Forgotten Bonds – Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen
Cavorting with Fire

October 20th, 2008. Monday, 11:37 am.

Wintergreen’s interference the previous week was still irking Slade even with a full week of time passing by. A play day? Whoever heard of such a ridiculous thing?! This wasn’t girl scouts. The old man was seriously going senile – and he had the gall to excuse himself from all the activities!

That blasted, senile, doddering, old geezer!

But… if Slade was completely honest with himself, the day had turned out pretty interesting. He hadn’t been expecting the boy to open up enough to actually ask about his past. Luckily for the boy, it was a past that Slade hadn’t minded sharing with him. He did, however, avoid mentioning anything about meeting his wife during that time period. There was no need to mention such things.

It had been good; Slade admitted it – even with the bout of disobedience and willfulness that Dick displayed. Mentally counting to ten had truly helped Slade keep his temper and the boy had turned more submissive and cooperative after that. The casual day seemed to do the boy a world of good, especially after going through so much. While Slade didn’t really want to admit it, if Wintergreen hadn’t forced that relaxing day on them, the boy probably would’ve cracked under the stress. Now he seemed back to his natural self at times. Also, Slade hadn’t heard any more screams in the night, neither had the boy shown any panic attack tendencies.

But he still seemed skittish at times and confused. He seemed worried that Slade would exact violence against him. Not that Slade could blame him; he had done quite a bit to the boy over the previous month. But Slade had thought that it would’ve eventually worked.

But, interestingly enough, Dick seemed more submissive this past week. He obeyed more and without question, which was surprising to Slade. He still showed fire at times when he was getting tired or irritated, but for the most part he did very well. Perhaps the old man knew what he was talking about after all.

It seemed as if the mere threat of swatting him made the boy squirm, blush, and consent to a command like a meek little child. He had swatted the boy a few times for disrespect, only to get a startled frozen look; which quickly turned into that meek expression of a chastised child. It was really quite amusing to Slade. It also greatly pleased him. If he had known this new discipline technique would’ve worked this well, he would’ve done it since day one.

But it also confused him. Why wouldn’t the threat of getting an arm broken scare the boy into submission when a simple hard swat across his backside would? A broken arm hurt far more and was lasting pain. It simply perplexed Slade to no end. He just couldn’t comprehend the boy’s logic and thinking.

Another thing Slade noticed, it seemed to only last a little while before the boy got his fire back. Because no matter how many times he threatened today, the boy just would not listen to him; and thus, Slade was beginning to lose his temper with the infernal child.

Maybe it was because the education was on guns. He thought he’d start the boy off slow with it. He was currently teaching the boy at the kitchen table with an advanced technology tablet he had picked up before it was released to the public. Slade had hoped that the touch screen capabilities would make the boy more interested to learn about it, perhaps bring some interactive interest. He knew Batman’s moral code was ingrained in Dick and as such would be extremely hard to break. So, Slade was giving Dick an overview of the history of guns and the different types of the weaponry.

Dick was just not receptive to it at all.

“Slade, for the last time,” snapped Dick finally. “I don’t care. I refuse to learn this.”

Slade sighed, thoroughly exhausted by this point. Two hours of calmly working with the obstinate boy was now grating on him. Slade was at his limits of patience. He knew full well beforehand that this subject would be difficult, but he hadn’t realized it would be this difficult.

“Dick, I’ve told you. This is a necessary part of your education. Now please cooperate or you will face the consequences of continual disobedience and still have to do it.”

Dick vigorously shook his head. Slade drew a deep breath through his nose; using all his strength to calm his temper down. He was not going to break his promise. Oh, but nothing would please him more than to slap this boy silly.

“What is this?” asked Slade, pointing to a picture of a round metal cylinder – a suppressor or silencer. Dick only shook his head and looked away. Slade sucked on the roof of his mouth with his tongue as he felt the irritation rise.

“Dick, look at the screen now!” commanded Slade. Dick flinched at his tone, but he didn’t obey.

“I hate that stuff, Slade. I refuse to learn about it,” said Dick in an undertone. “I agreed to learn all that other stuff you’ve been teaching me only because I was saving my fight for this subject. I will not learn about guns.”

