midsummeredâ:
lysander had to wonder if this is what it was like to have a father â he had had thoughts like this before when it came to dick, but the man repeatedly proved himself expertly paternal and so incredibly kind to him that he couldnât believe how much heâd missed out on as a child. was this what he had, indeed, deserved? the way that all children do? did dick even know how much this kindness affected him emotionally, or was he doing the right thing just because? lysander almost didnât care what the intention was, selfishly, because the attention lovely regardless.
being asked if he would be okay with a hug was wildly important to lysander, and dick in his kindness and wisdom made sure to ask every time it seemed appropriate â it was a combination of the consideration of lysanderâs own nervousness and dickâs extreme kindness that made him more likely to accept a hug than not. nodding slowly, lysander carefully wrapped his arms around the older manâs shoulders and sighed shakily. âhugs are⌠odd.â he said, ânot bad, just⌠k-kind of confusing? a little bit. y-you know, the⌠the, uh, the closeness.â
Dick knows itâs probably not his place to be so.. fatherly, to act in such a caretaking kind of way with Lysander but he canât help it. The kidâs been denied that his whole life, being the child of a psychopath. Dickâs not even sure he knows what itâs like and that in itself is heartbreaking. Even when Dick didnât have parents - he had a home, he had people who cared for him in their own way, and he would be lost without that. Heâs not sure itâs his place but.. no matter what, heâs going to be there for Lysander and make sure he knows heâs cared for, knows heâs loved.
âOdd is okay.â Dick assures him gently, wrapping his arms around Lysander gently in a warm, hopefully comforting hug. He doesnât necessarily need to know why to know Lysanderâs not great with physical touch, but he hopes he can help him change that. Hopes that, in some way, careful and gentle touches will help him get used to things like hugs. Maybe even like them. âIf it bothers you - we donât have to. Iâm.. used to giving a lot of hugs to my own kids, I guess thatâs where it comes from.â













