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yall-batman-fanfic · 5 months ago

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City of Owls | Bruce Wayne/Batman x Reader!Magician [Part 1/2]

Synopsis: Based on Batman vs Robin movie, Batman the Court of Owls comic, and Batman Brave and Bold Podcast. As the reveal of Bruce and Vivian’s plans for Gotham nears, a threat from an old conspiracy and myth of Gotham’s elite emerges to stop them; at the same time Batman struggles with his new Robin, Damian, as the father and son keep butting heads.

Main Story Master List • Elseworld Stories Master List • Main Story Season 2

City of Owls [Part 1] 💀

City of Owls [Part 2] 💀

“Can I ask you something?”

Bruce stopped in his work and looked up to meet Vivian’s gaze, but she was avoiding it—meeting his eyes—by focusing on her journal. She was fidgeting, her fingers drumming on the leather of the journal’s cover, and how she kept her distance a bit. It worried him.

“Of course, what is it?” Bruce put down his pen and closed the folder he was studying.

“It’s… you see, I’m…”

“Viv, what’s wrong? You can tell me,” Bruce got up from his seat and circled his desk to stand before her and hold her close. Simple touch and gestures have always been their love language.

“Nothing’s wrong… You see, I’ve been doing a new thing in GU.”

“A new thing,” he chuckled. “I suppose that thing will be tied up to your publisher, right?”

“Depends, really… but yeah. You know how my work has been going on and on about Gotham. Now my publisher mentioned writing about one of Gotham’s conspiracy theories. At first I was skeptical but then when I did my research, I was a little intrigued, because their symbols are practically everywhere too, and when I read Gotham’s history they are also referenced.”

“What’s the conspiracy theory.”

“It’s about the Court of Owls.”

Bruce frowned. “I see.”

“I was hoping to ask your opinion about it first, because—aside from the fact you’re my boyfriend—I know what this means to you, Bruce.”

“Do you want to write about it?”

“Yeah, I do. I think there’s something interesting about it.”

“Then do it. Viv, don’t let my history with that bother you. You should do it if you really want to.”

“Really?”

“Yes. What do you want to know about it?”

“What?”

“What do you want to know about it? I can tell you all there is.”

Vivian laughed. “Bruce, come on, I can use that for my sources.”

“It’s a primary source,” he chuckled. “My parents used to tell me stories about it—it’s some old Gotham rich-family’s scary bedtime story to their kids to keep them in line. It even has a nursery rhyme.”

“You still remember it?” Vivian asked.

“Every word.”

That night, as they sat on the couch, Bruce told her everything he remembered about the Court of Owls that his parents told him before he would go to sleep, and the pranks that kids would make in their school about some supposed secret lair of the Owls in some secret door in Gotham Academy or a scary building somewhere.

“Wow, and I thought my bedtime stories were fucked up,” Vivian commented. “My Mom told me about some witch who would kidnap babies and use infant’s blood to keep themselves young. I guess every family has their own way to scare kids.”

Bruce looked at her with a disturbed reaction. “That’s scarier, Viv.”

“Yeah, but even as an adult I’d be freaking out about a secret organization controlling the city to keep the rich, rich, and the poor, poor. That’s fucked up, you know.”

“Killing babies, Viv.” Bruce ran a hand down his face. “Why would Madeleine even tell you those stories then?”

“I don’t know. Mom was a witch so she might have met one that does it. See it as war-stories. So, do you still believe the Court exists?”

“It’s just a story to scare kids.”

Vivian smiled. She adjusted herself on the seat. “Some truths come from these ‘stories’.”

“That’s what you’re going to do, right? Find the truth in that.”

“If there is a truth to be told. And if there is, how long do you think I have before they send their Talons after me. Gotta stop the leak, you know.”

It was a joke, Vivian laughed, but Bruce didn’t. It was all a joke now but he won’t deny the fact that there are families there who would do such a thing if Vivian touches a sensitive topic. The Court of Owls has its ties to every Gothamite socialite family, if she was doing this she would be asking things some would prefer kept in the shadows. He pulled Vivian to his lap and had her sitting on him so she was closer. “I won’t let that happen.”

She placed her forehead against his and said, “I know… I just remembered.”

“What?”

“Owls are considered enemies of bats.”

“And bats are familiars of witches,” Bruce kissed her lips, lightly.

Vivian sighed. “I’m going to piss off a lot of people, aren’t I?”

“You will, but I’ll be here to watch your back.”

~ Many Years Later ~

The alarm from their phones woke Vivian and Bruce from their deep and peaceful sleep. Both of them groaned, and Bruce, reluctantly, released Vivian from his embrace to see what was wrong. Normally the couple would just turn it off but this wasn’t a wake-up for work—it was only four in the morning after all—it was from the Manor’s security. Sighing, Vivian reached for her phone to see the issue but then heard Bruce say, “Go back to sleep, I got it.”

He was quick to get out of bed and walked towards the closet’s secret door where he keeps one of his uniforms on standby for emergencies.

“Right, like I could go back to sleep while you take care of a break-in,” Vivian yawned. She grabbed the blanket to cover her naked body.

“It’s not a break-in.”

“What?” She checked her phone again. “These alarms are triggered from the Batcave…”

“It’s a break-out.”

