Dick Grayson one shots

I want it to stop

TW: eludes to SA

"You're outside in the rain, and you don't even have shoes on," Bruce tutted, pulling Dick into an embrace. "Let's get you inside."

Dick didn't move. "How much pain do you have to go through before giving up is okay?" He asked, his voice quiet and broken sounding.

Bruce froze. "W-what?" He asked.

"How much pain do you have to go through before giving up is okay?" Dick repeated softly.

Bruce's brow furrowed. "Let's talk about this inside," he said, grabbing Dick's hand and starting to pull him along.

Dick tugged his hand free from Bruce's grip, stumbling a few steps back. "I want it to stop," he said, tears trailing down his cheeks as he looked up at Bruce.

"What are you talking about?" Bruce asked. "Is... is something wrong?"

Dick's eyes were unfocused as he stared at the rain. "So much," he said. "My parents are gone... Jason was gone. Damian was gone. You were gone... I was gone. I... I didn't... I couldn't... I-I wanted to come home..."

Bruce shifted uneasily.

"A-and Blockbuster," Dick continued, his voice breaking.

"You know that wasn't your fault," Bruce insisted, putting a hand on the acrobat's shoulder.

Dick flinched away violently, eyes momentarily widening in fear before his gaze was once again lost in the rain. "I trained her B... a-and she... she..." a silent tear made its way down his cheek.

"It's not your fault," Bruce repeated.

"I was supposed to be strong... y-you taught me to be strong... I should've stopped it," Dick sobbed.

Bruce didn't know what to do. He stood there torn between trying to comfort his son and simply picking him up and taking him back inside.

"I couldn't stop her," Dick mumbled.

A strange feeling rose in Bruce's chest, a mix of anxiety and confusion. The tone of Dick's voice... it didn't seem like he was talking about Blockbuster's death. "You couldn't stop her from doing what?" He asked, the anxious feeling growing.

Dick was trembling. "She... she... she..." he trailed off, a sob forcing its way from his throat. "We stop rapists all the time... w-why... why couldn't I stop her? I-I should've been able to s-stop her."

Bruce felt as if his heart was breaking as understanding dawned on him. He reached out his hand, allowing Dick to take it in his own. "It could happen to anyone Dickie... heroes aren't immune," he said softly.

"I-it wouldn't happen to you," Dick sobbed.

Bruce gently pulled the acrobat into a hug. "Being Batman doesn't rule me out either. Talia... that's how Damian was born," he said quietly.

Dick took a shuddering breath. "I thought you'd be mad with me," he said, his voice choked with tears.

"Why would I be mad at you?" Bruce asked softly.

"Because I let it happen again," Dick responded, tensing when he realized what he'd said.

Bruce pulled his eldest closer, making sure he could easily push himself away if he wanted to. "I'm so sorry bud," he apologized. "I should've been there to save you."

Dick let out another choked sob, burying his face in his father's shoulder, letting out all of his pain.

Bruce rubbed circles on Dick's back. "It's not your fault," he reassured.

Dick's sobs eventually calmed, still he stayed there, clinging to Bruce like he was his lifeline.

"Let's get you inside before you catch a cold," Bruce said, gently leading the acrobat back toward the manor.

Dick followed behind his mentor like a shadow, eyes glazed as he was pulled in the direction of his room. He stood unmoving as Bruce found an outfit for him to change into, and a towel to dry his hair.

Bruce wiped the mixture of tears and rain from the acrobat's cheeks, brow creasing in concern at the lack of response he received. He pressed a change of clothes into Dick's arms, leaving him with explicit instructions to take his time changing and open the door when he was ready for Bruce to come back into the room.

Dick had nodded, the blank look on his face scaring his father figure just a bit.

It was a worryingly large amount of time before Dick opened the door again, his gaze glued to the ground.

Bruce held out his arms in the offer of a hug, something that generally worked like medicine for his eldest.

Dick tentatively wrapped his arms around his father figure. "Can we watch a movie?" He asked, voice barely above a whisper.

Bruce guided them to the manor's mini movie theater, finding a seat on the couch before letting Dick place himself where he was the most comfortable.

The two settled down, Bruce not able to focus much on the lighthearted show with the way his mind fretted about and focused on his son.

Dick eventually fell asleep resting against Bruce's side. If it hadn't been for his puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks he would've looked peaceful, almost like he'd just happened to sit down for a movie and fallen asleep rather than crying himself to sleep as he had.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't save you from this," Bruce whispered softly, brushing Dick's hair from where it hung over his brow.

He grit his teeth. That was the unfortunate truth of the world so it seemed. No matter how good you were, how much you deserved better... nobody is immune to the bad in life.

Bruce continued brushing his fingers through Dick's damp curls. A pit grew in his chest when he thought about how long Dick had kept this a secret from him... from everyone. How much longer would he have kept this from him if he hadn't found him outside in the rain?

He shook his head, trying to clear the cloud of negative thoughts that hung over his head. He knew now. That was all that mattered. He'd been trusted with a sliver of his son's pain, and he was going to do everything in his power to help.

Things were going to get better. He'd make sure of it.