Bruce Wayne heard the window in one of the nearby rooms getting shut down all of the sudden. Then he heard big paws resounding against the mahogany floor and his tense shoulders relaxed again. Just as he thought, Bat-Hound passed right in front of him.

Looking more exhausted than usual, the grey dog didn't even bother to greet him before just flopping down on the carpet, instantly yearning for the comforting heat of the fireplace.

Bruce allowed himself to chuckle a bit, and got up with his newspaper in one hand. "How did your day go, buddy?" he whispered while running his free hand over his dog's fur.

Ace didn't answer; not even whine like he usually did. His eyes stayed focused on the crackling flames. He was unable to look anywhere else.
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.
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Many years ago, when he was no bigger than a shoebox despite being a Great Dane.

As puppies, he loved to annoy and goof around with his brother. Yes, you read that right. Goof.

Little Ace was a complete goofball.

That night they had been wrestling all over the house, nearly knocking off a small table and leaving wrinkles on the carpet while chasing each other.

"Mooooom! He's doing it again!" Sean, his little brother, cried out like like a wounded bird when Ace finally managed to bite on his fluffy brown tail. He didn't even bite that hard!

"Tell Ace to stop biting my tail!" Sean complained again with clear annoyance.

Ace pulled away and began booming with playful laughter. "No way!"

Their mom, a German Shepherd who was trying to somehow get some rest despite all the noise, sighed slightly and got up. "Puppies... I won't get any sleep at this point."

"Ace, don't do that to your brother," she commanded, and Ace immediately stopped on his tracks while Sean glared at him.

"Aww!" Ace whined, ears and tail falling down. "But I'm just playing...!"

"Enough," his mother said again. "You know Sean dislikes that kind of game."

"Finally!" Sean walked away from him.

His little brother was so spoiled, and Ace couldn't help but roll his silver-colored eyes when the German Shepherd puppy ran towards their mom and hugged her with charming red eyes. "Thanks, mommy!" Sean said while nuzzling her.

"I'm just trying to train him, mom! You treat him like a baby!" Ace exclaimed. "I'm trying to make him stronger... You know how tough dogs at the police academy are!" he expressed with a genuinely worried face.

"Ace..." his mom tried to speak but he kept talking.

"And you won't be there to protect Sean anymore... It's for his own good."

"Sweetheart," his mother said with concern; she was a police dog, currently retired due to her giving birth to these puppies just recently. She knew better than anybody how tough K-9 training grounds were. "You're puppies... Not dogs."

She patted his fluffy grey head with love. "You shouldn't have to worry about such things..."

Ace remained silent while looking down, saddened. Then his father rushed through his mind. "But... That's what dad said," he looked up with new determination in his fiery eyes. "I gotta take care of him... He's my only brother..."

"You're only being annoying!" Sean said in response. "You're not taking care of me...! You big liar!" he huffed.

"...Sean." Ace lightly pushed his mother's paw away. He looked at Sean with the most serious eyes he had ever mustered at that age. "If you ever get hurt because of me... You must torture me about it for the rest of my life," he declared. "Got that?"

Sean looked at him with confusion, before his eyes widened with something akin to horror. Even he wouldn't dream of ever torturing his brother!

Ace kept his glare fixated on him when his mother got in between them. "Puppies, don't make ugly promises like that," she warned with an angry frown.

"Nothing's going to happen to anybody," she stated firmly. Then she lifted her head and sighed deeply. "Since you two seem so reckless today... I suppose a story would make you feel sleepy?"

Ace immediately returned to his eager puppy mode; tail wagging and tounge hanging out. "Yeah! Yeah! Story!"

"... Alright then."

"Mom!" Ace ran towards her with a huge grin on his face. "Can you finally tell us the story of you and dad?"

"Oh!" His mother eyebrows rose with surprise.

"No! No! Mommy said it's scary!" Sean recoiled with fear. He was a total scaredy cat.

"Don't worry, Sean... A story can't hurt you..." Ace sweat-dropped.

"B-but what if it does?!" Sean squeaked fearfully.

"Then I'll bite it on the butt!" Ace responded with a wide smile again.

"..." Sean had no response to that.

"Fine." After a lot of thinking, their mother had finally made a decision. "I'll tell you the story about me and dad."

"Yayyyy!" Ace squealed with excitement.

"Ugh..." Sean sulked in contrast.

This would be an extremely long night. An extremely painful night that would mark Ace forever... And he didn't have the slightest idea.

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