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Chapter Text

The chime of the bell above the door lightly sounded through the café and a cool burst of air announced the potential for an oncoming storm. Obi-Wan felt the familiar presence of both Luke and Leia, so entwined with each other, they could be difficult to separate. Obi-Wan hands stilled from where they were cleaning the counter, a third presence and soft steps followed behind the twins.

“Uncle Ben,” Luke’s voice called out, “can we have hot chocolate? Damian needs to have your hot chocolate, he says Pennyworth, his butler, makes the best, but he’s never had yours.”

Luke’s Force signature was bright, bubbling with excitement as Obi-Wan pushed through the kitchen door and into the café. A small hand immediately latched onto his wrist and Obi-Wan let Luke drag him forward towards the two dark heads sitting by the large front windows. Leia had claimed her usual wing-back chair, the soft pink upholstery muted over time and continued wear. The other dark head, hair closer to black than Leia’s brown, was standing at attention, green eyes sharp as the boy watched Luke pull Obi-Wan over. Obi-Wan smoothed Leia’s hair back, braids having come loose, as he gave a welcoming smile to the boy.

“Uncle Ben, this is Damian,” Leia straightened in her chair, “Damian, this is our Uncle Ben.”

“Who makes the best hot chocolate,” Luke interrupted with a grin.

“Damian goes to school with us,” Leia rolled on, glaring at her brother, “we have a project together for English.”

“Well,” Obi-Wan continued to smile, “welcome, Damian. Please, do not feel pressured to have hot chocolate if you do not want any.”

“Thank you, Mr. Kenobi,” Damian’s chin faintly dipped, voice stilted. Luke huffed, flopping onto the couch tucked against the wall, the bookshelves above shaking slightly.

“Would anyone like tea? Hot chocolate for you, Luke,” Obi-Wan moved back towards the café’s counter, “Damian, I assume your parents know you are here?”

Obi-Wan busied himself with setting the water to boil, pulling out Leia’s preferred tea and the ingredients for Luke’s hot chocolate.

“Yes, sir. Pennyworth will be here at five-thirty to retrieve me,” Damian stated.

Obi-Wan glanced back and smiled at the boy, his gaze catching Leia as she pulled out what he assumed was their English project.

“Sit, Damian,” Leia motioned to the remaining free chair situated around the coffee table.

Obi-Wan surreptitiously watched as Damian’s lip curled, eyes darting to the door, windows, and back of the café. Leia tapped her pencil on a blue notebook, eyebrows raised as Damian primly sat down. Obi-Wan plated some scones and gathered a couple of mugs.

“Will you need any help?” Obi-Wan set the mugs and scones down on the worn coffee table. Indignation rose in the Force and twin glares were his answer.

“Didn’t you know Uncle Ben,” Luke piped up, “they got paired together because they’re top two in the class. Number one and number two. Though, I don’t know who’s first right now.”

Luke trailed off and Obi-Wan could feel his mischief ripple through the Force. Leia’s face was scrunched, eyebrows furrowed as she fiercely stared at her brother. Her Force presence flared. Obi-Wan could see the verbal tirade rising. The smirk on Padme’s son’s face didn’t help matters.

Damian, if possible stiffened further. The boy’s Force presence coiled tightly, strained in its control. Obi-Wan shifted away from the duo, humming at finally being able to put a face to the, often, maligned nemesis Leia had declared some months ago.

“Luke,” Obi-Wan called, “come help me with your hot chocolate.”

Luke bounced up off the couch, grin firmly in place even as Leia reached out to slap her brother’s thigh. Obi-Wan sighed as he followed Luke back behind the counter, gaze trailing over Damian as the boy remained rigid in his chair.
As Obi-Wan began heating the chocolate, Luke chatted about his day, hands flitting around as he exclaimed over one story or another. Obi-Wan smiled at each story, Luke’s presence soothing and uplifting. Hot chocolate finished, Obi-Wan sent Luke off towards the back to start his own homework. He gathered the wooden tray and quietly brought the hot water and tea over to Leia and Damian.

Frustration clouded their Force presences. Leia’s electric and snapping, nothing unusual as far as Obi-Wan was concerned. The simmering heat of Damian though, felt far too much like burning rock. Caustic and relentless.

“Interesting project?” Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow as Leia reached for the hot water and tea.

“It’s punishment,” Leia grumbled, spoon clinking loudly against the side of her mug.

“I don’t believe your teacher handed out a midterm project as punishment,” Obi-Wan mused, gaze landing on Damian.

“The partnership is the punishment,” Damian’s polished voice sneered.

Leia’s Force presence surged, crackling along the edges of Obi-Wan. He gave her a mental tap, warmth and calm infusing the reprimand. Leia took a breath and visibly collected herself, glare still firmly in place as she stared the boy down.

“Do you think, you cannot learn something from one another?” Obi-Wan looked between the two glowering faces.

“You sound like Pennyworth,” Damian muttered, eyes fixed on the tea.

“He must be a most esteemed gentleman,” Obi-Wan smiled, “to have such wisdom and the ability to excel at hot chocolate.”

Leia snorted as Damian’s head snapped up, lip curled even as his tan skin reddened. Obi-Wan watched, amused, as the boy visibly held his tongue, chin jutted as he looked back at his textbooks. Obi-Wan gave Leia a look, prodding her in the Force. With a sigh, Leia reached for Damian’s mug and the hot water.

“I can serve myself,” Damian snapped, hands reaching out to snatch the mug back. Leia let the mug go with a huff, body falling back against the pink velvet of her chair.

The bell above the door jingled. Obi-Wan, with one last tap to his and Leia’s bond, turned and smiled at the elderly couple before moving to the counter.

****

Damian placed the empty mug back on the tray Mr. Kenobi had placed in the center of the shabby table. Leia Kenobi eyed him over the brim of her steaming mug, dark brows furrowed. Damian was loathe to admit Leia Kenobi actually held some intellect. Since her arrival at Gotham Academy months prior they had been in a battle of wits in all their shared classes. Which was every major class, except art and what passed for physical education. They were Damian’s only reprieve from the girl. Now the unthinkable had happened, Damian was paired with the very bane of his American educational existence.

“Shall we get started?” Leia arched an eyebrow, hands shuffling through her precisely organized notes.

Damian’s lip curled as he opened his notebook, pulling out their mid-term assignment. It was drivel, and did not require the need for a partner. A slow tapping grated on his ears. Damian’s fingers twitched as Leia Kenobi’s pencil drummed against her notebook. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as he kept his attention on their assignment, feigning interest. The tapping abruptly stopped. Damian caught Leia’s dark eyes flicker over to the counter where Mr. Kenobi was tending to the elderly couple. The girl sighed and set her pencil down. Damian watched as blue-grey eyes slid away from Leia, landing unerringly on Damian. He straightened, skin tingling.

“Perhaps we should just divide the work and then come back together,” Leia muttered, dragging Damian’s attention back to her.

Damian blinked, it was a sound idea. He was sure their teacher would never know. Pennyworth on the other hand would most certainly find out and not approve. The butler had been pleased when he heard of Damian’s predicament. Not that the man showed it. But, Damian knew.

“I do not believe Pennyworth would accept that,” Damian grudgingly admitted.

“Huh,” Leia sighed, eyes trailing back towards the counter, “you actually have a point.”

The admittance silenced Damian. He shrewdly studied the girl in front of him, head slightly tilted.

“I’ve been complaining about you enough,” Leia smirked, unrepentant, “Uncle Ben definitely sees this as something I deserve.”

“I don’t see what you would have to complain about,” Damian retorted through gritted teeth.

The bell chimed again. Damian watched Leia Kenobi’s face smooth out, dark eyes widen with happiness.

“Hey Mr. Kenobi,” a gruff voice called from behind Damian. A familiar voice. Deep and tainted with an atrocious Gotham accent. Damian kept his gazed locked on Leia Kenobi, shoulders rigid.

