Nothing was happening and there was nothing to do, so all of its inhabitants relaxed for once.

But, of course, Bruce and Tim still found some work to do as they always did.

Currently, most of the family was in the living room. Grayson was taking the most space he could manage on one couch, flicking through TV channels with a bored expression. Steph was yapping on to a sleep-deprived Tim, not shutting up even for a moment even as Tim’s head almost dropped down his computer screen. Jason was cleaning his weapons, Duke and Cass were just chilling, Duke apparently trying to read a book and struggling. And, as always when his wasn’t playing the big bad Bats, Bruce was at the Batcomputer, hunched over and typing away quickly. Jason had started betting on the last time the old man blinked. Alfred wasn’t present— probably cleaning somewhere, looking on with his usual dry exasperation from above.

Damian wasn’t back from school yet, so they were kind of waiting for him. He was later than usual, which was weird but not a cause for concern— they knew he could handle himself. Now it was just a matter of waiting.

And waiting…

And waiting…—

Why’s Grayson screaming? Jason thought grumpily as he glanced up from the weapon he was cleaning, looking over to his older brother who was, in fact, screaming. But it didn’t seem to be for a bad reason— they knew he older man had by now jumped up from the couch he was obnoxiously laying on and ran to the window, jumping up and down and murmuring something on the lines of “oh my god, oh my god, oh my god” over and over again under his breath.

The rest of the bats raised eyebrows like they didn’t believe him, Tim even finally snapping awake at the sound of “Dami” and “friend” being in the same sentence. Grayson obviously noticed the disbelief in his dysfunctional family’s faces, and so he pointed at the window and told them to “Look and see if you don’t believe me!!”

And so they did exactly that, and what sight were they met with? Damian just outside the property line, talking to some kid his age and smiling. It was the faintest thing, but not faint enough for the bats to not catch it. And God were they shocked.

Even Bruce looked away from his computer screen, and that was a damn miracle.

The family’s expressions were a mix of utter disbelief, concern, confusion and the rare ounce of pride. Jason was already walking to the door, a grin on his face that couldn’t mean anything good.

Grayson, of course, knew exactly what he was going to do and was more than ready to join. Tim just looked very much done— with everything, at this point.