“Let me go!” Damian twisted furiously, but to no avail he could not free himself.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. If you fall from there, you’ll die.” Dick warned. His costume was a little worse for wear after wrestling the demon brat onto the stalactite.
“You can’t do this to me! Let me go!” He growled.
“I told you I would do something to you won’t like if you didn’t listen. Think of it as a light punishment, compared to what I would do to your spoiled little ass for doing that to Tim!” He crossed his arms with a glower.
“You can’t do this to me!” Damian roared.
“Never one to repent.” Dick sighed. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He activated the batarang that was attached to the boy. A high pitch frequency converged the bats to where Damian was tied. The boy resisted a scream as the flying rodents clawed at his face. His eyes clenched close to avoid having his eyes gouged out. “If you’re good, I’ll let you down early.”
“Fuck you!” Damian snarled.
He didn’t want to leave the brat alone in the cave, but he needed to check on Tim and their little guest. The rays of dawn peeked through the windows and into the halls. It had taken him longer than he expected to deal with the homicidal brat.
“Master Dick.” Alfred greeted him as he passed with a platter of food at hand. “Will you be dining at the hall or would you prefer to take your meal at Master Tim’s room?”
“I’ll take it at Tim’s room.” Dick replied before pausing in suspicion. “Where’s the other kid?”
“He’s with Master Tim.” Alfred informed him as they walked down the halls.
“… You left him with Tim?” Dick said in disbelief.
“If the boy wanted to harm him, he wouldn’t have bothered to save him. Now if you don’t mind, please open that door for me.” The butler requested before the other opened the door.
Despite the dimness of the room, the old butler moved with practiced ease as he placed down the platter on a nearby table and moved to draw the curtains aside to let in some morning light. Tim was resting peacefully in his bed, his injuries prominent even in this low light. Their mystery guest on the other hand was nowhere to be seen.
“Alfred, I think you’ve been duped. The kid’s gone.” Dick commented.
Just as Alfred was about to retort, the bathroom door opened and out came their missing guest.
“Don’t be so quick to jump to conclusions Nightwing.” Beyond commented as he closed the door behind him quietly. He cleaned himself up with a change of clothes. A very familiar set of clothing Dick might add.
“The boy was merely in the lavatory freshening up.” Alfred defended as he went to look the child over. “I trust the clothing fits fine?”
“You gave him clothes?” Dick finally realized why it looked so familiar, they were his old clothes, albeit a little loose and large on the small boy.
“It’s fine.” The boy said little as the butler fixed the collar of his shirt.
“… Why didn’t you run?” Dick questioned.
Blue eyes glanced at him with a snort. “A homicidal brat declared that he wants me dead and has shown he is quite capable of hunting and killing targets he desires. The only person he fears, respects and listens to lives here. What would your decision be if you were in my position?”
“He also knows about Bruce.” Tim’s strained voice directed everyone’s attention on him.
“Take it easy.” Dick was quick to his side to help him up. Tim had one arm in a sling.
“He broke into Wayne Tech knowing full well who we are.” Tim continued. “He’s from Cadmus.”
“Formerly Cadmus.” Beyond corrected him as he glanced at the platter of food and later at Alfred.
The elderly man smiled. “I intended a share for you young man, feel free to eat.”
He wasted no time and took a seat at the plush seats. He looked starved.
“Why are you here?” Dick asked as he watched the boy set a napkin on his lap.
“Why don’t you ask the person that brought me here?” He replied as he grabbed a spoon. “I only broke into Wayne Tech to borrow a computer.”
“Don’t play coy with me that can’t be all you wanted to do.”
The boy dipped the spoon into the soup and stirred. “What makes you think I would tell the truth Mr. Grayson? Or even better, why would you trust my words?”
Dick paused, that was a point. He watched as the other checked the soup over and over again as if he suspected Alfred’s gracious cooking to be poisoned. As if the dear butler would ever do something so horrid to their food. Besides if the man had, the silver would’ve tarnish. Little do people know, actual silver-made silverware was a good poison detector.
“Will Master Damian have breakfast this morning?” Alfred interrupted.
“If the hell spawn learns better manners.” Dick grunted
“I assume he’ll be dining at lunch then.” Alfred said as he left for another platter of food.