“Jason,” Mr. Kenobi’s accented voice was warm, happy as Damian heard feet shuffle across the floor, “how lovely to see you.”

“Good to see you too,” Jason responded from behind Damian.

Damian twitched at the genuine fondness lacing through the older vigilante’s voice. He’d only ever heard that tone directed at Pennyworth when the two thought they were alone. Damian shifted slightly, head down and eyes averted, watching Todd as he stepped back and held the door for the elderly couple, their hands full of pastry boxes. Todd smiled as the couple thanked him, shoulders easing as Kenobi stopped next to him, giving the couple his own soft goodbye.

“Where have you been?” Leia’s demand jarred Damian, his attention shifting to his classmate, momentarily confused.

“You worried, Princess?” Todd’s deep chuckle sounded over Damian’s shoulder, “or did you just miss me that much?”

“Please, Luke’s been complaining,” Leia crossed her arms, chin raised, “you haven’t been here to toss him around, he’s actually had to do homework.”

Todd snorted, Damian scowled at the amused sound. A shift of clothes and Todd rounded Damian’s chair, flopping down on the couch, books rattling behind him. Damian met those sharp eyes and lazy smirk with a glacial stare of his own.

“This the kid that’s been giving you a hard time?” Todd flicked his hand towards Damian, head lolling against the couch to look at Leia.

Leia sniffed, lips quirked as Damian gripped the arms of his chair, knuckles white.

“Their teacher has saw fit to have them complete a project,” Mr. Kenobi set down an additional mug and a cinnamon bun, “as partners.”

A low whistle echoed through the café and Leia promptly hurled a pillow at Todd’s face. An action Damian completely agreed with, even if the insufferable man just laughed.

“I’d say ‘nice to meet you’, but from what this one says,” Todd jerked his thumb at Leia, smirk firmly in place, “it’s probably not.”

“It’s rude to speak poorly about people behind their backs,” Damian snapped, body thrumming with annoyance.

“You are quite right, Damian,” Mr. Kenobi disappointed gaze fell on Leia, the girl squirmed in her seat.

“Right,” Todd drawled, “and I’m sure you’ve never said anything cruel about someone behind there back,” Todd cocked his head towards Leia, “Damian Wayne, was it?”

Damian ground his teeth together, a sharp retort on his tongue as Todd’s smirk grew. A cry of Todd’s name boomed through the café, cutting Damian off. Blonde hair and tan skin slammed into Todd moments later, the bookshelf rattling dangerously.

“Heya squirt,” Todd laughed as Luke Kenobi rubbed his face into the vigilante’s shoulder.

****

Obi-Wan smiled softly as he watched Luke babble away, hands firmly clutched in Jason’s worn leather jacket. Jason’s Force presence exuded exasperated fondness. A drastic difference from the antagonistic suspicion of his interactions with Damian Wayne. Obi-Wan suspected the two dark haired boys knew each other in some manner. Though, clearly not a positive one. Another piece to the mystery that was Jason, Obi-Wan mused, fingers stroking his beard.

Luke’s whole-hearted laughter distracted Obi-Wan from his thoughts. He looked up in time to see Jason toss Luke over his shoulder and stand from the couch, passing Leia, whose eyes were bright with laughter of her own. The Force swelled and bubbled with warmth. Luke and Leia’s presence suffusing Obi-Wan with their light. It would have drowned out the curdled astonishment of Damian had Obi-Wan not been looking for the boy’s reaction. Sharp green eyes were wide, mouth drawn in a thin line as the laughter continued towards the back of the café. Obi-Wan’s gaze flickered to Jason’s retreating back, Luke red-faced from where he was thrown over a broad shoulder.

“Ridiculous,” Leia snorted as she settled back in her chair.

“You seem to know him well,” Damian leaned over his notes and Obi-Wan watched him casually flip open a book, anticipation humming in the Force.

Obi-Wan hid a smile at the attempted disinterest. Leia had no such issues, gaze unerringly leveled on Damian with a raised brow.

“Obviously,” she drawled, “considering he helped me and Luke get into Gotham Academy.”

Silence descended. Obi-Wan watched the color rise to Damian’s face, a splotchy red.

“That miscreant is the reason I have to deal with you?!” Damian exclaimed shooting up from his seat. The Force swirled with sharp indignation.

“He, also, did stop a robbery,” Leia continued on, flippant, “which was how Uncle Ben met him.”

Damian’s nostrils flared, mouth agape where he stood. The Force roiled with a multitude of emotions, Leia’s brows pinched at the onslaught. Obi-Wan reached out to her presence and helped strengthen her shields. He felt Luke a moment later, nervous as he reached out to Obi-Wan and Leia.

“Oh please,” Jason’s deep voice echoed through the café a moment later, “the robber was a kid with a knife he barely knew how to hold. Also, didn’t you hire him?”

Jason stopped by Obi-Wan’s side, Luke hanging from his neck and back like a particularly large leech. Obi-Wan brushed against the small sun that was Luke’s Force signature. The boy dropped from Jason and made his way back to the couch.

“Jeremy,” Obi-Wan acknowledged, “he assists on the weekends with the morning baking and some custodial work.”

“See,” Jason shrugged his shoulders, “it all worked out.”

“I’ll say, we got Jason out of it,” Luke cheered and Leia grinned, nodding.

Obi-Wan smiled at the twin’s joy. It was indeed the best possible outcome, thank the Force.

Chapter Text

Todd blushed, actually blushed, at Luke Kenobi’s statement.  Damian could not believe the estranged vigilante had been visiting the Kenobi’s for months and none of the so-called, “detectives”, in Damian’s family knew about it.  He didn’t know about it.  It was infuriating.  Not that Damian cared to know about Todd’s day to day activities, unlike Father.  Damian’s eyes narrowed as he studied his alleged legally adopted brother.  The tension Todd always held was muted.  Even with Damian standing there Todd was relaxed in a way Damian never saw. 

“So, he just stayed around like a stray to take pity upon?” Damian sneered, crossing his arms as Leia rounded on him. Todd’s eyebrows furrowed, eyes hard as his jacket creaked, shoulders rolling.

“How dare you, who do you think—,” Leia was cut off by Mr. Kenobi’s hand landing on the girl’s shoulder.

“I believe it is about time you got back to work,” Mr. Kenobi raised an eyebrow, “your project will neither start nor finish itself.”

“I was just stopping in anyways,” Todd stuffed his hands in his jacket, “wanted to make sure everyone’s week went alright.”

Leia breathed out, visibly centered herself as Damian slowly lowered himself back into his chair, intent on ignoring both her and Todd.

“You’re not staying?” Luke whined as Damian kept his eyes on his notebook, “you always stay for Friday dinner.”

“I do not,” Todd said, Damian could hear the exasperated smile, “I’ve been to a handful at most.”

Damian’s gaze shifted to Todd.  That was five more than he’d been to at the Manor in the past six months.  Even with Pennyworth’s invitations.  What made the Kenobi’s so worth Todd’s attention?  Damian tilted his head, watched as Todd gave Luke a hug which seemed more of a chokehold, much to Luke’s clear amusement.  Leia received a flourished bow, Damian rolled his eyes at the snort that escaped from Leia.  

“I trust you will come by soon,” Mr. Kenobi walked with Todd back to the door, the bell jingled and Damian missed Todd’s response. 

“He left because of you,” Leia’s jaw clenched, throat working as she stared Damian down from where she stood before him.  Damian’s fists tightened, lips curling in a sneer at the audacity of the girl before him.

“Leia,” Mr. Kenobi’s voice was firm, “Jason left for his own reasons under his own power.”

“But, Damian was being unnecessarily mean,” Leia’s shoulders drooped.

