I apologize for taking so long to update. I ran into a snag with a scene and was having trouble working it out, but I believe I have it taken care of. Enjoy!
High school is one of the cruelest places on the earth. The inhabitants will tear into a vulnerable individual if they so much hint at a weakness. And the inhabitants at Gotham Academy seemed to smell the doubt on Dick from a mile away. They tore into him with their whispered words and he did his best not to let it get to him, but it still hurt. A lot. He spent most of his time ignoring cat calls and comments from the other students. They now called him a man whore and he had a feeling it was because Bette or Artemis had shared the conversation they had with others and rumors had spread like wild fire. And with each new person, the story grew.
Dick did everything he could to avoid these groups. The only bright light at that school was Barbara. She stuck with him whenever possible, told people off when the spoke ill of him, and would have punched someone's lights out if he hadn't dragged her away.
"I can't believe these people. These are supposed to be some of the smartest kids in the state. How can they be so stupid?!" Barbara said fuming.
"Having book smarts is not the same as having common sense." Dick said as he wrote down an answer to his math homework.
"I know but still. You would think they would be over it by now."
"They're like the press, when they have nothing else, they dig up an old story that everybody knows." Dick said as he began to solve another problem. Barbara gazed at him from the corner of her eye. She was a little hesitant to ask her next question.
"Hey Dick?"
Dick hummed in response. "Have you talked to Artemis yet?"
Dick's pencil paused and he let out a sigh. "No, I haven't."
"Do you plan to?"
"I don't know."
There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment. "You know you're going to have to sooner or later."
"I know," Dick replied as he set his pencil down. "I'm just… I'm angry. I can't believe she'd say something like that. I thought she…" he trailed off as he gazed at something behind her. Barbara turned and saw Artemis standing there, glaring at them with cold eyes.
Dick's eyes lowered their shield enough to reveal the sadness and hurt in them. Artemis's gaze wavered. "I thought she was different." He said softly before turning his attention back to Barbara. "I have to go to class. See you later Babs."
Dick brushed past Artemis as he headed inside. Artemis's eyes followed him until he disappeared into the school. She turned back and saw Barbara glaring at her. "What?" She snapped.
"You know, when I first met you, I didn't like you. I thought you would be just another stuck up, dumb blond who only cared about her nails and the next juicy piece of gossip to float within her radar. But Dick told me that you weren't like that and thatI should give you a chance. I was glad that I did. Then you went and pulled a stunt like that." Barbara stood to face Artemis. Artemis might have a few inches over her but at that moment, Barbara towered over the older girl.
"He was your friend Artemis. He treated you, a scholarship kid, ten times better than any of the buffoons ever will because he knew what it was like to grow up with nothing. He stuck up for you when people like Monroe and Joan make fun of you because of you dingy, old backpack and you just cut him down. You didn't even bother to get his side of the story. You just assumed what everyone was saying about him was true." Barbara stared at her in disgust.
"I guess my first initial assessment of you was correct." Barbara quickly gathered her things and headed inside. Not bothering to turn back and see a stunned Artemis staring after her with wide eyes.
BREAKLINE
As the last bell rang, Dick was surprised to find a guilty looking Artemis standing outside his classroom, waiting for him. "Can we talk?" she asked.
"Uh, sure." Dick replied as he followed her outside. "What do you need Artemis?" he asked as he sat down at one of the picnic tables.
"Barbara made the point that I might have judged you a little too quickly without hearing your side of the story."
"Yeah, you did." Dick said seriously. Artemis flinched slightly at his bluntness.
"Yeah…so, what's your story?" She asked.
Dick was silent as he studied her. Her posture was rigid as her eyes were trained on him. Her hands were clinched into fists on her knees. Doubt filled her as she waited for him to speak. She was worried that he would get up and leave without telling her anything. She was afraid that he would leave her to her growing guilt, which is probably what she deserved.
Satisfied with what he saw, Dick began to talk.
