Chapter 34
His mom never died. Not like his dad or his brothers.
After returning from the zoo, Peter hid in his room. He had to fend off his siblings and his mom hovering by the door before he was finally given the space to just think. Peter curled up on the freshly made bed, Quack tucked comfortingly in his arms.
Peter knew his mom never died. She was always there for him when everyone else did. She was always giving him hugs, kissing his head, calling him kitten. She had never disappeared like they have.
She never died.
Peter pulled Quack closer, squishing the poor duck to his chest. The duck’s soft head pressed against his chin as Peter tried to parse it out.
She never died.
His mom is alive. She’s lived and there was never a moment where they had to bury her in the cemetery. They never held a funeral because she never needed one. They never stood in front of two headstones, holding him as he cried because she never died.
But then… Why did it feel so real?
He could feel the rain on his back. Gentle hands, comforting him where he stood before two graves. Twin caskets lowered as a priest hovered nearby. His parents… but… not.
Peter could swear he remembered those sleepless nights, crying into the arms of his dad.
No. He couldn’t cry in his dad’s arms when he was dead.
“I don’t get it.” Peter whispered, blinking down to Quack. Lifeless green eyes stared back.
Scrunching his nose, Peter tried in vain to pull up memories of his mom’s funeral. Each flash of the casket brought a mirror image of two being lowered. Two closed caskets in a velvety red funeral home. Of two headstones, both dead on the same day. Marked for the same fate, together.
That wasn’t right. Peter knows she was there when his dad disappeared. He lived in her condo with Pickles and her other cats. He couldn’t remember the two caskets and a part of Peter was scared. Who died then? Would he forget about everyone’s death? Would he forget everyone?
Peter couldn’t forget them, not when they lived here. Right? If he could keep them safe at home then he could never forget them and they could never forget him.
The memories clashed, sparking pain to flare behind his eyes as funerals and rain and family flickered. They were there and they weren’t. Something so close and people so far out of reach called to him. Voices filled with love cooed and cajoled, calling his name. They were familiar and not. Contradictions of a past and a present that Peter just couldn’t figure out.
A knock drew Peter’s attention from Quack. Louder than the cacophony in his head, followed by the thundering and calm heartbeat. He turned in time to see Damian entering his room. His brother entered carefully, the usual scowl relaxed a touch when their eyes met.
“Peter.” Damian stopped a step inside the threshold, his green eyes focused on Peter. He could see the similarity to Talia better now. “Good. I wish to talk.”
Pulling himself up, Peter leaned against the headboard as Damian let himself in. A part of him worried that Damian would try and pry again. Or lecture him for being reckless. His dad already made it clear that Peter shouldn’t have gone out. He wasn’t grounded just yet but it was only a matter of time.
At least he doesn’t know about Talia.
“About what?” Peter frowned as Damian settled beside him. Peter waited as his brother pushed himself closer so they were shoulder to shoulder.
“What did you think Killer Croc would discover when you tracked him?” Damian stared ahead, refusing to turn to Peter as he asked his question. He could feel how tense Damian was, though he didn’t plan to mention it.
His identity, but hasn’t Peter already told them? Damian knew that Peter was scared of being seen as Peter Wayne. Weren’t they ever scared of that? Did they not realize just what would happen if they were unmasked? Peter hugged Quack closer to himself at the thought.
“What if he found out who I am?” Peter couldn’t speak louder than a whisper. The fear of being heard, of someone not in the know overhearing forcing him to keep his voice at a whisper. No one was in the manor that wasn’t family but Peter couldn’t risk it. Not again.
“Hm.” Damian hummed. “And what do you imagine would happen?”
Murderer!
You killed a hero!
We don’t want you here!
He could hear the screams, following him as he tried to explain. Everywhere he swung, people spewed all sorts of vitriol in his wake. There was no safety from the hate. There was no home when they knew where to look.
Wayne Manor was large, he had hiding places that only his family knew where to look. But everyone knows where Wayne Manor is. Everyone would know where to go to find him if they really wanted to. He wouldn’t be safe here and neither would they.
His family would lose their home.
Peter could just hear the glass shattering as bricks were thrown through them. He could see Alfred quietly cleaning it up without comment. His dad, staring out the windows as the mob grows. Damian wouldn’t go to school in fear of the mob tailing him. His brothers could never leave as the outside world tries to burn them down.
