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awhitehead17 · 8 months

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Protecting the flock

Batkids, Protective Dick, Bad Parent Bruce, Hurt Damian, Sibling Relationships, Angst, Injury.

Summary: When Bruce puts his rules before his family’s welfare, Dick knows he needs to act before things get out of hand more than it already has done. If Bruce isn’t willing to compromise then he doesn’t deserve to have any of them around. Dick will make sure his siblings are safe if it’s the last thing he does.

A/N: This is done for my 'A House Divided' square on my @badthingshappenbingo card.

Also on AO3

Enjoy! :D

Dick storms his way inside of the Batcave and over to where Bruce is currently hunched in his chair in front of the batcomputer. He stops just short of a couple feet away from the man and glares at him, feeling the pent up rage waiting to burst out of him, miraculously he manages to restrain himself and somewhat calmly speaks his words.

“Are you being serious right now? For the love of god tell me the message I received less than an hour ago isn’t true.”

Bruce doesn’t even turn towards him which only adds to his anger.

“You shouldn’t be on your feet. What are you doing up?”

“Cut the crap Bruce.” Dick snaps, folding his arms over his chest. He ignores how his leg throbs from the weight he’s putting on it, a new injury being aggravated and further proving Bruce’s point, however he has something much more important to deal with than that right now. “Why have you pulled Damian from being Robin? He’s done nothing wrong.”

A quiet huff comes from Bruce and while the man still doesn't turn towards him, Dick sees the tension throughout his body by the way his back straightens and his fists clench tightly.

“Of course he would cry to you.” He mutters this under his breath and before Dick could retaliate at the words Bruce is finally turning to face him, the man stands up to his full height and practically looms over Dick. It would be intimidating if Dick hadn’t of had years to get used to it.

As Bruce faces him Dick is partially aware of more people gathering in the cave, standing a safe enough distance away but close are enough to hear and watch what is about to become a full blown argument between the man and his eldest son. Dick ignores them. He’s here for one reason.

“Damian has proven tonight he cannot be trusted in the field. He disobeyed my orders and ignored the one main rule we have in this family. He crossed a line and I will not accept that. He cannot be trusted.”

By the time Bruce has finished speaking Dick is clenching his jaw so hard that his face begins to hurt, his hands are now clenched into fists at his sides. His whole body is trembling from the repressed anger he is struggling to keep at bay and he forces himself to take a deep breath in order to stop himself from swinging at the man. He glares hard at Bruce, both surprised and yet not by what he was hearing.

“Damian saved my life tonight. He doesn’t deserve the punishment you’re giving him.”

This clearly infuriates the man. As he talks his voice grows louder and more tempered with each word. “He killed someone Dick! That is an act I cannot forgive. He knows our rules. He’s been part of this family long enough to understand what he is doing and the difference between right and wrong.”

“He saved my life!” Dick exclaims, his own voice raising to match the man’s before him. “It wasn't his intention, he didn’t mean for it to happen.”

“Intention or not it did.”

Dick’s eyes widen and he throws up his hand dramatically, unbelieving of the man in front of him.

“You’re punishing him for saving my life. Would you rather me be dead or rather some unknown assailant attacking us? One which who was working for Ra’s by the way…”

Silence follows his words and Dick couldn’t believe it when Bruce says nothing.

He scoffs. “Oh of course, you’d rather one of us be dead then break one of your precious rules like you've never broken it yourself- intentional or not.”

“Watch what you are saying Richard Grayson. I will not be disrespected. We have rules for a reason and Damian failed to oblige by them tonight.”

Dick isn’t at all intimated. Even when the man pulls out the full name card, it doesn’t bother him, Dick is a grown ass man and by now it takes a whole lot more to shake him than that. After all he was raised by Bruce wasn’t he?

“Quite frankly if anyone was in the wrong tonight it would be me. I put Damian in an awkward spot, I’m the one with the experience and Damian reacted to a circumstance which I put him in. He does not deserve to be punished Bruce. Overturn your punishment and we’ll talk something through between us, Damian stays out if this.”

Wordlessly Bruce steps up to him but rather than taking a step back Dick tilts his head up and meets his gaze head on. He returns Bruce’s hard glare with his own.

“You forget who is in charge here Dick.” He says lowly, his voice dropping an octave and sounding more threatening than before. “I am Damian’s mentor and more so I am his father, I choose what happens to my son. Not you. He is pulled from Robin indefinitely until I trust him again which is unlikely to ever happen again, he’s lucky to even still be part of the family, I will not hesitate to disown him and remove Wayne from his name.”

Dick clenches his teeth and his heart lurches at the man’s words. Just when he thought it couldn’t get worse, it most definitely did.

A small scuffle on the other side of the cave grabs their attention. If it had been anything else but the deathly silence that’s encased the cave after Bruce’s words they wouldn’t have even heard it, but the silence surrounding them meant they could have heard a pin drop, this small scuffle sounded out a hundred times louder than it normally would have.

