How Could I?

Chapter 3

Bruce called Barry and Clark over to the manor. These two were the only ones he could trust enough to listen to him and not vent their anger toward him because of what he did. They were sitting in the living room discussing the phone call that he and Alfred just had.

"So you know for sure that this guy is abusing Dick?" Clark asked.

"No, not for sure, but you tell me that that's not what it sounded like," Bruce replied.

When Clark and Barry first got there, they actually met in the cave, and Bruce played the part of the conversation that he recorded for them.

"I'm not saying that," Clark said raising his hands up in front of him. "All I'm saying is that one pop that sounds like a person smacking someone might not be enough proof for the police to go by."

"He's right," Barry agreed. "I would think you knew that. Don't you do this kind of stuff all the time?"

"No," Bruce said. "I work on kidnappings, petty theft, murders, and the escape of crazed villains, not this stuff. The police handle the abuse cases and the personal stuff for Gotham."

"Then you need to go to the police with this," Clark said.

"I called Commissioner Gordon before I called you guys. He told me that he would look into it, but that it could take a while. He also said that abusers have ways of hiding the truth so that they can't touch them, and that even the person being abused goes along with it out of fear."

"But Dick is Robin," Barry said. "Something like that shouldn't affect him, should it?"

"He's also only thirteen," Clark said. "I've done a few stories in Metropolis about children and teens all the way up to nineteen going along with their abuser's stories for a long time before they finally confess, if they ever do."

"Dick may be strong, but he's also had a hard past," Bruce put in. "The trauma of losing his parents and then me betraying him by giving him up, plus the threats from Steve are probably why he's not saying anything. He probably thinks there's no reason too."

"But you said he's been calling you for the past three weeks," Barry said.

"Yes, but every time Alfred has been talking to him."

"And he didn't say a word about it," Alfred said as he walked in with a tray of drinks.

"I see. So what are you going to do?" Barry asked.

"I've done everything I can as Bruce Wayne, now it's Batman's turn. I'll try to get evidence that will prove Dick's being abused, and bring it to Commissioner Gordon."

"But won't he get suspicious?" Clark asked. "I mean, if you don't normally bother with this sort of thing, then he might question why you are for this particular case."

"So send the team."

Bruce, Barry, Clark, and Alfred all looked over toward the front door to see Wally standing there.

"Kid, what are you doing here?" Barry asked standing up along with Bruce and Clark.

Wally walked toward them. "Aunt Iris told me you were here," he said as he looked toward his uncle then looked at Bruce. "Send the team after Dick." He finally stopped right in front of Bruce.

"I'll handle this," Bruce said glaring then turned and started walking toward the study.

Wally got angry, ran and got in front of Bruce, then punched Bruce as hard as he could. Bruce stumbled backwards, and because he was caught off guard, fell.

"Wally!" Barry yelled as he ran to help Bruce up. Clark and Alfred just stayed where they were.

"Why do you have to be so... so...!"