Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Bruce swears it starts off normal, ignoring Alfred’s raised eyebrow at that statement, it started off completely normal. Well as normal as dressing as a bat, hiding in shadows, and defending his city from its criminal underbelly in said bat costume would be considered, but he would still say it started off normal. It wasn't until he overheard a conversation between a set of goons on a stake out, carefully perched on the edge of a roof above them, but still nestled in the safety of the shadows that he heard the words “it's not human, I don't know what that thing is, but it's not human”, that simple sentence was all it took for the cogs in his brain to start turning.

Bruce at least had the self awareness to know and admit that some of his actions might appear……strange for a lack of a better word but he still assumed he passed as human in the costume. After coming back to the cave he stopped to examine himself in a mirror, and yeah ok Bruce could admit to an outside perspective he could come across as not entirely human. That line of thought got him thinking harder.

Maybe he could use this to his advantage, by playing into the goons' fear he could work it into his favor, fighting against a regular human didn't strike as much fear as fighting against something…else, something you couldn't explain without coming across as insane.

As soon as he could he turned to his sketches and designs, wanting to see what he could improve on. What he could add or take away, what could turn him from man to monster, to legend.

Alfred, when he learned of what his master was attempting to do, had simply sighed and taken the tablet from him, giving each new design a close inspection and offering his own commentary on what Bruce could do to change, and what should remain the same.

The first of the new designs started with his cowl, the pointed ears scrapped and replaced with a fresh design, the long ears reshaped with sound activators and audio sensors, the first test leaving him with a nasty ringing in his ears until he eventually worked out a system that worked, able to pick up even the faintest rustling of air while also not leaving him at risk of permanent hearing loss. Fine tuned sensors that would allow him a limited range of motion with the ears, allowing him to angle them to catch any sound. As well as offering him a little bit more expression in case he needed to interact with people while out.

The lenses of his masks were the next items on the list, he tweaked them until it granted him nearly perfect night vision, along with being able to reflect light away from his eyes, so flood lights and flashbangs wouldn’t stun him as bad as they used to. As well as adding an additional fear factor, a pair of glowing eyes watching you from the darkness would cause anyone dread. It had certainly given Alfred a startle when he came down to retrieve Bruce for dinner.

Just as an added precaution he also threw in a voice modifier, not wanting to risk any recordings being analyzed and traced back to Bruce Wayne. No Alfred he was not paranoid he was just being cautious. In this day and age and with cameras as they were he couldn't take the risk.

The next change came to his gloves, at first he meant to add claws to the ends of them, but one solid punch with the modified gloves left him with deep cuts into his palm, that design was quickly tossed as it took Alfred and Bruce weeks of redesigns before finally landing on one they thought to be perfect, retractable claws built in, extended when Bruce curved his fingers, but staying tucked in when making a fist, that took several tries to get right, designing the trigger mechanism was a nightmare in an of itself, but also finding a design for the glove itself that didn't make it look cartoonish nearly made him scrape the plan all together, but he got it done, all it took was several sleepless nights and several weeks of having his hands bandaged up, that had been fun to play off to the tabloids and board agents.

He debated long and hard before turning his attention to his cape, at first he didn't think he should mess with it, but finally he doubled down and got to work.

The first thing he did was tweak his chest plate, he had to find a build that would not only protect him from attacks, but also connect naturally to the new “wings” but not put too much strain on his back.

He sketched our various concepts, Alfred giving his input as the two settled on a sketch that while also providing protection, would also stimulate the muscles he didn't have that would help in flight. Along the back of his armor was a light weight metal “spine” with built in sensors that would attach seamlessly to a thin membrane worn underneath his armor, the spine then having the skeletal frame of his “wings” attached.

The first try left him with several shocks along his spine, but he kept with it, adjusting until the metal skeleton would react with his body and not against it, he worked for several weeks to get synced with the frame, until he could control it perfectly. The next step was actually fitting a covering over the frame.

