Mighty TAB X: Bruce? Obsessed with Bats? Neeeeeeeever.
And yes, saw it in the cinema the week before I saw Logan... I missed watching the Power Ranger's Movie because I wanted to see Logan and Lego Batman. And if you know me, I was annoyed that I could not support that film while it was in the cinema. But yeah, Lego Batman. Best Batman movie ever.
chimera629: Yeah, Bruce wasn't at 100% there.
Here are a few reviews answered by Ghost:
chimera629: Err...We're trying to do things a bit different.
Mighty TAB X: Just be glad we didn't take any inspiration from Joel Schumacher. And I haven't seen the Lego Batman film.
To the reviewers: Thanks very much for reviewing
Co-Writter: GhostKaiser23
Disclaimer: We do not own Batman
Author's Notes:
Yo everyone! Here is this weeks chapter! Hope you enjoy it, we worked hard on it!
Batman: A Different Path
Chapter 10: School Time
Dick frowned, punching the training dummy faster. He thought that he was getting slower as the days went on, but he was only psychologically thinking that. In fact: he was getting faster. "Dick, time to get ready for school!" Bruce called
"Okay...Coming." Dick responded as he quickly towelled himself off and put his new uniform jacket on. His attire consisted of muted grey trousers, a white long sleeved button shirt, a tie with the official school colours and lastly a black jacket embroidered with the Academy's crest on the left breast. He ran up from the cave, smiling as he met up with his adopted father at the front door "Well...How do I look?" Dick asked in a bit of a pant
"A bit of a mess. But...I looked worse on my first day." Bruce chuckled
"Let's get you to school Young Master Richard." Alfred smiled
"Okay Alfred." Dick nodded flattening his hair as they walked to the car
"Be good Richard." Bruce waved
"I promise to try." Dick answered as they went. Alfred opened the door to the limo, letting Dick get in, before he closed the door and got in the driver's seat. Dick gave one last wave before they headed off. Bruce responded with a justified proud smile and waved back
"Have you everything Master Richard? Books, stationary?" Alfred asked as they drove off
"Yes Alfred." He sighed with a smile
"Excellent." Alfred nodded and continued down the route to Gotham Academy. Dick smiled, chuckling softly as they arrived to the prestigious Academy, Alfred slowed the car to a stop and turned to Dick. "I will return at 3 pm Master Richard."
"Thank you Alfred." He nodded with a smile. Alfred left the car to open Dick's side door and saw him off to the front of the gate "Thank you Alfred." he smiled again and repeating himself, hugging him
"Not a problem Master Richard. Now move along. You don't want to be late for your first day." Alfred responded in kind
"Okay!" Dick nodded with a smile before running off
"Such a fine young lad." Alfred smiled kindly before he got into the car and drove off. He hummed happily as he drove through Gotham, smiling
*with Harleen*
Harleen was currently getting ready to go to work, tidying her hair into a librarian's bun, donning her glasses and her clean white Arkham administrative jacket over her red shirt and black skirt but as she looked in the mirror, seeing herself like she did everyday... she felt wrong. Something was wrong. She reached up and undid her hair, letting it flow down freely. She then added different make up. A darker red lipstick, more blush and darker eyeliner. Not enough to draw attention or to look slutty but she brought out her 'natural beauty' more. She then dropped her glasses, smiling at herself in the mirror as she undid her shirt by one button "I...I look GOOD..." She smiled placing her left hand on her hip, and she WAS looking good...
She grinned and grabbed her purse. She was supposed to meet up with Bruce for coffee and then he'd drive her to work, Bruce having quickly became one of if not her best friend. As she got into her car she wondered how he'd react when he saw her. 'This is going to be one SALACIOUS day.' She was all but skipping to the coffee shop, giggling
*With Bruce*
Bruce was currently in the coffee shop waiting patiently for his friendly meeting with Harleen. He already ordered their cups of coffee's and was currently reading the newspaper; the headline read "Batman and Batgirl! Start of a partnership?" While it was mostly okay he was annoyed it was implying he was in a relationship with a girl who was clearly not legal yet. That was when he overheard the cafe door open and close, with some of the cafe stop talking. He turned around and noticed Harleen dressed as she was and he blinked, staring at her in amazement
"Hello Bruce. How're you?" Harleen asked as she slid into the seat opposite him with a smile
"F... fine." He nodded with a nervous smile, noting how she looked different and her different personality getting a weird feeling about what might be happening to her "You look...Different." He added
"Is different bad? I'm just trying a new look." Harleen answered honestly with no sexual meaning behind it...although the rest of the cafe was staring at her.
