It started with a question. Bruce was slowly making his way to getting his kids to quit the vigilante life he had never intended for them to have.
When Bruce watched as his son landed on the mat, there was no question that Dick would get the gold. He and his other children who watched Dick Greyson-Wayne compete in the Olympics cheered the loudest in the stadium.
The Wayne family was complete for the first time in a while—all in support of Dick. Bruce offered that they celebrate with a getaway, unfortunately, everyone only had enough time to watch Dick compete.
Still, they all promised that they would spend the winter break together. Bruce thought it'd be nice if they could spend it at the Wayne's family cabin outside of Gotham. It was deep within a forest, the last time Bruce had been there was when his parents were still alive—so yeah, it's been awhile.
The place however was well-maintained, sparkling clean when they arrived and his children all gawked and complained to Bruce why he had only taken them here now.
Despite the cold, the cabin was warm as they all sat around the firepit, wearing cozy sweaters and mugs of hot cocoa or eggnog cupped into their hands for additional warmth.
They all sat around quietly, pondering over Bruce's question. “What do you think you would've been if your life had turned out differently?”
Dick struggled with the question. “I don't know B… maybe I would've been an acrobat too?”
Jason raised his brow, “You wouldn't wanna be an Olympian?” Dick perked and had an ‘Oh yeah’ moment.
“I mean yeah, maybe. But I don't think I'd be able to have that opportunity.” Bruce hummed thoughtfully. “What if you did?” Dick shrugged. “Then yeah. I would've been a full-time athlete.” He grins at Jason. “I’d be all over TV, billboards, advertisements, news articles.”
“Doesn't sound much different from your civilian life now.” Stephanie added. Dick shrugs, “I guess.” Jason snickers and elbows his older brother. “I’d still be seeing your ugly ass face-” He pauses, smile lessening, just a little.
“The difference would be is that I wouldn't know who the fuck you are.”
Dick pauses as well, he didn't respond to it, not really knowing how to.
“Mother, I don't like this hypothetical world you've created.” Damian tilted his head up to look at Bruce, despite already being a pre-teen, he still sits on Bruce's lap and cuddles up to him.
“Yeah, I can't imagine a world where we all don't know each other.” Tim says, playing with the string of his tea bag.
Bruce chuckles. “Fine, imagine it how you would like. I just want to know what all of you would've been doing if…” he smiles softly at his children, “if we weren't so worried about so many things.”
Dick elbows Jason. “ack- guess it's my turn now?” He scratches the back of his neck, struggling with the idea. He wants too many things, unfortunately. “I dunno.. kinda difficult to choose.”
Bruce chooses, "Why choose?” Jason perks up. “You're absolutely right.” Jason takes a deep breath. “I think I’d kill it on stage.”
Tim raises a brow, “You'd be a horrible comedian.” Jason kicks his legs, making Tim spill some of his tea. “Hey!”
Jason clears his throat. “What I meant to say is…” He paused for dramatic effect. “Theatre.” He grins proudly. “Man, I’d kill it on Broadway.” Bruce nods, Jason had always been so creative—he still remembers all the plays that his little Jaybird performed—got them all on video too.
“But I think I'd also wanna do some screenplay writing, or write a script.” He gasps, shaking Tim. “I could be a writer!!” His smiles, still shaking Tim while said brother is trying to free his sweater from Jason's grip.
“What, so you could make your fanfics mainstream?” Tim said as he's finally free from Jason shaking him.
“You read my fanfics?” Everyone stared at them, embarrassed, the boys said no more.
“I think I’d wanna be a game developer.” Duke smiles innocently. “Got any ideas on how you'd want that to go?” Bruce asks. Duke’s cheeks tint red, feeling shy. “I’m not really sure yet, but… I’ve been reading books on how to code, and uh..”
Bruce chuckles. “Why not go to school for it? You haven't even touched your college fund yet.” Duke flinches. “I have a college fund?!” Bruce tilted his head, “Yeah? I set it up the moment I got approved to be your legal guardian.” Bruce knew he could never replace Duke’s parents, and honestly? He was alright with that.
Duke stuttered, no longer knowing what to say, only mumbling a “Thank you” before nudging Cass.
Cass looked at Bruce and took a sip from her hot cocoa, she mumbled “Ballet.” Bruce tilts his head, “What was that, sweetheart?” Cass hid her face with her mug and said, a bit clearer this time. “I want to be a ballerina… I… like it.”
Bruce's heart stuttered for a moment and nodded. “Okay my dear.”
“I like being Spoiler.” Stephanie said, making Bruce tilt his head—though he did try to hide his disappointment that she still wanted to continue her vigilante life. Luckily however, Bruce is anything if not good at hiding his emotions.
“But… I kind of miss my daught- well, she's not my daughter anymore but-” She sighs. “You know what I mean.” Stephanie rambled, watching Bruce watch her thoughtfully.
“I know I did the right thing, but…” She bites her bottom lip, “B, do you think there's a way for me to be in her life without putting her in danger?”
Bruce felt guilty for what he was about to say, but he wanted them to give up the vigilante life so badly… “You seem to like solving things, Steph. You could be a great detective if you wanted.” He smiles, hoping it was reassuring enough. “Plus, you did train with me after all.”
Stephanie huffs, “Having the edge against those in the GCPD would've been unfair.”
Tim hums thoughtfully. “Since when have you been fair?” Stephanie frowns at him, “Shut up, Tim.” She smiles when she feels Cass pat her on the shoulder.
“But, I guess you're right.” She grins. Though being a detective was still dangerous work, it's a little less daunting to be a vigilante.
“Mami, I wish to be a doctor.” Bruce was surprised at that. “Oh?” He couldn't hide his pleased smile this time.
