I don't own DC. Wilson was made up though but he isn't around for long.
Chapter 5—
Maybe it was just because it had been Richard Grayson's birthday yesterday and today the kids were being introduced to the world as official heroes but Batman would have sworn he saw the former in the crowd. It took a second for his normally-quick brain to kick in with recognition but when he looked back he wasn't there. Bruce Wayne had called in on the child, maybe remind them to continue their search for him, to find out he had been adopted in the beginning of that month. Bruce had been slightly relieved that the boy would be okay until he heard the name.
He had arrested Matthew Wilson five years ago for abusing his wife over three years. Why the Child Protection Service had let him adopt he didn't know but h refused to believe that Wilson was the Father material Richard needed. He had been through so much and Bruce knew from experience how hard it was. Now Richard was out of his reach to help, he had another kid on his mind. Sure he had meet up with BW once or twice over the past year but every time he saw him he couldn't help but sigh in relief that the kid was actually still alive.
He didn't want to intrude out of the small mutual respect they'd built up in their brief partnerships, but knowing nothing about him got on his nerves. He was the Great Detective but he was just sitting back. It could be necessary that he knew about him. They must be a reason he felt so determined in what they did to do it dutifully without question, rest or hesitation. He could have personal gripe about someone that may cloud judgement.
Superman laughed at something Kid Flash had said and took his place at the podium, snapping Batman from thought. Hawkgirl followed his line of sight and was searching the building opposite for whatever the Batman had been focused on for so long. Failing that, she nodded at him to ask if something was wrong but he nodded back dismissively. Bringing his attention back, Batman searched the crowd again but couldn't find Richard. Only when Aquaman stepped up to talk about Aqualad did the small boy step forward with eyes fixed on the Dark Knight.
"That concedes this actually, we have nothing more to update you on." Flash stood in to close off the show.
"What about Boy Wonder? Isn't he a child hero? Why isn't he here?" A reporter shouted out.
Everyone looked to Batman and he inwardly sighed. Why did they expect Batman to know everything about the kid? They'd ran into each other on the job around about five times. Batman dealt with the super-criminals but it left him no time for the menial law-breakers, that was where Boy Wonder took the stage. There was no cameras on him like there was on Batman and people barely heard from him in months but everyone talked about him.
"As you could have guessed by now, Boy Wonder tries to avoid the media." Then he whispered under his breath. "Smart boy." Superman and Hawkgirl were the only ones to hear and they both just smiled slightly wider.
"Do you think we will be seeing him any time soon?" Another reporter jumped on the interrogate-the-person-who-doesn't-know-anything bandwagon.
Kid Flash spoke up this time, "I don't know, it'll be up to him and he's pretty unpredictable."
Flash smirked at his protégé. "It looks like someone's still sore from what happened last year."
"What happened last year?" The question was barked and Kid Flash just smiled winningly at them.
"He floored me then left his mark. Admittedly I was being a bit annoying but hey," he held his hands up in mock surrender, that same big innocent smile—being only thirteen had its benefits—"I was excited. He's my hero."
"Have you seen Trace since, Kid Flash?"
"No. Unfortunately. Though I would like to right the wrong impression. Because I'm not annoying at all."
He looked expectantly to Batman, pleading for the favour. "Why are you looking at me?" He said monotonously, but all those who knew him could tell he'd had enough of the Boy Wonder questions.
However, it didn't stop there. As soon as they were in the private rooms of Mount Justice, Superman just had to pipe up. "You've been keeping it a secret for too long…"
"He doesn't want to meet you, I asked him last night. Clark, just drop it, will you? Besides, last night was the first time I saw him in a month. He's not my sidekick or my partner, we've just cross paths every now and then."
Still the Kryptonian persisted, "Don't you think it's time you, I don't know, recruited him?"
"He probably doesn't want my for a mentor, he must have someone else."
"You're a detective, find out."
"I refuse to, out of respect."
"It didn't stop you from delving into my past."
"I've just said this is different, out of respect."
"Oh, you respect him and not your old friend."
"Yeah, what did I say?"
"I give up."
"I give up."
Batman seethed storming from the meeting and leaving six of the founding members dumb-founded behind him. He had been asked about the Boy Wonder six times in that meeting, three times by the Flash; apparently Kid Flash had wanted to meet him again since the first day almost a year ago. He'd tried to ignore it but when the meeting had neared to its close, Green Arrow had mentioned it—reminding the rest and giving the Bat just another reason to despise Oliver.
Many of the heroes scattered throughout the Watchtower asked of Batman's cause of distress but he ignored them as he made his way to the zeta beams. He was going to have tea and double check everything at Wayne Industries before suiting up and trying to solve the thorn in his side that was the mysterious BW. He could start with looking for him first and, failing that, looking through the news and police reports of all sightings. The real reason Batman had wanted to avoid him was because he didn't want to delve into the nightmares within the boy's life that made him take on such a dangerous crusade, he saw it now; after all, Bruce's own reason was his parents.
"Alfred?" He jogged from the Batcave entrance in civilian clothes and made his way from the study into the living room. He found the older man seated with phone in hand and a concerned, almost sombre expression.
"Thank you, Commissioner, Master Bruce has arrived, I will notify him. Thank you for calling."
