Post by qpq on Feb 18, 2012 13:33:43 GMT -5
Synopsis: Dick arrives at Wayne Manor ready to begin his new life as Bruce Wayne's ward during which he has several reservations about going through with it because he's still unsure why the billionaire would want to take this on. Also there's some interesting scenarios that play through Dick's mind while he considers some of the things he sees and is told during his tour of Wayne Manor. Bruce on the other hand considers the ramification of an outsider being so close to his secret as he invites Dick into his home and his life.
DICK: When he left before Dick had told the butler that he would be back in a couple of days, but a couple of day soon turned into a few and then into a several. Dick wasn't attempting to back out because honestly the only one that would lose out would be him. There were just a few things that needed to get done before he said good bye to his part of his life that being living and going to school there. He doubted that he would finish out the rest of the school year at his old school so there was something to be said there. Three years of his life had been spent there and it was the only home that he knew now so walking away while a good thing was a difficult.
Though he honestly wasn't closing the door on certain parts of his life he was simply making a decision that would be beneficial for all involved. To say that he wasn't suspicious of Wayne's would be a misstatement. Despite all the things that had been said by both Wayne and the butler Dick wasn't sure if any of it was on the level. Rich guilt came to mind and he was sure there was some of that there, but why? What made him different?
He wanted to know and that was another reason why he wanted to look into things he wanted to see what Wayne was about. Yes he knew about the connection in the past, but there needed to be more than that. Just because someone worked for you didn't mean that you were going to take care of their kid. So many unknowns one had to suspect that Dick would take his time before rushing into anything. He would want to be sensible, because he was a sensible person. He didn't go rushing into anything if he could avoid it.
So yeah he looked up Wayne checked him out and then he found it. It could be that could it? It could be that simple the fact that they both had their parents check out in similar ways. It wasn't exactly the same, but there was one important connection...criminal.
Crime and Gotham went hand and hand. It was always there and it wasn't like an occasional mugging here and there it had taken hold like a disease and now one could barely tell legit business from the illegal. It worked its way into everyday life. Almost to the point one would believe that everyone was on the take, but that's what it would seem like to the untrained eye. There were people here trying to make a difference, but there was only so much the few could to do. If people weren't willing to do their part the thugs, corrupt cops and the mob would always have a strangle hold on Gotham.
It almost made Dick think that this was Wayne's way of paying it forward. Doing something for someone hoping that they would do something for someone else in turn until people kept doing something to turn it all around. Still they needed the right people out there making Gotham safer place. Clearing the streets of the trash that was bringing it down and making people scared to come out of their homes.
Of course that would lead him back to Trina and what happened and the part that he had to play in that. He wanted this to be a safe place, this was his home. He didn't know what would happen after he got out of high school, but he had been here so long that Gotham was in his blood and he wanted to right a wrong, but he knew what his mother would want, what his father would want.
It could just stop with them. If he wanted to help he had to think beyond his own pain and for that reason alone he was here walking up towards the door of Wayne Manor again reaching out to ring the door bell. It wasn't a dream, but it wasn't a nightmare either.
Clearing his throat a little he rang the bell again pulling his sunglasses off turning to look back at the bike he rode up here. This was going to be home for what? Who knew? It was best to get acquainted with the grounds he thought. He'd play nice for a day or so and then get back to business. Syrcusa gave him a name and he was going to track the bastard down, but he didn't want to bring the heat so a cooling off period would be good and then he'd back back out there trying to find out what he could on Zucco, meaning all the things the papers wouldn't tell him.
BRUCE: It was Alfred who answered the door, a pleasant smile cross his features at the sight of the young man. After the two days had passed Alfred had thought to never see the boy again, but here he was, standing on the stoop.
"ah, master Grayson, we've been expecting you." he said, stepping aside, admitting Dick into the inner sanctum of Wayne manor. The house was massive with a grand central staircase in the centre. To the left was a living room, furnished and pristine though something seemed off about it, as though it were never used. There were many such rooms in the manor. Bruce had few staff and even less family, most of the time it was just he and Alfred alone in a giant house, its vaulted ceilings and many rooms often gave it a lonely feeling and the drive up the twisting road that lead to the gates, the upper levels of the mansion jutting above the tree tips, dominating the skyline. When you drew close to the wrought iron gates with A stylized "W" affixed to their centre the manor looked foreboding with his gothic inspired architecture that matched the city it resided beside. Twisted gargoyles sat on stone perches jutting out from the house whose outside was dark and the trees surrounding the grounds gave it a sort of gloom when the sun set behind them.
Perhaps the master of the house was simply lonely with only his Butler to keep him lonely. Bruce Wayne was a known socialite, so it was believed though in truth he attended only the necessary functions to keep up appearances.
"Shall i take you to meet master Bruce, then? I expect he's quite eagre to meet his new ward" Alfred offset the house in nearly every way, he had an amiable wisdom about him, that grandfatherly air that everyone seemed to be drawn to. His prim and proper British accent gave him that perception of dependable trust, though he kept many secrets, some of his own and even more those of others, you would never know it by the elderly man's disarming smiles.
Alfred lead Dick up the grand staircase, their footsteps echoing on its marble steps. Alfred continued as they walked, the house just seemed... So empty.
"It will be good to have another soul about, it does get frightfully quiet around the manor Normally, it's just master Bruce and I, though Nikolaj the chauffeur, Dennis our cook and of course, Nancy and Louis who look after the grounds, the foliage and what have you. But their duties only bring them here a few days out of the week"
they were walking a long corridor with doors branching off here and there, some to rooms, others to different hallways that lead to different wings of the manor. They walked the whole stretch of the hall, coming to a stop at a set of double oaken doors, standing twice as tall as the rest in the corridor. Alfred didn't bother to knock, he opened the door and gestured for Dick to enter with him.
Bruce was seated in a chair, dark hair mussed and shagging over his eyes. he had his shirt partly pulled up and a dark haired woman was wrapping his ribs in a twine of bandage and tonsure, slowly creeping around and covering the black and blue bruise that crawled all the way up the right side of his body. The woman had dark hair and darker eyes, pale skin and full lips, but she had a sort of ominous presence about her, as striking as she was.
Bruce looked up and attempted a smile as he shifted, which turned to a grimace and his hand went to his injured ribs.
"And they say squash isn't a contact sport" he joked lamely,
alfred cut in
"May I present Richard Grayson? This is master Bruce and" he gestured to the woman "Helena, a friend of the family." He said as though he himself was apart of it. In truth, he was. Alfred had raised Bruce more than his father had.
"Unfortunately, Helena will be leaving us soon, business calls her away" Alfred explained seeming genuinely dismayed at the prospect, the woman was good for Bruce, he needed the contact and the love and memories that Helena brought with her. Their lives, however, made that impossible.
Helena made her greetings and excused herself. Bruce pulled his black sweater down hiding the rather gruesome looking injury.
