Rotten Apples, chapter 4

"I told you this isn't up for discussion, you are not going to Hal or Bruce's houses anymore and that's it, so shut up and go to your room."
The man snapped. He was sick of hearing the same over and over again.

"No. I don't get it, why can't I go? I mean, I can just go and not eat there." Roy followed him upstairs. It wasn't fair, he'd get bored without hanging out at HIS friends'. Oliver wasn't stupid, he had to freakin' know the house was way more boring since Dinah and Mia had moved out.

"Because they think we need a social worker following us around, that's why, and I really don't feel like having someone else being a pain in the ass."

"Wait, what?" That froze the boy right there. A social worker? Roy had heard that term on several occasions from elementary teachers since he HAD started living with Ollie, and it was never a good sign, "Why would they think that?"

"I don't know, maybe 'cause you always wrack havoc everywhere you go?" A single look at the kid's face told him to tone it down a little… Maybe telling him about the other mentors concerns hadn't been the wisest choice, "Look, don't worry, it's not gonna happen… But still, who the fuck do they think they are?"

"What the fuck! Why would they even say that?!"

"That's what happens when all you do is messing around and whining about your family with everyone else… And calm down already, Roy, no one's sending a damn social worker here, alright? I can buy the entire child protection department if I feel like it, that's not the point... I just don't want you to go over there for a while, understood?"

"Fine…" The boy looked calmed enough, but he was still pretty upset… ¿A social worker? What on earth…

"Calm down," Oliver repeated. A nervous and anxious kid moping around was the last thing he needed, "Just try to listen this time, please."

For once, Roy just nodded instead of starting an argument. A social worker meant the risk of being taken from his house… He didn't want that… Maybe it was a little bit lonely sometimes, but he had spent a big part of his life there with Ollie, and he was his family …

"Look, I have a meeting tomorrow at lunch, so I need you to try hard and behave. Can you do that?"

Once again, Roy just nodded, getting Oliver to curse himself. Way to go…
.

"Roy?" Jason was actually surprised to see his friend at the Manor door the next afternoon. He wasn't sure who he expected, but it sure as hell wasn't Roy, not after how furious Oliver looked the day before when he left.

The young archer didn't answer, didn't even looked at the other boy before entering the house just like he owned it.

"What the fuck do you think is going on at my house?" was the first thing out of the visitor's mouth when he got to the dining room.

"Roy?" Dick's expression was completely incredulous. Was he really standing there yelling to Bruce as if nothing?

Bruce frowned instantly. He'd have to thank Clark for having invited Tim and Damian, his non-grounded children, to spend the day in Metropolis with his family, because he was something he didn't want his younger kids to witness. Also, Roy had to thank God it was Alfred's day off, else he'd be getting his mouth washed with soap. That kid had to be really upset, because no other friend of his kids had ever dared to speak to him that way before.

"I'd really appreciate it if you watched your mouth right now. I have no idea what you're talking about, so…"

"Like hell you don't…" Bruce felt his eye beginning to twitch. So much disrespect… "Did you and Hal actually threaten Oliver with a freackin' social worker?!"

"You guys did what?!" Bruce groaned. Jason just had to heard that, didn't he?

"Listen the three of you, because I'm just clarifying thin once: We didn't expressly did that… We told him the current circumstances had us a little… concerned, and that he'd benefit greatly if he fixed some issues sooner than later. That's it."

"So you don't plan on throwing CPS at us?" It sounded more like an "I know you would" than a question.

"Not if he pays attention at our suggestions." He had to be honest. It wasn't a 'Who's the rotten apple?' contest anymore, and the boys needed to understand the seriousness of the situation, "I want you to try to put yourself in my place. If you see a kid that's not being taken care of, when the parents have all the necessary resources, what would you do?"

"That's not what's happening!"

"If our suspicions turn out to be incorrect, I'd be more than relieved to apologize, but I'm sure I speak for both, Hal and I, when I say it'd be way more reassuring if someone confirmed it."

"I'm confirming you that we are fine."

The man sighed tiredly. Just as he wanted to spend his lunch time…

"I don't doubt at all that you feel alright with the way your life is right now, but…"

"But nothing! What the fuck will it take for you to leave us alone?!"

"We'll do that as soon as we see a change. Look, Roy, I don't pretend to make you understand in this precise minute, but in order to be an acceptable guardian, Oliver needs to make sure you're always fed, healthy, clean and safe, and he has not done well any of that lately. I never agreed completely with his brutal training and parenting methods, but now he seems even more careless than usual, and that's saying a lot."

"Stop talking about him that way, he's probably a better dad than you." Roy looked so upset that Bruce had to wonder if it was really a good idea to continue the conversation. And now that he paid attention, the boy looked even paler than the day before.

"Try to calm down, I'm not implying that he's not a good father, I just think he needs to remind some of the things he committed to when he took you in."

"That's stupid! We are fine, and…" Roy cursed under his breath when he felt his heart rate increase a little bit and everything surrounding him becoming a little dark. He knew what was coming.

"Roy, are you feeling well?"

The boy didn't say anything, but as soon as he felt the stomach juices rising through his throat, he knew he was screwed.
.

Oliver cursed when he heard his cell phone ringing like crazy, and he glared at the damn thing when he saw Bruce's name on the screen.

"Excuse me, I need to take this," he ignored the look his mother shot him from across the room and stood up before darting to the hall, "What, Bruce? I was on a meeting?"

"It's important. Leslie's checking Roy and she'd like to ask you some questions."

"WHAT?!" Everyone in the meeting room stopped to look at him now, "Damn it, Wayne! How dare you make someone do a check up on my son without my approval?!"

"I believe it's acceptable from me to call Leslie, and it's the least I can do, when a friend's son appears at my home with a severe stomach infection and a high level of anemia. You're welcome, by the way."