So, the boy figured he’d have to learn about guns. Interesting that he’d wait to put up a fight. Slade smirked. That was smart of Dick. If the boy had fought on every little thing, Slade would’ve only thought the boy was just merely being belligerent and difficult about his situation. But it seemed that Dick was vehement against the subject of guns.

Slade wondered irritably if Batman had drilled it into the boy’s head not to use guns. Probably did.

“This isn’t up for debate, Dick,” said Slade. “You will learn. You’ll learn how to use one as well. I’ll slowly and carefully teach you, but you will learn. I’m tired of playing games with you. Obey me.”

Dick sucked in his breath through his nose when Slade mentioned that he’ll be learning how to use one. Slade noticed that the boy shuddered nervously before it passed. The boy took a deep breath and turned to fully face Slade. By the look inside the boy’s crystal blue eyes, Slade knew he wasn’t going to like what the boy was about to say.

“No. I won’t obey you on this,” said Dick. Slade raised his eyebrow. Dick was pushing his limits, now wasn’t he? Well, there was nothing left to do. Normally, the boy would’ve suffered at least three slaps by this time. Slade had held back long enough – hadn’t even given the boy any single warnings. Now he had no choice but to deal with the boy in one way.

He had promised, after all.

“Very well,” said Slade. He set the tablet down and stood up. The boy stiffened slightly and did even more so when Slade grasped him by the underarm.

“What—”

“Stand up,” commanded Slade. He remembered Wintergreen’s advice, plus past days when he had been a father. He would not scare the boy into submission any more; it hadn’t worked. But this blatant disobedience would be put to a stop immediately.

The boy looked nervous as he slowly obeyed. Slade didn’t give him time to think, but began to pull him down the hallway. He kept a firm grip on the boy so he couldn’t pull away easily, but not too hard.

“Wh–where are we going?” asked Dick apprehensively.

“Where do you think?” answered Slade in response; not looking back at the boy. There was silence, but Slade could feel the sudden weight of the boy dragging his heels into the floor. It didn’t faze Slade at all.

“I told you what I’d do if you disobeyed me,” said Slade. “This is the price for your disobedience, Dick.”

“No, no, please stop this, Slade,” begged Dick in a low murmur. “I’ll do anything. Just don’t force me to learn about guns.”

“I keep telling you; this isn’t up for debate,” said Slade, not looking back at Dick. He continued to pull the boy along, but he hadn’t been expecting him to wrench fiercely out of his grip. Slade turned around to watch the boy dart back down the hallway. Slade repressed a growl and snapped his fingers.

“Initiate lockdown,” commanded Slade in a low murmur. There was a systematic clicking sound as all the doors in his haunt were locked.

“Slade, are you scaring that child?” came Wintergreen’s voice in Slade’s ear.

“No more than usual,” muttered Slade under his breath, so Dick couldn’t hear him.

“You need to be more patient,” chided Wintergreen.

“I have been!” cried Slade in a low voice. “I haven’t even reprimanded him. Blast it, I deserve a ‘gold star’ for restraining myself against this blasted boy; the little brat.”

“Quite. I’ll be sure to put that on the shopping list.”

“Will, that was sarcasm.”

“As was that. Remember; be gentle, but firm.”

Be gentle, but firm? How on earth was Slade supposed to achieve such a contradictory state?

The boy slammed into the basement door, ripping at the door handle that wouldn’t open. Dick struggled with the unbending door for a moment before giving up. He darted to the other door in the kitchen that led to the main room. Slade slowly walked down the hallway after him, breathing deeply. He would remain calm. He had to remain calm. He could do this – this gentle, but firm crap. Going off on the boy wasn’t going to do him any good anyway.

And Slade had promised, after all.

He stopped at the entrance of the hallway and folded his arms while he watched Dick uselessly struggle against the door to the main area. The boy whirled around, his back pressed against the door and bearing the appearance of a cornered animal. He inched to the side slowly, trying to put some distance between him and Slade.

“Dick, stop this foolishness,” said Slade. Dick frantically shook his head, his entire body trembling.

“No!” cried Dick, shaking his head even more. “I won’t let you beat me any more and I refuse to learn about guns.”

“I told you,” said Slade, trying not to grind his teeth in his irritation. Honestly, this boy… “I will never beat you again.”

