YJ: Moments: Waiting
Dick crept quietly downstairs into the study and perched himself on an ottoman by the window staring out into the dark stormy night. Bruce was out late again. Although he had let Alfred put him to bed Dick could not sleep. Whenever he would close his eyes he would be plagued by a strange feeling of loneliness that threatened to take hold of him. Dick wanted nothing more than to go and curl up next to Bruce in the large comfortable bed under the safety of the blankets. The only problem was, Bruce has not come home yet.
Dick looked over at the large grandfather clock as it chimed midnight. Dick looked out at their drive way again.
Still empty.
Dick lent his head against the cold glass, he will stay up and wait, but he was so tired. Maybe if he just closed his eyes for a little while.
As Bruce stepped through the entrance to the cave near dawn he was surprised to see Dick curled up on the window sill asleep against the glass. Dick's head was lent against the cold window and Bruce's keen eyes could see tear stains on the boy's face. Bruce gathered the child in his arms and began to head up stairs. Dick instinctively snuggled against Bruce as his little body shivered from the cold.
"What were you doing down there buddy?" Bruce asked, Dick did not reply the child was still deeply asleep. Instead Alfred answered the question.
"I believe he was waiting for you sir." Alfred said coming down the stairs. "Last night Master Richard was quite insistent on staying up and waiting until you got home. There was a promise I believe that you would put him to bed tonight. He must have snuck out of bed after I went to bed." Bruce sighed and proceeded upstairs, he vaguely remembered the promise and he mentally kicked himself for making a promise that he could not keep. Once they were up stairs Bruce went into Dick's room to tuck the boy in, but Dick would not let go of him. As Bruce pried those little hands lose Dick whimpered and tried to reach for him.
"Just tonight… well day…" Bruce sighed too tired to fight the boy right now, he climbed in and Dick snuggled up against him. Soon both father and son were peacefully asleep.
Dick sat in Bruce's study waiting. This time he was not staring out the window, he was staring at the majestic grandfather clock across the room. Dick couldn't tell which was worse, not knowing where Bruce is out till so late every night or knowing that he was out fighting criminals as Batman. Bruce had told him to go to bed, but an uneasy feeling kept Dick awake. Finally Dick couldn't take it anymore he found his way to the study. The clock chimed.
Dong. Dong. Dong.
It was three in the morning, still no sign of Bruce. Dick was having a very hard time keeping his eyes open. Suddenly Dick keen ears heard soft steps and the clock moved. Instantly all the sluggishness left his body. Dick bolted out of his seat and threw his arms around the man that stepped out from behind the clock.
"Dick what are you doing still awake?" Bruce's voice was surprised with a hint if anger. Dick knew he was going to get scolded but he didn't care. He knew Bruce was safe. He won't be left behind again.
Dads and their sons left the softball diamond in pairs or groups. Everyone was going off to celebrate the team's victory. Dick Grayson, the hero of the hour, the boy who scored the winning home run, sat on the bleachers in his dirty uniform alone.
"Hey Dick we are going to celebrate with some ice cream would you like to come with us?" Even at nine-years-old Dick could hear the pity in the coach's voice.
"No thanks. Bruce is just running a little late. He will come get me." Dick replied with a small smile.
"Alright. If you change your mind I will come back and get you. You just have to call okay?" Coach smiled at the boy sadly. Dick nodded and watched the last of his teammates walk away with their parents. The scene served as a cruel reminder to Dick that he no longer had parents. Dick blinked quickly to keep the tears that stung his eyes from falling. He was not alone he had Alfred and Bruce.
Then why isn't he here right now when he promised that he would be?
Dick pushed aside the nagging voice inside his head. Bruce was not his. Bruce had other responsibilities, to his company, to Gotham, to the world. The boy knew he could not be greedy. Bruce had taken him in and given him a home that was more than anyone could ask for.
Dark clouds rolled in and soon heavy summer rain began to fall. Dick was partially glad that it had begun to rain since the raindrops hid his tears, not that there was anyone around to see. A few times as rain soaked through his uniform Dick almost reached for the phone to call Coach or Alfred to come get him, but Dick never got further than reaching for the phone in his bag. Bruce promised, he promised that he would not miss their championship game.
"So I heard from Alfred that your team made it all the way to the finals." Bruce asked over dinner.