Damian nodded, “Yeah. A pediatrician.” Dick raises a brow at this, “You scare kids your age, what makes you think you'd be able to handle kids who are younger?”
Damian ignores him which makes Jason chuckle. “I…” He looks up at Bruce nervously, but his mother's kind smile and soft gaze allows him to relax. “I want to hang up the suit and become a doctor.” He finally says. Everyone at the fire pit is stunned. Is he serious?
“Your college fund is prepared for any school you want to go to, Dami.” He kisses the crown of Damian's head which makes him relax and melt into Bruce’s embrace.
“What about you, Tim?” Bruce asked, hugging Damian tighter as though he's scared he’d lose the only child that he has who's actually sure of hanging up the cape and storing away the mask.
Tim glances at Bruce, when Jason starts speaking about what he wanted to be, Tim was already able to clock Bruce’s intentions.
Tim held Bruce’s gaze and shrugged. “I'm not sure, mom.” He takes a sip from his tea. “I've never imagined a future where I'm not where I am now.” He frowns into the cup, staring at his reflection in the greenish-brown liquid.
Bruce smiles—albeit pained, he refuses to show it—”That’s okay, Tim.”
Tim couldn't help the feeling that he's disappointing Bruce though, but really, what is his ideal life? If he weren't Bruce Wayne's son, he would've been expected to run his family's company.
But now that he's Bruce’s son, he's CEO of Wayne Enterprises. “Maybe I would've gone to business?” He shrugs. “Someone has to manage W.E. if Damian's going to be a doctor.”
“And it's not like mom could take care of it forever.” Bruce sighs, he feels bad for Tim, but at the same time, he can't really afford to be a hypocrite. Instead, he smiled at Tim softly and nodded. “Maybe you'll find something that could be worth your time, Timbit.”
“What about you, ma?” Jason asked, which caught Bruce off-guard. “Huh? What about me?”
Dick smiles, “If you weren't the one putting on the cowl, what would've you been?”
Bruce wore the same expression as Tim when he was thinking about his life. “I don't see a world where I'm not Batman, Dickbin.” He smiles emphatically. “Someone has to do it.”
Tim hummed and nodded as he finished his tea, setting it aside on a table.
“Yeah, but what if it wasn't you?” Stephanie asked as she started petting Cass’s hair who was slowly drifting off, head trying not to fall on her lap.
Bruce couldn't answer the question. The logical route would've been similar to Tim’s question, that he'd be running Wayne Enterprises and that he'd still be adopting them all.
The kids’ question was left unanswered and the conversation drifted elsewhere.
But when the lights had dimmed and everyone went to sleep, Bruce found himself standing on the shoreline of the frozen lake.
The moon was at its highest peak, bright and luminous, Bruce tied his laces together and moved forward. The feeling of the cold, crisp air made him shiver slightly, but the sensation was not unwelcomed.
It brought him a sense of nostalgia as his feet moved their way through the thick ice, legs criss-crossing and turning. It felt weird to skate without music so he ended up humming a tune from one of Cass’ ballet performances.
Thinking about Cass and Dick’s performances, Bruce thought about it for a moment. He's as flexible as they are, he's performed numerous stunts for missions, jumped off buildings, swung on grapple hooks, and most of all… he's alone tonight. Here, where only the stars and the moon could judge him.
Bruce prepared to take a few steps back, hands behind him as he expertly skated backwards. He looked at the vast lake before him, seemingly endless, there's a determined glint in his eyes, lips curving upward into a small, confident smile.
If he fails, he can just laugh at himself—it’ll be a good time nonetheless.
He skates forward, slowly gaining speed before—his heart was pounding, arms graceful and expressive, it was unwise to close his eyes but he just couldn't help himself. The chill air felt nice, the sound of ice was comforting, he spun with a leg raised, speed gradually picking up as he attempted to do similar arm positions that he practiced with Cass.
When the spin had slowed, he skated further into the lake, he couldn't hear much of anything aside from his fast-paced heart after managing to successfully do that spin. It's been so long.
When he attempted a toe loop, he was still able to catch himself properly, slowing down his pace to gather himself. After his parents died, his interest in figure skating significantly dwindled—but in an attempt to rehabilitate himself, he started going back to the ice rinks, picking up his lessons where he left them, but he only learned up until the axle before he decided he couldn't do it anymore and gave up.
Bruce, in an attempt to redeem himself, began preparing for the jump. Skating forward and lifting one knee off the ice, Bruce attempted to vault himself into the air and try that damned 1.5 spin. He wasn't able to land properly and ended up landing ass-first into the ice block.
Laughing to himself as he promised, he gets up and attempts it a few more times, until finally, on the fifth try, he lands it perfectly.
With adrenaline rushing through his veins, he decided to get a little cocky and try the beilman spin that he's always wanted to do but the coach kept telling him that he wasn't ready yet.
Screw it. He decides, as he lifts his right leg off the ice and his hands prepare to grab and pull the blade upward from behind himself and rotates on the edge of his standing leg.
If it weren't for his strength and flexibility, Bruce was sure he'd stumble and fall again. Ah, but thankfully he trains hard to continue being Batman. After all, if not him then who?
When Bruce’s high slowed and he was able to look at his surroundings again, the quiet night looked fuller. He looked across the lake and there he saw his son, standing by the snowy shore with a pair of ice skates in his hand.
Bruce smiles softly and skates back towards him. “You brought the skates that I bought you.” Tim nodded as he started putting them on. “Do you know how to skate?”
“No.” Tim says, “But you can teach me.” He says confidently as he tries to stand up but stumbles forward, luckily Bruce was there to catch him. He always did.