Joebyron100 - Just_alittle_feral

DC x DP MASTERPOST

Everlasting Trio DP x DC Nobody Knows Au

AO3 link! (Fic updates past Tumblr parts)

Part 1 + 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Melon!AU

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

The Summoner

So! Danny is not the Ghost King.

But he still has a good relationship with a LOT of Powerful and not-so-powerful Ghosts in the Zone. So much so that they have given him their Summoning Circle's with a blanket permission to Summon them any time. Not like they have much else going on...

This all leads to a hilarious situation where Danny can't use his Powers for whatever reason and is forced to Summon his friends for help. In front of a group of Heroes.

He has to explain everything to them, but accidentally convinces them that he has Summoning Magic and the Ghosts are all on his Contract. He also mentions Saving people from Ghosts and the JLA realize that he is a child Hero.

They ask him if he wants to join Young Justice, and Danny hesitantly agrees.

Now Danny is on Young Justice and the entire team thinks that he is a Hero with Ghost Summoning Magic.

And his name isn't Daniel "Commit to the Bit" Fenton for no reason.

A demon twins au that I have been thinking about for a while

Danyal and Damian find out that Ra's intends to have them fight to death for the title of heir so they decide to have a duel during a mission and fake the loosers death. This way the stronger one gets to have the title, just like how Ra's wanted, but they wouldn't have to kill eachother. They don't want to disobey their grandfather, but surely this would have the same result without unneeded tragedy.

Damian wins so he claims that he killed Danny for being weak. They promised to never try to contact eachother so the league would not find out. They wouldn't know eachothers situations from the outside after all. They couldn't risk it. After years Danny knows that Damian is Robin in Gotham but doesn't know if hes out of the league or not. Damian has no idea where Danny is and never told the batfam.

Then some magican tries to kill Robin by summoning his dead brother to exact revenge. Damian is sure that the summoning will not work because Danny should be alive and well, only to be devastated to see the ghost of his brother appear from the summoning circle.

Additional thoughts. They have their own code made up of sign, gestures, and body language they can use to communicate hidden meanings behind their words or just completely different things. They have mastered the art of having a private conversation while to outsiders it looks like they're verbally ripping eachother to shreds. I can see them using this to figure out how to deal with the situation while keeping up the ruse. Maybe the bats come in and deal with the mage while Damian and Danny are "arguing" and "antagonizing" each other. While in reality Damian is convincing Danny that the bats can be trusted and Danny is debating if the risk of revealing everything is worth it, and if its already too late not to. And when they agree on dropping the act the bats get whiplash from the arguing turning into a tight hug in a second.

Things I want in one fic:

Redeemed Vlad, Good Fenton Parents, Fentons/Vlad polycule

Liminal Amity Park

Redeemed Dark Danny, weird cousin?

Ellie as part of the family, sorta step sibling?

Defect quartet

The Class as a team deferring to Team Phantom

Jazz is Big Sister

Amity Park knows the secret

The Class moving to Gotham for college

Vlad giving them enough money to purchase Drake Manor

Tim has closed off the tunnel between the Manor and the Batcave

Tim was the one to hand the keys over to Danny, whose name was on the deed, courtesy of his new step-dad

They end up keeping in touch and Tim is a frequent visitor at the manor and befriends the majority of the Class

They all still keep up with their training, Sam and Valerie put together an obstacle course with the help of the jocks and every Saturday is a free-for-all battle royale with ecto guns set to their lowest setting across all of the grounds.

The last one standing gets to pick what restaurant dinner is from that night and the movie for movie night.

Tim does find all of this rather unusual, but mostly he finds that they remind him of all his hero friends.

This, more than anything else they do, makes him very concerned.

Why do these random midwesterners train like heroes? Why do they have a camaraderie he’s only seen forged on the same battlefield? He’s noticed they mostly defer to a group of five individuals. The pair of siblings who now own the Manor and the partners of one of said siblings. More than that, they all defer to Danny, the one he gave the keys to.

Luckily for him, Two Face happened to attack the bank that Danny was at and Danny did something he’d only ever seen Bruce manage to do and talked the villain down from the attack.

When asked, Dent just said that he saw a kinship in the kid, said he’d understood duality in a way that resonated with him.

Later that night Red Robin reopened the tunnels and paid one Daniel Fenton a visit. Tim found him in his father’s old study, using a brand new telescope through the window. He knocked and waited before entering.

“Ah, I expected one of you to show up. It’s why I decided to stay up tonight actually. We have a lot to talk about if you’ll take a seat? I’ll get us some energy drinks. You’ll be able to confirm they’re sealed and not poisoned that way. What’s your favorite flavor? Between the fifteen of us we’ve got to have the right flavor.”

Red Robin stood there for a moment, processing before following the man to his pantry. Once there he opened a new package of his favorite energy drink and opened it himself; not once did Danny make a fuss about him opening a whole new package. He grabbed a second one to bring with him back to the office. Danny grabbed a couple himself.

Once back in the office, they sat in two chairs across from each other. Danny leaned on his elbows with his fingers steepled. “What I am about to tell you is an incredible risk to everyone in this house, and likely yourself included. I need you to promise me to listen to everything I tell you before you start asking questions. I will answer them to the best of my ability after I have gone over the basics. What I am about to tell you is going to sound unbelievable, but I’m banking on the fact that you have likely frequently experienced impossible things and therefore may take me seriously.” Danny stared at the mask. “Now, what do you know about ghosts?”

Tim’s hair trigger was of disbelief, but then he paused and considered. Clark’s an alien, Diana’s a god, Conner’s a clone, at least half the family has come back to life. Why couldn’t ghosts exist? “Not much besides fairy tales.” He braced himself for what was to come.

Danny narrowed his eyes appraisingly. “Hmm. Well. They are, in fact, real. I’ll show evidence in a little bit. A Ghost as we know them is generally formed when a person’s emotions during death produce enough ectoplasm to give their sentience form. They then become residents of a place known by two names; the Ghost Zone, or the Infinite Realms. The Ghost Zone is what it’s known as on Earth, and the residents of the place itself call it the Infinite Realms.” Danny pauses here for a moment and then claps his hands. “Now, all ghosts are members of the Infinite Realms, but not all beings of the Infinite Realms are ghosts. The Realms is a dimension mirroring our own that is entirely made of ectoplasm. It’s where the residue from the emotions of all beings in our universe go and then are given form. There are beings there that are basically gods and are aspects given form. I can go on and on about the Realms later. What’s important is that throughout history there have been unstable naturally occurring portals between the two dimensions, but around five years ago, a pair of scientists managed to open a stable portal to this dimension. A few months later, a former college friend of theirs made a second stable portal, but I’ll get to him in a minute. Once this portal was established, it made it so that ghosts could now freely come into our world. A young hero took up protecting the city, but his first few attempts had quite a bit of misunderstanding to them and so he was villainized for a while. This resulted in the government establishing an agency to combat these threats. All well and good, right?” He raised an eyebrow at Tim. “You would think so. However, the laws passed to make this agency had some clauses that are questionable. I’ll just hand you a copy of the documentation so that you can read it.”

