Moments: Mini-Joker and Chocolate Milk
Bruce stood staring at the space where his ward, his side-kick, had been only moments ago, simply staring in disbelief. The young boy's angry voice still rang in his ears.
"I'll…I'll… join the Joker and then you'll be sorry!"
Bruce blinked again as the scene played back in his mind. The boy had been so flustered with anger for a moment the red-faced child seemed like he couldn't decide what he was going to say. By the end of the sentence, however, Dick had spoken with such conviction he was able to stare down the Batman himself with his mini-bat glare that he has learned to do so well.
"Master Bruce…" Alfred's voice snapped the man out of his thoughts as the butler emerged in the batcave. The old man gave Bruce a questioning look. "What has happened? Why did Master Richard come storming up demanding that I make him a clown costume?"
Bruce ran his hand through his hair, what had they even been arguing about?
"So you are taking me out to patrol with you tonight right?" Dick asked practically vibrating with excitement his Robin costume clutched tightly in his arms.
"Not tonight." Bruce said pulling on his gloves.
"Why? You promised!" The eight-year-old boy pouted so cutely Bruce had to turn away to keep his resolve.
"Don't whine." Bruce frowned. "I said not tonight."
"But I have done everything you've asked! I trained. I passed that obstacle course with blindfolds in under two minutes. I have straight A's in all my classes." Dick said with exasperation, "I even gave up chocolate milk for two weeks! Two whole weeks! Chocolate milk!" Dick emphasized as if Bruce had asked him to give up eating all together.
"I don't have time for this." Bruce sighed pulling on his cape. He mentally slapped himself for using patrols as rewards for good behaviour. Dick had gotten into a phase with the chocolate milk where he had to have a glass every day; Bruce was concerned that the boy would become addicted. "For the last time. Not tonight. You can come tomorrow."
"That's what you always say." Dick had gotten really quiet and still. "It's never tomorrow. Can't believe I gave up chocolate milk for this! You are a liar! I hate you!" Dick said sadness quickly turning into anger and that was when he said it. "I'll… I'll… join the Joker and then you'll be sorry!"
Alfred listened quietly as Bruce regaled him with the tale.
"I mean can you believe he said that?" It was Bruce's turn to be exasperated.
"Hmm." Alfred hummed thoughtfully and stood to leave. "I guess I best go make Master Richard his clown costume and a glass of chocolate milk."
"Alfred!" Bruce gaped in disbelief.
"Master Richard is not an unreasonable boy." Alfred said pointedly. "I am sure if you would just explain properly why he can't take him with you he would understand. Instead you chose to dangle the promise of a patrol as a reward only to break it again and again without explanation. That is just cruel if I may say so." With that Alfred headed back up the steps leaving Bruce alone with his thoughts.
Bruce sighed. How could parenting be so difficult? Bruce began to change out of his costume. The criminals would have to wait he had something more important to do.
By the time Bruce got back up to the mansion Alfred was waiting at the top of the steps with a tall glass of icy chocolate milk and a twisty straw. Bruce took it with a grateful smile. Alfred gave him a nod of approval. Bruce continued up to Dick's room. Outside the door Bruce was all of a sudden apprehensive. He took a deep breath and knocked.
"Dick is not here, he ran away to join the Joker." Dick's voice sounded from the other side of the door. Bruce opened the door slowly and found Dick wearing his backpack and dragging a small bindle made up of one of his favourite blankets.
"Some chocolate milk for the road?" Bruce asked offering the glass to the boy. He could see the temptation in Dick's eyes but the boy doesn't take it, but he doesn't make to leave either. Dick sat down on the edge of his bed still solemn. Bruce sighed and sat down next to the boy. "I am sorry." Bruce began, "I know I promised you that you could come tonight but I found out there is going to be a heist tonight at the art museum, it is going to be very dangerous; Too dangerous for me to take you along this time." Bruce explained. "It's not fair for me to make promises I can't keep, but what I can promise you is that when there is a safer opportunity I will take you with me." Bruce said sincerely. "As long as you keep training and behaving and lay off on the chocolate milk."
"Pinkie swear?" Dick asked finally in a small voice.
"Pinkie swear." Bruce replied holding out his little finger. Satisfied Dick wrapped his own little finger around Bruce's and smiled.
"Can I have the chocolate milk now?" Dick said eyeing the glass in Bruce's hand.
"Sure thing buddy." Bruce handed glass to Dick and ruffled the boy's hair gently. As Dick sipped happily watching the chocolaty liquid travel through the twisted straw Bruce looked over at the blanket bindle. Bruce had to ask. "What's in there?"
"Alfred made it for me!" Dick said beaming at Bruce abandoning his beverage to untie the blanket revealing the colourful purple and green patched fabric within. "It's my mini-Joker costume!"