"Looks worse than it feels" he lied. "Welcome Richard. I'm glad you chose to come afterall. After our first meeting I didn't think you'd agree to this.I'm sure you have questions, feel free to ask anything of me"
DICK: His eyes glanced around scanning the building as they stepped inside. When he came before to inform them that he would be taking Wayne up on his offer he didn't step inside. There was a part of him that did not wish to know he wanted it to be a surprise. It would give his mind to fiddle around with trying to imagine exactly what lay beyond the doors. It had been a long time and memories fade especially when they're replaced with much more vivid ones, some good some bad, but memories all the same. Ones that Dick was frankly more attached to, not to say he wouldn't make memories here, but how many times had he been here in his life? He could count on one had how many times he remembered being here, but perhaps that was part of the problem.
There was a connection here and he knew that his parents had happy times here and perhaps he didn't want those to fade. He didn't want those to become replaced with new ones where they weren't present.
He was pulling off his gloves while Alfred showed him in. "Dick, please." He wasn't anyone's employer. He shouldn't be master anything. His head twisted and turn while they walked the halls.
"So do I need a segway to get around here?" He offered a slight smile while he tried to make small talk.
And there was that word. Ward. He had been a ward before...of the state. That was before he was placed with a foster family. He wasn't sure if he was ready to be a ward or anything. Could he be someone's ward as old as he was?
"I think that would be agreeable." See he could talk to talk when needed.
"Just you and Wayne. I'm guessing that gets a little on the boring side? I mean you're like his right hand man here so there's probably little in conversation going. I mean two people big house how many things could you talk about that you didn't already know." That's if they conversed at all, but it seemed like there was something, more than understanding a bond. Dick picked that up.
"Nik drives. Dennis cooks and Nancy and Louis work the grounds. Got it. Do they know I'm going to be um living here. You know I don't want to get anyone in trouble because they thought I was intruding. I also don't want to catch a bullet in the...well you know." He didn't know what the rules were here in terms of what they were expected to do if they found an intruder. Not that anyone had caught him the other time but there were only so many times you might get lucky, but if they knew who he was they wouldn't expect anything of it. Coming and going you know.
Dick was in the process of slowly turning around as they entered the room where Bruce was getting bandaged up. He paused for a moment while he finished scanning the room before he brought his eyes to the man in question, Bruce Wayne. With the offer of the joke Dick looked to Alfred then back towards Bruce and the women that was bandaging him up.
"Pleasure." He said while watching her work before turning his eyes back towards Wayne then again to Alfred. There was half of a smile on his face but it faded shortly there after wondering what the hell really happened.
You had someone that looked like had more than a little injury from squash. Next he'll be talking about squash fatalities. Even if he dropped and hit the ground hard he was pretty sure that it wouldn't cause that much bruising. Bruising like that was consistent with something that Dick was pretty familiar with considering that he was pretty bruised himself.
Bruising like that usually send people right to the hospital and it's Bruce effing Wayne. You'd think he'd have the wing that's dedicated to his family send out someone to do the work other than a friend of the family. Then again she could be a doctor, but then again Dick had been off the boat for quite a while now.
Offering a polite wave he turned his attention to back to Bruce.
Ask him anything he wanted. There was a burning question that was sitting upon the back of the elephant that apparently walked into the room that both Dick and bruce both knew that he wanted to ask, but Dick turned to see if the woman had left, because he was trying to tell himself that this was the oddest thing, but who knew what the rich did.
He would have be better off if he said he fell of a horse or he was trying to ride a motorcycle. Squash.
"They look a little angry," Dick offered while meeting Bruce's eyes. "It's good to see you, but if you and Helena wanted to talk I can get the tour from Alfred." He didn't want to bust up good byes or whatever.
Yes he went that way instead of asking him point blank to try again because all that didn't compute.
"Also you sure you don't need to see a doctor?"
BRUCE: "There will be time for good-byes later." Bruce said somewhat flatly. Helena had left but Alfred remained, dutifully as always. Besides which, after all that had happened? A break from all those thoughts tumbling through his head would be a welcome relief. Alfred had been saying he needed a distraction for the last two years, Dick might just offer that. Now that Helena could not, or would not, perhaps a bit of both. "I'm sure." Bruce assured as he stood upright, nodding to the Butler.
"Worse than it looks, Richard" He reminded as the trio turned back towards the door.
"Master Grayson prefers to be called Dick" Alfred interjected. Formality wasn't always observed it would seem, and it hadn't seemed to have perturbed the master of the house at all. Bruce's eyes shifted to dick and a faint smile crossed his lips.
"Don't bother trying to get him to call you anything else. He's stubborn on certain protocols and this is one of them."
Alfred cleared his throat. "Every Butler worth his salt must mind his P's and Q's, Master Bruce." Alfred hadn't had time to answer some of Dick's questions when they approached the door to Bruce's room, which was sparsely decorated, he had been sitting at a writing desk, the desk and chair being the only other furniture in the room besides his four posted bed with black canopy.
"Master Dick had asked me earlier whether the others had been informed of his arrival" Alfred explained before nodding to Dick. "They have been notified and firearms are strictly forbidden, so I should sincerely doubt you'll be 'catching bullets' as it were." Alfred at least had some dry sense of humor. So far Bruce had proven himself to be a poor liar but at least a gracious host, even if injured.
"I'm handing over the east wing to you, the North is mine, that's the one we're in now. There are four -"
"Five" corrected Alfred.
"Five" Bruce amended "bedrooms to choose from. A few of them have private bathroom facilities, I think one of those might be to your liking."
They were crossing back across the grand staircase into the northern wing of the house, it looked much the same as the other, clean, pristine, well decorated, but it had the same unlived in feeling that the living room a floor below had had, but they stopped at the threshold of the doorway leading into the hall. Bruce spoke again.
"There are some rules I want you to agree to before we go any further." He looked to Alfred who gave Bruce an reassuring smile. "First, you have to continue going to school, at least until you graduate. When and if you choose to go to college or leave Wayne manor thereafter is up to you. You'll be a man and I won't presume to tell you what to do. Second, no parties. As you might have noticed I prefer a quieter setting and I don't want droves of teenagers tramping through the house. Privacy is of the utmost important. Third, from time to time I might return to the manor is varying states of physical injury. I would ask that you don't ask questions, that you keep them to yourself and under no circumstances call the police or paramedics. Alfred is a fully trained doctor and he's even tried his hand as a surgeon. If I am incapable of getting the help myself you are to go to him. If that is copacetic then let's continue the tour."
DICK: There will be time for good-byes later. The words repeated themselves several times in his mind and it caused Dick to pause instead of speaking because the both of them knew that wasn’t always the case. They both knew that life was fleeting and at any moment you could lose every moment you thought you could or would have, but it appeared it wasn’t up for discussion so instead of pressing the matter he kept silent opting to observe his benefactor a little more closely.
Worse than it looks. Something told him that he was going to hear that a lot. Still he couldn’t help the last thought that passed through his mind. This idea that Bruce Wayne, heir of the Wayne fortune was in some type of Fight Club and the first rule about Fight Club is that you don’t talk about Fight Club. He entered the thought for a moment longer while Alfred advised Bruce that he preferred Dick and Bruce countered that Alfred would never lose the formality at least he got him to use Dick instead of Master Richard or Master Grayson, but seriously it could just be Dick. He would need to work on the Brit.
