60s Batman - Robin Flu Take 01

A warm bowl of soup was placed down on the bedside table, the room was usually the master bed room, and used only when the never ending pursuit of crime was tired out, it was Bruce Wayne's bed room. However, for the past week it had been the sick room, for his ward had fallen ill to the influnenza. The giant bed had seen many wild nights, none to wild because Dick's Aunt would have scolded them, pillow fights, homework study sessions, everything a young lad could want when Dick was a child and now like every winter it was seeing another case of the flu.

"Dick, I brought lunch." Bruce whispered hovering over the boy.

"Nnn, what time is it?" The usual cheerful voice was hoarse and barely there it stopped Bruce in his tracks again just like it had every other time he'd spoken.

He tried to sound cheerful for the boy's sake and sat down on the edge of the mattress rubbing circles into the warm back realizing Dick's face was buried in the pillows. "It's 11: 30."

Bruce waited on a "holy -!" to come out of his ward, showing that Dick was getting better instead he got a weak, "I'm too old to get this sick!"

His hopes vanished and he reached forward helping his ward turn over and sit up against a couple of pillows. Dick's face was ashen but his cheeks and eyes were red from the fever. His hair was matted in different directions, the fever was causing sweat to bead down from his forehead. His blue eyes were still bright but this time a feverish bright, they almost seemed to glow.

Dick weakly shielded his eyes from the sunlight coming in from the windows and groaned, "Too bright…"

Bruce quickly got up and shut them knowing that Aunt Harriet most likely opened them to try and get some sunlight in the boys room to brighten it up, but at this stage it was only causing him pain. After the blinds and curtains were shut Bruce walked back over and turned on the dimmer instead letting it fill the room with just enough light to see but not hurt Dick's sensitive eyes. "Better?"

"Thanks.." Dick whispered sniffling.

"You look wonderful," Bruce said sarcastically trying to jest as he sat back down on the edge of the mattress, "Feeling any better?"

Dick glanced up from taking his soup into his lap and shrugged weakly. "Each year I get it but I'm healthy as a horse, I don't understand."

"Some people are more prone to the flu than others, its not something we can help. Just be glad you are in good health, you will get well quicker."

"I sure hope so, I'm tired of the body and headaches."

"Well, I'm tired of the quiet household, we all are. I even caught your Aunt knocking pillows on the floor as if to make one of your messes and then watched her stare at them for a few seconds before putting them back," Bruce said leaning forward with an awkward grin on his face.

"R..Really? Wow." He weakly tried to pick the bowl up but he was too unsteady, Bruce's quicker reflexes reached forward and caught it before it spilt burning Dick. "Sorry."

"No need for apologies, but you do need to eat something." Bruce sat it back down on the bed table before standing.

Dick watched curiously as Bruce left the room to go into the giant closet coming back out moments later in his house clothes. "What are you doing? Don't you have a board meeting in an hour?"

"The board meeting can go on without me. I wouldn't have paid much attention anyway, it's hard when you have a sick child at home." Dick was about to protest that he wasn't a child when Bruce beat him to it, "Of any age."

"Where's Aunt Harriet?" Dick asked in between coughs. He grimaced with each one and his fist hit his chest. "Ow.." he whispered leaning forward.

"Easy, Dick. Just let it pass." Bruce said sitting back down, he squeezed the boy's shoulder comfortingly. "You want me to get her?" The boy shook his head quickly but then moaned obviously getting dizzy from the movement.

"Sh…She just hasn't let you in here…since…I fell ill…she thinks you bring the germs with you when you're-" He was unable to finish as another coughing fit hit.

"Don't work yourself up, I'm here now and I'm not going to let her take me away from you, alright?" Bruce hadn't realized until now that he really hadn't been in here since Dick had fallen ill. He'd driven Aunt Harriet to the highschool a week ago to get Dick from the nurses office after they got the phone call that he'd collapsed during Gym then he carried the boy into the bedroom, tucked him in and did a quick preliminary check up to make sure it wasn't something to do with his other identity before he was shooed off by Aunt Harriet.

He'd passed the time by staying at the Wayne Enterprises constantly so he wouldn't worry over his ward, but, five days later of pretending to be busy he just couldn't take it any longer and had come home determined to stay until his boy was better.

"Thanks," Dick whispered hoarsely as Bruce pulled him into a hug. He weakly wrapped his arms around Bruce's frame burying his face in his mentor's chest. "I don't want to be left alone again."