He handed Tim a folder labeled “Anti-Ecto Acts”. He began to peruse them and came upon the clause that declared any being that can process or contains ectoplasm is considered non-sentient or sapient and called for the capture, eradication, or experimentation of all such “ecto-beings”. “This, can’t be right. This is a blatant contradiction to the Meta Protection Acts.”

Danny smirked a sad smile. “You’d think, right?” He gave him a moment to process that. “You can read up more on that later. I have other things to say.” Tim set aside the folder and took a deep chug of his energy drink.

“Alright, hit me.” he said as he leaned forward to put his elbows on his knees, giving Danny his full attention.

“Kay, so, you notice the ‘any being that can process ectoplasm’ bit? Yeah, well that can apply to some humans too. Humans that are considered death-touched or Liminal. People who have been surrounded by death, have died even if momentarily on the operating table, but especially people who have been exposed to high levels of ectoplasm. Here’s the thing about living in a town with a stable portal to effectively the afterlife: it kinda does some stuff to you.” He flashed his eyes a Lazerus green as he set his right palm on the desk. He’s quiet for a moment before he leaned back with a sigh, then closed his eyes so they returned to their normal blue. 

“Every individual in my hometown is ecto-contaminated.” He said quietly, like, Tim supposes, he was telling a secret. Tim guesses he was. “Every person there is death-touched. Every person there is Liminal. Every person pings as an ecto-entity to the GIW. We’re all at risk. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of the heroes would ping too. I need your help.” Danny turned begging eyes upon Red Robin. “I need your help, and you need this too because I noticed it when we first met, Tim, that you are too.”

Tim reeled, he stood and knocked his chair over. “Wh-what do you mean?” 

“How many times have you been near-death? How many times have you been around the dying? That sort of stuff leaves a mark on people. They begin to metabolize ectoplasm. I reckon that the majority of the Justice League apply. I’d argue that soldiers who have seen active combat would register on some sensors. According to those laws, you can be captured and experimented on. They’re luckily focusing on ghosts and have been ignoring people, but it’s only a matter of time. I need you to bring this to Batman, to the League. I need these Acts removed. They call for the eradication of my People” His eyes flashed a green again as the word resonated. “This calls for the eradication of an entire dimension, they’ve already tried it once, and if they had, it would have torn this universe apart. Luckily the nuke they had was a dud.” 

Tim swallowed at that. “Nuke? They tried to nuke an entire dimension?” Tim picked up the chair and sat heavily in it. “I’m going to guess that this somehow gets worse?”

Danny nodded solemnly. “You see, the Infinite Realms has a council and a king. A good majority of the council rightfully believes that these Acts are calling for the genocide of our people. The king has kept them at bay for now, but they’re calling for war.” 

Tim put his head in his hands and groaned. “And the king?” Danny looked at him, debating something for a moment. Then he stood and there was a flash of bright light. Stood in front of Red Robin could only be the King. Danny now had bright white hair and eyes that glowed with a familiar Lazarus green. He wore a cloak of stars and his crown looked like the Northern Lights. He wore armor that seemed to be a combination of the ancient Norse and Greeks. “I just want my people safe.”

This idea sort of burst out of me like Alien so it's unedited. There will probably be more.

In short, Cas picks up on the fact that Danny is pregnant at a Wayne Gala and have the right idea but the wrong context.

Masterpost

------

Danny was barely holding it together and really he had been for a long time. It had sort of been fun and games at first when he became a hero. Sure his accident had hurt like hell but he'd sort of repressed that and for real? Lunch Lady? Box Ghost? Even Skulker was sort of a joke and he hasn't actually felt threatened. Sneaking around behind his parents backs and sneaking out with his friends had been fun. It had all felt like a game at first, and then somewhere in there things had gotten very real.

He'd known he couldn't count on his family to protect him but they couldn't even see Vlad was a threat. And he felt like he had lost the last of his innocence when he saw the clone Vlad had made of him melt. He hasn't been in time, he had panicked and he had only managed to save a couple by taking them into his own body to shield their still forming cores. Ellie and... should Danny name the other one or would he name himself when he was ready?

He kept touching his stomach over where he could feel the little balls of his mirror children hovering just below his own core. He was so tired all the time as they relied on his energy, he was eating more then ever and he knew his family was worried. He didn't think he could hide this and he couldn't predict when they would emerge. What if they did in front of his parents? They definitely wouldn't react well. And Vlad kept trying to use this against Danny. Promising to look after him and the babies if he was really insisting on carrying them, as if Danny could rip those tiny 'lives' out of himself now.

And no matter how many times he tried to tell his parents that Vlad was bad news, that he creeped Danny out and made him feel unsafe they wouldn't listen! Dad didn't even hear him and mom made sympathetic noises and then told him to bear with it for Jack's sake because he didn't have many friends.

So of course when Vlad had asked if 'Daniel' could accompany him to a gala in Gotham his father had agreed! Even his mother had agreed when Vlad promised it would be educational and safe! And here Danny was, hanging on by a fucking thread in a suit that felt uncomfortably tight around his middle, having just escaped being paraded around as Vlad heir like a particularly expensive watch. He was behind the snack table having piled a plate as high as he could and scarfing it down before Vlad could find him again and scold him for being rude. He hadn't noticed yet that a family of dark haired socialites kept giving him worried looks. A young woman with dark eyes signing frantically to a man with blue eyes and a dimpled frown.

It was the man who slid up carefully next to Danny trying not to startle since he seemed to have genuine food aggression.

"Yeesh kid you seem like you're starving! All those fancy Hors d'oeuvres are fun but not very cooling and I feel like I'd be a poor host if I didn't offer you something more filling! If you'll come me to the kitchen I'm sure our family butler would be happy to whip something up for you?" The man said with an inviting some that did nothing to sooth the way Danny's hackles raised instinctively.