“Hell spawn?” Tim chuckled painfully. “Bat-spawn more like it. Nothing in hell compares to kid spawned from Batman.”
o.o.o.o.o
Beyond listened intently to their conversation. It was months since he had a hot meal and a decent source of information. The thought of integrating himself into Batman’s life was getting more and more appealing with each bite he took, but he knew better.
He was not XIII and Batman was not Superman. A happy family reunion was not something either of them could simply accept. The thought itself was awkward enough. And with Damian, there was little chance that he would be accepted in a kind light in sharing Batman’s genetics. If he planned to stay, he would have to work and earn his keep. He was just trading one master for another.
He would need to get through to the butler first. The man had raised Batman and his wards. No doubt he has some importance to them, why else would he be privy to all their secrets? Nightwing would be troublesome, it didn’t seem like the man was willing to trust easily. As for Robin, he was a close friend to XIII, he might be able to convince him if XIII assisted.
By the time he was done with the soup the butler was back and he found a perfect opportunity to work his charms on the man.
“Would you like some help Alfred?” Beyond asked as he gathered up the empty plates.
The man raised a brow, but didn’t protest. Beyond followed him with the dirty plates and they headed straight for the kitchen. Alfred instructed him on the proper procedures to cleaning and caring for the silverware and chinaware that was in use. He listened closely, following every word the man said like a good child. At least that was the image he was trying portray, but Alfred was no fool.
“Tell me young man, what are you trying to gain by helping me?”
“What do you mean?” Beyond kept a false smile on his face.
“I can see you’re an intelligent young man. I may be old, but I’m not dimwitted in any sense.” Alfred looked at him kindly. “You have no need to lie to me.”
Beyond had half a mind that the man was bluffing, but his eyes told him otherwise. “…How did you know?”
Alfred gave a light-hearted laugh. “It may have been a long while since I cared for children, but I can recognize the difference between sincerity and deceit.”
This was an interesting development. He assumed the butler only served as their medic and their caretaker, but he was something more. When he was in Cadmus he found little on the man since he didn’t originate in America and the British was very protective of their citizens’ privacy.
“But how can you tell? I made sure not to give away anything.” He wanted to know.
“Now that, young master, is a secret I intend to keep.” The kind butler said in bemusement. “Though, you were trained in reconnaissance when you were in Cadmus haven’t you?”
That hadn’t been the answer Beyond was expecting. He was supposed to be the one prying information from the man, not the other way around.
“…” Beyond remained silent as he finished drying the plate. “They should be done eating, I’ll get the other plates.” He hurried out of the kitchen and down the hall.
He let his guard down that should’ve never happened. The butler shouldn’t have been able to get so close without him noticing. Beyond didn’t go back to Tim’s room as he said. Instead he was sneaking about the manor cautiously venturing through unknown territory careful not to leave traces for others to follow. He couldn’t leave the manor. It would be stupid of him with the death threat Damian placed on him.
Just why was he so furious at seeing his face? What look was he referring to when he declared that threat? He hadn’t noticed anything peculiar in the bathroom when he was freshening himself up. He looked nothing like Batman, Damian resembled the dark knight more so than he does. Maybe it’s the scowl he had when he was facing him? The only thing he sees as a resemblance was his eyes, but even that was rather vague. After all, the man’s many Robins all have blue eyes. It’s not that special. The only consolation he has out of all of this is the fact Damian was attention starved. He wouldn’t do anything his father would disapprove… Hopefully.
He was tired. With less than three hours of sleep and a threat of his life, his adrenaline rush was coming down and the food he ingested was lulling him to sleep. Beyond glanced about for stalkers before finally entering an unused room and found his way under a couch. Within moments he was curled up into a ball and fast asleep, but he didn’t rest easy. Even in exhaustion he was paranoid. He fell into a restless sleep worried that his homicidal brother would come and slaughter him in his dreams.
o.o.o.o.o
When the boy hadn’t returned, Alfred went in search for him. The old butler had expected him to lie yet again. It was likely the boy felt threatened and went in search for a safe haven. Being a former spy himself, he knew that such habits were hard to rid, especially in a hostile environment. Of course, having worked in Wayne Manor for several decades, he was more than familiar with the layout. Finding the boy was not much of a challenge. A quick glimpse over the doorknobs was more than enough to tell him if the door had been open or not.
Each knob was turned specifically a third of the way, had anyone entered and left the room, the knob would have snapped back to its original place. He found the door within minutes and entered silently, nothing was out of place. Everything was untouched as it was the last time he was in the room. He would applaud the boy’s teachers, but he knew better. He knelt down to the floor and lifted the coverings of the antique couch to find the boy curled up in a fetal position, sleeping.
