Warnings: This chapter includes a small bit of language children 10 and under probably shouldn't read if not mature enough. This chapter includes a small bit of talk about suicide. This is self-beta read. Mistakes=MINE.

Summary: Dick and Bruce exchange a few words. It doesn't end too well.

Chapter 6: The Talk

"Fine, but only because I know you won't drop this until you get answers." Dick sighed. "Where do you want to start?"

"Chances aren't too good that you will willingly talk about-"

"No, Bruce, they aren't, so don't even bother asking."

"What's the issue between you two? I asked Tim if there was any problem and he thought your relationship was just fine."

"Bruce-" Dick was warning him, but Bruce ignored it.

"But he had pointed out something I've notice, too."

"Bruce, please-"

He went on. "We both notice that sometimes you give Tim certain "looks". I can't exactly put a label on it, but I know it isn't anything good."

"Bruce, why are you doing this?"

"I'm just trying to derail the problem before there's a crash."

"And what exactly makes you think that there is a problem here?"

"Dick, you said that Tim's existence bothered you."

"I didn't mean it like that."

"Then how did you mean it?"

"I just…it doesn't matter."

"Yes, Dick, it does matter. Not only may this be an issue for your relationship with Tim, -however you see it- but it is also a key component to one of the problems you've been having lately, which, need I remind, is holding intensions that are putting your life on the line."

"Like you really…"

"Like I really what?"

"Just drop the entire thing, Bruce. I don't want to talk about it, and I am not going to talk about anything I don't want to. So don't even think you can make me."

"What's the real issue here?"

"Just drop it, Bruce. Yes, I did agree to talk to you, but not about anything that I do want to talk about."

Bruce stared at Dick for a moment, studying him. He thought back on every moment he's seen Dick and Tim together. Most of them were good and pleasant. Others showed the "looks" from Dick to Tim. What were they? Had he seen those looks somewhere else before? Then he remembered. Jason. He gave Jason the same looks, but much more often than he did Tim. Why was he giving them "looks"? It just didn't make since. They were all supposed to be brothers. Then it hit Bruce. They weren't brothers. The three of them barely have anything in common. Jason was the aggressive one. Tim was the genius. And Dick…Dick was just so many things. One of them was his being understanding –most of the time, anyway. But there was something about Bruce and Tim and Jason that Bruce felt that Dick just didn't understand and he didn't know why. Why couldn't Dick understand?

Minutes had passed and Bruce was still studying Dick, who had lost himself in silence, not thinking at all, but just sitting quietly, absorbing the stillness. What was it about Jason and Tim that Dick didn't like? What did they both have in common? Not much. The only things they really did have in common were…

"You, you're jealous, aren't you?"

"What? No."

"But you are. You're jealous about Tim and you were jealous for Jason, too."

Dick looked away. "I…"

"Why are you so jealous, Dick? I thought you were okay with my taking on a new partner. Or is it about me taking on a new ward?"

Ward. Dick came to truly hate that word as much as "adoption". He used to think it was a good thing to be Bruce's ward, but he was wrong and knew that now. Dick was Bruce's ward, not his son. A ward is just another mouth to feed until they're eighteen and legally no longer your problem. A son, however, was different. No matter what the law said officially, your son would always be your problem to look after. Dick was Bruce's ward. But now he is 24 and is nothing. Nothing to Bruce or even himself, he thought constantly. Bruce wasn't his father, his father was dead. Bruce, Batman actually, was only Robin's father. But Dick wasn't Robin anymore so he was fatherless. And no version of Bruce was his father.

"…Both."

"Why? You said that you didn't mind."

"I…I was lying, Bruce. Of course it bothered me. Jason became the next Robin what felt like immediately after I became Nightwing. And after the stuff with him, it seemed like Tim became Robin just as quick. You weren't even going to let me be your partner until I begged a million and one times and promised on, like, fifty things and after months of training and other stuff, and you still weren't sure if you wanted me to work with even after I proved to be worthy of it. I mean, with Tim and Jason, you practically influenced them to become Robin and let them out on the field sooner and more than you let me. I just…I don't know."

Bruce looked at Dick. Did he really think that he had treated Jason and Tim differently than he did Dick? "Dick, I wasn't trying to replace you or anything. It's just that Jason was troubled and needed guidance. He needed to be Robin. And Tim was dealing with his father and needed something to get his mind off things. And he had proved himself a great detective and later a great Robin. They needed to be Robin and Batman needed a Robin."

"Why couldn't I have been that Robin?"

"You didn't want to be my partner anymore. You went on to become Nightwing and your own man."

"But I didn't want to. Yes, I did want to have my own life, but I never wanted to stop being your partner. And I thought you felt the same way, but apparently not. All I wanted you to do was say that you needed me and that I was important to you. If you would have said that or anything similar, I swear, Bruce, I would still be Robin today and the first by your side. But you didn't. All you said when we last saw each before those three years was that Batman needed a robin. A robin. It didn't matter to you who it was so long as they wore a mask and that cape. That's why you made Jason Robin not long after that. You didn't want me, you just wanted someone to be your sidekick. And I would have been forever if you'd just asked me to."A tear slithered down Dick's right cheek and he made no effort to try to hide it. He was tired of hiding himself and just wanted to open up a bit.

Bruce was shocked. And if only Dick were looking into Bruce's eyes to see how sorry they were and how much they really cared just then. "I…I didn't know you felt that way."

Dick just shook his head as more tears fell steadily. "You wouldn't have."