“I don’t know.” How do you tell your brother that everyone would hate them? That they would leave Peter behind, too. Peter was cursed. They had to know that by now.
“You do not know?” Damian turned now, to look down at Peter. He couldn’t meet those eyes, though. Not Talia’s eyes, calculating and cold as she waited for the perfect answer. “Then it would be foolish to imagine something you cannot even conjure to begin with.”
Was it foolish?
Peter couldn’t explain it. He couldn’t just say that Gotham would hate him. That the citizens would turn at the drop of a hat and rage against his family. They would be in so much danger if Peter was discovered as Spider-man.
Why would they hate them?
Peter hadn’t done anything. He hasn’t been bad, right? Spider-man hasn’t done anything yet, they should be safe.
He didn’t want to think about it anymore. He wanted to spar with the ninjas, the assassins. Fighting would get his mind off things, he just had to wait. He’ll see Talia soon enough and maybe she will know what to do. She always has an answer for everything. Always willing to help Peter, train him and build him up.
“Yeah… it’s dumb.”
–
The batcave felt overcrowded tonight. Everyone bar Duke were present, waiting to see who would join B in tailing their elusive baby brother. Spoiler and Orphan hovered by the batcomputer where Red Robin watched the cameras. They flickered two minutes ago, signifying Stark’s interruption of the recording.
Peter snuck out.
Robin stood a step behind Batman, no doubt refusing to be sent out when he could follow Peter tonight. Nightwing leant against the table with Catwoman, both looked ready to fight. Jason himself stood by the elevator. He wasn’t planning to take no for an answer, not like Batman could order him to do anything. He would just ignore the old man, Peter was more important.
It was his fault that Peter was going out to meet his mysterious trainer. By now they were fairly certain it was Talia. Apparently, Peter named her as Natasha but any search for the redheaded woman he described has come up with zilch. No woman matching the description had contact with Peter nor any connection to them.
If Natasha is real then she was a new player. Someone who has to know Batman’s identity and someone dangerous. Black Widow was training Peter in secret, getting in his head and no doubt pushing him to waltz into danger he was in no way prepared for.
Jason could have done better. He should have seen it before. He did! He saw that serious expression, the increased skill in Peter’s movements and he never clocked it to be what it was. He let it slide in favor of making their training more lighthearted and ignored it.
Fuck. He was definitely going after him tonight. No matter what Bruce says.
“Spoiler and Red Robin, take route 5A tonight. Nightwing and Robin will take 3R. Hood-”
“Fuck that B. I’m coming with.” Jason interrupted. He was not sitting out on this.
The others tried to speak up too but were silenced with a look. “We can’t leave Gotham without anyone. Catwoman and I will follow Peter, everyone else has their cases and routes to patrol.”
Sure, Gotham needs her vigilantes but Red Hood has a gang to look after Crime Alley. It won’t burn to rubble in one night.
“Father, I insist that it would be crucial for my presence tonight. Peter would react better with my presence. “ Robin stepped closer to B, his frown a mirror image of Batman’s scowl. “He will not appreciate your interference and may need a brother to support him.”
Jason crossed his arms as the two stared at each other. He wondered how far Peter’s gotten by now. Has he met his teacher by now? Was he hurt? They were wasting time with all this posturing.
He slipped off with that thought in mind, sliding into the elevator as Nightwing started with his own argument. Yeah, they were gonna waste time trying to convince Batman to follow him. He wasn’t planning on being a sitting duck for that.
Someone has to keep an eye on Peter.
The suits they all grabbed were made to hide them against enhanced metas. Tim had worked with Lucius for weeks to make them perfect. Of course, now was the night they would be testing it out for real. Superman wasn’t the best experiment since lead was the only thing to block his hearing. Peter’s hearing couldn’t be dampened but hopefully it would at least muffle it enough.
Maybe Peter wouldn’t even be keeping an ear out for them. He had been quiet at dinner. Jason had sat beside him, closer to B than he would have liked but well, the things you do for family. He knew Peter had a lot on his mind. Somehow Peter has convinced himself that Selena died. He hoped that was just a nightmare that stuck around for this long but without getting Peter to expand on it, they can’t exactly confirm it.
