Chapter 36
It was no secret that Batman hated all things magic. There was little sense and facts to be found and magic was often the most frustrating opponent in a fight. He put little stock in any mention of magic. This was known by everyone within the Watchtower.
Batman did not care for magic.
However, Duke had shared his conversation with Peter earlier that morning and now Bruce had to be sure to check all the boxes.
Peter claims he’s cursed. This, of course, had to be an exaggeration. All his kids tended to be dramatic at times, something no doubt picked up from Dick. Bruce hoped that if he had it confirmed that his son had not been cursed through magic, that maybe he would feel safer. That maybe Peter wouldn't see himself as cursed anymore.
“Constantine.” Batman stood over the smoking man. The heavy smell of smoke wafted around them as bored blue eyes glared up at him.
“Batman.” Constantine huffed.
If Zatanna had not been busy, Batman wouldn’t have had to call the Hellblazer. He worried that Peter would spiral again if he continued to think that the curse was real. Dick had suggested therapy which Selena had agreed vehemently with. Sessions with Dinah would be useful for Peter and may push him back into a more civilian role in life. It was a good idea, but something that they had to talk to Peter about first. This, though, would give Peter some comfort until then.
“I have a job for you.” Batman placed the carefully crafted file in front of the man. He had spent the entirety of the day working on it once Selena had taken Peter out. The files held brain scans from Peter after the Joker venom bonded with his DNA, they showed various tests that confirm Peter’s sanity. Nothing from the venom having any power over Peter. “You will be meeting him tonight.”
Constantine flipped the file open, seeing the reports and scans Bruce had painstakingly prepared. “Not my job, Bats.”
“You are a detective of the supernatural side, this is your job.” Peter needed the reassurance that there was no curse. Bruce needed to reassure himself that Peter wasn’t cursed. There was no possible way for him to have been around magic. Bruce would have known if he had.
“Sure, supernatural shite. This? Overprotective papa bear tryna excuse his nepo baby. Ain’t my problem, Bats.”
He hated having to deal with Constantine.
“What’s wrong with Peter?” Clark flew by, his eyebrows furrowed in concern. Batman didn’t relax at the newfound back-up joining his side.
“He says he’s cursed.” Batman resisted the sigh, wishing he knew where Peter would get that idea from.
“Kon says he’s cursed all the time, usually when he fails pop quizzes or loses in a spar.” Superman smiles. “Peter could have just been overdramatic.”
Batman scowled, his back-up betraying him. Peter could be dramatic, he looked up to Dick after all. He had considered that option as well but he couldn’t risk it. Duke had made it sound as if Peter believes it. “If not?”
“Bats, you don’t even like magic. Where would your urchin even piss off a witch?”
Peter ran through Gotham enough without supervision to have accidentally stumbled across a magic user. Batman might have the 'no meta' rule but even he couldn't ensure all magical or powered individuals steered clear of Gotham. Bruce could hate himself forever for never even realizing the trips his son took without supervision but he refused to allow even the smallest chance of him being cursed to fester any longer.
“He ran from the manor enough. I don’t know everyone he might have met.” Batman needed answers. Peter might be willing to talk about those trips now but considering he had lied about Talia, Bruce knew he couldn’t take everything at face value.
“You’re kid ran from ya?” Constantine laughed. “Oh that’s rich. Maybe I gotta meet the tyke that stumps the great Batman, yeah?”
Bruce wasn’t as embarrassed about Peter managing to run from the house and his protection. No, he was worried, scared even. Maybe a little proud but still, ultimately terrified. Peter might act dangerously independent but he was still a kid. He was his son, his baby boy who shouldn’t have to run off into Crime Alley all alone. He shouldn’t have to train with Talia in secret.
Peter should be safe at home or playing with his friends. He shouldn’t be worrying over a possible curse or scheming to protect the family of vigilantes.
“Thursday, Constantine.” Batman turned after that. There was no need to spend any more time around Constantine than necessary. Diana was already eyeing them from across the room as is. Setting his shoulders, Batman left the meeting room.
He’ll show Peter that he isn’t cursed.
His son is a blessing.
–
Oracle usually worked from the comforts of the Clocktower. Her set up as well as a fully stocked mini fridge became the perfect headquarters for her nightly work. Tonight, though, was different.