At first he tried a kevlar material but that nearly knocked him on his ass from the weight of it all, so that plan was scrapped. Leather while more light weight and breathable didn't offer him the same protection, so while not fully using it he also kept it. He took a long look at bat wing anatomy and settled on a strong but elastic material to fit between each “finger” and for added measure covered it with a leather like membrane to better cover it. While not as strong as kevlar it would still protect him from basic firearms, anything higher powered and he was fucked. His first run with his new wings went surprisingly well.

It wasn't until Alfred pointed out that he wasn't truly flying, but merely gliding. Bruce upon hearing those words took it as a personal challenge to achieve true flight.

At first he tried lifting off from the ground, but after watching several videos of how bats took off he realized that was impossible to do. So he turned to alternate methods. He added safety nets and extra floor padding to his designated testing site before using his grappling hook to bring himself to a catwalk high above the site.

His first attempt was in no uncertain terms…a disaster, his wings caught the air but he quickly found he couldn't seem to gain control and crashed into the wall before falling into the net below. Going back to watching the videos made him realize he had forgotten about the tail to connect his wings. His second attempt with the added tail proved to be a much better success, this time the wind caught and lifted him up but after a few awkward flaps he had to crash land into the net again, but he knew he was on the right track.

On his fifth attempt is where he got it right, the wind caught his wings and after several flaps Bruce realized he was truly flying, and for the first time in years a genuine laugh came from the young man, his soul feeling lighter than it had in years as he gleefully soared around the cave.

Alfred the first time he had seen the finished suit felt as if he was going to be driven to an early grave. He had come down to retrieve the young man when he heard the whispering of wind above him, causing him to glance up. All he saw was a great winged creature, soulless white eyes piercing into him as the creature turned and landed on the ground with a muted this, the wings wrapping around its body as the eyes burned into him.

Alfred couldn't stop the tremble of fear running up and down his spine. Logically he knew it was Bruce, the young man he had raised but his brain couldn't fit the two together, a little voice in the back of his mind hissing at him to run away before he caught the ecstatic grin on the exposed part of his wards face, causing him to relax as the fear leaves him, he smiles slightly as he watched the young man gleefully showing off his completed suit.

“Well if this doesn't strike fear in the hearts of your enemies Master Bruce I don't know what will” Alfred hummed, his own small smile growing as Bruce’s grin grows bigger. He had his own reservations about this entire plan, even before Bruce decided to go down the route of encouraging the monster rumors about him,but he was secretly glad to see that smile on the young man's face. A smile he hadn't seen in quite some time.

Finally Bruce was ready to showcase his new suit to Gotham, and just in time to as a case he had been paying attention to got a tip off, as quickly as he could he made his way to the harbor, quietly sneaking into one of the many dilapidated warehouses along Gotham’s harbor, the shadows seemingly swallowing him up as he crawls along a support beam in the roof, feeling his blood boiling as a man down below kicks a cage holding a group of cowering children.

He opens his wings and glides down effortlessly to a lower support beam, reaching into his utility belt and pulling out a batarang and throwing it with deadly accuracy at the cables powering the flood lights, the men down below shouting as the lights cut out, some scrambling to turn on more while others racing for their weapons, Bruce chose then to leap from the beam and swoop down, one man only having enough time to look up and scream in fear “ITS THE BAT !” before Bruce's reinforced boots crash into his chest, sending him flying across the room and hitting a wall hard.

Bruce waste no time, immediately going after the next man he sees, a swift uppercut catching him off guard as he falls to the ground, another man throwing a wild swing, one Bruce was able to side step as he grabs the man by his collar and smashed his head against the wall, moving as silently as a specter around the warehouse. The men were screaming and shouting in panic as they tried to make sense of what was attacking them.

One man manages to grab his gun and turn it on Bruce, his hands shaking as he fires but Bruce’s new wings work in blocking the bullet as he slowly turns and faces the man who freezes, the gun falling from his hands as he falls on his ass and crawls backwards as Bruce lunges, grabbing the man by the face and slamming his head back into the wall, letting go as he turns back to the rest and moves on, effectively apprehending each man he encountered, until all the men lay in a pile in the middle of the room, their arms and legs zip tied together as Bruce sends out a signal to the GPD, managing to turn on some lights as he moves to the cages of children.

