Chapter Text
Bruce's
Bruce, after a rough night, returns with Nightwing to the cave. The young man had disobeyed him, causing himself damage in his arm. Bruce is tired. He wants to rest. He hadn't brought Robin because he thought Nightwing would be capable of handling everything, which he was! He apprehended the criminals and solved the issue in record time... And now he was hurt.
The young man hissed in pain on the Batmobile. Bruce avoided looking at him. Boundaries. He can respect them.
He got out at the cave. Boundaries. He can ask him. He won't force his son, his grown up son, to have his arm checked if he doesn't want to. Boundaries.
"Listen to me," Dick says behind him, as Bruce pulls off his cowl. "Before you start with your hypocritical criticisms, I need you to listen to me."
"Dick..."
"No, no, no, be quiet for a second." Dick raises his voice. Bruce takes a deep breath in front of the monitors. Boundaries. Boundaries. Don't fall for it. "Regardless of whether you think I made bad decisions, I want to be able to defend myself before you start getting upset."
"...Dick..." He tries again.
"LISTEN TO ME, BRUCE!!" And that... That one hurts.
"...Richard..." He has to take a second to compose himself. To focus. To find the words. Then, he turns to his son "...Your arm... Do you want us to check it?"
"...What?" Richard blinks at him. Why is it always so hard with his-
Bruce sighs, running his gloved hand through his hair, a low grunt. "Your shoulder, Richard. We have to- No... Do you want to check it?"
"Uh... No?" His- Richard answers.
Bruce nods and turns back to updating the patrol log in the computer.
A beat of silence. He doesn't hear Dick move, but he feels him fiddle on his feet. Until...
"B...? Uh. You're not going to... Comment on—" Dick speaks to his back "You know?"
Bruce finishes his entry, and turns his head just enough to see Nightwing's silluette. "There's nothing to talk about, Dick." He stills his fingers over the keyboard. "You're aware of your actions, and I trust that the decisions you made, you made while considering the repercussions." He turns to face Dick. "Unless you want us to have your arm checked..."
"No. No, it's fine. I'm fine... I am. Yes."
Incapable to keep on the conversation, he gives his back to Richard "If you can, take the opportunity to say hello to Damian... And if you want, you can stay for dinner... I don't think I'll be joining you, though."
"Oh. Mhm. Okay. Yes. I'm going to..." Bruce just tries to focus on the screen. Nothing of importance showing there. "...Ooook..."
He hears Richard go towards the showers, his head already hurting. He waits until the only sound in the cave is the running water before placing his palms against the console, head bowed, face tucked between his shoulders.
He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to hold back the moisture behind his eyelids, and clenches his teeth, pressing against the inside of his cheek, biting down until the metallic taste of blood on his tongue grounds him.
He takes a deep breath. He exhales, feeling his shoulders tremble slightly. He inhales again and opens his eyes to focus on the screen. He exhales, straightening his shoulders, and reaches for his cowl.
Richard's
Dick knows he made some mistakes tonight... More than a couple. Actually? One after another. And as a pseudo-responsible adult, he knows Bruce gave him all the necessary instructions when he asked Nightwing to help during the patrol.
And... Maybe Nightwing should have stayed back when Batman yelled at him the first time. Sure, he probably should have followed instructions when told to let the criminal escape. And yes, maybe he got too confident, or wanted to show off to his mentor; maybe he was more careless than usual... But the gunshot wound to his shoulder wasn't on his forehead thanks to his reflexes, and he avoided the blow of the metal pole to his head... That has to count for something. Besides, he basically caught the criminals single-handedly! He deserves credit instead of a shout, right?
Right.
But... It also had been a long time since they'd patrolled together. Just the two of them. He was just... Excited. And Richard knows that today's actions could ruin the night and end in another shouting match.
Dick turned his face toward the Batmobile window, resting his elbow on the sill, covering his mouth with his palm; feigning a yawn to mask the sigh that threatened to escape.
He twisted his shoulder slightly and hissed at the sharp pain. He whirled around to defend himself against Bruce's accusations... And nothing. Batman kept staring straight ahead. Jaw clenched, steering wheel clacking against the gloves pressed to the leather. Shit, this was going to end badly.
Richard closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His "I'm sorry" was buried beneath his pride and self-recriminations, stuck in his throat. I'm an adult, he can't yell at me for the decisions I make. And if he doesn't want to call me back on patrol? Fine, then don't. I have my own city to protect. And to think I wasted my time coming here. To think I was excited about the idea of coming and going out with him. Idiot. I know I'm not what he expects, but that doesn't give him the right to-
His thoughts were cut short when the engine stopped and the door opened.
He opens his eyes. He inhales deeply. He jumps out of the car. He exhales.
"Listen to me," he says, moving his good arm, walking quickly behind Bruce as he pulls off his cowl. "Before you start with your hypocritical criticisms, I need you to listen to me."
"Dick..."
"No, no, no, be quiet for a second." He feels his chest quicken. He knows he's raising his voice. He knows he's getting agitated. He keeps looking at the floor; Bruce stills in front of the monitors. "Regardless of whether you think I made bad decisions, I want to be able to defend myself before you start getting upset."