He was about to say no on reflex when he spotted Vlad heading towards them with an expression like a thunder cloud. Danny's back went ridged and the other man followed his gaze with a frown. "You know what ya that sounds great let's go now!" Danny said dropping his half full plate on a nearby tray and dragged the stranger away with him as Vlad shouted after him.

"Daniel come back this instant! Unhand mister Wayne! Daniel this is unacceptable!"

'Mr. Wayne' took over leading them and spirited Danny through a back door as a bubbly blonde intercepted Vlad and a small woman slid in behind them like a shadow.

"So, Danial I assume?" The man asked, amusement crinkling around his eyes as Danny grimaced.

"Mr. Wayne I assume?" Danny returned, unaware of the way one arm was protectively wrapped around his stomach, but the girl noticed. It was Dicks turn to grimace.

"Okay ya, I go by Dick. What about you?"

"Danny," he said not reacting to the name, he'd heard far stranger. "And what about you?" He asked Cas, startling Dick a little because she was doing her 'shadow thing' and not many people would have noticed her.

"That's Cas, she has a hard time talking sometimes," Dick explained as Cas materialized and gave Danny a reassuring smile and wave.

The teen harrumphed but he did follow them down to the kitchen where Alfred was drinking a cup of tea, staying well clear of the foolishness upstairs. "Ah, hello young masters," Alfred he said, glancing between the three with a raised brow. Though the two who knew him could see the way his expression softened when Danny shrunk in on himself. "What can I do for you?"

"Hey Alfred do we have any leftovers from dinner or something filling we can whip up fast? Danny here is too hungry for just the fancy font for upstairs." Dick asked cheerfully.

Alfred raised his eyebrows again and looked at Cas who was standing behind Danny. Glancing at Danny to make sure he wasn't looking she grimaced then touched her stomach and mimed holding an infant.

Alfred's expression turned stormy for just a moment then smoothed. "Of course we do, Why don't you make our guest comfortable and I'll see what I can do. Do you have any allergies young man?" Alfred asked and Danny shook his head mutely.

"You're the best Alfie!" Dick said, hovering a hand over Danny's shoulder rather then actually touching him as he leas him towards the comfortable breakfast nook.

The boy seemed tight lipped and gaunt, his eyes flicking around them as if he expected a threat to pop up at any time. Dick slipped into the booth across from him. Trying to think of the best way to ask this kid how... why, and who hurt him.

Cas has stayed in the kitchen, but not for long. She came to them with a tray of mugs moments later and slipped into the booth next to Danny. Gently she took his hands and pressed the warm mug unto them. He blinked and focused of it, as if on autopilot he lifted it to his lips, Cas keeping a hand on his elbow to steady him as he drank.

The warm comforting drink, and hand on his arm, presence by his side as Cas slid imperceptibly closet and closer till she was pressed against Danny's shoulder, felt like they were taking him apart from the inside. Thawing out the cold numbness he shielded himself behind. Half way through his tea he glanced up, at the worried blue eyes so like Jazz, so worried and warm.

He put down the mug suddenly as a sob shook his body. Cas wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close, cooing comforting wordless little sounds as she let him bury his face into her chest and just sob heaving, exhausting outbursts of repressed emotion.

"Are the babies okay?" She asked and he froze, his breath catching in his throat. She clicked her tongue and rocked him gently. "Okay, okay, not in trouble," she promised.

"They- I don't know, they were so weak, I’m trying, but I don't know if I can keep them alive." Danny sobbed lifting his hands to cover his face.

"The stress can't be helping," Dick pointed out, climbing across the table like it was nothing to sit next to them and rub Danny's back. Danny gave a little hiccupping hysterical laugh. "Do you have support, or like, do you know your options?" He asked awkwardly.

"I'm not getting rid of my babies! I don't care if the man who made them is an obsessive creep who drugged me! I love them they're MINE!" The feral protectiveness seemed to startle Dick even as Cas continued to make soothing sounds.

"Your choice, only yours," she promised. "Have help?"

Danny sniffled and shook his head. "Safe?" Another shake of the head.

"The man who... did this?" Dick asked as delicately as he could. Another hysterical laugh.

"I've tried! I've tried to tell my parents he's a creep, he's dangerous but they don't listen! My dad thinks he hung the fucking stars, mom says he's harmless. They don't believe me! I-I can't tell them about the babies. They'd make me get rid of them or worse! I can't." Danny sobbed and Cas soothed.

"Okay, okay, you don't have to." She promised. "You stay with us, you and babies safe, never have to see him again."

"Ya right. Wait, your serious? What" Danny asked, pulling back and looking at her with wide bloodshot eyes.

"She's very serious young master," Alfred said as he approached making Danny jump. there was a hard set to the old man's jaw and steal in his eyes that left no room for questions as he set a plate of eggs, sausage, and fruit in front of Danny. "Master Bruce has a foster license and is a mandatory reporter. I'm sure once he hears even a fraction of this he will insist you stay. I will prepare a room for you. Am I to assume the man who's shouting demanding your return upstairs is the source of this distress?"

Danny swallowed and nodded, Alfred nodded back and paused to rest a gloved hand gently on Danny's hair before walking away briskly.

"Eat," Cas said, nudging him gently to let go of her. "As much as you want. Still hungry? We raid Tim's secret cereal stash."

"Gasp! You know where it is? You've been holding out on me?!" Dick demanded with exaggerated betrayal and as the two started to banter Danny ate. He was glad of the distraction, of not having the attention on him as he devoured the healthy, and nutritious meal the butler had made for him. It had been a while since he'd had a good home cooked meal, it made his core feel warm and he could feel the two little echoes as his hummed.

The babies were happy too, he didn't believe these people could keep him safe from Vlad really, but this was nice. Maybe he would let them try, get a few more good meals, a respite, and maybe... maybe his parents would finally notice that something was wrong and actually stand up for him?

That was probably wishful thinking but he could hope right? there was no harm in that.

Part 2

Queer 👏 people 👏 are 👏 not 👏 all 👏 fucking 👏 activists 👏

Stop quizzing us on queer history and asking us questions we aren’t qualified to answer about the world and about politics and about our identities

Stop trying to back us into a corner so you can justify your discrimination on the basis that we don’t know what we’re talking about or can’t “defend” ourselves to you

Stop treating every queer person that stands up and says “I want to be treated like a person” as if they’re an activist

Cut that bullshit out

Marginalised people just want to exist and be happy

I don’t know everything, and that doesn’t make me undeserving of your respect or my human rights you fucker

I don’t even owe you the stuff I do know- I still am entitled to basic fucking respect

TLDR; Queer people shouldn’t have to be historians or scientists for you to not be a fucking dick

DCxDP Fanfic Idea: Catnip for Heros

Danny Fenton gains a particular reputation in Amity Park for being a "Catnip for Heros."

