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Chapter Text

"Ok... so, no one is going to mention how the world went to shit in the last years?" Wally asked as both new and previous Young Justice League teams met up in the Watchtower, while the Justice League is having their own meeting.

"Not only Earth but Mars as well," Megan mentioned. "War seems to be brewing there, between the tribes, then suddenly there are anti-racism seminars and a new constitution was being signed, giving white martian's protection and security."

"Not to mention, how the League of Shadows just disappeared!" Artemis exclaimed, cuddling beside her redhead husband. "My father, Cain, Deathstroke, Lady Shiva, and the Al Ghuls all dead! Hell, all the League was massacred! Bodies dropping dead all over the globe! My sister even decided to join a superhero team, galloping all over the world when she is not home being a mom and wife. What the hell?!"

"For that, I am eternally grateful," Will commented. "Lian finally got her mom back."

"However, it still stands the fact that Cadmus, D.E.O, Checkmate, A.R.G.U.S, Leviathan, Spyral, and The Light all went to war trying to gain the territories The Shadows used to possess. "Conner grunted, crossing his arms over his chest, "They tore each other apart... surprisingly with not much collateral damage."

"Yes! Granny, The Furies, The Brain, Luthor, all the Savages... DEAD!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "Who could have done all of this?"

"To be fair, we don't even know if they killed The Shadows on purpose," Dick tried to placate his friends. "Zantana did sense demonic necromancy magic on them. And Dr. Fate confirmed that they worshipped a demon, who suddenly was exorcised."

"No demon means that the powers of The Pit no longer work," Tim theorized. "Also, the other deaths were done by the villains. By greed and pride. I know that many won't like me saying this, but good riddance. The world is better without them."

"Thanks to them, we discovered various new clones in the form of Arion and Orm. We were able to catch Black Manta and Oceanmaster." Kaldur agreed, hesitantly. "We were able to find the crown of Arion and move forward into a new chapter of unity under High King Mera's guidance."

WE also benefitted by merging LexCorp, thought Tim, being the businessman he was. Their cloning technology helped our scientists invent a 3D printer decades ahead of the medicine of today. Soon the organ donor shortage should be fixed. And we got a brand new sister. Everyone loves Cass.

"Tell that to Markkovia!" Cassie accused them. "They were saved, but whoever is planning this mayhem almost condemned them all!"

Everyone flinches at the reminder, A couple of years ago, a meta-human trafficking ring began to form. Its biggest location was Markovia, the other places were raided and stopped by The Renegades, a group of vigilantes that were mostly formed by previous villains, who got reformed. Like Cheshire, Ravanger, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and their newest member, Red Hood. However, Markovia's ring was too big and had the backing of the Royal Family. The whole issue would be resolved a few months later with the fall of The Light. However, Waller grew concerned about the power of the other shadow organizations, and their on the growing meta-human army, a source she wanted to explote alone. So, she decided to strike Markovia with a nuke. Luckily, the lost princess Tara, known as Terra when she works alongside The Renegades, and the future queen of Markovia Violet, or Halo another member of The Renegades, were able to stop it by combining their power. Maybe, Waller thought she could get away with it, as she had done so many times before... however, this time Delphi exposed her. She was sent to Markovia, where she was executed by King Brion, aka Geo-Force, and had all her intelligence agencies dismantled. 

"Not really..." Barbara, aka Batgirl, commented, leaning against her ex-boyfriend, Nightwing. "Markovia turned from the largest meta-human trafficking ring to the safe haven for all meta-humans. Every single corrupt politician was sent to prison and new laws and procedures for the protection and rights of all super-beings were in place only a couple of months later. Not to mention, half a year later the nuke accident, an Accord was signed by over 150 countries in the ONU, recognizing and giving security to everyone super. All those countries are looking at Markovia's example to follow."

"You think it was planned?" Pedrita inquired.

"I say that while the nuke might not have been in Delphi's plans, they used it to its best." Barbara corrected. "No matter how outraged the civilians were at this whole situation, even making allusions to the Nazis, no way so many countries would have moved so fast to create and sign an Accord that it's as close to perfect as humanly possible."

"Lately, there's a lot of movements and seminars for human rights, with all those ONGs popping out all over the continents," Cyborg replied. "The Birds Society in America, The Pantheon in Europe, The Amazon's Heart in Africa, The Order in Asia, and The Tasmanian's Monster Oceania. They..."

"When did they start popping around? Where did the money come from? Those properties they use as headquarters, what did they use to be?" Barbara shot back.

Cyborg did his tech-thing and gave a startled gasp: "They were created around all the chaos, the money came from The Light, Leviathan, Spyral, Cadmus, and Lex Luthor's black accounts. Also, from all those villains killed in the cross-fire. The properties were previous safe houses owned by those associations."

"There goes the idea of Delphi doing this for the money," Wally sighed.

"What about The Shadow's money and safe houses?" Artemis demanded to know.

Cyborg's eye shone but replied with a shocked sigh: "I've got nothing."

"Bat thinks that it's the way they are paying for The Renegades," Tim pitched in. 

"So, they are going it for the power?" Conner inquired to no one in particular.

"Politicians, judges, ambassadors, agents, cops, even social workers in high positions replaced by people with the same political agenda as the ONGs and Mamrkovia. I wouldn't be surprised if the Intelligence Agencies created to fill the gaps of this Intelligence War are filled with Delphi's people." Megan commented. "Every single member of these associations that were trialed had media coverage and the lawyers were completely prepared for it. No deals whatsoever. No one slipped through the cracks. When I read the minds of the journalists and lawyers, I found that they each found a packet in their houses, filled with all the information they needed. Whoever is Delphi they are meticulous."

"If it's power they want, how is this helping them gain it?" Kaldur questioned. "The ONGs are not linked in any way, they do not belong to anyone, and no one knows who established them. Not even the employees. The people that replaced those corrupted have no idea who is giving them the intel packets and have no obligations to follow Delphi's plans. They are not forced or blackmailed, they do so out of their own free will."

"Have any of you thought that Delphi is one of us? That they are simply trying to help make the world better?" Will interrupted them, receiving a lot of incredulous looks. "Don't look at me like that! They are doing more for this world than all of us combined! All the biggest and evilest secret organizations are gone, without them killing anyone. Corruption is at its lowest! They got the supers recognized by the law and got them rights, for crying out loud! Delphi simply does things a little different, they do not punch their way to victory, because like with the missions The Renegades go to, busting shadow organizations, trafficking rings, and cults, it needs more finesse." Will sighed, relaxing as he saw them start to understand his point of view. "They decided that fighting does not work anymore, and decided to heal the world. For me I just say to let them be, they are doing a great job."

"But what will stop them from trying for world domination next?" Cassie exclaimed.

"Well, have they really forced anyone into anything?" Pedrita commented, looking not like a heroine but like a queen who had signed the Accords. "The only illegal thing they've done was hacking, and some money laundry to create ONGs. All Delphi has done was show what our world truly looked like and give us ideas on how to improve it. We simply decided to follow them. Even The Renegades were pardoned by the law and their hero work does not only endear them to the civilians but also serves as community service. All sanctioned by the ONU."

"With Atlantis, they did the same, gave King Orin the intel and left it in our hands how to proceed," Kaldur agreed.

"Even the Justice League breaks more laws than Delphi," Beast Boy joked, but his joke fell short.

"Since when did we stop trying to help and decided that we know best and tried to impose our sense of justice in the world?" Morgan asked horrified, realizing like the others that there's a different way to do things now.

"Does Delphi need to be the one watched? Or is it us?" Dick asked to the room grimly.

No one noticed Cyborg transmitting the whole meeting or his smile.

-Meanwhile in the Justice League Meeting-

"The Renegades added four new members," Captain Marvel announced. "Raven, Arsenal, Corvus, and SomeBody. We only have intel on SomeBody, her name is Maya Ducard, and her father used to be the mercenary NoBody. He died in the collateral damage of the Intelligence War. She now wears his invisible armor. Though, no one is privy oof this information other than us. As she possesses no previous record of wrongdoings, she did not need to hand in her identity to the ONU. I've got to give it to them though, they do know how to have a great time!" That comment got him chuckles from Barry and Hal.

"More tools for Delphi," Batman growled.

"Don't say that B," Clark scolded him. "The Young Justice have good points," he said, as they had all spied into their meeting. "The Renegades and Delphi have behaved better than us since the beginning... and have made more good than us as well, Even if the world does not know it."

"Especially because the world does not know it," Diana cut in. "They do not do this for the glory or for the recognition, but because it is right."

"Not to mention that unlike us they've been legally recognized since the beginning," added Hawkgirl.

"Their ranks are filled with psychos and killers!" Oliver snapped, still bitter that his son chose to follow and join that team.

"Two members that killed because that's what they were trained to do since birth, they were never given a chance and now they are working hard to gain one. A woman who was raped and abused to the point of insanity, but now is moving on and trying to do better. And finally, a meta-human who no one ever thought to check for psychological imbalance from her body turning from human to mostly plant!" This last part Dinah said glaring at Batman. "If anything it makes them more relatable to both public and criminals. They do not feel crushed by the pressure of the morals we try to impose on them!"

"They kill!" Bruce growled.

"They worked for the ONU, unlike us who work alongside them. They've got permission to kill if necessary. Or are you now going to tell the police they are not allowed to kill? To carry their guns and protect themselves?" barry snapped at him, gaining various startled looks. "I'm getting tired of you shit Bats! I do not kill because that's my prerogative, but I've never tried to impose it on others or judged them for it. Or do you judge Commissioner Gordon as well? He is a cop, I'm sure you know he has killed before."

"That's different!" Batman growled, giving Barry the bat-glare.

Normally it would scare him, but this time it only made The Flash angrier.

"How?! they work with the government! Every single death and mission is revised by a Pannel in the ONU. They are more legal than us! They never even crossed borders illegally since their forming under the Accord, which Blue there does daily! No matter how good the intentions are, it's still a crime!" Barry screamed in frustration. "Their work is delicate, not simply dealing with rogues, but the worst of this world! Cults, trafficking wings, mafias, the sort! Even reconstruction and environmental disasters, thanks to the power of Geo-Force, Terra, and Poison Ivy. Australia and the Amazon especially adore them! I would think you would be the one who would relate to them the most Bats! Tell me why should they and Delphi be hunted down? Why should it not be you?!" Everyone was now silently watching Barry in shock. "Delphi was the one to inform me in advance about the Reach and Black Beetle, the one that unintentionally saved Wally. They've done more for this world than you. So, get off your high horse when you can't even fix a city in the decades you've been active. Fix Gotham before starting to judge someone who is making leaps fixing the world in only a few years."

No one said a word. They could not believe such cruel words had left the lovable Barry Allen's lips. However, they could all silently agree with him. Delphi and The Renegades are doing better and more lawful work than them. Bruce, on the other hand, was silently fuming. How dare him?! After all the work he has done! After following his moral code and not killing the Joker! After... Jason...

"Is it the killing that truly bothers you? or the fact that they entered Gotham City and are hailed as their heroes?" Hall asked, with a mocking smirk, as always supporting his best friend.

If possible the air turned colder. A few months ago the USA representative in the ONU asked The Renegades to deal with Gotham's infestation. WE, The Wayne Foundation, and The Birds Society are trying to aid that city, and they are making leaps. However, the infrastructure destruction and their rogues are keeping the situation stuck. Or that's what they told the public, the fact that the Fear Gas and Joker Gas terrify the government was also an important fact. Some in the government wanted to use it but were cautious after Waller destroyed their reputation in the country and worldwide. The others that just wanted them gone, decided to strike while the iron was still hot and eliminate them. As they knew Bats don't kill they called in The Renegades. With the ONU's orders, the Justice League and Batman could not interfere, and with two Gothamites in the team, they were better received by the city. However, as always, they "discovered" a secret organization. So, as the rest dismantled the Court of Owls and killed Talon, Red Hood shot Scarecrow, Black Mask, Two-Face, and Doll Maker dead. What caught everyone's attention and raised Batman's hackles is how he killed the Joker... beaten to a pulp by a crowbar. 

Delphi erased all intel of the Fear Gas and Joker Gas, and Harley burned all the paper trail. Information packets were given to the right lawyers as the Court of Owls' members were trailed outside of Gotham City (fearing the corruption would get them released) and their fortunes were donated to the Wayne Foundation and The Bird Society. They were all given medals and the keys to the city. There's even a mural of them in Crime Alley.

Batman suddenly pushed himself out of his chair and stalked out of the meeting room and back to Gotham City, his Colony following close behind. Not once noticing a special magical recording artifact in Captain Marvel's possession nor his secret smile.

Chapter Text

Bruce smiled as he watched his family bicker and laugh, as they ate breakfast. Stephanie leaned against Cassandra, sweet Cass who has been so hurt by this world yet remained kindhearted. It warmed Bruce's heart to see that not only was she healing but felt safe enough to engage in a relationship, and who better for that than a literal ray of sunshine like Steph? At first, when Tim had brought her to the mansion after befriending her in school, Bruce worried. He believed that she was a plant from Delphi, as her father had suddenly been incarcerated, her mother given a much better-paid job out of the blue, and she was given a scholarship to Gotham Academy from The Birds Society- a scholarship she had not applied for. However, with time Bruce learned to accept her into his family and realized she was not a plant, but a girl that needed a father figure. He even made sure that Steph knew she was still welcomed in the manor after she and Tim had broken up.

Tim... that sweet boy, neglected by his parents. Getting custody of him had been easy, the difficult part was to convince Timothy of taking that step forward, and later to make him believe he was part of the family. It took various sessions with Dinah (Yes, Batman is going to therapy. Dick had finally convinced him after Jason had died), individually, with Bruce, and with the whole family, but Tim had finally understood that they were his family and they had each other's back at all times. His self-care was much better these days, eating all three meals (even though, he had to be reminded), sleeping at least 6 hours a day, and his intake of coffee is three daily cups... honestly, much better than being an insomniac, that weighed less than a feather, and his blood was 80% coffee.

Sitting beside him was Barbara, who was comforting him after his breakup with Cassie, while her wife and Bruce's cousin, Kate, pushed him into going out with them tonight to party. That came as a big surprise to Bruce. He had always thought that Dick and Babs were going to be each other's endgame. However, his son's heart has been elsewhere since... that night. 

The night in which everything changed for the Wayne Family...

It had been a year since the death of Jason, Bruce had pushed what was left of his family away. Drowned himself in work, walking more into a dark road than being the defender Gotham needed. But what else could he do? He had lost his son!

As he was brooding, while investigating a case through the Batcomputer, he heard, what has become a rare noise in the Batcave, the roaring of Nightwing's bike. It took all of Batman's willpower not to turn around for his last remaining son. It was better if he left Gotham and Batman, they destroy everything good.

"We need to talk B... no dad," that startled Bruce, making him turn his chair around faster than ever before. There in front of him, not wearing his domino mask, stood his first son, in his Nightwing uniform. "Cowl off, I'm here to talk with my dad, not Batman." Slowly and stonished Bruce followed the request. After all, Dick had never called him dad before. "You are not ok, dad. Neither am I. We've already lost so much... our birth parents, Jason..." Dick sniffled, breaking Bruce's already broken heart. "But we found new family, Agent A is your dad, and you are mine, we still have each other. So, let's call Black Canary and book a session... various sessions. Keeping everything in is not ok. We deserve to be happy... we deserve to be more than just good soldiers!"

