True Neutrals

Maybe it’s the setting. Circuses in Gotham don’t exactly have the greatest track record. And though he loves Dick, he’d rather not have a repeat of the circumstances that landed his son with him.

Bruce takes a deep breath. This isn’t Haley’s, and the kid standing with him it’s a Flying Grayson, and if he has any say in the matter, tonight will not end in the same disaster. Bruce Wayne isn’t set to attend the actual performance—he’s only here for the press, to take photos for the magazine publishing the story of his financial support for the circus. He’d done it for Dick, really, he’d seen him pouting about not having seen a circus in a while. Brucie’s absence frees Batman up to monitor the show. Just in case.

They quickly fall into a straight vertical handstand, before their legs slowly teeter forward, and before long it looks like they are nearly folded in half, their legs folded across one shoulder. Quiet takes over the room as they summon the balance to go one handed, their left hand sneaking into the pocket of their oversized joggers and pull out their phone.

They pull up Instagram and laugh at a meme, before acting surprised people are still here.

He pulls out a charger and holds it out for her for her first question.

Bruce held Calliope in his arms as he worked in his study, occasionally glancing down at her when she babbled, nodding along to her nonsense.

“That’s a sound theory,” or “You’re onto something,” he’d occasionally respond.

He’s been trying to spend more time with her, and he figured the best way to do so was to have her join him while he works. She was very helpful. (That’s a lie, she was drooling on his shirt and occasionally his keyboard, but he still enjoyed her company.)

TW: kidnapping, ransom, torture?, temporary paralyzation NO NSFW ALLOWED

Damian Wayne was a fighter, everyone knew that. Robin was a fighter...at least the new one was. There were whispers of that the newest Robin was more ruthless than the ones who came before him, that this new Robin was trained by someone who was not Batman.

To be fair, Mina had just showed up to style on them. They quickly took out the remaining forces, then the leader had showed them their ace in the hole, per say. "Im sorry." Mina Pauses. "You kidnapped. a killer ten year old. and what were you hoping to??"

"Oh fuck this." They quickly turn to put two slugs in his chest cavity.

"Boss to Home Team, Can you Copy."

"Copy that Boss, loud and clear."

"We are so fucked, More details to come, over."

Despite the fact that he wan't able to move anything, he was able to feel EVERYTHING. which is why the goons seemed to take enjoyment out of causing the boy pain. They knew he couldn't stop it, but he could feel everything. He felt like his soul was tired, he just wanted his dad or Richard

"Were returning him, guys, dont get it twisted."

"How are we gunna do that boss? we cant just walk up to a vig' and be like 'this your kid?'" Frankie cuts in.

There's a pause.

"There's a bat signal somewhere. We can jack it and get the bat to come collect."

Frankie and Santi both go silent. "No matter how we spin this theyll think we did this."

"Unless the kid can talk." Mina shrugs. "We'll just have to wait for the tranquilizer to wear off."

another pause.

"Can we get samosas on the way back? ill watch the kid." Mina asks, puppy eyeing the two men in the front seats.

He wanted to do something, to fight back, to scream and kick and fight. But he couldn't move. He wanted to be back home, or on patrol. He wanted his dad

They shift, moving to untie a bandana from the back belt loop that they had and gently blot at the kids tearstained cheeks. “Man, we’re gunna get you some samosas and some cold tea and we’re just gunna wait for things to get better okay?”

TW: kidnapping, ransom, torture?, temporary paralyzation NO NSFW ALLOWED

Damian Wayne was a fighter, everyone knew that. Robin was a fighter...at least the new one was. There were whispers of that the newest Robin was more ruthless than the ones who came before him, that this new Robin was trained by someone who was not Batman.

To be fair, Mina had just showed up to style on them. They quickly took out the remaining forces, then the leader had showed them their ace in the hole, per say. "Im sorry." Mina Pauses. "You kidnapped. a killer ten year old. and what were you hoping to??"

"Oh fuck this." They quickly turn to put two slugs in his chest cavity.

"Boss to Home Team, Can you Copy."

"Copy that Boss, loud and clear."

"We are so fucked, More details to come, over."