“So, it’s a matter of protocol. I can understand that. So, there’s zero chance of you just calling me, Dick. Got it.” Slipping his gloves into his jacket pocket he turned his attention back to Bruce then to Alfred when he was told that firearms were forbidden. Not that he had a problem with it, but that was different.
“Had to ask. You’d be surprise the things that would happen in the neighborhood.” It was going to be odd not hearing shots fired during the night. The city was close, but not as close as it was before. No more nights of shots being fired and no one doing anything about it. You could call but it didn’t always mean that someone was going to answer. The police and other emergency services were stretched thin. You were lucky if someone called you back when someone placed a call. All of that was a world away. That’s what it felt like as it was so quiet. So peaceful. It was jarring. It was like everything could be forgotten if you let it, but all you needed to do was cross a bridge and there you were again you were right back where you started in the middle of a warzone.
“Still good to know,” he offered with a smile before he arched his brow.
“Wait a wing? An entire wing?” That was a bit much wasn’t it? He went from a room to a wing. “Wait when you say wing you mean I get a room in that wing.” He did say an entire wing, but he did want to clarify that he wasn’t really handing over a wing, because what was Dick going to do with any entire wing?
Following along he turned while walking stopping when they reached the staircase. They could fit tons of families in here and he was getting a wing. It felt odd. Weird even, but that slid away with the mention of rules. There were always rules. He knew that they would find their way into the conversation. Not that he didn’t expected there to be some rules, but eh had no idea what the rules might be.
“Don’t have to worry about school.” No way he was going to quit that. His mother wanted him to finish school. She wanted college for him and he didn’t know where he wanted to go or if he was going to go right after high school. He didn’t know what to think yet, but it wasn’t something to focus on. High School first and then worry about the rest.
“Party what’s a party. School. Work. Occasional movie here and there. I lead a very boring life, Mister Wayne. You don’t have to worry about parties. Besides I don’t think Alfred would be up for any wild soirees, though according to the papers you’ve been to a few interesting parties and I’m not talking about the Saving the Dolphin kid.” He winked slipping his hands in his pockets.
Injuries. Oh look at that. There you go before you know it’s going to be that he got the injuries at a wild party. Too much Tiger Blood or something to that effect.
“Finish School. No parties. If you come in looking like you got hit by a Mack truck go find Alfred.” He thought about that for a moment his eyes dancing between Wayne and Alfred for a moment. How long was that going to go on? Dick didn’t know what to think about that, but instead of quizzing him on that he thought about the schooling bit.
“Couple of questions. School. Will I be changing schools or going back to my current school? I’m good either way, but it’s best we figure that out now so I know if I should prepare myself for some type of uniform or if I’m headed back to the hood. Second? College? I don’t know yet. I mean I want to go, but I don’t know if I want to go right after high school yet. I haven’t thought about it much so I don’t.” It was an honest statement though he had taken his SAT and ACT tests and scored quite well. It was a way of hedging his bets.
“We covered parties. I guess you can continue with the tour unless you want to tell me what’s up with the injuries. I mean is it extreme sports are you paying a professional to beat you up. Mistress Helena and what not.” He held his hands up. “If that’s what you’re into just let me know. I’ve seen stranger things. If that’s how you roll hey far be it for me to judge. Just curious that’s all. I just want to make sure that I don’t walk in and find you near death. It’ll look bad for Alfred there. Probably me too and the last thing I need is me splashed across the paper saying that I beat you near death or to death or anything like that. Not that I would talk but just something to think about there.”
BRUCE: "it may seem like much" Bruce spoke of the wing. "I only use the one room, personally. But there's a lot of space and little chance of filling it, so the offers on the table."
He regarded the young man as he spoke to him, his searching eyes told of the tumult of questions pouring through his mind. Perhaps this had been a bad idea, having someone like Dick close to him, close to... His other life, he could discover who Bruce became when the sun dipped behind the concrete jungle of Gotham. "Good. You have your priorities right, as for what comes after high school, that's for you to decide. Every man has to choose for himself and I would give you the opportunities I had at your age that means if you choose to travel, go to school, whatever it be... You'll not want for money. Keeping a job is also good, it'll keep you busy and give you your own income. You've been relying on yourself for a while now, Dick. Just keep looking forward and you'll get to where you're going"
But then it simply became a question of whether or not that place you're going was even a place you'd want to go. Sometimes you walked a thin line, Bruce liked to think every person does at least once in their life.. But not like him, never like him. He knew what murder created, what it made a man. Perhaps that what why his own father was so committed to the right against crime and corruption. For all the good it had done him, wise wife and... The young boy Bruce had once been.
"It's Bruce, Dick. You don't work for me, all I saw when I found you was a kid that deserved a hand up not a hand out. You don't owe me anything and I don't want you to think of it that way."
Though he could see it would be hard to wrap your mind around the idea of someone telling you you'll never need to worry about money again and then not feeling like they owed them something. But what was money to him? A drop in the ocean, as the saying goes. Money could do a lot of good, but it was also the root of almost every single act of crime and corruption in Gotham. It was ironic that he could almost despise it and the philosophy behind money, and yet have so much of it. Without that fortune, what would he be? Would Bruce still be dashing across dark building tops in the pale of the moonlight? Maybe, but he wouldn't have a fully equipped Batcave nor a car that looked like something out of Starwars.
"Do you want to switch schools? I'll leave that decision to you, from what I know of you, you don't need me to direct your path, though I'll give advice if you're asking for it."
Be that as it may, Alfred was probably the better man for advice, he was the only man that could advise both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Alfred was strong in ways that Bruce could never be and he recognized it all too well. There were parts of him that desired to become more like Alfred, to carry that wisdom that seemed to come so naturally.
Bruce didn't even lift a brow at the question of his wound, Bruce Wayne was a poor liar, and Batman? Batman never lied. Unless it was to himself.
"I dabble in some mixed martial arts, train and do a private bout here and there. Truth be told, it's just something I'd prefer be left out of the spotlight. I guess you could say I'm a man who enjoys his privacy. If it were known I do that sort of activity, there would be some kind of media frenzy, and the tabloids will print stories about my alleged sordid affair with human growth hormone or something equally outrageous."
And that should explain that, Bruce hoped. It was difficult at times to separate lives, the two men he had become. Was it wrong to take in this young man? If his identity were uncovered he could be hurt, used against Bruce and both Bruce and Batman had enemies enough that it would only be a matter of time.
Just as people whispered it had only been a matter of time for his parents. They meddled too much, stuck their nose in where it wasn't wanted, couldn't leave well enough a lone. And they were partially right, but Edmund Burke had his own vie won the subject, a quote that was quoted a thousand times over. All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
RICHARD: It may seem like much? Surely he jests, but to someone that's had it all their life it probably didn't seem like much, but it was. Dick knew that it was and he was getting an entire wing? He wouldn't know what to do with it all actually. He'd probably find himself in may one or two rooms probably three tops, but instead of focusing on that he nodded deciding that he would have to figure out what he wanted to do there. He didn't know. It was a lot to think about everything was.
