Chapter Text
“We’re not serious but… I don’t know. Maybe we could be? He is really fun.”
Dick was not the type of guy to understand these things- getting into a casual relationship, he means. The whole you dating the Green Lantern thing is another can of worms (one he is sure he will be talking about later with the others as soon as you get out of ear shot, going by the occasional glances he has been getting from his adoptive siblings as you talked). He was trying not to judge too much.
You had moved to Gotham recently for your grad program. You were having a bit of a hard time getting into the program at your home city in the west coast, so you moved here, because if good grades had not been enough, then your connection to an uncle who donated a significant amount to Gotham U’s programs would. Nepotism aside, Dick liked talking to you. Maybe it was the fact you had a childhood outside of Gotham but you were a lot sunnier in disposition compared to the rest of the family. Bette was a little similar, maybe it was a west coast thing in general. You had also been attempting to reach out to your cousins on the east coast and keeping a friendly rapport with them while you were staying in the area. It was met with varying success (most of them were either too booked or not much of talkers in the first place), but Dick knew he appreciated it. It has been a while since he could vent to someone about his personal relationships without it being followed up by details of a crime scene afterwards.
Speaking of sunny dispositions, you were also the reason this whole event was happening.
Initially, Dick had not thought much about receiving an informal invitation to the joint Wayne-Kane Thanksgiving dinner. Family events like these were prone to moments of high tension due to, well, everyone’s pasts. He was mulling over the idea of visiting after receiving the initial text from Tim. He was pretty busy with work-both jobs, and while visiting Gotham was one thing, Wayne manor was a little out of the way, and a case or world-ending threat would not even be involved. However, you had followed up with your own message shortly after. It was your first year here, you would really appreciate being around family, even if you had not been as close to the Waynes as you were with Kate, and well… he just could not say no.
The way your efforts affected Dick, seemed to do the same thing for Bruce. Bruce cared for his family, he did not always show it, but he did. He was also obviously warming up to you. You had not been from Gotham and he was hoping to simultaneously keep you safe while making sure you enjoyed your time studying in the city (despite being known for its’ high crime and related disasters, Gotham had some class), and hosting this whole dinner at the manor was definitely an attempt to appeal to you. That meant there was a certain level of peace-keeping involved in this gathering. Aka, no Bat-talk at the dinner table, not that Dick was not guilty of being overly-devoted to a mission of vigilantism and heroism himself, he just liked the idea of everyone trying not to get at each other’s throats when the distraction of work was taken away. Alfred had tried to enforce it before but well, if there was any enabler in the family it was the one who let Bruce dress up as a bat in the first place.
That was why the last thing he expected was Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern, to enter the manor with his cousin at the man’s arm.
Dick liked Hal well enough. He was not as close to him as some of the other Justice League members like Clark or Diana who visited much more often, but Hal was there from the beginning. Wally even saw Hal as another uncle considering how close he is to Barry, so naturally it feels strange hearing you continue to romantically gush over the man he knew since he was ten.
He had already noticed the way Bruce instantly corralled Hal into a ‘discussion.’
Poor man was probably being given the shovel talk of his life.
Once the niceties are over, everyone’s quick to subtly question your choice of date for the night. You are completely unaware, easily answering questions about who he is.
”A test pilot, isn’t that cool?”
Where you met him.
”His work was only a city away from me this entire time!”
If you even had common ground.
”Actually he knows a lot of great spots in Coast City. Just the other night…”
It is clear that the rest of Dick’s siblings find your date’s arrival a hot topic for the night. Tim is taking up much of the time asking you questions about how school is while sneaking in questions about Hal. Cass, for as quiet as she is, seems to find the whole thing amusing too, a cheeky smile and knowing look exchanged with the former with every answer you give. Dick cannot deny he is just as curious, and he is sure Jason is going to be cursing himself for skipping out on the event once he hears about this and what an opportunity he missed to mess with two whole Justice League members. Only Damian seems unamused at Hal’s arrival and your insistence on him being here.
You were probably going to spend the entire dinner defending your choice in ‘date,’ probably unaware of the fact that everyone was secretly and acutely aware of who he was. That was why Dick was going to have to change the topic from everyone slyly gathering information on him.
“So, how are your studies-“
Or at least he tried to.
“Isn’t your date a little old?”
The rest of the family acted accordingly shocked, but unsurprised at Damian’s out-of-pocket question towards you. The young teen had never been known for his social grace, but everyone thought it was obvious with their own mild questioning that they were, for the most part, going to tiptoe around the green elephant in the room.
To their relief, you reply with a good-natured laugh.
"Sure he is, but that's what makes it fun right?"
Tim begins snickering at your response, and from the corner of his eye, Dick can see Cass tell Damian, who was obviously judging you, not to say anything while trying to hold back some of her own laughter.
However, Damian is not finished letting you know his opinion.
“The man must be father’s age,” Damian’s nose scrunches up in disgust as he says it, “and it’s not as if you need the partnership. In fact, he looks as if he’s the one who needs your assistance.”
That is Damian for you, questioning your life choices while calling Hal broke.
You smirk. Dick figures you would be able to brush of Damian’s comment. After all, you saw him as a regular precocious kid, rather than a vigilante who meant and had the knowledge to back up every biting word he said.
”He might be around that age… but that doesn’t mean he’s not a catch. I mean, your own dad has been considered one of Gotham’s finest bachelors since his 20’s, right?”
The old Brucie Wayne persona strikes again. Damian opens his mouth, but considering how little you knew about the family’s secret identities, he accepts a reluctant defeat. Bruce was not much of the type to sleep around… at least not these days, but he still kept up the flirting at public events. He would seem like a hypocrite if he started lecturing you on bringing Hal. It was probably why he was lecturing Hal in private right now.
"Besides," you start speaking again, "I like to spoil him.”
Reading your expression and tone, Dick was now holding back some choice words himself, or at least the childish gesture to make a gagging sound.
He clears his throat, ready to change the topic of conversation for a completely different reason now: his sanity.
“Gotham U’s campus! How are you finding it?”