AN) Hey my fanfriends! Who's seen the new Star Wars? I have! So…Many…Feels. I'm totally working Star Wars into the story. Who's ready for a new chapter? 'Cause it's here! Enjoy! But before I forget, here's a quote- "So please don't say we own you. 'Cause we don't."-Barry Allen later in this chapter. I say the same thing about ownership of anything you recognize. Have fun!
"Order! Order in court!" A young man slammed a rolled up newspaper on the floor, to little effect. His younger brothers continued to fight. The youngest literally on top on his elder brother."I said-ORDER IN COURT!"The newspaper was slammed down on the youngest head."CALM YOURSELVES DOWN, YOU BLOODY FOOLS!"
Two of the boys grumbled, but untangled themselves from each other, glares promising a rematch later. The third tutted, grumbling was below him.
"Father never should've let you go to England over break." The young man grimaced.
"What ? Jealous that he sounds like Harry Potter?"
"That book is nothing but a way to waste time, simply moronic ink splats across murdered trees."
"Why you little-"
The boys began to wrestle once more, the youngest cheering, chanting 'fight, fight, fight, fight, fight!' the eldest desperately trying to separate the pair.
After a good fifteen minutes of brief peace then utter war, things quieted down. But Jason had a bloody nose, Tim had a black eyes, Damian a new bruise on his left arm, and Terry had a couple loose teeth.
"Order in court. The Protégé Patrol is now in session. Today we'll-"
"Why do we have such a stupid name?"Jason raised his hand, Terry turning a death glare on him."Seriously, the Protégé Patrol? It's dumb."
"Jay, I came up with this thing when I was eleven. Cut me some slack."
"Eleven?" Damian snorted."That's pathetic McGinnis!"
"WE'RE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR NAME!"
"Anger issues much?" Tim whispered in Jason's ear, causing a small snigger to escape.
Terry took a breath, he had to calm down. It would be nearly impossible for Bruce or Alfred to hear them in the hidden room in the back of Damian's closet, but it was still possible if he kept shouting.
"There's an even bigger issue at hand than rather you like the name or not. There's a kid out there. And he's hurting, Bruce told me."
His younger brothers exchanged glances.
"How so Terrence?"
"Dad said he was scared of everyone. He told me that Slade would beat him if the kid messed up. He's not trusting, not happy. Tim, hack the Batcomputer and pull up League files."
Tim nodded, flipping his laptop open and stopping. He looked up from the computer to his brother.
"Or, instead of wasting half an hour and nearly getting caught, you could use your League ID and get the files from there." He gave the 'seriously are you this stupid face', that normally was reserved for Jason or Wally.
"Oh, yeah." Terry face palmed. He accepted Tim's laptop and accessed his file. From their he went to the database.
Dick Grayson. Was searched, and Terry almost screamed again.
"What? What!?" Jason tried to steal the computer, but Terry shoved him down."I wanna see! Lemme see!"
"No way. Dami, look at this."
Damian peered over Terry's shoulder at the screen. His face impassive, then a look of utter disgust.
"How dare someone do that to a mere child! Have they no shame? No decency? No compassion? Have they no honor?"
Jason finally wrenched the computer away, desperate to see what had gotten the other two so up in arms. His eyes widened, his skin paled, and dinner fought to exit his stomach.
"T-That's not natural. Nope, nadda, zilp, zinch."
Tim turned the screen to see. He gagged.
"Mary, Jesus, and Joseph. That's wrong."
What had scared the Bats, who had seen thousands upon thousands or traumatizing events in their lives, was a picture of a small boy. His left eyes was covered in a huge bruise. A scar ran across his cheek. He was asleep, but it still seemed like he was in pain. Heartache as evident on the child's face even when he was in dreamland. Below that picture was another, of a heavily scared back.
Red welts and black bruises were dashed in between long white lines. Stab wounds were heavy on the left shoulder. The spine was visible. Just as, in the next picture, ribs were countable.
Each individual rib was evident. All twelve. On Dick's front there too were scars, bruises and welts-though not as many as his back.
Images of Richard's wrists revealed the harsh scars of needles. Little injection dots across his arms, alongside bruises.
That wasn't the worst part. No, the Wayne boys had all seen that. They had all lived through torture (Jason more when he was younger on the streets, like-getting little food and sleep, and fistfights.) The worst part was the bio typed up next to the pictures.
Name; Richard John Grayson
Age; Eight
Height; 3 feet,6 inches
Weight; 43 IB
Hair; Black
Eyes; Baby Blue
Notes; Kidnapped from family at age of 5. Missing 3 years. Possible training by Deathstroke the Terminator. Afraid of people. Shy, be calm and gentle when speaking to him.