It started in Freshman year. Phantom was seen coming and going from his house at odd times. It wasn't a very well-kept secret- neighbors would see the glowing teenager in broad daylight.

The ghost hunters who owned the house were the only people unaware of the ghost flying out of the third window on the second floor—Danny's bedroom. At first, they thought it was a one-time thing.

Maybe the ghost wanted to have a little bit of fun now that he was stationed back in the human world? Fenton was rather good-looking when he cleaned up and could be charming when he wasn't dodging his responsibilities.

The A-listers started a rumor that Danny Fenton was relatively easy if all it took was Phantom saving him once. Still, the rumor never gained traction since Fenton seemed flustered at the most minor compliments. Instead, he seemed to jump out of his skin whenever anyone hinted of being interested in him- romantically or friends with benefits.

Never mind when his nighttime rendezvous with Phantom was brought up. Boy looked mortified to have it even suggested, as in burst into tears right then and there.

Even the A-listers weren't that mean. (Some think it was more due to their respect for Phantom than anything.)

Then Fenton was spotted flying on the hoverboard of Red Huntress, clinging to her like a damsel in distress. It would have been a simple rescue that the hero was known for doing, except she often carried him about without a ghost.

It became customary to hear her board humming through the air, Fenton either holding tight to her suffering stance or being carried in her strong arms. As usual, Red Huntress's face was completely covered, but her body language was open and friendly, curved toward Fenton as if he were the sun to her flower.

Red Huntress slowly but surely became more visible in public sight. Unlike Phantom, she normal vanished as soon as a fight was done. People speculated that she was human, but no one could prove it.

Once Dash Baxter was able to film Fenton literally kicking his feet and giggling as Red Huntress hovered in the air, one arm under his knees and the other on his back in a classic princess carry. She had bought him a street hot dog, and Fenton was acting like it was an engagement ring.

The video spread like wildfire through Casper High, and soon, people whispered that Fenton and Phantom had ended. Then two days later, a new video of Phantom flying out of Fenton's room at two in the morning was passed along by two jocks that had been out doing an extreme workout run through the city.

Students of Casper High wondered if Fenton was daring enough to two-time the town heroes. Wes put a stop to the accusations when he flagged down Huntress and asked her about Fenton's relationship with Phantom.

Of course, Wes meant that Fenton and Phantom were the same person (he was crazy like that), but everyone knew it was more about possible cheating. She shattered the thought with, "Phantom and I share Fenton," and flew away, leaving everyone with their jaws dropping.

However, what got Fenton his nickname was the day the Justice League arrived to ask Phantom for help against an invading paranormal force. It was a whole, saving the world; you're our last hope scenario.

People in Amity watched the battle updates from various news outlets. It seemed a bit touch and go for a while, but thankfully, Phantom and Batman could pull through and push back the undead. The streets of the small town flooded with cheering citizens who were overjoyed their town hero did it.

Red Huntress even flew over the city throwing "Phantom #1" foam fingers. It was cute how excited she was for her boyfriend. Fenton was notably absent during that time, but she said it was fine, so people let it go.

It put Amity Park on the map. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know about Phantom and his exploits. News crews, reporters, and even celebrity gossip rags were scouting the tiny town, looking for anything on Phantom besides "He's really old. Really powerful. Dead."

One Jimmy Olsen managed to get the most giant scoop of Earth's newest and hottest hero. It was of Phantom, leaning awfully close to a flustered-looking Fenton. One tilt of his head and their two lips would have been brushing.

Olsen took the shot, forgetting about his flash, and watched Phantom fade out of sight. Fenton looked horrified and raced away before Olsen could ask him questions.

Undeterred, Olsen spent a whole day searching for Fenton and nearly gave up until he happened to find the teenager in the local park, sitting on Red Robins's lap as the hero played with his hair. Shocked, Olsen snapped the photo, watching the two for a while, getting more and more footage. They fed each other ice cream at one point and raced back to the hotel to show Lois.

She excitably jumped on the idea of a plain civilian boy with heroes, especially after some digging showed his connection to Phantom and Red Huntress.

They decided they needed proof before pitching the idea back home, and Fenton was caught in similar positions with Orphan, Superboy (the clone on Red Robin's team), Inpulse, Blue Beatle (the younger new one), and Supergirl. All in a month.

"He's really going through them, huh?" Olsen muttered while the story was posted. The header read, "Danny Fenton: Teenage heartthrob that is Catnip for Heros!"

It's an overnight hit sensation.

Miles away, hiding his face in his hands, is Danny Fenton, surrounded by all the young heroes laughing so hard a few nearly break a rib.

"My Obsession is Protection and Love. It's not my fault I need cuddles from those I care about to function!" The teen cries after reading the somewhat scandalous article and pictures of himself.

"We know Danny," Tim assures him, tucking the boy under his chin. "Getting high off of love is a medical condition."

"Wait, does he actually get high?" Kara asks. "I thought he was just getting giggly 'cause he's cute like that."

"Nope. The emotion humans- and Kryptonians, I guess- release when love- any form of it- causes Danny to get high. Blown pupils. Seeing streaks of lights. Laughing silly. The whole sha-bang." Kon laughs, reaching out to pat Danny's shoulder. The teenager half-buried his face more in his hands with a muffled cry. "He once got so high after Bruce told him how proud he was of him that he created a duplicate and had a staring contest with it to see who had the right to the last bag of chips."

Jaime holds up the tablet, pointing to a photo. "It's the one that started this whole catnip thing. Also, how honored I am to be included in the harem? My popularity had never been higher."

"Stop!" Danny cries. This isn't funny. How am I supposed to protect my secret identity when the whole world thinks I'm "Making my way through all the young heroes?"

"You could marry me," Bart offers. "No one will expect you to run off with a speedster ironically."

"You have to go through Bruce first," Tim tells him; though there is a smile on his face, his eyes are ice cold. "And the rest of my family. Danny is destined to be a Wayne."

"Bruce can't adopt me; I have parents."

"I meant marry in love."

"Tim, now is not the time to state a claim." Kara sighs and then narrows her eyes. "Danny is going to marry into the El family."