“Of course, you will!” cried Dick, his chest heaving deeply and rapidly. “I’m not obeying you, after all. Any moment you’re going to hit me for this. Well, you can forget it. I’m sick of this. And you can’t make me learn about guns!”

“I am not going to hit you, Dick,” said Slade, trying to sound calm and reassuring. Staying in control was possible; yes, indeed – Slade had to keep repeating that to himself. There was no need to get angry with Dick. That boy could stand there until doomsday, but Slade was going to maintain his control and he would get this boy to obey if it was the last thing he ever did.

“Yes, you are! You’re planning to beat me again!”

Those blue eyes seemed to burrow deep into Slade’s own eye. There was a deep set of fear and confusion in those eyes. They were even glistening, as if at any moment the boy would break down. Slade wasn’t sure what was bringing on these hysterics. There was a complete physical effect that was rippling through the boy’s body at that moment.

“I am not going to beat you, boy,” said Slade, unable to keep the exasperation out of his voice. “I am, however, planning to spank you for this outrageous behavior.”

The boy’s countenance changed instantly. His eyes widened and his cheeks flushed deeply. He inched along the wall.

“Don’t call it that!” cried Dick.

Slade raised his eyebrow, thoroughly perplexed. “What should I call it?”

“No–nothing! I’m fourteen! Yo–you can’t!” cried Dick, inching even further away along the wall. Slade didn’t move. There were no exits from this room now and Slade currently barred the only entrance. Dick was trapped and there was no need to go after him just yet.

“I think I’ve proven that I can,” said Slade with a wry smirk, lifting his eyebrow. “Have I not?”

Further embarrassment and mortification flooded through the boy’s face. He turned his head to the side, staring at the floor as his chest heaved up and down.

“I was walloped,” whispered Dick. “Don’t call it that other name. I’m not a little baby.”

Oho, so that was it. The boy thought Slade’s new discipline system was only for little children. He was embarrassed about it. Well, how interesting.

“Fine,” replied Slade; anything to get through these hysterics. What on earth was going on with this boy? Why were his emotions so out of control?

“However, I disagree,” continued Slade. “You are acting like a little ‘baby’, as you say. You’ve worked yourself up and have been blatantly disobedient, not to mention beyond belligerent. I’ve told you before that I won’t beat you any more, but nonetheless I need some way of keeping you under control – which is becoming more and more apparent that you need to be kept under control.”

Dick flushed even more and folded his arms.

“I just can’t learn about guns, okay?” whispered Dick. “I’ll do anything else, please. I’ll–I’ll go steal something or whatever you want. Just don’t make me learn how to use a gun. Anything, please…”

Slade was momentarily startled. He’d actually steal? Well, that was something. The boy was that afraid of guns that he would actually offer to steal? Now that was very interesting, but confusing even more. Slade just couldn’t figure the boy out. What on earth caused him to reach such a point?

“I’m telling you to obey me,” said Slade, turning his tone sharp. “Stop this nonsense.”

“Please, Slade. Look, please… Just don’t beat me over this,” pleaded Dick, his eyes glistening even more. “I know you’re getting mad, but please don’t. Just understand. Please, I’ll do anything else – anything you want. Just not guns. I’m—I’m… I’m begging you – anything but that.”

The boy was near verging on a complete breakdown. Slade held back a sigh. Honestly, he couldn’t exactly expect the boy to trust that he wouldn’t strike him any more, but he had hoped that the boy would realize he meant his words. Slade was telling him to his face that he wasn’t going to beat him. How hard could it be to understand that?

“You have no choice in your education – I’ve told you that,” said Slade.

“I should, though!” cried Dick. “I’ll do anything, but not guns. Anything but that!”

“Does a four year old get to choose to learn his ABCs? No, of course not,” countered Slade.

“This isn’t required learning!” protested Dick.

“It is in my school of education. I’ve told you, Dick – you have no choice,” said Slade, his tone rising with his irritation. “However, I’ll give you one last chance. The choice you do have is whether or not you learn it with a smarting seat. If you choose to apologize for this behavior and sit back down, I’ll forget the whole thing. However, if you continue to defy me, we’ll continue this discussion in your room where you’ll be punished. I’m at my limit now. Make your choice.”

There was a quiet moment as the two of them stared each other down. There were a few long moments where Dick’s chest heaved up and down with his heavy breathing. Slade could see from where he was standing that the boy was trembling. Then, Dick took another deep, heavy sigh; a hard light entering his eyes. The trembling seemed to cease.

