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Things started out as they normally did-- with an Arkham breakout. Ivy was trying something new, branching out (No pun intended) with new effects and possibilities. And Bruce got hit. He didn't know he got hit, there were no signs. He wasn't dizzy, he didn't have a fever, nothing. After the family safely got Ivy back in Arkham, they relocated to the Batcave.
"Is everyone alright?" Bruce asked, looking at the group. "Anybody get hit with anything?"
Jason, who was bandaging a small cut on Dick's arm, replied "Nobody got hit. We're all good. Better shape than normal, actually."
"Yeah, we're getting better at this." Stephanie says from her place sprawled on Cassandra.
Bruce chuckles, taking off his cowl. "Alright, then. Everyone get patched up and head to bed. Duke, Damian, you two have school tomorrow."
Said boys groan at the reminder. "Bruce," Duke whines at the same time Damian whined, "But Father..."
Jason laughs,running a hand through his white and black hair. "This is why I dropped out while I had the chance."
"Sure." Dick says, rolling his eyes. "Dropped out. Totally not because you died or anything."
Jason sticks his tongue out at Dick. "Ireelevant detail."
Bruce rolls his eyes. "To bed, all of you. Or I'll send Alfred." That gets the kids to obey him and rush to bed.
Bruce follows not far behind, thinking. His family now is so different than the way he thought it would be when he was a kid. He has kids! And Alfred, the best father figure/butler anyone could ever ask for. And true, is he perfect? No, but at least he's gotten rid of the mindset that he has to be. Now he actually communicates with his kids, not well, but enough that Jason no longer feels the need to fight and test him. He sighs. Life is good.
As Bruce climbs into bed, he still thinks about his kids proudly.
As his kids climb into bed, however, they giggle about the newest scandal involving one 'Brucie Wayne.' New blackmail material. Tim puts it in a folder on his laptop.
The morning goes as usual. Dick heads to Blüdhaven, Tim goes to WE, Damian and Duke go to work, and the girls go and do whatever they usually do. Jason doesn't ask. Cass is scary.
As for Jason himself? He curls up in the library with a copy of Pride and Prejudice for a couple hours before logging onto an online college. He's studying to be an English teacher in secret.
He knows his family wouldnt laugh, but he wants to surprise Bruce when he accomplishes his goal. The man knows his father is always proud of him, he just wants to feel like he deserves that pride.
Everything's peaceful until a young boy, about eighteen or nineteen walks in.
"Who are you and what are you doing in my library?" The kid asks, frowning at Jason.
Jason snaps his head up to look at the kid. "I live here, kid." He says before realizing...he's never seen this kid before. He looks up, green eyes meeting blue.
"Do you really?" The boy asks. "Alfred told me I was in the future, but this is an...interesting development." The boy's attitude shifts to match the flirtatious personality of 'Brucie' Wayne, the idiot Jason's father pretends to be in public. "What's your name again, hot stuff?" He raises an eyebrow.
Jason gets up, shuts his laptop and book, and leaves the room without a word.
"Alfred?" He calls, jogging lightly through the manor to find the butler. "Alfred?"
The old butler is drinking tea at the kitchen counter. He raises an eyebrow at Jason's slightly panicked voice. "In here, Master Jason."
Jason rushes into the kitchen. "There's a kid in the library, he says he lives here, he acts like Brucie does--"
Alfred nods. "That would be Master Bruce."
Jason short circuits. "But-wh-huh? How? When?"
"It seems he got hit by Ivy's new project." Alfred says. "He's eighteen, has no memory of the future, and as I remember from back in those days, he was quite the charmer. Look him up, he slept around more than he does now."
Jason groans. "Is this how I find out Bruce is bisexual?"
Alfred raises an eyebrow. "Master Jason, he made it painfully obvious."
"What?"
A couple hours later, Dick arrives at the manor due to a strange voice-mail from Jason. "Hey guys! I'm home!" He calls. A boy pops his head out from the sitting room. "Oo, who are you?" He asks, sauntering over.
Dick looks at him confused. "My name's Dick."
The boy wiggles his eyebrows. "Well, Dick, why don't you and I--"
"Bruce, get back here!" An exasperated Stephanie says. "Oh. Hey, Dick. Jason would be here to greet you, but Bruce keeps flirting with him."
Dick blinks in surprise. "Bruce...Wayne?"
Stephanie nods. "He's eighteen."
The boy in question runs a hand along Dick's bicep. Teen Bruce really doesn't look that much different from Adult Bruce. He seems to be about 5'8", with shaggier hair and less muscle mass. Dick looks at him in warning.
"I have a boyfriend, little B." He says. Bruce only frowns.
"Fine," He says, disappointed. "I suppose you're one of those sons Alfred and the cutie told me about?"
Stephanie rolls her eyes. "Yes, Bruce."
Bruce tuts. "A shame. Well, if you'd ever want to take a ride, I'd love to meet your namesake."
DIck feels his mouth open to an 'o.' Bruce would never, ever say that to him. He looks at Steph. "So tell me why and how it came to be that my father is looking at me like I'm a piece of meat?"
"Jason'll tell you. He's avoiding Bruce after one too many failed seduction attempts." Steph replies, mirth dancing in her eyes. "Tim's coming home soon. Can't wait for him to see this."
Bruce frowns. "Is Tim another son?" Dick nods and Bruce huffs and storms away.
One he's gone, Cass makes an appearance. "Baby Bruce is scary."
Dick shudders. "Absolutely terrifying."
"We talk to Ivy. Reverse this." She says, gesturing at Stephanie.
"...Alright, good luck, guys." Dick sighs. "I'm going to find Jason."
"Library." Cass says.
Dick smiles. "Thanks, Cassie."
"Jason," Dick says, sprinting into the library.
Jason looks up from a laptop, glasses a bit tilted. He adjusts them and runs a hand through his messy hair. "Dick. I trust you met Bruce."
Dick nods. "Did he also try to fuck you?"
"And Cass. And Steph. And Clark, when he came over earlier to check on Bruce. He's... a handful. And a bit of a ditz. I can't tell if this is him pretending to be Brucie or if this is genuinely him." Jason says grimly. Dick flops onto a chair next to him.
"Well, Im not too surprised he flirted with Clark. They are boyfriends, after all. But I had to tell him I had a boyfriend for him to leave me alone."
"Oh, that's smart. I should've thought of that." Jason says with a sigh. He shuts his laptop. "Oh my gosh. He's definitely going to flirt with Duke and Damian."
Dick groans. "Oh, no."
Jason bursts out into cackles right as they hear the Manor door open. He has laugh lines, Dick thinks. Those weren't there before.
As expected, Damian hated his teenage father. After being told Damian was his son and also fifteen, Bruce backed off. Damian was very tempted to pull a knife on the teenager.
Brucie sighed dramatically on the couch as he read one of the many books in the library. "This book...so beautiful, so poetic, so--" the teen cut himself off with another sigh. Damian glared from across the room. "*Tt.*"
Bruce put down his book to give Damian a long look. "I'm getting the feeling you don't quite like me."
Damian huffed. "I believe you're immature and irresponsible."
Bruce gave him a charming grin. "That's what makes the playboy in billionaire playboy, duh."
Damian sighed. Why is this my life? He asked himself
Cass and Steph came back during dinner, Cass still in her Black Bat suit, scaring Bruce. "Woah!" He yelped, falling out if his chair. Jason slammed a hand to his mouth, trying to hold in his laughter.
"Ivy said poison is temporary." Cass says, looking at Bruce, still on the floor. "Will wear off in three days."
"Including today?" Tim asked hopefully.
Cass shook her head.
Groans rang out from around the table.