A/N: Hey! I just wanted to let y'all know that this chapter is pretty emotional. I based it off of my personal experiences when writing how the reader felt. I still hope you enjoy it<3
--------------------------------------------------------------
Time: 4:20am
Location 1007 drive, Wayne Manor
Questions were raised, but answers were presented.
Your father brought his hands up, gently tugging his mask off before directing his gaze to you,
"I believe it's best I get this out while I can. When you were at the age of three, Selina had submitted you in as a test subject for an experiment regarding the mixing of feline genetics with human genetics."
He paused, watching the way your features contorted in pure confusion and horror,
"So," You swallowed, gathering your bearings,
"You're telling me, she willingly turned me into a meta-human??"
He stayed silent, averting his eyes. You couldn't help but gape at the new facts presented to you. Although you had suspected that you were genetically mutated, why did she do it? Why did she do that to her own daughter? Now that your suspicions had been confirmed, you had an even harder time accepting them to be true. You stood from your spot, pointing your finger at him accusingly,
"Why didn't you tell me anything?! Why didn't she ever tell me her damn self?! How could she do this to me! Did she even considering the consequences if the test experiment were to fail?! Did she consider how I would feel?!!", you choked up, swallowing the lump in your throat. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes before proceeding,
"I...I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, (y/n). I thought it was best to address this matter to you once you got older."
"Well you thought wrong.", you snapped,
"I'm grown now, but the difference is, I could've handled this fine at a younger age. You know better than anyone that I've already seen the worst. Starting from the moment I began to speak, my life was different from the rest. I would've been fine knowing this before, father."
You couldn't really make out the expression on his face as another pause took over the room. Remorse was present in his eyes. Seeing that emotion in him, it was enough to calm you down just a smudge. You sat back down, running a hand through your hair,
"Just, just continue from where you were.", you whispered, leaning your head down on your right palm. Honestly, it broke you internally. You were on the brink of tears. He looked at the ground, pulling his gaze back up to you before seriously speaking,
"I want you to know right now, that I wasn't aware of what she did to you. Not at your age. Selina didn't tell me I had you until she left you with me."
You bit your lip, fighting against the anger that radiated from your limbs,
"I would've tried to stop it. I was furious with her when I learned about what she..did to you. The point is, she told me she had you genetically mutated to prevent criminals from coming after you. She knew soon someone would figure out who's daughter you were, and, she wanted you to be ready to defend yourself. At least..in this cruel world."
Your eyes softened a bit. Your mom had good intentions. She had a point in what she did. You were Batman and Catwoman's daughter after all.
But, it still didn't change the fact that you felt resentment towards her. What she did would never fully be okay with you.
Though, in the back of your mind, you told yourself you couldn't be too mad. Being a meta-human granted you many confusing questions, but it also granted you the strength and confidence you had with your abilities as a heroine.
In the end, it granted you your identity.
"As you know, your mother left under her own conditions. Although her actions were unfortunate, she did it to protect you, (y/n)"
You mindlessly messed with your hands, all emotions going numb to you as the reality of the situation finally set in,
"But, but why? I don't...understand. I was already mutated. Why did she have to leave?"
"She left because she wasn't leading a good life for you. She was a thief. And she knew she get caught at some point."
He spoke firmly, straightforward, almost as if what he was saying about your mother was frustrating enough for himself to speak of. It was clear he still cared about her,
"It was the best for you."
You nodded,
"I, I can see the reasoning as to why I can't blame you anymore. But...it's going to take time to accept this...and to accept what..she did"
"I know you're beyond mad with her"
You sighed, leaning forward from your seat,
"I am. I don't think I'll get over it until...she speaks to me. Either that or I confront her. I know there must be more you don't know right now."
Your father stood from his spot, walking over to kneel in front of you. He grabbed your hands, clasping his own over them,
"I won't stop you. You do what you think is best, (y/n). Not for me, not for anyone else, but for yourself."
He reached a hand up, cupping your cheek. You looked at him, a tear finally making its way out of your eye as you began to cry.
Seeing you cry like this, it truly broke Bruce's heart. His beloved daughter had to suffer through so much. You fell into his arms as you wept, all your bottled emotions coming out at once. He held you for a while, rocking you back and forth like he once used to when you were a baby. Everything was clearly overbearing and overwhelming for you. After a while, you pulled back, regaining your composure. You swallowed, taking a deep breath,
"Will, will you still accept me..if I go and find out the rest from her?", you whispered. He almost missed what you said by how lightly and suddenly you spoke. He furrowed his brows, nodding his head,
"Of course I will."
