Chapter 8: Visiting Hours
Summary: Danny gets to go to the library, Jason meets the baby, Dicks co workers thought they saw this coming, and Clark talks to the boys.
This chapter took a while but here it is!
Warning this chapter dose include this Fics mandatory dick joke but its one and pretty short.
Ok Serious warnings, This chapter includes more mentions of Dannys injuries, References to past child abuse and trauma. This chapter also includes a bit of self digression. If any of this makes you uncomfortable please feel free to skip.
Dick woke up with a yawn. As he stretched his arms up over his head, he felt a weight tug and wiggle against his side. Looking down, he spotted a mop of messy jet black hair, sticking up off his son's (and yes dick had made that mental leap dammit) head as if defying gravity. After Danny’s display of power and their talk with Clark, Danny refused to let Dick leave his sight. He thought it was cute the way Danny clung to him.
The kid had obviously been touched-starved, melting at any sign of affection and Dick was glad to provide it last night but… But this morning he had to go into the station. He had already skipped yesterday and he could only have so many “family emergencies” in one year. Gordon would have his head if he was late.
Wait…. frick! Who was going to watch Danny? All his brothers either had school or work. Cass had a case she was working on, same with Steph, he… he can’t leave him with Jason. Don’t get him wrong, he loves Jaylad but they aren’t on the best of terms at the moment. B would drop whatever he had in a heartbeat but he can’t just leave Danny with Bruce. Danny can barely coexist in the man’s presence. He can’t ask Al. He’s got too much on his plate already.
Well, only one option left. Looks like he's gotta call Babs.
And as if on cue, seriously could Danny read his mind? Danny’s eyes flutter open as he pushes himself up. “ Pa? Good morning” Danny grumbles sleepily.
“Morning, North Star,” he ruffles Danny’s hair, sending the already chaotic mess in every direction. His chest swelling at the name. Danny had called him papa last night as he drifted off, it seemed like it stuck. “How would you feel if you got to spend the next few days hanging out at a library while I’m at work?”
“A library!? We can go! Really?” Danny shot up, eyes lighting up with excitement, the boy curls in a little pulling tension away from his stitches.
“Yes, buddy! Imma ask if my friend can watch ya for a bit. She works at the library. I'm sure she would love to have you.” Dick grabbed his phone.
Of course I would love to watch Danny
You know what, whatever, thanks a ton babs I owe ya!
You can pay me back by making sure you pack that kid a lunch when you send him
“ She said yes, we’re in the clear little man.” He ruffled the boy's hair again only for him to squeak in retaliation, but did not actually pull away from the touch. Dick hopped out of bed, wandering over to his closet as Danny hung on to his sleeve as he floated behind him.
Dick laid out the pieces of his uniform on his bed. Then he reached over by the night stand and pulled a bag off of the floor. Out of it, he pulled out a t-shirt that had a cartoon bear made of stars and a pair of sweatpants. He also laid out Danny some clean underwear and socks. Duke had dropped the bag off this morning, apparently he stopped by a little mom and pop clothing store that morning when he ran out to grab something for Al. Why the store was open at 4:30 am Dick will never know. Danny hovered, peaking over Dicks shoulder as he arranged their outfits for the day.
“Ok Danny, can you take your shirt off so I can clean your stitches?” Danny curled himself into a ball mid air, defensively clutching the shirt he had on in his hands. He was still so protective over his chest, he had trusted dick enough to sleep next to him but not to clean his wounds? “ We just need to clean the area with some alcohol wipes.I promise no more, no less.” He raised his hands into the air showing the pack of alcohol pads he held in one hand and the dry gauze in the other.
“Promise?” Danny asked, his voice low and soft. Like if someone overheard him the world would crumble.
“Yes, of course.” Dick thought for a minute about the boy's past instances about doing anything related to his chest himself.”Tell ya what, how about we do it together? Would it make you feel better if you got help?” Danny nodded. Dick scooped the boy out of the air and into his arm and made his way to the bathroom attached to his bedroom.