He leans down to the first one, expecting to see fear in their faces, but the wide eyed wonder throws him for a loop at first, nevertheless he quickly works through the locks, opening them and gently coaxing the children out. He smiles a little as they all crowd around him, huddling close as he wraps his wings around them, the children finally calming down.

He stayed there till he heard the sound of sirens, standing up as he gently nudged them forward, leading the children to the entrance before shooting a grapple into the air and then disappearing out a hole in the roof as Gotham's finest yanked the door open and swarmed in, the men stopping as they look in surprise at the pile of unconscious bodies and the mostly unharmed children.

The criminals, as soon as they woke up and stopped babbling in fear, had when asked what attacked them, began to rant and rave about a demon from the darkness. A creature made of a bat and of a man appearing out of the shadows. The children told a much different story, the story of an angel coming down from above and saving them from the bad men. With big wings and a kind smile.

After that first encounter word spread rather quickly, stories of claws, wings, and flashing eyes, of a winged monster swooping from the heavens and leaving behind a trail of bruised and battered men in its wake, men who after waking from their attacks would babble in fear of the beast, a monster from hell came to punish them for their sins.

But the people the bat had saved sung a different tune. They spread around their stories, stories of a creature that rescued them from those that sought to cause harm. While most adults, while thankful, still felt a twinge of fear, but the children of Gotham told a different story. To them this new creature was a watchful guardian of the shadows, a being with kind eyes and who performed kind actions.

Bruce was just happy that his suit did its job, that slowly but surely he was making a difference in his city, both as Bruce Wayne and as Batman, it gave him hope for a better, it wasn't until his nearly second year of vigilantism that he found a part of himself he didn't even know he was missing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Richard “Dick” Grayson was both nervous and excited as he weaved around the tents of his circus as they set up for that night, already dressed in his costume as he searched for his Mami and Tati. He heard raised voices from behind the big top as he sneaks around, hiding behind a stack of crates as he recognizes Mr. Haly arguing in an angry tone with a sleazy looking man, who sneered as he leans in “you should have paid up Haly” he spits before turning and stalking off, Mr. Haly storming off into the tent.

Dick frowns, stepping back from the crates as he looks at where Mr. Haly stormed off to, jumping in surprise as a set of hands grab him from behind and lift him into the air “and just what are you doing here” John Grayson teases as Dick laughs and relaxes, looking down at his Tati as his Mami comes over, both already dressed in their costumes.

“I was looking for you Tati” he says, twisting around and reaching his arms out for his Mami who takes him into her arms, her familiar perfume reaching his nose as he snuggles close to her, resting his head on her shoulder.

He looks up as the trio enters the big top, his nerves and excitement growing as he sees the packed stands. “There's so many people” he says wiggling down as his Tati chuckles and nods.

Dick notices a man in the front row, trying and failing to make himself unnoticeable as he looks around the arena, sticking out like a sore thumb awkwardly amongst the crowds of people, Dick giggling a little at the man's expression as the lights dim and the flood lights turn on, showing Mr. Haly in the middle of the ring, a microphone in hand.

He watches as Mr. Haly introduces each act, Dick frowning as he sees the people looking uncomfortable at the clown acts, not understanding the reaction. He blinks as he feels a small tap on his shoulder looking at his Tati as he smiles “we're up next” he whispers Dick grinning wide as he follows his Mami to the pole, climbing up with her as he sees his Tati climbing up the other side.

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, now for the prize of Haly Circus, the crown jewel of our acrobats, put your hands together for, the ones the only The Flying Grayson's!” Mr. Haly exclaims as the crowd cheers, a grin threatening to split Dick’s face as the lights land on them, waving excitedly to the crowd as he turns back to his parents, moving to the edge of the platform as he watches as his Tati and Mami move through the air gracefully, eagerly waiting for his turn as his parents momentum carry them back towards him.