The usual chair kept in front of the batcomputer had been pushed to the side for her wheelchair to take point. Despite Batman’s rule about food and drinks near the computer, she had an energy drink and freshly made biscuits to the right of the console. To the left were apple slices and apple juice for Peter. Four screens displayed various camera feeds across Gotham and two others ran scans for Red Robin and Spoiler’s cases.
Batman’s usual chair twirled beside her, Peter half melting off of it as he lightly kicked the desk to continue the rotation. Babs hid her smile at the Batgirl pajama set he wore, a gag gift Steph had gotten him to add to his collection of superhero pajamas.
“O, did you get the license plate?” Red Robin’s voice cut through the comms, Peter sliding back up at his brother’s voice.
“Obviously, who do you take me for?” Babs got to work, pulling up IDs and history of the owner. Maybe she had been distracted but she wasn't the Oracle for nothing. “It’s been reported missing for three months. Looks like they’re heading west towards Spoiler's route.”
“Ooh. Tag team, little Red?”
“Little Red?”
“Red Hood is big Red, duh. Or Clifford. Oh! Hood, you’re Clifford!” Spoiler cackled over the comms. Peter giggled beside her as Hood cursed her out.
“Hey guys, little ears tonight.” Babs reminded the crew before Jason could say anything more. Peter didn’t need to hear more curse words than he’s already learned.
Babs kept an eye on Peter, seeing the smile as Hood replaced curses with Disney. The banter flowed into puns with Nightwing's own contributions. Usually, this is the point where Batman would intervene but it seems he won’t interrupt with Peter listening in.
Duke had a point with bringing Peter into the cave. She knew his habit of running off would lead to trouble and had tried before to keep an eye on the cameras and even set up a system where she would be alerted if he was caught somewhere he shouldn’t be. Though that only worked if Peter's face was picked up from CCTV cameras. Knowing how smart he was, Peter could avoid them easily.
Dick had been adamant to join Batman years ago and so had she. Every child that came to Wayne Manor did. It wasn’t surprising that Peter would also join the bandwagon and try his hand at joining the rest of the clan out at night. Babs only wished it wasn’t right now.
If Peter had been older, Bruce might have been more accepting of training him. None of them were raised as infants in this household so maybe it was just a part of Peter being normalized to the lifestyle of vigilantes?
Whatever it was, Babs supported Dick’s idea of setting up an appointment for him. She was ready to set the date once they talked to Peter about it. Maybe hide the exact date from Bruce...
Bruce embodied the helicopter parent stereotype when it came to Peter.
“Robin, seriously. Leave the ducks alone.” Red Robin sighed into the comms, a sharp grunt followed where Robin no doubt struck him. Babs rolled her eyes at their antics, far too used to their little fights.
“Duck!” Peter sat up, eyes wide as he stared at her wheelchair.
Babs eyed him, the focused expression on the youngest Wayne was a sharp contrast to the laissez-faire gaze he had over the computers earlier. “They’re close to the docks right now. What’s on your mind, Spidey?”
“Just… ducks? No…” Peter frowned, pressing his thumb to his chin in thought. “Bears? Like… little bears with beaks?”
“A messed up teddy bear?”
“Bears with beaks?”
“Is Spidey okay? O, you didn’t give him caffeine, did you?”
“Platypus?” Red Robin suggested.
Peter shot out of the chair, a wide grin on his face. “Platypus!”
Babs watched as Peter ran for the labs like a fire was set after him. The others all expressed their confusion while Babs ran over the conversation to at least try and make some sense of this. Did Peter want a platypus? Would he make a robot platypus next?
He already made Stark, it wouldn't be too surprising.
She wouldn’t be too surprised. Steph had expressed the possibility of Peter becoming the sweetest villain and frankly, Babs could see it.
“Well, Spidey’s off to the labs so it’s just me now.” She informed the group, reassuring them that Peter hadn’t ran off again.
–
Since Peter’s random eureka moment over platypuses, he’s been locking himself into the labs. Well, locking would suggest Peter had enough control to actually keep himself trapped inside it. It was more like, whenever someone wanted to find Peter, the first place to check was the labs within the cave. The trick was keeping his attention.
Tim sat by the counter inside the labs as Peter worked on blueprints for leg braces, a pencil in his mouth as he peered over his math. It had only been two days since that night but Peter had wanted to do this by himself. Tim sat as moral support, silently preening that he was the only one who hadn't been shoved out by Peter.
