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Link to Part One -

Side Note: Apologizes for taking so long to write up another part for this that it's had to be done in my new-ish book. It's been some time since Part 1 so I can't promise the writing style will be the same or if the story plot will be a smooth carry on.

Side Note 2: I mentioned Bruce being around 20 and Dick being 16 when he was hired at the manor but that's not their current ages. Bruce got cursed years afterwards. It's just Dick met Bruce at 16 when he was in need of work and Bruce found him a job in his manor to stop the lad from being without work. Bruce and Dick would be in their early thirties/late twenties now. So, please don't worry over those who thought they were still that young, it was just a mention over how young they'd both been when first crossing each others paths.  

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HOPE YOU ENJOY 

PLEASE VOTE

https://youtu.be/pZ7uduI5t7w

Dick was indeed careful as promised. 

He'd triple check any routes he took and flew low and slow to keep from being easily spotted. He practically melted into the cottages walls, straw roofs and the muddy ground to stop himself from being easily seen. 

He took not joy in his adventure towards gaining a scroll as he was more sneaky and secretive. No tricks, spins, leaps, drops or speed was done. He was as none existing as a floating mirror could be. 

And he was prepared to return to the manor without a scroll the moment he took notice over any signs of a hunter or danger being close by. He kept himself at a distance and was more smooth in stealing a scroll than ever before as he feared being caught due to his nerves alone flaring up. 

But Dick was once born a performer, even after his lost his parents to those that saw them as freaks and burnt down the big top, Dick was still a performer. 

So, as soon as he reached the half way point within the woods, he let himself start to hum and fly a bit more thrilling once again. He knew no one had ever dared to come this deep into the woods and also knew that even if the hunter was about, they wouldn't risk being out so early in the morning. The woods were dangerous even when the sun was held the highest in the sky, it was a death trap any other time. 

Hence Dick assumed he was safe and enjoyed his bit of freedom outside of the manor. He'll still calling it sneaking out even  if the whole manor knew over him leaving each morning. It was left enjoyable when the others started to mention that fetching a scroll from the message boy was his chore. Sneaking out was his thing and sometimes he'd bring back more than a mere scroll depending on his reason for sneaking out. 

His mirror wasn't large enough to be used as a tray but Dick's learnt to keep things balanced on his back to carry back to the manor for the others who might gain some happiness from the objects he brings back just for them. 

And that was his mistake. 

Feeling safe and comfortable in the woods that were as much of his home as the manor was.

He was seen. 

The hunter who had came for the promised prize of the century for a hunter to have. 

The hunter knew if he completed this job, he'll grow to be the best of the best and would have gained respect from every kingdom. He'll live as well as a royal would with all the jobs being asked of him. 

But Dick wasn't a complete carelessly fool, he knew when he felt eyes on him. 

Most of his childhood he had eyes glued to him, good or bad stares, he always had them. 

So, as soon as he felt he was being watched he slowed to a stop. 

Swinging and flying along the tree branches to a single tree, casually getting a look over the woods around him and trying to spot who he was being watched from. 

Slowing to rest on a branch so high up that he wouldn't be easily snatched by a foe, he grew to be comfortable as he waited for the other person to leave him be. 

He wasn't overly concerned, sometimes it tends to be the animals of the woods that were curious or weary over him. 

But staying put to rest, it sometimes eased the animals. 

Once he felt it was safe to return home, he flew straight back, taking a bit of a longer route to make it difficult for others to track him to the manor. 

Returning to his chirpy humming once more once  the manor came in sight before slipping through the opened window. Giving his return greeting as always and headed for the kitchen. 

"Where have you been, Richard?!" Damian firm and angered voice filled the kitchen as soon as Dick floated inside. 

"Is it the hunter?" Jason asked, already tensed and ready for a fight.

"Is the hunter coming to slay us?!" Tim fearfully asked, cowering by the sink as he feared such days were returning once more. 

"No, they're aren't. I didn't meet any hunter or anyone during my travels. I took extra care while I was out and played it safe by taking the longer route through the woods just to cover my tracks. It's why I'm late" Dick calmly replied with a comforting tone as he slipped the scroll onto the counter top and not wanting the others to stay frightful over something that none had to fear over just yet. 

