Okay guys, this one is foreshadowing an arc in the FAR future, but I thought it'd be a nice twist all the way around. Just remember, I like certain ideas and I know how to twist arcs to make them work with my world here. X3 I think this takes place between a Father's request and the first official DNB story here. 10pts if you can ID a cameo from one of my earlier stories and where they come from!

Dick-12

Not Giving a Hoot

If there was one thing Bruce hated more than criminals, particularly the laughing kind, it was being called to the principal's office. Repeatedly. Honestly he thought Dick would have stopped picking fights for a while longer when he left elementary school, but apparently not. The twelve year old was determined to make his face known to this principal too.

It took longer to find this one's office than the previous, but that was to be expected. He hadn't had to visit it as frequently as the elementary school, yet. He was beginning to think his kids were forcing him to be familiar with all forms of authority around them. Coming to the receptionist, he could see the school paramedic (some paper going around wanted to take away the term 'nurse') leaving one hallway with a first aid kit in hand. Already the CEO could guess what the man's day had been like. "Wayne to see Principal Stacy."

The lady manning the front desk blinked at him a few times in confusion then realized she was being talked to. The personnel there really needed some work. "Oh! Yes, yes... Mr. Wayne..." She cocked her head up at him after looking through some notes. "That wouldn't be Bruce Wayne would it? The guy who's married to an alien princess?"

The man groaned internally. One of his angry ex-business partners decided to get even with him by exploiting his past of questionable choices for girlfriends. The Inquisitor took it to the next level. Thank heavens it was a trashy tabloid no one really believed. "You're thinking of the man who lives in a tree and eats cocoa beans. Could you direct me to the Principal's office please?"

"Oh! Right." She pointed a half chewed pencil down a hallway. "Down that way, take a right, third door on your left, right across from the VP office. Can't miss it."

Bruce gave her a slight smile in thanks before taking off. They really needed to work on personnel there. Then again, so did the elementary school before he took a look at it. Trying to obey her instructions, he marched down that hallway and took his first right. That led him to a bathroom. Glaring, he stepped back and took the second one.

There he spotted someone he did not want to deal with. Maria Powers, one of the owners of the Powers Hotel chain. Her son Derek was standing at attention before her, his arms scratched up, his clothes dirty, and a black eye forming rather nicely on his right side. A few bandaids were on his face, hands, and arms, and a cold pack was in one hand, showing he was the one getting medical attention earlier. The young man had to be eighteen.

"Excuse me," he started, getting their attention briefly, "could you direct me to the principal's office? The young woman at the front gave me bad directions."

True she had, but he just wanted them to get out of the way. They were deliberately blocking the door. Derek glared at him coldly, not hiding his contempt for him though he said nothing; the lad was learning. Mrs. Powers gave him an icy smile but stepped aside to let him pass. "It's right here, Mr. Wayne."

"Thank you." He gave her the customary cordial nod and smile, then knocked on the door politely.

"Enter!" The principal's invitation was all he needed to swiftly step into the office. The first thing he saw was the balding man behind the desk, and Dick slouched in a chair before him. The preteen's hair and clothes were a bit of a mess and it looked like his cheek would be bruised for a bit, but other than that he seemed fine. Physically. It was clear he was bored in the office, proud of his accomplishment, and mad at his opponent. Principal Stacy on the other hand was just ticked. "Mr. Wayne, please have a seat."

Bruce tried to get some eye contact with his son, but he wouldn't look in his direction. Guilt was being called in now. He knew how much the man hated being called in because of a fight. Frowning slightly, he took the seat next to his son. "Is something the matter?"

"Richard initiated a fight this afternoon between passing periods with one of the upper classmen." Stacy gave him a pointed look. "A highly respected senior at that."

Dick snorted, clearly not agreeing. His father merely raised an eyebrow at him. "Really? Is that so..."

"Derek Powers is the student body president and salutatorian. He's also the star player of our basketball team. And for no apparent reason," he turned a sharp glare on the twelve year old, "your adoptive son decided to beat him into the ground."

"There's a reason," the lad murmured. "You just won't listen to it."

"Your so-called reason has nothing to back it up with," Stacy insisted, glaring daggers at the acrobat. "Powers is a model student! You on the other hand-"

"Have a history of fighting," Bruce finished, pinching his brow. This was a problem of theirs, since the beginning. Every time Dick saw an injustice or was picked on excessively, he'd physically retaliate. Otherwise he was a pretty easy going guy. "Dick... how many times do I have to tell you: if you're going to pick a fight, keep it off campus."

"I tried!" Finally the boy turned to see his father, insisting dramatically. The surprise on the third man's face was aptly ignored by the two of them as they talked. "But he's got goons everywhere! That high and mighty rube's been trying to make me and half my class into his servants all year! His servants! Said a gypsy boy like me was only worthy to clean up after him! Even said he owned me! Owned me! Like I was some kind of slave!"

