AN: I apologize that this is late, there's been a lot going on between, work, the holidays, and so much else, I barely had time to write. I hope this chapter is worth the wait, and I plan to post the next chapter once it's done so stay tuned
GSOG Chapter 33
Wally hears a knock on the door, waking him up. He lifts his head wearily, not realizing he fell asleep again.
"Yes?" He calls out tiredly. His dad opens the door.
"Hey, just checking in. How is he?" Rudy asks. Wally looks at Dick, his chest is slowly moving, his face is relaxed.
"He's asleep, but he seems back up to temp." Wally answers. He brushes the bangs off Dick's face. Dick leans into the touch without being awake. Wally smiles.
"Good. Your mom's made chicken and noodles, might want to wake him up." Rudy suggests. Wally nods in agreement and shakes Dick's shoulder. Dick opens his eyes slowly and looks at Wally, taking a deeper breath, but coughs a little again, clearing his throat.
"You hungry? Mom made chicken and noodles." Wally says. Dick nods a bit and sits up. Rudy shuts the door to give them some privacy. "How're you feeling?"
"I'm ok… right now… I think…" Dick answers quietly. He gets to his feet, climbing out from under the mountain of blankets. Wally climbs out too. Dick looks at the clothes he's wearing, seeing he's dressed in some of Wally's old clothes. They head downstairs.
"Hey, Dick. Glad you're awake." Mary says, smiling at him. "How're you feeling, sweetie?"
"I feel better…" Dick says. "Thanks for letting me stay here…"
"Of course! You're basically family. Take a seat and I'll bring you a bowl." Mary kind of orders. Dick and Wally take a seat at the table. Then a thought comes to his mind.
"I-I should call Bruce!" Dick says, looking for his phone, but can't find it in the pockets. Of course he wouldn't… these aren't his. But where is his phone?
"I already called him, after I got you situated." Wally explains. He places a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.
"Where's my phone though?" Dick asks.
"Wellllll…" Wally trails off. "I honestly don't know…" Dick sighs. "I don't remember it being on you when I found you… I think I might have accidentally left it behind…"
"Dang it…" Dick mumbles.
"I'm sorry… Maybe I can go back out and look for it." Wally offers.
"No, it's fine, it's probably stolen or died from the cold or something by now." Dick says. "It's not the end of the world, it's just a phone. I just hope Bruce is willing to replace it again…"
"I'll pay for it. It's my fault you lost it this time." Wally offers.
"Really, it's not a big deal." Dick says softly, he places a hand over Wally's. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll buy me a new one, he's too paranoid not to."
"I guess that's true…" Wally mumbles, turning his head a bit to look at him. "I just feel bad, I should have grabbed it."
"You grabbed me instead, I'm more important than a phone, right?" Dick asks.
"I mean, that phone had a lot of cool features…" Wally comments. Dick lightly shoves him, just to move him, not push him off. Wally smiles widely, laughing.
"Dork."
"But I'm your dork." Wally teases, kissing his cheek.
"Unfortunately." Dick sighs extravagantly and dramatically, indicating that he's obviously kidding. Both giggle softly at each other like little school girls and they're not embarrassed by it. Mary brings over two bowls for the boys and sets them down.
"You two are adorable." She remarks before heading back to the kitchen.
"Thank you for the food, Mary. And the complement." Dick says, smiling sweetly, laying on that Wayne charm, but not too thickly, or else Wally will make fun of him for it. He takes the spoon and tries to eat with his left hand, thanks to dexterity and training, he does ok, but it's still not as great as his right. The nice warm broth feels great on his throat which feels a little scratchy. Wally hears his phone ring, recognizing the ringtone. "Sound of Silence? Seriously?" Wally grabs the phone out of his pocket.
"Hey, what's up?" Wally answers.
"How's Dick?" Bruce asks on the other line.
"I'm here, Bruce." Dick calls out, hearing Bruce's voice from the speaker since Wally has it set so loud. Wally pulls the phone down and puts it on speaker.
"How're you feeling? Are you alright?"
"I'm better, not great, but better." Dick answers. "I'm sorry for running off like that, I-"
"Dick, it's ok. I understand why you did it, just please, call me next time. We were worried to death about you, especially from recent events…" Bruce reminds.
