Tangle of Thorns
There it was. On every local channel, in every paper, on every celebrity buzz site. Gotham's biggest scandal in the last five years.
And Dick was loving every minute of it.
He lounged on the soft sheets of the huge bed in the master bedroom. Heh, the master's bedroom. "They're not using that awful picture of you," he called towards the bathroom, waving vaguely at the TV. "I guess everyone's got hold of the good picture now."
Ah, the picture. A series of pictures, really. The moment of discovery. The first, the back of Bruce Wayne with some pretty young thing wrapped around him. The second, a slightly blurred profile of Bruce Wayne and a clearer image of his definitely male companion. The third (and best, in Dick's opinion) showed Bruce Wayne pulling away from his half-dressed, eighteen-year-old ex-ward while said ward grinned like a particularly ravenous Cheshire cat.
Dick squirmed happily on the bed, watching the news program with puckish glee. "Bruuuuuuuce! You're missing the best part! They're debating whether it was totally illegal or just a sign of the immoral times in which we live."
Bruce didn't respond.
Each moment passing made Dick angrier and pout more. It wasn't fair for Bruce to stay so quiet. Reveling in scandal wasn't fun when you were alone. Finally, after stewing for just a little longer, Dick stormed to the bathroom. "Bruce!"
It wasn't like Bruce was in the shower and couldn't hear him (there was no water running and, besides, they'd just come out of one), and it wasn't like the toilet was so far away that he couldn't have said something back. Whatever. It wasn't like Dick hadn't seen plenty of Bruce already. With a huff, he flung open the door.
Bruce was standing at the bathroom counter, still naked, just staring at himself in the mirror. He looked...dark. Haunted. Conflicted. Numb. "Bruce," Dick repeated, unable to hide the whine in his voice. "What are you doing in here?"
Bruce shook his head, never taking his eyes off the mirror. "I'm so sorry, Dick. I never should have--"
"Don't." Dick glared at him, his muscles tensing in preparation for a fight. "I'm an adult. I can do who I want."
"No." Bruce finally turned to face him, looking just above Dick's left eyebrow as if trying to avoid seeing Dick's naked body. He didn't seem to want to avoid it an hour ago. "Dick, what I did to you was wrong. I should never have let myself get that way. I shouldn't have--"
"Well, you did. You don't see me complaining, do you?"
"When I said I had feelings for you, I meant--"
"Yeah, you showed me those pretty well."
"I didn't mean I loved you like that--"
"Well then, you're an awfully good actor."
"Dick, I want to adopt you!"
Dick stared, every fiber of his being frozen where he stood. By the time he could work his mind to focus on something other than the terrible silence in the room, Bruce had already turned back to the mirror.
"--just leaves Gotham to ponder the question: Is this a true romance, one of those bizarre twists of fate, or some sort of sick fantasy?"
"I'm not a strong man, Dick. I'm not good. You were so willing, so offering, I just-- I couldn't say no. Not to you."
He couldn't breathe. All this time, all Dick had wanted was for them to be together. He didn't want a father, he'd had one. He and Bruce were so perfect together. Bruce was so...
"I won't ask you to forgive me, Dick. What I did was inexcusable."
Cruel.
"Did you ever love me like that, Bruce? Would you ever learn to?"
"You were my ward, Dick. I wanted you to be more. But not like that. Not like--"
"Not like last night?" Dick took a step forward, anger shaking his body. "Not like this morning?" Another step. "Not like an hour ago?" Another step. "You seemed to like it when you grabbed my ass." Bruce took a step back as Dick came forward. "When you shoved your cock down my throat." Steps. "When you fucked me."
Bruce hit the wall, staring down at Dick cautiously. "Dick... I don't know what came over me that I--"
Dick grinned ferally. "I do, Bruce." He trailed a hand down Bruce's chest. "You're wicked. And you're lonely. And you're sick. And you're broken." He flung his arms around Bruce's neck. "And you know I'm just as wicked and lonely and sick and broken as you." He nibbled Bruce's ear. "And you know it's all your fault."
Bruce's large hands pawed at him, pulling Dick closer even as he moaned for him to get away. Dick just smiled. "Why don't you take me to bed, Daddy? I think you could use some rest...."
So it would take some convincing to make Bruce luxuriate in the scandal. So what? Dick would enjoy every minute of it.