Dick sat at the back of Mr.Wayne's car, still trying to wrap his mind about what happened earlier that night.

His parents were dead...and it was all his fault.

He could have warned them. Because he saw the rope start to unravel when he watched his mother swing over towards his father. If only he had said something, anything to-

"Are you alright back there, Richard?" Bruce asked him, Dick snapping from his thoughts.

"I'm...fine." Dick quickly replied. "And you can call me Dick."

"Well then, we're here Dick. Welcome to Wayne Manor."

Dick looked out the car window, his jaw dropping at the manor in front of him.

It looked straight out of one of those vampire films!

-----

When Dick was brought in to live with Bruce, he didn't expect to see another child there.

She was smaller than him, at least seven years of age. Her midnight hair was in a short bob cut, her green eyes filled with curiosity and wonder, but also sadness. From her room entrance, she stared at the trio that walked towards Dick's new room.

"I didn't know you adopted other kids like me." Dick said, feeling a bit uneasy under her stare.

"She's not adopted."

"She's not?"

"She's my daughter." Bruce clarifies as Alfred opens Dick's new room. "Her name's Amira."

"You have a daughter?" Dick asks, setting down his luggage. "I didn't know that."

"No one does." Bruce says as he looks out the window. "If people found out about her," Dick watched as his face saddened. "Let's just say something bad will happen to her...or me."

At those words, Dick frowned, finally taking in the reason he was here in the first place.

"Don't worry much about it Master Dick." Alfred spoke up, placing a hand in his shoulder. "Why don't you help me unpack your stuff and make a list of things you want to make this room feel more...at home?"

"I suppose so." Dick said, going over to help Alfred, seeing Bruce leave the room from the corner of his eye.

-----

"I was there." Amira spoke up, scaring the living lights out of Dick.

It was twelve in the morning, or rather midnight, and Alfred had left Dick alone to get "some rest" and some time to adjust to his new room.

"What do you-"

"I was at the circus when..." Amira looked down at her feet. "Are you alright?"

"I...don't know." Dick managed to answer, wiping away a tear that dared to slip. He couldn't cry in front of her. He felt her hand grab his own, seeing that she herself was on the verge of crying.

"Want to play with me?" She asked, a tear slipping down her face.

"Sure." Dick answered back with a smile, feeling his own tears start to fall.

-----

Just as Bruce was about to fetch Dick and Amira for dinner, he heard screaming and yelling coming from Amira's room.

"-you just said I can-"

"That one is mine! Mine!"

"Okay, I get it, but-"

"No!"

Bruce quickly went to the room, only to find Dick and Amira tugging on one of her toys.

Why did it have to be Amira's Batman out of all the toys she owned?

As soon as Bruce was going over to pull the toy from the two, the toy's arm tore away from its body. Dick had the body while Amira had its arm in her small hand.

Without another word, Amira started to cry, yet not a sob or wail escaped her. Instead, she threw the arm to the floor and pushed past Bruce, slamming the door behind her.

It was then that Dick finally noticed Bruce in the room, quickly jumping to his feet with the ripped toy still in his hands.

"I-I didn't mean to-"

"I know, Dick." Bruce said as he crouched down to eye level. "I know you didn't mean to do that." He took the toy, tucking it under his arm. "Alfred can quickly patch it up and when he does, you can return it to Amira."

"Will she even-"

"She will." Bruce promises. "She'll forgive you."

"What if she doesn't?"

"She will. And if she doesn't, she'll come around."

-----

But she never did.

Even though she accepted the apology for the ripped toy, that's as far as she let him come near her.

Whenever Dick even attempted to get near her, she'd push him away or throw something at him before dashing off.

It only grew worse as time passed by.

Whenever Bruce praised him in front of her? She would leave the room with a frown on her face.

When Bruce would allow him to stay up and make her go back to bed? She'd avoid Dick in the morning.

When Bruce started to encourage Dick to keep pursuing acrobatics? Amira slammed the door to the dining room behind her.

When Dick became Robin? She scowled and didn't even look at him.

