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It started with a text from Damian, or the sound of the apocalypse. Damian never texted first.
From Damian:
Richard, you are needed in Gotham. Now.
Dick had looked at his phone for half a second while his mind processed the text. Then he had broken the speed limit three times.
Alfred watched him storm in. He was in the garden and seemed to have no cares in the world.
<I'm in the living room, Master Dick. It's been almost two hours.>
***
The house was silent. The second sign of the apocalypse.
Dick walked into the living room and stopped breathing.
Duke sat in the center of the room, a cast in his hand and an open book of exorcisms.
<Richard> Damian was by the door. He had only said his name, then stood still. His hands were in his pockets, something Jason always did to hide their trembling.
Cass was beside him, an arm around his shoulders.
Jason was sitting, Steph leaning against him.
Barbara was in front of them, also standing still.
And then there was Tim. He was standing, a shadow sword in his hand. A sword made of literal shadows. His arm was outstretched, the tip of the blade touching Duke's throat.
Dick forced himself to move forward. <What... what's going on?>
<Oh,> Barbs said wryly, <just ask the only human in the room.>
Duke barely opened his mouth but Tim growled from deep in his throat. <Don't you dare. Say one word and I'll fucking kill you. I won't let you start an exorcism.>
<What. Happens.> Dick repeated, his perception expanding in the room... and closing again.
Fear. Pure terror. His family was fucking terrified.
Dick was about to see blood flow.
<Tim. Tim, little bird, where did you get the sword?>
<I'm the evil of the world, weapons are not difficult.>
Dick winced. It was easy to forget the true nature of his wonderful little brother. Dick would never look at Tim and think of evil, no matter how fierce the expression on his face.
<We got back early from a mission,> Steph said, her voice shaking. <The... the circle. Two circles.>
Duke made a low sound. Tim growled again.
On the ground were two concentric circles. The second was broken in half. Dick could not see the closure of the first.
"A creature that enters a circle cannot leave except by the death or permission of the one who drew it."
Dick made up his mind quickly.
<Tim. Tim, I've got you covered. I can control Duke's emotions. Don't do anything rash->
<No!> Damian leaped forward and grabbed his wrist. Fear, fear, fear.
<Dami> Dick pleaded.
<You'll feel Duke's disgust. I don't... I don't want you to... I don't want.>
Dick's heart was in pieces.
And then, <You know what, Tim? Kill me, the fuck, I won't let Damian think I hate him... hey, um, I'm talking.>
Everyone had turned to Duke. Tim's hands were shaking. And a red drop was running down Duke's throat.
Tim hadn't succeeded. "Batman doesn't kill."
Tim hadn't succeeded because he was Tim, Dick thought. Scary but never lethal. He was stronger than fear.
Duke took a step back.
<Fuck you, all of you. You could have at least asked! Did you seriously bring Dick back from Blüdhaven? Who was next? Bruce from space? Uncle C from the diplomatic mission?>
He kicked the book. It hit Dick's shoe.
(Dick felt sick as his eyes ran over the pages.)
<More arguments,> continued Duke, who was still one of the smartest people Dick knew. <Alfred senses the fucking intentions of the people in the house. If I wanted to kill you, or hurt you, or trap you, he'd be here. Although that argument took me far too long to come up with, or I'd have reacted to the sword: Alfred would come to save me, too, if you were a danger, Tim.>
<This is a hunter's house. Books with exorcism formulas shouldn't really surprise you. Also, where else would I have gotten it? The books are illegal to consult without permission from a member of the hunters' order. Bruce tore up the European headquarters and we destroyed the traffic of these volumes on the black market six months ago. You created that plan, Jason. How could you forget?>
Fuck. Duke was going full tilt. And he was shaking.
Dick reached out. <Puppy...>
Duke pulled away, clenching his fists. <Don't call me that. You're all... you're supposed to be my family. I fucking hate you. I hate you!>
<Well, you can always exorcise us,> Barbara snapped. <The circle is right there!>
<Barbs!> Dick stepped between the two, incredulous. <You're getting worse->
<He drew that fucking circle. I don't care about his arguments or his emotions. He did it in secret, when he knew we weren't going to be here. It's treason.>
<Maybe I should use it,> Duke snapped. <Maybe I should be the fucking hero who saves the city from the monsters.>
Damian ran away. Steph hesitated for a moment, looking at Duke, then at the door. <You... you don't know what you're saying.>
She went after Damian and Cass followed her.
Jason was shaking.
Jason, who was from Crime Alley. Jason, who had seen countless creatures thrown into a circle.
Jason, who died imprisoned in a fucking warehouse.
And Tim. Tim, for Gotham's sake! His arm was still outstretched, the sword shaking in his hands.
Tim had told him about flashbacks. He had been vague. But there were fifteen Incarnation deaths in his head.
