Dick Grayson

“Oh how funny you are today Dick, I wonder what put you in such a good mood” Bruce teased the other before chuckling softly “Okay okay, maybe I might have stalked your schedule just a bit to ensure my free time lined up with yours’’ He replied chuckling softly after all he had wanted to spend time with his sons as much as he could now that he’d returned and Dick had been pretty high on the list. “Should I ask about your love life instead?” He questioned raising an eyebrow at the other for a moment before nodding his head “Not really, I was mostly inquiring about how you yourself were doing with all the various tasks you’ve taken on. I’m not here for some secret mission debriefing Dick, I’m here to spend time with my son, that’s all I swear.”

“I’m always funny. Don’t you remember all the puns?” Dick replied easily, “Yeah, I figured.” He wasn’t about to change overnight. Even though he was acting extremely strange now. He didn’t want to be suspicious about this. He always thought this kind of thing was what he’d always wanted from Bruce. The two of them shared moments like this but it normally involved work. He was his father but he was never his dad. Not the way his biological dad was, or Alfred was. He respected and understood it. He knew Bruce loved him, he just didn’t show it like everyone else did. Dick let out a snort of a laugh. “Nah, I think I’m good.” He replied with a wave of hand as if swatting the topic away. “I… appreciate that.” He said finally. “I’ve actually stepped down as leader of the Titans and let Donna take over again.” He admitted, “So my tasks have lessened a bit.” 

Barbara looked up at him before taking a sip of her beer. There was just an ease of being with Dick that instantly took over. It was most annoying when she was upset with him, especially when he deserved it. And when she was mad at him it took everything in her to be able to close herself off from him. It also took a lot not to tell him everything, like with the problem she was having with the chip in her back - she knew he had more important things to worry about and it just felt like adding to his plate. “Let’s sit.” she suggested pointed with the neck of her beer bottle over towards her couches. Babs rubbed her lower back casually, the slight pinch making her feel numb. Perhaps that feeling was what brought all the nightmares she’d been having back. 

It seemed no amount of therapy with Dinah would completely erase the trauma of what happened to her. She just hoped Jason hadn’t said anything to Dick about the episode she had in front of him. They were getting worse. “You might change your mind when you see i’m out of cereal.” she laughed. She wasn’t the best at stocking her fridge and Dinah had gotten her on a grocery delivery system so at least there were the essentials, more if she remembered to add to it. “

So are you sticking around for a while?” she asked putting a pillow in her lap as she settled into the comfort of the couch. “In town I mean, you can obviously stay here as long as you’d like.” she offered. She was a big girl, a vigilante in her own right, she could take care of herself and she certainly didn’t need a man but Dick made her feel safe, because like her, he’d do anything for her even when they weren’t seeing eye to eye. Whether they were together or not or those lines were blurred, she loved him, she always would. They’d always be those two kids jumping rooftops in costumes and masks in the middle of the night. 

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Dick nodded his head at her request to go and sit. “Sure thing.” He agreed, walking over to the couches with her and taking a seat. It was nice being with her again and taking the night off. He didn’t have many nights anymore that he did have off. 

“If you’re out of cereal, I’ll just run out and get some.” Dick replied with a smile. “And that goes for whatever else you’re out of too. Can’t have you starving. Or me for that matter when I stay over.” He offered easily. He didn’t mind helping her out if she ever needed it but he was sure that she knew that. He’d do anything she asked of him. That was just the kind of person he was. If he wasn’t helping his friends, what was the point of all this? 

“Of course I’m staying here. Everyone’s here.” He said. That wasn’t necessarily true. When everyone lived in Gotham, Dick thrived in Bludhaven. That city was his responsibility the way that Gotham was Bruce’s. It was who he was. Protecting those people and taking down as much evil as he could. He learned a lot on those streets. It changed him for the better... and he’d left it all behind for New York City. To be with her again and the family. To lead the Titans while Donna was away because she’d asked him to. That was all it ever took for Dick to run back to his friends and chosen family and a lot of the time they didn’t even need to ask. He left Bludhaven in very capable hands and if they ever needed him, he wouldn’t hesitate to go back to where he was needed. “And I’ll stay with you as long as you’ll let me.” He had no doubts she could take care of herself. It was simple why he wanted to be with her. He wanted to. At the end of the day, Babs was one of his best friends. She was one of his people. “So... how have you been really?” 

