Chapter Text
Dick woke in his room at Mount Justice to a pounding on the door, his alarm clock beeping away.
"Coming, coming!" Dick called out, sitting up and rubbing at his eyes.
It was probably Kara that was trying to wake him. Being that Kryptonians didn't need sleep unless it was a sun-deprived emergency, Kara usually just trained in the night. If that wasn't the case, ofttimes she'd be studying or researching the world, catching up on what she had missed when she'd failed to arrive alongside Superman.
He threw the covers off, stretching his arms above his head and rolling his shoulders as he headed towards the door. When he nearly tripped on one of his many sweaters, he frowned and bent down, picking the black one up and pulling it over his head. He didn't remember leaving it on the floor last night, but his head was still clouded with sleep and the memories of nightmares, so maybe he just didn't remember.
Dick shook his head as if to clear his mind. He really didn't need to think about what he'd dreamt right now, so he just continued on, making his way to the door and opening it, squinting his eyes as the lights of the hallway shone into his face.
"Morning, sleeping beauty." Kara smirked, her hair pulled up into a high ponytail and her hands placed on her hips. She was in her Supergirl suit, but without the cape and her boots weren't laced all the way — instead, they were just tucked inside. The little jacket she was wearing over the red and blue suit was a nice touch; she'd gotten into fashion, though he imagined the other girls on the team had a hand in that.
"Hey, Kare." Dick yawned, running a hand through his messy hair.
"Sleep well?" Kara asked, and though her tone was teasing, Dick could tell there was an underlying worry. She didn't want him to have nightmares, and she didn't like how 'little' he rested when compared to others on their team.
"I've been better." He admitted, stepping aside and letting Kara in.
She smiled softly at him, the corners of her lips turning upwards as she slowly glided in.
Dick looked at her during said floating, snickering as she 'stood' just an inch or so taller than he did — of course, naturally, when her feet touched the ground, she was a lot shorter.
Kara turned her head to look at him, and rolled her eyes when she noticed his amusement. "I don't need to walk, y'know, bird boy." She told him, though her smile was still present, "And besides, flying is cooler."
"Sure, sure." He laughed, shutting the door and heading back over to his bed. He plopped down onto the mattress, lying back with a sigh.
Kara plopped down beside him, and though he knew she did her best to be careful, the creaking of the bed was a good indicator of how hard she'd just dropped.
"Hey, Kara..." Dick said after a moment.
"Yeah?" She asked, rolling onto her side to look at him.
"We should do something today. You, me, Artemis, and Wally. Like... Go somewhere." He suggested, turning his head to look at her.
"You're suggesting a double date?" Kara giggled and 'punched' his shoulder, "You're such a sap."
Dick huffed, and his cheeks flushed. "They'd be the only ones that agree. Connor and M'Gann would say no just to watch the others, like Jaime, Garfield or the other kids."
Kara shrugged. "Fair enough. I guess it could be fun. But you're asking, and not me — and I expect some... cheese fries and ice cream, too! I've seen the advertisements on TV. They're supposed to be delicious."
"Sure, Kare. You'll get your junk food." Dick assured her, shaking his head with a soft smile. "Thanks for waking me up. I know I say i—"
"It too much, yes." Kara interrupted, "I know. It's my pleasure. You know I love your company, Richard."
"Dick."
"I'm not calling you that."
The two looked at one another for a few seconds' time with not so much as a word passing betwixt them, then burst into laughter, the girl falling back on the bed as he did the same.
"I was only joking." She admitted, wiping a tear from her eye, "But really, Dick — I wanted to ask if you'd help me train."
"What, with the other heroes and supervillains and your cousin, isn't that good enough?" Dick questioned, though his tone was playful.
"Yes, but they don't push me as hard as you do. Kal-el always says the Batman pushes him hardest, and I know how helpful you are — you helped me adjust. And you're a really good English teacher." Kara added, giving a sheepish smile as she thought back to those earliest days of her arrival. The wistful little look she wore gave that away.
Dick always felt a little awkward when she was sentimental, especially when it was directed towards him, and he scratched at the back of his neck. She was a great friend, and had even been able to make him smile more than once in the last few months. But he wasn't used to that sort of thing. Banter was one thing he had with almost everybody, and most of the other girls, like Zatanna or Rocket would share some mutual flirting... but Kara was different.
She always made him feel welcome and appreciated, and she wasn't afraid to show him. It was strange, considering how she could be as fiery as Artemis, if not more so, but she was kind, intelligent and beautiful.
Dick's thoughts were broken by a light tug at his sleeve. He looked at Kara, and noticed that her eyebrows were raised, and her lips were curved into a smile.
"Did you hear a word I just said?" She asked.
"Yes."
That made her arch a brow at him, and her expression was the picture of skepticism.
"Really, I did!" Dick defended, and then sighed. "Sorry. I guess I'm a bit distracted this morning."
"That's alright." Kara said, "I was saying that we could race to the kitchen — loser makes breakfast."
This time, it was his turn to arch a brow at her as he sat up. "No flying?"
A pout and huff, and then: "No flying."
