Work Text:
“Mayday Parker!” From where she stood, admonishing her daughter for the way she was currently clinging to the ceiling high above the four adults and one infant in attendance, Mary Jane swore that she had known this would happen. As many times as they had gone places, her daughter had always demonstrated a keen knack for exploring the big wide world around her. And while that curiosity was something that she and Peter would never dream of discouraging in the slightest possible way? Her daughter’s other skill of crawling up walls?
Now that was something that she swore was going to give her a touch of grey to her head of red-hair.
“MA!” Seated in the center of the ceiling, Mayday wore the happiest expression possible on her face. To her, she had just conquered her greatest adventure yet, and seeing her mother looking so small was a reward all on its own. With her powers ensuring she’d stay stuck, she clapped her hands, sending the tiny sound reverberating down to all the adults.
“Does she do this often?” Her expression a perfect mixture of amusement, Selina couldn’t help but wave at the tiny figure now perched high above them all. If there was one thing for certain, Mayday seemed not only excited, but completely content with where she was now seated.
“You have no idea.” Attention still focused on where her daughter was very clearly having the time of her life, Mary Jane swore that she and Peter should have considered bringing a child leash with them. If Mayday was so determined to climb up the closest wall, having one of those on certainly wouldn’t have stopped her completely, but it would have at least gotten their attention. At the very least, however, she could count herself lucky that May hadn’t demonstrated any signs that she had inherited her father’s super strength just yet.
The image of being dragged up the wall by her daughter didn’t seem as far-fetched now as it could have been, once upon a time. Maybe what she and Peter found themselves dealing with now was only the tip of the iceberg…
Coming to Gotham was supposed to be a good way to spend the weekend. Considering the distance from here to New York, it had taken less time to drive here than it had the last time they’d ventured out to visit with Gayle and the boys. And considering the company, it was a bit more exciting. Without any intended offense to her sister, MJ was sure that if she’d mentioned spending a weekend as a guest at Wayne Manor of all places, Gayle’s jaw would have most certainly hit the floor and stayed there.
Her and quite possibly everyone else in her social circle. There was no way that Millie Collins or Chili Storm weren’t spending the entire weekend wondering just how they could find themselves getting an invitation next. All the while not realizing just how much alike their hosts and Peter’s certain ‘career’ paths were. Not to mention her own, where Spinneret was now involved. No amount of mingling in social settings was going to match the way that had opened up certain doorways to friendships neither she or Peter could have ever imagined at one point in their lives.
“I apologize for the wait. But I do hope that everything will be to your liking-” Entering the room, a tray of various foods in his hands, Alfred’s attention evaded the infant currently on the ceiling, even if only for a few moments. But the moment that he turned his head up, just for a second, was more than enough to take notice of where Mayday had crawled up to.
“-good heavens!” For someone who had seen both the best and worst that Gotham could offer, it was a sight that left him having to admit that there were indeed some things one was never truly prepared for.
“She’s a talented little thing, isn’t she?” Still wearing every bit of amusement on her face, Selina wasn’t surprised to glance down and find Helena completely enthralled by the sight of her playmate up on the ceiling. Considering the curious streak that her own daughter had been starting to display in abundance, she could already Helena starting to get ideas in that little head of hers.
Well, they all started young nowadays, didn’t they?
High above them all, Mayday continued to clap and smile, more than content for the fun to never end, if it could be helped. As young as she was, however, the control she had over her powers was from the mastery that she would, no doubt, display as she grew older and much more aware of her own abilities. Especially when her own were already starting to show differences from her father’s. But for now, that control was as finicky as she was filled with an endless well of energy.
Something that was highlighted all too well by the way her grip on the ceiling vanished out from underneath her.
The amusement that had been positively infectious throughout the room likewise disappeared just as swiftly. All at once, the room exploded into frantic movement. With the experience of someone who had done this more than once, Peter already had moved into a position to properly catch his daughter, with Mary Jane perched right behind him. On one side, both Bruce and Alfred shared the same shocked expression, with the former already starting to move into action. While he trusted Peter to catch his own daughter, it was an unavoidable urge that he felt to try and help catch the free-falling toddler.
