Chapter 38
“Come oooon!” Peter groaned, pushing behind Bab’s wheelchair to get her moving.
Tim had perched himself on the counter inside the lab already, no doubt knowing what Peter was ready to unveil. Dick came as moral support and a helping hand. Though he was more glad that Peter was finally letting him into the labs since he commandeered it for himself.
Last time he tried getting in there Peter had implied he wasn’t smart enough to join the two and Dick decided to just avoid that room since. It didn’t hurt that much since Tim and Peter were certified geniuses in their own rights. He was smart too but he could accept that the work those two did were a different type.
Still, his baby brother practically called him dumb. Maybe not in so many words but... it was there.
Ouch.
Bab’s smirked at Peter’s insistence, her fingers pushing just slightly on the brakes to force Peter to flag against the back of it. He wasn’t using any super strength, likely not wanting to accidentally hurt her or the chair.
“Come on Babs, I wanna see what Pete made.” Dick chuckled, waving off her hands from the brakes. Peter’s eyes narrowed at them before he gasped dramatically.
“Faker!” Peter breathed, half heartedly stomping past them into the labs. Tim cackled from his seat.
From what he knew, Peter had been working on something that involved Bab’s legs. He hadn’t exactly shared anything and Tim kept quiet about it too. Babs had gotten a random call one night from Peter asking about the length of her legs. They had tried to brainstorm what Peter needed the measurements for but he was starting to think that ‘new pants’ weren’t it. Dick was just glad he was there to see it. Bruce had pouted when Peter refused to allow the whole family to be present unless Bab’s stated otherwise.
So when she asked him to come with, Dick couldn’t help but feel proud at being the chosen one.
“So what didya make, Puisor?” Dick asked, following behind the redhead.
“Legs!” Peter grinned, whirling on his feet to face them with a bright grin. “I made braces so Babs can walk! Look, see the beams here? They connect to the joints like bones would but outside and they can bend and move like they aren’t even there! Oh also also they don’t weigh that much but I can make them lighter later. Carbon fiber is super lightweight but it can be better. I just need… something. Maybe make new metal? Tim, can we make something new for that? That way Bab’s doesn’t have to work that hard. She just needs to work up to walking again but I can help!”
Dick gaped at the braces as Peter rambled. The youngest continued to explain the science, all of which flew over his head as he only heard “Bab’s can walk!” on repeat.
Peter made her new legs.
Babs can walk again.
She’ll need a hell of a lot of physical therapy but she could walk sometime soon.
“Oh… Peter…” Babs breathed, her voice choked up at the realization. Dick could hear the disbelief, the naked hope evident in her tone.
After the Joker had gotten to her years ago, Babs had been forced to retire Batgirl. Paralyzed from the waist down she was trapped in a wheelchair, wings clipped forever. She had been depressed, having to relearn how to just live again after it. She, and the rest of the family, never thought there would be a chance for her to walk again.
Oracle had become her new mask, a way to help and protect Gotham despite her new limits. It broke her from the despair, pulling Babs out of that depression into something with purpose. Babs was unstoppable, always had been and always will be. She had found a new way to help and carve out her future. Not being able to walk had been hard for her but she wouldn’t let that stop her. Not when there are hundreds of other ways to live and do what she wants. And now… Peter made her legs.
“...Do… Do you like it?” Peter fiddled with the hem of his shirt, a bout of shyness taking over. “I can change the color! Or… um, I can’t really change the shape yet but-”
Peter’s words were cut off by a yelp as Babs rolled into him, scooping him onto her lap for a hug. Dick smiled, pretending not to notice her quiet crying as Tim respectively looked away to give her some privacy.
So… that was ‘platypus’.
Dick wiped a tear from his own face, smiling at the pair sat on the wheelchair. Peter’s wide eyes melted into something so filled with love and pride as he hugged her back. Tim smiled over at Dick, pride in his own eyes for their brother’s accomplishment.
They didn't need Constantine to tell them that Peter was their blessing.