Angry and frustrated, the lad leapt to his feet and started pacing the room as he flung his arms everywhere, dramatically describing what had been transpiring. "And he specifically picked me out to be his little gofer boy! I keep saying no and he then has one of his goons grab one of my classmates to haze if I don't do what he wants! You should hear about the fights I haven't gotten caught for! You think those hand breaks in the football team were coincidental?"

Dick's pointed look at the principal did not help the lad's case, only scared the man behind the desk. Then the kid backpedaled. "Course it's not my fault none of them know how to fall. I thought after those photos me and Babs took, he'd leave us all alone! Then today I saw him pushing around a new kid! They threw him in the cafeteria trash bin! Do you know how bad that is?!"

"I have an idea," Bruce murmured, seeing what was going on now. There was a lot going on he didn't know about until then. Dick was bullied, something to be expected considering he was a year ahead of his age group in school. The kid knew how to fight and had a strong sense of justice. Though he could be sneaky and conniving (loved to pull pranks and mess with people's heads), he tended to go straight for the kill whenever he saw a crime taking place. Apparently Derek Powers was less of a model citizen than the principal was paid to believe.

"So when I confronted him about it today, he got all snide and prissy, saying he was better than everyone!" There was a snarl in the acrobat's voice, something they didn't hear very often. "He insulted Barbara, Steve, Marco, Jess, even made a stab at Bette! He said I only had two redeeming qualities, and neither of them would be of worth pretty soon. And he even had the gall to say I was better off dying with my parents!"

At this, the man's heart turned cold. The nerve of this boy... Dick continued. "Said at least then my body could be sold for parts!"

"Hold it right there young lad!" Principal Stacy jumped to his feet, not liking the implications. "Mr. Powers is not in the business of selling human body parts."

"I know what he said!" His angry glare snapped at the man before them. "He doesn't even see me as a person! To him I'm some tool! Less of a person than what most of these prats see me as!"

The man didn't catch or didn't care how the boy was doing in that school. "Well if you started behaving like a-"

"Regardless of how the other person acted," Bruce started overriding the principal before he made a grave error in judgment, "it's against school rules to start a fight like that Dick. You know this."

This made both of the others stop for a moment. The kid looked away, abashed at last. "I know..."

"If I read the school manual correctly," he continued, "since this is your first offence here, a written reprimand and three days suspension? Am I right Principal Stacy?"

He looked over to the one who was losing his temper at his son, giving him proper authority once again. The man nodded, regaining control of himself. "That's correct."

"And the other party is receiving the same," the CEO added, making sure justice was served.

"That's a-"

"According to your written school policies," he stated flatly, "all members of the fighting party, regardless of who started it or if the other did not fight back, are suspended for three days minimum. No exceptions."

This made the administrator stop, dread and donning coming to his eyes. A slight, knowing smirk sparked on Wayne's face. He was the richest man in Gotham, one of the richest in the world. He had a hand in nearly every field out there, including a considerable amount of weight on the board of education. If he reported favoritism to anyone, it'd be the principal's hide on the line. Stacy nodded, choking back an earlier comment. "You're right, of course. Mr. Powers will also be suspended for a few days."

"Oh great." Dick's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Three days without him pushing anyone around and I can't be around to enjoy them either. That sucks." He rubbed his bruised cheek, scowling to the side.

"Rules are rules Dick," Bruce reminded him. "You should have thought of them before throwing the first punch."

"It was more of a first kick actually," the lad admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "Pretty one sided too. And you're one to talk about due process."

"Did you win?" It was a question he was dying to ask, though he knew the answer already. Still, he wanted to know how his son beat a six foot senior on the basketball team.

"Heck yeah!" Grinning, no matter how much trouble he was in, the acrobat excitedly came to his father's side and started dramatically telling him exactly what happened. The dismayed principal moved around his desk to summon the Powers back in to finish the meeting as they talked. Dick quickly wrapped it up as the door opened. "Honestly the rube can't fight worth beans. Jason could have beaten him. Barely was able to slap me away. If it weren't for that security guard, I'd be 100% fine."

"That bruise came from a guard?" He eyed the red mark turning purple on his face with distaste.

"In his defense I wasn't exactly thinking at that point and the punch knocked some sense into me. You know how I can get." The lad rubbed his cheek again. "I think I chipped a tooth in the process though."

"I'll take you to the dentist tomorrow," Bruce promised just as the principal explained things to Mrs. Powers. She was livid.

"What do you mean he's suspended?! That circus brat is the one responsible!"

"Mrs. Powers please!" Stacy tried to explain. "School rules require he's suspended for three days, that's all. You can collect his homework and there shouldn't be any problems with his club activities or positions, but he has to stay home for the next few days."

"What do I pay you for?!" Dick and Bruce gave each other knowing looks as they heard the woman's tirade, quickly tired of her. Typical rich lady. Thought money got her everything she wanted.

"Governing a school I hope," Dick muttered. Derek glared at him coldly, as if he were a dog that bit him. Bruce spotted it and was glad his son merely rolled his eyes in response, letting it go. Kid never really felt the powers of glares unless they came from Alfred.

