Back from the Past
Bruce pov-
I stared at my eldest son as he pouted on the couch, Cass, Steph, and Duke around him.
To say he looked childish would be an understatement.
"Dick? What's wrong?" I asked from another chair in the living room, wondering what got him in a mood.
The acrobat sighed. "Jason won't let me see Tim and Mari." He said. "He's mother henning them, and he doesn't trust me around them."
Stephanie snorted. "Well, you did give two little children glass cups when they should have had plastic, Dickie. And Mares got hurt because of it. Of course he's going to mother hen them." Spoiler said, and I nodded in agreement. "You also forget that Jaylad raised Mars, so he's bound to be overprotective. And, Tim is his favorite sibling apart from her, so it's only natural that he'll protect them from anything he thinks will hurt them, even if it's just a paper cut." I said.
Dick pouted more. "I said I was sorry!" He protested, and I started to kind of feel bad for him. "Even Dami can see them!"
"Tt, that is because I am not foolish enough to have anything sharp around Angel and Drake, and Todd trusts me more to be around them because he knows that I will protect them, Grayson. You should not have let my brother and sister have glass cups, you imbecile. Even I am aware that they need plastic, because of instances as of earlier. You made Drake cry, and he thought he was in trouble for the cause of something that you did. I do not blame Todd for keeping them from you, Grayson." Damian said as he came into the room.
"And on that, Todd had raised me for a good part of my life while at the league, seeing as he was my father figure then. Todd is a wonderful father, and he is indeed the best one I have experienced, so you therefore do not have to worry about them." He added, sitting down next to Dick. "However, the fact that you are my favorite brother will never change, so do not fret about that, Richard."
Dick looked shocked, but he gave Damian a hug and ruffled his hair. "Thanks, Baby Bat. That means a lot." He said, and Damian hissed at the hair ruffle. "Do not mess up my hair, Grayson. Unhand me this instant!" He spat, and I chuckled as a delicious smell wafted in the air. Cass looked to the kitchen and smiled, and Duke looked wistful.
Suddenly a squeal echoed through the manor, and all of us went running for the kitchen, only to be shocked by what we found.
Jason was laughing his head off at Tim, who was covered in flour and cookie dough, and was making a mess with Mari, who was throwing flour at Jason, who had dough and flour in his hair and all over him. My daughter's eyes were shining with mischief, and Tim looked the happiest I'd ever seen him as he put some cookie dough in his mouth and started eating while watching Mari and Jason play fought, the boy sitting on the island.
Steph was immediately recording everything, and I had a huge smile on my face.
Tim yawned and started to fall asleep, and the two didn't notice as his head slumped to his arm on the edge of the bowl of cookie dough, effectively hugging the large bowl, and Marinette smacked Jay with an egg, making him gasp.
"Mari! You traitor! How could you?!" He said dramatically, and she giggled at him. Playfully glaring at her, Jay grabbed a handful of flour and poured it on her head, making her gasp in shock and stare at him with wide eyes.
Red Hood and Ladybug stared at each other in silence, and it was only a moment before Jay bit the inside of his cheek, and Mari was forcing herself to frown, but failing. 5 seconds later, both of them burst out laughing at each other, and Jason took a step back and slipped, his back hitting the tile, and Mars laughed and laughed and laughed at him, Jason's baritone joining hers.
Alfred simply shook his head as he chose that moment to enter the room, but he had a rare smile on his face. "What has happened in here, Master Jason, Miss Marinette? It looks like the kitchen exploded!" He said, looking down at the two laughing kids.
Jason tried to stop laughing, he really visibly did, but he glanced at Mari, and they burst into a whole new round of laughter. Alfred chuckled at them. "Now, master Jason, I do hope you plan on cleaning this mess up?" He asked as my son eventually calmed down.
"Y-yeah... yes, I d-do... sorry about the mess, Alfie." He said, getting up and picking up Mari, then glancing at sleeping Tim, then at us. Mari looked at the sleeping child and skillfully climbed up on the counter with him, and she gently wrapped him up in a hug and smiled. "Papa, Timmy fell asleep!" She said, and Jay smiled at them, taking a photo as she kissed the sleep deprived boy on the head.
"Send it to me." Dick said, and Jay grinned. "Of course, Dickiebird. Now, are you going to help me clean them up or stand there staring?" He asked slyly, and Dick grinned. "Is that even a question?" He asked, scooping up the two and going upstairs, leaving the bowl behind. Jay shook his head and followed, a mused smile on his face.