"It's what my mother would have wanted both my parents actually. It was the goal it was the dream. Can't let anything stand in my way." Even their deaths, but took Dick a long time to get to that point. Luckily he had a few years to straighten out so to speak and not get himself into too much trouble, but it was difficult not to when you found yourself in an overcrowded system where older and bigger kids thought they could rule over the younger and the smaller. No matter where you went there were always injustices and few people who were willing to do something about it. Dick wasn't that person he tried to do the right thing, but many times he found that the right thing wasn't always the best thing for some as it seemed that those willing to stand up were the ones that got themselves in to trouble the most, but strangely it didn't stop him from trying to do the right things.
"Bruce. Right." He had said that before, but it was difficult not to call him Mr. Wayne at times. They weren't exactly friends and though he had accepted the offer it was still bit odd and it was going to take time for him to become comfortable with calling him Bruce.
He wanted very little for him and that in itself was strange. It was just him and Alfred and the few more people that consisted of the staff and they only appeared a few times during the week. He could see how it would get lonely here and he was certain that Alfred was concerned about his employer. Yes they had did have a father son relationship despite the fact that he worked for Bruce, but there was only so much that Alfred could do.
"I don't work for you, no, but you have to admit this is a bit odd. I mean well it is. Don't get me wrong I'm grateful. I'd be the last person to believe that something like this would happen, and even now I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and I'm going to be in my room over the garage. Can't be helped you know. Just going to take a little time that's all. I mean think about it. You have this strange person in your home, a ward, and you know a lot about me, but how much do you know about me? It's going to be an adjustment for you as well. You have someone else walking your halls, sharing your food, and probably exploring here and there. Speaking of which are there places that I shouldn't just go? Like should I stick to my wing and what not? What time is dinner? What time is breakfast?"
Those were things to consider. Those were important things he believed. As for school. "Thinking about it. I mean it's not that I don't like the current school, but if I'm going to get in the right mind set maybe? I don't know it just would feel weird. Going to a school in the middle of where I used to live and coming back here. It would feel like I was cheating. Then again it could be a good thing. I'll think on it." Scratching the back of his head Dick knew that there could be a lot of good that could come of it, but there was also a bit of bad that come from it if people began to look at him differently.
"Really?" He looked Bruce over considering the idea of him dabbling in mixed martial arts. "You have a private trainer? Think you could you know hook me up with some lessons? Not that I've studied that much, but at the Y there were some classes that I got really good with , but with the job I could only go in so often, but..." He tipped his head from one side to the other. "I would really like to get back into it. They said I was natural. Not bragging or anything, but I think it helped with well you know. The Flying Graysons." He smiled when he said it, but as quickly as the same came it went.
"But that would be cool if you could do that." Scratching the back of his head Dick could believe that more than squash.
BRUCE:
"You've got a right to be skeptical. And I don't blame you. There's not much help for anyone in Gotham that doesn't have the means - the money - to do it. My father wanted that to end, that was his goal and to some extent mine as well. Consider it keeping up a Wayne family tradition, if you want. Nobody ever became a great man in life without a helping hand from someone else." yes, he gave to a number of charities in vast quantities and never publicized a cent of it, for that reason some groups that spoke out for the rights of the down trodden accused him of being a part of the uncaring oligarchy and an embarrassment to the memory of his father. The words stung but there was never a response, not from him at least. He helped this city in more ways than some could count and there were times he thought even batman was not enough, that more had to be done.
"Stay away from the cellars. Not that there is anything there to see but some dusty boxes. As for the rest, make yourself at home. You'll find I'm not here much to get under my feet. Alfred is almost always here,though even he needs his time away from me from time to time. As for breakfast, Alfred usually rises at six in the morning and prepares something that's usually done by the half hour mark, but he'll keep it warm if you happen to sleep in".
Good, he was beginning to accept his new life. Bruce wasn't sure if he could in his shoes. He could tell every instinct told Dick to run, that he was still waiting for the other shoe drop. maybe it still would when some gangster discovered his identity and sends a hit squad to his house. But he was careful, much too careful, and who would ever expect playboy billionaire Bruce Wayne of being Batman?
Bruce nodded, weighing the question ins mind.
"I do. I am trained in many martial arts, in some I have master status. If you'd like, i'll begin training you, martial arts isn't just for fighting. You'll learn discipline, which you already have in spades, diligence, and the practice can centre your mind.
RICHARD: Even though he was doing his best to take it in stride Dick could not shake the suspicious feelings that he continued to have. If there was a mystery word of the day it would be dubious and Dick was all about it, because in the back of his mind he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. What if it turned out that he was about to become the ward of the next Dahmer or Gacy. He knew that he probably shouldn't be having these types of thoughts, but could anyone blame him.
When you're younger you're told to run away from strangers, "Stranger Danger" and everything, and though they were familiar with one another it had been some time since he had seen Bruce. Time changes people and who knows what kind of thoughts entered the man's mind. Then again Bruce could be thinking the same thing. They both had bruises on each other's person, but Bruce hadn't seen Dick's bruises. What if there had been other wards and Alfred was just that the trusty manservant who never betrayed his employer's trust. Father figure doing everything to protect his "son's" misdeeds.
There were a variety of scenarios that ran through Dick's mind even the infamous "It's takes the lotion and rubs it in or else it gets the hose again." It was all possible and bam! There it was. Don't go into the cellar. Of all the places to say not to go why did it have to be the cellar? Dusty boxes? Dick nodded, but his mind was churning. He looked around taking everything in trying for the life of him why the cellar would be off limits.
This house was immaculate and something told him that Alfred would not allow the cellar to get into disarray with dusty boxes. There could be cages down there? He could find himself down there with a dish and straw mat waiting for it all to be over, because seriously who would know he was gone. If he disappeared who would believe that Wayne was responsible?
It was something to think about, but Dick also told himself that he had an overactive imagination and he was giving himself a reason to run. He also should probably layoff some of the true crime television, but it was something. It couldn't be helped. Perhaps he was so desperate for a reason other than what Bruce had shared with him that he was envisioning anything that would come to mind. Or perhaps he was trying to think of a way to back out because he thought he might ruin it all with his own activities. He was searching for answers and looking for justice. What if he brought ruin to the House of Wayne?
As staggering as a thought it was he tucked it away with a smile nodding towards Bruce.
"Alright. I'd be game for that, but in a few days. I know it's worse than it looks, but I don't want to aggravate anything. Also...I have a rule I would like to put out there. If it is as worse as it looks then you tell me and if you don't Alfred will." Because he had a feeling Alfred would.
"That's all I ask. If you can live with that then you got yourself a ward."
It goes both ways right? Trust that is. They'd take a day a time and see where it went. Simple as that.
BRUCE: "Alright Dick, I won't put anything at risk unnecessarily." Bruce eyes Alfred who merely chuckled at the young man's audacity behind a white glove. "And you're right, trust has to be a two way street, so it sounds like a bargain."
Bruce stuck out his hand, it was the first handshake in a long time that actually meant something. When he had actively CEO'd Wayne Corp and whenever he went to certain social events he was shaking hands all the time, for no particular reason, it sort of cheapened the meaning of the gesture after a while. But then, if you thought about nay human habit long enough it'd probably seem weird and pointless. Much like fighting against an ever rising tide of crime...
