Note: Just to make you guys aware, there is a poll here on my page that asks if you guys would be ok if I made Dick a woman. I have reasons behind it, if you want to know those reasons, feel free to reach out, otherwise, enjoy the story!
Chapter 22
"And this is my room." Dick says, leading Melinda around the house for a tour. Melinda steps in, looking around. She sees various posters, some stuffed animals, a desk with some artists' clutter and a laptop. But most everything is old furniture, rustic and sturdy. Dick walks over to his dresser and pushes it out of the way, with little effort. He kneels down and opens a cupboard hidden in the wall, grabbing a box out of it, and bringing it over. He sets the box down and starts taking things out of it. "I have some things that belonged to our dad." He takes out a long grey scarf with little roses on the ends. He brings it over to her. "Dad said Meili bought him this scarf in Chicago. He'd use it all the time." She gently takes it, looking it over, studying the floral pattern. "I think it'd be appropriate for you to have it."
"Are you sure…? This was…" Melinda trails off. Dick smiles.
"It's yours. John was your dad too and this was a gift your mom bought for him. He'd be happy for you to have it." Dick assures. She takes a small whiff of it, this is what John smelled like… Like rustic woods.
"He used a woodsy cologne?" Melinda asks. Dick nods.
"Yep, he loved the smell of cedar and sandalwood." Dick explains. "And he also liked brussels. Blech…" He sticks out his tongue, shuddering.
"I don't really like brussels either… They smell awful…" She agrees.
"What's your thoughts on pineapple?" Dick asks.
"I don't like it mostly for the fact that the tingling sensation you feel is the pineapple's enzyme breaking down the protein on your tongue. It is actively eating you." Melinda says. "Before I knew that though, I liked pineapple."
"To each their own. I like pineapple pizza." Dick says. "Hey! Maybe we can get the others to play Clue with us."
"Clue?" She asks.
"Never heard of it? It's a murder mystery detective game, where you have to find out who killed Mr. Body. It's random. Just know, Mrs. Peacock is never the murderer." Dick explains.
"I'd like to play. Sounds fun!" Melinda agrees. Dick smiles widely. Melinda pulls him into a hug. He's a bit surprised by the sudden affection but hugs her back. "You're so adorable, I wanna squeeze you!" Dick laughs a little.
"Just don't squeeze too hard, broken ribs." Dick reminds. They separate from each other, and Dick moves around her, running toward the steps. "Wall! We're playing Clue!"
"Hell yea! You're goin' down, Peacock!" Wally shouts.
"Not on your life, Mustard!" Dick shouts back, sliding down the railing. He jumps off and lands on the ground perfectly fine. Melinda smiles and giggles, heading down the steps the normal way. She joins everyone in the living room. Barbara, Artemis, Wally, and Dick. Dick has grabbed the board and brings it over, setting it up, explaining the rules to Melinda and Artemis. Even though Artemis played before, Barbara doesn't know that.
"Remember when we played this with my dad and Bruce?" Barbara asks.
"Yep! If I remember, you were the murderer the first round, then the second round we kept messing around with one of the unused characters because we suspected them, but Jim actually figured out it was Bruce." Dick explains. He grabs Mrs. Peacock and sets her down in her space. Artemis grabs Mr. Green like before. Melinda chooses Mrs. White. Barbara grabs Professor Plum. And of course, Wally takes Colonel Mustard. "If only we had one more player for Mrs. Scarlet."
"Bruce maybe?" Wally suggests.
"He detests Mrs. Scarlet because of the movie." Dick says.
"Even better!" Wally says playfully. Dick smiles and gets up, walking over to Bruce's office, knocking before entering.
"Hey, Bruce, are you busy?" Dick asks.
"What do you need?" Bruce asks, looking up from his computer.
"We were wondering if you wanted to join us for Clue." Dick asks. "You'd have to play Mrs. Scarlet, but…" Bruce thinks a moment. He's working on an important email, but… quality time with his kid and his friends? "It's ok if you're busy, figured I'd offer. We have one last spot left, so…" He smiles a little and starts to shut the door.
"I'll join you, once I wrap up what I'm doing." Bruce says. Dick's eyes immediately light up and he grins like a Cheshire cat.
"Great! We'll set everything else up!" Dick says happily and turns, leaving the door just a bit cracked to annoy him. Bruce sighs softly, but smiles, shaking his head. The images of Dick being so terrified come to his mind again. His son must've been traumatized, but he acts normal, like nothing happened. Bruce minimizes the email and types in a search engine, best ways to help a child with trauma and starts looking for anything he can use to help. He hums a bit in concentration. After reading all he can from one site, checks another, then another. They're all saying basically the same things, support, care, and love. He nods and goes back to the email, wrapping it up hastily and sending it before standing up and leaving his office.
The kids are all talking, laughing with each other, enjoying each other's company and it's rather adorable. The cards have already been divided up, envelope is in place, and every piece is on the board. Time to investigate…
Late at night however, things are not so jovial and fun. In bed, Dick tosses and turns, dreaming of that damn maze… He wakes with a gasp and sits up, feeling his heart beating out of his chest. He climbs out of bed and rushes to the bathroom, looking at himself in the mirror, same lightly tan skin, stormy blue eyes. He takes a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm down, but it's feeling like no air is entering his lungs.
"You will never escape…"
Not the voices…
"You are weak…"
Shut up…
"Worthless…"
He covers his ears and steps back, sinking to his knees before falling back and curling up into a ball.
"He will never amount to anything…"
"Pointless…"
"Idiotic…"
"Stop…" He mumbles. His breathing becomes a bit more erratic, breathing heavily but shallowly, still it feels like he can't breathe. "It's not real, you're home, you're safe. You're not there…"
"You belong to us…"
"Gray son of Gotham…"
"Stop it!" He shouts. "I'm not! I'm not! I won't!" He sobs a little. "Let me go home… please… I just wanna be home!" His shouting wakes Melinda and she gets out of bed, investigating.
"Dick?" She calls. She steps out of her room and sees a light on. She walks over to the bathroom and peeks inside, seeing her little brother curled up in a ball and crying. "Dick!" She kneels down, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"No!" He shouts, trying to get away. He scrambles back, into a corner. "No, no… Leave me alone!" Melinda stands up. He looks up at her terrified. "No… Stay away from me!" He cries.
"Dick, it's ok. You're ok." Melinda says softly. Approaching him.
"No… No no no…" He mumbles, curling up again. She kneels down, placing a hand on his shoulder. He's trembling terribly.
"Shhh, it's ok. You're ok. You're home, you're safe." She says softly.
"She lies…"
"You belong to us…"
"Here forever…"
"You will die here…"
"Stop it!" He screams.
"What is wrong?" Alfred asks, peering into the bathroom as well. Melinda looks back at him, fearful and concerned. "I will find Master Bruce." He says and leaves. He uses one of the access panels and contacts Batman.
"What is it, Alfred?" Batman asks.
"Master Dick is amidst a panic attack, sir. Mistress Melinda is trying, though he's hysteric at this point." Alfred explains.
"I'll be right there." Batman says and hangs up. Alfred closes the panel and returns to the bathroom. Dick is curled up in a ball in the corner and nothing Melinda seems to do is helping coax him out of this.
"Make it stop… Please… make it stop…" Dick mumbles. "I just wanna go home…" Dick repeats.
"You are home, Dick." Melinda says. But the voices drown her out.
"You will never be free…"
"You belong to us…"
"Child of Prophecy…"
"Our Gray Son of Gotham…"
"It is your destiny…"
"I won't!" He shouts. He brings his hands up, over his head, curling up even tighter. He sobs.
"Dick… please…" Melinda says softly. Bruce soon enters the bathroom and kneels in front of him.
"Dick, look up." Bruce orders. "Look at me." Dick doesn't move. Bruce grabs his shoulders and pushes him back so he looks up. "Look at me!" Dick just stares down, eyes wide, pupils dilated. His breathing is heavy and quick. His skin has become almost a snowy pale. Bruce grips either side of Dick's face, making him look up at him. "Hey. Come on, you're ok."
"You're lying!" He shouts.