"Not if we Allens have anything to say about it!"Bart shouts.

Kon and Jaime watch as Danny slips to the floor a smile slowly blooming on his face as various heroes start yelling at each other. "Should we tell them he's getting high right now or-?"

"Nah, it's fine."

Oh, So We're Family Now?...

Now Playing: RedBone~ Childish Gambino

Vivica's Pov

Vivica adjusted her sunglasses as she pulled into the circular driveway of the Haden estate. It wasn't as imposing as Wayne Manor—few residences in Gotham were—but the sprawling contemporary home with its sleek lines and floor-to-ceiling windows spoke of understated wealth and impeccable taste. Just like its owner.

She hadn't seen Vivian in nearly three weeks, not since before her life had been turned upside down by Bruce Wayne's reappearance and the revelation of his nocturnal activities. Now that she and Bruce had finally reached an understanding, she was eager to reconnect with her oldest friend—the only person outside the Wayne household who might understand the complicated emotions she'd been processing.

Before she could even ring the doorbell, the massive front door swung open to reveal a statuesque woman with elegant braids piled atop her head, dressed in a crisp white pantsuit that complemented her rich brown skin.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in," Vivian Haden said, her stern expression breaking into a warm smile. "I was beginning to think you'd fallen off the face of the earth."

Vivica laughed, stepping forward to embrace her friend. "I know, I know. I'm the worst."

"You're forgiven. Barely." Vivian hugged her tightly before pulling back to study her face. "There's something different about you."

"Different how?"

Vivian narrowed her eyes. "You're glowing. And not in that 'I got a good night's sleep' way. More in that 'I'm getting fucked regularly' way."

"Via!" Vivica glanced around, mortified. "Your daughters could hear you."

"Please. They're all in the back, probably plotting world domination or another TikTok dance, I can never tell the difference." Vivian linked arms with Vivica, leading her into the house. "Besides, you're avoiding the question, which means I'm right."

Vivica couldn't suppress her smile. "Let's just say I've reconnected with someone."

Vivian stopped dead in her tracks, jaw dropping. "No. Wait. Bruce Wayne? You're back with Bruce Wayne?"

"How did you—"

"Girl, please. Who else could possibly put that specific look on your face? You've been hung up on that man since we were teenagers." Vivian shook her head, pulling Vivica toward the kitchen. "I need wine for this conversation."

The kitchen was a chef's dream—all gleaming stainless steel and white marble, with state-of-the-art appliances that looked like they'd never been used. Vivian grabbed a bottle of white wine from the refrigerator and poured two generous glasses.

"Spill," she commanded, sliding one across the counter to Vivica. "And I want all the details this time. No more of this 'we drifted apart' bullshit you fed me five years ago."

Vivica took a fortifying sip. She'd prepared for this, carefully considering how much to share with Vivian. The Batman secret wasn't hers to tell, but she couldn't lie to her best friend either.

"It's complicated," she began. "Bruce is... not who I thought he was. Or rather, he's more than I thought he was."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning he kept parts of himself hidden from me when we were together before. That's why I left. But now..." Vivica traced the rim of her glass. "Now I know everything. And it changes things."

Vivian leaned forward, her expression serious. "Is he involved in something illegal? Because if he's dragging you into some—"

"No!" Vivica said quickly. "Damn. Nothing like that. Just the opposite, actually. Bruce is a good man, Viv. Better than I ever realized."

"But secretive," Vivian noted skeptically.

"Yes. Though he's working on that." Vivica smiled softly, remembering their conversations in the garden. "We both are."

Vivian studied her for a long moment, then sighed. "Well, you're a grown woman who runs her own tech empire. If you say he's worth a second chance, I believe you." Her expression turned mischievous. "Besides, the man is fine as hell and richer than God. There are worse second chances to take."

Vivica laughed, relieved. "Thank you for your blessing. Speaking of which..." She took another sip of wine. "I was hoping you and the girls would come to dinner at Wayne Manor this weekend. Meet Bruce properly."

"Dinner at the mysterious Wayne Manor?" Vivian raised an eyebrow. "That's a step up from the last time I saw him, when he was climbing out your bedroom window at 2 AM."

"That was twenty years ago!"

"Some memories are eternal," Vivian said solemnly, then broke into laughter. "Of course we'll come. The girls will be thrilled. You know they adore their Godmother Viv. Raymond is out on business so they missed you."

As if summoned by the mention of their names, the sound of arguing voices floated in from the back of the house.

"Mom! Tell Stona to stay out of my room!" a voice called.

"I was just borrowing a charger!" came the indignant reply.

"Without asking!"

Vivian rolled her eyes heavenward. "And here we go."

The kitchen doors swung open, and four young women spilled into the room in various states of agitation—until they spotted Vivica.

"Auntie Viv!" The youngest, Stona, rushed forward first, her curly hair bouncing as she threw her arms around Vivica's waist. Despite being fourteen, Stona still had the enthusiastic energy of a child, her bright smile lighting up her entire face.

"Hey, baby girl," Vivica said, hugging her back. "You've grown since I last saw you."

"Half an inch," Stona confirmed proudly. "I'm trying to catch up to these giants." She jerked a thumb toward her older sisters.

"Not happening, shorty," Malaysia, the second eldest at twenty-three, said with affectionate condescension. She towered over her youngest sister, her long, light-colored hair cascading past her shoulders in elegant waves. She moved to hug Vivica next, her grace reminiscent of her mother's. "We've missed you, Auntie."

"Yeah, where've you been hiding?" Corin asked, pulling Vivica into a quick, fierce hug. At twenty-five, Corin was the most direct of the sisters, her short, stylish hair and athletic build giving her a confident presence that matched her forthright personality.

"Working, unlike some people I could mention," Alieza teased, nudging Corin aside to claim her own hug. Twenty-one and curvy/plus size, Alieza had her mother's business acumen combined with a warmth that made her instantly approachable. "Don't listen to them, Auntie Viv. We know you're busy running your company."

Vivica laughed, surveying the four young women with affection. They were all so different from one another, yet unmistakably sisters in the way they moved, in certain expressions, in the deep bond that connected them even through their bickering.

"I've missed all of you," she said sincerely. "Which is why I came to invite you to dinner this weekend."

"Ooh, where?" Stona asked eagerly.

Vivica exchanged a glance with Vivian. "Wayne Manor."

There was a beat of silence, then four voices erupted simultaneously:

"THE Wayne Manor?"

