A/N

That's right..I'm still alive! Bask in my glory!

Thanks again for all the souls...I don't know really what I am supposed to do with them...so I have them in a jar on my nightstand, where they will probably stay and collect dust, haha. 

Anyways, thank you for your patience and enjoy this awkward short chapter! The next one is going to be a musical I swear.

~Ringleader_Robin

(kit)

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Dick stared up at the mansion in front of him, sighing heavily. When the bats said he would get him out of the kiddy league clubhouse, he was not expecting that he was going to be living with his civilian identity Bruce Wayne. Goody. "Batsy, this is not what I meant by freedom, I do not find this at all a fair trade." He glared at the man beside him, who gave him a stern look. "Sorry..'Bruce'" Dick rolled his eyes. "The deal was I would talk to the Canary chick if you gave me my freedom...living under your roof is not freedom. It might even be worse."

"I kept my end of the deal, I said that I would get you out of Mount Justice." Bruce smirked slightly at the child's irritated expression. "I said nothing about freedom, you thought that on your own."

"Bamboozled by a playboy billionaire..this year just keeps getting better and better." Dick didn't dare move any closer to the large entranceway doors of the mannor, not wanting to have anything to do with it. "I hope you realize that I will not be cooperative..the second I enter this home, you will not get me out of it. I will take it over so help me."

"Well it is your home now as well..it is fine if you take it over." Bruce commented calmly, knowing that the best way to get at Richard was to let him know that he can't get under your skin.

Dick scowled. "This is not my home, it never will be." He gestured to the mansion. "Do I look like a curly red haired girl or what?"

"Excuse me?" Bruce asked, confused.

"I asked if I looked like Annie, Brucie I am pretty sure you are going to get sued for so obviously ripping out scenes from the script of Annie..I mean..rich billionaire takes on an orphan who has nothing blah blah blah." Dick gestured absently. "Whatever, let's see what ridiculous "antiques" you have, shall we?" he hummed and without warning opened the door to the mansion and walking in. "Wow...your interior is ugly... like your designer was an old blind lady." He laughed a bit but paused, eyes focusing on another person who was in the room. "Dude...you got a butler...?!" Rat grins and runs up to the elderly man. "Oh please oh please tell me he is british..please complete the cliche and make my day."

"Master Bruce, I take it that this is young Master Richard?" The elderly man spoke, a kind smile on his face.

Dick's grin grew wide at the other's accent, not caring that he was actually showing his excitement. "Sweet. Hey do you know another word for butler is 'batman'..so that makes you batman's batman." He cackled before running off, leaving the two older men at the front entrance.

"Rather energetic one, isn't he." Alfred grinned, watching the child run off.

"Yes, he is quite the handful." Bruce sighed a bit. " I have a feeling that the mannor will become a lot more chaotic now that he is here."

"Well I think we can handle it, after all, he is still just a child."

"Don't let him hear you say that, he will take it as a challenge." Bruce chuckled a bit, listening to the sound of echoing footsteps running down the hallways.

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"Be..our guest.. Be our guest..." Dick hummed slightly as he walked down the stairs after smelling food. He will have to admit, it smelled a lot better than any of the food he had gotten at Mount Justice. He snuck down silently, eyeing the elderly man in the kitchen standing near the stove.

"Ah master Richard, I am afraid that dinner will not be ready for another hour or so."

Dick's nose crinkled a bit in distaste. "It's Rat..I do not go by that name anymore, and even if you did..I would prefer Dick not Richard." His eyes narrowed in on the stove, wondering if there was any food he could steal when the british butler wasn't looking. Alfred must have noticed his staring because he turned to face the other.

"Perhaps you should get cleaned up before dinner, that way when you are finished the food will be ready."

Dick scoffed slightly. "I am cleaned up." He gestured to his dirty jacket and his least stained pair of pants. To him, this was how he would dress for royalty, he even somewhat combed his hair today, even though the comb got stuck in his hair and he had given up trying.

"I see we will need to take you shopping later, and maybe get you a haircut. I will inform master Bruce that we should make a visit to the mall tomorrow" Alfred smiled kindly once more.

"How about no." Dick scowled. "First of all, I don't 'shop'. Secondly, I am happy with my clothes, they fit me just right. And lastly, I am not letting some psycho near me with a pair of scissors. Haven't you seen Sweeney Todd?..Rat will not taste good in a pie, I assure you."

"Master Richard I insist--"

"Stop using that name old man!" Dick snapped at. " It is either Rat Or Dick..I hate being called Richard." He paused when he felt the presence of another person and turned quickly to see Bruce wayne standing over him. "Oh hello 'Bruce'." He spoke coldly, forgetting for a moment that this was his house. "Tell your servant that I do not need to be cleaned up."

"Alfred is a good friend and I expect you to treat him with respect." Bruce stated sternly, but the child did not seem to care.

"Respect is not something I give Bats. Sorry to say, but I am not some charity case that you can take home and expect me to turn out like the typical boy next door. I am not changing. I will always be Rat, not some goody two shoe sidekick." He smirked sarcastically before leaning against the wall. "Go ahead and try as you will, I'll play along because it makes me laugh just thinking about it, but once a Rat, always a Rat."