"...Dick..."
"LISTEN TO ME, BRUCE!!"
"...Richard..." Low, almost a whisper. Tired. The name makes Dick stand frozen. Bruce turns to look at him, and his eyes look tired. God. Has his father mentor always looked this old? "...Your arm... Do you want us to see it?"
"...What?" Nightwing is standing in front of Bruce/Batman. In shock. A thousand thoughts race through his mind.
Bruce sighs, running his gloved hand through his hair, a low grunt. "Your shoulder, Richard. We have to... No... Do you want to check it?"
"Uh... No?"
"Hn." Bruce nods and returns to the computer to update the patrol log.
Dick stays there, watching him. He slowly removes his domino mask. Opening and closing his mouth, trying to say something. Uncomfortable in the silence of the cave, broken only by Bruce's typing.
"B...? Uh. You're not going to... Comment on—" Dick gestures to the air, making a circle with his open palm, pointing at everything, yet nothing at the same time. "You know?"
Bruce sighs slowly, still typing. He slightly turns his head towards him. "There's nothing to talk about, Dick." He sighs again "You're aware of your actions, and I trust that the decisions you made, you made while considering the repercussions." He gently stops typing and turns to face Dick. "Unless you want us to have your arm checked..."
"No. No, it's fine. I'm fine... I am. Yes."
"Hn." Bruce turns back to the screen. "If you can, take the opportunity to say hello to Damian... And if you want, you can stay for dinner. I don't think I'll be joining you, though."
"Oh. Mhm. Okay. Yes. I'm going to..." Dick turns toward the showers, gesturing.
"Hn."
"...Ooook..."
By the time Dick steps out of the shower, both Batman and the Batmobile are gone.
“Dames?”
Damian looks up from the painting he was still working on under the dim studio lights. Frowning, he glances at his older brother standing in the doorway of the open door, then at the wall clock.
“Richard,” he greets, setting his brush down on the easel and wiping his hands on his apron. Looking over Dick's shoulder, he steps toward the motionless man. “You came back early—” He blinks suddenly, looking at Dick's eyes. “Where’s father?”
Richard bites his thumb, eyes scanning the surroundings, avoiding focusing on his brother and the image of their father Bruce superimposed on the younger boy’s face. “I was hoping you could answer that for me.” It’s a murmur. But not low enough for the kid not to hear.
He turns on his heels, Dick is about to go ask Barbara when a small hand digs its fingers painfully into the soft part of his arm.
“What’s that supposed to mean, Grayson?” The growl Damian lets out is so Bruce-like that Dick has to close his eyes and bite his lip to keep the groan that wants to escape his throat. “Richard!”
Dick turns, a smile playing on his lips, and kneels down to Damian's level. Both hands on the 13 year old's shoulders, trying to calm his brother down. "Relax, mini bat. Let me sort this out. I'll go find the idiot and let you know."
Shaking off his brother's grip and giving him a shove hard enough to send him falling to the ground, he adds, "Don't think you're going alone, Grayson. I'm coming with you." And walking past Dick sitting on the ground
"Damn you, Bruce, you son of a bitch" he mutters under his breath.
"Hurry up to the cave, we're not going out in civilian clothes." Damian pressures him.
Damian's
"Dames"
Damian looks up from the painting he was still working on under the dim studio lights. Frowning, he glances at his older brother standing in the doorway of the open door, then at the wall clock. 3:30. Huh.
“Richard,” he says, carefully setting his brush down on the easel and wiping his hands on the apron. Looking over Dick's shoulder, he steps towards his brother's. “You came back early—” He blinks suddenly, the mansion too quiet, and turns back to the older man, finally noticing his nervous behavior. “Where’s father?” He always greets me when he returns from patrol, goes unsaid.
Richard is biting his thumb, his eyes scanning the surroundings, clearly avoiding eye contact with him. “I was hoping you could answer that for me.” It’s a murmur. Not intended to be heard.
Before Richard could fully turn around, Damian grabbed his arm. He had to use his entire weight to make him stop and stand still.
“What’s that supposed to mean, Grayson?” Damian felt his heartbeat painfully against his ears. He had to focus on his breathing. “Richard!” Where's my dad?
His brother turned over, kneeling down with a smile so tender it gave him nausea. Both of his hands where now on his shoulders, grounding him, calming him. He doesn't want to calm down. "Relax, mini bat." He doesn't want to relax!! "Let me sort this out. I'll go find the idiot and let you know." No! He's not losing him again.
Shaking off his brother's grip and giving him a shove hard enough to send him dramatically sprawling to the ground, he adds, "Don't think you're going alone, Grayson" He needs to move, to act. He needs to be there this time. "I'm coming with you."
He walks past the man sitting on the ground with the face of a deer in the headlights. He pointedly ignores the 'Damn you, Bruce. Yousonofabitch' muttered under Dick's breath. "Hurry up to the cave, we're not going out in civilian clothes."
