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ONE. DAMIAN
It was one of those nights; where Dick woke up from a nightmare, his chest heaving and his eyes wild, searching around his room and scanning for threats. Of course, there were none to be found because he was at the manor, and nothing got past Bruce’s security, but that didn’t stop his nightmare-fuelled mind from panicking.
Experience helped him get his breathing under control and soon enough, he was swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and standing, footsteps silent as he padded to the door and opened it to step into the hallway. It was quiet, as expected, and he walked down the carpeted corridor. Dick’s room was at the end of the corridor because that was the room he’d picked when he first moved into the manor and was still uncomfortable around Bruce, and he just never changed rooms.
Customary post-nightmare rituals involved walking up the corridor and checking everyone’s rooms to make sure they were all okay, because his irrational mind refused to rest until he saw proof of them still breathing. So, he began the all too familiar process. It wasn’t too long after that he was satisfied and walking back to his room.
Everyone was okay.
However, Dick halted in his footsteps as he walked past Damian’s room and heard a hitched breath from inside, followed by a muffled whine, one so low that a normal person wouldn’t be able to hear it. But Dick was not normal, he was a vigilante trained by Batman and various members of the League, so of course he heard it.
There was no hesitation as he reached out and opened Damian’s door, stepping in and closing it quietly behind him. He walked over to his brother’s bed and knelt down on the floor beside it, furrowing his eyebrows in concern as he noticed the anguished expression on the younger’s face.
“Oh, Dami,” Dick murmured, reaching out with a steady hand, and brushing dark hair away from his flushed face. “You’re having a nightmare, sweetheart. It’s okay.” He cooed gently.
The words seemed to be the exact thing Damian needed to jolt him awake because his eyes snapped open and he shot upright, shuffling back into the corner where his bed met the wall, knees pulled up to his chest and his hands covering his ears. His eyes were wide, panicked, and gleaming with unshed tears as he tried to focus on his surroundings. “No, no, no.” Damian’s quiet pleads broke Dick’s heart.
“Damian, sweetheart, hey, it’s me… it’s Dick. You’re okay,” Dick placed both of his hands on the bed, palm facing up. “It’s alright.”
“Richard…?” Damian’s hands dropped to wrap around his knees and his eyes seemed to focus more but he was still tensed.
“Yeah, yeah, it’s me. It’s me, Dami. Just me,” Dick nodded. “You had a nightmare. It was just a nightmare.”
“Nightmare.” Damian nodded, repeating after Dick.
“Can I come sit next to you?” Dick waited for the hesitant nod and then heaved himself up onto the bed, leaning against the headboard and opening his arms. “C’mere, kiddo.”
Damian hesitated for a brief second before he practically fell against Dick, who caught him, as he always would, and wrapped both arms around his small body, tugging him closer and running one of his hands through Damian’s hair. “You… are okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay,” Dick reassured, planting a kiss on Damian’s head, and running his other hand up and down his back soothingly. “And so are you.”
“I was not concerned about myself.” Damian mumbled, nuzzling closer.
“I was,” Was the simple response. Dick pulled away from the hug briefly and cupped Damian’s face with both hands. “You’re okay, yeah?” He got a nod back and exhaled in relief, bringing the boy back into a hug.
They sat in silence for a bit, Damian half on Dick’s lap, head buried in his chest and Dick’s hand carding through his hair. “Do you think you’re ready to go back to sleep?” Dick asked, keeping his voice quiet still.
“Perhaps,” Damian replied. “But –” He paused, hesitating over what he wanted to say, unsure whether he should or shouldn’t, but Dick saved him.
“Would it be better if I stayed?” He asked gently, brushing his thumb across Damian’s cheekbone, and wiping a silvery trail of tears away. “Just for tonight?”
“Just for tonight.” Damian pretended to frown, but both of them knew it would not be just for tonight. Damian would never say no, even if he pretended he didn’t like it, and Dick would never let his brother be alone after a nightmare, not when he could help it.
“Okay. I’ll stay.”
TWO. TIM
Dick was exhausted. He hadn’t been expecting work to drag on this long, hadn’t planned for it to, especially because he was driving back to Gotham tonight but fate was a bitch sometimes and so Dick was pulling into the driveway of the manor at almost midnight and he was ready to crash on his bed in his room and sleep for a long time.
Upon opening the door, he realised the lights were on in the kitchen. Odd for a time like this. Normally no one would be in the manor at this hour, especially not on a weekday. He dropped his duffel bag by the staircase and made his way to the kitchen, trying and failing to stifle a yawn as he walked.
There was only one person sitting in the kitchen. It was Tim and he had his laptop out on the island, surrounded by various files and papers and an assortment of bright sticky notes. A steaming mug of what Dick hoped was not coffee was resting beside the younger boy as well. “Timmers?” Dick called, yawning again.