The rest of the boys' morning went relatively smoothly. Danny’s stitchings looked good. He let Danny dress himself in the bathroom. While he got into uniform, on the other side of the door in the room to give him some privacy, Dick helped Danny comb his hair, and then the boys brushed their teeth and headed down stairs. When they got downstairs, Alfred had packed Danny a To-go bag. It was in a black drawstring that Damian had brought home from school one day. Al had packed him lunch and some snacks. Dick couldn’t thank him enough.
Danny scarfed down his breakfast and he and Dick were off, borrowing Cass's car (she had picked up a car seat) and making their way to Gotham library.
James was having a lovely morning, he really was. Shoot, he even decided that he was going to walk to the station this morning. You know, exercise and all that jazz. However, that nice peaceful morning was thrown out the window when Officer Grayson pulled up by the library as he was walking past.
Grayson just pulling up wasn't what ruined his morning. No, in fact, James thought Dick was a swell guy. It was when he walked around to his back seat and pulled out a kid ! Like a whole ass child. Young too, no way it was his youngest brother. And the kid was small, so very small. When did Bruce Wayne pick up a new kid? Was this the family emergency he called out for? His dad scooping up another kid? Grayson didn't even live at home any more. Why was it his problem?
“ Star shine if you don't calm down, you're gonna float away at this rate,” Dick giggled at the boy in his arms.
“But papa, I can't help it!” The boy jumped for joy as Dick set him down to lead him up the steps. “Do you think they're gonna have a book on the Mars rovers?” Wait a minute, Papa. Shit this wasn't just some kid his dad picked up, this was Grayson's kid. When the hell did he have a kid? He looked like he was what, maybe 3, and to his knowledge, Dick was still sleeping around.
“Ok Danny, one sec. Can I get a picture?” The boy, whose name is Danny apparently, whipped around an eager expression on his face, “ I'll be fast, promise. Then you can go have your day with Aunty Barbara.”
“Ok but just a quick one!” Danny smiled for the camera holding on to the straps of a drawstring backpack with excitement.
“ Ok got it! Have fun and be good, ok? If you need anything, you can have Babs call me, ok?” the boy nodded in agreement. “I'll come get you after work.” With that, Barbra opens the door to the library, gestring for the small boy to follow her inside. Dick walks back to his car, glancing over his shoulder at the library one more time before driving off.
James stood on the sidewalk, blankly staring off into space, trying to process what he had just witnessed. By the time he snapped out of it and checked his phone, there was no way he was going to make it to the station on time. There went his peaceful morning as now he was going to have to run to work!
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Danny followed the women through the doors and into the library. His core was humming with excitement as he tried his best to keep his feet on the ground. Danny took a moment to take in the size of the library, the multiple floors lined with books seeming to stretch for miles. He hopped in place, flapping his hands so fast he might generate enough lift to get him off the ground with that alone.
“Glad to see you're excited,” the woman chucked off to the side as she shut the door. “ Honestly you might give Jason a run for his money.”
“Which ones Jason agia-” Danny cut himself off as he turned to face Barbra. Her hair was red, like the warm tones of a sunset. Fuzzy memories danced through Danny's head of smiles and kind words, of safety, of warmth. He felt himself lift into the air; shoot, he wasn't supposed to do that. But she nevered cared. The one who made sure he got the feed. The one who sat by his side and held his hand when the yelling was too loud. He can't. Why can't he remember her name? Why did she leave? This isn't her. this woman's different. She's not-
“Danny, are you ok?” She asked in a calm voice, a hand outstretched,offering for him to take it. Danny scans her up and down, noticing the woman is on wheels, yet despite that Gotham wraps around her. She is one of hers so she's safe. She has to be safe. “ Danny, it's ok. I'm here.”
Danny’s core screamed SAFE, LONGING, SAFE, TRUST, LIKE HER.
So Danny takes her hand, letting her guide him back to the ground. When his feet make contact, he remembered to breathe. “Your chair is cool.” He blurts out trying to break the tension.
“ I..oh.. my.. pfff” she chuckles, placing her hand over mouth in a attempt to hold the laughter in. A gentle smile settles on her face, “Are you alright? You kinda froze.”