Walking into the woods, Jason eyed the camera hidden within the branches of the tree. Peter passed through here first, probably heading straight to make the shortest route. He had no idea they would be tracking him so there would be no need for him to try and disguise his route.
The grass was flattened somewhat, forming a faintly trodden path.
Peter.
Jason followed it, basking for only a second over the silent comms. Batman wasn’t around just yet so he would be trapped fending off the rest of the siblings. “You gonna join me?”
“Of course.” Catwoman dropped from the branches before gliding to his side. “Bats will be here soon.”
He hummed, focusing on the tracks. He couldn’t let himself be angry at whatever scene they’ll walk into. Not yet anyway.
“Hood.” Batman joined them not even two minutes later. Jason scowled as he joined on his other side. Reminding himself that this was for Peter, he forced his shoulders to relax. No shooting Batman when Peter was in danger. “Thank you.”
“Huh?” Jason turned, hating how caught off guard he was. What the hell was he thanking Jason for?
“Thank you for keeping an eye on Peter.” Batman huffed. Jason could just feel Selena preening beside him. She definitely said something. What she said, he couldn’t figure out just yet.
Speeding up to escape both of their weirdness, Jason focused on the path ahead. He could just hear the sound of a fight ahead of them. Yeah, there was no way he could parse out whatever the hell was going on with B. Not when Peter was fighting.
Hood marched towards the clearing’s tree line. He stopped, crouching beside an oak to peer at the people. Peter, dressed in jeans and a black sweater was pinned to the grass as an LOA member hovered above. A knife glinted in the moonlight before Peter got a leg over the arm holding him down. His baby brother pushed down, rolling the two over so that he was on top before twisting the wrist that held the knife.
Two other assassins prowled the pair in a short circle. Jason knew that they were waiting for an opening despite Peter’s back being unguarded. Had he done that while in Nanda Parbat, they wouldn’t have just waited. Were they going easy on him?
That wasn’t the way League training went. Obviously this was Talia’s doing but why? Why was she going easy on Peter?
“Enough.” Talia’s sharp command caused the four members of the fight to freeze. Jason watched as they all stood to attention, Peter’s usual overabundance of energy chained tightly as he stood like a trained soldier. His stomach rolled at the unnatural stiffness in his baby brother. He could just make out fresh bruises coloring his face.
The Pits raged to tear Talia and the assassins apart.
He always guarded his face the most in their training.
“You’re sloppy.” Talia commented, standing in front of Peter.
Batman crouched behind the tree to his left, muscles coiled. It was only Catwoman’s hand on his shoulder keeping him there though Jason spotted the claws on her gloves twitching. They were holding back. Growling, Jason settled in his own spot. Waiting.
“I’ll do better.” Peter whispered, his head bowed. Fuck, that is not how his brother should be acting. Peter is boisterous. Loud. He’s energy and cheer. Peter shouldn’t be quiet and obedient. Peter was a golden retriever, happy to just be there. His baby brother was not meant for this.
“See that you do.” Talia sighed, a long suffering sound. “Go on then, what has been on your mind?”
Frowning, Jason strained to listen to this. Talia never cared about why someone would be struggling with emotions. Emotions themselves had no place for an assassin. She wouldn’t sit there like a friend to help a trainee through their own problems.
“I… failed. Killer Croc wasn’t arrested.” Peter frowned, glaring at the ground. Jason could barely make out the look on Peter’s face. The single oil lamp on a tree stump barely caught on his face. Peter’s large brown eyes looked like hollowed amber.
“You did. Waylon Jones should have been a simple enough task for you. You were also discovered by your family.” Talia’s no nonsense voice was cold, even from here. Jason suppressed the shiver of disappointment and self-hatred. He could practically hear her curling acid voice directed to him rather than Peter. Racking like fresh coals across his back for the failure. A tone that Peter does not deserve.
“You sent him after Croc.” Batman’s voice carried, loud and guttural. The unchained hellhound followed by a fuming Catwoman. Without her grounding hand, Batman stormed into the clearing. Jason only took a second before joining the pair.
Peter’s eyes widened as they approached. Jason’s vision colored in green as Peter stood frozen. Talia’s hand resting on his shoulder. “Let him go, Talia.”