Bruce waited for his surrogate father to hang up the phone and turn to him, "The meeting was cut short was it, Master Bruce? Are you ready for dinner?"
"Yes, I am actually. Why was Gordon phoning?"
"Ah, you do remember the Richard Grayson, sir?"
"Yes." Bruce croaked but hoped Alfred hadn't noticed; he hadn't mentioned the boy for two years so why was he brought up, maybe it was to do with seeing him today in the crowd. Bruce ignored the incoherent thoughts bouncing in his head and listened to his butler's response.
"Well, he had been adopted not a month ago, as I know you are aware. It turns out that Gordon recognised the boy at the Leagues' presentation, but unfortunately he also recognised the man who had adopted the boy. It was Matthew Wilson, sir. And it seems like he hadn't leant his lesson from when the Batman took him in."
"He hasn't hurt the boy, has he?" He followed Alfred into the kitchen; the aroma of succulent chicken cooked with Alfred's special flare hit him instantly.
"I'm afraid, young Richard has been through some severe abuse while under Wilson's care. He's in hospital right now. He blames himself since after spotting the two he waited until he had the official adoption records to check and see how it could have been allowed by the services."
"I thought the same myself, Alfred, in a way I am to blame also." Bruce fell into a chair at the kitchen table.
"No, Master Bruce you said that same thing those two years ago. No one could blame these things on you. As it was sir, they couldn't have removed the boy form his care without evidence, but when the police investigated, i.e. Gordon paid him a visit"—Bruce scoffed, interrupting him for a second, of course the police wouldn't have acted—"only to find the boy bleeding profusely."
"Was that solid evidence enough?"
"I believe Wilson is ready for court within this month. Meanwhile, Richard is being put back into care as soon as the hospitals clear him."
"What put him in hospital?"
"Starvation and hypothermia mean he'll be there for at least two weeks in his condition. The breaks will leave him there for two months; his ribs in particular have already healed and have had to be broken again among other things in surgery. And deep cuts on his wrist imply he'll be going to a psychiatric ward instead of back to the Detention Centre."
Bruce buried his head in his hands, "I don't know which place is worse for him."
"Commissioner Gordon expresses concerns regarding the mental hospitals methods. He says even for some thing as little and easily helped as depression, they can make things worse with shock therapy."
"How will that cure depression?" Bruce snapped loudly, and then shook his head in apology after. "I'm sorry Alfred. I've been thinking. My intentions for asking about the update..."
"You wished to adopt. I know you did and there's every opportunity now. I'm sure Richard would love a visit before that complication. However, in the short term, it's up to you sir. It is a big responsibility, especially on top of your other responsibilities as both Bruce Wayne and as Batman."
"But, it will give Richard a healthy environment to recover from this hole he's fallen into."
"Sir?"
"I will Alfred. Just as you were there for me, it's about time someone was there for him. I will call the Commissioner now to ask about seeing the boy with his company. Then I'll bring the suggestion up sometime."
"Very well." Alfred set a plate before the younger man and watched the boy he had raised eat, all the while imagining the small boy Bruce described running about the house; if the boy was an acrobat then he would have to get some of the furniture reinforced just in case.
Wilson looked murderous as they drove home. It was a long journey and Richard felt himself sink lower and lower into the chair.
"The police were looking at you."
"I didn't do anything suspicious."
"No but they saw me; they'll realise the mistake."
"I'm sorry."
"That won't help you now."
When they rolled up to the house, Richard was out in seconds but his 'father' was already there, a fist braced…
The boy looked so frail, Bruce thought as he and the Commissioner watched from the waiting room through the small glass viewing window. Broken bones, blood loss, deep lacerations to the wrist and shoulder of which was also both dislocated meant he wouldn't be doing any of his old gymnastics routines much anymore. Broken knees with small old fractures that had tried to heal weeks ago told the doctor that this wasn't a one off; fingernails bent back where he had tried to claw his way away from the brutal attack just screamed the affect it would have on the boy's psyche. Half his face was littered in scars that wouldn't heal for a long time, his life was no doubt ruined forever.
Bruce had to clench his fists to control his anger; that damned Wilson wasn't getting much of a sentence either, even with Bruce Wayne's power, Wilson would never get what he deserved for hurting this boy. All hatred drained away when the boy shifted—possibly a coma the doctor had said—no the boy was strong. The Commissioner tensed too beside him but neither showed signs of going in. They couldn't comfort him, they barely knew him. He needed someone who knew and loved him, only he didn't have anyone to fill that role. He would have, Bruce scolded himself for hesitated and causing the boy this pain and trauma. It was his fault at heart.
The boy's back arched in pain and Bruce immediately split off to find Leslie, leaving Commissioner to watch as the boy started to cry. Ripping the machines from him, he stumbled from the bed. The Commissioner wanted to go in but he was too scared. It was his fault at heart. He hadn't stopped the adoption, in fact just like everyone else, he'd forgotten about him, only to take his time before actually investigating Wilson and finding the dying boy. He was fine now, he reassured himself as he watched the boy fumble through cupboards and pull a needle form one. He didn't even move when the boy cut into his arm with the implement and fall to the floor.
Leslie burst through the door with Bruce jus behind her, startling Gordon from where he was frozen.
"Richard? Oh my God?" …was all Bruce uttered.
XD I'm so evil!