Chapter 6: Friends for the Weekend part 1
It was nearing eleven o'clock and Dick was swinging from the roof, quite literally, with excitement. He traveled from chandelier to chandelier finding no alternative to express his joy. However Bruce watched with a pounding heart, for while he knew his son was a skilled and capable acrobat, watching your little one swinging from such high heights unprotected made any father panic.
"Whoooooohhhh! Weeeeeeee!" Dick squealed.
"Dick please get down from there!" Bruce called out worriedly.
Dick merely giggled at his daddy's concern but obeyed his wishes nonetheless. He swung to the chandelier closest to his father and let go, giggling some more as he fell. Heart pounding and adrenaline rushing, Bruce ran with his arms out and caught his baby boy securely. This child continued to age Bruce at least ten years a day with his dangerous and anxiety inducing stunts and pranks, but he loved him with all his heart so it was only natural.
"Baby I know you're excited, but you need to be in one piece when your friends come over." Bruce said smoothing over his son's thick hair affectionately.
"But I can' help i daddy! I's too exsitd, Wally an Roy are comin!" Dick squealed as he squirmed in his fathers arms.
Bruce smiled, knowing that his energetic little boy was excited to see his fellow protégés. They were a tight knit group, though from day one of their meeting had been quite the trouble makers. They were all very good little boys but unfortunately when you put three of them between the ages of 5 and 9 together, mischief was due to follow. Little did Bruce know that trouble and mischief were just at his doorstep as he heard a knock at their front door. Immediately Dick squealed loudly and ran to the door proceeding to jump and down next to it since he couldn't quite reach the doorknob yet.
"Open it daddy! Open it, theys here!"
"I am, I am!" Bruce chuckled as he made his way to the front door.
He then opened the door only to be nearly ran over by a red and yellow blur. Once it passed, Bruce looked to where it went and smiled widely. There before his eyes were Dick and Wally hugging each other affectionately and excitedly.
"Wally!" Dick squealed.
"Dick! I missed you!" Wally squealed back.
The two hadn't seen each other in a month due to a lack of Justice League work and the busyness of the holidays so they missed each other greatly. But as the boys continued their adorable greetings Barry came in carrying a small Clifford the Big Red Dog backpack.
"Do you think they missed each other?" Barry asked with a cheeky smile.
"I'm not sure, they don't seem to be showing it very well if they are." Bruce joked back with a light smile he couldn't manage to hide.
"Yeah, but hey, thanks for taking Wally for the weekend. Iris and I have been wanting to go on a vacation as a couple for months, but we just didn't know what to do with the little guy."
"Happy to do it, but I think Dick is the happiest about it. Not to mention this is his first sleepover he's ever had so his energy level is off the charts. I'm sure I'm in for an interesting weekend." Bruce said with a light chuckle.
"I'm sure you'll be fine, just make sure to keep a close on the three of them. You never know what kind of trouble their little trio could find themselves in."
"Oh I'm fully aware, or have you forgotten the time they snuck into the league kitchen?"
"Forgotten! I was scrubbing cake and frosting out of Wally's hair and in my room at the watchtower for weeks!"
"Don't even get me started with what I had to do for Dick, luckily I had Alfred to help me. He's good at keeping the kids in line so we should be able to avoid any incidents."
It was then as Bruce and Barry talked they heard a car horn go off meaning only one thing, Roy and Oliver had arrived. Within minutes the two watched as a red haired little boy in a red and black hoodie and jeans dragged an older blonde haired and bearded man dressed a green blazer by the arm to the door.
"Oliver come on hurry up!" Roy said anxiously as he dragged his mentor.
"There's no need to rush Roy, we're right here." Oliver chuckled as he adjusted a Pokémon backpack hanging off his shoulder.
Eventually with great haste the two entered the manor only to find Barry and Bruce standing there waiting for them.
"Well hey there SpeedyI see you finally made it." Barry said as he playfully ruffled Roy's similarly red hair.
"No thanks to this slowpoke, now we're the last ones here!" Roy grumbled as he smoothed his hair out.
"We also live the farthest away Roy, I can only drive so fast."
"Yeah yeah, I'm gonna go join Wally and Dick." Roy said angstily as he then ran off to join his friends.
As he ran off Bruce and Barry looked at the older boy oddly, both slightly surprised by Roy's attitude.
"What's up with Roy, he's always been rather snippy but I've never seen him act angsty before?" Bruce asked, slightly concerned.