Mr. Kenobi hummed.  Damian’s attention flickered back and forth between the pair.  They held each other’s gaze for a long moment, something unspoked passing between the two, a conversation which left Damian floundering. With a nod, Leia turned back to their project, subdued.  Damian followed suit, content to ignore the constant looming shade that seemed to be Jason Todd.

****

“Uncle Ben,” Luke’s voice was soft, hesitant as he stepped behind the dark wood counter.  His Force presence curling with uncertain curiosity.  Obi-Wan reached out, softly wrapping Luke in his own presence, encouraging the boy to speak. 

“They know each other,” Luke mumbled, blue eyes shifting to where Leia and Damian were.

“Jason and Damian,” Luke continued, as if Obi-Wan needed clarification.

“I suspect so, yes,” Obi-Wan nodded, attention fixed on Luke, “what did you feel from them?”

Luke’s chin dipped, blonde hair brushing against his forehead, across his eyes.  It was getting long again, Obi-Wan would have to ask if he wanted it cut.

“Damian’s presence burns hot, like a dry hot,” Luke mumbled, “for all that he has that imperious face thing going on, which fools no one.”

Obi-Wan’s lips twitched, barely restraining from leaking his amusement into the Force.  It seemed Damian Wayne would not be fooling the Naberrie-Skywalker twins anytime soon.  Still, a smile flitted across Luke’s face, catching Obi-Wan’s humor.

“Burning rock,” Obi-Wan agreed as Luke nodded along, eyes bright.

“He’s always angry, even at school, it hasn’t been any different,” Luke hedged, “maybe more annoyed now that he and Leia are forced to work together, but Leia feels like that too.”

Obi-Wan nodded, he felt the same from Leia as well.  Annoyance surging anytime Damian so much as spoke.  It did not surprise Obi-Wan, not when she spoke so vehemently about the boy since the twins transferred to Gotham Academy.  Obi-Wan had thought, had feared, when Leia first came home livid from her first interaction with Damian Wayne that her anger towards the boy would take root and fester.  Each day had proven him wrong.

“He was shocked to see Jason,” Luke continued, “like his burning Force presence was absolutely drenched for a moment.  Cold with shock."

Obi-Wan nodded, the sudden lack of heat from the boy was jarring.  It had made him seem small, much more his age and all the uncertainty that came with it.

“Then, boom,” Luke’s fingers spread, voice puffing, “it was like that video we watched on the churning magma in the volcano and all the crazy gases that mix together.”

“Volatile,” Obi-Wan guided, Luke affirmatively shook his head.

“Yeah, but he still had that face,” Luke’s face pulled, what Obi-Wan assumed, was an impression of Damian.

“Some people learn from a young age to wear a mask,” Obi-Wan’s hand rested on the juncture between Luke’s neck and shoulder, “they can be helpful when you are older.”

“Sounds like a lot of work,” Luke grumbled.

 “You do not have a mask, Luke,” Obi-Wan smiled, squeezing his shoulder.

“Leia does,” Luke rolled his eyes, “all imperial, which is probably why Jason calls her ‘princess’.”    

Obi-Wan couldn’t help but privately agree.  He had no idea where her attitude came from.  Obi-Wan didn’t think traits like that could be inherited.

“Jason doesn’t have a mask,” Luke arched an eyebrow, “you always know what he’s thinking, thankfully.”

Obi-Wan’s attention shifted back to Damian, the boy’s presence banked.  Luke was correct, to an extent.  Obi-Wan too was grateful for Jason’s expressive face.  For Jason felt unlike anything Obi-Wan has experienced before.  Vast and charged, with seemingly no borders. 

The night they met, Jason assumed it was the robbery which frazzled Obi-Wan, but no.  It was Jason and his presence.  He had been standing before Obi-Wan, eyes alight with concern, voice deep and smooth with reassurance.  Steady and kind. 

Yet, his presence was sprawling.  Warped and rolling in tune with the currents of Gotham.  It had taken Obi-Wan more than a moment to separate the two.  The Force connected all throughout space and time.  Some beings intrinsically linked with bonds stronger than beskar.  While Gotham City thrummed with chaos and hope, Jason breathed in time with it.

At times, Obi-Wan wondered what the boundaries of Jason’s Force presence were.  Obi-Wan grimaced, after all, how much could one person contain? 

He had been unsure of the impact Jason would have on the twins.  The two so naturally gifted and strong in the Force.  But if anything, their minds eased around Jason.  The constant alertness which seemed to characterize their interactions with everyone they met melted away.      

Obi-Wan knew it was because they have never been around other Force sensitives besides himself.  Their understanding of the Force was vastly different from Obi-Wan’s own.  The Force itself was vastly different here, on Earth.  They didn’t understand and Obi-Wan could not explain how Jason’s Force presence was not just abnormal, but unheard of.  Even if the Force and its teachings manifested differently on this world.  

“Still, how could they know each other?” Luke’s question brought Obi-Wan’s attention back to the boy.  The Force unfurled around them with anticipation.  Obi-Wan withheld a sigh as Luke’s face brightened with curiosity.  

“It is possible Jason played the hero to Damian as well,” Obi-Wan hummed, even though he knew the words to be false.  The young man certainly was capable of it as Obi-Wan could attest to, but both he and Luke knew it was something more than that.

****

Damian’s phone vibrated, a quick glance showed a message from Pennyworth announcing his imminent arrival.  Damian restrained from sighing in relief.  They achieved as much as required, hopefully it would be enough, and Damian could finish his portion of the project on his own.  He methodically packed his supplies back into his school bag, ready for the moment Pennyworth pulled up to the curb.

“Damian,” Mr. Kenobi’s placid tone made him scowl, “would you invite Mr. Pennyworth in for a moment?”

With a sharp nod, Damian quickly typed the request to Pennyworth.  He knew the man would not refuse, Pennyworth’s manners would never allow for it.  Damian settled back into the chair, Leia across from him, brow furrowed as she continued to work on their project.  Luke had disappeared to the back some time ago, quiet as he supposedly finished the homework Todd had interrupted.  The tinkle of the café’s bell sounded moments later.

“Good evening,” Pennyworth’s smooth voice was a welcome relief.  Damian stood and made his way over to the butler’s side.

“Mr. Pennyworth, is it?” Mr. Kenobi rounded the counter, “good evening, thank you for stopping in.”

“Pennyworth,” Damian interjected, “this is Mr. Kenobi.”

“Of course, Mr. Kenobi,” Pennyworth dipped his chin, “you have a charming establishment, I will have to come by for a spot of tea in the future.”

“That would be lovely,” Kenobi’s lips quirked, “I’m sure Leia would enjoy seeing a classmate outside of school.”

Damian inhaled, the sharp sound drowned out by Leia Kenobi’s outraged exclamation from her seat.

“Well then,” Pennyworth nodded, eyes studying the girl who had rounded her chair, “that must make you Leia Kenobi.”

Irate brown eyes landed on Pennyworth, lips barely attempting a civil smile in greeting.

“I must insist you join us at Wayne Manor next week to work on your project,” Pennyworth said, stern gaze landing on Damian. 

“I do not believe that will be necessary, Pennyworth,” Damian immediately refuted, Leia’s dark head bobbing in agreement.

“Nonsense,” Pennyworth continued, “you Father received your assignment and believes, as I do, that this project requires your upmost attention.”

Damian seethed, fists clenched by his thighs.  He could see the amusement behind Pennyworth’s placid gaze.  Damian knew Father said no such thing.  His interest in Damian’s schooling extended to calls from the administration and nothing less.  It would be more believable if it were Grayson, Pennyworth was speaking about.  Dread creeped up Damian’s spine.  He hoped Grayson never caught wind of Damian’s assigned partner.  Damian was sure the older man would stop at nothing to set up hangouts with Leia Kenobi.

“Come along, Master Damian,” Pennyworth’s voice dragged Damian out of his thoughts, “we shall set a date after I speak with Master Bruce.”