Selina, however, beat every single one of them to the punch. Having carefully set Helena down onto the couch, she sprang back to her feet, using all the momentum she had to propel herself into the air. From where they stood, all Peter and Bruce had to realize what was happening was the feeling of Selina’s hands and then her feet using their shoulders as a kind of springboard. As if she were catapulting herself over rooftops amongst Gotham’s skyline, she flung herself into the air towards where Mayday was still falling.
Cutting the distance between herself and the toddler in half, she quickly wrapped her arms around Mayday the moment she was within reach of her. Pulling her up against her chest, she tucked herself into a ball and let gravity do the work of bringing them back down to Earth as they somersaulted.
Almost perfectly, she landed them atop one of the empty pieces of furniture that dotted the room, completely safe and sound. Looking down at the child she’d caught, Selina found herself staring into a set of blue eyes that were almost bursting at the seams with curiosity at everything that had just happened. And almost as quickly, the face attached to them exploded into excitement once more. The sound of Mayday’s clapping overpowered every sound in the room, including the breathed sighs of relief from her parents.
“I take it she does do this often then?” No doubt relieved as well, even if he didn’t completely show it, Bruce found himself more than a bit thankful that Helena didn’t have any of the powers that Mayday was already starting to display. As someone who was more than capable of planning for what seemed like everything, he didn’t want to imagine having to do that for someone within his own home. And as smart as Helena was already proving to be, it would be as much a challenge as anything some villain could ever throw at him.
Especially if she started taking after her mother in any possible way.
“Sometimes. I’ve been working on coming up with some kind of a power dampener for when we’re out, but I haven’t had much time to work on it. Plus the tech isn’t exactly the easiest to come by.” Rubbing the back of his neck, Peter didn’t even want to start imagining the kind of price-tags such a project would have overall. There were ways, of course, of getting the components he needed. Whether it be asking the Avengers for help, or going to Reed and seeing what his long-time friend would be able to create. But the Parker in him left him wanting to make things his way.
Being raised by someone as stubborn as May Parker had left a mark on him that he knew he’d never be able to completely break.
”What exactly are you missing? I might have some things laying around.” Bruce offered without a second thought. Considering the kind of technology he not only had at his disposal, but also kept within the cave itself, there was seemingly no limit to the things he could acquire. Surely, he could find them for something like a power dampener. Especially when it was for something so understandable as keeping the man’s daughter safe.
“Honestly, I’d have to put together a list. It’s just been something kicking around in my head for a while now. Once I sit down and start working on it, I’m sure it’d be easy to understand what I’d need.”
“Well, keep me in mind.” Bruce offered once again, making sure that his tone conveyed that it wouldn’t be a problem whatsoever to do so. And from the smile that came with a nod from the other man, it was clear that Peter would do so as soon as he could.
Things quickly settled down, with Mayday now securely in her playpen. Even without the power-dampening bracelet that Peter and Bruce had talked about, it was clear that the youngest Parker was much too preoccupied with playtime to even think about crawling out of her enclosure again. Curled up on the couch with one another, enjoying the food that Alfred had brought them, both Peter and Mary Jane were the perfect image of comfort. Just the same, as they stood by the window, stealing a few smooches, Bruce and Selina were all too happy that things, for one evening at least, had seemed to cooperate-
“Excuse me for interrupting, sir, but I think you’re both needed.” Approaching, Alfred knew there would be nothing to mistake the meaning of his words for. And even if there had been, the unmistakable sight of a certain symbol in the sky was powerful enough to silence even the most thick-headed of individuals. Glancing out the window, Bruce needed only a moment to see it for his entire demeanor to change.
“I hope you both won’t hold it against me if I slip out for a while.” Shifting his focus to their guests, he, just like Alfred, didn’t need to worry about anyone misreading his words. Seeing the way the Bat-Signal had made its presence known in the sky, Peter and Mary Jane both gave one another a look.
It wasn’t the first time that a vacation had been interrupted by the need for costumes…
“Mind having some help?” Peter asked without a single shred of hesitation. Already moving back onto his feet, he wasn’t the least bit surprised to see his wife doing the same, out of the corner of his eye.