Barbara, though, was the worst. Inhumanly pale, on the verge of fainting. Dick knew exactly what had happened to Barbara.
Duke looked at him, and Dick saw the exact moment when it was too late. He reached out, picked up the chalk from the floor, and slipped it into his pocket.
He stepped forward and Tim stepped back, still clutching the sword. He pushed Dick and Dick lost his balance, landing on the couch. He bent down, picked up the book—why did he pick up the book?—and left.
A minute later, Dick heard the front door slam.
***
Duke came home. His uncle was there.
<Hey, kid. What's up?>
<Bad day,> Duke simply said. He locked his bedroom door, put in his headphones, turned the volume up to full blast, and went back to drawing circles on a sheet of paper.
***
Dick stopped for dinner. Then he authorized Cass, Steph, and Jason to patrol. Just the three of them. He put Tim in support of Alfred, forced Damian to train with him, and Barbara to stay the night.
He called his boss in Blüdhaven and took three days off, hoping that would be enough.
And he wrote to Bruce, without sending the message.
***
Dick slipped his escrima sticks into his hoodie pockets, determined not to look threatening but also determined not to be unarmed. Gotham was Gotham.
<Are you going out, Dick?>
He turned to Barbara, not really surprised to see her there.
The girl had a fresh cup of tea in her hand (Alfred had gone to sleep only a few minutes earlier) and was idly stirring the liquid with a teaspoon.
<Going to him, I assume?>
Dick nodded. <Barbs, before you->
<You need to know,> the girl said. <I know you're you. Always check, always everyone innocent until proven guilty. It's sweet. And heroic. I'll say it at your funeral: "He was sweet and heroic." And then I'll say, "And that's why I'm here, forced to endure a world without him, you know? That dickhead always gave people a chance.">
Dick sighed. <Barbara.>
<Richard> she replied, in the same tone.
He sat down next to her and she silently handed him the tea. He took a sip—it was sweeter than he was used to—and then took one herself. <Barbara, Duke is only twelve.>
<He's almost thirteen now,> she said. <And I was only fifteen.>
Only fifteen when the Joker lured her into a trap. Only fifteen when Bruce and Dick arrived just in time, but still too late. Only fifteen when Barbara Gordon spent fifteen minutes between that and the Other World. She'd become Oracle after that, too scared to put the costume back on. It took her two years to recover and get back on the field.
<He's not the Joker, Barbs.>
<No, he's not.> Anger was on her face. <Duke doesn't fiddle. Duke is one of the smartest people I know. He's dangerous.>
<You're dangerous. I'm dangerous. It's part of being a hero.>
<Oh, heroes.> Barbara's voice was tinged with sarcasm. <Heroes who save the city from monsters?>
Dick held out his arm. Barbara glared at him but let him hug her.
***
Duke woke up to someone breaking into the house.
He sighed as he sat up. It wasn't really a surprise. He just hoped his uncle was too tired to notice the intrusion.
He was home more often, ever since Bruce had worked one of his rich-person tricks. The double shifts were gone, and Duke had someone to go home to again.
(Duke had, for a while, deluded himself that Wayne Manor was the real place to go back to.)
<Dick?> he whispered, just because it was the logical option.
<Duke.>
It wasn't as if Duke had grown accustomed to shadows after all those days with the Bats. Nightwing, like everyone else, could appear behind him without a sound, with only his blue eyes glowing faintly, the swirls covered by a labile illusion.
Dick wasn't wearing his hero suit. Duke didn't fool himself: it certainly didn't mean he was unarmed.
<You wanted to talk, I suppose?>
Dick nodded. He walked over to the desk.
<Turn on the dim lights. Unlike you, I can't see in the dark.>
He had to use the dim ones because ever since his powers had activated, Duke's brain went crazy around bright lights.
(Bruce had replaced the lights in the Batcave. All the lights.)
<Um, sure.> Dick pressed a couple of buttons and the room brightened.
Duke ran a hand over his face. <What time is it?>
<Four in the morning. The others are on patrol.>
Duke nodded. <Damian?>
He saw the hesitation on Dick's face. <Asleep, I hope.>
He rolled his eyes. <What do you want, Nightwing?>
Dick stood in the middle of the room. He stepped back at Duke's words and held his hands up, showing them. <I thought... I thought maybe you'd explain.>
That was the thing. Duke had never been a quiet guy. People thought so because his anger never showed. Duke, however, always felt angry. Because life was so fucking unfair.
<What if I don't?>
A flash of pain in Dick's eyes. He stepped forward and Duke already knew what was coming.
<I... I can't feel your emotions,> he muttered. And then, raising his voice slightly: <Why can't I feel your emotions? I haven't taught you to shield them, not yet.>
Duke raised his hand and pulled back the hem of Batman's pajamas to reveal his wrist. A small circle, drawn in pen. Crystal dust sprinkled across it.
