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Birds and Bees	By : defying3reason Category: DC Verse Comics > Batman Views: 2564 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Batman, or any aspect of the broader DC Universe, and I make no money from my fanfiction

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Chapter Ten
Damian was in his room reading when a knock sounded at his door. He went to open it, expecting to find Pennyworth busy with some form of domestic activity that involved his room, and was pleased to see Lian Harper instead. The girl smiled shyly up at him, and he stepped aside to let her in.
Damian quickly looked her over as best he could while one of his eyes was swelled shut (Grayson's fault; they'd been taking down rivaling street gangs the previous night, and Nightwing had gone after a different cluster than Damian had expected, leaving him vulnerable when he'd thought he was covered. When he'd made the other hero aware of this after the fact, Grayson had engaged in his usual whining about how if Damian expected partners to work with him effectively, he ought to tell them what his plans were). Lian didn't show any signs of injury from her brief run-in with her mother, or her subsequent unpleasant transport out of state by a hyperactive teenage speedster. She also seemed to be adjusting to the norms of the current year quite well; she was dressed reasonably fashionably, though he thought she was wearing an unnecessary amount of makeup and jewelry. Then again, she appeared to be carrying a canvas with her. Perhaps the makeup and jewelry were an artistic affectation.
Lian's eyes widened when she looked at him, her mouth forming a small 'o' of displeasure, and he felt his stomach lurch. The realization only added to his discomfort; he didn't often care how people reacted to him, after all.
"That wasn't from my mother, was it?"
Oh, of course. Her eyes were on the gash by his collarbone, and the swollen eye couldn't have presented a much more reassuring sight. He glanced down at his cut, then smiled in relief. "This was from her," he said, touching the small scratch Cheshire had given him. "These other inconveniences came from patrol." He considered giving her the story of Grayson's many blunders the previous night, and his eventual triumph over the street gangs despite the cumbersome presence of a partner, when Lian cleared her throat to speak.
"Um…well hi. Can I come in?"
He'd already stepped aside to admit her, but he must not have made his intention clear enough. Inclining his head in a slight bow, Damian retreated further into his room. "Of course."
As she had when she was a child, Lian looked around the room, studying his possessions and likely forming some conclusions about his character. She'd probably make an able detective if she weren't hindered by her place within the Arrow family. He still wished she wouldn't assess him based on this room though; almost everything in it was an heirloom and had already been present before he'd occupied it. His real belongings were stored in his part of the workshop in the Batcave, where he spent the brunt of his free time. If Pennyworth and Grayson, and thus his father, didn't insist that he spend at least a few hours in daylight every now and then, he probably would never leave his little corner of the Cave.
"You still don't have any pictures up," Lian said, confirming his suspicion.
Damian sighed, and explained himself. "The ones I have don't really match the décor of my father's home. I've chosen to keep them someplace safe. Lian, not that I mind, but what are you doing here?"
She took a deep breath, and regarded him with a pleasing smile that he couldn't help but return, though he feared in a muted capacity. "I just…I wanted to thank you for saving me."
The comment startled him, though at the same time he felt continued fondness for his guest. Most people took it for granted that a costumed hero would save them because that's what heroes did. They very rarely offered thanks for it.
Besides, how could he not save her?
"Don't bother. It was nothing to me," he said, hoping his natural reticence didn't obscure his sincerity. He would always come to her aid, whenever and whatever she might need him for.
Again, her lovely green eyes widened, though he couldn't read her expression. She turned away from him too quickly, and stood by the window. His bedroom had an excellent view of the grounds. Damian figured a sensitive, artistic type like Lian would appreciate the scenery more than he did.
"Well it meant something to me," she murmured after a thoughtful pause. She turned back towards him and held out the canvas. "I made this for you to…to show my appreciation."
Damian looked the canvas over before reaching out to accept it. It was quite the leap from the last picture she'd drawn him; she'd used a painterly style to render the Gotham skyline in thickly applied acrylics. It looked stunning. He could hardly believe a twelve year old, and one who'd missed six years of her life, was capable of such work.
"Thank you very much Miss Harper. I'll put this with the others." It would make a fine addition to his collection in the Batcave.
"Y-you're welcome," Lian finally muttered after a moment's hesitation.