BREAKLINE
"Whoa," Artemis whispered in awe. "That's…"
"I know, crazy right?"
"You're telling me. I just can't believe… she actually did that?" she asked still trying wrap her mind around the whole situation.
"Yeah."
"And she just left the baby on your door step?"
"Yep."
Artemis was silent for a moment as she processed this information. "Dick, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have judged you that harshly, especially when I really didn't know anything."
"Yes, you shouldn't have." Dick said this a glare before he gave her a small smile. "I forgive you." His smile then turned into a smirk. "I hope you learned your lesson Miss Crock."
Artemis rolled her eyes and gave him a playful shove. "Yes I did."
They smiled at each other before Dick spoke. "Hey, would you like to meet him?"
Artemis stared at him puzzled. "Who?"
"Jack, my son. Would you like to meet him?" He asked as his smile grew. "You could ride home with me and meet him. I'll even help you with you math homework."
Dick could see the doubt forming back in her eyes so he gave her The Eyes. Artemis rolled her eyes at him but agreed. She was interested in meeting the little baby that stole Dick's heart.
BREAKLINE
Dick held the door as Artemis stepped through the Wayne Manor threshold. "Whoa," She whispered as she gazed wide-eyed at the gigantic foyer. "This place is huge. How do you not get lost?"
"After living here for a while, you can pretty much tell where you are by the picture and things. No room looks exactly like the other." Dick said. "Come on."
Dick led her up the grand staircase and down the long hallway. He stopped at the third door on the right which he opened softly and stuck his head. Jack was laying on his back in the center of his crib. He was kicking his feet and whimpering at the discomfort at waking up alone. A smile quickly found its way onto his face as he approached the crib.
"Hey buddy," he said as he reached in and gently pick up Jack, who quieted at the sound of his father's voice. "Did you have a good nap? Huh?" Jack stared up at Dick as he began to rub small circles on his tummy. Dick walked over to Artemis and lifted Jack a little so he could see her.
"This is Artemis. She's your Daddy's friend." He said.
Artemis smiled and gently rubbed Jack hand with her index finger. "Hey Jack." When Jack began to whimper again, she pulled away quickly. "I don't he likes me."
"Nah, he's just hungry. He's always hungry when he wakes up." Dick said as he headed down stairs to make him a bottle.
Dick and Artemis sat in the living room as Jack sucked on his bottle. They were both watching him, one with fondness and the other with awe. "How old is he?" Artemis asked.
"He was born August twentieth so he is about two months." Dick said.
"He's so tiny."
"Yeah, he was born a little early but he's progressing normally so that's good."
"Yeah…who's his mom?"
Dick stiffened. There was no way he could tell her and she not connect the dots from him to Robin. "Um… I'd rather not say."
"I won't tell anyone."
Dick gave Artemis a small smile. "I know you won't, I just…I'm not ready to tell anyone who she is yet."
"Does Barbara know?"
"Well, yeah, but she's known from the beginning and I… please Artemis, just don't ask me."
Artemis stared at him for a moment but she let it go. Jack finished his bottle and Dick put it down on the coffee table. He placed a rag over his shoulder and began to burp him. When he let out a little burp, Artemis could help but smile. "He is so cute."
"Would you like to hold him?" he asked.
"Yes," she all but shouted as she moved closer and took Jack as Dick handed him to her. She cradled him close to her. "Hey, Jackie." She cooed at him. Jack gave her a smile. His eyes then zeroed on her long blond hair.
"Careful, he'll pull your hair." Dick warned as Jack grabbed a fist full of her hair.
"It's ok. It's too long to hurt anyway." She said. Jack then began to slobber all over the hair. She gently pulled the golden strands from his grip. "I think this is going to be a good start to a beautiful friendship, wouldn't you say Jack?"
Jack just smiled.
I had just realized that I made a mistake. Jack is two months not nine weeks. I have no idea how that was change. I could have sworn I put two months. Sorry.
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