Chapter Text
Sometimes Dick forgets where he’s going. That’s okay, because it’s how brains work: you leave one room and your brain – much like many driving instructors – bursts out with NEW ROOM NEW DANGERS and completely forgets to pick up that pile of books in the kitchen you need to do your homework in lieu of doing something sensible such as getting a drink. Thing is, Dick does it all the time. Every time he gets up, he runs the risk of forgetting why he’s even in this room in the first place. Bruce recommended writing on his hands and arms in some kind of code so that he has subtle prompts to remind him of important things. So there are pens in every single room of the Manor, and paper too most of the time. Dick got such a handle on it that his brothers completely forget about it, until he has what he calls a Moment and forgets. They’re all good at helping out, so it isn’t a problem.
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Bruce wasn’t “Dad” to any of his sons at first. He never tried to be called “Dad” by Dick, even when everyone could see it absolutely made his day when Dick ran up and called him Dad. Almost everyone thinks it was Jason who called him dad the most: it was actually a pretty even split between Dad and B, because in his mind there was no real distinction. He was B and he was his dad, and for a while that was enough. (Hood once yelled at Batman for getting injured and accidentally called him Dad. Nobody really talks about how B froze and cried himself to sleep that night.)
Tim had a dad but Bruce has always loved him as his own son, and nothing made him angrier than his sons being ignored by those who profess to love them. He never forgave the Drakes for that. (He first met Tim as a baby, and went home to Alfred very quiet. After that, Bruce took every possible chance to interact with the boy who quickly became ‘my baby Tim’. He cried for days when Tim was sent to school aged 5 and even more when Tim returned and didn’t remember him.) Now, he takes every opportunity to have Tim home with him and eats lunch with him at WE when possible.
It’s actually Cass who calls him Dad most. She belongs to him. He’s her Bruce, she’s his Cass. They both talk in actions not words, both will die and harm for those they love, and they are eerily able to communicate with a single glance. She knows she scares her brothers and sister sometimes, but she doesn’t hold it against anyone, especially Steph. They’re sisters in spirit but their souls are very different. Anyway, Cass loves Bruce with all her heart. She sleeps in his bed more than any other, uses his shower, and loves to use his shower gel because for her he is home and safety. When she smells like him she feels so much safer, and it helps her remember that she has a home – father, brothers, sister, grandfather.
Steph has only called him Dad once, and they’ve never spoken about it, she knows however that if she even looks like she needs him he’ll be right there, whether she needs Bruce, Brucie or Batman. She’s his, and he’d claim her as his daughter if he could.
Damian is a strange one. He always calls Bruce “Father”, which is fine and they both know how loved they are, but Damian takes after Bruce. He gets on well with Cass, because he doesn’t need words with her. Dick was good for him, Bruce thinks, because he’s far more articulate than he was at his age (Bruce avoids talking about the dark years between losing his parents and bringing Katia into the Manor). Tim might indeed be Bruce’s baby, but Damian is his youngest. The boys had to work things out between themselves, but they’ve reached an accord, and are willing to let Bruce coddle them both when he needs his two youngest near him.
He still doesn't get called Dad by Damian.