Chapter 5

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING

"Where were you!?" Tim screamed two weeks later when Dick finally showed back up in the Batcave. "I thought you were dead! Or worse!"

Before Dick could even open his mouth to explain, his little brother punched him in the stomach and ran off sobbing up towards the rest of the manor.

Dick winced, well aware of the earful he was about to get from Bruce.

"Well, he's already going to be mad at me," Dick mumbled as he followed after Tim. "It's now or never to tell him what I am."

Taking a slow breath and knowing that once he made his choice he couldn't ever come back to the manor, Dick made his way upstairs and towards Bruce's study.

"Tim, are you alright?" Bruce asked, looking up when Tim ran in with tears running down his face. Before he could say anything, there was a knock on the door and Dick walked in.

"Dick," Bruce breathed, getting to his feet. "You're okay. Where...where were you?"

"With Wally," Dick admitted quietly. "He saved my life. Got there before you or Tim and thankfully had the antidote."

"Why didn't you call us?!" Tim shouted, though he was held back by Bruce. "We thought you were dead!"

"I know," Dick whispered, hanging his head. "And...I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't cut it," Tim said quietly. "I thought I lost you."

"Dick," Bruce said softly, walking forward and placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "Why didn't you...call us, or something?"

"I was too scared," Dick admitted. "I thought Tim would realize that I hadn't…" he sighed and pressed on. "I don't know. I'm sorry."

"I thought you were dead," Tim said again. Dick nodded, dropping his gaze. Bruce could tell his oldest truly felt bad and so he stepped forward to embrace the last of the Flying Graysons.

"It's alright," he said quietly. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine," Dick answered quietly. "I was going to call you, Bruce, but...I wasn't just...with Wally."

Bruce frowned and took a step back, keeping his hands on Dick's shoulders.

"What do you mean?"

"You wouldn't approve," Dick said with a weak laugh. "At all."

"Tim, can I talk with Dick alone?" Bruce requested, looking over at his youngest who was clearly still angry.

"Yeah," Tim said quietly, glaring at Dick as he left the room. As soon as he was gone, Bruce turned back to Dick.

"What happened? When you were with Wally?"

Dick took a long, slow breath, keeping his attention on the ground as he answered.

"Wally and I were - are - working with….Slade Wilson and the League of Assassins. We're hunting Tony Zucco."

"Dick, he was arrested," Bruce said quietly. Dick laughed loudly, pulling out of Bruce's weak grip and stepping back.

"That's just the lie you fed me when I was eight!" Dick shouted before forcing himself to calm down. "I know he was never caught, Bruce. I know you had him but he tricked you and escaped. I'm not stupid."

"Dick-"

"I'm moving out," Dick said firmly. "Wally and I are moving to Bludhaven. Closer to Wilson, closer to base if that's what you want to call it."

"Dick-" Bruce pleaded, though Dick wasn't letting him talk.

"I have to go pack my stuff," Dick said quietly, turning and walking away. "Slade will be here in two hours."

"Dick, listen to me-"

"You lied to me!" Dick shouted, spinning around and glaring at his foster father. "You told me he was in jail! You said he was dead! I can't trust you, Bruce!"

Bruce opened his mouth to say something, but Dick was gone. Sighing, Bruce ran a hand over his face before leaving his study and making his way to his car.

If anyone could stop Dick from leaving, it would be Jason.

Bruce only hoped that Jason didn't hold any resentment.

"Absolutely not," Jason said with a laugh, leaning on his doorway and smirking at his ex-father. "What reason do I have to help you?"

"Jason-" Bruce sighed.

"And anyway, Dickie bird has a good reason to leave. I mean...you did lie to him."

"Jason, listen to me," Bruce said firmly. "Dick is working with Slade Wilson. You know how that's going to end."

"Dick can fend for himself, Wayne," Jason pointed out. "He'll be fine and he'll have Wally. Plus, I'm like...two blocks away from where they're going to be moving and working."

Bruce's lips parted slightly. "Can you keep an eye on him?"

"Well, seeing as he likes me and I'm not getting anything out of it, no," Jason answered, grinning. "Good day, Wayne."

"I'd pay you!" Bruce said, pleading. "Please, Jason. I care about Dick-"

"Yeah, but you kicked me out," Jason pointed out. "You didn't care about me and I hold resentment about that. I'm not helping you. So I say again, good day."

Bruce didn't get a chance to try again because Jason quickly shut the door in his face. Bruce groaned, but turned and made his way back to his car nonetheless. He checked his watch as he slid into the driver's seat.

"Hour and a half until Wilson shows up," Bruce mused. "It'll take me forty-five minutes...that'll give me fifteen minutes to convince Dick to stay."

Nodding to himself, Bruce turned his car on and made his way back to the manor, praying he could convince Dick to stay.

Oh, how wrong he was.

Sorry it was short, but I wasn't sure what else to write.

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