Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"You want to get Dick something for Mother's Day?" Tim confirmed for the third time.

"Yes." Damian replied simply. Surely it wasn't that difficult of a concept to grasp. He knew westerners were slow but he hadn't known it could be this dire. Damian sighed and decided to explain further. "He is perfectly adequate in the role of both father and mother. And thus, must be celebrated accordingly."

Tim’s eyes went soft as Damian's unnecessary explanation drew to a close. Damian bared his teeth at Tim so that he'd start looking normal once more. Only Dick was permitted to look at him like that, as the man was incapable of not doing so. Or so he claimed.

"Well?" Damian prompted impatiently. "What gifts would be appropriate for this occasion?"

Tim maintained that insufferable gaze as he finally deigned to answer him. "Traditional Mother's Day gifts can consist of a lot of different things from flowers, chocolates and wine to clothes, nights out and spa treatments."

"Richard's wardrobe could use an upgrade." Damian mused. That would be a gift to all of them, really.

Tim grimaced. "The main point of Mother's Day is to show your appreciation for their role in your life, implying that he has bad taste might not be the best way to go."

Damian nodded, that was a good point. While burning most of Dick's clothing and replacing them with quality items may be helpful, he could see how it may be taken as an insult. He'll upgrade the wardrobe for Christmas instead.

"Do you think that he'd like flowers?" Damian asked.

Tim smiled. "I'm pretty sure he'd love anything you get him."

Damian glared. "I came to you to avoid the risk of sentimental drivel, Drake. Be truthful."

"Stop, you're making me blush," Tim said in a flat tone. Damian growled. Tim ruffled his hair, the only reason Damian didn't bite his hand was because he was still in need of more information. "Yes, I think he'd like flowers. And ciambellone, there's this restaurant he likes that you can order it from. I'll send you the link."

Damian had never been more grateful for Tim's shameless stalking habits.

He nodded. "What about weaponry? Would that be an appropriate gift?"

Timothy tilted his head. "Not usually, but this is Dick we're talking about." He said. "Maybe a better version of something he already uses?" He went to say something else, then hesitated. "And uh,"

"What?" Damian pressed.

Timothy dithered for a few more seconds before answering. "Words mean as much to Dick as actions, Mother's Day is one of the best times to tell them what they mean to you."

"Oh."

As if sensing his unease, Timothy squeezed his shoulder. "He'll appreciate your efforts no matter what, Dami."

Gathering himself, Damian tilted his chin up and puffed his chest. "Of course, my regard should be seen as an honour."

"That's the spirit." Timothy's voice was a strange mixture of sarcasm and genuine encouragement.

"Tt. You have been useful today." Damian said magnanimously.

Timothy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you're welcome, brat."

Damian scowled but ignored the comment.

He had a Mother's Day to plan.

-

Bruce watched as Damian brought a bouquet of royal blue iris flowers into the Cave.

The bouquet was half the size of Damian himself. As Bruce got a better view, he could see what looked to be a slightly altered version of Dick's wingdings – Bruce dies a little inside every time he recalls the name – scattered gracefully among the flowers. In fact, there seemed to be an equal amount of both flowers and weaponry within the bouquet.

Bruce could only watch as Damian handed the bouquet over to Dick, who smiled down at the boy in a mixture of fondness and confusion.

"Dami, this is beautiful," Dick said, looking over the bouquet in awe. "What's the occasion?"

Damian straightened up, looking Dick in the eye. "Happy Mother's Day, Richard."

Jason blinked. "This is weird even for us."

Tim elbowed him and gave Damian a thumbs up.

Dick seemed to be musing on the situation, as if deciding whether to go with it or not. Bruce shot him a look, hoping his eldest would choose the path of sanity.

Then he smiled, bright and wide. His eyes crinkled at the corners. "This is so sweet of you, thank you, Dami. I really wasn't expecting anything." Dick said.

Yes, because he wasn't a mother. Bruce bit back a groan as he rubbed the side of his head.

Dick leaned forward to give Damian a kiss on the forehead. The boy didn't even scowl, but then again, he rarely does with Dick.

Bruce wasn't jealous.

"I–" Damian glanced over at Tim who nodded supportively. That wasn't a good sign. Tim was just as bad as Damian when it came to social interaction.

Then again, it's not as if they could make this situation any more baffling.

"I value you as an ally and mentor and appreciate the roles you've taken on in an adequate attempt to enrich my time here." Damian said. Oh God, Dick's eyes were already glimmering suspiciously. "This gift is a gesture of both my appreciation and care for you." Dick sniffles and pulls Damian into his arms. Smiling widely even as tears stream down his face.

"I love you so much." Dick said, squeezing Damian tighter. Bruce wasn't sure if the redness on Damian’s cheeks was due to the words of the force of the hug.