He believes he's running. He knows he is. He's practically jumping over the rail to get to the first floor, heart pumping on adrenaline, towards the cave-
"What's going on?" He doesn't turn around to see Duke's face as he comes outside his own bedroom. He can't stop. Not again, not again, not again, not again, not again- He turns in the corner, somehow he'd made it to the cave before Richard. He's panicking while he grabs his uniform. Why is everything so heavy, why can't he see well, where is his dad?! Why can't he do anything-?!
He feels Richard's hand in his shoulder. "Breathe, Dames. Take deep breaths"
He's breathing, containing himself. Behind Dick, he can see Duke cautiously approaching them. "Dick?"
Richard gives him one last strong squeeze on his shoulder and a reassuring smile, before turning around. "Duke, pal. You should go to bed, tomorrow you have classes"
"I'll skip" Damian sees how Richard flinches.
"No."
"Dick, please"
"No, Duke. That's final."
He heard himself scoff before he realized. Richard turning towards him with a scowl. Fuck. Dick is crossing his arms. Fuuuck. "Richard, I don't want to waste time talking through all your hypocrisy. Can we please have you scolding us AFTER we find our father?"
Duke smiled to him, carefully moving away, to his own suit. Dick buried his face between his hands, angrily rubbing it while letting the longest, most dramatic sigh. "FINE! You both suit up. I'll check Bruce's tracker"
"Wait..." Damian stopped in place. "You... Haven't..." He felt his blood go cold. He turned to look at his brother, wide eyed, with incredulity.
"Wow" They all turned towards where Tim was standing. "Dick, you are really something"
Duke's
Duke heard the commotion as soon as he opened his eyes. Quick feet running in the hallway, small ones, followed by those who believed belonged to Richard's. Immediately on alert, he scrambled out the bed and to his feet, and ran to open his bedroom door.
Dick was passing in front of him "What is going on?!" Dick doesn't stop to explain, so he follows. Down the hallway, down the stairs, down to the cave. And finally, at the end of the run, he sees Damian struggling to get out of his clothes and inside the uniform. Dick goes to move towards the kid, but Duke grabs his hand, a question unspoken.
Dick softly pushes his hand away "Bruce is missing" he just whispers, turning to his little brother.
Missing? Missing how? What does he mean? He saw his... He saw Bruce just this morning. He told him to have a good day. He hugged him. Bruce kissed his forehead. Missing? What. Does. He. Mean?! HOW IS HIS DAD MISSING?!
He's not his dad. But he is his dad. But he's not. But kinda? How is he missing? Is it bad enough for Damian to be panicking? Now he feels like panicking. WHERE IS BRUCE?
"Dick?"
Dick, who was busy trying to calm down their his? Dick's little brother, turned to face him. Stranded smile that won't reach his eyes. "Duke, pal. You should go to bed," Duke feels like throwing up. "tomorrow you have classes"
He looks at his brothers. Are they? Does he belong? Bruce would have told him he does. Bruce. Who calls him son. Sun. Sunshine. Pal. Who's fucking MISSING -
"I'll skip"
Dick frowns at him. He's still next to Damian, comforting him.
"No." Maybe Duke should start begging.
"Dick, please"
"No, Duke." Maybe he should start crying. "That's final."
A barrier. A wall. Distance. He does not belong. Fuck. The first son and the LAST son. The only blood one, and the last to take on the name. Duke isn't any of those. Duke, with both of his parents alive. An alien. He might start crying.
Bruce would have hugged him better. He would have told him he belongs. He would have told him that until he wants to, he has a home and a father with him. He misses Bruce. Where is he? He might start crying, indeed.
He doesn't know why are they looking at each other now, but Dick is no longer facing him, he's looking at Damian. And Damian...
"Richard," he starts "I don't want to waste time talking through all your hypocrisy." God bless the kid "Can we please have you scolding us AFTER we find our father?" Our our ourourourourour OUR DID YOU HEARD IT, RICHARD?! He can't help but smile at the kid, moving away to get inside his own suit.
"FINE! You both suit up." He doesn't bother to hide the triumphant smirk "I'll check Bruce's tracker" what?
"Wait..." He doesn't know who said it. Maybe it was himself. "You..." No, it must have been Damian, since he can barely breathe right now "Haven't..."
"Wow" They all turned towards where Tim was standing. "Dick, you are really something"
Tim's
Tim heard the Batmobile arrive. He didn't turn to face them, laying on his chair with the eyes closed. He did his best to tune them down, respecting their conversation since they hadn't noticed his presence. Until- "LISTEN TO ME, BRUCE!!".
He slowly sat on his chair, narrowing his eyes. He thought of intervening due to Dick's uncalled outburst, but he remained sat.
He tilted his head, reading Bruce's expression and body language. The way he answered back with fatherly calm. Tim steadied his heartbeat.
"I don't think I'll be joining you, though."
He clenched his jaw, unable to look away from where Bruce stood. Didn't follow Dick's figure as he retreated to the showers. Just watched how his father stilled before finishing his input on the logs. He saw him tense his body, and he was sure the man would collapse standing there. He slowly rose to his feet... And kept watching.
