❄️His Snowflake❄️

17 - Never Been Colder

Emily crept to Dick's room in the middle of the night, with no particular reason in mind. She just wanted to know how he was coping, hopefully seeing her mentor in bed would encourage her to do the same. To her surprise, the door was slightly ajar. She could hear sobbing.

"This is my fault. If I had just... Just stayed with them instead of answering that stupid text from Dawn, how dare she ask me to drop everyone I love for her? The kids, you... I fucked up so badly."

"She asked Hank the same thing yesterday, Dick. He said no. It just happened to be the wrong timing."

"I put my communicator on silent, Kory! Thinking crime would wait for me while I tried to reason with her... But it was something worse it cost." He looked down at his phone, gritting his teeth. When he told her Rachel had fainted, all she had to say was 'take care of yourself, good luck with your strays'. How could she ask him to run away with her one second then cut him off completely, the next? It felt cruel and she didn't deserve a reply so he didn't bother with one. "Fuck. I'm so dumb, you... I'm so sorry. This probably wasn't your midnight plan. I haven't grossed you out too much, have I?"

"Well, I mean..."

"You can be grossed out. Just don't leave, Kory, plea-" he paused, cupping her cheek with one hand. She was sure he was going in for a kiss but he wiped a faint trail where her tears had ran down with his thumb, gazing at her in silence.

"I would've left or would've been grossed out if it was literally any other person, Dick Grayson but with you... Well..." She gestured towards his thumb, which was wet at the tip and sighed softly, struggling to understand herself. "That. Not only because of Rachel but just... You. Listening to you cry was painful for me but I knew you needed it so I... I just cried along with. I don't think I've ever been the big spoon, before."

"I've never been the small," he croaked, unable to take his eyes off her as he put on a smile. It was so crooked she snorted, causing a real smile to appear. "I was supposed to be strong. For the kids, for you... But I fucked that up, too. I'm sorry."

"Dick, you stupid boy and dumb bitch, you don't have to be strong for anybody. You're allowed to express your emotions, too. Grown men can cry. Father and older brother figures can cry. Don't ever let yourself believe different. You clearly didn't get to enough when you were little, seeing as I'm absolutely drenched-"

Emily could no longer hear their conversation both because they were kissing and because Connor crept over to her, glancing about when she gestured him over. He told her he couldn't sleep and had come to ask Dick how to get himself to sleep, sighing when she gave him a hug after his explanation. She patted her lap, quickly gesturing swiftly at his head when he assumed she meant he should sit on her. As he lay his head down, she fiddled with his hair gently until yet another Titan popped up.

"Hey... Is Dick in there?"

"Last thing I heard they were making out so like... Unless you wanna witness anything I suggest we all stay out here for a bit." Gar nodded quickly and sat next to her, all three looking up when Rose treaded over, Krypto by her side.

"Conn, Krypto was looking for you... And so was I, I figured since I couldn't sleep I'd come by and see if you were up. Knowing you, opening the door would've woken you up and I was kind of hoping that would happen." She pushed herself between Emily and Connor, all of them freezing momentarily when Krypto barked. Connor rubbed his head and got him to keep as quiet as possible, all curious to see if anyone was coming next as they lay there. There was the slightest hope that maybe it would be Rachel within them all.

Just as they gave up, Jason walked over, rolling his eyes at the sight of them all. "Dammit, Logan, get your head off Emily. I'm taking her right back to bed, don't know what the fuck you're all doing here with her and I could care less, truly."