“This might be the part where he gives you both the ‘this is my city’ bit. So I’ll answer for him and say ‘yes’.” Selina answered, no doubt already aware of the slightly dirty look her own husband was giving her as she handed Helena over to Alfred. Knowing there wouldn’t be any time or place for an argument about it was more than enough to embolden her even further. If she had even needed to be so assured of the answer finding no contest.
“MJ, don’t feel like you-“ Peter started, shortly before he felt a finger press down on his lips, stopping him dead in his tracks. The look on Mary Jane’s face was perfectly accompanied by the words that followed.
“I’m going. No arguments.” she remarked with a raised brow. Seeing and hearing the combination that was entirely unique to his wife, Peter didn’t even attempt to raise a word in argument. Satisfied with that, Mary Jane leaned in and quickly pecked his cheek.
“Good thing I packed both of our suits, huh?” she quickly added in a teasing tone of voice. If they were aware of the parallels, neither Bruce and Selina raised a word to it. With a look towards Alfred, a silent kind of understanding passing between the three of them that could only be born out of years of experience, they moved towards the door to the study, where the door to the cave stood ready behind the clock. In turn, Mary Jane had rushed off to one of the guest rooms, already knowing exactly where she had hidden their costumes away underneath their normal clothing.
“Are you sure you’ll be ok watching May while we’re out, Alfred?” Not having that same kind of experience in trusting someone like Alfred, Peter could only imagine the kind of trouble that his daughter might get into, especially now that she seemed to have found a willing playmate within Helena.
“No need to worry, Master Peter. I’m sure you’ll find that I’m more than capable of wrangling children.” Alfred answered. Considering the way that Helena had made it apparent she wanted to be in the playpen with Mayday, there could quite possibly be no better hint as to whether or not she or her playmate would behave. Smiling, Peter nodded.
“And that goes for even superpowered ones?”
“I should think that my history should speak for itself to that.” The almost deadpan sense of humor that he could hear in the butler’s words left Peter smiling even more. As much as he had heard over and over again that Batman lacked a sense of humor, it was clear that there was still humor aplenty underneath the roof that the Dark Knight called home.
In a way, it made perfect sense.
“Ready to go to work, Tiger?” Returning to the room, two differing webbed suits in hand, Mary Jane already had pushed her domino mask into its proper place. Against her red hair, Peter swore that it somehow was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. No matter how many times he looked at her, he was sure that he’d always find something new to make it seem like it was the first time he had reached that conclusion for himself.
As if she could sense it, MJ smiled at him, before nodding with her head towards the open staircase down to the Batcave below.
“Keep looking at me like that, and I might think you’ve forgotten we’ve got a job to do.” she teased gently, before looking over at her daughter. Even if she didn’t have any doubts as to whether or not she would be safe, leaving May behind never seemed to get any easier. At home, they’d managed to work out enough of a schedule where one of them was home in events like these. But having someone there who was aware of their alter-egos? That was something new. And as she made her way over to where her daughter was still safely secure in the playpen, accompanied by a purple stuffed hippo that was easily taller than May herself was, MJ felt a small, bittersweet smile come over her face.
Was this ever going to get easier?
“Ma!” Looking up as her mother came to the side of the playpen, Mayday’s face was filled to the brim with excitement. Somehow, even in eyes that were so young, Mary Jane swore that she could see the smallest hint of recognition. Especially as May’s eyes caught sight of the light red and white suit draped over her mother’s arm. As many times as she had been lulled to sleep via a small swing around the block, perhaps she’d thought that was what was forthcoming.
“We’ll be back as soon as we can, ok, hotshot? Till then? You stay off the ceiling. Ok?” she asked, hoping that the stern look she at least tried to give her daughter would be enough to get through to her. If the giggle and accompanying clap that followed were May’s way of agreeing, that would have to be enough for her. With a quick kiss to the top of her daughter’s head, MJ watched as Peter quickly came and did the same.
Trying his best to navigate the mixture of excitement and bittersweet yearning that lay inside him, Peter gave one more look to where Alfred was standing with a reassuring smile.
“You’re sure that this will be ok, Alfred?” he asked again, even as MJ began to pull him towards the door to the study, knowing that time was of the essence. As she watched her parents leave, Mayday’s smile didn’t falter for even a moment.