“Peter, come out here for a moment.” Batman stuck his head into the labs, a careful smile on his lips. Tim eyed him, Selena had said he was up to something. No one had managed to figure out just what it was yet.
“In a minute.” Peter waved his hand absentmindedly, crossing out a number before replacing it with an equation.
“Superman is here.” Batman sighed, stepping away as Peter eyed the door, considering now. Tim smirked as Peter slowly left the desk to see their guest.
Unsurprisingly, Peter loves Superman. Tim thinks it has to do with Clark’s flight ability since he could follow Peter along the stalagmites on the ceiling. Tim has seen the cameras where the two played some version of hide and seek up there once, back when Peter was first getting used to his powers.
Slowly joining Peter, Tim eyed the two guests inside the main atrium of the batcave. John Constantine stood beside Superman, his arms crossed.
Tim wracked his brain to find whatever reason Batman had to bring Constantine, someone who the man hates working with, to the batcave to meet Peter. Constantine worked with the JL Dark, supernatural and magical issues were his bread and butter.
“Not cursed, cheers.” Constantine turned on his heels, only stopping when Superman caught his arm.
“Cursed?” Peter frowned, freezing in place.
Batman sighed, kneeling beside his son as he got his attention. “You mentioned you were cursed, Peter. I just want to make sure you’re not in any danger.”
Tim bit his fist, slipping to sit by the batcomputer, out of the way with his phone out. Oh this was gooood.
“I am cursed!” Peter glanced back at Constantine before focusing on his dad. “Everyone keeps dying, dad! It’s cuz of me. I know it.”
“Constantine?” Batman turns to glare at the British man, practically demanding a full magical check up for his son.
Tim watched as Constantine eyed the pair, clearly wanting to teleport out of the cave if it wasn’t for Superman’s hand on his arm. The British con man sighs heavily before stalking forward, Peter inches closer to Bruce as the man approaches.
“You smell.” Peter’s face scrunched up, a hand reaching to pinch his nose. Tim snorts, he’ll definitely have to send this to everyone later.
“Thanks.” Constantine grunts, stooping to Peter’s height.
Sitting straighter as the wind picks up, Tim watches as Peter stiffens. Constantine chants lowly words that Tim could only recognize as Latin. Would he find anything? Tim couldn’t imagine Peter having ever run into anyone with magic, much less never mentioning it to them.
No, Peter couldn’t actually be cursed. That’s impossible.
Still, Tim felt himself gnawing on his lip. A bad habit he’s picked up from Peter. Shouldn’t the youngest pick up the older sibling’s habits?
“Well,” Constantine pushes himself back to his feet, Batman following him up. “Your kid’s not cursed. Congrats. He’s the opposite. The magic is fading now so he’ll be fine.”
“The opposite?” Batman growls. Tim couldn’t help but agree. Peter has been touched by magic then.
Superman eyes the group, slowly joining the trio from where he had been left behind. Tim doesn’t bother moving, filming the interaction to share with the group later. They would all want to know what is going on and it was doubtful if Bruce would actually share it with them otherwise.
Peter takes Bruce’s hand, eyes wide as he leans forward to focus on Constantine.
“Opposite. Not a curse. As in a blessing. Kid’s got some safety protection blessing but it’s old now.” Constantine shrugs, hands stuffed in his pockets as he leans back. “Probably from when he was a babe. You ever brought him around any magic users then?”
“No.”
“Huh. Well, if that’s all.” Constantine turns on his heels one moment before disappearing the next. Tim eyes the red recording button on his phone, glancing back up at the now trio.
Peter has a frown on his face, furrowed eyebrows. Deep in thought, Peter leans into Batman. Batman still has his cowl but Tim could see how tense he was. No doubt the man would be investigating everything and everyone to figure out where Peter ran into magic. Tim might join him though it sounds as if the person hadn’t meant any harm.
Peter was blessed.
The little runner gremlin was blessed. Could that have been the cause for his premonitions? Every claim that the previously thought dead family member was alive could have been changed through the blessing. Constantine did say the blessing was fading, it was no doubt a lot stronger when he was younger.
Could blessings work that way?
Tim would have to reach out to Raven.
–
A blessing.
He was blessed.
Peter spent two days attempting to lock himself in the lab, pushing Mr. Constantine’s diagnosis out of mind. He didn’t want to think about the curse being a blessing in disguise or whatever reason there was to it.
