Title Navajo Dreams
Author Kim
Summery what if Bruce Wayne raised Roy Harper.
DC owns them.
Part 4
Alfred frowned, Bruce was not going to be happy when he arrived home to hear of the days events.It was the third time in a month Alfred had to attend Roys school on Bruce's behalf to face an increasingly irritated Headmaster, this time the boy had been involved in a slanging match with two other students which resulted in the boy apparently yelling abuse with rather colorful language, and ending up with a blood nose and split lip. The school was fast losing patience with the child, and Alfred feared that not even having Bruce as a wealthy benefactor would be enough to have them allow Roy to continue at the school much longer..
The boy had been living with them for almost three months now, and despite a promising start, in which Bruce had been making some headway in reaching the boy, in the last six weeks that seemed to be reversed, the child was now becoming more withdrawn, and less cooperative. Alfred knew he was having a difficult time adjusting to his new school, this was quite obvious in the afternoons when Roy was irritable for some time after arriving home. Both Alfred and Bruce had questioned him repeatedly on wether there were problems at school they could help him with, but the boy had refused to answer any questions about the subject.
Discussions with the school revealed Roy was actually a very bright child, who refused to apply himself, there was also an initial problem with a language barrier of sorts, Roy spoke English very well, but there were some words he had never encountered before which other children immediately picked up on, Alfred had a feeling this was the start of the difficulties Roy was facing with his peers, and that was also the cause of the ongoing behavior issues at the school, but without Roy confiding such information, it was really only a suspicion and couldn't be acted on.
Alfred glanced over at the boy, who was sitting at the table, a half finished glass of milk in front of him, as well as his unopened homework book. Sighing he walked over to open the book to the appropriate page. "Would you like me to sit with you and help you complete your homework Master Roy?" he asked hopefully..
Roy shook his head. "I'll do it later." he said.
Alfred frowned...taking note of a rather nasty bruise appearing on the boy's chin. He had given up on trying to get the boy to keep an ice pack on it. "It may be wiser to have it completed before Master Bruce gets home, given the circumstances of todays events." Alfred said quietly.
Roy shook his head again.
Alfred pulled out the chair beside the child and sat down. He looked at the boy with concern, "Master Roy...it is increasingly obvious that you are troubled...I realize adjusting to a new home is difficult, and I also want you to know that I realize that you are not just facing a new home, but a new school and indeed a number of...shall we say cultural differences for the want of a better word...That is a difficult thing for anyone to face...And both Master Bruce and myself would sincerely like to help you with these issues in any way we can." Alfred reached out to place his hand on the childs shoulder, he needed to make the boy understand that he was not alone, that he had people who cared about him.
At the touch of Alfreds hand Roy jumped up, surprising the elderly gentleman as he turned to look at him with sad eyes "No one can help me...I don't need anyone...I don't want your pity, I just want to be left alone." he said angrily.
"Master Roy...every person on this earth needs someone that cares about them...and I am not offering you pity...I am however offering friendship..."
"I DON'T NEED YOUR DAMN FREINDSHIP...I JUST NEED TO BE LEFT ALONE...SO FRIKEN LEAVE ME ALO..."
"WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE?" Boomed Bruce's voice as he cut off the rest of Roy's tirade. Roy jumped spinning around to face Bruce who was standing behind him.
They stood facing each other, haunted green eyes meeting angry blue ones.
"We were merely having a discussion Master Bruce..." Alfred started.
"He has no right to speak to you like that Alfred...I will not tolerate it...Roy you will apologies to Alfred NOW." Bruce said angrily.
Roy continued to meet Bruces angry gaze. "NO." he spat.
"I said now, young man." Bruce said in a low voice that carried a distinct deadly tone.
Roy felt himself cringe at the tone, involuntarily taking a step back.
Alfred stood knowing a standoff, such as the one that was taking place here, was not going to achieve anything for anyone involved. "Perhaps Master Roy needs some time to think about our discussion.. before he takes that step Master Bruce."
