He didn't always know, he couldn't have. And if he was being honest with himself, sometimes he wished he still didn't know. He had always had suspicions though, nothing had been confirmed until after he was fifteen, but then he had known for sure. He hated it with everything in him. He didn't understand how someone could be so cruel, so sick. Not just to anyone, but to her, the woman he thought of as his mother. How dare he. Damn it, how dare he do that to her!
For the most part, he tried not to think about it, but he couldn't always help it. Today was one instance in which it was thrust upon him in the most infuriating of ways. He couldn't understand what brought people to do it, and that morning he didn't know how bad his day was going to get when he kissed Selina on the cheek, shot Bruce and Alfie a quick smile, and drove off to school with Jason in the passenger seat.
It started after the first-period bell rang. He had actually managed to be on time to first period, much to Mrs. Swanson's surprise. However, much to her displeasure he asked to go to the bathroom not even halfway through class. It seemed there would never be a time that he was present for her whole class.
He was on his way back from the bathroom when he saw it. When he saw that piece of filth that had the audacity to try something like that on a girl that he was supposed to love and protect. How could he call himself her boyfriend? How could he go around telling people that he loved her? Lie to her parents and peers like that?
He couldn't turn off the automatic response that was Robin and Richard, so he ended up pulling that coward off of the girl and throwing him to the ground. In his haste, he hadn't realized that there were two other guys at the ends of the hallway just waiting for someone like Dick to come along. He could have taken them easily, but he didn't. Batman's voice nagged at the back of his mind, telling him not to blow his cover.
The two other boys held him as the first tried to hit him. The leader only got a single punch in before he was slammed to the floor. "What the hell!"
Dick just barely had time to look at the kid who had helped him out but he determined that it was Jason. Dick used his brother's sudden arrival as a distraction, and stepped on the foot of one of the two idiots holding him and elbowed the other in the stomach. The fight didn't last too much longer before a teacher came out to see what the commotion was.
One teacher hadn't been enough to stop the fight, four more were called over to hold the boys back. Well, mostly to hold him and the coward that started it all. The other two bozos and Jason had stopped fighting pretty much as soon as the other teachers had come out of the classrooms.
He almost found it funny that Mr. Eller was the one holding him back, it seemed that the poor man would be involved in all of his school drama. " Mr. Grayson, calm down! It's over!" He nodded and stopped trying to get at that dirt-bag but he didn't relax. He glanced at his brother in everything but blood "Thanks, Jay."
Jason nodded but had questioning eyes until Dick looked at the girl on the floor a few meters away. Jason followed his gaze and Dick saw a look of comprehension dawn on his face, which quickly melted into anger.
The teachers ushered them into the front office and had each of them tell their side of the story. Eventually, they gave up with that, the three boys all had different stories, Jason and Dick told the same one, and Charolett said nothing at all. Yes, that's what her name was, he finally remembered. And, of course, he knew the other boys. The leader was Jack Cunningham, a senior that Dick knew had a reputation naming him to be a troublemaker. How he managed not to get caught thus far was a mystery to most of the school. Well not anymore, he must get out of it normally by having people tell so many different stories that Dr. Cross has no idea what to believe.
Then there was Dylan Nicks, also a senior. He was widely known for being friends with Jack, as well as being a star football player. Why were the worst people always the popular ones?
And lastly, none other than Marcus Jackson. He was a junior of course, in Dicks grade. He wasn't surprised that Marcus was trying to be in with Jack's group. But this was low, even for him. So, as they sat there waiting for something to happen, Marcus was who Dick found himself glaring at. Beside him, Jason was doing the same to Dylan. Jack was with Dr. Cross at the moment, and Charolett was with the guidance counselor.
It didn't take long for parents to start arriving. Charlotte's mother was first, then Dylan's parents. Soon Marcus' parents walked in looking worried, when they saw Dick they narrowed their eyes. Without saying a word to their son, they marched right into the head master's office and Jack walked out and took a seat. Dick switched his glare to the senior and waited.
He didn't have to wait much longer before Bruce and Selina hurried through the door. They walked over quickly and surveyed their boys.
"What happened?" Selina asked quickly Dick didn't answer he was still staring at Jack. His glare intensified as that lame excuse for a human being looked a little longer than he needed to at Selina. Jason quietly filled the adults in while Dick continued to glare.
"Dick?" He heard Selina ask but he didn't answer, he was still glaring. "Dick. Look at me." Her voice took a more commanding tone and he finally looked at her "Calm down, I need you to tell me something." He nodded and looked away again "Did you see her after?"
He shrugged "He didn't really get far enough to do anything but obviously she looked pretty shaken. I don't think she said anything about it to Dr. Cross."
He answered her question as quietly as possible before resuming his glare. A flare of anger rose when he realized that Jack was still staring at his mother.
He heard Dr. Cross come out of the office only to be followed by Mr. And Mrs. Jackson who were predictably defending their son. "No, he will be suspended along with Mr. Nicks and that is the end of it!" Dr. Cross all but yelled.
"Mr. Wayne, Ms. Kyle if you will come into my office, please. Oh, Richard and Jason as well." The two boys got up to move and follow their guardians and that was where things got ugly again.
Jack was watching Selina walk, Dick couldn't stand it but he wasn't stupid. He wouldn't start a fight but he could provoke one. As he walked by he "accidentally" bumped into him. Jack quickly stood up and shoved dick who caught himself easily and punched Jack square in the jaw. Moments later all of the boys were back at it.
