Chapter Text
The mayhem around Dick in the GCPD is lost to him.
Dick is holding Peter’s spider plush toy. It’s the only thing keeping him grounded. His eyes are dry and swollen from earlier sobs.
Dick can’t cry enough to express his grief. What’s the point? It wouldn’t change anything.
Jason had been the first to arrive from the manor. He’d brought Peter’s spider thinking he’d need it. Thinking it was a simple car crash.
‘Where’s Peter?’ Had been chorused by each member of the family. The echo of Dick’s grief resonated in each of them after.
Peter loved this toy. Jason had been buried with his favorite books. Dick couldn’t bury Peter. There wasn’t a body.
Peter had broken up into ash in the car on way to his first day of pre-school.
Alfred had crashed the car as he saw it the last few seconds it was happening.
Dick doesn’t remember screaming and trying to crawl out of his seat with the seatbelt still on. His mind was not working. He just saw his baby vanish.
There was ash all over the back seat. The largest amount was in the car seat. It was a small mountain.
That was his baby.
That was all that was left of his baby.
Dick squeezed his eyes and held the toy tighter.
“Dick, come on. They’re done with Alfie’s statement. The Justice League is taking-taking the car.” He sniffled. Dick followed robotically.
His little brother was broader and taller than him but seemed small then and trying to act big for him. Dick tried to pull himself together for him. He held the spider plush toy as if it would save him and walked without really seeing where he was going.
“When can we take Peter home?”
“After-After they run some tests.” Jason said.
“They’re going to vacuum my son.” Dick said hysteria tinging his voice. “He was afraid of it—” When he had been three they couldn’t vacuum without Peter crying. “They can’t—”
They had to pick him up. No one was going to use a brush. Jason embraced him.
“They won’t.” Jason whispered in his ear. “Alfred or Bruce will oversee this-Peter won’t be treated like a crime scene.” His voice was harsh with grief. Dick just stared. “Stay with me, Dick. We can’t lose you too, Big Bird.” Dick closed his eyes and nodded.
Dick saw Justice League crew securing the car in a truck. Barry was there making sure no one messed up. His eyes lingered on the back seat. Jason tugged him forward.
What a happy morning this had been.
Peter hadn’t even gotten the chance to attend school.