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"Trade," Wally sighed as Damian walked into the room.
Dickie whined and grabbed onto his Daddy's hands, wanting him to keep playing. Wally crouched down to his level, exhaustion evidently pulling on his features.
"Buddy, it's four in the morning. Daddy needs to sleep. Damian is going to look after you."
The little screamed in protest. Damian was quick to assure Wally he would handle it, claiming he could handle a "mere child."
He found the task more difficult than anticipated. Dickie hadn't slept in over 35 hours, and there must've been a reason why. The child didn't appear upset, but everyone knew there was something keeping him from resting.
The night started with Jason, trying to cuddle the boy to sleep, but he was unsuccessful. Then there was Wally, who tried to get the boy to tell him what was wrong, but he was also unsuccessful. And then there was Damian, who was trying to let the child wear himself out. It was proving to be difficult.
Damian leaned back into his chair, attempting to read his book. He kept watching Dickie from the corner of his eye though, so he wasn't able to focus much. The kiddo was quietly talking to himself as he played with building blocks, yawning every couple of minutes. Damian knew he must've been exhausted. He, too, wondered what could possibly be keeping him from his much needed rest. Damian focused back on his book.
After a few minutes, the murmuring fell quiet, and Damian glanced up to look at his brother, who was petting Zitka and staring off into space. Damian set his book down.
"Dickie?"
The little instantly snapped his attention to Damian, and smiled reassuringly, much like he would when he was in an older headspace.
"You ready to nap?" He tried.
The little shook his head and inched closer on his knees to Damian.
"Read me story?" He asked.
Damian sighed, and scooted into the corner of the big sofa chair. He pat the spot next to him.
"Did you want me to read this one, or did you want to choose one off the shelf?"
"That one!" Dickie exclaimed as he gingerly spread the blanket over the two of them.
Damian raised an eyebrow, but didn't bother explaining the book. If Dickie got scared, or upset, that was on him. Damian read Frankenstein out loud to the child.
A few times, he had to stop and shoot Dickie an annoyed glance when the boy inched closer. Dickie seemed not to mind the glares his fourteen year old brother threw him. Damian continued reading.
After reading about five chapters, Damian was tired of it. His throat was parched, and he was sick of the little scooting closer and leaning in at every intense moment. He turned his attention to said little, ready to break the news that story time was over only to find the boy with his head against the back of the sofa, half asleep.
"An' then what..?" The boy mumbled.
Damian reluctantly continued reading. Luckily, he only had to read one chapter to get the boy to sleep. He sighed in relief, pretty exhausted himself. He stared at Dickie, his mouth open slightly with soft, sleepy sighs leaving him. Damian felt a smile tug at his lips.
He quickly snapped his attention to where the doorway Wally walked into the room.
"How's it going in here-"
"Shh!" interrupted Damian. "You'll wake him."
Wally stopped in surprise. "How did you..."
Damian shrugged and crossed his arms on his chest. "Do not wake him."
"I have to take him to his bed."
Damian moved his arm in front of the little, shielding him as Wally moved forward with his arms extended.
"Do. Not. Wake. Him." Damian repeated with gritted teeth.
"But my baby needs proper rest. In a bed. Or else he'll be all sore.."
"If you wake him now, West, he won't get proper rest at all! Leave him be."
Wally deflated, dropping his arms. "Well aren't you protective," he pouted.
Just as Wally was about to leave the room, he spared one more glance at the brothers.
"What about you, Damian? It's six in the morning. Have you slept?"
"I slept earlier, but I will get some rest."
"And leave Dickie alone!?" Wally exclaimed in alarm.
"No! And be quiet! I'll just squeeze in some shut-eye here."
Damian crossed his arms, firm and confident in his decision as Wally shrugged and left the room.
He then closed his eyes and leaned his head against Dickie's. He listened to the soft, even snores that came from the kid as he drifted off into sleep as well. A small part of him felt he was above everybody else in the manor because he was the one to get Dickie to sleep- not anyone else.