“Yhea I’m sorry,” Danny tugs on the strings of the backpack, twirling them in his fingers. “ You just reminded me of someone for a sec. I'm sorry.”
To Danny’s relief, she seemed to move on from it pretty fast. “ We’ll let's get you set up for the day, hm? “ she rolled over to a group of tables set up behind the front desk of the library. It was probably meant so people could sit in the library to study. “ You can pick a table and set up shop. That way if you need me, I’ll be right here,” she gestured over to the raised front desk, “ Dick said you like to read,so if there’s anything you would like I would be more than happy to help you find it.”
Barbra took her place at the desk while Danny set up. He hung his bag on the back of his chair, pulling out the metal thermos of water he had been sent with. He placed it on the table so he would have it when he needed it. He remembered someone always nagging him that he needed to drink more water( as well as get more sleep, and study ect.) He asked her where the astronomy section was. She pointed him in the direction and off he marched. Scanning the shelf of slightly dusty books at his eye level, he still wanted to see if he could find a book on rovers.
When the books at eye level didn't seem to hold what he was looking for, Danny looked around, making sure no one else would see him forfeit gravity. He lifted into the air sitting with his legs crossed as he scanned the shelf. When he found a book, cataloging the building and launch of Spirit and Opportunity, the book was big, about the same size as his whole torso. But Danny didn't care, as he landed back on the ground and made his way back to the table with his new treasure.
Danny laid the book out on the table, his core humming with content excitement. He hadn't gotten to read much lately; not from what he could remember. So he buried his nose in his book, the sound of thunder rolling gently over the library.
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The day dragged on and on and Barbra was busier than she thought. Between helping Signal on his patrol and the watch parts that Tim sent her, she got pretty busy. So busy in fact that Danny pretty much went ignored all afternoon. Not that he seemed to mind. The boy sat at the table taking books back and forth from the self to the table. Even after Barba informed him he could just leave them on the cart and she would get them.
One or two other people stopped by early afternoon, Danny seeming to tense when he was walking by. Sad really,the poor boy. “Excuse me miss,” a male voice called from the front of the counter.
“Oh yes I’m sorry. How may I help you.” She tucked away the Tech she was working on.
“I need some help finding a book? I went and checked the cards but I can’t find it on the self.” The man in his 50s explained politely.
“I’ll be more than happy to help you find it. what book are you looking for?”
Jason sat in his apartment reading a book on his couch, a rare occasion these days. But something itched at the back of his mind. This weird desire to go, protect, help. But where, Jason had no idea. He felt so restless.
He pulled out his phone scrolling threw last night’s group chat. His brother brought home a kid. Planned to keep sucker too; the whole family worked out his cover story late last night from the sound of it, though he was in pretty bad shape. He hated it when people targeted kids. He wouldn’t stand for it.
Wait,Babs said she was gonna watch him right? Maybe if Jason met the kid, he could get a lead on who’s skull he needs to cave in for thinking they can get away with torturing children. Maybe it will quit this never ending itch to go do something .
Jason changes into his civis, still Bolstering a leather jacket and a hidden gun. He hops on his bike and sets off for Gothams library.
“Danny, what are you doing!” Barbra calls as she returns to the front of the library only to see Danny at the table tinkering with the watch. The busted watch that Tim had sent her because he couldn’t fix it.
“I…I!” Danny stuttered and froze a screwdriver in his hand.
Barbra Rolled over and snatched the device from the boy.” Danny! that could be dangerous what were you-“ she looks at the watch in her hand. The now fixed and working watch is in her hands. “Danny did you?”
“I’m *hic* sorry please I. I just wanted. Help” Danny started sniffing, tears falling down his cheeks as he held his arms up to shield himself. Did? Did he think she was going to hit him? Oh no.
“Danny I’m sorry for yelling. You fixed it! That’s amazing!” She set a hand gently on his, guiding his arms back into his lap. “ I was just worried you could have hurt yourself. I’m sorry for snapping.” He held his eye shut,still leaning away like he was waiting, waiting for something Barbra would never dare do. “How did you know how to fix it? Do you like fixing stuff like this?”
