"Master Dick, Master Bruce wishes to see you in his study."
Dick looked up from his algebra homework as Alfred spoke.
"Alright, Alfred. I'll come now."
The immortal butler gave a slight nod before vacating the doorway. Dick finished off his equation before heading to the study.
He entered through the open doorway, and was surprised to find Selina Kyle there as well.
"Alfred said you wanted to see me?"
"Yes," Bruce said, vaguely, "I have something important to tell you, that I'm not sure you'll like."
Dick stiffened slightly. What was Bruce talking about? What wouldn't he like? And what did Catwoman have to do with it?
"I was looking into your background," Bruce explained, "and I found out that the Graysons weren't actually your parents. You were adopted by them as a baby."
Dick's blood ran cold. The Graysons weren't his parents? He was adopted? But then…
"Who - who are my real parents then?"
Bruce took a deep breath, and told him.
Dick's eyes widened with every word in both surprise and shock. Bruce was his father. Selina was his mother. The Graysons weren't his parents. He hadn't watched his parents die. His whole life was a lie.
Bruce finally stopped talking and waited for Dick's reaction.
Dick didn't speak, couldn't speak. He stood in shock, slowly shaking his head in denial. It wasn't that he didn't want Bruce to be his father, he just couldn't believe it.
He slowly backed out of the study, which neither Bruce nor Selina noticed until it was too late.
Dick bolted.
He ran from the study, flew out the doors, and away from the manor. Grasping his cellphone in his hands shakily, he dialed a very familiar number as the tears began to stream down his face.
"Hello?"
"Babs?"
"Dick? Where are you? What's wrong?"
"W-would your dad mind if I come to stay the night?"
"I'll ask him, hang on."
Barbara could be heard talking to her dad in the background.
She soon came back to the phone.
"He says that's fine. But what's wrong?"
"I- I'll tell you when I get there, thanks Babs."
…:-:...
"So, Dick," Barbara said as they sat down on her bed, "What caused you to leave the manor in such a rush? And what's got you so upset?"
Dick explained everything to her. She did, of course, know about Bruce, Dick and Selina's secrets. She was a vigilante herself.
When Dick had finished, she lay back on her bed and sighed deeply.
"I see," she said, "Why you were so upset."
…:-:...
Meanwhile, back at the manor, Batman and Catwoman were suiting up to go and look for their son. They had been unable to find him on the manor's grounds, and even though they knew that he was well trained, they were worried for his safety. It was late at night, at a time when Gotham rogues were usually about. He did, luckily, have his belt with him, as he had been told to have it on him at all times, so he wasn't completely weaponless.
The pair climbed into the Batmobile and drove out into the night.