–
Batgirl had been a hero no matter who wore the mask.
Barbara Gordon wore it first, paving the way for other girls like Steph and Cass to make their own debut in time. She was the first girl to fly beside Batman, soaring through Gotham and taking down criminals that dared to crawl out from the shadows. She loved every minute of it.
Batgirl hadn’t just been an idea. It had been a dream.
Her dad went out each night in his own way, dragging the bad guys into the station and stepping into dangerous situations with only barely loyal cops at his side. Her dad protected Gotham the best he could behind a badge that was muddied with each corrupt officer that bore it. He was one of the (very) few good ones that Babs admired.
Batman saved the city differently. He crept through the shadows or flew high above the ground, a terrifying cloak trailing nightmares to the deserving. He had no reason to pick up the mask, he didn’t have to wake each morning with bruises and broken bones but he did. Little, pre-teen Barbara had been inspired.
So, Batgirl joined the big Bat.
She trained and worked hard to earn her name, the pseudo daughter of night and vengeance. Bringing justice to the streets and pushing back against the corruption that festered. She loved and hated it. To see the worst of her beloved city tore at her, but fighting back against it made it all worth it.
Then one day, she lost it all.
Barbara woke up in the hospital with the worst news she could have ever imagined hearing.
Barbara Gordon would never walk again.
God, that broke her.
It hurt worse than anything else could have.
Batgirl lost her suit and her legs, confined to a wheelchair and trapped in her room.
She could barely remember those days after the hospital. So wrapped up in her head that weeks passed by with little interest. Her dad and Bruce kept going out. Robin flew beside the Bat just as she had once. Like she never would again.
It took so long for her to find her purpose. Dick and Bruce visited her often, pulling her out of the dark room when they could. It had helped a little but nothing helped more than Oracle.
Babs had started out as Batgirl to protect her city and one simple throwaway comment from Dick had given her a new life. She didn’t have to stop protecting Gotham just because she couldn’t walk.
She was limited by her mobility but nothing could stop her mind. Not even Joker could stop her as long as she lived.
With the help of Bruce and Alfred, they set up a few monitors and a well made computer system for her to work with and in hours she had a set up. Oracle was born in a day, a legend that grew by the week.
Oracle couldn’t be stopped by a gunshot to the spine.
Oracle couldn’t be frozen by a virus.
Oracle was more than a person.
She was purpose.
“Thank you, Peter.”
She could walk again.
She wouldn’t go back as Batgirl but she could walk again. She can walk with Peter at the zoo. Walk to cafes with the girls. Maybe, someday, she could run with Tim or skateboard through Gotham’s streets.
Oracle will never die and Barbara will never be forced down again.
“This means so much, Peter. Thank you.”
–
Thursday had been filled with meetings and reports. Bruce spent nearly eight whole hours in his office, drowning in paperwork - pages of endless words, all of which blurred in comparison to the actual work he wanted to do.
The first chance he got, Bruce had fled from his space and raced to his car. He sped home to hole up in the batcave, where he had been for however many hours it’s been. So far, none of Peter’s teachers or tutors had any connection to magic. His friends were all perfectly normal just like the first time he checked their records. There was nothing that connected to the mysterious magic user that blessed his son.
“I knew I’d find you here.” Selena mused, sitting on the armrest of the chair. “All the kids are in the gym upstairs. You aren’t planning to join them?”
Peter had made Barbara a pair of leg braces that were meant to help her walk again. It was a miracle that had her in tears even during dinner when Dick retold the family of it. Bruce couldn’t lie, he had felt the tears well up at the very idea of it.
His kids might claim and even joke that Batman was heartless but Bruce loves each of them so much. It pains him every time they come back injured or scarred. He always tried to protect them the best he could, but even Batman was limited. When Barbara had been shot, destined for a wheelchair for the rest of her life, Bruce had felt sick. He had hated himself for not being there, for not stepping in when Joker targeted her.
