A/N: Hey, this is my first fan-fiction, so I thought I'd do something easy like Batman! This story is classified as 'Young Justice', but really it could be any Batverse that has Dick and Bruce.
Anyway, on with the story!
Disclaimer: I don't own batman, but I have him on a notebook!
The chairs here were hard, cold, and as uncomfortable as could be. And, as if that wasn't torture enough, he was forced to wait. Eventually his name would be called, and he would be in a world of hurt. The fish in the tank across from him did little to alleviate his nervousness, and it only took one look at the toy chest to see that it was full of boring old items; nothing interesting. The eight year old Wayne child slumped as his name was called.
"Bruce, the dentist is ready."
He fought a shudder, before standing, and felt a sharp jab into his left side. Then he caught his mother's meaningful look.
"Coming, Ma'am!" he called, jogging over.
In the office, the chairs were comfortable, though he was by now terrified. This was only a routine check-up, and the dentist patted his head when he found no cavities or anomalies of any sort, aside from a lack of flossing. He reported that find to Martha Wayne, who simply sighed at her son, shaking her head. Bruce ducked his head to hide his embarrassment.
But the dentist's reaction pleased the boy, because it showed that his plan had worked! See, in an effort to hide his recent bad brushing habits, he'd been brushing every other hour for the past week, and even flossing sometimes besides! Sure, Alfred had raised his eyebrow when he noticed the toothpaste and mouthwash were disappearing much faster than they had been for the past month, but he didn't mention the lapse to Mr. and Mrs. Wayne.
When Bruce and his mother left the dentist's office, they saw Alfred pull up in one of the family cars. Bruce grinned, and waved to the butler. But, when his father stepped out from the back, the boy whooped and flew into his father's open arms; and for a moment, the Wayne men's laughter filled the parking lot.
"Dad! You got off work early!" Bruce exclaimed, as his father hoisted him up onto his shoulders.
"Of course, Brucie!" Thomas Wayne chuckled. "I was trying to get off before your appointment, but I was needed in the office." Thomas leaned over and kissed his wife before continuing. Bruce winced, sticking out his tongue, which made Martha chuckle. "You'd think they can't get any paperwork done without me."
From the car, Alfred produced a silver-wrapped box, and handed it to his employer with a curt nod. "Sir, I do believe you forgot this." he said in his clipped British accent.
"Ah, thanks Alfred." Thomas took the box and offered it to his son, who by now had climbed back to the ground, eyes shining.
"Thanks, Dad!" he took the box and tore the paper off quickly. When he opened it, he saw something he wasn't expecting: A rather large lollipop.
"A lollipop? Dad, I just got out of the dentist's office! I'm not supposed to eat for at least thirty minutes!" The child had a puzzled expression, and a slight pout to his lips. He'd been hoping for a new toy, or trinket or something, not candy!
Thomas simply chuckled as he ruffled his son's hair. "That's why we won't tell the dentist, Brucie! It'll be a Wayne family secret!" he winked. "Besides, that's the exact thing my father always gave me when I had a good report at the dentist's. I wanted to carry on the tradition."
Bruce smiled, popping the candy into his mouth. For a moment, he savored the mixture of fruity flavors, before hugging his father again, careful not to stab him with the stick protruding from his mouth. "Thanks Dad." he slurped. Thomas just chuckled. "Anything for you, Brucie."
Many years later:
The boy struggled to remain still in chairs that must have been centuries old. They were still wooden, for goodness sake! The carpet under his feet was ragged and torn, and the magazines that littered the room were all at least ten years old. The fish in the tank were the only spot of color in the whole place, and if it weren't for them, the boy would have died of boredom forever ago.
Seriously, twenty minutes was far too long for anyone to expect a boy to sit still; especially in these chairs.
"Mr. Grayson." an assistant dressed in blue scrubs called. "The dentist is ready for you."
"Finally." the boy muttered, rising from his chair. He glanced at Bruce, who was tapping away at his laptop, a scowl on his face. "I'll catch up, Dick." the man said, not looking up from the screen. The boy nodded, and trotted to the assistant, letting her lead the way to the office.
The check-up went well, and because Dick actually cared about cavities and the like, he made sure to at least brush once a day, meaning that his report came out fine. Though he had a molar that needed pulled, because the new one was growing in faster than the baby tooth was ready. Bruce set an appointment, and all seemed well.
None of it really bothered the nine year old. Dick had told Bruce that he had good dental hygiene, and that this check-up was unnecessary. But as usual, the older man didn't listen.
As they exited the office and waited for Alfred to pull up, Bruce handed Dick a long box wrapped in silver paper. The boy stared first at Bruce, then the box.
"Bruce..?" he didn't finish the question, probing the box, and shaking it slightly to decipher the contents. Bruce rolled his eyes.
"Just open it." The older man sighed. Dick waited until Alfred opened the car door for him, and he was able to slide in beside Bruce to open the box. When he unearthed the lollipop, his eyes opened wide.
"Bruce, what is this? Trying to undo all the good habits the Dentist just planted?" the boy still smiled and popped the candy into his mouth, and closed his eyes to savor the fruity flavor. Bruce rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the slightest bit self-conscious.
"It's…Something my father did for me, whenever I went to the Dentist's, and came away without cavities." The man cleared his throat and looked out the window, avoiding Dick's curious glance. "I just thought…you might enjoy it too." He muttered the last part quietly, but Dick smiled. He leaned over, and laid his head on Bruce's shoulder.
"Thanks, Bruce." The boy sighed, feeling happier than he had in quite a while.
From the front seat, Alfred had to fight to keep the chuckle from escaping his lips as he watched the Young Master cuddle against Master Bruce. Perhaps there was some hope for this family after all. Instead of chuckling, he hummed a merry tune to himself as he drove back to the Wayne Manor, already planning a festive dinner to celebrate.