Damian’s gaze slipped to where Leia stood beside Kenobi, drooped shoulders and a scowl on the girl’s face.  Pennyworth cleared his throat.

“Have a good evening, Mr. Kenobi,” Damian nodded.

“You as well Damian,” Mr. Kenobi smiled, “Mr. Pennyworth.”

“Mr. Kenobi,” Pennyworth nodded back, “Miss Kenobi.”

The bell chimed loudly as the door rattled and Damian stepped quickly outside and into the waiting car.

He caught Pennyworth’s sharp look through the window as the man made his way to the driver’s seat.  Warmth suffused the car as it rumbled and Pennyworth pulled smoothly onto the quiet side street.  The silence lasted until they exited the city proper.  Grey buildings giving way to the green of Bristol’s trees and shrubs.  Damian shifted on the car’s plush seat, fingers knotted in his lap.

“You seem distraught, more than I expected you to be, Master Damian,” Pennyworth’s voice was soft from the driver’s seat, “if the project is distressing you this much, we can speak with your teacher.”

“That will be unnecessary,” Damian grumbled, “I will not fail this assignment just because I do not wish to be partnered with Leia Kenobi.”

“Then what, may I ask, is pressing on your mind?” Pennyworth’s eyes caught his in the rearview mirror.

“I saw Todd today,” Damian said as Pennyworth’s bushy eyebrows rose in the mirror, “he knows the Kenobi’s. Apparently, he has even been having dinner with them.”

Pennyworth would not be so crass as to startle, but the quick widening of his eyes told Damian all he needed to know.  Todd had truly been visiting the Kenobi’s’ with no one the wiser. 

Chapter Text

Jason did not want to go back to Kenobi’s café, at least, not so soon after seeing Damian there.  But Mondays were terrible no matter what profession you held and Obi-Wan’s tea made the day, just a bit, better.  Jason couldn’t complain about the older man’s company either.  He was kind.  For all he seemed beaten down, tired, and not just in the guardian of two kids’ kind of way.  Jason pulled the collar of his jacket closer, the wind biting as he turned the corner to the café.  The street was silent in the early dawn light of another brisk Monday morning.  Calm as Gotham’s nightlife finally turned in and the day had yet to begin.  He had stashed his helmet and various obvious weapons in the safe house on the corner he just turned.  It was a recent acquisition.  One Jason seemed to be making more and more permanent.  Homier.  If the new bedframe he just bought was anything to go by.

Soft light glowed through glass windows as Jason pulled out a key and pushed through the door.  The bell overhead jingling as the rich smell of coffee, baked bread, and pastries swamped him.  It was quiet this early in the morning.  Jason breathed in and thawed out in the glowing warmth of the café.  He flipped the lock and made his way towards the kitchen at the back, following the mouthwatering aroma of baking bread. 

“Good morning to you, Jason,” Obi-Wan’s voice was soft from where he stood at the counter, “or should I be saying ‘goodnight’?  Have you been to bed yet?”

Jason huffed as he stepped up to the sink, thoroughly scrubbing his hands.  He turned to Kenobi a moment later, the man stepping aside to let Jason take over rolling dough.  They worked in silence, Jason’s body slowly relaxing, his brain calming with the repetitive motion of kneading dough.  He rolled out various pieces, and applied the sweet glaze before Obi-Wan dropped a tub of Nutella next to him.  Jason smirked and started knotting the bread, spreading Nutella in between the twisted layers.

“You will be taking one home,” Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, chin dipping towards the knots in the oven.

“Just one?” Jason smirked.

“If I could talk you into talking more, you would be,” Obi-Wan shook his head and headed out into the café.

“I do what I want,” Jason’s smile grew, eyebrows waggling.

“That much is rather obvious,” Obi-Wan chuckled as he pulled out a kettle and a pair of mugs.  Jason slid onto a stool at the counter as the water boiled. 

“You should go sleep,” Kenobi’s voice was low as he pulled items and set them on the counter and in cases.

Jason’s eyes strayed, followed calloused hands as they worked.  His body tingled, smarted where bruises were forming.  The cut he wrapped earlier was bleeding.  He could feel it, blood trickling down his hip.  A goon had got a lucky shot as he had turned to engage.  It was stupid.  An annoyance.

“And miss our Monday hangouts,” Jason cocked his head, “I don’t think so.”

The kettle whistle blew.  Kenobi turned after giving Jason a long look as dawn peeked through the windows.   

****

The afternoon sun peeked through the clouds and Luke felt his mouth drop as his head tilted back, gaze skipping over the massive stone manor in front of him.  He should have expected this.  He should have expected this just based on Damian’s personality, never mind the fancy car that picked them up from Gotham Academy.  Luke’s head flopped to the side, wide eyes landing on Leia.  Leia, whose lips were pursed as he felt her displeasure ripple in the Force.  Smug satisfaction curled around Damian, a small smirk playing on his classmate’s lips.  Luke snapped his mouth shut.

“Welcome to Wayne Manor,” Mr. Pennyworth held the intricately carved wooden door open as Luke and Leia shuffled through.

Damian sauntered past them into the foyer.  Luke was pretty sure that’s what the room they were in was called.  The dark haired boy slipped off his coat, Mr. Pennyworth taking it from unconcerned hands.  Luke shifted where he stood, fingers rubbing against the edge of his jacket, nails catching on the bottom of his zipper. 

“Young Mr. Kenobi,” Mr. Pennyworth’s gloved hand was in front of Luke.

“You can call me Luke,” Luke blurted out.  He quickly shrugged out of his jacket, Mr. Pennyworth draping it over his arm along with Damian’s and Leia’s purple marshmallow monstrosity.

“You can call me Leia, as well, Mr. Pennyworth,” Leia smiled at the older man. 

“Then I am, Alfred,” Mr. Pennyworth gave Luke a gentle smile.  Luke glanced over at Leia, eyes wide and unsure.

Annoyance trickled through the Force, drawing Luke’s attention to Damian.  Green eyes were narrowed as they surveyed Luke.  A rapid knocking sounded through the foyer.  Leia turned toward the door, Luke a moment behind barely catching Damian’s eyes lighting up.  The dull thud on wood continued as Mr. Pennyworth smoothed out his frown and opened the heavy door. 

“Good afternoon Mr. Pennyworth,” a cheery voice echoed through the doorway. 

“Master Jon,” Mr. Pennyworth’s steady Force presence flared with surprise and weary warmth.

Mr. Pennyworth stepped aside as a kid stumbled through the door frame, dark haired and gangly.  An incandescent warmth immediately suffused the Force.  Luke glanced over at Leia, his sister’s dark eyes wide and cheeks flushed.  Luke could feel his own face warming as the kid bound over and promptly hugged Damian.  Leia’s shock in the Force almost covered the kid’s warmth. 

“What an unexpected surprise,” Mr. Pennyworth’s sharp eyes landed on Damian. 

“Dad just dropped me off,” the kid smiled wide up at Mr. Pennyworth from where he stood shoulder to shoulder with Damian.

“Without even deigning to say ‘hello’?” Mr. Pennyworth arched a bushy eyebrow.

“He has to get to work,” the kid stuttered, ears turning red, “got a story to write, you know.”

Luke could feel the lie curling through the Force.  A lie, Mr. Pennyworth could clearly see on the kid, Jon’s, face.  Or maybe it was Damian’s unsubtle raised chin, as if daring Mr. Pennyworth to scold him.  Luke exchanged a look with Leia, Force presence brushing against his sister’s irritated one. 

“I suppose this is rather fortunate,” Mr. Pennyworth hummed, “after all, Master Damian and Miss Leia have a project to work on and Mr. Luke will need someone to occupy his time.”

“That won’t be necessary, Pennyworth,” Damian cut in, “The Kenobi’s can be taken home while I entertain Kent. We can work on our project separately.”