"No... no... you're okay." He nodded, gulping
"Thank you." Harleen smiled "Oh you've already ordered. Sorry if I had to make you wait."
"No I just had good traffic, got here early." He smiled
"Oh okay. How have things been?" Harleen asked
"Amazing thanks to Pamela and Richard." He nodded with a smile
"I'm glad that you three have that." Harleen smiled
"Enough about me, how have you been?" Bruce asked
"Amazing." she giggled
"That's good to hear." Bruce nodded, taking a drink of his coffee.
"How is that... I think you said his name is Jack? You know, your boyfriend?" Bruce asked
"Yeah..." Harleen blushed happily and acted a bit cute
"How is he? And your relationship?" Bruce asked
"It's...It's well. I think...we're still in the lovey dovey stage at this point but...It's going well." Harleen smiled
"Any ideas about when I can meet him?" Bruce asked. He knew who 'Jack' was. The files may not give much information but he knew 'Jack White' was one of the Joker's favourite alias' plus the files DID say the Joker corrupted her
"Oh uh...he's...he's kinda away on business at the minute." Harleen answered
"Funny that always seems to be the case." Bruce shrugged, taking a sip
"He's a hard worker." Harleen answered "That and he works nights..." Bruce just nodded and Harleen felt herself getting mad at the implications "Are you suggesting I'm lying?!" she snarled
"No. But he always seems to be away on business. You sure he isn't manipulating and/or taking advantage of you?" Bruce asked in worry
"I...No! No he isn't!" Harleen defended herself and "Jack" "He won't!" she snapped, glaring
"Harleen, I'm only looking out for you." Bruce frowned
"... drive me to work." she frowned
"Harle…." He started but she interrupted him
"Drive me to work!" she snapped before she stormed out of the shop
Bruce sighed heavily and covered his eyes, he knew Joker had gotten his claws into her...How was he going to help her now? He thought he had helped her and found a casual friend in the process. Had he found a friend just to lose them? 'Damn it...' He thought in anger
*With Pamela*
"Damn it!" Pamela yelled, throwing her notes on the table
"D-Dr Isley?" One of the scientists backed up in worry from seeing their colleague throw her notes around. In reply she just screamed, pulling her hair lightly "Is...Is there anything we can do to help?" another scientist asked
"N... no." She muttered
"O...Okay..." the first scientist answered
Pamela sighed, walking out of the lab "Damn it." They heard her hiss under her breath
"What...what caused that outburst?" the second scientist asked in worry
"Have you ever had an outburst like that when your experiments fail?" the first asked
"Ah...Good point." the second responded
"And have you seen her experiment? You know... making her lips NOT poisonous so she can kiss her boyfriend WITHOUT killing him." The first added
"She must love him very much." the second sighed respectfully
Pamela was currently storming into the lady's bathroom with a saddened cry. Her fellow scientists where right about her not liking that she couldn't kiss Bruce without killing him but that wasn't the point of her latest experiment.
No.
It... was impossible for her to have a child
Her new physiology was so mutated that her natural immunity had skyrocketed making her infertile. Her altered DNA was also structured in a way that made reproduction impossible. She could make love...but she could have a child of her own...It was breaking her heart. She did love Dick but her own child, raising her's and Bruce's child. It was something she wanted... and could never do 'Please...Please let me have a child...I love Dick like my own flesh and blood...But I want my own child.' She cried against the mirror
She knew she can't though. And that was the worst part of all.
