The Red Ghoul

ARC III: PART I

One of the bigger drawing rooms in the Wayne Manor was set up by Alfred to be used as the dressing room for the Colony. They had Jason's book event to prepare for and they will not assist looking unpresentable.

"I am so excited!" Dick flitted around the room, hugging, and kissing his siblings in exuberance. "We will be finally going to one of Little Wing's book launch parties! I'm also excited to see the city my little brothers had claimed as theirs!"

Bruce couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of his son twirling around the dressing room with all the excitement of a teenage girl preparing for her first date. Dick's exuberance was infectious, filling the room with an undeniable sense of joy and anticipation.

But as Bruce observed Dick's attire, he couldn't help but notice the subtle shift in his son's usual style. Dick was known for his flamboyant fashion sense, never one to shy away from bold colors and daring combinations. From bright oranges and fuchsias to eye-catching fluorine hues, Dick's wardrobe was a vibrant reflection of his vibrant personality.

Yet, today, there was something different about Dick's outfit—a certain demureness that Bruce hadn't seen before. It seems like Alfred had been able to convince Dick to use a more classical suit for his brother's grand event.

Bruce could easily admit that his eldest son was truly a sight when he was not trying to be a troll. Dick looked quite striking in his blue shawl lapel suit, white dressing shirt, blue tie, and white dressing shoes. It softened Dick's sharp facial features and added a touch of elegance.

Bruce then titled his head when he realized what Dick had just said. "You've not scouted, I mean visited Fawcett City yet?"

That's right, The Court book launch was happening in Fawcett University's Library. The same university where Jason Alexander Head was a Creative Writing Professor. Something similar happened in Oxford, Bruce's son's alma matter, when A Death in the Family was launchd. While this might have been the first time that Bruce visited Fawcett City, as until now there was nothing to note about that city, no crime rates or organized crimes that needed Batman's attention. Bruce would have expected that to be the first thing his children would have done the moment they realized Jason was alive and did not plan to return to live full-time in Gotham.

Dick finally stopped spinning and turned to look at Bruce with a pained expression the older man had started to assimilate with Darkseid's attack. "Little Wing only came out of the woods after Superman brought your 'body' to the manor. With Baby Bird mostly in San Franscisco and later MIA, the bulk of keeping Gotham from crumbling fell on Babs and me. So, Little Wing mostly visited the manor when he was not teaching or writing, or when he had to drop Dami and Billy when he was needed for a mission."

Bruce noticed Tim flinching at Dick's words, even though his eldest son did not intend to hurt his younger brother with his words and only wanted to answer his father's question. Bruce withheld a sigh and made a mental note to talk about it with his Robin, the tension Bruce has noted around his children could not continue. Things fell apart with his death and as much as Dick and Jason had tried to keep things afloat, it seems like Tim fell through the cracks.

Just then Cass stepped outside the folding screen and twirled around the room. Bruce's frown was rapidly replaced with a beaming smile. Cass giggled with delight as she pirouetted around the room, her laughter ringing out like music in the air. Her dress—a stunning one-shoulder mermaid black gown adorned with black-purplish beading—clung to her slender frame, accentuating her curves in all the right places. With each step she took, the fabric swirled around her, lending an air of elegance and grace to her every movement.

How she moved so smoothly in her Louis Vuitton black high heels, Bruce will never understand. But one thing Bruce is sure about is that his daughter looked breathtaking. He could not believe how much Cass has grown up since he has been missing, his little girl was a full-grown woman now.