Another well known quote, one we used to answer the previous one. Sadly I only watched this one once, and I was wondering how it could be so quotable when the actual thing wasn't that great. Always quote the movie out of context and it's hysterical. Anywho, enjoy the bonding and Alfred. Mostly enjoy Alfred for he is awesome.
21 - I'm Not Dead Yet, I'm Getting Better
It looked like Bruce couldn't decide whether or not to wake up for a while. His eyelids would flicker open then shut every few minutes. Sometimes he'd open his eyes completely at a loud noise, then his eyes would roll back and he's pass out again. Once in a while he'd mumble something, but none of it made sense to the staff, only to his allies.
Dick sat anxiously at his bedside, reading and rereading the medical report Leslie came up with to keep his hands busy. Apparently he collapsed because of exhaustion. She also reported he lost some weight since his last physical and the hormones associated with stress were elevated. When he moaned out something, it sounded a lot like 'Conner'. 'Luthor', and 'Dick'. 'Sorry' slipped through once in a while, along with the usual nightmare related names. His parents.
'Great. Now he's associating this with his parents' murders.' The teen shook his head guiltily, remembering what Alfred told him when they finally met up in the hospital room. Bruce barely ate or slept since his kidnapping three weeks ago. He'd been working on the case at every spare moment. 'Brucie' hadn't been out the entire time either, making explaining this to the public incredibly difficult. How could anyone tell them he collapsed from exhaustion, when it looked like he hadn't done anything?
Sighing heavily, Dick put the file away and watched his adoptive father breathe. He hadn't woken up even briefly for the past hour, seemingly getting more rest, and it worried him a bit. At least when he was waking up every few minutes he knew he was still alive. Was it possible to work yourself to death? Because if it was, Bruce would definitely die that way.
A withered hand landed on the boy's shoulder, startling him for a moment. He stopped himself short of a violent reaction when he saw a familiar face. "Alfred."
"Sorry for disturbing you Master Richard," the butler murmured in a low tone, "but you really do need to eat something and get some rest. It will do no one any favors if you also faint from exhaustion."
"I don't want to leave-"
"I already arranged it with the staff. This is a private room after all." He smiled warmly, motioning to a tray of food not too far off. There was even tea ready for them. "There are some benefits to being the primary donor to a hospital. Come. Have dinner. Then you can lay down until he wakes up."
Dick watched the man for a moment before taking his chair over to the small table set up for them. Guiltily he took a roll and started putting butter on it. "There's only one bed Alfred. I don't think he'd like waking up with me next to him right now. Besides... I'm fourteen. Bit old to be doing that."
"Young sir, I dare say there is no one at the moment he rather see first after waking." Alfred brought another seat up and likewise started serving himself. "He's been rather worried about you these past few weeks."
"I know..." The boy's head drooped a little as he answered. "I'm sorry."
"Are you?" The accusation made him look up at the man. He raised an eyebrow to extenuate the inquiry. "I stayed out of it before, but there is one thing you must understand Master Richard. Master Bruce's first priority for the past five years has been you. He would trade all of Wayne Enterprises to assure your safe return... but he would not blindly trade a friend for anyone.
"I remember overhearing young Mr. Kent and he when they discussed your dilemma at the beginning," he continued, surprising the lad. "Master Bruce was not happy with the young man's decision, but he supported him anyway. Like a certain other young man I know. He taught him as much as he could so he could make an escape in the matter of a few hours. I believe you recall how he teaches those lessons."
Slowly the teen nodded, recalling his escape training rather well. Alfred went on, describing what else he could. "They looked over the area, studied escape routes, and took every precaution they could before going onto that rooftop. The original plan was merely a rescue, to grab you and run. They made plans in case the exchange had to happen for your safe return, so Mr. Kent could rejoin you later, but prayed it would not be necessary. Had Luthor not been ten steps ahead of them, I assure you, this crisis would have ended that night. Do not blame Master Bruce for wishing for your safety above all else, nor blame Mr. Kent for insisting to help. They were only following their hearts."
"I know Alfred," Dick murmured, feeling worse by the minute. He did know. He knew exactly how those two thought and how they'd do whatever it took to get the job done. That's what made it so frustrating for him. "I know why they did that."
"Then why pray tell did you say what you had and run off?"
"Because it's all my fault." His chin nearly hit his chest, forcing his body to curl inward. "If I hadn't been such an easy target-"
"You are not an easy target Master Richard," Alfred insisted. "Merely an obvious one. I do not doubt they went through a lot of trouble to catch you."
"It's because I went off on my own and gave them an opportunity to-"
"If one did not present itself sooner, I believe it would have occurred later. Mr. Luthor was rather determined to retrieve Mr. Kent it appears."
"It's my fault Alfred!" He jerked his head up to glare frustration and guilt at the old man. "All of this happened because of me!"
"This all happened, because of Mr. Luthor. And do not forget that." The butler's stern glare put him back a step. Alfred always had a way to make them rethink what they were doing. "Despite everything that has occurred and who it has involved, this started because he wanted something and would do whatever it took to get it. That man has no boundaries. He would use his own mother if he thought it would achieve his goals.
"Master Richard," he persisted, landing a hand on the lad's shoulder, "this was not your fault. Everyone made their choices and you happened to be in the middle of it all. Young Mr. Kent chose to give himself up, even knowing what could happen. Not even Master Bruce's exhaustion is because of you. You know as well as I do how he deals with his conflicting emotions; he throws himself into his work and ignores his personal needs. Had he more sense, he would have taken naps to clear his mind instead of patrolling. None of this is because of you.
