Okay so this is content warning, there is a fairly explicit mouth-washing scene so be warned of that.
All Characters and Properties Belong to DC
"So, Roy and me agreed it was pretty fucking stupid." Dick finished looking past his father and out the window. He was still clad in his baby blue pajamas, huddled up in a chair to the left of Bruce's desk, watching the sun rise from the east through half lidded eyes. Bruce had purchased the garments yesterday under the pretense that Dick couldn't sleep in the same boxers for the entire weekend. Dick denied the offer, but Bruce got his way in end. As was often the case.
Bruce abruptly halted his pen a moment before continuing to fill out the work in front of him. He'd started doing some Wayne Tech paperwork while he waited for Dick and Jason to wake up. It was the only task he could use to sway his mind away from doing warm-ups in the cave. Jason had woken up an hour ago and scurried off to assist Alfred in the kitchen, and about thirty minutes later Dick wandered in and began chatting his ear off.
Eventually the newly independent former sidekick began describing an event the Titans had been asked to go to that had been something of catastrophe, that was not the problem. It was his son's language that was nagging at him. It had been part of the reason that had confrontation two weeks ago. Dick very rarely swore growing up, even turning dire situations that he would have excused him for doing so in.
"Dick, I…enjoy" a white lie. "hearing about your work with the Titans, but I would prefer if you kept the cruder language to a minimum. I don't want Jason to hear you speaking like that and pick up old habits." He turned to look at the sight of the former college student dozing off. A feeble hand wave his only response as the boy pushed his bedhead into the red leather chair. Bruce opened his mouth to push the issue when Jason appeared in the office door way. Clad once again in the red jersey he favored over every other article of clothing he owned.
"Breakfast is ready. I helped make it so I can eat your share if you don't hurry." Jason put his hand on his hips, obviously proud of creating such sound logic.
"fuck yeah" Dick said with a yawn, he stretched his arms upward before standing. Jason's mouth fell open and his eyebrows rose. His confident stance dropping in confusion. He'd heard and likely used every foul word every convinced, but the thought of using them in front of Bruce made him already feel like he was gagging on soap. He turned toward his father whose expression was marriage between surprise and indignation. Before his reproach could be made however Dick had walked out the study door, Jason still giving Bruce a shocked expression. A look that could only be taken as Why does he get to do it?
Bruce glared at the chair Dick had been napping in and felt himself grind his teeth at somewhat. Every expletive that was uttered by the now solo hero made his blood boil. If Dick hadn't let the room so causally he had half mind to wear his rear out in front of Jason to set an example of what happens when one of his boys used such ugly language. Shaking his head, the thought, he filed his work away and started for the dining room. His hope that today was going to peaceful continuing to waver.
He entered dining room to Alfred moving about with Jason chattering away. Dick seemed more awake. Bruce took a breath and decided to simply chalk Dick's slip ups to just waking up
"I helped." Jason repeated once more from Bruce's right side.
"Good morning Sir. Master Jason indeed helped, he sliced the fruit for the crepes." Alfred said rubbing the younger boy's head before moving to straighten the locks of hair back into place. Jason regarded the gesture with fidgeting, but beamed at the butler nonetheless.
"Damn I'm starving," Dick muttered under his breath. Alfred's hand visibly twitched as he poured Bruce's orange juice, eyes moving dangerously to look at his second oldest charge. Dick however paid this no mind and began serving himself. Alfred quirked an eyebrow in Bruce's direction.
Bruce avoided Alfred's judgmental gaze by staring down his own empty plate. He caught a quick glance at Jason who only exhibited a small yawn. Hopefully he hadn't noticed Dick's incessant use of expletives.
They ate in a tired silence for moment when Jason asked. "So how long until you're a cop?" he placed an elbow rudely on the table. Jason's voice still had a confrontational element when he spoke to Dick. Bruce couldn't help but wonder if the question didn't have some undertone of bitterness since Jason's experiences with the law outside of Jim had not been positive.
Dick chewed down a strawberry. "Not soon enough. We have to do exams and shit the rest of the week when I go back."