When she asked Bruce to let her train as well? While Bruce allowed her to be taught some self defense moves, it was only that. Only defense and never offense. Weapons? Out of the question. Dick always found her scowling towards him as Bruce taught him how to properly throw a Batarang.

When Bruce asked Dick if she wanted to go to school and Dick had said yes, Amira threw a tantrum. The tantrum lasted days before Bruce finally gave it. Dick hoped that with them now being together in a new place, it would help them come together.

That wish was short lived.

At Gotham Academy, she treated Dick as a complete stranger, never meeting his eyes when he would wave to her. Then again, she did go to school under a false name: Marinette Dupain.

Rumors soon spread that Dick was just a charity case. That Bruce only took him in because he felt sorry. However, those rumors were killed by the next day, Dick wondering what happened to them.

Years went by, Dick not being able to fix the rift between the two.

Even with the passage of four years, Amira never took a liking to him.

-----

"-his name is Jason. He'll be staying with us." Bruce declared as he walked towards Dick and Alfred, who waited for Bruce to return from his patrol.

Dick had finished patrolling a mere hour ago, finding it odd when Bruce told him to head back while he stayed to patrol some more on his own.

Dick didn't think Bruce would bring in another kid so late in the game.

After all, Dick had finished debuting as Nightwing at the age of 17. Hell, Nightwing has already made multiple appearances with Batman, establishing that the two worked together. Why did Bruce need another ward?

Then again, Jason did look around Amira's age. Maybe a friend for her while him and Bruce were off during patrol?

"Sup." Was all Jason managed to say when he noticed Dick looking at him. To think he was able to meet the former Robin while also meeting Batman! His luck!

"Hi." Dick awkwardly said back, fearing how Amira would react to having -possibly- a new addition to the family.

"Welcome Master Jason." Alfred greeted him. "I've prepared some tea for you if you'd like some. Along with some cookies Miss Amira had prepared for Master Bruce." With that, Alfred left, mentioning something about setting up a room. Meanwhile, Dick shuddered.

Would Amira even get along with Jason? Or would she treat Jason the same way she treated him?

Despite living under the same roof, she was rarely home. Ever since she gave Dick the cold shoulder, Amira would spend her time at her 'father's' bakery.

Her 'father' -and who's surname she was borrowing while at school- owned a bakery a few streets away from the academy. Dick had met Tom Dupain when he decided to follow Amira one day, quickly liking the giant man.

Dick quickly learned that Amira had taken a shine to baking, usually the thing she does when she spends her time there. She would smile and laugh while she helped Tom bake and take care of the register, Dick finding that comforting to know.

Of course, the conversation didn't last long when Amira saw Dick in the bakery, she quickly kicked him out, threatening him as she did so.

"Miss Amira?" Jason asked, snapping Dick from his inner thoughts. He watched as Jason looked at him and then at Bruce.

Did Batman have a wife that no one knew about?

Or did Nightwing have a girlfriend no one knew at that?

"Speak of the Devil." Jason heard Dick mutter, wondering why he was starting to walk away.

So girlfriend's out, unless the two were in the middle of a fight?

Or did Nightwing not like Batman's girl?

"Father. You're back home." A girl softly said as she approached them, Jason picking up on her resemblance to Gotham's billionaire.

Father. The girl called him Father...

"You have a daughter." Jason whispered, looking over to Batman. "Holy shit. You have a daughter." Jason repeated, letting the words sink in.

"That, I do." Batman said, taking off his cowl to reveal his face, Jason gaping at seeing his face.

"Bruce. Fucking. Wayne." Jason enunciated, wondering if he was somehow already dead. Because never in a million years would he ever hit this jackpot. To be taken in by Bruce Wayne who also happens to be Batman, like? Holy shit?!

"It's Mister Wayne." The girl spoke, causing Jason to roll his eyes at the girl for ruining the mood.

"What are you? His secretary?" Jason jabbed, his words not fazing Amira.

"I'm his daughter while you're just a stranger. And since you're a stranger, you have to call him Mister Wayne, you dingus." Amira clarified, glaring at him when Jason started to laugh. Jason couldn't even take the insult to heart.

"Dingus? What are you, ten?"

