Chapter Text
Damian’s presentation went off without a hitch compared to the others. His was simpler, which was a feat in itself as Ellies was supposed to be a standard volcano. Damian ran through his presentation with all the precision one would expect from an ex-assassin. Making sure his assistants were signaled and prepared with their parts. Displaying the machinations of his data sets. Dick wasn’t sure who looked more proud, himself, Bruce, Tim or Ivy. The last two surprised him a bit. Not that he was going to voice that. Out loud. Ever. Tim's expression made him wonder if Tim helped Damian with something or suggested something and Damian followed with the advice or not.
Selina was keeping a sharp eye on their trio in the back of the crowd, since Bruce and Danny were late to the show. Poor Danny hadn’t been able to see, and was now perched on Dicks’s shoulders. Bruce had offered to lift him, and froze up when Danny had stepped back and whatever emotional turmoil Bruce had failed to hide did not help. Nor did it appease Selina who looked ready to claw him for the mistake. Dick had stepped in at the nick of time and scooped up his little kitten and swung him up on his shoulders. Sending that frown upside down. As he had sing-songed at Danny. Danny had even relented and let Bruce hold his hand despite how awkward it was of a position Bruce had not let go. It was adorable. And Dinah was getting a gift basket of her favorite east coast goods overnighted to her for whatever miracle she had foisted on Bruce.
Towards the middle of Damians presentation Danny seemed to get antsy from what glimpses he could see, so was Ellie. Dick was starting to feel a twinge of anxiety he took to be Dannys. Bruce must have picked up on it too. “What's got your attention chum?”
“um there's a sick ghostish thing and they keep moving closure.” Danny said. Dick had to tilt his head so he didn't get a knee to the face in Danny's fidgeting.
“Sick?” “Ghostish?” he and Bruce both asked.
“Yeah. It's not quite a ghost but like ghost adjacent. It good be a liminal. But thats alot of ecto. Like alot alot. Like grundy. But the ecto is sour. Like jays was. But not as rotten smelling.” Danny's nose scrunched and he tipped his head down to look at Dick and Bruce. “You got worried. And mr. Bruce is mad now. Jays annoyed and mad.”
“I'm not mad.” Bruce automatically said making a subtle sign they had for the league to his other kids. Selina noticed too, leaning over to whisper to Harley.
“You're a bad liar.” Dick snorted at Danny declaration.
“I'm not mad at you. I'm just concerned.” Bruce argued.
“It's probably Talia.” Dick voiced what they were all thinking. The others were on high alert hed lost sight of cass already. “Can you or ellie pinpoint this ecto source?” Dick asked calmly.
“Oh Jays really mad now.” he followed up with pointing into the crowd, Ellie did the same from her spot close to the table.
“Chum, we need to get you on the ground.” Bruce said, pulling Danny off to the side. Bruce casually made his way closer to the location. Ellie was still pointing, a glance back at Dick to check, had Dick pointing with Danny guiding it. Sadly it was not discreet but effective.
He met Cass's eye in the crowd as they closed in on their target. Bruce made sure his smile was in place as he bumped and squeezed past other viewers. Once he spotted the target pinned in place he slid right into her only open side facing her. “Hello Talia, what a pleasant surprise, blonde doesn’t really quiet you though.”
“Hello beloved. Worry not. I am here to see our son demonstrate his knowledge for his peers and teachers.” Talia didn’t bother to look at him or cassandra. Instead she focused on their son who was doing well not to draw attention to them. Tim had worked his way to getting Ellie’s attention and was holding her close to him.
“You could have called and let us know you were coming.” Bruce said, keeping his tone light.
His smile did strain a bit when Ellie shouted out. “Hey Damian, your mom is here!”
Talia’s lips barely pinched in amusement. “I was impressed for a moment with your newest acquisitions. But I must say you are failing profusely at teaching subtly to your newest brood, beloved.”
“You don’t need to…” Bruce was cut off as Danny’s voice cut him off.
“Um, ms. Damian’s mom do you know you’re sick? Do you feel ok?” Danny was too close to Talia for Bruce’s liking. He did notice Talia’s surprise at Danny’s presence as subtle as it was and she was quick to recover.
“No, I feel fine, young man. Nor am I ill. But I thank you for your concern.” she said to him. “My name is Talia, what is your name?”
“Chum,” Bruce tried to dissuade but held in the weary sigh at its futility.
“Um Danny. Nice to meet you.” he lifted his hand to offer an introductory shake. Bruce grabbed Danny and lifted him up onto his hip before Talia could take the offer. He ignored the freezing and fear he felt from his son.
Talia followed the motion with her eyes, but otherwise didn’t address it. “We’ve had this discussion before, I don't mind you visiting for Damian’s milestones, but I am to be informed.” Bruce adjusted his hold on Danny since he son started squirming.
“If you wish to be informed, beloved, I suggest you make an effort to do the same in return when they are out of standard.” Talia ignored him. “Now I suggest you watch our son’s presentation and set that one down. You are distracting from Damian’s work.”
Bruce noticed Dick circling around carefully trying to get to them, without drawing attention. How he had let Danny just wander straight for Talia was going to be addressed after. “Danny, I'll set you down in a moment.” Bruce said without taking his eyes off Talia, he knew that would be a mistake.
