Chapter Text
T’was June Third, in some year in this century (or was it the next?) and all the schools (or at least all the schools in one Gotham City, New Jersey) were officially out for the summer. At exactly 12:06, all the children in the Gotham Unified School District were out. That day, many children and teens were giving heartfelt goodbyes to one another as if they would never see each other until the next school year (despite the fact that for a majority, these children would be spending their summers with each other chatting about the latest robberies and breakouts and would go hunting batarangs together.)
At 12:06, the last bell for the school day rang, calling goodbye to all the students and sighing in relief. The schools would have summer school, of course, but over the summer there would be changes and additions made to the buildings, all in an attempt to make the school safer for the children attending. (After all, in the nine months of school, there had been at least two attacks, maybe even three each month - and even then, that was if they were lucky.) Cars picked up their kids, others walking home through the lovely Gotham air. And here, I suppose, is where the story truly starts. One family in particular, whose children attended the various Gotham schools, and were on the same level as famous as Gotham’s Bat Family (problem) - The Waynes, were quiet all day about summer plans. Damian Wayne, the youngest member (and only blood son, as he would remind everyone) would ignore any questions asked his way at Gotham Academy. Tim Drake-Wayne and Duke Thomas (and everyone supposed, by extension, Stephanie Brown) were tight-lipped about plans when asked at Gotham High. When they were picked up in a mini-van, by one Dick Grayson (the eldest member in the family and who should probably be at work, but who cares) spectators stood on tip-toes to look and see if the car gave a mention of summer plans.
It was not until the four kids, plus Dick, arrived at Wayne manor and were having lunch, that the summer plans were finally questioned by one Tim Drake.
“Are we going to do anything this summer?” he asked, in between bits of his sandwich. “Or is it just gonna be us sitting around at home, because I won’t mind that.”
The other members of the family who were sitting near him, all fornwed in varying degrees of thoughtfulness.
“Huh,” muttered Duke, “I thought we would have planned something by now.”
“Well, I mean last year,” started Stephanie, but was cut off by Tim saying, “We don’t talk about last year!”
“I,” said Dick, grabbing his plate and loading it into the dishwasher, “have work, because I am an adult and pay taxes and would really like to go on a vacation.”
“Of course,” said Damian with a huff, as he held onto Alfred, “none of you have plans.”
“Really?” questioned Tim, “What are your plans?”
Damian froze, then huffed, then said, “I don’t have to answer your questions, Drake.”
He left the room shortly after.
***
In the end, it was everyone's fault. Once the other members of the Wayne Family (baring Bruce because he worked, unlike Dick) had arrived it was close to 1:15, in the afternoon. Jason Todd, who had sighed dramatically when asked about his summer plans (I don’t know, staying away from you) to Cassandra Wayne who shrugged. When Barbara Gordon arrived, she too sealed the family’s fates by proclaiming, “I don’t know.”
“We’re vigilanties!” said Tim, flopping onto a couch in the family room, disgruntling Steph. “We should have planned for the summer already.”
“It seemed so far away,” continued Dick, “and yet, here it is.”
Barbara, who had been typing away at her computer froze, a smile coming onto her face. She waited until the room, which had been filled with chattering people quieted, all looking at Barbara expectantly.
“How do you guys feel,” she asked with the biggest grin, “about a road trip?”