Bruce placed his fork now. How was this not on purpose? He flipped around to Jason covering his mouth to stifle little laughs. Ordinarily his youngest son's laughter was something Bruce would take comfort in, however the cause for joy made Bruce remember the months of trying to wean Jason off his foul mouth. He was far more lenient with the younger considering he was likely exposed to profanity from birth, with Dick the habit was far more offensive.
He had been there to raise the boy during his formative years and he was sure Dick's biological parents would find the behavior equally abhorrent. The only problem that Alfred and he had ever accounted during that time was the use of swearing in different languages when he reached his teenage years. Turning to him Bruce cleared his throat.
"Dick, what did we just discuss." Bruce said, tone taking on a dark edge.
"Yeah Dick don't fucking swear." Jason said in a pseudo astonishment over the table before erupting into further giggles. At the end of the table Alfred's aghast at the language had turned into full indignation. His hands were on hips and he had focus a glare on the redhead parallel to him.
"Jason-" Before Bruce could try disciple his Robin-in-training he was cut off by Dick. He seemed trouble having getting a word in edgewise. Dick seemed completely unfazed still, eyes still having the careless glaze of sleepiness and lack of presence.
"Jason what do you call two officers having sex?" Bruce blanched "fucking pigs." Dick said through a mouth full of peaches to with his met with loud laughs to the point Jason doubled over with loud wheezing chortles.
"ENOUGH!" Forgetting his strength for a moment Bruce pressed his fist to harshly into the table, sending a pitcher of orange juice colliding with the stack of crepes. There goes breakfast.
Both Dick and Jason were staring away from Bruce, sitting stiffly upright in their chairs. Standing up he ran a napkin over his hand and shot a glare over to Alfred. Taking the hint, he was moved over to stand over Jason.
"H-HEY" his oldest whined as Bruce pulled him up from his seat by the arm only to move a moment later to latch the boy's ear with his hand. Pulling him along while trying to keep his temper even. As they moved to exit the dining room he heard Jason make a pained whine as he caught a glimpse of Alfred taking the boy's ear into his hand as well. As he pulled Dick along he was sure he caught the words "You know better" come through in a distinct accent. Dick seem to waffle between trying to pull away in a show of defiance and trying to lean closer to him in order to lessen the pain from his grip. Frankly he considered washing Dick's rude mouth out right in the kitchen, show Jason where he was headed next if he continued to disobey so fragrantly.
However, the idea of punishing his children outside of private was not one he felt too comfortable with. If the circumstances were severe then maybe he wouldn't have any choice, he had in the past.
He released Dick's ear as moved the boy into one of the manor's bathroom, a spacious one downstairs. Closing the door, he released Dick who had not summoned the courage to speak over their trip.
Standing him beside the sink that was silence was broken as he had gathered his intentions. "Bruce I'm a grown man. This is stupid!" he protested, eyes following him as he reached into the cabinet.
Bruce almost stopped to amend Dick's comments. He may be eighteen, but that had little bearing in regard to acting childish and ignoring the rules he had been taught for almost eleven years. He swore he had something to do with those troublesome children in the form of the Titans.
Checking the package just to be wary of anything toxic when ingested, he opened the carton and ran the water without making any form of incantation he was paying Dick's protests any mind. Making sure the bar was running he thrust he palm onto Dick's nose which was meant with marriage of gasp in due to shock and lack of air. Shoving in the soap into his son's mouth. Wrapping an around his Dick's waist, and trapping his arms in the process, he began to set himself to work.
As he scrubbed the boy's tongue with the foul-tasting cleaning agent, he saw Dick's eyes scrunch in disgust, words muffled by gagging and moans of displeasure at the punishment. Bringing it to the top of Dick's mouth he scraped the soap quickly against his teeth, an action that began his son's struggle. Dick attempted to leap back at only for Bruce to pull him even closer without struggle. As Dick beginning trying to wave his hand away he simply shoved the soap in deeper, ceased for a moment to bring Dick to face him before returning to the task.
