flashbossXD wanted Alfred and Dick content which I'm happy to oblige to this grandad and grandson energy they have

So whilst I was trying to think up an idea for this one I remembered how in primary/high school we did this thing where we'd try to be as green as we could be and that meant like walking to school instead of being driven and from there we got here so hope you enjoy how random memories spark things

Also angst because i think we need it

Dick is 13 or so in this fic - i started walking home by myself when i was 11 so i feel like 13 is a good age for Gotham

EDIT: TW BLOOD

Well, this was a predicament. Dick was currently in his bathroom after walking home. He'd insisted on it beginning to walk home by himself because if he could fight villains at night then he could handle himself on the long journey back home. It was for this stupid class challenge to reduce carbon emissions or something like that. All he knew was that he wanted to beat Barbara who'd done it a few years before. What he forgot was he was in Gotham. Whilst walking home, someone jumped him and took the little money he kept on him as well as his phone. Of course, they couldn't just rob him at knifepoint to be somewhat civil. The guy punched him in the face a few times, stole his bag whilst he was on the floor then ran off with it. Now he was sporting a nose that was gushing blood and looked crooked that fitted pretty nicely with the black eye forming. He balled up tissue and shoved them up his nostril to hopefully stop the blood flowing then moved on to the problem of covering up the bruises. Sure, he could wait for Alfred to get home and have him patch him up but that would mean admitting that he couldn't handle himself. Dick was simply caught off guard but he didn't care. He should've stayed vigilant but he hadn't and now he was in this position. The whole thing annoyed him to no end. Some low life got the jump on him when he could take on Joker by himself. The injuries were evidence of his failure and he didn't have it in him to go downstairs and show them off. He'd deal with them by himself whilst he thought up a good excuse for his missing bag, money, phone and new bruises. He could say it was just bullies but he didn't like the sound of that. Mostly because he hadn't actually told anyone about the guys who wanted to beat him up every Tuesday after Math Meets. That would be admitting some kids were getting to him when half the criminals in Gotham couldn't lay a finger on him under the mask of Robin. That was his problem. He couldn't be Robin 24/7. Nobody would touch Robin. None would dare to steal from him. Hell, no one would dare give him a bad look because he could floor them in ten seconds and have them begging for mercy. 

The more he stared at himself in the mirror, the angrier he got. Look at what happened the moment you try to act your age. The moment you try to do what the normal kids did. He thought he was so safe because he was Robin yet here he was. Yes, he was Robin but he couldn't pull half the moves he wanted to as Dick. Even if he could, he wouldn't have back there. He was too surprised. "You're an idiot Dick," he barked at his reflection. "You should've expected something." He touched his nose lightly to get a read on how bad his injury was. He yelped as soon as any pressure was put down. Definitely broken. Either that or his pain tolerance was low. He wouldn't doubt that. He was pathetic. Getting robbed by some randomer on the street. He deserved these injuries for being so foolish. Bruce would agree with him and so would Alfred. They wouldn't let themselves be mugged. No, they'd fight back and make them regret even daring to attempt. Alfred would simply talk himself out of it. He was smart like that. Bruce would do some martial arts or something that would take them down without blowing his cover. What did Dick do? Sit on the ground choking on his blood. Then he ran the rest of the way home, avoiding all the people on the street and hiding his face as much as he could. It was probably already being reported on about how people saw him running around with a black eye and broken nose. Both of which he needed to deal with. Maybe he could try to make them look less serious? He'd have to start with his nose if he wanted to do that. It was the most obvious thing wrong. He'd have to put it back to normal. "You deserve this for being stupid." He put his hands on either side of his nose and sucked in a deep breath. This was going to hurt. A lot.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, making him jump. He blew out a long breath to keep himself from screaming. He did double over though and gripped the side of the sink as tightly as he could. "Master Dick, are you in there?" Alfred called through the door. Right he was probably trying to call him but thanks to his phone being in his bag which was God knows where he hadn't been answering. 

"Uh, yea!"

"Master Richard I must say it's very irresponsible to not answer your phone. I have told you before the dangers you face-"

"I know Alfred! Just-just give me a minute, will you? I'm busy," he snapped. As soon as he snapped, he slammed a hand over his mouth. He never spoke to the butler like that. He may as well have yelled hey there's something wrong in here. There was a silence which he hoped was due to the older walking off in disappointment. He'd rather disappointment for being rude than the disappointment for not defending himself like he should've. This was going to put him in the dog house but he had more important things to focus on like his very broken and crooked nose. He put his hands back into position and readied himself. He took in a breath and held it as he tried to centre it again. He tried to contain the scream begging to come out but let out a very audible whimper. He squeezed his eyes closed and stamped his foot in hopes of getting out his reaction to the pain that way. Unfortunately, a whimper followed by thumps probably wasn't the best combination of sounds right after he did something suspicious. The door handle to the bathroom was turned and he had to run to keep the door closed. He pressed his back against the door and slid down to the floor. 

"Sir, move away from the door."

"Would you just leave for like ten minutes? That's it! Just ten bloody minutes!" he growled. Dick conveniently forgot that after being decked he'd really hurt his back and pressing said back that was likely blooming with bruises against a door with all his strength wasn't doing much to help that. 

"I'm unfortunately unable to do that due to how you are behaving. Now I suggest you step away from the door or move whatever you have stopping the door. I am not above getting Master Bruce in here nor am I afraid to take this door apart," Alfred told him. His voice was stern so he wasn't messing around but neither was Dick. He didn't want anyone to see him until he fixed himself up the best he could. Plus he still needed a good enough story to explain how he got the bruises in the first place and why all his stuff was missing. The door was tried again but he refused to let it be opened. "If you open the door now, there won't be consequences. Continuing to keep it closed will result in you being grounded. Do you understand, young man?" Okay, that was a threat and Alfred's threats were serious ones. 