Bruce flinched in guilt at those words. Knowing that his little shrine only brought pain to his family and dishonored what Jason truly was to the Waynes. He wasn't just a good soldier, but a son, a brother, a grandson, a bright boy with such hunger for knowledge and a huge heart.

So, Bruce, not Batman, stood up and hugged his crying son. If he had also cried, no one mentioned it.

After that, they contacted Dinah and started their process of healing. Bruce took down the shrine in the Batcave and built a better one in the manor, showcasing who he had truly been. Filled with his photographs and creative writing competitions awards. Dick came back to Gotham City and entered Gotham University for Non-Profit Management and Social Work. He had now taken over the Wayne Foundation as Chairman and Bruce could not be prouder of him. Especially, when he knew he had taken this path in life in memory of Jason.

Bruce was also very proud of his other children. Babs had graduated top of her class from Harvard with a law degree, and was now Gotham's youngest DA! Cass went to Julliard for a BFA in Dance and is now part of The American Ballet Theatre. they had all gone to watch her play last week, she had been beautiful! Steph followed Cass to New York and was studying medicine at Columbia under a Wayne Scholarship. Timothy, the little genius, was getting his degree in Business and Engineering at M.I.T. He was so proud of his kids. The best is that even though they have their apartments where they went or are going to university, whenever they are in Gotham City, they all stayed in the Wayne Manor.

Now if only he could understand what's going on in her eldest son's heart.

"Master Richard, this came in the mail for you today," Alfred entered the dining room, handing Dick a fancy envelope.

Everyone stopped talking as they watched Dick warily receive the envelope and open it. They all watched in astonishment as Dick's face turned from weary to shocked, to giddy.

"Alfred, please make all the preparations for a trip to New York. I'm leaving next week!" That was all he said before rushing towards his room.

"What the hell did just happen?" Spoiler, aka Steph, asked in shock.

"Language," Alfred scolded her, but he, like the rest of the family, was also shocked by Dick's strange behavior.

"Look, something fell from the envelope!" Kate grinned like a cat that got the cream, as she stood up and picked the pamphlet up. "Emerald Gallery? Why is Dick getting so excited about an art show?"

"Who is the artist?" Barbara asked her wife with a thoughtful expression. 

"Damian Thomas Zumarud, why?" Kate answered.

"D.T.Z..." Babs murmured. 

"I know that guy!" Timothy exclaimed. "He became famous around five years ago, not only in the art world but the music world as well. He has Recital Halls and Art Galleries all over the world! He went to Julliard for a BFA in Music, excelling in both violin and composition. He won every award possible and has been invited by every famous symphony out there. He has two albums and every song in them was composed by him. His art was honed in The Royal Academy of Art in London, he sells over six figures a painting. His Art Shows make millions every time."

"So, he is famous," Steph summarised, not surprised that the family's stalker and art fanatic knew so much about him.

"Not only that but half of all of his yearly earnings go to the fice ONGs created by Delphi. He also works with them to use his galleries and recital halls for the outreach programs, sell paintings and sketches from talented orphans, and give jobs to those in need." Tim explained, getting the attention of every member of the family. "He has two sisters and two brothers, all fostered by him as soon as he turned eighteen. He is now twenty-five, like Dick. What's curious is that there's only information about two of his siblings. Rachel Mara Zumarud and Suren Alfred Zumarud, are eighteen and sixteen respectively. Rachel had been accepted into the Psychology program of Oxford."

"Why do you know so much about this family?" Bruce asked his son cautiously.

"Because I believe they've got ties to The Renegades and Delphi. Various of those galleries and recital halls used to be known safe houses used by The Shadows." The mood in the room turned from serious to tense. "Also, I'm almost sure that Rachel is Raven, Damian is Corvus, and Maya Ducard is Damiana's second sister."

"Then why is Dick eagerly running towards him?" Kate inquired confused.

"Do you guys know the painting in Dick's room? The portrait of him with angel wings?" Babs questioned them out of the blue.

"Yes, it is Dick's most precious possession alongside his Flying Graysons poster and his elephant teddy," Bruce replied.

It is a work of art that no words would be enough to explain. It was a painting that immortalized Dick, the scars in his body painted tenderly, with so much care and love. His eyes, the perfect shade of blue, showed Richard as he truly was, all open and vulnerable. But at the same time, it showed him strong and ready to attack at any moment. Like a guardian angel.

All Bruce knew, was that it was painted with so much love.

"The initials on the lower-right corner are D.T.Z," Barbara announced.

"So, the person Master Richard was seeing during the summer all those years ago was Mr. Zumarud," Alfred deduced.

"What do you mean?" Bruce asked him confused.

"I do not blame you for not noticing, it was back to the time Master Richard had returned to the manor and you were busy with Miss Dinah, Master Timothy, and searching for Miss Cassandra," the butler explained. "Master Richard was sneaking out almost every day to meet with someone. I did not say anything because the sparkle in his eyes had returned. When he returned one night with the painting I understood what was going on. I congratulated him on the beautiful acquisition... but the sparkle was gone. I believe it was around the time Mr. Zumarud had gone to London for his studies."

"He could never kiss me in his bedroom, let alone sleep with me. As if he was betraying someone." Barbara commented, gaining back everyone's attention. "His heart had always belonged to someone else," her gaze locked in the pamphlet.

"What should we do dad?" Tim asked the Head of the family, making everyone turn to look at Bruce.

However, before he could reply the doorbell rang. That made everyone tense up. Who was able to evade the security system and pass through the gates of the manor. An enemy? Then why would they ring the doorbell alerting the family of their presence?

Alfred calmly headed towards the door, with Cass quietly guarding him in the shadows. As soon as he opened the door, the butler gasped: "It can't be... Master Jason?"

"How are you Alfie?"

Chapter Text

With a tired sigh, Richard Grayson approached Jason's favorite bookshop cafe. It's been a year since his little brother's death. If the fact he had lost his brother without even trying to be a brother first was not already bad on its own, the media circus and Bruce had made things ten times worse. 

How dare he not invite me to the funeral?! Dick raged internally.

Richard picked up a Jane Austen book and a cup of Earl Grey, before going to the comfortable armchairs by the corner of the cafe. He felt quite nostalgic. His poor Jason, the lovable boy filled with so much anger and who adored reading.

Dick stood frozen a few steps away from his destination. On one of the armchairs sat one of the most beautiful people Richard has ever met. The boy was around his age, tall with broad shoulders but still delicate and regal features. He had high cheeks-bones that made his bow-lips look more delicious, his pitch-black hair was style din spikes- which would normally look ridiculous on anyone else, but looked cool on him. His tanned skin was perfect and exotic. He was dressed to the nines, with a pair of black dress pants, black shoes, and a cashmere emerald sweater, that just made the emeralds he has as eyes pop even more.

"You know, a picture will last you longer," of course, the boy's voice would be sensual and posh. Sending shivers down Dick's back. "Though, I do prefer a good drawing or painting?"

"Are you an artist?" Dick asked him curiously, sitting on the armchair next to him.

"A good one too," the boy finally put down his book and turned to look at Richard with those beautiful green eyes.

Dick felt pinned down by them as if those eyes were looking through his soul. The vigilante gulped down his nervousness and flashed him his winning-seductive smile: "Confident, eh?"

"Getting accepted into the Royal Academy of Art in London does that to you," he replied with a frown. He then leaned forward and brushed one hand on Dick's cheek, making Grayson's pulse quicken in anticipation. Anticipation for what? The boy's eyes turned sad for a second before it disappeared. If Richard had not been trained by the best he would have not noticed. Who was he? "Do not fake a smile. You've got a beautiful face, especially those sapphire eyes of yours. No need to ruin it with a fake smile, if you do not want to smile you do not need to."

Dick was struck speechless by the boy's words. No one has ever told him that before. Not even his parents. If anything they were the ones that forced him to learn the show smile.

Not knowing why Richard relaxed his features and stopped smiling. For a second, he thought he would do anything for this boy, as a tender barely-there smile spread through the boy's lips as he utters: "Beautiful..."

The word was spoken with such tenderness and softness that Dick truly believed him. He felt his cheeks blush and his heart skip a beat. He knew he was attractive, no need to refute that fact. However, his body was littered with scars, his heart weighed down by sacrifice and lust... lust to be loved. But for a second he believed it... believed him. And it was quite addicting.

"We do not know each other, but would you be kind to allow me to paint you?" The boy requested. Richard could not stop himself from nodding, still entranced by those beautiful eyes. Did not want to stop himself. "Wonderful!"

The boy stood up and offered him a hand. Dick accepted it and clung to it like a lost man who has finally found a harbor. If the boy had noticed, he did not mention it. The two of them walked out, leaving their books and cups of tea behind. The boy guided him through Gotham's streets too expertly for it to be the first time in the city. As the two entered a small studio in one of the better parts of the city, Dick finally deigned himself to speak.

"You are not from here, are you?" He asked, noting that the place was barely used for an artist that was welcomed to one of the best art schools in the world.

"No, I came with a... friend to aid him with some unfinished business in the city." The boy replied as he prepared his materials and canvas. "He was the one that recommended me that bookshop. For which, I am eternally grateful."

Dick blushed under the intense eyes looking at him and asked hesitantly: "Friend? Or boyfriend?" Dick had noticed the boy's hesitation.

"No... he is like my brother. Or at least, I would like to be his brother." The boy hesitated to answer. "Would like it?" Dick asked gently, his heart aching from the memory of Jason.

"He was deeply hurt and affected by an attack from the Joker," the boy confessed quietly. Not making a mention of how Richard stood frozen at his words. "His memory was... affected after the attack. However, he is now mostly healed. I brought him here in hopes that he would be able to... converse with his family."

"You don't think he will," Dick asked him slowly.

"I believe that his relationship with his family was difficult at best, before the attack." The boy admitted. "Now after everything, my brother is very angry and confused. I do not believe he wants to see them and if he does, it will only resolve into more violence."

"You seem conflicted," Richard noted.

"The Joker loves explosions," Dick flinched and thought: Yes, the bastard does. "The bodies are not always recovered." Dick thought of Jason and his empty casket in the Wayne Cemetery. "I do not want to lose the hesitant trust he has placed on me but is it ok for me not to tell his family that their son, their brother is alive?"

"I... I believe that it isn't your place to meddle," Richard offered after being deep in thought for a while. "His family dilemma is his and the other members to resolve. If your... brother placed his trust on you and does not want to involve the rest while he is healing... that's on him. All you can do is support him and be there for him."

"What about his family? They are suffering right now," the boy inquired. His expression did not change but Dick could see a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

"That's not on you," Richard assured him. "I... I had a brother if you could call him that. I was not a good big brother... and lost my chance to be one after he died because... because of the Joker." Dick sniffled, getting emotional. Why was he lowering his shields before this guy? Was it because they were similar? "We didn't see he was struggling and tried to impose our ideas onto him. Sometimes it is yourself that knows what you need the most. If he says this is what he needs... you should trust him. Do not make the same mistakes as me..."

"How are your family handling it?" The beautiful boy inquired softly.

"Not good... B and I are not talking at the moment." Dick confessed.

"B?"

"My guardian," Richard tried to explain what could be the most complicated relationship in his life. "My parents died when I was young, B took me in."

"He never adopted you?"

"He tried... I said no. I already have a dad," Grayson explained.

The boy was quiet for a while before going back to his materials and requesting Richard to undress and sit. He then dropped a white silk sheet over his lap, to hide his dick and went to start his painting. For an hour no one spoke, Dick was completely mesmerized by how the artist worked. So focused and determined, his brush moving with confidence.

After an hour, Dick finally spoke up: "I used to have an older brother. He died working as a cop..." his sudden confession startled Richard, who was in the process of joining the Bludhaven Police Academy. "He took me in after my mother abandoned me... she was not a very good mother. Abusive, at worst. I was a very angry and confused kid back then... not that I am not young anymore. Though, those days seem like an eternity back. Not once did I call him brother, he died not knowing how much I truly loved him and appreciated what he has done for me. I would not be who I am right now, if not for him." He stopped painting and looked up towards Dick, who once again fell victim to those green eyes. "Do not make the same mistakes as me," he used Richard's words against him. "He is your father, you can have more than one. I should know that... So, once we finish here, go back to your house and talk with B. Shout, scream, whatever you need. But do not allow yourself to fall victim to regret. It is a horrible feeling. I miss him every day, you have him here, so don't miss him when you have the chance to correct the situation. Your family has lost enough as it is. Ok?"

"Ok," Dick answered, gulping nervously, his heart beating too fast and his mind thrown in turmoil. They finished the painting session in deep thoughtful silence. Parting ways when the sun left to make way for the moon. "Will we see each other again? After the painting is done?" Richard asked in hesitation.

"One day," the boy smiled softly at the blue-eyes vigilante and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. "For now, we shall part ways."

"I... thank you..." Richard thanked the guy, hating how he was stuttering like a high schooler, before rushing out of the door.

A few minutes after Grayson left, while the guy was cleaning up and putting his painting materials away, someone materialized from the shadows in a corner of the room.

"Nice story, I did not know you were such a good storyteller," the boy with the red mask commented drily.

"If things had been different, that story might have been reality," Damian replied drily

"Was that wise?" The boy with a red mask asked the green-eyed guy. "You like him, right?"

"It was not the right moment for us to meet, though I am very thankful it happened. He still needs to grow into himself and I need to finish doing what I must." The guy answered the boy, while he moved to wash his brushes. "Not to mention... I do not wish for our relationship to be built upon secrets and lies, whatever our relationship will be."

"If you two don't end up fucking, I will eat my shoe!" The boy barked a laugh. "I've never seen Dickie act like that!"

"Report Red Hood!" The guy's tone changed from gentle to all-business, making the boy, Red Hood, straighten up in attention. "Cluemaster?"

"In Black Gate, where that piece of shit belongs, alongside the Row's sperm donor." Red Hood growled. "Stephanie Brown was given a scholarship from the Society of Brids' Foundation to Gotham Academy, while her mom was given a job as a nurse for Doctor Leslie at the Clinic. Harper and Cullen Row were adopted by a lovely lesbian couple in Metropolis. They'll be far away from the shit show this place is."

"Good," the guy sighed. "What about the Thomas family?"

"The parents were given the antidote, alongside every other Joker Gas victim." Red Hood spat the name of the clown as if it were poison. "They are still in recovery but soon will be welcomed as researchers at S.T.A.R Labs in Central City. We left the intell to Flash about Duke Thomas's meta-human abilities. He'll take him into his team as a side-kick alongside Kid Flash and Impulse. We also gave B... Batman the Intell about Cassandra Cain. We all know what the bastard will do with that."

"What about Colin? And did you give the antidotes to WE?"

"Colin got adopted by a lovely couple in Coast City that works for Ferris Aircraft. Still, don't know how you are aware of these kids. But it's good they have you looking out for them." Red Hood huffed, shaking his head in amusement. "The antidotes were given to Fox and he even signed a contract that stipulated that they would not sell them, but give them for free for the people in Gotham."

"Good work, Red Hood." The guy praised him, turning around with a rare but warm smile.