"So do us all a favor and stop blaming yourself. Master Bruce will likely fly out of that bed as soon as he is able, and start this all over again, if you do not hold him in check." He gave the boy a bitter smile. "Though I appreciate you keeping in contact with me these past two weeks, it is he who needs reassurance more. You know he did everything he could. We all did. And I know you no longer blame him for withholding information, now you've had time to think about it. This has been a difficult case for everybody.
"So could you make it easier on everyone by telling Master Bruce himself how you feel?" Dick watched the old man guiltily for a moment, not sure how to respond. He said so much... "Arguments like these can be easily resolved if one just apologizes in earnest. And the two of you do not need many words to do so."
Looking over the man before him one more time, a gracious smile grew on the boy's face. His worries ebbed away slowly as he thought Alfred's words over. It really wouldn't take much to fix things between them, especially since Bruce already apologized in his own way. He gave him space and explained himself before Dick ran off. He didn't stop him from taking his friends and searching on their own. And he didn't block him from any of the information he got about Connor's whereabouts (which was more of a list of where he wasn't). Bruce did his share; now it was Dick's turn.
"Kay. I'll talk to him as soon as he's awake." The teen found it a little easier to swallow his food now. Looking at the old man, he knew he couldn't count how much he mattered to them. "Thanks Alfred. For everything"
"My pleasure Master Richard."
Honestly the first thing he noticed, really noticed, was the extra weight leaning against his side. He almost wanted to turn towards it and the subtle warmth it gave off, but other restrictions prevented him. One was the blanket firmly holding him in place, and the other was the tugging at his hand from an IV. His body was so heavy and sluggish from being unconscious for so long, he knew he'd be sore and ache if he moved too quickly. And one thing his body did not want to do was open his eyes.
Still, what was this weight by his side? Why was he restrained like this? And why was his bed so stiff and narrow? It was Bruce Wayne's boundless curiosity that pulled his eyes open, looking straight to the source of the weight next to him.
What he saw was a black haired blur. It seemed familiar... It took a few more blinks before he could identify what was there, and who in particular. Dick was cuddled up beside him, using his chest as a pillow and a second blanket covering him a bit. He was on top of the blanket covering the man, instead of under it with him like usual. The teen was fast asleep, just like all those other times he found the boy in his bed.
For a brief moment, surprise overtook Bruce. Dick was there, sleeping contently next to him. He hadn't seen the lad physically in weeks. They hadn't spoken since that argument through the boy's door. Last he knew, the teen was still mad at him for hiding what happened during the exchange.
And yet he was right there with him now. When did he come back? Why did he come back? What happened to drive him home?
'Wait... Where are we?'
The man's memories finally caught up with him as he realized he was not in his bedroom but a private hospital room. Must have passed out as Bruce Wayne in a public place. Wasn't there a business meeting he was attending earlier? He couldn't recall leaving it. 'Something must have happened to make me lose part of my memory. Injuries? No obvious ones. I don't feel any pain, and there aren't any lingering effects of painkillers. Did... I pass out?'
Vaguely he remembered the dizziness and exhaustion, then... nothing. Quickly the detective put two and two together, realizing he'd worked himself to exhaustion and this was the end result: a visit to the hospital. He'd have to read over his medical file to know for certain that was all, but he knew if he lost consciousness in a public setting, it would be televised. Either Alfred, Lucius, or Leslie would call Dick, or he'd hear it on TV and fly back to Gotham to make certain he was alright. No matter how he heard, the boy would return if he thought Bruce was hurt in any sort of way.
'Oh Dick,' he thought fondly as he looked down to his son with a smile, 'sometimes you are too predictable.'
"It took quite a bit of prodding to get him to rest." Alfred's barely audible voice caught his employer's attention without startling anyone. Bruce knew the man would be there with them, especially under these circumstances. Slowly he turned his head to look at the butler, giving him his undivided attention. "He refused to leave your side, even for food. If other necessities weren't so close, I doubt he'd use them either. He fell asleep only an hour ago, with some encouragement.
"I believe he wanted to say something to you before passing out." A shadow of a smirk appeared on his face. "Something I am not sure needs saying at this point."
"Maybe not," came Bruce's low cracked voice. He swallowed a few times to moisten his throat, turning his eyes back to the boy, before speaking again. "But sometimes we need to hear ourselves say things. Thank you for calling him home."
"I did nothing of the sort." Amusement played on the old man's face as he told him the answer to his earlier questions. "He saw it on television. I was on the road here when he called the manor and I refuse to answer any phone while driving, let alone the house line.
"Now, have you learned your lesson Master Bruce?" His employer glanced over to him, knowing that teaching tone in his voice all too well. The pointed look on Alfred's face only made the man give a half shrug, trying not to startle the boy awake.
"Possibly, but I'm sure to forget it." The CEO ignored his ally's unamused glare and wrapped his arms around his son best he could without waking him or tugging on the IV. He may not have brought this boy home through his own power, but at least one of the missing was home again. May as well cherish this moment for as long as possible.
"Indeed you may sir."
A/N: Yeah, not a lot of cuddling, but still sweet. So Dick's no longer being a stupid angsty teen and came home because Bruce needs him. You won't be seeing them hash it out, but do you really need to? Alfred is so awesome here.
So anyone take a guess as to how they'll find him yet? Tomorrow starts them on that track. and I am still super predictable, especially with this wildcard. Enjoy!