“I’m sorry I just….” His breath was shaky as he opened his eyes and fiddled with his hands. “ I just. I fix stuff, I like to fix stuff I used to help sometimes I just.” His breath picking up again almost to the point of hyperventilating.
“Hey it’s ok. Thank you for helping me. I appreciate it. How about next time you just ask first ok?”
“ Ok how about we have some lunch hmm? I heard Al packed it. He would be sad if you didn’t eat it.”
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The van is definitely connected to Danny. The watch that me and Tim couldn’t figure out. The kid just fixed it in the 10 minutes it took for me to help someone find a book.
Dick walked in through the front doors giving the receptionist a polite nod as he made his way to the check-in clock.
“Officer Grayson! Good to see you’ve made it in time.” The commissioner called from his office that was down the hall from where the check-in clock was, his door wide open.
“Yhea, I’m sorry about yesterday,” Dick gave the man an apologetic smile, “ I had a bit of a situation I had to take care of.”
“ It’s quite alright, emergencies happen. However Officer Grayson, your reports are still due by the end of the night.” The older man said, his voice gave away no malice.
“Yes sir. I’ll be sure to have them in.” Great. Now he would have to stay cooped up at the station. He was hoping to at least get to go on patrol. After all, he wanted to swing by that alley in the daylight to look for any more clues to where Danny had come from. From the looks of it, he was gonna have to see if Duke could make time.
Hours rolled on with Dick filling out his reports and paperwork. And on top of that, he was also reviewing some of his colleagues’ reports as well. A few of Gothams police officers aren’t above tweaking reports for their own gain.
“Hey Grayson, so when were you gonna show us your little guy?” James leaned up against the side of Dick’s desk leaning on both of his arms. Dick quickly closed the reports he had been checking.
“Ok wait, hold on there Kirk, first of all, I don’t typically swing that way. Second of all, we’re at work man. I’m not just gonna whip it out. Third of all-“
“No! Oh my God,no. Your kid man! When were you gonna tell us you had a kid? “ The sudden shout had caught the attention of all of the officers in the office space.
“I um uhh-“ Dick stumbled over what to say. What in the world was Officer Kirk talking about.
“Grayson has a kid!?” one of the other officers rushed his desk. “Since when?”
“Guys I-” James cut Dick off again.
“Must have been for a hot minute . Saw him dropping the kid off at the library. Kids gotta be like 3 or 4.” Shit this wasn't happening, not yet. Dick was gonna claim Danny anyway but he hoped he had more time to get the paperwork in order for the cover story.
“Look guys I just,” the other officers gathered around his desk. Those who weren't were doing a terrible job at pretending they weren't listening.
“I wanna see the baby!” Georgia rushed his desk, pushing through the small group to get to the front.”Show us a picture!”
Dick stuck his hands up in the air leaning back in his chair away from the ecstatic women who rushed his desk. “ He’s not exactly a baby, guys.”
“I don’t care, you do have photos don’t you?” Of course dick had photos he took plenty yesterday but those were the only ones he had. But if he had all those photos of Dami he always showed, and none of his supposed son.
Dang it photos it was. “ Fine, fine just give me a second.” Dick pretended like he couldn’t find the photo app given him enough time to send a text saying that whatever cover story they had they were going to have to stick to it because the cats were out of the bag. “Oh and here we go!” He turned his phone around the image of Danny he took this morning on his screen.
A rupture of coos and complaints followed. “He looks just like you!” she leaned into the phone. “ his nose is different though and his freckles! Oh my look at him!”
“What's all this commotion?” Gordan barked as he made his way into the office space.
“ oh nothing just that Grayson has been hiding the cutest little munchkin.” Officer Georgia Leimon bounced on her heels.
“ A munchkin?” The commissioner questioned. Dick wasn’t exactly hiding Damian, in fact he showed him off like a-
“Yhea Grayson has joined the dad club.” Kirk added. “How the mighty have fallen.”
“Get back to work, all of you.” He said exasperated, dick felt him, sometimes the station felt more like a high school then a police station with all the drama.
“ Grayson, may I talk to you?” The commissioner asked, a hand placed on his shoulder after everyone had gone about their business.