"Thank you... for everything... brother," Rez Hood thanked him, the growl leaving his tone, turning to something more vulnerable.

"You are welcomed... Jason..."

Chapter Text

"How is this possible?" Alfred asked incredulously, looking at the grandson he had thought lost forever.

"You never found a body, did you?" Jason replied with a cheeky smirk, before enveloping the butler in his arms. "I hope you've baked your cookies, god knows I've missed them!"

"Alfred what's going on?" bruce demanded as he walked towards them. He stopped frozen not believing his eyes. "Jay-lad? How?"

"Hey, old man," Jason smirked at his dad, finally letting go of his grandfather. "The Shadows and Talia happened."

"W-What?" bruce stuttered, not understanding what was going on.

"What's the commotion?!" Dick exclaimed as he descended the staircase. "Little Wing?" Richard stood frozen before his first little brother. "Little Wing!" He rushed forward to hug the taller man, as he sobbed in his chest. "You are back! You are back Little Wing!"

What followed was a series of hugs and crying and introductions. Of course, various D.N.A tests were done, they wouldn't be bats if they were not paranoid, and they all simply corroborated what everyone already knew. Jason Peter Todd was back. They moved to the library, where Jason was given his cookies and tea while being cuddled between Dick and Bruce.

"What happened? How are you back?" Babs asked, still shocked that her little Jason was alive. Though, he was not so little anymore.

"Before the explosion happened, I was saved by a member of The Shadows..." Jason began telling his tale. "He took me back to Nanda Parbat. Even with his help, I did not survive the journey." Dick and Bruce's arms tightened around Jason. "So, I was thrown into the Pit. Who... what came out of there was not something I could easily come back from. But with time I id. My memories returned within a year... which was when I returned to Gotham City. However, it was too much for me, too early. The Pit Madness took control of me easily after learning that the Joker was still alive. That B was the one that brought him back... I knew I could not return without going on a killing spree. I left and decided to come back when my anger not only at the Joker but at all of you had subsided."

Bruce's heart ached at his son's words. Not only did he feel guilty but also angry at himself, he had caused this. He did not save him in time and was the reason why he had not returned home earlier. Rationally speaking he knew he should not blame himself, but there was no way he could handle this whole situation rationally. His son was back to life! Something new to talk about with Dinah during his next session.

"You are the Red Hood," Tim realized.

"Damn, Delphi had always said that you would become a greater detective than B. Good for you by proving him right!" Tim blushed under the praise of his hero, his Robin. God, his Robin was back! "What do you say b, angry at me for breaking your precious rule? For being part of a team filled with killers?"

"As Barry said, you were just doing your job," Bruce replied, gaining shocked expressions not only from Jason but the rest of his family. "I've learned recently that I've become quite the hypocrite. Calling Delphi a danger, when I've got plans to take down all of my closest friends in case they turn evil. Catching thieves and assassins, unless they are pretty enough for me to turn the other side. Condemn killing, but not bat an eye when policemen do it."

"Wow... it seems that you've truly changed. Good for you... dad," Jason said with a smile, earning a tight hug from his father, who felt his heart about to explode from hearing his precious son call him that again.

"What made you come back now?" Kate asked. "Wass it that the Joker was finally dead?"

"No... well, yes... in part. When I killed him I did so because I wanted to and because they were my orders. But I did not fall into Pit Madness. It was then that I realized that I did not need to live in fear of losing control." Jason confessed. "However, it was when my boyfriend proposed that I knew I had to come back. I wanted my whole family there with me."

"Boyfriend?!" They all exclaimed.

"Yes, Roy," Jason laughed.

"Speedy?!" Dick exclaimed, not believing that one of his oldest friends was going to marry his brother.

"He goes by Arsenal nowadays," Jason corrected his brother.

"I would have thought you were dating Ravager," Steph commented.

"Nah, she and SomeBody are a thing," Jason informed them.

"How did you survive what befell the rest of The Shadows when you too were resurrected by the Pits?" Tim asked, not comfortable with how many pieces did not seem to fit. "How did you even escape The Shadows? Are you Damian Zumard's second brother? Where have you been living since then?"

"Wow, hold your damn horses!" Jason exclaimed, ignoring Alfred's 'language!', eyes widening at all the questions. "But they are good questions, so I'll answer them. We've got nothing to hide." The Colony tensed at the use of 'we'. Who are we? The Renegades? Delphi? Or someone else? "When B here decided to refuse the generous offer of Ra to be his heir, they went for their second-best option... his son." They all tensed not liking where this was going. "No, I do not mean me. B, do you recall Talia telling you she had lost the baby? Well, she lied."

"What?!" They all exclaimed in shock.

"She took the baby and placed him in an artificial incubator, where she and Ra made sure he was genetically perfect and rapidly aged him... as Luthor did with Superboy." Jason sighed sadly, as the rest of the family was boiling with barely contained rage. "He was the one who took me in and saved me. He was not aware that what he has been raised learning was wrong until he saw what Ra and Talia had done to me. He was horrified and took me away. He contacted John Constantine for aid to heal my mind, which lead us to Captain Marvel. God, trust me I was fucking furious when I realized that a magical wizard had chosen a 9-year-old as the Champion of Magic!" They all winced at the reminder of why Captain Marvel had only just been admitted to the Justice League. "John had seen what the issue was, my soul was linked to a demon. Even if it was what saved me now, once I would have died my soul would belong to it."

"But you are safe now, right?" Dick asked him worriedly.

"Yes," they all sighed in relief. "Unlike, the rest of the members of The Shadows, my soul had only been linked to it for a small period. I could be saved... not that the same could be said for the others." Jason sighed. "After that, we killed the demon, taking down The Shadows with it. However, to defeat such a powerful demon we needed raw magical power, which John did not possess and none of us were taking a 9-year-old boy to any battlefield, less one that dangerous." The Colony was all nodding their heads in agreement. "So, my brother, yes I mean Damian, had to help take down the Savage family. Their immortality and abuse of power had created an unbalance that Magic could no longer accept. They took their powers and immortality away, alongside some other criminal magic users. Which made them easier for their enemies to kill. Damian then realized how much evil hide in the shadows and decided that enough was enough. Something had to be done."

"So, that's how Delphi came to be," Bruce commented.

"To tame the world, that's why Talia named him Damian," Jason explained. "Damian decided then that he would not follow the path of shadows and death his mother had planned for him. He chose one of light and healing. He'll tame the world by helping it. Soon many allied joined him and The Renegades were formed. When I was well enough, I finished my studies and went to Berkley for a double degree in Social Work and Literature, while Roy followed me for Business, soon you'll see in the news of a new Chairman for The Society of Birds, while Roy follows Queen's steps in his company."

"What about your identity?" Barbara inquired.

"Well, you guys helped by claiming me dead, even without a body. So, claiming that I had amnesia and no idea of who I am was easy. A new legal identity was done for me... Jason Bruce Zumarud." Jason confessed.

"Jay-lad..." Bruce murmured, touched and relieved that he had not ruined things completely with his son. So, proud of the man he had become, even if he did not agree completely about all his life choices, he could learn to accept them. He was also thankful for the miracle that having him in his arms was. It was enough to ignore the fact that the person he had been hunting down was his blood son, who his eldest seem to be in love with.

"The plan is to tell people that Jason came from reading the myth while in bed at the hospital and that Bruce was the name of the doctor that attended me." Jason continued to explain, ignoring the emotional moment, even though his sniffles were giving him away. "Which is not a lie."

"We could hold a press conference explaining that you miraculously survived and only now regained your memories," Alfred offered with a smile, so happy to have his grandson back.

"As long as I get to keep the Zumarud name," Jason replied.

"Jason Bruce Zumarud-Wayne... I like the sound of it," Bruce commented with a smile.

"So, I was right! Maya Ducard is Damian's secret sister, he is Corvus, and Rachel is Raven!" Tim exclaimed in extasis.

"Almost," Jason stopped him before he could get himself too worked up. "Maya is now known as Maya Talia Zumarud, her record is closed and very protected. She is now studying Philanthropy, Grantmaking, and Social Investment at the University of London with Suren and Billy, I mean Captain Marvel. Maya will be taking over The Tasmanian's Monster, while Billy takes control of The Pantheon." He explained to his family. "Rachel is Raven, but Suren is Corvus. I chose his middle name by the way," Jason smiled at Alfred, whose eyes widened in shock and honor. "D is not planning to fight, just heal the world. He'll take over The Order, while Suren is planning of taking care of The Amazon's Heart. It's not like we need the money, with D's galleries and recital halls all over the world, or all the money we'll get from D's next plan."

"What plan?" Bruce asked warily, only receiving a big smile from Jason which made Bruce feel even more nervous. 

Chapter Text

As soon as the word spread, the manor became a whirlwind of heroes. Of course, Wonder Woman and Superman were the first ones, with the rest of the Justice League following. Even Clark made an appearance to interview both Jason and Bruce. The media circus that followed was not something any of them enjoyed.

Dead Trillionaire (yes, Bruce became a trillionaire after merging LexCorp with WE) son alive? Adopted by a worldwide famous artist and engaged to the heir of Oliver Queen? The media and public ate it up! The whole thing seemed made up, something taken out from a book or movie!

So, the Wayne family decided to stay copped in the manor until things calmed down. At the moment, Jason and Dick were cuddling in Richard's room.

"I never get tired of seeing D's art," Jason thought out loud, observing Dick's portrait on the wall. "I can now truly believe D when he says that this is his greatest masterpiece."

"Mmm, wa she always interested in art?" Dick asked, blushing at Jason's indirect praise.

"No one knows," Jason murmured sadly. "He was treated like Will, given fake memories and a parameter of how to behave." Dick frowned, not being able to compute the gentle artist he knew with a trained assassin. "However, I believe he had always had an artist soul. Kind and always finding the beauty in everything, even the most horrifying places. He is much more like B and grandpa, I mean Thomas Wayne. One of the reasons I was able to convince him to use Thomas as his middle name." Jason confessed. "Taking in strays and healing... it took a while for him to figure it out. Though, it did help that we all lived in the House of Mysteries."

"The House of Mysteries?" Dick asked confused.

"A cursed house filled with magical objects that lives out of space and time," Bruce answered from where he leaning on the door. "It is the house in which Captain Marvel and his adopted father John Constantine live."

"It is more complicated than that, but in a nutshell you are right," Jason replied with a cheeky smirk. "There time runs different, it gives us all the extra time we need to grow into who we are, make all the research we need for missions, or do our homework and still have time for patrol. How else did you expect us all to be able to keep such a good balance of life with everything we've done if not by cheating a little bit?"

"Well,  I always did wonder how Delphi had time for everything..." Dick murmured.

"What does surprise me is Constantine allowing you to live there," Bruce commented. "He is known for being antisocial... and that's me saying that."

"Ha! He might whine and complain all the time, but he loves having us there to fill his empty life," Jason cackled. "Also, Billy, Rachel, and Suren are his apprentices and coven. No way, he'll ever kick us out! Though I don't think the animals will have the same luck as us:"

"Animals?" This time it was Bruce the one who asked.

"D picks up strays like you he simply does not limit himself to the human type," Jason chuckled. "But to be fair Rachel was the one to gift him the Dane dog, Titus by the way, and I was the one to give him the black cat, I named him Alfred Pennyworth." They all laughed at that. "However, it was him the one to rescue a dying race, believed to be extinct, of Bat-Dragons, moving them to Lazarus Island and keeping one, Goliath, as a pet. He also rescued Jerry, the turkey, and Bat-cow, the cow."

"Bat-cow?" Dick asked incredulously.

"Lazarus Island?" Bruce inquired, curiously.

"Yeah, that's where the main demon-worshipping happened... once it was cleansed and magically protected, it became our base of operation and second home," Jason answered. "We still haven't gotten to rename it. Bat-cow was rescued here in Gotham during the summer I tried to figure out how to broach the subject of being alive to all of you... and we know how that ended. It was also the main reason D decided to go vegetarian."

After a moment of silence, B decided to speak up: "Did he have anything to do with the sudden influx of abusive partners and parents being arrested? Or the boom of adoptions of abused and orphans Gotham went through that summer? At the time I did not know what had happened, focused on trying to fix the mistakes I'd made. But now I wonder..."

"At first I thought he was helping a few specific kids, but as the summer continued I realized he was just bored and trying to do something productive with his time," Jason chuckled. "That's who D is, always trying to give out an aiding hand... even though, he can come out as pompous and asshole-ish at times."

"Just like someone else we know," Dick murmured with an amused smile, as he looked at Bruce.

"And that's my queue to go," Bruce joked. 

Jason was still so surprised by how much he had changed. It was mindblowing, but it also warmed his heart.

Once the two brothers were left alone, Jason asked what he has been wanting to ask since day one: "Do you blame him? For not telling you? For leaving without telling you, leaving you with only the portrait?"

"Not really, I understand..." Dick answered slowly. "I think that I've always known who that little brother Damian was referring to. Ever since I've met him, for some reason, I did not feel you gone. He asked me, you know? What he should do? How could I ever hold it against him, when all he did is follow my advice?"

"You know, he truly fell for you during that summer," Jason told Dick. "You were always his favorite from the stories I told him, and from the research we made. But meeting you... he was a goner!" Jason chuckled, while Dick blushed. "I was very happy you two met... but also felt very guilty," Jason's chuckle was depressing this time around. "He left because he could not stay and lie to you... it was all my fault."

"No Little Wing!" Richard scolded him, holding him tighter. "We both love you and don't blame you for anything. We... I, at least, was not ready for us. If there will be an us... I needed to heal, I needed my family to heal. And look at us now, both saved and aided by Damia! I don't care if he does not put on a mask and fight crime, he is my hero!"

"Mine too," Jason laughed, this time happier. "I have the best goddamn big brothers in the world!"

"Little Wing!" Dick crashed him in a tighter hug while laughing happier and freer than he has ever been since he lost his parents.

By the end of the week, a teary but excited Dick said goodbye to his family and boarded the WE private jet to New York City. They've all decided to allow them to meet in peace and scheduled a meeting for after the art show was over.

Richard made sure to wear his best suit, a blue one fitted to his body, with a metallic grey shirt, black vest, and black tie. He looked gorgeous, and by the looks, he was getting from everyone in the venue, they all thought the same. However, Dick only had eyes for one person. Right there in the middle of the gallery, stood Damian, looking good enough to eat with his black suit, emerald-green shirt, golden vest, and golden tie, not to mention his spiked pitch-black hair was highlighted in gold as well. He looked hot!

He seems to think the same of me, Dick thought, as Damian's hungry gaze sized him up.

"Sorry, I'm late," Dick apologized, linking his arms around Damian's right one.

It felt like the most natural thing to do as if the two of them belonged next to each other. The perfect partner Richard has been looking for his whole life.

"I'm the one who should apologize, my beloved," Damian's light accented tonne had Dick shivering with desire.

None of them cared about the hundred of photographs that were being taken of them. Or that by midnight tonight everyone will know of them and speculate. All they did care about was the fact that they were finally in each other's arms. And this time around they were not letting do.

Chapter Text

Richard smiled as he snuggled closer to the warmth beside him, which only made his smile widen. Yesterday was wonderful... magical! He felt sore in all the right places and loved the right way. The healthy way. Something that neither Barbara nor Zatanna had made him feel before. Not to say they were abusive or anything, it's just that the lack of trust and understanding was toxic for the relationship. Dick could understand Zatanna, but Barbara was a bat, just like him, she should have understood him.