“Nonsense, Master Damian,” Mr. Pennyworth’s voice was sharp, stern as he studied the other boys, “this is a splendid opportunity to foster friendships.”

“Now, if you would escort Miss Leia to the library, I will be in with tea shortly,” Mr. Pennyworth stared Damian down until the boy huffed, marching away.  Leia shot Luke a curious look, nudging him in the Force.  Luke poked back, he’d find out what he could. 

“Master Jon,” Mr. Pennyworth smiled, “feel free to show Luke the Game Room and the snacks in the kitchen if either of you are hungry.”

“Sure thing, Mr. Pennyworth,” Jon nodded, a strained smile plastered on his face. 

****

“That ploy with your friend wasn’t subtle,” Leia Kenobi huffed, books and notes stacked carefully on the library table. 

“And how’d he get here anyways? Was he just hiding somewhere, waiting?” Leia’s fingers drummed on the wood, dark eyes fixed on Damian.

“His father dropped him off, as he said,” Damian sneered.

“I did not hear any car pull up,” Leia’s stated, skeptical as she eyed Damian.

“Please,” Damian scoffed, dropping into the seat across from her, “as if our walls could not block out the sound of a vehicle.”

Damian ignored the dark eyed glare leveled at him.  He was annoyed enough as it was, he didn’t need Leia Kenobi’s judgement.  Damian knew the plan had a low chance of success, but Jon was willing to give it a try, for Damian’s sake.  The half-Kryptonian was probably just tired of hearing Damian rage against the injustice of this school project.  Damian grit his teeth, knuckles tight around his pencil.  He should have known Pennyworth would require Jon to stay.  It wasn’t as if the alien could be called to pick Jon up and Jon could not leave just yet, not as how he arrived.  Damian breathed in deeply, forcing his fingers to relax, his shoulders to loosen. 

“He seems nice,” Damian looked up at Leia’s soft words.

“He’s utterly ridiculous,” Damian rolled his eyes.

“He’ll get along with Luke then,” Leia chuckled, eyes bright. 

****

The bright eyed, dark haired boy next to Luke was awesome.  Blindingly bright in the Force.  Pulsing with untapped power like Luke had never experienced.  So different from Leia or Uncle Obi-Wan, whose Force presence Luke could sense connected directly to the Force itself.  As all Force-sensitives could, at least, according to Uncle Obi-Wan.  Luke wished Leia could be roaming the halls with them, Jon was so different from Damian, from Jason.  He was fun, light, and carefree.  Luke half expected the boy to just float away. 

They had made their way upstairs, something Luke was positive wasn’t allowed based on the bubbling uncertainty in the Force.  But, Luke wasn’t going to ask.  He’d take any chance to explore the massive home.  A home that echoed with generations of imprints in the Force, tickling in their familiarity.

“I’ve gotta check out something in Damian’s room real quick,” Jon shuffled quickly down a hall, bright blue eyes glancing back at Luke every few steps.

Luke smiled every time he caught the other boy’s eyes.  Jon was quick to smile back and finally slowed to let Luke walk next to him.  The Force swirled around them, content and warm with a slight hum of anticipation.  A feeling that was getting more obvious as they turned down another hall.  It seemed to be pushing Luke towards a door.  Luke skipped forward, hand reaching out to the knob as they passed in front of it. 

“Whoa,” Jon latched onto Luke’s wrist, yanking him back.  Luke stumbled, catching himself as he almost toppled into the wood paneled walls. 

“Sorry,” Jon winced as Luke rubbed his wrist, red from where the other boy grabbed him, “that’s not Damian’s room.”

Luke’s attention shifted to the door behind Jon, the Force insistent, buzzing with encouragement. 

“Whose room is it?” Luke looked at Jon.  The boy’s face paling as he swallowed, eyes flickering away from Luke’s gaze.

“Mr. Wayne’s,” Jon stumbled, fingers twisting his shirt, “uhhh, Damian’s brother’s room.”

Luke tilted his head, the Force rippled around Jon.  Another lie, Luke wasn’t sure though.

“He died,” Jon blurted out, blue eyes wide as his fingers clenched, shirt straining.    

The Force stilled.  Luke took a deep breath, centered his mind as Uncle Obi-Wan taught him and reached out.  He heard the lock click and Jon’s sharp breath as the bedroom door swung open.  Luke stepped past Jon, over the threshold and into the remnants of a familiar Force presence. 

“His name’s Jason,” Jon whispered from the doorway. 

Luke could’ve guessed that, there wasn’t any other name it could be.  Luke drank in the room, the posters on the wall, stacks of books and notebooks.  Frames filled with a face younger than the one Luke wanted to see as much as possible. 

“Damian didn’t know him,” Jon continued to whisper, “he died when he was fifteen.”

“How’d you know that?” Luke titled his head back towards Jon at the door.

“My dad,” Jon’s eyes were on the floor, “he and Mr. Wayne have known each other for years.”

Luke nodded and turned his attention back to the room.  He reached out through the Force and found Leia, insistently tapping against their bond.  Exasperation greeted him, but his sister acknowledged his demand and welcomed him into her mind.  Shock ripped through their bond and Luke hoped she looked outwardly calm, no need to alert Damian.  The Force slammed against Luke’s presence, jerking him out of his connection with Leia.  His sister’s alarm loudly echoed by Jon.    

Luke whirled around, stance widening. He caught sight of someone just outside the door, his legs hitting the bed as Jon stumbled back into him.  Jon’s hushed apology was silenced by the dark figure looming in the doorframe.  Luke forced himself not to shrink under the roiling emotions clouding the Force.  He focused his mind, trying to calm down as he felt Leia’s increasing anxiety.  He could even start to feel Uncle Obi-Wan’s concern through their bond.  Luke breathed in as the man took a single step in to Jason’s room. 

“Good afternoon, Mr. Wayne,” Jon’s voice cracked as cold blue eyes swept over the Jon and then stayed on Luke.

“Hello, Sir,” Luke swallowed and stepped out from behind Jon, “I’m Luke, Luke Kenobi.”

 Mr. Wayne, Damian’s father, Luke could definitely see the resemblance.  He studied Luke with a detachment that was not found in his Force presence.  It writhed, ever expanding with furious denial.  It was soaked into the walls of the manor.  Grief and guilt.  It spread and reached its thundering presence towards Gotham, encasing the city.      

“You feel like Jay,” Luke whispered.

Chapter Text

Damian watched his father’s knuckles turn white on the leather steering wheel as the car pulled down the bustling side street Mr. Kenobi’s café was located on.  The surrounding buildings cast long shadows as the sun barely peeked over the horizon.  The café was closed, lights dim as the car pulled up to the curb.  Damian assumed Mr. Kenobi was in the back, preparing for the next day, or perhaps he was out and they could avoid the conversation Father clearly wanted to have with the unsuspecting man.    

A tall, deceptively broad figure approached as Father turned off the car.  Damian glared out the window as Jon groaned from the back seat, body shifting along the leather seats, as if to hide.  Damian felt multiple sets of eyes on him.  The worst coming from beside him before his Father opened the door and stepped out of the car.

“Clark,” the air entering the car from the open door was warmer than Father’s voice.

“Evenin’ Bruce,” Kent smiled at Damian’s Father as if the man wasn’t an oncoming storm.  Wasn’t The Batman.  Damian stayed seated as the passenger doors opened and closed.  Luke, Leia, and Jon shuffling out. 

“Let’s go, Damian,” Father glanced over his shoulder as he stood behind the Kenobi’s, waiting for them to unlock the door to the café.

