Oh guys guess what this chapters got music!
OK so um the music isn't for like the whole chapter but a part where Gotham sings are little baby a lullaby so ill link it in its section. Also i’m going to try to get it on to ao3 tonight now that my laptops working but well see.
(part 1) (Part 2) (part 3) ( part 4: guess what ya here baby)
We are on ao3 need now! https://archiveofourown.org/works/43353157/chapters/108979318
Summary: Turn out the kid can read and he loves books. Duke gets to meet his new nephew. Danny gets a chance to fell at rest. And Bruce Thinks Dick got some one pregnant.
Chapter 4: Of Stories and Songs
When Damian went to go get a book from the library this is not what he expected to see. His eldest brother Dick was sitting at one of the tables in the center of the room. The table was covered with books of all different sizes, seemingly all about space? He scans the room when his eyes settle back on his brother and then the small child in his lap. The boy, no older than 5, had an encyclopedia of constellations open on the table. He was pointing at the constellations reading out their names and turning to dick excitedly telling him all about the chains of stars.
“I don't remember asking for more siblings?” of course another black hair and blue eyes child ended up at the manor. Bruce did seem to have a type.
“Don’t worry baby bat, not a new brother, not on my watch!” Not on his watch? What in the world did Richard mean by that?
“I claim him, he’s mine, look at him he's a little genius, this kid knows like every constellation known to man,” he ruffled the kid's hair, the child blushing at the praise.
“I'm not smart, I just like space, '' Danny said quietly, staring at the floor.
“Danny! You're reading an encyclopedia all by yourself. That's insane you're like what 6? Your super-smart little dude, a super- Star you could say.” Dick and his insufferable puns, Damian didn't have time for this. He stomped walked over to the section he needed and began to search for a book.
He did not flinch when the small boy suddenly appeared next to him. He was heavily trained, he was just distracted looking for his book,he did not get snuck up on by a six-year-old. “ What do you want” domain hissed wasn't dick supposed to be watching this kid.
“What ya looking for?” The kid coked his head like a confused puppy.
“ A book for my book report, why else would I be in a library,” his tone was harsh. He hoped the kid would get the hint and scram.
“What's it called,” he stepped closer looking at the books in front of where Damian was standing.
“Well if you must know” he huffed,” it's called ‘Bud not Buddy’” like this kid was going to know where a book was in his family library seriously what was the kid thinking.
“You mean that one?,”Danny said pointing to a light tan novel on the top shelf . “I can get it”
“I do that myself tha-'' Damian cut himself short as the kid FLOATED up to grab the book.
“I gots it,” the boy chirps, holding the book with a smile stretching across his face.
Not a second later Dick comes running around the corner, “ He Dami have you seen Danny i was putting the books away and– DANNY!”
The boy was startled by the sudden shout and dropped the book, Damian caching it with no trouble at all, then the boy poofed from sight.
“Richard what is the meaning of this,” Damian stared at his brother demanding answers.
“Umm right ok so the kids, a meta, didn't know he could float but the invisibility is not new” Dick walked closer to where Damian was standing. “ Hey Danny, sorry I yelled I thought you were falling or hurt, I didn't mean to scare you.”
And just like that they popped back within the blink of an eye still just floating in the air. It was different then the Kryptonians, different then Jon, it was like gravity just didn't apply to him. “ So he floats great, is there anything else I should know?” Damian said arms crossed, just what he needed.
“ No i got him Dami thanks though,” Dick smiled at him grabbing the boy gently out of the air as if he was going to float away into space.
“I wasn't asking if you needed help i want answe–,”
“ Don't you gata book report? ,” Dick was deflecting, whatever, trouble his brother was getting himself into wasn't his business. Dick was right that Damian didn't have time to mess around.
Damian stormed off leaving the library, could this day get any weirder.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danny looked at dick with a sad expression, if the kid had been light before he weighed nothing now, his ability to float was a new development, tack it onto the power list he supposed. “ Don't worry about him Danny, he's just prickly around the edges.”
“Like a hedgehog,” the boy said in all seriousness that made dick snort.
“Yes exactly like a hedgehog” the kid seemed to lean his weight on dick no longer feeling like he was going to drift off into space.
“ So Danny, you like stars and space, but what other stuff do you like?” the boy put a thoughtful expression on his face.
Then he finally answered, “ I like to read”
“ Yeah buddy I figured that,” dick giggled, “ what type of stuff do you like to read?”