Bruce looked at Alfred, then back at the child before him, both fear and anger clearly evident on the boys face, Alfred was right...as usual..Forcing the child to apologize would achieve nothing except to make him resentful. He would have to make such an apology willingly or not at all. "Very well...Go to your room Roy," he finally demanded.
Roy didn't need to be told twice, storming past Bruce he disappeared out the door.
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"What was that about?...and where'd he get those bruises?" Bruce asked.
Alfred began to explain the details of the days events.
"It's not acceptable Alfred, I don't care if he doesn't like school, he has to pick his act up, I send him to one of the finest schools in Gotham, and this is how he behaves?" Bruce said angrily, once Alfred had finished.
"Master Bruce...I fear there is much more happening with the young Master that a simple case of not liking school..He's becoming increasingly withdrawn...Quite unlike the young man that you first arrived here with." Alfred said, concern evident in his voice.
Bruce frowned, if Alfred was concerned than there was something to be concerned about..He'd noticed Roy's quietness also...He'd also noticed the way the boy avoided his eye's when they spoke...Alfred was right, there was a problem and it had gone on long enough. Any anger Bruce had felt had faded away, replaced instead with concern "I think I'm way overdue to have a talk with him Alfred...This time It's something I need to do." he said.
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Roy sat on bed, his legs bent, arms wrapped around his legs, chin resting on top of his knees.He sighed, Alfred hadn't deserved his outburst...Bruce was right he would have to apologize.
The old man had shown Roy only tolerance and patience..and Roy appreciated Alfreds grandfatherly like manner. Roy thought...He was trying to fit in he really was, but no matter how hard he tried, he always seemed to fail...He knew Bruce would be disappointed with him ..again...He hated school, hated everything about it..The fact that he had to sit through long boring lessons, that he was inside, when all he wanted was to be out in the fresh air and sunshine..that the teachers seemed to watch him, waiting for him to fail..and most of all the fact that he felt outcaste among the other children...Just another place he didn't fit.
On hearing a throat being cleared,Roy looked up to see Bruce standing in the doorway, he swallowed nervously and put his chin back on his knees.
Bruce looked down at the boy... Bruised and swollen face..and the picture of misery...he felt his heart twinge...wishing there was someway of making the boy understand how important he was becoming to them...some way of reaching out, to reach the burden the child obviously carried. "Roy." he said gently as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"I'm gonna say sorry to Alfred." Roy offered sadly. Bruce frowned at the sad forlorn tone in Roys voice. "I knew you would pal...but that's something for you and Alfred to discuss.'
Roy looked up briefly locking his gaze with Bruce's before looking away."This is about school then...Alfred told you already?"
"Yes it's about school...Amongst other things." Bruce said.
Roy flicked nervous eye's towards Bruce again...Amongst other things?' he thought..What other things beside school...He'd been trying really hard not to forget any rules ...and he'd been working even harder on not talking too much or asking too many questions..cause he knew that annoyed Bruce...What else could there be?
"First things first...what happened at school today?" Bruce asked.
Roy frowned."Alfred already told ya." he said.
"Yes he did...He told me what the Headmaster said...Now I want to hear what you have to say about it." Bruce said firmly but gently.
Roy hugged his knees closer. "I got in to an argument...and I yelled some stuff and I got sent to the Headmasters office..They called Alfred..That's all." he said matter of factly.
Bruce cocked one eyebrow. "I was hoping for details as to why the argument started?." he asked
Roy sighed sitting up and leaning back against the headboard...Should he tell Bruce?...would Bruce just think he was being foolish?...He knew Bruce didn't really want him, he'd only taken him in because he felt he had to...Still, sometimes he felt something about Bruce, that made him feel he could trust him..."They pick on me...make fun of my people.." he finally blurted.
Bruce sat quietly watching the boy, this was exactly what Alfred suspected was happening.."So you got angry...and you lost your temper?" Bruce said.
"Yeah...but they didn't just pick on me...they picked on the new kid too..he's from Vietnam, he's only little and they were shoving him around...So.."
"So you stopped them ?" Bruce cut in.
