Chapter Text
Dick easily took Cale up on his offer.
So Cale quickly moved everything out and into the new apartment. Selling his previous one.
It oddly sold quickly for an apartment bordering Crime Alley.
Soon, both of them were settled into the new apartment. Dick still going to Gotham academy since Cale has no legal right to pull him. Despite seeing how badly he gets treated.
But, Dick seems to love it here. He helped him decorate both his bedroom and his training room. Dick of course had to go back to Bruce for social things
Which both hated but Cale held no social power here, he was just a model. Even though he has money he doesn’t have money like Bruce does.
Cale is trying to fix that, it’s just taking him a bit.
Cale is happy the teen is so comfortable with him. Comfortable enough to bring people over and have a hang out without telling him.
Which is what he walked in on. Granted it was only one person but the amount of pizza boxes lying around said a different story.
Cale had just walked back into the apartment from getting home from a modeling gig, something in Bludhaven since he was trying to network into there for more cash flow.
He has to find something more than just modeling.
He set his stuff down on the counter and looked into the living room, freezing in place. It wasn’t necessarily trashed, there were just food wrappers everywhere.
He just sighs softly, taking off his shoes and walking into the living room. He stood off to the side and crossed his arms.
Cale just shakes his head softly as both of them didn't notice him. “I hope you two plan on cleaning up your mess.” He finally said, causing the friend to curse and flinch looking his way. Dick also jolts in surprise.
“Cale! You’re home. How was the gig?” Dick asks, hopping up from his seat.
The teen had grown, he was now a bit taller and has more muscle but still lean due to his acrobatics.
“Hated it.” Cale sighs and rolls his eyes a little.
Dick snorted and came over. “You hate every modeling job you find.”
“I do, but it’s easy money so I just put up with it for now.” Cale said back and ruffled Dick’s hair when he came close. “Who’s the friend you invited over?”
“Oh!” Dick then walks back over to the ginger teen, dragging the other over. “This is Wally. We’ve been friends for a bit and I just decided to bring him over.”
“Hi! It's nice to meet you. Dick has talked a lot about you.” Wally greeted and snorted softly, giving a soft elbow to Dick.
Cale raises an eyebrow as Dick elbows Wally back. He just shakes his head. “Well, make sure to clean up all of this. After I get changed I will be starting dinner.” Cale hummed as he started walking to his bedroom, going inside to get changed.
After a good two hours that consisted of changing clothes and taking a nap, he came out of his room seeing everything cleaned up.
“Good job on cleaning up. Dick could you start the rice cooker? Wally, what's your spice tolerance?” Cale started talking and asking.
Things went smoothly after that, once he got Wally's preferences. He started cooking and making kimbap like he always does. Though making it less spicy.
Wally was nice having over, sweet kid, talks a mile a minute once he gets on a topic he likes. It took Cale a minute to figure out how to keep up, but once he did but after it was a breeze.
It was domestic. Something he has missed since arriving in this world.
Something he wanted with his children and his family, but that was taken away from him.
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It was a quiet night for the area. Cale was relaxing on the couch waiting for Dick to come home.
After not being able to fall asleep, again. Records were keeping him awake.
He had recently started going out under a new identity, Nightwing. He had also been trying to reconnect with Bruce, much to Cale's disagreement.
But Dick was almost an adult, he could make his own decisions. Cale will just be here to catch him if all fails.
It was just as Cale finished his last drop of peach tea that Dick came through the window. He leaves it unlocked for this purpose.
Despite the domino covering Dick’s eyes he could tell by just his posture alone. Something both upset and angered him.
Cale calmly set the mug down on the coffee table as Dick fully inside, tearing off the mask in a way that for sure hurt. He could even still see some remnants of the adhesive.
Dick opened his mouth to start ranting but Cale put a stop to it.
“Go get changed and take a shower, you can tell me all about it once you’ve cleaned up from the night.” He said simply, stopping the dark haired young adult from whatever spiral he was starting down.
A small ‘yes Cale…’ came from him as he walked off to get changed and put his suit away.
It was a smaller rule he set in place when Dick decided to keep being a vigilante. That if you come home angry or upset, you must change and take a hot or cold shower to clean up.
It's supposed to help calm down and process whatever emotion they're feeling. Though Cale knows he's not the pinnacle of healthy emotion expression, he wants the person under his care to be better.
About 20 minutes pass before Dick comes out in his superman pjs. He comes over to Cale with a towel in hand, sitting in front of the redhead. Cale just simply takes the towel and starts drying Dick's thick wavy hair further.
Dick then started his rant, though much calmer now.
“I went to the Batcave tonight since Bruce needed a second set of eyes on a case. It was normal as it ever was since I left. But then Bruce introduced me to someone…” he started but tensed rather quickly. His hands gripping into tight fists.
In a smooth motion Cale sets down the towel, undoes the grip, sets the towel to be grabbed.
“Bruce took in another child, one he just plucked off the streets. I'm not angry about that. But! That bastard put the boy in my colors! The identity I created to honor and grieve my parents. ….I will admit, I just stormed out of there.” He said as his body sags a bit.
Cale starts threading his fingers through Dick’s waves to untangle them as Dick leans back against him.
Cale’s own mind was a mess. Bruce got another child? After what he put Dick through?
And that man child just plucked him from the streets?
“What’s his name?” Cale asked simply, keeping his voice calm and hands steady.
“Jason.” Dick said. “Jason Todd.”