Work Text:
Today was the day. Today was the day you'd pull over your tall, dark and handsome work friend and tell him the truth. You'd tell Dick Grayson you liked him and quit volunteering at the gym depending on his reaction. That was the plan.
Yes, this was your fourth time thinking this, but fourth time’s the charm, right?
You timed it perfectly. The pair of you were on closing duty tonight as you were teaching a free session for Blüdhaven’s most underprivileged kids together. The financial year was drawing to a close which meant now was the best time to send job applications for companies that hired zealous twenty-somethings like yourself. And you had woken up feeling genuinely refreshed for once.
You could do this, you chanted as you put on your most complementary workout outfit that afternoon. You could do this, you thought as you walked your way there and arrived sometime before your shift started. You could do this, you told yourself as you distractedly watched the front doors slide open and person after person entered the gym. As you waited for him.
Today was the day.
It was only when you finally saw a slightly ruffled Dick Grayson stroll in that your 'plan' began to crumble just as hard as your confidence did. Because, on fourth thought, there was no way the hottest and most talented acrobat you had ever laid eyes on would even consider dating you. He was so breath-taking, maybe you had been light-headed when you came up with this idea. Sure, Dick was a naturally outgoing guy but that was about the only reason he would maybe entertain the thought.
Just because he was always playing around with you, it didn’t mean you were special. Just because he helped you set up every session together with lithe, firm hands jokingly carrying you around. Just because he always openly wiped his sweat-slicked forehead with his shirt exposing his tanned, defined abs in the corner of your eye after doing a demonstration, it didn’t mean—
"Hey,” you startled in your crouched position almost ten minutes after all the kids left. “Can I ask you something?”
You distractedly hummed. Ever since you accepted your feelings for him, you could never look at him after your joint sessions. His blue vest…flattering black shorts…wet skin…out of breath melodic voice…fuck. Peering up at him right now would be like asking for a death sentence. Your heart would not survive the mouth-watering view.
“What's wrong?"
The mats you were wiping really were so interesting to look at. "‘What's wrong?’ What, was I really that bad today?"
"No," you noticed Dick tilting his head in your peripheral vision. "It's just...you’ve been a bit distant, that's all."
"If, by distant, you mean cleaning, then yes. I’m distant,” you joked.
"Oh no, now I know there’s something wrong, you’re deflecting," Dick chuckled, but it was tense. Without his usual fun as he leaned in to wipe the mats beside you, radiating a heat that you wanted to touch despite your own exhaustion.
“I’m not…”
"You are,” Dick was staring, but you couldn’t look. You couldn’t. “Look, I know we just teach together and that this might be a bit much, so absolutely feel free to tell me to mind my own business...but I feel like we’ve gotten close. Talk to me? I promise I don't bite...or...is it something really personal? Because—"
"No!" Your gaze snapped to Dick and his beautiful sapphire blue eyes pinned you in place. The air swiftly fled your lungs. "N-no...it's not personal exactly. It's just— I mean, shit. OK, you got me. How did you know?”
“It was obvious,” he smirked but wilted when he saw your pursed lips. Your sudden nerves. “Aw, don’t do that. I just…you kept avoiding me when we set up and you kind of seem distracted is all.”
“Hngh…” Your eyes darted away.
“And…now that I think about it, this has been going on for a while. And only around me? So, I take it you have a problem with me," another tense chuckle. "Well, let me know what I did so I can fix it—"
This was going all wrong. What was the plan again?
You frowned, itching to grab his hand to reassure him. Or yourself. "No, there's nothing for you to fix. Of course that’s not it.”
"Are you sure?" You rapidly nodded and a moment of silence passed between you too. He sounded concerned now. "What is it, then? If you don't mind me asking. Did something happen lately?"
"Nope. Nothing happened, I just...could we go somewhere a bit more," private? You could still hear customers outside the room. If you were doing this, you wanted space.
That’s right, today was the day.
It had to be.
Right?
Ugh, you were definitely quitting. Being a lifeguard had a nice ring to it.
"OK, sure," Dick agreed without a second thought, getting up from the crouch in a way that was way too good. Way too kind as Dick closed a meeting room door behind the pair of you once you got inside. He was perfect in his caring nature.
You couldn’t help but blurt out. "If you really want to know...I was just thinking about some things. Like how I treat people," you paused and leaned against a wall as he leaned against the door. Clearly confused. "OK, no, that's wrong. Not how I treat people, how I treat some people in particular and whether I can keep working...with said people."
Dick looked like he was starting to understand. "Are you talking about…me?"
“Sorry.”
“…Oh.”
You rushed to explain, arms waving around as you did so. "It's just...I’ve noticed that I might be unintentionally treating you...differently from everyone else here. I..."