<I wasn't sure it would work,> he admitted. <But if it does, then you can't influence me. Not you, not any creature. That should make my position clear.>
They always said Duke was a grown-up boy. A responsible little adult.
Duke was childish and angry. And maybe he wanted to see how far Dick would go.
The pain in the Incubus' eyes was real. The anger, too.
<You're out of the Bats, Duke.>
And, sure enough, Dick left without turning off the lights.
***
Duke woke up three hours later. Damian wasn't in class.
He went home and pulled Nightwing's sheets off the bed with a new fury.
<Fuck it,> he muttered. His voice rose.
<Fuck, fuck, fuck! Fuck Batman and his whole amazing, wonderful, close-knit family!> he shouted.
His gaze fell on the yellow hoodie thrown on the chair.
Duke pulled out a piece of paper and, trying not to think about how bad this could end, began to draw.
***
He wasn't surprised that Tim had noticed him first.
He wasn't surprised when Tim ignored him and ran away.
***
He avoided the worst part of Crime Alley. It was easy, Red Hood never moved too much and gangs weren't really something Duke wanted to deal with.
***
Nightwing was in and out of Blüdhaven. Avoiding him and the little Robin he was carrying wasn't hard either.
***
Spoiler was unpredictable but she kept her distance.
Even though five days had passed, he still hadn't seen Black Bat, which was a given. He hadn't seen Batgirl either, and that worried him.
***
The illumination came during the day, with the sun shining brightly. Someone shouted, "Thief!" and Duke reacted before he could think.
As the young couple thanked him over and over again and the thief was taken away, Duke realized he had found his own territory. The worst territory in Gotham, where not even Batman could act.
Duke was made of light. He manipulated darkness.
He put on a yellow helmet and bought new hoodies. With hoops on his wrists, crystals in his pockets and grappling hooks made from junkyard scraps and leftover Bats, Duke Thomas stepped forward and became Gotham's new vigilante.
***
At first the city was skeptical. Duke didn’t hide who he was—a meta, a black boy, someone with a thick Narrows accent. Even though his helmet hid his secret identity, Duke wasn’t a Bat, and Gotham knew it.
<Metas can’t operate here, kid,> an older woman told him.
Duke held out his arm: <Let's say I help you cross the street and see if Batman shows up to stop me>.
(Bruce had been out of touch for a long, long week. Duke didn’t know what to do with the standoff.)
<Are you going to use a signal, too? Like the Bat-Signal?> a little girl asked as Duke gave her back her cat.
<Who knows,> he said, shrugging. <Maybe it's the opposite. I am the signal and someone else has to answer.>
It was a stupid sentence but the little girl's mother was making a video and it went viral. Duke became "Signal", the sun vigilante. A wave of support and love rose up in the city from the Narrows, Crime Alley, and the surrounding areas.
Anti-meta protests began in Bristol.
Duke paid neither attention and devoted himself to a new spell.
Again, again, and again. The Bats avoided him and Damian hadn't returned to school yet. The teacher announced that he was sick.
<Thomas, will you bring him his homework?>
Duke shook his head. <Sorry, I have a commitment.>
Again, again, and again.
Batgirl hadn't been seen on the streets for days now.
***
Spoiler confronted him during the day, appearing at the coffee shop where he and Izzy were sipping coffee. She walked in, ordered an orange juice, and watched him the entire time.
When Isabelle left, she finally slid over to him.
<Oracle has their eye on you,> she said.
<And they're sending you ahead, hoping I'll be more sympathetic towards you. A waste of your efforts. They could have sent Tim, he'd have gotten the same answer you're about to get. Which is: stay out of my business, stay out of the Narrows, and stay out of my fucking life, Bat.>
Stephanie nodded. She left the money on the counter and walked away.
She smelled of magic and the garden of Wayne Manor.
Just before disappearing, Steph gave Duke one last look. <If it were Damian, would the answer be different?>
The weird thing was that she didn't wait for him to answer.
***
Batman's return was celebrated in Gotham as it often was: with a breakout from Arkham.
The next day, even though all the criminals had been put back behind bars, Duke decided he wouldn't patrol after school.
He walked into class and threw his backpack in the corner, hastily opening his notebook.
<Thomas> someone said behind him.
<Damian> Duke muttered. He grabbed his things and stormed out of there.
***
<You skipped school?> His uncle raised an eyebrow. <That's not like you, kid.>
<I'm sorry> Duke said. <I'll go tomorrow. I swear.>
***
In the morning, he walked into class and headed straight for the teacher. <I want to change seats.>
And he and Damian ended up further apart than ever.
***
Night fell and Batman knocked on his window. The rain had just stopped outside and the air was humid and the roof was wet.
Duke didn't care. He picked up the book, put on his yellow coat - he was making it into an essay like Bruce had done with the bats - and went out.
