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“Dick how long has it been since you fell asleep feeling safe?” The words hit Dick harder the he wanted to admit. Truth is, ever since blockbuster put a hit out on him it has been hard. How long had it really been since he got more than an hour of sleep?
“I-“ He went to say absentmindedly. Making an excuse or an explanation or something. Deep down he knew Wally would have none of it though.
“Cmon man. It’s just one night. You saved every single person in your apartment building and if I’m being honest, you look rough.”
Dick thought about objecting. He wanted too. Especially with Wally’s wife and kids here with him. If something that was meant to happen to Dick Grayson hurt Wally or his family He didn’t know how he would live with himself afterward. He looked down to the floor, debating just how he was gonna get out of this one. Wally already shut down Gotham and Blüdhaven was obviously not an option. He looked back up to see if he could think of something, anything, to slip away but when he saw Linda, Wally’s wife, coming back with a pillow and a blanket he knew he was in for the night.
Briefly, he let himself feel relaxed at maybe finally being able to sleep for a night but the he remembered Wally’s kids, peacefully asleep upstairs. Clearly, it wasn’t hard for these people to locate Dick and he wasn’t about to act like they were above anything. Hell, they just bombed his entire apartment building with everyone inside.
“Wally…your kids. I can’t. I’ll go back to Gotham. Nobody will even know I’m there.”
“Absolutely not Dick. It’s one night. We have two superheroes under this roof. It’s fine. My kids will be fine. Stop worrying and relax. Sleep a little. You need it.” There Wally goes. Putting his foot down at Dicks obvious attempt at leaving. Dick can basically feel the brain fog and sleep deprivation setting in after that stupid attempt to leave. He resigned himself to staying at Wally’s house for the night, but that didn’t mean he would have to sleep. There was just one thing he couldn’t leave in Blüdhaven.
“Wally?”
“Yeah bud?”
“Can you go get our dog?” Dick said as he was covering himself with the soft blanket.
“Of course.” With that, Dick heard the familiar swoosh sound and a second later it returned. The warm bundle of fur waggled her tail happily. Dicks 3 legged friend, Haley, had made it to Keystone City.
“Anything else? Anything at all?” Wally asked. Dick fiened sleepiness and shook his head with a small “mm-mm” Haley took this particular moment to crawl under Dicks arm and shut her eyes.
“Alright well, if that changes I’m upstairs. Maybe try not to wake the wife up though”. Dick chuckled a little at Wally before registering the lights going off and footsteps going up the stairs.
Dick spent a while just staring up at the ceiling. Letting himself take it all in. When the intense waves of tiredness hit him, he remembered just what he was putting at stake and willed himself to stay awake. He couldn’t believe this was actually happening to him. Solely because of him trying to help other people. In times like these, Blüdhaven and Dick often felt hopeless. Like the corruption might just run too deep to ever save the city. Maybe there truly was no amount of money or kindness that could save the elites of the city from killing it. If literally bombing his apartment was the lengths they were willing to go, he was afraid of what would come next when they realized they failed.
Dick kept his eyes firmly up. Haley still curled up on his side. Occasionally she would make small yips or movements but would eventually fall back into the calm stillness of her sleep. Dick was admittedly lost in his thoughts, spiraling as some would call it. Dick just called it being prepared for the worst possible outcome in every situation no matter how shitty it makes him feel. He completely missed the shuffling above him or the sink turning on in the upstairs bathroom. He even missed the footsteps coming down the stairs until the voice that came with them seemed to boom through the previously silent living room.
“Thought I told you to get some rest”. Wally. Dick shot up. Startled.
“Alright. You caught me. I can’t sleep.”
“You’re safe here Dick. It’s ok to sleep.” Wally walked toward the couch and flipped the switch on the lamp. The sudden light woke Haley up. She gave Wally a seemingly annoyed look before rolling onto her back.
“Talk to me. What’s going on?” Wally sat himself down at the end of the couch. Dick rolled over onto his side to face away from Wally. They sat in silence for a few moments before Dick could finally piece together what he wanted to say.
“You know what’s going on” he said with a bit more intensity then he intended. The sleep deprivation was making him irritable what could he say?
“No, actually, I don’t but I can tell something is wrong. Any sane person would be knocked out by now.” Wally looked over at Dick expectantly. He knew. He always knew. Dick sighed realizing he wasn’t getting out of this one.
“It’s just… your family is upstairs. I don’t want anything to happen to them. I don’t know what I’d do with myself if something happened to them that was supposed to happen to me or if something does end up happening and they see then-“
“Dick, Jesus, nobody knows you’re here.” Wally put a reassuring hand over Dicks calf from on top of the blanket. “nothing is going to happen in the 6 hours you sleep. Promise.”
“Wally, you don’t know these people. They are absolute psychopaths and they will stop at nothing to see me dead or hurt. I don’t want you of all people to get caught in the crossfire”
“Yet again, nobody knows you’re here. You aren’t thinking straight. Jesus how long has it been since you slept last?” Silence descended over the 2 men for some time before Wally sighed and spoke up.
