Dick Grayson one shots

Trapped

Whumptober day 17: nowhere else to go

Dick stretched out in the dappled sunshine. The grass felt so good as it tickled his cheeks and bare feet.

Who knew you could miss grass so much.

He closed his eyes, a tentative smile stretched across his face. It had been so long since he'd seen the outside world.

The sunshine caressed his skin, warming it in a pleasant way. He took a moment to appreciate the good weather, something Gotham didn't get very often.

He was vaguely aware that Bruce was outside as well, keeping a watchful eye on him no doubt. The thought helped him to relax. He was safe here, truly safe.

Dick closed his eyes, the feeling of safety combined with the warmth of the sun lulling him to sleep. He shifted, blinking his eyes open and pinching his arm to try and keep himself awake. The memories would surely come at him with a vengeance if he allowed his guard to slip.

He didn't want to ruin this moment of serenity.

Unfortunately, he didn't have much of a choice, as memories of the years he spent as a captive forced their way to the forefront of his mind.

Dick shivered as his mind forced him to relive the day he'd been captured by Lex Luthor. The scars on his arms and chest seemed to burn as he remembered the cloning process. He vividly remembered the despair and the aching tiredness that had filled him as he'd been dragged off to a cell. Roy had been so much luckier in that regard, frozen in time until he'd been rescued. Dick hadn't had that good fortune. Instead he'd been subjected to the horrors of the light.

His clone had been killed on a mission long before they found him, something he felt horrible about even though there was no way he could've prevented it.

The brush of feet against the grass startled Dick out of his thoughts. He opened his eyes to see Bruce standing over him, a small smile on his face.

Dick pushed himself onto his feet, stepping close to his mentor and leaning against him for support.

Bruce seemed to recognize the distress Dick was feeling, and wrapped his arms around him in a hug.

Dick allowed some of the tension to flow out from him, relaxing in the safety of his mentor's embrace. "It's hard not to think of that place," he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Bruce hummed in response, rubbing circles on Dick's back. "Do you think talking about it would help?" He asked.

Dick stiffened, his breath picking up slightly. "I... I don't know," he mumbled.

"I don't mean to make you feel uncomfortable Dick, but I'm always willing to listen, and I'm sure Dinah would love to help as well," Bruce said.

Dick breathed a shaky breath. "I'll think about it," he replied. "But... for now a hug is just as good."

Bruce smiled softly. "I'm happy to provide hugs."

—

Dick stiffened as Alfred reappeared with a needle to start an IV. He focused on his breathing. This was going to help him. Alfred was going to help him.

Yelling in the background caught his attention, Jason yelling at Bruce. His breathing caught. He felt trapped... he needed to get out...

"Your son almost got Dick killed on patrol today!" Jason shouted, his voice carrying into the med bay. "He's bloodthirsty! You need to discipline him!"

Dick flinched as Alfred grabbed his arm, the word discipline dragging up unpleasant memories of his time as a prisoner to the light.

The needle pressed into his arm and he jerked away, nearly falling of the medical bed he was sitting on in his haste to get away. His gaze was wild, his breath erratic as he continued to listen to Jason and Bruce argue, the sound adding to the cacophony of memories swirling through his mind.