#I'll look at it again tomorrow but for now here it is unedited over uhhh 2 hours

[redrobin-detective]

its not easy (to be me)

With his hearing, there was no way for Conner to escape the arguments. Especially when all the arguments were about him.

It had started two weeks ago with a question, a simple question but a big one. The Kid knew about the Batman of course. Seen him and his dorky sidekick in passing during battles. But they’d never, like talked. Bats had asked who was taking care of him, who was training him and frowned when he’d said no one. He asked about Superman, if he was helping. Kid had shrugged and told Batman the truth, that Superman hadn’t even given him a name much less any help.

Batman frowned in a way the Kid would soon learn was his Fixer Frown. A frown that said there was a problem in front of him and he would fix it however possible. His solution was to bring the Kid home and give him care, training, a name. A family. As much as the freedom of Metropolis and later Hawaii have been, the Kid was lonely. He loved his powers but wanted to belong somewhere, to someone, to be more than a gimmick in a leather jacket. He said yes.

And that’s when the arguments started.

“What the hell are you playing at, Bruce?” Superman yelled at Batman, who he now knows is Bruce Wayne. The man applying for custody of a recently invented, on paper and in reality, young orphan named Thomas Smith soon to be Wayne. The Kid mouthed the name to himself hundreds of times and it never fit quite right. He supposed he’d get used to it soon enough. They’re at the Watchtower while the Kid has been staying while they got all the paperwork settled. He’d been studying a map of Gotham when his ears picked up raised voices a few halls over.

“What do you think you’re doing? Do you think this is a game? That you can just steal any child that crosses paths with you?” Superman yelled

“He was living on his own in another state with only an unscrupulous manager and a reporter who made uncomfortable advances on him caring for him,” Bruce said in a clipped voice. “I understand the circumstances of his existence are uncomfortable to you-”

“Uncomfortable? Lex defiled my dead bodied and used it to make a- make a-”

“A child,” Bruce explained. “A child who is not at fault for the circumstances of his birth and deserves care, respect and a place to call home. I stayed my hand this long because I expected you to step in.”

“What? So I don’t get time to cope with coming back from the dead? I need to put my own life back together before I can handle this, Bruce!” Superman exclaimed.

“You had options, your mother has been fighting with Alfred on the phone for days to get Thomas to Smallville. But you didn’t, you left him alone.” Bruce said in a menacing tone, the Kid is kind of awestruck. He doesn’t know much about Batman but he does know the guy is human and he’s challenging Superman. For the Kid. Someone is defending him for the first time ever. It makes his chest hurt in a weird, but good, way.

“You are allowed to see him, Thomas will need your help with his powers. But he will be my son, in my care not because of any petty reasons but because someone has to care about him. He doesn’t deserve to wait for you to decide if you’re ready to be a parent. I didn’t with my other two children and I won’t now.”

“Fine,” Superman huffed and a part of the Kid broke a bit. Some part of him still hoped that the man he was cloned from would fight for him but well, you can’t have everything. “You’re a good man, a good father, you just don’t have to be an ass about it. I’ll talk Ma down down but she’s insisting he visits the farm at least once a week.”

“Of course, he can come over this weekend and you, me and your mother can come to a workable arrangement.” Bruce nodded, “If you’ll excuse me. I’d like to check in on him. I’m sure he’s been listening in to this conversation.” The Kid yelped and ducked his head in guilt though Bat- Bruce- couldn’t see him.

“Oh, right, of course,” Superman said clearing his throat. “Thank you, for taking care of him.”

“He’s a good kid,” Batman replied. “We’ll be in touch.”

“I’m also glad to see you’re doing better,” Superman said suddenly. “After, well, you know died. I was really worried. Robin has really helped you, I uh, I hope you take care of that kid in kind. I mean with the all changes happening.”

“Robin will be fine, this adoption should not affect him.” That said, he left and his footsteps approached and the Kid went back to studying the map upside down.