Alfred shook his head as he carefully pulled the boy out, doing his best not to rouse him. “Master Bruce certainly has a handful to deal with.” He murmured quietly before placing the small child atop of the couch and pulling a throw blanket over his small form.
o.o.o.o.o
It was late morning when Bruce returned to the manor. Beyond was correct that Talia planned for him to bring Damian along. She wanted to use their son against him in their private war. Their meeting ended with her submarine bombed by the British air force. He wasn’t worried in the least about Talia’s welfare. The woman was resourceful. It would take more than that to kill her. He was glad that Damian had not accompanied him. Who knows what might have happened to him.
Nevertheless, once he was certain the Prime Minster’s wife was safe, he hurried back to the manor via the Justice League teleporter. Of course, him needing to use the teleporter in such a manner drew some attention. It was rare for him to use it when he usually took it as a chance to splurge and build Bruce Wayne’s playboy façade. No one dared to approach him when he went through.
Not that he would bothered to answer if they had, he had a homicidal son that was trained by the League of Assassins and a Cadmus project that was a possible liability, a bedridden Robin and a furious Nightwing. He could feel a migraine coming along. Facing the Gotham underworld seemed like a more pleasant alternative.
When he stepped into the cave, he knew something was wrong. The bats were unsettled. He hadn’t known reason until he spotted Damian tied to a stalactite with a bat frequency batarang attached to him. That headache was ebbing through, he should’ve known. Dick was protective of Tim ever since he agreed to allow the young man to take up the mantle as Robin. His protectiveness only grew when Bruce had adopted him. He reached to the back of his utility belt and pulled out a remote to cancel the frequency.
When the bats retreated, Damian cautiously peeked an eye open. “Father!” He said delightfully. “That stupid bird brain put me up here! Let me down father!”
The man frowned. “If you mind your manners and call people by their given names, I’ll think about it.”
Damian scowled, but he didn’t protest. “Fine, I’ll call them by their names. Let me down!” With utmost reluctance Bruce had his son out of his bindings and back on the ground. The boy rotated his arms carefully as he stretched out his cramped muscles. “So did you find mother?”
“… You’ll be staying with us for a while longer.” Bruce noted. Damian lit up at the mention of his extended stay. “Where are Alfred and the others?”
“Master Bruce, I see you’ve returned.” Alfred greeted as he descended to the cave with clean clothes at hand. “I was about to release Master Damian for brunch.”
“How is Tim?” He asked.
“Master Tim is recovering in his bed at the moment, but he should be well enough to move about in a few days. Though, I would suggest keeping him from active duty until his arm mends. Why don’t you get cleaned up first while I take Master Damian up to the dining room?”
“Don’t tell me what to—” Damian quickly silenced when his father turned a glare at him. “Whatever you say Alfred.” He gave a dejected murmur and followed the butler to the upper levels while Batman changed out of his costume and headed towards the showers.
He was tempted to stay in the hot sprays to avoid dealing with all that’s happened, but he knew better than to leave them alone for even a moment. Once he was cleaned and dressed, he made it a priority to check on Tim first. The teen wonder was still asleep when he entered the room, so helpless and weak. He grimaced at the injuries that littered his body. Filled with regret, he gingerly placed a hand atop of Tim’s messy mop of hair, brushing away his sweaty locks.
“Bruce?” Tim whispered hoarsely before his eyes cracked open.
“How are you feeling?” He asked.
Tim’s lips twitched up in a grin. “I could be better.” He murmured.
“Rest some more, I’ll talk to you later.” He said gently ruffling his hair.
“Keep an eye on the kid.” Tim murmured. “Damian… doesn’t like him…” He said drowsily before he fell asleep.
Bruce pulled the covers over Tim’s shoulders and watched his breathing even out before leaving. He wanted to talk to Beyond next, but he hadn’t a clue where the child was. Fortunately, he walked into him and Alfred going down to the dining hall.
“Ah, Master Bruce, I’ve seen you have freshened up.” Alfred commented before turning to Beyond. “Would you mind if we speak for a moment before we head off to brunch?”
“You have no need to explain to me. I know where the dining room is, I can get there myself.” Beyond offered.
