Chapter 1
I had this idea to do a story about Dick Grayson, not Nightwing. There will be references to my other stories, but this story is all about Dick Grayson. Everything is as it is in the cartoon, and my fanfictions.
I'm not quite sure if this will be long, or have a point, but I really hope you guys don't mind the more relaxed, slower paced story.
Enjoy!
Happy New Year!
Dick sat in his college lecture room bored out of his mind. The professor was actually very interesting, a nice, interactive, helpful, 52 year-old professor, but the topic was so boring. That and Dick had already studied this with Alfred and knew it all.
Stupid Credits. Dick was staring at the board, but his mind was somewhere else completely. Dick stifled a yawn as another minute click by on the clock.
Finally, the clock hit 10:53, the time classes ended. His next class was at noon, so Dick usually stayed behind to chat with his professor in an attempt to learn something new. His professor, Dr. Jenkins, seemed to not realize that Dick was too advanced for the class, so Dick was always leaving the class feeling like he had just heard the same lecture twice, which is what usually happened.
"Oh, Richard!" Dr. Jenkins called. Dick almost groaned. He had stopped staying and talking about a month ago, being to bored, and busy to hang around.
"Yes sir?" Dick said politely.
"I notice that, while you ace all of my tests, you are always half asleep in my class." Dr. Jenkins had a smile on his face. Dick tired to apologize, but was cut off. "It seems to me, that this class is much too easy for you. I have signed you up for the advanced class. Remember, that class has high expectations." Dr. Jenkins said. Dick smiled.
"Thank you so much sir. I did enjoy your lecture though, they were very well done, I have just studied this before." Dick said sheepishly.
"Ah Dick, I knew! I could tell you were always trying to be challenged, but I couldn't help you with that since you were asking about a topic I haven't looked into for years." Dr. Jenkins laughed. Dick smiled.
"Thank you for recommending me sir." Dick said.
"Well, it isn't everyday that a hero such as yourself is able to move past his parents death and enter college a whole year early!" Dr. Jenkins laughed, not noticing the brief flash of pain in Dick's eyes as the raw subject of his parents was mentioned.
"Yeah, well, with Bruce Wayne as a father, it was easy to go above and beyond expectations." Dick said. He wanted to leave now, this conversation was going down hill, fast.
"Ok. Don't bother coming to my class tomorrow, you are already signed up for the advanced class and the professor is expecting you tomorrow!" Dr. Jenkins seemed very proud of this. Dick smiled.
"Thank you sir." Dick turned to leave, but…
"Richard! Would you mind eating a brunch with me?" Dick forced a smile, maybe this nice, interesting, interacting, helpful professor was too interactive and helpful.
"Sure!" Dick wanted to run away and just get off the campus for a little while.
"Good! I'll grab my suitcase and we can head out. How does Panera's sound[1]?"
"Fine. I'll pay."
"Oh, no, no, no! In fact, I'll treat you!" Dr. Jenkins led the way out the door and Dick followed, trying not to blush.
"So, Richard, how old are you again?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm 17." Dick said, lengthening his stride to catch up with the taller man.
"oh really? Very impressive! College will be a breeze for you! When do you turn 18?"
"In March." Dick lied. He had been born over the midnight hour on April 1st.
"Oh? Interesting. So, you took some college courses in high school right?"
"Yeah. Mostly math courses, but I also took two language courses."
"You say that like you are trying to be modest!"
"I am."
"Bah! You should be proud of your intelligence! It is a gift! Now, tell me, when will you graduate college?"
"Um, the year I turn 20 is my plan."
If I live that long, I should make it. Dick thought wryly, smiling.
"Amazing! I have high hopes for you boy. One last question before we step in." Dick noticed they had just arrived at the wonderful bakery/restaurant.
"Of course sir."
"How are you going to celebrate your graduation if you are not aloud to drink?" Dr. Jenkins let loose a wild laugh while Dick just chuckled. The two stepped into Panera's and ordered their meals. Dick let Dr. Jenkins lead him to a table that already had an occupant.
"Hello! Hello Professor Peters!" Dr. Jenkins said in his over-excited ways.
"Ah, hello Dr. Jenkins. I take it you are Richard Wayne?" Peters directed the last comment towards Dick.
"Richard Grayson-Wayne. Nice to meet you." Dick said. He defiantly had a headache from today's antics.
"Oh, sorry. I'm Professor Jake Peters." Dick shook the young man's hand.
The man was obviously attractive. He looked around 30, and had red-tinted auburn hair. The man was probably 5'11", and had a swimmers' build. The man was currently wearing a gray wool suit to block out the cool December weather.
"I'm the new professor you'll be seeing starting tomorrow." Peters said pleasantly. Dick smiled. This professor seemed to have an easy attitude.
"I'm looking forward to it!" Dick didn't lie; he was bored from his current classes. Dr, Jenkins seemed very ADHD and happy that Dick and Peters liked each other.
"Richard!" a sweet voice called out. Dick looked over his shoulder and felt his heart skip a beat. There she was, the one the only…
"Ah, hello miss. Richard, who is this beautiful lady?" Peters asked. Dick smiled.
"This is my girlfriend Stephanie." Dick stood up to give his girlfriend a big hug. Stephanie was just a cover name for Starfire. Starfire had scarlet-red hair that reached her waist. Her eyes were the most vivid green Dick had ever seen. Today, Stephanie wore a purple sweater and dark blue jeans. She also wore comfortable black boots.
"Hello sir." Stephanie/Starfire said to the two college professors.
"It is very wonderful to meet the woman who captures Richard's attention while she is away in my class than my lectures!" Dr. Jenkins said. Stephanie gave a beautiful smile that lit up Dick's heart.
