Chapter 2: Unmasking the Dark Knight
Me: Wow, updating is weird after a hiatus!
Disclaimer: Well since you have like three stories done for this category…
Me: *hides as the North Wind fans rage*
Disclaimer: Dragon doesn't own Young Justice.
The coughing that had wracked Dick's lean frame left him trembling in his friend's arms.
"Dick, we gotta get you in different clothes. We can't work with you in Kevlar," Wally told him.
"Mm," the boy consented.
The speedster's brow furrowed in concern and he felt his forehead again.
Kaldur returned with the extra blankets as Wally began to ease the sick teen out of his uniform.
"Kaldur, can you get me a plain white t-shirt and some sweatpants? And hand me that thermometer," he requested, gesturing to the med-kit he'd set on the floor.
The Atlantean obliged, giving him the device and heading off to get the clothes.
To save his dignity, Wally super-sped Dick out of his tights and utility belt. He put the thermometer in his mouth and patiently waited. After a moment, it beeped and he checked it, frowning.
"A hundred and two," he muttered.
Meanwhile, M'gann was having her own "fun." If you could call talking to Batman fun anyway.
'M'gann? What is it?'Bruce inquired, his eyes instinctively narrowing beneath his cowl.
"Uh, Robin has fallen ill. He's really sick. Wally needs you here as soon as possible," she reported.
'What exactly is wrong with him M'gann?' he pressed.
She bit her lip in uncertainty, then called for Wally. He was there in seconds.
"Batman, it's Dick," he said.
The masked hero scowled.
'He told them?'
"I told them. I couldn't help him without removing his mask, and he was so fidgety he probably wouldn't respond to Robin anyway," he admitted.
'What happened?'
Just like Batman to get straight to the point.
"We got back from our mission and he—we—were exhausted. We'd all gotten beat up a bit, but Dick was separated from us for at least two minutes we can't account for. It was raining and he was drenched, so I'm guessing he fell into the water, but he's too out of it to tell us exactly what happened right now. He's really worrying me Bats. He can't even string together a coherent sentence anymore," he ranted.
'I'll be there soon. What's his condition?' he asked, wanting to know what he was walking into.
"Like I said, he's really out of it. He's mumbling and his speech is really slurred. He can barely keep his eyes open. He said he hurts all over, and that he found it hard to breathe. He's wheezing pretty badly. He's got a fever too, running a hundred and two," he rambled on, listing the symptoms.
"KF! He just threw up!" he heard Artemis call.
He sighed. "Guess he's nauseous too. Listen, I've gotta—"
'Go. I'm on my way.'
The redhead nodded and sped over to the couch, kneeling beside his wheezing friend. He smoothed back his charcoal hair and smiled comfortingly. He carefully moved the basin he'd thrown up in.
"Hey Dickie-bird," he murmured, continuing to pet his little brother's dark locks soothingly.
"Mmm…," was his only response.
"You gonna throw up again?" he asked.
Somehow, the Boy Wonder gathered the strength to shake his head no.
"Good," he returned.
He grabbed the nearby oxygen canister and gently positioned the mask over his nose and mouth, then turned and adjusted the air flow. Dick gave him a tired but grateful grin as his efforts were eased by the steady stream of precious oxygen. Connor had returned with the water and handed Wally a rag, which he dipped in the liquid, wringing it out and putting it on Dick's forehead, trying to cool him down. He then proceeded to set up an IV. The acrobat flinched as he inserted the needle into his arm.
"Just hang tight kiddo, just a little longer," his caretaker whispered.
Sure enough, a cold sensation flowed through his veins and the pain began to dull. His eyes grew heavy and his vision blurred. Wally had sedated him.
"I'll be right here when you wake up. I promise," he murmured, squeezing his hand tightly.
Dick's hand fell limp in his grip and his eyes closed in a dreamless sleep. Wally grimaced worriedly but he was just glad he wouldn't be in pain while he slept.
'Recognized, Batman. 0-1.'
The zetas announced his arrival. His cape billowed behind him as he walked quickly toward them.
"How is he?" he demanded.
"Sedated. Figured it would help him rest and he wouldn't be in so much pain," he responded as he injected a fever reducer into his IV.
"Good call," Bruce praised, kneeling down beside him and running a hand over Dick's head.
"He's breathing a lot easier but he was in so much pain, I—," he looked upset.
"Hey, listen Kid. You did great. I called J'onn, he should be here soon to help figure out what's wrong. Why don't you get some sleep? You look exhausted," he comforted in a rare display of kindness.
Wally decided he was right, and too tired to protest, stumbled over to the armchair and collapsed into it.
He was asleep before his head hit the cushions.
When he awoke, Bruce Wayne was sitting on the couch with his son's head in his lap. He was constantly petting the boy's hair.
J'onn was standing nearby with a tray of medication, most of them antibiotics.
"What'd I miss?" he yawned, stretching.
"He's got a respiratory infection. Water he inhaled was dirty," he responded quietly.
Wally smirked at the sight of the Batman sitting on a couch stroking a child's hair, his cowl down behind his head.
"I suppose both your secrets are out, eh Bruce? You're the Batman, and you do have a heart," he teased.
Bruce growled, but the look in his teal eyes and the upward curl of his lips betrayed him.
"Listen, I have to go on patrol in a few hours. Until I get back, can I trust you to take care of him?" he questioned, already knowing the answer.
"Yessir, absolutely," the teen affirmed, a spark of determination igniting in his eyes.
Bruce nodded. "Good. I'm glad. Bow why don't you go join your team for dinner? Knowing you, I'm sure you need it."
But as he stood and began to make his way to the kitchen, Bruce stopped him.
"Wally?"
"Yeah?"
"…Thank you."
The sixteen-year-old beamed.
"No problem Bruce.
A/N
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