<Are you here to arrest me? Because you won't stop me any other way.>
Batman sat down as the cape blew in the wind.
<Give it back, Duke.>
Duke held out the book. Bruce could have broken into his room and taken it while he was at school. He appreciated that he hadn't.
Bruce stroked the cover, thoughtfully. <The books are illegal to consult except with the permission of a member of the hunting order. I know you know that.>
<Am I under arrest?>
A nod. <No. How are you, Duke?>
The truth was that he wasn't ready for the question. He pulled his knees to his chest and locked himself in silence.
<You're good at this. The spells and the fighting. The puzzles and the symbols.>
Duke lifted his head a little and Bruce took that as encouragement to continue.
<Batman operates at night. I've been thinking about creating a "day shift" for years but... it wasn't that urgent, except for the Narrows,> he admitted. <And maybe everyone was a little afraid of the worst part of Gotham.>
<It's not Bristol,> Duke confirmed. <And it sucks. I came out of here, though.>
<You're like Jason,> Bruce said. <And Dick, when he created Nightwing. I thought you'd wear the Robin cape for a while before you flew alone.>
<I'm not a Bat. I thought Dick told you that.>
Bruce ignored him. <Let me see your wrist.>
He traced the circle with a finger. <You can handle it,> he admitted. <You really are doing well.>
<I know,> Duke muttered. <I wouldn't use it if I thought I couldn't handle it.>
Bruce nodded. <You want to talk about what happened?>
<It depends,> Duke's voice was tinged with anger. <You have a blade to point at me and enough energy to stand up to an interrogation with me? They say I'm really annoying.>
Bruce shook his head. They were silent for a few moments.
Then, slowly, Bruce pulled something out of his pocket. <It's a panic button. If you press it, I'll get an S.O.S. with your location. Don't be too proud.>
Duke took it and slipped it into his pocket.
<I don't approve,> Bruce said. <You're not ready. But I won't stop you. So at least stay safe.>
Duke nodded. <Don't worry. I won't die.>
***
He saw Jason on a bench near the town library. Cass was with him.
He walked past them, pretending not to notice them, chasing the thief.
***
Someone grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him into an alley. It was Batgirl, and Duke began to wonder if screaming would work.
<It's the first time I've worn the costume during the day> he said.
She was leaning against the wall. Duke followed suit, leaning against the opposite wall.
<You put a tracker in the nasty button?>
Barbara wasn't looking at him. <You're not really surprised. You figured it out.>
Duke nodded. <The risk of being tracked against a lifesaver in Joker-esque situations. I'm not that stupid. You're Oracle, you'd find me anyway. At least that gives me a chance if things get horrible.>
A nod.
Duke sighed. <What do you want, Batgirl?>
<I don't know,> she said. <Maybe to tell you something. Maybe I want answers. I just decided I was going to put on the suit and then I was here.>
<If you've already made up your mind, why would you want an explanation?>
<And if you've already decided that you're done with the Bats and that we're all monsters, why are you still here?>
Duke looked at her for the first time. Barbara was... so angry.
<Draw a circle for me,> she said. <And then ask me about the worst day of my life.>
<I'll do the opposite,> Duke decided. <Tell me your worst story. I'll draw while you talk.>
***
Barbara's first contact with the Other World was a slow, steady tick.
Drops of blood falling on dry earth. Poisonous, wild plants crawling out of cracks.
And, tied halfway, within reach and unable to escape, Barbara saw inhuman hands reaching out to her.
She told herself she would be brave. She was Batgirl and she would resist. Dick would come for her.
Bruce would-
The hands reached out to her and her skin burned like acid.
The clown laughed. <It will last forever. Because this is where you belong, little Arachne.>
Barbara screamed.
***
<When they pulled me out, I was speechless and bruised. They hospitalized me and I ended up in intensive care. Bruce, he... he never liked exorcisms. I wasn't sure I understood before. When he said he'd done worse than the crystal spells he used on patrol, I didn't understand. After that, I started shaking every time he was in the same room as me.>
Duke closed the circle. Barbara felt the magic flow.
<Your turn, Duke.>
<Your story sucks,> he replied. <Would you like some ice cream?>
Barbara nodded. Together, they stepped out of the circle.
***
<Do you trust Bruce?>
<The big dilemma: does trust equal love?> Barbara shrugged. There was a drop of ice cream on the side of her hand.
Duke handed her a tissue. <What's your answer?>
<After meeting Tim? Trust is not love, love is not trust,> Barbara said. <And yet, lack of trust makes one doubt love.>
She looked at him. <And you, Duke? Your answer?>
<When they tell you that love is unconditional, they are lying. People only love those who live up to their expectations.>
Barbara shook her head. <And to think that everyone says you are the least cynical of us.>
***
<Tell me something. A random phrase> Barbara asks him when they were about to separate.
