Chapter Text
The front door slammed shut.
That went well, Bruce thought, shaking his head as he settled down on the couch. He frowned. He hadn’t expected Selina to agree to this without some discussion, but he’d thought it’d go a little smoother.
He’d been wrong.
The door to the bathroom opened; Bruce glanced over the back of the couch. Steam billowed out into the small living room, filling it with the faint smell of soap. The boy shuffled out, fresh clothes sticking to still damp skin, black hair clean but still wild and sticking up in places, hastily fluffed by the towel draped around his neck.
“I borrowed a towel,” Dick said, settling down on the end of the couch. Bruce nodded. Dick glanced around the room.
“Where’s Selina?”
“Out,” Bruce said. Dick nodded but didn’t reply, a frown on his lips. Bruce held back a sigh.
Still the right call, he told himself. He looked over the boy beside him. His eyes were red, his face puffy.
The shower was a good place to cry.
Bruce remembered that.
Dick shifted, his eyes fixed on his lap. Bruce didn’t attempt to fill the silence. No words would help.
He knew that better than most.
After a minute, Dick reached for the remote. He paused, glancing up at Bruce. “Do you mind?” Bruce shook his head. Dick turned on the TV and flipped through the channels, studying each one, looking for something.
“You know Italian?” Bruce asked.
“No,” Dick said. “But I’m a good guesser.” Bruce raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been watching this one all day,” he continued, stopping on what appeared to be a soap opera. “Lots of people, lots of yelling, lots of bad makeup.” Dick looked up at Bruce; the briefest of smiles pulled at the corners of his lips before he turned back to the screen.
Strange, Bruce thought. A pair of voices filled the apartment, chasing away the silence. Dick leaned forward, his face intense as he watched the feuding lovers.
The room darkened as the sun set. Dick settled deeper into the couch, folding his legs up in front of him, his eyes never leaving the TV. Bruce leaned back, watching Dick from the corner of his eye. He frowned.
Bringing the boy home was the right call, but that didn’t mean Bruce had the slightest idea what was supposed to come next.
“I think that lady’s in love with the blond guy,” Dick said, pulling Bruce out of his thoughts. He glanced over at the boy, who nodded toward the TV. “But he’s married to the pretty redhead.”
Bruce looked back to the screen, tilted his head.
“Actually,” he replied after a moment. “I believe that’s her brother.” Dick’s eyes widened. Bruce shrugged. “I know a little Italian.”
The boy’s smile grew wider, taking some of the heaviness from his face.
“So,” Dick asked, leaning in closer. A flicker of light danced behind his blue eyes. “What’s happening now?”