Didn't Mean To

What the Heck Happened?

"You're really funny!" Beth laughed as she leaned towards Dick while he shrugged. 

"What can I say? I practiced jokes my whole childhood." He said. 

Beth smiled at him and for a moment it felt like a scene from a movie. "I'd like to get to know more about your childhood." She says sweetly.

 Dick looked into her eyes and then at her lips. He slowly leaned towards her as she leaned towards him. It was a perfect set up. They were at a nice park on a snowy winter night when the park Christmas lights had just been put up. They had coffee in their hands and a kiss ready to kick start a great relationship. But then his phone rang and the mood poofed out of existence. 

Beth smiled then laughed as she got up. 

"Beth I'm sorry." Dick said. 

Beth nodded and smiled still. "Don't worry about it. It's late anyway and I have to get home to my fish. Answer your phone and I'll see you later." She leaned down and gave him a peck on the cheek before waving and walking off. 

He waved and smiled before looking at his phone. When Bruce's name shined up at him he frowned in confusion. Normally everything was a text or email. Phone calls weren't a thing in their relationship yet. 

He swiped the answer button and put his phone to his ear with a grin, his mind on Beth. "Hey B, didn't think you would call tonight-" 

"Dick," Bruce's voice sounded disheveled, even panicked which made Dick straighten in his seat. 

"What is it? What's wrong?" Dick asked quickly, already heading to his car where his suit was. 

"It's Oscar. I don't know what happened but he's scared to death of me and on the brink of death. I was trying to get him to the batcave but he starts screaming whenever I get close to him." Bruce said quickly. 

Dick's eyes widened as he started to sprint to his car. "I'm on my way, what happened? Where are you?" 

"I sent the location to your phone. I don't know what happened. I can't remember anything since this morning." Bruce said. "Just hurry. It's freezing and he isn't wearing much. He'll freeze if he doesn't die of blood loss first." 

Dick was in his car and speeding down the road in an instant as he checked the location. "Bruce, why is he so scared of you?" Dick asked. "Is there any evidence of what might have happened?" 

He passed every car in front of him as he pressed on the gas pedal viciously. 

Bruce was silent and Dick frowned. 

"Bruce?" Dick asked. 

He heard a heavy sigh and Bruce spoke. "I think I did this to him." 

Dick went quiet and after a second he said "I'll be there in two minutes. Keep an eye on him." 

~~~~

Dick showed up in under a minute after he hung up and the scene was a sight to behold. The alleyway was painted red in blood and Oscar was the main character. He laid panting in a heap, pressed as far as he could get to in the corner, one half swelled slit eye on Bruce who stood an even eight feet away from the boy. Dick tried not to stare at the blood that tainted Bruce's cowl but instead turned his eyes to Oscar. 

"Oscar, can I come get you?"  Dick asked. 'Do you remember me?" When Oscar didn't protest to him getting closer Dick finally got to glance over his injuries. He almost wished he didn't. He definitely had broken bones that seem to have been twisted after their breakage. It looked like he had been punched so much that the skin had to split and release burns and blood. It was a brutal product but the process had to be downright inhuman. Dick tried hard to not turn to Bruce and demand to know what happened. 

"What are his injuries?" Bruce asked as he took a step towards Oscar who's lungs started to work overtime in hyperventilating. 

Dick glanced back at Bruce and said "I'm sorry B but you gotta step back. If he has a broken rib then erratic breathing is going to get a lung punctured." Bruce stepped back and Oscar's breathing slowed but didn't return to normal. "I'm bringing him to the batcave. I'd offer you a ride but I'm pretty sure he'd die if you rode shotgun." 

"I'll swing." Bruce said. 

Dick frowned at him. "You didn't bring the batmobile? You normally do in the winter." 

"I can't remember if I did or not."  Bruce said grimly. 

"Right." Dick said, agitation lining his words. "I'll meet you at the cave." He tenderly tried to lift Oscar without causing him to much pain but with how much his face contorted and silent tears ran down his face, Dick knew it was painful if not unbearable because his face suddenly relaxed as unconsciousness swept over him. 

He got Oscar into the car and got in the driver's seat. He looked at Bruce who had such a look of remorse that it almost made Dick feel bad for him. 

"I don't even know what I would do if that happened to me." Dick muttered under his breath as he cranked up the heat and sped off.