"I'm not." Bruce says calmly. "You're safe at home. We played Clue together this evening. Alfred made chicken parm with fettucine noodles, you remarked how happy you were to have Alfred's cooking back again. Remember?"
"Y-Yea…?" Dick agrees quietly.
"You're safe, you're ok. I promise you're ok. You know I don't lie, especially not to you." Bruce says.
"The voices won't stop…" Dick mumbles.
"What are the voices saying?" Bruce asks.
"It's all the voices I heard in the maze…" Dick says quietly. "I'll never be free, I'm worthless, I belong to them…" He explains, crying. "I just want it to stop… I want them to shut up!"
"They're all in your head, Dick, there's no voices. You're experiencing PTSD, it's common after going through trauma." Bruce explains. He grabs Dick under his arms and pulls him forward, wrapping his arms around him. "I want you to take a long deep breath for me, ok?" Bruce says, taking a deep breath and trying to have Dick mimic him. Eventually Dick does. He closes his eyes, but is still so shaky. "Shh, you're ok…" Bruce says, brushing the back of Dick's head. "You're ok. You're safe, I promise."
"I hate being so terrified all the time…" Dick mumbles.
"I know… And I'm so sorry you're dealing with this, you never should have gone through this, but I promise you'll be ok. Just take your time getting there." Bruce says. Dick nods a little, nuzzling into Bruce's chest. He sniffles, still crying, shaking. "We'll stay like this, for as long as you need." Dick nods a little again. Melinda cries, seeing her little brother so upset… Dick eventually falls asleep in Bruce's arms, leading Bruce to lift him up and carry him to bed. Melinda comes in and grabs one of his stuffed animals from a pile, his elephant, and brings it over, setting it beside him. The two walk out of the room, Bruce shutting the door.
"That poor kid…" Melinda says. "I didn't know what to do to help…"
"You did your best. That's all you really can do. Continue to lend your support and be patient." Bruce says.
"Indeed." Alfred speaks up. "Master Dick is strong, yes, but true strength comes from support and love. Show him that, and he will heal. It will take time, but we should not expect him to be well in a matter of days. None know the terrors that boy's been through." He explains. Melinda nods, looking down.
"I'll do whatever I can…" Melinda says softly. "For however long it takes…"
Monday rolls around, January Tenth. Dick's first day back at school since being kidnapped and in the hospital. Dick waits against the pillars for Barbara to arrive, staring blankly at the ground. A hand suddenly touches his shoulder and he startles, swinging his arm back immediately, only for Barbara to block the attack.
"Whoa, easy." Barbara says. He lowers his arm immediately.
"Sorry…" Dick says quietly.
"It's ok. You're a little high-strung right now." Barbara sympathizes. Dick looks down again for a moment, sighing and looks up, looking around.
"Do you ever feel like you're being watched…?" He asks.
"Not usually. But you're still dealing with trauma, you're going to feel that way for a while." Barbara says. Dick nods a little.
"Probably…" Dick agrees. "I mean… I've been kidnapped before, so have you, and I'm usually fine afterward. Something about this just really shook me." He looks back toward the ground. "Sometimes I'll hear voices telling me horrible things… I wouldn't be surprised if Bruce thinks I'm schizophrenic or something."
"I doubt that…" Barbara says. "I mean, they're not telling you to do bad stuff, are they?"
"No… Just…" He starts, trailing off a bit. He sighs. "It's like the voices I was hearing back in the maze… Calling me worthless, weak… I'm fighting to prove them wrong, but it's hard… I feel so vulnerable." Dick says quietly.
"You're going to feel that way for a while, but know that everyone is going to do what they can to keep us safe. Alfred's even going to come get us after school. No one wants to mess with Papa Alfred." Barbara comments, smiling. Dick smiles, looking at her a bit.
"You're right…" Dick agrees. "Sometimes I wonder if he's secretly Batman somehow."
"Eh, he doesn't quite have the same physique. Unless Batman is actually using lining in his suit to bulk him up. Should give some of that to Robin. He's so scrawny." Barbara jokes. Dick smiles a bit
"Yea, Robin's tiny…" Dick agrees. "But he can probably pack a punch. I'd rather not mess with him, or Batman for that matter."
