Fic: Halloween Knights
The boy was sulking. Bruce was pretending to ignore him, but it was impossible. As Batman, his whole crime-fighting career was based on an acute attention to detail; there was no way that a sulking Boy Wonder was going to slip under his radar.
“Dick,” he began, turning slightly in his leather desk chair, “I’m sorry, but that’s just the way it has to be.”
“I know,” Dick pouted, “I just never got to do it before and pretty soon I’ll be too old.”
Trick-or-treating. The boy had wanted to go trick-or-treating on Halloween. Apparently, there had never been time for it in the circus; they were always on the road or performing.
Dick sighed and picked up his math book, flopping down into one of the library’s comfy armchair to begin his homework.
Although Bruce wouldn’t show it, he hated to see Dick upset. With his bright smile, Dick had brought a light into Bruce’s life that he’d never imagined possible. He hated to see that light diminished in any way, but it couldn’t be helped. Halloween in Gotham was always a busy night for criminals and the Dynamic Duo couldn’t afford to take the night off. Also, there was the fact that Dick Grayson was not just any young boy; he was Bruce Wayne’s ward. The boy faced so many risks every night as Robin. The thought of having him face the threat of kidnapping or other dangers in his civilian identity seemed like an unnecessary risk.
Dick sighed loudly again. He closed his math book and stood, causing Bruce to look up from his desk.
“I’m going up to finish in my room.”
“Okay. I’ll see you for patrol later.”
Bruce settled in back to work. Not ten minutes later the phone rang.
And rang. And rang.
Realizing that Alfred wasn’t going to answer it, Bruce groaned and picked up the receiver.
“Yes?”
“Hi honey,” a male voice said teasingly.
Bruce groaned again.
“What did I tell you about the pet names, Kent?” he asked, but his tone was playful as well.
“That if I kept using them, you’d make me very, very sorry. But you’ve yet to follow through on that threat, so I see no reason to stop.”
“I guess I’ll have to do something about that then,” Bruce said dangerously.
“I guess you will,” Clark answered, his tone matching Bruce’s.
“So…” Clark began.
“Ahh, so now we get to the real reason for this call.”
“What do you mean?” Clark asked in mock indignation, “Maybe I just wanted to hear your voice.”
“Hah. Likely story.”
“You have to admit that it is a very nice voice though.”
“Clark…” Bruce warned.
“Okay okay. So, I heard that a certain young man wanted to go trick-or-treating tonight, but his guardian was being just a little unreasonable about it.”
“Oh really? And just where did you hear this?”
“Well… let’s just say that a little bird told me.”
Bruce started to respond but was cut off by Clark.
“Wait, just hear me out, Bruce. I know Gotham is busy this time of year, but he doesn’t have to trick-or-treat all night. Plus, if a certain ‘Man of Steel’ were to drop by I’m sure he wouldn’t mind helping out.”
“Clark. I’ve already decided that-”
“Just think about it, okay?”
“No. I-”
“Sorry, Bruce, I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Clark…” Bruce trailed off and he heard the click the signaled the end of the call. He gave an annoyed sigh. Clark might not want to hear it, but Bruce had made a decision already and he wasn’t going to change his mind. He damn well wasn’t.
He put the paperwork he’d been pouring over back into his briefcase and headed down to the Batcave. It was almost time for patrol.
Bruce pushed the mechanism on the old grandfather clock and descended into the darkness. He sat down at the computer, looking at the notes he needed to go over before suiting up.
He looked up from his work to see Alfred coming down the staircase. As the butler approached, Bruce could see a glint of determination in the older man’s eyes.
This did not bode well.
“Ahem. Master Bruce, I believe you will be needing this for later.”
Alfred then proceeded to hand Bruce a gaudy plastic bag, covered with cartoon pumpkins, witches, and other icons of Halloween.
“Alfred. What’s this?” Bruce asked suspiciously as he held up the bag.
The butler merely looked down at him disdainfully.
“If you have to ask, sir…” he said, trailing off as he walked up the stairs and exited the Cave.
He sighed. The Batman wasn’t one to give up, but with a disappointed ward, a pushy boyfriend, and a disapproving butler, it was obvious that he was beaten.
He picked up the bag and folded it tightly, grumbling as he slipped it into a pocket on his utility belt. But as he and Robin slipped into the Batmobile to leave for patrol, there was the barest hint of a smile on his face.
Batman and Robin were perched on a crumbling Gotham rooftop, overlooking the city.
“What are we looking for up here? I thought we were going to do a sweep through Tricorner and then- ”
“Quiet. Just wait.”
The boy frowned, but was silent. Then, both heroes looked up and saw a flash of blue and red approaching them.
“Superman!” Robin exclaimed, “I didn’t know that you were coming to patrol with us tonight.” With the appearance of Superman, the boy’s disappointment all but faded.
Superman landed next to them and then grinned and ruffled Robin’s hair.
“Well, Halloween tends to be pretty busy in Gotham so Batman asked me to come and offer some extra help. Isn’t that right, Batman?”
The Bat only crossed his arms and made one of his patented non-committal grunts.
Superman and Robin only exchanged a look and a laugh at Batman’s expense.
Robin motioned to shoot off a grapple, but Batman stopped him.
“No rooftop express tonight, chum. For where we’re going, it’s best if we let Superman handle the transportation for now.”
Dick grinned even brighter. The only thing he loved more than flying between the rooftops of Gotham was flying with Superman. Now he felt a little guilty for giving Bruce a hard time about trick-or-treating.
Clark grabbed Bruce in one arm and Dick in the other, taking to the sky. As they flew their capes whipped wildly in the wind, black, red, and yellow against the night sky.
To Dick’s surprise, when they landed they were no longer in Gotham. Instead, they we’re in a brightly lit suburban neighborhood. Costumed children were running around laughing and eating candies, while smiling parents trailed behind.
“Is this… Metropolis?” Dick asked.
“A suburb of it, yes,” Bruce replied.
“What are we doing here?”
Bruce reached into his utility belt and pulled out the bag.
“Here,” he said, handing it to Dick.
The boy opened it carefully as if it were a treasure or some precious thing. His eyes widened when he realized what he was holding.
“Do you really mean it??”
“Yes. One block. And then we have work to do.”
“Yes!” Dick said, giving a triumphant leap into the air.
“Just don’t do anything to make people think that you’re the real Robin.”
“I won’t, I promise!”
The older heroes followed slowly behind the boy, who was running towards the closest house where another group of kids were approaching.
“One block?” Clark asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Fine. Two. But please note that this is the last thing you get to ask me for for the rest of the year.”
“Fair enough,” Clark said with a smirk. “You’re taking this awfully well.”
“I guess. I just… it hasn’t been so long since that night, when he lost his parents. I…like to see him smile.”
“So do I,” Clark said, smiling as he lightly touched Bruce’s face. “Come on, let’s go catch up with Robin. And who knows, since we’re costumed too, we might even get a few pieces of candy.”
Bruce snorted. “I think we’re a little old for that. But you do make a pretty convincing Superman.”
“And you’re a pretty realistic-looking Batman.”
They smiled at each other and then headed off towards Robin.