“No, you come too, I have something to speak with you as well.” Bruce interrupted. The boy shifted his weight, he could tell that he was uncomfortable, but he made no protest as he followed them to the study.
“You have something you wanted to speak with me?” Beyond asked carefully as he took a seat in one of the plush chairs, absently taking note of the family portrait of young Bruce Wayne and his parents.
“I would like to resume our conversation before… my abrupt departure.” Bruce said diplomatically, ignoring the fact the person in front of him was a child. There was no need to butter up his words, the boy was mature and would understand.
“Haven’t we already covered everything?” Beyond asked.
“We covered to why you broke into Wayne Tech, but we haven’t covered to why you needed to break into Wayne Tech.” Bruce countered.
“I told you I needed to dispose of some files from Cadmus. Wayne Tech is one of the few places that have the technology that’s capable of handling a break in into Cadmus.”
“Wayne Tech isn’t the only place that has it. You could have easily gone to Lex Corp, STAR Labs any other places.”
“Mr. Wayne you’re not a stupid man.” Beyond grounded out. “You know very well the security for those places are nearly impossible for a child without equipment to break into. Furthermore, Cadmus monitors those areas more so since my escape. Going there would have meant surrendering myself back to them.”
“And yet you’re willing to attempt Wayne Tech?” Bruce raised a brow.
Beyond looked away from his eyes. “Because I know you won’t send me back to Cadmus, knowing what I can do for them. Knowing what I can do against your Justice League.”
Bruce remained unmoved. “You haven’t told me what exactly you were trying to dispose from Cadmus.”
“…” Beyond shifted uncomfortably, never before was he the one interrogated. “…I was getting rid of XIII and my files… Didn’t see a point in letting them create more copies and have them dispose of us.”
“I can see that you have no wish to return to Cadmus.” Bruce started. “And it would be too dangerous for you to continue to run from them on your own. From how we found you, you’ve been struggling to stay alive more so than running away from Cadmus…” He studied the boy a moment longer before he continued. “I have a proposal.”
Beyond glanced up with curiosity in his eyes. “… What kind of proposal?”
“From what I gathered, you have skills that are close to irreplaceable. Cadmus would try to retrieve you at any costs, even if it’s to simply keep you for lending those skills to others. My guess is that you’re the one the managed to hacked into my computer last year, to leave me that warning.”
“…”
“I'm willing to take you into my care and provide sanctuary for you from Cadmus given you have helped saved Robin’s life last night and judged correctly of Talia’s motives.” Bruce stated.
“There is… a however lingering in your words.” Beyond continued.
“We’ll leave that for a later time.” Bruce brushed off the matter. The truth was that he saw Beyond’s skill as useful for the Justice League, but for the moment he doesn’t want to entrust the child to league duties yet. “There is the matter of taking you into my care. I trust, you don’t have any legal documents, just as your fellow run away?”
“That’s correct.” Beyond answered.
“May I be so bold sir?” Alfred interrupted.
“What is it Alfred?” He glanced to the old man.
“If the young master here is from Cadmus, it’s likely for them to retrieve the boy in other legal forms if they were to find that he is in your care. Even if you were to adopt him, there are still means of removing him from your care.” The old butler informed.
“What are you suggesting?” Bruce asked.
“I do believe Bruce Wayne is due for some outrageous criticism in the media? Claiming the young master as an illegitimate child should be more than enough to outrage the public and even if Cadmus finds the boy in your care, they cannot take him from you if you were his legitimate parent by blood.” He suggested. “As for a blood test, we can simply use Master Damian’s blood comparison to yours as proof.”
Beyond found himself gapping at the man’s suggestion. “Illegitimate child?” While in truth he was an illegitimate child, he hadn’t expected the butler to suggest to the man to take him in publicly as one. The best he had hoped for was to keep him to the shadows, not letting the media knowing all together.
“Furthermore, the young master has no name of his own or back history for anyone other than Cadmus to trace. And with the countless number of love interests for Bruce Wayne, it would be nearly impossible for the media to even guess who the boy’s mother might be.”
The butler was siding with him, helping him. He was going out of his way to help him enter Bruce Wayne’s life. He hadn’t expected that to happen.
“… It’s not necessary to let the public know I’m here.” Beyond interrupted. As nice as it would be to be considered as the man’s son, the risk is simply too high. “Sanctuary from Cadmus is more then enough. I’ll provide you services that I have for Cadmus in exchange for my stay here.”