****

Obi-Wan stood staring at the boiling electric kettle, senses tuned to the front door as he felt Luke and Leia approach.  The twin’s stress thrumming down their bonds with Obi-Wan.  They had been that way for the past hour or so, anxious in a way they hadn’t even been when starting at Gotham Academy.  Obi-Wan pressed calm reassurance down the bonds.  It was the only thing he could do until he knew what was going on.  The café bell chimed a moment later, Luke and Leia’s presence ringing through the main room as they called out for Obi-Wan.  Obi-Wan turned away from the kettle, slipping a pleasant smile on his face as he made his way from the back of the café to great the twins and company. 

He had an armful of nervous pre-teens not a step past the threshold.  The Force swirled with uncertainty and remorse.  Obi-Wan greeted the twins, hands cupping the back of their heads as he murmured a greeting, sent reassuring affection down their bonds. 

Obi-Wan turned his attention to the other four occupants who followed Luke and Leia into the café.  A young, dark-haired boy stood by the door as Damian stepped in last, locking the door behind him.  Obi-Wan watched the two exchange a look, Damian’s green eyes guarded, the other boys’, nervous.  Both dark-haired boys were the image of the two adults now standing in Obi-Wan’s café. 

“You must be Damian’s father, Mr. Wayne,” Obi-Wan stepped out of Luke and Leia’s arms, holding his hand out the sharply dressed man, “I am Ben Kenobi, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Please, call me, Bruce,” Mr. Wayne clasped Obi-Wan’s hand firmly, callouses catching on Obi-Wan’s own.

Obi-Wan felt Leia prod him and with a brief acknowledgement, opened himself to the Force.  Bruce Wayne’s Force presence belied the man standing in front of Obi-Wan.  More so than Jason’s did.     

The vast presence, much like Jason’s, stretched across Gotham City.  It seemed to smother everything in an omnipresent shadow.  Obi-Wan suppressed a flinch at the darkness, felt Leia soothe their bond.  He brushed the edges of Wayne’s presence, the darkness wasn’t malevolent, did not burn or consume.  It was a silent guardian, a sentinel in the night.  Obi-Wan pulled his consciousness away from the man, let his shoulders relax.

“Clark Kent, and this is Jon,” the other man interrupted smiling as he pulled his son in front of him, hands firmly clasped on the child’s shoulders.

“It’s nice the meet you, Mr. Kenobi,” the boy, Jon, smiled as he shifted under his father’s grip. 

Obi-Wan felt a headache coming on.  The blindingly bright warmth flooding the Force was unexpected and so unlike any other being Obi-Wan had encountered before.  It was power, yes, but not power in connection to the Force.  Obi-Wan felt Luke’s glee bubble through their bond.  The boy’s Force presence continuously reaching out to Jon, his own bright light dancing around the dark-haired boy.  Their light seemed to bolster each other, for all that Jon had seemingly no connection to the Force. 

“It is lovely to meet you as well, Jon,” Obi-Wan smiled softly, “you as well, Mr. Kent, however unexpected.”

Tension rippled through the Force.  Obi-Wan felt as much as saw the matching anxiety rise in Luke and Jon, the boys’ faces drawn, eyes downcast.  Obi-Wan laid a hand on Luke's’ shoulder, giving it a squeeze as Leia grasped Luke's’ wrist.   

“I apologize for our sudden visit,” Mr. Wayne's’ eyes cut sharply to Damian, the boy still hovering by the café door.

“Not at all,” Obi-Wan kept his smile firmly in place, “Damian has been an excellent partner for Leia and guest while here at the café, I can only hope Luke and Leia have been the same at your home.”

Obi-Wan cut a quick look at the twins.  Luke's’ shoulders caved in while his shields tightened around his presence. 

“Something tells me, however, that has not been the case,” Obi-Wan let the smile drop as he gestured to one of the larger tables in the café, “shall we sit?”

The group shuffled over, Damian sitting last, between Leia and Jon, as far from his father as possible.  Obi-Wan hovered a moment, the table looking unexpectedly severe without any cups or dishes on it. 

“I’ll make some tea,” Leia’s voice piped up, picking up on Obi-Wan’s thoughts.

“That won’t be necessary,” Wayne stated.

“That’d be great, thank you,” Kent smiled, ignoring the dark look he received from the businessman, “whatever is easy, no need to be fancy on our account.”  Leia pushed back from the table, chair wobbling as she hurried back to the kitchen.

“Can I assume nothing went wrong between Leia and Damian?” Obi-Wan looked at the silent boy.

“The project is progressing satisfactorily,” Damian met Obi-Wan’s eyes, a warning in them Obi-Wan did not understand.

“Then perhaps Luke and Jon could tell me what brought Mr. Wayne and Mr. Kent here tonight,” Obi-Wan prodded Luke in the Force.  The boy straightened in his seat, gaze settling on Jon a moment before turning to look at Obi-Wan.

“Mr. Pennyworth told me and Jon to get snacks and see the game room,” Luke fidgeted in his seat, fingers twisting around a leather strap on his wrist, “I went somewhere else in the house, Jon followed, he tried to talk me out of it.”

“I didn’t try that hard,” Jon protested, leaning forward, earnest to defend his new friend.

“He did,” Luke exclaimed, “he even tried to drag me away, which hurt a bit, Jon’s got a strong grip.” 

Obi-Wan’s eyebrows rose as Luke rubbed his wrist, he could see the faint bruising.  He didn’t miss the sharp look Mr. Kent gave his son or the low words spoken between the two as Jon tucked his face into his chest, ears red.

“Luke,” Obi-Wan sighed as he looked into bright blue eyes.

“I know, I’m sorry, it’s just,” Luke didn’t finish, he opened his and Obi-Wan’s bond pleading with Obi-Wan to look.

Obi-Wan felt Jason or rather, a deep echo of Jason.  It was the feeling of Jason in Obi-Wan’s café in the early hours of morning, the sun not yet risen.  Jason sitting on the worn café couch working with the twins on their homework.  Jason checking in on them the day after the robbery.  Obi-Wan’s attention snapped to Damian before shifting to Wayne. 

“I apologize Mr. Wayne, I had thought Luke understood he is supposed to extend the utmost courtesy when outside these doors,” Obi-Wan bowed his head to Wayne, the man nodded sitting impossibly straighter.

Obi-Wan felt Leia brush against his mind, a moment later the doors to the kitchen opened letting her through.  Damian was out of his chair before Obi-Wan could even ask Leia if she needed assistance.  He took the tray from Leia, easily balancing the weight.  Obi-Wan distributed the cups and saucers, pouring hot water as Jon and Mr. Kent each took a leftover scone. 

“Thank you for your apology, Mr. Kenobi,” Wayne began once everyone settled back into their chairs, “it was quite the shock, and I apologize if I scared Luke.”

“What about scaring Jon?” Kent side-eyed Wayne, his presence light with mirth.

“It was a bit less shocking because Jon was there,” Wayne glanced at the younger boy. 

“I’m sorry Mr. Wayne,” Jon spoke up, “I know you don’t like anyone going to the family wing, especially to, uh, that room.”

Jon ducked his head as Damian hissed out the boy’s name.  Luke and Leia jabbed at Obi-Wan through their bonds.  He knew the twins wanted to know why they felt Jason’s Force presence, no matter how old it was, in Wayne’s home.  Obi-Wan couldn’t help but feel curious as well, especially after Jason’s and Damian’s interaction in the café.    

“It may be best if Damian and Leia work on the project here at the café,” Wayne said.

“Yes, that may be for the best.  Jon would be more than welcome to join them,” Obi-Wan smiled at Kent, “it does seem as if he and Luke are on the way to being fast friends.”

Happiness suffused the Force, Luke’s bond thrumming with repressed excitement.  A quick smile slipped across Jon’s face even as the boy’s father sighed, clearly unsure about letting Jon be around Luke. 

“Truly, it would be lovely to have him,” Obi-Wan trailed off, attention moving away from Mr. Kent to the lock sounding at the café’s entrance. 

The Force stilled as the presence at the door made itself known.