She was the first of his family to have been injured so grievously. He had hoped that after that, no one else would be faced with something so serious. Batman had reinforced their armor, he pushed harder in training. All of them were equipped with medkits and field training. Bruce had been foolish, of course, he couldn't keep them all safe.
He allowed her to join him. To take on the Batgirl name and to follow him into the fray. He had trained her. It was his fault that she lost her legs. He couldn’t ruin their moment upstairs. Not when he had been the cause.
“No.”
“Bruce… my love.” Selena sighed, reading the screens before pulling his face to her. “Babs will walk again, thanks to our little blessing. Someone blessed him, I know it’s concerning but he isn’t cursed. I don’t like it either but he wasn’t cursed, darling.”
Grunting, Bruce pulled away from the gentle touch. Sure, Peter had been lucky that this person only blessed him but that oversight could have ended a lot worse. The Joker could have done worse. Killer Croc could have-
He couldn’t risk it.
Dick had faced enough hardships. As his first son, Bruce hadn't been as prepared for the child vigilante. He had allowed too much and Dick had suffered for it.
Barbara lost her mobility.
Jason had died.
Tim had been brainwashed.
Steph had to fake her own death and leave everyone behind.
Damian had been raised by the League of Assassins, forced to grow up too fast in the worst place for a child.
Cass had been raised to be a weapon.
Duke had lost his parents, forced to rise up to defend a city with other untrained children.
He couldn’t let Peter join them. He couldn’t see Peter face the world like a hardened soldier.
Peter is a blessing and he shouldn’t feel like a curse.
“What if someone does worse?” Bruce had been called paranoid, it was a running joke for his children after all his contingencies and plans. They make light of it but none of them ignore it either. They were all ready to fall into any one of his plans should he claim a need for it. They were as prepared as he could make them. Batman was prepared, always, but he wasn't omniscient.
Bruce couldn’t risk losing his children so he prepares the best he could. It never stopped the worst from happening, but it allowed them a frame to work around it. It brought a plan for each worst case scenario and it helped to know there were plans for any of it.
“There will always be ‘what ifs’, Bruce. Parents always feel that fear. I won’t tell you to stop searching for the person but don’t ignore your family in favor of it. Come upstairs, love. See the kids instead of living in your nightmares.” Selena tugged on his hand, there was little strength behind it but Bruce found himself following it. “Upstairs? There’s reality. There's our kids.”
Bruce followed her.
He could hear the kids laughing from inside the gym as they got close.
He watched as Barbara laid on the mats, Dick helping her raise her legs as Peter did butterfly kicks beside her. Damian sat behind Peter, holding his shoulders down as Tim tickled him. Peter's giggles raised above the others as he batted at Tim's hands. Steph and Cass sat on the balance beams, drinking smoothies and throwing marshmallows at Barbara’s face. Duke was half asleep on a bench, waving at stray marshmallows from Steph.
Bruce smiled as Selena leaned into him.
“See? They’re okay, Bruce. They’re safe and here.”
–
No one can make tea quite like Alfred.
Dick accepted coffee instead while Peter and Gwen ran upstairs. Peter had asked him if he could drive the pair back to Sabrina’s so the two could hang out after school. After checking in with Bruce and Selena, Dick had agreed. He was always happy to help his siblings when they asked for it. He wants Peter to know that he was always there for him. Dick would clear his schedule for any of his siblings, putting their health and needs before his own in most cases.
The oldest brother role was easily the best one he could have had. Dick loves all of his younger siblings, especially having the chance to dote and chauffeur them around. It was a time where Dick could just spend with them without cases or injuries to sully it. Peter wasn’t a vigilante right now and hopefully not for a long time, so spending any time with him was great. There was no talk about serial killers or Rogues and there wasn’t an injury to keep an eye on or tend to.
Even if Peter was technically not hanging out with him, Dick looked forward to the drive back.
Sabrina moved around the kitchen, preparing a plate of snacks for them while the kids did their homework or played. Peter had been excited for today so Dick figured Gwen had some new toy or story to tell.
