honest to their feelings, which are very obvious."
Tim is suddenly looking very vacant in the eye, which Jason knows is the Tim.exe is running look. "…Like that very, very, very old movie, but it's your elder brother and your dad."
"Ew. Don't say it like that, but, uh, yeah. So Dick can be our real-real-real brother."
"Sibling trap," Tim says, raising his fist, grinning his childish-maniac grin.
"Sibling trap," Jason fistbumps him.
Trust Tim to make a plan. A few days later, he comes to Jason's room and presents his presentation on his Plan (TM).
Little Timmy, at age ten in a full suit and Windsor knot tie, slaps his hand on the notebook. "I have done my research on both Bruce and Dick. When Dick feels Bruce is the most fatherly. First plan: Let the Atmosphere Build It."
"Hooooooooolaaaaaaaaa!" Dick opens the manor door, shouting. "My sires! My sprouts! I miss you all!" He quickly snatches Damian, who is drawing nearby, and does a heavy cuddling.
Damian, now six, has been with them for a whole year now after, well, Tim and Jason nabbed him from the League. The kid still contains his ferocious side, but it's less deadly, and more like a child in need of anger management.
Damian is screaming like a wet cat splashed with Dick's affection. "Release me! You puny barbarian. And I'm not your sire!"
"Nonsense. You are all my little robins. Of course you are my sires! My blood!" Dick contains Damian like a champ. They know Dick loves all his baby brothers, but Dami quickly holds a special place in Dick's heart. Dick does like feisty things, and Damian reigns champ in the feistiness.
"Dickie!" Tim jumps to the Dick-Damian-cuddly amalgamation, and expectedly gets pulled into the hug. Tim laughs joyfully.
"Timmy!" Dick lifts Timmy up. "Oof. You two are getting bigger again."
"Dude, we just met, like, last week." Jason approaches him too, with arm's length to not be pulled into—aaaand somehow Dick stretches his octopus arm and snatches Jason in.
"Been too long." He ruffles Jason's hair, and pulls back to look at Jason clearly. "You really do get taller again. Wow, you will really get larger than me."
Dick sincerely smiles at him with brotherly affection, and Jason feels the warmth in his chest.
If the plan works, they're gonna be real-real-real brothers. Yeah, that fits perfectly.
"Yo, Bruce?" Jason knocks on Bruce's already opened door of his study. "I need a minute."
Bruce can't hide a small tense at that word, which is unreal. Normally Bruce can hide anything. "Is it about the—"
"Nah. I mean. Not yet." Jason pauses. And now it's a bit awkward. "Well. You know. Dick is here today. And, uh, and I think whatever the answer we give, you should tell Dick about the question? The faster the better. You know he doesn't like secrecy from you."
Bruce absorbs Jason's words. He nods. Then he asks Jason back, "You and Tim will be okay with this?"
Jason shrugs. "Eh. Timmy says he's fine with this too."
Bruce nods again. "Okay, I will. Thanks, Jay."
Jason's cheeks are warm. This is going well according to Timmy's plan. This is perfect.
"Oh, and wear this, this, and this." Jason throws clothes at Bruce.
"Appearance." Tim used a laser pointer to point at the screen, showing Bruce in various attire. "From my observation of Dick's tone of speech, his pupils, and his heart rate variation, some of Bruce's appearances are more 'Ugh, B' and some are more 'fatherly' in his perception."
He pointed at Batman.
"Generally, Batman is a no—cowl or no cowl. There are some situations that will shift him to 'dad,' but it requires a lot of intervention, so we'll put that aside for now." Tim pointed to Bruce's gala suit. "The suit absolutely invokes no good or bad reaction. It is more like a code for him to play the role of Richie Wayne. Talking about that, because the press even referred to Dick as his adopted son and they didn't correct that, not even once, so I incorrectly assumed that they were—"
"Timmy, back to the plan," Jason interrupted his baby brother before it became a rant about unethical journalism.
Tim cleared his throat. "Ahem. So, the three-piece suit is a no. That leaves the various casual clothes. Bruce's signature black turtleneck invokes the same reaction as seeing Batman, which leaves us with these."
