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It was early Monday morning when Richard Grayson awoke to the piercing cry of shrill sirens.
He could see blue and red tinted lights dancing across the ceiling of his shitty Bludhaven apartment as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
In any other household, lights and sirens were most likely a sporadic, but normal occurrence, but to Dick, this was unprecedented.
Dick lived in a seemingly abandoned building in an extremely safe area. It was once a bustling crime neighborhood, but since dick (and Nightwing of course) moved in, the crime rates dropped significantly. So significantly in fact, that lights and sirens barely ever graced Parkthorne avenue anymore. There were almost never police anymore, let alone one banging on his front door.
Accompanying the cacophony of bright lights was a pounding on the front door. Dick groaned. What happened now…
Nonetheless, Dick got up and threw on a T-shirt before grumbling through the dark with a prominent scowl on his face.
He could hear knocking get louder and louder the closer he got to the door.
“What do you want?” Dick demanded, throwing the door open to the bright fluorescent hallway light. He was about to complain further when he saw him, next to the police officer.
Damian, his little brother. The little brother he had barely ever seen outside of patrol. “Are you Richard Grayson?”
Dick could only nod at the officer.
The officer looked solemnly to the side before straightening out with a sigh.
“There's been an incident” He starts. Dick looked down at Damian, trying to keep a strong persona for the kid while his insides were screaming in panic.
“What kind of incident?" He asks with all the composure he can muster.
He was quite cynical about his family’s career. In his line of work, something was bound to happen sooner or later. Still, it was very concerning if the police got involved and brought Damian to him.
The officer stared at Dick, caught slightly off guard by the man’s composure.
“There has been a death.”
With that, everything in Dick’s body stops. He can feel his blood run ice cold as he stands there half comprehending the sentence the officer just said before looking right back up at the officer who flinched at the sudden change in demeanor.
Dick took a deep breath before regaining his composure. “Who.”
The Officer looks down at his hands before continuing. “Alfred Pennyworth.”
Dick’s heart skips a beat. Alfred. His childhood butler, grandfather, and mentor all rolled into one is now dead. Greif hit him like a wave, but he fought to hold it back. He couldn't be weak in front of Damian. Not now.
“Mr. Wayne is out of the country at the moment and you were the closest, capable living relative within 100 miles. We ask that you take your brother until Wayne returns, or an emergency placement can be arranged.”
Dick nods, his mind lightyears away.
There is a deafening silence that follows until the officer claps his hands together. “Well, I’ll take my leave now. I’ll come by tomorrow to get everything sorted out.” the officer says, already moving towards his car.
“Thank you Officer” Dick says, grasping Damian’s hand.
With that, the police officer bid the two a goodnight and left in his car. It was only when they got inside that Dick finally understood what had happened. He looked at his brother and gestured to the kitchen.
“Hey, I’m going to make some tea. Have a preference?” Damian just shook his head.
“Okay kiddo, I’ll make you some sleepytime tea. It should help you sleep better tonight. Okay?” Damian just nodded his head again before making his way to the kitchen.
There, Dick filled up the copper kettle and turned the gas stove on. He then set out two cups before turning to Damian.
“Hey Damian, I know what happened tonight is a lot to comprehend, but it’s all going to be fine. I’ll leave it at that, I don’t like talking about this stuff either. We will talk about it when you feel ready. Kay baby bird?”
Damian just nods again. Dick feels his composure waver dangerously as tears begin to prickle up behind his eyes. He needed help and he needed it fast.
“Okay, I’m going to make a call in the living room, just turn off the stove when you hear the whistle.” Dick directs before taking his phone and leaving.
In the living room, he sits in the big comfy armchair in the corner.
This chair, the chair he bought from the opportunity shop, is his chair. There was only one chair in that room though. Dick always wanted two chairs, one for him, and one for his potential lover. Maybe one with flashy red hair. Though this goal seemed less and less probable every passing day.
Dick pondered for a second about who to call. Roy was probably asleep after a long day with Lian. The Titans were also probably asleep. Kon is probably with Tim so definitely no. Barbara would only worry more. The only person left is Clark but Clark is Clark...
He was just about to give up until he remembered, there was always Wally West.
Wally is a teammate of Dick’s starting during Young Justice, then beyond. Dick had a big crush on him, but that was against the point.
They could never be together.
Wally is funny, and confident, and smiles brighter than a thousand shining suns. He’s outspoken and definitely not into nerdy, gloomy, Dick Grayson.
