This was originally a one-shot in my mind, but it's extended to a further breaking story. About three days will pass, I IMAGINE, but I'm not sure yet.
WARNINGS: child abuse, violence, ANGSSSSSSST!
I own nothing but the usual. You should know that by now, Fan!Fiction, you stupid/amazing website. :(
"Well maybe if you'd just give me a frickin' break!"
"Don't you dare take that tone with me-"
"Oh, the classic parent line. Great one, Bruce. Great."
Richard shook his head as he pulled his uniform, sweaty and grimy from the melting half-snow, half-rain of February in Gotham's polluted skies. It was almost two in the morning, and he, Jason, and Bruce were returning from patrol. Barbara and Blaine were still out, but would be a while. Now, Bruce and Jason were at it again. Ever since the 'incident', as Coraline's true nature revealment had been dubbed, Jason had been on a high edge. This set Bruce on an even higher edge, and the two were at violent blows.
Richard couldn't even remember what they were fighting about as he made his way up the large, stone steps into the Manor. Alfred waited outside the clock, a sad face on as he heard the yelling coming behind his youngest master.
The old man handed Richard a glass of water, which the teen gulped down quickly and said softly, dejectedly, "Thanks, Alfred..."
Alfred nodded, then turned to go to the kitchen.
"Al-"
"I will not serve Master Jason and Master Bruce in their current conditions. It will not bode well for my soul, and I wish to rest tonight. I suggest you go, as well. I shall send Miss Blaine up after you." Alfred knew about Blaine's and Richard's 'after-patrol-gossip', where they were stay awake in Richard's room for about a half hour, talking about what had happened. Or, if they had gone on patrol together, they would talk about the Team or school or Bruce's and Jason's latest stupid argument.
"Thanks, Alf," the boy whispered softly, his eyes pained. Alfred nodded, his heart heavy for the child he watched clamber up the stairs.
Master Bruce and Master Jason did not comprehend the pain they put on the other Masters and the Misses. Of course, it hurt Bruce and jason themselves when they fought, but it hurt the others even more so. Very often now, the butler would awaken after patrol to hear Miss Blaine crying to Master Terrence, or Miss Barbara crying in her room, with the door locked tight. Every once in a while, even, he heard soft sniffles coming from Master Richard's room as well, as the boy tried his hardest to stay strong.
Alfred sighed again as he heard the clock door slam open. Out walked a very peeved Bruce, who stalked into the kitchen, ready for a glass of water- or perhaps something stronger.
"And where is Master Jason?"
"Coming."
"Shall he be long-"
"He's coming, Alfred!"
If he was surprised at all about the outburst, Alfred didn't show it. He simply nodded and turned as Blaine and Barbara scampered through the clock, Jason on their heels.
Blaine had a nasty scratch on her cheek, from beneath her eye to a centimeter from the corner of her lip. It was scabbed over with blood already, but would need stitches. Alfred gave a quick 'tut, tut', as he grabbed up the antiseptic and his medical kit. He ordered Blaine to sit on the counter, while Barbara went to massage her little sister's shoulders. She normally would have just gone upstairs, but they were all on edge now.
Bruce wasn't looking at Jason, and Jason wasn't looking at Bruce. They were both wearing lounge clothes, Bruce sweats and a white shirt, Jason basketball shorts and no shirt, exposing his sweaty and scarred chest to the chilly air of the pristine kitchen. Blaine was in a tank top and a pair of Jason's sweats (she had stolen them, "They're too small for you, anyways") while Barbara had donned a long-sleeved, mid-thigh-high, pink and lacy nightgown, her red hair pulled into a low bun.
Blaine hissed slightly as Alfred finished with the glue. He had decided stitches was too drastic, after he had cleared away the blood, and chose a bit of specialized surgeon glue to close it up. Only a few drops, smudged with the finger, were needed, but it stung the blonde girl's cheek like a fire.
