Chapter Fourty

There was only a short few seconds of silence after the roar of Nightwing’s bike faded from the echoing walls of the Cave, leaving the distant tunnel.

Just a short pause where the group of the most accomplished and skilled detectives and information gatherers on the planet all grappled with the dumbstruck understanding that Dick Grayson had secrets, he wouldn’t share them with his family that he’d literally take a bullet for, and-

“How in the fuck don’t you know what he’s on about, old man?!” Jason practically barked at Bruce, an incredulous note sneaking in and undermining the aggression he was reaching for. “You’re fucking Batman. If any fucker should know all the shit that the rest of us want secret, it’s fuckin’ you. I mean, for fuck’s sake, you made a fucking record of the shit I did when I came back as Hood, went back through all the damn reports from when you didn’t even know who the fuck I was.”

Bruce didn’t respond, still staring after where Dick had left, unmoving.

Tim tapped absently on one of his Red Robin gauntlets as he spoke, “He has a point. I didn’t think there was anything about any of the bats that wasn’t recorded somewhere on that computer.” He paused tapping, and tilted his head as he tacked on, “And I would have thought it’d be Jason, not Dick, if something was missing. I mean, he’s basically always been here, in , where something like this would have been noticed.”

Jason’s eyes suddenly narrowed, “Not always. He wasn’t here when I first got here, was he Bruce?”

Bruce was still staring, and only after another long pause did he seem to come out of it, turning slowly to face Jason. After another short pause, processing the question, he curtly answered, “Robin established the Titans at that time, and was living in Central City, Jason.”

“Yeah, I . But he wasn’t doing it with you, right? In fact, if I , you wouldn’t talk to him at all, and he only turned up when you weren’t there. Am I right?” Jason’s narrowed gaze stayed on Bruce, suspicion growing strong enough to light a soft green ring on the edge of his iris.

Another long pause. “Richard struggled with operating beside Batman at that time-”

“Lie?” Cassandra interrupted, surprise clear in her voice. Her eyes and voice turned hard, “Why lie? What happened?”

An even longer pause, before he stood and responded whilst beginning to leave, “We suffered some issues cooperating safely whilst in the field. He left to found the Titans, whilst I continued in Gotham. I will investigate this gap in Nightwing’s file. It is a small oversight, and unlikely to be of concern.”

With that, he left, climbing the stairs and vanishing from sight.

The kids all stood around for a minute, staring after him. Then Steph asked, “So, am I the only one thinking that was some crap?”

—

“I swear to fuck, sit your ass down on this sofa, Donna.” Dick glared at the powerful woman hovering awkwardly.

This wasn’t new. Ever since they’d invaded his apartment out of some misplaced guilt, they’d all been doing this to some degree. Hesitating to sit near him, asking if they could use the television or play their music, checking it was okay to fill his bathroom with some of their products, as if he didn’t have an entire cupboard of skincare products he hadn’t touched since coming back. Babs being all careful about talking about the other bats when work came up or an anecdote involved them. Star constantly cutting herself off from getting loud and bouncy with her trademark exuberance, replacing it with a soft tone like she was in a library- not that she’d ever been quiet in a library either. Donna stumbling her way through clumsy overcareful questions for simple shit, no sign of the polished and concise public speaking she’d always had the knack for. Even Zee, though a little better, would still do this little thing where her eyes would slide away, before she’d speak with an awfully obvious forced casualness.

It was driving Dick up the wall, in a big way. Even the amusement of realising that Harley Quinn was the one behaving the most normal had only slightly alleviated it. They’d had a good laugh about that, at least, when he’d brought it up and she’d pointed out she was the normal one for once. It probably helped she’d also kissed him quite thoroughly after that.

Still. He was fed up with it. They were treating him like- like… overcautious. Careful. As if he was fucking fragile. And he hated it, hated that they’d seen him so goddamn weak, and now thought he was weak enough to need this special treatment. And maybe he was a little raw after the ‘incident’ at the Cave with his- with the Bat family last week. Sue him.

“It’s a sofa, I’m not gonna start throwing a pissy fit like a bitch.” He added when she didn’t move, even if her eyes did flash to his.

She shifted on her feet, “Yes, however, you-”

The thought occurred to him, and he realised he needed to give her a way out. He didn’t want to hear her say it. He might actually cry if Donna has to tell him how he disgusts her. “Nevermind, whatever. You don’t have to get near me. My bad, I should have-”

She cut him off, a hand raised as if to halt him, and her voice sliced through strong, like he ed from years ago. The way her eyes flashed with danger wasn’t as familar though, “What on earth are you saying, Richard? I want to sit with you, it is concern for your comfort that halts me.” Her eyes narrowed, and voice dropped, “Why would I not wish to be near you?”

He shrugged, suddenly finding the cushion in his lap incredibly interesting, unable to take the intensity in her eyes, “It’s nothing, don’t wor-”

“Answer my question, Dick.”
After a moment of picking at a seam, he muttered out, “You might, I guess. If, I don’t… don’t disgust yo-”

He jolted, body bouncing on the cushions as the old springs gave a tortuous squeaking groan in response to the tall demigoddess hurtling herself down next to him and wrapping her arms around him tightly.

His lungs were screaming for air, the hug too tight as her super strength came forth unbidden, but… Dick felt the strangest release of tension in his chest, and his body relaxed a little at the sensation of such unbridled affection after so long.

It was only when he actually started seeing spots that he reluctantly wheezed out, “Too…tight…” and the arms crushing his ribcage suddenly loosened, letting oxygen back in with a rush of disappointment.

Disappointment tempered by the fact that… Donna didn’t let go. She just loosened a bit, and then pulled back to look at him, eyes blazing. Slowly, she pressed her forehead to his, like they were kids all over again, and she whispered sharply at him, “Don’t you ever say that. Ever. You could never disgust me, wonder twin. You’re the best hero- the best man, that I’ve ever known. You’re-” She choked off, and pulled him closer again, clearly trying to communicate what her words were failing to do.

Dick knew it was guilt, that she was just a good person, but…

It was warm, and filled his chest. It felt like home again, with her arms holding him just that little bit too tight to be in full control of herself, like late nights laughing with his best friend over expensive wine he’d stolen from the Manor’s wine cellar.

He’d missed that feeling. And Dick was a weak man, really. Weak enough to allow himself to enjoy it, even if it wasn’t real.