" Does he get drunk often"? Tim asked as Dick fell asleep
" Since the accident yes". Roy replied
Nobody spoke after that and Roy felt his mind go back to the accident and his grip tightened on the wheel.
Linebreak
" Dick are you sure about this? This guy plays dirty". Roy said to his friend before a street race
" Roy I'll be fine trust me".
The street race was between Dick and a teen named Gizmo who was part of a crew named The HIVE in Jump City.
" Dude I'm with Roy on this one. What if you get hurt? Or even killed"! Wally said worried
It was only Roy and Wally tonight. Everyone else was busy or were grounded after their parents found out what they did at night.
" Look I've played dirty before. I'll be fine". Dick said as he got in his car.
Dick wasn't fine. He slammed into a wall on the last turn and was stuck between Gizmo who had slammed into car. The car flipped over and over, then caught on fire.
Roy and Wally rushed over and saw their best friend unconscious, bleeding from his head, and his breathing was labored.
" Wally. Wally"! Roy shouted as he saw his friend frozen in shock
" Wh...yeah yeah I'm...I'm on it". Wally shouted and called 911 then Bruce
" Wally? What happened"? Bruce asked
" It's Dick. He got in a street race accident".
" I'll meet you at the hospital". Bruce said and quickly grabbed his jacket, car keys and Tim, Jason and Damien.
Gizmo smirked as he saw Dick get loaded up in the ambulance and Roy beat the shit out of him. The police had to pull Roy off of him and they arrested Gizmo for street racing.
" Roy! Let's go"! Wally shouted as he hopped in the ambulance and Roy followed in his car. " Come on Dick. I need my best friend".
Wally grabbed Dick's hand and held onto it until they reached the hospital and Dick was wheeled into the emergency room.
Linebreak
" Roy you passed our house". Jason said and Roy snapped out of his memory
" Umm sorry". Roy said and backed up, parking in front of Artemis
" Ugh my head freakin hurts". Dick groaned as he woke up after he heard a door slam
" Yeah well five beers does that".
" I drank five"?
" Yeah and I'm surprised your not wasted". Artemis said but spoke to soon as Dick wobbled and would've face planted if the blonde hadn't've caught her friend
Bruce came out only for Dick to push him away and stumble into the house.
" You let him drink". Bruce hissed and Jason and Tim slipped inside the house
" Yeah". Roy said bluntly and shrugged his shoulders
" Look Bruce he's under stress". Artemis said " The accident it scarred him deeper then you think".
" How do you know". Bruce said
" Remember two weeks after the accident he was allowed home? The reason he snuck was because he was scared. That crash gave him nightmares".
" Why do think he was over so much"? Roy added and saw Bruce relax
" I trust you to watch over my son. Just make sure he stays alive". Bruce said and Artemis and Roy could see the plea in his eyes.
" We will".
Bruce watched as Artemis and Roy drove off and his mind drifted to when he arrived at the hospital one month ago.
Linebreak
Bruce burst through the hospital doors and saw Artemis, Roy, Wally, M'gann, Kaldur, Barbra, and Connor all sitting in the waiting room.
" How is he". Bruce asked
" Collapsed lung, broken ribs, concussion, burn marks up and down his body, and his left hand is in a brace". Roy said standing up " He's lucky to be alive".
" What happened".
Roy and Wally explained what had happened and Bruce felt angry toward the two young adults.
" You let him race". Bruce hissed
" I tried my best alright". Roy snapped " He's my little brother! If there was anything I could've done I would've"!
" He beat the shit out of Gizmo if it makes you feel better". Wally said
" It doesn't". Bruce snapped
" At least he did something". Connor snapped back and got a glare from Bruce
" Wally West you are in so much trouble". Barry Allen, Wally's uncle and legal guardian, shouted as he came through the hospital doors followed by everyone else's parents or legal guardians.
In Artemis's case it was her sister Jade, Oliver Queen and Dinah Lawrence were Roy's legal guardians, Clark Kent was Connor's father, John Morgan was M'gann's uncle and legal guardian, Arthur Curry was Kaldur's legal guardian, and finally Jim Gordon was Barbra's father.
" I told you no more hanging out with these people Barbra". Jim scolded
" These people are my extended family whether you like it or not. So either you back up and leave my brother's and sister's alone or I'll make sure Connor beats the shit out of you". Barbra said and glared at her father who shut up.
" Bruce Wayne". The doctor called
" How is he". Bruce asked
" He's awake and wants to see you".
Bruce nodded and followed the doctor down the hall.
Linebreak
" Master Bruce would you please come inside". Alfred said
Bruce shook his head out of the memory and stepped inside where Dick was taking his pills.
" So you raced tonight". Tim said and Bruce decided to not make his appearance known yet.
" Yeah. It felt amazing". Dick said leaning his back against the counter and his elbows were resting on the counter behind him.
" How does racing feel amazing? You almost died"!
" I feel free and that's all that matters".
" Even when you crashed"?
" When I crashed it scared the shit out of me to be honest".
" Then why get back behind the wheel".
" It's in my blood plus I love the thrill. What other reason is there"?
" To live"!
" Tim I survived didn't I"?
" That's not the point! I don't wanna lose you"!
Dick pushed himself off the counter and called after Tim as he ran up the stairs and slammed his bedroom door.
" He's right you know. We don't wanna lose you". Jason said and ran up the stairs also.
Dick sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He knew he scared his family but he never realized how much.
" Roy and Artemis left". Bruce said coming into the kitchen
" I heard the engine". Dick replied and got some water " What'd they say"?
" You got drunk".
Dick spit out his water. He should've expected his crew to tell Bruce. He couldn't be mad either. They were just worried after all.
" Dick your seventeen"! Bruce shouted
" I'm a street racer! I've got stress! Of course I'm gonna drink"!
" You shouldn't be a street racer! Give me your keys now"!
Dick threw three out of four of his car keys at Bruce and stormed upstairs.
Dick shoved a week worth of clothes in a duffel bag and slipped out through his window and walked toward his car, driving to Roy's place in Star City.