*At Gotham High*
Dick was currently working through his final English lesson sentence before lunch and he was working on proper grammar "Done." He sighed as he finished seconds before the bell rang
"Thank you class. Please leave your books here for marking. You shall receive them tomorrow." the teacher spoke
Dick packed his books, humming as he worked. Dick was given a school map to help him look around the school and know which rooms he had to go for the next class. So now he had to get to the cafeteria "Whoa...Big kitchens..." Dick gasped seeing the lines to get their lunch. But he had a packed lunch Alfred made him.
"Yo Wayne Jr." An older female voice grinned
"Huh? Oh...Me?" Dick asked as he turned around to see who called him and it was Barbara "Oh Barbara, I didn't know you went here." Dick gulped
"Scholarship." She nodded
"Oh wow, congratulations." Dick smiled lightly
"Want to sit with me?" She smiled
"Sure! I-I mean *ahem* sure." Dick answered
Barbara laughed and walked to a table near the back where a girl a bit older than Dick sat, the girl having blonde hair and green eyes "Heya Babs...Who's the kid?" the girl asked
"This is Dick Grayson. Dick, this is Betty Kane." Barbara introduced
"Nice to meet you Betty." Dick smiled getting into a seat.
"Hi Richard." She grinned "So, new to the campus? How're you finding it?" Betty asked
"It seems cool." He shrugged
"Yeah...It is. I'm surprised you're not more intimidated by it. Most new kids are." Betty commented
"Wayne Manor is bigger." Dick shrugged
"You're kidding right? ...You're not kidding...I owe you a book." Betty spoke to Barbara. Barbara nodded with a smile
"You wagered on me?" Dick asked
"Not in the sense that I'd lose. But just a friendly one." Barbara answered. Betty nodded with a chuckle "Oh and I think something by Dan Brown." Barbara added to Betty
"What?" Dick asked
"He's an author. It's the book Betty owes me as per our bet." Barbara smiled. Betty huffed at that, crossing her arms "Come on Betty...We made the bet and I won. Don't be a sore loser." Barbara answered
"Fine." She huffed, pulling a book out of her bag
It was the latest Dan Brown novel, rife with mystery and deception. "Thank you." Barbara smiled. Betty just grumbled a bit, otherwise staying silent "You can borrow it if you want." Barbara answered
"Already read it. It was expensive." She muttered
"Okay then." Barbara nodded
"So what're you doing after lunch?" Dick asked as he got out his own lunch
"Going over our homework and then going to class." Barbara shrugged
"Okay...What about you Betty?" Dick asked taking a bite from his sandwich
"I'm gonna research Batman for my article in the school paper." Betty smiled
Dick gulped carefully as he heard the word "Batman". "Really? Is he someone you are interested in?" he asked innocently
"He's awesome! As I said, I'm part of the school paper!" Betty smiled
"Oh...I thought you were just handing in suggestions. Sorry." Dick answered
"No problem...So, what is it that you're into Dick?" Betty smiled
"... I was a gymnast." He blushed "I was part of the circus."
"You were an acrobat?" Betty asked becoming intrigued by this, her journalist brain now kicked in
"Yea. I was part of the Flying Grayson's of Haley's Circus." He nodded
"The Flying...YOU'RE...Oh. My. GOSH!" Betty almost screamed arousing everyone's suspicion " I'm so sorry about your parents...but...ADOPTED by Bruce Wayne! What's it like?" She asked now in full investigative mode
"It's... okay." He mumbled
"Tone it back Betty. Dick's not an informant." Barbara rolled her eyes at her friend
Betty pouted and nodded "Listen, you should join the acrobatics' club. You'd soar through it." Betty commented
"Yea, you should." Barbara added
"Huh...I...I honestly didn't know there was a acrobatics club." Dick answered
"The academy has a TONNE of extracurricular clubs. It helps with a CV." Betty smiled
"Is that why you're on the paper?" Dick asked
"Partly. But mostly because I'm a news hound." Betty smiled
"AKA a gossip queen." Barbara teased
"Only if it's not hurtful." Betty pouted. Barbara chuckled, smiling
Dick smiled at that, feeling like he made friends
*With Bruce*
Bruce sighed as he sat in front of the BatComputer. He was close to finding the Falconine's... and he was scared for Harleen. If Joker had his hands in Harleen this much, it was only a matter of time until he transformed her into...Harleen's alter ego.
