Years And Years (Birdflash)

Dancer

//TW: school shooting mention//

Alfred comes into Dick's room at 10:20am, where the teenager is sprawled across the bed like he always is, and wakes him. The butler throws the curtains open and the morning sunlight streams in. Dick ducks his head under the covers and groans.

"Breakfast is going to be served in ten minutes master Dick. I expect to see both you and master Bruce bright eyed and bushy tailed downstairs."

"My tail isn't bushy till twelve," Dick mutters. Alfred chooses to ignore this comment and walks out again.

Dick rubs the sleep out of his eyes and groggily climbs out of bed. He goes to the bathroom, washes his face and gets dressed.

Dick arrives down at the breakfast table before Bruce. He and Bruce don't usually eat breakfast together. While Dick gets up for school most mornings, Bruce doesn't show up to work in W.E until midday. Alfred probably orchestrated this as a way to get the two to communicate.

There's a nice Saturday breakfast spread, with toast, baked beans, granola, cereal, eggs, bacon and two blueberry muffins. Seemingly a lot for two people, but it's needed. Lots of calories to burn.

Dick pulls out the chair on the right side to the head of the table and sits down. He grabs some toast, butters it and then spoons baked beans on top of it. The idea of doing such a thing was weird to him when Alfred first suggested it, but Dick has grown fond of the British comfort food. Alfred, on the other hand, still doesn't really understand why Americans think muffins are a suitable breakfast item, but included them anyways.

Dick is already moving onto some cereal when Bruce comes into the breakfast room - yes, they have a separate dining room just for breakfast - wearing his silk red and gold embroidered bathrobe. He hasn't shaved yet and has a dead look in his eyes. Dick is well used to the sight by now.

Bruce seats himself at the head of the table and makes a grunting noise that resembles 'good morning.' Bruce Wayne between the hours of 3am-12pm is a rare sight.

"Morning," Dick says, then shoves another spoonful of cereal into his mouth. Froot loops. The cereal brand never came into the manor before Dick did. Neither did pop tarts, but Dick is only allowed those for breakfast on his birthday.

Bruce picks up the newspaper Alfred had set on the table next to him. He examines the headlines while pouring himself a large mug of pure black coffee. Dick wouldn't mind some coffee himself, but there's no sugar on the table and he can't drink coffee without a few spoons of it. Or without cream. His orange juice will have to do.

"Another school shooting yesterday," Bruce says with distaste. Those were becoming a lot more common.

"Yeah, I heard about it at school yesterday. Detroit. One dead, three injured, all students. Started the usual debate in class. Some kids were even bragging about the guns they have," Dick rolls his eyes.

"Do you know what to do if a shooting happens at school?" Bruce asks seriously.

"Yeah. We did an ALICE drill last week."

They eat in silence for a little while as Bruce reads through the paper. This would be the perfect opportunity for Dick to tell Bruce that he's bisexual, but the words just..don't come. It's like there's something physically preventing him. It's weird. Usually he talks too much. He knows Bruce probably won't care. He's liberal and his cousin is a lesbian for goodness' sake.

"Is there anything you want to tell me?" Bruce asks, stiff and awkward, catching Dick off guard. His heart starts racing but he manages to reply somewhat calmly.