                                                         XxX

“What’s your angle with this B, please explain it to me so the world starts making sense again!” The Kid tensed up at the sudden screaming coming from down in the Cave. He was hanging in his room, his real, proper, all to himself room when he was distracted.

“Nice to see you too, Dick,” Bruce said sarcastically.

“What the hell are you doing adopting another kid and a Super at that? Uncle Clark sounded miserable on the phone, what are you playing at?”

“Clark is wrestling with his guilt and sense of relief, he’ll get over it,” Bruce explained blandly. “The boy was in need of help no one was proving, I could walk away.”

“Of course you could have!” Dick yelled. “You don’t have to take in every sad story you come across! And you don’t but this one is special, isn’t he, Bruce?”

“Dick...”

“You’re still barely standing after Jason’s death and now the next kid you slot into place has super powers and is practically invulnerable. I bet you’re already cooking up excuses to oust Tim and put that brat into the Robin costume. No more worrying about taking your little bird out, no more chances of losing partners.” Dick scoffed.

“That is not true!” The Kid curled in on himself a bit on the bed. He put his hands over his ears to try and block out the fighting but his hearing was too good.

“Don’t bullshit me, Bruce, I’ve known you pretty much my whole life. I know how you think.” Dick sighed. “Look, you probably think you’re doing the right thing. You want to help this kid, that’s great but you can’t save everyone. Nothing’s official yet, you can send him to Smallville or the Fortress. I probably can swing to have Cy and Gar watch him at Titans Tower. You don’t... an invulnerable kid won’t bring back Jason or help Tim, who’s doing a great job as Robin and doesn’t deserve to be treated this way.”

The Kid had met Robin once or twice but he’d only heard about Tim. Tim hasn’t come over since this whole thing began. Tim probably hated him for replacing him even though that’s totally not what he was doing. He buried his head in his knees. He just wanted some place to belong.

“Thomas is staying Dick, he is my son as much as you and Jason are,” Bruce said sternly. “I know you admire Clark and I respect his right to admit this isn’t what he wants but Thomas still needs this. And he’s not going to be Robin, Tim earned that position and it will stay with him as long as he chooses.”

“Yeah, well, how much will he want it when you’re parading a newer, better model in front of him,” Dick grumbled. “You keep making the same mistakes, B. Lets hope this one doesn’t end with a body count. I’m headed back to the ‘haven. I’ll send a card when I read about your new addition in the newspaper.”

                                                        XxX

“Thomas? Dearie?” The Kid looked up to Martha, “call me Ma”, Kent. “You alright, son?”

“Yeah,” he mumbled, towing with the ends of the homemade sweater Mrs. Kent had given him. It’s warm but big in the shoulders and a bit itchy. He looked around the small but cozy kitchen. Looked past the walls to the sprawling farmland of Kansas and a little beyond that to the tiny specks of Bruce and Super- Clark- talking about him just out of earshot.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” he wriggled in his chair. “It’s just a lot to take in, y’know?”

“I do,” She sighed and pet his shoulder. “I know Bruce has a huge heart and I can see he already cares for you but it is your decision if you want to go with him. Living in his house means a lot of responsibility, both in public and private.”

“Yeah,” He shrugged.

“You could stay here,” she offered tentatively. “Smallville High is only a few miles down the road, lots of open space for a young boy to spread his wings.” He a second, he could almost see it. See himself helping out with chores, helping Ma cook, practicing moves at night in the empty fields. Maybe one time, but not now.

“I’ve had people give up on me, ignore me, use me but I’ve... only had one person fight for me and mean it. I appreciate it Mrs. Kent but I wanna go with Bruce.” She smiled and grabbed his hands to kiss.

“I understand but no matter what you are to Clark, you’re my grandbaby. No matter what happens going forward, you’ll always have a place here with me.”

“Thanks,” he sniffled and she patted his hands again before standing up and turning so he could collect himself.