“Break-out?” Another sigh and Vivian hung her head low. “Damian,” she concluded. “You make it sound like your son broke out of prison.”

“I gave him orders,” Bruce finished getting dressed.

He approached Vivian with her night robe and some clothes to cover up before leaving their room. Once she was dressed, Vivian joined Bruce out their room and down the cave where Alfred was already at the Computer with a look of concern and news. Damian left him a note, said Alfred, showing him the said note on the monitor.

Robin went after the Dollmaker after finding out where the man was making his “dolls.”

“I’ll take the Batmobile and track him down,” said Batman.

“Uh, Bruce,” Vivian called for his attention and pointed her thumb at the empty garage. Batman hummed in annoyance. “Yeah, you should have put a child-lock on that, but the other way around… specifically for Robins.” Seeing the look on his face, Vivian tried to get a bit of this anger off of Damian by adding, “This isn’t really the first time a Robin stole the Batmobile, you know.”

“I should report him for grand theft auto,” Batman muttered.

“That would be an interesting call to the police.”

“I’m taking the jet,” he marched towards the pad. “I’ll be back with him. Go back to sleep, I’ll probably be back late.”

Vivian kissed his cheek as a goodbye and she and Alfred watched as Batman hopped into his jet and flew away.

~ * ~

Grounded.

Damian Wayne was grounded.

But the boy scoffed when his father said the word. He was already grounded before with Bruce not letting him leave the Manor and restricting him from being Robin at night, besides, after last night does his father really think he can be grounded?

“Stare at that longer and you're going to burn a hole through that screen,” he heard the sound of his step-mother's voice, but Damian remained glaring at the monitor of his laptop. “Are you supposed to be grounded?”

“I'm studying,” Damian said.

Vivian sat beside him to have a closer look. “Uh-huh, last I checked, hacking into GCPD's records isn't part of the curriculum.”

“That curriculum you gave me is mediocre.”

“It's the one that they're teaching in schools, you know.”

“The American Educational System has nothing to offer me.”

“You gotta start somewhere, Damian. You need to go to school.”

“I don't need to do anything,” Damian glared at her. “Professor.”

Vivian sighed. “Okay. How about this, I'll give you our syllabus. That's got a lot of reading material. Have you read Dostoyevski?”

Damian looked away from her. “No.”

“Well, you should. It's a good start for you too…” Vivian got up from the couch and gave Damian the book from Bruce's shelf. “Here.”

“I'm currently reading Dickens,” he said, but Damian accepted it still. Instead, he looked at Vivian for a moment and noticed something. “You're all dressed up. Are you and Father going out on another date?”

“You make it sound like it's a crime if we do. But no, not a date. It's a thing which we will be hosting here in the Manor. A little dinner with some investors before our big event next week.”

“Here?”

“Yes.”

“I wasn't told about it.”

“Because it's nothing big. Just dinner with acquaintances who show great potential as investors. We'll be having dinner in a couple of minutes. Alfred will yours over to your room.”

Damian frowned even more. “You want me to hide.”

A sigh. “Until we finalize those papers — your father's orders too.”

He scoffed. “Wouldn't want to have any bad PR---Bruce Wayne brings home a child from another woman.”

“That's not what we mean, Damian.”

“I’ll be sure to hide in my room. Goodbye, Professor,” he sat back in the couch and took the book he had beside him. A copy of Dickens from her collection. It was hers because it was a paperback copy that has seen better days. It even has some annotations from when she read it many times before. Bruce has another copy in his own collection that looks far better than that, why was Damian getting from her collection?

Since Bruce brought him home from the night Damian broke out of the manor and stole the Batmobile, the father and son have been tense with one another. Bruce told her that Damian killed the Dollmaker, but according to Damian he did no such thing. She told Bruce that maybe he was telling the truth but Batman was too angry to see reason. Maybe that's why Damian refuses to borrow anything from his father? A petty thing but everyone does petty things to make feel the satisfaction of revenge.

“I'll see you right before going to bed,” Vivian was about to give him a reassuring squeeze on the arm but Damian moved away from her. Sighing, Vivian got up and left.

~ * ~

The dinner was with some of Gotham’s known families and businessmen. Amongst the many old men and middle-aged men, Vivian was one of the few women who were in attendance. Of course, Veronica Vreeland was there, and there was Samantha Vanaver, the heiress of the Vanaver fortune and the current one who handles many of its ventures.

Dinner went well, in Vivian's opinion, it was light with a couple of socializing conversations, until Bruce dropped the proposal he had. His dream of a new Gotham. The plans he had, despite not having a visual to show the change he and Vivian wanted to do for the city, he was able to give a picture to everyone. Not everyone was happy about it though.

“Is this the big surprise you planned on showing to everyone in the gala, Bruce?” Veronica asked. “Quite brave and bold, if you ask me.”

Bruce smirked. “That is the name of the project, Ronnie. The Brave and Bold Initiative. Imagine it, a new Gotham, one that supports everyone in the city and those who needs it. It will drive change to Gotham.”

“It would mean taking down multiple heritage sites!” Said Lawford. “That orphanage has been there longer than you, boy!”

“That orphanage has been home to horrific stories of abuse, harassment, and violence against children,” Vivian told him. “No one uses the building, Mr. Lawford, because of its history.”

“You are a historian, Vivian, you can't possibly be okay with this!”