"Ma'am," the principal started again, "the school system has rules and we all have to obey them. Richard has agreed to the punishment and admits he did wrong. Mr. Wayne has reminded me how no one's exempt from the rules."

"And how much has he bribed you to keep the thing here?"

That was it. Bruce got to his feet, his protective batglare firmly in place as he stepped forward to block Dick from view and make it clear he would not be tolerating her snide comments about his son. The lad's ears had started burning at her barbed words; he hated being considered less than human. He was very human, and one of the best in his father's opinion though the boy doubted himself on occasion. This was going too far.

"Mrs. Powers," he started, stepping forward once again. He had all their attentions now and he intended to keep it, by speaking slowly and rationally while being as threatening as possible. "Need I remind you, no one is above the law? As school is a simulation of the real world, the rules here are the law. No one is above it. Both boys are suspended for the same amount of time, end of story.

"And if you think you can remove my son because he defended his morals and honor from your boy's intentions and past agressions, you have another thing coming. You try to manipulate the system against us and I will take legal action."

The temperature dropped dramatically, making the kid behind him's jaw drop. Bruce was ready to take and enforce punishment, but it had to follow the rules of the school. Taking it to a different level was a fight no one should want, especially with him. They knew the Powers were now powerless. The man looked over to the principal again. "Three days suspension, effective immediately correct?"

Stacy nodded, swallowing. "Uh, yes. Not counting today in the three days that is."

"Understood. Dick," he glanced back to the kid still in his chair, "we need to drop by your classes before going. Care to give me the tour?"

"Yes sir!" Instantly he whipped about his chair and grabbed his backpack next to it, leaping to his father's side. He grinned wolfishly at Derek. "Catch ya later highness."

"Until next time..."

The two were out of the office and down the hall before the Powers could say a single word more. They didn't have to really. The Waynes won, all around the board. Bruce eyed his son for a moment. "Wipe that smirk off your face. You're still grounded."

"I know," Dick answered chipperly, "but it was worth it. That guy is such a jerk and kept threatening me with some weird poem."

"Weird poem?" That made him sound like a theme villain that normally trucked around Gotham.

"Yeah." He looked up at the man as they signed the lad out of school and to get a pass for him to travel through the school to take care of Dick's homework. "He kept quoting it so I think I got it memorized."

"What was it?" The CEO was curious how a poem could be threatening to this kid who played with words whenever he got the chance.

"Don't know the name, but it went like this:

Beware the Court of Owls, that watches all the time,

Ruling Gotham from a shadow perch, behind granite and lime.

They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed,

Speak not a whispered word of them or they'll send a Talon for your head."

Dick looked up at Bruce and the receptionist as they stilled at the poem. The young woman raised an eyebrow in curiosity but his father was upset. That poem... He heard it as a kid and believed it was some kind of omen, that his parents were killed by the Court of Owls for a while. His son blinked at him confused. "Is... it some kind of taboo subject?"

"It's a fairy tale, urban legend." He really didn't want to talk more about it but he knew Dick wouldn't stop asking questions until he got his answers. Taking his pass and pinning it to his jacket, he continued. "The Court of Owls is supposed to be a secret society controlling Gotham in the shadows, using 'Talons' as assassins when someone's angered them. They don't exist. I already looked into them."

"Really?" A bit of confusion appeared on the boy's face. He nodded to confirm but the kid was still troubled. "Then why did that jerkwad call me his 'Talon'?"

Bruce sighed heavily. "Clearly he's deranged and is making his own version of the Court of Owls. Maybe calling you his 'Talon' is his way of acknowledging your abilities while trying to achieve dominance over you."

"Not working."

"No, it's not." The two walked away, not thinking much of this conversation ever again. They simply passed it off as the ramblings of a bully disguised as a gentleman.

A/N: Though I can't make the recent arc work in my world, I can do the Court of owls, in the very far future. Lobdell may have ruined the Titans (RIP the real Tim Drake, Conner Kent, Cassie Sandsmark... and maybe Bart Allen) but Snyder's doing pretty good with the characters... that I've seen... *ducks for cover just in case* Anywho, far future, court of owls. It will happen... one day...

Anywho, I took a look at the math in my head and realized Derek Powers in the Beyond series wouldn't be much older than Dick. For the most part in this series, he forgets about the guy and moves on (so many bullies he deals with). I plan on having the Powers in DNB Beyond (hints on the future cast in my DA scrapbook page) as a constant annoyance, but they're not going to be appearing very much here if at all. That's the plan for the Powers.

In other news... due to constant nagging, somehow I've got this idea for DNB origin stories. Been working on cover art today. Will work on Each kid's mini series in the future too, even know how to start it and who's telling the story. Still want to do a young Bruce series but like many others, they're on hold until I can get the ones on my desktop done. There will be five at least, seven when the Beyond part takes off. If anyone wants to help me in the future organize all these crazy tales somewhere else do tell. Haven't seen any fanart for this series on DA yet so I think I'm just being vain (wouldn't surprise me if that's the case either) so don't worry about this either way.

Rambling now. Go read someone else's stuff. Sly and Xenitha are awesome!