Well, he had Damian now and that's all that mattered to him.

"Good morning beloved," the green-eyed man greeted his partner tenderly.

"Good morning indeed," Dick chuckled as he greeted his new boyfriend with a kiss.

A kiss that would have developed into a full make-out session if not for their cell phones ringing at the same time. They both groaned, well Dick groaned while Damian was growling, but they still split apart and went to answer. The first thing that Dick heard was his best friend shouting: "You are dating someone and you never told me?!" Richard winced at the volume and then proceeded to placate the speedster. Meanwhile, Damian was attending a business call. 

"Sorry for interrupting you while... you are on a date..." poor Raven, she could not imagine her dear older brother in bed with a romantic partner. 

"The date was yesterday, but it does not matter," Damian chuckled. "Why did you call so early?"

"It's noon," Rachel replied dryly.

"Really?" Damian asked in shock. "you are right. Richard must have worked me hard last night..."

"Damian!" Whined Raven, making her brother laugh at her uncharacteristic behavior.

"That's enough playing around, Raven report!"

Just like that, as if a switch has been turned, Rachel was all business: "We caught Mother, Cain's right hand, and dismantled the human trafficking operation. The Pantheon will be in charge of overseeing the care of the children. Our next cases are The Brotherhood of the Fist, The Council of Spiders, and The King Snake and his Ghost Dragons."

"That is not all," Damian stated, not asked.

"No, it's been decided where shall be the base of operation of everyone," Raven answered. "With Red Arrow retired to be a dad, and Cheshire's 'community service' done for, she requested to be turned into a reserve member. So, she can stay home with her daughter and help her husband expand his security company. With that in thought, Arsenal decided to stay in Star City, unless on a mission, with Red Hood. Together with Black Canary and Green Arrow, they will be the only full-time heroes around, as Arrowette has decided to hand the cape and become an Olympic Archer."

"That's understandable, she never wanted to be a heroine in the first place," Damian commented. "What about the rest?"

"SomeBody and Ravager decided to make Bludhaven their base of operation, thank the gods for the House of Mysteries, which makes for teleportation much easier," Raven answered. "About that, Blockbuster is dead, shot by a new mask called Tarantula. We believed she was a new vigilante, but she seems to be more in the grey zone. Ravager tried to recruit her, but when Tarantula tried to kill cops for arresting her brother, Mateo Flores, for working for Blockbuster and being corrupted in general, the girls decided to bring her in. " Raven explained the situation. "Rose as Jason's second in command of The Birds Society will like to establish a branch in Bludhaven to aid the city the way the Wayne Foundation does in Gotham City. Of course, Queen Industries will foot the bill. From what Arsenal has told me, Ollie is fed up with Brucie making him look bad."

"Good luck with that," Damian chuckled. "After merging LexCorp with WE, he is now a trillionaire."

"Suren will join Captain Marvel in Fawcett City, while I stay in the team full-time with Poison Ivy and Harley. The girls have decided to live on Lazarus Island full-time, while Suren, Billy, and I decided to stay with John. No better place for someone with magic than the House of Mysteries. With Terra, Geo-Force, and Halo as reserve members, as expected as they have their own duties as a Royal Family. Red Hood has told me he has a few new possible recruits if we are interested, but has said nothing specific." Rachel completed her report.

"Set a date for a meeting, we can't have only three full-time members for a covert team of this scale. Especially, if we are taking The Council of Spiders and The King Snake next. The Brotherhood of the Fist will be put down in the list of priorities for now, compared to these two they can wait." Damian commanded. "At least, we have a good number of good reserve members in case of emergencies."

"Done," Rachel replied. "By the way, Cyborg is leaving The Outsiders for the Justice League, he was recently invited."

"Will he be ok?" Damian inquired, his tone showing his worry, even if his face was expressionless. Cyborg is the newest member of their makeshift family, but he has already been through so much. "He has been working himself too hard with Mother's case. if we were horrified by what she's done, he who dwelled so deep into the net..."

"He's been constantly aiding various intelligence agencies all over the world stopping people trafficking over the net... especially, kids." Raven sighed. "He's been doing an incredible job. But he is working himself dry and scaring a lot of people."

"Those rats will hide if they know they are being hunted down," Damian sighed. "Such brutal frontal attack is not the best plan. Now to mention, that once you go down the rabbit hole of the darknet, it's hard to come out... much less, complete."

"I'll also schedule an intervention," Raven assured him.

"You are the best little sister," Damian smiled.

"All good?" Damian turned around at Dick's question and kissed him, as he finished the call.

"All good... just some rescheduling needed for The Renegades and the need of an intervention for an overworked friend," Damian answered, without going into detail, knowing that a bat will understand the need for secrecy for the sake of efficiency. 

"By the way, the net is going crazy about us," Richard chuckled. "I can't wait for the media circus revealing you are dad's biological son will bring," Dick chuckled, but stopped when he saw his lover's grim expression. "What's wrong viața mea?"

"I don't believe announcing that is the best course of action," Damian admitted slowly. "The Wayne's are already under enough scrutiny with Cassandra winning the Benoisee de la Danse, you becoming the Chairman of the Wayne Foundation, and Jason coming back to life. Not to mention, the engagement announcement of a union of a Queen and a Wayne. I do not desire for my past to come out to light and if people start asking the right questions that's what will happen." Damian explained, kissing his beloved apolegitacly. "There's a reason why I divided my ONGs into five different organizations and do not oversee them on my own... at least, legally. Being in the shadows it's what kept me safe and helped me get this far."

"I understand... though, I can't say the same for dad. While I understand you don't need any paperwork to be family, B likes to be in control of everything," Dick told him.

"Well, then we are both very much alike in that aspect," Damian chuckled. He does that a lot with Richard. "How are things going in Gotham?"

"Better... incredibly so," Dick confessed, still slightly stunned by that fact. "With the Court of Owls gone, and all their members spread throughout the country's prisons, we can finally start getting rid of the corruption from the core. Every judge, cop, politician, and businessman that aided them was ruined and in jail, with dad buying their businesses. Our family now owns around 80% of Gotham! There are no major families anymore, just minor ones, except the Kane's. With the Elliot's and Cobblepot's ruined, the head of the families are villains. By the way, thank you for the tip about Hush."

"You are welcomed, beloved," Damian replied with a soft smile and a tender kiss on the forehead. "Though, I don't believe father was happy to find out about Hush's reason to become a villain."

"No," Dick sighed. "He was very angry, blamed Gotham for breeding insanity and them himself for not noticing his childhood friend was being abused." Richard shook his head, that had been a difficult and dark month. First finding out about Haly's Circus and the alliance with The Court of Owls. Then Raptor, Richard's own childhood friend who had been chosen to replace him as a Talon when Dick was adopted by Bruce, and who Dick was unable to save before he had died in the aftermath of the battle against Nightwing. And then about Tommy Elliot... it took the Colony a lot of time to recover from the whole ordeal. "We should also be thanking you for the funds for the gentrification of the Narrows and Crime Alley. Which curiously are the amount of the combined fortune of the Court of Owl's members."

"What can I say, I thought they had a better use than being used for bribery," Damian smirked cheekily. "Did Fox get my plans for the gentrification?"

"Yes, Lucius got them. I was left in charge of the whole thing, so I decided to make it a joint work with The Birds Society," Dick answered.

"It'll be nice to see you and Jason working together outside of your night costumes," Damian replied.

Richard was filled with the love he felt for his viața. He pulled him for a deep kiss, which lead up to both of them being in bed and losing their flight to Gotham. Not that it mattered, with both of them being rich. 

Chapter Text

I can't believe I am doing this! Damian al Ghul thought fearfully as he ran away from the assassins following him, with an enraged Jason Todd following his lead. And with a Robin in midst of Pit Madness. I must be insane.

But it's not like Damian could have left Todd in his family's clutches. He had hated seeing him in such a catatonic stage, a hollow shell of a human left behind. Damian had tried to finish Jason off, give him peace it seemed to be, not merciful as al Ghul's are nor merciful, but the humane thing to do. However, his mother had stopped him. Todd was then prodded and dissected like a ñab rat, to find out how he had come to life without the aid of the Pit. Todd had died on their way to The Shadows, but the moment they had decided to revive him using the Pit he had mysteriously woken up. It was the first time Damian had truly seen how inhumane his family truly was. His grandfather had earned his title as the Demon Head. Even the torture and assassinations Damian had conducted daily were better than what Todd had suffered while in his vulnerable state.

But what made it for Damian to finally turn his back on his family and save the second Robin, was when they threw him into the Pit. What came out was not human, but a raging uncontrollable monster. Seeing his unnatural Lazarus-green eyes shining, Damian finally realized that what was going on was wrong. The Pit was not a gift but a curse... and his family had just condemned his father's second sidekick.

So, he waited patiently until Todd was at least coherent before proceeding with his plan and saving him. Which leads them to the situation they were in at the moment. Running away from assassins from his family's league in London, while trying to find John Constantine. Which on its own was already difficult!

"What should we do?" Jason growled as he dodged another shuriken.

"Find an alley! I'll deal with them once and for all!"Damian snapped back, getting a blood-thirsty smile in return. A smile that should not belong on the face of a student of Batman, one that was trained under a no-killing rule. However, this was a Jason Todd that was beaten to every inch of his life and then blown up into pieces. One that was revived by a supernatural pit, which Damian was almost sure was connected to a demonic entity. Jason's shining eyes, only made him surer of that fact.

But that did not matter at the moment. They lead the shadows following them to an alley and ambushed them. They were not rivals to one of the bests, if not the best, Master Swordsman in the world. Soon the alley was filled with decapitated heads and blood splattered over the walls.

"Wow..." Jason whistled. "I have to applaud your artistship. You and your sword are deadly. Beautiful, but deadly."

"The brush is just another sword, once you know how to use it you can do anything with it," Damian replied, cleaning his sword, the only thing he took with him when he fled, other than provisions. It used to be his grandfather's, but it was given to him during his heir ceremony. "Now all that's left to do is find John Constantine."

"Well, luv, if you wanted my help you should have not painted the walls of my house with blood," both trained humans turned around and rose their weapons defensively. Behind them stood a blond and disheveled guy, on a trench coat. But what caught their attention was the front door of the house behind him, where what should have been a dead-end alley. "Oh... I can see why you would be looking for me. What they did to you is nasty!" The British guy winced, pointing at a glaring Jason.

"The House of Mysteries," Damian spoke looking at the house in awe.

"Come in, before more of their friends start popping out," the blond, John Constantine, drawled, opening the door and entering the house. Damian was the first in, followed by an apprehensive and glaring Jason. "You guys come from The Shadows, right? I can clearly see the effects of The Pit on him. Nasty thing those are. They might keep you alive, but it takes a piece of your soul with each use, driving the user insane. Not to mention, one use and your soul now belongs to the demon the al Ghul's worship."

"My family does not worship demons!" Damian screeched, followed closely by Jason's angry cry: "My fucking soul has been sold to the devil?!"

"One demon, not the devil. Thank fuck for that, otherwise, it would be close to impossible to recover. Luckily, the al Ghul there brought you here early. I can sever the link with The Pit and free your soul." John turned to Damian with a deadpanned expression. "Of course, your family worships demons. Why else do you think your grandfather uses the title of Demon Head?" John then proceeded to tell them the story of how the Lazarus Pits came to be. "The Lazarus Pits were the entry points to this dimension for demons from Hell, they were created by the accumulation of deaths and sins in the area, with the addition of demonic and dark magic in the mix, the bloodshed in the area would turn into the hideous green waters the Lazarus Pits are known for. In the beginning, they were not many out there and not that powerful either... until Ra's al Ghul found one and built a godnamn cult around it. More blood and sins were committed, being accumulated over the centuries. He even created The League of Lazarus, as a splinter organization of the League of Shadows, that would focus on finding places where Lazarus Pits could be created. Your great-grandmother went fucking insane and started spreading her faith and worship of the demon that inhabited the Lazarus Pit. Any warlocks that deal with demon exorcism as their specialty knows about them and we have been trying to find to stop them. But unless we found the Lazarus Island and the main Lazarus Pit, where the demon's main essence lives, they'll just keep on creating more Pits."

Damian could only stare at the warlock in shock. All his life he has been raised to be proud of his family's legacy. That The Shadows was founded to change the world. That all they did was meant for something greater. However, it was all lies... how could Damian be proud of this?

"Fuck it! Fuck you!" Jason raged as he punched a hole into the wall, which was magically repaired on its own. It was a magical house after all.

"How can we make sure no more innocents are hurt?" Damian asked Constantine slowly, but surely.

"By dealing with the demon in its lair on Lazarus Island," was John's answer. "However, to track it down we will need al Ghul's blood and the blood of someone with Lazarus' water in their veins."

Damian and Jason exchanged blood-thirsty smiles: "Well, it looks like you are in fucking luck!" Jason crooned.

"But you need to realize that this will be the end for most of your league. They are only alive because of the demon's power. Without it... they'll die." John warned them, well, he warned Damian, who returned the warning with a solemn look.

"It has to be done," was all Damian said.

"Good, but..."

"But what?! What the hell now?!" Jason interrupted Constantine.

"I was going to tell you if you could shut the bloody fuck up!" John snapped back. Jason glared at the blond and tried to retaliate, but a look from Damian shut him off. "Thank you! We will need much more magical power to defeat a demon of this caliber. Not to mention the situation of magic at the moment."

"The situation of magic?" Damian questioned raising an eyebrow.

"The balance of magic has been thrown through the window," John sighed exasperatedly. "A new Champion of Magic has been chosen, cheers mate! But it fucked the rest of us, magic users, up!"

"So, it seems that there's only one way to resolve this..." Damian said, gaining the attention of the other two males in the room. "We find this Champion of Magic and ask them politely for their help, or else..."

Both Jason and John shivered at Damiann's evil smile. Good luck Champion of Magic, whoever you are, you'll need it!

Chapter Text

"This has to be a godamn joke!" Jason seethed. "This can't be right... who in their right mind lets this fucking idiocy happen?!" He growled in rage, as he punched a hole in the cement wall of the deserted subway. 

Constantine, Jason, and Damian had gone searching for the new Champion of Magic, which lead them to Fawcett City and in front of a homeless 9-years-old boy.

"This is truly appalling even in The Shadows, which trains children from birth, they do not place an unprepared child in such strenuous position," even Damian was stunned.

"Let me just assure you this is not common practice and I'll have a serious conversation with the wizard once I finally locate him," John sighed, starting to get worried about the future of the Magic World.

The Champion is not a shiny position in which someone gains flashy powers and gets to kick the butt of those trying to steal their power. If anything that is just a consequence of the position, not its duty. Its job is to be the judge, jury, and executioner of the magical community. The Minister of Magic in other words. For that, they need to learn not only about magic but politics as well. They also are the ones keeping the world's magical core in equilibrium, otherwise, it'll affect the rest of the magical users' abilities.

"he is dead..." Billy Batson (Which will never stop being hilarious to Bruce Wayne's, aka Batman, sons) sniffled. "Black Adam killed him!"

"Bloody Mary..." John cursed, facepalming. "Of all the enemies of the wizard, it had to be him."