"I'm actually 11, mind you."

"You're 11 and you curse like a five year old? Hah! I'm 11 yet I don't curse like a five year old!"

"When's your birthday then?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

"August 16th." Jason said with a toothy grin, only for it to waver when she smirked back.

"July 9th." When she saw him bite his cheek, her grin grew bigger. "That means I'm older."

"Older by a month."

"Still older than you."

"Like if I care. I don't take orders from a girl. Especially not one like-"

Jason's words were cut short when some flew right by his face, hearing something hit something else in the distance.

"Amira! Behave yourself!" Jason found Bruce correcting, not missing the way Amira scowled.

"Why do you always take their side! It's always them and never me!" Amira screamed, stomping her feet. "No matter what I do, whether right or wrong, you always find something to yell for! Something to correct!"

"That's not true."

"Oh? It's not? Then why do you always scream at me and never at Grayson?"

"I don't-"

"Yes. You. Do."

Jason took a step back, watching as Amira and Bruce bickered about the supposed favoritism, noticing that Nightwing didn't bother to step in. Instead, his eyes were casted, arms wrapped around his body.

"-even let him patrol with you while I always stay in the manor, away from the Cave!" Amira yelled, hating that her eyes were starting to sting. "I hate it here!"

Jason didn't know what caused him to say what he said, but he didn't regret it. After all, he wished his own father treated him the way Bruce did towards Amira...with love and concern.

"You're really ungrateful." Jason flinched when Amira whipped her head towards him, glaring at him with the infamous Batglare. How the hell did she perfect it?

"What did you-"

"You're ungrateful and a jealous twerp." Jason managed to say without fumbling.

"I'm not-"

"Don't you see that Bruce is just trying to protect you?" Jason watched as Amira remained indifferent, her anger still misplaced. How can she not see Bruce's worry on his sleeve?

"You don't think I already know that?" Amira started to walk towards Jason. "That my father loves me to the point that he has to keep me confined within these layers of security? That every step I take is watched and noted? That I can't go outside without Alfred by my side? Don't you know how suffocating it is to know that you're just seen as a glass object and not a human?"

Oh. That's what this was about.

"I-Is that what this is all about?" Bruce asked in a whispered tone, catching Jason's attention. This was normal?

Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose. "Amira, we went over this-"

"-and yet nothing changes!" Amira screamed, her hands balling into fists. "Nothing!"

Jason watched as she marched off, ignoring Bruce telling her to come back. Bruce sighed as she finally left the Cave, Jason noticing that Nightwing was nowhere in sight.

Jason used that as his cue to leave.

"Hey, Mister Wayne." Jason speaks up, Bruce not lifting his head.

"Bruce is fine."

"Alright. Just letting you know that I'm going to go on ahead." Jason patted Bruce's back. "She'll come around."

Jason missed the way Bruce stiffened when he said that.

——-

While Alfred had shown him the way to his quarters, Jason decided to walk around the manor. He would rather get lost now than later in the month. But that was only the surface. Truthfully, he wanted to give Amira a piece of his mind.

"Leave." Amira told him with a glare when he found where her room was.

"Not until I get what I want."

"And what is it that-"

"You hate the way your father treats you. The way he treats Night-Grayson more like his own son than you, his daughter." Jason watched as Amira rolled her eyes. "Hey, don't-"

"I literally said that down in the Cave. Did you just come up here to-"

"You should apologize to your father." Jason cut off. "I don't know what happened between the two of you, but-"

"Then stay out of it." Amira said stern, slamming the door shut, only for Jason to stop it with his foot.

Holding in a curse, "Listen, don't-"

"Stop trying to butt into my life! You don't know anything! Stop being like Richard and just leave me alone!" Amira yelled, pushing Jason from her doorway and finally shutting the door closed.

Jason looked at the door in his face before turning to go to the bedroom that awaited him. As he walked, he took in his surroundings.

A nice roof over his head, clean clothing, a home that was warm despite it being huge, a loving family...

Okay, maybe they were a broken family, but at least she had one.

How can't she see how blessed she was?

