Thanks for the reviews, and yes I did a lot of research on Roy when I was working on my first story 'The Odd Couple', a Teen Titan story where Speedy was the main character (which I really should hurry up and finish up already). Anyway, this chapter was kind of inspired by something I went through a couple of weeks ago (minor staph infection) and like most artists, I decided to turn my pain into entertainment. I tried to be detailed, but not too graphic.
I normally try to avoid using songs or pop culture references (because everyone has different tastes), but this song just had so many references to Batman, as well as some that could apply to Bruce, that I just couldn't resist exploring how he would react to it. Plus, I figured a common issue parents have with teens is the music they listen to. I also try to avoid swearing in my stories, but it's only one line that was just too perfect, so I couldn't resist.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own Young Justice, IPods, or My Chemical Romance... If I did, there would have been a Season 3 of YJ (plus Wally would have never 'died') and MCR would have never retired.
Even if you don't like MCR, I hope you enjoy and review.
Chapter 6: Parental Advisory
On night, Batman and Robin had a run-in with Poison Ivy at Gotham Botanical Gardens; during which, Robin had acquired a bug bite on his left knee. Neither of them, nor Alfred, thought anything of it at the time; seeing as Robin had received much worse injuries in battle and it didn't seem like much cause for concern at the time. However, after a few days it started to swell and develop an abscess with an open wound that wouldn't heal; despite the best efforts of Alfred's home treatments. Dick refused to see a doctor and even tried to downplay his condition; until he woke up one morning with his knee was so swollen that he couldn't move it, let alone walk, without trying to stifle a cry of pain- which was serious for someone who normally had a high tolerance for physical pain.
At this point, Bruce called in a favor to a close family friend, Dr. Leslie Thompkins, for a house call. She was mostly concerned that he might have MRSA; which is resistant to most antibiotics, highly contagious, and life threatening. But after a negative culture test, the doctor confirmed it was cellulitis; which is much easier to treat and not contagious.
Leslie prescribed the boy antibiotics for the infection and some analgesics for the pain, as well as ordering the teen to stay home from school and refrain from extracurricular activities until a follow up exam. Batman didn't have any problem keeping Robin off patrol for the time being, though Robin highly objected. On the other hand, while Bruce he didn't like seeing Dick in pain, he couldn't help but worry about the effects of the pain killers. Being young and somewhat small for his age, Dick always had a low tolerance to medications and Bruce wasn't sure how the boy would react to such heavy pain meds.
As Bruce predicted, the meds made his son extremely drowsy; which caused him to sleep most of the day. This was actually good news for Bruce and Alfred because this made it much easier to clean his wound and change the bandages, since Dick was very apprehensive about anyone touching the affected limb. Bruce and Alfred entered Dick's room; Alfred was carrying a tray containing: a first aid kit, a hot damp towel in a Ziploc bag, a water bottle, and Dick's medication. Dick was sleeping under the covers; though his fever from the infection had gone down slightly, he still had the chills. As they approached the bed they heard some light humming, though this didn't surprise the men because Dick was known to mumble in his sleep- especially when he wasn't feeling well. Under the covers, his infected leg was propped up by several pillows. The men, wishing not to disturb the reposing teen, only lifted the bottom portion of the blankets to reveal the bandaged knee. It was apparent that it was time to change the dressing, as blood has soaked through the gauze wrap.
Alfred opened the first aid kit and retrieved gloves for his charge and himself, which they both put on promptly. As Alfred went to take off the old dressings, they saw the covered teen twitch; he tried to be gentle so he wouldn't wake up his honorary grandson. Bruce was preparing the cleaning agents when Dick's humming got louder and turned into soft mumbling.
"Na na na na na…." The boy mumbled softly from under the covers.
"Is he singing what I think he's singing?" The ebony-haired man asked the gray-haired man.
"If so it appears to be in the wrong tune, sir." Alfred commented.
"Drugs, gimme drugs…!" Dick commanded in a soft groggy shout before he trailed off.
"What?" The father questioned; not sure if he heard his adopted son right.
"He may need more of pain medication." The butler suggested, as he cut off the old bandage the wrapped around the boy's knee.
"… I don't need it, but I'll sell what you got, take the cash and I'll keep it…" Dick's voice went in and out until it drifted into a soft incoherent hum.
"Dick, what in the name of…?" The vigilante said in disbelief that his crime fighting partner would talk about dealing drugs. The man walked to the head of the bed and lifted the top of the covers to expose the boy's face; showing he was still sleeping and wearing his noise canceling earphones as the humming continued. Dick's face winced at the natural light coming from the window and Bruce put the covers back on him to let him rest.
"What was the matter, Master Bruce?" Alfred said as he cleaned the wound with alcohol wipes.