"Who is he?" Damian asked tensely.

"Black Adam is an ancient Egyptian named Teth-Adam, who is chosen by the wizard Shazam to be his successor due to his presumed moral purity. However, Teth-Adam is soon corrupted by the vastness of his powers. He ended up deciding that he should rule the world, so Teth-Adam overthrows and kills the pharaoh and assumes the Egyptian throne. Angered by this betrayal, the wizard changes the name of his errant champion to Black Adam. Although he is unable to revoke the powers he gave Adam, he managed to banish him to the most distant star in the universe." John explained, making them all wince. "It is a cautionary tale for anyone trying to claim the position as Champion of Magic. Make sure you are good or the wizard will banish you. Luckily, you won't have that issue in your hands."

"No, but I do have a murderous, no idea how old, all-powerful crazy ex-champion on my trail!" Billy screeched, starting to hyperventilate.

"Good job warlock," Jason spat, before going to calm the boy down. He had always had a soft spot for kids, especially homeless ones.

"But this might be good for us..." John murmured, ignoring Jason.

"How the fuck?!" Jason cursed, his eyes shining with Pit's Madness. "We are fucking screwed!"

"We need power! And no way in bloody hell I am dragging a kid into a fight against a demon of the Lazarus Pit caliber! Let alone any demon!" John shouted. "I might be a piece of human shit, but even I don't cross that line!"

"The Dark Warlock does not allow kids to fight. Give him a fucking award, he does something even the Justice League had been incapable of getting right." Jason's tone was dripping with sarcasm, but his eyes were shining with unsaid respect.

"We need power," John repeated, throwing Jason an annoyed glare. "What's more powerful than the power and immortality of someone as old as dirt as Dark Adam?"

"Can we do that?" Billy asked, eyes shining with hope. He was way over his head with all of this. But even he knows that he'll be incapable of defeating an enemy that brought down the wizard, with cero training and field experience. Billy was also against the idea of killing, so this plan has his support... for now.

"You are The Champion of Magic, judge, jury, and executioner. If magic itself finds him guilty of the most atrocious crime of tainting the equilibrium of magic to the point of no return, you can sentence them to lose their magic and immortality." Constantine explained. "For that to happen is not easy, your magic needs to reach an inhuman level and one would need to spend years, as in Millenium, disrupting that equilibrium. Not to mention, you'll need a place to put all that power."

"What about my sword?" Damian inquired. "My grandfather told me a story when I was a kid... which with what you've told me about the pits, it might not be a simple story. From the depths of the deepest Pit of Lazarus the sacred sword rose, a sword only those with al Ghul blood can wield. A greedy sword, it is in its nature. A sword that can cut through anything, even a soul. A sword that..."

"Will devour all," Constantine finished in horror. "The Sword of Avarice. Mammon's Sword."

"For fuck's sake, please tell me Mammon is not the one we will be fighting," Jason pleaded in an almost whining tone.

"No, but whoever this demon is, they stole from Mammon," John replied. 

"Will killing them endear us to Mammon?" Damian inquired, already various plans going through his head. "Having a Prince of Hell indebted to us might serve us in the future."

"You truly are an al Ghul," Jason shook his head in disbelief. "Who in their right mind wants to be allied with a Prince of Hell?"

"TT, somebody smart," Damian tched.

"Why should we satisfy ourselves with only Black Adam?" Jason suddenly commented, gaining three interested stares. "From what I've understood the sword will store any kind and sum of power, like a black hole. More people fit the requirements the warlock mentioned: Cirse, The Enchantress, Morgana, and the whole Savage family, to name some. Why not bring them all down in one swipe?"

"How did you know about them?" Billy inquired curiously, still new to this whole... superheroine? magical? scene.

"I used to work with Batman..." the confession was hard on Jason, green eyes shining slightly. "He has a whole file for magic."

"So cool!" Billy gasped.

"I believe Todd... Jason had a competent idea." Damian changed the direction of the conversation as he noticed Jason was starting to lose control. "Will it have any adverse effect on me?"

"The price for that kind of power was paid in blood-line. Your grandfather's and mother's sanity, yours is diluted enough not to affect you in any deteriorating way but close enough to be able to use the sword." John explained, before turning to Billy. "What do you say Champion? Will you help us?"

"If the magical core accepts this solution... who am I to refuse?" Billy answered, "Though..." he fidgeted. "I do not know how to do it."

"Ah," John sighed. "The wizard is bloody lucky he is dead. Otherwise, I would have ended him myself for this." Constantine then opened a portal to the House of Mysteries and transported the four of them there. "You two rest or get prepared for the fight do as you wish," John told the sons of Batman, before turning to Billy. "You follow me, we have a lot to discuss."

Damian watched both magical users leave, before turning towards his... brother? He looked as uncomfortable as Damian felt. Being on the run for their lives worked wonders to ignore the complicated family drama the both of them were stuck in.

"Do you want to get our weapons ready?" Damian asked Jason, who nodded silently in response and followed him to the room John had given them.

"Aren't you worried about the demon claiming your soul along with your family?" Jason asked bluntly as they entered the room, eternally grateful John had purged the demon's hold on his soul.

"I should be around a decade younger," Damian answered, as he took the bags with the weapons he had stolen, borrowed from the league. "Mother used CADMUS technology to artificially accelerate my growth and put fake memories in my mind. I've only been awake for a few months. I've never died or been in the pit... no matter what I remember."

"For fuck's sake!" Jason cursed. "And I thought I had shity parents... I do, but you win the lottery."

"Mm," Damian hummed, taking out a pair of knives and observing their razor. "I found out while looking over mother's server for intel about magical users with expertise in dark magic and demonic entities."

Jason shook his head when Damian offered him the knives: "Blades are your thing, do you have guns in there?"

"I thought father did not approve of guns?" Damian inquired, putting the knives away.

"Well, Bat isn't here, is he?" Jason gave him a blood-thirsty smile.

"He is not," Damian shrugged, taking out two guns and annumition. 

"Just like that?" Jason asked warily, having expected a bigger fight.

"Just like that... we are family after all," Damian told him, both of them looking uncomfortable again at the reminder.

However, Jason took the guns and smiled slightly. Damian smiled back and went back to going through the bag. It was far from perfect, but it was a start.

Chapter Text

John and Jason observed Damian silently as he wandered through the league's main base, the Al Ghul's Palace in shock. One thing is to know something and another thing is to see and realize the fact that you've condemned over a million people to die. Two-thirds of The Shadows are dead. 

When they arrived at Nanda Parbat, Lady Shiva was already there, standing above the bodies of Deathstroke, Sportmaster, and Cain. With Cheshire, Rose Wilson, and a blonde girl, hiding in the shadows. Lady Shiva had just cut the head off a little girl. When she noticed the three men, she looked up and had given Damian the most vicious smile he had ever seen, while telling him: "Came to die like you worthless cousin?"

Damian had blacked out after that. He had only realized he had killed her when he heard her head falling to the ground. As if in a trance, Damian then had picked the cousin he had had no idea he had, and then proceeded to burn her in the al Ghul's cemetery. No need to burn the body, as the Pits had exploded along with the demon's demise. Damian then proceeded to do the same with every other fallen league member. It had taken him over three days of unstopped work, under the surveillance of every other shadow that had survived the purge. By the end of it, Damian was stumbling to the throne room in dirt and exhaustion. But with a weird sense of satisfaction and peace.

Once Damian had taken the seat, that used to be his grandfather's throne, Jason had taken his place on Damian's right-back. As the royal guard of the al Ghul family. Jason's life had taken quite a few turns these last couple of years. From living on the streets to being adopted by Bruce Wayne. As if going from rags to riches was not enough, he had then become Robin. Then gotten himself killed by a psychotic clown and then mysteriously revived. Now he had a big brother who was a king and he was his bodyguard. Life! Who would have thought?!

"Cirse, Morgana, Black Adam, and the Savage family are all dead," John announced. However, he did not explain that it was not their plan to have them killed and it was just karma happening in the form of their enemies finding out the fact that they were finally vulnerable and coming out of the woods for vengeance. Seeing the massacre of the once invulnerable league and the fact that Damian had recently killed the strongest martial artist, who had recently killed the best mercenaries in the world, had the shadows on their knees knowing better than to oppose their new king. "Without her powers, the Enchantress finally fusioned completely with Dr. Moon. From what I've been told she has become a split personality of Dr. Moon and had finally mellowed down. At least, for now."

"Cheshire," Damian finally spoke, calling out the traitor of the shadows. Only Jason's Bat-training permitted him to notice how she tensed under the attention of the new king. "Raise," slowly the assassin stood up. "What brought you here? Have you not forsaken us?"

"I forsook your grandfather," Cheshire spoke out boldly. Jason almost whistled impress. He liked her. Roy had always had good taste. "The league was supposed to be a family, a community for the renegades and those turned away by the world. Not something I should protect my daughter from. When many shadows started dying around the globe I came here to find out if I was next. What I found was a battle royal for the throne and Lady Shiva killing a girl that was my daughter's age, just because of the blood that runs through her veins. Then I stayed because you are different. I believe you can make something glorious from this."

"Mara," Damian spoke up, and only Jason noticed him choke up. "Her name was Mara al Ghul, and I better not hear anyone speaking ill of my cousin or..." he threatened. "You are right, Cheshire. My grandfather's madness brought something that was supposed to be a glorious legacy, to something I am ashamed to be part of. We should change that," Damian straightened upon his throne and addressed the room. "We will leave the shadows and change our ways. No more deaths and terror. We will tame this world by healing it into a brand new future like grandfather promised us but instead lied to us. Death will no longer be our path for that future, though I'll not condemn some chaos." Damian smiled sardonically. "As the Americans say, “you get more flies with honey than with vinegar”. Like the oracle of Delphi, we will tell the world of what lies in their shadows and whisper the right path to take through a prophecy. But first, to get rid of our enemies."

"Long live the king!" Jason called out, not liking the room's silence. "Long live Damian al Ghul!"

"Long live the king!" The shadows, not the priests of Delphi, called back. "Long live Damian al Ghul!"

"No more losses akhi," Damian whispered to Jason. "No more dead family."

"No more dead Robins," Jason agreed. "No more dead family."

"So mote it be," John said.

"Mote it be," Jason and Damian repeated, sealing the promise with power beyond magic.

"That's how it all began," Damian finished telling the story to his beloved, as they flew to Gotham in WE's private jet. "One-third of what was left of the shadows I left in charge of the various ONGs and branches. The other third I had infiltrated the various intelligence agencies that rose with the fall of A.R.G.U.S, D.E.O, Checkmate, Spyral, The Light, and Leviathan."

"That you created," Dick teased, a hand moving up and down Damian's leg.

"That I incentivized to be created," Damian corrected, stopping the distracting, teasing hand of his beloved. "Free will is very important for Delphi. With the shadow's intel on not only them but corruption and governments all around the world was easy. The rest was timing."

"What about the remaining third?" Dick asked curiously.

"They were those who had started or had family hidden away, I gave them a haven in the Lazarus Island, for them to be raised in peace and away from enemies they had made because of my family. They work on the administrative side of The Renegades. The island became the new kingdom of Nanda Parbat, with the Al Ghul Palace being the last fortress. Too many bad memories there... we needed a new place to start anew. Around that time we found information on Cassandra, but we knew she would not trust us and that she needed a clean break. So, we passed it along to father." Damian answered, placing a short kiss on Dick's forehead, which had the trapeze master melting. "Cheshire was the only one who did not accept, as William and Lian already had the protection of the Justice League."

"You bet they do!" Dick exclaimed. "How did you even get Constantine to let you use the House of Mysteries as your base when you are not ruling your kingdom?"

"No matter how much he whines and protests, he ended up adopting Will, I am not calling him Billy," he mock-glared at Richard, who was pouting teasingly. "John had magic covered, but Will needed someone to teach him politics."

"Who better than a king," Dick unbuckled his seatbelt and sat on Damian's lap, lowering his head for a sensual kiss. "My king~" However, before this could be taken a step further the pilot announced they were landing. "Spoilsport!" Dick pouted, getting back into his seat."  

"Calm down beloved, we have all night to continue this," Damian pulled him into another kiss, which left Dick a giggling mess.

"Oh! By the way, dad can't wait to know what's your next project!" Dick exclaimed, gaining a chuckle from his lover.

"He'll get to know soon enough," Damian laughed, feeling excited about the chaos he's about to release on Gotham City.

Good luck Colony!

Chapter Text

Bruce's heart could burst in happiness at the scene before him. His family was finally complete. Damian was talking with Tim about the upcoming art show he has with a worldwide-known photographer in Paris. Meanwhile, Cass and Dick were ballroom dancing, and Alfred was serving everyone tea and his famous cookies. Jason was chatting and chuckling with Steph, bruce had always known those two would get along. Barbara was smiling at the scene next to me, while she typed away on her computer. I was enjoying the quietness, watching my family with a full heart, when Barbara made a choked sound- we all turned to look at her worriedly. She wore a shocked expression, turning to look from her computer to Damian and back stunned.

"Oh! You finally found out! What do you think?" Damian smiled slyly at Barbara.

"What's going on?" Tim asked defensively.

"He bought Arkham," we all stared in stunned silence at Barbara, before turning to Damian and Jason in disbelief, both of them were wearing sly smirks. "Half of the staff has had their license revoked and were blacklisted to ever work in the psychiatrist, medicinal, and pharmaceutical areas."

"That's the surprise you were talking about Jay-lad?" I questioned my second oldest son... well, the third one now that he has Damian in the equation.

"Yep! Brilliant right? The place will no longer be a rotating door to criminals, they'll get the help they need and Rachel will have a place to hunt in peace," Jason answered with a smile.

"Hunt?" Cass asked, tilting her head confused. She did not read any danger from Jason's body language, but she was sure the word hunt was not harmless. "Hun what?"

"For madness," Damian sighed with a sad smile. "Rachel is not 100% human."

"Is she an alien?!" Steph inquired excitedly.

"No, she is half-demon," Jason replied. "We better explain things to them akhi," Jason turned to Damian, ignoring how their family was staring at them like hawks. "We've already told them the story of how we met and dealt with The Shadows, what's one more story?"

"You are right," Damian sighed. "It's not like we've got something to hide," he walked towards the fireplace and turned so he could face all of them. "After two-thirds of the league died, it was an all-out war for the access of resources, intel, and territory that The Shadows possessed. Especially, after The Light went down with them. No Savage, no Light. He was the only thing keeping the villains working together on the same objective. I... I was not in a good place back then. No matter my intentions, I indirectly caused a lot of deaths."

"They were already dead, can you be blamed for simply returning the balance between death and life?" Barbara commented.

"It's not those deaths that weigh on me," Damian confessed, expression closed off. "As you said they were already dead, and while the scene coming back of Nanda Parbat littered with corpses will forever haunt my dreams... it was my recklessness back then which I loath."

"What do you mean?" Steph asked confused.

"Before the situation got stabilized during the intelligence war, many innocents got caught in the cross-fire," Alfred answered solemnly. "Judges, cops, civilian bystanders, there was a sudden spike of kids with the meta-gene kidnapped."

"Those deaths will forever be in my hands," Damian growled punching the fireplace.