“I am, but since when has history stopped progress? It is progress that writes history, Mr. Lawford. Gotham cannot grow, cannot heal with reminders such as that orphanage. As of now, that old orphanage is being used for criminal activities---violent crimes, a drug den. There are many heritage sites in Gotham that have been taken down to give way to new buildings, and mind you, some are not even justifiable as it's factories that now stand in those sites. But this, with the Brave and Bold initiative, we are building facilities to help people.”

She touched a nerve. She knew that. The Lawfords are one of the many who took down a heritage site to expand their business, but she had Bruces blessing earlier to call them out if they were being hypocrites.

“Well, I don't know about any of you,” Veronica lit her cigarette. “But I like it. The Brave and Bold, I can already see the headlines.”

“But what about the papers? I doubt the mayor would agree to this,” said Samantha.

“Actually, he and the cultural heritage department were on board,” answered Bruce. “They do not deny that the building has been a scar in Gotham for some time now.” And there was the fact that elections were coming, and the mayor was going to run again, it will look good on his campaign if he was on board with a progressive plan that will help the people.

What was his slogan again?

For the people and for Gotham.

And the Waynes have been standing for the people of Gotham since the time of Thomas and Martha Wayne, and their legacy lives on through their son, Bruce, and Vivian.

“If it's the memory of the building, Mr. Lawford, don't worry,” Vivian took a sip of her wine. “We'll make sure to have its photo at the front to commemorate its roots.”

Dinner ended with half of the possible investors not too enthusiastic with the plans and Bruce having to smooth things over as they left the manor. While Bruce spoke with them, Vivian hung back to say goodbye to Veronica.

“It's always hard to convince old men to do new things,” said Ronnie.

“They see it as a threat,” said Vivian. “They see those old places as themselves, being torn down to give way to the new.”

“Well, it's a good thing Daddy isn't like them. He personally asked me to attend this meeting and make the call.”

“And?”

“You know that I always have Wanye's back… as long as Vreeland is in safe hands.”

“It is,” Vivian kissed Veronica's cheek. “Thank you for coming tonight, Ronnie.”

“Anytime, Vivian,” Veronica bid her goodbye and the same with Bruce, who opened the car door for her. “Bye Bruce.”

“We'll see you at the gala, Ronnie. Take care.” As soon as Veronica's car left, Bruce joined his wife inside where she was entertaining the last guest that remained. “Samantha, is everything alright?”

“Yes, I'm so sorry about this. I guess my ride's still not here,” said Samantha.

“Take your time.”

“That was quite a proposal, Bruce,” Samantha went to his side. “Quite bold.”

“Brave and bold, you mean,” he smirked.

“Just bold.”

When she was a little too close, Bruce stepped back and went to Vivian's side. His wife sat on the leather couch and only watched the woman. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and in return, Vivian held his hand.

“Actually, that wasn't the original name we had in mind,” said Bruce.

“Really? What was the original name you wanted for the plan?”

“The Helena Initiative,” Vivian answered. “After our late daughter. But, as much as his sentiment is well placed, I asked if he didn't. I wanted Helena to be something that's ours and only ours. Hence the Brave and the Bold.”

“Who thought about it--the name.”

“Would you believe me if I said if it was from me and Harvey?” Bruce smiled at the memory.

“Harvey Dent? Two Face?”

“He wasn't Two-Face then. We thought about it back when we were still in school fooling around. And it just came back, I guess. The Brave and Bold.”

Samantha turned to Vivian. “And you're okay with that?”

“I am,” Vivian nodded. “Since we're still waiting for you ride, why don't we show you the Brave and Bold plans? I think it would help clear out some doubts. What do you think, Bruce?”

“I don't see why not.” Helping his wife up, he held her hand as they led Samantha through the door of the study where a scale model of Gotham was. He kept the lights off as Bruce went to activate the scale model to show the hologram of the buildings that the Brave and Bold initiative will be putting up. “The Waynes and the Vanavers have been spending generations trying to make this city great.”

“That they have,” Samantha mused. “There have even been supposed talks about joining the families before to make that dream truth,” she glanced at Vivian's way. “Jokes made by the family, of course.”

Bruce’s hold on Vivian's hand tightened. “My father had a saying: tomorrow is one dream away. Sentimental words, I know, but they stayed with me even after my parents were killed. Rather than focusing on the demons and the darkness that has taken Gotham, and something I've been guilty for too many years, it's time to focus on how exceptional this city is, and how much better it can be, will be, tomorrow. But before we can build it, we have to dream it. And luckily, I have the imagination and the capital to do both.”

“And all they write about is the billionaire-play boy,” added Samantha.

Before Vivian could say anything about it, a snore was heard from the couch behind them. Turning, the husband and wife saw Damian sleeping on the couch with her copy of Dickens on his chest. He's not asleep, Vivian thought, she'd know what a person asleep looks like.

Damian got up, stretching his arms and yawning, “I was reading. I must have fallen asleep,” he said.

Oh really? Was was Vivian wanted to say, instead she went to his side.

“What's going on?” Damian turned to her.

Vivian wasn't convinced but she kept the act and smiled down at him. “We're just showing an acquaintance the plans. I thought I told you to head straight to bed?”

“Oh, and who might this be?” Asked Samantha.