Damian reverently set the painting on his desk, then turned towards his guest again. They shared a pleasant silence while he regarded her and her artwork, feeling gratitude for her consideration of him. No one ever thanked him for doing his duty as a Bat.
"Damian I, I'd better go. My dad's downstairs and I, we, we should get going. I'll see you around, okay?"
Damian frowned, disappointed. "Well if you must. The next time you visit, I hope you'll stay longer."
She nodded, smiled weakly, and left.
Damian walked back to his desk and again looked at his painting. He held it up, and once he studied it from a variety of angles he put it under his arm and carried it down to the Cave.
Though it seemed like quite the gallery to him, Damian really didn't have all that many personal pictures hanging above his workbench. But each one was significant, and the admittance of a new piece required some planning. After about an hour's work he stepped back to look at his little section of wall, satisfied.
The new painting hung in a place of prominence, centered where he usually sat as he worked. He'd hung the crayon pictures Lian had drawn him when they were children on the left. The picture of Damian, Lian and the twins still had the silly band taped to it, and the one of Robin Hood had a dried flower from her wake. After the crayon drawings he'd hung a picture of the national museum of Iraq, and a newspaper clipping of one of his first outings as Robin. On the other side were the few photographs he had of him and his father, an old picture of his grandparents that Bruce had let him take a few years ago, and a small candid picture of Grayson behaving like a buffoon.
He smiled at his collection, then went upstairs to find Dick and see if he was ready for patrol.

"Come on Tam, pick up, pick up…" Tim grumbled. He had his cell crooked by his ear while he was looking for the various pieces of the Red Robin suit. Since declaring himself a reserve it had been far too easy to let the bits of equipment he used to fight crime drift around his apartment and fall into disrepair. He only suited up once every couple of months these days, which he interpreted as Dick and Bruce respecting his decision to live as much of a normal civilian life as possible while he was in school.
He sincerely doubted they only wanted his help once every couple of months (with the obvious exception of Damian, who would prefer it if Tim never suited up again).
Scowling, Tim was about to give up on contacting Tam when her ringing phone was dropped over his shoulder and landed on the bed in front of him. He turned around and found Tam standing behind him with her hands on her hips, an amused expression on her face.
"That's an interesting outfit you've chosen for the library tonight."
He couldn't help but smirk. He was mostly dressed in the suit, only missing one of his gloves, the boots, and a few of the accessories for his pouches. "I think you've gathered I'm not going to be able to join you."
She rolled her eyes. "Bruce does know we're defending our theses in two months, right?"
"Yep. And he appreciates how much work that is. But keep in mind, he thought Dick could function perfectly as his partner, leading the Teen Titans, taking solo cases, and taking four AP classes when he was sixteen. Oh, and he did extracurriculars." Based on her expression, Tam hadn't been aware of that at all. Tim laughed at her expression. "I can't believe I never mentioned that. Yeah, he eased up a little by the time I was Robin. I was allowed to take honors level classes instead of APs if I so chose, and I was encouraged not to do extracurriculars."
"I'm seriously surprised you and Nightwing didn't drop from exhaustion years ago. Oh my poor abused little guy." She reached over and ruffled his hair. Tim scowled, inching away.
"Where the hell are my boots? You're not taller than me when I'm wearing the Red Robin boots."
"Yes, that's secretly the reason I loathe you suiting up and going out to risk your life. Because I enjoy being an inch taller than you," she said sarcastically. She sat down on the bed and sighed dramatically. "Well I suppose I'll get through my research without you somehow. It could be worse. This could have interrupted a real date instead of just a study-buddy night."
"Yep," Tim agreed. He pulled his boots and gloves on, but left the cowl down. No one liked the cowl anyway, least of all Tam. "Look, it isn't even a big world-ending kinda thing. Bruce, Damian and Dick are just all crazy busy, and Bruce got a tip about this sketch pharmaceutical company that no one else has the time to investigate."
"Uh huh." She still didn't look pleased.
"I'll just be in and out. I've been doing this kinda thing since I was twelve. It's mindlessly easy, I promise."
"I know that statement was intended to comfort me, but really Tim…" She slipped her phone into her bag and pulled out a stack of stapled papers. "I printed up my rewrite of those twenty pages you read over for me last week. Can you take another look at them?"