"Akhi," Jason murmured shaking his head, as Dick walked towards his lover and wrapped his arms around him.

"If I had thought out the repercussions of my actions or planned out contingency actions, things might have turned out better... maybe Mara would still be alive." Damian choked up.

"You can't think like that," Bruce spoke up. "If you do, you'll forever live in the past, regretting every decision you've made. Your actions were made with good intentions..."

"Good intentions do not equal good actions!" Damian barked, cutting him off, before taking a breath and continuing much calmer. "Sorry."

"You are right, they do not. But you can learn from your mistakes and do better next time," Bruce continued calmly, walking up towards his sons and hugging them both.

Bruce was truly showing off how much he had advanced in his sessions with Dinah, as once upon a time, he would have not seen this situation this way. Killing was wrong to him, no matter the situation. There was no excuse or explanation. Or at least, it was like that...

"Akhi, deployed what was left of The Shadows to keep the situation under check and have their violence directed at each other via manipulation from the shadows." Jason continued for Damian, as his brother clung to his lover and their father. "It took a while, but with Rose, Maya, and Jade in charge of the field, it only took a few months to stabilize the situation. It did help that no one tried to betray Damian, everyone was too afraid, still are," Jason chuckled. "Tara brought a whole new situation into our hands, but in the end, it was what we needed to bring them all down in one sweep. Plus it did give us the support of a whole nation, and got us three powerful allies."

"Tara came to us, after being trained by Wilson, she was very confused. Deathstroke had brainwashed her and used her as a weapon, well... it did a number on her." Damian picked up for Jason, though he remained between the embrace of Dick and Bruce. "We investigated the situation in Markovia and found out about the corruption and their link to The Light. With The Light weakened and we bringing back the missing princess, it was easy to infiltrate the palace and convince her brother to aid us. In between the whole situation we found Violet, who in reality ended up being the reanimated corpse of a girl via the power of a Mother Box, which created Halo." Damian chuckled at their stunned expressions. "I know, we could not believe it either. Violet's body was from a girl who did not possess the meta-human gene."

"Bastards! The whole of them!" Jason cursed angrily.

"They were also experimenting with a Mother Box, dissecting them, unfortunately, they killed her too... in the least leap to save herself, the Mother Box transferred what was left of her into the closest available body," Damian explained.

"Fascinating..." Tim murmured amazed, eyes shining with science!

"Bad for them, but incredible for us! Violet's power is incredible, united with Terra's and GeoForce's, they were able to stop the nuke that fucking hag Waller launched," Jason growled. "We were pushing her to act irrationally and finally catch her... however, we did not expect her to fucking launch a nuke!"

"But it did its work and the war was finally over," Damian sighed.

"But..." Cass pushed for an answer, being able to see more than the rest of her family.

"But that also had unexpected consequences..." Damian confessed. "The Light had ties with aliens, which got us hunted down by Granny and The Furies. While we were working with Constantine to have the information folders magically delivered to the reporters and lawyers, making sure no one would slip through the cracks, they were reigning mayhem on earth looking for us."

"They did find us," Jason chuckled without any humor. "John tried to get us to safety... but Granny messed up his portal, making us fall on Poison Ivy's fucking territory of all places!"

"That's a joke, right?" Babs inquired, not believing the ridiculous situation they had found themselves in.

"Nop," Jason deadpanned. "Harley was even paying her a visit."

"SHIT!" Steph cursed, ignoring Alfred's 'language' as Jason has been doing since the start.

"Once again John tried to get us away from Granny and The Furies, but they messed up the portal again, this time with another two crew members," Damian shook his head.

"Shit!" Now everyone was cursing, even Alfred did not scold them.

"Now you would think that the third time is the charm, wouldn't you?" Jason deadpanned. "We landed before Rachel this time, and when John tried to create another portal his magic reacted to hers and we ended up in a desolated landscape."

"The Furies and Granny were killed in one sweep, and we were faced against something much worse," Damian had to contain a shiver at the memory. "We were faced against Trigon..."

Chapter Text

"What the hell did just happen?!" Jason cursed as they landed on the ground.

"They were able to mess up with your spell?" Damian demanded worriedly.

"It seems like they did!" John cursed, as concerned as Damian about the fact.

Damian wished he could get a break! He had just come back from a mission to collect the Dead King's Scepter and relocate the Bat-Dragon colony to Lazarus Island. All while waging war against the Darga Clan and rescuing a member of said clan. He should be back in Nanba Parbat helping Suren get used to his new home while being teased by Jason about his adoption problem, which supposedly is similar to his father's, just not limited only to humans. He should not be running away from a bunch of insane and murderous aliens!

"Look what we've got here Red," a psychotic laugh sent shivers down the guys' spines.

"Intruders!" A female voice growled, making the ground shake.

"Poison Ivy's goddamn liar!" Jason cursed, rearing to go.

"Hey, Red, isn't that Brucie's brat? The one that died?" Harley asked Ivy. However, before anyone else could say anything a portal opened, letting Granny and The Furries pass. "Sweet crazy mother of clowns!"

"Just what we needed!" Damian growled. "John!"

"On it!" The warlock got ready to open another portal.

"Oh, no! You are not getting away from us!" Poison Ivy purred, pouncing on them, just as Granny went ahead and messed up with the portal... again. 

The world turned upside down, the portal throwing them out in the middle of nowhere. They were in a dark alley, before a pale girl who clearly has been living on the streets for a while.

"Hey, who's that?" John asked, looking at the girl in wonder.

"I don't think this is the goddamn time to ask that?!" Jason shouted at the warlock.

"It does when she stinks of demonic magic!" John snapped back, making the girl flinch away and Damian pay closer attention to her.

"I..." before the girl could say anything the aliens appeared once again.

"Not again!" John growled, calling out his magic. "Third time is the charm, right?"

"No!" The girl exclaimed, eyes widening in horror as her magic mixed with the warlocks. She knew what was going to happen next... and it was nothing good.

The world turned upside down for the group once again, but this time they were not on earth. 

"Where are we?" Harley asked shocked.

"The soil!" Poison Ivy wailed, not being able to handle the atmosphere.

"What did you do?!" Jason growled threateningly at the girl.

"I tried to warn him!" The girl exclaimed, shivering in fear. "There's no escaping him now..."

"Where are we?" Damian tried to remain calm and not snap at the girl, but he was starting to lose his calm fast.

"This is... impossible..." John murmured in shock. "That would mean that you..." he turned to the girl in stunned disbelief. "You are Trigon's daughter! That means that earth is next... Oh, bloody hell!"

"Next for what?!!" Damian growled, demanding answers.

"Hello! Can someone tell us what is going on?" Harley called out, hugging Ivy, who had fallen to her knees on the deserted ground. "Red is not liking this place very much."

"Now you are mine!" Granny exclaimed victoriously... only to be swatted away by a big red fist.

"What... the fuck... is that?!" Jason cursed, taking a couple of steps back in fear.

The demon before them was huge and the power radiating from him made their knees tremble and buckle under its pressure. They could not face a creature like that!

Let's run while he is busy with them!" The girl exclaimed, taking Damian's hand and dragging her away.

"But..." Damian tried to protest, but even John was in favor of the girl's plan

"There's no time to explain! Move it!" The warlock demanded, running away, dragging Jason with him.

With one last look at the battle raging behind him, Damian decided to follow the warlock and witch. John did not seem to know where he was going, simply following the girl's guidance, which did not help Damian's paranoia. But compared to the monster they left behind, the little witch seems to be a better option. They found a small and bare camp hidden between small hills, the place looked as deserted and barren as the rest of the alien world. No wonder Poison ivy was having such a bad time here.

"Will someone explain now what the fuck is going on?!" Jason growled, eyes shining with Pit Madness. Something that was happening less and less each month, but this whole situation was pushing him to the edge.

"My name is Rachel Roth, we are in my father's kingdom," the witch told them. Damian was still tense, even more on guard when he noticed that the camp was surrounded by runes. In a given space, only the magic user who cast the runes can use magic. This camp will render John's powers useless.

"And who in Gea's name is Trigon?" Ivy asked, finally stopping her wallowing and turning into the murderous rage she is known for.

"Trigon is bad news luv," John sighed, collapsing on some rocks. "He is a sadistic, cruel, dangerous, and powerful demon of inter and extra-dimensional origins. One of the most powerful beings in the universe, having enslaved many worlds. Father of Belial, the demon who overthrew Lucifer himself as King of Hell, and even he is not strong enough to defeat Trigon. He is unable to cross the Divine's barrier that keeps him, prisoner, in his own realm. However, that does not stop him. No, Trigon summons women from other worlds to mate with them and impregnate them, then send them back, spreading his evil to destroy countless universes. Though, it seems that he failed with you..." he turned to Rachel with a thoughtful expression.

"Earth is his next objective," Damian realized grimly. 

"We have to stop him!" Harley exclaimed, gaining startled looks from everyone, even her best friend. "What? I live on Earth too, being conquered by a mad power-hungry demon is bad for me as well!"

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but Harley Quinn is right," Jason said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Yeah, that just sounds wrong."

"Hey!" Harley pouted. 

"How are we supposed to do that?" Rachel asked, eyes shining with hope, making Damian's heart ache for the young girl.

Yeah, Jason is right. I do have an adoption issue like our father. Damian thought, admitting defeat. I've already adopted her, emotionally at least.

"Well, you've bought us time, luv," John replied. "Here you are the only one able to use magical powers, and while this realm makes Trigon stronger, it makes you stronger too, as you are of his blood. That power will be key to defeating him. I know some nice dark curses that might be enough to buy us some time and stop his movements. If you allow me to add some of my own runes to the camp."

"All we need is a couple of minutes," Damian said, taking out his treasured katana. "We just need him frozen long enough for me to finish him off with a clean swing."

"With Red's powers, it will be easy!" Harley gloated cheerily, making Ivy blush. "She is super powerful!"

"I could make this place friendly enough for a few plants," John murmured thoughtfully.

"Now all we need is a fucking plan and to finish the bastard," Jason smirked viciously.

"Easier said than done," John commented.

"Well, it's not like we've got another choice," Damian grumbled. "We are dead either way."

"He is quite a gloomy one, ain't he?" Harley commented with an uncaring whistle. "Just like Batsy!" Jason died in laughter at that comment.

"We are about to face off against one of the most powerful beings in the universe and they are laughing without any care," Rachel said in disbelief.

"They are Goothamites, none of them are all there, you know?" John replied with a dry chuckle.

Rachel could only watch them in stunned silence. These people she did not know were willing to risk their lives to save their planet, while all she has ever done was run away from her problems. Looking at them, she felt hope bloom in her heart, she made a decision. She will finally face her father and trust her powers to get her through.

When he comes, she will be ready... they'll be ready!

Chapter Text

As they got prepared for was Damian took some time to take a breath, standing by the edge of the camp, simply taking in the scenery. 

"Horrible, right?" Rachel sighed behind him, Damian was not startled by her sudden appearance as he had already felt her approach. "Who would create such a wasteland?"

"I was thinking the opposite," Damian replied. "The way the light hit the sand making it reflect in a beautiful and passionate red, or how the debris gives out a certain dynamism and naturalness that you do not find in cities." He turned to look at the stunned Rachel. "There's always beauty to be found in even the scariest places, you just need to open yourself to look for it. My legacy was also supposed to be death and destruction, but I decided to do something about it. However, to move forward you need to embrace the past because no matter how horrifying it is, it's what made you who you are. From The Shadows was born a tight-knitted community, one that I swore to protect and guide to the light. What will you do with the legacy trigon will leave to you?"

Rachel could only gape at his poetic speech, having never seen things in that way before. "Have you ever considered doing art?" The words left her lips before she could stop them. 

"No, why?" Damian asked, looking at her strangely.

"I just thought that if someone who had lived through such a shitty life like you, can still find beauty in such a desolated place like this... then I can't wait to see what comes out of a paintbrush from him," she answered honestly. "maybe once all of this is over you should put down the sword and pick up a brush."

"Perception is the paintbrush. The reality, the canvas. You are the artist." Damian quoted, with a smile, keeping to himself that Rachel was finally starting to talk as if they were gonna win. "Maybe I should," he said with a coy smile.

"It's time," Red Hood called out because that's who was standing behind them, not Jason. 

As if a switch had been turned on, the smile vanished from Damian's lips and the one who was standing before them was the Demon Head, the new Oracle of Delphi: "Then let's get going. We've got a war to win."

"I can feel you daughter!" The booming voice of Trigon made them shiver, as the demon approached the camp. "You and your little friends can't hide from me. But let me make you an offer, if you stop running and join me, I'll make their deaths quick and painless."

"What a nice fella, that one," Harley drawled.

"Get into position, once he enters the camp he'll be incapable of using magic," Damian commanded, sending the group to scatter in teams of two: Ivy & Harley, Rachel & John, and Damian & Jason. As soon as Trigon stepped into the camp, Damian shouted: "Now!"

Ivy used her powers to summon plants and hold Trigon down, even without magic the demon was too strong and simply ripped the vines apart. However, it did give John enough time to place a powerful curse on him.

"Do you truly believe you humans can defeat me? Trigon?!" The demon barked a laugh. "I who is stronger than Darkseid?! Don't make me laugh!"

Rachel shivered in fear, but seeing the determination in her teammate's eyes gave her the comfort she needed. She took a step forward, out of her hiding spot, and faced her father. "We can! And we will defeat you! AZARATH METRION ZINTHOS!"

This time, alongside Ivy's vines, Rachel's magic surrounded Trigon, holding him down. While John sent curse after curse towards Trigon, Damian stepped out and rushed towards the demon. Damian used the magic and vines around Trigon as a stepping stone to climb up, so he could finish this battle off with a quick decapitation. However, he was not fast enough. Trigon roared, breaking out and attacking everything and everyone surrounding him. His raw strength made the camp, and Rachel and John's runes along with it, collapse in ruins.

"You punny humans, so stubborn," Trigon laughed, magic cracking around him. "You will pay for it!"

Rachel who had collapsed on the ground, with her teammates around her, stood on shaky legs, glaring at her father with red eyes, just like his: "No! You will! AZARATH METRION ZINTHOS!"

She received her father's magical attack with equal power, floating in the air with demonic eyes. "How?!" Trigon roared in shock. "You should not be this powerful!"

"Well this punny human knows a few tricks," John groaned, standing up with a victorious smile, as the rest stood around him glaring at the demon. "Leaching curse!"

"No!" Trigon growled, understanding that his power was being fed to his daughter. 

"Fuck yeah!" Chorused Harley and Jason, as Ivy used her plants as a trampoline for Damian.

"Mammon's Sword..." Trigon murmured incredulously, as he watched Damian approach. "It does not have enough power to kill me on its own!"

"It won't kill you, it will devour you," Damian promised him, voice steady, as he jumped from plant to plant. "And it possesses the power of the Lazarus Demon in it and the blood and magic of your daughter. Your fate had been sealed"

Trigon could not accept it, he knew it was true. He had underestimated them, and now they had the advantage. But he will not go down without one last victory. Chanting a powerful curse, directed at his bloodline, he died. Damian took off his head with one clean sweep before he could finish the curse. However, while the chanting was not finalized, enough was said for the dark magic to take hold of Rachel. As Damian landed on the ground and was swept into Jason's arms in celebration, Rachel collapsed on the ground screaming and holding her head in pain.