"Yeah it's a recent development, I think he must be going through the extra early stages of the teen angst part of puberty. Which means I'm in trouble, he's already starting to say he's too old for me to hug him when I pick him up from school." Oliver said rubbing his face in absolute dread.
"Oh boy, looks like it's gonna be goodbye cartoons, hello bikini babe magazines for you!" Barry busted out laughing.
"Don't rub it in Barry, soon enough you'll be spending the US debt worth on food for little Wally there." Oliver retorted back.
Barry immediately shut up, knowing that Oliver's comeback was no hyperbole.
"I'm sure it's just a phase, you know kids always wanting to grow up so quickly." Bruce said trying to change the subject quickly, he didn't like the idea of Dick growing up.
The adults continued to discuss and talk, while the boys all played together. At the moment Roy had just walked in to see Wally speeding around with Dick piggybacking on his back. For a little bit he watched his friends play around for a bit till Dick spotted Roy standing there.
"Roy!" Dick squealed as leaped from Wally's back, back handspring off the the floor, and landed into Roy's open arms.
"Hi there baby bird!" Roy said as he affectionately hugged the little boy to his chest.
"Roy I missed yous! Why hasn't you come to play sooner?" Dick asked as he snuggled Roy and looked longingly into his eyes.
It had been so long since he got to play with Roy, he and Wally did all the time, but he almost never saw his older friend except at league events and rarely did they ever get to play then.
"I missed you to Dick, but I have a much longer school day than you do and you're a lot further from me then Wally. But hey we get to see each other all weekend, so that'll be fun right?" Roy said, trying to cheer up his pseudo baby brother.
"Yeah we gets ta hab a sleepover!" Dick squealed as he hugged his friend tightly.
"Yeah we do!" Roy said as he hugged his friend back.
However as they did so a certain red haired little speedster felt left out and a little jealous.
"Hey why don't I getta hug?!" Wally wined with a pout and his arms crossed.
"Oh come over here baby flash, did you think I forgot about you?" Roy said as he held his other arm out to his pseudo little brother, Dick being his baby brother while Wally was his little brother.
Wally's demeanor immediately changed as he sprinted to hug his big brother. Together the three hugged each other tightly, all the while Barry made sure to get a picture of it for the cuteness and future teenage blackmail factor.
"Well I better be off, Iris and I have a flight to catch later." Barry said as he checked his watch.
Without warning Wally immediately sped over in a red and yellow flash and hugged his uncle's leg.
"Goodbye Uncle Barry! Have a good trip with Auntie Iris!" Wally said all while hugging his uncle tightly.
Barry smiled and scooped up the seven year old in his arms to snuggle him one more time.
"We will buddy, we'll make sure to bring you a souvenir from Fiji too, gingerbread man."
"Yay!" Wally squealed as he clapped his little hands.
"Now be sure to be a good boy and behave for Uncle Bruce ok? No wild pranks or tricks." Barry instructed with a more serious tone.
"Ok Uncle Barry!" Wally chirped with a mischievous grin and giggle.
Barry chuckled and shook his head nervously, realizing that was like asking fire not to burn anything. As this went on Oliver motioned Roy to come over and crouched down to his level. Setting Dick down, Roy did so only to have his mentor pull him into a hug.
"You didn't think I would leave you without a hug goodbye did you Speedy?" Oliver chuckled knowing this embarrassed his "all grown up" nine year old protégé.
Roy nearly blushed but accepted his mentor's hug, for while he felt too grown up sometimes for his mentor to show him affection. But deep down he really liked it, for ever since he was seven years old Oliver was like a father to him, there to take care of him and help him through the murder of his parents. Meanwhile Oliver wished that the same seven year old, who loved Thomas the Train and let him hold, hug, and comfort him was there in his arms.
But nonetheless he still loved Roy and accepted him for who he was, and would always be there when he still needed the comfort he truly desired despite his tough facade. After the hug fest was over both mentors left, leaving Bruce alone with all three protégés.
"Alright boys I don't know about you but I think I'm starting to get hungry. How does lunch sound?" Bruce asked with a happy tone.
"Yeah let's eat, I'm starving!" Wally yelled out excitedly.
"You're always hungry baby flash!" Roy said as he ruffled Wally's fiery red hair.
"I can't help it, my tummy works too fast!" Wally stated as he rubbed his little stomach.
"Daddy says da same thing about my tummy." Dick chuckled.
"Well then we better fill your hard working tummies! So follow me right this way boys." Bruce motioned over as he signaled them to follow him.