The reactions Dick had were pitiful to say the least. Eyes firmly closed in discomfort and body seized up in his hold. Every now and again he would try and pull away, his failure to so resulted the stomping of his foot and groaning as he suds trailed down his chin.
Pulling the soap away he inspected Dick's mouth noting the bubbles forming in the corners of his cheek before returning the soap to his son's mouth. "Sit down." he ordered point a finger in the direction of the toilet lid as he turned to wash his hands of soap suds. Hearing his tone, Dick obeys eyes still shut at the taste.
Drying his palms, he looks down at Dick with a sternness that would often make Dick look away in shame, now however was met with a glare that was desperate to look fierce despite the drool running down his chin and soap sticking out of his mouth.
"What was the only thing I asked of you this morning Richard? To tone down the rude language. "He answered himself taking Dick's chin into his hand, making looking away more difficult.
"We had this same problem two weeks ago and now you seemed to have upped your ante by swearing like a brat in front of Jason!" Bruce scolded jerking Dick forward a little more. "Alfred and I have been working so hard to remove such rude words from his lexicon and you are doing nothing, but validating that kind of behavior! Jason looks up to you as his predecessor and you are setting a terrible example Richard Grayson Wayne." Bruce said bringing his arms to rest on his hips.
Dick's brow was furrowed in rebellious aggression at tirade. Reaching up he looked ready remove the soap from his mouth, but a slap to the top of his hand stopped his attempt at relief, he elicited a pained whine while rubbing the now pink flesh.
"Keep your hands on your knees or in your lap." Bruce ordered watching as Dick rubbed away the pink skin on his hand. "You'll have a chance to politely explain your actions when I believe you're thoroughly learned your lesson. If you try and remove that soap again I will turn over my knee so we can start this lesson over. Are we clear?" Dick's answer was long glare but also a reluctant nod.
Entering the kitchen, he watched he took note of Alfred busying himself cleaning up the mess of orange juice and wasted food. He would focus on controlling his temper later. Jason was sitting in chair away from the table, picking at a crepe on his lap slowly. A small pout gracing his features. He walked and kneeled in front of the redhead.
"Jason, what are the rules for swearing in this house? "he asked, not breaking his eyes from the boy who shifted uncomfortably under the negative attention.
"To not." he replied quietly.
"Or what will happen Jason? "he prodded
"Y-You get your mouth washed…." Jason's voice slipped into fear and only was barely about a whimper.
"That's right. I will let you off this off this once. You've done a good job lately of keeping your language in check. Let it happen again you'll be going to bed tasting soap young man." he said gently, bring Jason's gaze to face him. "Go on and help Alfred now." Bruce said before turning to his longest known companion and first friend.
"Alfred could please prepare something in place of the breakfast? I apologize for by carelessness." He was a bit upset with himself a not realizing how hard he'd hit the table.
"Of course, Sir and don't fret-" he turned to briefly look down as Jason tried to pull off the still dishes covered tablecloth by one corner. "I'm sure it won't be the final time I'll need to remake breakfast."
The remember sweetness of Bruce and his trip to ice cream parlor was now contrasted heavily in Dick's mouth with bitter soap suds. Dick stomped his foot in anger once Bruce was out of the bathroom. Anxious tears escaping out of his eyes as he glared down at his pajamas bottoms.
He was certainly awake now, his breathing heavy as exhaled through his nose. He had not experienced this type of punishment since he was sixteen and he'd thrown such a fit afterwards he was sure Bruce was never going to use it again.
Gagging slightly, he thought about tearing the soap away and simply ducking down the hallway. Maybe split for a few hours, show Bruce he wasn't going to be treated like a little kid anymore.
In the back of his mind however he heard the same growl that seemed to follow him no matter how old he got and no matter where he went. Ordering him to remain in place or risk a more painful punishment. It had been there during his years as Robin and it had loomed over him while he had first started working with the Titans. A dark voice that caused him to shiver and obey no matter how much he hated it. It had saved his neck just as many times as it hindered his attempt at a social life.