“… No.” Bruce’s response made him do a double take. “I believe Alfred’s suggestion is logical. Often, there will be parties hosted at Wayne Manor. If you are to live here, you should be able to freely move about in the manor without questions from outsiders. And it would serve as security against Cadmus taking you back in any case.”
“You can’t be serious—” Beyond jumped out of his seat wanting to protest, but Alfred placed firm hands over his shoulders.
“Very well then, the young master shall become a Wayne.” He stated, not allowing any protest from the boy.
“Will you be able to deal with the paperwork Alfred? I don’t believe we’ll be able to use any US documents for him.” Bruce was swift to shift the conversation to how to legitimize Beyond.
“I believe I have some connections back in the Britain that can provide us with such documents. Of course, that would mean the young master would be required to speak with an accent at least for sometime. I trust it would not be a problem, would it young master?” He grinned wryly at Beyond.
The man was formerly a spy in another country, Beyond realized. It was no wonder he knew so much of what he did. There was no other choice he had to abide by their wishes. “Certainly not.” Beyond spoke with an accent, as part of his training, Cadmus has taught him various languages and how to imitate area accents.
“How long would it take for you to obtain these documents?” Bruce asked before he got up from his seat as well.
“No more than a fortnight sir.” Alfred quipped. “There is however, one last crucial matter to this whole charades.”
“And that would be?” The man asked.
“Naming the young master. We simply cannot leave him nameless now, can we? Since you’ll be posing as his father from now on, it would only be appropriate for you to name him.”
Beyond was speechless, not only the man got him into Bruce Wayne’s life, he was going to get him a name as well.
“Do you have any objection to this?” Bruce asked him, giving him a chance to refute the matter, but Beyond found himself not wanting to speak.
Alfred smiled brightly. “It seems like the young master does not oppose to this arrangement. What will you be naming him sir?”
“Hmm…” The man pondered for a moment. “What do you think of Terrence Wayne? Terry for short.”
“That is an excellent name sir. What do you think young master?” Alfred asked.
The newly named Terry was silent, staring at the man that had just named him, his father. “… Do I call you father then?” He asked hesitantly his voice lost traces of the accent he was using previously.
“I believe that is what normal families would do isn’t it?” His father said gently at his hesitation.
“I…” Terry trailed off before trying again. “... None of the projects in Cadmus had parents… I’m not sure…”
Bruce’s eyes softened at the confusion on the young boy’s face before he knelt down and drew him into a hug. Normally, he wouldn’t be initiating any kind of affection, to anyone, but this boy looked truly lost and confused. Considering he might’ve been in Cadmus his whole life, it was likely the boy never tasted any form of affection. Terry stiffened in his hold, but he eventually he relaxed and melt into the hug. Once he was certain Terry wasn’t going to flee, he pulled away and ruffled his head.
“Now that the matter is over, I trust that both of you are quite famished. Come, let’s get you to the dining room for lunch, the time for brunch has passed while we were discussing on the matter.” Alfred said with cheer as he ushered them out of the study and towards the dining room.
As they ventured down the hall, they could hear an argument roaring from within the dining room. “…Alfred, you didn’t leave Damian alone did you?” Bruce asked.
“No sir, Master Dick came to watch him before I went to retrieve Master Terry.” The old butler informed him.
“Sit down you homicidal brat!” Dick’s voice came from the room as they turned around the corner.
Not a moment later a butter knife flew out of the room, Bruce make a quick move to push both Terry and Alfred out of the way before the silverware imbedded itself into the wall. “Damian!” He roared. The conflict halted.
“Bruce, you’re back early.” Dick said lowly.
“What’s going on here?” He demanded.
“The brat was being all high and mighty, he refuses to eat.” Dick replied.
“How could I eat when he lacks table manners.” Damian retorted.
“Me?” Dick said in disbelief. “I’ll show you who needs manners!”
“Dick!” Bruce snapped before pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Master Dick, would you mind taking lunch up to Master Tim while I handle the matters down here?” Alfred interrupted for Bruce’s sake.
“Fine.” Dick growled but gave a pointed warning. “But I want to talk to you later.” He stormed out of the room and towards the kitchen to retrieve Tim’s lunch.
“Damian sit down.” Bruce ordered before the boy reluctantly sat down, glaring at Terry as he did so. “You too Terry, take a seat.” Terry opted to take a seat right next to their father, much to Damian’s displeasure.