"I know… I know… I'm sorry…" Dick says softly.
"There's another reason I called though. If it's alright with Mr. and Mrs. West, if you could stay there for a little while." Bruce suggests.
"Really? Why?" Dick asks. "Is something wrong?"
"You could say that. I'll explain later, in person. I'll get it figured out, but in the meantime, I need you away from Gotham." Bruce says.
"I will gladly allow him to stay, Mr. Wayne." Rudy says. "Mary, that isn't a problem, right?" She's coming back to the table with more bowls, setting them down for her and her husband.
"Oh, of course not! He's such a sweetheart, we adore him!" Mary agrees.
"Thank you, I will see to it that you're compensated for the trouble." Bruce offers.
"No compensation needed, sir. As Mary said, he's a good kid." Rudy states. Dick smiles appreciatively at them.
"Again, thank you. Dick, behave yourself." Bruce orders.
"Yes, sir." Dick agrees. "Oh and uh… I kinda need a new phone… mine got lost in the snow…"
"It's my fault, I didn't grab it when I found him." Wally admits.
"Not to worry, I'll buy you another one, maybe with a wrist strap built in." Bruce teases, which flabbergasts Wally, he didn't think Bats could joke…
"Uh, B, I think you broke Wally's brain with that joke." Dick comments.
"Well, sorry, Mr. and Mrs. West." Bruce apologizes.
"Oh, he'll be alright. Happens all the time." Rudy says.
"Hey!" Wally protests, causing Dick to laugh at his boyfriend's expense.
"I'll be off. Talk to you later. Love you, Dick."
"Love you too." Dick farewells. Bruce hangs up and Wally grabs his phone, pocketing it. The small family and their plus one start eating together.
"So, Dick, what do you want to dofor your future career?" Rudy asks, kind of asking the typical Dad questions asked to a boyfriend of their kid.
"Well, I haven't fully decided. I really like computers and I would like to do something with that. As Robin, I'm quite the hacker, but I also love crime fighting, so I was thinking of maybe becoming an officer, so when I'm not helping people at night, I can help them in the day. Maybe bring a little less corruption to the police force." Dick explains. "But, I think Bruce wants me to one day take over Wayne Enterprises and Wayne Tech, but that seems like too much for me. I don't really have a business mindset."
"Well, so long as you're happy doing what you do, that's all that matters." Rudy comments. Dick smiles happily.
"Do you think you'll always be Robin?" Mary asks.
"You know, I don't know. I never really thought about it, but I guess one day maybe I won't. I think I'll always be a hero though. My own hero, with my own morals, my own way. Batman might make sacrifices for the sake of the mission, but I refuse to. I did so once and it broke me…" Dick explains. Wally places a hand on Dick's arm, knowing exactly what he's talking about. "Especially where it comes to my friends, especially my best friend." Dick looks at Wally. "He's everything to me." He looks at Wally's parents, they look at him fondly.
"We know our boy is in good hands, thank you, Dick." Mary says.
"Of course." He says softly, smiling softly. He looks back at Wally, staring into those beautiful forest eyes. "I'm grateful for you, I hope you know that…" Wally gives his arm a light squeeze, as if responding to Dick's thoughts.
Hours pass, the more Dick is staying with the Wests, the more he's perked up. For the next two days, when Wally has to go to school, Dick plays videogames that Wally has and spends time talking to Mary, helping her with housework, much to her protest as he's their guest, but he refuses not to do something at least. He could get used to a sort of homemaker life. No chaos, no fighting for his life, just simple chores and making the house smell nice. Mary even helps teach him to cook much simpler food than what Alfred prepares.
At the Batcave on Friday, January 21st 2011, Batman is hard at work with research, so much on his plate… The Court of Owls, The Light, Slade, Zucco, and now this supposed Grandfather…? Is there anybody that's not after his boy? There's a buzzing sound, indicating someone from the League is trying to contact him. He answers.
"Report." He orders.
"I have trailed Charles Lloyd as you have asked, Batman." J'onn states. "He is attempting to hire lawyers, by the sounds of it, he wishes to fight with you in Court for custody over Dick."