Immediately the three followed him like a trio of ducklings following a mother/father duck. It was quite cute, even with Roy trying to act all cool and like he was just following Bruce because he wanted to. After only a few steps the boys were led to the dining room table where Alfred waited with a light smile.
"Good Afternoon Master Wallace and Master Roy, it's a pleasure to have you over at the manor." Alfred greeted in his usual formal but friendly way.
"Hey Alfred." Roy greeted as casually as possible as he took his seat, which Alfred then pushed in.
"Hiya Alfred!" Wally greeted joyfully as he took his seat, sitting on his knees.
"Master Wallace, would you like a booster so you may sit properly?" Alfred asked, already providing one for Dick as he normally did.
"Alfred, those are for little kids, I'm a big kid now!" Wally chuckled.
"While you may be older Master Wallace, it is not proper manners to kneel at the table." Alfred reminded the young speedster.
"It's fine for now Alfred, we're just having lunch." Bruce said, knowing Alfred could be a stickler for manners.
"Of course Sir." Alfred said knowing his protestations would get him nowhere.
So he kept quiet and put down two silver trays then lifted the two silver dome covers. Underneath them was one large bowl of homemade Mac'n'cheese and a tray of turkey club sandwiches on wheat bread.
"Enjoy young sirs!" Alfred said with a light smile, always happy to feed his charges, especially when it meant Bruce couldn't avoid eating.
All three of the boys gasped and looked at the food with wide eyes, all of them eager to try Alfred's Mac'n'cheese. So with great gusto and excitement the boys served themselves bowls of Mac'n'cheese and a few slices of sandwich. As they consumed the delicious food they all moaned with utter delight and relish. No matter how many times they ate Alfred's cooking, even Dick who lived with him, they never were disappointed or left with a single word of complaint.
For about an hour the crew ate, talked, and laughed as they caught up with one another. They talked about what they were doing, anything exciting going on in their lives, recent missions, and a multitude of topics. But as they did so they made a great mess of their surroundings and themselves. Luckily with Alfred's help Bruce managed to get them all cleaned up and food free.
"Alright boys how about we all go play outside for a bit, does that sound fun?" Bruce asked earnestly.
"Yeah!" All three shouted simultaneously.
With their joyful response Bruce got up, his trio of ducklings following behind him, and quickly got some equipment out. He then went outside, first making sure the boys were warmly dressed for the snow since it was still January and quite cold, the boys running excitedly behind him. With great cheers the boys hopped off the back deck into the fluffy white snow and proceeded to make snow angels.
"I see you all are enjoying the snow already." Bruce chuckled as he readjusted a mini sleigh in his arms.
"Is so fun daddy!" Dick squealed loving the snow as it reminded him of when his family lived in Europe during their tour.
"Well if you follow me I'll take you somewhere even more fun!"
All three boys got back on their feet and followed Bruce as he marched forward through the tall snow. For a few minutes they walked on until at last they came to a tall hill. It was a little steep and the snow was pretty deep, so Bruce decided to carry all three of the boys up the hill. He first quickly went up and set their equipment down but then came back down for the boys. Dick and Wally were easy to pick up, able to carry both little boys in his arms. But Roy did not want to have any of it, claiming he was much too old to be held and carried, and that he could easily walk himself.
Unmotivated to fight Roy on this, Bruce decided to let the nine year old have his way and started up the hill with Roy behind him. However within minutes the older boy felt exhausted and could barely trudge through the snow, so he swallowed his pride and pulled ok Bruce's snow pants.
"Bruce could you…." Roy asked, slightly ashamed.
"Sure Roy, here hop up on my shoulders." Bruce said with a light smile as he crouched down.
Roy smiled back lightly, happy to know he wasn't going to get any lip from Bruce like Oliver would have, and climbed quickly onto the tall man's shoulders. Bruce then carefully stood up and carried all three boys up the hill, which wasn't very hard even with their combined weight. Eventually they made up the hill and were amazed to see how it overlooked Gotham a little bit.
"Wow daddy is Gotham!" Dick squealed.
"That it is, this little overlooks the entire west side of Gotham. I used to come here with my father to sled during the winter, and now I'm taking you boys. Now come on let's get on the sleds!"
With great cheers all three boys slid down from their places on Bruce's body and headed for a sled. They were three of those new disk-like sleds, the ones said to go way faster than traditional sleds, all in varying colors of red, yellow, and blue. With great excitement Roy took the red one while Wally took the yellow one, but Bruce and Dick shared the blue one since Dick was still a little too small to ride one on his own.
"I'll race you down Wally, if you think you could keep up!" Roy said cockily as he sat down on his sled, ready to race.