“Dick!” Tim’s eyes widened as he looked up. “Thought you’d just come tomorrow when it got late.”
“No way,” Dick snorted. “Wanted to sleep in my comfy bed after the week I’ve had.”
“Everything okay?” Tim asked, barely dragging his eyes away from his computer screen.
“It’s fine,” Dick waved him off. “Why are you awake? And surrounded by all this… and I really hope that isn’t coffee, Timmy.”
“’S tea,” Tim yawned. “I got… I gotta solve this case.”
“Is it life or death? Is someone going to die if you don’t solve it?” Dick asked, crossing his arms, and leaning against the doorway.
“No.”
“Then you can finish it later. If I know you, and I like to think I do, you haven’t slept in a while,” Dick clicked his tongue, scanning his eyes over Tim’s dark circles and his slouched posture. “Yeah, you definitely haven’t slept in a while.”
“But –”
“No buts, baby bird,” Dick shook his head. “Either you shut the laptop off or I do it myself, it’s up to you.”
“Okay, okay,” Tim grumbled, closing the laptop with a soft click, and yawning once more. “Well… now what?”
“Now, you give your big brother a hug, Timmy.” Dick cocked his head to the side and opened his arms. Tim wasted no time in getting up and rushing over, tumbling into the hug without the grace he normally had as Red Robin. This was Tim Drake in all his sleepy glory.
It always threw Dick off a little, seeing how open and accepting Tim was to affection in comparison to Jason, Cass, or Damian. Not that they didn’t take it or give it, but Tim did it a lot more and Dick supposed that stemmed from his childhood and the lack of physical touch, so now when it was offered he soaked it up like a sponge.
Dick was more than happy to give him as many hugs as his heart desired, god knew he deserved it. The older rested his chin on Tim’s head and hummed, rocking them back and forth in the dim kitchen lighting. “You been good? Not causing trouble?”
“I’m an angel.” Tim mumbled; his voice muffled as his face was pressed into Dick’s shirt.
“Of course, of course. How dare I assume otherwise?” Dick nodded, laughing lightly. “Have you been taking care of yourself? Getting sleep? Eating?”
“Alfred wouldn’t let me not eat,” Tim replied. “And… I sleep…”
“Something about that didn’t sound too convincing, Tim.” Dick admonished gently.
“I got stuff to do. No time for sleep.”
“Not an excuse. Bed time now. Come on,” Dick pulled away from the hug and tried not to laugh at the pout on Tim’s face. “I’ll give you a piggy-back to your room, hop on.” He turned around and bent down, letting Tim on his back, and walked up the stairs.
“My stuff –” Tim protested but his eyes were already fluttering shut as he rested his head on Dick’s shoulder, relishing in the warmth of his older brother.
“I got it. I’ll make sure it’s okay. Don’t worry,” Dick reassured as he walked down the corridor to Tim’s room and pushed the door open, dropping his brother on his bed. “Teeth brushed and everything?” When he received a nod, he tucked Tim in and kissed his forehead. “Sleep well, I’ll help you with your case in the morning.”
“Thanks Dick. Love you.”
“Love you too, baby bird.”
THREE. CASS
“Where’s Cass?” Dick parked his bike and got off, almost stumbling over himself in his haste to get off.
“ I –” Tim’s eyes widened when he saw how distressed Dick seemed and he pointed in a certain direction. “She raced through but I don’t know where she went.”
“Thanks Timmy.” Dick muttered, hurrying in the direction Tim had pointed. He didn’t know what it was that must have triggered a reaction from Cass, but she saw something or heard something during patrol and it sent her racing back to the cave with Dick right after her. He was aware enough to tell Bruce he couldn’t continue patrolling before he switched his comms off and headed back to the cave right after her. “Cass?”
Dick made sure his footsteps were loud so Cass knew he was in the same area as her and wouldn’t be startled. His eyes scanned this corner of the cave before he lifted his gaze up to the rafters and looked for Cass there too but there was no sign of her. He continued searching, and then spotted a black costume peeking out from under a table.
“Cassie?” Dick crouched down, ducking his head under the table so Cass knew it was him. She was curled up with her back pressed against the wall, knees pulled up to her chest and her eyes wide. Her domino mask was still on her head and her hair was plastered to her forehead with sweat. “Hey darling.” He cooed softly.
Her eyes snapped to meet his own blue ones and she let out a muffled sound of distress, pressing herself against the wall even more.
“I’m not gonna hurt you, Cass,” Dick sat cross-legged beside the table; hands lifted up in surrender. “I just want to make sure you’re okay. You scared me, running off like that.”
“Sorry.” Cass signed with trembling hands.
“No, it’s okay, you don’t need to apologise. Something happened right?” She gave a nod. “I thought so. You don’t have to tell me; I just want to make sure you’re alright.”
