A/N: Thank you Batbabe for the review AND for telling me that I posted this under German! 'Do'h!'
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Bruce returned five minutes after the police arrived. He walked up to Darrian surprise evident in his eyes, "Are you okay?" He asked glancing around the room like it was his first time.
Darrian jumped. "I wish you hadn't made me do that." he said. "All kinds a shit's gonna happen now. I'll have to get outta the state.."
"Don't worry." Bruce shook his head then turned when Commissioner Gordon approached him.
"Sorry you have to walk in on something like this Mr. Wayne. Your friend here's real lucky. Says the Bat came."
"That so?" Bruce raised his eyebrows.
Darrian nodded. "Yup. How come you're never around when the good stuff's going on Bruce?" Darrian totally disguised his discomfort and smiled at Bruce.
Bruce shrugged smiling, "So what did they want? I see they didn't manage to take anything..."
Gordon pulled out a cigar glanced up at Bruce who smiled and lit it, "I'm not sure. Your friend here says he doesn't know either. My guess is robbery gone bad."
Darrian shook his head. "Shouldn't have such a big house with no security system Brucie." He smirked
"Nothing like this has ever happened before." Bruce replied, "Where's Alfred?" He asked looking around.
"He got knocked out." Darrian said, worry in his tone. "I put him on the couch with an ice pack for his head, but he hasn't woken up yet."
"He should be fine, we had a medic look him over." Gordon spoke up taking a puff of his cigar.
Another officer called for him and he excused himself then walked off. Bruce turned back to Darrian his eyes darkening slightly.
"We need to talk." He grunted, "Later..."
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Darrian sat on the pool table, deciding whether or not to start a game. Deciding he didn't feel like it, he just waited for Bruce to come in. "Hey, how's Alfred?" He asked when Bruce finally entered.
"He's fine. Has a bit of a headache..." He paused and closed the door, "But rather clean than stay in bed." He smiled slightly then sighed folding his arms over his chest.
"You can stay if you'd like."
Darrian jumped down and paced. "Thanks, but I can't." He said nervously. "Even if those guys don't find me out here I'm still gonna have to deal with the cops if those sneaky bastard stalkers of mine talk."
Bruce shook his head, "You really haven't been reading the papers."
Darrian cocked his head. "What?"
"Darrian, the last time we talked I was a broke and beaten 15 year old. Now, I'm a billionaire with the best lawyers in town."
Darrian winced at the memories THAT brought up." I know... but I'm still gonna be guilty, aren't I?"
"For what, self defense?" Bruce smirked, "No one will even try and prosecute you for that."
Darrian avoided eye contact. "Bruce. Why do you think I owe them money in the first place?"
The thought hadn't even occurred to him, 'Great detective my ass.' He thought grimly.
"You're doing drugs again." Again, he had quit for a while, for him.
"I'm not anymore." Darrian protested. "Things just got hard after we split and.. shit, you know I'm not a strong person." Darrian paced again, obviously disgusted with himself.
Bruce narrowed his eyes, "Could've fooled me."
Darrian looked up, looking not a little hurt. "What do you mean?" He asked shortly.
"You know exactly what I mean."
Darrian looked hurt. "I'm not still a junkie Bruce, I swear. I've been clean for eight months."
Bruce shook his head, "That's not what I'm talking about Darrian." He frowned slightly, "You're not as weak as you think you are."
Darrian shook his head. "If I'm all that strong why did I start the stupid drug in the first place?" He asked, but turned away, running a hand through his hair, stressed. "Anyway... you can see why I'm royally screwed now, don't you."
"It doesn't matter. I'm not going to turn my back on you now, the offer is still open."
Darrian looked muddled. "I don't wanna bring any more trouble down on you than I already have Bruce. And you know I will. It just follows me round wherever I go."
"You always seem to get yourself out of trouble too." Bruce smirked, "And you know my secret, so you don't have much a choice now anyways."
Darrian sat down where he stood, cross-legged on the floor, looking deep in thought. "You're sure?" he said eventually.
Bruce nodded, "If I wasn't I wouldn't have asked."
Darrian shrugged. "Okay man." his grin back. "But it's your funeral."
"It's not like I haven't been to it already." Bruce replied blandly.
Darrian blinked." You what?"
Bruce chuckled, "So you have to fill me in on what you've been doing."
Darrian shrugged. "You know.... shooting up, getting high, getting clean, living like an outlaw... the usual. Tell me, what's with the funeral thing. Tell me, tell me, tell me..."
Bruce blinked, "I was kidding." He furrowed his eyebrows at Darrian, "You were supposed to be the 'good example' remember?"
Darrian snorted. "I've had enough of that to last me a lifetime." He said. "I think I deserve to act like a kid now and then, considering my gaping LACK of childhood. And how was I supposed to know you were kidding? You lead a double life as a superhero, come on."
"Yea well..." Bruce shrugged, "Gotta do something."
Darrian raised an eyebrow. "Yea...but.... superhero?"
"I made a promise." Bruce said simply, his face turning serious.
Darrian saw Bruce's face cloud over and backed off. "Fair enough." he said simply.
Bruce turned towards the door just as Alfred entered.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything, Master Bruce." He said politely.
"No, Alfred, you're not." Bruce smiled slightly.
"Dinner is ready sirs."
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A/N: Please Review!