DC/Marvel fic
Title: A Different Life
Characters: Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, wee!Dick, wee!Remy
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1069
Disclaimer: DC and Marvel own.
AN: Prompt by pervyficgirl from the April Fools' Meme
“Are you certain this is the best course of action, sir?”
“No, Alfred, but I could hardly leave him where I found him,” Bruce replied. He did not go into specifics, but he didn’t need to. All the residents of the Manor knew the horrible details.
Alfred only nodded. He could not deny the truth of the statement. Anyone with an ounce of compassion would have helped the boy, but as to the other matter…
“How is he?”
Both Bruce and Alfred turned to see Dick, out of his costume and in civilian clothes, approach.
“He’ll be fine,” Bruce assured him. He knew the boy would recover from his physical injuries, but he couldn’t say the same about the traumatic experience itself. However, the boy was young, resilient. It was possible he could overcome it. Dick had.
Alfred removed the tray containing clean bandages, medical tools, and ointment from the chair and Dick sat down. He watched Alfred, then Bruce, and his gaze finally settled on the unconscious boy. He frowned at his labored breathing. He looked so little, so innocent lying there.
“What happened to Dr. Essex?” Dick asked without looking away from the boy. He brushed away some of the long auburn strands of hair away from his forehead.
“He’ll be in Arkham until his trial.”
“Good,” Dick whispered. The things that doctor had done…Dick shuddered involuntarily. He looked up at Bruce, his eyes suddenly full of hope, “Can he stay with us?”
Alfred’s lips turned down at the corners.
Bruce had already spoken to Alfred, to the older man’s disapproval, but wanted to wait and gauge Dick’s reaction to the boy before making a final decision. It appeared there wouldn’t be any of the problems he had expected.
Bruce walked around the bed and stood behind Dick. He placed a hand on his shoulder, “We’ll ask him when he wakes up.”
…
“Remy. Can I ask you something?” Dick asked as he watched the tanned boy store away some of the new clothing Alfred had purchased for him.
“ ‘Course, mon petit.”
Dick rolled his eyes, “You know I’m older right?”
“Mebbe,” Remy grinned, “But ‘m taller,” he winked. He closed the drawer and sat on the edge of his new bed, “Y’ gon’ ask y’ question o’ no’?”
Dick sat down next to him, “Have…have they always been that way? That color? Your eyes, I mean. Bruce thinks maybe it’s something Essex did to you…” Remy looked down at his hands. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“‘S far as I know,” Remy shrugged, “Jean-Luc said dey were like dis when he found me.”
“I won’t tell anyone,” Dick promised, regretting bring up anything that would remind Remy of all he had lost. He put his hand on Remy’s shoulder, “I’m sorry about Jean-Luc… and your family. What he did to them-”
“‘S not your fault,” Remy interrupted. He stood up and walked towards the large window, “‘S mine.”
“Remy…” Dick came up behind him.
“Don’ say ‘s no’, d’accord? I couldn’ save my pere. I let Essex get his dirty hands on him! And Henri, mon frère!” Red eyes were full of unshed tears, “My whole family’s gone and ‘s all my fault!”
It hurt to hear such familiar words. Full of pain and longing and guilt, but Dick understood. He knew it all too well. Flashes of broken cables and bodies falling fast ran through his mind.
“It is not your fault, Remy.”
Both boys turned to see Bruce standing in the doorway.
“It is!” Remy yelled, his little hands turned to fists, “But I’ll get Essex! Je le jure!”
Bruce recognized the look of determination, the resolve running through every line of his small frame. However, the thirst for revenge so clear in his eyes overshadowed that and it gave Bruce pause. Perhaps Alfred was right. Perhaps bringing another child into the fold would be a mistake.
Blue eyes searched red. The boy would keep his word…of that Bruce was certain. But, perhaps under his guidance, with Bruce and Dick as examples, Remy could be turned into something else, something better.
Bruce returned Remy’s unwavering gaze, “I can show you how. Follow me.”
…
Dick landed with his back to the mat, but quickly jumped up into a defensive stance, “That was a cheap shot!”
“Villains don’t fight fair, oui?”
“Well, Robins are supposed to,” Dick countered.
Remy grinned, “‘Bout dat,” he managed to say before Dick’s foot connected to his shoulder nearly sending him stumbling back.
“About what?” Dick asked suspiciously, barely dodging a swift kick of retaliation.
“De Robin suit.”
“What about it?” Dick frowned a little, standing upright and ending their sparring for the moment. The Robin suit might have been a little bright, but he couldn’t help loving it all the same. It was one of the constant reminders he had of his mom and dad. Every time he put it on, he felt like he was honoring them in some way.
He wondered what other changes Remy wanted to make to it. He had already started wearing full-length tights saying he wouldn’t go outside in “little green panties” anymore. He also changed some of the yellow to pink. How pink was a “better” color Dick did not know.
“I like de ‘R’,” he pointed to the insignia on his chest, “Stands for Remy after all-”
“Richard, actually,” Dick corrected with a grin.
Remy pretended to ignore him, “But ‘m no’ wearin’ no’ cape no more.”
“But it’s part of the suit,” Dick pouted, knowing he looked like a five year old, but he didn’t care.
Remy ran to the costume vault and Dick followed.
“Alfred got it for me,” Remy smiled, holding up a brown, leather trench coat, “I told him about one Jean-Luc had and he got me one jus’ like it.”
Remy hung the trench coat and threw off his clothes. Quickly, he put on his Robin suit and started to take off the cape. Dick stepped closer and helped remove it. Grinning the entire time, Remy slipped into the trench coat.
“Wha’ do y’ t’ink?”
“It looks good,” Dick smiled.
“‘Course it does, I’m wearing it,” Remy winked, but it felt good to know that at least Dick wouldn’t have a problem with it. Bruce on the other hand…
Dick's smile turned sly, “You know the best part about the trench coat?”
“Quoi?”
“It hides most of the pink.”