<I sketched the costume months ago> Duke told her. <Without the bat, the center of the costume looks sadly empty.>
***
The phone started ringing at two forty in the morning. Luckily, Duke had it on vibrate.
It was Alfred. Duke answered before he could think.
<I decided I would let you know like I did the others, Master Duke.>
<A-Alfred. What's going on?>
<Master Bruce is at Gotham General Hospital. The others are on their way.>
Duke was already putting on his shoes.
***
<Kid, you shouldn't be driving around alone at this hour. Do you even have money for the ride?>
Duke tossed a credit card into the driver's hand. <Get going, now!>
<Who the hell are you and how did you get a card in Bruce Wayne's name?>
***
Duke nearly crashed into the front desk, stopping a quarter of an inch from the desk. <Bruce Wayne. What room?>
The woman on the other side raised an eyebrow. <Degree of kinship?>
Duke shook his head. <He... he wants to see me. Please?>
He didn't know if it was true. He didn't even know who to call. In his head, all he saw were his parents' bodies.
The receptionist seemed to catch something in his eyes. <Wait here, kid.>
***
<Mr. Grayson?>
<Any news? My dad->
<Sorry, still nothing. You can continue waiting here.>
The woman looked from the man in front of her, so scared yet so collected, to the people behind him.
A tall, muscular young man sat with his head in his hands. Beside him, a short girl with black hair was stroking his back. At some point, the man got a call and walked away, obviously trying not to cry and asking the girl on the phone for a “Roy.”
A little boy, so much like Mr. Wayne, sat stiffly, his expression strained. A girl was asleep beside him. Tear marks ran down her cheeks.
Another red-haired girl was arguing with a blond boy while the boy stroked the head of what could only be Tim Drake.
They looked broken. Like the little boy outside.
<There's a... kid outside. He was asking about Bruce Wayne.>
<No journalists> the red girl said. <No vultures. Just family.>
<Is Pennyworth still in there?> the boy asked. <Who's out there?>
The woman shook her head. <He didn't tell me his name. Boy about thirteen, about this tall, dark skin, short hair.>
<Yellow hoodie?> Tim Drake asked, lifting his head from the blond boy's lap.
<He's in his pajamas, actually. He looks really upset.>
A look worth a thousand words passed between the boys.
<Well> said the muscular guy, who had just finished the call. <Then send him here, damn.>
***
Duke shivered in his thin pajamas. He should have gotten a sweatshirt. Besides, why was it always raining in that fucking city?
<You can go to the waiting room,> the woman said.
***
They were all there. Of course they would all be there.
<Where's Alfred?> he asked, partly testing the waters, partly because he would have given anything to see Alfred and hear that Bruce would be okay.
<With Bruce,> Tim said, looking at him warily.
Bernard was less wary. <If you do anything to Tim or the others, I'll kill you.>
Duke took a step back. <I didn't even know you were going to be here. Alfred said->
He hesitated, trying to remember the spirit's words. The last half hour, the phone call, the cab ride... it was all a blur.
<You're in your pajamas,> Damian said. He had raised his head. <That's ridiculous. Didn't you have any proper clothes, Thomas?>
<I...> Duke shook his head. <I just ran. And took a taxi. And ran again.>
Feeling rather stupid, he added, <I put on my shoes.>
Cass appeared at his side, pulling off her black zip-up hoodie. Put on. Now. You'll get sick if you don't.
Duke nodded, feeling reassured that he could understand her. He was actually getting better at sign language.
She noticed, too. You get me. You're getting better.
Duke zipped up his hoodie, putting his hands in his pockets. <I practice.>
Even now?
<Even now> Duke wouldn't say anything else. If he wanted to learn sign language, it wasn't for Cass. It was... well, he didn't know anyone else who used it but there were definitely solid reasons. It could come in handy. Now that was a good reason.
<What are you doing here, Duke?> Dick asked wearily.
What was he doing there? Duke had no idea. He had only reacted.
<Bruce... how's Bruce?>
Surprisingly, it was Barbara who gave in. <They just told us to wait. Alfred is with him.>
They kept saying it. "Alfred is with him." As if Alfred's very presence commanded the universe to give them Bruce back.
<He called me. And... I don't know, I didn't even tell my uncle and I think I lost my phone in the taxi.>
He felt his pockets. Yes, the phone was dead. Not that it was new or expensive but he was a little sorry.
<So,> Jason said, <you ran out here, at night, in a thunderstorm in Gotham, without telling anyone, and now you don't even have a way to contact your legal guardian.>
<I guess that's all right,> Duke admitted. <I wasn't thinking.>
<Oh, for heaven's sake!> Dick blurted out. His bottom lip was trembling. <I can't do this. Not when Bruce… Fuck it. Duke, come here, pup, let's find a towel. Jason, find one. You can call your uncle on my phone. And... we'll figure this out. It's all fine. We just need to dry you off and Bruce will be fine, I promise, he->
<Dickie.> Jason reached out and let his brother hug him. His tone had gone soft. Jason had been crying, Duke realized. He was as worried as everyone else. (As worried as he was.)