“I won’t learn how to use guns no matter how many times you hit me,” said Dick, finally breaking the silence.

It was different than his usual defiance. Slade could see absolute fear in the boy’s bright eyes, but it wasn’t fear of punishment – it was the fear of guns itself. Had Batman been so determined to keep the boy away from them that he instilled a sense of fear over them in the boy?

“I see,” answered Slade. He took a step into the kitchen. The boy tensed and inched away quickly until he hit the corner of the wall. Slade really didn’t want to chase the boy down, especially since he might injure him; but he had to get a hold on Dick. Slade was done with this now.

Slade took another step into the kitchen. Dick looked like a cornered animal that was watching carefully which side of the table Slade would go around. So, Slade expertly pushed the table to the side with a foot in ease; clearing the pathway to Dick directly. A terrible flash of fear flooded through the boy’s face. His lips began to tremble as he tried to burrow himself into the corner of the wall. Slade walked slowly to him. This was truly getting ridiculous.

Finally, Slade reached the boy; standing two feet in front of him. Dick squeezed his eyes shut as if expecting a blow. Repressing another exasperating sigh, Slade gently clasped his hand on Dick’s underarm and began to firmly pull him away from the corner.

“Wh—what are you doing?” cried Dick in a soft voice; his glistening eyes wide with his fear.

“I told you – weren’t you listening to me? – we are going to your room,” said Slade, thoroughly exasperated now; pulling Dick towards the entrance of the hallway. “You’ve made your choice. You will be punished for this disobedience.”

No amount of dragging of his feet kept Slade from keeping his steady pace. He snapped his fingers again, and with a low murmur of command, Slade disabled the lockdown. Once he reached Dick’s bedroom, he opened the door and walked inside; straight towards the desk chair. He pulled it out with his free hand and sat down. He forced the boy to face him; placing a strong hand on each of the boy’s arms.

Dick’s eyes were widened with fear, anticipation, and embarrassment – which was added to the effect with the pink flush that was beginning to appear on his cheeks.

“Please don’t do this,” begged Dick in a low, desperate whisper. His lips began to tremble.

“You made your choice, Dick,” said Slade, hoping to make it very clear that the boy had brought this onto himself. “I did give you a choice, a chance to decide. You chose to disobey; and thus, this is the price for such disobedience.”

“Please… anything but this,” pleaded Dick in a low cry. “I’ll do anything. Please… anything but guns…”

Slade couldn’t believe the amount of hysterics that were going on over this subject. He hadn’t imagined Dick would be like this. Slade had assumed to come across difficulty, perhaps even extreme willfulness. But not these pleading hysterics that were coming riddled with a deep, underlying fear. Slade couldn’t understand it and, for a brief moment, was almost swayed by it.

But this behavior of defiance was just not going to fly – Slade couldn’t allow it.

“Blatant disobedience is unacceptable,” said Slade. “I’ve told you that before.”

Thus, he commenced his purpose in coming to the boy’s room.

He’d felt that all such punishment should be dealt with within the boy’s room. He wanted to clear the uncertainty that had been created before. When the boy saw that he was being taken to his room, then he could understand what was to happen next. It had been a technique that Slade had developed with his own boys.

A few minutes later, Slade righted the boy after he was through with him. The boy’s chest was heaving with his ragged breathing; obviously trying extremely hard to control himself from crying. His eyes were glistening brightly somewhat, but they weren’t tearing yet. He bore the punishment very well. Slade gently pushed the boy backwards so that he was forced to sit down on the edge of his bed. Dick winced as he did so.

Slade noticed that the boy didn’t apologize this time. Obviously, the boy didn’t think he did anything wrong. Slade pulled the chair close to the boy so they could talk face to face.

“Dick, we’ll resume the gun studies another time,” said Slade in a soft voice. He could tell the boy was clearly fearful over the subject. Honestly, Slade had grown tired of battling the boy all morning over it. This had been a complete ordeal. Dealing with this child was truly the most exhausting thing Slade had ever encountered.

“I won’t,” said Dick flatly; his voice cracking lightly and his breathing erratic.

“You will or we’ll do this every time until you get it through your head,” said Slade, wishing this boy’s obstinacy would cease at once.