“ Do you have stories about knights!” the boy asked excitedly, bouncing in dicks arms.
“Oh you bet! Come on, let's go, the round table isn't going to fill itself.” Danny giggled, his laugh soft and light like a bell.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Alfred entered the library to deliver lunch, he had not expected to see Dick,Cass and Danny sitting in a blanket tent. Cass and Dick in pillow armor as they fought each other with sticks. Danny sitting in the tent reading a book out loud and laughing as Dick and Cass would act out the scene that was just read in dramatic fashion.
A warm smile stretched across the old man's face, “ Ahem” the Al cleared his throat causing the group to turn towards the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt your little play but it's 2:40 and you really should eat something.”
“Oh yea Al thanks a lot,” Dick looks at the pillow shield in his hand, “thanks for bringing it up we um …got distracted.”
“ It's quite alright master Dick, but i must remind you to pick up after you're done,” Al gave the mess a look over, it wasn't excessive but the older ones should set a good example for the young master.
“You got it Al,”
“Yes Alfred”, Cass called out walking over to pick up a sandwich.
“Yes sir!'' Danny shot up and closed the book he was reading, gently setting it on a table.
“Thank you, please enjoy” the butler left, stealing one last glance as he saw Danny light up at the star shaped fruit. His smile widened, he had a feeling it might stick for a bit.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“And then we snuck in and got the bad guy!” her brother explained enthusiastically. The boy stared in awe at Dick and Cass. Somehow the day had evolved from reading books about knights, to acting them out, then to telling Danny child friendly versions of their escapades.
“They didn't even see you coming!? Did you turn invisible.”
“No, we're just that good,” she chimed in.
Cass didn't mind this, sitting in the library, telling stories to a kid who just seemed eager to be interacted with. Occasionally Danny would get a little too excited and start floating and they would have to ground him. They figured out they got the best results not actually pointing out the fact that he was floating but instead placing a hand on his shoulder or ruffling his hair. It seemed to remind the boy that gravity existed and he would slowly drift back down to earth.
“You should tell him about that time you and Duke busted that hostage case '' Cass prompted. That story was pretty tame and was easy enough to water down for a kid as young as Danny.
“Whos Duke?'' Danny asked, that's right they haven't exactly done a family role call yet for the kid.
“Duke is our brother, and he's actually a meta like you,” Dick told the boy.
“Like me!?”
“Yeah but his powers are different from yours,” Danny seemed to lose a little bit of the concern on his face. That was weird, she's not sure if Dick noticed it, but the kid seemed worried about the idea of someone like him?
“Yeah he's super cool!,” Dick went into story mode gesturing wildly with his hands, “ So me and Duke had to go this building filled with bad guys–”
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duke's head pounded his trip through the subway to get home was a mistake. He had pulled something in his arm nearing the end of his day patrol while disarming a drugged up bodybuilder trying to mug a group of teens. He didn't want to have to swing home on it, hence his tortues train ride.
He had already changed into civis so he just took the front way in. He was greeted by a weirdly giddy Alfred, the man had a wide smile stretching across his face. “ Why good evening, Master Duke, Your patrol went well I presume?”
“Actually All i think i pulled my shoulder, could you look at it, but can we keep the light dim I took the subway home and my head is killing me,” the warm slime on his face did not falter instead he just gestured toward the direction of the upstairs med bay. “ But of course master Duke, right this way.”
Alfred walked in first dimming the lights the most he could before inviting dick into the room. It was smaller than the one in the cave; it was mostly used as a first aid station for when they were in civilian situations, or couldn't get down to the cave. Duke took off his shirt and let Al examine his shoulder. He deemed it to be fine but wrapped it to help keep the pressure off.
“ I must warn you Master Duke but we do have a guest currently staying at the manor,” Damian probably brought Jon over again.
“Is it jon?”
“No, it seems that Master Dick has taken in a ward,” Al said in a cheerful tone, “ He seems to be a meta as well, but he is rather young and quite skittish it seems.”
“ No way!” Dick of all people, no wait actually he should have seen this coming.”What type of powers does he have?”
“So far we know he can turn invisible, seems to have slightly above average strength, and he can float. So far it seems he has little control over them and that they are tied to his emotions.”
Leave it to brother bird to bring home a little meta kid of his own, Bruce was either going to be pissed or extremely proud. He hoped for the latter. “ Does B know?”