Marcus' dad pulled him out first, it was quite an easy job as his son didn't try very hard to stay in the fight. He just wanted to look loyal to Jack. Dick did manage to get a really good punch in on his nose though, he was bleeding as his father pushed him into a chair.
Dr. Cross pulled Jason out and Mr. Nicks managed to pull Dylan off of Dick. Leaving Bruce to get the two remaining boys off of each other. Bruce got ahold of Dick and slammed him against the wall. It knocked the wind out of him and he struggled to regain his breath.
Jack wasn't stopping though, this was more than self-defense now. Dick had gotten him in trouble. He managed to get a few lucky shots on Dick before Bruce reached back and shoved him hard enough that he fell back into a nearby seat. And now that Dr. Cross was certain that Selina was watching Jason, the principal held Jack to the chair.
Dick rested his head on Bruce's shoulder, still trying to regain his breath. He didn't struggle, he knew there was no point at the moment.
"Maybe we should go." Mr. Jackson broke the silence. Dr. Cross nodded and told the family that he would be in touch shortly.
"Mr. And Mrs. Nicks, I'm afraid you will have to stay until I can talk to you and your son in private. But, for now, Mr. Wayne, Ms. Kyle I'd like to ask you again to come into my office."
The adults nodded and Selina led Jason in with a hand firmly clamped around his arm. Bruce didn't let go of Dick even for a second, he could tell that the boy's anger was still fuelling him and if he were to let go Dick would be charging for the other boy. So, Bruce wrapped one hand around his son's arm and the other holding the back of his neck as he pushed Dick into the office.
"I'll have to stay here until Mr. Cunningham arrives." The headmaster lightly called and Bruce nodded. Jason and Selina were occupying the only guest chairs in the room so Bruce held onto Dick. He loosened his grip slightly but felt Dick tense up. Apparently, he would have to hold the boy the whole time. Dick and Jack could still see each other and it was making both of them edgy and angry, Bruce knew neither boy would relax if they could see each other, not that he cared much about the other boy, but he needed Dick to calm down. "Selina, close the door please."
The emerald-eyed woman stood walked to the door and closed it. Jack caught a glimpse of her and smirked which made Dick strain against Bruce's grip. Bruce pushed him lightly but the struggling didn't stop until the door had closed completely.
So that was what that last fight was about? It had been over Charolett in the hallway, but Dick had been fighting for Selina in the office. Bruce and Selina glanced at each other, then Selina walked closer.
"Kitten?" Dick looked up at her with a pitiful expression. He tugged lightly against Bruce, but the older man didn't let go.
"Let him go, Bruce, he is okay for now. Right, kitten?" Dick nodded hesitantly and Bruce reluctantly loosened his grip. Dick wrapped his arms around Selina and pushed his face into her neck. "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have done that but...I just...I can't let him...not if I can do something"
Selina kissed his temple and nodded. After a few moments, he moved his head so that he could peer over her shoulder at Jason, "Sorry Jay, and thanks. I probably would have been in worse shape if you hadn't shown up when you did."
Jason smirked, " You still are in bad shape bro, but yeah you're lucky I came when I did." Dick rolled his eyes at Jason's response and turned to Bruce.
" I know that probably wasn't the best way to handle that but-"
"It's alright. You couldn't let him do that this morning. You both did good. But, when we leave, do not even try to start something else."
Dick nodded and pushed his face back into Selina's neck.
Dr. Cross came in a few minutes later and Dick let go of Selina but didn't move farther away. The headmaster asked for both boys accounts one again, then explained what would be happening to the other boys. Jack would be getting expelled and the other two boys suspended. " While neither Richard nor Jason will be getting into trouble at school, I do suggest that you keep them home for the rest of the week." Dr. Cross advised
Bruce nodded "I agree. Thank you for everything, we will be leaving now."
"Oh, Richard, while I'm sure we would all like to see Jack Cunningham pay for what he did, please refrain from getting into another fight on the way out. You really should concern yourself more with self-preservation."
Dick smiled slightly and gave a small nod before Bruce took ahold of his arm and lead him quickly out of the office. He didn't look at Jack. They were out of the school in no time and Alfred was waiting with the car running. He opened the driver side door for Bruce who got in quickly. Then he opened the door for Selina as he studied Dick and Jason "Good heavens, you two look like you have been through quite an ordeal this morning"
They glanced at each other and almost smirked. Alfred held his hand out and Dick gave him his keys "See you at home Alfie."
That afternoon Selina told Jason about her father and Dick saw his own anger and hatred reflected in the other young man's eyes. Dick didn't want to think about it anymore, especially after today. God, it made him sick.
That night he was curled up with Selina, they weren't talking, he just wanted to be with her. He was actually almost asleep when he heard someone come in and he looked up. Jason had walked in, he looked at Selina then at Dick. Dick gave him a small smile and hopped on the other side of Selina leaving room for the other boy to lay with her too should he want to.
For once, Jason actually did get in with them. It was kind of nice he realized.
A few hours later Bruce came up from the study and smiled. If anyone tried to hurt Selina tonight they would have a very hard job getting past these boys. Bruce got his pajamas on and laid down with them. This had been a bad day, but this wasn't a bad way to end it.