“You’re mad, I don't want you holding me.” Danny said squirming with some struggle sniffling. Panic, Danny was panicking. But addressing it would require letting his guard down around Talia. Bruce wasn’t even given the chance to argue. Talia didn’t miss an opportunity.
She held her arms out to Danny. “Come to me. I will hold you so you do not wander from Bruce’s eye.” Danny pitched forward at the first suggestion. Bruce moved to tip him back only for Danny to phase through him, despite all the eyes on them. Bruce covered by acting like Danny’s movement threw him off balance. Most of his children froze with their eyes on the spectacle. “Calm yourself beloved. And do not cause another distraction.” Talia chided but easily settled Danny on her hip away from Bruce. Danny seemed to start to relax immediately in her hold. Resting his head against her while looking forward to watch Damian. Selina was going to be on a rampage. He could feel her burning stair in the back of his head. Dick wasn’t much better. Bruce stood as close as he could till Danny would start to fidget again. Standing quietly by and seething. Danny settled easily against Talia, the two not even speaking. He didn’t understand it.
Once Damian’s questioning by the judges started to peter off, Harley shoved her way past everyone to get to Talia and Danny completely ignoring Bruce. “Unlike the rest of you I don't give a damn about making a scene. And I will make one the likes that you haven’t seen.” Harley said, facing off against Talia. “Give me my kid now.” Talia just raised an eyebrow at the other woman but easily shifted when Danny reached out for his aunt. Bruce kept a sharp eye on them as Harley was forced to get too close in his opinion to the skilled assassin as his son transferred to her. Though Harley was visibly mad Danny wasn’t as adverse to her. Though he wasn’t as relaxed either. Fidgeting and keeping his head up. But his arms were wrapped tightly around Harley’s neck.
“Bye ms. Talia.” Danny mumbled over Harley’s shoulder when Harley shoved her way out of the crowd with her arms wrapped tightly around Danny.
“She was respectful enough to wait till the end of Damian’s presentation.” Talia commented to Bruce. “Though curious, your anger sent him into a panic, yet hers caused less turmoil. Have you already harmed your bond with your son already?”
“I’d prefer you not comment on my relationship with any of my other children. Considering your own towards our son Talia.” Bruce countered.
“He was more comfortable in the arms of a stranger, than you, beloved.” she jabbed at him.
Bruce sighed. “You are not a stranger to him, you are Damian’s mother. As they know him they pass that familiarity to you. I do not like you encouraging it.”
“Neither do I.” Selina said joining them. Dick and Cass were close by keeping an eye on things. And Damian was making his way to them, after a few short words with his friends. He had Ellie in hand and Tim was drawing attention to him from some of those trying to eavesdrop. Eddie was not in sight and ivy was talking to Damian’s friends. “Whatever is between you two, leave my kids out of it. And keep your hands off them.”
Damian got to them right after her declaration. “Hello mother, your presence comes at quite a surprise. But I thank you for your time and attention.”
“Of course habibi. You have not shown such initiative to your American studies before. I just had to observe for myself.”
“Hi ms. Talia. I’m Ellie.” Ellie said, waving at her. But Damian kept hold of her hand and kept her at arms length of his mother.
“Hello.” Talia smiled at her. Damian carefully passed Ellie’s hand to her mother’s.
“Ellie, come along. We need to check on Danny.” Selina said, pulling her daughter away from the Waynes.
“Why is everyone but Damian and his mom so mad?” Ellie asked her mom as they headed towards where Danny’s display was set up.
“They have an interesting level of perceptiveness.” Talia spoke to her son holding out her arms for Damian.
“'iinahum 'umu 'iikhwati aleazizatu. 'aqbil wajibati wa'amnahuhum alhimayata. (They are my treasured siblings, mother. I accept my duties and gift them my protection.)” Damian spoke to her in arabic head held high while maintaining eye contact.
“jayid jdaan habibi. 'ana 'ahtarim mutalabataka. taeal alan. (Very well habibi. I honor your claim. Come now.)” Talia tipped her head slightly. Damian answered by falling into her arms and hugging her tight. “You surprise me yet habibi each time I lay eyes upon you. You have grown in many ways.”
“Thank you mother for the acknowledgement.” Damian said, pulling back to look up at her. She cupped his cheek gently. “We should take our reunion to somewhere more private.” Bruce made sure to acknowledge Damian’s decision and gestured the direction he’d like them to go. Cass signaled she’d remain close and monitor.
“Very well. Beloved, are you not needed to tend to your brood?” Talia asked as they made their way towards the school to take over an open classroom. “Your son was very distraught.”
“Tsk, father is best served with us mother. And can not be trusted to calm ahki.”
“Damian, Talia does not need to be privy to my relationships.” Bruce scolded.
“I’ll go check on them.” Dick siad. “We all know Talia doesn’t want me around for your family time anyways.”
“Still trying to keep yourself useful, cleaning up after Bruce’s shortcomings, I see Grayson.” Talia was sharp in her delivery, enjoying Dick’s glare. “When I first comforted him, I'd say he was on the verge of a panic attack, but was much calmer once Bruce stopped attempting to interfere.”
Dick didn’t respond to her and left them just as they got to the classroom door. Leaving the trio to talk. He passed Jason when going back into the gym. Jason let him know he’d listen in for trouble and let him know if things get dicey. And he was sure Cass was watching too. It had him more confident about checking on the sirens.