Winner Takes All

Alexnandru Van Gordon

Sorry…this is going to be one of those stories that never end. My sister's keep coming up with all these cute scenarios so…yeah…I'm going to be busy. Oh—and I hope you liked the last chapter. I know it must be annoying to do the paint jig twice in a row…or three times in a row, and I promise to never do it again…maybe…but not right now…

Let's go—

Going to the park was something that they rarely did. First of all, their backyard was a practically a park, so why go somewhere else? Secondly, Bruce was always busy and Richard was at school. And thirdly, the moment they relaxed from their normal lives, they jumped up into their alter-egos and prowled the streets in search of criminals and creeps. Who had the time for parks?...

Somehow, Alfred found time.

With Richard out of school, he spent some days locked up in his room reading or playing, or wandering around in the cave doing flips and all those little stunts that scared Alfred half to death. Bruce was now doing more office work at home, nothing big coming up yet until the end of July. The summer was fresh and both the man and his ward were free for something new…even if they didn't want to do it.

Getting them to sit in the back seat together was like putting a bunch of starving dogs in the same kennel. Richard was still upset because his hair was blue, and Bruce was upset because the light pink turned his black hair to a red-dish brown shade. Neither looked too bad…but it was the point of revenge that made them so bitter.

"I'd rather have a nap." Richard groaned, leaning an elbow up against the car door to stare outside. This way he was as far away from the enemy as he most possibly could be.

"I'd rather be working." Bruce grumbled, eyes shifting toward Richard with suspicion. "You can neap at the park."

Richard shrugged. "Yeah, but there I can't lock a door."

The tension was building and even Alfred could feel it from the front of the car.

Arriving was alright. The two foes put on their act to look as normal as they could be with all the people watching them. It wasn't often that they went out to do such a trivial thing as a day at the park, and that meant the paparazzi would be on its way soon to hunt them down and hide in the bushes to take note of every little thing they did.

Alfred was hoping that the thought of the press after them would force them to smile in each other's presence, but the two acted as casually as they could without looking suspicious. They acted calm and relaxed, each more interested with the scenery than each other.

"You're up to something, sir." Alfred whispered to Bruce as he started down a pathway for a walk. Richard was lying under a tree in the shade, sleeping soundly next to the picnic basket Alfred packed. As much as the boy hated naps, not even someone as tried as he could avoid the weariness all children felt near noon. Through this he would be practically vulnerable to anything Bruce did until they ate lunch.

"Hm?" Bruce asked, trying to look innocent. "What do you mean, Alfred? Must I always be up to something?"

Alfred straightened, eyes narrowing as he tried to read Bruce's expression. It was as clear as crystal that Bruce had, indeed, put something together for the day. It was only a matter of time until he deemed the matter right.

"Oh, really?"

Bruce shrugged. "I would never hurt a hair on his hair or do anything to make him cry. Rest assure, Alfred—Richard is safe."

"So it would seem…"

But the old butler was interrupted by a news reporter who stooped Bruce to ask about his brown hair and Richard's…blue hair.

That was another reason the two really didn't want to come.

-R-

"Go away.." Richard moaned, eyelids and body as heavy as lead as someone shook him awake. It was just so warm outside and he was so tried. This would be the fifth reporter to bug him today, and if they dared to mention his hair like all the rest he would—

"Master Richard, it's time to eat."

Oh, it was just Alfred.

Rubbing an eye, he sat up and stifled a yawn. Bruce was…somewhere else, but Alfred was there with him. Bruce would show up when he felt like eating.

"Can't I eat later?" Richard asked, so tempted to lie down again.

"If you want Bruce to get you, then go right ahead."

Oh…that's right.

"What do I do?" Richard muttered, so tired that he was ready to ask for a truce from Bruce to let him sleep. "I ain't got anything planned."

"Have not got anything planned." Alfred corrected, and then he shrugged. "You could always go and play, make it harder for him to find you. The park is rather large and I'm sure you'll think of something to do to him along the way."

"Sure…"

He doubted…but who knew?

Alfred opened the basket—and jumped back when ebony popped her head out, meowing before scrambling out to Richard's arm.

Heh…he forgot he put her in there.

Alfred gave him that adult stare…the one Bruce liked to use on Richard when he did something terrible. The man must have learned it from Alfred.

"Convince me a kitten has the power to grab a basket top with her non-existent paws to climb inside, and I will question you no further."

"…" He hated it when people made his tasks so difficult. What, did he look like some sort of young genius who could supply a logic answer to such a question? Honestly… "Ebony's a special kitten." Richard said at last, giving a go at just about anything. "Don't mock her—she's very sensitive to what people think about her."

Alfred tried to look serious at the question, but even he couldn't help but smile. "Eat and then go—but take that cat with you. Just make sure she doesn't run off because I'm sure Master Bruce will permit no more pets in the house."