"Keep up, ha! My name is speed!" Wally retorted confidently as he readied himself.
"Hey, wait up for mes guys! Daddy come on theys gonna getta head of us!" Dick called out as he was sat in his daddy's lap.
"Don't you worry baby we got this in the bag!" Bruce said as he positioned their sled up between Roy and Wally's sleds.
Once settled and in their places they all got their game faces on, all of them ready to win their little race.
"Alright boys on your marks…...get set….go!" Bruce yelled as he quickly pushed his and Dick's sled forward.
Right behind him were Wally and Roy both determined to catch up to the millionaire. Together Roy and Wally both tried to ram into Bruce using their skills and abilities, but they were no match for the older man's weight. However Dick was completely oblivious to this far distracted with pure delight as the wind rushed on his face. But inevitably Bruce won the race but was quickly challenged to a rematch by Wally and Roy. Bruce gladly accepted but easily beat the boys every time, that was till they challenged the large man to a snowball war.
At first Bruce thought he'd easily win due to his size, but this time proved to be his greatest disadvantage. He was so tall and large that it was hard for him to hide from being pelted by snowballs.
"Wally fire away!" Roy instructed.
"Got it!" Wally said as he used his super speed to pelt the business tycoon with snowballs like a machine gun.
Bruce did all that he could to defend himself but barely could find a tree that could keep him covered. This went on for quite some time till for a moment all was silent. This greatly disturbed Bruce, having heard nothing but the loud cries of victory and war from the boys thus far. But that wasn't even the worst part, Bruce hadn't seen Dick for a while which had to mean he was hiding, Dicks greatest and most dangerous skill. So the older man didn't make a sound, only looking behind him to see if any red hair appeared in the snow.
But minutes went by and not a sound was heard causing tension to fill the air. Bruce tried to listen for every sound in the surrounding area but was unable to detect a thing. Another few minutes went by and it was then Bruce heard the sound of the branches above him russell. He frantically looked up but didn't see anything but then heard a shrill cry from behind. Bruce quickly turned around only to be pelted by a snowball to the face. Disoriented he didn't even have time to recover as he was endlessly pelted by more snow.
Eventually Bruce collapsed to the ground but after a few seconds gathered his wits again. He looked up to see Dick in the trees with a mischievous smile on his little face.
"Yeah I took down daddy! I won, I won!" Dick squealed as he flipped off the tree onto the ground.
It was then Wally and Roy came running from the trees hugging their baby brother.
"Nice job Dickie you really got your daddy good there!" Roy praised proudly.
"Yeah you were awesome!" Wally reciprocated, also very proud of his baby brother.
"Yeah you took your old man down their little bird, your training is truly paying off." Bruce slightly groaned as he sat up.
However amidst the celebration Wally and Roy felt Dick shivering a little.
"Hey Dick are you ok? You feel a little cold." Roy asked concern as he started to try and warm up Dick a little.
"Nooo...I'm fine." Dick lied, trying his best to hold back his chattering.
In all reality Dick was actually feeling quite cold, but he was having so much fun he didn't want to stop.
"Then why are you trying to not chatter your teeth!" Wally asked with a disapproving look on his face.
Wally absolutely hated when Dick did this, all the time he would lie when he wasn't feeling good or when he was sad. He knew the little guy just didn't want to worry anyone or stop anyone from having a good time, but it always meant he would get more hurt.
"I'm...not..chatterin.." Dick said feeling quite cold despite his best efforts.
"Fine I guess if you're not feeling cold I am then! Bruce can we go back inside?" Roy asked not about to let his friend/brother hurt himself.
"Of course we've probably been out for long enough now. Now come her baby bird let's warm you up a little." Bruce said as he reached down and scooped his son up into his arms.
"But I...wanna play…." Dick said, now shivering even worse.
"I know baby bird, but we can play later we need to get you inside before you get sick." Bruce told his son gently as he held him close to his warm chest.
Dick looked into his daddy's eyes pleadingly but saw from the firm but kind look in his eyes he was getting nowhere. So he relented and snuggled up to his father's chest to absorb the great amount of warmth.
"That's a good boy, now come on boys let's head back to the Manor! I'm sure Alfred will warm us up some hot chocolate when we get back." Bruce signaled the other two.
"Yay hot chocolate!" Wally squealed as he flashed ahead of the group.
Bruce chuckled at the hyperactive little boy, he was so much like Barry, only not annoying and far more cute. He then proceeded to walk forward, child in his arms and Roy following behind him, and back to the manor.