part 26 of de aged Bruce part 1
The movies were as good as they remembered them being, but now it was accentuated by the excited explaining by little Bruce.
They would ask questions they already knew the answer to, just to see him get happy he gets to explain it to them, all of the previous mysteries that had been hinted at, easter eggs that showed up, people's names from other cases.
Bruce was almost unstoppable once he started explaining all of it to someone. To the point he would sometimes stumble in his words and forget what the explanation had started with.
At the start he had apologised when the movie had to be paused from his talking, but now, 2 movies in, he was an unstoppable force.
Maybe it was all of the follow up questions that spurred him on, or the fact that his eyes almost seemed to glow when he noticed all of them avidly listening to him explaining everything to them.
It wasn't a surprise when, on the third movie, he was laying against Cass more than he was sitting. His eyes fighting a losing battle against his eyelids. The medicine he had to take was slowly working it's way around his system, making him more and more tired.
The soft light of the dusk poured in from the large windows. Bruce had woken up just after noon, and all the fast food and snacks had become both a lunch and early dinner. "You wanna go to bed, Chickadee?" Dick asked, crouching down to look at Bruce fully.
The sudden questioned sparked a little light in his eyes, but they still remained half open. "Nooo, I'm not tired yet." He rubbed his eyes, frowning slightly when the split's rough edges scraped against the skin.
"We'll watch the rest tomorrow." Jason hinted. Also noticing how the the fatigue was finally setting in for the rest of them as well. Tim's eyes were becoming unfocused, and Cass was laying her head comfortably against Bruce's, leaning snuggly against the soft couch and Steph by her side.
Their oldest might have been able to seem awake to someone like baby Bruce, but to Jason, he looked like he was dead on his feet. It wouldn't be a surprise that he would fall asleep the second he sat down in a chair again. He had been sitting on the arm of the couch for most of the last movie so he wouldn't get too comfortable, but still swayed slightly until he noticed Bruce. "Yeah B, We'll watch the rest tomorrow hm?"
Dick was using his deeper register. The same trick big Bruce used to do to them when they were fighting sleep when they were kids. His deep voice was like a warm blanket, promising comfort and safety. He would only use it to scared kids out in the field, or when he was tired enough.
It was the one of the times he feel more like a dad than a leader.
It seemed it worked in reverse too.
Baby Bruce yawned so big, he frowned from the extra pressure the big breath put in his chest and stomach. It spread around the room, each of them either yawning or fighting one.
Jason wanted to laugh as he saw Dick clenching his jaw to stop his own yawn. His eyes wandered across the room, seeing Damian curled up in the big chair he usually claimed as his own. His posture was lax as he was snoozing quietly, his mouth slightly open and his chest rising and falling calmly.
Finally relaxed enough to let his body and mind rest.
With Bruce finally safe in a familiar, it was like the pieces had fallen back into their righteous place. Even though nothing could really be returned to before.
Bruce had already shown them too much of his heart now. The last few days had been a peak into a version of Bruce none of them had been privy to before, even though it was obvious when compared to how he had raised them.
Bruce never got to eat what he liked and wanted to, he never said no if the kids asked if they could have something.
Bruce never got to experience things like the zoo, carnivals, field trips or theme parks, Bruce always tried to make time if there was something the kids wanted to try.
Bruce never got the chance to be anything other than was was expected of him even before he was born, Bruce would try his best to support any decision the kids took, even if he didn't fully agree.
Before he knew it, Dick was tapping his shoulder, while the other supported baby Bruce against his chest. He pointed towards Damian with his free hand, and scrunched his nose with a smile.
Jason smiled, and moved to get up. Taking their other little one in his arms, he followed behind his brother up the stairs and through the maze of corridors towards the master bedroom.
With the help of Duke and Cass earlier in the day, the sheets had been replaced with a softer cotton to be more comfortable on Bruce's body. Older Bruce used a weighted blanket, but that would be too heavy for his younger version. So a breathable cotton would have to do.
It seemed Bruce's sleepy state was overpowering his usual polite formalness, as Dick leaned down to place him on the bed, his arm wrapped around his neck, forcing him in place. Damian flopped down unceremoniously on the other side of the bed as Jason huffed a laugh at the other's predicament.
"I'll get a book, maybe he'll let you go when he relaxes a bit more." By the tired smile he got in return, the older seemed to be thankful for the suggestion.
As he wandered the hallway back towards the library, he was met by the rest of his family, or most of them at least. Some of the energy had returned to them, but Cass was still stretching the rest of the tiredness out of her.
"We'll take care of patrol tonight." Steph said, flicking off a rouge popcorn left in a crease on her shirt.
"You sure?" He walked towards a section of the bookshelves he had claimed as his own. Most of them were his personal favourites and if not they were one of the others'. Treasure Island seemed like a good choice for tonight.
"Yeah, we actually got some rest since that mission."
Jason raised an eyebrow at Cass, who had been staying restlessly by Bruce's bedside much like himself. She simply shrugged and began walking towards the clock.
"She's been restless for a while, getting out the rest of that energy might be good, we won't be out for long either way."
The usual activity through the city had almost entirely died, the gangs had pulled most if not all of their men back, in fear of the Bat's wrath from the recent events. Slowly, the rest of the city felt the effects as well, no one wanted to step out of line if not even the crime lords of the city wanted to.
"Fine. Report directly to me if something comes up. I think Dickie needs the night off."
"Or the week off." Duke saluted as he turned around and went through the clock opening.
Steph looked towards the clock as well, but soon turned to face the other. "Get some rest as well Jay. Some actual rest."
As he began his walk back, he saw the soft light of lamps coming from the movie room. Guess he found the missing member.
Tim was slumped in the couch, fallen to the side as the rest of the members had left. Jason balanced the book against his stomach and reached underneath his legs and back. A testament to his tiredness, Tim barely stirred from the shift.
Finally arriving back to the bedroom, he didn't know what he expected really, of course, a sleeping Dick had taken to half kneeling on the floor with his upper body leaning against the bed while Bruce's arms were still wrapped around his neck.
Stepping up on the bed, he placed Tim in the centre, before wandering over and prying Bruce's lax arms away from Dick and moving him close Tim.
Last but not least, he moved Dick up on the bed as well, again it was quite the warning sign that none of them were waking up from the amount of movement that was happening.
When everyone was finally laying more comfortably, Jason took his place on the outer edge beside Dick and cracked open the book.
Before the first chapter was over, he had melted down into the pillows and his eyes had lost their battle.
The ones patrolling had joined them one by one. Steph taking up space beside Damian while Cass rolled up at the bottom and Duke took the giant chair beside the bed.
The sound of peacefully sleeping children filled the air.
part 27
~~~~
Been wandering around in nature a lot because I have a week of freedom before being enlisted. My parents live in the country side where there's a lot of nature and almost no people, so I've been going on 2 hour walks with the family dog just listening to music and taking pictures.
I recommend the song 'Dream in Sea Major' it's like being transported to a different realm.
Tag, you’re it. @suzzettemirunette @lwklillies @sluttyspicystem @sanctum-1993 @wubbie-1 @spikysilhouette @6xofim @wishiwaswritingrn @occasionalauthoring @nugget-72 @thefandomlifechoseus @6xofim @kira-nightingale @ace-wuz-here @nikiexe0 @lilacswraith @treymeow @bi-all-known-laws-of-aviation @banenaz @gimm3storie5 @cajogi @yoopsity @cyraniadebergerac @elemen0pe-blog @flamingfeathers98 @superblyscentedflower @ryudenzu @bat-potato @purplederpleghost @generousnightfury @teamfoods1
