Disclaimer: I don't own Young League or any of its characters. Shocking, isn't it?
...
Chapter 12: Sharing || Bruce & Dick.
"You didn't tell me you were coming down," Dick accused, hands firmly planted on his hips as he stood a few feet away from where Bruce was working in the Batcomputer, already wearing Batman's suit minus the cowl.
"You were studying," Bruce replied without turning around.
After having dinner together, Bruce retreated to his study to make a few work-related phone calls and Dick had gone upstairs to study for tomorrow's test. It wasn't until he noticed the late hour than he went down to Bruce's study only to find it empty and then rushed to the cave.
Bruce said nothing else, so Dick huffed, heading toward the changing area. He walked toward the mats once he was wearing his Robin suit, stretching and working out all over the place, warming up while Bruce kept typing.
Even as he worked Bruce had been keeping an eye on Dick, so he wasn't surprised when his little bird appeared behind him in the blink of an eye, watching over his shoulder as he continued working.
Dick tilted his head slightly. It looked like Bruce was putting his Bat agenda up-to-date. Blue eyes widened when they stumbled over Bruce's plan for two particular days.
"You're going to the mountain two days next week? Asterous!" Dick exclaimed gleefully as he hopped on the desk, legs dangling back and forth as he looked back at his guardian. Sure, B went to the mountain all the time for briefings, to assign missions, and a lot of other things, but he never stayed long.
Bruce only grunted in answer -an affirmative grunt- as he continued typing.
A grin started to spread over Dick's face. He loved his teammates, he really did, but it was a bit tiresome how much they worried and tried to protect him just because he had no powers (even if he could admit Artemis had it worse, being human and a girl too). So, a training session with Batman on Mount Justice, where the whole team could see it would be would be the perfect way to show them how good he was at what he did.
Pleeease! He hadn't been the first protégé -and Batman's protégé at that- for nothing.
"What are you going to do at the mountain?"
Already working on something else, it took Bruce a moment to reply. "I need to install a few upgrades to the system and I have training scheduled with Superboy."
Dick hummed. "You haven't told me how Supey's training is going, you know."
Bruce made a face, making Dick giggled. It was so weird seeing that while Bruce was wearing the suit. The older man sent him a look but didn't question the strange reaction. He most likely knew what had caused it.
"It's a work in progress, but at least he's waiting until Canary and I are finished pointing out what he did wrong and correcting it before losing his temper." Bruce let out a sigh, rubbing a hand across his face. "We need to do something about all that anger."
Dick snorted. "Tell me about it,"
"I was hoping to teach him some meditation techniques, but-"
"But his super hearing doesn't make it easy."
Bruce grunted affirmatively.
"Have you thought about having Kal around during his training?" Dick asked after a moment.
Bruce looked up at his ward, eyebrows knitted together. "Aqualad?"
"Yeah. Who else? He's actually pretty good at calming Supey down when he starts yelling and hitting stuff." Dick finished with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Or," Bruce countered with an arched eyebrow. "Being called out in front of one of his teammates could make things worse."
Dick pondered that for a moment. "Maybe, but I don't think that's likely. Kal always seems to know the best way to explain things to Superboy without making him angry. Or at least not very angry."
Bruce only grunted in reply, turning back to the computer. Anyone else would feel annoyed or angry by the dismissal, thinking that grunt was a 'Shut up. That idea sucks' kind of grunt, but Dick knew better. That was a 'Hmm, I'll think about it' kind of grunt.
It was actually pretty easy to tell the difference once you got used to it, really.
"And what else are you going to do?" Dick asked nonchalantly.
"Aqualad and I need to have a talk."
"Uh-uh. Is he in trouble?"
"Not at all," Bruce denied, without looking away from the screen. "But with Aqualad assuming the leadership of the team, we have to discuss some things at length."
Dick dropped his gaze, looking down at his hands as he fingered with the edge of his cape. He knew Kal was going to be a very capable and great leader, and friend, but he couldn't help but feel something seeing him stepping up to the leadership when, as Batman's protégé and the most experienced, he felt like everyone -even himself- had expected him to take the role.
"Oh," Dick said belatedly, making Bruce turn to look at him. "And what else?"
Bruce watched Dick for a moment, pondering whether or not he should address Dick's issues about Aqualad becoming the team leader. He didn't think even Dick know what really bothered him about the situation, so perhaps he should give it some time.
"Flash is going to the mountain to supervise a training simulation for Kid Flash. I need to be present while it runs to take notes of anything that should be adjusted."
Dick nodded slowly, grateful Bruce had let his strange behavior go because he wasn't delusional enough to think he hadn't noticed.
"And once that's done?"
"Artemis and Canary asked me a few weeks ago assistance to help her expand her knowledge in investigative work since that's not Green Arrow's forte."
"Are you also teaching M'gann how to cook too, by any chance?" Dick asked a touch bitterly.
"Of course not. I'm sending Alfred to the mountain for that," Bruce replied dryly. There was no laugh or snort of amusement from the boy at his side, so he looked up, blinking at the furrowed brow he found on the boy's face.
"Dick?"
"What?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing! Nothing's wrong. Everything is asterous, don't you see?" Dick hopped down from the desk, taking a couple of steps away from him. "I just thought maybe we could spend some time together while you were in the mountain, you know, spar a bit or something, but you're too busy for that, obviously."
The corner of Bruce's lips twitched. "Dick ... Are you jealous?"
"What!? No! Of course not. Why would I be jealous? Pfff," Dick crossed his arms across his chest, turning his face away from Bruce.
Bruce whirled in his chair, pausing a moment as he tried to decide the best way to express what he wanted to say. "Do you know why I'm doing all this? Why I'm helping Superboy and the rest of the team?"
The boy shrugged, still not looking at him.
"I'm doing it for you."
Dick's head snapped up. "For me? But I didn't ask you to do all that!"
"I know," Bruce agreed with a small smile. "But it's the only way I can protect you now."
"Uh, what?"
"You know how much I hate the fact you go out in the field when I can't be there to protect you," Dick opened his mouth to talk, but Bruce lifted a hand to stop him. "I know you have to step out from under my shadow, and it's important that you learn to work with people whose first priority isn't your safety, and to communicate with others rather than act and expect them to know what you're doing.
"I'm grateful because you have the team to watch your back while you learn and grown, but I still worry about you. All the time," Bruce stressed. "I know I can't follow you everywhere to make sure I'm there if you need me, but I can make sure everyone in the team it's at their best to watch your back when I can't, so that's what I'm doing."
"Oh," Dick blinked rapidly a couple of times. Bruce wasn't one to talk about emotions and feelings like, ever, but on the very rare occasions that he did, he never failed to make Dick cry, or at least hold back the tears if he was lucky, like now.
"And to answer your question, yes."
"Huh?"
"Yes, I can make space in my very busy schedule to whip the floor with you in the mountain."
Dick let out a shaky breath, throwing Bruce a grateful look for the very obvious diversion. "Ha! You wish, old man."
...
a/n: Yes, more daddy!Bats. A few months ago Africaflower77 asked for some jealous Dick, and well, I just couldn't resist. I realized I went a bit overboard with Bruce's help to the rest of the team, but I wanted to give Dick a very good reason to be jealous and a bit angry, not to mention I love the idea of Batman interacting with the team, even if I haven't written any of that.
Also, thank you so much for all the reviews, favorites and follows! You're all amazing!