Shadowed past

Chapter 6

Dick's POV.

I can't remember what happened last night, except that nightmare, but I always have some form of nightmare every night. All I remember is waking up and hearing someone talking, before I was in someone's embrace. As of now I'm just done taking a shower and is looking for something to wear. I took the first sweater I saw, which was a blue one, and a pair of some grey sweatpants. While I got dressed there was a knock on the door, before Alfred opened the door and stood in the opening. "I'm just here to inform you that breakfast will be ready in ten minutes." Alfred said calmly. "Thank you, sir. I'll be down soon." I said nervously and stuttered a little. Alfred left soon after that, and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Ok, Dick. You can do this, just stay calm." I said to myself. When I was ready I made my way into the hallway and down the stairs. I walked slowly all the way down and into the dinner room. When I got in the room I could see that Bruce was sitting at the table reading the newspaper. I hesitated before I walked any closer to him. "Good morning. How are you?" Bruce said as he placed the papers down. "I'm fine, sir." I answered nervously. Bruce looked at me, like he was looking for something. The look he gave me made me feel uncomfortable, and grabbed my upper arm as my eyes moved down to look at the floor.

It sounded like Bruce was going to say something but was interrupted by Alfred, who placed down two plates with eggs and bacon and two glasses of orange juice. Lastly, he sat down a cup of coffee and left back inside the kitchen. Bruce started eating as I just stood there with my focus still on the floor. "Dick?" I looked up from the floor and looked at Bruce. "Are you not hungry?" he asked, as he changed to look between the food on the plate and me. "I... uhm..." "Please, you haven't eaten anything since yesterday morning." Bruce said with a hint of worried in his eyes.

I didn't say anything, but I sat down and started to eat. Soon both the plates were clean, and they were taken away. Bruce went back to read the news as he drank his coffee done. As for me, I just sat there uncomfortable with this silence. I kept my hands in my lap, while I'm looking at them. Trying not to look at anything. "Dick, you are allowed to leave the table." Bruce said, and I looked up, noticing that he had put the papers down again. "Oh..." was all that came out as an answer. Since I now know I'm allowed to leave, I stood up and walked back up to my room.

Bruce's POV.

I'm worried about Dick. His behaviour is not normal, whatever Zucco did to him. That has left a mark, both mentally and physically. I want to help him to have a normal life, but I also need to find Zucco before he tries something. "Master Bruce, what is on your mind? You look troubled." Alfred said as he picked up the coffee cup. "It's Dick. He's unsure on what he is allowed to do, and he's nervous and uncomfortable. Whatever Zucco did has made him behave like that." "Then you need to help him, sir." "I know, but Zucco is still out there. As long as he's out there, it's not safe for Dick. I need to find him and take him off the streets."

"Master Bruce, the one that needs your help now is Dick. Not as Batman, but as Bruce Wayne." Alfred said and left me alone. I know Alfred had a point, but Zucco is still able to hurt someone else. I sighed and went down to the cave.

Dick's POV.

I sat on the bed just looking out the window. All of this is so new to be and I'm so scared that I'll mess up. I don't want to go back to either Tony or the orphanage. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and soon a voice came from the other side. "Dick, can I come in?" I stood up and walked over to the door. When I had opened it, Bruce stood right in front of me. "Can we talk?" I answered with a small nod and moved to the side, so Bruce could walk past me. Bruce went over and sat down on the bed and patted the empty place next to him, gesturing for me to sit down next to him.

I slowly made my way over to the bed and sat down, after I had hesitated. "Dick, I don't know everything that happened to you when you were with Zucco..." As Bruce said Tony's name, my body tensed up. "...But I want to help you." Bruce said and waited to see my reaction. I was just looking down on the floor, instead of looking at Bruce. "But I can't help if you don't tell me how." Bruce said and placed his hand on my shoulder. As soon his hand came in contact with my shoulder, I physically flinched away from him.

I could feel my breathing quickened and slowed down when Bruce removed his hand from my shoulder. I saw the concerned look Bruce was giving me. "I'm sorry." I said and looked down on the floor yet again. "Don't be." Bruce said, and I looked up at him a little shocked. "It's not your fault. Whatever Zucco did, you will experience some sort of reaction. But after some time, it will be better, and I want to help you if you'll let me." As I listened to everything he was saying, tears started to form in my eyes, and they soon fell and ran down my face.

I kept opening and closing my mouth, trying to find the right words. "I... uhm..." I tried but I didn't know what to say. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes before realising it. There were a few minutes with silence. "I can't." I finally said something, as my head fell into my hands and cried. As I cried a pair of strong hands pulled me closer and held me close. As he rubbed circles on my back, I kept crying into his chest. Bruce started to slowly rock back and forth. After some time, my crying turned into subs, "Take your time Dick. If you don't feel ready to talk about it, you can wait until you're ready." Bruce said after he was sure I was calmer.

"I... just... miss them... so much." I managed to say in between sobs. Just when I had calmed down, right after I said dose words, it all started over again. "I know Dick. I know." Bruce said and started to rock back and forth again. "Why did it have to happen?" I asked as I cried out my little heart out. "I don't know Dick. Sometimes things just happen without any reasons." Bruce tried to calm me down. "Why would he do it?" I said more in a whisper. "What?" But it looks like Bruce heard it anyway, under all the crying.

Bruce pulled me a little away from him, so he could look at me. "What do you mean why would he do it.?" Bruce asked and looked me deep in the eyes. "The day it... happened... I saw someone talking to Jack Haly, and it sounded like they were arguing about something." I said after I had taken some deep breaths beforehand. I looked to see if Bruce was following and to calm down before I started to cry again. "Then, right before the show. I saw a shadow clime down from the trapeze, and I knew he didn't belong there. But I said nothing. Nothing." I said the last one in a whisper, thinking back to that night. "When it was time for my parents to start the show, I could see that the wires that held them up started to get loose. Before... before..." I never got to say the last part before I started to cry again.

Bruce pulled me back into his chest as he rubbed circles on my back. "I'm so sorry Dick. I know it's hard for you to talk about it." There was yet again a long silence, as Bruce tried to calm me down. I don't know for how long we sat like this, it felt like hours. While Bruce rocked back and forth, I could feel my eyelids becoming heavier before they finally closed. "Don't worry Dick. Zucco will get what he deserves." Was the last thing I hear before falling asleep in his arms.