“What is he doing still here?” Damian asked.
“Terry will be staying with us for an extended amount of time. Think of him as your brother for the time period if you will.” Bruce continued. “As you should be considering Dick and Tim.”
Damian frowned. It was strange, he was quite certain that this Terry before him shared Batman’s blood, his father’s blood. However, the man made it sound like he doesn’t believe that Terry was his son. With what he had done yesterday, he would think that his father would use Terry as a comparison to what he would deem as an ideal son.
Unless… He glanced over to Bruce. He doesn’t know that Terry shares his blood. The thought was almost enough to make him smile, but he hadn’t. Instead, he decided to keep quiet and plot the demise of his brother.
Lunch went by quietly, where neither the father nor the sons spoke. The sight made the old butler grin ironically. The two youngsters acted so much like him it was hard to say they weren’t related. With Damian scowling and Terry cheerfully calm, it looked almost as if Batman and Bruce Wayne had separated and de-aged.
Once lunch was over, Bruce took his two sons up to Tim’s room and informed the remaining two in the manor of Terry’s new status.
“Bruce.” Tim greeted from his bed when the man entered with the other two.
“Did you bring the brat to apologize? I don’t think he would mean it, even you can get him to.” Dick glared at Damian and the boy returned the glare just the same.
“I have a few announcements to make.” Bruce continued, ignoring the tension between his real sons and his adopted sons.
“…Something tells me we’re not going to like this.” Tim mutters under his breath.
“Damian will be staying with us for an extended period of time.” Both Tim and Dick groaned, but a glare from Bruce quickly silenced them. “As will Terry.”
“Terry?” The two others asked before glancing towards said boy.
“This will be Terrence Wayne from now on.” Bruce informed them.
“Wait… WHAT?” Dick shouted. “Don’t tell me this kid is your son too! Just how many kids do you have?”
“No, that can’t be, he’s a Cadmus project isn’t he?” Tim asked before realization dawned on him. “You’re doing this to protect him from them.”
“It will be two weeks before his paperwork is finalized, but I suggest all of you to get used to it before then.” Bruce said.
“… But that’s not all is it?” Tim frowned. Terry studied the older teen, somewhat impressed that the teen wonder was able to understand Batman so well.
“I’m pulling you out of active duties for those two weeks until you heal. There is no sense in injuring yourself any further with that arm of yours.” The man continued. “During that time, Damian will be filling in for you.”
“He’ll be what?” Dick snapped before closing in the space between him and Bruce. “You can’t be serious! It’s because of that brat that Tim’s even injured! You’re going to be rewarding him and allowing him to take the place of Robin?”
“No.” Bruce said calmly. “This is not a reward, but a punishment and he will not be going on patrol with me as Robin.”
“What?” Damian protested.
“It’s pointless to keep him from wearing it though.” Terry interrupted the conversation. “He’ll just take it and don it when you’re not looking anyway.” Damian glared at him. “Besides, it would look quite strange for Batman to suddenly have another ward in his care. What public persona are you going to give him if you’re making wear a different costume? And it would take sometime to design another costume for him.”
“It’s all right,” Tim spoke up before Dick could complain again. “I’m useless to anyone at the moment. At least he’ll be useful rather than destructive.”
“Tim?” Dick said in disbelief. “You’re just going to let him? You worked for the mantle of Robin!”
“Would you rather he stay behind and possibly injure Tim some more while Batman is out patrolling?” Terry reasoned before successfully silencing the protective man.
“This will only be until you recover Tim. Once you heal, you can resume active duty anytime you wish.” Bruce promised.
“I suppose, I could still do research and diagnostics in the cave while you patrol.” Tim reasoned.
“Then it’s agreed?” Bruce asked again.
Dick threw up his arms in disbelief. “I give up; do whatever the hell you want.” He walked towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Tim asked.
“To bed!” He said before slamming the door shut.
“He has been awake for the whole night.” Terry reasoned wryly. “Will you be resting as well Mr. Wayne?”
“I believe the correct term would be father or dad, Master Terry.” Alfred corrected as he entered the room. “After all, you will be posing as Master Bruce’s son for a long while.”
“… Dad, will you be resting then? After all you’ve been awake possibly longer than Dick has.” Terry resumed his questioning awkwardly.
“I believe everyone should be getting more then a few hours of shut eye today.” Alfred quipped as he walked into the room. “I’ve already prepared a room for Master Terry.”
