Raising Robins

Afterschool Chaos

It was the first day of school, back at Gotham Academy. Damian was excited because as a fifth-grader, he was doing ninth grade work.

Tim was a Senior as a Sophomore, Jason was a Senior at 17, and Dick had been at his job at the Bludhaven Community Center for a week now, teaching gymnastics. Jason walked in, dragging Tim by his tie, effectively choking him, as Tim kicked at Jason's kneecaps. Tim finally got him. Jason cursed.

"Fuck you, Tim! That shit hurt!"

Bruce looked up from the newspaper. "Soap for breakfast, Jason?"

"No, sir." Jason straightened.

Tim fixed his tie and thanked Alfred for breakfast.

Damian was still training in the Cave. The very short list of things that scared Damian included change and social circumstances like school and making friends. Moving to high school as a fifth-grader affected everything.

Bruce called over the earpiece for Damian but got no response. Finally, he excused himself and brought Damian a bowl of fruit and oatmeal in the Cave.

"Damian Thomas Wayne. Off the treadmill and in the shower." Bruce ordered. "Eat first."

Damian removed his headphones and walked over. His eyes were wide, his stance rigid, but he tried to play it off.

"Sorry, father. Just can't wait to beat the others in gym class."

"Hm."

Damian ate a few bites and then stopped. His meal chart paid off that summer. He was a healthier weight. He hit the showers and ran upstairs, after being called three times.

"You're late." Bruce said, unimpressed. "Go get in the car." He handed Damian's gray backpack to him.

Tim looked in the rearview mirror. "Drive! Drive!"

Dick whipped his head around. "What's wrong?"

Damian tried to open the door. Tim groaned in disgust. "Great. He's here."

Jason snorted. "You wanted to leave Demon Wayne?"

"Every damn day." Tim muttered, as Damian opened the newly unlocked doors.

School was uneventful for the most part, but each boy was pissed about something. Bruce picked them up, as was the arrangement, while Dick was away in Bludhaven- one town over.

"How was school?" Bruce asked, looking in the rearview mirror as Jason quickly buckled Damian into his booster seat (which the youngest HATED).

"Welp. My little brother is in my grade and two years younger, which makes me look like a dumbass." Jason griped.

"I didn't get to be club captain of the IT team!" Tim said, exasperated. "They did some dumb seniority thing and newsflash: I AM a senior!"

Bruce looked back at Damian. "Damian?"

Damian set his jaw in anger. "None of the gym clothes fit me! I have to wear the elementary school uniform AGAIN!"

"You'll probably LIVE in that size, small fry." Jason teased.

"Grayson says I'm a 'late bloomer'" Damian said, nose in the air. "It's genetically, not my fault."

Tim laughed. "Weren't you genetically engineered to be perfect?" 

It was true. Talia tried.

"Well then I guess you just-"

"Boys." Bruce interrupted. (Which was good because Damian had no quick retort to that.) "What went well?"