He heads to the edge of the platform, his arms outstretched and his muscles preparing to spring himself forward into his parents arms, only to watch in horror as the rope holding his parents snap, only able to catch a glimpse of their faces as their joy and excitement turn to fear and horror as gravity digs its cruel claws into them, the pair not even having a chance to scream as they begin plummeting back down to earth, Dick could only listen in horror as a series of nauseating cracks and crunches ring up from the floor below, stumbling back from the edge as he falls onto the platform, trembling as he hears the crowd starting to scream in shock and fear, the thudding of footsteps as he could only lay there, trembling in shock and horror.

He didn't even notice the sirens wailing, he only reacted when he heard someone calling his name, blinking his eyes as he sees a police officer standing on the platform next to him, coaxing him off the platform and leading him down the rungs, his eyes seeing a white sheet slowly being stained red before he's quickly led away.

He felt as if he was moving through molasses as he's led to an ambulance, a paramedic inspecting him, trying to ask him questions but Dick was numb, unable to answer as he stared at them blankly.

He didn't even react as they eventually loaded him into the back of a police car and drove him away from the only home he ever knew.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It took a few days for Dick to come out of the fog his brain put him in to try and protect him, but once he did Dick exploded, screaming, swearing, and attacking anyone who came near him, demanding to be taken back to the circus, his rage only growing as he was ignored or dismissed by the adults around him, pushing back harder and harder until they eventually threw him into a correction unit.

It wasn't any better at the new place, the kids unfriendly and the staff even worse, his outburst met with scorn and harsh words, made even worse when he overheard one of their conversations “the boy doesn't even cry, it's like he doesn't even care what happened to his parents”, that comment has landed him in solitary confinement after it took two additional staff members to drag him off.

Dick was quickly starting to hate everything around him, the food, the other kids, the staff, the wall, he felt like he was about to explode, and so he sought out a quiet place, desperately wanting somewhere he could find a bit of peace, and that was how he took to spending his time on the roof. Far away from everyone down below as he curled up into a tight ball.

It was coming up on his second month in the correction unit when he came face to face with Gotham's local cryptid, Dick didn't set out to meet the man..bat..thing? He had just wanted some time to himself after a nasty altercation with one of the staff left him in even a worse mood, so after light outs he made his way up to his spot, sitting down on the edge as he tried to breath through the rage and pain in his chest.

He looks out over Gotham, the thick cloud of fog and smog in the sky blocking out the stars, the only light coming from the tall skyscrapers and businesses that never seemed to close.

Dick grits his teeth as he hauls himself to his feet, gripping his hair and screaming his rage into the night air, falling to his knees as he continues to howl and scream in rage, banging his fist into the roof until he eventually finishes, breathing heavily as he looks down at the concrete beneath him.

He looks up after catching his breath and freezes as he sees the pair of glowing white eyes watching him from the shadows, the vague outline of its body standing out as Dick stared at it in surprise.

Anyone else would have pissed themselves in fear but Dick could only feel his rage growing again. “What, didn't like the show” he snaps getting to his feet as the creature tilts its head. Dick sees one of its ears twitch as it steps further into the light. Giant bat-like wings were wrapped loosely around its body, from what Dick could see it had the body of a man, its mouth, from what Dick could see, was smooth and pale, but that was it in terms of features. Clawed hands hung loosely beside its body as it looked down at Dick.

He grits his teeth, glaring into its white eyes “yeah c'mon laugh at the Circus kid, go on do it” he barks taking a challenging step forward, it says nothing as it continues to look at him, it's ears twitching every now and again.

He storms up and slams his fist against its chest, it honestly hurt him more then it hurt it but it took a step back none the less “what don't understand English, go ahead mock, laugh, hit me, that's what everyone else does” he shouts pounding against its chest until it suddenly catches both his hands in its.