"As in Bruce Wayne?"

"Are you dating him again?"

"Does he have a pool?"

Vivian clapped her hands sharply. "One at a time, for heaven's sake. You weren't raised by wolves."

"Yes, THE Wayne Manor," Vivica confirmed, amused by their reactions. "Bruce and I have... reconnected. And I'd like you all to meet him—formally, this time."

"Didn't we meet him at that charity gala two years ago?" Malaysia asked, frowning slightly. "He seemed..."

"Distant," Corin supplied.

"Arrogant," Alieza added.

"Hot," Stona said with a shameless grin, earning herself an eye roll from her mother.

"He can be all those things," Vivica acknowledged. "But there's much more to him than his public persona." She hesitated, then added, "He has four sons, actually. Adopted. Well, three adopted and one biological."

That caught their attention.

"Four sons?" Vivian repeated, eyebrows raised. "When did this happen?"

"During the five years we were apart," Vivica explained. "It's... another part of the complicated story. They're good young men. Different, but all special in their own ways."

"How old?" Malaysia asked, a hint of interest creeping into her voice.

"Dick is twenty-six, Jason's twenty-three, Tim's twenty-two, and Damian is thirteen," Vivica recited, watching realization dawn on Vivian's face as she noted the ages matching her own daughters—except for Stona and Damian, who were close but not exact.

"Well, isn't that convenient," Vivian murmured, lips twitching.

"What are they like?" Corin asked, trying to sound casual.

Vivica considered how to describe the Wayne boys. "Dick is charming, athletic, the responsible oldest. Jason is intense, a bit of a rebel but fiercely loyal. Tim is brilliant, thoughtful, tech-savvy. And Damian..." she smiled. "Damian is a force of nature."

"They sound interesting," Alieza said, exchanging glances with her sisters.

"Oh, they are," Vivica assured them. "So, Saturday at seven? I'll text you the address."

"We'll be there," Vivian confirmed, giving Vivica a look that promised a more detailed interrogation later. "Won't we, girls?"

Four heads nodded, with varying degrees of enthusiasm and curiosity.

As Vivica left the Haden house an hour later, she couldn't help but smile at the thought of bringing these two families together. Bruce's boys and Vivian's girls—it could either be a disaster or the beginning of something wonderful.

Either way, it would certainly be interesting.

---

"A dinner party?" Bruce looked up from his computer, expression somewhere between confused and alarmed. "Here? With people who don't know about..." He gestured vaguely toward the hidden entrance to the Batcave.

Vivica perched on the edge of his desk in the study. "Yes, Bruce. A normal dinner with my best friend and her daughters. People do this sort of thing all the time. It's called 'socializing.'"

"I socialize," he protested. "The Wayne Foundation gala last month—"

"Was work," Vivica interrupted. "This is different. This is personal. Vivian is practically my sister, and her girls are like nieces to me. I want the people I love to know each other."

Bruce's expression softened at her words. "Of course. I'd like to meet them properly." He frowned slightly. "Alfred will need time to prepare. And the boys—"

"I've already spoken to Alfred. He's thrilled at the prospect of cooking for guests who aren't wearing capes or cowls." Vivica smiled. "As for the boys, I thought I'd let you break the news."

Bruce leaned back in his chair, studying her face. "There's something you're not telling me."

She shrugged innocently. "I may have mentioned that Vivian has four daughters, all around the same ages as your sons."

Understanding dawned in Bruce's eyes. "Vivica..."

"What? It's just dinner." She leaned forward to press a quick kiss to his lips. "Besides, your boys could use some normal social interaction with people their own age."

"My boys are anything but normal," Bruce pointed out.

"All the more reason." She stood up, smoothing her skirt. "Saturday at seven. Smart casual dress. No bat-talk."

Bruce caught her hand before she could walk away. "You're remarkable, you know that?" His voice was low, sincere.

"For organizing a dinner party?"

"For building bridges between my world and yours. For making space for normalcy alongside..." he gestured again toward the cave beneath them.

Vivica squeezed his hand. "That's the whole point, Bruce. They're not separate worlds anymore. Just different rooms in the same house."

As she left him to his work, she heard him mutter something that sounded suspiciously like, "Easier said than done."

---

The news of the impending dinner party received mixed reactions from the Wayne household.

Dick, predictably, was enthusiastic. "It'll be nice to have some new faces around here," he said as he helped Alfred polish the formal dining room's massive table. "What are they like, these Haden sisters?"

"Diverse in personality, but all quite remarkable," Alfred replied, having received a full briefing from Vivica earlier. "Miss Malaysia is the second eldest—poised, ambitious, currently finishing her law degree at Gotham University."

"A lawyer, huh?" Dick said, a spark of interest in his eyes.

"Indeed, sir. Miss Corin is an athlete—national level in mixed martial arts, I believe. She's a teacher."

Jason, lounging in the doorway and pretending not to listen, perked up slightly at this information.

"Miss Alieza is studying computer science and business, apparently quite the technological prodigy," Alfred continued, glancing meaningfully at Tim, who was setting out the fine china with careful precision.

"And the youngest, Miss Stona?" Damian asked from where he sat sketching the table arrangement, supposedly to help Alfred but mostly to eavesdrop.

"An artist, Master Damian. Painting and sculpture, primarily. Only nineteen, but already featured in several Gotham galleries."

Damian's pencil paused briefly on his paper. "Hm."

Bruce, observing this exchange from the doorway, caught Vivica's eye with a raised eyebrow. She smiled innocently in return.

The night of the dinner arrived with unusual tension in the manor. Bruce found all four of his sons in various states of preparation, each putting more effort into their appearance than he'd seen for formal Wayne Foundation events.

Dick had opted for a blue button-down that matched his eyes perfectly, sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms toned from years of acrobatics and crime-fighting. Jason, after much apparent deliberation, had chosen a dark red Henley that complemented his broader build, his usual leather jacket nowhere to be seen. Tim wore a forest green sweater over a collared shirt, his typically tousled hair actually combed for once. And Damian, most surprisingly of all, had abandoned his usual formal attire for a more age-appropriate outfit of dark jeans and a charcoal sweater, his hair meticulously styled.

"Not a word," Damian warned when he caught Bruce looking.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Bruce assured him, fighting a smile.

Vivica descended the main staircase at quarter to seven, stunning in a simple burgundy dress that hugged her curves. Bruce felt his breath catch, still not entirely used to the reality that she was here, in his home, in his life again.