“Just stop it…” murmured Dick; his breathing shuddering once.

“What?”

“Just stop it!” shouted Dick, swiping a hand over his moist eyes. “Stop trying to act like—like a father now!”

Slade raised an eyebrow, surprised by the boy’s words.

“What are you talking about?”

“This! All this!” cried Dick hysterically, gesturing his arms wildly at Slade.

Slade frowned. He just couldn’t understand what was wrong now. Of course, the boy just had his backside thoroughly warmed. No boy was pleasant right after being disciplined. But the boy’s emotions were returning to their spastic nature once again.

“Explain, Dick.”

“You! You’ve stopped being Slade!”

Slade opened his mouth; unable to find anything to say to that. Now that was the oddest thing he heard yet. Slade stopped being Slade? That was definitely a new one.

“I assure you, I am quite the same,” said Slade with a wry smile.

“No, you’re not!” protested Dick. “You’re all in control now. Before you always went off on me. Now you’re trying to be like a calm… ca–calm—pa–parent! Just stop it! I don’t need that! And I especially don’t need it from you!”

“Dick—”

“I don’t get this!” cried Dick, his chest heaving deeply as his breathing quickened. “Why are you so calm? Why haven’t you punched me? Slapped me? Or shouted at me? I don’t understand—I don’t—Why—so confused—”

Slade put a hand on Dick’s shoulder, trying to stop him from going into more hysterics. Instantly, the boy stiffened. But, a moment later, he seemed to almost melt beneath it. His breathing began to regulate. The boy took deep calming breaths, his entire body stilling beneath Slade’s hand. Slade was perplexed by the reaction. Then, Dick tried to shrug off the touch.

“Don’t touch me,” said Dick quietly; his expression looking unhappy and uncomfortable. But Slade didn’t listen; keeping his hand on his shoulder. He studied the boy carefully.

The boy had calmed – almost instantly – over a simple, non-threatening touch. Verbally, he didn’t like it. But it was fully obvious that it was having a positive effect on the boy.

Dawning realization began to pour through Slade. It was perfectly apparent that Dick had father issues. He always reacted badly to the mere thought of Slade being like a father to him. But he obviously yearned for it – he reacted positively to moments that felt like a father and son moment.

The boy really wanted a father.

Not only that, his entire soul craved, needed, begged for one.

But he didn’t want Slade to fulfill that role – not surprising. Slade hadn’t shown anything of that sort during the previous month. The wheels of cunning began to turn inside Slade’s head. What if he did fulfill that role? The boy would be more receptive to everything Slade told him, perhaps even become eager to please.

A wave of regret flooded through Slade, which surprised him. He never felt regret any more about anything in his life – only in the case of his family. But at that moment, he regretted how he first dealt with the boy. If only he had known what the boy had wanted… Think of the progress they could’ve made if he hadn’t wasted time trying to break the boy instead of swaying him towards Slade.

But what was done was done. There was no changing it. Slade could only change the present. Luckily, Wintergreen advised him when he did. Slade was thoroughly grateful that the old man was such a loyal friend to him.

Slade wasn’t sure, though, how to proceed with the boy. While he knew the outcome he wanted with the boy, he wasn’t sure how to go about it. It had been over eight years since he had anything to do with children of his own. Eight years did a lot to clear one’s memory of painful things.

“Dick, listen to me,” said Slade carefully; still unsure what to say to the boy. Dick didn’t respond in any way, so Slade placed a second hand on the boy’s other shoulder.

It had an effect.

Dick seemed to crumple underneath the touch. Slade could see a mixture of emotions running through the boy’s face. Slade hesitated. What could he say to the boy that would help change his complete worry? What could Slade say that would make the boy put his complete trust into him?

Slade wanted this boy’s power, strength, and skills for his perfect apprentice and eventual heir. This boy was perfect. Dick was perfect. But breaking the boy wasn’t going to work – that much was obvious. The boy would either go into a fit of rage or go into hysterics. The stress was too much for him.

So, what could Slade do?

“What I did to you before,” started Slade, as the words slowly began to form in his mind and fall from his lips, “was not something I should’ve done. I should’ve been like this with you from the beginning. For that, I… apologize.”

Shock hit the boy like a ten ton truck.