“Yes sir,” dick stood, his stance slumped. He was so tired his muscles were still aching from the bust before he found Danny. His shoulder felt awkward in its socket where Danny had grabbed him in panic.
Gordan led dick back to his office, closing the door Behind him. “ you look tired son,” gordan said gesturing for dick to sit down on the opposite side of his desk. Dick took him up on the offer.
“You have no idea,” dick chuckled to himself. It's not the first time dicks come to work half dead and most likely won't be the last. Especially not until they figure out where Danny came from.
“I understand new babies can be hard, if you-” the older man began.
“Dannys not a baby,” dick released a breath sinking into the chair. “ He's about 6 actually, I only found out about him the other day.”
“Oh? If you don't mind me asking why only now. I know you well enough to know if you did have a kid you would never shut up about him.”
Here go’s nothing, dick pulls out his phone, sending the group chat a quick text saying the story made its way to Gordon. Then he pulls up the photo album he had( yea he already made Danny his own folder sue him) of danny on his phone. Handing the phone to the older man. “ I met his mother when we're teenagers, she never told me she got pregnant. After a bit she just cut contact I just figures she was done with me. Apparently, she had Danny in secret and married some guy. “ Dick elapsed his hand over his knees. “She didn't want Danny but I guess she felt obligated to keep him, lets just say that didn't exactly lead to the best environment.”
“So how did you find out about him?” the older man asked gently. Gordan could tell by looking at the boy that he was not well taken care of. He was small for a boy his age, And his wrist to thin, his eyes had heavy bags, and his skin was pale.
“ His uncle took him, rescued him even. Then the guy called me, I have no idea how he got my number. He called me saying that he had my son and he was bad and he needed me.” Dick began to fidget with the sleeve of his uniform. “ Even if there was a chance Danny wasn't mine I couldn't just leave this kid there so I drove to meet him the night before I called off. When I got there I just knew, I took one look at him and knew he was mine.” A soft smile crossed his lips,” took him for a check up and the blood work all but confirmed it.”
“and when you say he wasn’t in the best environment, is that affecting him?” Gordon handed dick his phone content with the pictures he saw.
“You have no idea,” dick chuckled grimly. “ obviously other than the lack of nutrition and him being way too small for his age, he’s kind of sickly and his socialization is totally messed up. He’s clingy and easily scared. He doesn’t really understand normal social cues. And that not even getting in to all the signs of abuse-“ dick stops himself
“I’m sorry that sounds difficult ,” Gordon try to reassure him.
“Yeah I just… I just wish I got to him sooner” dick couldn’t bring himself to look the older man in the eyes. He was supposed to be a cop, he was supposed to be a hero, yet Danny managed to slip through the cracks. Something so terrible happened right under his nose.
“Don’t beat yourself up Grayson, you couldn’t have know. What matters is you're here for him now.”
“Yeah well we’re on the topic I really need my weekend off, you know normally I don’t mind coming in but we’re still trying to get him settled.”
“Yes of course, if you don’t mind me asking where is he now?”
“He’s actually spending the day with Barbra at the library, little man loves books.” Dick smile returns his shoulders releasing some tension he didn’t realize he was holding.
“Perfect, I was going to go out to dinner with her anyway. We can go together. I would love to meet your son.”
“Yeah ok,” dick said, doing his best not to internally panic. “Just um come get me when you're ready to head out I dove today.”
“Of course,” he got up, walking out of the office and shutting the door behind him.
Jason’s head was fuzzy, something rumbling in his chest. He parks his bike behind the library tucked away from prying eyes. He locks it just in case.
He then walked to the front, something scratching at his mind to go. Something telling to find. No matter what he did he was having a hard time ignoring it as the storm that had been brewing finally decided to drizzle. Forcing him to the entrance faster in fear of being soaked. As he crosses the threshold he spy’s a suspicious amount of tennagers all cluttered around the tables that take up the library’s open space. One of the schools must be doing a big project or something. Danny is nowhere to be seen amongst the hoards of students. He sends a wave to babs who seem Stuck helping groups of teens find books. She shoots him a smile and then gives a nod Towards one of the isles of books.