"Batman's not so scary. He gave us lollipops, remember?" Barbara asks.
"Oh yea, I still have it, I never ate it. I wanted to keep it as a memory." Dick mentions. "How we first met, how my life changed from that day on."
"I ate mine right away… It was blue raspberry flavored. Turned my tongue blue." She comments, smiling more.
"I think I got orange flavored." Dick says. "I'd have to look at it." The bell rings, making the kids go inside for class. And of course, like last time, Dick is bombarded with gifts, hugs, and well wishes. A number of them want to sign his new cast which he allows. Barbara helps him with his books, given a pass to do so. At lunch however, some older kids are tired of Dick getting all the attention, especially mostly from girls. Aaand foolishly decides to confront him about it.
"Hey!" One shouts, leaning on his lunch table, or more or less smacking his hands on the table to get their attention. Dick looks up at them, then glares a bit in annoyance. "What's up with you getting all the girls' eyes on you?" Dick shrugs.
"They're just being nice, I guess." Dick says, keeping his cool. "I can't help that they're doing stuff like this." He expresses.
"Maybe I could break your other arm, unless you tell them to back off." The guy says.
"Aww, is someone jealous?" Dick teases. "I'm flattered, but I have a boyfriend, soo…" He goes to take a bite of his sandwich, which the bully smacks it out of his hand and onto the floor. "Now that was uncalled for. That sandwich did nothing to you." The guy grabs him by the front of his blazer and pulls him out of his seat, but Dick doesn't even flinch. "Careful, I just got this blazer."
"Give me one reason not to send you back to the hospital…" He mutters.
"Um… Medical bills are expensive?" Dick gives a reason.
"Stop being a smartass!" The bully shouts.
"I'd rather be a smartass than a dumbass. You know, like you." Dick taunts. The bully shoves him, causing him to fall to the ground. He aims to kick him, but Dick quickly swipes his leg and gets back up. "I'm sorry, that was a bit rude of me, wasn't it? Well, at least I didn't swipe the other way, concussions are a pain…" The bully growls and gets back up, aiming to tackle him, but Dick steps out of the way, but not before grabbing his arm with one hand and twisting it behind his back. He hears him shout in pain and lets him go. Two of the bully's friends grab Dick from behind, grabbing his arms and holding him back. Which starts to trigger a panic attack. He closes his eyes tight.
"Leave him alone!" Barbara shouts, stepping up and trying to pull them off her friend, but they shove her away harshly, her lower back striking the table, causing her to nearly fall onto it.
"No… You're not there… You're not there… You're at school…" He mumbles. He feels a fist strike his cheek, where the scratches are on his face, causing the scabs to rupture and bleed. But it barely seems to faze him as the panic grows worse and worse, starting to feel like he can't breathe. He starts struggling harder against the bullies holding him.
"It's about time someone took you down a peg…" The Bully snaps. "You think you're so high and mighty just because Bruce Wayne took pity on you. You're just a publicity stunt. You're worthless to him."
"Worthless…"
"Weak…"
"Nothing…"
"Shut up!" He screams, but not saying it to the bully, to the voices…
"Hey, man, he's freaking out." One of the bullies says.
"Good. He should be! The mighty Dickhead Grayson… He's really a coward!"
"Grayson…"
"Gray Son…"
"Gray Son of Gotham…"
"I'm not!" Dick screams out again, he starts crying again, like the other night. One bully lets him go, soon the other does. He sinks to his knees, arms wrapping around himself and he's trembling. "No… nononono..." He cries. "Make it stop!"
"Dick!" Barbara shouts, trying to get to him. She ducks by the bullies wrapping an arm around him. "Hey, shhh, it's ok. It's ok…"
"Babs…?" Dick mumbles questioningly.
"Yes, I'm here. You're alright. Let's get you to the nurse." Barbara says. The lead bully tries to grab her arm, but she smacks him. "You back the fuck off right now or I swear to God I will end you…!" She snaps, glaring death at the guy. He's taken aback and literally steps back. A student had run out of the cafeteria and brought back the school nurse.
