Rotten Apples, chapter 5

"What the hell happened?" Oliver announced his arrival, much to Bruce's annoyance.

"He was really upset when he arrived, said some pretty colorful things to me, then proceeded to throw up stomach juice in front of me.
Leslie says he hasn't eaten in 2 days and that he has a severe stomach infection. She insisted in running some medical exams, and it turns out that your kid has anemia too."

Oliver was sure his expression was priceless. Anemia? Stomach infection? Fuck, that sure was why Roy had insisted he felt sick… And he hadn't believed him…

"Thank you for your help, I'll take care of it." He tried to enter the batcave, where he knew Bruce kept the medical equipment, but the Bat didn't let him.

"Leslie still wants to talk with you."

"And I'll gladly answer every question she has, I'd just like to see my son first. I'll take him home to rest as soon as Leslie and I are done talking."

"Maybe he could stay here for a few days… You know, that way Leslie can look ever him."

"I can look over him at home, thank you very much," with that, the archer passed the other man and entered the cave. "Good afternoon, Leslie."

Bruce started following him downstairs. He knew Oliver wouldn't dare being disrespectful with Leslie, but he didn't want his two eldest sons going down there too, he didn't really want them near the blonde until he got his act together.

"Evening, Ollie. How are you?" Leslie was polite as always.

"I'm fine, thanks," the archer went straight to the medical table Roy was sitting in looking miserable.
He didn't seem to realize Bruce following him, either that or he didn't really care at that point, "Roy here's the one that worries me… What's wrong, kiddo?" he actually felt the boy's forehead and checked him.

Bruce had to remind himself that purgatory was full of good intentions… Oliver had to meet certain standards before being considered apt to keep Roy home, pretending to care wasn't enough… He sounded pretty sincere and concerned, though.

"Nothing… I'm sorry I took you out of the meeting."

"Don't be, that meeting's so not important right now. How do you feel?"

"I'm fine…"

"Actually, he's not," Leslie corrected, "He needs to take this antibiotic, something for the nausea and serum so he won't get dehydrated of throwing up so much. Besides, we really need to do something about that anemia, I believe I'll have to inject him."

If possible, Roy got even paler at the mention of needles because he knew those were really painful shots, but Bruce saw how Oliver wrapped his arm around the kid while still listening carefully to Leslie and, for unknown reasons to him, it made the guy feel like the worst living being on earth for wanting to intervene.

"Can't I just eat more proteins?"

"Roy, let's not argue with Leslie, she's the doctor here."

"But…" the sole mention of needles made him want to throw up again. Oliver recognized that face, and subtly drew him closer.

"I know," he knew the kid hated shots with everything he had. That had become clear the first week he had had him at home when a doctor had stopped by to check and put order in his vaccination card,

"But try to calm down."

Roy muttered something that sounded a lot like 'I hate needles' under his breath, but made no further comment nor put any kind of resistance when he was told to lay face down, and Bruce pretended not to look at how Oliver squeezed the kid's hand the entire time while stroking his hair until Leslie retired the needle and cleaned the area with antiseptic. If she noticed the fainting marks of a belt, the woman said nothing.

Bruce couldn't help but feel a hint of disdain for the other guy, he didn't find it correct that Oliver got to barely pay any attention to the boy in weeks, and then could just care again and get Roy to welcome his with open arms. It wasn't that he wanted the boy's life to be filled with grudges or anger towards the only parent he had, but… How come Roy allowed himself to be so clingy with that jerk? Besides, how dare Oliver hug the kid as if nothing had happened? Bruce felt extremely guilty when he raised his voice at one of his kids and Oliver felt nothing for neglecting his?
.

"Roy looked quite upset when he arrived." Bruce commented casually. After Leslie had gone, Roy went upstairs to rest a little bit, following the doctor's instructions and leaving the two adults in an uncomfortable silence.

"That's what happens when someone wants to take a fourteen year old from his home."

"Come on, Oliver…"

"Shut the fuck up, Bruce, I'm just here because Leslie told me to wait a little before going home."

"Because I asked her to. What happened today is a complete proof that you need to pay more attention."

"Excuse me?"

"Roy told you yesterday he was sick and you didn't even bother to take him to a doctor."

"Because he always says he's sick when he doesn't wanna go to school or get up."

"You have to take him to the doctor anyways. Besides, you left him at home alone again."

"What? Did you want me to take him to my mother's house? Give me a break, that bitch hates his guts."

"At least she has her feelings towards Roy defined."

"The fuck's that supposed to mean?" Oliver shot him his nastiest look.

"It means you can't ignore and hit the poor kid one week and hug him and hold him the next," the dark haired man snapped.

"Are you mad 'cause I was holding my boy? That's so sick, Wayne…" Oliver was running out of patience too, "Not my fault you won't hug your kids even if your life depended on it."

That was it!

"Get out of my house, you asshole"

"Fine, as soon as I get Roy," the archer headed upstairs without a second thought.

"Not until you get someone to validate you are apt to keep a child at home!"

"Fuck off! Roy, we're going home now!"

"Fine! Deal with CPS then!"