Rated T- cause I'm paranoid
Minor cursing if any
Triggers: Cancer, Chemotherapy
I do not own Young Justice or any of the DC characters, yada, yada, yada
Chapter 2- Strength
"Cancer!" Dick all but sputtered trying to remain calm but failing miserably. He began to hyperventilate and Bruce, seeing his wards distress, reached up to Dick's forehead to wipe the hair away that was falling in his face, gently stroking his wards cheeks with his calloused hands.
After calming Dick down to a certain point, Bruce turned his clearly angry emotions to the doctor. It wasn't the doctor's fault but Bruce just really did need someone to be angry at. "What type of cancer?" Bruce seethed.
The doctor tried to keep his composure but faltered and backed up a bit in his chair, showing obvious discomfort. "Well after all the test results from the biopsies and blood analyses it seems to be Leukemia" The doctor all but spewed the information like one of Batman's frightened criminals.
Bruce looked down at his lap to process the information he had just been told. 'Leukemia? Oh god, this is bad.' Bruce peeked over at his ward, who he was sure was crying quietly.
"What are our options?" Bruce suddenly asked, wanting to know every and any bit of information about the horrid disease.
The doctor straightened up a bit and raised the glasses to his face again, "I believe the best option in Richard's case is Chemotherapy followed up by some radiation treatments"
Bruce's face saddened at the suggestion, he knew one way or another cancer was nothing to fool around with but adding treatment would be extremely painful and hard for a boy Dick's age and build to go through. But one way or another Bruce knew it was the best option so far.
"When can we start?" Bruce asked seriously.
"Whenever Richard is ready, but the sooner the better at this point. The cancer is not all that threatening at this stage but if we wait any longer it could become serious." The doctor answered cautiously not wanting to face Bruce Wayne's wrath again.
Bruce then looked to Richard and no longer saw sorrow or sadness dancing in his eyes but instead headstrong determination and endurance. Richard was never one to back down from a challenge but 'this..this is different' Bruce thought sadly.
Instead of showing his fear for his 'son' Bruce smiled (as much as the batman can smile) and squeezed Dick's shoulder reassuringly. Dick mustered up a small smile and spoke reassuringly "Let's do it."
BREAKLINE. BREAKLINE. BREAKLINE. BREAKLINE. BREAKLINE. BREAKLINE. BREAKLINE. BREAKLINE.
Let's just say it was a long, torturous, and especially quiet ride back to the mansion. Bruce drove while Dick stared out the window of the passenger seat, watching mindlessly as they passed a park with happy children playing and parents sing-songing happily about their accomplishments in life. Dick was utterly disgusted at that moment in particular. 'I mean really I save these people's butts everyday and of course the unappreciated "partner" had to get cancer, am I not going to be able to help Batman anymore after this?'
Richard turned to Bruce, whose scowl just about summed up his assumptions. 'No he will never let me out of his sight now. Although I don't really blame him' Dick drew in a deep breath and held it for a moment glancing at Bruce to make sure it was safe to speak.
"Hey B-Bruce?" Richard started in a quiet voice.
"Yes Richard." Bruce answered while keeping his eyes on the road.
"D-Does this mean you're…" Richard paused biting his lip nervously.
"Does this mean I'm..what?" Bruce demanded firmly.
"Does this mean you're going to take me off the team?" Richard lowered his eyes looking sad, because he already knew the answer.
Bruce sighed heavily and tried not to lose his composure, "Yes," he started still staring at the road ahead of him. "You are also not going to be on patrol with me until you are a hundred percent better." He continued.
Richard's heart dropped and his head whipped up to meet his father's sideways scowl that read 'this is for your own good, so do as I say and leave it as that.'
Richard was about to protest but Bruce cut him off, "and don't even think about fighting me on this decision, under the influence of heavy chemo and radiation you're going to be a mess Richard." Bruce commented sternly.
"Thanks for the uplifting and totally asterous encouragement Bruce!" Richard mocked and then scowled out the window while crossing his arms.
Bruce sighed heavily again and continued, "You know what I mean Dick, it's going to be touch and go for a while but you will make it through this okay? And besides you will still be able to see the team every now and then, it's not like I am totally going to cut you off from them, if anything they will help in moral."
Dick froze at that his mind racing and his eyes widening "No!" Dick shouted "I don't want them knowing!" Bruce after pulling the car through Wayne Manor's front gate and parking it at the top of the hill by the front entrance turned to face his partner.
"Why not?" Bruce asked confused.
"Because..because, I don't…" Dick was at a loss for words but Bruce was able to fill them easily.
"You don't want them to think your weak? Is that why?" Bruce finished
Richard slumped forward, bowing his head in disappointment 'damn Batman knows everything.' he thought sadly "Yes" he finally answered.
"Dick it's fine, you're only human after all." Dick then slowly lifted his head and shouted.
"That's the problem! They always think of me as the baby, the youngest, the smallest, the most human." Dick chewed out furiously before running from the car and into the house.
Bruce was saddened by Dick's view of himself. Yes, he was smaller and indeed he was human but that shouldn't bother him. He was also the most experienced and agile when it came to maneuvers and tactical reasoning. Bruce then decided as he pocketed his keys to explain to Richard his feats and tell him to trust himself.
A/N:
I know, I know, Dick is kind of a raging emotional rollercoaster right now, but I mean really? Who wouldn't be upset at this point?
COMMENTS= A HAPPY BLACKKCATT :)