“Yes,” Kom answered calmly, flashing him a smile. She glanced him over with a smirk remaining on her lips. She supposed he was good-looking enough, as far as humans went. But she would never understand the fierce attachment her sister had for him or the rest of their merry little band of so-called Titans. She smirked. “And why would I do that?” she said. “It is not as though you could help them now. They are beyond mercy.” A soft snort fell from her lips. “Do you?” she said. “Then why are there so many of them here, roaming freely?”

“Because picking a fight with the Titans would be a terrible idea. I don’t remember a time when you won in a fight against us, do you?” Dick reminded her. “I might not be able to help the people you’ve killed, Blackfire. But they were people. They hard friends or families who deserve to have closure.” He frowned, hating that she had a bit of a point there. No matter how much they did to help stop crime, there would always be more criminals than heroes. “Karma just hasn’t bitten them in the ass yet.” He said, “Does Kori know you’re here?” 

Yara continued to hold the man against the wall she calmed herself, deep breaths escaping her lips. Finally, she let him go, his body dropping. Okay maybe she more threw him down than anything. She didn’t regret that. She wrapped her lasso around him, knowing he wouldn’t be able to lie to the police about what he’d been doing when she found him. She looked at the man who spoke to her finally, knocked her out her rage. Her face paled. Of fucking course. Of all the people in the city, it was Dick Grayson. “Is the girl, okay?” she asked, hoping the more they talked about situation, the less he’d ask about her.

“She’s going to be alright.” Dick told her, “She’s a little shaken up but I have a female officer looking after her until the paramedics come.” Luckily Dick was on patrol with Renee when he spotted the situation and practically leapt out of the car to help. Unluckily, he was Dick Grayson right now and not Nightwing. He couldn’t talk to her like a vigilante would. “Listen, I admire what you’re doing. It takes a special kind of person to use their talents and their gifts to protect people.” He had to preface what he was about to say that he was pro-vigilante. Not a lot of cops were. “But you have to be more careful not to cross any lines.” 

        “For you? Always.” Donna replied to Dick’s voice, turning the tablet in her hands off and setting it aside so that she could give him all of her attention. The tapes could wait until later. She blinked at him, surprised by the request. “Why? Leadership not all its cracked up to be?” Over-working was common for Dick, really, any of the Batkids. It was something they all seemed to pick up from Bruce. Usually they didn’t see it until they ran themselves into the ground though. “This is new.” She teased playfully. “How long do you think you need?” Donna asked, wondering how long this shift in power would be for. She didn’t mind taking the reigns for her best friend until he was ready to take them back, but it kept her tied to the Tower and the Titans until he took back leadership. 

Dick gave her a warm smile when she said she had time for him. It wasn’t like he expected anything different. The two of them had always been very close and if he could trust someone with absolutely everything. It would be Donna. He smiled and shook his head at her question. “You know me, I’m always happy to lead.” He told her honestly. He took on the role of leader initially because it was what was expected of him. Bruce wanted the experience for him. It was a good learning opportunity for him as Robin, but as he grew older and (somewhat) wiser. He came to realize what leadership was really all about. It was about putting your team’s needs above your own. Knowing each one of them intimately, trusting them with everything you had and expecting that same trust in return. The team deserved a leader that could give them all of their time and energy. “Yeah, you probably shouldn’t expect it to happen again.” He joked back. “I’m just taking some advice from a friend. I should have listened to it way sooner. I’ve never exactly known my limits... maybe when you’re taught as a kid that you can fly you sort of... forget that you can’t.” He paused at her question before glancing back to her. He knew what he was asking her. To lift this heavy burden by herself and even though he knew she was extremely capable of it; it was still a lot to ask “Not long.” He finally promised. “I just need time to make a better plan for myself.” 

     “Of course” Tim let out a breathy laugh, unsurprised but also not mad about it. Dick was right, patrols could be boring and stretch on for what felt like forever without somebody to keep you company sometimes. It was one of the reasons he had missed Dick so much, after all. “You had me at pizza” he grinned, his stomach growling as if on cue. He couldn’t actually remember the last time that he had eaten a meal but like usual, he’d had plenty of coffee to keep him going. “Let me get my suit. It’ll be just like old times”

“I figured I would.” He teased. Tim probably hadn’t eaten in hours and he was happy to get him out into the fresh night air and fed. He cared about his little brother and he knew him well enough to know that when something caught his interest- he tended to do nothing but think about it until he worked it out. It wasn’t exactly the healthiest thing in the world but that could be said about all of the Robins. “Great!” Dick replied with a smile as Tim got up and headed towards his suit. “Should we take Redbird or do things my way?” He called after him. 