And the worst part of the worst part was his age. Eight. Eight! Terry became a vigilante at age eleven, Damian was taken in by Bruce at six, donning a hero's mask at ten. Tim had started training at ten, joining the fight at twelve. Jason had a rough time on the streets, but he hadn't gotten any real scars until he was twelve.
"Oh my God. Dear God, please help this boy." Terry whispered, gripping Tim's forearm in prayer.
"Can we do anything to help him?" Jason squeaked.
"Father's not allowing us to see him. Doesn't want to overwhelm Grayson. Understandable."
"Bruce said we could send him toys. So, our next assignment is to get toys and books and stuff for Dick."
Jason grinned. He was gonna make Dami take him to Toys R Us and blow his allowance on Legos, art stuff, Nerf, and action figures. He was gonna be the awesome big brother who gave the best gifts. Bruce said Dick didn't like him, but Bruce was like a magnet. An orphan magnet.
Images of Dr. Seuss books, Crystal Growing Kits, Play Dough, and Tinker Toys filled Tim. Fun, educational toys were the best. They helped build an imagination, and a logical mind.
"Go through your old toys, see if you want to get rid of anything. It has to be in good condition though, we don't want to give him washed up toys."
The boys all had way to many toys. Bruce was a huge sucker when it came to puppy dog eyes. Terry had an old K'nex kit he had put away, Tim had some race cars he had abandoned in fifth grade. Damian believed he still possessed a Lego castle he had received from a school mate on the ill thought he played with such childish things, the box hadn't been opened. And Jason had a Playmobile School tucked away somewhere, it should still have most of its pieces.
Tim slowly nodded, eyes widening as he realized something. "Terry? The Graysons were killed by Tony Zucco. But-Dad said Dick was kidnapped by Deathstroke. C-Could Deathstroke have something to do with Zucco?"
Jason's mouth dropped, Terry's eyes met Damian's. Could they have missed something? Zucco had worked in Gotham before, but…he hadn't been seen for awhile. Then he had popped up and murdered Mary and John Grayson.
What if Slade had something to do with the acrobats' death? Could he have ordered the murder? A low, feral snarl escaped Jason, his eyes narrowing.
"That Joker Venoming Merlynish Captain Cold!* I wouldn't put it past him!"
"We'll have to look into it, but- I seriously doubt it. Wilson's not really one to run with small time criminals like Zucco."
Tim shrugged, though he still dwelled on the idea, "I know, just a thought."
Terry adjourned the meeting, the three boys who were not Damian sneaking back to their rooms. The manor was creepy at night, Jason thought he saw that half orange half black mask of Wilsons in his bathroom mirror, and nearly punched it.
Terry shifted uncomfortably. This whole thing with Dick was freaking him out. The scars, the fear from his father, the idea that there was something more to the death of Mary and John Grayson. It felt bad, to be helpless, or was he? He might not be able to seek Dick out….but he worked at the Watchtower too. What if he were to just happen across the kid? Then Bruce couldn't keep him away!
A smirk splashed across Terry's face as he rolled over. Yep, he would meet Dick Grayson, and Bruce could do nothing about it.
A lump of blankets shifted about. Dangerously close to the edge, a little too close. A small body tumbled out, blanket and pillow coming with them. A small moan of pain as a head bonked the floor.
Little feet found footing, hands pushing off the ground. The blankets fell, revealing the young boy to the room, and the room to the boy.
A brief second of panic until memories of the night before reassure the child where they are. But even more panic at the realization that they are not where they should be.
Master….missing….gone….punishment….hurt….pain….Hal? Hal….light…Diana…praise…Barry….silly….Clark…friendly….Batman….kind?
Food…warm…friends…kind…gentle…love…Hope…safe…free… Master…bad..Free.
Deep breaths and closed eyes. A small smile. Freedom, hope and safety. They were his. Finally his. But…for how long?
Dick hurriedly gathered his blanket and pillow, smoothing them as he fixed his bed. Perhaps it was a façade, the kindness and caring. A lie to make him feel comfortable. He would have to be on guard. Obey.
"Don't get them angry, just do what they ask. Just obey. Just be a good apprentice. Maybe this time you won't fail so badly."
There was a soft knock at the door. A shiver racing up and down Dick's spin. Whipping around and dropping to his knees Dick closed his eyes.
"Hey, Dickie-it's time to get up. Whoa, okay!" Barry?" This isn't weird at all. Uhm, hey Bud? What are you doing on the floor?"
Dick gulped. How could he explain? Why was this weird? Wasn't this how you showed respect, servitude and submissiveness? That's what Master had told him.
"I-It's for respect. I-I kneel to my s-superiors. M-My owners."