“No, not yet,” the butler said but he didn't seem worried, “ I'm afraid he's been quite busy, but I'm sure he’ll like the boy just fine.”
“We’ll, where's my new nephew,” Duke hopped up and he couldn't wait to meet the little guy. It would be nice to have another meta in the family and on top of that Al said he was young so maybe he could be the cool uncle who helped the kid with his powers. Meta to meta.
“Master Dick and Master Danny are in the library, I do believe that Miss Cass is still with them as well,” hu so Cass was already in on it, “ I must warn you he's a little shy and doesn't react well to loud noises or expressions of shock.”
“Got it Al!,” He put his shirt back on and made his way up the steps to the library, screw his headache Dick brought home his very own baby bird!
“Please do tell them that dinner will be ready in half an hour,” He gave Al a thumbs up and off he went.
Duke lightly knocked on the door, if the kid seemed sensitive to loud sounds maybe it was part of his meta ability.
“Who is it?” a talk-whisper came from the other side of the door.
“It's Duke,” he answered back just loud enough to be heard. Maybe he wasn't far off, “I heard I got a new nephew?”
He could hear Cass giggle as she opened the door, gesturing for him to come in with a finger over mouth. Dick was in the middle of deconstructing what looked to be a blanket fort. A soft blue glow emanating from a point he couldn't see behind the table. He inched closer, using his stealth training to make as little noise as possible. When he got close enough to see over the table he had to squint his eye a little.
A small boy with raven black hair, with freckles that seemed to glow like stars, and with clothes 2 sizes too big laid asleep. His soft blue glow formed a halo around his sleeping figure. And maybe just maybe as he had only seen it for a second, a small crown floating above his head.
He was a lot younger than Duke had expected, Danny was sleeping soundly with a book about comets wrapped in his arms. Duke looked at his brother, who stared at the boy with the same look Bruce gave them after a day's work. Full of love, but worry all at the same time.
Cute isn't he? Cass signed after tapping on Duke's shoulder to get his attention.
Yhea, where did Dick find him? A sad expression stretched across his brother's face.
‘In an alley: Lots of blood’ Cass looked at the boy sleeping without a care in the world, ‘left by someone he called uncle CW in desperation, doesn't look good no body but’
“Too much blood for any one to come back from” Dick spoke breaking the silence,” Where ever he came from let's just say it wasn't good.” Dick took a shaky breath in placing the last of the tent except Danny's pillow into the basket. “ Kids covered in scars, he's so thin you can see his ribs and the worst of it,” dick leans against the table like it was a life line, “ He's got a huge Y shaped wound down his chest, like someone tried to vivisect him. Cherry on top is we have reason to believe that it may have been the boy's own parents.”
Duke just stood there looking at Danny then back to his brother, his expression begging Dick to tell him it wasn't true. He couldn't even bring himself to look Duke in the eye. Cass places a hand on Duke's uninjured shoulder. “ Al siad dinner will be ready in 30,” he couldn't bring himself to say much else.
“Ok.”
“Ok”
Dick scooped up the boy, the child laying snugly into dicks arms, they made their way to the dining room, a painful dreadful silence followed them all the way there. Al seemed to sense it, his smile faded.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dick tried to wake up Danny but it seemed once again the boy had fallen into a sleep he couldn't quite shake. “ Hey buddy, aren't you hungry? Al made dinner, can you try to eat something?”
“ Don’t look so worried Master Dick, I assure you a child sleeping this much in his condition is quite normal. In fact I'd say it's probably best if we let the boy rest,” if Alfred was not worried then Danny was probably fine. But it still made Dicks chest ache. It was only 5:30 and yet the kid was out cold.
“Ok i guess i'll just take him to my room? What if he wakes up and panics?” dick said, rubbing the sleeping boys back.
“He can read pretty well,” Duke chimed in, “ we can leave him a note?”
“That could work,” Dick thinks back to the letter from this CW guy and how it had been addressed to Danny, which means he must have known the kid well enough to know he could read.
“Yes well i'll shall await your return ,” Alfred gave dick a reassuring smile, “ and Master Dick try not to freat to much it's best to let the boy sleep and recover.”
“ Thanks Al,” dick gives a weak smile and Cass cheerfully follows dick up the stairs and towards his room.
He lays the boy down on the bed, the kid sinks into the pillow, he wiggles at the loss of warmth. Cass hands him a star patterned fleece blanket, “where did you get this?”
