Halloween fic, Part 1
Title: A Haunted Knight No More
Characters/Pairing: Dick Grayson, Damian Wayne, Stephanie Brown, Barbara Gordon, Tim Drake, Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne/Selina Kyle
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1695
Disclaimer: DC owns.
Wanings: mild SPOILERS for Bruce Wayne: The Road Home
AN: for shardsofblu and bradygirl_12's Halloween Challenge. Also, LJ keeps telling me this too long for some reason o_O so it's now in two parts.
“I cannot find any reason to do it,” Damian argued, holding his head high, “This tradition makes little sense, we wear masks every day.”
Dick smiled, “Yes, but this time of year everyone does it.”
Damian remained skeptical.
“Remember what we were talking about yesterday?”
“Learning to adapt and I quote ‘rolling with the punches,’ yes. But-”
“Exactly, this’ll be good practice,” Dick said, “Besides, it’s fun. You’ll see.”
But the youngest Robin did not see, he was appalled. He glared in horror at the atrocious costume Dick held.
“I will not wear that,” he declared.
“Damian…”
“I will not.”
…
“No way,” Steph couldn’t believe it, “Really? Really?”
“That’s what Alfred said on the phone,” Barbara replied, “Tonight at 6.”
Stephanie’s blue eyes lit up!
“That’s awesome! But why didn’t they tell us sooner? I don’t have a costume! Do you? What are you dressing up as? We should go buy something to wear!”
Barbara looked at the time. “We have less than two hours.”
“Then, we better hurry!”
…
Tim stared at himself in the mirror and sighed. His costume was a little 90s, but it was the best he could do on such short notice. Alfred had called him two hours ago, but he was in the middle of going over a case and before he knew it, it was quarter to six.
Besides, he wasn’t really in the mood for a party. There were so many things he had going on and had yet to get done.
Still, since Alfred insisted, he would have to make time. And the sooner he got there, the sooner he could leave. He looked at himself once more before heading over to the Manor.
…
Alfred was working his magic in the kitchen. The decision had been made only a few hours prior, but it was more than enough time to get everything set up.
Soon, the Manor began to smell of every possible Halloween treat. Caramel apples, shortbread cookies, rice crispy treats, cupcakes, and he was only halfway done.
…
Selina sat on the edge of his bed once she finished helping him with his costume. Part of her felt it odd being there with him so soon after his returned, but another part wasn’t complaining.
“They’d do just about anything you asked of them right now. They’ve missed you.”
Bruce sat down next to her, his eyes finding hers. He had not known what to expect upon his return. Everything could have been different, in bad shape, chaotic, but everyone had exceeded his expectations. Initially, he believed he’d have to remain guarded around them, especially with Selina. Things inevitably got complicated, became problematic. He felt differently after watching her a few nights. She had changed. He had, too.
Travelling through time, he realized many things and learned that how the job was done was as important as getting it done. He was planning to go about things differently and he wanted the others to know it. Though it took him long enough to realize it, he now understood that no one can do everything alone.
But perhaps a Halloween party wasn’t the best way to convey that message. He tugged at his collar and Selina knew he was having second thoughts.
“You can tell them things are going to be different all you want, Bruce - though I’m sure you’d only say it once - but for them to believe it, you have to show them, too.”
He nodded as if agreeing and stood. “Ready?” he asked.
“Don’t I look ready?” she replied. Her costume was simple, she knew. But having only heard about this whole thing a few hours ago on the day before Halloween, she wasn’t going to have any luck at any costume store. So, she put something together from items in her closet.
Bruce looked her over.
“All right.”
“Seriously?” she was a little offended. Then she remembered who she was talking to and popular culture had never been his forte. “Trinity. From The Matrix.”
Bruce’s face remained blank. “Of course,” he said.
“You have no clue who I’m talking about, do you?”
“You recall that I was gone some time, yes?”
Selina laughed at his defense. “The movie is over a decade old. Anyway, we can’t all have Alfred whip up something like that on such short notice.”
Bruce massaged the bridge of his nose. He knew he should have picked his own costume.
…
Dick and Damian were in the living room when the doorbell rang. Dick got up to get it, but Alfred appeared out of nowhere to answer it. It was Barbara and Stephanie.
Dick smiled and waved. “Best behavior,” he reminded Damian, and himself. He walked over to the entrance.
“You’re…Lady Gaga?”
“See,” Steph said to Barbara, “He knew who I’m supposed to be.”
Barbara shrugged in apology.
“I love yours, by the way,” Steph told him, “Johnny Depp plays the best characters!” Then, she turned and caught a glimpse of Damian. “Awww!” she was so tempted to pinch his cheeks, “A tiny Jack Sparrow!”
Damian frowned at the word tiny.
“Dick, couldn’t you find anything else?” Barbara asked.