One was Bruce in a sports polo shirt and khakis. The other was Bruce in a white shirt, a fluffy cardigan, and… khakis. Man, does the man ever wear jeans?
"Bruce's upstairs look of a rich man on the weekend," Tim dubbed the picture. “Dick feels the most comfortable when he is looking at Bruce in these two himbo clothes. From the facial reactions I observe, the cardigan one is better. The sports polo is fine, but sometimes, it evokes a tinge of melancholy in Dick's face.”
"How can you identify a melancholy facial expression? Anyway, why?"
"…I'm not sure yet. But we should proceed with the safest choice."
Bruce steps into the dining room, wearing a deep red cardigan that looks extra warm and makes him look fluffy more than muscular.
Dick, who is sitting with Damian at the table, notices immediately. "Heya, B. Wow, I haven't seen that cardigan, like, forever."
Bruce smiles back. "Yes, I think the last time was maybe your mathlete championship? Then someone dumped a milkshake on it. I didn't realize Alfred had rescued the cardigan."
They share what Jason and Tim dub as a father-and-son moment gaze. Dude, anyone who sees this will be confused when they say he isn't adopted. Dick and Bruce share many family inside jokes that the two of them still don't know.
Dick should be adopted too. And it will be perfect, Jason thinks as they start dinner. The conversation at the table is pleasant, about Tim's school science project (no, Tim, please don't use real kryptonite in the project) and Jason's drama club.
After they are clearing the table for dessert (Alfred still huffs every time they help clear the table), Bruce rests his wine glass down. "Um, Dick, uh. I have to tell you something."
Dick looks at Bruce and lowers his own glass. Jason can see that Dick reads Bruce's body language and is analyzing it fast, which is a rare skill that not many can do. Proof that they're family!
"Family matter?" Dick says. The guy is spot on.
Bruce makes an endearing, exasperated huff that Dick sees through him. Then he says, "I asked Jason and Tim about… adoption."
Jason clenches his cup of apple juice, watching Dick's reaction.
It takes Dick a second longer than usual to respond. But he slowly blossoms and looks back at Jason and Tim. "For real?"
"Yep!" Tim says.
"Yeah," Jason supplies. "Bruce gave time for us to answer, but we think you should be updated."
Dick smiles, really smiles, and turns to Bruce. "Finally! And you did it without tears, a shout, or screaming. I'm impressed."
"He did it with a lot of stuttering and the grace of a newborn fawn," Jason teases, relieved that Dick shows no grudge at all at the news. They can proceed with the plan.
Dick laughs. "I'm happy for all of you. And Bruce, you really came so far with these two." He reaches to pat Bruce's shoulder, then turns back to his baby brothers. "No matter what your answer will be, you already are a family, 'kay?"
"So are you, Dick," Jason replies, then turns to Bruce. "Right, Bruce?"
Bruce startles a bit, then smiles warmly. "Of course, you always are, Dickie."
"Dinner time." Tim tapped the board. "Well, dinner time without drama, after the main dish. From my observation of Dick's reaction after every meal, he is most lax after being served with a high-carb but relatively low glycemic index meal, probably because of his regular sugar addiction. Quinoa salad and creamy risotto will probably be compatible."
"The fact that you even collect stats about meal types is scary, but let's do it."
Dick's eyes soften. "I know, B. I always know."
Jason and Tim glance at each other.
Come on, say it. Say 'What about me?' or 'What about you?' or 'Please consider the adoption too' or 'I want to be adopted too.'
Bruce makes a bit of a fidget, a subtle queasiness when he has to talk about feelings. "I'm glad we do come back to being like, um, like this again."
Dick nods. "Me too. I'm glad this place is still a home—my home."
And you're my father.
But Dick only smiles warmly afterward and never says anything more.
"Second Plan: The Secret Weapon. 'nuff said." Tim crosses his arms, staring at the now evolved hidden conspiracy board inside his dresser.
"Dami, it's time for you to utilize your cute aggression."
