Chapter Text
“I’m seeing someone,” Bruce announced one morning over breakfast. “His name is Harold. It’s early days but I’m hopeful.”
Tim murmured something in acknowledgement without looking up from his laptop.
Dick gave a thumbs up over his bowl with one hand whilst spooning cereal into his mouth with the other.
Damian nodded, and continued to eat his eggs and toast, mentally running strategies for the video game he had recently begun playing and hoped to master within the week.
By lunchtime they had all but forgotten about it. It was considered non news. Bruce did this sometimes. Dated. Took some fling or other out on the town a few times then cut them loose as Batman unfailingly took priority. Just another Tuesday.
…
“Bruce Wayne and his latest paramour wreak havoc at Lex Luthor press event” the headline read.
Jason snorted, reading from his phone as he lounged in manors family room. Cass, Barbara and Steph were there too, playing a very tense game of Uno on the rug.
“The drunken pair attempted to ‘free’ the robot shop assistant Luthor Corp was unveiling. When approached for comment Mr Jordan a test-pilot, who was introduced to Mr Wayne by their mutual friend Oliver Queen told reporters, “It’s not fair, he doesn’t deserve to be stuck in retail, people are mean and he should be doing something fun.” Mr Wayne supported this statement, declaring that “We’re taking him to Vegas.”
Cass let lout a chuckle, “Brucie has a friend.”
“Where does he even find these bimbos?” Steph asked, still remembering Brucies last ‘friend’ who had accompanied him to several events last year and had a habit of laughing at jokes before the punchline then clapping her hands. It had been excruciating.
“Weren’t you paying attention?” Jason teased, “He found this one at Oliver’s.”
Barbara laughed. “That explains it.”
…
“Who’s meant to have Galla duty tonight?” Tim asked, glancing around the cave where everyone was in the process of changing for patrol. They all knew that Bruce preferred to have a buffer nearby when he was required to interact with too many of the Gotham elite at once and would be a moody asshole to deal with tomorrow if they made him go alone.
“Me and Babs were going to go,” Dick said, zipping his suit, “but he said he’s taking Harold.”
A few of them let out interested hums.
“Jordan has lasted longer than anticipated,” Damian noted. Voicing what they were all thinking.
“Yeah,” Steph agreed, “How longs that been now? Four months.”
“I give it another week.”
“No bet.”
…
“I met Harold,” Tim mentioned offhandedly over coms as they staked out Penguins latest digs.
“Bruce’s Harold?”
“What other Harold is there, Jay?” Dick challenged.
“I don’t know. Could be another Harold. I don’t keep track of everyone you people hang out with.”
“When did you meet him?” Barbara asked ignoring the bickering.
“This morning, at the office. I went in to assist Mr Fox and Bruce had a meeting. Harold showed up with flowers and brought Bruce a lunch.”
“I thought Bruce was the one who’s meant to ply people with flowers and food. Since he’s loaded and all.”
“That’s what Bruce said. Harold said he wanted to treat his sweetheart.”
Several of them made gagging sounds.
“Wow, this guy’s really laying it on thick.”
“You think he’s playing an angle?”
“Nah, when it comes to spotting gold diggers Bruce’s eyesight is better than Superman. He’d have dumped him by now.”
“What’s he like?” Steph asked Tim.
The line went quiet for a second as he pondered the question.
“Seemed nice.”
…
“Dami,” Dick smiled, opening his door to let his youngest brother in. “What brings you to my neck of the woods?”
Damian breezed past him and toed off his shoes then immediately made a beeline for the guest room to drop off his bag.
“I need to stay here a few days,” he stated, making Dick frown.
“Oh, sure. How come?”
“Father has invited Jordan to spend the weekend at the Manor. He’s behaving strangely.”
“Strangely how?”
“They were dancing.”
“Dancing?”
“Along the hallways. And they were singing at one another. It was unnerving. I can tolerate father’s fool behaviour at events but I refuse to entertain it at home.” He frowned as Dick flopped down to sit on the kitchen floor looking shell shocked.
“Singing?”
…
“Maybe he’s a mark?”
“What?”
Stephanie shrugged at Jason's baffled expression. “I’m just saying. If he’s keeping the act up even when there’s no audience then the Brucie bit must be for this Harold guys sake. Maybe he’s involved in something and Bruce needs to get close to get info.”
“He wouldn’t have brought him to the Manor. Not if he was any sort of threat.”
“What if he’s…?”
“You are reading way too much into this. It’s easy. Bruce found himself a cute piece of ass and wants to get laid. Harold is into dumb rich guys so Bruce needs to play along long enough to get some then he’ll break it off.”
“Eww.”
…
“They look cute together,” Cass said, leaning over the magazine spread which showed Bruce and Harold smiling at each other over the table at La Pergola. Some lucky tourist had noticed the lovebirds and managed to snap a pic before being chased off by the staff. Probably made a tidy sum selling it to the paps.
“What case is Bruce working on at the moment?” Barbara asked.
“Scarecrow. New gas strain.”