“Now those cookies ought to be done by now. I know Alfred has been spoiling you but I make a mean snickerdoodle myself and you’re not leaving until you tell me who does it better.”

                                                          XxX

“Thomas?” The Kid jumped at the voice behind him. He’d been so busy focusing on Bruce’s aggressive argument in the study below with the adoption lawyers on the phone he’d missed the boy sneaking up on him. They were in the second floor family room where visitors weren’t allowed, how’d he even get in? “Hey sorry, I just uh assumed you heard me.”

“No uh it’s okay I was uh-”

“Eavesdropping?” The other guy smiled, “You’ll fit right in.” The smile turned sad but reappearing. He stuck out his hand. “I’m uh Tim Drake. We’ve met technically but I was, you know,” he held his hands in front of his eyes miming a mask. “At work, I guess.”

“Oh!” The Kid lit up, “you’re Robin! That’s so cool. Sorry I was so rude that first time, I’ve been watching watching Youtube compilations to get a feel for Gotham and you have some sick moves. Good to finally meet ya, I’m uh Thomas I guess?”

“Bruce pick out the name?” Tim said with a grimace. The Kid shrugged. “No surprise there, kinda creepy to be honest. Plus you don’t even look like a Thomas.”

“I don’t?” the Kid moaned, Bruce gave him this name and if the name didn’t fit then maybe he didn’t fit.

“Nah,” Tim said thoughtfully, bringing his fingers to his chin in thought. “Thomas is kind of old fashioned, you need something cooler. Like Danny or Brad or uh,” he blushed. “Conner. That was my uh best friend when I was in elementary school. He moved to Canada the next year but I thought he was the coolest kid around.”

“Conner,” the Kid said, tasting the name. It sounded nice. It sounded right.

“Thomas Conner Wayne but because of the uncomfortable associations, you go by your middle name,” Tim smiled but once again it was kinda sad. “It sounds nice, I think you’ll be real happy here. Bruce was... struggling after Jason died, I think you’ll help him heal in a way I can’t.”

“What do you mean? You’re Robin dude!” Conner said incredulously.

“I’m the neighbor kid with weird hobbies who doesn’t know how to take no for an answer,” Tim deadpanned. “You’re the adopted kid with superpowers. You don’t need to be a genius to work that math out.” He ducked his head. “Look, sorry, that was rude. I get it, this is a good thing. I knew this gig was temporary, until Batman got himself together and now... now you can help him.”

“Tim, I’m gonna be straight with you, man,” Conner said, gripping Tim’s shoulders. “I’m happy to be here but I am also scared shitless. Your city is insane and Bruce gave me a gas mask the other day to carry when I’m out of the house. He asked if I wanted to learn to fight and that’d be wicked but I don’t know what it means and if I’ll still be able to be a hero if I gotta hide my powers and please.” He begged, “you can’t leave me alone. Superman doesn’t want me, Dick thinks I’m some sort of experiment and who knows with B. I need someone to help me. Please, Tim.”

“Oh I mean,” Tim blinked, “Of course yeah. I’ll show you what I know, I think you’ll be going to Gotham Academy same as me so I’ll help you there. Teach you how to live to Gotham. How to interpret B’s grunts and growls. And Dick is nice but he’s got a temper, you gotta know how to work around it.” He smiled, “as long as B lets me stay, we’ll be in it together.”

“Together,” Conner said with a smile feeling the tight ball in his chest start to relax. For the first time since this began, he finally felt heard. He grasped Tim’s hands and held tight. Tim seemed cool, willing to help someone he thought would replace him. He’d do anything to get Tim to stay, would beg B if he had to. Dick may not like him but Tim seems like he’d make a pretty awesome big brother. “

“Hey I found some secret passageways with my xray vision, wanna check them out?” Conner suggested.

“I think between Dick, Jason and I, not to mention baby Bruce, we’ve found them all but I’d be curious if you found an extra one. Let’s go, I’ll show you the squeaky floorboards to avoid when we’re sneaking around B.”