My Father is Death

Chapter 24

!Trigger Warning!

Slade pulled at his hair in frustration. The shocking revelation Dick told him barely half an hour ago was eating him from the inside out, "God damn it. Does this mean he wants to die or was he just at a low point? Is he depressed or suisidel ? God damn it."

Wintergreen laid a hand on Slade's shoulder, pass a cup of tea to the man, "Calm down Slade."

"Calm down? How in the hell can I be calm right now. First finding the cutting and than the pills. Now learning the kid knew those pills could have killed him with too many!" Slade jumped out of his seat pacing back and forth, "He could be doing something now and I wouldn't know."

"Oh, hush up and leave him be." Wintergreen snapped, "Now sit down."

Slade sat down slumping in the chair.

"The boy is just fine as of right now. As I see it, these all occurred when he was at a low point. We just need to keep an eye out on low points. Try and help him though them and teach him how to get though them. He's going to have nightmares and dreadful feelings all his life. We need to teach him that they are not bad and they can be managed. Recovered. That they are a part of life." Wintergreen glared at Slade, "They are not a sickness that needs to be eradicated from the boy. He just hurts. Mentally. Physically. He was broken into peaces. It's our job to help him put those peaces back together."

Slade sighed, "Raising a child is hard."

"Yes it is. Just give him room to breath but let him know you'll always be there for him. No matter what."

"No matter what." Slade muttered to himself nodding, "No matter what." 

They fell silent listening to the show get turned off, drawers getting opened and closed, before small feet pattering down the hall. The boy entered the den with one hand holding a blanket and the other with his stuffed elephant. His growing ebony hair was still half damp, clinging to his forehead. He pattered over to Slade, climbing into the man's lap without prompting. Slade moved the blanket around Dick as the boy curled against his chest.

"No matter what." Slade whispered.

Wintergreen hummed, "Go to bed, Slade.  And take care of Dick."

"I will.... I will." Slade adjusted the boy in his arms to pick him up. Dick's eyes fluttered open glancing at what was happening before fluttering close once more. The older man walked the sort distance to his room. He set the boy down before going into the bathroom.

"DAD!" Dick whined loudly.

Slade both sighed and laughed internally as he grabbed the pill bottle. He took at one pill, snagging a water cup on the way out. He found is youngest son already curled in a cocoon of blankest and both pillows under his head. In short, the boy didn't leave a stich of blanket for Slade.

"Alright Mr. Blanket Wrap." He called holding out the pill and glass, "A sleeping pill like you asked."

Dick sat up enough to take the glass and pill. The pill was gone in a matter of seconds, the boy wiping way the water droplets from his face, "Thank you."

Slade hummed, "You can thank me by giving me some covers."

"Nope."

Assassin or not Slade chuckled, untangling his kid form the nest. Laying himself right dead center so the boy had to share.

"Meanie."

"Un hun."

Dick hugged his stuffed elephant close to his chest, "Why do we get nightmares?" 

Slade blinked. Blinked again as the question sputtered around in his head, "Well bud, all things must have an equal I guess. Were there is light there is shadow. But only to you these things, you dream about, are scary. I could look upon them and feel nothing." Slade wrapped an around around the boy protectively, "All the horrors in the universe could do nothing if it doesn't mean something to you."

Dick nodded, "But I get a lot of Nightmares. More than I should. Why?"

"Stress. Triggers. Small things. Us just moving around so much can give you nightmares. When people move houses, they don't sleep vary good the first few nights. It's just how we, humans, are." Slade ran a hand through the soft ebony hair, "But there is no need to be frightened of sleep."

"BUT I KEEP SEEING THEM!"

Slade hummed in response, not know if Them was parents or Court, "Than you see them. But remember, when you wake I'm always here. Someone will always be here." The man took the opportunity to bring up the situation they were in on the other hand, "Dick, do you want to die? There's nothing wrong with that feeling. I don't ever want you to think that. Everyone at one point or another wishes for death. I remember a time when I did."

Dick shook his head, "I don't think so.... But I don't know."

"What were you thinking when you went for the pills?"

"I wanted the dreams to stop. I though with more pills I wouldn't dream.... But I know that if you have to many you can die."

"Were you scared of that fact?"

"....No."

Slade hummed.

"Is there something wrong with me?" Dick asked after the long pause.

Slade snapped out of his thinking, "No. No, Dick. There's nothing wrong with that. I guess it's a feeling when you get old and you don't fear what comes next. You lay down one night, and just know it will be your last. You just let it happen. Take it with open arms."

"But I'm not an old fart like you and Wintergreen."

"Don't you let Will hear you say that," Slade thought another moment, "You've lived a life time of things already, Dick. You're body may look young, but underneath your soul has grown old. It wishes to rest. To heal. It takes time. You may look for a faster methed to heal. Death may be one. But just live day by day. Leave yesterday in the past. Look forward to the future because it is bright. It is different. And you want to see what it holds right?"

Dick looked up from the tear stained shirt he was clinging too, "But what if it isn't bright?"

"Than make it bright. And if you need help along the way, all you need to do is ask."

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