Jason's demeanour seems to soften as he stares at the pair. "This is kind of cute."

Tim beamed proudly. "I told him to get flowers."

"Of course you did." Bruce muttered to himself. No one ever gets Bruce flowers.

Because he's allergic to pollen, but it's not as if fake flowers don't exist.

Jason shot Bruce a glare, either because he sensed Bruce's conflict or because he realised that this was an 'I hate Batman' day.

Bruce took the high road and looked back over at Damian who was explaining the features of the altered wingdings to Dick.

Dick, who seemed to be basking in the glow of his newly bestowed motherhood.

Well, at least Bruce still had Father's Day.

Chapter Text

For Father's Day, Damian once again went to Tim, as he tended to be more helpful in such endeavours than the rest of their family.

For some reason, everyone thinks that Damian should celebrate Father's day with Father. 

"Do you want to get Bruce something as well?" Tim asked, after Damian informed him of his intentions.

Damian frowned. "Why?" 

"Sometimes people want to get their dad something for Father's Day." Tim seemed confused by the concept even as he spoke about it. "Then again, I never got Jack anything and he didn't seem to mind."

Damian nodded. "Of course not, why would he?"

Tim shrugged. "I don't know. My classmates always seemed to think he would." He shook his head, seeming baffled by whatever memory he was recalling.

"Your peers are as dimwitted as mine." Damian grumbled. "Now, what am I to do for Father's Day?"

"Father's Day, from what I've observed, is more toned down than Mother's Day. People are more likely to get something basic with a twist of sorts." Tim spoke in the same tone he utilised when debriefing someone on a case he had been working on.

“Basic.” Damian spat the word in disgust.

“Basic can be useful, something that they’ll use often,” Tim explained, nudging Damian's side in what seemed to be an attempt at soothing him. 

Damian’s previous ire waned slightly. Giving Dick something that would be of long term use would be ideal.

Tim continued.  “With the bonus of it reminding them of you each time they use it.” Damian perked up, yes, perhaps basic wouldn’t be so bad in this context. 

What is a day to day necessity that Dick would appreciate?

Damian lit up. “I shall purchase him an apartment.” He proclaimed.

Tim raised an eyebrow. “Remember what I said about Father’s Day being more toned down?”

Damian scowled. “Then what would you suggest?” He grumbled.

“T-shirt, watch, mug, wallet–”

“Those are the gifts people offer their fathers?” Damian was appalled. It was a good thing that he also celebrated Mother’s Day with Richard, he couldn’t imagine offering something so paltry as his first show of appreciation. “How on earth does one make that meaningful?”

"Well, Dick is a pretty cheesy guy." They shared a grimace at that. "He loves cliché, sentimental things. If you get him a conventional Father's Day gift and give it something to make it unique to you two, then that would make a pretty meaningful gift."

"How do I make it unique?" Damian was baffled by these customs, why not just get Richard something extravagant and useful? Then again, it would be best to stay within the lines of tradition for their first Father’s Day together.

"Like if you get him a watch, have it engraved." Tim suggested.

"He rarely uses watches."

"No one but Bruce does." Tim's eyes lit up. "Oh, maybe I could get that for B!" He exclaimed happily. Was Father’s birthday coming up? Damian could see no other reason Tim was so enthusiastic about getting him a gift.

"If you feel it necessary." Damian replied. "Speaking of necessity, what words should I use to express my contentment with Richard's presence in my life?" It had taken Damian hours to find the right words for Mother’s Day.

Tim smiled fondly at him. Damian allowed it. "I can't tell you what words to use, just say what feels right. If you're nervous, just keep it simple.”

"I don't get nervous." Damian puffed up indignantly.

"Ah, how could I forget?" Tim drawled. Damian chose to believe he was being genuine. “Just say what feels right. Dick will appreciate that you’re trying, he’s good that way.”

"I see what you're saying. Thank you, Timothy. This was helpful." Damian nodded. "You're not as annoying as the others." He added generously.

Tim grinned. "Careful, I might just want to hug you for that."

"I will lose all respect for you if you dare." Damian glared.

"You respect me? This is a good day."

"It'll be your last." Damian said as he left the room, lest he make good on his threat.

"You said that last time." Tim called after him. Someone really needed to train some self preservation into him.

-

Dick was sitting at the table with Bruce. 

Usually he wouldn’t be at the manor on a Sunday, but Tim had demanded– yes, demanded, he's been hanging out with Damian too much– that Dick stay for the weekend.

Bruce was at the head of the table, reading the newspaper like the old man he was and Dick was in the middle of drowning his pancakes in syrup, trying to avoid Alfred's disapproving gaze.

"Richard." Damian's voice piped up from behind him.

Dick smiled, looking over his shoulder. "Hey Dami, are you joining us for breakfast?"