"Mr. Grayson, can you hear me?" She asks, placing a hand on his shoulder gently. He hits it off immediately in his panic.
"I-I'm not the Gray Son… I-I'm not… I… I don't… Wanna kill people…" He mumbles.
"Give him room!" The nurse orders. The bully doesn't want to at first, but a few other students pull him back. The other two meanwhile do take steps back.
"Dick, sing with me, ok?" Barbara says. "I've been many places." She starts to sing. "I've traveled 'round the world. Always on the search for something new. But what does it matter when all the roads I've crossed, always lead back to you. Old familiar faces, everyone you meet, followin' the ways of the land. Cobblestones and lanterns, lining every street, calling me to come home again." She sings softly, rubbing his back. "I know you know this song. You loved this song." She says. "Dancing in the moonlight, singing in the rain. Oh it's good to be back home again." She continues to sing.
"Laughing in the sunlight… R-Running… down the lane…" He starts singing too.
"Oh it's good to be back home again." She sings more. Dick reaches up, gripping to her. The nurse helps him to stand up, Barbara helps as well, and they have him sit in a wheelchair she brought. She puts the footholds down and has him place his feet on that. Barbara continues to hold his hand at least. Until she has to let go so he can be wheeled into the Nurse's office. The Nurse, with Barbara's help, has him move from the chair onto one of the beds. She walks to a cabinet and grabs a weighted blanket, draping it around his shoulders, also cleaning the blood off his cheek with a wipe.
"You're going to be ok." The nurse says, she places a large bandage on his cheek. "I know you're scared, that's ok, but you'll get through this." Dick nods a little, trying to regulate his breathing, meditating to settle his heart rate. "Take as long as you need, I'll be sure to send you off with a note to your next class if you wish to stay."
"This is so embarrassing…" Dick mumbles, closing his eyes. "In front of everybody…"
"I'm sure everyone would understand, you've been through something traumatic." Barbara says. She sits next to him, rubbing his back.
"Thanks for… trying to help… It… Seems to be getting easier… Sorta… I-I just… remember when they grabbed me… And… he knocked me out… And… all the nightmares…" Dick explains, bowing his head. "I hate this… I hate it so much…"
"I know… And I'm sorry you're going through this… You don't deserve it… You're one of the sweetest, kindest, funniest, endearing people I know." Barbara says. She rests her head on his shoulder affectionately. "You're also one of the strongest, most determined, selfless, and courageous people I know. You'll get through this." He nods a little.
"Thanks, Babs…" Dick says softly. He rests his head on hers. "You're one of my best friends. This would be harder without you here…" She closes her eyes.
"I love him so much…" She thinks. "It's hard knowing he chose someone else… But… I'll stay by his side. I'll always stay by his side." She adjusts the blanket around his shoulder and looks at him. His breathing has settled, his eyes have gone back to normal, and his skin is no longer pale. "I should have tried harder to stop those bullies…"
"Even when you tried, they hurt you… Though, I dare them to approach us again…" Dick mutters. "That slap you gave him was very satisfying." Dick smiles.
"Kinda hurt my hand a bit, but that just means I hit him hard." Barbara says. "I hope it leaves welts on his face."
"I hope it burns him knowing a 'little girl' knocked him down a peg." Dick says, smirking.
"Oh, it probably did. Guys like that are often sexist and egotistic." Barbara says. Dick shakes his head.
"It was so pointless… Unnecessary…" Dick mumbles. "He didn't have to do that."
"He was jealous you were getting all the attention. But you kept yourself calm, I'm proud of you for that." Barbara says.
"Thanks…" Dick says softly. Dick pushes the blanket off his shoulders and stands up, he's still a bit shaky. "Let's go back to the cafeteria, I need a new sandwich." Barbara raises an eyebrow, but she nods, standing up. The nurse writes a note down for them both in case they go over the time left for lunch.
"Are you sure you want to continue through the school day? You could always go home." The nurse offers.
"I need a distraction. Not to mention I'm really behind on my schoolwork…" Dick trails off.
"I understand. If you need anything, don't hesitate to come down." The nurse says. Dick nods in agreement and thanks, leaving the office with Barbara.