That must be where Danny went. As Jason makes his way through the strangely dimly lit corridor, the static in his head reduces itself to a soft hum in the back of his ears. He sees a small figure in the distance back turned as they gaze off into Gotham's dark stormy sky through a bay window. As he moves forward quietly and slowly, he doesn't realize he's holding his breath until a cool chill shocks him forcing him to take a gasp of air. Before Jason can even blink-
Something metal crashes in his skull as he fumbles to catch it in his surprised state. Holding the object in his hand, he realizes that it is one of Tim's thermoses. Did? Did the kid just throw a thermos at his head… he slowly trails his gaze back to the window. Ice blue eyes staring into his soul. The boy before him propping himself up on one hand, his other still outstretched like it froze the minute the metal container left his hand. He's panting his whole body shaking like a newborn foul. Princkling cold stabs at the back of his neck. The noise in his head screaming mine, scared, fix, mine.
Thunder rolls threw the clouds outside the window framing the boy's shaky state. O̴̙͑ú̸̮r̸̝̈́ś̷̠ ̶͕̍ . The static from the storm corrects. A presser Jason was holding in his chest released as Danny leaned back still shaking but instead of fear, it was with the strain of holding back tears. Jason stepped forward, his hand out reached and Danny leaned in to meet it . A silent conversation passes between the two as they make contact.
They said nothing yet everything as Jason continued forward his body meeting Danny's at the seat to the bay window as he pulled the boy into a hug. If Jason could he would shield him forever. Something deep inside him sang. This boy was important, this boy was home, this boy was meant to be safe. As Danny went slack with exhaustion, Jay loosened his grip, sliding off his jacket and draping it over the child's shoulders. Pulling the kid into his chest as he joins him on the soft surface, gently guiding his head to rest in his chest.
Tears trickled down Danny's face as he tugged on Jay's shirt. “ I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry.” the boy mumbles softly and Jasons knows it's not just about the thermos that he threw at him. It is deeper, a sorrow that Jason feels with every fiber of his being as Danny's hand easily finds the spot on his head where the crowbar hit him, to the center if his autopsy is scar, even without being able to see it. He feels seen, an apology so sincere ,as Jason rubs his hands along Danny back doing his best to get the boy to sleep.
“Me to kid, me to.” Jason finally manages to choke out as the kids' eyes flutter shut. Jason takes his other hand as wipes away his cold tears from the boy's cheeks. The rain pattering against the window pain. Jason welcomes the sound like an old friend.
After all the rain had been the first thing to greet him as he clawed his way out of the dirt. When his lungs were full of soil and he couldn't even scream, it had been the rain that came to welcome him.
Jason's eyes finally felt heavy danny's bone deep
exhaustion becoming contagious, for the first time since he clawed his way out his grave His head is quiet. He goes to close Danny's abandoned book. A white flower adorns the page.
These flowers are often left at graves as a sign of grief and lamentation……
His eyes trail the first few lines and he shuts the book. A deep Sigh escaped his chest. With the rain, his new nephew and the newfound silence, for the first time he truly rests.
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Clark hovered in front of Lois’s door unsure of how to break the current situation to Jon. He already called Lois the other night telling her to keep the boy home from school and he had been pretty bummed. He always looks forward to his classes with Damian now that they both went to Gotham Academy. But how does he explain this? Even he doesn't have all the details. Kon already shut down according to ma locking himself in his room, culled up under his covers. He doesn't want to freak out jon too, but he needs to make sure he doesn't go sneaking off.
Lois flings the door open eyeing Clark with a disappointment look, “ please don't tell me buces is
Brooding is contagious. Is not a very fitting look for you boy scout.”
Clark lets out a strained chuckle. Things may have not worked out between them but she would always be a dear friend to Clark. “Bruce's boys said the same thing, “ he lets out as sighs some of the tension in his shoulder relaxing at the exhale.
“Do you wanna come in? Jon said you've been standing here for like 5 minutes.” a slight tinge of worry creeping into her voice.
