Broken But Loved (Robin Fic)

Chapter 7

*2 weeks later*

Dick stares at it, so confused as to what was currently in front of him. He had mixed emotions about it, but with the way everyone was looking at him, He felt embarrassed.

  "Its just ice cream. It's cold but sugary. It's a great treat to eat." Artemis said, taking a spoonful in her mouth.

  Dick poked it with his finger, scared of finding out what it would taste like. "Here, let me show you," Artemis grabbed her spoon and demonstrated how she eats it. Dick watched in awe as he started mimicking her movements.

  Once he had a small spoonful of ice cream he slowly brought it to his lips, his stomach fluttering with nervous butterflies the closer the spoon got to his mouth. He bit his lip before slowly eating the bite.

  His palette exploded with the new flavor he has discovered. He moaned softly, but flushed at how embarrassing he must have sounded.

  "Its good huh?" Wally asked.

  Dick nodded, before taking bigger bites of the chocolate ice cream. He couldn't remember if he used to eat this when he was younger, the years of imprisonment and torment seemed to drown out the happy memories.

  "So what do you guys want to go do? We have the day off of any missions." M'gaan said, joining the others.

  "We could go out in town." Artemis suggests.

  "No, we should do soemthing that we can involve Dick in." Wally said.

  "Going out in town is soemthing he can be involved in. He should go shopping for some new clothes." Artemis explains.

  "But Bats said he doesn't do well with the outside world yet. We should do soemthing here." Wally explained, looking down at Dick who was poking at his ice cream nervously. He felt like he was letting the whole team down. He felt like a weak link.

  "How about movies?!" M'gaan exclaimed.

  "That's a good idea!" Connor says, looking at M'gaan happily.

  Dick shook his head, catching everyone's attention as he nervously set his spoon down. "I... I liked Artemis' idea..." Dick explained, not looking up from his slowly melting ice cream, but he could tell everyone was shocked. That was the theme lately and Dick caught onto it.

  Artemis mocked a laugh at Wally. "Haha! I told you my idea was better! Let's take him to go get new clothes. He will feel much better not being in Bats hand-me-downs."

  Wally groaned. "Fine! But we should bring this up to Bats." He said.

  "Fine, let's go talk to him then. I'm sure he will be fine with it." Artemis said.

*a few minutes later*

  "Absolutely not." Bats said, shuffling through some manilla folders.

  "Why not?!" Artemis asked, folding her arms over her chest.

  Dick was still in the back, his head pointed downward at his still bandaged, yet healing feet. He started thinking about some clothes he could get, but the only things that came to mind was dirty rags or sweaters. What were real clothes?

  "He isn't ready for the outside world. He may be getting much more comfortable here, but he won't be out there. The answer is no." Bats said sitting up from the desk, making his way out of the room.

  "Shouldn't he have a say in this?" Artemis snapped.

  That stopped Bats in his tracks. He turned around, looking at Artemis who looked determined. He closed the folder and turned to the group, specifically towards Dick who twitched nervously in the back.

  "Fine, Dick, would you feel comfortable going out?" He asked.

  Dick tensed, his heart racing as he felt the attention on him. He slowly folded his arms over his chest, as if to fortify himself from the stares. But then the thought of real clothes gave him some comfort. The idea to get his own decision in what to wear made his arms slowly slack.

  "I... I would... Like to." He whispered, still not lifting his head.

  Bats stood like a stone for a moment and the air grew silent and tense, before Batman sighed. "I will allow it. Keep him safe. I want everyone back here no later than 8." He said, before turning to leave the room.

  Once the door closed, Artemis cheered. "That took some convincing, but I got the okay, speed brain! Everyone get dressed, we are leaving this rock!" Artemis shouted, running out the door.

  M'gaan and Connor followed after, as well as Kauldur, who wasn't as excited as everyone else. That left Dick and Wally standing in the room.

  Wally turned to Dick and smiled, placing a hang on his forearm, making Dick flinch. "Would you like to borrow some of my clothes for today?" He asked.

  Dick glanced up at Wally his eyes scanning Wallys before he nodded. Wally smiled and showed him to his room. Dick followed. They walked down some hallways Dick hasn't been down yet until they stopped at a metal door as it opened the room looked messy right as you enter. The thing that caught Dick's attention was the stuff on the wall and shelf. Some of them looked like junk, but something else caught his attention and drew him in.

  A black mask with eye holes, looking almost like a bat' s masquerade mask. He walked over to it and slowly reached for it.

  Wally turned and was about to say something, but stopped himself as he watched Dick grab the mask and inspect it. He chuckled. Walking over to Dick.

  "I found it in Bats office. I figured it was his, but he never wore it, so I decided to keep it. Go ahead and try it on." He said.

  Dick shook his head, stretching his hand out to give it back to Wally. Wally shook his head. "Put it on." When Dick shook his head no, Wally bit his lip and then got an idea.

  He walked over to his suit and snatched the eye wear off. He walked back over to Dick and smiled. "Look, it's this easy. If I put mine on, will you put that one on?" He asked.

  Dick stood for a moment before nodding. Wally smiled, throwing his on over his head. When it was on securely he posed. "I'm looking pretty spiffy huh?" He asked.

  Dick couldn't help but let a small smile escape his lips. He glanced down at the mask and took in a deep, shakey breath before bringing it up to his eyes and putting it on, when he looked up, Wallys expression said it all.

  "Wow... It looks as if it was meant for you." Wally said, taking in Dick's appearance. Dick's hair was long and going over the mask, his blue eyes peaking through the holes. He looked like a completely different person. Wally cleared his throat, remembering the others were probably waiting on him.

  "Come on, we need to get ready, but as a gift, you can have that if you want." He explained.

  Dick felt a pit in his stomach ready to burst. He felt hidden under this mask, giving him a sort of confidence that he has never felt. He brought hands up and caressed them, his shaky hands going over the leather stitches.

  "You can wear them out if it makes you feel better." Wally said, hanging him a stack of folded clothes. Dick hesitated, but took the clothes.

  Wally nodded before walking out of the room and closing the door, letting him have privacy for changing. Dick hugged the clothes close to his chest, and for the first time in a minute, he felt pure joy burst inside of him, and it scared him more than calmed him.

A/N: so uhm.... your comments were heard... VERY LOUDLY and so I have decided to update. It took me 3 months to finish this one chapter. Times have been rough man! But I also have good news! I have decided to make this a birdflash book. But don't worry it won't focus on just that. I also want it to focus on Bruce and Dick's relationship as well... alrighty then! See you guys in the next one!.... hopefully not 6 months later xD