"Sure. Hey, I might even be able to join you if I wrap this thing up quickly tonight. I should be back in time for the second run through of Adult Swim, at any rate."
"Okay." She left the papers on his bed, crossed the room, and kissed him. "Stay safe."
"I will."

Tim let out a grunt as he yanked open the thick metal door he'd found in the bowels of the Placing-Bow Pharmaceuticals building. The thing had had more bolts on it than a bank vault, but all the records he'd found in the offices of the building indicated the basement was where the dirt was to be found.
His eyes widened when he caught sight of what was behind it. He was standing at the entrance to what looked like a kennel, with collars, leashes and handcuffs hanging from the chain link fence. He was assaulted by the various scents of waste; urine, feces and blood. Worst of all, the cement floor was littered with about a dozen emaciated corpses, all Tamaranian from the looks of it.
There was one survivor curled up in the corner, hugging a half rotted female child. The surviving Tamaranian stared at Tim with wide, frightened orange eyes. His pale white skin started to glow as he let out a terrified wail, and the child in his arms started to melt.

"His name is X'hawn," Starfire reported. "I've instilled the ability to speak and understand English in him now, so you should be able to go over there and talk to him."
"Thanks Korey," Dick said.
"Wouldn't he be more comfortable talking to you?" Tim asked, confused. "He was pretty terrified of me when I rescued him. It took me almost twenty minutes to get him to come with me."
Terrified was a bit of an understatement. Tim had tried his best to calm the teen despite their language barrier, and eventually coaxed him out of the building (which, granted, wasn't exactly someplace either of them were keen to stay). He'd called Bruce on his way to the Batcave, and conveniently found that he was just getting back from Tokyo and en route to the manor. They'd had to call Dick in from his patrol with Damian, something Tim was sure he'd be given hell for later, but he couldn't bring himself to care about ruffling that particular Robin's feathers. Dick had experience with Tamaranians, and he also had Korey's number in his cell.
Starfire scowled at Tim, looking none too pleased about her interview with their guest. "He's going to trust you more than me."
The Bats didn't say anything, but they all regarded her with that same expectant look. She let out an irritated little breath. "He's from the Sh'oka belt of Tamaran. His people opposed my family's right to rule. He comes from a people of war criminals and terrorists."
"Well he's still a frightened kid in our custody-"
"I know that!" Starfire cut Tim off. "I told you, he doesn't trust me, not the other way around. To him I'm some kind of cruel despot that had his family needlessly butchered or something. I…I'm going to get going. Let me know if you need anything else though."
"Sure thing."
She kissed Dick goodbye before taking her leave of the Cave.
X'hawn was sitting on a table in an alcove with a thick blanket thrown over his bony shoulders. Starfire had helped them hook him up to an IV to give him appropriate levels of fluids and nutrients for his system (even if he was clearly ethnically different from Starfire, biologically he was still just as much a Tamaranian as her). He watched the three of them warily while they considered what to do with him.
"I suppose he can stay here," Bruce said with a sigh.
"We should have someone at S.T.A.R or somewhere take a look at him though," Dick said, frowning. "The quacks at Placing-Bow were experimenting on him pretty severely from the sounds of it, and whereas Korey's pretty knowledgeable about first aid, she's still a far cry from a doctor."
"Agreed," Bruce said with a nod.
"I'm going to go talk to him, before we make too many more decisions." Tim crossed the Cave and sat down next to X'hawn, who only edged away a little. The frightened teen looked down at his hands where they were clutching the blanket.
"I understand your language now." X'hawn's voice was high and weak, making him appear even younger than he probably was. Tim guessed him to be about thirteen, but possibly sixteen at the oldest.
"Starfire mentioned that. Did she tell you who we were?"
"She said you were good people and that I could trust you, that not all Earth people are like the ones who hurt me. But…"
"You don't trust the royal family?" Tim guessed. X'hawn nodded. "She mentioned that too."
"It's not just that." He wiped at his face. "I don't trust anyone anymore. But thank you for getting me out of there. I, I'll be an obedient slave once I get my strength back."
"X'hawn, I didn't save you to enslave you. The people who hurt you severely violated my people's laws. I'm one of the fighters who stops people like them. We want to help you."
