A/N:
So, here's chapter 1, the thingy before this...is the prologue...thingy. Anyways, tried to leave it off at a cliff hanger, incase I won't update it anytime this week. I'll be busy during school tomorrow, so yup.
I really hope I captured Bruce and Alred ok, they're the hardest for me, their personalities and such.
Please, comment and enjoy ;)\
p.s, I'll edit this chapter so that any one who commented on the prologue will have a shout out here, like a hi or thanks for commenting. Something like that. I litereally udated his about an hour after the prologue, and its about...12:30 am here.
Chapter one
"Master Bruce, I—uh—need to talk to you." Alfred stammered, the newspaper loosely being held in his hand. He had his other hand across his chest, his skin pale and chalky white. When Bruce turned around, his head peering at Alfred over the couch, he nodded.
"I'll be right there." Bruce stood up, brushing off his pants. He still wore his suit from a meeting earlier that day, but was too drained to change into something more comfortable. That and Barbara Gordon was supposed to arrive any time. He risked a quick glance at Dick's room, hidden behind shadows. Quietly he followed Alfred to the kitchen, prepared to dash to his friend's side. "Does this…concern Dick?" He tried not to let it show, but he felt his eyebrows wrinkle together, a small twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"No, but…yes…sort of." Alfred gently gave the newspaper to Bruce, his hands shaking as he did so. The old man turned around and poured steaming water into a white mug, his hand grasped firmly on the rubber hand of the plastic measuring cup. The thick aroma made Alfred want to engulf himself in the perfect world of French vanilla.
"…Parasite." Bruce uttered that single word. His face hardened, no sympathy or pity was left. Only Batman's hardcore drive to hunt down the villain and—
"The boy will find out, Bruce. Whether at school, or at the cave, or here…its best if you…tell him."
"No. Batman needs to—"
"—He needs to be there for his son!" Alfred's harsh whisper echoed loudly in the kitchen, causing both men to pause and look around for the boy. When they noticed nothing, Alfred turned around to raise his coffee cup to his cracked lips. That second was what Bruce needed. He walked briskly over to the living room, throwing the newspaper into the blazing fireplace, making dozens of embers fly hectically around for a minute. He then bent down to unplug the cord that was attached to the television, but thought about it. He got a small pair of scissors from the office, down the hallway. After reaching the cord again, he snipped it in half. After returning the scissors back to their originally place, he then walked back to the kitchen.
"He's my ward, not my son." Bruce continued past Alfred into the fridge, pulling out a light blue plate of food. He removed the plastic wrap, moving towards the microwave. He was forced to stop when Alfred blocked his way. "He doesn't want me to be his father! And if I were him, I wouldn't want me to either!"
"You have responsibilities."
"Yes, and right now, my responsibilities are for Batman to track down Parasite."
"You are more a father to him, than your own father was to you, don't you dare—don't you dare say that he is none of your business. Just the other day you were pissed that Clark neglected Conner!"
"I tried to do what's best for both of them, so they didn't tear up Metropolis! And, Dick doesn't need me, he has…he has his friends!"
"And they know his secret identity?"
Bruce bit his lip, glaring at Alfred. He attempted to barge past him, but the plate was accidentally knocked from Bruce's hand onto the floor. The noise that followed a second before it touched the tiles was loud. It rang throughout the mansion, sounding like glass exploded, or that someone broke in. Needless to say, it made Alfred wince and Bruce's skin crawl. Knowing that he couldn't talk about the…situation…with Alfred anyone, he emptied his face, prepared for the silent patter of muffled footsteps down the stairs.
"What happened?"
Both men jumped(Well, Alfred jumped, Bruce just sort of…grunted.) Bruce turned around to face Dick. "Nothing, it just slipped." He could see that he didn't convince Dick. Bruce tried to smile reassuringly, but ended up grimacing.
"…Barbara's coming over, right now. I'm going…to meet her outside. If that's…ok." Obviously still sensing something off, Dick narrowed his ocean blue eyes, backing out of the kitchen slowly, in his black shirt and dark grey pajama pants and fuzzy grey socks.
Bruce shook his head, looking at Alfred. Before the man could speak, the sound of the door opening and the alarm momentarily broke off Bruce's thoughts. He opened his mouth, but then a horrible cry was heard. Bruce closed his mouth, knowing the sound came from Dick. Worried, Bruce dashed to the front door; flashes of gruesome injuries inflicted upon the boy tingled through him. With a burst of speed he ran out to the door, finding dick nowhere.
A/N:
Oh noes! Dickie! What will happen to him :[ !
HEHEHEHEHE. Anyway...hope you enjoyed. Hopefully once I update chapter 3 or 4, things'll get rolling. If you have any questions or requests, then please, feel free to ask or comment!
( I will NOT threaten you with no updates for a certain number of reviews. I'll keep on updating this as long as I have time and the interest in it, even if I get no reviews. )