Harley Quinn.
He looked up at Harleen's profile and saw the picture of Harley Quinn. "Harley's" face was covered in white face-paint and a black domino mask. Her head was covered in a dangling bell head-dress, her neck had a white ruffle, her body was in a black and red quad-section costume with opposite coloured diamonds on all four of her limbs and finally red and black shoes
He frowned in anger at the sight. She did look beautiful but she was a mad. A killer. She... almost looked like the Joker. He had to save her before she did something dangerous. Joker was dangerous on his own...but with Harleen on his side as "Harley" he'd just use and abuse her. She has been inflicted with hybristophilia or Bonnie and Clyde Syndrome
He didn't want to see her die
The files gave next to no real information "Damn it all..." Bruce sighed heavily, it looks like he'd have to play it down to the wire.
He was scared and it was a feeling that he knew all too well...His fear of bats...and the fear of losing someone else.
He growled, slamming his fist on his computer console in anger. Soon the phone rang, it was coming from Wayne Enterprises "Yes?" He asked, answering
"Hi...Hi Bruce..." A crying Pamela answered through the other side of the phone
"Pamela?! What's wrong?!" He gasped, forgetting about everything else
"I...I just...I just needed to talk to you..." Pamela cried
"Pamela where are you?" Bruce asked in a panic
"The...The employee's lounge...I just...I just needed to be alone..." She answered
"I'm coming over." Bruce spoke immediately. He hung up and began to quickly undress out of his suit, putting smarter cloths on to look presentable. He took one of his fastest cars and drove all the way to Wayne Enterprise to find Pamela. He was her sitting on a coach, hugging herself. She was still chastising herself, she wanted a family with Bruce and Dick...A little baby sibling for Dick to have, Bruce's child...THEIR child... "Pamela?" he asked, walking over
"B-Bruce..." Pamela looked up at him with red eyes
"Pamela, what's wrong?" he asked leaning down to her eye level and dried her tears away. She just hugged him tightly, crying "Oh Pam..." Bruce hugged back softly
"I... can't do it." She cried "I can't have your child." Bruce understood fully now, she wanted to be a mother to his child. Being mother to Dick was great...But the feeling of holding your own flesh and blood...There was no other sort of feeling. He sighed, kissing over her cheek gently "I'm so sorry Bruce..." Pamela cried
"It is not your fault." he smiled
"But...But it feels like it..." Pamela sniffed, her tear ducts ran dry. Bruce sighed and kissed her quickly before kissing her deeply and lovingly "Hmm? H-Hmm..." Pamela warmed to the kisses that her lover held her too. Bruce wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. Pamela stopped her crying as Bruce held her tighter, she removed he lips from his and smiled lightly as she knew...she'd always have a family with Bruce, no matter what.
*time skip, with Dick*
Dick was currently going back to the front of the school, Alfred was there but he wanted to go and see the acrobatics club; he was curious about it and he was wondering how his adoptive family would respond "Hello Master Richard." Alfred smiled as he pulled up in the car
"Hey Alfred." Dick answered
"Did you enjoy your first day?" The butler asked
"Yeah...Alfred...I was told that there was an acrobatics club here. And...I'm kinda intrigued." Dick answered
"Very well. Go ahead, I'll just wait here." Alfred smiled
"Thanks Alfred. I might be a while." Dick answered and went back inside to find the Gymnasium.
"That boy." He smiled
Dick looked at his school map and noticed that the gym was on the opposite side of the school, but it would only take a couple of minutes to get there if he upped his pace. Or he could...
He grinned. He ran, jumping over things in his way and rolling as he landed. His stride was that of a parkour runner, adding to his already trained acrobatic skill. He was there in less than a full minute "Ha-ha. Made it." Dick smiled as he went inside the gymnasium and noticed all the acrobatics equipment and the fifteen or so students participating.
"... Wow." She muttered. Most of the class was comprised of at least 2:1 girls to boys.