“I'm Damian, Bruce's--”

“Our ward,” Bruce cut him off.

But it was a bit too abrupt. It won't be long until Samantha would put two and two together and see the resemblance of the father and son. She did grow up with Bruce, she would know what Bruce looked like when they were children.

“Well, he will be, soon,” Vivian had her hand on Damian's shoulder. “Damian's had a difficult life, I don't want those vultures in the Press Corps descending on him just yet.”

“I see,” Samantha’s gaze shifted from Damian, Bruce, and then to Vivian. Vivian forced to keep the straight face despite knowing what was going on in the woman's head right now.

“So we've been…”

“Keeping me a secret,” Damian finished.

“Once we have those papers done then we'll proudly announce the newest addition to our family,” Vivian knelt beside him, reminding Damian to be patient.

“We're sorry for not mentioning anything,” said Bruce.

“There is nothing to apologize for, especially when it's to give this poor boy a new home and a family,” Samantha pinched Damian's cheek. “He looks so much like you when we were kids.” This time, Vivian couldn't help but look away, finding the floor to be far more interesting. “You have to do it your way. I respect that.” Her phone rang, taking Samantha's attention from Damian and Vivian.

“Professor,” Damian began.

“I know, I'm fine,” she whispered.

“I have to go. Emergency board meeting,” said Samantha. “I'll take a cab.”

“Alfred can walk you out,” said Bruce. “Thank you for coming, Samantha.”

“I'll see you both in the gala,” she bid her goodbye and left.

Once it was the three of them left in the study, Vivian spoke, “You were awake the whole time, weren't you?”

“Not the whole time,” said Damian. “She's a bit pretentious if you ask me, and doesn't hide it well.”

Vivian smiled. “Really?” She took off her heels and walked barefoot. “What gave it away?”

“Viv,” Bruce began. “Don't let Samantha…”

“I know, I know, the woes of having Bruce Wayne as a husband,” Vivian sat on the couch. “Women will try to slither their way into your pants.”

“And your wallet,” Damian added.

“Well, if she hasn't gotten the message, it's her wallet that we need to make this initiative work.”

It was one of the rare moments where Damian was getting along with Vivian, and Bruce couldn't help but smile at that. He saw the familiar paperback from Damian's hands and took it, “What are you reading?” He asked, despite knowing what Vivian's copy of Dickens looked like. He went through a few pages and saw the annotations made by her handwriting and then some from Damian's.

“I've been working my way through Dickens,” said Damian. “What did I do wrong now?”

“Nothing. The fact is, I tore through Dickens when I was just about your age.”

Vivian smiled. “Well, I feel embarrassed, I started reading Dickens when I was in high school.”

“But you read Homer though,” Bruce glanced at her. Turning to Damian, he said, “Have you ever seen the 1948 movie directed by David Lean?”

“Ra's al Ghul wasn't much of a movie buff,” said Damian.

“Well, I am,” Bruce walked up to the intercom and pressed on the button. “Alfred?”

“Yes, Sir?”

“Popcord, drenched in butter, and open up the screening room.”

“I'd reconsider the butter, sir,” said Alfred. “Terrible for the cholesterol.”

“You know, let's be daring tonight.”

“And what does Ms. Vivian have to say about it?”

Bruce and Damian turned to Vivian. She sighed and said, “Let's go! I want some popcorn too.”

“Very well, Ma'am.”

“I'm quite concerned that you're the last say,” Bruce told Vivian, jokingly.

“It's my house, Wayne,” she chuckled. “Coming, boys?”

Damian looked at Bruce and Vivian for a moment, a smile about to come but he ran before they could see, “Okay, but I'm not sharing. I want my own bowl.”

“I'm sure we can afford it,” said Bruce.

“Maybe a small bowl?” Vivian added. Before she could join Damian, Bruce pulled her to him, wrapping an arm around he waist. “What?”

“Nothing…” he kissed her. “I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look.” He kissed her again.

“Bruce,” she laughed. “Come on, Damian's waiting.”

He kissed her again and then again before finally releasing her. “I love you, okay?”

He noticed how uncomfortable she was with Samantha, especially when she pointed out Damian's resemblance to him. She didn't want him to be associated with anything that would call him a cheating husband; nor does he want her to be associated to be a pitied wife whose husband cheated on with some woman. He loves and respects her too much for that to let happen.

“This is good,” She turned to the table. “This plan will be good. It's going to help Gotham.”

~ * ~

Vivian woke to the absence of her husband lying beside her. Opening her eyes, she saw Bruce in bed with her but he wasn't in his usual spot. He was at the very end of the bed, sitting up, and looking intensely at his laptop.

“What now?” Vivian groaned as she crawled to his side and saw what he was watching. She sighed when she saw the familiar silhouette of Damian jumping down the terrace. “I'll go get him.”

“Don't bother, he won't get out.”

Vivian got up anyway.

“Viv, come back to bed.”

“He's your son not an animal in a cage,” she wore her pants and grabbed her GU hoodie. She left the room, ignoring Bruce’s calls for her. Exiting the manor, Vivian walked through the vast lawn, following the sound of Damian disarming every one of the manor's security defenses. These security measures were supposed to be for break-ins, just like the one with Stirk--one of the many instances that “inspired” her husband to turn their home to have more security than the Pentagon or the White House, not for Robins trying to break-out.