Hiccuping as bubbles dribbled down his chin his mind wandered and he felt his cheeks become pink at the pathetic joke he'd made of himself. It was just a few things he'd heard at the academy and with the Titans. It wasn't always easy being pulled in three different directions. Back into Bruce's rigid world, with the Titans where he had to act like the role model, and then to Blüdhaven where he was alone so often except with other officers in training.
Growing up with Bruce and Alfred he was given abundance of love (no matter how restrained Bruce may be), but an equally abundant number of rules to be followed. Venturing into territories with a bunch of cops in the locker room and the ever-compelling yet vulgar Roy Harper would color anyone's vocabulary…. Who was he kidding ?
He probably looked like a little punk, at least that's how Bruce would likely put it. Even if Bruce had let him off the hook he was sure Alfred wouldn't have.
His entire mouth tasted like hell and even had a slight burn that seemed to shoot up from his nose, reminding him of swimming a pool with too much chlorine. He wished Bruce hurry and relieve him of this, he wasn't sure he would be able to taste ever again.
As he was about to cast a glance at the door he felt a move his chin upward and looked into the Bruce's subdued, natural poker face.
Bruce looked at the expression of the distressed teen in front of him. Simply meeting the gaze with his own, Dick had been his child for eleven years and his partner against crime since he was nine. Their communication exceeded words and from the look in Dick's eyes Bruce was able to gather much of where his oldest son's mind had wandered while he dealt with Jason.
"Are we clear?" He asked and saw a pleading nature forming in the sea-blue irises, a timeless little stare that seemed to signify the drain of all the fight from the former Robin's body. At Dick's hesitant little nod that caused his black bangs to bounce Bruce removed the bar of soap from Dick's mouth and was greeted to an echoing gasp followed by coughing spell from his son. He placed a glass of water in Dick's hand which his son made quick use of to hinder the foul taste he'd been forced to endure.
During the time, he was drinking he noted Dick avoided making any eye contact, choosing to stare at various fixtures in the bathroom as if they had become unfamiliar in his absence from the manor. He simply watched the truly pitiful display and waited for a connected gaze to once again be established between them. Minutes passed with only Dick's shallow breathing filling the room, the boy wiped suds from his mouth with his shirt sleeve and then turned his eyes upward in acknowledgement finally.
"Alfred prepared something else for breakfast." Bruce offered his hand out to the boy seated below. Dick's eyes fell upon his palm. He briefly remembered a time before Dick had ended his career as Robin where he'd slapped the man's offering away before swinging to a nearby rooftop leaving him frozen for a moment. On a distant rooftop, he watched the colorfully clad hero he had raised drift further way, in more than one manner. The two of them had been at each other's throats so much not that long ago, he'd brushed it off without thinking. Never truly grasping the fact Dick would stray from him. It had been too late and his Robin was gone.
The much smaller hand rested in his own and pulled Dick up to stand and turned to leave the bathroom, knowing the young man would be in tow. When they returned to the dining room they were met with humble meal of eggs (of varying kind), bacon, and slices of toasts. Jason was eating far slower as it was evident from earlier he had consumed the crepes Bruce had made undesirable to all but the redhead.
Alfred regraded their return with a nod before returning to the kitchen, Bruce noticed a distinct lack of any juice on the table.
Dick gave a glance to Jason as he sat down, the redhead returned with a harsh glare. He flinched as he as he adjusted himself in his chair and turned to his food, his body was waging a war on whether he could stomach to eat at the moment. His mouth still burned and tasted like a pool, but his stomach was desperately craving sustenance.
His desire for food was also hindered by the crushing tension. Alfred was pointedly avoided acknowledging his presence. Bruce had taken his seat and began eating in such a way that to anyone else would he have seemed fine, but Dick knew better. The stiffer manner, even for his father, was sure sign they had not truly let the subject drop.
Picking up the fork with a shaky hand Dick poked into a stack of scrambled eggs, bringing the food into his mouth. The unpleasant taste of soap overtaking all of the Alfred's work. Swallowing with a grimace the bit in the slice of toast, it helped ease the foulness from his tongue.