"What! No, no, no, no, NO!" What had he done wrong! Dick bit his lip, shying away."Hey," Barry had seen the fear, so he calmed down." People can't own other people. It says so in the uhm…14th? No, the 13th Amendment. No one can own you. It's just not allowed. By us or by law. Okay? So please don't say we own you. 'Cause we don't."
"Then who am I to r-refer to you as, Sir?"
Barry laughed slightly, swinging Dick up off the ground and setting him on his bed. "Well, it's defiantly not 'Sir', I'm not a knight. You can just call me Barry. Or Flash. And you can think of us…as your aunts and uncles. If you want."
"Okay." Dick tilted his head trying to see what Barry(his apparent uncle) had selected from the dresser drawers. The speedster held out a bright red t-shirt with a yellow lightning bolt, a pair of bowers, grey socks, and tan pants.
"So we can match."Barry smirked, gesturing at his own t-shirt."Pretty cool, huh?"
"It is a bit chilly."Dick mumbled, starting to wriggle out of his blue dinosaur p.j.s with Barry's help.
The blonde raised an eyebrow, he was talking about awesomeness, while Dick was talking about the temperature? Oh! Laughing to himself the Scarlet Speedster explained the differences, earning a small 'oh' from Dick and a light blush.
While the kid put his socks on, Barry scrounged around for a jacket. Finding a Superman one in the bottom drawer.
"This'll work, though the logos do clash a bit… what the heck!"
Sliding Dick's arms into the sleeves, Barry zipped the zipper halfway.
Placing a pair of black tennis shoes on the bed next to Dick as he returned the drawers to an orderly fashion(he had messed them up looking for the Flash shirt) and closing them.
Turning back around, Dick had the shoes on-but the laces were hanging down.
"Aren't you gonna tie them up?"Barry knelt down, picking Dick's chin up. He saw the confusion in his bright blue eyes."Do you know how?"
"N-No, I don't." He whispered.
"Well then, I'll just have to teach you!" Flash smiled, shifting his he was on one knee and placing Dick's shoe on his leg and grabbed the laces.
"Once there was a rabbit that was very sad because his ears were so long and narrow that he stepped on them all the time. One day a fairy landed on the bunny's head. She lifted up the bunny's ears and crossed them over like an x. Then she put one ear through the bottom of the x and pulled. Next, she made each long ear into a loop and made another x like before. She put an ear under that x and pulled again. From then on the bunny remembered how to tie his ears into a bow, and he lived happily ever after."
Dick looked at the grown up and his shoes. That was a lot to remember. And why would you tie a bunny's ears that was mean.
"Don't worry, you'll get better with practice."
"E-Excuse me?"Dick finally decided to voice the question he had trapped in his mind. Barry tilted his head and smiled, the okay sign. "Where's H-Hal?"
"Hal got called on a mission earlier. He'll be back by tomorrow though, but for now you get to hang with me."
"Cool."Dick grinned slightly, happy to have used this new definition correctly.
"Yeah. Ready for breakfast? 'Cause I am!"
Dick's brow furrowed. Another meal? But he had eaten two the day before? He never got food consistently. It had to be earned. And even then it was never good.
"But Barry, I-I already ate yesterday."
"Yeah, so?"
"D-Don't I have to wait? To earn my next meal?"
"Psshh, that's stupid. Listen Dickie, here you get three square meals a day. You can eat as much as you want. And if you get hungry or thirsty between meals, you just need to ask for a snack. 'Kay?"
He nodded. It didn't make sense though, why should he receive something he did not earn? But it wasn't Dick's place to ask questions, just his place to receive orders and obey.
Barry turned so his back was to the kid.
"Hop on, I'll get us there faster. And I need food in my face."
Hesitantly, Dick wrapped his arms around the Flash's neck, pulling his legs up too. Barry stood up suddenly, and the world rocketed past them, two screams filling the Watchtower halls, alongside bright color streaks and wind.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! IIIIIIIIIIIII'MMMMMMMMM SSSSSSSSOOOOORRRRRRYYYYY! MMMMMMAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKEEEEEE IIIIITTTTTT SSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPP!"**
*Protégés use names of villains as cuss words, Jason is saying "That 'fricking' 'jerkish' 'butt'".
** Ah! I'm Sorry! Make it stop!
AN) And scene! In this we have Batfam bonding and Dick and Barry fluff! Remember to review! Every review means the sooner Dick meets Roy, Wally, and the Batfam. And I know a lot of you a vying for that. Merry Christmas too! I'm also looking for an artist? 'Cause you do NOT want to see me draw, so if one of you wonderful people would like to draw a fanart, be my guest! Bye Bye!
Review! I know you see the button, click it, and click it. Write more. Click it. Click it. Review more. Do not deny me!
Studio C anyone? XD