<Good, Narrows. You heard Dick. Nightwing's orders. Come here.>
And Duke had exploded. Because, really, he couldn’t take it anymore.
He collapsed and someone caught him. The grip on his wrist tightened as he was pushed toward Dick and Jason.
<Da-Damian?> he called.
<Yes, Thomas. Whatever. We’ll talk about this later. You’re okay.> He put his arm around his shoulders. It was so weird to see Damian initiate physical contact.
<You need to be okay. My…our father is going to need us all to be okay when he gets back.>
***
Stephanie opened her eyes.
Dick had Duke in his arms and Damian had his head on his shoulder. He was wearing Cass's sweatshirt and Jason's jacket.
<Did I miss something?>
***
They finally came calling. Barbara jumped up and Tim straightened his back.
<With whom->
<I'm Dick, the oldest son. You can tell anyone. We're Bruce's family. How is he?>
<He's awake. He was asking about his kids. He gave me a list. Dick, Jason, Cass, Tim, Barbara, Stephanie, Damian, and Duke?>
<That's us,> Tim confirmed before anyone could correct her or Stephanie could say "I'm not his daughter" for the thousandth time. <Where is he?>
<I'll lead the way.>
***
Duke leaned toward Dick. <B adopted me at some point?>
The man shrugged. <Actually, I think he just forgot about your uncle. He did this with Tim's parents.>
***
Bruce saw his children come in and knew everything was okay. Duke, Steph and Barbara were there too.
<I'm fine,> he said quickly.
<He's had two surgeries, Master Bruce.>
<And they went well, didn't they?> Bruce tried to sit up, much to Alfred's annoyance. Tim moved to help him.
<You can go home,> Bruce assured him. <I'll force things and they'll release me early in the morning.>
<The power of money,> Jason joked. He swayed beside Bruce, looking tired.
<I'm fine, Jayland,> he promised.
<I know, I know, you're a tough nut to crack, old man,> Jason moved toward the door.
<Come sleep at the mansion> Bruce said.
Jason snorted. <Roy and Kori are waiting for me. I'll be there in the morning. Don't touch the stove, Dick. I'll make pancakes.>
***
They dragged Duke along with them. The receptionist handed him her phone when she saw them leave, along with Bruce Wayne's credit card.
<A taxi driver... brought them.>
***
<Duke> called Dick. <We need to talk. Are you up for it?>
He was still holding it and continuing to draw circles on its back. Bruce usually consoled people that way.
<Umh> Duke groaned. <It depends. Am I still the guy who's going to exorcise all of you or have you stopped hating me?>
<No one hates you, Narrows> Steph snapped. <Tim left your pictures up. He definitely had a plan to bring you back to the family.>
<It wasn't "a plan"> Tim muttered. <It was a really good PowerPoint presentation.>
<I'll watch it> Duke promised.
Tim snorted. <Good. I'm sorry I wasn't the responsible big brother and pulled a sword on you. Although Damian does it all the time, so I don't see why I can't. It's a bonding activity now!>
<As you say, love.> Bernard kissed him on the forehead. <Come on, let's not talk about swords. Besides, are you really sure I should come to the mansion? It seems like a family matter.>
<And what are you?> Barbara asked. <The squatter in my house?>
<Well... yeah.> Bernard said. <That's about right.>
Tim leaned against him with a conspiratorial smile. <You're my family. Come sleep. Bruce can't stop us.>
Dick glared at him. <Nothing I would disapprove of. You're my responsibility.>
<Are you saying,> Steph asked with a smirk, <that you disapprove of the way Tim lives his sexuality?>
Bernard blushed and Dick mumbled something about being young and <Not in front of Damian, Stephanie, please!>
Duke suppressed a smile. It would probably be okay, right?
***
Bernard went upstairs to one of the guest rooms. Tim grinned and told him to have fun eavesdropping.
Dick took out the teapot and started making tea. <Alfred would make tea> he added.
<I'll get the cookies!> Steph shouted.
Duke was left with a cup in his hand and the taste of chocolate in his mouth.
Damian couldn't take his eyes off him.
<I...>
<You avoided me> the boy blurted out. <And you left me. You're an asshole.>
Duke flinched, unprepared to hear Damian call him an "asshole." <That's not->
<You also avoided Jon's calls and texts. And you blocked us both on tumblr. And you didn't give me my homework.>
<Damian->
<You didn't explain anything to me! You disappeared and left me and that's not fair! I deserved an explanation. I... you said you loved me.>
Everyone watched in horror as Damian's eyes grew brighter.
<Shit> Steph cursed, a sentiment Duke fully shared.
