As Time Passed

Chapter 16

(Dick's Profile)

"We have to access the bug I planted in his house." Bruce told me and I froze. I knew what was coming, but I didn't want my fears to become reality. I heard Bruce's fingers move across the keyboard in the Batcave and tried really hard to calm the hell down. So far, now freaking luck. "Done." Bruce muttered, I wiped my eyes and without my consent, my legs made me face the computer instead of looking at my precious Wally.

Bruce winded the tape back to a couple of weeks ago. Wally had just walked in and saw Rudy holding a belt. "Oh, fu-" Wally started to mumble before his father interrupted him. "Where the hell have you been?" I saw Wally look away, terror written on his face. "I was-" Wally stopped talking just as the hand hit his cheek. Rudy smirked. "Man up, Wallace. You're a superhero for fucks sake." Rudy stomped towards my boyfriend and snarled. "Come 'er boy. Take off your shirt and turn around." He yanked on Wally's arm.

I saw Wally take his shirt off and you could tell by the grimace on his face that he knew what was coming. "Every whip is for something you have fucked up. Okay boy? I want you to listen to everything. Everything you have ever done wrong. Everything you have done to disappoint everyone. Understood?" Wally nodded. "You get a B in English." Rudy hit his back with the belt and I closed my eyes, close, too close, to tears. "You train in the Young Justice area, but still let the world down." Rudy hit him hard. I clasped a hand around my mouth. Oh, God. I can't watch this. I can't. I screamed in my head. "You are a faggot!" Rudy yelled and pierced his skin, which made Wally cry out in pain.

I gasped and a tear slipped down my cheek. I saw Bruce send me a sympathetic look, but I paid him no mind. "You can't even handle a simple whip!" Another hit and my vision became blurry. "You are a freak!" Wally cried out again from another mark left behind his monster of a father. "You are, as they say, 'a science prodigy.' No. I disagree. You are too smart for your own good." I saw the tip of the belt hit the base of my babe's neck and another tear slipped from my eye. "Oh, and the way you eat. No. don't even get me started on how gross it is." Rudy hit Wally's legs and he fell to the ground. "Look at you. You disgust me." Rudy kicked his own son in the face then in the stomach multiple times. I saw Wally curl in on himself and I closed my eyes as I saw Rudy aim for his ankle.

"T-turn it off." I whispered and Bruce pressed one key, making the the screen go black. I squeezed my eyes tighter and my free hand formed a fist. Bruce stood and pulled me into a hug. I silently sobbed into his chest; the tears just kept coming, no matter how hard I tried. I pulled away and wiped my face. "S-sorry." I muttered and turned to Wally. I clasped his hand and kissed the top of it. Bruce put his hand on my shoulder and whispered, "I'll give you two a moment."

I pulled up Bruce's chair and sat next to Wally as I heard Bruce's footsteps leave the cave. As soon as he was gone I sobbed into my boyfriend's chest. "I am so sorry. I am so very sorry Wally. I love you so much. I am so sorry. Why didn't I see it? I really wish I noticed so that I could have helped you sooner. I'm so sorry." I mumbled incoherently. I lost all control and sobs racked my body. After all of my crying I fell asleep, face buried in his perfectly shaped stomach.

***

Later that night, Batman had told me to suit up in my Robin costume. He said we were going to 'set fear into the hearts of Keystone City.' I knew exactly what he meant and took my chance. Before I left, I decided to check up on Wally. I walked down the stairs outside of my room and saw Alfred holding a bowl of soup. "Thank you Alfred. Sometimes, I think you know more than Batman." I smirked and Alfred's lips quirked up.

I walked into the cave and when I was close enough to see that he was awake and sitting up I called out. "Hey Wall-man, I brought some food if you think you can stomach it!" I saw his lips form a small smile. "I can try, but no promises." I handed Wally the bowl of soup and sat next to him. "Thank you, Dick. For everything. For not pushing me to tell you and thank you for waiting. I-" He smiled at me and put the bowl down. He interlocked our fingers and took a deep breath. "I-" Wally was interrupted by Batman.