It was delightful to work with Wally again. More so as teammates and not just in passing. As vigilantes, they do see each other quite often, though Wally covers Keystone and Dick, Bludhaven. Even after all these years, Dick still finds the redhead attractive, but Wally is his coworker and things have to be kept professional. They are both the heroes of their respective cities and they both have to be on their best behavior!
That doesn’t stop him from calling him though.
After a few rings, Wally picks up with a groggy “Hello?”
Whatever reserve Dick had was gone at this point, he started sobbing over the phone.
He could hear a shift and a click of a lamp on the other side of the phone.
“Dick! whatsamatter? What happened?” Wally frantically asks from the other end, more alert than ever.
“A-Alfred he’s- d-dead.” Dick manages to choke out, barely keeping it together.
“Oh. Oh, crap. That sucks dude.” Wally says from the other side of the line.
“T-the worst part is that…Robin- Dami is in my kitchen… I’m the closest available relative.” Dick sobs out before bursting into tears.
He can feel something shift within Wally. “Hey, hey- it’s going to be okay. Okay?” Wally says from the other end of the line.
Dick takes a deep breath which calms him down immensely.
“I’m sorry I called you. I didn’t know who else to call or what else to do. Heck- you were probably sleeping just fine before I called.” Dick grumbles out, wiping away his tears.
“Oh. No, I was sleeping, not well, but still sleeping. You are allowed to call me. Especially in moments like these. Okay?” Wally says, grasping the phone in both of his hands.
Dick nods and even though it’s impossible, Wally feels it from the other end of the line.
“Okay, Dick. You’re not in a condition to take care of yourself right now, let alone a kid. Is it okay if I come over tonight? I can get there in five minutes.
Dick hesitates for a second. He looks around at his humble abode, littered with trash, freezing, and sparse.
For a second, Dick felt afraid of what Wally would think of his small, messy, home. He didn't have enough time to clean it, and even if he did, he really didn't feel like doing so. Even though he would rather not admit it, Wally was right, he really couldn't take care of himself at that moment.
Dick sighed before giving in.
“Please. I have a guest room upstairs. Damian can room with me.” Dick says, looking out at his sad living room with the singular armchair.
“Okay. I will be there shortly. Take care and I will see you soon.”
Dick can hear the jingling of keys along with shifting as Wally prepares to leave his home.
“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
The line ends with a tentative click as Wally ventures into the night.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
About ten minutes later, Wally knocks on the door. It takes a red eyed Dick two seconds to open it and about one second for Wally to scoop him up in the biggest hug he could muster in the moment.
“Hey. It’s okay. Everything will be okay.” Wally whispered into Dick’s hair. They stood like that until Dick’s sobs became less and less frequent, finally stopping.
“Oh, come in! I am such a terrible host.” Dick choked out, pulling away and wiping his eyes. Wally was saddened by the loss of warmth but quickly recovered.
“You are not a terrible host. If anything, I'm the terrible host.” Wally said. Dick chuckled. “Hah, true.” He smiled up at the redhead who currently had a mock- offended look on his face. ‘Damn. He really does look like the sun himself.’ Dick’s brain unhelpfully added.
“So, Damian is already asleep which is good…. But he’s sleeping in the guest bedroom and wants to be alone, so I don’t know how to go about this because there are only two sleepable surfaces in the house and they are the two beds…” Dick trailed off, doing the math in his head.
“I’m alright sleeping with you if you are with me.” Wally suggested before blushing furiously. “I- I mean like in a ‘bro way’ of course. I wouldn’t actually- nevermind.” Both men felt a sad pang at the reaction, but Alfred, Dick’s grandpa just died. This was not the time for Wally to be making moves.
“It may just come down to that.” Dick sighed. Wally felt a bit of disappointment from the answer. He had always liked the raven haired man. He had lost all hope of seeing him again after getting lost in the speedforce, but here they were. Sitting in Dick’s kitchen on the night his Grandpa passed away.
After a bit more tea and another hour of shared comfort, the night came to a close with Dick stifling a yawn, to which Wally gave him a knowing look. Sheepishly, Dick let Wally guide him to his spacious bedroom with the futon on the floor, and the big warehouse window illuminated by streetlights.
“Good night Dick.” Wally said. “Goodnight Walls.” Dick replied, turning on his side.
They faced away from each other for most of that night, but somehow, they woke up in each other’s arms.