"It'd do some good to have Master Bruce changing his routine a little. We may as well get him to read the scroll with the rest of us. Why don't you fetch the master for our, master Dick" Alfred simply spoke as he knew it wouldn't bring any harm for the master of the manor to miss reading the scroll with his breakfast. He also knew it that it'd be a good bonding chance for them all to read the scroll together instead. 

"Sure, Alf!" Dick smiled back brightly, already flying off before anyone else could ask him anymore question over his flight this morning. 

The others all gave it a couple of minutes as they calmed down took a few calming breaths. None of them as worried as they once were when Dick was clearly late from collecting the stroll. All had feared for the worse at first and were starting to talk over a rescue plan or facing the dreadful facts they assumed were true. 

"Who knew him actually being careful for once would scare us more than when he acts reckless" Jason huffs back as he relaxes some more, knowing he told the older man to not take risks but didn't assume he'd be as careful as he was to make his return be even later than normal. 

"Master Damian, would you mind carrying the scroll to the dinning room for me, please" Alfred asked the boy as he knew they all needed something to distract them with.

"It'd be my honour, Pennyworth" Damian dutifully replied before slipping the tip of his sword carefully into the inner of the scroll and floating out of the kitchen with it. 

"Do we make tea for Mr Wayne while he reads with us?" Tim asked as he looked to the others for their thoughts over it. 

"That's a grand idea, master Drake" Alfred announced as he already moved to prepare the tea trolly. 

"I'll help the young master to roll the scroll out while we wait for the old man to join us" Jason offered up as he started heading out of the kitchen to help roll out the scroll. 

"You're help is apparated, Master Jason" Alfred called out to him as he left. 

Meanwhile..

Dick floated and dance as he floated along the long corridors of the manor and headed for the master's study. Ignoring how much darker this section of the manor was due to the master of the manor keeping most of the curtains closed over the windows, not risking spotting his reflection in a window when passing. 

Dick would smile at the few beams of sunlight that poked between the gaps, reflecting them in his mirror and watching the rainbow of colours that would be pattered to the walls or floors from his reflected beams. 

Slipping into the study, all doors were left open enough for everyone to slip in and out whenever needed. It helped them find hiding up during the old darker days much easier for them all if they didn't end up being cornered or trapped due to doors being closed. They haven't been hunted down for years but they still leave as many doors open as possible just in case. 

"You're late in returning. I held no scroll with my breakfast" Bruce stated from where he sat behind his desk, staring towards the mirror, having sensed him heading towards him and been eyeing up the door for his arrival. 

"You're a big boy, B. I'm sure you can eat you're breakfast without reading the latest news. It won't be the end of the world to eat without reading for once" Dick joked as he flipped a little, showing he wasn't currently carrying the scroll with him. 

"Did you come across trouble?" Bruce asked, tone serious and eyes glued to the mirror's hand that held no scroll and assumed he wasn't able to grab one. 

"I spooked some of our neighbours within the woods. Took some time to show I wasn't a threat before being careful by taking the long route back. It's why I took longer in returning today" Dick calmly explained his reasoning for being a bit latter than he normally was. Not wanting the other to worry over something that hadn't happened. 

"No one-" Bruce started to question before being cut off. 

"No hunter stood in my way" Dick anwsered firm, showing he wasn't in any real danger that morning. 

"You shouldn't put yourself at risk. More so that you can't defend yourself properly anymore" Bruce pointed out with a displeased frown, his fangs poking out more than he'd normally allow and showing how upset he truly was.

"I will be careful. Always am" Dick promised softly as he floated a little closer, knowing the other had been scared for him. 

"Still a lair even when cursed" Bruce scoffed back, armament clear in his eyes. 

"It's my charm" Dick grinned back cheekily, knowing why he has been careful to his own standards he'll be seen as careful compared to the others standards. 

The next few minutes were filling with Dick twirling and looping as he flew towards Bruce. Wiggling into his hand and chattering about over his fly back to the manor, skipping the part over being watched, and mentioning how nice it was outside today. Bruce grunting or nodding as he listened along, holding the mirror more securely than needed just to hold him close. 

The story ending with Dick announcing that they're both expected in the dinning room straight away and Bruce feeling less thrilled over that. But Bruce still stood, always knowing its a losing battle against Dick's puppy dog eyes and carried the mirror as he walked. 