They look over and Dick sucks in a breath when he spots Damian staring at them looking shocked. An unusual expression to see on the young teenager. Damian’s quiet question, “what?” echoes loudly in the otherwise silent cave.

From his other side a whispered “oh shit” is said and Dick knows it’s one of his siblings, Jason most likely, but he pays it no mind.

“Damian…” he calls out but the teenager is already shaking his head and taking a step back. Before Dick could react further Damian is turning on his heels and sprinting up the staircase, back the way he came.

Feeling heavy despair Dick knew what he had to do. He had the idea already formed in his mind even before he approached Bruce but he had naively hoped he could convince the man otherwise. Clearly he needs to go through with his original plan.

Turning to the group gathered on the opposite side of the cave, he eyes them all up before landing on the person he needs. “Cass, would you be able to find Damian and get him to my car, it’s out the front. We’ll be leaving shortly. You’re more than welcome to join us.”

Cass nods once in understanding, from the start Dick knew where Cass would fall in this argument with Bruce. As she walks by them she steps up to Bruce, also completely unaffected by his intimating height, and sends him a scowl.

“Family first. We protect one another above all else.”

With that statement, and before Bruce could react, she wanders off towards the staircase in the hunt for the youngest of their family. If anyone could relate to Damian’s situation, it would be Cass.

Dick turns back to Bruce, bracing himself he crosses his arms over his chest and stands up tall. “I’ll be taking Damian back with me to Bludhaven. Do not contact us. I don’t want to hear from you, not after this. Cass will also be coming with me.”

Dick doesn't want any of his siblings to be around Bruce right now. He’s the oldest he’ll do whatever he can to make sure they’re safe and if that means getting them away from Bruce then so be it. He can’t make them come with him of course, they’re all old enough to make their own decisions, however he’ll appropriately adjust what he needs to depending on whatever their decisions will be.

“Jason,” Dick turns to the man in question and unsurprisingly he’s greeted with a cocky grin, one which tells him that Jason is strongly enjoying this whole situation.

“Oh don’t worry about me Dickie, I’m on your side. The old man has never accepted me once I came back from the dead a changed man. I’ll be right here with you… y’know, just in case.”

Dick understands immediately. Jason will remain here with him acting as back up. Just in case Bruce decides to do anything that may prevent them from either leaving or something else. He nods once to his brother in appreciation. He also knew what side Jason would be on, it doesn't take a genius to work out the reason behind why.

“Tim.”

Dick turns to his second youngest brother who jumps at the sudden attention on him. Dick hates the way a skeptical expression appears on his face. Out of all his siblings, Tim is the one he’s most unsure on what his decision will be. Tim’s always had his reservations on Damian and wasn't afraid to show it, he even went as far as adding Damian to his villain hit list or whatever it was. Dick is honestly unsure on what side Tim is on right now.

Tim shakes his head looking almost scared. “Please don’t bring me into this…”

That doesn't help to give Dick his answer. Giving his brother a look, hopefully one which shows his support no matter what he decides (although Dick would certainly prefer one choice over the other) Dick tells him, “It’s up to you what you want to do. But for now please go upstairs and let me know shortly.”

Tim doesn't say anything and doesn’t move for several beats. His eyes flicker between the rest of the men in the room, taking them in one by one. It’s only when Jason nudges him that he finally gets a move on. He scurries past them in order to get to the staircase and just as he’s about to ascend Bruce’s voice calls out freezing him in place.

“You go with him Timothy, don’t expect to be allowed to return…” His threat hangs in the air and it clearly shocks Tim to stands at the bottom of the staircase gaping at the man.

Dick feels the anger surge in him again and his protective instincts flare up. “You won’t touch him.” He warns Bruce with a cold look. “If you even think about cutting Tim off, or any of us, you’ll have another thing coming for you Bruce. Don’t try it.”

Turning back to Tim, Dick this time tells him, “get a bag and go to my car. We’ll talk about it later on.” His intention had been to give Tim a choice, but after Bruce’s threat he’s definitely not leaving Tim behind. The kid can look after himself, sure but Dick will feel better knowing he isn’t near Bruce. Now a visibly trembling Tim hurries up the staircase without looking back.

Jason comes to stand beside him and the two of them face Bruce together in a rare moment of unity. They were shortly raised together by this man until life ripped them apart. And now, after years of miscommunication, misunderstandings, they stand together in front of someone who threatens their own family and their younger siblings.

“We’ll be leaving and you will not contact us. I’ll be in touch when we’re ready and not before. If you even think about trying to take legal action against us be prepared for a fight because I will rip you to shreds and ruin everything about you. Your lawyers are nothing compared to mine, so I highly recommend not going down that route.”

Bruce stares at him, his face hardened, his jaw is clenched and his hands are in tight fists at his sides, his eyes glare daggers at Dick. He’s not happy, not by a long shot but Dick knows Bruce knows he doesn't have a foot to stand on in this situation. He knows Dick is not bluffing.