“W-what? Why’re you… How’d…?” Peter stammered. Talia held him in place, a saccharine smile on her face.
“Hello Bruce. Jason.” Talia greeted, ignoring Selena. Jason growled, stepping forward as his right hand found his gun.
Catwoman stepped around Batman, her stance was rigid. Each step robotical as she closed in on them. Jason kept his eyes on the assassins, they would no doubt charge if she got too close. Peter hadn’t moved either, staring at the three from Talia’s side. Jason wanted him far away from Damian’s mom, he should never have even met her.
“Let my son go.” Selena stopped a few feet from them, hands fisted by her side.
“Of course. Peter is hardly a prisoner.” Talia smiled, sliding her hand from Peter’s shoulder. She turned, her voice softening into something sickeningly sweet. “It’s your choice, Peter.”
Jason sneered from beneath his mask. What the hell is she playing at?
Peter stood still, wide eyes darting between all of them. “My choice?”
“Come here, Peter.” Batman ordered, stepping forward. Jason scowled, crossing his arms. That tone isn’t helping despite him sharing the sentiment. Peter shouldn’t be around her at all.
“Why? Why’re you here?” Peter scowled, anger coloring his face. “I want to be here! Talia says I can be a hero! Why can’t you let me learn!”
Jason watched as B stiffened. To anyone who didn’t know him, it would look as if he was angry at Peter’s outburst. Jason has known Batman long enough to know that he was caught off guard by it. This wasn’t the reaction he expected from Peter.
Peter doesn’t know who Talia is, does he? Has anyone ever explained to him how Damian came to B? Even Jason heard about it. Does he know just what she does? Who she trains?
“This isn’t up for discussion, Peter. Come here.” Batman growled, the edge of anger seeping into his voice.
“No! Leave me alone!” Peter shouted, stomping on the ground. Talia smirked from beside him.
Jason couldn’t just shoot her. Not when Peter was there. He took a breath before stepping forward, drawing Peter’s attention. “Peter, please. We can talk about this in the morning.”
“You’re just gonna make me stop. I can’t, Jason.” Peter wavered a little, taking a single step back.
“Why not?” Jason crouched slowly, focusing on Peter. Batman and Catwoman will watch the assassins. “Why do you need to learn to fight, Pete?”
The conversation at the zoo was tough. Peter was hurting and clearly no one was helping him. Somehow, the only person who was must be Talia. That fact stung. He wants to spend time with Talia.
“I have to.” Peter whispered. The silence in the clearing makes it easier to hear his words. The longing behind it. The need.
It hurt to hear. That Peter has convinced himself that he has to learn to fight, that he needs to know. He was just a kid. Jason knew the hypocrisy there. He was only a kid when Batman took him in. He was just a child when he put on the Robin uniform and swung through the city.
He understood the desire to help. The innate need to protect people and make a change.
Peter shouldn’t have it. He should be able to grow up safe and normal.
But he doesn’t want to.
“I know.” Jason sighed. “I know, Peter. But not like this. Please, let’s go home. Let’s talk about this, okay? I promise we will figure this out.”
Jason raised a hand, holding it out for Peter.
“Promise?” Peter breathed out, he held his own hand to his chest as he stared across the clearing at Jason.
“I promise.” They will talk about it in the morning. Peter was a smart kid, he would understand why they were hypocrites. Why they all took on the suits so young and why they didn’t want Peter to follow them. They’ll talk as long as they need to but he has to take Peter away from Talia.
Peter stepped forward, walking across the silent clearing to take Jason’s hand.
He only stood up once the much smaller hand was in his. Crickets chirped from the forest around them as red light flickered in tune to the wind. Batman and Catwoman faced Talia as Jason lifted Peter into his arms, turning his back to them.
–
An owl hooted from somewhere deeper in the woods. The three assassins stood still as Talia turned to focus on the pair left. Batman stood just a step behind Catwoman, knowing he would have to intervene if Selena chose to attack her.
He would love nothing more than to keep Talia as far from Gotham as possible. He couldn’t allow her to die but clearly something has to be done to keep her away. She rarely ever visited Damian yet she’s been making frequent visits for his youngest. He didn’t like it, Peter had been all too ready to side with Talia.
