The first time the cameras catch the toddler in the manor, everyone thinks it’s a ghost.
Not because they’re scary.
Because they appear everywhere.
One second there’s an empty hallway. The next, a tiny figure in oversized socks waddles across the screen carrying half a loaf of bread like they personally robbed the kitchen.
Then they vanish again.
Naturally, the entire Batfamily reacts in the most dramatic way possible.
Night One
“Someone breached the manor,” Bruce Wayne says grimly.
The security footage pauses on a blurry little face pressed against the camera lens.
Tiny hands.
Big frightened eyes.
A juice box.
Silence fills the Batcave.
Then:
“…That is a baby,” Dick Grayson says.
“A tiny one,” Jason Todd adds.
“Possibly armed,” Damian Wayne mutters.
The footage resumes.
The toddler immediately trips over absolutely nothing and faceplants into a carpet.
Everyone winces.
The tiny intruder slowly sits up, looks deeply offended at the floor, then keeps going.
The Manor Hunt
The problem is that nobody can actually catch them.
Not because the toddler is stealthy.
Because the manor is huge, and the kid keeps accidentally hiding in ridiculous places.
Inside grandfather clocks.
Under tables.
In laundry baskets.
Once inside the Batmobile.
That incident ends with Alfred Pennyworth discovering the child asleep in the driver’s seat holding a dinosaur plushie like they conquered Gotham.
Every time someone approaches, the toddler panics.
Not dangerous panic.
Just startled-animal panic.
They squeak.
They run three feet.
Then immediately crash into furniture.
Jason Makes Contact
The breakthrough comes when Jason Todd finds them hiding behind the couch in the library.
The toddler freezes.
Jason freezes back.
The kid is tiny. Maybe three years old. Wearing mismatched pajamas and one sock. Their curls are sticking up everywhere like they fought a tornado and lost.
Most importantly:
They look terrified.
Jason crouches slowly. “Hey, kid.”
The toddler immediately tries to retreat and bonks their head on the wall.
“…Ow,” Jason says sympathetically.
Tiny watery eyes stare at him.
Then—
A shaky little hand appears holding out a cracker.
Like a peace offering.
Jason’s expression completely collapses.
“Oh, we are NOT telling Bruce about this.”