A/n) Small and meaningless.
Just a blurb that came to my head while I rewatched Batman: TAS. Does anyone ever wonder how the Gothemites learn our supposedly secretive crime fighters codenames?
Like, do they just call it out in front of pedestrians they save or do the villans circulate it until some normal mook spreads it to less crime ridden civilians?
Word of mouth?
I don't know. It's not important.
Here have a brain Blurb.
Bruce was going to freak when he sees the headlines.
Dick chews his fruit loops vigorously, trying to come up with a plan on how to hide the glaring evidence. Maybe he can just toss it in the stove, maybe Alfred won't notice. Maybe Bruce will forgo looking at any type of headlines at all this morning and...
"Morning Master Bruce."
Shoot.
Dick cringes. He's only been Robin for a year. . . Bruce wasn't going to like this. Man, oh man, oh man... think, think, think. . .
"Morning Alfred, Dick. . . what are you doing?" Bruce catches on to the acrobat childs quick shifty movments.
"Heeeeya Bruce, uh. . . nice rest?" Dick grins, wide and cheesy and most definitely not fooling Bruce for a second.
"Why are you sitting on the paper?"
Dick's face crumbles, two options. . . tell the truth. . . deny everything.
"Wha-? Oh, oh - the paper. Um... My butt needs the extra cushioning?" He wiggles in his seat to make a point. Maybe Bruce will buy it?
By the looks of his unimpressed eyebrow raise, he most definitely did not buy anything Dick was trying to sell. Alfred was deftly ignoring this interaction in favor of scrambling eggs.
"Dick."
Dick cringes and gives in. He hasn't known Bruce for to long but he knows enough to know that when Bruce says his name in that voice he means there's no room for arguing. Dick hands him the newspaper and digs into his cereal, stuffing his cheeks with colored processed sugar rings and moon juice.
He sees the precise moment Bruce takes in the headlines.
New crime fighter in Gotham. Batman's rival or partner? Sources are Calling him The Robin.
Right under that was a picture of him, clearly, kicking two face in his double colored face.
Bruce puts the paper down.
Dick avoids eye contact and chews and slurps to keep his mouth busy so Bruce won't make him answer.
But there is only so much cereal a bowl can hold.
"Well?" Bruce is waiting for him to explain.
Dick sighs loudly, purposely making himself bonelessly slide off the bench.
"I didn't mean to get caught. But that Veil lady is one heck of a sneak."
Bruce sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose. "Robin wasn't supposed to be caught yet, Dick."
"But it wasn't my fault." He feels distinctly like he's eight years old again and that Bruce was about to send him to his room.
Instead, the large man stands and rolls the paper tightly, Dick wonders if he'll throw it. "Guess it can't be helped now."
Dick startles, eyes widening and stares at Bruce who semi smiles back. "What?"
Bruce hands Alfred the rolled up paper.
"Maybe its time to let Gotham know that it has two people protecting it."
The boys face breaks out into a large grin that threatens to break it and leaps of the bench. "You mean it? Yes! Finally, everyone's going to know my name!"
Bruce's hand lands on Dick's jittery shoulders. "Just. . . don't go spreading it yourself."
Dick nods, he knows what Bruce means. He can be less cautious about letting civilians see him. . . just not villain's. Cool, cool... he'll work on striking fear into criminal hearts later. But right now - now he just wants those he saved to know his name too.
Call it selfish. But he's only thirteen and every boy dreams of being someone's hero.
So. Yah - simple, plain, nothing fancy.
Just a Blurb.
Review please.