#truth serum

Bruce knew it was a bad idea to take Dick on patrol around this time of the year, the boy always had such vast mood swings, valid, considering it was nearing the anniversary of his parent's deaths. Bruce had tried his best to ensure Dick stayed at home, he refused to let his son get hurt, but the boy was insistent he tagged along and in the end, Bruce was helpless to the puppy eyes, so Dick came along to patrol. At least it allowed the boy to do something that required action so it took his mind off his grief for a while. That was all Bruce could do for his twelve year old son. He couldn't diminish the grief, he could only provide ways for Dick to express it without hurting anyone (going out an beating criminals up was a debatable way to do this. Alfred agreed).

What was supposed to be a calm patrol, one where they could get waffles after (upon Dick's insistence) very quickly spiralled into something that drove Bruce's protective instincts into overdrive. It was supposed to be a simple encounter with Ivy. Get in. Stope her from unleashing her plants on Gotham. Take her out. And then go home and eat whatever post-patrol meal Alfred made for them.

But now Dick was curled in Bruce's arms, his face flushed and his breath ragged. Bruce had never run faster to the Batmobile.

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Dick was curled in Bruce's lap, he had refused to let go of him when they got into the car. He was snuffling quietly, his face firmly pressed into Bruce's chest. That was the only indication he was okay, as he hadn't moved once since Bruce had picked him up. It triggered all of Bruce's protective instincts, Dick was usually such an active child, never sitting still for long even when he was upset. The only times he ever was this still was when he was at his parent's graves, or when he was really pissed off at Bruce.

The Batmobile slid soundlessly into the Cave and Bruce was stepping out, Dick still wrapped up in his cape before the engine had stopped running. He needed to know what was wrong with his son. Fast.

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Dick had started to mumble incoherently into Bruce's cape while he slid him onto a med bay bed, carefully taking Dick's domino mask off and his own cowl. Dick looked utterly offended when Bruce went to move away to test the powder residue on the mask. He grabbed Bruce's arm, pouting, "B. Where are you going?" His little face was scrunched up and Bruce melted inside at the tiny pout but just brushed Dick's sweaty bangs off his face and bent down so he was at eye level with his son, "Chum I'm not leaving you. I just have to check what you've been dosed with so we can make sure you aren't permanently affected by whatever Ivy hit you with. Is that okay?" Dick pouted harder and made a small grumbling noise but begrudgingly nodded, loosening his grip on Bruce's arm.

Bruce made quick work of analysing the residue, the results revealing it was a strain of truth serum in powdered form. That made Dick's rambling make a little more sense, considering the things he had said while Bruce was waiting for the powder to be analysed, things like how much he hated the kids in his classes with vivid details into why, the complaining was always a norm the details…not so much. He went back over to his son, the boy now half-asleep on the bed, curled around both his own and Bruce's cape like a safety blanket.

Bruce's heart warmed at the sight of his son acting a little closer to his age, or even more like a child. The boy sometimes looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and it hurt Bruce to see sometimes. It was his responsibility to care for, and ensure his son was able to be free, one of the reasons he wanted to adopt him after his parents died (the signed adoption papers were still idly sitting in Bruce's desk drawer.)

He scooped up the sleeping child, Dick instinctively nuzzling into Bruce's chest, his voice muffled against the fabric of the sweater he had changed into, "Dad…" Bruce froze, his brain short-circuiting for a second until Dick spoke again, "I miss you…Don't- don't leave me again…" Bruce swallowed, his heart slightly crushed. Of course Dick wasn't calling him dad, especially not with his parents anniversary round the corner. Bruce would never replace them, no matter how hard he tried to be Dick's father. He ignored the twinge in his chest and continued up the stairs to Dick's bedroom.

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He had just finished changing Dick into his pyjamas when the boy blinked sleepily up at him, "B… stay..please?" Bruce was nothing if not a weak weak man when it came to his son so he tucked Dick under the covers and pressed a kiss to his forehead, and sitting in the armchair next to the bed. Dick smiled sleepily up at him, blinking slowly, "B…y'know that- " he yawned, small hands rubbing at his eyes, "Y'know that I love you…" Bruce blinked at his son, who continued, "An' even though…my parents.." Dick's bottom lip wobbled dangerously and Bruce's hand came up to cradle his face, his thumb sliding to swipe away any falling tears, "It's okay chum. I know you miss them, and you loving me and me loving you doesn't make that any less important, okay?" Dick leaned into his touch, "I miss my parents, B."

Bruce's expression softened and he pulled Dick into a hug, an awkward one but a hug all the same. "I know Dick. I miss my parents too, all the time." Dick sniffled against his shoulder, "But you're an adult..Does this mean the feeling never goes away? Will it hurt like this forever?" Bruce ran a gentle hand over the back of Dick's head, hesitating, "I don't know if it will hurt forever, I think there will always be a part of you that misses them. But it gets better." Dick sobbed quietly, tears soaking his shoulder, "How do you know?" Bruce huffed softly, "Because it hurt less when you came along. You're my son Dick, and I love you. You make missing my parents a little easier chum." The unspoken, even if you don't see me as your father, lingered in between his words, he just hoped Dick was too lost in the effects of the powder to pick up on them.

Bruce let Dick cry into his shoulder for however long it took, his son stickily pulling himself away after a while, his eyes shiny and his face flushed, "B…thank you." Bruce ruffled his hair, tucking him back into bed, "Always." Dick settled his eyes now heavy with sleep again, "B..?" He yawned, blinking slowly up at Bruce, "Even though I still love my own dad…I love you like my dad too…" Bruce froze, Dick already asleep, having said his piece. Bruce smiled softly down at his son, his heart warming as he leaned down to press a kiss to Dick's forehead. And he thought his heart couldn't be more full.

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