"Okay listen up: running start followed to a front flip then a stop." the teacher spoke. The teacher herself was a red haired woman wearing a full acrobatics uniform used for future demonstrations and lessons but they stopped, everyone noticing Dick
"Um...Hi. I'm...I'm here about the acrobatics club?" Dick spoke after clearing his throat.
"Ah, hello." The teacher smiled
"I'm...Dick Grayson." Dick spoke
"Nice to meet you Dick I'm Ms Lyra. We were just finishing our warm ups and starting into our first routines." the teacher answered
"I've already done them." He smiled. The class didn't believe him and started to laugh.
"Oh really...let me see a demonstration." Ms Lyra asked "Can you do a run/forward flip/stop?"
Dick rolled his eyes and not only did that bit did it backwards with his eyes closed and for a bit of flair his backwards flip was a corkscrew 360.
The class. Was stunned.
"I am from the circus!" He smiled
"...You're a circus acrobat?" most of the class asked in contempt as they had been training for the past few months
"The Flying...The "Haley's Circus" Flying Grayson's?" Ms Lyra asked
"Yeah...So...Was that okay?" Dick asked with a small amount of pride but mostly hope
"You are on the Gotham Academy Gymnastics team! Right now!" She grinned "We will we should next week for our next meeting. Until then, as long as you have your uniform, you can practise here any day after school." The teacher informed
"Thank you Ms Lyra." Dick nodded understanding what his teacher said
"Very well." He nodded with a smile
"I um...I better head home. See you next week." Dick answered "Bye." He waved before he ran away
The class went to the door and saw him just parkour over the janitor's cart and raced to the outer door "... he's good." A girl muttered
*Time Skip*
Dick was currently back home and working on his homework, excited for joining the acrobatics club and he couldn't wait to tell his adoptive parents. Bruce and Pamela were still at Wayne Enterprise, she had calmed down and felt much better with Bruce being there "Better?" Bruce smiled
Pamela sniffed and nodded "Better...Thank you Bruce."
"Richard should be home by now. Ready?" He smiled lightly
"Yeah...Yeah I think so." Pamela nodded
"Mr Wayne, Miss Isley." Lucious said as he walked towards them with a large suitcase
"Hello Lucius." Pamela nodded, acknowledging her lover's right hand man.
"What's that there?" Bruce asked
"I've finished your... present... for young Mister Grayson." Lucious nodded, passing the case
"Ah, thank you Lucius." Bruce smiled accepting the case
"I wish you a good night." Lucious nodded, shaking his hand "Dr Isley."
"Good night Lucius." Both Bruce and Pamela answered
The two left for Bruce's car with Pamela sending Bruce a few curious looks "What?" Bruce asked
"What's in the case Bruce?" Pamela asked inquisitively
"Simple. It's a gift for Dick." Bruce smiled
"Oh...I hope it's something appropriate." Pamela joked lightly "I promise." She said seriously
*Back at Wayne Manor*
Dick was currently down in the Bat-Cave continuing his training, in addition to trying out some new parkour moves to help in the acrobatics club "New record!" He grinned as he finished the obstacle course, panting "Five...Five minuet break..." He went over to a bottle of water and drunk from it.
"Hello Richard, good workout?" Bruce smiled as he walked down
"Oh...H-Hi dad...Yeah...Just...I just beat my old record." Dick smiled
"Great. I got a present for you. Which can also be a father-son bonding thing." Bruce nodded as he set the case down on a table
"Really? What is it?" Dick asked
"Open it." Bruce smiled
Dick nodded and opened it, gasping at the contents. It was... basically a batsuit. It was lighter weight and his size, with no cowl to the cape. The suit was also bear with no details
"We have a special spray-paint. We can make it look how you want, as well as adjust the cape. And for the symbol I can make it for you and bond it to the suit." Bruce smiled
"This...is this my...?" Dick asked in amazement, to which Bruce just nodded "THANK YOU!" Dick hugged his adoptive parent
Bruce smiled and hugged him back "Ready to get back to work?"
"Yes Sir!" Dick smiled
Bruce chuckled as he got some face masks and spray-paint