Dick’s expression tinged with something sad the longer you spoke. "This is sudden. Is it because of my background? My dad's money? Because it never seemed like you cared about that."
"It's not about the money.”
Dick didn’t seem to believe that as he continued, leaning into the door. Frown deepening. "You know I’m not like one of those self-serving rich kids, right? I don't volunteer here because my dad supports me back in Gotham or I can't find a ‘better alternative’,” his features scrunched up. “I work here because I want to do good—"
You grabbed his bare arm without thinking. That wasn’t a face he was supposed to make. Disappointed and defensive. Today was the day, after all. "No, Dick. You're fine, you're completely fine. I never even considered that. I know you're genuine about this. You come here every week and teach everyone your Olympic-level gymnastics skills for free. How could I not believe you?” You ranted, running your free hand through your hair.
"And none of the press know about this or the fact that you give the little kids sweets or that I’ve seen you walk the elderly home when we close up. Hell, you're nicer than me. I only came here because I wanted to practice my teaching and gymnastics skills. You came here because you were meant to be here. I know that," you had to take a long breath after that and jolted away. Looking down at your hand with disbelief and warm cheeks.
You hadn't meant to confess all that or grab him. What a creep.
Maybe you should become a receptionist instead. Less touching going on there.
But when Dick spoke next, it wasn’t with disgust or revulsion. But with…affection, almost.
"You're meant to be here too," you shook your head and glanced up again. Looking at the way this mesmerising man shifted from side to side, staring right back at you. Shaking his head just as much as you shook yours. He was just so unbearably cute.
"Just listen to me,” Dick laughed, breathless. “You're stupid talented and you don't realise it."
"Please," you huffed even though your cheeks were getting hotter. You didn't need the fake reassurance. Today was supposed to be the day. "That's not what this is."
"Then, what is it?" Dick approached the wall you were leaning on, sounding somewhat impatient all of a sudden. Anxious almost. You looking up at Dick was all it took for him to reach out and put your hand back on his bare arm. As if…as if he…liked it there. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound pushy. I can back off, I just...I’m not sure I get what you’re trying to tell me. Why’re you treating me differently? Why don’t you want to work with me? What did I do?"
But that didn’t make sense. Why would Dick—? Why did he care?
“Hey…”
Why did he—?
“Please?” Dick pleaded with his bright puppy dog eyes, hand on yours and you had to say something before you became a puddle. To retain your structural integrity as a person before your heart jumped out of your chest and attempted to climb into his.
That’s it.
Today was the day, dammit.
"I...you..." you took a deep breaths and let it all out. "OK, so, from the first day I met you, I’ve admired you, Dick. You’re amazing. You're a great teacher and you’re so kind, capable and talented, it’s like you don’t have bones with the way you move sometimes. I quickly knew that no matter what you wanted to do with your life, you’d always leave a positive impact on everyone you meet and that’s admirable. There’s no denying that."
You swallowed and Dick didn't do anything except send you a bewildered smile, silently asking you to finally tell him what was going on here. About what was up with you so you could both close the gym and go home in peace.
“But that wasn’t all I thought,” your face burned as you continued. "From the beginning, I also thought that you were super incredibly out of this world gorgeous and that you were absolutely taken. And, if not, that I would have to join a queue. And then I got to know you and I realised that I was on a timer, because I would definitely fall for you within the next month or so. So, I should probably quit before that happened. Spoiler: I didn't and here we are! Fuck me."
Shocked silence.
You let out a self-deprecating laugh that was all teeth and complete and utter humiliation. "Maybe I gave you too much detail, but that's the gist of it. I like you, so I don’t know if I can work with you anymore since you don’t. Sorry, Dick."
Being an admin assistant had its charm too.
You cringed at that delivery – did you really have to say it like that? – and braced for impact. Yes, you quite literally removed your hand, closed your eyes and stepped away as you did so.
Dick exploding into round after round of perplexed laughter a moment later hit harder than most rejections. It hurt that someone as sweet as him suddenly saw you as someone to laugh at. Maybe so many people confessed to him in his life that he started to see it as a good joke at this point.
But then came his enthusiastic reply.
"Don't say sorry, I like you too!"
Your eyes popped wide open. "No, you don't."
Dick's tanned cheeks, which were now tinged red all of a sudden, lifted as he grinned harder than you had ever seen before. "What? Yeah, I do."
"Uh-uh. No, you don't. Don’t lie to me."
Dick laughed again. "I do. I promise I do. I think maybe it's my turn to talk?" Dick asked, still with that subtle blush on his face.
What was going on right now? You felt as if the ground had disappeared. Hold on. Wait, no. Hold on. Wait!