After a few moments, Dick decided he was going to finish the job on his nose so at least he had that look less serious. "Just one second," he replied. He hoped the older would give him that. He put his hands on his nose for the third time and pushed it to the centre for the last time. He bit his lip to keep the wails of agony from spilling out but then he just made it bleed and he eventually let out a howl of pain anyway so it was overall pointless. Just like teaching him to defend himself since he didn't use any of that knowledge today. Dick crawled away from the door and scrambled to his feet to see the job he did. Although he'd gotten it centred again, the white tissues he'd stuffed in his nose were now completely red and everything surrounding his nose was bruising. Great. Alfred tried the door again and swung it open. He wore a concerned look which wasn't too surprising at the state Dick was in. He was barely a teenager and his face was giving him a weird painful-looking raccoon look. The butler swiftly moved to his side and cupped his face, studying the injuries there. 

"My boy, what happened?" Dick's eyes dropped to the floor in shame as he thought about what to say. He was already caught and his attempt at damage control had only made it all worse. He was just so frustrated with himself. He couldn't even cover up the evidence of his mistakes. "Sit up on the counter lad so I can get a better look at you." He nodded and hopped up onto the marble, keeping his eyes fixed to the floor. "Stay there and don't close this door. Understand?" He nodded. He knew being quiet would only bring suspicion but he simply didn't have the energy to escape berating himself to answer properly.

Alfred disappeared only to return with a first aid kit. He also brought a glass of water which was probably to wash down some medicine or other. Dick never really saw the point since he could swallow most pills without much help but that always made both Bruce and Alfred uncomfortable. Then he did it with coffee and they were even more uncomfortable. Especially when it was his sleep medication. "You're going to have to talk at one point, sir. It's better to tell me than Master Bruce. You know how protective he can be and I'm sure you'd enjoy someone who actually listens before they act, yes?" Alfred told him as he opened up the kit. 

"Why do you need to know?" Dick asked. He knew he sounded bratty. He wouldn't be surprised if Alfred told him off for it. He just felt so ashamed and that made him mad. He was just a ball of anger at this point and he was only just keeping it under the lid for so long. 

"Because although Master Bruce is your guardian on paper, I also share that role and as your guardian, I must know when bad things happen to you to prevent you from going through them again." He was letting up which would've been wise as Dick immediately found he couldn't keep the lid on the boiling pot of frustration any longer.

"You didn't put Bruce through therapy when he saw his parents die, neither of you put me through therapy when I saw my parents die, and I'm literally on sleep medication I got off Leslie because you can't take me to a regular doctor because I can't explain why I'm under so much stress and the scars I have so I really doubt your ability to solve anything following a bad thing," he snarled. Now Dick expected to get shouted at or read to filth for what he said but instead, Alfred just gave him a moment to breathe. He hadn't realised he was breathing so harshly until he heard the quiet in the room. His face scrunched up which was exceedingly painful and put his head in his hands. 

"Do you feel better now?" the butler asked as he carefully tended to the teen. 

"I guess," he muttered. 

"You share a lot of qualities with Master Bruce. One is his anger. Though I trust you'll learn to control it in time, I suggest you not try to attack Master Bruce and I's decisions that we are well aware were poor. I appreciate you needed the outlet but I won't be so lenient next time," the older warned. Dick nodded, gulping. He trusted the other wasn't lying and he didn't want to begin to imagine the punishment he'd get next time around. "Tell me what has you so mad and perhaps I'll make you a hot chocolate since you've clearly had a difficult day."

"You're not going to let it die are you?" the teen asked. 

"Indeed."

"I got jumped," Dick whispered.

"What was that?"

"I got jumped!"

It wasn't until Alfred finished the job that he chose to address what the teen said. "Is that why you didn't answer your phone?" he asked whilst putting his things back in the kit. 

"They took everything. Phone, money, they were all in my bag. I know I should've been able to defend myself, I don't have any excuse and I'll-I'll find the guy tonight to get my stuff back," Dick answered. He was going to prove himself again and he was going to make up for being an idiot during the day. Not only to make it up to himself but to his mentor. How bad did it look that he'd gotten jumped when he could kick ass no problem? He felt himself getting angry again and had to take a second to collect himself. He'd popped off enough times today. 

"Sir, why would you need an excuse?"

"Because I should've been able to protect myself," he replied as though the answer was obvious. Alfred shook his head and handed him some pills with the glass of water. 

"You're allowed to be caught off guard Master Dick. You're allowed to be a victim. What isn't allowed is you being horrid to yourself because you think you have to be able to defend yourself at any given moment," he said quite sternly. "You have to understand, despite you being a hero, you aren't always going to be on high alert. You shouldn't be on high alert all the time. So I suggest you accept that today happened and you learn that you shouldn't be ashamed of being attacked."

"Still sucks. Now my nose is all messed up and I'm gonna have to find the guy to get my stuff back," Dick complained. 

"I'm sure Master Bruce will be very happy to take over the latter. For your nose, I suggest you be careful tonight." He nodded to himself, his eyes casting down to the water and then back up to the butler. Knowing that anxious look anywhere, Alfred opened his arms. The acrobat smiled softly and swiftly filled the gap. He was mindful of his bruises as he nuzzled up to the butler. Now, this was much better than being mad. He yawned tiredly, earning a low chuckle. "I think you've had plenty of excitement for today, sir. Perhaps you should get some rest?"

"You said I'd get a hot chocolate, Alfie. You can't tempt me with that and expect me to sleep," Dick joked.

"Indeed you have got me there. How about you at least watch some TV hm?"

"That sounds good."

"That's because I suggested it. Come along young master."