Bloody Brothers

◇□ Chapter Three □◇

Dick sighed nervously as he stood in front of the mirror. He tried to pay down his hair, sighing in defeat as it flew back up. He lifted his chin, his fingers tracing over the dark bruises on his jaw, his eye almost completely swollen shut. He shrugged annoyed swiping the keys off of the table. Bruce came around the corner to see Dick judging himself in the hallway mirror, Bruce never said anything, but he saw him do it alot.

"Where are you going?" He asked knowing he hadn't seen him standing there.

"Out. I have to work on a project with another student." He answered halfway out the door.

"Okay, have fun." Bruce sighed as he waved and slammed the door. Sure, Dick hadn't said a word since he'd been here, but that still isn't a reason for him not to have opened up to Bruce by now. When the boys arrived, Bruce had no idea they had ever existed. Talia dropped them all off at his door step, only visiting once or twice a year. At first it was odd, really odd, and awkward, the manor went from having an old British man and a billionaire playboy, to an old British man and a billionaire playboy and four trained assassin children. It was hard at first, really hard. Jason never followed the rules, Dick did whatever Jason told him to do, Damian was constantly trying to kill Tim. The first few months were chaotic to say the least. Especially trying to get them adjusted into school, and everyday life. They were all exceptionally well educated, in the wrong things of course, but they were intelligent to say the least.

Dick sighed nervously as he pulled his keys out of the slot. He slid them into his pocket as his feet met the sidewalk pavement. He looked up at the tall apartment building, he let out a long stressful breath. 'It's just a project. It's not like a date or anything, you're not asking her to marry you. Even though you want to. Okay, shut up, you're only making this worse.' He told himself as he wondered through the halls up the stairs. He looked up to see the number apartment Barbara ahd told him. He took a deep breath, knocking quickly so he wouldn't have time to talk himself out of it. It only took a moment for the door to be answered, Barbara stood still in her school uniform.

"Dick?! I didn't think you were coming, I didn't see you at school today, please come in." She closed the door behind him as he stepped into her lovely modern apartment. "Oh lord, Dick, what happened to your face?" She asked worried turning his chin gently. He shrugged, she stepped back giving him a questionable frown. "You don't talk much do you?" He stared at her for a second. 'She doesn't know? Quick do something.'

"I can't." Her arms dropped down to her sides as did her expression.

"Oh.... I'm so sorry, I had no idea. Here, let's just get to work." She said quickly trying to lighten the mood. She led him to the couch, "Would you like anything to eat or drink?" He shook his head politely. "Okay, so, the project is we have to pick a planet, write a report, make a poster, and make a model." She read off the scoring guide. "What planet?"

"Neptune." Dick answered, Barbara carefully read his lips since she didn't know much of sign language, only parts of the alphabet.

"Neptune? Great, let's get started." She said excitedly. A boy walked into the kitchen from the hall, Dick could hear him open his bedroom door. He was tall, ginger, he went start for the fridge eyeing Barbara and her new friend.

"Got yourself another boyfriend, Barb?" He teased sticking his head in the fridge.

Barbara rolled her eyes, "No, he's my study partner for our science project." She answered.

"Yeah, okay." He repiled as though he didn't believe her. "What's your name anyway?" He asked closing the fridge door. Dick glanced at Barbara, who seemed to have gotten the message.