Her body seemed to relax a little but she was still pretty tensed up. “Not in trouble?”
“No, never,” Dick shook his head, plastering a soft smile on his face. “Never in trouble, Cassie.” He assured her and she nodded again. “Are you… will you be alright?”
The little shrug she gave broke Dick’s heart and the following shaky exhale almost sent him to tears. “Later. Will be fine.”
“Later,” Dick nodded. “But now?”
“Getting there.”
“Don’t rush it, sweetheart,” Dick murmured. “It’s okay if you’re not okay. You’ve been through a lot.”
She looked up from her hands, meeting his gaze with a teary one of her own and reached out hesitantly with a shaky hand. Dick’s heart swelled with fondness and he took her little hand with his own larger one, squeezing it gently. “You help.”
“I’m glad I can help, Cass. I’ll always be here to help you; you know that right?” She gave a nod. “Okay. You want a hug, darling?”
Her response was to simply throw herself into his arms from under the table. Dick almost fell back but caught himself with the arm he wasn’t holding Cass with, and once he was steady, he wrapped both arms around her, squeezing her comfortingly and pressing a kiss to the side of her temple. “I got you, Cassie. Big brother’s got you.”
FOUR. JASON
Jaybird: what time u getting home
Jaybird: no pressure
Jaybird: but i’m kinda bleeding out
Dick: ???????
Dick: I’ll be there soon idiot
Dick: Don’t die
Dick wasn’t even going to lie; he swore his heart skipped a beat when he saw Jason’s text. If he had been on patrol, he was sure Barbara would have asked why his heart rate had elevated all of a sudden but he was not patrolling tonight, still recovering from bruised ribs so Cass and Steph were taking over his patrol for the night.
He basically ran all the way to his apartment, which didn’t do his ribs any favours but he didn’t care because his brother was bleeding out and if he was too late, he would never forgive himself.
Not Jason. Not again.
It took several tries to get the key into the lock but then he wrenched the door open and was greeted with the sight of Jason on his wooden floors, hand pressed on a patch of red that was only growing on his stomach. He was sure his floors were stained crimson but that wasn’t the concern right now.
“Little Wing,” Dick dropped to his knees beside Jason, eyes wide but his hands were steady because he couldn’t afford shaky hands, not now. “What the fuck happened?”
“Some jackass got the drop on me.” Jason winced, trying to sit up but Dick gently pushed him back down.
“Stay down, idiot. You’ll bleed out faster if you move like that,” Dick scolded, clicking his tongue as he moved to his bathroom, grabbing the first aid kit, and trying to ignore his heart beating so loud that he swore Jason could probably hear it. He sat back down beside Jason and pulled his shirt up. “Why did you pull the knife out?”
“It was probably infected with something. The streets don’t do sterilised weapons like the guys in Arkham,” Jason gasped when Dick pressed a wet towel to the wound and wiped away the blood on his stomach before grabbing a needle and thread. “Stitches?”
“Yeah. It’s deep.” Dick replied shortly and Jason frowned.
“Alright, what is it Dickhead? Who shoved a stick further up your ass?”
Dick didn’t meet Jason’s eyes, keeping his focus on stitching up his wound. “Would it kill you to wear better armour?”
“I’d rather die, again, than ask Bruce for that. I don’t need anything from the old man.” Jason grit out.
“No one said anything about Bruce. Is it that bad for ask for my help?” Dick sighed.
“You’re the Golden boy.”
“The pit made you forget that Bruce and I don’t always get along, I suppose. You forgot that before you died, you were the only reason I came to the manor. Bruce and I fought day and night. He fired me as Robin. He never adopted me. I don’t – you can ask me for help. I – I’d help you, I always will. If you don’t want me to tell Bruce, I won’t. Your safety is more important than his trust.” Dick finished off the stitches.
Jason was speechless, he opened his mouth to say something back but no words left his lips. “Dickiebird –” He managed to get out, his voice hoarse. “Why – why did you never say anything? You never reminded me. Never called me out when I said shit like that.”
“Jay – I know it’s not easy for you. I can’t say I understand exactly how hard because I don’t and – if it makes you feel better to get that anger out, who am I to deny you that?” Dick finally met Jason’s gaze and the younger was taken aback by the unshed tears in Dick’s eyes.
“Not at your expense, Big Bird,” Jason whispered. “My anger is at Bruce. Not you. It just gets misdirected sometimes, and I – I’m sorry.”
“I’m the one who should be sorry. Sorry I didn’t make you feel like you could trust me enough to ask me for better armour to save your fucking life. God – Jay, if you had – if I didn’t get here in time?” Dick inhaled sharply.
“I do trust you. That’s why I’m here and not at the cave.” Jason said.
“And you’ll let me get your better armour?”