‘Aunties secret’ Cass smirks, making a lockling motion over her mouth.
Dick rolls his eyes and tucks Danny in, making sure the boy is settled before grabbing a pen and paper from his desk and writing a note.
Hey Danny,
If you wake up and need us we are downstairs having dinner. Just open the door and call for us. We'll come and get you. :)
Hope you slept well,
Dick
Dick set the note on the bedside table and ruffled Danny's hair, Cass graped his hand and guided him out of the room knowing he would linger. He softly shut the door and made their way down stairs. Just as they made it to the bottom Bruce walked through the front door.
This was going to be so much fun, dick ground to himself.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bright so bright
A lite over head so strong it made his eyes sting
He screamed
He begged
Pleaded for them to STOP his chest stung green and red covered their sleeves.
They didnt stop, didn't hesitate, he wasn't their son any more, everyone he had ever loved was in that room.
Chained…traped and all he could do was scream
Danny shot up tears streaming down his face, the small boy pulled the blanket into his face hoping to muffle the sound. What if they heard, he couldn't let them find him.
He transformed the shift pulling at the stitching at his chest, the cool sensation soothing the pain. He looked around the room he was in. It was large, it had a desk, a wall with things Danny couldn't quite make out pinned to a tack board. The closet sat shut on the opposite side of the room by the door, another door sat off to the side, a bathroom he presumed.
The tears did not stop his core morning fuzzy memories of things he didn't quite understand. His entire being screaming at him to run so he did.
Wrapping himself in the blanket he jumped through the window, falling a few feet before he floated up and steadied. His body heaved as he sobbed into the cold night. Jazz , tucker, sam, his core weeped, at the same time a part of him hissed Betrayal, mom, dad
A cold storm blew across the manor courtyard, clouds covering the dark sky. Danny hid against an old oak tree weeped, his cries aggressive as tears rolled out of his glowing green eyes. His fangs catching on his lips, His body cold even wrapped in the blanket.
With a gentle role of thunder, Gotham touched down her expression, sad but soft, as she gazed upon the glowing child that lay before her. She picks him up, pressing the sobbing child into her embrace. The boy continues to sob his body exhausted leaning against the women who had welcomed the boy with open arms.
“Its ok to cry,” she rubs the child with 2 fingers, her hands, gentle. She holds Danny in her arms like a baby. Danny is so small in her arms, it calms something in his core. It still cries, it still mourns but the overwhelming feeling of safety washes over him. She wraps the small boy in his blanket protecting him from the cold evening breeze.
With a wave of her hand the wind slowed, a low grumble of thunder spread out across the sky, She smiled at Danny, a smile so warm that he was sure he had only ever received from jazz. Then she took a little breath, and rocked the small boy in her arms, her voice soft as it stretched out towards the city's bay.
(Link to song)
“Wandering child of the earth” a lullaby for the child in her arms.
“Do you know just how much you're worth?
You have walked this path since your birth,”she gently wipes the tears off the boys star speckled checks, “You were destined for more”
“There are those who'll tell you you're wrong
They will try to to silence your song
But right here is where you belong
So don't search anymore” She gently walked back towards the manor, swaying gently.
“You are the dawn of a new day that's waking
A masterpiece still in the making
The blue in an ocean of gray” She looked longing off into the distance, her eyes full of hope for a future yet to be seen.
“You are right where you need to be
Poised to inspire and to succeed
You'll look back and you'll realize one day” She fazed through the wall of dicks room, looking around and giving the space and approving nod.
“In your eyes there is doubt
As you try to figure it out
But that's not what life is about
So have faith there's a way” The child in her arms had drifted off to sleep, his crown floating lightly above his head.
“Though the world may try to define you
It can't take the light that's inside you
So don't you dare try to hide
Let your fears fade away” she set the boy back on the bed, tucking him gently. She knelt down, rubbing the boy's hair.
“You are the dawn of a new day that's waking
A masterpiece still in the making
The blue in an ocean of gray
You are right where you need to be
Poised to inspire and to succeed
You'll look back and you'll realize one day”
“You are the dawn of a new day that's waking
A masterpiece still in the making
The blue in an ocean of gray
You are right where you need to be
Poised to inspire and to succeed
Soon you'll finally find your own way”
“Rest now, you are wanted here, let them guide your soul oh wayward child, may your heart rest upon the stars. You have gained my blessing, may my family become your own.” Just as fast as she had come, she faded an invisible hand wiping away the last of his tears.