"And you have my word as well, Master Dick. As my employer has a penchant for receiving a beating, if his injuries are severe I will inform you of such before Master Bruce can rope you into giving him yet another"
A few days? Good, it'd give him some time to make sure the Batcave's entrance in the cellar was more secure and that he could fill it with a bunch old office boxes stuffed with items. Making them look dusty? Well, maybe he'd force Alfred to get creative.
"Very well, see you in a few days then"
DICK: When he left before Dick had told the butler that he would be back in a couple of days, but a couple of day soon turned into a few and then into a several. Dick wasn't attempting to back out because honestly the only one that would lose out would be him. There were just a few things that needed to get done before he said good bye to his part of his life that being living and going to school there. He doubted that he would finish out the rest of the school year at his old school so there was something to be said there. Three years of his life had been spent there and it was the only home that he knew now so walking away while a good thing was a difficult.
Though he honestly wasn't closing the door on certain parts of his life he was simply making a decision that would be beneficial for all involved. To say that he wasn't suspicious of Wayne's would be a misstatement. Despite all the things that had been said by both Wayne and the butler Dick wasn't sure if any of it was on the level. Rich guilt came to mind and he was sure there was some of that there, but why? What made him different?
He wanted to know and that was another reason why he wanted to look into things he wanted to see what Wayne was about. Yes he knew about the connection in the past, but there needed to be more than that. Just because someone worked for you didn't mean that you were going to take care of their kid. So many unknowns one had to suspect that Dick would take his time before rushing into anything. He would want to be sensible, because he was a sensible person. He didn't go rushing into anything if he could avoid it.
So yeah he looked up Wayne checked him out and then he found it. It could be that could it? It could be that simple the fact that they both had their parents check out in similar ways. It wasn't exactly the same, but there was one important connection...criminal.
Crime and Gotham went hand and hand. It was always there and it wasn't like an occasional mugging here and there it had taken hold like a disease and now one could barely tell legit business from the illegal. It worked its way into everyday life. Almost to the point one would believe that everyone was on the take, but that's what it would seem like to the untrained eye. There were people here trying to make a difference, but there was only so much the few could to do. If people weren't willing to do their part the thugs, corrupt cops and the mob would always have a strangle hold on Gotham.
It almost made Dick think that this was Wayne's way of paying it forward. Doing something for someone hoping that they would do something for someone else in turn until people kept doing something to turn it all around. Still they needed the right people out there making Gotham safer place. Clearing the streets of the trash that was bringing it down and making people scared to come out of their homes.
Of course that would lead him back to Trina and what happened and the part that he had to play in that. He wanted this to be a safe place, this was his home. He didn't know what would happen after he got out of high school, but he had been here so long that Gotham was in his blood and he wanted to right a wrong, but he knew what his mother would want, what his father would want.
It could just stop with them. If he wanted to help he had to think beyond his own pain and for that reason alone he was here walking up towards the door of Wayne Manor again reaching out to ring the door bell. It wasn't a dream, but it wasn't a nightmare either.
Clearing his throat a little he rang the bell again pulling his sunglasses off turning to look back at the bike he rode up here. This was going to be home for what? Who knew? It was best to get acquainted with the grounds he thought. He'd play nice for a day or so and then get back to business. Syrcusa gave him a name and he was going to track the bastard down, but he didn't want to bring the heat so a cooling off period would be good and then he'd back back out there trying to find out what he could on Zucco, meaning all the things the papers wouldn't tell him.
BRUCE: It was Alfred who answered the door, a pleasant smile cross his features at the sight of the young man. After the two days had passed Alfred had thought to never see the boy again, but here he was, standing on the stoop.
"ah, master Grayson, we've been expecting you." he said, stepping aside, admitting Dick into the inner sanctum of Wayne manor. The house was massive with a grand central staircase in the centre. To the left was a living room, furnished and pristine though something seemed off about it, as though it were never used. There were many such rooms in the manor. Bruce had few staff and even less family, most of the time it was just he and Alfred alone in a giant house, its vaulted ceilings and many rooms often gave it a lonely feeling and the drive up the twisting road that lead to the gates, the upper levels of the mansion jutting above the tree tips, dominating the skyline. When you drew close to the wrought iron gates with A stylized "W" affixed to their centre the manor looked foreboding with his gothic inspired architecture that matched the city it resided beside. Twisted gargoyles sat on stone perches jutting out from the house whose outside was dark and the trees surrounding the grounds gave it a sort of gloom when the sun set behind them.
Perhaps the master of the house was simply lonely with only his Butler to keep him lonely. Bruce Wayne was a known socialite, so it was believed though in truth he attended only the necessary functions to keep up appearances.
"Shall i take you to meet master Bruce, then? I expect he's quite eagre to meet his new ward" Alfred offset the house in nearly every way, he had an amiable wisdom about him, that grandfatherly air that everyone seemed to be drawn to. His prim and proper British accent gave him that perception of dependable trust, though he kept many secrets, some of his own and even more those of others, you would never know it by the elderly man's disarming smiles.
Alfred lead Dick up the grand staircase, their footsteps echoing on its marble steps. Alfred continued as they walked, the house just seemed... So empty.
"It will be good to have another soul about, it does get frightfully quiet around the manor Normally, it's just master Bruce and I, though Nikolaj the chauffeur, Dennis our cook and of course, Nancy and Louis who look after the grounds, the foliage and what have you. But their duties only bring them here a few days out of the week"
they were walking a long corridor with doors branching off here and there, some to rooms, others to different hallways that lead to different wings of the manor. They walked the whole stretch of the hall, coming to a stop at a set of double oaken doors, standing twice as tall as the rest in the corridor. Alfred didn't bother to knock, he opened the door and gestured for Dick to enter with him.
Bruce was seated in a chair, dark hair mussed and shagging over his eyes. he had his shirt partly pulled up and a dark haired woman was wrapping his ribs in a twine of bandage and tonsure, slowly creeping around and covering the black and blue bruise that crawled all the way up the right side of his body. The woman had dark hair and darker eyes, pale skin and full lips, but she had a sort of ominous presence about her, as striking as she was.
Bruce looked up and attempted a smile as he shifted, which turned to a grimace and his hand went to his injured ribs.
"And they say squash isn't a contact sport" he joked lamely,
alfred cut in
"May I present Richard Grayson? This is master Bruce and" he gestured to the woman "Helena, a friend of the family." He said as though he himself was apart of it. In truth, he was. Alfred had raised Bruce more than his father had.
"Unfortunately, Helena will be leaving us soon, business calls her away" Alfred explained seeming genuinely dismayed at the prospect, the woman was good for Bruce, he needed the contact and the love and memories that Helena brought with her. Their lives, however, made that impossible.
Helena made her greetings and excused herself. Bruce pulled his black sweater down hiding the rather gruesome looking injury.
"Looks worse than it feels" he lied. "Welcome Richard. I'm glad you chose to come afterall. After our first meeting I didn't think you'd agree to this.I'm sure you have questions, feel free to ask anything of me"
DICK: His eyes glanced around scanning the building as they stepped inside. When he came before to inform them that he would be taking Wayne up on his offer he didn't step inside. There was a part of him that did not wish to know he wanted it to be a surprise. It would give his mind to fiddle around with trying to imagine exactly what lay beyond the doors. It had been a long time and memories fade especially when they're replaced with much more vivid ones, some good some bad, but memories all the same. Ones that Dick was frankly more attached to, not to say he wouldn't make memories here, but how many times had he been here in his life? He could count on one had how many times he remembered being here, but perhaps that was part of the problem.
