Getting to know you

Solid Ground, or air?

Dick was very cautious the next few days. He didn't tone his hearing down, listening to everything. It was too dangerous to go without listening, even if he was at the watchtower. His safe places had been infiltrated before.

The only other place Dick was allowed to go was the mountain. He was learning about who all was on the team, and what their pasts were like. Bb had surprisingly lost both his parents, like Dick. Blue Beetle/Jamie hadn't chosen the other. The Beetle had chosen Jamie against his will. Aqualad was facing a lot of trouble after something in Atlantis, and had to come to the surface while Aquaman figured it out.

Dick found himself able to smile around the team. To make small jokes. He sparred with Wally and a few others, often winning. The team was becoming more comfortable with him as well, as they introduced him to things he'd never seen. Such as the new computer system. There was a program for hacking training, and Dick couldn't be happier. The team had races to see who could hack the fastest. Dick won by a landslide every time.

After a while, he stopped using his enhanced hearing and relied on regular hearing. He relied on others for information about Zucco, but he didn't mind. It meant someone was there if he went into a panic attack. The sight of Zucco or his name terrified Dick to the core. The team knew this, and did whatever they could to hide Zucco's name on the increasing visits from the avian.

Dick was becoming his happy self again. Bruce saw him smile more. He didn't flinch when people touched him, and there was no sign of his thin state. He laughed. He rarely cried. But Bruce finally got to see his bird fly.

Bruce came into the training room to work on his exersise when he heard a small giggle. He recognized it as his eldest's, and smiled. He also heard ropes creaking, and small swooshes. So he walked over to see what his bird was doing. What he saw warmed his heart and left him in awe.

Dick was flipping from bar to bar, small giggles escaping as he flew. Dick looked completely at ease, muscles relaxed and face calm. Bruce watched a he did a flip here, a roll there, just enjoying his time. Bruce could hear faint circus music from a speaker Dick had on the platform at the top.

Dick came to his last few bars. Bruce was watching, eyes widening when he realized there was no net. He trusted his son completely, but he didn't trust the equipment. Just when he was about to ask what the hell Dick was thinking, Dick flipped off the bar. But it wasn't one, it wasn't two, and it wasn't three. Bruce didn't realize until afterwards that he'd witnessed something this boy was the only one capable of doing.

"The quadruple flip." Bruce whispered breathlessly. He knew Dick could do it, but he'd never seen it in person. Dick looked down and jumped. "Oh. Hey, Bruce. You startled me." Bruce raises an eyebrow. "I startled you?" Dick blushed. "I wasn't listening. I was flying."

"You did so very well, by the way. You could show me a thing or two." Bruce smiled as Dick climbed down. "Really? I-I haven't practiced in a while, I'm way rusty-" Dick began, but Bruce stopped him. "Dick, you did better than professional acrobats that practice every day. Your rusty is the top of their game. Don't worry about how long ago it was you practiced, you killed it. You did absolutely amazing."

Dick walked over. "Really?" Bruce nodded. "Dick, you did so good, Chum. I didn't even see the whole thing and my jaw dropped. You did more than just good. Dickie, words can't describe what I just saw. You can't describe something like that. You have to experience it yourself.

"Dick, you looked like you were at home in the air. Even when you did those flips, you knew where you were. You were flying, Dick. And I've never seen anyone, not even Superman fly better. Don't doubt yourself. You would've put the League in awe. If I didn't know your background, I would've sworn you had powers." Bruce smiled, petting Dick's hair.

Dick leaned into the touch. He hadn't heard praise about his flying in…he didn't even know. Sometime before the Court. Before Zucco. Before his world came crashing down around him. It made him realize how much he missed it. How much he missed his parents.

Dick put himself in Bruce's arms and sighed. Tears threatened to spill as he reminisced. "You miss them, don't you? Your mom and dad?" Bruce asked. "I miss them every day. I love you guys, but I always wonder what would've happened if they lived. What my life would've been like. Would I still know you? Would I know Wally?"

"I don't know, Dickie. But I am so glad I got the chance to meet you. Your life wouldn't be the only one different from what it is now." Bruce smiled. "Do you think they're proud of me? Mami and Tati?" Dick asked. "I don't think they could be any prouder to see you fly like that." "Mami used to call me her little Robin. When I was first taken, I swore to remember the name. It was my first choice for a hero name, but Dami had it already." "I named my partner Robin, in honor of you. As far as I'm concerned, that name is yours before any of your brothers."