While he didn’t like how Peter and Sabrina met, Dick was glad Peter found a good friend in Gwen. The two were as thick as thieves since they met. Nate and Peter together were a bundle of trouble, but throw in Gwen into the mix and they could take Gotham by storm.
Selena was still wary of leaving Peter with Sabrina alone so Dick was happy to step in as babysitter while she was at work. It gave him a chance to get to know the woman more, outside of the reports and files compiled by Tim and Bruce. While Selena and Sabrina have gotten along better by now, he knew the anxiety of losing Peter kept Catwoman from trusting him in the other woman's hands.
“I like the mug.” Dick grinned. His mug resembled Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. The grinning face of the cartoon held a comically large cookie with a bite already missing from it.
“Thanks. I got it from a yard sale a few years ago.” Sabrina smiled, bringing over the platter. Cheese and grapes were plated on it with some crackers on the side. It was a smaller charcuterie board than Dick was used to from Alfred’s but it didn’t take away how tasty it would be. Fruits and cheese could never be bad.
Dick helped himself to some cheese and crackers as Sabrina got situated across from him. Her own homemade mug had coffee with a little cream.
“How is Gwen liking Gotham Academy? She went to Wilson before, right?” He already knew Gwen attended Wilson Elementary before Peter asked Bruce about offering her the chance to take the entrance exam. Bruce had even offered to bypass the exam entirely if Peter really wanted her to go to school with him but thankfully Peter talked him out of it.
He was confident that Bruce just wanted Peter’s friends to be close so he could keep a closer eye on them.
“She loves and hates it. You know how kids are, misses her friends but she loves the challenge. Wilson wasn’t great but it was what we could afford.” Sabrina hummed. “I wanted to thank Mr. Wayne for giving her the chance but I have a feeling he won’t want to speak to me.”
“No.” Dick knew Bruce was all for second chances, which was why she hadn’t had as long a sentence as her partners. That didn’t mean he was happy that Peter had befriended her daughter. Bruce was willing to let them hang out but he wouldn’t forget how she kidnapped him for money.
The entire situation scared Bruce, which Dick knew was something he wasn’t all that prepared for. Bruce and Batman always prepared for every possible scenario. The fact that Sabrina and her partner, Patrick, had managed to take Peter from school was not something he would forget. Dick knew his father figure had planned for the possibility, Peter is a Wayne after all. But even the preparations couldn't help when the situation actually arose, especially when it was his baby. The one child out of the entire family that he got to watch grow up in front of his eyes.
Peter wore his tracker necklace at all times now, thankfully. Well, Dick mused, most times. His little brother had finally given in to wear it at all times now. Since the Talia fiasco, Bruce has been on edge. Anytime Peter's tracker stayed still for too long outside of school or scheduled events where Peter wouldn't be moving had the man hacking into cameras to find him.
“I won’t push him to forgive me either but I am grateful for the opportunity this gives Gwen.” She smiled sadly, eyes on the grapes. “I want her to do better than me. Her dad doesn’t want her living in Crime Alley either, but there isn’t much we can do about it right now.”
“Yeah, that’s understandable. Gwen’s a smart kid, she’ll have plenty of opportunities even outside of school.” Dick hummed, recalling a conversation he had with Peter some time ago. “She wants to try ballet, right? Cass is in a company, I can ask her about free lessons or even summer camps for it.”
Sabrina smiled at the offer, the two falling into a comfortable silence. Dick didn’t expect himself to be here till dinner. Peter would want to check on Babs once they get home and Dick would no doubt be joining him.
After bringing in Dr. Thompkins to plan out a schedule for Babs’ physical therapy, the entire family pitched in to help her and go through the exercises at her side. Peter joined in often, checking in on the new leg braces and tuning it whenever Babs made the slightest comment on it.
He wondered just what else Peter could make given the time.