“Is Crane sourcing from suppliers in Rome?”
“Nope.” Tim popped the P, shaking his head, eyes still fixed on the photo.
“Are you certain? No other cases in the works which would merit taking a private jet to Europe?”
“None.”
“But…there’s no way he legitimately flew out there just for a romantic weekend with his boy toy…is there?”
…
Bruce was smiling.
This was not an uncommon sight. Contrary to popular belief Bruce smiled a lot. Especially around his kids.
The surprising part was that Bruce was alone, or at least believed he was, not having noticed Dicks arrival in the cave yet.
He was sat at his computer. Dressed as Batman. Wearing everything but the cowl and smiling down at his phone, texting. He was texting Harold. Dick knew he was.
Texting Harold and smiling. To himself. Alone in the cave. With no one to perform for. No one to fool.
It wasn’t just a normal smile either. It was a full-scale grin. Bruce was glowing.
Dick backed out of the room as silently as he’d entered, opening the batkid's group chat as soon as he was clear.
--Family meeting. One hour. Jason's safehouse.--
…
“Listen Dickhead, what gives you the right to volunteer my…?”
“Shut up Jay.”
Jason was poised to bite back but got distracted by Stephanie. “Hey. Feet off the coffee table!” he snarled shoving her boots down off of the polished wood.
“We have a problem.”
“I have several,” Jason countered. “They all showed up uninvited.”
“Bruce is in love.”
The room froze, all eyes fixed on the eldest Robin.
“What?”
“He’s in love.”
“Like in love, in love?” Tim asked.
“Head over heels. Hearts in his eyes. Sunshine and roses. In freaking love.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Damian denied. “I have now met this Harold fellow twice. He is a fool. Father would never lower himself to….”
“He is in love damn it! He dances down hallways, he hums to himself when he’s working, he’s flying off to Rome just because, he lights up every time his phone pings. The man is absolutely positively in love.”
“He’s happy,” Cass smiled.
“Exactly!” Dick snapped his fingers, nodding to the girl in thanks.
“Why is that a problem?” Jason asked perched on the arm of his own couch since all the cushions had been commandeered by sibling intruders. “Happy Bruce is good right?”
“Because,” Dick groaned, rolling his eyes like he couldn’t believe he had to explain this. “He’s in love with Harold. And Harold…is in love with Brucie.”
He paused a moment to let that sink in.
“Brucie,” he repeated just in case it was still unclear. “Not Bruce and sure as shit not Batman.”
From the worried looks on his siblings faces they were starting to get it.
“And if Harold were to discover that he is dating Batman…” Damian pondered.
“He’d run for the hills.”
“And leave Bruce heartbroken.”
Dick nodded, glad they were all on the same page at last. They all looked at one another solemnly, each imagining what a broken-hearted Bruce would look like. How it would feel to see the carefree joy their bat-father-mentor had displayed recently disappear into gloom and despair.
“We cannot let that happen.”
…
Bruce and Hal lay curled together on Hal’s bed, which now that it was seeing regular, athletic use was being remade with fresh sheets at least twice a week.
The sorry state of his bed hadn’t been the most humiliating part of that fateful day for Hal, but for some reason it was the part that had continued to bother him after the embarrassment of the whole lying about dating his teammate’s secret identity, to his teammate thing had faded.
Enjoying the calming scent of camomile wafting off of his pillowcase Hal snuggled closer to Bruce, curling around the larger frame and placing a kiss on a broad shoulder.
Bruce sighed happily and leaned back into the hold. “I was thinking you should come to dinner at the manor this Friday,” he said.
“Hmm?”
“The kids are all going to be home for once. You could come by and meet them.”
It was clear he was trying to keep his tone casual, like it was just an offhanded thought, spur of the moment, no big deal. Hal was certain Bruce had mentally practiced this conversation a hundred times in preparation for this moment, and probably had contingencies prepared for every possible response Hal might give.
Who knew Batman could sound so adorable when he was nervous?
Hal. Hal knew. And he treasured the knowledge.
“Hmm, sure. Sounds fun. The ones I’ve meet so far seemed nice.”
His position plastered to Bruce’s back allowed him to feel the exact moment the tension melted out of the man. Every muscle uncoiling at once.
“Damian glared at you nonstop for an hour,” Bruce pointed out, sounding amused and apologetic.
“It was adorable. He’s like a tiny version of you. Spooky junior.”
Bruce snorted and turned so they were now face to face, legs tangled together.
“You’re really willing to come?”
Hal grinned, the obvious inuendo ready on his lips; but then he saw Bruce’s face; the way his brow furrowed in worry, the fear shining in his eyes, and he let the joke pass unspoken.
“I’d be thrilled to meet your kids,” he said instead.
It was the right thing to say. Even more so because it was the truth.
Bruce surged forward capturing Hal’s mouth in kiss that was as toe curling as Bruce’s kisses always were.
As they separated a thought sprung to Hal’s mind.
“Hey, your kids know I’m Green Lantern, right?”