There was a connection here and he knew that his parents had happy times here and perhaps he didn't want those to fade. He didn't want those to become replaced with new ones where they weren't present.
He was pulling off his gloves while Alfred showed him in. "Dick, please." He wasn't anyone's employer. He shouldn't be master anything. His head twisted and turn while they walked the halls.
"So do I need a segway to get around here?" He offered a slight smile while he tried to make small talk.
And there was that word. Ward. He had been a ward before...of the state. That was before he was placed with a foster family. He wasn't sure if he was ready to be a ward or anything. Could he be someone's ward as old as he was?
"I think that would be agreeable." See he could talk to talk when needed.
"Just you and Wayne. I'm guessing that gets a little on the boring side? I mean you're like his right hand man here so there's probably little in conversation going. I mean two people big house how many things could you talk about that you didn't already know." That's if they conversed at all, but it seemed like there was something, more than understanding a bond. Dick picked that up.
"Nik drives. Dennis cooks and Nancy and Louis work the grounds. Got it. Do they know I'm going to be um living here. You know I don't want to get anyone in trouble because they thought I was intruding. I also don't want to catch a bullet in the...well you know." He didn't know what the rules were here in terms of what they were expected to do if they found an intruder. Not that anyone had caught him the other time but there were only so many times you might get lucky, but if they knew who he was they wouldn't expect anything of it. Coming and going you know.
Dick was in the process of slowly turning around as they entered the room where Bruce was getting bandaged up. He paused for a moment while he finished scanning the room before he brought his eyes to the man in question, Bruce Wayne. With the offer of the joke Dick looked to Alfred then back towards Bruce and the women that was bandaging him up.
"Pleasure." He said while watching her work before turning his eyes back towards Wayne then again to Alfred. There was half of a smile on his face but it faded shortly there after wondering what the hell really happened.
You had someone that looked like had more than a little injury from squash. Next he'll be talking about squash fatalities. Even if he dropped and hit the ground hard he was pretty sure that it wouldn't cause that much bruising. Bruising like that was consistent with something that Dick was pretty familiar with considering that he was pretty bruised himself.
Bruising like that usually send people right to the hospital and it's Bruce effing Wayne. You'd think he'd have the wing that's dedicated to his family send out someone to do the work other than a friend of the family. Then again she could be a doctor, but then again Dick had been off the boat for quite a while now.
Offering a polite wave he turned his attention to back to Bruce.
Ask him anything he wanted. There was a burning question that was sitting upon the back of the elephant that apparently walked into the room that both Dick and bruce both knew that he wanted to ask, but Dick turned to see if the woman had left, because he was trying to tell himself that this was the oddest thing, but who knew what the rich did.
He would have be better off if he said he fell of a horse or he was trying to ride a motorcycle. Squash.
"They look a little angry," Dick offered while meeting Bruce's eyes. "It's good to see you, but if you and Helena wanted to talk I can get the tour from Alfred." He didn't want to bust up good byes or whatever.
Yes he went that way instead of asking him point blank to try again because all that didn't compute.
"Also you sure you don't need to see a doctor?"
BRUCE: "There will be time for good-byes later." Bruce said somewhat flatly. Helena had left but Alfred remained, dutifully as always. Besides which, after all that had happened? A break from all those thoughts tumbling through his head would be a welcome relief. Alfred had been saying he needed a distraction for the last two years, Dick might just offer that. Now that Helena could not, or would not, perhaps a bit of both. "I'm sure." Bruce assured as he stood upright, nodding to the Butler.
"Worse than it looks, Richard" He reminded as the trio turned back towards the door.
"Master Grayson prefers to be called Dick" Alfred interjected. Formality wasn't always observed it would seem, and it hadn't seemed to have perturbed the master of the house at all. Bruce's eyes shifted to dick and a faint smile crossed his lips.
"Don't bother trying to get him to call you anything else. He's stubborn on certain protocols and this is one of them."
Alfred cleared his throat. "Every Butler worth his salt must mind his P's and Q's, Master Bruce." Alfred hadn't had time to answer some of Dick's questions when they approached the door to Bruce's room, which was sparsely decorated, he had been sitting at a writing desk, the desk and chair being the only other furniture in the room besides his four posted bed with black canopy.
"Master Dick had asked me earlier whether the others had been informed of his arrival" Alfred explained before nodding to Dick. "They have been notified and firearms are strictly forbidden, so I should sincerely doubt you'll be 'catching bullets' as it were." Alfred at least had some dry sense of humor. So far Bruce had proven himself to be a poor liar but at least a gracious host, even if injured.
"I'm handing over the east wing to you, the North is mine, that's the one we're in now. There are four -"
"Five" corrected Alfred.
"Five" Bruce amended "bedrooms to choose from. A few of them have private bathroom facilities, I think one of those might be to your liking."
They were crossing back across the grand staircase into the northern wing of the house, it looked much the same as the other, clean, pristine, well decorated, but it had the same unlived in feeling that the living room a floor below had had, but they stopped at the threshold of the doorway leading into the hall. Bruce spoke again.
"There are some rules I want you to agree to before we go any further." He looked to Alfred who gave Bruce an reassuring smile. "First, you have to continue going to school, at least until you graduate. When and if you choose to go to college or leave Wayne manor thereafter is up to you. You'll be a man and I won't presume to tell you what to do. Second, no parties. As you might have noticed I prefer a quieter setting and I don't want droves of teenagers tramping through the house. Privacy is of the utmost important. Third, from time to time I might return to the manor is varying states of physical injury. I would ask that you don't ask questions, that you keep them to yourself and under no circumstances call the police or paramedics. Alfred is a fully trained doctor and he's even tried his hand as a surgeon. If I am incapable of getting the help myself you are to go to him. If that is copacetic then let's continue the tour."
DICK: There will be time for good-byes later. The words repeated themselves several times in his mind and it caused Dick to pause instead of speaking because the both of them knew that wasn’t always the case. They both knew that life was fleeting and at any moment you could lose every moment you thought you could or would have, but it appeared it wasn’t up for discussion so instead of pressing the matter he kept silent opting to observe his benefactor a little more closely.
Worse than it looks. Something told him that he was going to hear that a lot. Still he couldn’t help the last thought that passed through his mind. This idea that Bruce Wayne, heir of the Wayne fortune was in some type of Fight Club and the first rule about Fight Club is that you don’t talk about Fight Club. He entered the thought for a moment longer while Alfred advised Bruce that he preferred Dick and Bruce countered that Alfred would never lose the formality at least he got him to use Dick instead of Master Richard or Master Grayson, but seriously it could just be Dick. He would need to work on the Brit.
“So, it’s a matter of protocol. I can understand that. So, there’s zero chance of you just calling me, Dick. Got it.” Slipping his gloves into his jacket pocket he turned his attention back to Bruce then to Alfred when he was told that firearms were forbidden. Not that he had a problem with it, but that was different.
