Getting to know you

Calming down: Bruce

Dick was in the library, reading a book he'd found. It was pretty interesting, with daring fights and fun dialogue. Most of it was realistic, which was even better to Dick. If he knew how they fought, he could often know a person.

Bruce walked in to see Dick laying across the couch, reading to his heart's content. He'd developed fast, and could read as well as any of them. He walked over, purposefully making his footsteps louder as to not frighten his son. Dick looked up at him before looking back down.

Dick looked horrible. He hadn't eaten in eighteen days, and was getting close to the period of starving to death. He hadn't sleep in almost two weeks again, and Bruce was surprised he hadn't passed out by now.

Bruce carried a blanket and laid it over Dick. Dick's eyes started slowly closing, his head dropping. Bruce put a bookmark in the book Dick had been reading and kissed his forehead. "Get some sleep, Dick. Nothing will hurt you."

Bruce slid a pillow under Dick's head and pet his hair. Dick closed his eyes, and started snoring not long after. Bruce sat in a chair opposite Dick, watching the acrobat sleep. Wally had helped a month ago, but had been pulled on a mission recently and couldn't contact Dick. Now he wasn't eating partly because he knew Wally might not come back, and he was worried.

Dick had been somewhat improving. He wasn't as hopeless about the situation as he had been. The sleeping had been getting a little better, though not by much, and his eating—

Bruce wasn't going to think about his eating. This was the boy who had brought life into the manor. The one who made everyone smile, when if he was in pain. He would be ok. He had to be.

Bruce couldn't hold back and sat next to Dick, petting his head. Dick leaned into the hand and sighed. "I love you, Dick. Don't hurt yourself anymore." Bruce whispered, knowing Dick would've heard him if awake.

Dick slept for the next six hours. Bruce eventually moved Dick to his room, cradling Dick to his chest. He was still so scared of losing Dick, and he had to reassure himself that Dick was home, and that he would be safe.

Bruce set Dick on the bed and kissed his forehead again. Dick cracked his eyes open. "Go back to sleep, Dick. You're safe here." Dick closed his eyes again. Bruce sighed and brushed the hair out of Dick's face.

Dick seemed to be more relaxed than normal. Or maybe that was Bruce's imagination, trying to tell him Dick was ok when he wasn't. Dick wasn't ok yet, but Bruce would change that. Bruce would help him be ok again.

Bruce gently grabbed Dick's hand, intertwinning their fingers. Dick was like the youngest child, the one that Bruce wanted to protect the most. He wanted to protect them all, but Dick was so innocent. He didn't deserve to be in this cruel world and be hurt time and time again.

Bruce found himself drifting off. It had been a long week. He laid his head down after planting one more kiss on Dick's forehead. "Goodnight, Dick. I love you."

He couldn't stop saying those words. He loved Dick with all his heart, just like the rest of his sons. But he wanted to make sure Dick knew. Dick had been without love for so long, and Bruce took every chance to remind Dick he was loved. And he was.

Bruce fell asleep next to Dick. Next to his beautiful son who was hurting. Who's pain hurt everyone in the manor. Who was surrounded by a family who loved him more than life itself.