"Yep...Then they started on me...making stupid Indian noises...I told them they watched to much TV..cause my people don't do that..." Roy paused. "Anyway after a while I got angry...and..." His voice trailed off.
"So you got into a fight?...How many bruises did the other two end up with?" Bruce asked..Trying to keep the tone of his voice conversational.
"None...I didn't even get a kick in...one of them held my arms and I ...well I suck in a fight." Roy finish angrily.
Bruce felt anger rise but suppressed it..."Well two against one aren't exactly great odds...And what happened to these two cowardly acts?" he asked.
"Dunno...But they called their parents..so I guess they got in trouble same as me.." Roy looked at Bruce with sad green eye's. "I'm sorry Bruce...I know your busy..I didn't mean to waste your time." he said.
Bruce cringed...He hadn't spent much time with the boy..and he did feel guilty about that...he wanted to..but with working day and night it was difficult.
"Roy...I don't want you worrying about waisting my time...I want you to know that..anytime you need to talk I'm here for you." Bruce said
"Yeah but I'm trying real hard not to bother you too much...I'm grateful that you let me live here..." Roy wrapped his arms around his legs again.
Bruce felt awareness slowly creeping in...The quietness over the last few weeks...not looking at him..."Roy you do understand that this is your home now?...I mean , your real home...not just some place you get to stay...you know that don't you?"
Roy fidgeted, but didn't answer..He didn't have too Bruce knew the answer...This wasn't just about school..there was more to it. "Roy...Look at me for a moment.." Bruce waited till the boy had turned haunted eye's towards him, before continuing." Roy you are an important part of this family...you understand that don't you?" The boy looked away uncomfortably.
"Roy?" Bruce reached out to gently squeeze the boy's shoulder.
That was enough to open the flood gates..tears Roy had held in check welled and spilled down his cheek..He angrily pushed them away and turned his head so Bruce wouldn't keep looking at him.
"Roy?" Bruce squeezed the boy's shoulder again."Please talk to me...I can't help you if you don't let me.." He said softly.
"I...I...I heard you telling Alfred...why you took me in...I'm sorry...I know you never wanted a kid...I don't have nowhere else to go.." Roy stammered trying to hold the sobs in.
Bruce's face registered the shock he felt...He thought back ..his detective trained mind thinking back to find the conversation Roy was talking about...Then remembering...Roy must have heard some of the conversation ..but not all of it.
"Roy...You've misinterpreted what was said..." Bruce moved to sit beside the boy. "Roy of course at first I was worried...I didn't know what would be right for you..or for me...But Roy that's not how I feel now..." Bruce stopped as Roy turned to look at him.
"It's not?" he asked puzzled.
"No it's not...Roy you belong here..with us...A wise old man once told me 'you don't get to choose your family' neither of us chose the circumstances that brought us together...But I'm glad we found each other...because we can both help each other a great deal.."
"We can?" Roy asked cutting Bruce off.
"Yes we can...I've never had a child in my life Roy...I work hard..and I find it hard to slow down at times.."
Roy cut in again. "I've been trying to stay out of your way so you can work." he said, brushing another tear from his eye's..feeling angry with himself for displaying such emotion..he was thirteen after all, to old to cry.
Bruce sighed "I'm so sorry Roy...I haven't been fair to you...you shouldn't have to worry about staying out of my way...I should have been finding more time to spend with you." Bruce stopped. He had failed this boy..Some detective he was, he hadn't seen what was right under his nose..He had to prove to this boy how important he was to him..And he knew just how to do it. "Roy do you remember what I said about families, and keeping secrets?" he asked.
Roy nodded "Families don't keep secrets from each other he said."
"That's right...now that I know your secret..about why you've been feeling the way you have...I think it's time for you to find out mine..go wash your face and we'll go and see just what I do at night. " Bruce said.
"Really?" Roy asked leaping off the bed.
"Really" Bruce said As Roy rushed into the bathroom to wash his face.
Alfred popped his head around the doorway..he had been listening the whole time "Bravo Master Bruce." he said quietly "I couldn't have handled it better myself" he said turning and walking out the door before adding "A wise old man indeed."
Not the end.