Despite the fact that he wan't able to move anything, he was able to feel EVERYTHING. which is why the goons seemed to take enjoyment out of causing the boy pain. They knew he couldn't stop it, but he could feel everything. He felt like his soul was tired, he just wanted his dad or Richard

"Were returning him, guys, dont get it twisted."

"How are we gunna do that boss? we cant just walk up to a vig' and be like 'this your kid?'" Frankie cuts in.

There's a pause.

"There's a bat signal somewhere. We can jack it and get the bat to come collect."

Frankie and Santi both go silent. "No matter how we spin this theyll think we did this."

"Unless the kid can talk." Mina shrugs. "We'll just have to wait for the tranquilizer to wear off."

another pause.

"Can we get samosas on the way back? ill watch the kid." Mina asks, puppy eyeing the two men in the front seats.

TW: kidnapping, ransom, torture?, temporary paralyzation NO NSFW ALLOWED

Damian Wayne was a fighter, everyone knew that. Robin was a fighter...at least the new one was. There were whispers of that the newest Robin was more ruthless than the ones who came before him, that this new Robin was trained by someone who was not Batman.

To be fair, Mina had just showed up to style on them. They quickly took out the remaining forces, then the leader had showed them their ace in the hole, per say. "Im sorry." Mina Pauses. "You kidnapped. a killer ten year old. and what were you hoping to??"

"Oh fuck this." They quickly turn to put two slugs in his chest cavity.

"Boss to Home Team, Can you Copy."

"Copy that Boss, loud and clear."

"We are so fucked, More details to come, over."

----

Honestly, after a while Sunyoung had resgined themself to the fact they'd probably never see Damian again. They remember him, damn of course they do. Having him in their life was like dappled light through trees, the thought of seeing him again was just... it was impossible surely.

but theyd seen the news. and then, maybe it wasnt so impossible.

and then, suddenly, hes infront of them.

"Oh, is it the bright colors? B said they make me a walking target when I made it, which doesn't make much sense because I'm not supposed to just walk around anyways, but I think he's just lame and hates fun."

Dick says with a shrug. Bruce always tells him he rambles a lot while in costume, but in comparison to the boy's more silent nature while out of his suit it's considered a reprieve.

Dick pauses at the question, humming and walking around the stranger a little, circling them and seeming to assess things. Though it more so looks like the kid is just looking them over with a very focused pout on his face.

"Okay, I can protect you while he's gone!"

They let out a surprised chuckle at the kids insistence of protecting them, but doesn't want to break the illusion. They left all that shit behind for a reason, it'd be a nice change of pace to need protecting.

"Cool." They state, moving to sit at their work bench, shuffling through the plastic take out bag, procuring a small fistful of fortune cookies.

---

They were waiting out the weird fight outside, one was a magic user and that's a real testament to when shit was fucked in Gotham. Theyve been hit with their fair share of weird magic and now in their retirement theyre not gunna go out of their way to get hit again.

So sitting in the mechanic shop, eating their takeout in the bright warm lights, they hear a thud, before one of the unlocked bays open slightly then close. "Fuck." Vera sighs out, shifting to get off the workbench and grab their flashlight.

Seeing a tiny robin was not their first expectation.

Seeing the outdated uniform was also abit... weird. last they checked Bats had added knee pads a long time ago, and ya kno. pants.

"For a vigilante you're pretty conspicuous."

He's a small boy, barely 4 feet tall and around 8-9 years old based off looks. He yelps a bit at the flashlight in his face, shielding himself a little and pouting.

"I don't even know what that means."

Dick says in response, frowning. He stands up, dusting himself off a bit and looking at the person who seems to have found him as well as his surroundings. This is weird.

"I dunno...I can't remember. I was with Batman though, then things got all weird and I ended up here."

The kid is only a foot and a couple inches shorter than them, and as soon as Vera puts two and two together, things start making a lot of sense.

They had a run in with Batman and his Robin before, and had learned most of the intel that Red Room had on the vigilantes, and the little one infront of them was a carbon copy of the first one.

Maybe the magic… took the aged robin, and made him younger?

All of these thoughts move past their eyes with little change in their expression. “Oh.” Sighing out a long line of swears in polish, they move to look back at the kid.