“I’m certain we’ll all be just fine.” Whether or not his words were heard by the two individuals who slipped down the steps now left unconcealed by the grandfather clock’s new position, Alfred carefully placed Helena down into the pen beside Mayday. Knowing the sound of the clock sliding back into place by heart, he turned his full attention to the two toddlers now looking up at him curiously.
“So long as there’s no climbing on the ceiling again.”
The first rays of a new dawn had not yet reached the grounds of Wayne Manor by the time the grandfather clock slid open once again. Emerging out of the Batcave, the four heroes all still wore the events of the night on their faces. And even with the undeniable feeling of victory hanging around the four of them, it was clear the night had been a much longer one than any of them had imagined. For two in particular, it had been a night that, although they would not forget it any time soon, they were also more than eager to slip into bed for a few hours.
Knowing Mayday’s schedule made achieving a full-night’s sleep now an all too impossible task to accomplish. More than likely, the minute they managed to sneak under the covers, a familiar cry would shatter even the smallest illusion that things would be quiet for just a bit longer. Perhaps it was a feeling that Peter and MJ’s hosts already knew too well.
“Definitely wasn’t what I was expecting to deal with when we left.” Peter said quietly, although the faintest beginnings of a yawn lingered on the edge of his voice. Behind him, he could hear Mary Jane already letting out a small yawn herself, a hand rising to rub at the space between her eyes. Her costume and Peter’s remained behind in the cave, both in order to have a bit of repair done to them, and in adherence to the ‘no costumes upstairs’ policy of their hosts.
“Somehow, Eddie’s riddles always seem to end up being like that.” Selina agreed, a sense of exhaustion likewise hanging around her own face, despite all the more experience with keeping these late hours. Ahead of all three of them, Bruce showed almost no signs of exhaustion, although there was no doubt that he and Selina would likewise be headed to bed.
For now, another threat to the safety of Gotham had been defeated. It would not stay that way, naturally, as years of crime-fighting had proven to him time and time again. But it would be enough for one night. Just as his city needed his alter-ego, there was someone else who would need him in the hours ahead. And considering the hour, she was hopefully already asleep in her crib.
With Alfred having remained at the Manor in their absence? There was no-one else in the city who he could have trusted more to stand watch over both Helena and Mayday.
The only thing that disturbed the silence in the manor was the sound of a television playing at low volume in the room next to the study. And as he sealed the entrance to the Batcave behind them, Bruce could only assume that perhaps Alfred had remained awake while he had awaited their return. It wouldn’t have been the first time that the man had done so, especially if he was waiting for a sign to retire for a turn at his own rest. As he, Selina, Peter, and Mary Jane moved through the study, Bruce would be more than happy to relieve the older man’s watch.
The Manor’s living room appeared exactly the same as they had left it, the only exception now being that all the glasses and dishes that had previously been served to them were now cleaned and gone. The fire that had been lit in one corner of the room had likewise been extinguished, although a few glowing embers remained within the fireplace. By all intents and purposes, it was a peaceful scene through and through.
But what awaited them in the room made all four of them take pause. While the TV continued to play, its volume down just enough to be a welcoming, warm whisper, the unmistakable sight of Alfred seated came into view. Despite the warmth the fire had offered, there was a blanket slung around his shoulders, offering just a bit more comfort for his head where it lay resting against the back of the couch. As the returning heroes made their way deeper into the room, it became even more evident that he wasn’t alone on the couch either.
Perched beside him on opposite sides, Helena and Mayday were sound asleep, both dressed in their pajamas. Considering how late it had been when their parents had ventured out into the night, it was very likely the children hadn’t been receptive to the idea of falling asleep without them there. Hence the television being on. But as for when the two had finally succumbed to the need for sleep, or rather, if they’d fallen asleep before their watcher had, remained a case of curiosity.
For even the world’s greatest detective, it was one he wasn’t sure if he needed to solve. Something that was told to him by the way that the way the smile on his face was matched perfectly by his wife, and by Peter and Mary Jane. And as Alfred and the two toddlers continued to sleep, perhaps the efforts of the night behind them now would make for an even brighter day.