"Yeah." Dick replied timidly.
"When is the big game?"
"This weekend."
"I will come watch." Bruce's words surprised the boy. Even though it had been Bruce who insisted Dick join the softball team the busy man has yet to make it to a game.
"You don't have to." Dick said trying to contain his excitement, he really wanted Bruce to watch him play but he didn't want to become a burden. "If you are busy."
"What are you talking about?" Bruce ruffled his hair. "I will be there. I promise."
Dick sat shivering hugging his bag close hot tears mixing with the chilling rain. Dick has never felt so alone.
"Master Richard!" Alfred's voice made the boy look up to see the butler running towards him an umbrella in hand. "Come on let's get you home."
"Bruce is coming. He's on his way." Dick sobbed stubbornly through chattering teeth.
"You don't have to wait for him anymore. If he gets here and doesn't see you he will know we've gone home." Alfred tried to reason with the boy but Dick just shook his head.
"Dick!" Bruce's voice made Dick look up again. Dick flew past Alfred and raced towards the man. Dick immediately threw himself into Bruce's arms. "I am sorry. I am so sorry." Bruce murmured holding the boy close. Dick shook his head. It was nice to know he was still wanted. Bruce came for him.
"Thank you. Thank you." Dick sobbed smiling into Bruce's chest. "I knew you would come. I knew you would."
:: Sunday 7AM Wayne Manor ::
Alfred made his way downstairs as per usual to began that morning's preparations, to his surprise he found Bruce pacing in the living room, every once in a while Bruce would pause and look down the entrance hall towards the front door. The usually alert man didn't even seem to notice his presence.
"Good morning Master Bruce." Alfred could see his voice surprised Bruce as the man turned to face him.
"Good morning Alfred." Bruce responded stopping dead in his tracks.
"You are up early." Alfred commented descending the rest of the way down the staircase.
"I had an early night." Bruce replied glancing quickly over at the door again.
"You were pacing." Alfred stated "Are we expecting someone?"
"I was not pacing." Bruce replied with a near childish retort that made Alfred smile.
"Master Richard is not expected back until this afternoon sir." The change in expression on Bruce's face let Alfred know that he had hit the nail right on the head. "He is a ten year-old boy, perfectly capable of taking care of himself."
"I am not worried." Bruce said following Alfred into the kitchen.
"Patrick is an upstanding young man from a good family. Surely they will treat Master Richard well." Alfred said brewing a pot of coffee. From the haggard look on Bruce's face Alfred could tell that Bruce would need an entire pot to himself. "But you didn't need me to tell you that. I believe Batman did an intensive investigation on the Morgan family."
"He has never spent a night away before." Bruce murmured seemingly unaware that he had voiced his worries out loud. "What if he had a nightmare…" Both men were all too familiar with the terrified screams and pained sobs that drifted out of Richard's room on a near nightly bases.
"If I understand sleepovers correctly very little sleeping is expected to take place." Alfred said breaking the silence as he set out some toast and butter in front of Bruce on the marble island counter. Bruce sighed and pushed it aside.
"How did I let him talk me into letting him go?"
:: Sunday 12PM Wayne Manor ::
Five long and restless hours of waiting later Bruce heard a car pull up to the door. The man raced to the door as the door flew open a little boy flew through the door into Bruce's arms.
"Hey buddy you are home early." Bruce said trying to sound like he wasn't relieved to have the boy back in his arms. "Were you a good boy?"
"Richard was very well behaved." Mrs. Morgan's cheery voice brought Bruce's attention to the happy family standing at the door.
"Thank you for having him." Bruce smiled politely at the Morgans.
"That was fun. I'll see you at school!" Patrick smiled and waved as the Morgans returned to the car. Bruce couldn't help but notice how tightly Dick clung to him. When the door was closed and the Morgans were out of sight Bruce crouched down and gave his little boy a hug.
"Did you have fun?" Bruce asked as the two pulled apart.
"It was so much fun." Dick smiled brightly.
"Come on Master Richard let's get your stuff put away." Alfred said taking the backpack from the boy.
Dick turned and gave Bruce another quick hug to whisper into Bruce's ear. "I missed you…" Bruce smiled and hugged him back.
"I missed you too buddy. I missed you too."