Tim's hands opened and closed, unsure if it was his place to-
Bruce reached for his cowl and swiftly turned around. "I have a lead" he said to the air "it won't be long... Don't tell Dick" he turned to where Tim was now standing. "I don't want to face him right now" The smile on his father's face broke something on him. He opened his mouth to speak... And just nodded instead.
Bruce put on the cowl, smile still there. "Go rest, Tim. You did well"
He took a shaky breath and sat back down as his father jumped inside the car and left, pressing a trembling hand to his face. Did I?
Tim turned around and quickly opened Bruce's tracker on his tablet and rested his face on the metallic table as he watched the red dot move around.
Dick didn't notice him. Again. Tim pretended not to care.
Damian came first. Fast. Hysterical. He was visibly hyperventilating. Dick and Duke followed behind. Tim slowly turned his chair to face them. None of them acknowledged him.
He frowned and rose up, tilting his head at his siblings.
"Bruce's missing" What?
Tim froze on the spot, he had to focus his breathing to avoid spiralling. There is enough with one kid freaking out. Two? By the way Duke was moving, he could tell the young one was doing his own mental acrobatics.
Missing? He stopped looking at the stupid tracker for, what? A few minutes? He just closed his eyes for a moment. Missing?
He frowned at the clock at the corner of his tablet screen. Fuck. He slept for almost two hours.
M I S S I N G ?
He checked his tablet, where Bruce's red dot was still blinking. His dad wasn't lost again. HE WASN'T MISSING. He frowned, furious, looking up to his siblings and back to the dot. His eyes widened.
Ok, that's... Weird.
He opened his mouth-
"FINE! You both suit up. I'll check Bruce's tracker"
What? Wait. Wait what?
"Wait... You... Haven't..."
Oh. Oh, Dick...
"Wow" They all turned towards where Tim was standing. "Dick, you are really something"
"Tim? Since when-?"
Tim moved to the computer and inserted the location. Avoiding Dick's eyes.
"I- I was looking for him on the manor, before- I... Dami..." Dick frantically moved his hands trying to explain himself.
Tim raised his brow in his direction, pressing enter "After you tried to pick a fight with him" he didn't miss how Dick flinched and how the youngest turned to face him "he said something about having a lead... And not wanting to" he fully turned to Dick, the light on the screen on his back framed him in an absurdly imposing way "face you"
"Wait, you were here-?"
"Richard?"
Tim nodded. "I got to see it all. Your whole performance. I should have intervened when I realized you just wanted to..." He narrows his eyes to the oldest "hurt him. But... I think I'm too used to that. We all are." He looks down for a second before refocusing on his task. "Not the point right now, so"
"Wait, no. I want to know"
"Duke, please" Dick closes his eyes with... Shame? Seems so.
"Right. But... Later? Please?"
Tim nods, watching how Dick covers his eyes with one hand. "I opened his location as soon as he said he was leaving" he tilts his head, cringing. "But I have to shamefully admit I fell asleep while tracking him." Tim pressed his fist against his mouth "But I swear it wasn't enough time for-"
"You already tracked him?" Dick frowns at him.
"I- yes? I care for his wellbeing"
"No. That's... That's not caring, that's borderline sta-" Duke looks horrified.
"Drake! Focus, where's father?!"
Tim unglues his eyes from Dick's frowning face and leans towards the screen. "His tracker shows him at the abandoned refinery at-"
"Why is he moving like that?" Duke points to the dot moving oh so slowly.
Tim shakes his head. "No idea. He was moving incredibly fast a couple of seconds ago, but he suddenly stopped... But not really. He's..."
"He can't be... Crawling, right?" Damian is shaking.
Dick presses a hand on the kid's shoulder. "Maybe he's following someone"
"That slowly?"
"Duke-"
"No, he's right. Maybe we should go check on him-"
As on que, the alarm shined on the screen and their comms opened.
"I need hands on Ace Chemicals. Red Hood and Batgirl are on their way. Batman's down"
Barbara's
"Well, damn"
Nightwing's fall looked AWFUL. Even Jason hissed in discomfort when they saw the man twist and fall over the baranda. He immediately lifted himself up and kept going. But the miniscule pause on Batman's movements made clear the worry on the man.
Fuck. Fucking hell, Richard.
Not even Hood would behave the way Dick did tonight. Sure, they succeeded. But the lack of discipline on the acrobat made Oracle sigh and pinch her nose.
"Do you think he's ripping him a new one?"
Red Hood and Batgirl were still on patrol, Bruce cutting his and Dick's short for obvious reasons.
"No. They're actually... Eerily quiet" Barbara squinted at the Batmobile's live footage.
"Oh shit"
Barbara nodded even if the other two couldn't see her. "They'll arrive at the cave in about 5 minutes. They haven't spoken. At. All."
"I hope Nightwing apologizes. B was worried" Cass' voice came off soft and steady over the coms even if her cowl showed her grappling over the rooftops at high speed.
