He's sitting alone and in the dark. Atop an uncomfortable bed, he sits cross-legged with a chunky laptop laid across his lap. On his face is a tired, weary affect and he stays silent as he types away.
The door swings open and he immediately sits taller, swallowing. He says nothing, waiting for the arrival to speak.
"Pack your things, kid."
If anyone asks, he'd say he's been expecting this. It's routine by now. So, instead of asking why, he asks where.
"I'm thinkin' Central City. With the Flash."
•••
His name is Richard John "Dick" Grayson, but if anyone asks, it's River Zucco. He's only fourteen but his mind is older, having seen things no one his age should have ever seen. As unfair as it is, it's only life for him and he's forced to deal with it.
As he finishes placing a charger in his oversized duffel bag, he looks up and out the lonesome window to his right. Peering out and past the curtains, he sees a city. The building he's in is a crude apartment in poor condition, but he's just thankful to have somewhere to live anyway.
He sips up his bags and swings it over his shoulder. It's a bit heavy but it's nothing he can't handle. So, he turns around and leaves the room.
It was dusty and cramp anyway.
"Outside," says a voice to his left. He moves his eyes to look over in that direction. "There's a car. Get in it."
"Yes, sir," he says in a voice too quick. The man glares down at him for a moment before turning in his heels and disappearing down the hall.
Quietly, escaping the building, he grips the strap of his bag tighter. Again, he's running. They're running. Always. He knows it as it's always like this, even if they hadn't done anything wrong for once.
Always running.
Like a river.
He shakes his head quietly, opening a car door. He climbs inside the vehicle and ignore the stale air.
•••
It takes two days and one night of nonstop driving to get to Central City. They ditch the car on the outskirts of the city. It's a thirty-five minute walk to the house that his guardian has chosen. The house looks nice enough on the outside but the door must be locked and it must be unfinished inside. There's no way that this was in the budget.
"Whaddya think?" asks the man.
"It's nice," he says in reply. His voice... it's tense and awkward. He doesn't move his head but he casts his gaze onto the man. Then he walks forward. "I'll be inside."
The doorknob is a little too jiggly but the door opens smoothly. Inside, there's a distinct lack of furniture. He doesn't care though because they won't be staying long. He knows it.
A river. That's what they are.
And that's his name to the world.
"You know what to do," says the man from his spot on the sidewalk. "Go on, River."
Looking back, blue eyes meet peculiar ones before they part ways. The teen disappears inside, shutting the door behind him. Once alone, he fists his hands and stays there for a while. He's shaking, only minutely though. His blue eyes are wide and just a little too frightened. His head hangs before he marches forward in search of his room.
Whoopdedoo. I got a new story idea if you couldn't tell. Smh. I actually thought of this a few weeks ago but I didn't jot it down. It miraculously came back to me recently. I guess you can think of this as a Book of Henry or whatever kind of AU—maybe. I only know the basis of the plot. Regardless, I don't own that. Or the DC Universe. At all.
Guess what? Unless my English teacher didn't upload final grades in time, I got all A's this quarter! As a freshman (in high school) with 4 Honors classes, I'm very proud of myself.
The plot will be revealed as chapters are uploaded. Be warned, there's possible light slash or close bromance and maybe Reverse!BatFamily as those two are my usual go-to's. No promises though. Oh, also, future reference to abuse but nothing explicit.
As always, chapters following this should be 1,000-1,500 words, depending on how I feel. To my TAoD and Trouvaille readers, I hope to update after Thanksgiving. Speaking of which, have a lovely holiday and stay safe! :)
Review please? ;)
Also, I made an allusion of sorts to Hamilton. :))