When Damian reached the top of the fence, he jumped back down before the spikes came, she heard him commend the trap, until he was shocked with the fence's high-voltage electricity that sent him flying. Vivian caught the boy midair before he could slam to the ground.

“That's a lot better,” Damian groaned.

“You didn't really think I'd let you sneak out again,” Bruce appeared beside Vivian.

“You got me under surveillance?!” Damian got up and glared at his father.

“I thought we were making some progress.”

“You showed me a movie and that gives you permission to keep me a prisoner in my own house?! It's bad enough you won't let me out in public as Damian, at least let Robin have a life!” Bruce grabbed the boy's wrist as Damian pointed at his father's face. He groaned in frustration and ripped his arm away from his father.

“If you were a little more trustworthy, I would.”

“You never trusted me.”

“Trust has to be earned, Damian.”

“That works both ways.”

~ * ~

“I'm heading to work now,” Vivian told Damian as she watched him ignore her and everyone around him reading another book he took from her collection. This time he was reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. It made her roll her eyes at the exaggeration of the boy. Well, she can't blame him, every unhappy family has their own stories, but Vivian can't really call this unhappy. Are they unhappy? Or is it just Damian that's just unhappy?

“Damian,” she leaned on the couch and poked his head. “Hey.”

“What?” Damian snapped.

“I'm going to work.”

“And? What do you want me to do about it?”

“A goodbye would be nice.”

He rolled his eyes.

“But I was thinking, maybe we could play hookie. Well, I mean, I can't, but how about you?”

Damian finally put down the book and turned to Vivian. “What are you saying?”

Vivian shrugged. “You and me go out, get some fresh air, let Alfred relax, and you can hang out at the University and verbally abuse some of my students on how the American Educational System failed them,” she joked. “What do you say?”

“What about Father? He said I can't leave or were the traps not enough to make a statement?”

“No, he also told me that you're grounded but… why not, right? You can sit in in all my classes then after that we can hang out.”

“And Father?”

“Let me handle Bruce… I know I'm just your step-mother, or if that's what you see me at all, but I want you to be comfortable here, Damian. This is your home too.”

Damian looked at her for a moment then finally got up from his seat. “Fine, I'll go with you.”

“Great! Come on, or do you want to get changed first?”

“I'm good with this.” He was wearing a greed hoodie with a black turtleneck beneath, then a pair of trousers and sneakers.

“And no weapons,” Vivian told him.

“But--”

“GU has scanners, kid. So?”

Damian sighed and took out the batarang from his pocket, then another, then some sort of tech that was supposed to be attached to his gauntlet. Once he was patted clean, Vivian called out to Alfred that she was heading to work. The old butler went to the door and opened it for her but then noticed Damian with Vivian.

“I'm taking Damian with me to work, is that a problem?” Vivian said.

“Not at all, Ma'am. Your secret is safe with me,” Alfred bowed slightly. “Have a wonderful time of learning, Master Damian.”

His step-mother drives a rather simple car, unlike his father who has more flamboyant cars that’s potential for speed and power and hindered with Gotham's traffic. Getting in, he was slightly amused with how mundane the inside looked.

“You are a simple woman, Professor Pryor,” Damian commented.

“If you wanted simple, we should have taken the bus,” Vivian chuckled. “Ready, kid?”

Damian nodded.

The drive to Gotham University was smooth as it could be. Traffic was an ordinary thing in the streets, and surprisingly there were no Gotham criminals with bulldozers to flatten them. Arriving at GU, Vivian was greeted by the staff with familiarity until they saw Damian with her.

“Another one?” Asked the security guard.

“Yeah,” Vivian chuckled. “We, uh, well…,” she had an arm over Damian's shoulder. “This is Damian. We haven't really made things official but we're his registered guardians until the paperwork is done. And I just wanted to get him out of the house.”

“Just sign here then,” the man handed Damian the clipboard. After he signed his name, Damian was given a pass and let inside with Vivian. “Have fun, kid!”

“Security here is mediocre,” said Damian as soon as they were far from the gates and were getting close to the building.

“Not all buildings have the same security as the Manor,” Vivian told him.

“And how many times have you been kidnapped from your place of work? I recall Grayson, Drake, and Father mention that you've been a target for many of Gotham's criminals.”

“The woes of being a Wayne.”

“Wayne Enterprise never had any issues with it.”

“Well, not all institutions have the same money as WE, right?” They entered the faculty office. “Welcome to our little coven, Damian.”

“Good morning, Via!” Katherine greeted her.

“Hi Katherine!”

“Oh! And who is this? So cute!” She pinched Damian's cheek.

“He's Damian, and he's my and Bruce's--”

“Son,” Damian told the woman. “I'm their son.” Stunned, Vivian turned to Damian and saw him looking at her with no regret nor doubt.

“Son, huh?” Justin came with a bag of chips. “I don't remember you taking maternal leave, Via.” And not to mention the fact Damian’s Arabic heritage was not too subtle. He was an Al Ghul, and despite Bruce's features softening it, it was prominent, so no amount of lying would support their claims that he was Vivian and Bruce’s son.

“I'm obviously adopted.”

“But he's ours either way,” Vivian smiled. “But papers are still being done, I just wanted to get Damian out of the house for a while.”

