Chapter Text
Someone was touching him. Dick swung a punch before he fully woke. At the soft oof, Dick’s eyes flew open, and he scrambled back. Alfred, the kind, old man Batman had left Dick and Jason with, was rubbing his arm.
Dick cringed away. “S-sorry. I didn’t mean to – I didn’t know -”
“No harm done, Master Dick,” Alfred said. “I doubt I even have a bruise.”
At Alfred’s amiable smile, Dick relaxed a little, but he couldn’t help feeling guilty. He’d just hit someone! Sure, usually when people snuck up on him and Jason, they deserved every punch coming their way. But Alfred had been nothing but kind.
“Next time, what would be the best way to wake you?” Alfred said. “I will strive to avoid physical contact, of course.”
“Um…” Dick bit his lip. He and Jason usually slept curled around each other, so they often woke up naturally when the other one did. “I guess make a noise? But – but don’t yell.” Dick hated yelling, especially from adults.
“I will give that a try, Master Dick,” Alfred said.
Dick wasn’t sure why Alfred kept calling him that. He scrunched up his nose. “It’s just Dick.”
“Of course, Master Dick,” Alfred said blandly, and so Dick gave it up as a lost cause. “I came to wake you for breakfast and to meet a friend of Master Bruce’s, who will be staying in the manor for a few days.”
Dick stiffened. Jason had told him all about rich people and how dangerous they were and the parties they had where they hurt kids with their “friends”.
Apparently seeing Dick’s tension, Alfred said, “But first, breakfast.”
He picked up a tray of food that Dick hadn’t noticed from the nightstand. Dick stared. “Is that…all for me and Jason?”
“This is only for you,” Alfred said. “Jason is getting his nutrients through the IV.”
There was more food on the tray than Dick had eaten for a meal since…well, since his parents had died. Dick’s mouth watered at the oatmeal, sausages, and pancakes. Practically a feast!
Guiltily, Dick glanced over at Jason, who was still asleep. Maybe Dick could save some for him.
As if reading Dick’s mind, Alfred said, “When Master Jason is stronger, I will prepare him a similar meal.”
“You made this?” Dick said, as he accepted the tray and began devouring the food. He could practically hear Jason berating him for eating food that could be drugged, but Dick couldn’t care less. He was hungry.
“Yes. I prepare all of the meals in the manor,” Alfred said. “Slow down and actually chew, Master Dick. We wouldn’t want you to choke.”
Dick blushed mid-gulp and tried to eat slower. Alfred’s kind but stern gaze reminded Dick of the way his papa used to chide him for rushing all the time. (It wasn’t Dick’s fault the world was so slow.)
Dick’s stomach felt ready to burst when he finished the oatmeal and sausage. He stared forlornly at the pancakes. They looked so good.
“There will be pancakes again tomorrow,” Alfred said.
The first rule Dick had learned on the streets with Jason was to never let food go to waste. You never knew when your next meal was. It felt sad to just waste perfectly good food. But Dick was afraid he’d vomit if he ate anymore, which would waste even more food.
Reluctantly, he let Alfred take the tray back. “Thank you, sir,” Dick said sincerely. “That was really good.”
“I am glad my culinary skills are being appreciated, Master Dick,” Alfred said with another warm smile. “I’ll take this back down and then introduce you to Master Bruce’s friend. The bathroom is through that door, should you need it. I will return soon.”
Dick’s good mood dimmed at the mention of Mr. Wayne’s ‘friend’. Even if they weren’t one of those awful rich adults, like Jason talked about, they could be CPS or some other government person, who’d separate Dick and Jason, and then throw them back into the system.
When Alfred left, Dick inspected the bedroom door. There was an old-fashioned lock on it. Dick really should’ve looked at it last night, but he’d been so worried about Jason, and tired, and hungry. Dick locked the door and tested it. Satisfied, he went to the bathroom.
The bathroom was huge – half the size of the bedroom, at least! The bathtub was gigantic, and there was a separate, equally large shower. Why did rich people need so much space?
Dick didn’t dare touch anything other than the toilet and the sink to wash up. He knew he was filthy, and everything in the bathroom was so white and pristine.
As he finished washing his hands, he heard a knock on the bedroom door. Dick flinched. He’d wanted to unlock the door before Alfred got back, so Alfred wouldn’t know that Dick knew about the lock. Another important rule Jason had taught him – make adults underestimate you.
Dick scampered out of the bathroom and opened the bedroom door, revealing Alfred and a tall woman carrying a basket.