“Yes that would be nice thank you,” Clark crosses through the doorway only to be slammed in to by Jon. He pulls him in to a big hug but he can hear the boy's heart quiver with worry. “Why hello there, it's good to see you too baby.” Clark chuckles as he rubs the boys hair playfully.
“Dad! Why can't we go to Gotham? I was supposed to have a sleepover this weekend with dami.And what about school?” Jon pulled back, pouting slightly.
“Well I have good news about that, but I umm…” Clark rubs at the back of his neck, “I also have some bad news, I think we should sit for this.”
Lois guided the two to her living room, Jon clinging to Clark's trousers with anxiety. As they walked around the well-loved sofa to take a seat.
“ What's going on Clark,” Lois finally breaks the silence that had fallen upon the room, her interviewing gaze forced upon Clark. He hated being on the receiving end of that glare, it's pointed and demanding despite its polite appearance.
“Well let's start with the bad news,” clack leaned forward lacing his hands together, “ we think we found another clone.”
Lois flinched, “ ok that's bad news but I don't see how that bars you from going to Gotham, shouldn't you be there to help handle it?”
“No because it's not just a clone,” he glances at his little boy knowing that if he kicked him out he would only listen in, “ we believe he was used to test and exploit Kryptonian weakness. He also has a different power build then me, Jon or conner.He.... was left abound in an alley, there was a lot of blood, and a note, but no body. We have no idea where he came from.”
“Why do you think he was being tested on? Did he say so?”
“He’s… shoot Lois… he’s covered in scars from head to toe, he thinks you play tag with guns, and they…”
“They vivisected him, and put a piece of that damn green rock inside of him. It’s in his bloodstream,when he bleeds it contains green flecks. We can’t even get him properly tested because he’s terrified.” Clark squeezed his hands together, his knuckles going white, “ and on top of all that they kept him a child, he didn’t get aged up like Conner did.”
“How..how old is he?” A new voice called from the entryway to the kitchen. It was Kon, shock in his tear stained face and his fist shook at his sides.
“Oh my baby boy”, Clark called, stretching his arms out for Conner to join him.
Conner did not come closer.
“Six at most, but he's small,so very small.” Clark gestures about Danny’s height.
Tears once again fall down Conner's cheeks he collapses forward into Clark’s arms. He lets him sit there and sob as he brings his hands up to hold him.
“But dad, you said there was good news?” Jon tugs at his shirt, his voice begging for a twinge of hope.
“Good news is, he bounded with Dick so he is in the care of the bats.” Lois made a sound of agreement, the gears in her head clearly turning. “ and he and Dick are coming to the farm this weekend, I'm sure if I ask Damian can come along.”
Jon gave Clark a weak smile clearly still worried but doing his best to look on the bright side.
“Does he have a name?” Lois asked,” leaning back in her chair, hand on her chin.
“Danny, his name is Danny.”
“Yhea well when we find the fuckers who did this to Danny… they're gonna have hell to pay.” Kon muttered in to his chest.
And for all Clarck was a Boy Scout, he couldn’t help but agree.
Tim sat at his desk in his office, his head in his hands. He can’t focus. He had even more blood to test when he got back to the cave, Duke swung by the crime scene to do some ground work.
His prognosis, little sign of struggle, little actual blood, the rain having rinsed most of it, and one way out. No other massive clues. Even his ghost vision had picked up very little, only being able to as far back as when dick found Danny.
If only they had known sooner, if only it never went this far. If only there were just a little bit faster.
But that was Tim’s life wasn’t it, it’s never enough. Something always slips through the cracks.
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Dick was tense the whole time on the way to the library, the commissioners following behind him in his own car at least.
Dick wasn’t worried about Barbora. He knew that all of the bats could keep the story straight. His worries were with Danny himself. The boy had a habit of just blurting things out, thinking it was a totally normal thing to say.
Which dick knows isn’t necessarily Danny’s fault, but he’s gonna make keeping the cover story harder if he says things that contradict it. He just kinda prays that he’s asleep in hopes any words he might say can be written off as dream grumble.
When he makes his way up the library steps, Gordon joins him. Barbara is there to meet them at the door with a small smile. Dick looks around, scanning for any sign of Danny. none
“ don’t get your panties in a twist, mama hen. He's just asleep.” Babs siad , chuckling at his expense, the commissioner gave the pair a soft smile.
