Dick Grayson one shots

We were right

Bruce knew he was in for a something when Clark approached him, flanked by Diana and Barry. "Bruce we need to talk," Clark started. "It's about Dick... we've... well, for a long time there's been signs of neglect and frankly emotional abuse."

"Don't you think it's a little late for that? He's 17, almost 18. He's not a child anymore," Bruce argued, folding his arms across his chest.

Clark let out a sigh. "Bruce, surely you can see how desperate for love he is," he said. "Things have gotten so much worse since Jason died."

Bruce stiffened. "Don't bring him into this," he said, his voice not having any of the bite he'd wanted it to.

"Bruce, Dick is suffering," Diana said. "We can't realistically involve CPS, but we can and will take him away from you if you don't change."

"You can't just forget about one child because you lost another," Barry added.

Bruce glared at them each in turn. "Don't pretend to understand what I'm going through right now," he growled.

"We know we can't understand everything Bruce... but surely—"

Bruce cut Clark off. "Dick has always been fine with how I treat him. He's not my actual child, and he's definitely not a baby anymore. He made it clear to me once that he didn't want me to take the place of his father, so I won't try to."

"Those were the words of a grief stricken child Bruce," Diana said gently. "He needs family."

Bruce stiffened slightly. "I don't see your point to all this," he said.

"You need to change how you're treating that poor boy!" Barry practically shouted. "For his sake... please just show him that you actually love him."

That was when Bruce turned and walked away, cape swishing behind him as he made his way to the zeta tubes.

—

It was a week later when Dick disappeared. Bruce, however, didn't notice until Alfred pointed out that he hadn't seen the boy in days.

Bruce didn't bother to do more about it than simply texting the acrobat and asking him where he was, not even bothering to check for a response. He figured Dick would show up again in a few days. He usually did.

—

Bruce stumbled back as the metallic scent of blood assaulted his nose. He looked around the dark building, his gaze snapping forward when he saw someone running out of the darkness.

Jason was running toward him with a smile on his face, his Robin uniform no longer stained with blood.

Bruce caught him in his arms, holding him in a long hug. "Jason?" He asked, disbelief clear in his voice.

Jason rested his head on Bruce's shoulder. "I'm back," he said softly.

Bruce let go of Jason as something else caught his eye. He walked forward, breath catching in his throat as he took in the sight before him.

Dick lay on the ground in a pool of his own blood, half of his mask was torn away, revealing the blue of one eye. His Nightwing suit was torn and bloody, cuts and bruises littering his skin.

Bruce fell to his feet at his son's side. "Dick? W-What happened?" He asked, his voice quavering.

Dick gave him a pained smile, one clearly meant to reassure him. "I-I know y-you love him m-more... so... so I-I traded m-myself for h-him... so y-you can be h-happy," he mumbled, blood trailing down his chin.

"No! I... I don't love him more... I... I can't lose you Dick. I'd never want to trade you for him," Bruce said, pulling off his cowl.

Dick grimaced, gasping in pain. The look in his eyes making it very clear that he didn't believe a word Bruce was saying. "-S ok B... y-you won't have to m-miss another loved o-one now," he said, eyes flickering over to a small clock attached to a homemade bomb just as it went off, bathing the room in a flash of white.

When Bruce opened his eyes, he saw Dick's body lying still, his chest no longer moving. "B-but I'll miss you," he whispered, voice cracking as he reached towards his eldest.

"It's ok Bruce," Jason said, laying a hand on Bruce's shoulder. "He knew you didn't love him, and he came to terms with that."

Bruce turned his tear filled eyes to his second son. "I did... do love him," he said.

Jason raised an eyebrow. "How was he supposed to know?" He asked.

Bruce went silent.

"You never told him, much less showed him. In fact, you hardly treated him like a person."

Memories flashed through Bruce's mind, things he'd said or done... things he hadn't said or done... Barry, Clark, and Diana were right... he had been neglecting his eldest... emotionally abusing him...

"Don't feel bad Bruce," Jason said. "At least he had a few years with a father who cared."

—

Bruce shot straight up in bed, immediately snatching his phone off his nightstand and finding Dick's contact. He pressed the call button, desperately waiting for his son to answer.

"Hello?" Dick answered groggily.

Bruce nearly sobbed in relief. "Thank goodness you're ok," he breathed. "Where are you? You are ok aren't you?"

"Clark and Lois invited me to come stay with them in Metropolis for a while... didn't you get my text?" Dick asked.

Bruce went on almost as if he hadn't heard what the younger had said. "I-I'm so sorry, I've been a horrible person... a horrible parent... please forgive me. I'll do better, I promise," he pleaded.

Dick was silent for a moment, thoroughly confused as to what was going on. "Do you need me to come home?" He asked, the hopeful tone in his voice cutting Bruce to the heart.

"Yes," Bruce replied, voice breaking with emotion.

—

Dick had barely walked through the zeta tube when he was crushed in a hug. He instinctively stiffened before relaxing into Bruce's embrace. "You ok Bruce?" He asked.

Bruce took a shaky breath. "I'm so sorry Dick... I've... I... you deserved so much better."

Dick's arms tightened slightly around his father figure.

"Son," Bruce sobbed, "please forgive me."

Dick found tears welling in his own eyes. "I already have," he whispered.

"You're irreplaceable," Bruce said, content to just stand there with his son in his arms.

The two stood there hugging for what seemed like ages before Bruce spoke again. "I'm going to change..." he promised. "And this time it'll be a permanent change."

—

"Mission accomplished," J'onn said, melting back into view as he stepped out of the zeta tube.

Clark let out a relieved sigh. "We should've done this years ago," he mumbled.

Diana put a reassuring hand on his arm. "At least we weren't too late. Bruce will be able to fix what he's done."

"How sure are we that this is actually a permanent thing," Barry asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "One nightmare might not be enough."

"His sincerity was complete. He genuinely didn't realize most of the effects of what he was doing... but if all else fails we can always do it again," J'onn said. "I do believe he will change."

"Thank you J'onn," Diana said, smiling over at the Martian.

"We totally need to like have a party right now or something," Barry said. "We've done the impossible."

"We sure have," Clark seconded.