“What are you planning, Talia?” Batman stepped around Catwoman to face the threat.
“Planning? Please, Bruce. I’m stepping up. You’re clearly chasing another son away. I thought you would appreciate me saving him from another Joker interruption.” Talia’s eyebrow rose mockingly, her smile turning venomous. “Peter appreciates my lessons. He’s talented, isn’t he?”
The words hurt as she no doubt knows. Peter was a lot closer to following Jason’s footsteps than he would ever want to happen. Sneaking away in the middle of the night. Meeting someone too dangerous for them to face alone. And in the end, it was Bruce who was left in the dark. He didn’t know until too late that Jason left, that he was trapped by Joker and that he died. He was too late to intervene before Peter grew attached to Talia, protective of her.
He saw how Peter stood. How his son stayed by her side before Jason managed to draw him away.
Batman, no, Bruce could have lost another son and he would have been none the wiser about it.
“Talia.” He scowled. Batman wasn’t in the mood for her games. Talia had been training his son. Giving him the one thing Bruce just couldn’t do. Of course Peter would gravitate to her. He doesn’t know just who she is. As far as he knows, she is the one person willing to hand him the one thing he wants.
“Will he become the next Robin? I can’t imagine you allowing that. It sounds to me that you plan to keep him untrained.” Talia went on. “A pity, really. Peter can become quite the hero. But you know this already, don’t you? You plan to bury that desire and by doing so you will only send him to me.” Talia smirked, hand resting on her hip as she tapped her chin. “I’m sure we will see eachother again, Beloved. Peter will make the right choice eventually.”
Batman watched as she turned towards the trees. He watched her walk away with the three assassins filing behind her.
He should chase after her. She would be back and Peter would be drawn back to her, he had to make sure she never came back. The only way to stop her though, was the one thing he refused to do. The one line he could never cross.
She was right, too. Bruce would chase Peter off and Talia would be waiting to pounce.
When hasn’t he chased off one of his children? When have they ever stayed close to home like he wants?
“You didn’t stop her.” Selena hissed, hackles still raised.
“No.” He’ll have Red Robin set cameras here. It was doubtful that Talia would come back now that they found their meeting spot. If Peter went back to her it would be at a new location. Selena didn’t want him to implant a tracker on Peter either.
At least school would begin in a few weeks. Until then, he would have to plan for someone to be with Peter at all times. He wasn’t a prisoner but Peter was compromised. He would seek out Talia if left alone.
He couldn’t lose Peter. He nearly broke when Jason died. It was only the fact that his youngest was waiting at home that kept Batman sane enough to return each night. His baby boy kept Batman going just enough to not fall completely to the bloodthirsty calling. His veins sang for vengeance then, desiring nothing more than to kill the Joker. It was Peter’s face, his innocent eyes and bright smile that drew Bruce back.
If he lost Peter, nothing would be left to stop him. There would be no high pitched laughter to draw Bruce out from Batman. No inquisitive questions demanding his attention. No small hands seeking comfort and attention.
Batman had to protect Peter.
–
“Baby Spider made it back home.” Oracle announced over the comms. Her voice flushed with relief.
Nightwing felt like the strings holding him up were cut as relief flooded him. Peter’s back. He’s home and safe. Robin’s shoulders dropped an inch at the words, too. Throughout patrol he had been a tad more violent. Nearly falling back to his habits from his first patrol.
He had been worried that he’d have to bench Damian but it seems that everything would be fine now.
“Thank god. Was it Talia?” Red Robin asked, the sound of wind signaling he was on the move.
“Not sure yet but Hood took him back. Stark set the cameras back in order.”
“You just had to create an all powerful A.I with him, didn’t ya Red?” Spoiler teased.
Nightwing ignored the two as they bickered. He focused instead on Robin, his other baby brother stared off into the distance. Where his shoulders had dropped, relaxing at the news, they tightened just as soon. Nearly reaching his ears.
The uncharacteristic show of emotions only further showed just how worried Damian was of Peter’s nightly disappearances.
“What’s on your mind, Baby Bat?”
“Tsk, nothing. We have finished patrol, haven’t we?” Robin scoffed, turning back to leave. “We must file our reports for the night. Come.”