<I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Damian, I'm so sorry, I've been a horrible person and a terrible friend and->
<You were my br- my friend> Damian snapped. <You had no right to disappear like that. You have no right to go to your other family and ignore me. I don't have another fucking family to go back to. You know what my other family is like!>
Damian was crying. Damian. Was. Crying.
Duke felt like the worst person ever.
<And I'm sorry if we're not enough for you, if I screw up and get so angry and fight with everyone and I'm the son of Leviathan but I thought... I thought you still liked me?>
<I like you> Duke said. <I... you're my favorite person. Damian, I... Damian.>
He threw himself on the other boy and held him tight. Like the first time, he told himself that losing a limb would be worth the price.
<I love you. And you're my family> Duke wasn't even sorting out his thoughts. He was just talking. <I was terrified that I'd do what everyone else did, that you would think... I've never had a little brother, I didn't know what to do but this whole thing would be about protecting and helping and being supportive and I fucking suck at that. I want to watch a million movies with you and I love your powers, they're so cool. I wanted to be a vigilante with you. I wanted you to design my own costume. And I'm a total fucked up person because sometimes I'm glad the Joker cursed me so you could meet me.>
<Oh> Damian pressed his face into his hoodie. <That was... a lot. Do you really want me to design your costume?>
Duke nodded.
The boy sniffed. <You really suck at this, Duke.>
<Call me by my name one more time, Damian, and you'll end up having me around forever.>
Damian hesitated. He let go of him and took a step back. Then, in the most serious tone he'd ever heard him use, he said: <Duke>.
They stood there for a second, then Damian latched onto him again. As he wrapped him in a second hug, he heard him whisper, <You're stuck now. You need to stay around.>
***
<Richard?> Damian called. <You have special permission for your displays of affection.>
<Aww> Stephanie pretended to tease him, hiding her tears in her eyes. <Dick, the demon brat wants a hug.>
Dick didn't need to be told twice. He pulled Duke and Damian towards him, then reached out to grab Stephanie.
Tim rocked slightly on his heels.
<Come here, Timmy. Free cuddles.>
Tim joined in as he too began to cry.(*)
***
Duke woke up in the morning on the couch, sitting on Dick’s lap with Damian. His neck hurt a little but he quickly decided that, for now, it didn’t matter.
Stephanie was leaning against Tim, who was leaning against Dick and holding Cass in his lap. Barbara was leaning against Damian. (Duke thought he remembered her saying something like, <Don’t make a fuss if you want me to keep covering up your little zoo trips with Jon.> the night before.)
<Duke, pup,> Dick called. His chin was resting on her hair. <Are you awake, little bird?>
<Yeah. I… fell asleep. Sorry.>
We were all asleep, Cass said. It felt good.
Slowly, Dick nodded.
Duke tried to stand up, prompting a flurry of protests.
<You can yell from here if you need to get mad,> Steph muttered. <Be a good brother. Jay is making pancakes.>
They kept calling him "brother," those little manipulators. Duke's anger continued to melt like snow in the sun.
<And you're all useless. Only Bernard helps me, unbelievable! But at least I took pictures.>
That woke Tim up. <You used my camera?>
<I appreciate being your first thought, love,> Bernard joked. He appeared in Dick's blue apron and gave Tim a kiss, despite his boyfriend's protests.
<I didn't brush my teeth, Bear, that's going to be gross!>
<Um, when we get married it'll always be like this. By the way, good morning Barbs. Hello, my boyfriend's family. You guys look really good in the pictures.>
<Of course you do,> Steph said. <We are beautiful. We need to do another one with you, Jay, Roy, Kori, Wally and Kon too.>
Bernard agreed, then went back to the kitchen because Jason was yelling something about eggs.
***
Alfred looked at the pancakes, then at Jason. He looked hopelessly moved. <I've missed you so much, Master Jason.>
Bruce was moved too. True to his word, he had managed to get himself discharged in the morning and come home for breakfast.
<Are Roy and Kori okay?>
<Saying hello.> Jason shrugged. <Get well soon, etc.>
<A dinner invitation would be appropriate,> Alfred said.
Jason nodded. <Whatever you say, Alfie.>
They sat down and began to eat. As the food disappeared, the atmosphere became more relaxed. "This is so domestic," Duke thought, feeling a pang in his heart.
<We need to talk> Bruce started. He looked at Duke.
<Um. About Signal?>
<No.> Bruce put on that scolding fatherly expression he used all too often. <Of circles, of spells and most of all, of the fact that Damian is my only biological son so you have no excuse for your poor communication skills.>
Nurture trumps nature, Cass said wisely.
Duke felt like curling up. <Are you mad?>
Bruce sighed. <No, Duke. I just want to understand. I know you wouldn't hurt your sib... the kids.>
<You were saying "your siblings," Steph hummed. Bruce gave her a Batman glare.
