Work Text:
"Cut it out!" Dick scolded.
"Tsk. Tim started it," Damian stated from the rafters above.
"Damian. Come down, now," Dick warned, his teeth clenched.
Heeding to the threat, Damian hopped down with an annoyed sigh. He stuck his tongue out at Dick and then shot Tim, who stood beside him, a glare. The eldest brother leaned on one hip and stuck his hand out.
"Give me the batarangs."
Damian glared at Dick. The latter raised his eyebrow and shoved his hand closer. Finally, the youngest sighed and rolled his eyes, digging into his pockets. He plopped the batarangs in Dick's hand, but his brother wiggled his fingers.
"And the other ones."
"Ugh!" Damian dug into his socks and handed over the remaining weapons.
"Now quit arguing, will ya? You too, Tim."
Tim opened his mouth and lifted his hands, offended. "I didn't even-"
"Shut up," Dick snapped, pointing a finger towards his brother. Tim obliged. "Now get out of here." His finger redirected to point at the door. "And if I see you two argue again, so help me God I will-"
"Dick!" Wally voice gasped out from the doorway. Dick quickly turned to look at his boyfriend's shocked, yet worried, expression. "You're getting too heated. You need to calm down."
Wally drifted towards the acrobat with grace. He gave the latter's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Dick ran his hands down his face with a sigh.
"Just go," he murmured.
Luckily the two boys scampered off before Dick snapped again. Wally was right. He was getting too agitated.
"Here, sit. Jason can look after them until Bruce gets back." Wally's hands gently shoved Dick until he sat down at the couch.
"Great! Now hold this."
From his back pocket, Wally procured a small cat plush. Dick couldn't bite back the laughter.
"Why do you have this thing in your pocket?" he pried, amused.
"You never know when you'll need a stuffed cat," Wally grinned.
Dick rolled his eyes.
"I'm going to the bathroom. Watch the little guy for me, will ya? Watch out, he's feisty." The redhead wiggled his fingers at his amused boyfriend before he left the room.
Left alone now, Dick turned the plush over in his hands, gently feeling it's soft fur. It was cute. Simple. A tabby.
Dick lifted his gaze as Wally walked back into the room a handful of minutes later.
"Glad to see the two of you getting along," Wally said, gesturing towards the plush. "I'm going to get us some tea. Hang tight once more." Without waiting for a response, Wally drifted away.
Turning his attention back to the plush, Dick couldn't help but tune into the distant screaming from his brothers. Jason's deep voice yelled in response. Dick clutched the plush a little too tight and sighed. Why was he so upset? And why was Wally taking so long?
Dickie sunk further into the seat, grumbling in annoyance. He huffed and threw the plush across the room in frustration. Dickie crossed his arms tight on his chest, upset for whatever reason. Wally was just trying to make him small- and it worked- but now he was angrier.
When Wally walked in, he calmly set the tea down before sitting close to Dickie on the couch.
"Is there a reason my friend is on the floor across the room?"
Dickie grumbled and turned away, crossing his arms even tighter.
"Okay." Wally sipped his tea before pushing the cup on the coffee table closer to the little. "Tea?"
Dickie pushed the cup away, spilling some of it. To this, Wally frowned and set his own cup down.
"Okay, buddy. What's wrong? Can you tell me why you're upset?"
"No!"
Wally's hand reached over to soothingly rub Dickie's back.
"Will you at least get me my friend back," he hesitated for a moment before adding "please?"
Dickie glanced over at his Daddy with hesitation before getting up with a huff. He stomped to the opposite side of the room and gripped the plushie impolitely as he shoved it towards Wally. The latter gently took it with a smile.
"Thank you very much, Dickie."
Dickie plopped down onto the couch and crossed his arms on his chest again. Wally gently rested the plush on Dickie's lap. The boy curiously eyed it.
"Care to tell me why you're fussy, little bird?"
Dickie threw his arms up into the air, frustration at the interrogation. "I don' know!"
"Okay. That's okay, baby. We don't always know what causes us to be upset. Do you want to just sit here with me. We can drink tea together. Oh- I have to get you a sippy. Do you want to come with Daddy or stay here and wait for me?" Wally spoke slowly and gently, leaning over towards Dickie, waiting for his response.
"Stay."
"Okay. Be a good boy for me, alright? I'll be right back." Wally pat Dickie's leg and then stood, walking over to the kitchen with a mission.
The little picked up his caregiver's plushie again. He turned it over in his hands and uncomfortably gave it a small squeeze as his throat constricted with impending tears. Poor little kitty! It probably hurt getting thrown across the room. What was wrong with him?
Dickie clutched the plush to his chest as small tears slipped down his face. He gave a small whimper, upset that his emotions felt so out of his control.
"Oh Dickie.." Wally's soft voice sounded from the doorway, but it quickly drifted to the little's side as he tried to comfort the boy.
Dickie leaned over and buried himself into Wally as he sat down. The little sobbed a little louder, choking on his tears. There was a soothing hand at his back. The other thumbed through his hair, coaxing him. There was a warm breath at his ear whispering nothings. Eventually, Dickie's tears ceased leaving him limp in his caregiver's arms.
"It's okay to not understand. It's okay to not be okay. Daddy's here. You're not alone. You'll never be alone, baby bird. I promise."
Dickie clutched his Daddy's shirt and lifted his gaze up. Wally gave a sympathetic smile and oh-so-gently brushed away the remaining tears on the little's face.
"You're okay. I've got you."
Dickie felt his lower lip quiver. He quickly perked up at the sound of running in the hall. Suddenly, the sound entered the room the two were in.
"Seriously?" Jason's footsteps trailed after the two other ones. He gave a sigh. "Sorry, you two. I can't control these brats."
Dickie self-consciously sniffled and pressed closer to Wally, who in turn gripped him a little tighter. Tim and Dami paused their running to curiously look at the little. A look of panic washed upon Dami's face and he quickly approached the pair.
"Dick..- Dickie. Did we make you cry?" Straight to the point.
Dickie shrunk a little.
"Oh. Oh." Tim approached the two, standing behind Damian curiously.
A hand landed on the little's head. He looked up at his bubba who gave him a reassuring smile. "How's it going puppy? Feeling better?"
Dickie gave a slight nod. He liked his bubba. He could trust his bubba.
"Good. I'm glad. Okay," he turned towards his two other siblings. "Time to leave. Come on. Hope you learned your lesson."
Dickie watched as Jay ushered them out the door. Right as they were about to leave, the two looked over their shoulders and apologized to Dickie. Wally rubbed his back and gave him a smile.
"See? It's okay. We care about you. Do you want your tea, or do you want to stay like this with Daddy?"
Dickie clutched the plush cat closer. "Stay."
The redhead nodded and pulled Dickie closer.
"Alright. That's good with me. If you want to nap, I've got you."
Dickie hesitated for a moment before he closed his eyes and gave a content sigh. Wally's chest rumbled as he hummed, his hand ceaselessly rubbing the little's back.
"I've got you."