Dick sighed silently while watching Thea get chewed out for 'disobeying orders', they were tipped that there's someone smuggling out children younger than 10 tonight. They managed to stop the mastermind and her accomplice who turns out to be Elara Anders and her girlfriend who runs a soup kitchen but was actually keeping an eye on the children who 'people won't miss' to turn over to Anders so she could sell them out the country for a hefty amount.
They saved the kids but the two almost escaped if it weren't for Crow who got shot in the process which ended up with her getting lectured as soon as Alfred was done treating her wound.
Dick tuned back when he noticed something off. Bruce had been at it for almost two hours and Thea hasn't said anything yet but now...now she's shuffling on her feet with her dropped low in defeat.
He heard a sniffle coming from her which made everyone but Bruce (who didn't notice and was still in his rant) freeze, even Damian who's enjoying watching as 'The Perfect Robin' get what 'she deserves'.
She sniffed again, Cass took out a knife, and again, Jason looked at Bruce with murder in his eyes and a gun in his hand. Her eyes filled with tears, Alfred's suddenly polishing a shotgun, a drop fell, Dick took out his escrima sticks.
Bruce is still talking until he noticed the sudden silence and took a look around where his family all have weapons in their hands his gaze fell to Thea's form, the sniffles and tears coming from her, and paled.
He opened his mouth to say something but she beat him to it, "Can I go now?" She said, voice wavering and shaky, he can only nod jerkily watching her go.
She left, her shoulders shaking while wiping her tears. The rest of the family stared at Bruce with accusation and he, too, looked like he's blaming himself for what happened.
Maybe he shouldn't have been that harsh? Maybe he should have let her explain herself? Well, whatever the case they all know Thea won't be home for a while.
°°•°°
Thea rubbed her eyes, willing that pesky dust to get out her eyelid, she sniffed, her nose has been runny since earlier because of her cold.
She wasn't really listening to Bruce, instinctively tuning him out when he opened his mouth. She doesn't know why the cave was quiet before she left but maybe it was because they got tired of Bruce's lecture.