The clouds subsided, his core was calm, he was safe, he belonged.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dick coming over to the manor wasn't unusual, he would often stop by to spend time with his family. No that wasn’t unusual , what was unusual was all of his children were being deathly quiet.
Cass and Dick giving each other worried looks, Damian seemed more aggravated than normal,Tim stared mindlessly at his plate, and Duke was fiddling with something under the table. Not even Alfred had said much, which was strange. Normally the man would be prodding the family to start a conversation to break the tension but nothing not a word.
“So Tim, you finished that project you were working on,” Bruce attempted to break the silence.
“No but I'm close, should be done by tonight.” Tim rested his head on his hand playing with a pea with his fork
“Hm, and you duke? Any trouble on patrol today?”
“Nope all good, just mugging” Duke took a hefty bite of potatoes.
“Damian and you?”
His son responded, never looking up from his plate, “My day was fine father, just a book report that I needed to complete. It was no problem at all.”
Ok now he knew for sure something was off, he scans the table once more looking over all his children, stopping at his eldest. Dick had not looked at him once since he joined the table. Something was going on and he was going- “Bruce I know that face please,” his son interrupting his train of thought.
“Look I'm going to just rip the bandaid off because the tension in this room is so thick baby bat can slice through it,” Cass set a hand on Dicks shoulder. Whatever was going on, she was involved or at least knew about it. Judging by everyone's behavior he knew at least everyone , including Alfred, at least had an idea about what was going on. “ I um….. have… a kid now.”
The utter look of shock on Bruce's face was one the family had only seen a few times, and without the partial protection of his cowl it was even worse. Who? How? Okay he knew how but how had he not known dick was in a series enough relationship to warrant the creation of a child. Dick hasn't dated anyone long term sense Barbra and it definitely wasn't Barbra he had just seen her she would have said something.
“Who?” Bruce finally managed to blurt out, “ I didn't know you were in a serious enough relationship to get someone pregnant?” He knew his kids would move on and start families of their own one day but like this? He hadn't even met the girl.
“NO ONE'S PREGNANT,” Dick blurted out face beet red, his sibling laughing at the accusation.
“O yea, kids like 6,” Duke chuckled out. This was not reassuring to bruce at all, Dick was 22 if the child was six than that ment:
“YOU GOT SOMEONE PREGNANT AT 16!” Bruce stood up out of his chair,” Who!? When?!” his jaw locked shut staring at his son who was frantically scrambling to find words.
“I UM… It's not like that…I didn't,” Dick continued to trip over his words, not how he pictured it would go, “ I kinda just picked him up out of an alley!”
And at this the giggles turned into manic laughter even Alfred was laughing to himself. “ It seems that Master Dick had inherited some of your more…child cedric tendencies im afraid.” Placing a hand on Bruce's shoulder guiding him back into his seat.
Cass and Duke made their way over to their brother who had his face buried into his hands. A grin stretched across Casses face, “ You should be proud B, he's caring on the family legacy.”
“Yhea the kids got blue eyes with black hair and everything” Tim had chimed in.
“ Yes father i do have to agree that he seems to meet your adoption criteria” Damian stated arms crossed annoyed glances target at his giggling siblings.
“Ahem” Alfred cleared his throat from his spot behind Bruce. “Yes, well with that out of the way,” a smile caching the corners of the man's lips, “ I do believe we sound discuss the boy's condition.”
With a nod, Dick, Cass, Duke, and Alfred filled the rest of the bats present in on danny's situation . How he was found, the note, the kids' constant state of tiredness, the kids' injuries,how Danny's own parents might be involved, how he seemed to be rather intelligent despite his age, and how he was a meta.
The same look from the start of dinner returned to Bruce's face, the gears in his head turning. He was going to solve this, someone in his city had been harming a child to such a degree and had slipped under his radar. He would not stand for it, but first he had to see the kid. This boy he was hearing so much about, who his son had just met but yet had a fond look on his face when explaining the boy's love of stars. His son had taken in a ward and that meant he had a grandson. O lord, he had a grandson.
“So when am I going to get to meet him?,” and as on cue.
“Hello? Anyone” a small voice called from upstairs, causing Dick to jump up from his seat.
“Sooner than I thought.”
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Chapter 5 (most likely to be titled “ A scrambled egg” ) will be Bruce and his stubborn butt not realizing rushing a traumatize child with question was not a good idea. So stick around!
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