Like Ebony was even allowed.

He did as he was told and left with his kitten, running from a group of girls when they saw Ebony. Some kids were vicious when they wanted to pet a creature and he was in a hurry. He didn't have the time to stand around to talk when Bruce was planning up some sort of plan…

As long as it didn't involve the colour blue, Richard would survive.

In the end, he was sure he was lost. No more opened fields, and no more picnics set up for families to enjoy their stay at the park. He was stuck on some sort of narrow dirt path with trees suffocating him from both sides, the sky darkening slightly above him to the pale gray of a light rain storm.

Maybe the water would help get rid of the paint.

Ebony ran and pranced alongside him on the ground, now safe from the evil clutches of other younger children. She stuck to him like glue and he was actually starting to enjoy his walk when he heard something off to his right…

Pausing…he recognized it as whistling—whistling a song that Bruce knew. This gave Richard the idea to climb the high tree off to the side. Once he was in the higher branches, he climbed out further and found himself above a small river of sorts. It was murky from the mud, but it wasn't deep or fast enough to drown Richard if he fell in. It was probably waist height to him, but he was a good swimmer…

Why was he worrying about that?

Sitting with a large branch between his legs, he looked down to see Bruce lying directly below him on the small river bank. Well, he was really on a small cliff only three or so feet above the water, but it was wide enough that he could lie down and probably set off on his own to sleep. But he wasn't sleeping…he was staring straight up at Richard.

"Hi." Bruce said plainly, smiling slightly. Now, Bruce didn't smile often and he usually only did when Richard did something highly amusing or if there was mischief at hand. Seeing that Richard climbing a tree wasn't anything new, Richard could tell it was the latter of the two.

"Hi." Richard replied, trying to sound normal. He was surprised at how well his voice was acting for him despite the fact that he was a little scared. Bruce was a tough opponent when it came to games and the man would go through hell to make sure he didn't lose. He was a brutal player…

"Why don't you come down from there?" He suggested; hands crossed behind his head to rest. "It's nice and shady, safe from the rain."

"What rain?"

"The rain that'll be here soon." Bruce patted the ground beside him. "Come down here, Dick. Come and talk to me."

"You can hear me well enough from up here."

"Say what?"

"Besides…" Richard turned on the branch to sit sideways, reaching out to grab Ebony who had climbed up after him, cowering near the trunk. But she was calm in his arms, meowing as she stared down briefly at Bruce. "What do I do with Ebony? I can't leave her up here on her own."

Bruce frowned, not so much that he was angry, but a little surprised that Richard took her along. "I thought we decided that Ebony was going to stay on the property. Do you want her to run off?"

"She follows me everywhere." Richard scratched the kitten behind her ears and she purred, climbing out to his knees and sitting on them elegantly. "And she's a daredevil like me."

"Oh…how so?"

Richard didn't have to answer—Ebony did for him. She jumped off Richard's lap and landed on Bruce's chest, winding him slightly from the sudden impact. She then jumped off him and sat next to him, licking her paw like the move was nothing.

Bruce sat up and scowled, brushing his chest off as he glared at her. "Why did you teach her to do that?" He scolded his son.

"I didn't! Honestly!"

"Sure, sure…"

Richard shrugged and slid farther forward off the branch. "Move, please—unless you want me to land on top of you too."

Bruce jumped to his feet, standing aside and watching up at Richard as the boy slid further forward. Then he was falling, ready to land with a grace of his own—before Bruce shot out both arms and caught Richard beneath the knees and back.

"Hey!" Richard protested, suddenly frightened of the grin on his face. "What are you—"

Too late.

Bruce spun around and threw Richard gently into the river. Sure enough, it was as deep as he imagined and he didn't hit the bottom. But he did get as wet as hell and shot up out of the water gasping from the frigid cold as Bruce laughed. He stared up at Bruce in disbelief at the stunt and frowned instantly at himself for being such a fool. He saw it coming but ignored his instincts completely.

"I was actually going to do you that later on, but I'm glad you came now." He held out a hand to check for the soft drizzle of rain. "Looks like we're going home early."

"That was mean." Richard grumbled, hands holding his shoulders as he warned up.

"You've seen me before." Bruce said, referring to the times they took out numerous criminals.. He could be mean and scary—they were his fortes. "Now come on—Truce." He bent down and extended a hand to Richard. "Come one, kiddo—time to take you home."

He wanted to sleep.

He held out his right hand and took Bruce's. Bruce's pull was powerful enough to take Richard out of the water in the blink of an eye but Richard made sure to brace his feet against the small cliff as he exited the water. Sure he fell back in, but this time he fell back in with Bruce.

"Now that…was mean." Bruce stuttered as he emerged from the cold water, shivering. "I thought we called a truce?"