When the man says nothing Dick finally moves away from him. He begins heading for the staircase, but after only a couple steps he looks over his shoulder one last time he says, “Bye Bruce.”

Along with Jason Dick climbs the stairs and out of the cave for what seems like the very last time. Once he’s at the top his leg finally gives way, the adrenaline fading away making it now impossible to ignore the injury in his leg, he no longer needs to stand off to Bruce so he lets himself fall but instead of hitting the ground arms wrap around him and haul him back up right.

Jason is there supporting his weight and Dick leans on him without any protest.

“C’mon Dick, you've done the hard part and now let’s get the kids away from here.”

Dick hums in response and lets Jason lead them to the foyer where their siblings are anxiously waiting for them. Life will be different for them from here on out but it’s going to be okay because they’ll get through together. Bruce made his decision to put his rules before family, Damian made a decision which saved Dick’s life, and if Bruce can’t accept that then he doesn’t deserve to have any of them around.

Dick will make sure his siblings are safe and cared for if it’s the last thing he does.

#dick grayson #jason todd #bruce wayne #tim drake #cassandra cain #damian wayne #batfamily #bad parent bruce #protective dick #mother hen dick #sibling relationship #angst #hurt damian #fanfiction #bad things happen bingo #a house divided #dc comics

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officialyourdailyinspiration · 2 months

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Jesus and Beelzebul

22 Then some people brought to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk, because he had a demon. Jesus healed the man so that he could talk and see. 23 All the people were amazed and said, "Perhaps this man is the Son of David!" 24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, "Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people." 25 Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking, so he said to them, "Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And any city or family that is divided against itself will not continue. 26 And if Satan forces out himself, then Satan is divided against himself, and his kingdom will not continue. 27 You say that I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons. If that is true, then what power do your people use to force out demons? So they will be your judges. 28 But if I use the power of God's Spirit to force out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 "If anyone wants to enter a strong person's house and steal his things, he must first tie up the strong person. Then he can steal the things from the house.

30 "Whoever is not with me is against me. Whoever does not work with me is working against me. 31 So I tell you, people can be forgiven for every sin and everything they say against God. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, now or in the future. 33 "If you want good fruit, you must make the tree good. If your tree is not good, it will have bad fruit. A tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces. 34 You snakes! You are evil people, so how can you say anything good? The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. 35 Good people have good things in their hearts, and so they say good things. But evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things. 36 And I tell you that on the Judgment Day people will be responsible for every careless thing they have said. 37 The words you have said will be used to judge you. Some of your words will prove you right, but some of your words will prove you guilty." 38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law answered Jesus, saying, "Teacher, we want to see you work a miracle as a sign." 39 Jesus answered, "Evil and sinful people are the ones who want to see a miracle for a sign. But no sign will be given to them, except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 Jonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights. In the same way, the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights. 41 On the Judgment Day the people from Ninevehn will stand up with you people who live now, and they will show that you are guilty. When Jonah preached to them, they were sorry and changed their lives. And I tell you that someone greater than Jonah is here. 42 On the Judgment Day, the Queen of the Southn will stand up with you people who live today. She will show that you are guilty, because she came from far away to listen to Solomon's wise teaching. And I tell you that someone greater than Solomon is here.

43 "When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it travels through dry places, looking for a place to rest, but it doesn't find it. 44 So the spirit says, 'I will go back to the house I left.' When the spirit comes back, it finds the house still empty, swept clean, and made neat. 45 Then the evil spirit goes out and brings seven other spirits even more evil than it is, and they go in and live there. So the person has even more trouble than before. It is the same way with the evil people who live today." 46 While Jesus was talking to the people, his mother and brothers stood outside, trying to find a way to talk to him. 47 Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, and they want to talk to you." 48 He answered, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" 49 Then he pointed to his followers and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what my Father in heaven wants." — Matthew 12:22-50 | New Century Version (NCV) The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Cross References: Leviticus 24:16; 1 Samuel 24:13; 1 Kings 10:1; 2 Kings 14:25; Proverbs 10:20-21; Proverbs 11:24; Proverbs 18:21; Isaiah 49:24; Jonah 1:1-2; Jonah 1:7; Jonah 3:4; Matthew 1:18; Matthew 4:10; Matthew 4:24; Matthew 7:16-17; Matthew 7:28; Matthew 8:20; Matthew 9:4; Matthew 9:32; Matthew 9:34; Matthew 10:15; Matthew 13:1; Matthew 16:1; Mark 3:31; Mark 3:34; Luke 11:24-25; John 15:14; Hebrews 6:4; 2 Peter 2:20; 1 John 3:8

#Jesus #Beelzebul #a house divided #an unpardonable sin #good and bad fruit #sign of Jonah #Matthew 12:22-50 #Gospel of Matthew #New Testament #NCV #New Century Version Bible #Thomas Nelson Inc.

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