Barbara bit her lip as Bruce glared at Jason. "Why, again, did you leave Barbara and Blaine alone?"
The red-head grit her teeth as Jason's fist clenched his water cup. "Because... Dick told me you needed help, and they are capable-"
"Blaine was injured. If you had been there-"
"It still could have happened! She's fine- it's a frickin' scratch!"
Blaine felt tears stinging her eyes, and Barbara rushed her little sister up the stairs. Terrence, in his boxers and a Superman tee shirt, wheeled forward in a smaller, more mobile version of his wheelchair that he used for night-time ventures. It also had thicker cushioning, which was like a comfy bed while he was assisting his dysfunctional family from the Bat-Cave as Apollo. He had a frown over his chocolate features, his eyes sad as he saw Blaine on the verge of tears.
"They fightin' again?"
Blaine nodded, and Terrence sighed, taking her hand. "Dick's up and waiting for you. I need to talk to Barb, anyways."
Blaine nodded as she shuffled into her 'twin's' room.
True to form, Richard was still wide awake when Blaine crept in. His black hair was plastered to his face with the shower he had just finished, and his red silk pajamas shined in the large, long slits of moonlight that flashed from his open blinds.
The blonde shrunk onto the bed, her sweaty clothes and skin thickening the air. Even through his heavy heart, Richard smirked. "Go take a shower before you ruin my bed."
Eyes sad, she still managed to stick her tongue out at the teen, who mirrored her.
As the shower turned on, Richard could hear the arguing turn into shouting. Tears welled up, and he slammed a pillow over his face. Just stop already... For the whole ten minutes Blaine was in the shower, Richard tortured himself by listening to the shouting turn to screaming. He heard Barbara's voice join in, then a loud and colorful exclamation from Terrence and a commanding from Alfred. The fighting stopped right after Alfred spoke, just as Blaine was coming out of the bathroom. Richard had left clothes in there for her- her favorite fuzzy pants and a thermal top. Even though the others were warm-blooded, Blaine and Richard were both freezing at night.
She toweled her hair and handed a thickly bristled brush to her surrogate brother, who knew the routine. Blaine sat, cross-legged in front of him, as Richard detangled her locks and locks of mess. Slowly, he began humming. The lack of arguing voices was nice for a change, if a bit unnerving.
"Inchideti ochii dulci... Viata nu lunga ultima," he crooned, and Blaine felt the muscles in her neck and back loosening.
Softly, she listened to him and sang the next lines.
"You'd better go sleeping... flying through dreams..."
She could feel Richard's hands relaxing as he braided her hair. (Barbara had been sure to teach him a few weeks into his fostering.)
"Inchideti ochii dulci... Viata cauza este o minciuna."
"Find happiness in dreams... have a good night, my Child..."
Tears were in Richard's eyes as he smiled gently at Blaine, who turned gently towards her 'twin'. "Dickie?"
"Yeah, Blaine?"
She sighed, then kissed his cheek. The boy made a face, making Blaine giggle. "Thanks. I love you, Robbie."
"I love you, Spar."
They hugged, and Blaine took her brush before quietly making her way out the door, softly whispering, "Good night."
"Noapte buna..."
Richard closed his eyes, leaning back and letting himself just drop onto the bed lazily. Sure, it hadn't been a normal night of talk with his sister, but they were under a lot of pressure recently in their academics and missions. And Jason and Bruce were not very helpful. Plus, both teens were hormonal, Richard's being severe anger- much more than used to be- and Blaine's being, obviously, romantic and gushy emotions with Kaldur and the pending adoption.
Now, by a glance at his clock, Richard could tell that it was almost three in the morning. Had it already been and hour? Time flew by when-
CRASH!
Richard bolted out of bed and rushed out the door to see that his 'siblings' had done the same. Jason, though, was nowhere to be found. Neither was Bruce...