“I should start calling you Barbara Kean you sound like my mother.” she playfully side-eyed him, it was something her mother would say to both her and her father. They were workaholics always putting the job and innocent people first before themselves. It had definitely put them in the line of fire more than once. “Maybe it’s genetic.” she repeated letting out a short laugh before taking another swig of her beer. “But then what would your excuse be?” Dick worked just as hard as her and her father, sometimes more. When he moved out to Bludhaven she felt the distance between them, even though they were always working they were always close by in Gotham, most of the time working together. 

His smile was contagious and Babs couldn’t help but smile back at him. “You better, can’t get rid of me that easily Grayson.” she teased. They’d gone through so many ups and downs but always made it out together. Breaking up was probably the most difficult, save for her paralysis and even after all of it he’d always been by her side and they’d come out stronger for it. “I think I can accommodate that. Beer’s always stocked and cold here and the spare room and couch are always free, you know that. Well, maybe not the spare room, pretty sure Steph is going to come live with me for a bit, she’ll have to get used to the security systems.” and the night terrors that happened on occasion now, even more so with the malfunctioning tech in her spine. 

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“Please don’t.” Dick joked with a small laugh. “That woman kinda scares me.” It wasn’t like he was being at all serious about that. When you’ve faced off against people like Joker, Scarecrow and Two-Face. People like Barbara Kean seem small... but he had to admit. She was a little unhinged in her own right. Not to say her mom didn’t have any positive things to say about her too. He gave her a grin and joyfully shook his head. “It’s less nature and more nurture on my end of things, I think.” He told her. He couldn’t deny that he wasn’t exactly the same as she was. Both of them were driven in what they did. They wanted to help people and they would have given every last bit of themselves to do it. They worked well together because it was something they understood about the other. 

“I wouldn’t want to.” Dick finally told her. His words firm but honest. He couldn’t imagine life without her. That horrible night when he got a little too close to losing her still haunted him. Even when he knew that he should have been used to that kind of thing. As a member of the Bat-Family. You were incredibly aware that you could lose someone you loved at any given moment. It was something you had to accept. Even when you really didn’t want to. All you could do was hope it didn’t happen sooner than later. None of them would give up the thrill of being a vigilante. It was who they all were. “Don’t tell me that. I’d never leave.” He smiled a bit when she mentioned that Steph might be moving in. It wasn’t like he worried about Babs, but he did still feel better knowing that another family member might be moving in with her. “Hey that’s cool! You should invite me when you have girl nights.” He joked, “I’m sure she’ll get used to it pretty quickly. If she can get used to Tim’s coffee breath, she can get used to anything.”

“Oh..uhm..thank you.” she tried to contain the smile that came over her lips, but it was to no avail. For the first time she’d been happy her powers had been well, dulled. If not she may have lit up like a Christmas Tree. “Oh alright.” she nodded when he confirmed. Maybe Peter could help. Get it pushed through or something. He’d been there a few months after all. “I’m sure I can figure it out.” she answered.

“Anytime.” Dick replied as the girl beamed at him. It warmed his heart to see people like her. People not only willing to spend their precious time helping people but happy to do it. He wished there were more people like her in this world. It would sure make this a better place to live. “I’m sure you can too, but if you need anything at all... seriously, just let me know. My name’s Dick Grayson.” He introduced himself, “So just ask for me if you need me.” He said before pausing. “I don’t think you told me your name.” 

“Oh, seems like we’ve hit a soft spot huh birdboy? Got your head in the clouds?” Roy continued to playfully jab at Dick. But his luck ran out when he went to block Dick’s kick. Sometimes he forgot how agile the man was. Roy fell onto his back with an oof. “Nice to see you haven’t gotten slow in your old age.” he coughed, wincing as he kicked himself up. 

“Hardly! I was just going easy on you. Didn’t want to completely embarrass you when I kicked your butt in a minute flat.” He joked after Roy fell onto his back. Letting out a small laugh before the other man quickly got back up to his feet. “They may have called you Speedy, but that doesn’t mean you’re at all faster than me, sport.” He said with a smile on his lips. He may have been only a year older than Roy, but if he was going to call him old... then why not tease him like he was a still a kid? 

“Ha Ha Ha, very funny Dick, I’ll have you know I’ve been working on my summer Tan since last we met” He teased his son back looking around it was a rather nice change of pace when it came down to it. He wanted to reconnect with his family and show that he was working on changing. Even if communication and showing affection wasn’t the easiest things for him “Yes It was Luck, and I had absolutely no board meetings how nice for both of us. Since you spoke of work how are things going on that front?”

