TITLE- Navajo Dreams

AUTHOR- Kim

SUMMERY- What if Bruce Wayne Raised Roy Harper

DC owns all characters

Rating- maybe M later on.

Part 1 of ?

Bruce Wayne smiled reassuringly at the boy sitting beside him, the thirteen year old sat in the passenger seat of Wayne,s red convertible, the smile was wasted on the boy who was staring steadfastly at the landscape as they drove past, the wind whipped the boys straggly red hair around as the car roared along. "You hungry?...want to stop at the next town and grab a bite to eat?" Bruce asked.

The boy shrugged.

Bruce sighed, he knew this was going to be hard on the boy. He didn't blame the child for not feeling conversational, after all Bruce was still practically a stranger to him. Bruce thought back over the events of past months... He had made a trip to Arizona to follow up a lead he had on a new drug, that dealers in Gotham had begun peddling on the streets. As Batman, his sources had indicated the supply was coming from Arizona, the wide open spaces there provided plenty of potential hiding places for such a business to thrive. His sources had been right and there wouldn't be any drugs, killing kids on the streets of Gotham that had come from that particular manufacturer any more, not after Batman had paid them a visit.

Whilst he was staying in a nearby small town, as Bruce Wayne, he had by chance run into a Navajo Indian named Brave Bow, he wasn't surprised when Brave Bow had recognized his name when he introduced himself, Bruce Wayne was after all a well known millionaire, nor was he surprised when he was invited back to share a meal on the reservation where Brave Bow lived. He was however surprised to find a white boy living there and after a lengthy conversation in which Brave Bow revealed he was dieing from a terminal illness, he had surprised himself further by agreeing to return when the illness finally claimed Brave Bows life, to take the boy home with him.

He guessed it was the desperation in Brave Bows voice that had finally driven him to agree, that and the fact that the boy had no one else, other members of the tribe had agreed the boy should leave, he wasn't one of them and belonged elsewhere. Now Brave Bow had passed and Bruce had returned to take the boy with him.

He and Alfred had discussed the situation repeatedly over the last month, Bruce had reasoned the boy would stay with them untill the authorities could find a suitable home for him...But after much soul searching and Alfred pointing out that taking the boy temporarily would quite possibly cause more emotional damage to the child, who would already be suffering from the loss of two father figures in his young life...Bruce had decided he would have to provide a permanent, stable home for the boy.

"Well, I know I'm hungry so we'll stop anyway. Won't hurt to stretch our legs, its been a long drive." Bruce said.

The boy nodded, and continued to look at the passing scenery.

They pulled over at a truck stop on the outskirts of town and sat at a table to eat. Bruce smiled to himself as the boy ravenously devoured the burger and fries, Bruce had purchased . "Good burger?" he asked, attempting to get some sort of a conversation from the child.

"Yeah...'s ok...Thanks." the boy said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, and slowing down the rate he was consuming the food.

"We'll be home in about three hours, Alfred's got a room ready for you..." Bruce stopped as the boy cut in.

"You mean you'll be home...Ain't my home...And who's Alfred?" asked the Boy.

Bruce frowned, "Roy..." he said saying the child's name for what he realized was the first time, "I'd really like you to consider my home yours while your staying there...And Alfred is my Butler as well as a very good friend."

Roy looked up. "What's a Butler?" he asked.

"Pardon?" Bruce asked looking a bit stunned.

"You said Alfred was a Butler, what's a Butler?" Roy repeated the question again.

"Well...A Butler is...A Butler is a man servant I guess...Only Alfred is much more that a servant...I'd be lost without him...He raised me after my parents died...I..." Bruce stopped as Roy once again cut him off.

"My Dad died too, he said...That's why I had to live with Brave Bow...He looked after me after my Dad died...Kinda like Alfred looked after you I guess." Roy said, stuffing a couple more french fries in his mouth while talking.

Alfred's going to have his work cut out teaching this one some etiquette Bruce thought. "Brave Bow told me about your Dad...I'm sorry to hear he died...I'm sure he was a good man." Bruce said lamely.

Roy shrugged... another habit Alfred would correct thought Bruce.

"I don't remember him, so you don't need to feel sorry for me..cause I don't miss what I never knew. Brave Bow was..." Roy stopped, glancing away uncomfortably before looking back again, Bruce noticed the look straight away..

"Brave Bow cared for you very much Roy..if you feel you need to talk about it you can always talk to myself or Alfred..I hope you know that." Bruce said gently.

Roy shrugged again and returned to the silence he had been displaying earlier.

"Well...We'd better get moving if we want to get home before it gets too late." Bruce said, hoping to break the tension.

Three hours later, Bruce had introduced Roy to Alfred, and Roy stood in the entrance hall of Wayne manor looking wide eyed at every thing around him. "Wow" he said awed by the size of the home, "How many people live in this place...It's REALLY cool."

Bruce laughed, glad to finally find something that illicited some other emotion from the boy other than indifference.

"I'm glad you find it...cool...Master Roy." Alfred said. "And only Master Bruce and myself occupy the manor, now if you'd like to follow me I'll show you to your room."