He squeezes his eyes shut, bracing for a hit or a slap, only to jump as he feels it gently turn his hands, a soft barely there hum leaving its throat as it examines his hands. Dick blinks as he sees his bleeding knuckles, the pain finally starting to register as it lets go of one of his hands and reaches to…..to a belt around its waist?

He says nothing and watches in confusion and curiosity as it pulls out a roll of bandages and a little spray of disinfectant, before kneeling down to his height and lifting up his hands again. Dick wincing a little as it sprays it over his knuckles before gently but firmly wrapping them up.

It then puts both items away back into its pocket and lets go of his hands, Dick pulling them back as he looks at the creature's face, finding it now looking at him with a small sad smile. “I know how you feel,” he says softly, rising to its full height.

Dick didn't even realize he was crying till the creature reached its hand out and patted his head, and then the floodgates opened, Dick wailing as he stumbles forward and hugs the creature's waist, his sobs growing as he hugs him back, pulling him close as its wings wrapped around him, blocking out the world around him as he finally cried the tears he had been bottling up for so long.

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Harvey had been sleeping peacefully until the shrill ringing of his phone woke him up, the man nearly falling from his bed as he blindly slaps his hand against the nightstand before finding his phone and snatching it up, squinting against the brightness as he sees the caller id and groans. He swipes to answer and growls into the phone “Bruce I swear to God if you're calling me to come bail you out again-” “Harvey I need to know how to foster a child”.

Harvey blinks slowly, pulling his phone away to double check the name before hitting the mute button, slowly counting down from ten before unmuting it. “Say again” Harvey says calmly, despite feeling anything but.

“Harvey this is important, I need to know how to foster a child” Bruce says sounding frantic on the other end as Harvey pinches the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

“Bruce, it is four thirty in the God damn morning, we are both going to bed, in the morning I will look into what you need to do to foster, if you call me again after I hang up, I will tell Alfred all the shit you did before dropping out of college” he growls into the phone.

“Ok thank you good night Harvey don't tell Alfred about this” Bruce says quickly before hanging up, Harvey slamming the phone down onto the nightstand and falling back onto the bed, imagining all the ways he was going to wring Bruce's neck as he slowly falls back asleep.

Chapter Text

Harvey sighs as he reaches Wayne manor, knocking on the door as he adjusted the files on his grasp, looking up as Alfred opens the door, “ahh Master Harvey, welcome please come in” he says stepping aside as Harvey nods and comes in.

“I told you Alfred you can just call me Harvey” he fake gripes as Alfred smirks a little “yes of course sir” he says kindly as Harvey chuckles, already knowing that wouldn't be happening as he heads to the dining room, Bruce already in there.

“Hey Harv” Bruce says smiling as he stands up and pulls him into a hug, Harvey patting his back as Bruce then lets go and Harvey sets the folders on the table, sitting across from him as Bruce sits back down and opens the folders, reading the paperwork inside.

“Ok so after thoroughly checking over all the relative laws and regulations, there are several important standards you have to reach in order to foster children “ Harvey says,grabbing his own copies to point out the necessary information to Bruce.

“You need to prove you have a reliable source of income, and your home needs to be clean and child friendly “ Harvey says as Bruce nods, following along.

“You've got the funds to support all the foster kids in Gotham, they would have to plant trash in here to make it an unclean environment, and the mandatory training classes you have to take you'd pass with flying colors” Harvey says with a sigh, leaning back in his chair as Bruce frowns and looks up at his best friend.

“I'm sensing a but in that statement “ Bruce says quietly, no longer tapping on the table as Harvey grimaces and nods, pointing to the second page as Bruce reads the pages and groans, face palming.

“Your background check and health check would probably throw up a lot of red flags” he says as Bruce drops his head onto the table with a muffled thunk.

“Your stunts over the years has certainly left you with a history, and while I know you don't drink enough to even get tipsy, that's not what the public believes” he says unapologetically, smirking as Bruce lifts his head high enough only to thump it back down onto the table.

“I told you that playboy persona was gonna come back to bite you in the ass one day” Harvey says offhandedly, snickering at the glare Bruce shoots his way as he sits back up straight. His mouth twisted in a grimace as he glared at the paper like it had personally offended him.