"Of course…" Batman sighs. "My legal team is working on the Grayson versus Flores case, but I may have to pull them from that to focus on this, or hire more lawyers, but I'd need to vet them and there's no time." He closes his eyes for a moment, forcing himself to relax. This is so frustrating…
Later in the evening, after dinner is done, eaten, put away, and dishes cleaned, Dick and Wally head to the Cave to check in with the others and wait for Batman.
"Recognized, Robin, B-0-1. Kid Flash, B-0-3." The Zeta computer announces. Kaldur is at the main hub, typing away on the holo-computer. He turns and sees them come in.
"Welcome back, my friends." He greets.
"Thanks, Kaldur." Dick says. Artemis and Zatanna run into the main hub. Artemis stops, seeing Dick. She tears up and runs over, hugging him tight.
"You scared the hell out of me!" Artemis shouts. She holds him tighter. Dick hugs her back.
"I know… I'm sorry…" Dick mumbles.
"Bats and I already gave him quite a verbal lashing already." Wally comments. Artemis pulls away, though holds Dick out at arm's length, looking at him.
"I know what you went through is hard… It's terrifying, traumatizing, and painful… I just hope you know that we're here for you. We love you and we will do whatever it takes to keep you safe." Artemis says. Dick tears up a little, but blinks the tears away, smiling softly.
"I don't know why I ran away like I did… I just… I needed to get away, I was so angry and upset that I just didn't think…" Dick explains.
"And that's ok. It's not ok that you did that, especially without telling us or letting us help you, but it's ok that you felt that way." Artemis says. Dick nods softly.
"I know… I was stupid…" Dick says.
"Not stupid, just did something dumb. We all have at some point." Artemis says. She drops her arms. "Just remember you can count on us, we're a team after all."
"That's why I sought out Wally, I knew I'd feel better with him, safer…" Dick explains. Wally places an arm around him and kisses his cheek. Dick smiles softly.
"Recognized, Batman, 0-2." The computer announces. Everyone looks over and sees Batman coming through. Dick looks at him, they look at each other for a moment. Dick steps away from the others and runs to him. Batman grabs him up and hugs him tight, placing a hand on the back of his head.
"I'm so relieved you're ok…" Batman says, showing a great deal of vulnerability in front of the Team, but they know, they understand the bond these two have. He sets Dick down. "We need to talk." Dick nods and follows Batman over to the holo-computer. Kaldur steps aside to allow him access. Batman types on the keyboard. "Wednesday morning, a man by the name Charles Lloyd came by Wayne Manor looking for you." He pulls up an image of the man from their security tape. Batman turns and looks at Dick. "Do you know him?" Dick shakes his head. Batman turns back to the computer, typing away, bringing up more images. "He owns a number of companies throughout Europe, had a wife and daughter. His deceased wife was named Eva Cooper, she was a famous Acrobat in the Cirque Romanes de Paris. Their daughter was named Marie Lloyd, who disappeared when she was 14 after Haly's Circus came to their town during their European tour." Dick's eyes widen. Batman brings up more images, the little girl in the pictures…
"She looks like you…" Artemis says softly.
"That's my mother…" Dick says softly, the others' mouths gap a bit, except Wally, who looks somber. Dick steps up to the screen to see the images better, the only difference between the two is their hair and eyes, otherwise the little girl looks almost exactly like Dick.
"Did she ever mention her family to you?" Batman asks.
"No… I never really asked." Dick answers. "Haly might know though, maybe Uncle Rick too."
"Do you want to go ask them?" Batman asks.
"Yes." Dick answers with no hesitation. "Rick is closer, I could ask him first, but I need to check in with Haly too anyway. I've been wanting him to meet Wally too."
"Then you find Haly, I'll talk to Rick." Batman suggests. Dick nods in agreement, looks at Wally.
"What do you say? Road Trip?" Dick asks.
"Heck yea!" Wally agrees, they side bump their fists together, smiling.
"Dick…?" Artemis asks. Dick looks at her.
"I'll tell you when I get back. All of you." Dick tells her, knowing what she wants to ask, she's been curious for a while. Artemis nods in agreement. Dick looks at Wally, they both nod and run off. Batman stays, waits for them to be out of earshot.
"Something's bothering you." Kaldur mentions.