Roy followed Alfred to the stair case, "Only the two of you live here?..No one else?..What do you do all day?" he asked as he continued to look around in awe.

"Yes Master Roy, only the two of us...And I assure you we manage to find enough things..to do..to keep us more than occupied...Now young Master if you would like to face the direction in which you are walking, it might be safer for you to walk up the stairs."

Roy walked behind Alfred, running his hand along the stair banister as he went..., already envisioning sliding down it.

They arrived at the room Alfred had prepared for Roy. And Alfred began to show Roy where the various items of clothing he had purchased for the boy earlier in the day were stored, as well showing him where his bathroom was.

"I have a bathroom in my room?" Roy questioned. "For just me to use?"

"Indeed you do Master Roy" Alfred said patiently." And if you'd like to use it to freshen up, I'll go down a prepare tea Master Bruce. " Alfred said turning towards the door.

"Freshen up?" Roy asked puzzled by the expression.

"Yes young sir." Alfred said, then on seeing the boys still puzzled expression, he added, "Perhaps a shower and change of clothing after the trip would be appropriate."

------

A while later Roy appeared in the door way of the kitchen, dressed in a polo shirt and slacks. "Ah, Master Roy I'm glad you found your way here, I was about to come up to guide you. Perhaps you'd like to take a seat and I'll get you some hot chocolate." Alfred said.

Roy approached, and took the seat Alfred indicated, looking intently around the kitchen.

Alfred glanced at the boy and chose not to comment on the bare feet, they could work on such things once the boy had settled in.

"Where's Bruce?" Roy finally asked.

"Master Bruce has some important work to catch up on. Unfortunately he won't be joining us again tonight, but he did say he will speak with you at breakfast." Alfred replied.

"What sort of work does he do?" Roy asked inquisitively.

"Well.." said Alfred thoughtfully. "Master Bruce's work calls on him to do a number of things...He's very successful at what he does."

Despite Alfred's answer being somewhat elusive, it seemed to satisfy Roy, who had quickly moved to the next question on his mind. "Are there any other kids my age around here?" he asked.

Alfred paused before answering. "If by 'around here' you mean nearby, I'm afraid not, as you would have noticed when you and Master Bruce drove in.. The manor is quite some distance from any other residences, however I have followed Master Bruce's instructions and enrolled you at a very good school..."

"School sucks." said Roy cutting Alfred off.

Alfred raised an eyebrow at the expression. "Indeed Master Roy...I'm sure at times school may be difficult, but it is a rather important part of growing up...Now I must say, it would be preferable for you to refrain from using that expression in future."

"Sucks?" Roy asked confirming the expression Alfred was referring to.

"Yes Master Roy." Alfred said firmly.

Roy shrugged, "Okay...whatever." he said.

Alfred frowned, but chose not to correct the boy any further, it was best he allowed the child to become comfortable before worrying about such things.

Some time later Alfred had finished taking Roy on a tour of the manor, they both sat in the sitting room and Alfred began to explain their agenda for the next day.

" We will both go into the city, where you will be fitted for your school uniform, and appropriate footwear. After which we will organize a haircut." Alfred said, looking at the boy's scruffy shoulder length hair.

"Why." Roy asked

By now Alfred had become used to the never ending questions that Roy asked...the child was inquisitive he thought..and having rarely left the reservation he had been living on , he was curious about most things. Far from finding the constant questioning annoying Alfred had found it refreshing.

"Because that is the requirements of the school you will be attending." he said simply.

"Oh..." said Roy, before adding. "School su...Uh school stinks." he finished just remembering at the last moment to refrain from using the word sucks.

"Yes Master Roy...I believe you have expressed those sentiments already...Now it's getting quite late young Sir, and I believe it would be an appropriate time for you to retire to bed." Alfred said.

Surprisingly the boy offered no resistance to the suggestion, instead rising and walking out of the room towards the stairs, Alfred followed him up to the room. Removing a set of pajamas he placed them on the dresser table.

"You'll find a toothbrush and toothpaste waiting for you on the bathroom vanity, Master Roy...here is your night wear...I'll leave you to get ready." Alfred stated as he turned down the bed.

"Thanks Alfred...I'm normally in bed early at home...so I guess I am feeling pretty tired." the boy called from the bathroom as he began brushing his teeth.

"Of course... Well good night then young Sir...I shall see you in the morning." Alfred called as he left his young charge to finish getting ready for bed.

'Night" called a tired voice through a mouthful of toothpaste.

An hour later Alfred looked into the open door of Roy's room, despite the light being turned off Alfred could clearly see the child laying stretched out on his stomach...sound asleep...The pajamas Alfred had gotten ready for him were still sitting on the dresser..They boy had simply removed his shirt and was sleeping in the slacks he'd had on earlier in the night...Alfred smiled...the lad was going to be a challenge.. He walked over and carefully pulled the covers up over the child's bear shoulders. The boy stirred slightly but didn't wake. Yes a challenge ...but one that would bring light into his life.

End part 1