As Bruce and Jason began finished and it became clear that he wasn't going to be eating that much, Alfred cleared the table and soon he was left sitting beside Bruce, his father's fingers netted and looking at him with his brow furrowed. As if deciding how much he should be angry at him.
"Dick, let's talk in the living room." Bruce said moving to stand and bracing his hands against the table.
Dick felt a drop in his stomach, visions of being pulled over Bruce's knee flooded his mind and briefly he considered making a mad dash for it. Something that never worked, but the idea of doing so was at least comforting.
As he entered the living room he did not look back. He took a seat on a plush couch, making a note to choose the farthest piece of furniture from the entrance to the room. To Bruce it never any difference, but it still made him feel better at the moment.
Swallowing harshly Dick gave a series of shaky breathes, trying to restrain his emotions. He felt like he was tearing down the middle. He wanted to reach out and beg Bruce's forgiveness, but at the same time somehow tell him how wrong he was about doing something so childish to him. This is why he never wanted to come home, the complications just keep piling up and burying him.
The weight of the couch shifted slightly.
Dick felt a palm on his shoulder and thankful it began to move back and forth in a soothing motion. His mind was brought back from the lofty peak he had begun scaling within his consciousness by the touch despite his desire to continue thinking on the issue. Dick knew he would have to address these problems and worried what he would find when he reached the very top, he was sure however he knew what it would inevitability be.
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Bruce moving to hold something out to him. Green and rectangle in shape, exploding raspberries covering the front of the package. It was juice box.
"Alfred bought these for Jason's lunch, but he didn't seem to particularly enjoy them."
Dick reached out took the beverage and plunged the straw into it carton and simply let the juice cleanse the foul taste from his mouth. When he finally released he coughed slightly as he felt Bruce's fingers run over his forehead and push a few stray hairs into place. Giving what felt like his first swallow that didn't disgust him, Dick looked up at his father.
"I-I thought we were okay after the other night." The younger hero said in low voice, as were worried he would incite further punishment.
"Shhhhh, We are-" Bruce paused and for a moment he wasn't sure what he was to say was really true, he never thought himself they type to lie unless the situation truly demanded it. A pair of sea blue eyes pleaded to hear words most parents could provide, to be soothed that they would never have to cross harsh waters again.
"We are fine, Dick, it's just…to me those words just never sound like you."
Dick's eyes left him then and seemed to searching something outside the current room, a reminder once more Dick had a life outside of him.
"I'm sorry Dad."
The tone of Dick's words almost seemed to outweigh the offense in this case, slowly Bruce brought Dick closer until his son's head was against his chest. As he moved Dick hair behind his head he noted truly the shine of the small blue earring on the former Robin's ear. The same blue of that loud outfit Dick had chosen for himself to replace his Robin uniform. He'd seen them so many times before now, regarded them with at most annoyance at most. He didn't understand why his son would want something so juvenile, but as he stroked his palm down the slender fabric covered arm and brought his gaze to the Dick's more serene expression he realized they fit Dick perfectly.
He'd been against Dick joining the Teen Titans, he'd felt nothing but ire when they became The Titans or whatever title those children chose. A part of him still wanted to order Dick to do anything else when the topic of returning to his so-called colleagues came up. Most of the them were fine kids and no matter how much he'd dismissed them along with the rest of the Justice League, they had done far more good they any of his own fellow heroes and himself had likely expected.
The harsh sound of slurp brought his attention back to the teenager in his grasp, desperately trying to get the last drops of juice. He would tell Alfred to get more since he knew the frequency that Dick tended to consume food. He wondered what activities Dick got up to when he wasn't around to protect him, the earrings were signs he was making strides to developing his own set of principles.
He wasn't sure he hadn't lied to Dick still, despite the serene look on the face of the boy tucked under his arm he knew from raising him trouble came crashing down like a massive chandelier. No, it didn't matter, Bruce chose to reason.
He could do this, he could make this work.
So that happened. Sorry this took so long.
I have the Summer off so the next chapter will be out far quicker. The next chapter is one I'm really excited for.
Thanks For Reading