“Had to ask. You’d be surprise the things that would happen in the neighborhood.” It was going to be odd not hearing shots fired during the night. The city was close, but not as close as it was before. No more nights of shots being fired and no one doing anything about it. You could call but it didn’t always mean that someone was going to answer. The police and other emergency services were stretched thin. You were lucky if someone called you back when someone placed a call. All of that was a world away. That’s what it felt like as it was so quiet. So peaceful. It was jarring. It was like everything could be forgotten if you let it, but all you needed to do was cross a bridge and there you were again you were right back where you started in the middle of a warzone.
“Still good to know,” he offered with a smile before he arched his brow.
“Wait a wing? An entire wing?” That was a bit much wasn’t it? He went from a room to a wing. “Wait when you say wing you mean I get a room in that wing.” He did say an entire wing, but he did want to clarify that he wasn’t really handing over a wing, because what was Dick going to do with any entire wing?
Following along he turned while walking stopping when they reached the staircase. They could fit tons of families in here and he was getting a wing. It felt odd. Weird even, but that slid away with the mention of rules. There were always rules. He knew that they would find their way into the conversation. Not that he didn’t expected there to be some rules, but eh had no idea what the rules might be.
“Don’t have to worry about school.” No way he was going to quit that. His mother wanted him to finish school. She wanted college for him and he didn’t know where he wanted to go or if he was going to go right after high school. He didn’t know what to think yet, but it wasn’t something to focus on. High School first and then worry about the rest.
“Party what’s a party. School. Work. Occasional movie here and there. I lead a very boring life, Mister Wayne. You don’t have to worry about parties. Besides I don’t think Alfred would be up for any wild soirees, though according to the papers you’ve been to a few interesting parties and I’m not talking about the Saving the Dolphin kid.” He winked slipping his hands in his pockets.
Injuries. Oh look at that. There you go before you know it’s going to be that he got the injuries at a wild party. Too much Tiger Blood or something to that effect.
“Finish School. No parties. If you come in looking like you got hit by a Mack truck go find Alfred.” He thought about that for a moment his eyes dancing between Wayne and Alfred for a moment. How long was that going to go on? Dick didn’t know what to think about that, but instead of quizzing him on that he thought about the schooling bit.
“Couple of questions. School. Will I be changing schools or going back to my current school? I’m good either way, but it’s best we figure that out now so I know if I should prepare myself for some type of uniform or if I’m headed back to the hood. Second? College? I don’t know yet. I mean I want to go, but I don’t know if I want to go right after high school yet. I haven’t thought about it much so I don’t.” It was an honest statement though he had taken his SAT and ACT tests and scored quite well. It was a way of hedging his bets.
“We covered parties. I guess you can continue with the tour unless you want to tell me what’s up with the injuries. I mean is it extreme sports are you paying a professional to beat you up. Mistress Helena and what not.” He held his hands up. “If that’s what you’re into just let me know. I’ve seen stranger things. If that’s how you roll hey far be it for me to judge. Just curious that’s all. I just want to make sure that I don’t walk in and find you near death. It’ll look bad for Alfred there. Probably me too and the last thing I need is me splashed across the paper saying that I beat you near death or to death or anything like that. Not that I would talk but just something to think about there.”
BRUCE: "it may seem like much" Bruce spoke of the wing. "I only use the one room, personally. But there's a lot of space and little chance of filling it, so the offers on the table."
He regarded the young man as he spoke to him, his searching eyes told of the tumult of questions pouring through his mind. Perhaps this had been a bad idea, having someone like Dick close to him, close to... His other life, he could discover who Bruce became when the sun dipped behind the concrete jungle of Gotham. "Good. You have your priorities right, as for what comes after high school, that's for you to decide. Every man has to choose for himself and I would give you the opportunities I had at your age that means if you choose to travel, go to school, whatever it be... You'll not want for money. Keeping a job is also good, it'll keep you busy and give you your own income. You've been relying on yourself for a while now, Dick. Just keep looking forward and you'll get to where you're going"
But then it simply became a question of whether or not that place you're going was even a place you'd want to go. Sometimes you walked a thin line, Bruce liked to think every person does at least once in their life.. But not like him, never like him. He knew what murder created, what it made a man. Perhaps that what why his own father was so committed to the right against crime and corruption. For all the good it had done him, wise wife and... The young boy Bruce had once been.
"It's Bruce, Dick. You don't work for me, all I saw when I found you was a kid that deserved a hand up not a hand out. You don't owe me anything and I don't want you to think of it that way."
Though he could see it would be hard to wrap your mind around the idea of someone telling you you'll never need to worry about money again and then not feeling like they owed them something. But what was money to him? A drop in the ocean, as the saying goes. Money could do a lot of good, but it was also the root of almost every single act of crime and corruption in Gotham. It was ironic that he could almost despise it and the philosophy behind money, and yet have so much of it. Without that fortune, what would he be? Would Bruce still be dashing across dark building tops in the pale of the moonlight? Maybe, but he wouldn't have a fully equipped Batcave nor a car that looked like something out of Starwars.
"Do you want to switch schools? I'll leave that decision to you, from what I know of you, you don't need me to direct your path, though I'll give advice if you're asking for it."
Be that as it may, Alfred was probably the better man for advice, he was the only man that could advise both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Alfred was strong in ways that Bruce could never be and he recognized it all too well. There were parts of him that desired to become more like Alfred, to carry that wisdom that seemed to come so naturally.
Bruce didn't even lift a brow at the question of his wound, Bruce Wayne was a poor liar, and Batman? Batman never lied. Unless it was to himself.
"I dabble in some mixed martial arts, train and do a private bout here and there. Truth be told, it's just something I'd prefer be left out of the spotlight. I guess you could say I'm a man who enjoys his privacy. If it were known I do that sort of activity, there would be some kind of media frenzy, and the tabloids will print stories about my alleged sordid affair with human growth hormone or something equally outrageous."
And that should explain that, Bruce hoped. It was difficult at times to separate lives, the two men he had become. Was it wrong to take in this young man? If his identity were uncovered he could be hurt, used against Bruce and both Bruce and Batman had enemies enough that it would only be a matter of time.
Just as people whispered it had only been a matter of time for his parents. They meddled too much, stuck their nose in where it wasn't wanted, couldn't leave well enough a lone. And they were partially right, but Edmund Burke had his own vie won the subject, a quote that was quoted a thousand times over. All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
RICHARD: It may seem like much? Surely he jests, but to someone that's had it all their life it probably didn't seem like much, but it was. Dick knew that it was and he was getting an entire wing? He wouldn't know what to do with it all actually. He'd probably find himself in may one or two rooms probably three tops, but instead of focusing on that he nodded deciding that he would have to figure out what he wanted to do there. He didn't know. It was a lot to think about everything was.
"It's what my mother would have wanted both my parents actually. It was the goal it was the dream. Can't let anything stand in my way." Even their deaths, but took Dick a long time to get to that point. Luckily he had a few years to straighten out so to speak and not get himself into too much trouble, but it was difficult not to when you found yourself in an overcrowded system where older and bigger kids thought they could rule over the younger and the smaller. No matter where you went there were always injustices and few people who were willing to do something about it. Dick wasn't that person he tried to do the right thing, but many times he found that the right thing wasn't always the best thing for some as it seemed that those willing to stand up were the ones that got themselves in to trouble the most, but strangely it didn't stop him from trying to do the right things.
