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Bruce sat across the table staring at the little boy in front of him, who was staring back. Both were not blinking.
Bruce squinted his eyes. They started to feel the effects. His eyes were starting to feel dry But he couldn't blink, not until the boy blinked first.
He had no choice though. He had to. Bruce blinked.
"Yay!" Dick cheered, "I win! I knew I could beat you!"
"Yeah, you sure did, Chum," Bruce said, rubbing at his closed eyes trying to get some moisture back on them.
"Can we play a different game now?" Dick asked, standing on the chair and jumping up and down.
Bruce looked at the watch on his wrist. It was close to 6:30 pm which was almost dinner time for them.
"I would love to but I need to get some paperwork done," Bruce told Dick.
"Oh okay." Dick seemed saddened by the news but understood. Sometimes his parents couldn't play with him because they were busy. That doesn't mean they didn't love him any less.
"Why don't you help Alfred with dinner?" Bruce suggested.
Dick seemed to peak up at that idea. He always did like helping people.
"Okay." Dick jumped off the chair and ran to the kitchen.
Once Dick was out of the room Bruce let out a heavy sigh. He got out of the chair and started to walk to his bedroom.
Bruce didn't feel good about lying to Dick. He just wasn't used to having a hyperactive kid running around the manor. It wasn't a bad thing. Not at all. Just Bruce doesn't have the energy to keep up with him.
So, yes Bruce did lie. Instead of paperwork he would go and have a nap in his bed. Maybe skip dinner. Depending if he wanted to wake up or not.
Dick sat on the counter Next to the stove where he watched Alfred stir the spaghetti.
Dick leaned close and smelled it.
"This smells amazing, Alfred." Dick complimented.
Alfred smiled, "thank you. Would you like to taste test it, Master Dick?"
"Yes please."
Alfred grabbed a teaspoon and dipped it into the pot. Making sure to get a bit of everything.
He passed the spoon to Dick who carefully grabbed it. He blew on it, making sure it wasn't too hot before trying.
"Mmm. This is really yummy." Dick told him.
Dick tried dipping the spoon back in it to get another taste before Alfred stopped him.
"Why don't you get the table set up and I'll get Master Bruce," Alfred said.
"Okay!"
Dick jumped down from the counter and went to the dining room.
Alfred turned off the stove and started to head up to Bruce's room.
There was a reason why he didn't send the boy to get Bruce. Alfred knew anytime Bruce used the excuse that he had paperwork to do was because he wasn't feeling very sociable or as Bruce put it, having no energy.
Instead of doing paperwork Bruce would run off to his room and have a nap.
Alfred didn't bother knocking on the door. It was already opened a crack. Meaning that anyone was invited to come in. Even if Bruce wasn't in there.
"Master Bruce," Alfred called out, once he entered the room.
"What?" Bruce's voice was muffled by the pillows on his bed.
"Dinner is ready. You need to come down now." Alfred told him.
"I don't want to."
Alfred was about to try again but stopped when he heard a voice speak up.
"Is Bruce not feeling well?"
Bruce quickly sat up at the voice.
Alfred was the one to reply though.
"Master Bruce is feeling a bit tired. He doesn't have a lot of energy as you do. Sometimes he just needs a break from everything and lay down for a bit." Alfred tried to keep it simple and not make it seem like Dick's fault. It wasn't his fault after all.
Dick looked past Alfred to Bruce.
"Oh. Why didn't you say so?" With that, Dick walked up to the king-sized bed and climbed into it.
"What are you doing?" Bruce asked.
"To be honest, I could use a nap too." It was clear Dick was lying but why?
"You don't have to lay with me, Chum. I'll probably go to sleep," Bruce said honestly.
"That's okay."
Dick reached over and turned the TV on. It was set on a low volume with a cartoon playing. Bruce had no idea what it was but Dick must like it.
"Would you two still like dinner?" Alfred asked.
Bruce thought about it. He could eat but at the same time, he was too tired to eat anything.
"No thank you, Alfred," Bruce said.
"I'll have mine later," Dick spoke up.
With that Alfred left.
Bruce laid his head back on the pillow. He was lazily watching the tv.
Bruce felt the weight of Dick leans on his shoulder. It brought a sense of warmth and comfort to Bruce. Before he knew it he was fast asleep.
Dick had waited until Bruce's breathing evened out and he was snoring before Dick turned off the TV and climbed out of bed to hunt down Alfred.
He ended up finding the old Butler dusting in the living room.
"Alfred?" Dick called to him.
Alfred didn't even jump when Dick sneaked up on him.
"Do you still have dinner for me?" Dick asked as if Alfred would waste good food.
"Of course I do, Master Dick."
Alfred went into the kitchen and dished up a bowl of spaghetti and placed it in front of Dick.
Dick started to eat it. Enjoying every mouthful of it.
"Is Master Bruce asleep?" Alfred asked.
Dick nodded, "I wanted to stay with him for while. Just because someone is going to sleep doesn't mean just being with them isn't spending time with them. Plus I always found it comforting when my parents stayed with me when I went to sleep. I hoped Bruce felt the same way when I stayed with him."
Alfred smiled, "You're a good kid, Master Dick."
Dick looked up at Alfred and flashed a wide grin.
THE END