"And no Wally speed?" He knew she could be just as fast as Wally, or maybe even faster, but it was a question worth asking.
"No Wally speed." She agreed with a nod.
Dick hummed, and then nodded. "Fine. On the count of three."
"Three, two, one... go!" Kara cheered, and they both leapt off of the bed.
It wasn't easy to tell who would win. He was quick on his feet and had plenty of experience running and dodging, but her natural Kryptonian grace and speed was enough to ri— she was gone.
Dick stopped in the hall, blinking and looking around for the girl, but couldn't see her. "Kara?"
He didn't hear any response, and began heading towards the kitchen, only to be tackled by the girl from above, and the two tumbled through the hall, hitting the wall, and then rolling a short distance away from one another.
When Dick opened his eyes and looked around, he noticed that he had Kara's hand in his, and was surprised to see her staring at their entwined hands, and their fingers laced together.
"Kara?"
"S-Sorry." She pulled herself off him, but above as she was, a victorious grin was spread across her face. He felt her press something into his hand as he got to his feet; this time, he was towering over her just as he should be... but if she'd come from above, had she not flown or used some degree of speed?
Well, then again, she was stronger than the rest of the team combined. She could hold herself aloft so long as that height challenge of hers didn't go too far.
Dick's free hand rose, and he rubbed the back of his head. "Ow."
"Oh, please. You've had worse." Kara tapped the thing she'd put in his hand. "I won. That's your snack apple to give you energy before cooking — I want blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, hashbrowns, and orange juice."
"How much can you eat, anyway?" Dick grumbled, though his smile betrayed him.
"As much as I'd like." Kara told him, patting her stomach. "I'm a growing girl, after all."
"Growing?" Dick looked down at her and folded his arms, the apple sticking out from his right hand. "Kara, I think you've been almost the same height since we met." He made a show of looking up, where her eyes would be were she taller… and then back down at her.
That earned a glare from the blonde, and she stomped her foot. "I am not short! It's you that's too tall, bird-boy!" She prodded his chest, and though she was probably being gentle as she could be, he had to pretend it hurt.
So Dick fell to his knees and grabbed at his chest, groaning. "Ouch."
Kara was unamused, and she poked his forehead. "You're not funny. I know I didn't poke you that hard."
"Alright, alright. Fine." Dick took a bite out of the apple, and looked at her. "Fly me to the kitchen? I'll throw in eggs and toast if you do."
She narrowed her eyes when first he mentioned flying him, but they lit up as he continued. Kryptonian she might be, but she still had the stomach and cravings of a teenager just like the rest of the team. More, really, given that Supes could eat a whole buffet himself.
"You drive a hard bargain, Grayson. But I accept."
Kara stepped closer, and Dick did the same, the girl wrapping her arms around him. Dick's own went around her neck, and he was surprised at the warmth radiating off of her. It felt like holding a warm water bottle against his body, and the softness was just the cherry on top.
She must've had a nice bath or something, because her hair smelled like straw— they were in the kitchen in the blink of an eye. Kara didn't immediately let him go, and Dick found himself looking down at her as she was pressed against his chest.
She was... cute.
Kara's hair was still up in a messy ponytail, and her lips were pulled up into a little smile, the blue of her eyes bright. "Awestruck, bird-boy? I thought you're used to flying." She teased, her voice soft, and a touch raspy.
"It's just the wind." He assured her, though he didn't make a move to untangle himself from her until Kara herself did so, and stepped back.
"Good, because I need some of that bacon." Kara grinned, and walked past him, opening up the fridge.
That one little action made him think back on one of their first meetings, and as she set about collecting all that she wanted him to cook, the scene came to the forefront of his mind.
'Kara-Zor-El'.
That's what Bruce had said her name was in the very brief info-dump he'd given Dick on the way to the Batcave. What hadn't been included in said info dump was the destruction and debris that were also present in said Batcave.
Apparently, Kara had just arrived to the planet after… issues in transit, and in her confusion, she had been scared and had 'accidentally' torn apart part of the cave.
"Are you sure she's not dangerous, Bruce?" Dick asked, and though his mentor had no visible reaction, the teen could tell he was worried.
"I'm not. Clark can deal with her, or we will. Go wait in the cave — she should be more comfortable talking to people her age."
Dick frowned, but nodded. He did as instructed and headed for the steps that'd see him to where the two Kryptonians still were.
His footsteps echoed off the walls, and the sounds of their voices became more apparent the closer he got.
"—have to understand, Clark, it was an accident!" Kara exclaimed, and judging by her tone, she was clearly upset; the translating software Alfred and Bruce had worked on together seemed to be working quite well in regards to Kryptonian.
"It's alright, Kara. Just breathe, calm down." Superman's voice was calm and gentle. "Just relax and focus. You have to block it all out. Believe me, down here's bette—"
"Who's that?" Kara's voice sounded hostile, and Dick hadn't even made himself visible yet; he had a feeling that petite blonde girl was going to be… a handful, to say the least.
He stepped out into the open, and gave a wave.
The look of relief on the — in this moment — supposed Man of Steel's face was almost comical, but his attention turned to Kara just as her eyes narrowed.