You looked up at him, watching a frown etch its way onto his face. He was obviously wondering why you would ask that,
"For a while now, I've been hesitant on seeing you."
He looked at you, waiting for you to go on,
"I was worried you wouldn't accept me after... all that's happened. It's not only about what happened with Jason but..you warned me about siding with him, and you...ended up being right."
He sighed. Bruce wasn't in distress. It was just a bit saddening that you would think that. You could commit all the wrongs in the world and he wouldn't pin everything on you, only because he knows in his heart, he had something to do with it,
"There will always be things that don't turn out well. Whether it's ignorance or whatever you want to call it, we are human. We make mistakes. I, as a father, still have so much to learn. Either way, I will always love you and accept you. The same applies to Jason."
You smiled softly at him, clasping a hand over his,
"I love you too, dad. So much."
———————————————————————————
Time: 5:05am
Location: Wayne Manor
After your little 'discussion' with your father, you went to see everyone back in the cave. You did your best at forcing yourself to smile, but after what just happened, it was pretty hard to do so.
Upon arrival, everyone turned. They shot you questioning looks,
"Hey, where were you? You've been gone for a while", Barbara questioned. She turned in alarm as Jason placed a warning hand on her shoulder, forcing her to see to something she missed. Now that she looked at you closely, it was clear you had been crying. Everyone followed suit, noting the barely noticeable,-but noticeable to detectives-, streaks of dried tears on your cheeks. You smiled wearily, feeling slightly embarrassed at the concerned gazes they now aimed at you.
Jason walked over to you, grabbing your hands, "You okay?", he whispered worriedly, leaning down to your eye level. He really was concerned about you, but, you knew his question was really asking if you okay with telling the rest of what you had learned. What he couldn't convey through his words, you quickly caught by the emotion in his eye. He knew what just went down. You nodded at him as he pressed a sweet kiss to your forehead,
"I'm alright"
You stepped forward, tightly grasping his hand as you prepared yourself, clearing your throat,
"Well" you began, look at each of them. They all knew what you were about to talk about. It just happened that they knew about your mother and your abilities. However, they still didn't know about what you had just learned a few hours ago,
"I suppose I owe you an explanation. I...I found out about my past. You'll get the details later, but I'm,- I'm a meta-human."
Silence took over the room. You looked down in embarrassment and in shame, walking to the side,
"If-If you guys don't accept me after this, It's totally fin-"
You heard a small Tt interrupt you from the side of the cave. Damian walked up to you, crossing his arms,
"You speak nonsense"
Tim nodded his way, walking over to the youngest,
"Hate to say it, but he's right."
Stephanie, who had her elbow leaning on Cassandra's shoulder smiled, never wavering,
"We'll always accept you"
Everyone steadily approached you, Dick and Barbara ending up in the lead. Dick flashed you a gentle smile, eyes glinting with happiness,
"Whether you're a meta-human or not, you'll always be family, and we love you."
You felt your heart grow warm at his words. Of course dick would say that. After all, he played a big role being a brother to you when you first arrived to the manor. So did Tim and those who came after.
Looking down at the ground, you sniffled, holding back on crying again,
"Hell, we even loved you when you continued seeing this bastard", Damian pointed his thumb at Jason, scowling when his gaze met his glare,
"Take the media for example. Even they like seeing you and Jason together.", Duke cutted in, forcing a grin upon seeing the playful glares you and Jason threw his way, "Even though you're both technically brother and sister in legal terms" Tim high-fived Duke as Kate came over, smacking their heads for their mockery. You arched a brow at the two, clearly amused and confused. What a strange way to change the subject. But hey, it worked.
You chuckled, settling down into a chair in front of the bat computers. Everyone quickly went back to conversing, figuring it was best not to dwell on a sensitive topic. Either that or they just didn't care anymore. You closed your eyes, leaning back into your chair in an attempt to grow comfortable. Just as you did so, you caught dick's and Tim's scents, their shadows looming over you as they sat down beside you,
"You know what's unfair?" Dick spoke, the spinning of his chair forcing you awake.
"What? Please enlighten me", you mumbled, rubbing your sleepy eyes,
"B likes you the most. You're the most trusted."
You snorted, rolling your neck to the side to look at him,
"I thought you didn't care if dad liked one of us more"
He shrugged, shoulders falling limp,
"I'm still his son"
You grinned at him, watching as he leaned back into his own chair and closed his eyes, a gentle smile making its way onto his face.
This really was family.
————————————————————————-