"Nothing, Alfred. It turns out it's just a song." Bruce said with a slight sigh of relief as he put some antiseptic ointment on a Q-tip.
"Love, gimme love…I don't need it... I'll take what I want from your heart and I'll keep it…Gimme more, Gimme more... Shut up and sing it with me…." Dick continued to drift in and out of coherency.
"Music certainly has changed since I was a lad." The butler commented as he discarded the alcohol pads.
"Same here." The billionaire agreed, handing the Q-tip to his father figure.
"Na na na na… from mall security… to every enemy..." The teen's mumbling still tuning in and out in the background.
"Perhaps we should consider evaluating the music Master Richard listens to more closely." Dick's grandfather figure suggested as he finished applying ointment on the wound.
"Na na na na… Let's blow an artery... Na na na… Eat plastic surgery…" Dick's rambling continued.
"He's mature for his age. Besides, he's old enough to out pick his own music." The tycoon defended the teen as he handed his butler the gauze pad and wrap, talking over Dick's mumbling. "The lyrics are a bit strange, but so are most things teenagers are into these days."
"… Let me tell you about the sad man, shut up… Let me see your jazz hands..." Dick continued his slumbering song, as Alfred placed the bag with the hot compress over the newly bandaged knee. The intensity in Dick's voice was starting to match that of the singer, as his singing got louder and more coherent. "Remember you were a Madman, thought you was Batman…!"
Alfred smirked and raise an eyebrow at the man next to him who had a blank, yet somewhat perplexed look on his face; he wasn't quite sure how to interpret the context.
"…Kiss me, you animal…!" Dick shouted as he continued to sing along "… Na na … You run the company…. Na na… Fuck like a Kennedy…"
"Alright, Dick; that's enough!" The father figure shouted in a stern voice as he lifted the blanket off the sleeping boy to wake him up. He wouldn't admit it, but deep down the man couldn't help but feel the song was making a personal jab at him, both as Batman: the fearless vigilante and Bruce Wayne: the billionaire playboy.
Dick stirred in his bed, trying to avoid the light that was attempting to penetrate through his eyelids. He finally opened his eyes to catch a glimpse of his guardians at the foot of his bed. He closed his eyes again, but took off his earphones before he spoke up. "Hey, guys. What's up?"
"Just changing your bandages, Master Richard." Alfred spoke up "The medication must be quite strong to put you in a deep enough sleep for you not to notice."
"Must be." The teen agreed with a yawn.
"It's time for your medicine anyway." Bruce announced after opening the pill bottles.
"Ugh." The teen grunted as he sat up and quickly emptied one of each pill into his hand before swallowing it and washing it down with a bottle of water.
"So Dick, do you always listen to music when you fall asleep?" Bruce finally asked.
"Only when I have a hard time sleeping." The youngest male explained as he laid himself back down to rest. "Those pills make me tired, but they won't let me to go into a deep enough sleep. I needed something to relax me enough to actually rest."
"Hmmm…" The adoptive father mused; he didn't want to let his son know what he was planning. "Maybe we should talk to Dr. Thompkins about changing the medicine or at least the dosage."
"Please Bruce, the pain is just barely tolerable now. I don't want to mess with success." Dick begged.
"Alright, fine." He dropped the subject. "But you haven't eaten all day, aren't you hungry?"
"Not really." The boy proclaimed as he put a pillow over his head to block out the offending sunlight, "I don't think I can hold anything down. All these pills have been giving me heartburn."
"You need to eat something." The concern father stated.
"Perhaps I should run down to the drugstore for ginger ale and broth?" The butler suggested. "Regardless, we are in need of more first aid supplies as well."
"Holy staphylococcal cellulitis, Batman! No time to waste! Quick, to the apothecary, Alfred!" The Boy Wonder announced, slightly muffled by the pillow. The boy's guardians took this as a sign that the pain pills were starting to kick in again and that he would be going back to sleep soon.
"Alright, we'll let you get back to sleep." The legal guardian declared "Oh, maybe instead of listening to music to help you fall asleep you can watch TV." He suggested.
"Um, okay?" Dick said only half awake as he used his free hand to remove the pillow from his face.
"Great, then I'll just take your IPod and charge it for you." Bruce said trying to be discreet as he took the music device and handed his son the remote before headed for the door.
"Uh, thanks?" Replied the delirious teen, who lifted the pillow from his face to turn on the TV.
"Alright then, sleep well." The father figure said to his son as he closed the door behind him.
"And what, may I ask, do you plan to do with Master Richard's IPod, sir?" Alfred inquired as both men walked down the hallway.
"I'm going to go through it and erase any songs that make any unfavorable references to Batman; then I'm going to confiscate all the music devices from the Team and do the same." The Bat confided in his butler as he headed down to the Batcave.