"Rachel!" John exclaimed, trying to get close but being zapped away by her uncontrolled magic.

"Witch-girl!" Harley tried to get close and help her, but Rachel pushed her down, eyes shining red, and bit her on the neck.

"Harley!" Ivy screamed in rage, trying to use her powers to attack Rachel after she saw her friend go limp, but the vines were burned by Rachel's magic.

"What the fuck is going on?!" Jason cursed, eyes wide open as they watched Rachel jump on Ivy and bite her as she had done with Harley.

"Did Trigon's siphoned power corrupt her?" Damian inquired, stepping in front of Jason while raising his sword. Such a show of protective care warmed Jason's heart.

"It can't be," John protested, as he limped towards them. "I protected her towards such side-effects."

"Well, something went wrong as she has gone fucking bonkers!" Jason shouted at the warlock while pointing at the witch. "She is acting like a fucking vampire, feeding on them!"

"Crazy... feeding..." John mumbled, watching as Rachel stopped attacking, but stayed crouched on the ground, the red leaving her eyes. "The Madness Curse, of course!"

"The what curse now?!" Jason snapped.

"It is an old and powerful curse, in a nutshell, one cursed a bloodline so they would need madness to survive," John explained.

"So in other words, go insane or die?" Damian asked, looking at Rachel with guilt.

Someone else that got the brunt of my rushed decisions... maybe, I should put the sword down and guide my people from behind the scenes, Damian thought sadly, lowering his sword. It seems that whenever I step into the field things go wrong.

"Normally yes, but it takes a long time for the chant to be made. trigon should have not had the time to complete it," John deduced.

"What does an uncompleted curse of this type entail for Rachel?" Damian asked, hopeful for good news.

"It means that while she might need madness to survive, she can obtain it from outside sources," John replied.

"So, she is a vampire, but instead of blood, she consumes the madness of other people?" Jason asked incredulously, before laughing. "We should take her to Arkham, she would make a much better job aiding the patients there than any other doctor working in that goddamn awful place!"

"Wait, so you decided to buy Arkham because of a comment Jason said while in a battle high?" Stephanie asked in disbelief, while the rest of the family was looking at Jason and Damian in stunned silence.

"I did warn you guys that we've gone through some shitty and really crazy shit!" Jason barked a laugh, ignoring their disbelief expressions.

They've truly had some crazy adventures... but they wouldn't change it for anything in the world. After all, that's how they got their family.

Chapter Text

"Looking good, akhi," Jason teased as he leaned against the door of Dick's room in the Wayne Manor. Though, maybe he should start thinking of it as Damian & Dick's room. "Gold and green are truly your colors."

They were both wearing Armani black suits, but while Damian's was accentuated with emerald-green details and a golden dress-shirt with an emerald-green tie, Jason's was accentuated with golden details and wore a ruby-red dress-shirt with a golden tie. One spell from Constantine and everyone, who does not know about the Lazarus Pits, will see Jason's eyes a deep sky-blue, the way they used to be. The whole Wayne-Zumarus family was getting ready at the Wayne Manor for the welcome back from the dead and engagement gala held to celebrate Jason and Roy. With the Queen family as special guests of honor.

"I'm not talking to you," Damian spoke without looking away from the mirror he was using to tie his tie. Jason strutted until he was behind him, and his image was reflected in the mirror. "Leave."

"I will not, akhi," Jason smirked. "Are you truly angry I kept it from you? Or that I was able to keep something from you?"

"You were able to keep it from me because I trusted you to be honest with me!" Damian snapped, glaring at Jason, which made the younger one flinch. That caused Damian to feel guilty, his glare softened, and turned around to face Jason, who was looking to the ground like a scolded little boy. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I honestly forgot," Jason confessed.

"How do you forget that you reunited the two Amazonian tribes without there being bloodshed! Or that you were one of the few men invited into Themyscira!" Damian exclaimed exasperated.

"Look! The Justice League was in outer space for a mission and you were in Markovia aiding the families of metahumans to settle down. There was a spike of a strange energy in Egypt, so Roy and I went to check it out." Jason began to explain. "None of us was expecting to find an alien princess there! Then she kissed me, because of course there's a specie out there that learns languages like that. Then Roy got angry because I did not push her away. But I was too stunned to do anything! Then we got captured by the Egyptian Amazonians and thrown into a cell where Bizzaro was. I honestly don't even recall how we ended up in Themyscira, or how I ended up aiding the two tribes to reconcile. By the end of it all, I was just too fucking relieved my relationship with Roy was saved. He was furious Kori had kissed me and I had allowed it." Jason sighed tiredly. "Then, when we came back we had the whole Gotham FIasco, and I had to keep the Pit Madness from controlling me before I killed... the Joker!" Jason growled, eyes shining green. "Then I had to gain confidence to come back to B... with kori having decided to stay in Themyscira with Artemis and Bizz leaving for Smallville, I had no one to remind me that I had not told you about the whole fiasco Egypt was."

"So, when they contacted you to join The Renegades, you just forgot that we were unaware of your connection?" Damian inquired in disbelief. "Only you Jason, only you," he shook his head, chuckling.

"Forgiven?" Jason gave him his best puppy eyes.

"Forgiven, akhi," Damian answered, hugging him.

"Am I interrupting something?" A hesitant voice asked from the door, there is a Gucci black suit with a white dress shirt and a red tie, stood Timothy Jackson Drake-Wayne.

"No, I'm already leaving, gotta find my fiance before he decides to escape," Jason chuckled, clapping Tim's shoulder as he left the room.

"Do you need something?" Damian asked uncomfortably. 

Out of all his siblings, the one he was more uncomfortable with was Timothy. Jason, Maya, Suren, and Rachell lived various life and death experiences with him. That served as a good ice-breaker and bonding experience. Richard and he were not siblings, but lovers. Sex is also a very good bonding activity. Cassandra and Damian had the shared experience of having been raised as an assassin, and wherever Cassandra goes Stephanie follows. Not to mention, the blonde has no filter and is very outgoing. Damian did nothing to befriend her, she did all the work. Then there's Timothy who is not very social, just like Damian, and the only common ground they found was art. Which normally would be awesome for Damian. However, Timothy was only interested in photography, the area of art Damian was the least interested in, and he only ever used it for its practicality, his stalking tendencies, not for the pure joy of art. So, the two of them were not able to bond. It does not mean their relationship was bad... just very uncomfortable.

"I would like to ask if I can join The Renegades. At least, until you guys finish with The Court of Spiders and The Ghost Dragons!" Tim asked him flustered, shocking Damian. "I graduated a year early, and everyone thinks I'm taking a sabbatical year before college. There are even talks of me following Bruce's steps to travel the world, via the Gotham Gazzette." He babbled nervously. "The Outsiders and Batman know I'm taking a year off, and gave me the ok. So... can I?"

It was then, when Timothy looked up, hope sparkling in his eyes, that Damian realized how young Timothy was. No matter how smart and mature he was, he was still an underage boy.

"Why?" Damian finally broke the silence, once he had gathered his thoughts.

"Because I need to grow, to evolve," Timothy told him solemnly. "Jason did so in the League and with The Renegades, Dick had the Young Justice and his solo time in Bludhaven before coming back to Gotham, the girls have The Birds of Prey and Black Canary. The Outsiders are a good team, they helped me gain independence, but..."

"You need a master to be able to evolve into something more," Damian interrupted him. "You'll leave Robin behind, just like your brother."

"It's time, I've outgrown it," Tim affirmed confidently.

"Ok... The Renegades' roaster has changed this year. You joining them won't affect the teamwork." Damian agreed, smiling when Timothy's face lit up in excitement. "They'll be based in Hong Kong and the Middle East for the whole year. Richard Dragon owes me a favor, I'll contact him to train you... if you don't mind I'll take your weapon training myself."

"Really?!" Timothy asked surprised. "You would do that for me?"

"Of course, you are family," Damian smiled at Timothy, gaining a beaming smile in return. "Have you chosen a new hero name already?"

"I was thinking of following Dick's example and annoying B while I'm on it," Timothy confessed, chuckling. "I chose Flamebird."

"Ha! That will do it," Damian laughed. "Another Bat wearing a Kryptonian name. I like it!"

Both brothers laughed, and for the first time since they met, they were completely comfortable in each other's presence. They got back to get ready and joined their family on their way to the Wayne Hall, a venue built over one hundred years in the Wayne State, built specifically for balls (fundraising galas nowadays), engagement parties, and wedding receptions. Which worked perfectly for this occasion. The Wayne Hall was located in the Wayne State but apart from the Wayne Manor, a red carpet was spread in front of the entrance, with various journalists waiting to interview the creme of the creme. The Waynes, the Zumarus, and the Queens got there together, and as expected it got the cameras going crazy.

The Wayne Family was not only rich, but they were also old money with noble blood from Europe running through their veins. They are a founding family of Gotham, the founding family. One of the only two still standing. Not only standing but strong, with the most powerful company in the world. So, it is not a stretch to say they were the royalty of America. Heck, if Gotham would ever have a king that would be Bruce Wayne. 

There is no denying it anymore. No matter how many front-page tabloids he makes for his playboy tendencies, there's no doubt that Bruce Wayne had brought the Wayne Family to its golden era. Taking a millionaire company to a billionaire one, and then to a trillionaire one. Making the Wayne name the most important one, not only in Gotham City but all over the world. While raising various children to become respected and famous members of the community. 

So, it was no surprise that the sudden resuscitation of his second son brought the world into chaos. Especially, his engagement to the heir of one of the richest men in the US. The gala to celebrate such an occasion was filled with the creme of the creme. Not only for Jason and Roy but also to see if the news were right. If Bruce Wayne's first son, Richard Grayson-Wayne, Chairman of the largest charity foundation, and playboy, was taken. 

Taken he was. Not by anyone, but by one of the most connected and famous artists out there. They did not take their eyes from the couple all night, analyzing and judging them behind their fake smiles. Searching for a weakness, for an opening to take advantage of. While fuming at not finding a single one, and secretly admitting that they looked good next to each other.

However, they were not the only ones observing the new couple.

"This is unbelievable, dude!" Wally murmured, as he leaned against a wall of the Wayne Hall.

The place was bursting with the elite of the elite, and almost every superhero and sidekick out there in their civilian identities. Though, it did not surprise the retired hero. This was, after all, the event to celebrate the return of a dead hero, the son of the founder of the Justice League, and the union of two heroes and sons of the richest men in the US.

"I can't believe he is alive... or that my sister has known about this and kept it a secret!" Artemis grumbled next to her husband. She glared at Jade, who was laughing with Jason, while their partners chatted beside them. "I mean... we all know how much his death meant to Dick. It broke him! How could she join us and claim to be a good now, while keeping this a secret!"

"It was Jason who kept it quiet," Jon corrected the blonde. "All Jade did was respect her teammate's privacy."

"He did go through a lot, we can't blame him for wanting to take time to process it in peace," Zatanna commented, coming to join the team after she had finished her magic performance.

"We should be glad for our friend and his family," Kaldur spoke, being the voice of reason like always, while his boyfriend stood next to him looking hot. "This is a miracle."

"Talking about miracles, I can't believe Dick has finally decided to get into a serious relationship," Wally commented, looking at his best friend, who was ballroom dancing with his new beau. A worldwide famous artist and violinist. "Ever since he and Babs broke up, he has been going from woman to woman, and he ended up with a guy. Since when does he like guys? Why did he not tell anyone?"

"Why did he not tell you?" Artemis interrupted her husband's rant with a gentle smile. "You know Dick, he likes to keep things close to his heart. He most likely simply thought we already knew, it's not like he hid his attraction to... anyone."

"He did say they only reunited recently," Kaldur reasoned. "All that there was before was attraction..."

"That's love, not just attraction," Conner scoffed bitterly, interrupting Kaldur. "It does not matter what lies Dick tells us and himself, he has been pinning over that artist for over half a decade."

The rest of the group did not say anything, knowing that this was hard for Conner. Seeing so many couples happy and in love, after Megan broke off their engagement and left for Mars, saying she had a duty to go and aid her home planet in her times of need.

"Guys! You came!" Dick finally approached them, stopping his act, as Damian's arm candy, to throw himself on them. "I'm so glad, you can finally meet Dami!"

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Damian greeted them from a polite distance while smiling fondly at his beloved, who was clinging to Wally. "Richard has told me so much about you."

'Richard?' Zatanna mouthed, grinning when she heard her friend purr like a cat.

"Well, he told us nothing about you," Wally grumbled, still gloomy about that fact.

Dick tensed in his friend's arms, his honest beaming smile turning into his show smile, as he stepped back and hide in his lover's arms. Damian wrapped one arm around his beloved's waist, his polite smile never leaving his face, but his eyes flashed with something akin to danger- making the young heroes tense in preparation for an attack.

"Maybe we should take this elsewhere," Wyynde advised nervously.

"Wonderful idea," Damian purred sophistically and seductively, tightening his hold on his beloved. "Let's leave the Wayne Hall for the Wayne Manor, it will be much quieter there." They followed him to the manor in silence, easily evading the journalists, and then down to the Batcave, which gained him various startled gasps. Once they were settled, Damian finally spoke again. "I'm Delphi."

"Wait... WHAT?!" Dick's friends exclaimed in shock.

Chapter Text

"Damian? What are you doing here?" Bruce asked his son, who was sitting on an armchair in the manor's grand library. "I noticed you guys leaving the party, but I did not find you in the Batcave."

"Sorry, I got an urgent phone call I had to take care of," the younger one apologized with a weak smile.

"Everything ok?" His father asked him concerned. "Does this has anything to do with your siblings leaving the ballroom in a rush and The Renegades that stayed being tensed for the rest of the party?"

"Did anyone notice that?" Damian inquired with a wince.

"No one, everyone thinks that the kids got bored, decided to move to the manor to rainsack my liquor cabinet and party," Bruce assured him with amusement. 

"Of course, they would," Damian chuckled drily. He took a deep breath and released it heavily. "Someone in my organization did something moraly questionable... it was not a crime! But it caused... a huge... issue..."

"I believe this is the first time I've seen you having trouble to find the right words to use," Bruce commented having a lot of fun, watching his son stumble with his words. "Are you trying to downplay the consequences of that moraly questionable action?" 

"Maybe..:" Damian evaded to answer the question directly. "But no innocent got hurt! So focus on that!"

"You won't tell me," his father stated, not asked- however, there was no anger or suspicion on his tone of voice.

"I won't tell the Justice League," his son corrected him. "I have my own duties as leader father, I won't betray the trust that they put on me. They could have hide it, instead they told me and trusted me to make it better."

"I understand," Bruce sighed, sitting on the sofa facing the armchair. "I would have done the same in your position."

"Thank you, father," Damian told him gratefully. "I thought you would push for more, at least, that's how Jason made you sound."

"Back then I would have, but I've changed," Bruce replied with a rusesome smile.

"You have," Damian agreed slowly. "I'm sorry."

"What for?" His father asked him confused.

"For keep bringing up the past as a way to measure your actions," his son answered. "I know what it is to change and others to keep on bringing your past. It takes from all the progress you've made."

"Thank you," Bruce answered in return.

"What for?" Damian echoed his father's previous question.

