DISCLAIMER: I DONT OWN RANGERS APPRENTICE, BROTHERBAND, BATMAN OR PERCY JACKSON, THOSE RITES GO TO THE RESPECTIVE AUTHORS

Percy Jackson awoke at dawn.

With a wide yawn and a satisfying stretch he blinked open his sea green eyes to take in his home. At least it was the closest thing to home he had. Next to him lay his ' little bro ' Nico, who was sleeping soundly with his head on his aviator jacket. His shaggy black hair covered his angelic face as he no doubt dreamed of his sister and mother.

Across from him lay three precious kids, Jason, Will, and Hal. All three were curled in. tangled heap under the single available blanket, which was worn from years of ware. The three boys slept on soundly, and Percy grinned at the sight of their dirty and scratched faces serene with their good dreams.

" Morning Perce," A quiet voice hailed him.

Percy smiled and turned his head to see his ' brother' Richard, or Dick as he preferred to be called, sitting calmly by the entrance to their hideout. He'd been the last one on guard duty for that night. 

" Morning little D," Percy greeted, using his fond nickname for the slightly younger kid.

Dick smiled back at him. Percy, being the oldest, looked after the others as their unanimously elected leader. And in their small, collapsed building in downtown Gotham, the six boys lived out their days. The concrete building had long since been forgotten, and the boys had claimed it from other gangs as their turf. Since all six were good fighters, the gangs had let them have it. They currently lived on the fourth floor, collapsed walls all around them made of stone and concrete. But at least it was sheltered. 

Supplies were piled under an old desk, and the boys slept on a small forgotten rug, that didn't quite hold them all. 

Unfortunately, because of gang wars in the area they always had to have someone on watch, and took shifts together throughout the night.

" Hey Percy, do we have anything to feed the kids when they get up?" Dick asked hopefully. 

Percy shook his head dejectedly, sighing slightly.

" No, but I'll go out and see what I can find. Keep an eye on them for me," Percy offered as got up and stretched again. 

Quietly, he slipped on his tattered sneakers and made his way down the fire escape to the back alleys next to their building.  Not many people were around, thankfully, and he pulled his faded blue hoodie further around him to ward off too much of the cold air.

" Now Percy, lets see what we can find," He mumbled quietly to himself.

Walking out on to the Main Street, he eyed a large dumpster to the left of a small apartment complex. Perfect!

Racing nimbly across the street, avoiding oncoming cars, he slid to a halt near the dumpster. After years f being on the streets, wasted food didn't bother him anymore, it was just simply something that he needed. Opening his worn cloth sack, he piled in half eaten apples and a bit of burnt toast. But his eyes lit up at what he uncovered next. Two sightly overcooked waffles lay there, a truly rare treat. 

" The younger boys will love these!" He hissed quietly to himself. 

Loading them in to his sack he started to make his way back home again. Climbing the fire escape expertly, he threw the satchel to Dick, who leaned over the railing to catch it.

" What did you find?" He asked excitedly.

Percy grinned as he hauled himself back over the railing and in to the building.

" Why don't you look for yourself?" Percy suggested smugly.

Delving in to the satchel, Dick's eyes widened in surprise and shock at the sight of the two waffles sitting there.

" Oh my gosh! YES!" He squealed, making the four still sleeping boys stir slightly.

Percy chuckled quietly and went to pick up the only bowl they had. An old plastic one.

A familiar tug in his gut hailed his powers, as water started to fill the bowl he held. Taking the moisture from the air was a new trick he loved to try out. As usual, Dick delighted in seeing his powers, and was still awed by them, but for the life of him, Percy had no clue how he'd gotten them.

" Okay, wash those apples, and I'll wake the rest of the boys," Percy ordered.

" Have fun waking up Jason," Dick snorted as he settled tow ash the apples.

Percy smirked and started to rose the boys. Will was easy, that kid was a freakishly light sleeper, and woke before Percy even had to shake him. The kid was instantly alert and smiled a greeting up at Percy, his shaggy brown hair mussed up from sleep. 

" I'll wake Hal," Will murmured as he set to work waking up his best friend and self proclaimed brother.

When Hal was awake, and Percy had aroused Nico, and a tired and grumpy Jason, they settled around their ' table ' which was really a slab of concrete.

With much enthusiasm the streets boys owned their breakfast meal, and soon it was time for Percy, Dick, and Will to head out job hunting. Even though Percy as the oldest was fifteen, he and the other two were the oldest of the six and so did odd jobs in the day to earn money for supplies and tools. With Nico around to shadow travel Jason and Hal away if trouble arose, the oldest could the leave the youngest secure at the hideout.

Percy, dressed in the nicest blue shirt and jeans he had, walked around central Gotham. In his hand he carried his worn out satchel that held a few tools he could use if given a small job. Currently he also held a wad of letters he was delivering for the postal office to earn a few dollars. It wasn't much, but it was enough and the old men running the office pitied him.

He was spacing out as he walked, and his ADHD mind wasn't paying attention. It was probably this that caused him to slam face first in to a rock hard chest. With a small surprised yelp he found himself flat on his back on the street, his letters all over the ground.

People bustled past him not even caring if they trod on a letter, and he started to pick them up before a deep vice made him freeze.

" Sorry there buddy, wasn't looking where I was going. You okay?" The voice inquired.

Percy, his letters recollected, looked up to see a very familiar man standing in front of him, an obvious match to the body he'd slammed in to a moment ago.

" Y-Yeah. Aren't you Bruce Wayne?" Percy stammered in disbelief.

The man chuckled and extended a hand to help him up.

" The one and only," He replied in amusement, not missing the flinch the kid made when he extended a hand towards him.

Percy blushed slightly, here he was a dirty street kid, talking to Gotham's resident Prince and Billionaire., hopefully he hadn't seen the finch, but memories of beatings at the hands of Gabe filled him at the idea of adults.

" Nice meeting you sir," Percy said before quickly scampering off to complete his letter rounds.

Bruce frowned as the boy scampered off. A kid that age should be in school, but judging by his dirty clothes, scratched up skin and incredibly thin frame the kid was homeless, and probably trying to make hands meat.

" Poor kid, hope he makes some cash," Bruce murmured, wishing he could somehow help the kid himself, but by the look in the kids eyes, he wasn't trusting of adults.