"I said nothing." Richard stated plainly, climbing out of the water, Bruce right after him. "You just thought that."

"Since when did you become such an imp? I can't believe you are working your way with words to be devious and cruel. It doesn't suit you."

True…maybe he was taking things a little too far.

"Home time, Richard."

"Aw…but Alfred is going to kill us…"

-B-

"It's better to face the music now before it can reach forte, and you know how Alfred can be…"

"Still no truce."

Bruce shook his head. "You just wait and see. I've only gotten back at you for one mishap. If anyone has a right for revenge—it's me."

"That's what you think." The boy frowned, Ebony following him as he started down a small dirt path on his own. "I have to have revenge for someone I trust throwing me into a river."

"Oh, and what of the paint and my cleaning it all up?"

"Hey—you've never had to dust the whole mansion!"

The boy lead his kitten farther and farther away, just out of talking range so that both had to raise their voices (which, you must understand, was misinterpreted by both as the fury of the other).

"I was a kid once too—Alfred gave me the same punishments!"

"And did he teach you how to sew for a three hour long sessions per trouble?"

…No actually, he never made Bruce do that. It must have been to build up patience in the boy…or something like that.

"Thought so!" Richard yelled, ending the conversation.

So maybe he was punished for the paint after all.

---

Alfred took it better than what he thought the old friend would. Bruce and Richard and Bruce cleaned up, went for patrol, came back and cleaned up again. It was about twelve p.m. and Bruce decided to watch a movie in the living room, something Alfred suggested to distract him from his work for relaxation. He also suggested calling Richard to watch it with him, but he knew the boy was still angry at him.

Maybe the dip in the river was a little too much?

"Have you tired apologizing?"

He gave a grumble. Alfred knew he wasn't the verbal type of guy—he preferred showing what was on his mind through actions rather than words.

"Giving him a hug, then?"

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "A hug? What good does that do me if Richard won't even go near me. He was as quiet as the dead all of tonight while we were on patrol and he wouldn't look at me unless I gave him an order."

"All healthy children are cuddlers." Alfred explained, standing at the counter as he prepared a pot of tea. "When a child is born, the earliest form of affection it understands is the embrace of a parent, the physical contact it makes with someone it trusts. Naturally, that sense of security and love clings to an embrace and stays with them as they grow. When he's in his teens the feeling will flip entirely most possibly, but right now he's still a child." Then the butler smiled. "I bet if you caught him he'd get over it. You know he won't hurt you."

"He'd kick and bite."

"Maybe…but Richard will recognize it as an apology. He'll know and he'll accept it."

Okay…so maybe he would try it, but he was sure there'd be a few extra bruises to tend to after the night were finished…

Richard wasn't in his room or anyway else he would normally be. Ebony was wandering around the house on her own and that meant she had probably lost him too. The child and cat was quite the pair. Maybe it was because Richard grew up in the circus with a lot of different animals. That would explain why they got so attached to him…

Failing to find his kid, he returned to the living room and sat down on the couch, starting the movie which was just some old western film. He liked those and so did Richard...maybe he'd come along later.

In the dark he didn't notice the boy until he stirred. He was curled up under a blanket on the other side of the couch with the stack of pillows Bruce threw there hiding him. He muttered something before a pillow fell off him onto the floor, reaching blinding for it as he refused to open his eyes. He did look awfully tired that night…

-R-

He didn't know there was someone else in the room until they grabbed him around the waist and pulled him up as he scrambled to get back under the pillows and blanket. He realized it was Bruce and was worried for a moment that the man was going to finish his revenge, but instead he was seated on his lap sideways and embraced tightly.

Still upset at the man Richard struggled against his strong arms but found himself giving up quickly, leaning his head on Bruce's shoulder and just relaxing. If this was Bruce's way of apologizing, that was just fine with him. Word weren't exactly trustworthy—actions were.

Besides, action spoke louder than words.

He slid to sit beside Bruce as they watched the rest of the movie but, unfortunately for his age, he fell asleep before he could see the end. Bruce carried him up to his room and he was thankful for that, tucked into the bed quietly were he felt warm and safe. And, for the first night since the first paint incident, Richard slept in peace.

So did Bruce.

…

…

(And don't forget Alfred too.)

-A-

Is it over?...Far from it. My one-shots are the things I do when I reach a reader's block and I get a lot of those. I remember arguing with my dad and then giving him the silent treatment until we apologized. Then there was that thing my mom told me about taking care of my own kids if I ever have them…truth be told, it's been scientifically proven that an infant that is not held as often as it should be when it's young will die—and a child that suffers from the lack of embrace will not be too stable emotionally or psychologically when he or she grows up…So, yeah…Take a second to talk to your kids if you have any. I know we're brats, but we're still really grateful for being on the planet.

Until Again,

Alexnandru Van Gordon