"You have the security system of a bird's nest."

"Because I trained you to hack it in case of emergencies."

"Please... I hacked the JL's system when I was eleven with a computer from the nineties. This is nothing." I smirked, propping my feet on Bruce's desk as he closed the door to his office. "I need help."

"That's a first." He smirked, throwing me a banana. "Take it you haven't eaten."

"Aunt Selina dragged me and Jason out to buy him a whole new wardrobe, so no. With your credit card, by the way. I was instructed to return it." I shrugged, placing the card on the desk.

"And Dick?"

"With the boys at Central City somewhere. The Team wants to meet Jace, so we're taking him to spend the night in the Cave tonight."

"Did Selina talk to you about-"

"Nope, and that's what I come to talk to you about."

"Maeve, it's been almost a year since-"

"It's not that simple, Dad." I interrupted and stood up when he forced me off his chair. "I mean, I have no problem with you being my dad because J's an asshole who literally killed me once... but Harley actually tried to take care of me sometimes."

"Harley was the one who suggested it, Mae." Bruce assured and I sighed.

"But she's my mom, y'know? I never had a dad, but I had someone who attempted to be a mom..."

"I'm proud of you, y'know? Last year, you didn't even want to see her. Now, you're at least recognizing she's your mom."

"Yeah, I know. No need to rub it in." I rolled my eyes, slouching in my seat. "I don't know what to do, Dad... I don't wanna make it weird."

"Weird how, Mae?"

"Because you and Selina have whatever it is going on. And me calling her 'Mom' while my actual mom is her best friend is kinda weird too."

"What I have with Selina is-"

"Your own fault because you keep putting the mission first, Dad... you're gonna permanently lose her if you keep this up."

"You'll understand when you're older." He sighed.

"Bullshit."

"Language!" Bruce scolded and I mocked him. "God, if someone told me that raising teenagers was this hard, I would be drunk six days outta the week."

"And be an absent father? What a perfect role model for an orphan, a street kid and a psychopath, Bruce." I sarcastically said and smirked. "And it's me who makes it hard for you... can't help it."

"You're my kid, you're not supposed to make it easy for me." He assured and I nodded, looking down. "Think about the whole thing with Selina... the papers are on standby on my office in the Manor when you make your decision."

"And Harley?"

"Take a day to visit and talk to her, alone preferably. After that, you can make your decision." Bruce smiled, standing up and pulled me into a hug. "You're calling the shots, Maeve. No matter what you decide, Selina and Harley won't love you any less... I won't love you any less."

"Promise me?"

"Swear it on my grave."

｡ﾟ•┈୨🃏୧┈• ｡ﾟ

Recognized: Domino, B-001
Robin, B-01

Access granted: Jason Todd, 01

"I hate that thing!" Jason exclaimed, clinging to Dick who was holding him steady.

"You'll get used to it after a while." Dick laughed and waved at everyone. "Everyone, this is Jason. Jace, that's Wally, Artemis, Zatanna, Raquel, Connor, Kaldur, and Megan."

"That's the kid who stole the Batmobile's tires? You're kidding me!" Wally laughed, speeding up to us. "I see why you like him, Maeve."

"Pride and joy right there." I chuckled, standing in between Artemis and Zatanna. "Make yourself at home, Jace."

"Maeve, I think there is something you should see." Kaldur called out and handed me a tablet. "Seem familiar?"

Humpty-dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty-dumpty had a great FALL

Batman and Robin couldn't put Humpty-dumpty together again.

"I... I don't recognize the writing, sorry." I said uneasily and handed the tablet to Dick. "Where did that come from?"

"Metropolis. Connor spotted it and thought you'd recognize it."

"It's written in blood. Look how it's dripping." Dick said and amplified the image for all of us to see. "And it's fresh too."

"And are those dead ducks in the background?" Artemis butted, shielding Jason's eyes.

"A mother and her baby." Raquel realized and turned to me. "You think it's-"

"No. He's locked up and wouldn't think of going to Metropolis... his beef is with Batman and I, not Superman." I interrupted and turned off the image. "Computer, call Red Arrow."