“Sorry!” he said, a little breathless.
Alfred didn’t look mad. “Whatever for?”
“The, um, lock?” Dick said.
“You are free to lock this door whenever you want, Master Dick,” Alfred said. “I apologize for not showing it to you earlier.”
“Okay,” Dick said, biting his lip. There was probably a limit to that until it got annoying, so Dick would have to use the lock only when he and Jason really needed it.
He nervously glanced at the woman. She didn’t look like a rich person. She was wearing normal people clothes without any fancy jewelry, and she didn’t look mean. Her smile was kind too – but Jason always told Dick that Dick’s gut instincts sucked. It wasn’t like the movies. Adults who hurt kids usually didn’t look mean. Dick had learned that lesson the hard way too many times.
“Hello, there,” the woman said warmly. “You must be Richard.”
“Dick,” Dick corrected immediately before ducking his head. He didn’t want to immediately irritate Mr. Wayne’s ‘friend’.
“Dick, then,” she said. “I am Diana. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Are you going to take Jason away?” Dick asked suspiciously.
“Definitely not,” she said firmly. “I am only here to help when needed.”
Dick’s eyes went wide, and he whirled on Alfred. “Are you leaving?”
“Ms. Prince won’t be replacing me. I will still oversee Master Jason’s recovery,” Alfred said. “Batman suggested that you might be more comfortable with a woman around, and Ms. Prince offered her aid.”
That made sense. Men were more likely to hurt a kid that way than women, but Jason said that sometimes they’d use women to gain kids’ trust. Still…Dick studied Diana again. She seemed genuine, and Batman trusted Alfred and Mr. Wayne, and they trusted Diana, so…
“Nice to meet you,” Dick said finally.
“I will leave you two to get acquainted,” Alfred said. “If you need me for anything, I will be downstairs in the kitchen.”
“Thank you, Alfred,” Diana said.
Her voice was smooth and deep, with a slight European accent. Dick liked it. If they were using her to trick him, they’d made a smart pick.
After Alfred left, Dick let Diana into the bedroom. “Jason’s still asleep,” he said. “Alfred said he doesn’t need food or anything ‘cause of the IV.”
“I look forward to meeting your brother when he’s awake,” Diana said.
“He won’t like you at first, ‘cause you’re an adult,” Dick said to prepare her. “He’ll probably swear at you. He knows a lot of swears.”
To Dick’s surprise, Diana just laughed. “Perhaps he can teach me some.”
“So what’s in there?” Dick said, pointing at the basket Diana was carrying.
“A change of clothes for both you and Jason, as well as clean sheets,” Diana said. “Alfred asked me to help you both get clean.”
Dick tensed. Even before meeting Jason, Dick had known to never take off his clothes anywhere near a stranger. And Jason was unconscious and couldn’t even fight back.
“No,” Dick said, refusing to let his voice waver. “We’re fine.”
“You need to be clean to stay healthy,” Diana said. She crouched down to his height but kept her distance. She pulled out something from the basket. “Here. I have present for you that might make you feel better.”
Dick hesitated but slowly moved closer. If it was candy, he’d grab Jason and somehow get out of here. To his relief, it wasn’t candy. In her hands was a dagger in a sheath. Cautiously, he took it when she offered it to him. He pulled out the blade and inspected it. The dagger looked very real and very sharp. The circus’s knife thrower used to babysit him, so Dick could tell that this was well made and expensive.
“I know that you are your brother’s protector, and you have reason to be concerned. Should anyone cause you pain or discomfort, you can use this to defend yourself,” Diana said.
“Even you?” Dick said.
“Yes, as well as Alfred and Bruce,” Diana said. “We want you to feel safe here.”
“Well, I don’t feel safe getting naked with you here,” Dick said, sheathing the blade again.
She nodded. “Understandable. I trust that you are old enough to safely shower alone. There is a lock on the bathroom door. I can stay in here while you get clean, and then you can watch me as I bathe your brother. Would that be acceptable?”
Dick rubbed his thumb against the smooth dagger hilt while he thought. He didn’t like the idea of any adult helping Jason bathe, but if Dick was there, he could try to stop her from doing anything bad, especially now that he had a weapon. And Jason should probably get clean to get better faster. Dick knew about kids that got infections from living on the street. They ended up in hospitals – or worse.
“Okay,” Dick said. “But I’m not leaving you alone with Jason.”
“Alright. I will wait in the hallway,” she said.
