The Phantom Robin

16: Overprotective Brother

Dick tapped his finger along his desk, clenching and unclenching his jaw. It had only been three hours, but he already had a horrible gut feeling. He desperately just wanted to run out of his classes and try to find his twin. He was so close! But he was in Gotham, anything could happen to him! He was a normal civilian!

He had tried to seek his brother out every time class was over, but one of his other siblings were there to escort him to his other class. He hated how prepared they were for that. But next class he had him. He would sit next him, see how he was handling everything. Maybe he could get him into the gymnastics club? Or maybe the astrology club? Did Danny even still like astrology?!

The first Robin took a deep breath, trying his best to relax. His brother was a civilian, and Gotham Academy was a relatively safe place. There was no reason for him to worry.

Of course, all that flew out the window when the bell rang. His books were barely settled in his bag before he was out the door and rushing down the hall to Danny's class.

He had a double English and then a brief history. Their shared next class was biology science lab, it was in a far different part of the building, so he had an excuse.

Dick flashed a few people with a smile as they gave him off looks that turned into nervous smiles and giggles, even for the straight guys! Still, he waited and waited as the people trickled out and about, his soft blue eyes scanning every face that passed. He was only there for two minutes, but already most people were gone.

He wetted his lips, eyes farting a bit more frantically. Had Danny slipped by without him noticing? No, that wasn't possible, he was trained to observe everything. His senses were honed to near perfection! He would've seen or sensed his brother! His twin!

"Hey! Rich!" A few of the academy's football players waved to him, making his smile tight. "Can you believe the little shit?"

Now that caught him off guard. "Little what?" His nose naturally wrinkled when the offensive statement hit.

One of them, a burly looking teen with the beginnings of a beard, laughed. His slightly calloused hands clapped his back, grinning with a couple of missing teeth.

"Yeah! Ya know the dork that was hanging off your sis this morning."

"Clinging to her arm, what a loser!" Another, shorter and stocker teen, shouted.

The rest just laughed.

Dick felt his tight smile fall off. They had to be talking about Cas and Danny. Why were they talking about him like that?

They did something to him.

"What did you do to him?"

The laughing group of teens stopped, their bodies tensed. They flinched away as they were glared down by the Richard Wayne.

"Nothing that he didn't deserve." As much as the Football captain tried to stand tall, his words wavered, his eyes drifting away.

"What. Did. You. Do?" Dick growled, leaning close to him.

He tried to back away, but Dick grabbed his arm in a bruising grip. No, they had done something to his brother.

"Nothing! He was being a fucking creep, pretending to be a senior! No way-"

"What did you call my brother?" The captain was pulled down lower, him groaning in pain.

It was then that it seemed to sink into their heads who they had just tried to hurt. Who they had hurt!

"J-Just a bit of a beating! Nothing's broken!" The captain was now trying to escape his bruising hold.

"Where?" Dick was seething. How dare they do this!

"Bathroom! Third floor!"

The bell rang, telling them they were late. Not that the first Robin cared. He shoved the idiot away, stocking away to the third-floor men's bathroom. His temper kept rising the closer and closer he grew to the bathroom, his back tense and itching for him to do something. Probably to break their noses.

Gently, he opened the bathroom door. No one was there. The room was a bit colder than it normally should've been, but no one was there. However, there were droplets of blood that were messily cleaned up near one of the stalls, the one furthest in.

The door to the stall was closed, but no shoes were underneath, and the door wasn't locked. Pushing it open, it revealed more sloppily cleaned up blood. But no Danny.

Clenching his fist closed, he whipped out his phone, his breathing heavy. He pressed the call button on the newest saved contact and pressed the phone to his ear.

It rang once... Then twice... Then three-

"Dickie?" A whispered voice answered after a click.

"Danny." A bit of the tension left his shoulders. "Where are you? I waited outside your history class?" He should pretend not to know.

"Oh..." There was a pause. "Cassandra had already showed me the school, I kinda left early though... Saying I needed to use the bathroom." There was a tired sigh, almost embarrassed sounding. "You should get here soon... The teach is looking annoyed."

"Yeah... I will." Dick looked up, seeing his expression in the mirror as they both ended the call.

Anger. Pure, unfiltered anger was all that could be seen on his face. It was as if he was trying to kill someone twice over with a look.

Sliding the phone back into his bag, he walked to the sinks and began to run some water. He needed to calm down. He'll look Danny over when he sees him. Maybe the blood was from someone else? Horrible that this happened to someone else, but he couldn't find his usual empathy to care. To be worried about anyone but his twin.

Rubbing cool water over his face, hair and neck helped, letting him be more reasonable. Letting him control his expressions. With a deep breath, he grabbed his things, cleaned his face and ran like hell to the Labs.

He wasted enough time as it was trying to calm down, he was really looking forward to talking with brother about a few things.