A Twist of Fate

(5K) Bonus

Y'ello everyone. Another story of the past. Wally's and Dick's date/meet the family will continue in 6K so don't worry. Now welcome to Dick's past.

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Joey had decided to stay with his Father for the summer. It's not like his mother would notice or care. He also wanted to know his new little brother. Yes, the all mighty Jericho has gotten attached to the small scared little boy, Richard. The boy didn't leave his room unless it was time to eat but after he'd scatter back to his room. It hurt Joey to see such a young kid tariffed of just leaving a room. That is what made Joey decided that he was going to get the boy to come out.

Joey walked up to his old bedroom door an knocked. No one answered. He really didn't expect the boy too. So he knocked again before coming in. The room was empty. Or it looked empty. Joey was trained by Deathstroke of all all people. He could hear the near inaudible breathing. The almost not there shift of cloth rubbing together.

He followed the sounds to his old desk. One he had etched, 'I hate homework' on with an old knife his dad had gotten him for his birthday. Even when he looked under it, there seemed to be no one there, the shadows coving his hiding place generously. If he could call out he would have but alas he couldn't.

He tried a different angle that his Father said worked for him but the boy had learned from past mistakes. Joey sighed internally. This would either end up bad or alright. He was hoping for the latter. With slight reluctance Joey got to the floor and crawled under the desk to see back into the shadowed cubby.

Dick flinched back, shining blue eyes going wide. He never expected anyone to come under the desk to get him. Joey just wanted to make sure that Dick could see him, since he couldn't hear him. With small movements of his hands Joey asked, "Do you know American sign language?"

Dick followed the movement before nodding.

Joey grinned, "Thank God. I don't know how we'd have communicated with out dad here to translate. Can you read English?"

This time Dick shook his head. Reading it and speaking it were just two different things. Speaking was easy. Reading, not so much.

"Well alright. Do you want to watch TV?"

Dick frowned, "Rhat TV?"

"What is TV?" Joey tried clarifying and Dick nodded, "It's like watching a Play or Musical but on an electric screen and more special effects. CGI is in most TV shows and movies now-a-days."

"S. J. Y.?" His letters were slurred and accented almost sound as different letters.

"Yeah. Computer Generated Image. We can watch Scooby Doo or Power Rangers. I'll even put on The Sweet Life of Zack and Cody."

Dick nodded, "Soobry Doo."

Joey nodded pulling himself out from under the desk before standing up. Dick came out slower, glancing everywhere at once. Joey headed for the door opening it and Dick tensed up. After a moment of nothing happening Dick followed after Joey to the den.

The den was like a bachelor's living room, which it was. It was a place that Grant and Joey hung out in most times. Slade not really having time to relax and watch TV. There was a black C shaped couch in the middle of the room facing the curved TV. 

Joey flopped down on the couch with a sigh. Living with his dad meant morning training every day. It wasn't bad just tiering, since he only kept up the bare minimum his father advised. Dick stood in the doorway looking every place at once. Joey pretended he didn't see, reaching for the remote and turning on the TV.

"Come and sit down. For Scooby Doo we have some movies or a few TV shows. Which one you want to watch?"

Dick walked over sitting himself down on the floor in front of the TV. Joey didn't push any more then that. Dick read through what was on the screen before pointing to the Cover with Shaggy and Scooby running away from a Griffin. Joey clicked on it. 

It was one of the movies he hadn't seen before but it was just as entertaining. Dick unbeknownst to him moved back until his back pressed to the couch. Joey smiled and watched the movie progress. When the movie finished Joey picked out another.

Slade came home to a near silent Haunt. Taking off his swords, guns, and any other weapon in his suit. Making his way through the Haunt, ending up in the Den. Joey was sitting on the couch, head leaning back, soft snores leaving his parted lips. What made the cold mercenary's heart was that held fearfully too his son's chest was a black haired little boy. Hair tangled and asku as he slept blissfully unaware of his surroundings.

"I'll get the paper work ready."

Slade turned to the soft whispered voice of Wintergreen, "What?"

"The adoption paper work. Keep up Slade. I know your getting old but your still spry. Now get the boys up. It's dinner and Richard is not missing a meal on my watch."

Slade rolled his eyes at the older man's retreating back. It took a second for Wintergreen's words to sink in. Adoption. Would that even be posable? He'd have to bring the boy back from the dead then see if the boy wanted to stay with him. And was he really the right choice to raise a broken, frail, and traumatized little boy. He barely made it through raising Joey, Grant, and Rose. He had help with them through his ex-wife.

Looking down at the boy and he knew. Slade knew that he wouldn't be able to give up the boy to the foster system. The boy was part of his family and he wouldn't give it up for the world.

Slade reached out running his gloved hand through the boy's matted hair. He'd have to get a bath soon. Richard's eyes cracked open, bright blue eyes glazed in half sleep. Without hesitating the boy reached out in silent asking to be picked up. Slade did, letting the boy barey his head in the crook of his neck and settling back to sleep. 

Joey stirred, blinking up at his father before noticing the boy in his arms.

"Dinner." Slade said simply, "Dick, can't miss a meal or I would have left you both."

"It's fine. Did he go back to sleep?"

"I think so. What did you do all day?"

"We watched Scooby Doo movies.... All of them. He wouldn't watch anything else."

Slade chuckled softly, "Come on let's go get some food before Wintergreen comes and gets us." Joey nodded with an amused smile, "And we can talk about adding a new little brother too our mitts"

Joey's eyes widened before a grin threatened to crack open his face, "I'd love a little brother."