"Why are you calling-"

"He won't tell Batman. If I call Diana or Supes, they'll immediately call him... plus, I haven't heard from Roy in a while."

"I know it's you, Domino... I'm busy."

"Well, it's glad to hear your voice after three months, Red! Glad you haven't died yet." I spat and heard him sigh before turning on the video call. "Meet Jason. Jason, this is Red."

"N-nice to meet you, Red." Jason waved.

"Right, now down to business. I'm sending you something to check out. It's not gonna be an official mission until I say it is."

"Call the League, I'm not getting involved." Roy rolled his eyes and I glared. "And I'm getting involved."

"Smart boy." Dick snickered. "It's in Metropolis. Can you go undercover and tell us if it's anything related to him or not?"

"Suppose I don't have a choice... I'll check it out and report back in a few days after I get back from Germany."

"Red... take a break. You can stay here with us for a while." Megan tried to reason, but he shook his head.

"Not until I find him."

"Be careful, okay? We're all worried about you." I frowned. "Radio me once in a while, Red."

"I'll send you my location if it helps you sleep at night, Maeve." He offered and we all nodded.

"Be careful." I said one last time and hung up. "I'm not thinking about that right now, okay? I've got a lot on my mind."

"Hey, Jason... wanna meet Wolf?" Connor offered and Jason nodded frantically.

"Do I!" He exclaimed and ran after Connor to the back of the Cave.

"Please tell me he's not gonna turn out like us?" Zatanna asked.

"He's been looking at our old suits more than I would care to mention and Bruce already dropped the hint that Mae and I should start training him or at least showing him the ropes." Dick admitted.

"You know what that means, right Dick?" Wally butted and we all turned to him. "Prepare for you two to be replaced in a near future."

"It's not that I wanna be Robin forever, y'know? I kinda wanna go and do my own thing outside of his shadow, but that's mine. If Jason really wants it, I can pass it down when I'm ready, but it's not Bruce's thing to take from me."

"What are you getting at, Dick?"

"Bruce has been threatening to fire me as Robin for months now. And now that Jason's here-"

"It might be the perfect opportunity." Kaldur realized and we both nodded.

"Jason has the potential, he's a street kid for God's sake! But I have a very bad feeling about it." I shrugged, watching on as Jason arrived on Wolf's back.

"If anyone is training that kid, it has to be you, Maeve. You're the one with the most experience here." Raquel pointed out. "And who's to say there can't be two Robins until you find out what you wanna be, Dick."

"I just don't wanna give up Robin just yet."

"So don't." I shrugged. "It's yours, bird boy. Bruce doesn't deserve to have a say in it... I mean, you really think I'm wearing the Bat logo for the rest of my life? No freaking way!"

"I honestly don't see what's bad about it, guys." Wally shrugged.

"Because you don't live with your mentor and he's actually nice. Ours trains us like we're soldiers preparing for war."

"I mean... it is Gotham City after all." Megan butted.

"No, you don't get it. He's too focused on his mission and he's dragging us down with him... I don't the same thing to happen to Jason."

"Which is why you should train him. Take him under your wing for a bit and see how it goes. Don't take him with us, but start small. Like you two started!" Zatanna smiled and I bursted out laughing.

"Small!? Zee, when I started training, it was in the middle of a gang war with all the villains in Gotham, my dad included!"

"And when I started, I was rescuing her from the clutches of death!" Dick continued and I nodded.

"Hey, Jace! Heads up!" I called out, pulling out a Batarang from my pocket and threw it, Jason dodging it with ease. "Nice reflexes, little bird."

"What would've happened if I missed?"

"Wally would have to rush you to a hospital while I explain to Batman why I tried to kill you when you haven't been living with us for two months yet."

"You gonna do it?" Raquel asked and I sighed. "It's a dangerous life out there, Maeve. You know it more than we do. And if Bruce already has his eye on training him-"

"I'll think about it. I don't want to think about it tonight, okay?" I sighed, slinging an arm around Jason. "Wanna play some air hockey, Jace?"

"Hell yeah!"