X'hawn looked up ever so briefly and then back down at his hands. "Then why do you hide your face from me? I don't know your name either."
"Oh, yeah, the mask is just custom for when I do this kind of work." Tim looked across the Cave to where Bruce and Dick were watching him. "X'hawn wants to know who I really am. You guys cool with that?"
Bruce shook his head while Dick nodded. Dick scowled. "Oh come on! I told Korey practically right away!"
"That was a different time."
"The situation's still identical. Fine, you keep your mask on." Dick peeled his off and walked towards them. "Hey X'hawn. My name's Dick."
"Hello," X'hawn said to his hands.
"I'm Tim." Tim pulled back his cowl.
X'hawn nodded. "You all look much better without your face coverings. You…really wish to help me?"
"It's what we do," Dick answered.
"I'm very cold. Is there someplace warmer we might go?" X'hawn asked.
"Yeah, we can manage that." Dick started towards the entrance to the manor, while Tim supported X'hawn and helped him walk with the IV. Dick jogged up the stairs and yelled ahead of them. "Hey Alfred! Can you start a fire up there? We've got a guest and he's cold!"

Damian was in a foul mood. The pleasant upswing to his day that Lian's visit had generated disappeared less than halfway into patrol, when Dick had dropped a bombshell on him.
He'd started out by asking how Damian liked patroling with his father. Damian had repsonded with a curt "fine". He'd been working with his father almost exclusively for over a year at this point; why was Dick asking about it now?
The thing was though, that even though Robin mostly worked with Batman, Batman and Robin worked with Nightwing incredibly frequently. Damian and Bruce were both reserved, stubborn, and independent. Their communication was almost nonexistent without Dick coaxing them into conversation.
And he was leaving. He'd brought it up so he could remind Damian that he still didn't have much of a relationship with his father, even after all these years, unless Dick was there to help, and now he was moving back to New York. "I just don't think Gotham needs quite this many heroes," he'd said sheepishly.
"I find that unlikely. Are you sure the real reason you're abandoning us isn't simply because Red Arrow lives in New York and you're trying to rekindle your ill conceived relationship with him?"
"Am I being that transparent?"
Damian glowered at him. "I noticed."
"Shit. Well come on...the Birds are back in Gotham, you are Bruce are unstoppable together, and you've got Red Robin on reserve-shut it, he's a good crime fighter. You really don't need me too."
That didn't mean Damian didn't want him around.
Before he found a way to explain his feelings without humiliating himself, Dick had been called away by Red Robin. Typical. Couldn't even handle a routine check on an irreputable company without assisstance (in the process cutting short what was probably going to be the last patrol Damian had with Dick for some time).
Just so they knew he wasn't happy with any of them, when Damian pulled his batmobile into the Cave he immediately exited and went for the stairs without acknowledging anyone. Dick, Red-redundant-Robin and Bruce were gathered by the computer arguing about something, but he ran past them and went up to the manor. Pennyworth wouldn't be happy about him walking around the house in his costume, but he didn't care.
He stalked through the main room, on his way to the ostentatious staircase that led to the upperfloors, when he stopped and doubled back.
There was an alien sitting on the sofa.
At first the two boys simply stared at each other. The alien was emaciated, though Damian could only tell by looking at his wasted face. His tiny body was hidden under layers of clothing and heavy comforters. A mug of cocoa was placed in front of him on the coffee table, and he was curled as close as possible towards a roaring fire in their seldom used fireplace while still sitting on the sofa. He had long, dirty white hair that was almost as pale as his skin, though his eyes were akin to the orange flames he was perched near.
His thin lips curled into an ironic smile. "Another one?"
"I suppose. Who are you?" Damian snapped.
"X'hawn. You must be Master Damian. Alfred said you were ru-er, a little cranky sometimes."
"Cranky. Right...Excuse me X'hawn."
"Of course."
Damian marched back down to the Cave, to the amusement of the assembled crime fighters from the looks on their idiotic faces (at the moment he wasn't pleased with any of them).
"There's an alien sitting in our living room," he said bluntly.
"Yep," Dick agreed.
"Alright then. It's not a problem?" he pressed.
"It's not your problem," his father responded.
Damian nodded. "I'm going to bed."