"You look beautiful," he said, meeting her at the bottom of the stairs.

"You clean up pretty nicely yourself," she replied, straightening his tie. "Where are the boys?"

"Hovering near windows, pretending they're not watching for the arrival of your guests," Bruce said dryly.

As if on cue, the distant sound of tires on gravel reached them, followed by Dick's too-casual announcement from the living room: "I think they're here."

Alfred appeared with perfect timing, moving to open the front door as a sleek black SUV pulled up. Vivian emerged first, elegant in a navy pantsuit, followed by her four daughters, each dressed to impress in their own distinctive style.

Bruce and Vivica greeted them at the door, and Bruce found himself immediately enveloped in Vivian's critical assessment.

"Bruce Wayne," she said, extending her hand with regal poise. "It's been a long time."

"Too long," he agreed, shaking her hand firmly. "Welcome to Wayne Manor, Ms. Haden. I see you didn't bring Raymond with you. "

"Vivian, please. We're well past formalities, especially if you're back in my best friend's life." Her tone carried a subtle warning that wasn't lost on Bruce. "And, my husband is out on business. But, I'm sure my company would do just fine."

"Vivian it is," he said with a nod of acknowledgment. "And, of course, allow me to introduce my family."

The boys had materialized behind them, standing in an unconsciously defensive formation that made Vivica hide a smile. Bruce introduced each son with quiet pride, and Vivica watched the Haden sisters take in the Wayne boys with various degrees of interest.

Malaysia's gaze lingered on Dick, noting his easy smile and confident stance. Corin's eyes widened slightly at Jason's muscular build, her athlete's assessment unmistakable. Alieza and Tim exchanged shy smiles when their names were called, a silent recognition passing between them. And Stona, vibrant and artistic, openly studied Damian's serious face with undisguised curiosity.

"Shall we move to the dining room?" Alfred suggested after the introductions were complete. "Dinner is prepared."

As they filed into the manor's grand dining room, Vivica found herself grateful for Alfred's careful seating arrangement, which had naturally paired each Wayne son with the Haden daughter closest to their age, with Bruce and Vivica at the heads of the table and Vivian positioned between Dick and Jason.

Conversation started awkwardly, as Bruce attempted small talk with the practiced charm of his public persona. Vivica could see Vivian's skeptical expression—this was exactly the distant, artificial Bruce she'd warned her friend about.

But then Stona, uninhibited as always, changed the dynamic.

"So is it true you have a T-Rex in the house?" she asked Bruce directly, ignoring Malaysia's face "Stona! Shut the hell up!" Malaysia whispered yelled.

Bruce blinked, caught off guard. "I... yes, actually. In the east wing. It's a full-size replica."

"Can I see it after dinner?" Stona asked eagerly.

"We all can," Vivica interjected smoothly. "Bruce has quite the collection of unique items."

"Bruce is a hoarder with expensive taste," Jason added, earning a surprised laugh from Corin.

Just like that, the ice was broken. Conversation began to flow more naturally, breaking into smaller groups as the meal progressed.

Dick and Malaysia discovered a shared interest in Gotham's legal system, though for very different professional reasons—her law studies and his work with the GCPD as a consultant (his cover for Nightwing activities).

"The problem with Gotham isn't just corruption," Malaysia was saying passionately. "It's systemic inequality. The legal system was designed to protect wealth and power, not serve justice."

Dick nodded, genuinely engaged. "I couldn't agree more. I've seen too many cases where money determined the outcome more than evidence."

"Exactly!" Malaysia leaned forward, her eyes lighting up. "That's why I'm focusing on public interest law. Someone needs to fight for those who can't afford high-priced defense attorneys."

"The city needs more lawyers like you," Dick said sincerely, and Vivica noticed the slight blush that colored Malaysia's cheeks at his praise.

Further down the table, Jason and Corin had fallen into a spirited debate about fighting techniques.

"Traditional boxing has its place," Jason was saying, gesturing with his fork, "but in a real street fight, you need to be adaptable."

"That's why I cross-train," Corin replied. "MMA, Krav Maga, even some capoeira for mobility."

Jason's eyebrows rose with genuine interest. "Capoeira? Impressive. Not many fighters appreciate its practical applications."

"Most fighters are too rigid in their thinking," Corin said with a dismissive wave. "They stick to what they know instead of evolving."

"I know a training gym in the East End that has some excellent mixed discipline classes," Jason offered. "If you're ever interested."

"I might be," Corin replied, her casual tone belied by the intensity of her gaze. "I have to teach throughout the week, but we'll see if I have time."

Tim and Alieza, meanwhile, had broken all pretense of general conversation and were huddled over Tim's phone, discussing something in rapid technical terms that made Bruce glance their way with mild concern.

"It's a modified encryption algorithm I've been working on," Tim was explaining. "The problem is balancing security with processing speed."

"Have you considered a quantum approach?" Alieza asked, taking the phone to study the code. "There's some promising research coming out of MIT on quantum-resistant cryptography."

Tim's eyes widened. "You follow quantum computing research?"

"Follow it? I'm contributing to it," Alieza said with quiet confidence. "I've got a paper being published next month on quantum key distribution in urban environments."

"That's... wow." Tim seemed genuinely impressed, a rare occurrence for the brilliant young man. "I'd love to read it when it's published."

"I could send you an advance copy," Alieza offered, a shy smile playing at her lips. "If you're interested."

"Definitely interested," Tim assured her, their eyes meeting with mutual appreciation.

At the far end of the table, Damian and Stona were engaged in a conversation that had started with art but somehow evolved into a detailed discussion of animal rights.

"Father allows me to maintain a menagerie," Damian was explaining, his usual haughtiness tempered by genuine enthusiasm. "I have several rescue animals, including a cow named Batcow."

"Batcow?" Stona repeated, delighted. "That's amazing. I've been trying to convince Mom to let me volunteer at the Gotham Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, but she says I need to focus on my studies."

"Education is important," Damian said seriously, "but so is practical experience. Perhaps if you presented a structured plan demonstrating how the volunteer work would enhance your studies..."

"That's... actually a really good idea," Stona said, looking at Damian with new respect. "You're really smart."

"of course! I'm not a child," Damian replied automatically, then added with grudging acknowledgment, "but you're more intelligent than I initially assumed."

Coming from Damian, this was high praise indeed.

Bruce and Vivian, witnessing these exchanges, shared a look of parental recognition.

"They seem to be getting along," Bruce observed quietly.