“Alright. If I stay up and watch over the house, will you sleep?” Dick was stunned at his proposal. Wally has 2 kids and an actual life. He shouldn’t be worrying him like this.
“No. No. Wally. Go back to sleep with Linda I’m fine. I’ll go back to Gotham in-“
“Holy fucking shit Dick you are not going back to Gotham” Wally was fed up. He scrubbed at his face with his hand and sighed again.
“Sorry. Sorry. Dad voice there. I’m just… I’m worried.”
“You don’t have to worry, Wally, seriously I’ll be fine”
“It’s not fine, Dick! Have you looked in a mirror recently?” Wally frustratedly pulled his hands from his face and waved them in front of himself. Dick chose not to respond/. He didn’t have the capacity to deal with this right now.
“Just…” Wally sighed and put his head down again. Clearly calming himself. Dick wonders just how many times he’s heard Wally sigh tonight alone. “just get some rest. I’m going to stay awake right here and keep watch.”
“Wally-“
“No. This isn’t up for debate. You need to sleep.” Wally looked at Dick. His eyebrows down and his face serious. Dick sighed. He knew he had been defeated. He rolled his eyes and reluctantly shuffled on the pillow to get comfortable. Wally shut off the lamp and rubbed Dicks calf reassuringly. Haley settled back in against Dicks chest.
“There you go. I’ll be right here and I’m not going anywhere. Get some rest.” Wally said. Dick could hear the small smile on his face but the relief behind it stung. He hated worrying his friends. He closed his eyes and willed sleep to come.
Very much to Dicks own surprise, sleep would not come. Despite how tired he was. He kept his eyes shut but the abnormal beating of his heart and uneasiness kept him on the edge. Wally stayed there. He kept rubbing reassuring circles into Dicks calf from overtop the blanket. At some point Dick felt him slouch over onto the side of the couch and bring his legs up into a criss cross position. No doubt Wally knew he was awake. Anytime Dick would get close to sleep, his eyes would shoot open with a small accompanying jolt. This went on for an indeterminate amount of time but eventually Wally had enough.
“Dick. Relax. It’s alright.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like I can’t.”
“Jesus, bud. You know you’re supposed to talk to someone when you feel super unsafe or anxious? It does this neat thing thats called ‘making you feel better before you reach this point’”
“Yeah, yeah” Dick sighed “I know.”
“Well I’m still here. I’m still standing watch. I could try and call Bruce or someone if you wanted-“
“No no it’s fine I’m just being dramatic”
“Clearly you aren’t being dramatic. This is more of a psychological thing. You’ve been too stressed for too long and your brains having trouble coping. It’s alright if you don’t want me to call Bruce or someone else but I don’t think just wearing yourself out is going to work”
Dick sighed. Wally stopped rubbing his calf to give his leg a little reassuring squeeze.
“I would ask if you wanted to talk about it but it’s kinda obvious and I feel like I already know your answer would be ‘No’”
“I’m just gonna keep trying to sleep Wally.”
“That’s definitely a good idea, Dick.” With that Wally stopped talking and continued rubbing Dicks leg. It was reassuring. Dick tried to focus on it but found himself jolting awake again. He sighed and looked up at Where Wally would be on the couch in the darkness.
“Wally.”
Wally hummed in response. Dick registered him turning his head to look down at him.
“Call B.”
“Alright Dick.”
With that Wally pulled his phone out of his pocket. Dick could register the slight increase in brightness from where Wally was sitting before he heard the dial tone. He felt bad, disturbing Bruce at whatever hour this must’ve been but he also kinda needed him. The reassurance that Bruce was looking out for him might just be the thing to take Dicks brain off the edge and allow him to rest.
The dial tone stopped and Dick heard Bruce faintly on the other end, cutting through the silence in the room.
“West, I am outside your house. How is Dick? Is he alright?” Wally looked down at where Dick was laying with the phone still pressed to his ear.
“He’s just peachy, Batman. Actually he won’t sleep because he’s worried about me. Knowing your here keeping watch might help him relax.”
“Put me on speaker” Bruce Grunted from the other side. Despite his tone, Dick could tell there was affection and slight concern in his voice. Dick had no idea how he got from Gotham to Keystone City so quick but maybe it wasn’t worth pondering. Wally put the phone on speaker and held it close to Dick.
“B?” Dick asked. His voice sounded a lot more meak then he thought it would but he also hadn’t been sleeping well so it was to be expected.
“Hey chum. I’m here. Keeping watch outside Wests house. Nothing is going to get past me. Go to sleep” Dick looked up at Wally who was smiling at him. He felt himself relax. Nobody got past the Batman.
“Alright B. Thanks…”
“Of course Chum.”
Wally withdrew the phone and put it back up to his ear to thank the Batman and hung up. He looked back down at Dick, whose eyes had grown heavy and posture had slumped further into the couch.
“Better?” Wally teased half heartedly. Dick could only give a faint ‘mmmmm’ noise in reply. He drifted to sleep with Wally still there rubbing his calf comfortingly. Maybe everything would be ok.