"For apologizing," Bruce explained. "It is hard to admit when you are wrong and to apologize. I appreciate the effort. But you are wrong on something."

"On what?" His son inquired curiously, finding it hilarious that once upon a time he would have tried to take off his head for daring to tell him he was wrong. 

"The actions and words of others do not take from your progress, unless you allow them," Bruce gave Damian fatherly advice with a gentle smile. "Now! Can you tell me what has the previous Young Justice League so hyped up?"

"I told them I was Delphi and then exited the Batcave to answer the mentioned phone call," Damian confessed smiling sheepishly, making his father chuckle. "I've got no idea what Richard has been telling them, but I believe I should be asking Alfred to prepare me a guest room."

"I don't think Dick will kick you out of your room for that," Bruce assured him in amusement. "I am sure that he knows how it is our line of work and he appreciates how far you are ready to go to aid him fix his friendships."

"I don't know what you mean," Damian evaded Burce's knowing look. "I simply thought it would be better for more people to know, this way working with other groups will go smoother."

"Talking about working with other, The Birds of Prey and Green Arrow want to take lead on the Brotherhood of the Fist case," Bruce told his son seriously, making him straighten up and pay careful attention. "I know that you placed it on the back at the moment, compared to the other cases they do not take priority. So, can you pass it to them?"

"You want also the information we possess on them," Damian pointed out, not missing the unsaid words. "Is it because of Connor Hawke?"

"You knew?!" Bruce exclaimed surprised. 

"Know, know, no," Damian answered. "But I guessed, I did not want to say anything until I was sure of it. Had no desire of turn Queen's world upside down by a son that might not even be his for all I know... but you've confirmed it for me." 

"Yes, he is his son," Bruce confirmed it. 

"I'll ask Cyborg to pass on all we have on them and our contacts, but you need to assure me that they will not put our contacts' lives in danger," Damian demanded seriously. "No explosion or fireworks, it needs to be a covert mission."

"I get it..." his father answered, but got interrupted by his son.

"I do not care if you get it, they need to get it!" Damian exclaimed. "The Bat Clan's missions are the most successful ones, with less destruction and loss of life than any of the other members of the Justice League. And most of youur Rogue Gallery love bombs and blowing Gotham up! What does that tell you about your partners?"

"I will make sure they get it," Bruce assured his son, eyes softening with tenderness and pride- his son was so caring. "Luckily, for us Black Canary is going to lead this mission, as Green Arrow is too invested. She is second, after me, when it comes to success and destruction rates."

"Good," his son sighed, leaning back on the sofa. "I'll have The Renegades be opened to aid them if needed and have the ONU approove of the mission, so they'll be under the umbrella of their protection."

"Thank you," his father smiled. "I am glad that Tim is going to be training under you and with The Renegades."

Damian turned his head to face his father and smiled: "That means a lot to me, father. I am also glad Tim chose me... I thought I was not doing right by him."

"No, sometimes you just need to find the right way to bond," Bruce waved his son's concernes away. "Training and missions seem to be your way. At least, untill you both create a bond and find another way." Bruce frowned when he noticed that his son's attention was on his phone. "Is something wrong?"

"I just got a notification from Cyborg, Superboy just asked him to put him in contact with Raven so he can join The Renegades," Damian answered his father. "Why would he want to do that?"

"I believe he wants to join the world, to stop hiding and joining The Renegades will give him the protection he needs... legal that is," Bruce deduced. 

"He also wants a change of pace," Dick's voice startled them both. They turned in synchrony to the library's door, where Richard was leaning against the frame- looking at them in amusement. "Our team makes him miss M'gann even more. He is finally ready to move on. I also asked him to keep an eye on Tim for me."

"Did things work out with your friends?" Damian asked him in concern.

"Yes, I told them what you told us back then. After that they could not find it in them to hold it against me, even by our standars your... adventures are wild," Dick explained, ignoring the affronted expression of his boyfriend when he called his missions, adventures. "They did not hold it against me for not being able to find the right words or explaining to them the situation before. They would have not been able to either."

"Well, I am glad my adventures helped you," Damian commented drily.

"No, pouting darling, you did abandon me down there on my own," Richard raised an eyebrow at his boyfriend, as he moved to sit on his lap.

"Got it, sir," Damian answered readily, earning a kiss from his boyfriend.

"Whipped," Bruce coughed jokingly, making his sons turnn to him stunned. "Was it unsensitive?" He asked them uncomfortably. 

Richard and Damian turned to each other with wide opened eyes, before bursting into laughter.

Batman making jokes, who would have thought?

But that was wrong, it was not Batman the one making jokes, but their dad.

And they were so glad.

Chapter Text

"How nice!" Richard moaned, enjoying the sun on his skin. That's something that he does not get to enjoy much as he lives in Gotham, the city's cloudy climate prevents him from enjoying the sun as he would like to. He was in Barcelona at the moment, being the date of his artist boyfriend as he has a art show in the city. "I should go to the pool tomorrow, I need the vitamine D."

"We will," Damian promised him. "We just need to work Friday night and then we are free, I have the whole week-end planned."

"No wonder Jason and Roy chose this city for their honeymoon! The art, the food, it's beautiful!" Dick praised the city. "By the way, Connor is finally is Star City and the Brotherhood of the Fist has been dealt with!"

Richard would have never spoken so freely of their night jobs outside of the Batcave, but they were in the Wayne Villa in Barcelona. Bruce made sure that it was secured and they had a small Batcave under it just in case of emergencies. So, he let himself relax. It's been a year since Richard and Damian met each other again, half a year since Jason and Roy had gotten married. It was the wedding of the century. Their dads made sure of that. 

Many changes came to happen during this last year. The Justice League ceased to see The Renegades and Delphi as their enemy and became allies. They still fought to mantain their freedom from any kind of goverment, to make sure that there will be a group which will still be standing in case the goverments get allied to keep the enhanced from fighting for justice. The Renegades understood that and respected their decision, but mantained the position that their organization was needed for those outcasts that wanted to rejoin society. Not everyone was as lucky as the members of the Justice League. 

Tim Drake took the name of Flamebird and joined The Renegades, taking down The Council of Spiders and The King Snake and his Ghost Dragons. Superboy joined him as well. Conner's welcome to the world was an easy one. Luthor was no longer in power (as he was dead) and his reputation was on the ground, with the added benefit of Superman supporting Superboy, the world welcomed him with open arms. Superboy became the symbol of prosperity between humans and kryptonians, a symbol of hope. Conner himself felt quite happy and hopeful during his time with The Renegades, as he was able to move past his break up with M'gann and find love again with Tim. 

It took the Wayne family by surprise when Tim came back home and their relationship was revealed. Clark was over the moon by the idea of being related to his best friend Batman. Bruce fell into depression by he idea of being related to Superman. The kids found it hilarious and took a lot of pictures for blackmail.

Clayface and Tigress replaced them in The Renegates.

One of the few ex-villains waiting to be reformed and rejoin society. 

"One issue dealt with, another waiting to be solved," Damian sighed. "Honestly, this list is endless!"

"Who are you putting your sights on next?" Richard asked curiously.

He normally stays out of his boyfriend's late night job, as Damian does the same. However, he saw said list by accident and got curious.

"I was planning on stopping Prometheus, who I've found out was planning on working with the Electrocutioner to cause mayhem in Star City. However, I made the mistake of passing on the information to Jason, so Red Hood, Arsenal, Red Arrow, and Cheshire ended up taking care of the issue while Green Arrow, Black Canary, and the Birds of Prey were dealing with the Brotherhood of the Fist. They are both now dead," Richard winced at the news. He might accept the way his boyfriend and brother deal with their missions, as they were not vigilantes and instead worked for the ONU. However, that did not mean he liked it when he heard that they killed someone. "The idiots thought of targetinng Lian."

"Bastards!" Dick cursed in rage, feeling less bad about the issue- the bastards targeted his niece!

"Yes... then there's the issue with the time traveler kryptonians. But Superman dealt with them with the aid of the Justice League and the Young Justice League," Damian continued with a deep sigh. "Their plan on releasing the Zod forces on Trombus and its red sun is a good one. There's no sentient population there and no tech."

"Ursula, the Emerald Empress, is still free," Richard pointed out. 

"But she is hiding, she might not even be on earth anymore," Damian pointed out. "She is a priority, don't take me wrong. However, we can't do anything now that the trail went cold. Not to mention, Superman is taking lead on that matter. They are his people after all."

"I get that, so what's your plan?" Dick inquired again. 

"The Untitled," Damian answered with a frown.

"Who are they?" Richard asked, concerned that he was unaware of an enemy that had his boyfriend so worried.

"I can't tell you," Damian winced guiltily. "The Renegades have an allie in a secret society called the All-Caste. They are good and mentored Jason in the art of fighting and magic."

"Little Wing knows magic?!" Dick was startled about his little brother being a magician. 

"Not magic the way Zatanna and Captain Marvel do," Damian corrected him. "His magic is focused on exorcizing demons and fighting The Untitled. The All-Caste are soon going to war against them, so we are joining them." Damian sighed. "I hate this. This world is a mess that never rests. After that we will be focusing on The Brotherhood of Evil," Damian added. "We will also be aiding Azrael and Batman take the Sacred Order of St. Dumas down. Of course, they will be taking the lead on that mission."

"That sound about right," Richard said, not liking the secrets but understanding them. "Good plan."

"Thanks," Damian turned to smile at his boyfriend, when their alarms rang... their night job alarms. They both looked at their phones stunned. An urgent convocation to the Satelite. "What do they want?" Damian inquired in confusion. Still the two of them rushed to the pseudo-Batcave to get into their costumes and teleport their via  Zeta-Tube. "What's going on?!" Delphi demanded to know as soon as he got there and watched the Justice League creating chaos in the meeting room. It was then that he noticed one fact. "I am the only member of The Renegaes summoned?"

"Flash traveled back in time from an apoplectic world where Darkseid conquered Earth and then proceeded to conquer the universe," Batman answered, because he was Batman right now, not Bruce Wayne.

"Shit!" Nightwing cursed.

The Justice League, Young Justice League, and Delphi watched as Barry speed-read the reports, trying to help clear up his mind from having two sets of memories melding into one.

"So... what's different?" Wally was the only one brave enough to break the ice and ask. 

"Bludhaven, Star City, and Coast City were not bombed and destroyed," Barry answered in shock.

"WHAT?!" Many heroes exclaimed startled, they were not expecting that.

"Roy was not cloned... three of them running around will take some time to get used to," Barry continued, ignoring them. "He was also dead... and so was Lian. Many of you were dead. You too Wally..."

"Barry..." Wally murmured heartbroken, as his uncle looked destroyed, struggling not to shed his tears.

"Lian?" Oliver went pale. That was his grandaughter the one Barry had mentioned. "She was dead?" Black Canary took his hand in support, Lian was their grandaughter.

"The Young Justice League never came to be, the various sidekicks got fed up with us and formed their own team. It was called The Titans, and Nightwing was their leader." Barry continued, as if he was possessed and could not stop himself. "The Renegades just never existed, the closests in my time were The Outlaws under Red Hood's leadership. Artemis of Bana Mighdall, Arsenal- the only Roy in my time-, Starfire, and Bizzaro, were the members of that team. I've never heard of Cheshire having a sister or about Kaldur'ahm! Hell, The Shadows were the Elite Team of the League of Assassins, no the whole thing! The Lazzarus Pits were not used by almost the whole league, they were of one use only, so Ra was super possessive of them."

"Lucky you! One use only... no wonder grandfather did not allow anyone else to use them," Delphi commented thoughtfully, gaining the whole attention of Barry, who had stopped frozen to stare at him with an expressionless face. "What?"

"You! You are all wrong!" Baarry shouted, slamming his open palms on the table.

"Hey! I take offense on that!" Delphi complained, as Batman, Nightwing, and Flamebird turned to glare at Flash in protectiveness.

"You were supposed to be a twelve years old assassin kid!" Barry did not pay them any attention and kept on going. "Yes, many of the ages are messed up, but by a couple of years only! Not over a decade! And Delphi! That was suppossed to be Oracle! Batgirl who was paralyzed by the Joker! Which did not happen!"

Everyone could only stare at Barry's ourburst in silence and overwhelming shock.

Well, almost everyone.

"The future is so messed up," Flamebird murmured, to his family's sillent nod. "I am so glad the Joker is dead now."

So am I, was what Batman thought but would never have the courage to say out loud.

"Red Hood was suppossed to be a crime lord overwhelmed with Pit Rage! Waller was supposed to be at our necks with Luthor's backing! J'onn was suppossed to be the last green martian!"

"WHAT?!" Martian Manhunter broke from his stunned silence to shout in worry. "What happened to my people?!"

However, Barry was not over.

"Where the hell is Supergirl?! I did not notice her in the files." 

"Who?" Superman asked confused.

"Kara-Zor El, your cousin," Barry answered. "Did she not land on Earth yet?"

The room went dead silent at that.

"WHAT?!"

Delphi stood back with his family and observed them all bicker and create even more chaos.

"Are you going to tell them that Raven already dealt with Darkseid?" Flamebird asked his brother silently, as he watched Flash being bombared with questions by Superman and Martian Manhunter.

"Soon, but it's not like they'll hear anything right now," Delphie replied absentmindedly. Then he paused. "WHAT?! How do you know abou that?!"

"Raven told me while I was in her team," Flamebird turned to his brother with a smirk, as Batman and Nightwing listened very interested by the conversation. "She told me that her brothers, from her father's side, were bithering her after you guys killed Trigon. They wanted to prove that they were the strongest being and what better way than by killing the slayer of Trigon."

"They considered Raven said slayer, it did not matter that I was the one who brandished the sword, I only managed so because of Raven," Delphi sighed. "They would never consider a human worth their time. So, they went to Raven and she told them that if they wanted to prove themselves worthy of battling her they needed to finish off someone as bad as their father... they chose to go to war against Darkseid..."

"W-what?" Nightwing stuttered shock. 

"We did not know that back then!" Delphi tried to defend himself and Raven. "The battles were daily and they were killing Raven, it did not matter that she won them all. She was tired and injured! She was just a little girl then, she still is! So, she said what she needed to have them leave. We found out why they were so silent during these years back by the engagement party of Jason and Roy."

"We are not blaming any of you," Batman assured him. "We were just shocked."

"Good," Delphi sighed. "Apokolips was destroyed by the war, killing everyone. Darkseid, Steppenwolf, Belial, Ruskoff, Suge, the parademons, various demons from hell, the world itself." Delphi shook his head in disbelief. "What we deduce is that Darkseid was angry at Trigon and his sons after Trigon killed Granny and his Elite Team. I believe that's why Darkseid was not focused on Earth. At least, not the way he was on Flash's timeline."

"That's good," Batman sighed. "That means we are safe from an invasion... at least from Darkseid."

He then headed towards his teammates to bring order to the chaos that is the Justice League... like he normally does. Flamebird followed, not before sending a wink to a scowling Delphi.

"So, crisis averted?" Nightwing turned to Delphi, still confused by what had just happened.

"There's always gonna be a crisis. But this one is over," Delphi corrected him. He then turned to look at his boyfriend and smiled. "But I will forever want to go through them with you."

"Me too," Nightwing smiled back with conviction.

It did not matter what the world threw at them they will handle it.

Together.