Damian nodded, walking over to the table and standing by Dick's chair. He seemed tense. Nervous, almost. But not in a bad way, per say. Just unsure.

Dick's chest warmed as Damian moved closer to him, bumping their shoulders together. He smiled briefly before settling back into his usual serious demeanour. 

Every day, he got to see more and more of the sweet boy hidden under Damian's prickly exterior and he was so, so proud.

"Is everything alright?" Dick lowered his voice as he spoke, despite knowing that Bruce would probably hear anyway. Especially since he was tilting his ear towards them like a nosy neighbour in an old cartoon.

"I have something for you." Damian held out a medium sized box with a blue ribbon on top.

Dick smiled gently, pulling Damian into a brief side hug before turning back to the gift.

He carefully untied the ribbon, knowing he'd be adding it to his box of things Damian had given him. 

Dick's heart jumped as he saw what was in the parcel. This was perfect. He lifted it out reading the words on both sides, he was smiling so wide that it hurt.

Overwhelming love for the boy beside him welled up in his chest. Tears were already in his eyes when Damian spoke again.

"Happy Fathers Day, baba." He said quietly. He peeked up at Dick, looking like the ten year old he liked to pretend he wasn't. "I love you." 

Dick's breath caught as he let the tears fall.

It was as if the scars from every past heartbreak healed simultaneously, knowing that they were the trails leading Dick to this moment. 

His son had gotten him both Mother and Father's Day gifts. He thought Dick was worthy of both titles when he would have just settled for 'Grayson' if it meant seeing his boy grow into the person he was today.

Dick pulled Damian into his arms kissing the top of his head. Many, many times.

"I love you too." He said, smiling when Damian's face went red. "So much."

-

Bruce stared between the mug and Dick, who was too busy cooing over Damian to notice.

'World's Best Dad Award' was stamped proudly in Nightwing blue letters on one side.

'We Were The Best' was on the other in Robin colours.

Dick’s eyes were glistening with tears. Honest to God, tears. Those should be Bruce's eyes,  damnit. It's not as if Dick didn’t get to cry enough on Mother's Day after all.

Bruce sipped his coffee moodily. His mug was plain white.

"I love it, Dami!" Dick proclaimed, for the seventh time. He kissed the top of Damian's head, for the ninth time. "It's my new favourite."

"I had it commissioned to be made out of a rare ceramic from Eastern China," Damian informed him, standing tall and proud even as his face grew more red with each kiss. "It'll keep your drink warmer for longer."

So would a thermal mug. A bitter voice in Bruce's head piped up.

As if hearing his thoughts, Alfred raised an eyebrow at him from across the room. 

Bruce looked back down at the table.

"I love you, baba." Damian said softly.

Oh just rub it in why don't you? Bruce scowled to himself. He'd already said it once, no one needed to hear it again.

Dick would probably disagree, if the way he was practically glowing with happiness, like sunshine personified, was any indication.   

Bruce had always preferred the night.

"I love you too, Dami. So much." Dick said, crushing the boy to his chest.

Damian smiled, before hiding his face in Dick's chest. At this rate, Bruce wouldn’t be surprised if Damian had forged adoption records behind his back.

Or Dick for that matter. Son snatching traitor that he was.

-

Bruce retreated to his office after breakfast. He was tempted to 'trip' and accidentally knock the mug off the table on the way out– but he didn't. He wasn't a monster.

And Dick would have stabbed him with the shards if he had. He wasn't convinced that Dick had completely outgrown his bloodthirsty streak, it was probably why Damian liked him so much.

It was only when Bruce sat down at his desk did he see it.

An unsolved case file, a specially made watch and a warm cup of coffee– in a thermal mug– sat on his desk, along with a post it note saying.

Happy Fathers Day, B!

- T

A warm feeling rose up in Bruce's chest. Tim had always been his favourite. 

Chapter Text

Bruce stared at the unknown number flashing across his screen. He had a feeling as to who it would be and was unfortunately proven correct when he answered the call.

"Why did our son give a Mother's Day bouquet to your former ward?" Talia's voice was smooth and calm. But Bruce knew her well enough to hear the complete and utter bafflement in her tone.

"Damian has decided that Dick is his parental unit and is celebrating accordingly." Bruce summarised. "He gave him a Father's Day gift too." He added, frowning.

Talia scoffed. "Don't sulk, Beloved. I do not have the patience for it."

"And what do we call what you're doing now?" Bruce countered.

"Motherly concern." Talia replied easily.

"Hn."

"So uncouth." Bruce could practically hear the sneer in her voice. "Do I have to assassinate the ward for usurping our place?" She questioned. 

Bruce isn't proud of how long it took him to say no.

-

Bruce scowled as he looked out of his office window.