<Duke?> Dick prompted softly.
<I was just... trying it out.>
<Umh> Tim reached out and ruffled his hair. Duke had never felt so awkward and at the same time so comfortable. <Why were you trying out Bruce's hunter stuff?>
Duke just shrugged.
<You don't know,> Jason realized. <Fuck, you have no idea, do you? You just "did it". You're as impulsive a dickhead as we are.>
Jason laughed, even under Alfred's disapproving look at his language.
Duke nodded. <I just... The house was empty! It was supposed to be a few minutes. You guys came back early!>
<And you couldn't tell?> Barbara snapped.
<I... you don't... I don't owe you any fucking explanations for what I do.>
<Master Duke, language->
<Sorry, Alfred, but sometimes you have to emphasize a point.>
<Duke, don't talk back to Alfred,> Bruce said wearily. <And you shouldn't do spells without supervision, it's dangerous.>
<B had already decided you were innocent,> Stephanie said.
<He's just like Dick, except he doesn't smile,> Barbara agreed.
Cass touched Duke's shoulder softly. You were mad at us. You still are.
Duke, suddenly feeling broken, nodded.
<Are you mad?> Dick raised an eyebrow. <Why?>
<Because his fucking family, Dickie, thought he was dangerous to them. So he had to be. He's right. We sucked.>
Duke looked at Jason, his words slurring. <You were scared of me.>
<We're supposed to be your family,> Tim realized. <Shit, we're supposed to be your family!>
Alfred grimaced but let the curses slide. He was looking at Duke with his usual watchful gaze.
<Duke, I understand that seeing fear on the faces of the people you love is bad,> Bruce said. <But, I hope you understand too... It's about the danger, not about you. It's... it's like you're in a room with only white people watching a racist movie.>
<As if it never happened before,> Duke muttered. <I'm in a room with white people all the time.>
<Hey!> Dick protested. <Dami, Cass and I are part of ethnic minorities!>
<I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about the school!>
Damian snorted. <Tt, what about me?>
<Now you're getting into quibbles,> Duke said, smiling slightly.
Bruce raised a hand and, miraculously, managed to silence everyone. <Duke, I know you didn't mean to hurt anyone. And->
<My siblings,> he suggested. Something in Bruce's gaze went soft.
<And your siblings know that too. However, some actions and discussions need to be handled with a certain delicacy. Especially things related to the systematic discrimination of a minority.>
Duke sniffed. <I feel horrible now.>
<Honey,> Steph muttered. <We're okay. Just maybe don't scare us like that anymore?>
<And maybe don't call us "monsters,"> Damian muttered.
<Yeah, I'm so sorry about that. I knew it would hurt you and I was hurt and I think that's why I said it.>
Dick leaned toward him. <I hate not being able to feel your emotions. You already have the family flaw of always hitting where it hurts.>
Duke looked down. <Sorry. Really. I... Can I come back?>
There were choruses of assent from around the room.
You hadn't left, Cass said.
<Actually,> Bruce said, <I'm a little impressed. It took me years to get that kind of spell to work>.
Our brother is better than you, Cass teased.
<Not yet,> Bruce said. He was looking at him with a question in his eyes.
<Are you going to teach me?> Duke asked.
Jason looked away. <Now he's going to start telling you about how dangerous it is and->
<It's dangerous,> Bruce said. <But it's also useful. It can help people. And I never thought I'd have anyone I could trust enough to give him that kind of power.>
He paused. <We found you. And I trust you. If you want. If you promise to use it well.>
Duke looked at the others. Dick was smiling, Tim just looked from him to Bruce. He seemed at ease. Jason gave a stiff nod and Steph gave both thumbs up.
You have to say yes now, Cass suggested.
<Damian?>
<At least you'd be useful to the team... Duke.>
Duke looked at Bruce and nodded.
And Bruce smiled as if Duke had just done something incredibly stupid. <Okay, sonny. Let's start tomorrow.>
***
<B-man?>
<Yes, Duke?>
<Please don't call me sonny. It's... I appreciate the sentiment, etc... but no. Absolutely not.>
A laugh. <Fine, whatever. Little star?>
<Where did that come from?>
<You have light powers->
<Why can't I be the sun?>
Tim looked up from his tablet. <One: I'm here and I can hear you. Two: the sun is a star.>
Duke threw him a pillow.
Bruce looked at them both. And smiled like the proudest father in the world.
***
Duke looked at his uncle, then at Bruce.
<Duke Thomas, explain!>
Bruce cleared his throat. <Actually->
<I am truly sorry for whatever my nephew did.>
<Actually,> Bruce repeated, <Mr. Thomas, I wanted to know if you would be willing to let me pay for Duke's college expenses.>
Duke sighed. Damian owed him money. And he owed Stephanie ten dollars.