"I am not cute," Damian bites back immediately, crossing his arms, furrowing his brows, and puffing his cheeks. The embodiment of a cute, scowling child. "And what are you dragging me here for? I notice that you have conspired things behind my back. Is it about what Father said during the dinner yesterday—adoption?"
Damian crosses his arms and doesn't look at them, looking quite upset.
Tim's excitement now shifts to confusion, then realization. "Oh," he says. "We didn't include you."
Damian turns all his body away, not looking at them.
"Damian. We're sorry," Jason steps in. "It's just—you know, Bruce asked whether we want to adopt. We didn't think to tell you because you are already Bruce's son."
"Yeah, Dami," Tim follows. "You always establish that you are his son. Are you upset that we will be legally equal and didn't tell you?"
Damian still does not turn back, but then he shakes his head without any biting words. Wow, the kid is really upset.
The best person who can deal with Damian is Dick. But Dick cannot know about this, so it falls on Jason. He crouches down to the same level as Damian, and he says softly, "Come on, Dames. Please tell us."
"Why do I have to talk with any of you!" Damian suddenly shouts back. "You two didn't even care to tell me that you will legally be my brothers!" he says, with frustrated tears in his eyes, and the six-year-old turns away again. "Do you think I will not be happy?"
Oh.
Now Damian is turning his back on them again. This is cute and fills both of them with guilt.
"Dami, Dami, Dami," Tim says. Now he crouches even lower than Jason, his head almost reaching the floor to try to peer at Damian's face. "Aw, you really love us!"
"Shut up, you imbecile," Damian says.
"But Damian, we're really sorry for not telling you beforehand. We didn't really mean to. It's just… we were occupied by our plan."
"Then go. Do your plan," Damian cuts them off.
"But Damian, our plan needs you!" Tim pleads with their little brother. "Do you know that Dick isn't adopted?"
Slowly, Damian raises his eyebrows. "Yes. I do know. Mother told me before."
Tim juts his lip. "How could I miss this? You outsmarted me, Damian!"
Damian perks up. "Really?"
Well, he's still a six-year-old, Jason thinks, but he is also a bit concerned that Tim is starting to show skill in people manipulation.
Tim nods. "I didn’t know, and if I say yes to the adoption, isn't it weird that Dick will be the only one not in the same team with us?"
Damian thinks. "That's true. But." He pauses. "Doesn't every one of you keep saying that only the feelings are the most important to being family? Is the paper required?"
Tim tilts his head, his temple now touching the rug. "Hmmmm. That's kinda also true?"
Jason quickly intervenes. "It's not like we don't value that, Damian. But we don't want Dick to feel left out," he says. "Brothers stay together, don't you think?"
Damian now follows Jason's words, then nods. "Hmm. I guess I do not want Richard to feel excluded. So, what do you want me to do?"
"The success of Dick abiding by any of Damian's requests is 82.7%," Tim explains at the whiteboard. "Roughly, a quarter of these result in not the exact request. Dick negotiates or chooses non-lethal alternatives. And half of those are then followed by Dick hugging Damian and Damian screaming. Still, Dick usually relents to Damian's whim. The more adorable or innocent, the more he will comply."
"From the stats, it seems you are the one Dick resists the most?" Jason comments on Tim's 33.6% success rate.
Tim sighs. "Yeah, it's the 'Timmy, no' moment."
"Richard." Before the patrol that Nightwing comes back to help with, they are in the Cave, and Damian climbs into Dick's lap before he changes.
"What, lil' D? Are you clingy today?" He smiles and supports Damian's back.
"Shut up!" Damian says, cheeks red, while giving a quick glare at the observing Tim and Jason. They have instructed Damian on how to approach Dick. Then Damian clears his throat. "About Jason and Timothy's adoption…"
Dick perks up at that. "Yeah? I'm so excited and happy for them! Are you, Dami?"
Damian turns his head away a bit. "Well, I guess."
Jason can't believe he has a real-life tsundere as a little brother.
Damian then goes on as they have prepped him. "But, Richard, I have known from Mother that you aren't legally Father's son."
Dick is genuinely surprised when Damian says that. Jason notices he is somewhat tense, then slowly relaxes. Dick pulls back and looks into Damian's eyes. "That's true. But, no offense to you, what I have with Bruce… I still believe it supersedes any bloodline or legal document."