——-

Jason found himself waking up with a jolt, sitting up from his spot on the floor right next to the bed. Yes, the bed was night and comfortable, but it was too comfortable for his liking. So taking a single sheet and pillow, he made himself a makeshift spot on the floor.

Jason looked at the doorway of his new room, listening as someone approached the door.

Despite knowing that he was safe under this roof, Jason still kept his guard up, making sure that an escape route was always open for him. Jason slowly got up, walking in front of the bed, his shoe in his hand.

With a knock and an apology, Alfred stepped in. Jason let out an audible sigh, letting go of his shoe, pretending to put it on with difficulty. So that's what Alfred's footsteps sounded like. He was barely able to hear him.

No wonder it set him on edge.

"Morning Master Jason. Seeing as you're already awake, I suggest you get yourself cleaned and dressed for breakfast. Today we have-"

"You don't have to tell me. I'm fine with anything." Jason cut off, wondering if Alfred would get angry at him for sleeping on the floor. "I'll be down in a few."

Alfred took the reply, leaving the room.

Jason let himself relax, trying to let himself remember that this was his life now.

That he had hit the jackpot...

He didn't have to fight nor steal anymore...

His next day was already secured just by living here.

——-

Jason chugged down the orange juice and swallowed down the oatmeal Alfred had served him. He never noticed the looks Bruce and Richard gave him.

"Where's Amira?" Jason decided to ask, watching as Richard avoided looking at him.

"She's probably still getting ready to go to school." Bruce filled in, taking a sip of tea. "Which reminds me. What about you Jason? Aren't you-"

"I haven't been to school in a while." Jason provided, hearing a spoon drop.

"You've never been...to school?" Richard asked, causing Jason to snort.

"I have, though my folks never had the money to pay for my tuition. So long story short, I haven't been to school since last school year."

"How would you like to start today?" Bruce offered, not missing the way Jason's eyes lit up.

"Seriously? Like, right now?" When Jason watched Bruce nod, he didn't waste another moment.

Jason sprang from his seat, not noticing Amira standing by the kitchen doorway as he dashed to his room to prepare himself for his first day at school in a very long time.

——-

Jason heard whispers as he walked down the school halls, Jason balling his hands into fists. His knuckles turned white as they gripped the handle of his bag that just barely hovered above the floor.

His first day at school and he was already being picked on for being Wayne's new "charity case," as the snobby boys in his class had put it. The girls were no different, whispering about his appearance the minute he walked into the classroom.

But could you blame Jason? He's never worn an academy uniform before. Damn thing was hard to move in.

"Hey Todd, how's it like being adopted? I bet you just barely missed the long walk, huh?" A boy snickered, his lackeys joining in on the cackling. The bully pushed Jason, causing him to take a step back.

This is my first day back. I can't afford to find a way to be kicked out. I can't give Bruce a reason to kick me out of the manor either.

"Come on, say something." The bully then punched Jason, causing him to fallback. "Can't believe Mister Wayner adopted a twerp like you. Heard he picked you up from the streets-"

Hearing enough from the stupid boy, Jason prepared his fist to meet the boy's face when someone else beat him to it.

Jason stared at Amira wide-eyed, not believing that she had roundhouse kicked the boy on the side of his face. The kid fell straight backwards, neither of his lackeys attempting to catch him.

"To think you idiots represent our school in the upcoming arithmetic competition. Wonder what will happen if I bring this to the principal. Will you guys still remain in the competition, or will you be stripped of your status as our top three?" Amira asked, her face stoic.

"Y-You wouldn't dare!" One of the lackeys said.

"Besides, what can a middle-class girl like you do, Marinette?" The other boy taunted, Jason wondering what he should do. Also, there had to be a reason why they called Amira Marinette...right? "With a single phone call, my father-"

"Oh? What's this? Relying on daddy dearest to clean up your mess?" Amira asked, batting her eyes. "You think I wouldn't bring this up when it clearly goes against the school's bullying code?" Amira brought up, taking out a portable tape recorder. "Also, did you forget who the student in charge of bringing these situations is?" Amira asked, tucking the device away. "It's me."

"When my father hears about this-"