Mentioning over his plans to leave the manor at night, yet again, and do a bit of hunting. Offering for the mirror to join him if he held no other plans and felt like another race through the woods with him. 

Dick's small teases over beating the bigger bat was his obvious answer as he agreed and looked forward to their nightly race before the hunting begins. 

Bruce sitting at the head of the table as always, a China jug in hands reach filled with tea. All of them had learnt early on that his webbed hands couldn't deal with tiny tea cups anymore and had to turn to using other things to be used by him instead. 

Everyone huddled around their boss, floating over his shoulders or by his arms as he held the stroll and started to read. All of them reading to themselves at their own pace. Bruce had gotten all his employers to learn to or write if they didn't already when hiring them. Alfred and Dick normally doing most of the teaching but he made sure they'd all be able to do both. 

"The last of the Cobblepot seems to have died out. That's a shame, they were growing  to be almost as old as the Wayne bloodline" Dick commented with a frown as he read over one of the oldest bloodlines last heir finally passing from old age in his sleep. 

"I do believe the Wayne's may have cheated by being kept alive during the curse for a couple of hundred years" Tim pointed out unimpressed as there was no way to prove that the Wayne bloodline would have carried on during all these years if they weren't curse. He was still certain that Damian would never allow anyone but his beloved pets to ever enter his home once he stood as the master of the manor. 

"No, the Wayne's were one of the first families in this area. We're the oldest bloodline" Bruce simply replied as he knew his family's history much better than the others. Knowing his family was one of the first to settle in this area all those years ago. 

"I'm surprised that the Cobblepot bloodline lasted as long as it did. All their sons came out looking like a bird" Jason snorted back as he remembered the family well enough. 

"Money. They had enough to get anyone to marry them and birth an heir" Damian deadpanned as he rolled his eyes. He knew money could rule the world in it's own way. 

"Don't talk like that Damian" Bruce scolded his son was technically still a child. 

"Didn't Oswald use to have a thing for Dickie?" Jason perked up with a sly grin as he looked towards the mirror, remembering how Oswald had always tried to impress Dick as he served the guests during an Wayne gala. Always gloating or trying to catch his attention somehow. 

"Not from what I recall. Most of B's rich friend's weren't keen over me-" Dick started to mumble back as he remembered getting on a lot of nerves of the rich back in those days. 

"Lair! Some clearly liked to eye you up" Jason cut him off, raising his voice as he knew the man was lying to him. 

"I never knew people could be so.. handsy with another man. I've only worked at one of the gala's held in the manor but that was enough to scar me for life. And cursed life" Tim muttered back with a horrified voice, shivering from the mere memory over the gala. 

"They were better behaved time you arrived. They were much worse during my early days at the manor" Jason confessed with a grimace as he knew Bruce had helped to deal with a lot of them before Tim and Damian came along. 

None noticing as the cursed master had tighten his grip enough on the scroll that his claws had currently ripped the edges and poked holes through. His body tensed and his brooding was more furious than depressing. 

"Oh! The Allen's have returned to the village. Do you think they're still related to the West's we once knew? I do miss them, they were such a nice family. I hope these Allen's are the same bloodline as the West daughter married into" Dick perked up in a delighted voice as he passed on the gossip he overheard when collecting the scroll earlier. 

"He's changing the topic again" Damian commented as he looked towards the other two employers currently reading with them. Both Jason and Tim nodding in agreement but deciding to give the elder a break from remembering such awful galas. 

"It'd be nice if the Allen's were the one's connected to West. They were good people" Bruce spoke as he glanced to the mirror currently lazing on his broad shoulder as if it was his personally resting place. 

Dick was soon smiling brightly in return, giving an excited and perky sound as he agreed with Bruce. It'd be nice if the families they had once gotten along with were to return to the village again even if they couldn't befriend them anymore. 

Once again all of them but the butler failing to notice how Dick's mirror had caught all of them at the perfect angle and showing them all who they stood to be. Their smiles and behaviours picked up more and the beauty of the mismatched family were being shown again. 

The butler stood with a fond look to his eyes as he watched from the doorway and only wished that every memory could have been included within the reflection. 

And the calm before the storm had stayed unnoticed by them all as they grew to gain more happier memories instead within the moment. 

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A/N: I'll try to do a Part 3 as soon as I gain some better time to do so. I just wanted to upload this part as a show that I have returned and won't give up on this oneshot.