Chapter Text
It's been a month already, a month since the Graysons fell, a month since he has last seen Richard and a week since he caught Zucco and brought him to justice.
And yet Bruce feels as if there's something else he should do, he doesn't know what exactly, he hates when he doesn't know stuff.
That being said, here he's in front of the gate of juvenile where the CPS has placed Richard because apparently they don't have enough space to keep him.
Bruce didn't know about that except last night when he was looking for the kid, and that's why he came today, no innocent grieving child who has lost his whole world just recently is supposed to be in juvenile.
"Sir?"
Alfred's voice from the driver seat has brought him back to the current moment.
"Thank you, Alfred."
Bruce mumbled while getting off the car, he made his way towards the building, thinking deeply about the whole matter.
"I'm here to meet Richard Grayson."
He watched the woman in front of him open her mouth as to say something she's probably not supposed to say because when her eyes met his she shut her mouth.
She stared at him for a while before speaking nervously.
"Sure, Mr. Wayne. Follow me please."
She led him to a room and told him to wait there while she asks a guard to bring Richard.
He sat on the chair observing the room until he heard footsteps stop in front of the door before the door opened revealing the woman from before with Richard.
"I'll be in my office in the next corridor, in case you needed anything Mr. Wayne."
Bruce nodded silently not taking his eyes off the kid, he looked smaller than what Bruce remembers, his skin is filled with bruises that hasn't been there before, his gaze is all over the place but on Bruce and he's trembling.
Bruce stood from his seat once the woman left, he crouched down in front of Richard as to be in his eyes level.
"Hello, I'm Bruce Wayne, we met before. Remember?"
The kid didn't give any verbal answers but he nodded shyly.
"Who did this to you?"
Bruce asked straight forward as if it was an investigation so he was about to apologize but to his surprise the boy in front of him didn't seem to mind, if anything he seemed used to this tone.
The kid shrugged, shuffling from leg to another, Bruce sighed before speaking again softer this time while pointing towards the seats.
"Would you like to sit?"
Again Richard didn't give any verbal answers, he only nodded following Bruce and taking the seat next to him.
Dick looked at Mr. Wayne for a second before looking away, Mr. Wayne looks like a real nice guy, Dick knows that he's a nice guy, he was the one to hold him when his parents fell and he's the only person who treated Dick kindly after the fall.
But people in this children's prison that he's staying at says mean things about Mr. Wayne, they say that he's just an idiot rich playboy (Dick doesn't know what playboy means but it doesn't feel like it's a nice word)
But again, people in this place says awful things about Dick and his parents all the time, they even calls him the g word all the time!
Tati Says said that it's really bad if someone called him that, he said that it's a racist word and Dick shouldn't allow anyone to call him that.
But Tati isn't here anymore nor Mami and Dick is alone and scared, the kids here always beats him and the adults do nothing!
"Richard?"
He frowned a little, he doesn't know why Mr. Wayne keeps calling him by his paper name, is he mad at him? Or maybe he doesn't know Dick's real name, but Dick can't correct him because he can't speak anymore.
So Dick nodded, waiting for Mr. Wayne to continue.
"Do the adults here know that the kids are bullying you?"
Mr. Wayne asked in his soft funny tone while looking a little awkward, Dick doesn't know why's Mr. Wayne here or why's he so kind to him, and he also doesn't know how does Mr. Wayne knows about him being bullied.
And suddenly Dick's nodding desperately for anyone to care, he feels something wet on his cheek, he's crying! Like a baby! He's big now he's 6 years old, he can't cry like that!
He wipes his tears angrily with his fist only to be stopped by gentle touch.
He looked from his wet lashes to see Mr. Wayne holding his fist in one big hand while wiping his tears with the other.
He looks funny and out of place, like a kicked puppy! Dick let a small giggle escape which made the corners of Mr. Wayne's lips turn up a little.
"Would you like to… come home with me?"
Mr. Wayne asked and this time Dick didn't take long before answering, he nodded without hesitation, any place is better than here, besides he likes Mr. Wayne because he makes him feel safe like he was back in the circus.
Mr. Wayne was true to his words, now he's sitting in his new bedroom in Mr. Wayne's home after 3 days from their last meeting.
Mr. Wayne knows now that Dick can't speak, but he didn't mock him or anything he just gave Dick this weird attempt at smile and said that he'll be able to speak again and that he doesn't need to rush or worry.
Dick has also met Mr. Pennyworth. He's a nice old man who reminds Dick of pop Haley.
Dick clutched Zitka and made his way downstairs to the kitchen where Mr. Wayne and Mr. Pennyworth were.
Bruce was adjusting his sunglasses when he noticed Richard's presence.
"Good morning… did you sleep well?"
The kid Richard nodded while sitting on the seat right next to Bruce's.
"Richard…"
He stopped when Richard frowned, Bruce has noticed that the kid usually frown whenever Bruce calls him by his name.
Now that he's thinking about it, Richard is kinda old and pretty long name, maybe the boy went by a nickname?
"You aren't used to being called Richard."
Bruce didn't ask, he was stating what he noticed, but still when Richard nodded he somehow gave Bruce a confirmation of some kind of maybe a motivation.
"Would you like me to call you something else?"
Richard's eyes have shown for a moment, nodding excitedly.
"Rich?"
The boy shake his head, that's a no then.
"Richie?"
Another no.
"Ricky? Oh! Is it Rick?"
Another shake and deeper frown.
"Perhaps it's Dick?"
Bruce turned to Alfred looking a little taken a back.
"Alfred, he's six!"
Alfred shrugged while pouring Bruce's coffee.
"Back in my days it was a pretty common nickname for Richard."
Bruce looked at Richard when he noticed that the kid has been still for a while.
And to his surprise, the kid was smiling!
Well… he was also crying but Bruce was trying to be optimistic here, besides it seems like tears of joy more than anything else.
"Is that what you usually go by? Dick?"
Ric.. Dick nodded while whipping his tears, his smile also has gotten bigger.
Bruce smiled softly (something he forgot he was capable of doing.)
"I'm glad we figured it out."