"Listen." Sigh, followed by exasperated flailing and eye rolling. "No!" More flailing. "I'm not. No, Bruce, this discussion is over. Over." Face in hands. "Fine, talk about it. Yell at me. Do what you want. It won't change my mind." He looked over at me, standing awkwardly in the door way. I straightened up and tried to pretend like I wasn't standing there long. I walked the tray of tea over to him and handed him a cup. He nodded and mouthed Thank you before closing his eyes in frustration again. I could hear a male voice, Bruce, talking rather loudly over the phone as I placed the tray on the table, laying out the various cups of mil, and sugar. I heard a few choice words, along with liability, lost cause, and cold case. I receded back into the kitchen of the "small apartment."
Dick had invited me over to hang out or talk or for tea or to shop or help him unpack or whatever reasons he came up with. After much pleading, I accepted. I hadn't told the other hosts, though. Kyouya, Honey, and Mori wouldn't really care. The twins would end up killing Dick. And Tamaki, well, who knows what goes on in Tamaki's mind. I was just so curious about Mr Grayson and all his secrets. After the encounter with Max or Harley or whoever the blonde girl was. How did she know Dick? Was he in danger? Did he need help? I continued to sit awkwardly in the living room until Dick rejoined me, thumping to the ground and letting out a large sigh.
"Sorry for that. It was my dad. He can be a little, well, overbearing to say the least. He means well, he just comes on a little strong." Dick picked up a cup of tea. "I don't mean to make you uncomfortable with my life story. I just figured you would want to or should know. Because we are friends and all. And I would much rather you hear it from me than Kyouya." He smirked a little at that as I blushed. Kyouya had filled us in a little bit. "So, you know that I am an orphan?" I nodded. "Yes, my parents. We were acrobats in the circus, you know? The Flying Graysons. World famous in Haley's Circus. It was one of the best times of my life. I loved it all. And then, they were gone. Murdered before my own eyes. I will never forget watching them fall. Traumatizing as you can imagine for any nine year old boy." I wiped a tear from my eye. It must have been absolutely horrid. I lost my mother, and that was terrible enough, but to watch both parents crumble before you. Horrifying. "Bruce Wayne was in the crowd when it happened. He's a billionaire from Gotham. He lost both of his parents to murder when he was around that age and decided to take me in. He knew how I felt and thought he could help. He did. Bruce is like a father and friend to me, a mentor in every sense of the word. He helped shape me into the man I am now. I owe him so much." He looked up and smiled. "I don't mean to make you sad. I just want you to understand the things I am going through, how much I have lost, why I act the way that I do." He reached out and took one of my hands. "I know all about you, Haruhi, just by looking at you. I know you are a girl, for starters." He giggled that beautiful chuckle as I shrugged a little. "I know that you care about those men you call idiots more than you let on. I know that you work much harder than any other girl your age should ever have to in order to keep your scholarship so your father can do what he loves and not have to worry about paying your tuition. You have such a big heart, Haruhi, but also such a brilliant mind. You have a way with people that others could only dream of having. You bring out the best of them and you do it so selflessly. You have such a light in you, a light that I could really use in my life right now. I recently lost someone that I truly cared about, someone that I, well, that I loved." He looked straight at our hands, and closed his eyes for a second. "I needed space, so I came here. I mean, Bruce sent me here because I needed space, I guess. I enjoy being in the Host Club, it makes me laugh which I haven't done in a very long time, mind you. I just wanted you to know that you make me smile and open my mind, Haruhi. I appreciate that and I will never ever let anybody hurt you." He let go a reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a small pager. "If you are ever in trouble and need help, please use this. Help will come if you do."
As I left the apartment, I wasn't really sure what to do next. I had lied to the Host Club about what time Dick would be "dropping me off" back at my house so I had about two hours to myself.
"Hiya Doll!" I jumped a little as the girl I knew as Max skipped up next to me. "How's it hanging in that cave?" She winked at my puzzled face. "Wanna get some ice cream? My treat!" She reached out to grab my hand but I had already backed away.
"No thank you, Max. I already have plans." I tried to step around her, but she moved to block my path.
"Sorry to tell ya, those plans have been cancelled. You're coming with me for girl time. Now, march." She grabbed my arm and put a hand to my mouth. I felt cool metal press against my neck. "I have a message for you, hun. You better watch your back. You have a hefty price on your head. I know because I was here for that blood money. But I have new plans. And they involve you bein' alive for now. So run along and tell Dickie Bird I ain't gonna be killing you. We Gothamites gotta stick together for the bigger picture an' all." She moved her hand from my mouth but kept a firm hold on my arm.
"I don't get it! You're crazy and not making any sense! Let me go!"
"Nope. We are going to take a walk down memory lane and I am going to fill you in on aaaallllll the cool stories that flying failure left out." She stored her gun who knows where and looped her arm through my firmly. "Besides, I know who is trying to kill you. Besides me, that is. Now march." And with that she dragged me into the night.
Boss lady, we have a problem.
What now you idiot?
I think-
Ah, the problem is that you're thinking. Here, come talk to Mesmero.