“… Will I be allowed down at the Batcave later tonight when you’re out on patrol?” Terry asked.
“If Tim and Alfred agree to allow you down.” Bruce answered before dragging Damian out of the room with him. “But until then, I think Alfred is right about grabbing some shut eye. You are no different Damian.”
“Shall we Master Terry?” Alfred asked him.
“Wait.” Tim called out before Terry turned back to face him. “You can come down to the cave with me later.” Terry raised a brow at the offer. “I still have some questions for you.”
“Of course.” Terry said before he left with Alfred.
“You don’t seem to be excited that Master Tim allowed you to venture down to the cave.” Alfred conversed casually as he led him to his room.
“I got only one approval. I’m not allowed down there unless I have yours Alfred.” Terry quipped.
“I don’t believe there is any reason for me to keep you from going down below.” The old butler grinned.
“Why are you helping me?” Terry couldn’t help but ask. No one ever does something without aiming for something in return. It seems awfully strange for the man to do so.
“You remind me of Master Bruce when he was about your age.” He reasoned. That answer alone was more than enough to silence him. As for satisfaction, he wasn’t too sure, but he won’t pry into the matter now. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me. I’ll call you for supper if you haven’t awakened by then.”
“…Thank you Alfred.” He said before the butler left.
Terry studied his new room. The bed was plush and soft compared to the hard bunkers he dealt with in Cadmus. The design was superficial, not matching his father’s true personality anyhow. Regardless, the room served its purpose. He was debating whether or not to rest, as he already have five hours of rest before Batman returned from his exchange with Talia.
The whistle of a blade ended any thought of sleep. Quickly he ducked and rolled out of the way before the blade managed to decapitate him.
“Damian.” He greeted his brother as he stood up from his spot.
“So father doesn’t know?” The older boy smirked.
“I’m not planning to tell him anytime soon.” Terry said as he folded his hands behind him. The motion seemed to insult Damian, but he was actually reaching for the RSS flashlight. He tucked it underneath the baggy clothing earlier after the shower, along with what little equipment he gathered from the aftermath of Batman’s fight with Clayface.
“Good, you’ll never be able to!” Damian said he charged at him.
Terry pulled out the lead flashlight to block the blade before he rolled out of the way again. Capoeira made him flexible to bend and twist his body to avoid Damian’s attack before he hurried out of the room. He wouldn’t be able to take the older boy head on in a fair fight and he didn’t plan on fighting him. He had mapped out a small portion of the manor for his use from his earlier wandering.
“Dad won’t be pleased to see you killing again.” Terry taunted him as he fell to the ground to avoid projectiles from Damian and slid to the next corner. He scrambled to his feet a moment later before hurrying down another hall.
“What’s another death to a long list of many others?” Damian spat out as he chased the other around the corner. He ducked as a batarang flew at his face. The weapon circled around before Terry caught it and continued his way down the hall.
“You’re not making this very subtle at all.” Terry commented as he jumped on the banister and slid down to the lower level.
“What do you know deadweight?” Damian snarled before following suit down the banister.
Terry made a quick dash towards the kitchen, running through the kitchen. “Master Terry!” Alfred shouted before he ran out the kitchen through the other door. “Master Damian!”
Terry grinned as he ran back towards the stairs.
“Running only keeps you alive for just a moment longer!” Damian growled.
A moment longer is all I need. Terry thought gleefully before he turned round another corner. A noise cracked behind him before a cord wrapped around his leg and dragged him off his feet. He held his arms in front of him as he braced for his fall. Damian gave the cord a harsh tug, pulling Terry towards him.
“Time to die, brother.” Damian spat before plunging his sword down.
Before he managed to touch him, a batarang flew and knocked the blade out of his hands. Terry raised his arms to cover his head as the blade fell. Another batarang came to knock the blade away from him. “DAMIAN!” Bruce’s voice roared from the other end of the hall.
Terry smirked with his arms still covering his face. “The difference between you and me.” He whispered so their father couldn’t hear. “I know when and where to pick my fights, brother.”
Damian glared down at him. “We’ll see about that.” He kicked him in the side before moving to pick up his sword.
“Master Terry! Are you all right?” Alfred rushed over to him breathlessly.
“I’m fine.” He answered, noticing a glare directed to Damian by their father. He paid no heed to his brother’s glare. Their little war has begun… and to tell the truth, it was interesting.
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