His dad and brothers all tried to ask about magic whenever Peter was dragged out of the labs for mealtime or bedtime. Peter wished he even had some kind of answer to share. He couldn’t remember being blessed other than when he’d sneeze. He doubted that the phrase could actually grant real blessings.
No, he couldn’t be blessed.
Mr. Constantine was wrong.
The curse killed off his family.
He lost everyone.
He’s still losing them.
Tim and Jason have been staying around the manor but Peter knew they would leave soon enough. Jason had even said he'd be going back to Crime Alley soon.
He had to hurry up and prove he could keep them safe. Prove that there was a curse, one going after his family. Once he finished these and helped Babs with them, maybe he could figure out just what to build to save his brothers?
Talia had been right that they wouldn’t train him. But Duke gave him something better, something that he can actively do to help. He doesn’t have to hide in the forest and hide bruises till morning anymore. All Peter has to do is march himself into the lab inside the batcave.
“So why platypus?” Tim asked, half laying on the table with files scattered around him. Peter had to push his blueprints to the side when Tim joined him inside the lab.
“Because Platypus needs legs.” Peter shrugged, half focused on the skeleton of the leg braces.
Platypus needs working legs. Peter knew that much, the poor thing had gotten hurt once and had a wheelchair. He couldn’t remember how or why but he knew that someone built them working legs so they could walk again. A platypus needs to walk to hunt and work so he couldn’t stay in his wheelchair forever. He wasn't supposed to hurt his legs and Stark felt guilty. Especially since he was a hero, too. Peter had to help somehow, and helping Babs could help Platypus too. Right?
“Well… yeah. Okay.” Tim groaned. “Sure. But what about a dog? Or… hell, a swan?” Tim’s head rolled sideways to face Peter.
“Is Titus hurt?” Peter frowned, finally lifting from the frame to stare at Tim. Damian hadn’t said anything about Titus getting hurt. Peter knew his brother would have said something about that.
“No. No, Titus is fine. I meant… why platypus?”
Peter sighed, dropping the screwdriver to rest his hands on his hips. “Because he got hurt! And then he made him legs! So I’m making legs!”
Peter grabbed his screwdriver again, focusing on the ankle support. Babs should be comfortable when she wears them. Platypus said they hurt at first and Peter didn’t want his sister to hurt again. Tim was smart and usually helped so Peter let him into the labs with him. Right now he was just distracting.
“Stark, can we have music?” Peter asked pointedly looking at Tim as AC/DC started blasting from the speakers.
–
Peter being a blessing is… accurate.
Since he’s been born, Wayne Manor has felt different. It was like the missing piece was finally found. Like light finally shining through dark clouds or leaving behind a dark forest into a bright clearing. It was sunshine in Gotham.
Dick had melted at the sight of the newborn. He already was a big brother at that time but having an actual baby brother was different than a pre-teen one. He shadowed Peter as if he was glass. The photo albums that were filled for Peter’s first few years were all done by Dick, with the additions from Alfred and Selena.
Jason had fallen in love with his baby brother. The old and violent home he grew up in alone had fostered the need for independence early. He couldn’t remember being babied other than the few times his mom had her good days. When she was sober and happy she would cook them dinner or play games with him. Other days he was spent alone, putting together basic sandwiches to stave off his hunger. He grew up watching his dad and his heavy stumbling, learning to hide when he smelled too strongly of alcohol or was too loud and angry.
He couldn’t imagine how he survived, looking down at the newborn baby that Selena brought into the world.
How would Peter have survived? What if Peter had been in Jason’s place? Could someone that small really make it to nine like he had? He knew plenty of kids who have, but something about seeing how small and vulnerable Peter was, it felt impossible.
Peter had been something new and precious for him. A baby brother who never saw the shit he had. Who had sober and loving parents who doted on him. A grandpa who kept a watchful eye with a batch of cookies if you had a bad day.
He was special and innocent. Peter was a blessing. A breath of fresh air after drowning for so long. Even with the Pit Rage burning through his veins, Jason could never see Peter as anything but that newborn baby. Wrinkled and ugly but so so innocent.
Which is to say, when Constantine said that Peter was blessed magically, it was not surprising. He had always thought Peter was the blessing, but he’d digress. Semantics and all that.
“Demon brat, where’s Peter?” Jason stopped in the hallway when he spotted one of the two babies in the family.