“I wasn't planning on fostering any kids when I made it Harv” he grumbles rubbing his temples as Harvey tilts his head. A look of curiosity on his face.

“Yeah I've been meaning to ask about that, why are you so hell bent about fostering this kid anyway Bruce” he says looking at his long time friend for answers as Bruce stops and puts his hands in his lap.

“Because I don't want him to become like me Harvey” he whispers as Harvey flinches, understanding in his eyes as he looks at Bruce in a new light, the man picking at his cuticles as Harvey hums and nods.

“Well then, let's work on setting up your new image” he says grabbing his cell phone as Bruce now looks at him confused as Harvey grins.

“Oh c'mon don't give me that look, do you really think that any judge is gonna let Brucie Wayne adopt a kid, if we're gonna make this work then we need to change your image” Harvey says as Bruce catches on.

“That’s right, we're gonna turn you from Brucie Wayne, ditzy playboy billionaire, into Bruce Wayne himbo billionaire trying to use his wealth to make his city a better place” he says with a grin as Bruce grimaces.

“Hey Harvey”
”yeah Bruce?”
“Never call me a himbo again”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bruce would never tell Harvey unless under threat of death, but damn it he was right. Harvey had agreed to handle the paperwork that Bruce needed, while Alfred helped set up the classes he needed to take in order to even think about fostering as well as going over the manor with a fine toothed comb, renovating anything dangerous in the manor to be more child friendly, and Bruce set to work on changing his public image.

At first he felt like he was fighting an uphill battle, the board meetings and parties he went to the first few times people still talked to him like he was a brainless airhead, and yeah wow he didn't realize how much he hated that until now. At these events he acted more mature and knowledgeable, not enough to cause suspicion but enough that people started talking to him like an actual adult.

Next he turned his attention to his charities, he always provided money and resources to the different organizations, trying to do what he could while his attention was focused elsewhere but this time he doubled down. Now he was pouring even more money and effort into the charities that provide aid to the lower communities of his city, while also lobbying towards the city council for better infrastructure and maintenance.

He also set out to make Wayne enterprises and related companies a place where people would actually want to work for, and enjoy working at.

Better healthcare, a raise for all employees several times above minimum wage, scholarship opportunities for his employees' children, better maternity leave. He brought in workers from various branches, levels, and locations and got their opinions and comments, wanting to hear from them what else he could improve. Moral shot through the roof and so did productivity and damn ok he was not expecting that much profit from these changes. Who knew providing your employees with a livable wage and actually working to make them want to work was good for business.

It goes without saying he received heavy pushback from several board members as well as other companies, mostly because the money was going back to the people instead of their pockets and workers were jumping ship to come to his company, but for all he cared they could pound sand. They had been saying for years the measures he was taking wouldn't work and would tank their companies, Bruce couldn't help but be a little smug watching their lies come back to bite them.

True to Harvey’s word he did pass the mandatory classes with flying colors, his health check came back clean, and (after Harvey cashed in a few favors, some things just wouldn't be taken from his record legally) his background check passed as well.

Once all the paperwork came back signed, sealed, and approved Bruce set up a meeting with the director of the juvenile corrections office the very next day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dick grunts as he is roughly shaken awake by one of the staff members, rubbing his eyes as he glares at them. The night after crying his eyes out on the bat of Gotham’s chest Dick had taken to searching. Not much was known about it but what he could find said the bat attacked the villains of Gotham, beating them down and delivering them to GPD all but wrapped up in a bow. Dick couldn't understand why it had allowed him to sob like a baby against it but Dick had firmly decided he was going to pretend it never happened.

But something good had come out of his impromptu crying session, he came out with a cooler head that allowed him to think better, his mind now as clouded by anger as before. He thought back to the day of the disaster, trying to remember what had gone wrong, and it was in one of his trips down memory lane that he remembered the conversation he overheard, Dick was sure of it, that man had killed his parents, and he was going to find out why and make him pay.

