Chapter Text
“It would be easy to offer corrections in the field than afterwards from their videos. They need immediate correction for it to truly absorb it." Bruce brooded at the computer. Watching another patrol video, with notes open for him to put in. not that Danny or Ellie read the notes like the rest of his kids. They didn’t hold much interest in taking up the good post patrol habits of his older children.
“You just want to take them on patrol with you. They are the only ones you haven’t. And they are in the that cute new robin phase still.” Dick said from behind him. He smuggly crossed his arms on the back of the chair leaned against it. “Selina said no.”
“Selina isn’t patrolling with them either. And they deserve to have the same resources and training available to them.” Bruce stated bluntly.
“No.” Dick said a bit sharp. “They deserve better teaching than we got. Without the emotional damage and care taken to actually listen to them. You have the benefit of knowing their actual feelings towards your lessons in the moment and follow up. And don’t try and take away their hero work. Since you are 0 in 7 in that regard or are you going to show us all you can't learn, again?”
Bruce hmphed at him. “I am trying to do better. With all of you.”
“Yeah you could still use some work.” Dick said, scuffing his arm against the back of Bruce’s head. “Maybe take a lesson from the kittens, like Dami did. And learn to apologize. They over apologize and the rest of us under apologize. Mostly learned from you too. We are all lucky they didn’t get that bad habit from you.”
“They use it as a defense mechanism.” Bruce said petulantly. “They believe it will prevent an attack on them for perceived slights.”
“I mean they do do that. But they also usually mean it when they say sorry. They don’t like upsetting people without intent or cause. But Damian has said more times since he met the kittens than he probably has his whole life before that. Tim is saying it more and I know I think I am too. It’s easier with them because we don’t have that history. They don’t see apologizing to be shameful or admitting they were wrong and losing face. They just genuinely feel bad they hurt someone’s feelings.”
“And if I followed suit you’d all accuse me of being patronizing.” Bruce pointed out. “The only ones who do not are Danny and Ellie.”
“And that’s only cause they haven’t been around you long enough to know that you are.”
“Master Dick, it could also be attributed to they are able to sense to a degree if master Bruce is being genuine from his emotions, that he doesn’t allow the rest of you to be privy too like a father should. Maybe more effort could be made to express your emotions to the rest of your brood.” Alfred said coming up behind the two with glasses of water.
“Thanks alfie. But half the time the kittens also think he’s a powder keg about to go off on them in particular.” Dick pointed out.
“That, I am sure, is the trauma. But we can not discredit master Bruce’s glowing disposition and refusal to attend therapy.”
“I’ve been attending therapy.” Bruce said under his breath. “With Dinah. Uptill recently, since christmas i’ve made a point to once a month.”
“Have you discussed any of your problems? Or just second hand psychoanalyzing your new kids?” Dick snipped.
“Both.” Bruce answered honestly.
“And what would mrs. Dinah suggests then, master Bruce in this situation.” Alfred asked pointedly.
Bruce breathed sharply through his nose and turned his chair, forcing Dick to take a step back. “To ask them what they’d like to do and accommodate. If they agree with stipulations to abide by them.”
“And you can't do that because you aren’t in control that way. They are.” Dick snarked.
“I don’t want them to feel pressured.” Bruce informed them. “I have noticed they still flinch when I'm in the suit and I surprise them with my presence or an unexpected movement. If they aren’t completely enthusiastic there is a greater risk my presence would not only be a distraction but cause a mistake in the field.” Bruce stared down his oldest. “Danny and Ellie flip suddenly from being confrontational to needing to please and I haven't pinpointed a trigger for either mood.”
“There might not be one. It could be they are just picking up on somethings being more of an issue. Or they could just be stressed and lash out. We all have bad days.” Dick said, playing with his glass rim a bit. “I’ll admit going in the field with you might help bridge that gap. But you really have to loosen the reins with them. You,” he put emphasis on you. “Need to really think long and hard about what kind of field work you want to take them on, because they are not going to step in line for you. They are going to get distracted and have fun. You haven’t done much petty street crime patrols for a while since the rest of us cover most of it. And it’s the best suited for how the kittens operate. Also it’s a risk of you triggering Danny’s protection obsession. If you go too far in Danny’s eye, you set yourself way back on bonding. And you will have to fight your own kids who are protecting the crooks.”
“Ceasing actions that risk death also stops triggering that response unless he’s agitated.” Bruce stated. He was smug about it too. Dick could tell.
He had Dicks full attention now. “And where did you get that tidbit?”
“Harvey.” Bruce answered. “He called to check in. Two Face wanted to know if the kids burned down the cave yet. The kittens have stumbled onto a firefight before. Harvey noticed they didn’t go after those who had stopped firing to reload. Once he ordered his people not to engage the kittens only went after the other party.”
Dick looked concerned at Bruce. “That seems to be a horrible thing for them to realize. They or Penguin could set them up to go after their competition.” he rubbed at his nose in frustration. “Right. Ok, that’s I guess better than Jason's suggestion.”
“What was Jason's?” Bruce asked.
“Ride it out. Danny had more leeway for Jason because it was his haunt and usually someone or something else triggered him more. But Danny’d fight Jason if Jason tried to kill someone in front of him. Their solution was to send Danny out to deal with something else before he’d do something lethal.” Dick paced a little while he spoke. “I know you and Harvey were close. I know they helped us out with the custody thing I do. But I don't like them being around the kittens.”
“I know.” Bruce said. “They hurt you. Jason has a working relationship to my understanding and two face seems to like Danny and Ellie.”