"So it appears," Vivian replied, her earlier skepticism softening. "Your boys are... not what I expected."

"What did you expect?"

"Entitled trust fund children," she said frankly. "But they're thoughtful. Engaged. They actually listen when my girls speak, which is rarer than it should be."

Bruce nodded, understanding the compliment for what it was. "They've had unique upbringings. All of them have faced challenges that taught them the value of listening to different perspectives."

Vivian studied him for a moment. "Maybe you're not what I expected either, Bruce Wayne."

By the time dessert was served—Alfred's legendary chocolate soufflé—the initial awkwardness had completely dissolved. The conversation had become so lively that Alfred had to clear his throat twice to get everyone's attention for the dessert service.

As promised, after dinner Bruce led a tour of the manor's public areas, including the famous T-Rex replica that had so intrigued Stona. The group naturally splintered as they moved through the mansion, each pair drifting toward areas of mutual interest.

--

As the Haden family prepared to depart, private numbers were exchanged with promises to stay in touch during the week. Vivica watched with amusement as Dick gallantly helped Malaysia with her coat, as Jason and Corin exchanged what looked like a firm handshake but lingered a moment too long, as Tim awkwardly attempted to explain something technical to Alieza while she smiled patiently, and as Damian formally presented Stona with a small sketch he'd apparently made during their tour.

"This has been illuminating," Vivian murmured to Vivica as they watched the younger generation say their goodbyes. "Your message this morning makes more sense now."

"Message?" Bruce asked, overhearing.

Vivica smiled mysteriously. "Just girl talk."

Once the Hadens had departed, with arrangements made for the following weekend, the Wayne household seemed to exhale collectively. The boys dispersed to their usual evening activities—Dick to call Blüdhaven and check on his city, Jason to prepare for a late patrol, Tim to his computers, and Damian to complete his homework before his own patrol with Batman later.

Bruce and Vivica found themselves alone in the study, the evening's events settling around them like a comfortable blanket.

"That went well," Vivica observed, kicking off her heels and curling up on the leather sofa. "Better than I expected, honestly."

"Your plan to introduce the boys to suitable young women their own age?" Bruce asked, his tone mildly accusatory but his eyes amused.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Vivica replied innocently. "I simply wanted my best friend and her daughters to meet the man I love and his family."

Bruce sat beside her, pulling her feet into his lap with casual intimacy. "The boys seemed... affected by their visitors."

"I noticed," Vivica said, unable to hide her smile. "Jason was almost civil."

"Tim actually left his lab voluntarily."

"And Damian shared his artwork with a stranger. A miracle."

Bruce's hands began massaging her feet, his strong fingers working out the tension from hours in heels. "You're playing matchmaker."

"I'm expanding their social circle," Vivica corrected. "What happens next is entirely up to them."

"Mmm." Bruce didn't sound convinced. "And the remarkable coincidence that each Haden daughter happens to align perfectly with one of my sons in age, interests, and temperament?"

"The universe works in mysterious ways," Vivica said solemnly, then broke into laughter at Bruce's expression. "Okay, fine. I might have noticed some potential compatibility. But tonight exceeded even my expectations."

Bruce's hands moved from her feet to her calves, continuing their gentle massage. "Vivian approves of me now. Or at least, she's reserving judgment."

"High praise from Via, believe me." Vivica sighed contentedly as his strong hands worked their magic. "She's been my fiercest protector since we were children. Almost as intimidating as Alfred when she wants to be."

"I noticed," Bruce said dryly. "The 'I will end you' threat was particularly vivid."

"She means it, too."

"I don't doubt it." Bruce's expression grew more serious. "I'm glad you have her. Someone who looks out for you so fiercely."

Vivica reached for his hand, twining her fingers with his. "I have you for that now too, don't I?"

"Always," Bruce promised, raising their joined hands to kiss her knuckles. "Though I suspect our households are about to become much more intertwined than either of us anticipated."

As if to prove his point, Dick appeared in the doorway, attempting and failing to look casual. "So, uh, that Malaysia... she's studying corporate law, right? I was thinking I might ask her perspective on some Wayne Enterprises contracts."

"At ten o'clock on a Saturday night?" Bruce asked skeptically.

Dick shrugged, unembarrassed. "Legal emergencies don't keep business hours."

"Her number is in my phone," Vivica offered, fighting a smile. "But maybe wait until tomorrow to call? Professional courtesy."

"Right, tomorrow. Good idea." Dick nodded too enthusiastically before disappearing again.

Bruce and Vivica exchanged amused glances.

"One down, three to go," Vivica murmured.

Sure enough, within fifteen minutes, Tim had casually inquired about Alieza's publication schedule, Jason had mentioned offhandedly that he might check out the MMA gym where Corin trained, and even Damian had appeared to ask, with forced nonchalance, if Stona's artwork was featured in any currently running exhibitions he might evaluate "for technical proficiency."

By the time Bruce needed to prepare for his nightly patrol, all four Wayne boys had found transparent excuses to obtain more information about the Haden sisters.

"What have we started?" Bruce asked as he stood before the grandfather clock that concealed the entrance to the Batcave.

Vivica smiled, rising to straighten his collar before he changed into the Batsuit. "Something good, I think. Something normal alongside the extraordinary." She brushed a light kiss against his lips. "Be careful out there tonight."

"Always," he promised. "Don't wait up."

"I might," she countered. "I've grown fond of post-patrol debriefs."

Bruce's eyes darkened with appreciation. "In that case, I'll try to wrap things up early."

After he disappeared into the cave, Vivica made her way to the library, selecting a book before settling into a comfortable chair. The manor felt different now—warmer, more alive with possibility. The walls that had once separated Bruce's world from hers were thinning, allowing light to pass between them.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Vivian: *Whatever you're planning with these Wayne boys and my daughters, I'm onto you. If things go to shit imma beat yo ass!*

Vivica smiled and typed back: *No idea what you're talking about. But they'd make beautiful grandchildren, don't you think?*

Vivian's response was immediate: *You're terrible. See you next weekend. Bring the blue-eyed one who knew about Brandeis.*

As Vivica settled in to wait for Batman's return, she felt a deep contentment wash over her. Two families, each unusual in their own way, finding connection and possibly more. Bruce learning to balance his mission with moments of normalcy and joy. And herself, finally understanding that loving Bruce Wayne meant loving all of him—the billionaire, the vigilante, the father, the man—without requiring him to be only one of those things.

The night stretched before her, full of possibility, just like the future they were building together.