Dick couldn’t help but smile as Robin leaped off the building, a line shooting for a gargoyle. Robin flew off, rushing back to the cave faster than usual. He won’t fight his little brother, he was just as eager to check on Peter after all.
Nightwing swung after Robin as lights blurred past them. This part of the city was quiet thanks to Nightwing and Robin’s combined stress induced hard work. They cleared out the criminals and misfits causing trouble quickly. Oracle directed them to various calls as she waited for the cameras around Wayne Manor to glitch back to life.
You could even say that tonight was the most productive the vigilantes have been in a while.
They were never lax in their work, Batman would have given them an earful if they were. But tonight no one wanted to waste time when their baby brother was sneaking off to the woods. Each of them were hyper focused in their patrols, anything to take their mind off what could currently be going down back at Wayne Manor. Anything that could help them finish up so that they could be there when Peter came home.
Nightwing followed after Robin as the wind pushed back. They tore through the sky in their rush to return. Red Robin and Spoiler’s bantering petered out as they announced the end of their own patrol. No doubt on their way back now, too.
Dick dropped to the batmobile, Robin landing in the passenger seat impatiently. He grinned, starting the engine before peeling off.
Time to go home.
–
“Where is he?” Damian demanded the moment he’s relieved of his suit. Todd sat casually by the batcomputer. Feet propped besides the keys with a plate of cookies precariously balanced on his knee.
“Asleep. Don’t wake him, Demon Brat.” Jason smirked, biting into another cookie.
“Well? What happened!?” Brown rushed, still dressed as Spoiler. Drake followed behind her just as quickly as they stood around the lounging Todd.
Damian watched Todd, the casual movements that were just a little too casual. He acted far calmer than was expected for Todd of all people to react in regards to Peter’s rebellion.
Father had said that the name given by Peter was Natasha as his mysterious visitor. Damian didn't believe it. It was far more likely to be someone known to them after all. Why would someone with little to no connection to their family hide away in the forest to meet with Peter? No, it had to be someone else. Damian hated that his mind easily offered his mother as that person.
If his mother harmed Peter, he could never forgive her. During his time with Father, Damian had come to understand his upbringing was far from normal. It could be considered cruel to the regular civilian and even in the minds of other vigilantes and heroes. Still, to Damian, it had been normal. However none of his training is something he would wish for Peter to face.
He could not imagine his little brother facing an opponent with the knowledge that one would have to die between them. He could hardly see Peter surviving the desert alone, tracking his way home with nothing but his own knowledge and wits.
Peter was not meant for the League. He would not survive it the way Damian has. The way Todd and Cain had.
“It was Talia.” Todd spoke, his voice deepening in seriousness. Green bled into his eyes before he closed them, chest rising as he forced deep breaths.
“She was training him.” Richard uselessly pointed out.
His mother was training Peter in secret. She would hardly extend such lessons to someone who could hardly stomach the thought of blood. Peter could never take another’s life, he would fail as an assassin. So what was her plan, then?
Peter could not be the Demon’s Head. That title was meant for Damian as Ra’s Al Ghul’s grandson.
What does his mother intend to do with Peter?
“Why?” Drake frowned.
A good question. Yet none of them would have answers for it. To understand the inner workings of Talia’s mind was an incomprehensible task. Father may parse it out but he would need far more information than just Peter training.
“She’s planning something.” Father supplied, stalking into the cave with Kyle at his heels. Neither looked pleased by the night’s revelations. Kyle was tense as she walked, arms crossed. Father, for his part, mirrored her, striding heavily with each step.
“Any ideas?” Richard edged forward, eyes furrowed.
Father silently tore off his cowl, blue eyes glaring at the batcomputer behind them. “No.”
Peter would be asleep now. Alfred would no doubt keep a closer eye on him to ensure he stays indoors tonight. Peter would hardly have an answer to Mother’s plans. Damian could only hope his little brother had overheard something or had been told a clue as to what she intended to use him for.
Any deal with Talia Al Ghul was bound for bloodshed. Either his or someone else’s.
They had to uncover just what she wanted with him if they were to keep Peter safe. If she had set her sights on him then it was only a matter of time before Grandfather would join her. Peter would be in more danger with both of them chasing after him and there was only so much they could do to shield him.