“Uh-huh,” Justin held out the bag of chips to Damian. “I'm Justin Kirk, by the way, I teach History.”

“I see,” Damian only said and then turned to Vivian. “When your first class?”

“Settle down, we just arrived,” Vivian went to her table and offered the free chair for him. “My first class won't start until later. Now you can use these for class,” she handed him one of her blank yellow-pads and a pen. “And to give you a heads-up, here's the syllabus and where we are now.”

Damian looked through the list of lectures that Vivian will be teaching later.

“Don't you think he's too young to be attending these classes?” Justin asked her.

“Trust me, he'll fit right in,” Vivian said.

“Don't worry if you don't ace the first test, Damian. These lectures are already for juniors and seniors.”

“I can catch up,” Damian declared. “I'm a fast learner.”

“Really?”

“You'd be surprised.”

“Here, Damian,” Katherine came with a plate of brownies. “I baked these to share, have one.”

Damian first turned to Vivian, asking if he could, only after she nodded did he take a piece and thanked Katherine.

“You the fun police or something?” Justin chuckled.

“Shut up,” Vivian rolled her eyes.

When Vivian's first class came, Damian sat at the front where he was close to Vivian's desk. He remained quiet at first, observing how the class went, when they were taking their tests or writing essays Damian would write on the yellow pad that Vivian gave him and pass it too once everyone have left. It was only on her third class when Damian finally spoke during lectures, he raised his hand, like the others, and when Vivian called his name he gave his opinion on the subject they were discussing, his answer was something you wouldn't hear from an eight or nine-year-old.

“Who the hell are you?” one of Vivian's students asked.

“I'm her son,” said Damian, at that Vivian couldn't help but smile.

“Adopted,” she added, to stop any ideas to come in their heads. “We're still going through the paperwork. But we would appreciate if this doesn't go out.”

Yeah, right, like that would happen.

Around lunch, Vivian brought Damian out to eat at a bistro she liked. It was just around the corner so they walked to the place rather than used the car. They took a private table at the back and Vivian let Damian order whatever he wanted.

“How is your day so far?” She asked him.

“It's not boring.”

That was the most she would get for a compliment.

“Well, I'm glad… listen, about what you said… I hope it's not something you were forced to say.”

“Say what?”

“That you’re my son?”

Damian looked at her for a moment before finding his meal more interesting. “It's better than having them question more. It's easier. If it bothers you, I'll tell them I'm just your ward.”

“It doesn't---I'm just surprised… I didn't think…”

“I understand if it makes you uncomfortable. We did start out badly,” his gaze went to the pendant on her chest. The pendant that held a petal from Helena's garden.

“Damian, that's not… I love Helena, I love her so much and she's gone, but that doesn't mean that I can't open myself to--” Her phone rang. “Hello?”

It was Bruce and he sounded pissed.

“What the hell, Viv?”

~ * ~

Hours earlier, before the phone call, Bruce was in his office looking through the plans for the Brave and Bold plans, along with the gala event that they were going to host to unveil it to everyone. But as he read through the plans, his mind would go to the feather that was left in the scene where Dollface was killed. The moment replayed in his mind over and over, when he accused Damian for doing it.

But that feather.

He took it with him as evidence and after running it through the lab's scanners, it was identified to be an owl's feather.

“An owl?” Vivian said then when she saw the results. “Were there owls there?”

“Even if there were, it's quite odd that’s the only feather that was left. No trail was made either.”

“And not to mention how it's kept. It looks like it's made to be some sort of calling card. Much like you batarangs or the Batsignal.”

After that conversation, Bruce went to Vivian's study and found himself taking one of the books she's written long ago. The book that got her many death threats from other families and made many of Gotham's socialites really pissed since it dragged family names along the history of the Court of Owls. A secret organization of rich people who puppeteers Gotham to their will.

He has that copy with him now and it was sitting on his desk, opened to the page where Vivian dissected the poem, beside it was an image of an owl gargoyle at one of the old buildings in Gotham.

“Mr. Wayne, you seem to be distracted today,” Lucius pulled him from his reverie.

“Sorry, I… I didn't hear you come in.”

“Something on your mind?”

“You can say that,” he closed the book and faced the man. “Is the meeting brought up?”

“Not exactly, but I can assure you we can have the meeting going if you're busy.”

Bruce smirked. “why does it feel you want me out of that meeting?” He joked.

Lucius pulled out his phone and showed to Bruce. A photo taken by someone in the press with an message saying: sending this to you first before I take it to my boss. Wanna explain? It was a photo of Vivian and Damian walking around in Gotham University, side by side.

Seeing Bruce’s reaction, Lucius said that he'll handle the photographer and left the study as Bruce got out his phone and made the call.

“What the hell, Vivian?” He began when she answered. “Where are you?”

She gave the bistro's name and address. “Bruce, can we talk about this later?”

“I'm coming to you now.”

A thirty minute drive later and Bruce was at the restaurant. He went straight to the private table and saw Vivian and Damian having dessert.

“I got you something, I’m sure you haven't had lunch,” said Vivian.

“I thought we agreed---Damian stays at home until the papers are finalized,” Bruce said.

Damian got up and glared at his father. “It was my idea. I told her to bring me along.”