Lian looked around her room in some astonishment. She'd only been alive again for barely six months. How had she managed to acquire so many possessions?
Grandpa Ollie, mostly. Right...
Shaking her head, she started packing up her books and paint supplies first. She got through three boxes when suddenly there was a series of anxious rappings on her door. Well, they sounded anxious anyway, and would have been if they hadn't originated from a speedster.
"C'mon in," Lian called. She expected Irey West to open the door, possibly burn some jittery energy racing around the room a few times and knocking things over, before settling on the bed and asking her too many questions at once. She wasn't prepared for Irey vibrating through the door to come in.
Lian instinctually dove behind her desk.
Irey laughed, and helped her to her feet. "Hi to you too! What was that about?"
"Didn't your dad used to blow things up when he did that?" Lian squeaked.
"Yeah, but not for ages. 'Sides, Uncle Barry taught me how to do it the right way. I had more fun when Bart tried to explain it, but...yeah, I think I really got the hang of it from Uncle Barry. So what's shaking? You still need help packing or what?"
Lian tossed a cardboard box at her head. "Fill it up. But neatly and carefully, if you don't mind."
"Sure thing."
They worked in silence for a little while, which Lian found pleasant since organizing her things was a consuming task, but after a little while she realized how odd it was. Irey was chattier than that.
"Alright, what's wrong?"
"Huh? N-nothing," Irey said, turning away from Lian to stare at her closet. "Hey! You didn't keep any of the old clothes that Dad gave you! How come you don't like my clothes?"
"They didn't fit. You're taller and ganglier than me. And don't try to distract me West. There's something wrong, now spill. You've been as quiet and sulky as a Bat since you got here," Lian teased.
Irey scowled. "Like I could ever be as sulky as a Bat. Alright, fine. I'm just in a bad mood. We had a big fight with the Rogues this weekend and...it got complicated."
"How so?" Lian asked.
Irey fiddled with one of Lian's sweaters as she spoke, attempting to fold it and unfolding it a few times. Wait, was she...blushing? "One of them kissed me."
"Ew," Lian said, picturing what she remembered of the Flash's Rogues gallery and finding it a nightmarish prospect.
Irey bristled. "It was a nice kiss! That's the problem!"
"Wait, was it not one of the old guys your dad and great uncle always fight?" Lian asked.
Now it was Irey's turn for a wince and an exclamatian of ew. "Of course not! It was Downpour."
"Downpour? I don't think I know that one," Lian said. She ran for her laptop to do a search on him. "I take it he wasn't around when we were little?"
"Nope. His real name's Josh Jackam. We thought he died when he was a baby, but he was blasted to a hell realm. Since he's been back he's been kinda screwed up, but I know he's a good kid underneath it all. Granty thinks so too." Granty was Irey's nickname for her great aunt Iris (for great auntie). Barry had objected to the term Gruncle for great uncle, so they just called him Uncle Barry like their dad.
Lian pulled up a newspaper article on Downpour, then frowned at her computer. "I can't find any pictures of him. Is he cute?"
"Yep. Hold on, I've got a picture of him in my cell." Irey pulled it up and then handed it to Lian.
He'd clearly posed for the picture. "Wait, do you have his number too?" Lian asked.
"Yeah...what?"
"Nothing." God but the Flashes were weird when it came to their Rogues. "Does he have your number?"
"No, of course not! He doesn't know my secret identity. That'd be a little weird, wouldn't it?"
Well there was that at least.
Lian studied the picture for a moment. He was cute. Not as cute as Damian, though very few people were, but still nice looking. He was tall and slender, with a pale complexion and dark brown eyes. His hair was light brown and sleek, and cut in a flattering style that highlighted his fine boned facial structure.
His costume was a bit tacky, but then he was a Rogue.
"Nice." Lian handed the phone back, and Irey blushed. "So how villainous are we talking here?"
"Not very. He doesn't hassle bystanders if he can help it, and right now he kinda Robin-Hoods with his ill gotten gains. I think he's only running with the Rogues because his dad was one of them."
"Was? This kid an orphan too?" Lian asked. Irey nodded. "Oh hon, that's some baggage right there."