"Normally I would hate to be on the old man's side... But Dickwing messed up"
Barbara sighed. He did indeed fucked up.
On her screen, the car was entering the cave. She focused on the cave's cameras after both of them took their own. She bit her thumb nail, fully expecting Bruce to go ballistic.
"I expect your narration, O!"
Dick followed close behind Bruce's form, moving his arms around, raising his voice.
"Listen to me. Before you start with your hypocritical criticisms,"
"Shush! What the fuck, Wing?"
"O??"
"I need you to listen to me"
Dick kept going.
"Wing is antagonizing. B... Is quiet"
"That's scary"
"Yeah-"
"LISTEN TO ME, BRUCE!!"
Barbara stiffened when Dick's voice rumbled in the cave. She saw Tim at the corner of the screen straightening.
"Fuck, I think Red Robin is going to-"
"Your shoulder, Richard."
Bruce looked at his oldest.
"What?"
"Oracle! Narration!"
"Don't pressure her, Hood"
"We have to- No... Do you want to check it?"
"B... He just. He left the topic go..."
"Wha-?"
"He was sad"
"He looks sad"
"Fuck. Should we-?"
"No, maintain your routes"
"Aye, aye, captain"
Dick looked frozen on screen. Probably trying to understand. He kept on pressing, attempting to get a reaction. And Bruce hadn't fallen for it.
"And if you want, you can stay for dinner..."
"Man..."
"WHAT?!"
"...Hood..."
"He just invited him for dinner"
"What?"
"What the fuck?!"
"I don't think I'll be joining you, though."
"Oh, no."
"Oracle, please. I'm dying here!"
"Dude shut up, I'm doing my best!!"
"What did he say? Is he staying?"
"Wing? Yes. B? No."
"... Sad."
"Yes, yes. We got it. He's sad. Did Wing apologize?!"
"SHUT-!" Barbara froze, watching Tim move slightly towards Bruce, but remain still on his spot. "Oh, c'mon Red. Get closer. Ask him if he's fine"
"Wing's still there?"
"No, he left for the sho-" Bruce turned to Tim on the footage. A sad smile on his face. Barbara swallowed, closing her eyes. "He got a lead"
"Who-?"
"B?"
"I don't want to face him right now"
She felt her eyes tingle.
"Fuck..."
"Oracle?"
"O?"
"Stay sharp, and free the coms. B got a lead. He'll probably need you both on scene"
"Roger."
"Roger."
Screen Bruce looked at Tim one more time
"Go rest, Tim. You did well"
Barbara bit her lip, and changed to Batman's cowl footage at the same time the man jumped inside the car.
She followed the car on the map, as well as the live video from inside the vehicle. Batman hadn't opened his coms yet, and she started to worry the man intended to go solo. She moved her finger to call upon Hood and Batgirl to join him on his location, when the coms made a sound.
"Oracle. I got a lead on the target for the products dealer"
"Hi, B. Welcome back. Need me to call on the patrols?"
"Not yet, but keep them informed"
"Got ya"
She watched Bruce move his hands on the car's panel, and a new pin showed up on her map screen. She glared at the disgraceful place and shared the location with patrol.
"Fuck, really?"
"Coms free, Hood"
"Sup' old man"
"Free them, Hood" Barbara sighed.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, leaning back for a second, before sitting back and opening private intercoms with Batman.
"Hey. B?"
"Oracle."
"You good?"
Silence. She watched Bruce position the vehicle in the shadows, a good few feet away from the building, and get out of it with a grapple to the closest fire escape. Minutes went by. Half an hour. An hour. Full silence on coms.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Stubborn man" she grumbled to herself.
Bruce was now positioned across the plant, watching the front of the building.
"Sorry, but I listened to the cave. I heard you and... Nightwing"
"...I see"
"Sorry."
"It's fine"
"B."
"I'm fine"
The pressure behind her eyelids were back. She took a deep breath, focusing back on her screen. On the side, where Jay's and Cass' cowl footage showed, she noticed them both sitting next to each other.
She thought of opening coms with them. Call them on scene. But Bruce had been disrespected enough for a night.
"I... Think I should be used to it. But-"
She whipped her head back to Bruce's screen. "What?"
"Sorry, where you with -?"
"No no no, I just. What do you mean?"
"... What?"
"B. What do you mean?"
"... I mean. The lack of trust. I've builded that..."
"B..."
"I've constantly made them all..."
He fell quiet. Barbara felt her heart contract on her chest.
"Batman. No." Silence. She quickly pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes, rubbing violently. "Wing messed up. He disobeyed orders. He went against you"
"That's nothing new, Oracle"
Batman moved on screen, stalking in the shadows. She saw him quietly grapple to a higher point and lean himself forward to watch the windows. Probably planning an entry route.
"He acted hurtful, B. Disrespectful." She heard the static, meaning the coms were open, but silence was the only answer to her words. She sighed. "Bats..."
"Nothing out of the ordinary, then"
Now she went still.
The coms on the other side made noise.
"O? Need us on deck?"
"Hood's on line. Don't move"
She quickly changed channels. Not taking Bruce's footage out of her view.