So far it seems that Peter found his niche and Dick hoped this meant he would lay off on wanting to be a vigilante in favor of this. He could be an inventor, make new gear and tricks for them while staying safe inside the cave. He would be far from Talia’s reaches by staying in the cave, too.
No one has seen or heard of her since Bruce interrupted Peter’s ‘training’ with her. Dick doubted it would be the last they would see her but hopefully next time, Peter would be far far away from her.
“Dick?” Peter stepped into the kitchen, arms wrapped around his stomach. “Can we go home now?”
***–***
Peter was excited.
Skip had said that he had something cool to show him and Peter couldn’t help but wonder what it could be. He felt sick throughout the day at school but Peter figured he could just be too excited.
So once the bell rang, Peter grabbed Gwen’s hand and fled the building. They raced down the stairs and across the field towards the curb where Dick stood. His brother grinned, lifting Peter up before hugging him.
“You ready, guys?” Dick held the door for Gwen before letting Peter drop from his arms. Both of them cheered as the door shut.
“You gotta tell me what he has.” Gwen whispered as Dick walked around to the driver’s side.
“I will.” Peter promised.
The drive didn’t change much with Peter’s feelings. His spidey senses only rose, forcing Peter to visibly relax in his seat. The nerves had him practically vibrating out of the car. Thankfully Dick was more focused on driving carefully with them in the backseat to notice.
He didn’t know why he felt like there was danger nearby, Crime Ally wasn’t always setting it off unless he was close enough to some sort of trouble. Maybe it was just the unknown? He didn’t know what exactly Skip had found so maybe he’s just nervous about that. Besides, he wanted to tell him all about the braces he made for Babs. Skip would love it!
Peter watched as they approached Sabrina and Gwen’s house. The feeling of something wrong kept going, pushing him to feel on edge as if something bad was just around the corner.
Once Dick parked the car, Peter and Gwen ran for her room. They just barely spared a greeting for Sabrina before Gwen shut the door. Peter spent an hour working on his homework while occasionally having to help Gwen. She was a lot smarter than she liked to believe, Peter only had to give a few leading questions before she found the right answer.
The clock kept ticking. A countdown that reminded him just a few more minutes before Skip. A few more minutes before he could tell Skip all about the braces and see the surprise.
Grinning, Peter climbed out the window after an hour and a half with his alarm alerting him of the visit. Skip had opened his window, leaning back to give Peter room to climb across. The teenager’s bright smile did nothing to assuage Peter’s anxiety.
“Hi Skip!” Peter beamed once he landed on the carpet in his room. He took a moment to just look, seeing the teenager’s room for the first time while Skip shut the window behind him.
There was an unmade bed against one wall with a old and worn nightstand. An alarm clock and a few comic books filled the top of it. The closet was closed and a basketball was left just beside it, right next to a desk where Skip left his backpack. An old cup was left, half filled with water, by the lamp on it. His walls were filled with band posters and a few movie promotions, none of which Peter could recognize. They all seemed like various horror movies.
“Hey Einstein, you’re looking better than last I saw you.” Skip ruffled his hair before his hand took his shoulder. “Come on. What’s got you all excited?”
Skip led Peter to the bed, a box Peter overlooked left by the pillow. Was the surprise in there? It looked like an old shoe box, maybe he had pins like Gwen? She kept hers in an old orange shoe box.
“I made Babs braces! They’re made from carbon fiber and the joints have some nth metal too. It’s gonna help her walk again.” Peter beamed, dropping onto the bed. Skip sat beside him, a hand landing on his thigh as the teen grinned.
“That’s great! I knew you were smart Einstein but making legs? Damn.” He whistled, falling back so they laid side by side.
Peter turned to his side, still smiling. “It was because of you. Thanks… for talking to me before.”
“I like you, Einstein.” Skip smiled, a hand ruffling Peter’s hair. “So did it show up old Brucie Wayne? It sounded like he didn’t want you helping. I hope he wasn’t too mad with you.”