Of course everything was easier said than done, he didn't know the man's name or what he looked like, the only thing he could remember was his voice.

So night after night, dressed in his old acrobats uniform and a makeshift mask he snuck out from the home, searching in the back alleys of Gotham for the man who had taken everything from him.

It…..was not going well, and his searches were turning up nothing and his anger was slowly growing back with each failed attempt, the lack of sleep certainly wasn't helping.

So this morning after another night of fruitless searching and less than three hours of sleep being woken up so roughly did not improve his mood as he sits up “what do you want” he snaps as the staff member glares back.

“Get dressed and make yourself look somewhat presentable circus brat, a very important guest is here to see you and you will be polite” he hisses storming out of the room as Dick grumbles and gets up, throwing on some clothes and combing his hair as he comes out and see the man waiting for him, roughly grabbing Dick's arm and dragging him along as Dick cursed and stumbles after him.

Once outside the visitor room the man stops and lets go of his arm, plastering on a big grin as he opens the door and leads him in. Dick looks in and spots a well dressed man awkwardly sitting in the plastic chair, sipping from a coffee cup. He looks over and gives Dick an awkward but genuine smile.

He stands up and comes over, Dick tilts his head back to look at him but looks surprised as the man kneels down to his height “hello there” he says.

“Uh hi” Dick says, ignoring the worker clearing his throat besides him as the man holds his hand out Dick looking at it then back to his face as he reaches out and grabs it.

“I'm Bruce Wayne, it's very nice to meet you,” he says, shaking his hand. “Uh I'm Dick Grayson mr. Wayne” he says before letting his hand go as the man stands back up to his full height.

“Would you like to sit and talk a bit” he asks, gesturing to the table, Dick thinks but then nods and follows the man to the table, sitting across from him as Mr. Wayne sits down.

“Any reason you wanted to speak with me Mr. Wayne?” He asks, tilting his head as the man nods.

“Well young man, I would like to foster you” he says gently as Dick looks surprised. Looking around to see if some other kid had happened to come in.

“You mean me” Dick says, pointing to himself as Mr. Wayne nods, taking another sip from his cup as Dick frowns and crosses his arms. “Why me, you don't know anything about me” he says glaring at the man. “Richard that is enough, don't be rude to Mr. Wayne” the worker behind him hisses but stops when Mr. Wayne holds his hand up.

“I know you're probably uncomfortable Dick, a strange man showing up and saying he wants to foster you would make anyone suspicious” he says, Dick leaning back as he listens.

“So that is why, as long as you agree, I'd like to meet three times a week to learn more about the other, at least for a month, and at the end, if you're still not thrilled about the idea, then I'll leave and you won't have to see me again “ he offers.

Dick hums as he leans back, thinking about it. Honestly Dick was a little surprised that his opinion was being taken into account, every adult he had met lately acted as if he was supposed to act like a pretty doll and got annoyed when he actually spoke out. “Fine,” he says, nodding his head and holding his hand out expectantly as the man smiles and reaches out, grabbing his hand and shaking it.

“You have a deal Mr. Wayne”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dick would admit that spending time with the prince of Gotham (that had been fun to learn about after their initial meeting) was actually pretty nice. Mr. Wayne took his opinion into account, would speak to him as an equal instead of someone lesser, and would listen to him ramble without interrupting.

Tonight Dick snuck out of his room with a pep in his step, that day Mr. Wayne had taken him to the Gotham zoo and listened as he rambled about the animals he used to care for in the circus, a small smile on his face that Dick pretended not to notice, and after that day Dick had set out in a better mood than normal.

He snuck through the streets, searching for any shady people wandering the streets (it was Gotham, everyone looked shady), when he spotted two men ducking into an alley, one man looking vaguely familiar as Dick climbs up onto a fire escape and hops over the gap to the other side, climbing down the ladder till he was a level above them but still hidden in the shadows, Dick sneaking closer to hear.