“Then where is he, I can go get him?”
“Don't worry jay is bringing him,” babs said with a slightly pointed look telling dick not to panic. Which meant Danny was fine.
“ Shhhhh,” his brother chimed in as he strolled over carrying Danny's bag as he carried his jacket draped over his chest. It takes dick seeing the mess of Dannys once combed hair for him to relax.
Jay stood in the doorway removing his jacket with his free hand after handing dick the kids bag.
It was only after the jacket was removed did the commissioner really understand what dick meant by small. The jacket that Jason had wrapped around the boy was a short cut, the kind that rested above the hips and it had been able to hide the child’s full form as he laid boneless in his arms. His features were sunken, and his skin was pale. If Gordon didn’t know any better, if he couldn’t see the boy taking shallow breaths. He might have mistaken him for dead.
He watched as the two men awkwardly figured out how to pass the child off without waking him. But when his head was lifted gently off Jason’s chest the boy sprung to life jerking and swinging at the air.
“No no please no more stop!” The boy yelled in a panick.
“Danny it ok it me buddy it me,” dick called keeping his voice low. Danny flung himself back forcing Jason to shift his weight to keep his grip. Danny took a wide swing clocking Jason square in the nose.
“Star light it’s papa,” he siad holding his soft tone. Sliding his hand acros the boys back as he took the still flailing boy in to his arms. “Shh. Shh. Shh.” Dick repeated as he he placed the boys head in his chest. The child clinging to his shirt like if he let go he would surely sink into the darkest depths.
Danny relaxed, but still clung to dick. Light tears running down his cheeks. “I'm sorry.” the boy mumbled before finally drifting back off. The little energy he gained was lost in the out bust. It was only then the trio of adults realized that Jason’s nose was bleeding.
“Oh shoot ja-“ Jason stuck one of his hand out cutting off dick.
“I’m fine he didn't break it ,it’s just a nosebleed” Jason said cupping his face as the blood started to dip through his fingers. “ Barbra do you have like.. I don’t know tissues?”
“Yes come on Jason,” the pair headed inside to tend to Jason's nose leaving dick and the commissioner on the steps to the library.
“ I’m approving you for some paternal leave.” Gordon said after the pair had left.
“Waite what… But what about- I already missed so much work this year. I can't.l” Dick fumbled on his words, he had to stay at work. He was so close to outing some of the cops involved in a smuggling ring he just needed more time.
“ Grayson, you're a great cop and one day you'll make an even better detective, but right now that is not what you need to be.” He places a hand on his shoulder, “We need more officers like you no doubt but, Gotham has plenty of heroes and right now Danny needs you to be his.” He looks dick in his eyes, his gaze soft at the edges, “do you think you can do that, not for me, not for you, do it for him.” he pats Danny on the shoulder frowning at how he jerks away from the light touch.
“Yeah I hope I can” dick swallows a growing lump in his throat. “ Yhea for him I think I can try.” Dick wasn't a hero, he would never call himself that but for this kid his kid, he would try .
Next chapter ,Chapter 9: Already to late, In which the computer finally gives some results back and it not what they where hoping for. Now having a clear view of Dannys DNA what conclusions will they draw and how will Danny fair being out side of Gothams influence. How will Kon handle having to finally intact with Danny. How will ma and pa react upon learning of Dannys supposed origins. All of this next time on "oh god these chapters are just gonna keep being longer."
Even if this fic has some slight long hiatus it is being worked on, in fact the plot is planed all they way out to about 12-14 chapters, after that we see where the wind takes us. That being said this fic will begin to ramp up a bit, to this readers who are uncomfortable with heavy themes of child abuse, death, descriptions of corpses, and depictions off self harm I recommend you come around once this arc we are entering meets its end. There will still be happy moments and family bounding, but this is a story of death and grieving. I understand that some reader discretion is advised.
As always hope you're having a wonderful day. Any feed back is appreciated!
May the stars forever be in your favor,
Madds( Ace_trash studios)
@thought-u-said-dragon-queen
