Work Text:
Dick felt tears well in his eyes as the cold air brushed against his already freezing cold face.
His skin felt restricted and tight around his body, and he knew something was wrong. He didn't know what was wrong, but he definitely knew he wasn't okay.
Dick pulled the blanket up farther against his body, shivering. His breaths came out in short puffs, or raggedy gasps caused by broken ribs.
He reached his hand out, hissing as the cold air bit at his skin, but he began trailing his hand over his nightstand in search of his phone.
Dick felt his lungs shrink, and everything seemed far away. The glass of water he kept by his bed looked like it was a marathon run away, along with his bottle of ibuprofen.
He grabbed at his phone, whimpers escaping his pursed lips as he scrolled through the contacts in a state panic.
" Dick?" Bruce spoke, his tone on the edge of worry.
Dick struggled to make his tongue work, but only a whine came out.
" Dick, is everything alright?" Bruce asked, this time his voice wavered and even a deaf man could hear the worry that soaked through his words.
" B-B..." Dick gasped, his body began to shake and heave.
" Hey, you with me honey?" Bruce's voice was gentle, almost as if he spoke to loud or harsh, Dick would disappear.
Dick couldn't speak. His tongue felt swollen in his mouth, and his held felt like it was stuffed with cotton.
" I'm on my way, just hang on." Bruce said, and Dick heard his keys jingle.
Dick felt his stomach churn, and someone was saying something, but Dick couldn't hear what exactly the person was saying, his cries to loud.
Dick whimpered as another stabbing pain went through his head.
Dick opened his eyes, but he didn't even remember closing them.
The room he was once in known as his apartment had changed.
He was strapped to a bomb.
That Bomb.
The bombs wires were around his heart, and Dick felt his lungs shrink again.
He panicked, looking around frantically at the painfully familiar lab.
His hands were bound to the machine, so we're his legs.
He squirmed against his restraints, and tears flooded his vision.
Dick felt his lungs shrink, and he couldn't get air. He couldn't breathe.
Dick couldn't fucking breathe!
" Hey, everythings okay." Bruce whispered, but he didn't dare touch Dick, knowing what could happen if he did.
" Ground yourself Chum, feel your sheets, your clothes."
Dick gasped, opening his eyes and shot up from his bed.
" I-i...B! Breathe...can't bre-breathe" Dick gasped, and clutched his heart as he gasped for his much needed oxygen.
Bruce felt his heart shatter at the sight of Dick.
" Shh, look at me. Take a deep breath." Bruce instructed, taking a dramatically deep breath to demonstrate.
Dick gasped again, shaking his head violently.
" Ca-cant!"
Dick began to gag and heave, his face turning a hue of green and white.
Bruce cursed under his breath, but still held his hand under Dick's chin as he vomited up stomach bile.
" Follow my breathing Dick. Remember how we do this." Bruce whispered into Dick's ear, his voice calm and reassuring.
Dick nodded, and tried his best to follow Bruce's breathing.
Dick sank into Bruce's chest when he got his breathing under control, his muscles and body basically lax.
" Everything is okay." Bruce whispered, stroking Dick's hair away from his sweaty forehead.
Dick's eyes fluttered open, but it was still dark out.
The moon was reflecting on Dick's mirror, shining into his apartment.
Bruce noticed the squirming, and opened his eyes.
“ Go back to sleep, you need it Chum.” Bruce murmured and then began rubbing Dick’s stomach.
"Wha-?”
"Shh,” Bruce whispered and Dick did, flushing at the incredibly soothing tone Bruce held.
His thumb had gently dug into Dick’s hip, much like a massage.
" I was in the lab again." Dick mumbled, just barely above a whisper.
" With Lex?"
Dick nodded, sniffling as the memory flooded his head once again.
" Oh Dickie, I'm so sorry honey..." Bruce frowned, and led his hand up to Dick's heart, tracing where within the vicinity the scars were on Dick's tan skin.
Bruce kissed his forehead in sympathy, and slipped his hand under Dick’s shirt to rub into his upper chest more firmly. It felt great, but it was also really embarrassing. Dick wasn't able to think of the last time someone touched him under his clothes.
The weakness it showed.
The vulnerability Dick was experiencing.
But all that faded away as Bruce continued to massage his upper chest.
" Feels nice." Dick mumbled, and nuzzled deeper into Bruce's neck.
" Good" Bruce hummed, and continued his movements as they eased Dick into a much needed sleep.
Dick opened his eyes, looking around his room, when Bruce got caught his line of vision.
" Wha' doing?" He murmerd, bringing a closed fist to rub the sleep away from his eyes.
" I brought tea. It's not as good as Alfred's, but it'll substitute." Bruce said, and handed Dick the mug.
Dick took a sip, flourish in the way it eased his sore throat and voice.
They sat in silence. Bruce's fingers carding through Dick's greasy hair, and Dick who was relaxed with his tea.
" Can...Can I come back?"
Bruce raised a brow at Dick's question.
" You are always welcome at the Manor, Dick. It's your home."
Dick nodded, and went quiet again.
Bruce knew he wasn't asleep, just thinking.
" I would enjoy it if you came back with me. Damian's been wanting to see you for some time, and Alfred misses your card tricks." Bruce mumbled, hand still carding through Dick's sweaty and greasy strands of hair.
" Really?"
"Mhm."
" I would really enjoy that. Thank you Bruce."