"I know! I know, believe me. I'm not, like, gonna date him or anything. It's just...that was my first kiss. Don't tell my dad. Pretty sure he'll freak out and think that the Rogues are like, sexually harassing me or something. He's really paranoid about that."
"Well I've heard that Captain Cold's a bit of a perv."
"Naw, he's a sweetie, he just likes to pretend he's a jerk," Irey said, waving a hand dismissively.
Lian quirked an eyebrow. "You guys have a really unique relationship with your bad guys, you know that?"
Irey laughed. "Well he is! Captain Boomerang said something gross and actually pervy about me once, and Captain Cold whapped him upside the head with his cold gun and said he didn't want dirty fucking pedos in the group. Actually it was kinda insulting because he was acting like I was still, like eight or something. Ah well. Yeah, other than the evil speedsters and Grodd, we kinda lucked out with bad guys."
"Mm." Lian must have sunk into a bit of a daze, because Irey snapped a few thousand times in front of her face (or, she estimated a few thousand times; the superspeed made it hard to tell). "Sorry."
"It's okay! Mind if I ask what you were thinking 'bout?"
Lian chewed her lip and shook her head. "Let's not waste time with that. Is it okay if we just finish packing and then go get our pizza?"
"I guess."
Irey obligingly kept from pestering her while they finished up, though both girls were a bit distant with each other. Irey was likely still thinking about her budding romance with the bad boy meta, while Lian wondered what her first kiss would be like and if a certain bad boy Robin would be delivering it.

"You're moving?" Dick asked, painfully aware that he was behaving just as flabbergasted as Damian had when he'd made a similar announcement earlier that week.
"Well yeah," Roy responded with some amusement. His tone changed entirely at what he had to say next. "You really didn't expect me to stay here after what Lian went through when Jade attacked, do you? She killed her only friends in the area."
"I hadn't really thought of..." Sighing, Dick scrubbed a hand through his hair. "So what, are you going back to the city proper?" He knew Roy wasn't exactly thrilled about being in the suburbs, but he'd thought it would be better for Lian.
"Actually, we're going to Kansas."
"Kansas?" Dick repeated, doing a poor job hiding his surprise. That was actually a bit of a distance, especially since neither of them had superspeed. "Dude, we're never going to see each other anymore."
Roy had been walking around his living room sorting things into piles, occasionally chucking non-fragile items into open boxes. He stopped and sat down on his coffee table, across from Dick. "Alright, I take it that's a problem for you?"
"It's not for you?"
Roy frowned. "Dick...look, I've gotten what you're getting at and I thought about it...I don't wanna date you right now. It's just...there's a lot going on. Lian's almost a teenager, and I really just need to put her first."
"No, I know, I-I get that, but c'mon Roy...I've been co-parenting a moody teen for years now. You can still date."
Roy shook his head. "It's different. Don't take this the wrong way, because I think you've been doing awesome things with Damian, but I don't want Lian to turn out anything like that."
Dick felt like he'd been punched. He knew Damian was hard to get along with, but considering everything he'd overcome he did have a right to his awkwardness. Dick hated when people put him down. "Damian's a fantastic kid."
"I know he is-"
"Then why did you say that?" Dick demanded.
"Why do you think?" Roy snapped. "He's a great kid, but he's dysfunctional and socially retarded! There's no way in hell my little girl is going to turn out that screwed up just because of me putting my needs before being a dad!"
Dick stood up and started for the door. "You know what? Fuck you. And don't call me for anymore hook ups either. I'm sick of being used by you."
Roy followed after him. "Couldn't wait to throw that in my face again, could you? I was sixteen and you weren't exactly pushing me away so fucking get over it!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, did you stop using me at some point then?" Dick demanded, turning around and yelling in Roy's face. "Because I never god damn noticed!"
It looked for a minute like Roy was going to punch him but he didn't. He slammed the door in Dick's face instead. Dick was shaking with anger, and hearing all the locks click into place didn't calm him down any.
"I'm moving to New York you asshole!" Dick finally yelled. "I didn't want you to have to do long distance again so you could be home for your daughter!"
He took off before Roy managed to fumble the door back open, a simple task made more difficult while emotional what with the one-arm and all the locks and alarms in a superhero's dwelling. By the time he got out onto the sidewalk Dick was already gone.
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Birds and Bees