****

“Hey Kenobi,” Todd called out as he shut and locked the door behind him, Damian could hear the smile in his voice. 

Damian sat, unmoving as the older vigilante turned, blue-green eyes tracking across the café’s main room.  He watched as Todd realized he and the Kenobi’s were not alone.  He watched the easy-going smile slip off Todd’s face.  Damian watched his father and Todd lock eyes, body’s rigid as they faced each other across the room.

“Jason,” Luke and Leia were up and out of their chairs, arms latched around Todd’s midsection moments later.  Todd’s jacket creaked as his arms gripped the twins back, shoulders hunched to encompass Damian’s classmates. 

“What are you doing here?” Leia stepped back, brown braids swinging as she glared up at Damian’s not-brother.

“Was stopping by to keep your uncle company while you were out,” Jason shrugged, flicking Luke’s ear, “didn’t think you’d be around, never mind that there’d be company, I’ll head out.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” Leia snapped, Luke and Mr. Kenobi echoing the sentiment. 

Todd eyes trailed over the occupants of the table, bypassing Father and only momentarily lingering on the Kents.  Damian met those piercing eyes levelly, his face betraying nothing.

“Damian, right? Good to see you again,” Todd nodded before turning back to Luke and Leia, “you guys making more friends, that’s good, I’ll leave you to it.”

“You are not leaving,” Mr. Kenobi stood up, the twins moving as Kenobi’s hand clasped Todd’s shoulder, the other resting on the vigilante’s cheek, “honestly, Jason, you can head up to the apartment if you would rather stay there.”

Damian’s eyes snapped to his father, his chest still, light blue eyes shadowed as they tracked Todd and Mr. Kenobi. 

“And don’t even think about saying you’re intruding,” Leia huffed, “you know you’re not.” 

“Maybe we can all go upstairs and let Pa, Mr. Wayne, and Mr. Kenobi talk?” Jon chirped from Damian’s side, blue eyes pleading with his father.

“That’s a perfect idea, Jon,” Leia nodded along with Luke.

The twins grabbed Todd’s wrists and dragged him back towards the table, Kenobi following with a small smile.  Jon was smiling pitifully at Damian, ignoring his father’s soft rebuttals.  Leia reached out and grabbed Damian with her other hand while Luke did the same to Jon, pulling them away from the table and their fathers.  They stepped back and Damian wanted to recoil from the touch and the bizarre sight they must have made.  Todd borderline restrained on both sides by the twin terrors, an unfortunate sunshine child, and Damian.  Damian’s eyes fell on his father again.  The man’s attention had not left Todd, his shrewd gaze taking in every interaction with the Kenobis, the line of his body growing more tense as the twins continued to drag Todd around. 

“We will leave you to it,” Leia smiled, “thank you for bringing us home Mr. Wayne, I apologize for the trouble my brother and I caused.”

Damian’s arm jerked as he was hauled back and corralled through the café to a back staircase.  They were up on the second floor and in a living room before Damian knew it. 

“Leia,” Todd rounded on the girl, “what the hell was that?”

“What, we got out of there didn’t we,” Leia smiled, as she flopped down onto an oversized blue couch. 

“I was gonna leave completely,” Todd stalked forward, hands waving towards the door.

“And I didn’t want that,” Leia shrugged, “neither did Luke.”

“Plus, we need some answers,” Leia’s dark eyes casually brushed over Damian and Jon.  Damian traded a long look with Jon, the half-Kryptonian’s teeth worrying his lip. 

“Answers,” Todd scoffed, “answers to what?”

“Why you and Damian know each other, but pretend you don’t,” Luke stepped in front of Todd, grabbing the man’s wrists once again, “and why I could feel your presence in his house.”

“Is that last part supposed to make sense to me?” Todd reversed Luke’s grip on him, dragging the boy up by his forearms to eye level.

A long-drawn-out sigh erupted from Leia, a moment later things began to float. 

Chapter Text

Obi-Wan stood looking at the empty seats, which until a moment before, held four pre-teens.  Two of which will be in more than enough trouble once Obi-Wan could actually speak with them.  The Force crackled as Obi-Wan heard the second-floor door slam shut and Obi-Wan turned his attention back to his remaining guests.  Hurt and confusion poured out of Wayne, suffocating the man’s Force presence.  Though, his face and posture had not changed since the moment he sat down. 

The intensity with which Wayne watched Jason left little doubt in Obi-Wan that the two knew each other.  Jason’s own surprise and pain in the Force at seeing Wayne momentarily shocked Obi-Wan.  It was the first time Obi-Wan had ever seen Jason retreat into himself.  The first time Jason had ever picked flight.  Even with the unexpected interaction with Damian, Jason had stood his ground, poked and prodded before making the decision to leave.  Obi-Wan’s protective instincts, instincts now usually only reserved for the twins, had surged forward. 

However, it was Kent’s reaction to seeing Jason which truly confirmed what Obi-Wan had been suspecting since meeting Damian Wayne.  Jon’s father knew Jason as well.  And Jason knew him.  Obi-Wan breathed out as the Force swirled with anticipation.  A realization was forming, one that had been dancing around Obi-Wan’s mind since meeting Jason.  The two men seated in front of him were large pieces of the unexpected mystery surrounding Jason. Filling in holes Obi-Wan did not particularly care to have filled.  Ignorance being the temporary bliss that it is.   

“Leia is rather,” Kent hesitated, “assertive.”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan sighed, rubbing his forehead, fingers pinching his temples, “she gets that from both her parents.”

“Where are their parents?” Wayne spoke up.  Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at the question as Kent subtly chided his friend.

“Their mother died in childbirth,” Obi-Wan spoke softly, watching Wayne, “their father, my brother, died shortly beforehand.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Kent murmured, shifting in his seat, eyes cutting to Wayne. 

Remorse briefly flared in the Force, Wayne’s severe expression softening for a moment.  Obi-Wan dipped his head, releasing the dull throb of pain into the Force. It was an ache that never left.  A constant presence he would carry with him until he became one with the Force.  Obi-Wan knew no amount of meditation would ever truly heal the wounds left behind by his former padawan and Padmé’s deaths.  Kent shifted, chair creaking under his weight.  Obi-Wan forced himself to focus once more, attention drawn back to the two dark-haired men.    

“Who is the young man, does he visit often?” Wayne watched Obi-Wan, gaze calculating.

Obi-Wan sunk into the Force which churned around Wayne with a desperate need.  The man’s naturally shadowed presence seemed to reach upwards, towards where Obi-Wan knew the twins took Jason.  Kent’s burning presence flared, reached towards Wayne, cutting through the darkness that surrounded the man.  Wayne’s attention flickered towards Kent, their hands lightly brushing on the table.  A gesture which could have been written off had Wayne not imperceptibly relaxed.  Obi-Wan studied the two men together, they were well balanced.

“Jason,” Obi-Wan smiled at Wayne’s clenched jaw, “a delightful young man.  He has stopped by before, when Damian was here, and has been an immeasurable help.”

“That’s wonderful,” Kent exclaimed, blue eyes bright as he smiled at Obi-Wan and Wayne, “your kids seem to like him, and he seems good with them.”

“They are rather fond of each other,” Obi-Wan hummed with a small smile, “Jason did help me with their applications to Gotham Academy, a fact Damian appeared rather upset about.”

The Force stirred, Obi-Wan’s bonds with the twins thrummed, giddy with nerves.  Obi-Wan reached out to Luke and Leia, both immediately insisted they were fine, a sense of calm trickling down the bonds.  A sense Obi-Wan knew was forced.  Their emotions were too unrestrained, the Force swelling in a way Obi-Wan knew was related to whatever was going on upstairs.  Obi-Wan knew what it felt like when Luke and Leia turned their full focus to the Force.  He felt the moment Leia sank deep, concentrating on the objects around their living room.  Felt the surprise and awe ripple through the Force from Damian, Jon, and Jason.  Felt Luke’s pride in his sister.  It took all of Obi-Wan’s considerable restraint to remain in the café with Wayne and Kent.  A restraint which almost crumbled at the widening of Kent’s eyes as they flickered to the ceiling above.  The blatant shift in the man’s Force presence almost made Obi-Wan move back. 