"Don't touch anything. I'll be back to clean it up." He said, then vanished around the corner after his brother.
A moment later all of our phones beeped in unison, and when I pulled my phone out to look, Jason had sent the entire family and Roy the photo.
Yes, I had added Roy to the chat for Jason, because I knew that the archer was going to be part of the family soon, so why not add him?
Of course, I still had to chat with him. Duke had showed me the photo he took of the two cuddling and what had happened, and I knew the two were head over weapons for each other. But Roy had to first prove to me that he was worthy of Jason's heart.
(Time skip)
Over the next week, chaos had finally ensued.
Would it be safe to say that I expected it to come eventually?
Yes.
I'm honestly amazed that peace lasted this long, considering that this IS the WAYNE FAMILY KIDS we're talking about. However, I very quickly figured out that this was the worst it's ever been, and that the brains behind it was none other than Marinette and Tim.
Everyone else was at war with each other, and the two kids were at peace and making things flow with well-planned tricks.
All of my elder kids were at a major prank war with each other, and there wasnt even sides this time. It was all of them against all of them, and Alfred and I were the only ones to be spared, except for the little two of course. Hell, even Roy had joined them and was with Jason, until-
"ROY!!!" Jason's voice screamed through the entire manor, and then everything went silent. a moment later, Roy came sprinting into the kitchen, glitter all over him, and he looked at the kids. "Don't tell him I'm here. Name your price, and I promise to get it to you by tomorrow for both of you each." he whispered, glancing behind him.
Mari smirked. "You have to do what we want and take us where we want all day tomorrow, and you cant tell anyone except Daddy and Grandpa." she immediately said, and Tim nodded. "And you have to pay us $300 in cash, each." he added with a smirk. Roy shook their hands and went to the pantry and climbed into the attic, pulling the stairs up after him and silently shutting the pull down door, just as Jason ran into the kitchen.
When I snuck a photo and fought my laughter the tried to escape. My second eldest was literally bathed in rainbow glitter, and was wet like he'd had water dumped on him and the glitter added right after. And he looked SO pissed, too. "Hey, Pixie Pop, Timberlina, has Roy come by here by any chance? I need to have a little chat with him real quick." he said. Tim shook his head from the table we were sitting at, focusing on his coloring. "No, I havent seen him, JayJay." he smoothly lied, keeping his face cool and neutral. Nette looked thoughtful. "Maybe he went down to the cave? I thought I heard someone running that way a few minutes ago." she offered 'innocently'.
I was shocked that these two were this good at lying at this age. This isnt normal for kids, even if they are part of the Wayne family.
Jason studied them silently and closely. "You're not lying to me, are you? You know that lying is wrong, and I taught you that, Nettie. I know you better than anyone, and you know I wont be mad at you." the crime lord said, and my daughter froze, her hand not coloring her picture anymore. Tim paled, and he side glanced his sister.
And that's how Jason got them.
I was impressed.
After a moment, Marinette bit her lip and looked torn between not giving Roy up and Caving to Jason and coming clean to him. Tim was silent and unmoving as well, and I watched with curiosity at the scene unfolding. "I... he promised to fill a bet if we didnt tell you where he was," she quietly said. Red Hood's eyes flashed a bright green for a moment. "Well, I'll make sure he keeps his word, no matter what, kiddo. And, he'll double your price as well.' the vigilante said, and Tim looked down. "He went in the pantry to get to the attic. You just missed him by a second," he whispered.
Jason went and hugged them, effectively getting glitter all over them. They squealed and squirmed, trying to break free, but Jason had an iron grip. "Now, i never said you'd get away with a little white lie, you little gremlins. After I deal with Harper and we all get cleaned up, how about Bruce and I take you out for ice cream, hm? Sound fair enough?" he asked with a soft grin.
Tim laughed and nodded. "Okay, Glitter Monster!" he giggled. Jay gasped, and Mari grinned. "Timmy, RUN! We have to escape from Mr. Rainbow Sparkles!" she said, grabbing Tim's hand and running off, laughing and pulling him behind her. I chuckled at the two. "You should go get cleaned up before you deal with Roy, that way you dont get glitter in Alfred's pantry. We both know that he wont like that in there." I said, just as someone knocked at the front door.
