#i know i made lucius jaded af but the man has been ground down by corporate america and the fuckery known as bruce wayne

[griffle-musings]

FTMWU: Office

Dick Grayson: Hey, Lucius!

Lucius Fox:

Dick: Long time no see.

Lucius: Which precinct is Bruce being held.

Dick: Oh, no, not that. Bruce is fine.

Lucius: Small mercies.

Dick: It's about Tim.

Lucius: I'll talk to PR.

Dick: No, no, not- whatever you're thinking about. I am worried about Tim though.

Lucius: Is there a specific reason you are here, Mr. Grayson, or has Bruce finally passed on the mantle of slowly driving me to death via insanity onto you?

Dick: I. No. You know how Tim has a kid, now?

Lucius: Yes I am aware. Most of the employees are quite taken by Jenna.

Dick: Really?

Lucius: Yes. She's actually boosting morale in the office.

Dick: huh. I would've thought the opposite.

Lucius: Why?

Dick: I'm concerned for Tim- he isn't really great about balancing work and outside life, you know? I mean, it has to be hard, having to go between Boss and Parent. God knows Bruce never did figure it out.

Lucius:

Lucius: you never really met Janet Drake, did you.

Dick: uh, no, why?

-Flashback, years ago, Drake Industries-

Lucius, younger and more naive to the world: *staring*

Janet Drake: *holding a five year old Tim on her hip, coldly denouncing some smarmy middle management guy*

Tim: *carefully adjusts Janet's collar*

Janet: *not breaking eye contact* Thank you sweetheart. And another thing-

-Flashback, two days ago, Wayne Enterprises-

Tim: *holding Jenna on his hip, coldly denouncing some smarmy middle management guy*

Jenna: *carefully adjusts Tim's barrette*

Tim: *Not breaking eye contact* Thank you, sweetheart. And another thing-

-end flashback-

Lucius: ...I think he's doing perfectly fine.

Dick: Oh that's good.

Dick: Wait you never said I boosted morale.

Lucius:

-Another Flashback, years ago, Wayne Enterprises-

Bruce, age 24 and stressed: I'm sorry I have to go the school called, Dick is in trouble and I-

Lucius, older but just as stressed: this is a board meeting, Bruce you can't just-

-More Flashback, years ago, Wayne Enterprises-

Bruce, age 25 and still stressed: *pacing around the office* He was swinging from the ceiling, Lucius! Can children do that? And so I panicked and blurted out the first thing and then he was crying-

Lucius, older and exhausted: *trying to herd Bruce to the desk* Bruce, please sign the damn form-

-More, More Flashback, Wayne Enterprises-

Lucius, becoming the jaded man we know today:

Bruce, age 26: uh.

Lucius: *looks over*

Dick, age 10, covered in blue paint:

Bruce: I can explain.

Lucius: why is there paint on the board room's ceiling.

Bruce: At least it's washable?

-End Flashback-

Dick: Lucius?

Lucius:

Dick: Lucius? You-

Lucius: I know what I said.