"I've liked you for a while now. Actually, the first thing I ever thought about you was that you were so cute, I never wanted to take my eyes off you. And then you did a triple backflip and I just...I fell…hard."
Hold on!
You were frozen solid as you watched him literally bounce on his feet, hair flopping as he went. "I just didn't know how to tell you. But I should have. I thought it was obvious. I thought one of the others would tell you how many times I’ve called you cute in front of them or something."
How many times he what?
"It wasn't obvious," you couldn't help but interject, searching his beautiful sapphire blue eyes for falsehood and only finding...honest infatuation. You couldn’t believe this. “You weren’t obvious at all!”
"Really? I'm always flirting with you!" Dick gasped over-dramatically.
"You're always flirting with everyone, I thought…I thought it was just the way you communicate."
He hummed, bounding over to gently hold your hands. "Then, what about all the physical contact?"
"Physical? I don't know if I recall anything..."
"I literally pick you up all the time," Dick laughed.
You pouted as you began to realise what he meant. How he even picked you up tonight for the sake of a ‘joke’. You tried and failed to hide your giddiness. Those things meant something to him too? He was paying you special attention? No way.
"Lifting me could've just been something productive for you to do. I'm cheaper than one of our dumbbells, I'll tell you that now."
Dick squeezed your hands. "OK, OK. But I'm also always following you around like a lost puppy too. It’s honestly kinda lame."
"Don't worry," you were completely wide-eyed. "If it helps I'm kinda combusting right now."
"You're combusting?" Dick's smile somehow grew even wider.
"I'm combusting,” you were still in shock as you looked up at him. “Really. I'm going through the process of combusting. My face is warm."
"Mine too. Feel it?" Dick reached over to bring one of your hands up to cup his face, ignoring the shiver that ran down your spine as you focused on the feel of his hand against yours on his warm cheek.
"Yup, it definitely is," you hadn’t needed to touch, you noticed the blush dusting his pretty features the moment it appeared.
"Yeah," you stared at each other as he whispered. "So, what do we do now?"
"I don't know, Dick," you shrugged, smile finally stretching your lips as belated acceptance relaxed your body. Holy shit. "What do you want to do?
"I mean, I do want to get out of here."
"Oh yeah," you agreed. "But since I'm not, you know, gonna quit now, we could go out?"
"Sometime, or now?”
“Now.”
“Now then,” Dick leaned in and rubbed the tips of your noses together and oh, fuck, combustion process: resumed. “Is that a date, or a very platonic, ‘we don’t like each other of course but it’d be nice to chill’ hang out? Because I don’t mind either, but—”
“It’s a date," this was the best conversation you’ve had in months, maybe years. You smirked. Your plan worked.
"Mhm," Dick studied your face, snorted before pulling you in. You hugged him back. Melting, melting, melting in his slightly moist arms. "Don't look so smug."
You playfully huffed, refusing to move away but smiling all the same. "I can look as smug as I want, you just offered yourself to me on a silver platter."
"Oh, wait, so I'm a victim?"
"I said no such thing."
"It was just the way you spoke about me, but alright. I'm fine to go through with this. Maybe,” Dick gently added. “For you."
You groaned, gripping the back of his blue tank top. "Stop it, that's so embarrassing."
A chuckle. "It's more embarrassing for me, you know?"
“You don’t get embarrassed.”
“Heh, I’m super embarrassed right now. And sweaty, sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
“But you don’t smell like anything, you know? Just pillows and flowers.”
“Well, now I know you’re lying.”
Dick laughed.
"You know, you're not as smooth as I thought you'd be," you blurted out after a beat and he stepped back to look at you, questioning. You and your big mouth. "I mean! Wait, that sounded weird. It's just...with the others, it’s like flattery rolls off of the tongue. But with me...so far all I know is you like that I could do a flip you could and that you think I’m…kinda c-cute, or whatever."
"You want me to flatter you?” His soft lips formed an ‘o’ shape. “We'll be here all night."
You frowned and almost pulled your hands away. "Because...?" He couldn't think of much to say?
But his arms kept yours firmly in place around you, your face was an oven by this point. "Because I won't be able to stop speaking. When I'm flirting with people I don't really like, it comes easy. But when it's serious, I feel kinda apprehensive. I don't want to rub you the wrong way. But I have a lot more to say."
"OK, see, now that would be even more embarrassing."
You both laughed.
"So, what I'm hearing is that I have your consent?"
"No, no, no! We need to lock up," you grinned but he didn’t listen.
"I’m sure we can spare some minutes, sexy. And talking about sexy...”
“Oh my god.”
Well, hey, at least your plan worked.