"I should have. I should have done a lot of things. I should have told you so many things in years' time. And I'm sorry I haven't. I thought you didn't want to be my partner anymore. I thought you just wanted to go out on your own. I should have asked you if that was what you really wanted. I'm sorry, Dick."

Dick let out two brief, silent sobs. He sighed and shook his head again. He sat there for another half-minute with tears starting to still. He then stood up and picked up his plate.

"I'm not hungry." He pushed in his chair and headed for the kitchen. Bruce picked up his plate and both glasses and followed after his son.

"Dick," he said when he entered the room. "I…"

"Don't, Bruce." Dick emptied off his plate and rinsed it off.

"But I need to." Bruce walked over to the sink to rinse off his plate and the glasses. "Listen, Dick. I'm sorry about everything that's happened, I really, truthfully am. If I could turn back time to just yesterday, I would slap myself so hard for be such an ass to you. I know since the moment I took you in that I should have treated you so much better, and I'm sorry I didn't."

They set their dishes in the sink and Dick walked into another room. Bruce followed. They wound up in a much familiar room. The one with the clock that contained so many secrets behind it. Dick sat down on the small couch. His arms weren't quite folded, but just holding each other. Bruce sat in the large cushioned chair across from Dick, trying to look into his son's eyes, but he just wouldn't let him.

"Dick, I'm not looking for you to forgive me for anything. But I just need you to know that I am sorry. I'm sorry about everything. I'm sorry I wasn't there all those times you needed me. I'm sorry that I could not quite understand you like I should have. I'm sorry I couldn't give you what you needed. I'm sorry I overestimated you so much-"

"Overestimated me?" Dick looked up and Bruce could finally see those deep, blue eyes. He was at least listening, so Bruce found that good.

"Yes, I overestimated you. I overestimated your strength. I thought you could handle the way things were going, but apparently, you needed much more."

"What are you talking about?"

"The way things were in your life just wasn't stable enough for you. You needed more than what I gave you. I overestimated your feelings. I always knew you were quite sensitive, but I underestimated by how much, therefore overestimating your emotional state. You needed an environment that was closer to what you grew up with in order for your mind to have stability."

"I needed a father to be there in order to not hate myself so much!" Dick shouted.

Bruce was stunned. The look that was in Dick's eyes at that very moment was one Bruce had only seen once, maybe twice from Dick. A look of pure hatred. And it was aimed directly at Bruce. Was Dick saying that he hated himself when he was younger because of Bruce?

"Dick…I don't understand." Bruce really was confused. How could he be the reason Dick hated himself?

"Then let me spell it out, Bruce. You. Were. Not. There. And not matter how many times you apologize, it won't change anything. It's good you're not looking for forgiveness because I'm not going to give to you, Bruce. No, not this time. Over the years I've been constantly telling myself to forgive you, that you can't help it. But, damnit, Bruce, I just can't do that anymore. And I won't. I'm not going to keep protecting you by lying to myself and saying that it's okay." Yes, he was pissed, and was letting it out. "Because it's not okay, Bruce! You'll never understand this, but it just isn't okay. Not everyone is a heartless bastard who can suppress their emotions forever because they are so concerned about being a goddamned bat all the time! I don't want to be a bat! I've been suppressing my emotions enough without your influence! And now you're wondering cluelessly why I want to kill myself so badly because you just don't get it! You'll never get it! You'll never understand how much I needed you to be around more. To just pay attention to me instead of ignoring me all the damned time! You didn't overestimate me. You couldn't have possibly because you weren't around to know just how to estimate me. But I overestimated you. I always thought that you could just stop being the friggin' Bat for a second for someone who cared, but I was wrong! I was wrong about it all! You don't care about anything or anyone except yourself and your fucking job as Batman! So congrats, Bruce. You achieved what you always wanted. You're a fucking bat, okay? You're heartless, cruel, insensitive, and more than I could possibly say! And I don't know why you even bother trying to keep me alive! I don't matter to you; I'm just a back-up to you. I'm not your son! I'm not your ward! I'm not your sidekick or even partner. Hell, I don't know if I can even be considered your ally! Admit it, Bruce. I'm nothing to you, just another wandering soul for you to possess. I don't matter to you! I've learned that a long time. So don't even pretend like you care, Bruce, because I know you really don't. I don't even know why you put forth the effort because I know I'm not worth even that! Not to you, me, or anyone! So why don't you just let me kill myself already and do you a favor!"

Dick's face was soaked in tears and his eyes portrayed nothing less but pure anger, hatred, and the feeling of betrayal. His hands were in tight fists and he looked like a wild animal ready to attack at any moment. His teeth were clenched and he was absolutely pissed to the core. It didn't take a detective to see that much. Or a smart guy to know that he meant and believed everything he just said. Bruce was appalled. He didn't know what to, what to say. He knew he just had to say something. But he didn't know what. What could he do or say to possibly convince Dick that he was wrong.

"Dick…"

"Just leave me alone, Bruce." Dick stood up and walked out of the room. Bruce wanted to follow him. He knew he still had to say or do something to change Dick's mind about this. But he just couldn't do anything but sit there and watch his former ward exit the room.

Why didn't he stop him? Why didn't he just prevent all of this from happening in the first place? Bruce sat there in the same spot, unmoved, for a few more minutes in thought before recalling one of the last things Dick had said. So why don't you just let me kill myself already and do you a favor! Bruce swore and leapt up. He ran out of the room in search for Dick. If (no pun intended) there was still a Dick to be found…

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note: The next chapter will be shorter and will be about Bruce searching for Dick. I'm sorry it took so long to post this chapter. I promise the next one won't take as long (I think). Thanks to everyone! Kudos!