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Dick enters the small, cozy living room in the Belfry to not only find Bruce in the favored retreat of the royal family. Two of his siblings are present as well. Damian sits on the couch farther back in the room, nose in a book, while Tim and Bruce are playing a heated game of chess nearer to the door.
Dick passes them, raising Tim's white knight to take Bruce's black horse.
"Hey, I would have gotten that!"
"Of course, Sir Timbo," Dick singsongs with a laugh, flopping onto the couch to annoy his baby brother next. Damian scowls as Dick puts his feet in his lap, boots a little dirty from his walk.
"Did you play in the mud?"
Dick chuckles, crossing his arms behind his head. "No, I visited the gardens with Baroness Bennett." He cranes his neck back until Bruce is within his vision again. "And I wasn't the only one who thought it a good idea to enjoy the nice weather."
Bruce smiles as he sets Tim into check, which makes his brother's eyes narrow. It warms Dick's heart to see them interact like this.
"You seemed to have an engaging conversation with the Baroness. Did Alfred choose well?"
"She is wonderful. We talked a lot about her plans for Blüdhaven's citizens, but we decided to part as friends."
"Hmm, good."
Damian tutts. "Clearly, father believes you would become too powerful in court were you to wed. I must reluctantly agree."
Dick chuckles. His siblings have tried their best to make him settle down with a reputable lady. Baroness Bennett was suggested by Alfred after much nagging from his brothers to do something at the dinner table.
"How did your courting go, Bruce? Miss Madison is a fine lady," Dick says, a genuineness in his voice he does not feel. Neither did Bruce when he asked.
Once growing aware that Bruce had decided to bring his courtship of the day to the garden as well, Dick tried hard to ignore him, but only a glance was enough for the world to fall away and their eyes to lock.
"Your preferences are showing, Richard. I don't need that much excitement in my life."
Dick almost laughs aloud. Excitement is something Bruce never gets enough of.
"A shame, and I'm not interested in her... Gods, Bruce. I do not like the implication I would go after your wife simply due to her red hair, " Dick sniffs in offence just as Tim lets out a shouted 'Noooo!' as he is set checkmate, king disappearing from the board.
"You two looked quite lovely from a distance. I could hear the wedding bells ringing," Dick suggests.
Damian rolls his eyes as Bruce pushes back the chair to meet his eyes with a twinkle in them.
"I remembered her from her debutante ball, so I agreed to Alfred's suggestion, but at this point in my life, I am satisfied with what I have."
Dick smiles, not trying to hide it while Tim dramatically checks the board to find any fault with Bruce's move. (He will not. Dick messed up his play the second he came in. It is his liberty to take as a big brother.) Damian has his nose back deep in his book.
"It's time for your lessons with Jason, Tim," Bruce says amicably, not turning back to the teen. Their gazes stay locked for a moment longer.
His brother makes a face as he looks up dramatically. "Can't Dick come with me? Jason always beats me up."
"No,” Bruce says, cutting down any argument Tim might have. “More letters for him have arrived, which he will have to answer tonight. That was your doing if I am not mistaken?"
Tim blushes, then grumbles as if he did not write to every royal house that his honourable brother is seeking a wife. Training with Jason is his punishment. It will also do him good.
"All right, then," Dick says, clapping his hands together as he stands up, ruffling Damian's hair to the boy's annoyance. "Let's leave Damian to his lonesome—" ("Finally!") "—Those letters can't be worse than the last one hundred and two."
Tim winces.
Bruce's eyes glimmer in mirth. "Let us hope not."
"I'm going to die," Tim whispers again as they stand outside the room, and Dick kisses his cheek, squeezing his shoulders. "You're not. Jason is your brother too."
"We're royalty. That makes being my brother worse."
Dick bites his lip to keep himself from guffawing. "Jason got better. If he hurts you, I'll avenge you."
"You better," Tim grumbles, finally walking down the corridor but not without a near earth-shattering sigh.
Dick watches him disappear, then turns to Bruce.
His heart skips a beat at the sight. The warm light of the candles illuminating the corridor contours his face nicely. Dick could look at him all day
"What did I miss?"
"Jason mocked Tim about his sword fighting and then Tim kicked him in the balls."
Bruce snorts, eyebrows doing a little disbelieving dance. "You're a disaster."
"We try our best," Dick replies with a grin, ushering him down the corridor.
He locks the door of Bruce's study behind him, raising an eyebrow at the pile of letters on the desk. All of them opened.
"Did those really all come for me?"
"One is from Cass, but she has her own recommendation for you. Under these circumstances, there truly is no letter without your name on it"
Dick chuckles as he slides onto his king’s lap.
"Is she well?"
"She is adjusting to Metropolis… I never thought she would become so infatuated with… Conner Kent ."
Bruce looks displeased. Dick isn't sure what is so wrong about Conner except that no one could possibly be good enough for Cass. Not in the eyes of her proud father.
"It's good, no? That their engagement might last. We need allies."
Bruce's mouth twists. "We have them."
"Not by marriage," Dick reminds, and Bruce’s face crumbles.
"I guess you agree with Damian," Dick teases to lighten the mood again, brushing the dark strands of hair out of Bruce's face. "That I’d be too powerful,” he says coyly, Bruce's sea-blue eyes on him.
“Are you afraid I would turn my back on you with an army of my own? Conquer the land?” Dick brushes his fingers up the sharp jaw, cupping the slightly stubbly cheek. “Do you think I’d take you as my prize?”
Bruce's arm tightens around his waist, and Dick leans into him fully, basking in his warmth, lips at his ear.
"You know, I would do everything for you, even take the reign."
Bruce lets out a deep breath, clutching onto him.
"I don't want to burden you with the crown. That is not why I...," Bruce's words die on his lips, eyes closing in shame as Dick glances at him. Took you in.
"It's not a burden," Dick says, sweeping the simple and heavy yet elegant golden crown from his king's head to settle it atop his own. Despite his previous words, Bruce's eyes light up.
"The crown is a responsibility no one can carry alone. Don’t be afraid to share it with me, my love."