“Have you? You don’t look all that different.” Dick teased back, giving him a quick glance over before cracking another smile. He had to admit, he wasn’t used to this at all. Bruce had been his father for a very long time but dinners alone where they weren’t in costume together grabbing a quick bite was incredibly rare. Let alone lunches. “Wow, crazy! It’s weird how our schedules just happened to line up like that with no interference whatsoever.” Dick replied before finally getting a little serious. “You’re asking me about work?” He said as if it was the oddest thing in the world. “It’s alright but a little much on top of my night work and my... team stuff. Speaking of night work. That’s not what this is really about right?”

     Tim let out a noise in disagreement at his brother’s gentle demand, not wanting to lose his place in the document that he’d been reading. One thing about Tim that teetered carefully on the line between being a good or bad thing was that once he set his mind upon something he couldn’t think about anything else. Whether it was a thirst for answers or ultimately justice, he would allow little to get in his way or slow him down but then Dick said that he needed him, weakening Tim’s resolve almost immediately. His brother had always been there for him when he’d needed him, sometimes even when Tim didn’t realize himself that he needed help, and so he owed it to him. Plus, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to patrol with Dick again, he had missed it a lot. Missed him. “Fine” he pushed himself back from the desk, rolling his shoulders to ease some of the tension that had began to knot between them. “What do you need me for?”

Once Tim finally started reacting, Dick glanced him over. His posture and the way he had to roll his shoulders indicated that he’d been sitting there for a while. It was a good thing that he was pulling him away from his work. It would give him a chance to stretch out his legs. Besides, he hadn’t hung around with his brother for quite some time now. It would be great to catch up with him. He asked what he needed him for and Dick just smiled. “The conversation.” He admitted, “Patrols can feel pretty dull without a friend and Oracle’s a bit busy. Besides, I figured we could grab some food while we’re out. I’m thinking pizza?” 

“Thats the job.” she let out a soft chuckle heading to her fridge to grab two beers. Dick made her feel safe, so much so that she turned her back on an open door, knowing he’d lock it. Knowing that he always had her back. He knew what she went through, he was the only one who could understand her.  Popping the tops off the beer Barbara leaned in close to hand him his. “Nothing you can’t handle.” she smirked at him before tapping the ear piece in her right ear. “I’ll call you later Dinah.” she said pulling away to take a swig of her own beer. “See, always working.” she let out a low chuckle. “I think i’m more in it as Oracle than I was batgirl…can’t seem to shut it off.” 

Oracle was tapped into everything and everyone, it was the monster she created but if she couldn’t be out being batgirl like she used to, then this was a way she could help. “Oh you thought that did you? I’m always busy Dick, but I can always make time for you.” she told him and it was true. It didn’t matter if she hadn’t seen him, just seen him or if they weren’t on speaking terms, she’d always be there for him no matter what. They were friends first and foremost. 

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“That’s what happens when you work at home... your home becomes your office. And then there’s your dad. He treats office like home. Hey, maybe this is a genetic thing?” He teased. There were plenty of times where he had to talk Jim out of over working himself. It wasn’t like he had room to talk either. Dick was very much an over-worker himself. He had his job at the police department, the apartment complex he was the landlord of, the Titans and on top of all that- his gig as Nightwing. The last one took priority. There was nothing more freeing than being Nightwing. He tried to help people in everything he did- but it was easiest to do that in black and blue.

Dick’s lips pulled into a bright, white smile. She told him that she could always make room for him and he just couldn’t help but beam at her. “And I’ll always make room for you.” He promised. There were a lot of people Dick loved in his life. Whether it was platonic or romantic... but there was no one like her. She was something special. He couldn’t imagine life without her. She had been by his side since they were kids. “We should make a little room for each other more often.” 

@assemblestarter​

Kom shrugged as she glanced at her companion, who had shown up rather unannounced. “It’s no matter,” she said, looking down at her clothing, which was spattered with what very much looked like blood. Possibly because it was very much blood. “I removed an obstacle in my path,” she said. “A particularly irritating one.” She raised an eyebrow as they continued to stand there, as if they had something to say. “Is there something I can help you with?” she said, casually pulling her shirt over her head and holding it up to look at the damage. She made a little tsk sound. “I suppose this is ruined.”