“In the labs as usual.” Damian sneered before walking back to wherever he meant to go. Clearly feeling some neglect as Peter hid away in the cave the past few days.
Jason watched him for a moment before sighing. He had told the family the previous night that he was going back to Crime Alley and Peter hadn’t been too happy. He didn’t yell or cry but he did go silent.
The silence reminded him too much of Peter when he stood in front of Talia. The forced silence of an obedient soldier, a puppet for whatever games she was playing.
Taking a moment to calm down, Jason closed his eyes. He couldn’t be angry about it no matter how much he wanted to hunt Talia down. He was mad and frustrated that Peter still went to her for training when he had already been teaching him. It was safer with him as the teacher rather than Talia.
The woman was Ra’s right hand. She was deadly and dangerous. Peter was lucky that she couldn’t train him the “proper” way while he still lives with B.
But Peter was just a kid. Jason couldn’t yell at him because Peter didn’t know. He doesn’t see what lies Talia spins. He only saw someone offering him training when everyone else treated him like a baby.
Jason could understand that, even if he hated it.
Peter didn’t have to be independent. He can rely on them. He has to know that.
Making his way to the cave, Jason had to promise himself to try harder. If Peter feels that he couldn’t share his opinions then he would only be driven farther away. Duke had a point when it came to Peter feeling left out. He was the baby so obviously, everyone treated him as one. He was still a baby. Offering him some control, some work to help them, might keep him from Talia’s gaze longer.
“Hey Pe-” Jason cut off, his hand just barely catching the pliers aimed for his face. “Woah, hey no throwing!”
“Eh, five points. He caught it.” The Replacement shrugged, returning his attention to case files. The music lowered as he talked, as if Stark could sense there was conversation to be had.
Jason spluttered, spotting Peter focusing on some… metal contraption. What has he been working on? After Peter yelled ‘Platypus’ over comms he’s been holed up in the lab. Unsurprisingly, Timothy Drake was the only one allowed inside. Even the old man was pushed out.
“Excuse you, ten points for catching it. What’s with the surprise attack?” Jason scowled, hovering by the door now that he was there.
“Peter’s too focused to talk.” Tim shrugged. “I’ve made it a game at this point. Watch. Hey Pete, Bruce’s running around in Superman’s suit just outside.”
Peter, completely focused, hummed. He hadn’t looked up once. Granted, the rest of the family wouldn’t have bat an eye over something so obviously false but Peter always looked. Dick once claimed to see a poodle on a bike inside the library and Peter looked for half an hour.
“Pete?” Jason tried, watching as Peter scrutinized a few screws before finally plucking one. “Hey Spider-baby?”
Nothing. Nada. No reaction.
“This is kinda freaky.”
“You get used to it.” Tim shrugged. Jason glanced over at the other younger brother. The Replacement seemed okay right now, calm even in front of Jason. He might have been ready to move on from the attempted murder but he knew Tim wouldn’t be.
Hell, if he was in his place he definitely wouldn’t want to even talk to himself. Tim had yelled at him before.
“Right.” Jason nodded, glancing back at Peter. How had Alfred managed to drag him out? Scratch that, how had he managed to get Peter to talk like that?
“You’ll have to wait for Alfred before you can talk to him now. I think he used up all his words with me earlier.” Tim watched him. He didn’t seem tense but Jason could tell he was focused on him.
Tim and Jason had a sort of truce since the Peter and Talia reveal but he knew it wouldn’t last. He had traumatized Tim. It was bloody and messy, he could smell his fear that night. Jason would never forgive himself for it so he knew Tim wouldn't either.
Still, they could look past it when it comes to Peter.
“You’ve been keeping him company?”
“You don’t think I can?” Tim raised an eyebrow.
“No! No, I don’t. You can, kid loves you.” Tim never tries to talk back to him. The kid was scared of him, no matter how much it hurts Jason. Was this… improvement? “You’re… good… with him.”
Tim leaned back in his chair, hands hidden underneath it. “Uh-huh. What do you need him for?”
“I wanted to take him to the park.” Don’t scare Tim. Just stay relaxed. He won’t see a threat if you don’t move too fast. “Do you wanna come?”
“... No thanks.” Tim pulled some of the pages closer as he spoke.
Well then, at least they talked. That’s better than weeks before when Tim couldn’t even look at him without freaking out. Progress.
“Jason!” Peter tugged on his hand, eyes bright as he looked up at him. “When did you get here?”