Drink Part 3

Dick stared at the homework in front of him. He sighed as he set his head on the desk. He hated Social Studies. All the different Agriculture revolutions were so confusing. He turned towards the window. The sky was a dull gray. He wanted the boring day to end.

He smiled as he got up from his desk and crept through the kitchen.  Bruce was still at work and Alfred had gone grocery shopping. He rummaged through the cabinets and the fridge. He found a few cases of beer in the back of the fridge. He grabbed a six-pack that was tucked away and ran up to his room.

He opened the first beer and sighed. He drank some of the can and almost spit it out on the floor. He chugged the rest of the beer, doing his best not to taste it. He opened a second, a third, and the rest of the pack. He felt a buzz coming over him as he was drinking.

Dick heard the garage door opening. He hid the cans in his shower and walked out of his room and over to the banister to see who it was.

"Dick?" The deep voice echoed to the top of the stairs.

"What's happenin' Bruce." Dick almost slurred.

"Tomorrow you're going to be going early to Mount Justice." Bruce said as he looked up at the boy leaning on the banister.

"Dick don't be leaning on that banister, I don't want I it breaking and you falling." Bruce warned.

Dick laughed. "I'm just havin' some fuuuun." He swung around and cartweeled into his room.

Bruce looked in concern and confusion as the  boy cartweeled away. Something was up with him lately. He brushed it away, feeling that it was at least somewhat better that he was happy instead of looking depressed and sick.

…

The next morning Dick found himself lying under the knobs of the bathtub with 12 beer cans littered around and pain in his head and stomach.  He moved the shower curtain to see his bright bathroom. He covered his eyes with one hand as he blindly pulled and crawled his way out of the bathtub and over to his room. Luckily he had already had the blinds closed so his room was nice and dark.

He pulled his dirty shirt off and noticed it reaked of alcohol. He sniffed his upper arm and pieced together that he had spilled a beer on himself. He grabbed his sunglasses before walking back into the bathroom. He threw all the beer cans under the sink and he hopped in the shower. He left his glasses on as he let the water run over his head and chest. After almost a half an hour, there was a knock on his door.

"Dick? It's time to go." The voice said from behind the door. Dick held his head as the voice pounded into his head.

"Just a minute." Dick responded. He scrubbed his chest and arms until he didn't feel like he smelled of beer. He swallowed two asprins and put on his clothes before walking down to Bruce.

"You okay?" Bruce asked before going to the batcave.

"Yeah, just a migrain." Dick answered.

"I have a meeting with the league, but you can just stay with the team." Bruce said as he walked into his changing room. Dick just mumbled an okay as he sat in a chair.

Dick arrived at the all too bright cave and M'gann flew over to Robin.

"Hi Robin! Where have you been the last few weeks?" M'gann asked. Her high voice was like nails being hammered into his brain.

"I've been around." Dick said. He walked into the kitchen area and dropped himself on the couch. Kaldur and Conner said hi, but Dick just waved and fell asleep on the couch.

Wally sped into the room and almost knocked Dick off the couch

"Hey Rob. How've you been man?"

Dick backed away from Wally.

"Dude what is that smell?" Dick asked, plugging his nose. Wally smiled as he fanned his shirt out.

"It's my new cologne. I think Artemis will like it."  

Dick could feel his stomach twist as his nose was filled with the overpowering smell. The waves of nausea in his stomach were increasing when the computer announced the arrival of Artemis.

"Why don't you go test it?" Dick said as he slipped away.  He ran into the bathroom and threw up. He sighed as his stomach kept churning.  He leaned over and puked again. Dick heard a gasp come from the door. He turned to see M'gann rush over to him.

"Robin! Are you okay? Are you sick?" She asked as she kneeled by Dick.

"I'm fine M'gann." Dick brushed M'gann's concerns away. "Would you mind not telling anyone about this?"

"Why wouldn't you want anyone to know?" She questioned.

"I'm fine, so we don't need to make everyone else worried." Dick got up and washed his mouth out.

"Oh, okay." M'gann got up and flew out of the room. Dick sighed in relief, knowing that he had barely dodged the bullet.