Crusher's Daughter (BATMM AU)

Hidden Child

Years later...

18-year old Crusher groaned as he drove back to his and Pickle's apartment. He had just lost another race, and it was taking a toll on him. What's worse was that Pickle wasn't there since he had to go on a fishing trip with his grandfather, so he had no one to rant to.

As soon as he closed the door, he let out a sigh and dragged himself inside. He went through the living room and headed to the hall. He headed to a door in the hall, an indigo one with silver crescents all over it. He took a deep breath and raised a tire, knocking on the wood.

"Who is it?" A voice from inside spoke.

"It's Lightning, Moonbeam," Crusher chuckled at the code names. 7 years, and it still made him laugh.

The door swung open, and out came the small, 7-year old light indigo truck, bouncing and beaming with joy at the sight of him. "PAPA!"

"There's my little Luna," Crusher smiled and took the girl into his tires, pressing a kiss on her forehead. "What have you been doing while Papa and Uncle Pickle are out?"

"Reading," Luna giggled. "I almost finish the collection you bought me!"

"Really?" Crusher raised an eyebrow. "Wow, that was fast. We only just bought you the collection last week,"

"I also drew picture!" Luna exclaimed. "Wanna see, Papa?!"

"Sure," Crusher nodded and let his daughter down, following after her and entering her midnight blue room.

Luna reached out to her desk and took out a folder. She opened the folder and grabbed one of the papers then she turned and handed it to the dark blue truck. Crusher's eyes lit up before softening at the sight of the drawing.

"Oh, moonbeam, this is beautiful!"

"Thanks, Papa!" Luna jumped with a cheer. "It's a picture of family! There's Great Grammy, there's Uncle Pickle, then there's you and me!"

"It's amazing, honey," Crusher patted the girl's head. "We should frame it in the hall, don't you think?"

"Really???" Luna let out a squeal. "Yippee!"

Crusher chuckled and picked up his daughter before turning to head out of the room.

X

"I'm home!"

"Uncle Pickle!" Luna zoomed from the dining room and straight to his uncle's tires. "You're home!"

"Aww, hi, Luna!" Pickle giggled and hugged his niece. "Wow, you're looking pretty happy today,"

"I make family portrait!" Luna told him, jumping off his tires and motioning to picture hung up on the wall. "See?! There's Great Grammy, me, you and Papa!"

"Aww!" Pickle cooed over the drawing. "That's such a nice picture, Luna,"

"Thank you, Uncle!" Luna laughed and drove back to the dining table. "And look! Papa make dinner!"

"Mm! And it smells delicious!" Pickle licked his lips and made it to the dining table. "Hey, Crusher! How was the race?"

"Terrible," Crusher groaned. "And I lost!"

"Aw, it's okay, Papa," Luna smiled and hugged her father. "Maybe next time you'll win!"

"Gee, the only next time he'll ever win is if he stops cheating," Pickle pointed out with a grin.

"Nah, his cheats are funny!" Luna giggled, causing the other two to laugh.

"Well, next time, I'm gonna do a cheat SO big that Blaze WON'T be able to get past it!" Crusher grinned before patting Luna's head. "Would you like Papa to win you a trophy, little moonbeam?"

"Yes!" Luna clapped her tires together happily. "I wish you luck, Papa!"

"D'awww, thanks, Luna," Crusher smiled and kissed her forehead. "Now go on. You've finished dinner. Brush your teeth and head on over to bed. I'll be over for story time,"

"Yay!" Luna cheered, leaping before zooming out of the room at top speed.

As soon as she was gone, Pickle glanced over at Crusher. "Hey, Crusher? Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?" Crusher turned to him.

"How long are we gonna hide Luna?" the green truck asked. "I mean, I KNOW our intentions for doing this is good, but... well, you know, why don't well tell our friends?"

"YOUR friends, not mine," Crusher sighed. "And no, I don't wanna tell them. I don't trust them... especially not Blaze,"

"But why?" Pickle tilted his head. "Out of all our- er, my friends, don't you think Blaze would be the most understanding?"

"I don't... I don't really care if he does or he doesn't," Crusher shook his head. "I'm not risking the knowledge of Luna's existence being spread out and leaked! It's too risky! What if she gets hurt or kidnapped or-"

"Okay, okay, I get it," Pickle sighed and gave his best friend a small smile. "I get it. You're worried. I understand. I won't bring it up again,"

"Thanks, Pickle," Crusher sighed in relief and returned the smile.

"Papa!" the duo turned to see Luna driving out with a book in her tires. "I know what book to read! Book about stars and galaxies!"

Crusher and Pickle glanced over at each other before laughing. The dark blue truck quickly finished up his food and drove over to his daughter, picking her up.

"Alright, alright, little moonbeam," he chuckled. "Time to go space exploring!"

"Yay!" Luna celebrated. "Can you also tell it with your experience in space, Papa?! Please?!"

"I will, I will, don't worry," Crusher nodded with a smile.

Pickle watched them with a giggle as the father and daughter left the room. He then finished up his food and cleaned up the dishes before zooming off to head to Luna's room. When he made it there, Crusher was already mid-way through the story while Luna laid on her bed, tucked in her blanket.

"...and the Milky Way Galaxy is composed with billions and billions of bright twinkling stars!"

"Wow!" Luna squealed. "Is it true, though, Papa? And are there really more planets out there than just our Solar System?"

"Yep," Crusher gave a nod. "And there ARE more planets out there than just the ones in our solar system. SO much that no one has ever seen them before!"

"And aliens exist?!"

"Oh yeah, definitely," Crusher chuckled. "I mean, I couldn't race in the Space Race if it were just me and Blaze, now, would I?"

"You still could, actually," Luna pointed out with a smile. "Then you could REALLY take Blaze down!"

"O~kay, I think that's enough story time," Pickle interrupted with a laugh. "Besides, it's past your bedtime, isn't it, Luna?"

"Nooo!" Luna whined. "But I don't wanna sleep!"

"Well..." Crusher smirked. "if you don't sleep... the moon monster will appear!"

"No!" Luna shook her head with a pout. "Moon monster doesn't exist!"

"Would you like to find out if they really do?" Crusher raised an eyebrow.

"NO!" Luna shook her head repeatedly and settled herself down. "Okay, me sleep..."

"Good," Crusher smiled and swiped the book from the bed before leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Goodnight, my moonbeam,"

"Goodnight, Papa lightning..." Luna yawned as she crossed her tires in front of her.

Crusher smiled and slowly drove back with Pickle before turning off the lights.