“What?” Wayne’s sharp voice brought Obi-Wan’s attention to hard eyes.

“Nothing,” Obi-Wan smiled, “I’m sure they are behaving themselves.”

“Clark,” Wayne’s intense gaze turned to his friend.

Obi-Wan watched an impressive play of emotions across Jon’s father’s face.  Bafflement, which Obi-Wan thought was fair, as the two men across from Obi-Wan had no way of knowing what he suspected of the two families.  Blue eyes framed by dark glasses cut quickly to Obi-Wan, a question held in their gaze. 

****

Damian held his breath as Leia slowly lowered her outstretched hand, the various books and knickknacks floating around the room lowered back to their former places.  Leia’s eyes opened as she took a deep breath, a smirk playing across her face.  A moment later, the worn beige ottoman in front of Jason rose, wiggled as if greeting the man before being lowered.  Luke had a large grin on his face, fist unclenching from where he dangled in Todd’s hands.  Todd lowered the blond twin until his worn sneakers hit the carpet, eyes flashing back and forth between the foot stool and Luke.

“That doesn’t explain anything,” Todd said after a moment, arms folding over his chest.  He fixed Luke with a bland look as the boy sputtered in front of him.  

“You can move things with your mind?” Jon exclaimed, voice shrill in Damian’s ears. 

“And you can apparently float,” Luke stumbled as he turned to look more fully at Jon, grin stretching across his face.

Damian looked down, breath frozen in his chest as Jon was levitating a few inches off the ground in his excitement.  He reached out, yanking Jon down by his wrist as the half-Kryptonian stammered.  Jon’s soft blue eyes were wide as they met Damian’s hard stare. 

“I knew there was something different about you,” Luke crowed, as he took Jon’s other hand, swinging and shaking it vigorously. 

A wide smile lit Jon’s face, eyes crinkling as he was caught up in Luke’s enthusiasm.  A long, drawn out groan broke through the excitement bursting between Luke and Jon.  Damian stepped back, dragging Jon with him as Todd stepped forward, a palm rubbing across his face. 

“Alright, everyone sit down,” Todd’s hand dropped, tired eyes glaring at Damian, Jon, and Luke as he pointed to the couch.

Luke, still smiling, flopped down next to his sister, blue cushions sagging under his weight.  Damian scowled at Todd as he shoved Jon to the other end of the couch.  The older vigilante arched an eyebrow, head tilting towards the remaining seat between Leia and Jon.  Damian tutted as he sat. 

“Alright, so there are a few,” Todd hesitated, hand flailing between Jon and the Kenobis, “secrets out of the bag.”

Damian sat still beside Leia, the girl’s breathing steady as she leaned back with her arms crossed, dark eyes trained on Todd.

“I can’t believe Pa isn’t up here yet,” Jon murmured, eyes wide as if he just realized the consequences of what was happening.

“Uncle Ben is pretty surprised about that, too,” Luke piped up, leaning forward to look at Jon down the couch.

“That’s enough,” Todd’s voice was hard as he stood in front of Damian, whose eyes caught the minor shifting in the others.

Todd’s jaw was taut, shoulder stiff as he hooked the ottoman around the legs, dragging it in front of Damian.  His leather jacket creaked as he sat, elbows resting on knees.  Next to Damian, Leia shifted and sat up.

“Yes, Jon can fly,” Jason began, “and apparently Luke and Leia can move things with their minds.”

“And you and Damian know each other,” Leia interrupted with a smirk.

“Of course we know each other,” Damian sneered, “we met at your café.”

“She means from before that,” Luke rolled bright blue eyes at Damian.  Damian wanted to lunge across the sofa and pluck those eyes from Luke’s head.  Leia shifted and slapped Luke’s thigh as she hissed his name. 

“Alright, that’s enough,” Todd leaned forward, putting Leia’s hands back in her lap and away from Luke, “we need to back up.  Why are you all here with Bruce and Clark? What’d you do?”

“Todd,” Damian snapped, muscles tense as he shot up from the couch, standing in front of the older vigilante.

“Sit down brat,” Todd shoved Damian’s hip before turning his glare to Damian’s side, “and shut it Leia, yes, we know each other.  That’s not the biggest issue now.”

“No, the biggest issue is that Kent has outed himself,” Damian sneered as he leaned back against the couch, “or are you referring to the issue of Father knowing you’ve been sneaking around with a secret family.”

“First off, since when do you consider us family?” Todd scoffed, eyebrow raised in challenge, “and obviously the issue is Luke, Leia, and Jon outing themselves.”

“I don’t,” Damian’s jaw clenched, “but for some absurd reason Father still believes you to be.”

“It was definitely our decision to show you our abilities,” Leia jumped in, shoving Damian’s shoulder, “as for Jon, well, that seemed like an accident.”

Leia’s dark eyes skipped over Damian, landing on Jon who was trying to sink into the worn blue couch cushions, head tilted as if listening for something. Damian leaned forward, blocking her view of his, regrettably, unsubtle friend.

“This doesn’t leave here,” Todd’s voice was firm, eyes hard as he stared down the couch, attention barely brushing over Damian.   

“Wait, but, this is so wizard,” Luke exclaimed, shooting up from his seat, face open and pleading.

Todd’s head tilted back as he stared at the boy.  Luke’s light blue eyes widened, hands clutching the hem of his shirt, twisting.  A shiver worked its way up Damian’s spine as he watched, silent.  He could barely feel Leia breathe next to him, her body was so still.  Even Jon, perpetually in motion, was quiet where he leaned against Damian.

“This does not leave here.”

****

Obi-Wan’s shoulders relaxed, his fingers unclenching from where they gripped each other under the table.  He breathed as he felt Jason’s Force presence recede.  Obi-Wan’s attention shifted and locked back onto Kent’s face.  The man’s eyes flitting back and forth between the ceiling, Obi-Wan, and Wayne’s penetrating stare, jaw slack. 

Wayne made a sharp hand motion and Kent’s eyes snapped to the glowering man.  Kent took a breath, giving Wayne a minute shake of his head.  An answer which seemed to displease the other dark haired man.  Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow as he watched the exchange, the Force washing him with calm and a call for patience. 

“How can Luke apologize for his transgression?” Obi-Wan smiled, sipping his cooled tea. 

“There’s no need,” Wayne deflected, attention dragged away from Kent. 

His sharp blue-grey eyes studied Obi-Wan.  His Force presence blooming with intensity.  The raw, ravenous need to know, to control, battered at Obi-Wan.

“Jon needs to properly apologize too, he needs to learn some awareness” Kent cut in and looked back up at the ceiling, “and restraint.”

“Yes, Luke as well,” Obi-Wan huffed, leaning back in his chair, the old wood creaking as he stroked his beard.

“I would like for Damian and Leia to work on their project here from now on,” Wayne stated, jaw tense.

“That is perfectly understandable,” Obi-Wan nodded, “but I would like to foster this friendship, it will be good for all of them. Luke and Leia have not had the easiest time making friends.”

“It does seem like they’re becoming fast friends,” Kent nodded along, eyes crinkled as he looked back and forth between Obi-Wan, Wayne, and the ceiling.

“Jon could use more people who understand him,” Kent continued with a steady look at Wayne, “Damian as well.”

Kent’s blazing Force presence flashed with resolve, brushing against Wayne as if daring the man to deny it.  Wayne held Kent’s gaze for a moment, eyes shrewd as they searched Kent’s face.  Obi-Wan kept his own face bland, seemingly ignoring the two men.  The Force simmered with possibilities.