That was easy. Too easy, maybe? Dick didn’t have the same trustworthy gut instincts, like Jason had. “Thank you,” Dick said. It didn’t hurt to be polite.
Her smile was gentle. “Of course. Here are some clothes. You can leave your dirty ones on the floor, and Alfred will collect them later. Shout it you need me.”
When she left, Dick locked the door and pushed the nightstand in front of it, for good measure. Jason always said that you couldn’t be too careful.
+++
“Hal,” Bruce said as soon as the call connected. “She gave him a knife!”
“How do you always know when I’m sleeping?” Hal said with a yawn.
“It’s almost noon, and you haven’t had any missions or work assignments in two days,” Bruce said.
“Evil,” Hal said.
Bruce rolled his eyes. “Any normal person would be awake right now.”
“You are not the authority on normal, spooky,” Hal said. “What’s this about a knife?”
“Diana gave Dick a knife!” Bruce said, and he began to pace.
He glared at the computer as Hal cackled. “Of course she did.”
“What am I supposed to do?” Bruce snapped. “If I take away the knife, he won’t trust me, but I can’t let a nine-year-old have a knife. What if he hurts himself?”
“Why are you asking me? Ask big blue. He’s good with kids,” Hal said.
“You’re the one that suggested I bring in Diana,” Bruce said, scowling.
“You haven’t told him, have you?” Hal said. He sounded delighted.
“Irrelevant,” Bruce said. “What’s more important is-”
“No, no, no,” Hal said. “Why haven’t you told your BFF that you’ve – how did you phrase it? – acquired two boys?”
Bruce huffed. “Clark likes to worry and meddle.”
“Must be why you two get along so well,” Hal said.
“The knife, Jordan,” Bruce said.
“Ooh, bringing out the Batman growl. I’m so scared,” Hal said. “Fine, fine, the knife. Uh…I think you answered your question. He’ll never trust you if you confiscate the things that make him feel safe. Um, the knife did make him feel safe, right? He’s not traumatized by Diana…Diana-ness?”
“Why did you suggest her if that was a possibility?” Bruce said, tugging at his hair in frustration.
“You called me when I was half-asleep. Like you’re doing right now. You want good advice, spooky, call me when I’ve gotten a solid five hours.”
“You need seven, minimum,” Bruce said.
“I take what I can get, Mom,” Hal said, and Bruce could practically see Hal’s shit-eating grin. “So traumatized kid or no?”
“No,” Bruce said. “She somehow got both boys clean and changed out the sheets.”
“So the knife worked. Good one, Diana.”
“She gave a child a weapon!” Bruce said. How was Hal not understanding the severity of the situation?
“What’d you expect? It’s Diana,” Hal said.
He did have a point. Bruce sighed and let someone of his tension go. “Fine. I’ll let him keep the knife. Jason hasn’t woken since they arrived, but Alfred says that his fever is dropping. Dick slept through night, which is better than I expected. I’m considering offering him his own room, when Jason is feeling better.”
“Thanks for the mission update,” Hal said dryly.
“I want your thoughts,” Bruce said. He stopped pacing and collapsed into the large, ergonomic computer chair.
“My thoughts are that I was not the one to take in two kids off the street,” Hal said. “But also – you should wait until they both trust you before mentioning separating them. They’re probably a bit co-dependent, and you don’t want to spook them, spooky.”
“Why did I do this?” Bruce said, letting his head fall on the table with a soft thunk. “Children are terrified of me. This was a terrible idea.”
“Yeah, probably,” Hal said.
Bruce made an irritable noise – a mix between a growl and an undignified whine.
“If you wanted encouragement, you should’ve called the boy scout,” Hal said unsympathetically.
“I couldn’t just leave them there!” Bruce said.
“Most of your plans are terrible and self-sacrificing,” Hal said. “And they usually work, so…take that however you want.”
Somehow, that did make Bruce feel a little better. But only a little. “Can you tell Clark I won’t be at the League meeting tomorrow?”
“What? Hell, no. He doesn’t act like it, but he’s definitely the shoot-the-messenger-with-laser-beams kind of guy.”
“Thanks, Hal. I owe you one,” Bruce said.
“Don’t you dare hang up-”
Bruce hung up. After a few more seconds bemoaning his self-inflicted fate, Bruce lifted his head of the table and rolled his neck, wincing as it cracked. Lunch was in five minutes, and Bruce couldn’t put off meeting the oldest of his new wards any longer. Time to face the music.