“And I hate that. I liked it better when they were indifferent and it was just about annoying all of us and some nostalgia. I don’t understand how Jason can stand to work with him! He killed his own dad. And to let him around the kittens!” Dick snapped a bit before trying to calm back down.
Bruce waited for him to collect himself. Alfred put a calming hand to Dick’s shoulder. “Jason’s relationship with his own father was different than yours. And my understanding on good days, Harvey or maybe two-face reached out to him a bit like a mentor.’
“In running a crime organization.” Dick scoffed, rubbing his head.
“Yes, but I think it might be his way of atoning for past actions. They have been shoring up their own territory to fall similarly in line with hoods when it comes to rules of conduct.”
“Except without the outreach and humanitarian programs. And more bullet holes, since everyone gets a 50/50 shot when they cross them or break a rule.” Dick threw back at him. “And yet you still get on Jason when he does it under tighter constraints and rules.”
“This isn’t about mine and Jason's issues.”
“You’re right. It’s about how you screw up with all your kids. Oh wait, Jason is your kid too.” Dick gave him a cutting grin.”
“Master Dick. I kindly ask you do not pick a fight with master Bruce at the moment. If you wish to do that, let it be somewhere which ensures more privacy.” Alfred snipped at his eldest grandson. “And not before retiring for the night.”
Dick looked like Alfred had cut his sails a bit the way he sagged and looked up towards the manor. They weren’t sure if fighting would draw their attention, or if they could feel emotions coming from the cave into the manor, but it was best not to risk it.
“Look, b. My point is, you are letting two-face or Harvey, I don’t know or care how you are compartmentalizing them now with their revelation.” he pointed at the ceiling. “Slide with more b.s. Because you see him making some progress on your moral sliding scale. While literally throwing Jason's back in his face at every turn because it’s not good enough because it does not match perfectly with yours. He isn’t even the only one! News flash. Most of us don’t align perfectly with yours. Except Cass. Hell Danny’s the closest at this point and even he will force himself to whistle and walk away, or hurt himself to do what he thinks needs to be done for the good of others. I’m happy we stepped in and prevented him from doing that. But even the kid with the biological imperative to your code knows not to try and force it on everyone around them. But it’s really bad parenting to hold your kids to standards you don’t hold others to in your life. You’re not teaching us to be better. You’re just making sure we all know we’re never good enough for you, because we don’t live up to your mission as you set it.”
“I do think we can all agree master Danny and mistress Ellie have suffered feeling inadequate in their lives enough.” Alfred said. “And the rest of the children could use some encouragement instead of criticism as well once in a while.” Alfred sniffed. “Despite your allergies sir.”
“Alfie, you're being too kind.” Dick teased. “I’d also like to add the hypocrisy angle. See k.g.beast.” Dick went to click on the batcomputer for Bruce to grab his wrist.
“You’re correct. I did not praise any of you enough even when I was proud of you. My criticism of your field work and behavior was more often than not addressed poorly on my part. It is one of my traits Harley highlighted as a safety and health issue with Danny and Ellie. And one of the major factors for not wanting Danny and Ellie to patrol with me.” Bruce looked away for a minute to collect himself before meeting Dicks eyes again. “It was pointed out that though Jason has received many grave injuries since coming back to gotham. They have nearly all healed without scaring. Except the one on his throat. Just like the ones Ellie’s have from her creator. And Danny from the fenton’s. I know the stakes at play here.” Dick opened his mouth to argue. But Bruce cut him off and put his son off kilter. “Which is why Dinah suggested a method of complimenting before and after offering a criticism on each of your work. Which I have been implementing. Rather unsuccessfully it seems from my own assessments of our progress.”
“That’s what that is?” Dick asked, shocked, before he started giggling, “oh my god. We thought someone was editing the feedback notes. It’s been driving Tim crazy because he couldn’t find who scrubbed it. Nor Babs. Everyone that it was a long con prank by one of us.” Dick nearly crying with laughter. “You were just actually listening to a therapist, your therapist for once! None of them are going to believe me.” he continued to laugh to himself wiping at his eyes.
“Yes that does seem to be a barrier in progress for all of you.” Alfred addressed Dick sternly. Dick answered by waving his hand at Bruce.
“That explains the lack of comment on it.” Bruce said. “I was expecting some teasing or rebuttal.”
“Yeah no, none of us wanted to look crazy. But ok, you are doing some work. I’ll throw you a bone. I’m proud of you for even that little inch.” Dick held up his nearly touching thumb and pointer finger. “I know a 100% foolproof way to get the kittens to enthusiastically want to be your patrol buddies. It comes with 2 caveats. You might be stuck with longer than you intend. And two, well you have to deal with your pent up frustration and anger in another manner. Because if they go with you, with this idea, you are not going to get the chance to work out your repressed emotions on the criminals of gotham. They will be too amused. But hey you get to go back to your roots and spend quality time with your kids. But I'll only do that if you do your two compliments thing in person with everyone at least once. Could be any situation. Not just field. Except when you are being Brucie. That doesn’t count.”
Bruce huffed and turned away back to the computer. “Tim will want a blood test if I do that.”
“He probably won’t be the only one. But hey track marks are good for Brucie gossip.” Dick clapped him on the shoulder again. “If it helps. I won’t be an ass about it, like i would have had i not known.”
“That does.” Bruce said.
“Swear jar master Dick.” Alfred said primly. Dick stood up straighter with a groan. “And I expect you both upstairs no latter than hour.” Dick groaned as Alfred headed back upstairs.