It started, as most things in the Wayne Manor did, with a stupid question.
Duke strolled into the kitchen where Jason, Damian and Bruce were- Jason at the stove cooking while Damian and Bruce sat at the counter, going over Damian’s homework.
His eyes looked hardened by war, gaze far off.
“What’s up, sugar?” Bruce asked as he walked in, brows furrowing in concern.
“Are Tim and Steph dating?” Was Duke’s blunt reply, staring at the oven where Jason’s muffins were slowly forming tops.
Jason raised an eyebrow, arm steady as he whisked the eggs in the bowl before him. “Yeah? For like… a year now or so, dude. Keep up.”
“Oh, okay.” Duke said numbly, sitting down at the counter.
Damian tsked, shooting the older boy a glare. “This was common knowledge, Thomas. What a stupid question.”
“Damian,” Bruce chided, frowning at his son.
Duke didn’t seem at all bothered by the comment, though. “No no, I figured y’all knew. Just wanted to check so I wasn’t outing them or anything when I told you they’re currently desecrating the library.”
Jason’s bowl thudded onto the counter. Bruce’s face lost the rest of its color.
“They’re fucking what.” Jason said, head turning like a hunter latching onto its new prey.
Duke shrugged. “Yeah.”
“What does this ‘desecrating’ mean?” Damian asked. Bruce slammed his hands over the boys ears.
“Nothing, Dames. Nothing at all. Jason, buddy?” Jason turned to his father.
“Yes?”
“Go kill your brother and his girlfriend for me, please.” Bruce said pleasantly, flashing his best Brucie smile.
Jason pointed at Duke. “My muffins burn and I kill you too.” Then he was gone.
A moment later they heard screams, then gunshots.
Damian and Bruce waited idly, Damian returning to his homework, while Duke paled at the increasing sounds of violence.
Finally, Steph appeared in the kitchen, wearing Jason’s jacket and chefs hat, strolling in like nothing had happened. “Sup.” She greeted, opening the oven, and removed the muffins without using mitts.
“Brown.” Damian greeted without looking up.
She picked three muffins out of the tin, tossed one to him, gave Bruce a two finger salute, and walked out again.
Jason shuffled in a moment later, chest heaving, eyes faintly green, wearing shorts suddenly and his apron on backwards.
Bruce let his head sink slowly, setting his forehead on the table.
Damian patted his back, munching on his muffin as he finished his work and hopped from the stool. “Do not worry, Father. I am sure their revenge will not be painful.”
With that heartening declaration, he also left the kitchen.
Jason looked Duke dead in the eyes. “You tattled on them.”
Duke’s face turned as white as Bruce’s. “I’d suggest you go find Dick. He’s your only chance.”
Duke was out of his chair and halfway to Bludhaven before he even finished his sentence.