Barbara rushed to the stairs first, just as the screaming began anew. While she bounced down, Blaine hitched a ride on Terrence's lap as he slid down the ramp. Richard surfed down the banister, doing a double flip (by habit) as he landed on the floor.
When the young 'family' arrived in the downstairs, Red-room parlor, they were all surprised, to say the least.
Several broken vases, a downed lamp, and a knocked-over chair and table greeted them all. Jason was swearing up a storm, his nose covered in blood, and Bruce was nursing a seemingly sprained wrist. He had a scratch over his left eye, and he was muttering his own severe swears.
The two glared at each other, then Bruce shouted, "You will not treat your father-"
"YOU ARE NOT MY DAD!"
The two ran at each other, punching and kicking and blocking each other's blows, getting out the anger that had been building up for months. Barbara grabbed Blaine's wrist as the girl was just about to surge forward, but her other hand missed Richard by an inch.
"Stop!" the teen screamed at his 'father' and 'brother'. He grabbed Jason's wrist, but the older vigilante pulled away. "Jason! Bruce!"
Barbara was scared- no, terrified. She was a great fighter, but Jason and Bruce were in a fury-fight. Not even Roy, herself, Green Arrow, and all other non-powered heroes could take them down- with no exaggeration.
"DICK!" she shrieked, tossing Blaine back. "Get away from them-"
Bruce and Jason were like wild animals when they were this mad. It made Barbara want to puke with the rising levels of fear.
Richard jumped away, avoiding a blow. Blaine again ran forward, but was this time snagged by Terrence. He would have snatched Richard if the acrobat was as slippery as he was. "Bruce! Bruce!"
Richard pulled on Bruce's wrist-
SMACK!
Bruce had pulled his hand back to avoid a blow from Jason, slamming his fist right into Richard's face, smack dab on his cheek. The young teen flew backwards, flinging into a bookcase and knocking it over. Blood spurted from his now-busted cheek, his lip cracked and bleeding as well from the force of the blow.
It was at that moment that Alfred, clad in his sixteenth-century nightgown and cap, darted into the room faster than was imaginable for an old man. He had a candle in one hand, and in the other, a baton from his days defending the Queen.
"I SAY!" he shouted loudly, smacking Bruce on the head first, then Jason. That got their attention.
Alfred's face was bright red, much redder than anyone had seen in a while, and his eyes were the mirror image of fury. It was completely uncharacteristic, and the last time Alfred had ever been seen like this- ever- was the day Terrence had been paralyzed.
Bruce and Jason froze like ice, both of them not moving an inch besides their spazzing muscles and heaving chests.
The animals had been shocked back into reality.
Bruce saw his children and felt suddenly ashamed. He turned to Jason, who looked disgusted with himself, but still furious. There was a very, very long pause. Then, Richard stood.
Bruce and Jason hadn't even noticed the others before, nor had they noticed that Richard had been practically knocked unconscious.
Bruce faced his youngest son, his eyes wide. Then, he rounded on Jason. "Do you see what-"
"SHUT UP!" Richard shrieked, suddenly bursting into tears. In a moment, he had broken. In a moment, just like Bruce and Jason, he had been utterly changed- and not for the better.
"Shut up, both of you!" he shouted, blood running down his chin. "I- We- I HATE YOU BOTH!"
Richard high-tailed it out the door, up the stairs, to his room, and slammed the door shut, locking it tightly. He didn't want to see anyone- not Blaine, not Alfred, especially not Bruce or Jason...
He didn't know what to do, other than to grab up his cell phone.
And he called Roy.
Yeah, a crappy ending, but I'm watching Teen Titans. Leave me alone. :)
"Red X" episode! KICK SLADE'S butt, robin! NOOOO! HE FELL! Wait- Slade saved him? GO ROBIN! AAAAAAAAAACK! And power chips go flying everywhere...
WAIT! SLADE iS A FREAKING ROBOT_ HEEEEEE BLEEEEW UP!
Time to face the team, Robin... ur screwed...
oooooooh...
:)