"Hood. Keep position. B is located on the building. There's still no clarity of the target is effectively inside"
"Roger. Please keep us updated"
She heard the worry.
"Of course, H. Maybe finish your routes close to him, so you would feel calmer"
"What?! No! I'm calm! I'm super calm!! I'm the calmest-!"
"Free the coms, Hood. I'll contact you if needed"
She went back to Bruce's private chanel. A relieved sigh at the fact that the man was still there.
"He's worried"
"Mn"
"He is. B... You're trying to be better. We all see it."
"It's not enough"
"..."
"At least to them... It's not enough. Nightwing made it clear tonight"
"B..."
"He... Wanted to fight"
"He did"
"Maybe I should have let him"
"What?"
"So he could find some relief."
"No, that's... Not okay"
"Maybe. But it's what I've been dealed with"
Barbara leaned back on her chair, a deep grunt of frustration, sliding her nails across her red curls and slightly pulling from them.
"God, your family needs therapy!!" Bruce let out a soft, sad chuckle. "Not funny, B!! Wing's the one who fucked up. I saw the footage, B. He. Fucked. Up."
"I know, Oracle."
"Then why-?" She bit down, swallowing tears. Time and place. Time and place.
"Mmh?" He hummed, encouraging her to speak.
"Why-" Fuck it "Why are you punishing yourself?"
She prepared herself for the answer, but instead, Bruce's cowl indicated he had moved himself to a new position.
"Oracle, at my ten. Dubious movement in the abandoned refinery"
She sniffed, fingers moving fast across her keyboard, taking over the closest security camera. "Checking. I can see them. They're definitely with our target" She pressed keys, gaining access to a different one "I'll connect to the front camera for a better view of the surroundings, don't engage until I have clear vision"
"Tsk, they're moving, I'm going down. Please verify how many are inside the building"
"I have no visuals of the inside. Do not engage, I'm calling for backup!!"
And then the damned sound that indicated the com went off
"BATMAN?!" Silence. She saw the man entering the building and the cowl footage also failed. She desperately tried to force access, but clearly it wasn't Batman the one who cut her off. "Fuck!!"
She opened general coms as she typed her way into the hacking system. "Hood, Batgirl, get moving. Batman is compromised"
She heard the curses, as she fought the hacked system. "Who the fuck. Who the fuck do you think I am, motherfucker"
Less than two minutes. She was off the grid for less than two fucking minutes.
The cowl footage was regained just in time for the explosion.
She felt her blood go cold.
"Nonononono..."
"Oracle!! Was that-"
She violently pressed the emergency button to force all coms and the cave sound open. "I need hands on Ace Chemicals. Red Hood and Batgirl are on their way. Batman's down"
Stephanie's
A long tired sigh left her as soon as her feet touched clocktower ground. It was an awfully long day. Between classes and her partime work, then the group project and a small outing with friends. Nothing terrible. Except for the creep that she had to beat up so he couldn't follow her home.
She followed Barbara's voice and slowly dragged a chair next to her. If she had paid attention, she would had heard the alarm on her voice.
"God, today was a nightmare! You won't believe the shit I just went through!" She complained as she took a seat.
At the lack of response, she frowned, tilting her head and focusing on her friend's face. "Fuck... Babs?" She was... Crying? "What's go-?"
"Shh, B! Don't waste air. HURRY UP. WHERE ARE YOU!?"
Stephanie felt all the hairs on her back rise up, adrenaline rushing through her body. Before she could think of what to do, she was running to her suit.
"Fuck, I can't see anything. A staircase was located to his 5, but that point of reference is useless now..." She had only heard Barbara's desperate voice a couple of times before. And never had a good outcome. She was supposed to be a pillar. To be stable. She was panicking with her.
"Bruce!! Huge pillar!! Can't see the legs behind the smoke! Right arm crushed! FUCK BRUCE PLEASE! GUYS!!!"
No codenames. Stephanie wanted to cry with her. She hurried to her side. Her Spoiler suit weighting her down.
Barbara turned her head around, looking straight to Steph's eyes. "Who's still at the cave?" She asked at the comms without breaking eye contact. Steph missed having the comms on her ear. She missed it even when she made herself promise to step away from that life. Barbara closed her eyes and cursed. She opened again and looked apologetic.
Stephanie smiled and rose up "Need me to rush out, O?"
Barbara shook her head. "I'm so sorry, Ste-" She swallowed "Spoiler"
Steph couldn't hide her grin. "No probs, to the cave, then? What should I do?"
Her friend and mentor looked at her, pressing a hand against her teary eyes. "Join Damian, we need the medbay re-" Her eyes went wide and she turned around. "Fucking FINALLY, GUYS!!" Barbara put her hands together in a praying position.
Stephanie turned around, quickly grabbing a earpiece and running to the window. He fired the grappling hook at the same time he pressed the comms on. The last sound echoed in her ear as Barbara yelled behind her "Bruce, stay awake!!".
