A/N Don't worry, I'm still alive! Here's chapter five, for your patience. Enjoy!
Chapter 5
"Yeah." Everyone replied as Batman climbed back into the Batmobile, where he noticed Robin's handwriting. I'm sorry Bruce. And a tear fell from each eye as Batman drove home.
**0O
Dick had been missing for a month and a half when Four Enyaw made his first appearance in the national news. He was a "programming genius" who would protect your computer from hackers for only "five dollars a month", and he was expected to "release new software involving computers within the month".
It wasn't too long before Enyaw's money piled up, and he started a legit company, called "Enyaw Tech", and something about Four Enyaw made Clark think. He'd met Four a couple times, and, using his X-ray vision, he'd seen all the scars and injuries the Four had, none of which matched up with the man he was supposed to be. The scars could be from 'living on the streets' (which he had done, but Clark wasn't sure how long)
But what really bugged Clark was how Four acted around Clark... Clark's super-hearing allowed him to hear Four's heartbeat, and he knew that he'd lied about almost everything. About living in an orphanage until he ran away, fooling around with tech until he understood how most of it worked (that'd been a half-lie). About living in Bludhaven all of his life. About learning programming through a 'stroke of luck'.
The only things Four really told the truth about was his parents dying when he was really young, and running into his butler when he was 'down in his luck'. Even his name seemed to be a lie, and Four had admitted that he'd left his birth name behind when he was younger (truth), and he'd randomly chosen his new name (lie).
"Can I trust him, Clark?" Bruce asked him.
"In the whole interview, he told the truth only three times, and I could barely tell when he was lying." Clark admitted. "When it comes down to the name he chose for himself, he's extremely protective of the way people view it. I think you can trust him, but be extremely careful about believing what he tells you."
"How many times did he lie during the interview?" Bruce pressed.
"Fifteen times." Clark said. "He lied about chosing his name at random, Bruce. He's trying to send a message to someone with it. I think-"
"Clark, how many times do I have to tell you, until I find Dick-" Bruce started, but Clark interrupted him.
"I'm only asking you to look him up on your computer!" He said. "If he lied to me, maybe we can find out who he is using it. What his past was like."
"It wouldn't be on there." Bruce said. "He admitted himself that he changed his name. Unless he can hack my computer itself- and he won't be able to- he won't be on there."
"Bruce!" Clark said. "I know that you're upset about losing Dick, but maybe it's time to move on, train somebody. Maybe that Jason Todd kid who tried so hard to protect him?"
"You do know that he doesn't know who I am, right?" Bruce asked. "Unless he figures it out on his own, I'm not replacing Dick. And I'm not going to tell him, either. Have a good day, Clark." Clark sighed, before climbing to his feet.
"I'm sorry I can't get you to see reason." He said.
"It's my fault he left." Bruce said. "If only I knew what'd been going on..."
"Maybe you should've asked." Both men looked up to see Barry leaning in the doorway. "Also, I passed Jason on the way up, I hope neither of you said anything stupid."
"Nope." Clark said.
"Ok, good." Barry said. "Bruce, you did you honestly think that there was no way he was going to be compared to you? It wasn't just your fault because you didn't know what was going on, or how much it affected him. It was more my fault for not reaching out to him more."
"You knew?!" Bruce asked. "And you didn't say something?"
"Dick asked me not to say anything to you." Barry said. "He thought he could tough it out, and eventually he'd be seen for who he was, what he'd done, instead of being identified against you."
"I suppose you didn't compared him to Bruce?" Clark asked.
"You mean the guy who let us think he was dead just to show up at the last minute and save the world?" Barry asked. "No, I actually preferred him to you. Besides, remember when I used to work alongside Jay? I went through something similiar until he retired."
"You do know how young Dick is, right?" Bruce asked. "He's barely fifteen, and he left because of the way the League treated him. I can't believe you didn't say a word to me!"
"What you can't believe is that you didn't see it yourself." Barry said. "His Team, do you have them working on this too?"
"It was suspended." Bruce said.
"That's why Wally was so upset." Barry said. "Other than the obvious, his best friend is missing. He feels extremely guilty over two words, Bruce. I can only help so much."
"... Fine." Bruce said. "Get the Team together tomorrow, I'll be there."
"Alright, if you say so." Barry said. "How am I going to get Wally out of the house? He barely even leaves for school, and he refuses to run with me."
"... Tell him that the Team needs him, and mention me." Bruce said. "That should be enough to get him moving, if only long enough for him to get to the clubhouse."
"Alright. Thanks, Bruce." Barry said. "See ya." He walked out, and Bruce turned and gave Clark a pointed look.
"I'm leaving too. See you, Bruce." Clark walked out of the room, and Bruce pulled up a picture taken by Alfred, tears wellling in his eyes.
The picture had been taken the day before Dick had run away, and the boy was grinning and laughing like nothing was wrong.