Damian continues. "But, if all three of us—"
"Then what I have with all three of you will supersede that bloodline or any legal document too. We are the best, Damian."
Dick smiles aaaaaaand Jason totally sees Damian's feral heart melt before his big brother. Damian makes a reluctant nod and is lost to Dick's charm—as is half of the hero community.
"Well, Damian also bends to Dick's will at 95.4% chance," Tim comments.
"Third plan: Honesty is the key." Tim is now pulling his own hair. Jason pulls Tim's hand from his hair.
"Don't do that, Timmy."
"Dick is so resistant to my plan, Jay! This is like when I stalk him."
Jason looks at all the data Tim has collected. "You still are stalking him, just now as a brother."
Tim crosses his arms, looking at his secret stalking board proudly. "Being a brother makes it much easier to gather data! Sometimes I can just directly ask him!" Then his voice tapers. "But Jay… if he says it's enough, isn't it enough? Dick and Bruce right now seem much more happy than they were two years ago."
Tim is looking at his stalking photo of Dick on the sofa, talking with Bruce on the couch. It seems from the last visit. Bruce was asking about Dick's career as a gym instructor and influencer. With Timmy's megalomaniac mastermind behind him, Dick thinks of opening his own studio and sports fashion brand when he reaches 21. They're both open, relaxed. Different from when they joined the family two years ago, when Bruce was an over-controlling zealot (a bit better now) and Dick was an angry hotheaded teenager (seems a lot better).
"Timbo, it is because they're better now that they should get this too. Everyone, when they see this family, sees us, then sees them both… if they know Dick is the only one not adopted, they will be questioning," Jason says to Tim.
Tim tilts his head. "Hmmmmm. Maybe? I do think the Waynes can weather even harsher drama than this. But I do understand it'd make a nice picture."
"Yeah, a nice, perfect picture."
"So!" Tim is back to the conspiracy board. "Honesty. Dick, as a team leader, does value honesty, Jason. That's why he clashes with Bruce a lot. Bruce is trustable but not honest."
True, true. "So what's the plan?"
Tim points the marker at him. "You. You, Jay. Be honest."
Jason knocks on Dick's door.
"Come in!" Dick says.
Jason opens the door to Dick's room. Dick is packing his duffel bag, ready to go back to Blüdhaven again. "Yo," he says, putting his hands in his jeans pockets.
"What's up?"
"Hmm. About the adoption," Jason says. "My… my adoption."
Jason stands at the door threshold, waiting for Dick's cue.
Dick stops his packing and pats the space on his bed. "Come 'ere," he says.
Jason sits on that spot. "Um. I just… I've heard you and Dami's talk in the Cave."
Dick makes a small laugh. "Oh, yeah. The baby needs a little bit more love until he understands that the title is not everything."
But Jason does not go with Dick's laugh. He shakes his head.
"Jay?"
"Why don't you want to really be Bruce's son?" Jason blurts. Ah, shit. He looks so uncool.
"Huh?"
"I… I mean, Dick. You clearly love Bruce. Bruce really adores you. Why don't you… I don't know." He takes a big, deep breath. "Why don't you be adopted with us?"
There. He finally tackles it, bluntly, directly.
"I have done my research—" Jason continues. "In Gotham, there is an adult adoption equivalent. Bruce can declare—"
"No, Jay," Dick cuts him. Not harshly, but with firmness.
Jason looks up at his brother, his brother in all but name. His brother that should fit with them perfectly.
Dick's eyes are sad.
"It's not like I don't want Bruce, or don't want to be his son," Dick tells him. "But I do not… will not ever want to not be their son."
And Dick looks at the old set of pictures on his table.
One is of Bruce and Dick in their earliest years.
One is of tiny Dickie with all the people of Haly's.
Another one is a very old picture of a toddler Dick, captured while he is in midair, playfully tossed up by John Grayson in a sports polo shirt and khakis, and Mary Grayson, who is laughing with dimples that are so like Dick's.
Oh shit. Jason realizes why.
Dick will never say yes.