“Is that..?” Dick trailed off as he stepped into the room. Already knowing the answer. His eyes left the blood splattered over her clothes and glanced instead up at her. It would be pretty hard for her to lie to him and try to play ‘bad guy turned good’ while she looked like that and she didn’t seem to be bothering with the act anyway. When she asked if there was anything she could help with, he nodded. “Yeah, sure. You can help me by telling me who’s blood you’re wearing. Then after that you can promptly leave Earth. We kinda frown on murderers here.” 

Randomized starter for @blueboywonders

❛ Nothing is ever simple. And when it is, it’s rarely every worth it. ❜

Koriand’r turned over took look at him a smirk on her face. She watched him move, waiting for him to return to the bed. He was beautiful. And he was her’s…for the night anyway. In the morning things would be back to normal. Two separate beings who once held a flame for one another. Kori could live with that. 

She had stated moments before that she feared they had been complicating what would other wise be a very simple friendship. His response was well….very Dick of him. Not that she regretted what had just…transpired. She reached for her shirt, the now stretch out and loose material gliding over her effortlessly. “Complications aside,I did enjoy the benefits of friendship. Do many people know of this custom?” she asked curiously, turning on her side to gaze at him. It was no surprise that within a few words, he had her hook line and sinker. “Do you do this with all of your friends?” she asked curiously. It was less jealousy, more curiosity. 

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He didn’t mind doing this for her. Staying the night and giving her a massage. It was a little like how things used to be. Long nights together. Just talking and being near one another. It called to mind their teenage years in the tower. Sneaking into one another’s rooms. Staying up just to talk about things that didn’t seem all that important now. She was the first of Teen Titans to ever see him without the mask and to know his real name. Their friendship was precious to him. She was precious to him... and he wouldn’t hurt her again. That was why he didn’t go any further than a massage and a shared bed. 

She said she enjoyed the benefits of friendship and he let out a boyish laugh. It wasn’t too complicated right now. There was still something there between them. A shared torch. It was sometimes hard to tell if that was why he felt like there was this warmth between them. Or, maybe, it was simply because Starfire had always ran hot. He gave her a bit of a smile and laid down beside her on the bed. “This isn’t really...” He trailed off, deciding not to explain it after all. “I guess it depends who you ask.” As for the other question, Dick paused. “I used to do this kind of thing for Babs sometimes.” He told her in a softer voice then he’d normally use. 

randomized starter for Smo

❛ They were wrong, but that doesn’t make this right. ❜

Yara sighed as she listened to the words of the other. Dammit. She knew they were right. She couldn’t help herself sometimes. Yara had such a strong righteous fury when it came to justice.to anything. But ESPECIALLY when it came to defenseless women. the anger would be so strong ,it frequently sometimes clouded her judgement. “you’re right.” she resisted the urge to snap the man who laid in her hands in half. “call the authorities. they can have him” 

Wasn’t this familiar? Being the moral compass for someone when they needed a little talking down. It was like he was standing next to Bruce again. Metaphorically holding out a hand to pull him out of the deep, dark pit he’d made for himself. He understood her fury, but this woman (whoever she was), looked like she might do something she’d regret. There was just no coming back from going too far. Even if it was only a brutal beating. That darkness would grow until it consumed her. “You’re doing the right thing.” Dick insisted. 

“Oh X’hal. What are you doing Koriand’r?” she sighed as she let the water wash over her. She needed to get a hold of herself. Kori wasn’t one to hold things back. Tamaranians weren’t taught to hold in anything. Anger, Lust, Happiness, Love. Their lively hood, their physiology depended on it. But things were not like that here on Earth. She needed self-restraint. That should not be difficult right? She left the shower, wrapping a towel around her hair and putting her robe on. “Did you find everything ?” she asked as she walked back out. “Dick…I am sorry for what I said earlier…I realize it may have been…inappropriate now.” 

Glancing up and towards her as she reentered the room. He couldn’t help but shoot her a smile. “I did. Actually, I was expecting to have to wear something of yours. I didn’t know you kept some of my clothes.” He said with a soft laugh. He wouldn’t have minded wearing her clothes, but this was probably a heck of a lot more comfortable. She started to apologize and his brows furrowed. Standing up and taking a few steps towards her, “Hey, don’t worry about it.” He said easily. “We’ve always been physical and I’ve never minded. I know how affectionate you are. I just want things to be clear between us. I’m doing a lot right now and I wouldn’t be able to give you the time you deserve if you wanted to try things again. It would have to be just friends with benefits.”