It hit Slade, too – he was surprised at himself that he would stoop to apologizing to the boy. Would the boy believe it? It wasn’t that it was a full out lie – Slade did regret the way he dealt with the boy, but only because it hadn’t worked and not because he felt remorseful about it.

As the shock began to fade from Dick’s face, a new expression began to fill it. His face was laced with confusion and study, as if he were seeing Slade in a new light.

“We will continue to get along better, Dick,” said Slade. “Remember I swore never to beat you again and I’m a man of my word. You have no need to fear me any more.” A smirk lifted his mouth. “Well, for your comfort, I do suggest a healthy amount of respect and obedience.”

Dick only meekly nodded at that.

ooOOOOOoo

October 20th, 2008. Monday, 1:00 pm.

Slade was exhausted.

Not physically, of course. He rarely was ever pushed to that extreme. But somehow his entire being felt tired; exhausted to his limits. And what was the cause of such a drain on Slade? The boy, of course. Slade couldn’t ever remember dealing with such an emotional, infuriating, hysterical, difficult child in all his life. None of his previous children had ever made him feel at his wit’s end.

Although…

There were times when his eldest, Grant, had fought against him on certain things. He had been hot headed and would always clash with Slade. But somehow, even through the fights, Slade had been the closest with him out of all his children. Sarah Rose, or just Rose to the family, had been a feisty little thing. Slade never knew how to deal with her; always sending the little girl to her mother when she was in trouble. She had been the youngest, not to mention a girl; but she had been his little princess – it had been all too easy to steal his heart. Joseph, or Joey to the family; well, that boy had never gotten into trouble on his own and when he did, Grant hadn’t been too far behind him. Joey was too much of a soft spoken boy to really be any trouble.

But Dick…

True, the circumstances were very different. There was no trust between them. Dick was fearful of him – extremely so. Slade was Dick’s captor, if he put it realistically. Even before that, they had been arch enemies. There was no way Dick would just trust him so easily – especially after the way he had been treated during the previous month. Slade had been trying to instill respect and fear into the boy.

But it obviously backfired on him.

Now Slade had to rebuild his… failure, if he put it honestly. He despised admitting when he was wrong or had failed. But Slade would not consider this a failure, but a new beginning. He would rebuild the relationship between them if it was the last thing he ever did.

And it was beginning to almost seem that way to Slade – at times, at least.

Lunch was a quiet affair. Dick didn’t say much except to answer anything that was sent his way and Slade didn’t feel like pushing the boy – not after what had happened. Dick still looked very tentative and skittish over learning anything. Slade decided that it was best to let the boy have a free hour at the moment to settle down.

Besides, Slade could use a break himself.

He was sitting in his computer chair in his bedroom; heavily thinking on the matter. There was something more here than just pure defiance against guns. The boy honestly seemed very afraid of them. The way the light flickered in Dick’s eyes showed that very well. But Slade just couldn’t figure out why, though.

Was it truly Batman’s fault? Had that bat really instilled such fear over the objects? Slade knew very well the man’s aversion to the weapons, since Bruce Wayne’s own parents had been shot down when he was a boy. Did his hatred run that deep that he would train a boy—a child to fear them instead of respect them?

If the boy was truly afraid of guns, that could very well prove some difficulty for Slade. The boy could revert to hysterics over having to deal with them. He nearly did when he thought Slade was entering too far into the ‘father’ territory. But he calmed down nearly instantly just from Slade clasping his shoulder.

Thank goodness for small oddities. If the boy did break down into hysterics, Slade would have to tread carefully. A plan was beginning to formulate in his mind. But he’d give Dick some time before he tried it out.

However, Slade was aware that he’d have to show the utmost of patience during whatever would happen. The boy would either go into a fit of rage or hysterics – probably both – and Slade had to be prepared to not lose his temper with him. He’d have to have complete and full control over himself. Slade would just have to view the entire matter objectively.

And he’d have to be soft. The boy responded best to that during his most stressful times for some reason. Slade wasn’t sure if he could completely do that. But he knew he’d have to – he’d have to if he wanted to get to the bottom of the boy’s defiance and fears over guns. There was something more here – Slade was sure of it. There was something deeply rooted inside Dick over this subject.

And Slade was determined to find out exactly what that was.

ooOOOOOoo 

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