"Charles may try to take Dick away from me, and with the biological aspect, he could win…" Batman says. "I just wonder why now? And how did he find out Dick is his grandson? I haven't figured that out yet, but I refuse to let him take him from me." His eyes narrow. "I'll be back."
Wally and Dick had taken a Zeta Tube to the closest spot where Haly's Circus will be performing next. Dick is riding on the back of Wally's bike since he's unable to drive his own right now. And it's terrifying… Wally rides way too fast, Dick can be very fast on his own wheels, but… This is superfast, but Wally's able to see just fine, he's used to super speeds. They make it to the location where Haly's Circus is parked for their stop in Qurac. Wally parks and they climb off his bike.
"Are you sure this will be ok?" Wally asks.
"Oh for sure! Haly will be glad to see me and like to meet you." Dick explains, smiling reassuringly. There is what looks to be hired security at the main entrance of the fairgrounds, probably to keep anyone from wandering in before they ready, they just got here, so that makes sense. Dick doesn't really want to deal with a confrontation, so he and Wally sneak around along the tracks, following them up to the train. The climb up onto the platform and start walking through. Many of those part of the Troupe look at them rather confused, mostly at Dick who looks sort of like Dan Danger, others recognize him as he's Dick Grayson, survivor of the Flying Graysons. Dick climbs onto the train and goes down to Haly's office. Dick knocks on the door.
"Come in." Haly says from inside. Dick looks at Wally, nods at him and then steps inside. Haly looks up from his paperwork. "Dick!" He climbs out of his seat. "You're alright!" He grabs the boy into a tight hug. "I was worried…"
"I know… I'm sorry I didn't see you sooner. A lot's happened since then…" Dick says softly. Haly pulls away from him, looking at him.
"What all happened, tell me everything." Haly kind of asks.
"Well, the others were able to protect me, they got to me in time, but the Talon, William Cobb… He found me again and tried to kidnap me, nearly killed me…" He rubs his chest a bit. "And eventually he was able to catch me. I don't know what exactly happened, but he was unable to make me a Talon too, but… it was so painful…" Dick wraps his arms around himself. Wally comes up, wrapping an arm around him, placing his other hand on the opposite shoulder and resting his head against Dick's comfortingly, reminding him that he's there.
"I'm so sorry, Dick. I swear I did everything I could to prevent this. I never expected they'd find you." Haly says. Dick looks up at him, questions burning in his eyes. "Where would you like me to start?" Dick tries to think, what's the most important thing to know…?
Meanwhile, with Bruce, he's in his study, having reached out to The Light.
"Yes, Mr. Wayne." Vandal asks.
"I have a favor to ask." Bruce says. "There has been a lot going on lately. I have filed a lawsuit against a person who attempted to r*pe my son, the process has already begun and is well underway. However, another legal matter may be at my doorstep. A man claiming to be Dick's grandfather had come by, wanting to take him away. I believe he's going to file a suit to take him away legally, my legal team is already spread thin, so I was hoping one of you might be able to spare some of your best lawyers to help us."
"I will gladly offer my best lawyers to help you." Lex Luthor offers. Bruce hates that it's come to this, but it's probably the best way to protect Dick and help show the Light he's willing to cooperate with them.
"I promise they will be properly compensated." Bruce says. "And I appreciate any assistance they can provide."
"We are just happy to see you are coming to us for assistance. We wish to prove to you that we are truly an asset." Lex states. Swallow your pride, Bruce…
"I do see that, now. And I'm sorry for having been so angry and mistrusting before." Bruce says, sounding very convincing.
"We understand why you would be." Ra's Al Ghul states. "After all, you were fed lies by the Batman, were you not?" Bruce keeps himself from reacting. Why hasn't Ra's told them the truth…?
"Yes, but I see now how unreliable Batman truly is. You wish to help people like me, humanity, the strong, against the weak, to create a better, stronger, world." Bruce explains.
"It is exactly that, Mr. Wayne. I am glad you see the Light." Vandal says. That was corny… Bruce nods confidently.
"Tell me what you need and I will assist in any way I can." Bruce offers. This is killing him inside, but… he has to do this, he has to play the part. It's the only way…
He has to keep Dick safe! This is all for Dick's sake.