Cassandra's
"Little brother" She sat next to Jason on the rooftop. Barely a sound. Even the wind cutting around her seemed quieter. Jason looked up to her and gave a short nod.
He had stopped his corrections for a while now. The sharp comebacks where left behind at some point. She wanted to believe. He was the one she lest connected felt to. Because of Bruce. Her dad. Theirs. Not because of love, though. She knows the feelings Jason saves, and maybe that's why they can't seem to get along. Because of Bruce.
Her dad. Well... Theirs.
She loves the man. And knows Jason does as well. She knows. But that doesn't justify his ways. Bruce needs proof, by either words or actions. And Jason does neither.
Richard does. Even if she would love to throw Richard inside a well most of the days after he and Bruce cross paths, he does his best proving to Bruce of his love. Pity he tends to destroy we everything after a fight. But he loves her dad. He tries to say it. He tries.
Timothy does. But Timothy is too close to Bruce. Too alike. Too afraid. He runs from love. In that he's different from Bruce, thought. Bruce loves love, and he gives it freely... Maybe way too easily. And then scares when he's supposed to receive. In that Timothy is alike Bruce. But he loves her dad. He tries to show it. He tries.
Damian does. Unlike herself, her baby brother wasn't raised by knowing how to read people. Like her, he was raised to destroy. He's doing great, she knows. He tries so hard, she knows. She's so proud, Bruce is so proud. He called him "baba" the other day. Bruce cried when he was alone. She stood hidden. Damian is afraid of not belonging, so he's rough. But he's trying so hard. He talks more. He acts more. He searches for Bruce. He calls for Bruce. Damian might look angry, he's just scared. But he loves her dad. He tries to prove it. He tries.
Jason doesn't.
Cassandra doesn't care for Stephanie nor Duke nor Barbara nor Kate... They are not Bruce's. They said so themselves. They might love Bruce. But she doesn't truly care of they show it. Family. That's important for her. Bruce. His family has to try. And they do. Most of them. Because Jason doesn't.
She looked at her little brother. The whole sight. Big frame. Like him. Dark curls hidden, now. Like him. Blue eyes -even under the green-. Like him... She couldn't help the frown, thankful of the cowl. Little brother. Unless Bruce says otherwise, he's still little brother. She sighed. Even with the red covering him, she knows he's the most alike. And that burns. The further one is the closest one. She hadn't been a jealous woman until Jason. She wants to remind people of Bruce.
Jason turned to her. She could tell he was frowning inside the red.
"What?" She shook her head. He just stared. "Speak if you must".. Neither of them could see the other's eyes. But both still knew the other was staring.
She shook her head again. He grumbled something between his teeth and turned front.
"Ask if your worried*
"Don't read me"
"Ask her"
Hood remained watching the front. One finger twitching before reaching for his comm.
"O? Need us on deck?"
Cassandra rolled her eyes. 'Just ask how he's doing', she signed.
"Hood. Keep position. B is located on the building. There's still no clarity of the target is effectively inside"
"Roger. Please keep us updated" Cassandra wanted to punch. She just stared, instead.
"Of course, H. Maybe finish your routes close to him, so you would feel calmer" She smirked. She really loves Barbara.
"What?! No! I'm calm! I'm super calm!! I'm the calmest-!"
"Free the coms, Hood. I'll contact you if needed"
Jason froze for a second. Then slowly turned to her. "Happy?"
She shook her head. "Told you to ask. But meant about him." 'To ask how he was doing, as your father, not the mission'
"No."
'You are worried. You are not calm. You are sad for him and angry at Richard'
"Stop reading me"
"Can't" 'It's not something I can choose to turn off, little brother'
He sighed. "Ok. So what if I worry. He doesn't want me" She tilted her head.
"To worry?" 'He doesn't want anyone to worry'
"To be with him" He said, turning his head to the front. It was only because of her training that she was able to hear his barely a whisper of a confession.
She shook her head and tapped his shoulder, making him turn back to her. 'You're my little brother'
He scoffed "I know, I kno-"
She shook her head again. 'Little brother. Because you're his son.'
"Doubt it"
"Little brother" 'As long as he wants you'
A beat. He understands. He doesn't want to understand.
"What does tha-?"
"Hood, Batgirl, get moving. Batman is compromised"
They're on the grappling lines before the phrase is complete. The hurry doesn't allow her to regain composure. The last part repeating as a prayer. "Compromised". Not in need of support. Compromised. Batman is compromised, her dad is in danger.
The air cuts as they move. Her heartbeat hurting on her ears. She needs to get there. To see. To hear.
Her dad.
Her dad.
Her dad.
An explosion. At their destination.
Jason's
Jason doesn't freeze at the sound. He can't.
He can't let the terror invade him when they're so close by. When he can't hear his dad's voice on the comms anymore. When Barbara sounds so scared.
His side hurts as he hits the side of the building, the explosion strong enough to send a wave, making them lose their footing. He doesn't check for his sister. He can't.
He keeps running. Jumping. Climbing. So close so close so close.
"Oracle!! Was that-" Cass' voice on the comms is a desperate call.
