Chapter Text
The Wayne family was old blood in Gotham. Everyone knew who they were, knew that they were capable of.
People knew that Judge Dent was firmly in Wayne family’s pocket.
It was common knowledge that Commissioner Gordon (the second) was part of Wayne’s inner circle despite her sweet demeanor. (The rumors circulating in the streets said that Barbara had set a hit on her father just to take the job, but that was never proven.)
On record, though, the Waynes were clean, and to an outsider, they might even seem damn charitable. The amount of institutions that were funded thanks to Wayne money were countless, and they helped Gotham grow.
But it’s like they say. Everything comes with a price.
The collectors would come, one at a time, checking in on Wayne ‘assets’. First, they would send the “good cop”, the sweet young man with the bright blue eyes and winning smile. He would gently explain the situation, dropping subtle hits and threats as the conversation continued. After he left, the target’s door would be marked with a swatch of red paint, dripping down ominously, like blood, into the vague shape of a bird.
They called him Nightwing, and he was only the first.
Wayne sent the girl when the targets were less than cooperative. Small and petite, but deadly, Black Bat was part of the muscle for the Family. When she and the fourth, Spoiler, worked together, the headcount was unprecedented.
(There had been another part of the team, a long time ago, but he was dead, and no one spoke of the dead.)
Then there was the safety net, the one person that made sure nothing was traced back to Wayne and his family. Arguably, Red Robin was the most important asset to the family. He was also deadly in his own right, and his skills had taken down everyone who had crossed the family.
They were all family, and acknowledged as such, but Damian, as actual blood, was next in line to take over for Bruce if something happened. He was brash and violent, and far less understanding than his father. If there was one good thing about Bruce Wayne, it was that he gave everyone the opportunity to prove themselves. Damian, on the other hand, much preferred to shoot first and deal with the consequences later. It led to some dispute between the two, but Damian was as loyal to his father as any of the other members of the family.
There were others, outside the inner circle, who helped Wayne however they could. Huntress and Kane worked independently of Bruce and his family, but backed him if he asked. The family in Metropolis was one of Bruce’s biggest allies, though everyone knew that one wrong move from the Kents would send both families into all-out war.
It was a careful system, reinforced by family ties and blood oaths. No one crossed Bruce Wayne and his family and got away with it.
“Todd!” The younger man glanced up, frowning.
“That’s ‘Detective’ Todd, thanks. I worked for that title,” he muttered, leaning over the map of Gotham he had spread out on his desk. “What do you want?”
The man, Jack or Jake or something, pointed back to the interrogation rooms, frowning. “Harper’s back.”
“Is he okay?” Jason walked to the back rooms, peeking in through the one-way mirror into the room. Harper leaned back in his chair as well as he could while handcuffed, the beginnings of a bruise purpling his cheek.
Kori Anders wandered over, brilliant red hair tucked into a neat bun, leaning over his shoulder. “Do you want me to bring you his file?”
Jason nodded, glancing at his watch. He had maybe ten minutes until Wayne sent his lawyer over to spring Harper. “Please. Cover for me?”
“Of course.” She smiled, kissing his cheek lightly, sliding her hand into his pocket before walking away. Jason waited until she was a distance away before checking his pocket, frowning at the flash drive that definitely hadn’t been there earlier.
He could check it later, though. He walked into the interrogation room, sitting in front of Harper slowly, his back to the security cameras. “So…Harper. Back again?”
“I missed your face and dulcet tones, Jaybird.” Harper tried to smile, but the swelling bruise twisted it into a grimace.
“What happened?” Jason appraised the informant, absently noting the fading track marks on his arms. Harper leaned back, poking the tender flesh.
“Kids these days, man. No respect for their elders.” There were only two kids that Harper associated with, and Jason was pretty sure his daughter wouldn’t slug her dad like that. Damian Wayne, on the other hand, was more than capable enough to leave a shiner and enjoy it. He hoped that Roy had written down what had happened in the flash drive.
Jason shrugged, glancing up when Kori walked in to deliver Roy’s file. “Here.”
“Thanks.” She nodded and left, tapping her wrist lightly as she shut the door. Jason sighed, flipping the file open. “Do you know why we arrested you, Mister Harper?”
“Nope.” The man looked around the interrogation room, humming. “So, can I go?”
“Nope.” Jason mocked, flipping through the sizeable file. DUIs, DWIs, drug possession, racketeering. Harper had it all, but had never been convicted thanks to Wayne’s influence. This time it was minor, just reckless driving, but he had the suspicion that Harper did it on purpose to get close without getting in trouble.
The door to the interrogation room opened again, and the smooth voice the called out made Jason’s blood run cold. “I believe that’s enough, detective. My client has nothing further to say.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Harper said automatically, tugging on his handcuffs. “You can check the tapes. Right, Jaybird?”
Jason stood slowly, trying hard to keep calm, and carefully gathered Roy’s file. “He’s all yours.”
Timothy Drake-Wayne, the family’s lawyer (among other things) nodded, moving to sit in Jason’s vacated spot, before stopping to do a double take. Jason caught his eye, and watched as the younger man’s eyes widened in surprise before the door slammed in his face.
Jason swore softly as he dumped Harper’s file on Jack’s desk, rubbing his temples. The Waynes weren’t supposed to know he was alive. His plans were all shot to hell if Bruce caught wind that his second son, his dead son, was alive and kicking. More importantly, that his second son was actively trying to take the family down.
Still…at least he had Harper’s information. He wasn’t out of options yet.