Chào các bạn! Vì nhiều lý do từ nay Truyen2U chính thức đổi tên là Truyen247.Pro. Mong các bạn tiếp tục ủng hộ truy cập tên miền mới này nhé! Mãi yêu... ♥

CH 10: Infiltration success

"How would you feel about starting therapy?"

How did he feel?

He felt like it was a loaded question. Of course, the first time his new 'father' actually wanted to talk was to discuss something as idiotic as therapy. Bruce had probably already scheduled him an appointment.

But Dick did not need therapy.

No, he just needed to get this stupid act over with so he could find Batman and get his revenge.

Playing the traumatized orphan kid was growing tiring. Quite literally tiring. The dark bags under his eyes attested to just how well the pills had been working.

Almost too well.

He was growing sick and tired of seeing his parents dying in his dreams night after night. The constant paranoia was not helping either.

Play nice.

Dick rubbed at his eyes, a tired sigh slipping past his lips as he blinked across the counter at Bruce. "I don't want to talk to a stranger about stuff... it's not going to help. I-I don't... I can't."

"Talking to someone could help. If not a therapist, then how about me? What was this one about?" Bruce asked, his ever stoic tone hinting faintly of concern as he set a steaming mug of hot chocolate down in front of Dick. "You cannot continue like this. It isn't healthy. You clearly haven't been sleeping, and you're losing weight which is not safe in your condition."

Dick sighed again, tucking his hands around the mug and relishing in the warmth as Bruce moved around the counter to sit on the stool next to him.


Slade used to make hot chocolate when he had first taken him in and he would have nightmares about his parents' deaths. It was strange; to have someone else doing the same.

Especially since these nightmares were self-inflicted.

Bruce was probably just done with being woken up all the time. After all, this had been going on for a little over a month.

Silence enveloped the two as Dick thought over his options. Was this the right time?

Maybe.

A quick glance at the clock showed him that it would not be easy to escape the situation.

3:15am.

Bruce did not normally leave for work until around seven.

Dick yawned loudly before taking a small sip of the hot chocolate. "My parents."

"It was about your parents? The accident?"

He gave a small nod, concentrating on channeling all of the pain and hurt he felt into his words. "I don't... I-I... it wasn't an accident."

"Why not? Do you have evidence?" Bruce's tone remained calm and soothing, leaving Dick fighting the urge to sneer.

The man was so stupid. It was almost too easy to feed him lies.

After all, who would suspect a child, much less one who had so clearly been victimized?

The plan was perfect.

Dick shook his head, twisting the mug in his hands, his teeth sinking into his lower lip. For all intents and purposes, he looked like an anxious, traumatized, child.

"No... I don't have e-evidence, but... but I s-saw people the night it happened. And... and I heard them arguing with Mr. Haley... the Ringmaster," he paused, taking in a shaky breath. "S-some of the men from th-that... that n-night... they were a p-part of the p-people who had me before J-J-Joker. It was a-a gang."

"You think that your parents were killed because a disagreement between the Ringmaster, Haley, and a gang? I mean... it is possible. If you want, I can get people to look into it, okay? Would that help?" Bruce sounded more genuinely concerned now, reaching over to place a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder.

Inwardly, Dick grinned.

So perfect.

He sniffled softly, looking up at Bruce with his large, tear filled, blue eyes. "Y-you would do that? R-r-really?"

Bruce stood up, enveloping Dick in a warm and comforting embrace. "Of course."

To Bruce, this was major progress. Dick had yet to truly open up to any of them about his time prior to residing in Wayne Manor. What he had just shared was a huge step forward. It showed that the boy was beginning to trust him. And Bruce promised himself that he would cherish that trust.

As Dick cried into his chest, Bruce tightened his hold around his son's frail body, anger toward those who had made him this broken building.

But he could not be angry. Dick needed him now.

Fingers brushing gently through the raven black hair, Bruce began to speak once more. "I understand wanting to find out the truth about your parents' deaths. Mine were killed when I was a child as well..."

Dick tuned out Bruce's heartfelt sharing of familial woes, focusing instead on the confusing feeling rising in his chest.

This was just a mission.

So why did he feel so safe and secure held in Bruce's embrace?

~•~

It was only a few days after his shared moment with Bruce when Dick received Slade's signal; yet another note hidden in the shoe.

This message was even more brief and straight to the point than the last one:

The time has come.

-Slade

Disposing of it carefully, Dick stretched out his arms and grinned.

Finally.

He had not spent his time injured wastefully. No, he had been scouting.

Dick was ready. He had completely memorized the mansion's floorplan and knew every detail of Alfred and Bruce's comings and goings.

Slipping out would be easy.

What came after would be more difficult, but Dick was ready. 

He had practiced for what was to come, had memorized what to say depending on the moment, had perfected his ability to lie into an art. 

Things were about to get risky, but Dick was ready for that risk. 

No.

Not just ready. 

Dick was excited. Finally, finally, it was time to focus on the main objective: taking down Batman. 

The infiltration had been a success. 

AN:

Ooof. Sorry this one is shorter than others have been. Trust me when I say that the next chapter more than makes up for it. 

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro