Work Text:
The soft creak of a window broke the silence of the night as Nightwing slipped into the dark living room. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows as he landed quietly on the wooden floor, favoring one leg with a noticeable limp. His ribs ached with every step, and he pressed a hand against his side, wincing. His costume was torn in several places, blood from small cuts and bruises dotting his exposed skin.
Another long night of hero work—this one leaving him more battered than usual, but still in one piece. Dropping his batons beside his feet, he collapsed onto the couch, exhaling a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. His hand shakily went to his mask, pulling it off to reveal the weary face beneath. Dark circles framed his eyes, and a sheen of sweat clung to his brow, but his lips tugged into a faint smile as his hand accidentally knocked over a picture frame. His reflexes, even in exhaustion, were sharp, catching it mid-fall.
He turned the picture upright, his gaze lingering on it. It was a family photo, one of the few that existed in this strange, patchwork family. Bruce Wayne stood in the center, as he always did, the stoic figure who had once shaped his world. Beside him, his brothers—Jason, Tim, and Damian—each unique in their own way, each filled with their own traumas and struggles. Jason’s fierce, rebellious nature, Tim’s childlike enthusiasm despite his brilliant mind, and Damian’s proud, hot-tempered demeanor. And there was Alfred, smiling gently, in a picture frame held by Bruce, his absence still leaving an unfillable void in all of their lives. Dick’s smile faded slightly, remembering how Alfred had been the one to wrap his wounds and soothe his pains when he was still Robin—the boy wonder.
Now, he tended to himself. No more gentle hands to bandage his injuries.
His gaze shifted to the pictures on the wall, filled with moments of his second family—the Teen Titans. It felt like a lifetime ago, those days of wild adventures and youthful chaos. A group photo caught his eye, and his lips quirked into a tired grin. Garfield making one of his usual wacky faces, Victor laughing with his mouth full of food. Raven, as always, stood far off, wrapped in her brooding solitude. Wally and Roy had taken over the karaoke machine, belting out terrible renditions of songs, while Donna watched from the couch, her expression unchanging as ever.
But there, at the edge of the group, stood two figures that made his chest tighten with warmth. Him, in his old Robin costume, and Kori, her bright red hair and glowing green eyes unmistakable. He remembered that day, remembered how even as chaos swirled around them, they stood close, savoring each other’s presence. She had always been his light, his warmth in the darkness, even before he realized how deeply he had fallen for her. She had melted the icy walls around his heart with her love, her patience, and her relentless cheerfulness.
Dick sighed, his mind slipping back to the present as he rose from the couch. He winced slightly at the sharp pain in his side but made his way to the stairs. His eyes caught on another picture—this one far more recent. It was of him and Kori, standing atop a grand staircase. No masks, no costumes, just the two of them as themselves. He, in a sharp black suit, and Kori in a stunning white gown that contrasted beautifully with her fiery hair and golden skin. Their wedding day.
He stood there for a moment, staring at their linked arms and the radiant smiles they shared. It had been one of the happiest days of his life, the day he had vowed to spend the rest of his days with her, not just as a teammate or a fellow warrior, but as a partner, a lover, a husband.
Dick slowly climbed the stairs, his body weary but his heart full. As he reached the bedroom, the sight waiting for him brought an immediate sense of peace. There, nestled in the center of the bed, was his daughter, Mar’i. Her tiny frame was curled up beneath the blankets, her dark, messy hair spilling over the pillow. Her soft, rosy cheeks rose and fell with each peaceful breath, her innocence pure and untouched by the world outside. He couldn’t help but smile, admiring the perfect mix of both him and Kori that was reflected in her small face.
Carefully, he reached out and gently caressed her cheek, marveling at how something so small, so delicate, could fill his life with so much joy.
A soft touch on his arm broke him from his reverie. He looked up to see Kori, stirring from her sleep, her green eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. She gave him a sleepy, loving smile, and whispered, “Welcome home.”
Her voice, as soft as it was, filled him with warmth. He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. She responded with a soft peck on his cheek, her fingers brushing lightly against his arm as she settled back down.
“Rough night?” she asked, her tone a mix of concern and understanding.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” he whispered, though his body told a different story.
Kori shifted slightly, her arm resting over their sleeping daughter as she curled closer to Dick. He slid into the bed beside her, their bodies forming a protective cocoon around Mar’i. For a moment, they simply lay there, eyes closed, foreheads pressed together, finding solace in each other’s presence.
In this moment, he wasn’t Nightwing. He wasn’t an orphan from a broken family or a soldier of justice. He wasn’t fighting crime or saving the world. He was simply Dick Grayson—husband to Koriand’r, father to Mar’i. This was where he truly belonged. His real home wasn’t the streets of Blüdhaven or the dark alleys of Gotham—it was here, in this quiet bedroom, wrapped in the love of his family.
The pain in his ribs faded to the background as he felt the steady rise and fall of Kori’s breathing, the warmth of Mar’i nestled between them, and the peace that came with knowing that here, he was loved unconditionally.
He closed his eyes, the exhaustion of the night finally catching up to him. As sleep began to take over, he whispered a silent thank you to the universe—for this life, this love, this family that he never thought he would have.
And with that, the Grayson household settled into the quiet, peaceful embrace of the night, love and warmth enveloping them all.