Chapter Text
Percy had never felt more alone in his life. Even when his mama was at work and he was outside avoiding Smelly Gabe, he always knew mama would come back - she was his anchor. Even when Smelly Gabe used to hurt him or lock him in closets, he always knew his mama would come back. But now she’s gone, and he knows for the first time she’s not coming back.
He clutched at his backpack tighter, the rain covering his tears as he sat in the corner of an alleyway, attempting to blend into the shadows. He grabbed only a few things before running away; a water bottle, a small plastic bag with blue candy Mama brought for him before…, and a small orange bottle filled with pills Smelly Gabe forced him to take when his mama wasn’t there. He couldn’t get the one thing he wanted most - the medium-sized box hidden under mama’s and his bed filled with everything important to them. He tried, really he did, but with Smelly Gabe there it was impossible. He just took what he could and ran.
He curled up into a ball, trying to suppress his sobs. Smelly Gabe said crying made him weak, he couldn’t cry. His throat felt like it would explode, and his chest felt like it was being crushed, but no, he’s not going to cry.
Percy didn’t know this place that well, they only moved to Gotham a few months ago, his mama saying it would be safer for him. He knew enough as he usually wandered around when Smelly Gabe kicked him out; where some shops were, where some alleyways are, the most dangerous places - which is everywhere, but it’s fine, he knew enough. He could live like this, he has some water that will last him a day, and at least Smelly Gabe is gone.
But Mama…
He looked around, some of the other kids mentioned heroes who keep the city safe, and while the books were too expensive, he always looked for any glimpse of them. He heard of Batman and Robin who come out at night, and keep people like him safe. Though, it didn't help him feel any less alone.
Mama…
He brought a shaky hand to his chest in an attempt to help him breathe - he couldn’t breathe?
He only realised then - why couldn’t he breathe properly? It’s happened before many times, especially after a bad night with Smelly Gabe, but his Mama would always calm him down. What would she do? He ignored the feeling of his rapid heartbeat hammering against his chest, and racked his brain for what his Mama used to do to help him. His thoughts were all jumbled, he couldn’t do this.
His Mama’s voice broke through his heavy breathing, it was almost like she was actually there with him.
“It’s okay, baby, try to hold your breath for 4 seconds. 1… 2… 3… 4. Now exhale…”
Percy clutched onto her voice like a lifeline, even if it was all in his head, it was like she was there. He repeated her instructions for a while, taking time to be able to slow down his breathing. He could see properly now. His Mama would normally ask him for 5 things he could see.
A trash can…
My backpack.
The streetlights.
A parked car.
And…
An empty plastic water bottle thrown on the ground.
He then continued the exercises until he felt he regained control, finally feeling a little less alone after hearing his Mama’s voice, though it was like all his energy was drained from him, adrenaline finally running out. His eyelids felt heavier and every blink seemed slower, using his backpack as a pillow he finally let his eyes closed, knowing Mama would always be with him.
❀ ❀ ❀
Percy woke up to hushed voices and loud footsteps - even though he knew these weren’t Gabe’s footsteps, he still flinched. He tried making himself even smaller, and pushed himself closer to the wall. Percy’s breath hitched as the voices became louder and more aggressive, raising his head to see two large figures coming into the alley he was in. He tried not to whimper, making the mistake of clutching his backpack even tighter so that the small plastic bag made a small noise, yet not small enough to go unnoticed.
Both heads snapped his direction, and he didn’t dare breathe. He put his head in his arms hoping his black hair would blend into the shadows, holding his breath for as long as he could so as to not risk making a noise and getting noticed, but of course he wasn’t that lucky.
“Look who was eavesdropping..”
Percy’s eyes stayed clenched, breath released and now sped up.
“Look at us boy. Do you have no manners? You think you can eavesdrop on us and have no consequences?”
He slowly raised his head to meet the two imposing men’s harsh gaze, when suddenly one of them, faster than how Smelly Gabe would, flung his hand to his arm and made him stand. Percy flinched, but not enough to escape his harsh grip.
His voice raised. “Speak boy. What do you think you’re doing?”
Percy tried to speak, he really tried, but he couldn’t. He bit the side of his already chewed cheek, accidentally making it bleed again as he felt a bruise form on his wrist. He just wanted his Mama.
