SolKiza

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Because the boy's grip is so weak. He's not even squeezing, much less having a firm grip.

He feels like a sickly child, barely managing to lift his hand into Bruce's. But he's not, is the problem. He's Kon-El, a kryptonian and he should be stronger than this. He should have a good handshake.

He's worried that a child with such powers doesn't have control over them, of course.

But more than that he's worried that a child with such powers doesn't have control over them and doesn't feel confident enough in himself to exert enough strength to not hurt people but still be strong.

But he can't adopt this child and train him. No way no how. Firstly, it's his best friend's son, even if Clark wants nothing to do with him- and secondly it's his son's best friend, and he won't break their friendship by butting in the way he always does.

But over the weeks Kon just gets worse. And because Bruce took Tim aside and said "if he doesn't have a plan to stay or doesn't like where he's staying, tell him to stay here." Kon has been living at the Manor, eating breakfast early in the morning with Bruce and Damian when everyone else is still sleeping, chatting with Cass and Steph in the Den in the afternoons, helping Jason in the kitchen whenever they have huge family meals, and watching over Barbara's shoulders at the monitors sometimes. (He's very useful on patrol, where he can fly to the Cave and deliver what is needed into the arms of the Bat that needs it within seconds)

So Bruce takes notice.

And finally, after weeks and weeks, Tim and Kon come to him, Tim stressed and angry and Kon apologetic and miserable, and tell him Kon broke an old vase that belonged to Martha.

Tim is mad because he knows Bruce has noticed Kon's struggles and hasn't done anything to help

Kon is so very very sorry and keeps saying he'll pay him back in some way and he'll leave tonight-

Bruce stops them both. Apologizes. Says it doesn't matter. Explains why he didn't step in. Asks if Kon would like him to train him.

Kon says yes.

Clark is a little surprised when Batman shows up at the Watchtower with Red Robin and Robin at his sides.

"Is it bring your child to work day?" Hal jokes, high fiving Tim as he walks past.

Bruce makes direct eye contact with Clark as he reveals the third child hiding behind his cape, a proud Bat symbol emblazoned on his chest of red and blue. Batboy.

Then Superman flies into Gotham to rescue Bruce and the kids. And everybody is like, "wait a damn minute" because while Dick and Jason are copies of Bruce, they do sort of look like... And Superman is very intimate with them, hugging Dick and crouching down to talk to twelve year old Jason who looks a little wary and then there's Bruce. There's Bruce, who is smiling, not that ghastly social smile or that flirty smile but something real, and he looks so comfortable around Supes and... Did Superman just brush something off Bruce's Wayne face? Immediately rumours start spreading and Gotham has a new reason to loathe Big Blue from Metropolis:

Superman: Don't be afraid, just take my hand and we will get you somewhere safe.

Gothamite, clinging to a lamppost: How about fuck no?

Superman: um, excuse me, sir?

Gothamite: You think I'm letting you fly me out of here? Taking me off to god knows where? So you can what?

Superman: Save you?

Gothamite: Oh, like you "saved" Bruce Wayne? Got him pregnant with two babies you don't pay child support for or even visit? They're beautiful boys but I'm not having no alien baby let alone with some deadbeat baby daddy.

Superman:

Batman, deadpan: I'm mean he's right, Superman. You did me wrong like you did Bruce Wayne. Two babies and no daddy.

Gothamite, angrier now: YOU KNOCKED UP THE BAT TOO?

Batman: He won't even visit us any more. Nightwing and Robin miss him so much.

Superman:

Batman was once scolding Robin for sneaking out in the middle of winter without proper clothing and Superman stood up to defend Robin.

Batman just fixed him with a look, squared his shoulders and said

“Clark Joseph Kent. Sit down.”

And SUPERMAN was SAT.

Bruce gives him his own room at the Manor and Connor is so shell shocked that he gets his own space and privacy and what-even-is-that- that he breaks down. He didn't even know he was capable of tears

Bruce gives him some of his old clothes, too small sweaters, some of Dick's old stuff, a few of Jason's sweatpants that he doesn't really wear, a few of Damian and Tim's shirt, and even one of Steph's hoodies.

He offers to take him out to buy more clothes later, but Kon prefers the hand me downs, unlike most kids. Because it means he's family- because he's not just wearing Bruce's symbol and his colors, he's also wearing his private clothes, he's wearing the family hand me downs. They still smell faintly of their original owners, too. So that's a plus.

Connor doesn't know what he likes. For as long as he could tell, he's been told what to do, and doesn't have a choice.

Damian takes him to the zoo and Connor realizes that he likes animals. Maybe not as much as Damian does, but he likes them. Ace finds him in his room later that night and curls up on top of his chest.

Steph and Tim drag him out to the mall with them, taking him into Bath and Body Works and book shops and record stores, letting him taste samples and buying him soaps he likes and songs he finds catchy

Cass shows him how to move his body- how to dance, without hurting anyone. He's a little gangly, a little stilted and uncoordinated, but its fun. Connor has never had fun before. Bruce teaches him how to dance using his larger muscle mass. He waltzes with Cass and she beams at him.

Duke takes him to explore the streets, taking him to the best bodega's and diners around, so that he can pick his favorite and report back to the others so they all know where Kon's patrol route should go along.

Then they go play soccer with a couple kids at the park. Connor doesn't understand why kicking a ball is so fun, but the kids scream and cheer and fight over who gets to have him on a team and Kon feels like he could fly. He does, a little. Duke pulls him back down before he reveals anything.

Maybe a month or so in, Barbara asks if he can come over and help her move some boxes. Connor is a little trepidations, he doesn't know the elusive Oracle that well, but says of course. She has him move some stuff she can't do as well from her wheelchair and they talk. It's nice. She asks him to stay for dinner, and Dick pops in the window. They're fun. Connor doesn't know if they're what normal people are like- normal people don't come knocking on the window of a forty story building- but if they aren't then he doesn't want normal. They flirt and tease and laugh and treat Connor like one of their own and-

Dick asks Connor to take him flying, because he used to love it when Clark did so. Connor winces at the comparison, but Dick knows- he spent his childhood in the air, and teaches him how to flex his stomach and twist his legs, how to do sharp turns and rolls mid air and Connor loves flying

He's been living at the Manor for maybe a year and a half, when Bruce asks to talk to him.

He's been asked to talk a hundred times now, so the words don't strike anxiety into him.

Until Bruce asks when he's moving out.

Connor flinches full body.

But Bruce immediately apologizes, takes his hand so he can't escape, and backtracks.

"Not like that, Con. I promise you, I would love if you stayed here with me and Alfred forever. But... my other children have all moved out- except Duke and Damian, they're not of age yet- and I was just curious if you wanted a space of your own. That's all. I know Tim is looking for a roommate."

It makes him warm and fuzzy to be lumped in with the "other children". And... well, living with Tim would be fun, he guesses. But he has his own space. He has his own room. And everyone knocks before coming in and the Manor is so big and it's warm and it's home. And sure, he likes visiting Dick and Barbara and Steph and Tim in their apartments, but... he likes being so close to everyone.

Since he moved in, they've all been closer to home anyway, and Connor likes the sound of that word. Home. He likes having his own space, his room, but he also likes being so close to them- likes having only to open the door and cross the hall and have Damian and Duke and Bruce and Alfred right there. Likes having a family.

When he stutters through this explanation to Bruce, the man wraps him in a hug so tight Connor wonders if it would've broken his ribs were he not Kryptonian.

Bonus, this is Stray!Jason:

GUESS WHO it's twins