“You better have the stuff zucco, I'm not looking to get round housed by the bat tonight” one man hisses, constantly checking the sky and deeper into the alley, as if expecting the big bat to suddenly appear.

“Don't get your panties in a twist I've got it right here” the other man says as Dick freezes, his heart starting to race as the voice registers in his mind, his hands shaking in rage as he looks over the railing and locks on the man he thought he recognized, memorizing his features and watching until the two men finish their deal and then go their separate ways. Dick climbs down from the fire escape.

“I found you, I finally found you you bastard” Dick laughs, a manic grin filling his face as he clenched his hands into fist to keep them from shaking.

He looks up and jumps in surprise as he comes face to face with the bat of Gotham, its white eyes narrowed at him and his mouth pulled into a frown.

“Fuck don't sneak up on people” he snaps glaring back at the bat as it's wings wrapped around its body.

“What are you doing out here” he says, bypassing Dick's statement which ok rude much, Dick steps back as he reaches a clawed hand out to try and grab him “hands to yourself bat boy” Dick snaps.

“It's not safe out here pup, let me take you home” he huffs, reaching out to try and grab him again as Dick jumps back again.

“Im fine by myself, but I'm sure there's some pickpocket just waiting for you to swoop in and save the day so no” he huffs turning and starting to run off only to yelp as he's suddenly snatched up from behind and carried off into the air.

“You prick put me down” Dick shouts, wiggling around as the bat grumbles and with a mighty flap of his wings, Dick gasping as he stops struggling once they are truly airborne. He hears the bat chuckle and fights not to kick him as they soar through the buildings of Gotham.

Dick looks up and gasps as he feels the wind through his hair, the chill air against his cheeks as he watches in wide eyed wonder as they soar through the sky, gazing at the streets down below.

He hears the bat hum but doesn't pay him any mind as he laughs, his laughter growing as the bat starts to weave around the buildings, his powerful wings moving silently through the air.

Dick didn't realize how much he missed being in the air till now, and he almost cried when his orphanage came into view and the bat landed, gently setting him down.

“What the hell, you don't just pick up people and carry them around” Dick huffs crossing his arms as he glares at the bat, who just hums and steps back.

“Stay off the street, it's not safe for pups” the bat orders, ignoring as Dick shoots him the bird and flies off into the night, Dick goes back to his room, already planning his next search now that he has a lead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bruce felt like he was about to have an anxiety attack once he got back to the cave, seeing little Dick Grayson roaming the streets of Gotham, no armor, no protection and hiding right above an active drug deal it had taken everything not to swoop down and snatch up the (his) boy.

He hated having to take the boy back to that place, wanting nothing more than to bring him to the manor (where it was safe, it wasn't safe out there, the pup was to far away) but knew that would grant him no favors, and all the progress he made in gaining Dick’s trust would be erased in an instant.

“Welcome back Master Bruce” Alfred greets him as soon as he enters the cave, landing and removing his suit and dressing in the clothes he kept in the cave, Alfred setting down a plate of sandwiches and a glass of water as Bruce sits down in front of the computer.

“Thank you Alfred” Bruce mutters off handedly as he grabs one of the sandwiches and starts eating, Alfred looking at him with a raised eyebrow as he looks at the young man closer.

“Did something happen sir?” Alfred asks as Bruce frowns and sets the sandwich down, rubbing his face as he turns around to face the older man.

“I found Dick Grayson roaming around the streets in nothing but his acrobat costume and a homemade mask” he says as Alfred frowns watching as Bruce turns back to the computer.

“He was looking for something, and I heard him say he had finally found someone, i think he's been looking for his parents murderer, God Alfred he didn't have any protection, he didn't have any armor, he could have gotten hurt” Bruce stresses, Alfred keeping his mouth shut but giving Bruce a pointed look behind his back.

“Well, there is nothing more you can do right now Master Bruce, please finish your sandwiches and then head off to bed, you do have a meeting in the morning” Alfred says as Bruce sighs and nods.

Alfred heads upstairs, not noticing as Bruce instead powers up the computer and types in the name Tony Zucco.