Jason nodded and went off, and I went to go answer the door.
Zatanna greeted me with a smile. "I have finally finished my mission, so now I can come and bring Tim and Marinette back to normal. I have found the right spell to reverse what was done, and it wont take but a few minutes. May I come in?" she asked. I nodded and let her in. We went to the living room, and I summoned everyone to the den through the group chat.
Damian and Cass were first to arrive with Tim and Mari, and Jason was last from a quick shower and a new change of clothes. The two littles were looking up at all the sad faces of my kids, Jason looking the most upset. "Papa? What's wrong? Why is everyone sad?" she asked. The teenager knelt down to their height and looked them in the eye. "Well, you two are going to be aged back to you're normal ages. You kiddos are going to be big again, remember me telling you about that? Zatanna's come to bring your older selves back to where they belong." he explained.
Tim looked at all of us. "Will we ever get to see you guys again? Are we going away forever?" he asked, tears in his eyes. Damian picked him up and hugged him. "Timothy, none of us in this family would DARE abandon you. You are part of this family, and we do NOT leave nor abandon each other, no matter who they are or what it is they have done. That is our family code, and you and Marinette are part of our family, whether you want to be or not. Once you are in this family, it is impossible to get out of it, no matter how hard you try to leave it. We will ALWAYS be here for BOTH of you and protect you from any danger that dares defy and try to bring itself out to come after you. That is a promise that can and will never be broken, no matter what. Family is always first, now and forever till the end of our time on Earth." he said fiercely and honestly.
I smiled proudly at his words, Dick copying. This boy has grown into a fine young man and has drastically changed from the day that Talia had dropped him off with us.
Tim sniffled and hugged Damian, and everyone said their goodbyes to the little Mari and Tim, taking last photos with them and doing a few family photos and laughing and hugging and crying. When Mari got to hug Roy, she whispered something to him, and he spluttered and turned a deep red. She glared sternly at him. "You better do it, Harper. If I get little again and I find out you didnt do what I said, then I will show you just what a Todd-Cheng-Wayne is really capable of, you stupid archer. Cassie, I need a pen and paper to write my bigger self a note so that I dont forget what I told the red panda over there. I must have it happen, no matter what." She declared, and Jason busted out laughing with Duke and Stephanie.
Roy looked embarrassed and terrified of the little girl, and Jason looked smug at his fear of her. "How is that child so damn scary? What did you do to make her like this, Jason?" he asked. Jay and Mari both smirked identical smirks. "I raised her, Harper. That's my little girl right there, and I taught her everything she knows. Like father like daughter, Bitch. Cry about it with your broken arrows." Hood said with a wicked glint in his eyes. Mari sat on his shoulders proudly, a paper folded in her hand. "Yeah, Red Panda! Dont mess with my Papa. He plays dirtier than you think. We street kids are in-inve-inevi," she whispered in Jason's ear, and he whispered back. Grinning victoriously, she straightened. "WE ARE INEVITABLE!!" she shouted, arms in the air. "Bow down to the Street Queen and my Loyal Street Knight one last time, you big peasant meanie!" the girl ordered, and Roy looked at Jason, who smirked. "You better do as she says. Its rude to disrespect a queen, you know. Punishment is death for disrespecting royalty, Roy." he calmly and smugly said, and Roy nodded and obeyed, a small smile on his face.
Seeming satisfied, Marinette let him up and climbed off of Jason's shoulders and hugged everyone one last time, giving us all a kiss on the cheek and a bright smile. She handed me her paper and told me to give it to big her, and I nodded as she went to give Tim a hug. The two were still hugging as Zatanna cast her spell and didnt let go. When the spell was done, both of the kids were fast asleep and leaning on each other for support, both at their right ages again. The magician said her goodbyes and left, and Dick took a quick photo of the two sleeping insomniacs before Jason scooped Mari up, and Roy grabbed Tim and the two outlaws took them upstairs, no doubt to their respective rooms to sleep off the after effects of the spell.
I looked at the note Marinette gave me, and smirked. "Get Papa and Red Panda together, and kick Harper's butt if he doesnt ask JayJay to be his boyfriend in a week." I laughed and sent a silent prayer that I had my kids. I wouldnt trade them for anything in the world, as they were my world and everything I could ever ask for. Being a serial adopter WAS a good thing, DICK, JASON, AND STEPHANIE. HA HA HA!