“Damian, don't,” Vivian sighed. “It was my idea, okay? After last night, I didn't want him to feel that---he's not a prisoner, Bruce,” she whispered. “He's just a kid, and I think it would benefit him if we let him be part of our lives and not just be a footnote in it.”

“Someone saw and took a photo, Viv. What happens now? Soon, someone will find out---”

“They were always going to find out, Bruce!” Vivian scoffed. “But that doesn't mean that we should hide him. He needs this.”

“If this is just your efforts to make him like you, Viv? It's not worth the risk.” The stunned look on Vivian's face made Bruce realize he crossed a line, and he regretted what he said immediately. “Vivian, that's not…”

Vivian turned away from him, she got out her wallet and placed a couple of bills to pay for her and Damian's food, then grabbed her bag. “I'm going back to the campus, I think it's best if you go with your father,” she told Damian.

“Professor,” Damian tried to stop her.

“No, listen to him. I'll be back later, but I might be home late. Tell Alfred to not wait up,” Vivian left the private room, leaving the father and son.

“I’m going back to the manor,” Damian declared. “I'll take a cab.”

“No, I'll drive you home,” said Bruce.

The drive home was silent and awkward, and Damian didn't put up a fight when Bruce said he was grounded either.

~ * ~

What time are you going home?

She read Bruce's message over and over, probably ten times before she finally sent a reply. Soon, she sent back. It was getting late. Later than she had hoped to still stay out, but after what happened she wasn't sure if she wanted to go home just yet. Many of her colleagues have left earlier, and after realizing the time, maybe she should head home now. Taking her phone again, Vivian texted Bruce: I'm coming home now.

As soon as she hit sent, her phone rang.

“Hey,” she greeted.

“Hi,” Bruce replied. “It's getting late.”

“I know.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I'm not at home right now… I'm…”

“Off to your night-shift?” she attempted to joke but it fell flat. “And that's not the reason---well, yeah, that is half the reason but I don't want to go home to an empty house.”

“Alfred's there, so are Dick and Damian.”

“Dick? You called in a sitter for Damian? What, you don't trust me be left alone with him? Ouch, Wayne.”

“That's not---” a sigh “---you’re not home, and I don't think Alfred can keep him in line. So, I called reinforcements… and after earlier, I thought you might want some company.”

Vivian collected her things and locked the faculty door after leaving the place. “Well, I appreciate the thought, but I would have wanted to have my husband for company so we could talk about this as husband and wife, and not through a phone while keeping things in code.”

“There's just something I need to do.”

“I know,” another sigh.

“But when I get back, we'll talk.”

“Where are you tonight?”

“Gotham Museum, specifically in the Owlery.”

Vivian paused in her step. “Really? So, does this mean I have to rewrite my book?”

She could hear him smiling at the other end of the call, “There’s still no evidence yet, but I’ll make sure to be an unbiased source.”

Vivian chuckled. “Hey, I love you, okay?”

“I love you too. Come home.”

“I will, and I’ll wait for you there too.”

“Now, Viv.”

“I’m getting in my car, Bruce. Focus on that and you better come home in one piece too.”

“I will.”

They ended the call and Vivian drove out of the parking lot and out of Gotham University. Driving down the road, she was surprised with the free flowing traffic, usually, even at this time, Gotham roads are still congested. But now seems to be a lucky day for her.

Using the touch panel on her car, she called Dick to ask how he was.

“Hey, kiddo!” She greeted.

“Hi, Viv.”

As Vivian got a little distracted with the call, she didn’t notice the cars that were trailing her.

“You don’t sound too good, everything alright?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

She didn’t believe him.

“Where’s Damian?”

Dick sighed. “Bruce is going to burst a blood vessel—no, he’s going to kill me first then burst a blood vessel.”

“Okay, so he escaped. Again. Don’t worry about him, he’s already pissed with me, so you’re in the clear. The worse has already happened. I’ll try to track him down and bring him home.”

“No, I’ll do it. Come home, I’ll look for the gremlin.”

“He doesn’t appreciate you calling him that—AAHH!”

Did that car just bulldozed her?

“VIV? VIV, WHAT’S WRONG?”

“I’ll call you back,” she hung up before Dick could ask her again. Stopping wasn’t an option for her, not when the car behind her seems to be adamant in pushing her over, so she hit the gas and drove as fast as she can until—

BANG!

Everything was flying, a deafening sound rang in her ears as the airbags activated. One moment there was just her and everything around her floating, the next she was jerked at her seatbelt and she slammed to the airbag, the roof skidding across the asphalt until it stopped when the car hit a wall. She was upside down, that was the only thing she could register now, until she saw someone coming out of the car, their shoes being the only ones she could see.

Were they coming after her?

Were they going to finish the job?

But why? Why are they—

Move, move, move —

“Epacse —AAHH!” Vivian cried in pain as the arm she tried to move happened to be broken. A fractured arm. It must have been from the impact. The car that slammed into her when she went through the intersection hit the driver’s side, and the door looked wrecked. She could still feel the shards of her glass piercing her skin.

They ripped open the door and all Vivian could see was the shadow of the person.

Fuck! She can’t use her magic!

She can’t get out!

The figure pulled out a sword from the sheath on their back, and aimed the blade at her.

Was this it?

Were those going to be her last moments with Bruce?

Her last words to him?