"I need hands on Ace Chemicals. Red Hood and Batgirl are on their way. Batman's down"
He curses. He runs. So close! So fucking close!
The comms creak open. A pained sound enters his ears as Barbara opens for them all.
"Shh, B! Don't waste air. HURRY UP. WHERE ARE YOU!?"
"ETA 3 minutes!! Describe the surroundings!" He barks. And they are crushing against glass panels. Third floor. Keep running. They jump over a baranda, falling. Second. First.
They hit ground at the time. Rolling to their feet. Running.
"Oracle..." His dad. Fuck fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck. The sound.
The flames make his lose focus for a second. Wildly looking around as they move between cement and burning metal.
"Fuck, I can't see anything. A staircase was located to his 5, but that point of reference is useless now..."
"Barbara, please check my... my condition. So they can..."
Air. Bruce needs oxygen.
"Shut it old man!! O, respond. Describe his situation!!"
"... losing... conscious... ness"
"Oracle. ETA 15 minutes." Dick calls. Bruce doesn't react, so the lines aren't mingled. He doesn't curse. He can't wish for his brother right now.
"Bruce!! Huge pillar!! Can't see the legs behind the smoke! Right arm crushed! FUCK BRUCE PLEASE! GUYS!!!"
They ran over the corner, Cass jumping across the flames. He bulldozes between them. The heat burning his sides. A stair. A stair. A sta-
"See him" He follows behind her running form. Biting down the bilis at the figure crushed under the pillar. "Hey, dad" Cass is kneeling close to Bruce's face. She searches for Jason. He was already next to her, a new mask sliding over his dad's face. He tried to avoid the arm that twisted close to his head... Not how arms are supposed to bend.
"We got you, old man" Is that blood. Of course is blood. Why is there so much. He tries to cup his father's chin. "That's it, open your eyes. Hey. Hey, there" He needs to check behind the pillar. Where a pair of legs hid in the shadows. Can't see much.
Cass looks at him. She can't either, it seems.
Pressing on his comm, he calls for the support "How far away, birds?"
"ETA 10 minutes, Hood" Tim.
The part of the building that was currently crushing his dad moves, causing a weak whine out of the man's throat.
"Not FUCKING ENOUGH!! I don't care if you have to fly your fucking bikes across a building we-"
He felt his sister's hand over his. Cass shook her head, a slim finger pointing to their dad.
"Hood." Dick. "Talk."
"Fuck... Yeah. Yeah, sorry." He couldn't. He can't say it when Bruce is looking at him like that. He can't. No.
"...Hood. ETA 5 minutes"
He turned back to Bruce. Looking around, studying. 5 minutes if they risk it. Five. He needs to lift the boulder. He has to stop it from pressing more against his dad's chest. He takes notice of the surroundings, pointing with his head to the side.
His sister takes position in front of him, both of the slender hands pressed under the pillar.
"Hey. Dad? This is going to hurt A LOT, but I need you to keep your mouth shut, okay?"
Cass made a 'sip it' motion to their dad. Then nodded at him. 'Your count'
"On three, Cass? Ready? One, two, THREE!!"
He felt the weight as they raised up the boulder. He felt the pull downward and looked...
At a pole. In the middle of his stomach.
Bruce's body lifted slightly with the pillar.
"FUCK! No-"
"Down. Slowly"
Bruce's scream echoed even amongst the flame's roars and the crumbling building.
The let the weight back on his dad's torso.
"Shit, dad. Sorry. Shit shit shit shit"
Jason kneeled back, searching for Bruce's eyes. Fuck. Fuck this all. He looked around and then back to Bruce.
They're not getting out if not together.
He tried to smile. The fucking helmet. He reached behind and took it off against his better judgement.
He felt Cass' eyes on him, judging. She leaned over their dad's line of sight, before pressing a hand on his left shoulder, comforting the old man. Then, she moved away.
He focused on his dad, making him look back to him. Bruce's eyes stopped trying to follow Cass and fell on Jason's. He tried again. A weak smile. He opened to speak, the heat closing his throat.
Reluctantly, he grabbed his dad's hand to press it against his forehead, sliding down to give a weak kiss on the knuckles.
Cass vibrated on the comms.
"There's a situation"
"Bruce?"
"-yes. Please access my cowl and explain-"
"Oracle, narrate us"
"-yes."
"On it"
"Thanks."
The comms fell silent for a beat.
"Hurry. We need you... Please" Cass' shakiness made his eyes sting. He turned to watch her as she trembled in place, face towards the ceiling.
"... fingers..."
Jason looked up. "Dad?" He felt heat and ashes coat the insides of his mouth. He clenched his jaw.
"... fingers... can't..."
Jason bended forward, trying to swallow the wail that burned his throat.
He jolted at the sound that came from behind them. He sighed in relief as his older brother slid to his knees over their father's eyes. Not without frowning at Jason's unmasked form.
"Hey there, tati."
He accepted the helmet from Tim, slipping it on, before rising to where the young one led him, all the while pointing to Dick, who nodded and stood up as well.
"Okay, dad. This is what's going to happen"