He took in her expression, “What? You don’t like it?”
“The Mad Hatter? Really?”
“Well, not that one,” Dick laughed. “Haven’t you seen the Tim Burton film? You now, Johnny Depp, top hat, crazy red, hair? It was this or Edward Scissorhands and those knives looked scary. But I like yours,” he said, “You look bootiful.”
Barbara sighed at his pun, “It was either Sexy Nurse or Sexy Witch.”
“That’s what happens when you get your costume last minute.”
Barbara smiled, “Let me guess, you got yours last week?”
“No, smarty pants,” he grinned, “Two weeks ago.”
Steph came over from the food table. “They also had a sexy Batgirl costume, but she didn’t want it.”
“I don’t know how anyone would be able to fight in that,” Babs argued.
“But we are not fighting,” Damian said, “That would have been preferable.”
“Would it?”
They turned to see Bruce and Selina walk in. Dick tried not to burst out laughing.
“Great costume.”
Dick was amazed Babs actually said it with a straight face.
“Alfred…picked it.”
Dick made a mental note to thank Alfred.
“Oooh, Trinity!” Steph practically bounced.
“Who?” Damian asked.
“I should have thought of that!” Steph continued, “She was my favorite when I was little. I’m probably still to young though to pass as her.”
“Gee, thanks,” Selina grinned.
Steph covered her mouth with her hand, “I didn’t mean to say you’re old.”
“But she is,” Damian sneered.
“Damian,” Bruce and Dick said at the same time.
However, he continued, “She is. Next to my father and Alfred, she’s the oldest person here.”
“He’s such a little charmer,” Selina said, patting his head as she passed him, ruffling his wig in the process. Dick had to physically restrain him.
The doorbell rang again and again Alfred seemed to materialize out of thin air. Tim walked in and instantly catalogued away everyone’s costumes for future mocking. Barbara was a Sexy Nurse. He couldn’t really make fun of her for that, especially when the sexy part was quite accurate, so he moved on. Steph was…sparkly. Probably someone he should know given his age, but he’d have to get back to her. Dick was the Mad Hatter and Tim couldn’t help picture Bruce’s reaction upon seeing his eldest son in that costume. Tetch had given them enough trouble once upon a time. Damian was an evil-looking, miniature Jack Sparrow, who Tim only knew because those pirate movies were some of Dick’s favorites. Plus, it could only have been Dick who forced Damian to wear eye-liner. That made Tim smirk. Damian could only narrow his eyes in return.
Then, Tim caught sight of Bruce. The smirk turned into a full-blown smile. His gaze flickered to Dick who was laughing silently, then back to Bruce. Ok, getting to see Bruce dressed like that almost made the waste of time worth it. But when he saw Selina his face fell.
Tim couldn’t believe it. Maybe Dick had been laughing at him, and not Bruce, all along.
“Whoa…” Dick said and everyone laughed. Well, everyone except Bruce and Damian. Tim didn’t find it very funny either.
Damian's irritation only grew. “What is so amusing?” he asked.
“Timmy, here,” Dick laughed as he walked over to his little brother and placed an arm around his shoulder, “Is The One.”
“The one what?”
“He’s a character from The Matrix movie,” Barbara explained.
Bruce looked at Selina.
“Yes, it’s the same movie,” Selina said.
“Yeah,” Steph nodded, “Neo kicks so much ass. He’s almost as cool as Trinity. He’s totally in love with her, too!”
Damian laughed then. “He’s in love with her?” he pointed from Tim to Selina.
“In the movie,” Barbara explained further, “We’re all playing dress-up here.”
“Yeah, this isn’t awkward,” Tim removed his shades, “I’ll change.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Selina said, “On such short notice, I’m surprised no one here cut out two eye holes in their sheets.” But she could tell Tim wasn’t buying it. She looked over at Bruce. Time to see is he’d really changed. “At least you’re not a big-a hunk o’ love.”
Everyone looked up at her. Damian felt sick. He didn’t know what she was talking about and he didn’t want to know.
“Or wearing blue suede shoes!” Dick added laughing.
“Or all shook up!” Steph giggled.
“Or a hound dog,” Barbara added unable to resist. “Crying all the time!”
“What?” Damian looked around at everyone laughing. It was then that it all became clear; he and his father were the only sane ones in the room.
“I guess dressing up as Neo is better than Elvis.”
“Yup.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“You got that right!”
Tim felt better.
Bruce wasn’t laughing but he didn’t look angry either. He did, however, leave in search of Alfred.
“Think he’s mad?” Steph asked.
“I would be.”
“No one cares if you were, Drake,” Damian added helpfully.
“Come on, guys,” Dick smiled, but he was wondering where Bruce had disappeared to, “Those caramel apples aren’t going to eat themselves.”