It can’t be… a fight can’t possibly be her last moments with him!

“Ardeat.”

The figure burst into flames, it panicked, slashing its sword around to get rid of the flames. Whoever cast that spell was an idiot. There was gasoline and oil everywhere!

Using all her strength and pushing through the pain, Vivian moved her arm and latched her palm on the ground and summoned: “Duratus!” Ice crept from her hand and crawled up to the burning figure, trapping them to a static state. As soon as the last part of the figure froze, they exploded right in front of her, turning to shards of ice on the ground.

What the fuck was that?

“Vivian Pryor?!” She heard the familiar voice.

“Midnite!” Vivian called out.

From the door, she saw the man appear, wearing his white coat and top hat. He reached inside to free and pulled her out of the destroyed vehicle. “Come child, I’ll bring you to the hospital.”

“No hospitals!” Vivian said.

“You need to see a doctor, child.”

“Then take me to Parkway… call Doctor Leslie Thompkins, she knows what to do. Then call Batman.”

Midnite took her phone from the wreckage and made the calls needed to be made. The ambulance came to take Vivian to Sacred Heart, she refused to let Midnite leave her but he reassured her that she will be protected. He just needs to do something while the crashw as still fresh.

And he was right to do so because as soon as the ambulance left or the hospital, Midnite inspected the crash and saw a clue left behind.

A feather.

~ * ~

Bruce was being patched up by Dick when he learned the news from Tim, who called him from Sacred Heart where Vivian was brought after a car crash. Earlier in the museum, just as his call ended with Vivian, a group of assassins came and attacked Batman with the intent to kill. They came at him, giving everything they had, even if it meant putting them in harm's way or destroying the place around them. They got him, and if it weren’t for whatever reason that destroyed them, Batman knew he would have been dead. He was about to leave, right in the middle of getting stitches, when Damian snuck back into his room. The very room where Bruce was waiting for him while getting medical attention with the goal of catching his son.

“Where were you?” He demanded, pissed that he can’t leave now to see Vivian as he had to deal with Damian first.

“What happened to you? Are you okay?” Damian asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

“You don’t get to ask questions, now where the hell were you?”

“Out.”

“Where?” he pressed on.

“Out.”

“Out has suddenly become a far more dangerous place,” Bruce continued while Dick went to stitch more of his wounds. He was itching to get out of there and head to the hospital. But then his eyes went to Robin’s belt and saw sai. “Where did you get this?”

“That’s mine!”

“I don’t think so.”

“So what are you going to do with me now? Build a dungeon and lock me in it?!”

“Despite what you may think, I’m your father, Damian, not your jailor.”

Damian glared at him. “Just because Talia used you as a means to create me in a lab doesn’t immediately make you my father, and it sure as hell doesn’t make me your son!”

Bruce kept silent then got up from his seat. “I don’t have time for this.”

“Go ahead, that’s what you always do! You have the last word and walk away!”

Bruce paused in his step. “I’m leaving because Vivian is in the hospital.”

For a moment, Damian’s hard exterior faltered. “What happened?”

“You would have known if Robin were here earlier.”

At that Dick knew that was too much to put on a kid and gave Bruce a glare.

“I’m going with you–”

“No, you’re staying here,” said Bruce and left the room, with Dick closing the door after him. He went straight to one of the hidden safes across Damian’s room and placed the sai inside for safe keeping.

“You know, I did my share of sneaking out too, back in the day,” said Dick.

“Those things are out there, Dick… and they got to Vivian too,” Bruce closed the safe, hiding it again in the panels of the shelves.

“How sure are you?”

“More than sure.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Stay here with Damian.”

“She’s not just your wife, Bruce, she’s my mom too,” Dick blocked his way. “I want to be sure she’s alright.”

~ * ~

Vivian was in emergency surgery when Bruce and Dick arrived. Tim and Cassandra met with them at the waiting room outside, joining them was a man Bruce knew all too well. Papa Midnite. It was Midnite who found Vivian after the crash and made the call, and it was also him who found the clue that was sent to his phone.

The feather.

An hour or two after a successful surgery, the surgeon came out to explain to everyone about Vivian’s state. She passed out during the ambulance ride to the hospital, and they caught the signs of internal bleeding on the way too.

Then she and the others were then taken to the private room. Vivian was still passed out. Dick told Bruce to rest up but he refused to leave her side, instead he asked them if they could get him something for her since Tim mentioned that they were heading out to pack some things for Vivian’s stay at the hospital.

It was when they were alone in the room when the shadows appeared, and from the shadows Midnite came to form.

“It was no accident,” he told Bruce.

“I know,” he held Vivian’s hand, not too tight to hurt her. “Did you see their faces?”

“No. Did you?”

So, the immortal knew Batman was also attacked in the museum by the same group.

“No. But why? Why her?”

Midnite approached Vivian at the other side of the bed. He reached from his coat and pulled out the feather. “I think you know,” he said and handed him the feather. He then placed his palm on Vivian’s forehead and muttered a spell to heal her wounds. “She will be well, Wayne. She just needs rest. Stay here with her.”

“And what will you do?”

“Hunt them down.”

#fanfic #dc fanfic #batman fanfiction #batman #dc universe #batfam #batman x oc #bruce wayne x oc #damian wayne x batmom #batmom #court of owls fanfic

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