No one noticed Peters frown at the affection displayed.
"Dick, shall we go on our date now?" Stephanie asked. Dick smile, nodded, said good-bye to his professors and headed out into the cold with his arm around his girlfriend.
Dick was nervous. There was no other way to describe the fluttering feelings that made him want to vomit. He sighed. What could he do?
"Dick, do you know where we are going?" Peters asked. Dick was jolted out of his day-dream. At the moment, Dick was driving a black convertible with the top down with Peters with him.
"Yeah. You said you wanted to meet my tutor, so I thought I'd introduce you two." Dick said. He really did want to do that, but the real reason Peters was in his car was because he had forgotten the man was there and hadn't dropped the man off at his usual stop.
"So you are taking me all the way to Gotham?" Peters asked with a smile. Dick grunted, though it sounded more like a stifled laugh.
"Yeah. They know you're coming though." Dick felt the nervous rock in his gut get heavier. He had told Bruce about his awesome professor, and the man had requested to meet him. That wasn't what made Dick nervous though.
After a little accident in Russia… well life was pretty cruddy. That and just last night the Justice League learned that the 16 unaccountable heroes were wanted in some far away alien sector.
Crap, crap, crap! Dick wanted to scream. He had thought that having a huge philosophical conversation about his favorite subject with his professor and his tutor (Alfred) would calm him down.
When they arrived at the manor, Alfred was waiting at the door.
"Good Evening Master Richard. Master Peters, it is a pleasure to meet you. Richard has complemented you greatly." The aged butler commented. Peters smiled and shook the outstretched hand.
"Would you like anything to drink?" Alfred asked.
"Um, bourbon, on the rocks, splash of water." Peters said. Dick tried not to giggle. That was what Peters always ordered.
"Alfred, I'll stick wit hot cocoa please." Dick said. As he stepped in, Starfire tackled Dick in a hug.
"Dick! I'm so glad you decided to visit tonight! Clark just announced that M'gan and Conner mad the trip successfully!" Starfire laughed and kissed Dick. Dick felt his heart melt and his worries dissolve. M'gan and Conner would solve what was wrong. BB wouldn't cause trouble. Dr. Strange would fix the problem. And he, Dick Grayson would have another night with the amazing Starfire. Alfred just barely caught Peters narrowing of the eyes out the corner of his own eyes. The old butler just shook his head and thought that Dick was just to attractive and congenial for his own good.
"Ah, Step, you remember Mr. Peters right?" Dick asked. Starfire nodded eagerly.
"Oh yes, I am very glad to meet you again professor!" Peters gave a camera ready smile and accepted Starfire's hug. It was during hug that Peters noticed Starfire's ring…
"That is a lovely…" He was cut off as Alfred came in with the desired drinks.
"Oh, Alfred! Thank you!" Alfred had brought Starfire her favorite orange juice.
"Just my job, Mistress Stephanie." Alfred exited the room.
"Oh, Mr. Peters, I bet you wanted to speak with Alfred? He was my tutor throughout my younger school years." Dick said, keeping one arm around Starfire's waist.
"Ah, thank you Richard. If he would allow it, I would also like to meet Mr. Wayne as well." Peters said. Dick shrugged and gave Peters a wink as he disappeared up stairs. Peters heard some childish voices upstairs but ignored them as he went to talk to Alfred.
Much later that night, Peters finally met Bruce Wayne. The man had just appeared in the house, in the living room with a straight shot of bourbon, no ice, in his hands.
"Mr. Wayne!" Peters said excitedly. Bruce looked up from the book he was reading. It looked like the Hobbit to Peters.
Ah, the great Mr. Peters. Nice to finally meet you." Peters thought Bruce would rather be able to talk to Dick and kick Peters out.
"It is a pleasure to meet hetman who raised Richard." Peters flattered. It seemed the flattery worked and Bruce smiled.
"Well, what else could I do? You've seen those eyes. When he was 8, they were impossible to ignore. I just saw him in the orphanage at a charity gig, and I decided I could help him." Bruce smiled fondly at the memory.
"Wow, that is quite the inspiring story. I really wanted to talk to you about Richard you know."
"What for?"
"This sounds a lot like a high school thing, but I'm a little worried about the kid's social life. It seems he is either alone, or in some 'club' that I can't find in the academy's lists. I was hoping you could give some insight."
"You are right, Dick's club is not listed by any school. He belongs to an H.E.R.O. [2]club. It is a club that discourages bullying and helps other orphans." Bruce explained. Peters went silent.
"Well, it seems my worries were very unneeded." Peters said. "I'll wait in the car for Richard…"
"If you need to, feel free to spend the night." Bruce suggested taking a sip from his bourbon.
"No, I have a lot of grading to do. Will Richard be able to give a ride home tonight? He and his girlfriend look… close." Peters said carefully. Bruce smiled.
"I am sure you would just have to ask and he would take you home." Bruce then excused himself and Dick came down the stairs minutes later. Dick's hair was slightly mussed up, but other wise the teenager looked normal. Peters smiled back at Dick when Dick walked by.
"Heard you had grading, I am excited to hear what score I got on my latest test so I'm going to take you home." Dick grabbed his own wool coat and led his respected professor out into the cold January night.
[1]- Paneras is a really awesome bakery/restaurant/coffee house in my town. I'm not sure if it is a national chain or not.
[2]- the H.E.R.O. program is real, and it is a really helpful anti-bullying program for high schools and middle schools.
Well? How is the first chapter? The next chapter skips to Alienated.
I will leave clues to which of my stories I'm referencing and I will make sure you guys know when I am altering information from the episodes. I hope you all are enjoy this story.
Love,
Burning Bright