Dick and Damian were playing catch in the garden, like the little traitors they were. Bruce made a note to ban all outdoor activities in the manor.

"Uh, Bruce?" Tim's voice sounded from behind him. "Is everything alright?"

"He calls him baba." Bruce grumbled, turning away from the window. "I should be baba."

Tim winced. "You're more of the father type, which he does call you." He pointed out.

Bruce sighed– not huffed, sighed. "Baba sounds better." 

"I could call you papa?" Tim offered reluctantly, his nose scrunching up.

"Yes because you seem so thrilled at the prospect." Bruce said bitterly.

Tim glared. "Understood, Mr Wayne." He said coolly before storming out of the office.

Bruce jolted, scrambling as he ran after him. "Tim, no, sweetheart, wait–" 

-

Damian had decided to take Dick out for a Father's Day dinner on top of everything else. Neither of them even glanced at Bruce as they went on their merry way, presumably too afraid to look into his eyes as they betrayed him.

"What next?" Bruce snarls, pacing outside of the kitchen– he wasn't allowed in it– like a caged tiger. "Happy Anniversary?" He threw his hands up in exasperation.

"Master Damian gave Master Dick their Batman and Robin anniversary gift three months ago." Alfred replied serenely.

"Hrg."

"No grunting upstairs." Alfred tutted.

Bruce frowned. "These are extenuating circumstances." He said.

"Of course, Master Bruce." Alfred's voice was dry.

Bruce grunted and continued pacing. No one understood his plight.

Chapter Text

A few minutes after they settled down to have breakfast, Tim slapped a familiar set of papers down onto the table. Thankfully, avoiding the various plates and cups as he did.

Bruce blinked down at the papers– forms, to be more accurate– he must be more tired than he thought because it looks like it's saying–

"Jason's adopted me." Tim said proudly. Bruce's eyes went wide.

Dick and Damian looked up from their respective breakfasts, suddenly much more alert.

"Damn right." Jason said through a mouthful of omelette.

"I could have adopted you." Dick said with a frown.

Was that all he was taking from this? Not to mention, he'd already snatched one son away from Bruce. He hardly needed to add to his collection.

"According to Alfred, you can only deal with one feral child at a time. And Damian’s already staked his claim." Tim said, patting Dick's arm soothingly.

Damian tilted his chin up. "Precisely." Then he paused. "I may have been willing to …share, I suppose. Under more dire circumstances." He added, much less reluctantly then Bruce would have expected from him.

Dick cooed and kissed the top of Damian's head. The boy didn't even have the decency to scowl.

"Thanks, baby bat." Tim smiled at Damian who glared half-heartedly in reply.

"Look at our kids, getting along." Jason clapped Dick's shoulder. 

Bruce shook his head, looking over at Tim. "Jason can't have adopted you, he's legally dead." 

"I fixed that." Tim spoke as if he'd just ordered a pizza rather than resurrected his wayward brother.

"Jay Peters at your service." Jason grinned, raising his mug in a toast. At a closer look, the mug said 'Gotham's Best Murder Dad.' 

"Original name." Dick snorted. He then glanced at the mug, looking a cross between amused and concerned.

Jason rolled his eyes. "Shut up."

Bruce had to fix this. Tim tended to live in an ambiguous state of being constantly on the edge of becoming a supervillain. With Jason, Tim would end up as a rogue within a week.

He loved his sons, but their morals were inconsistent at best.

Not to mention, Tim was Bruce's favourite, after Cass. He couldn’t just let Jason steal him.

"Tim, sweetheart–" Bruce started.

"Nope. Jason's my dad now." Tim proclaimed. "We have receipts." He held up the forms.

"Congratulations on your parental acquisition." Damian said to Tim with a nod. 

"Thank you." Tim beamed.

"He's three years older than you." Bruce pointed out.

"I had him young." Jason shrugged.

"We've always felt more like brothers." Tim said, placing a hand on his heart.

Bruce's eye twitched. 

"Eat your eggs, kid." Jason gestured to Tim's plate.

And unlike anytime Bruce dared to remind Tim to eat, Tim listened.

Dick smiled, looking all too pleased with how things had turned out. Jason looked over at Bruce with a smug grin mouthing your loss, pops. 

Bruce looked away with a dark scowl. One day, when none of them expected it, Bruce would adopt them all. Again. 

Until then, at least he still has Cass.

-

"Hey mom," Cass signed, her gestures happy and bright. "New case?"

Barbara smiled. "Yeah, here's what I've got so far." 

Cass sat down on the couch, cuddling up to her. Barbara’s chest warmed as she wrapped an arm around her.

She had never been happier that she took Dick's advice and adopted Cass.

Or, more accurately, erased Bruce's name from the records and replaced it with her own.

Either way, motherhood was awesome.