The Next Step (Superbat, Fly With Me sequel)

4 - Halloween (pt 1)

Alfred informs them, by means of pumpin shaped waffles and a fully decorated manor that tomorrow is Halloween.
Somehow the time has slipped away from them, and no one is prepared. Dick, the most holiday loving of the group, starts hounding them all for their plans.
Damien and Raven are apparently reading horror novels together, and refuse to pick out costumes. So Dick goes to harrass Tim.
Tim, half asleep and on the phone with Conner, tries to scramble off the couch and find a hiding place when he sees Dick coming. He isn't successful.
Dick vaults the couch and tackles Tim, "Halloween tomorrow. You must wear a costume." He grunts out while trying to prevent Tim from escaping. Conner laughs, and Tim swears at him.
"Fuck- You traitor. If I go down, I swear I'm gonna send Clark to make you join us for Halloween too."
Tim surrenders, very reluctantly, when he realizes that he isn't going to be able to get the much bigger man off of his back.
And true to his word, Tim convinces Clark to go pick Conner up.

Clark walks in, smiling and excited about the holiday. Conner follows, a little nervous looking. Dick's over enthusiastic grin does not help his nerves.
Bruce is no where to be found, but he's probably holed up in the kitchen with Alfred planning tomorrow's Halloween party.
Dick and Tim haul Conner off to Tim's room and show him the costume Dick picked. He thinks its silly, but agrees to wear it when Tim whispers something in his ear. Whatever it is Dick doesn't want to know.

Next target is Jason. Dick finds him working out in the manors gym. He sneaks up behind him as he goes to pick out some heavier weights. His arms slip around Jason's waist and his head rests in the crook of his neck. "Baaaaabe?"
His voice is whiny and Jason tenses up. "No. Nuh uh. No way. I'm not doing costumes."
He turns and plants his hands on his hips, trying to keep a stern face when Dick breaks out the puppy dog eyes.
The big pleading eyes tug at his heart. With a shake of his head, and while biting his lip, Jason tries to ignore them. The pleading eyes seem to shine with tears.
Oh no.
He sighs.
"At least make it a cool costume." His answer is muttered but Dick perks up at it.
"I'll make it up to you after the party." He purrs, winking and kissing Jason's cheek.

Now to find Bruce. Alfred the all knowing definitely already knew Dick was bullying everyone into participating. Dick knew this because when he cornered Bruce in the kitchen, Alfred helped him block the exits.
With Alfred in front of the back door, and Dick blocking the door to the dining room, Bruce finds himself stuck.
"I'll be wearing a costume-" Alfred raises an eyebrow at Bruce's weak protest. "Sir. A suit and mask from last years masked ball does not count."
Dick grins mischievously and tosses a Superman costume to Bruce.
Bruce snorts and holds it up. "Okay, okay. This might be fun."

That night (Clark needed no convincing to wear the costume Dick showed him) Alfred presents them with several plump pumpkins.
They grab their markers to start and while everyone else is planning their design, Jason loudly asks, "who wants to have a contest?"
Several shrugs and an enthusiastic set of you're on's from Dick and Tim answer him.
"Alfred is judge." Tim decides.
Everyone agrees that he's the best impartial choice.

Jason is opening his pumpin first. He pulls the guts out and slips a handful of the slimy seeds down the back of Dick's shirt.
And he shrieks.
Dick shakes and jumps to dislodge the guys from his clothes. Tim snickers and high fives Jason.
Conner is a bit clumsy with the carving knife. Once he opens his pumpkin he rushes to the kitchen and comes back with a bowl.
"The gut bowl is over there Conner. You didn't need to get one." Tim smiles at him.
"No I'm gonna sort the seeds out for baked pumpkin seeds." Clark perks up at that and grins. "Ma's recipe?"
Conner grins back and scoots his pumpkin down the table closer to Clark.
"She makes the best holiday treats, doesn't she?"
"The absolute best." Clark agrees.

Tim is the last to start carving. His planning takes the longest and his pumpkin is covered in delicate lines. By the time he's done, everyone else is sitting back chatting and sipping cider.
With a triumphant grin he sets his pumpkin in the line in front of Alfred.

First he looks at Bruce's pumpkin, its a simple but perfect smiley face jack-o-lantern. "Just like you used to make as a child." He says affectionately.
He moves to Clark's, a scary face with sharp teeth. "Terrifying, sir." He gives it an approving smile.
Next is Dick's, a kitty face. "Adorable." Is Alfred's judgement.
Jason carved Jason Vorhees mask and a jagged 13. Alfred hasn't seen that movie. "Very.. scary?" Jason grins and nods. "Yep."
Conner presents a spider web carved pumpkin. There are actually three different webs around it. Because he messed up twice. "An impressive design." Alfred reassures him.
Tim, with a cocky smile, turns his to face Alfred. It's a detailed carving of a portrait of Alfred. "Oh my, this work of art has to be the winner." Alfred picks it up to examine it better.
Jason throws a handful of pumpkin guts at Tim. "Ass kisser."
Clark grabs the bowls of pumpkin guts and takes them to the kitchen while Jason resorts to throwing his shoes at Tim. Tim responds by running at him.
The chase spills out of the room, and soon all of the boys are fighting. Tim on Jason's shoulders, choking him and laughing, while Jason attempts to smack his unwanted passenger against the wall. Conner, on the way to aid Tim, is carrying Dick under one arm while Dick flails helplessly. Dick had made the mistake of trying to tackle Conner.
Alfred begins to clean the dining room while an exasperated Bruce pushes Conner and Jason and their passengers to the in home theater. "Pick a scary movie." He instructs before attempting to pry Tim off of Jason.
Tim responds by sticking his tongue out and only gives up because Conner tosses Dick at them.
The impact knocks them off their feet, and they all lay in a pile, momentarily dazed.
Conner laughs so hard hes bent over with tears in his eyes at the betrayed look on Tim's face.
Clark enters the room, confused, and then looks between the pile of people and Conner. And his shoulders start shaking with barely suppressed laughter.
Bruce stands up, helps Tim up and then pulls Jason and Dick into their huddle.
The two kryptonians are too busy laughing to realize they are in trouble.
Dick and Tim rush Conner and knock him over, they start tickling him.
Bruce and Jason try to do the same to Clark. Jason ends up clinging to Clark's back, trying to tickle him, while Bruce tickles his belly from the front.
Clark panics and begs, "please no, I don't want to accidentally hurt yo-" he collapses into laughter and accidentally smacks Bruce backwards.
At this point Alfred takes a picture.
They all freeze and Alfred simply walks away with a big smile and a picture that he will end up displaying in the batcave.
This finally calms down the play fighting and they sit down to watch Jason and Tim argue over which movie to watch.