“I asked-“
A punch by a gloved hand hit the man, releasing Percy from his grip. Everything was a blur, but he didn’t dare stay any longer. Without looking up but keeping his face fixed on where the man’s hand used to be, he ran towards his backpack making sure it was safe with him, and curled into a ball, trying to be forgotten about. He clenched his eyes shut making sure no tears escaped, and tried blocking out the sound of the fight before him.
❀ BRUCE ❀
Bruce and Jason were on patrol when they heard shouting. Looking at each other, Batman silently nodded before running towards the noise, Robin following in his trail. The voice, becoming louder each second, led them into an alleyway, where two men were shouting at someone. Their large bodies covered the third person completely, only seeing one of the men holding onto something below - perhaps a collapsed man?
Bruce attempted to assess the situation, trying to get a better view of the collapsed man, hearing shouts of eavesdropping.
“Speak boy. What do you think you’re doing?”
Boy? Maybe a few years younger than the men, hopefully not too young. He felt a surge of anger at the possibility of him being a child. He saw the anger projecting into violence to the boy, and lunged forward.
“I asked-“ Bruce punched him away from the man, Robin taking care of the other one. He looked back briefly while restraining the man to the younger man, to see him gone from where he was before, and turned back to the men when they continued to fight.
“B…”
Robin said quietly, eyes darting towards the corner of the alleyway. Frowning, he looked to see a ball of a person hidden by shadows. He realized this was the boy who was targeted. He glanced at Robin, and they exchanged a conversation through their eyes, the conclusion being Robin taking the two men away while Bruce talks to the boy.
After ensuring Robin got them handled, Bruce turned back to the boy. He finally got a better look at him, and actually realised how tiny he was. The child’s small hands were gripping his hair so tight it looked painful, his head buried in his knees and his trembling noticeable even from where Bruce was standing, not that close to the small boy. How was supposed to approach this little boy?
“Hey, hey, you’re safe. It’s okay. Just breathe. “ Bruce said, kneeling down. He didn’t want to go too close to him to startle him, knowing this time alone would be traumatizing for a child, especially as young as him.
Making no acknowledgment of hearing him, the boy’s short gasps, quieter than normal, were getting more uneven and rapid, and his clenched hands became tighter, pulling out little pieces of his jet black hair into his tiny fingers. Bruce’s heart ached, not knowing how to comfort this boy who, standing, probably wouldn’t come up to Bruce’s stomach.
Slightly louder, but still soft and quiet so as to not scare the boy, Bruce continued.
“It’s okay, you’re safe, I’m here protecting you. It’s okay.”
The boy’s head started to lift, shocking sea-green eyes looking back at Bruce, though Bruce couldn’t marvel at the brilliant colour due to the fear and pain in the little boy’s eyes, more than any boy should have. Bruce minutely shuffled forward, nodding in reassurance.
“It’s okay, focus on my breathing.”
Bruce demonstrated an exaggerated inhale, held for a few seconds, then exhaled, doing this quite a few times until the child calmed down. After his breathing became more manageable, Bruce really took a look at the boy, how young he was, his thin and fragile body lacking food, and the bruises on his neck, partially hidden by his hoodie. He then realised the boy wasn’t crying, which was unusual for his age and situation, and filed that in his head for later. He needed to make sure the kid knew he was safe now.
He heard Robin’s light and familiar footsteps behind him, stopping far enough to not overwhelm the kid but to state his presence.
Bruce didn’t know the kid’s situation, but being out in Gotham at night, clutching to his backpack like it contained his lifeline didn’t scream a good home life - in fact it seemed like he ran away. He still had to make sure, but didn’t know how to word it without the boy feeling even more upset.
“Do you have a home to go back to?”
That question seemed to remind him of something, and he curled up even more, moving his gaze to his tiny shoes and slowly shaking his head.
“Would you like to have a home to go to? With someone I know will take care of you?”
He could hear Jason’s sharp intake of breath, before stepping forward closer to Bruce and putting a hand on his shoulder, but Bruce’s eyes never left the little boy. After freezing at the question, he slowly lifted his head up with a slight frown. He took a bit to think, disbelief and fear in his eyes, but Bruce spotted a bit of hope there too. He opened his little mouth but closed it right after, resorting to shakily nodding his head, eyes flickering from Bruce to Robin.
Bruce very gently let out his hand, waiting for him to take it. Even with the slow gesture, the child still flinched, but eventually allowed himself to shuffle forward to put his hand in Bruce’s, the size difference almost comical.
Bruce smiled softly and looked at his new son.