Skip sat up to study Peter, the hand from his thigh gliding up as if to check for injuries. Peter stilled as the hand moved along his ribs. His brothers always checked for injuries too, though it never felt like this.
He pushed the uncomfortable feeling. Skip was only worried. “He was happy.”
His dad looked like he was gonna cry at dinner. Peter could have sworn he saw tears but he figured his dad didn’t want everyone to know. It made him feel like a hero, he could keep his family safe after all. He’s helping Babs to walk again and next he can make a new helmet for Red Hood. The schematics were good so there shouldn’t be any explosions this time.
“I’m glad.” Skip grinned, his hand resting by Peter’s arm. “So! Guess you’ve earned this surprise then.”
Peter sat up as Skip leaned over the bed, reaching for the shoebox. He leaned further into Skip’s shoulder to peer into the box as the teen removed the lid.
Magazines.
“Polar Bears?” Peter questioned, eyeing the cover of Discovery and the picture of the Arctic. A polar bear and two furry little cubs followed her on the cover, he was sure Dami would love this.
“Not exactly, Einstein.” Skip grinned, tossing the polar bears to the side to reveal the one beneath it.
Peter’s brows scrunched up at the image. A blonde girl stood in a weird pose wearing red underwear. Her left hand holding a red rope with the right rested above her thigh. The picture made Peter feel uncomfortable, like he wasn’t supposed to see this.
“What’s wrong?” Skip nudged him as Peter shuffled back to avoid the magazine.
“What’s the surprise?” Peter hoped there was something else and this was a bad trick. Skip looked disappointed in him but he doesn’t think he can fix that.
Skip pushed the magazine towards him again, moving to sit beside him against the wall. “This is it. Guess you’re too young to get it, huh. Even the all knowing Einstein doesn’t understand something.” He smiled but Peter’s skin felt itchy.
The teenager flipped to another page with more people dressed in even less clothes. Peter turned away from it, feeling too hot in Skip’s room. Why was it so hot? His skin buzzed like a beehive made their home underneath it. His heart raced as his senses screamed for something.
“I… I don’t like it.”
“That’s fine, Einstein.” Skip smiled, his hand rubbing Peter’s thigh. His legs felt like ice yet where Skip touched it burned. “I think you’ll like the second part better. You’re a big kid, aren’t you?”
His senses were screaming at him. The hand kept him locked in place. Peter knew something was wrong here but what?
Mutely, Peter nodded. He wasn’t a baby anymore.
Skip’s hand traveled higher, his other hand reaching for Peter’s cheek. Peter’s throat clogged up, the ‘no’ getting trapped under the lump that grew there instead. He silently begged, pleading with his eyes for Skip to let him go. He didn’t like this surprise anymore. He wanted to go back to Gwen, to find Dick and go home.
His leg burned where Skip touched. He shouldn’t touch him like that. That wasn’t right. Right? It made him uncomfortable and his mom said that he can always tell people if he wasn’t comfortable and they had to listen. He wanted to tell Skip to stop but… Peter felt scared.
“Here.” Skip whispered, shifting closer. Peter tried to move farther back but he was met with the wall behind him, stopping him from moving away. Skip caught his hand, gently tugging it to his own pants. The other hand held his face, forcing his eyes to meet Skip’s.
Peter wanted to go home, now.
The tears welled up, he wanted to cry. To scream.
He didn’t want this surprise.
He wanted to run.
He wanted to say no.
He wanted to scream.
“Feel that?”
Bile rose in his throat.
He didn’t like the surprise at all.
This was wrong.
He shouldn’t have come.
He couldn’t move.
Peter’s blood ran cold, frozen in place as Skip moved him like a doll. All that strength left him with every touch, every whisper that burned his ear. Peter couldn’t do anything. Why couldn’t he do anything? Why can’t he move?
“Sto-op!” Peter whimpered. “Please.”
He wanted to fight. He should be able to fight back.
Why can’t he?
He felt so cold.
So scared.
Peter didn’t like this surprise at all.