“Yeah, I’ll let you get me better armour, Big Bird.” Jason huffed out a soft laugh at the fond expression on Dick’s face.
“Good. Thank you for trusting me, Little Wing.” Dick gently lifted Jason up so he was sitting and then wrapped him in a hug, cupping the back of his head with his hand and sending Jason back to a memory of a younger Dick doing the same thing when Jason was still Robin. The younger’s eyes grew wet and he tucked his head in Dick’s shoulder, hugging back.
PLUS ONE. DICK
This job allowed Dick to help people and he wouldn’t trade it for the world but it didn’t mean he wasn’t tired constantly and missing his family when he had to go on missions, like this one. He had been away for a little longer than a month with the Titans on an off-world trip that took a lot of convincing for him to go because the last time he went away on a long off-world mission, Jason died. But eventually, with the help of his entire family, the Titans got him to come.
He was back home now, or… almost back home. His bike was entering the cave and he was exhausted. His back ached, his head hurt, he needed to eat some Earth food and sleep in his own bed. The cave was empty when he parked his bike, or so he thought. The second he swung his legs off the bike and stood, someone jumped onto him, wrapping their arms around his neck and their legs around his waist.
“Hi, Cass,” Dick huffed out a tired laugh and wrapped his arms around her, rubbing up and down her back. “Lovely greeting, I must say.”
“Missed you.” She replied, her voice muffled.
“I missed you too. So much,” He squeezed her tighter for a moment before loosening his grip but still not letting go of her. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Around.” She responded, letting go of her grip on him and landing on the floor silently.
“Should we go look for them?” She nodded. “You want a piggy-back?” Another nod and Dick crouched down, letting Cass on his back, where she wrapped her legs around his waist once more and tucked her head in the crook of his neck. He made sure he was holding her before he began walking to the elevator that lead back up to the manor.
He had changed out of his Nightwing suit the second they made it back to Earth and took the Zeta tube from Titans Tower to Gotham before riding his bike all the way to the manor dressed in some causal civvies. The elevator dinged and stopped at the manor and Dick stepped out, relishing in the warmth of his home.
“Bruce. Sleep,” Cass whispered and Dick nodded. “Alfred made tea. Left then.”
“Good to know. I assume they’re all in the kitchen then?” He asked and she nodded, confirming it, so Dick made his way to the kitchen, his footsteps silent as he approached the faint glow illuminating the area around the kitchen. He stood at the doorway, heart warmed at the sight of his brothers gathered together, even if Damian and Tim were arguing and Jason was rolling his eyes, nursing a steaming cup of what Dick assumed to be tea.
“Richard!” Damian noticed Dick there first and he immediately abandoned his discussion (argument) with Tim to hop down from his stool and hurry over, eyes scanning Dick’s body and looking for any sign of injuries. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine, Dami. No injuries. Just achy and in need of sleep. And food maybe,” Dick replied fondly, reaching out and ruffling Damian’s hair. “C’mere, kiddo.” He opened his arms and Damian practically headbutted his stomach. Dick laughed and hugged him back, carding a hand through his hair gently and squeezing him tightly.
He looked up to see Tim approaching and held open his other arm as wide as he could without dislodging Cass. She wouldn’t fall though, her grip with her legs was too tight. “You’re okay, yeah?”
“I’m fine, baby bird. Come on, hug?” Dick gestured for him to come closer and Tim slotted into his other side, arms wrapped around Dick’s waist as the older planted a kiss on his forehead and hugged him with one arm. “Have you been sleeping?”
“Sometimes.” Tim mumbled.
“Better than nothing,” Dick sighed. “Causing much trouble, Dami?”
“Tt, of course not.” Damian protested.
“You’re a liar, demon brat,” Jason chuckled. “You picked a fight with everyone except Cass.”
“So did you!” Damian went to lunge at Jason but Dick didn’t let him go.
“As expected, Cass is the only one who behaved, aren’t you, Cassie?” Dick asked his little sister and got a nod back. “She’s an angel.”
“Cass is everyone’s favourite.” Jason nodded.
“Of course she is,” Tim sighed, ruffling her hair before letting go of Dick and tugging Damian away too. “Come on, brat. Let Dick sit.” Cass hopped off his back and settled atop a stool, legs crossed and took a sip from one of the mugs.
“Anything happen while I was gone?” Dick asked Jason, an underlying tone of concern hidden beneath the curious one he projected. He wanted to know if everyone was okay without asking the younger kids.
“All good. Everything’s fine,” He paused for a second, looking at Dick’s face. “I’m fine, Big Bird.”
“You’re fine. Good,” He released a shaky breath. “Good.”
“Alright, Dickhead. Come on.” Jason sighed dramatically and opened his arms. Dick’s returning hug was so tight but Jason didn’t complain because his big brother needed it, and if he could provide even a semblance of the comfort that had been given to him, then he would.