"Bruce. Right." He had said that before, but it was difficult not to call him Mr. Wayne at times. They weren't exactly friends and though he had accepted the offer it was still bit odd and it was going to take time for him to become comfortable with calling him Bruce.
He wanted very little for him and that in itself was strange. It was just him and Alfred and the few more people that consisted of the staff and they only appeared a few times during the week. He could see how it would get lonely here and he was certain that Alfred was concerned about his employer. Yes they had did have a father son relationship despite the fact that he worked for Bruce, but there was only so much that Alfred could do.
"I don't work for you, no, but you have to admit this is a bit odd. I mean well it is. Don't get me wrong I'm grateful. I'd be the last person to believe that something like this would happen, and even now I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and I'm going to be in my room over the garage. Can't be helped you know. Just going to take a little time that's all. I mean think about it. You have this strange person in your home, a ward, and you know a lot about me, but how much do you know about me? It's going to be an adjustment for you as well. You have someone else walking your halls, sharing your food, and probably exploring here and there. Speaking of which are there places that I shouldn't just go? Like should I stick to my wing and what not? What time is dinner? What time is breakfast?"
Those were things to consider. Those were important things he believed. As for school. "Thinking about it. I mean it's not that I don't like the current school, but if I'm going to get in the right mind set maybe? I don't know it just would feel weird. Going to a school in the middle of where I used to live and coming back here. It would feel like I was cheating. Then again it could be a good thing. I'll think on it." Scratching the back of his head Dick knew that there could be a lot of good that could come of it, but there was also a bit of bad that come from it if people began to look at him differently.
"Really?" He looked Bruce over considering the idea of him dabbling in mixed martial arts. "You have a private trainer? Think you could you know hook me up with some lessons? Not that I've studied that much, but at the Y there were some classes that I got really good with , but with the job I could only go in so often, but..." He tipped his head from one side to the other. "I would really like to get back into it. They said I was natural. Not bragging or anything, but I think it helped with well you know. The Flying Graysons." He smiled when he said it, but as quickly as the same came it went.
"But that would be cool if you could do that." Scratching the back of his head Dick could believe that more than squash.
BRUCE:
"You've got a right to be skeptical. And I don't blame you. There's not much help for anyone in Gotham that doesn't have the means - the money - to do it. My father wanted that to end, that was his goal and to some extent mine as well. Consider it keeping up a Wayne family tradition, if you want. Nobody ever became a great man in life without a helping hand from someone else." yes, he gave to a number of charities in vast quantities and never publicized a cent of it, for that reason some groups that spoke out for the rights of the down trodden accused him of being a part of the uncaring oligarchy and an embarrassment to the memory of his father. The words stung but there was never a response, not from him at least. He helped this city in more ways than some could count and there were times he thought even batman was not enough, that more had to be done.
"Stay away from the cellars. Not that there is anything there to see but some dusty boxes. As for the rest, make yourself at home. You'll find I'm not here much to get under my feet. Alfred is almost always here,though even he needs his time away from me from time to time. As for breakfast, Alfred usually rises at six in the morning and prepares something that's usually done by the half hour mark, but he'll keep it warm if you happen to sleep in".
Good, he was beginning to accept his new life. Bruce wasn't sure if he could in his shoes. He could tell every instinct told Dick to run, that he was still waiting for the other shoe drop. maybe it still would when some gangster discovered his identity and sends a hit squad to his house. But he was careful, much too careful, and who would ever expect playboy billionaire Bruce Wayne of being Batman?
Bruce nodded, weighing the question ins mind.
"I do. I am trained in many martial arts, in some I have master status. If you'd like, i'll begin training you, martial arts isn't just for fighting. You'll learn discipline, which you already have in spades, diligence, and the practice can centre your mind.
RICHARD: Even though he was doing his best to take it in stride Dick could not shake the suspicious feelings that he continued to have. If there was a mystery word of the day it would be dubious and Dick was all about it, because in the back of his mind he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. What if it turned out that he was about to become the ward of the next Dahmer or Gacy. He knew that he probably shouldn't be having these types of thoughts, but could anyone blame him.
When you're younger you're told to run away from strangers, "Stranger Danger" and everything, and though they were familiar with one another it had been some time since he had seen Bruce. Time changes people and who knows what kind of thoughts entered the man's mind. Then again Bruce could be thinking the same thing. They both had bruises on each other's person, but Bruce hadn't seen Dick's bruises. What if there had been other wards and Alfred was just that the trusty manservant who never betrayed his employer's trust. Father figure doing everything to protect his "son's" misdeeds.
There were a variety of scenarios that ran through Dick's mind even the infamous "It's takes the lotion and rubs it in or else it gets the hose again." It was all possible and bam! There it was. Don't go into the cellar. Of all the places to say not to go why did it have to be the cellar? Dusty boxes? Dick nodded, but his mind was churning. He looked around taking everything in trying for the life of him why the cellar would be off limits.
This house was immaculate and something told him that Alfred would not allow the cellar to get into disarray with dusty boxes. There could be cages down there? He could find himself down there with a dish and straw mat waiting for it all to be over, because seriously who would know he was gone. If he disappeared who would believe that Wayne was responsible?
It was something to think about, but Dick also told himself that he had an overactive imagination and he was giving himself a reason to run. He also should probably layoff some of the true crime television, but it was something. It couldn't be helped. Perhaps he was so desperate for a reason other than what Bruce had shared with him that he was envisioning anything that would come to mind. Or perhaps he was trying to think of a way to back out because he thought he might ruin it all with his own activities. He was searching for answers and looking for justice. What if he brought ruin to the House of Wayne?
As staggering as a thought it was he tucked it away with a smile nodding towards Bruce.
"Alright. I'd be game for that, but in a few days. I know it's worse than it looks, but I don't want to aggravate anything. Also...I have a rule I would like to put out there. If it is as worse as it looks then you tell me and if you don't Alfred will." Because he had a feeling Alfred would.
"That's all I ask. If you can live with that then you got yourself a ward."
It goes both ways right? Trust that is. They'd take a day a time and see where it went. Simple as that.
BRUCE: "Alright Dick, I won't put anything at risk unnecessarily." Bruce eyes Alfred who merely chuckled at the young man's audacity behind a white glove. "And you're right, trust has to be a two way street, so it sounds like a bargain."
Bruce stuck out his hand, it was the first handshake in a long time that actually meant something. When he had actively CEO'd Wayne Corp and whenever he went to certain social events he was shaking hands all the time, for no particular reason, it sort of cheapened the meaning of the gesture after a while. But then, if you thought about nay human habit long enough it'd probably seem weird and pointless. Much like fighting against an ever rising tide of crime...
"And you have my word as well, Master Dick. As my employer has a penchant for receiving a beating, if his injuries are severe I will inform you of such before Master Bruce can rope you into giving him yet another"
A few days? Good, it'd give him some time to make sure the Batcave's entrance in the cellar was more secure and that he could fill it with a bunch old office boxes stuffed with items. Making them look dusty? Well, maybe he'd force Alfred to get creative.
"Very well, see you in a few days then"