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Dick had only known Hal Jordan for a month the first time he found himself alone with him in the manor. Well, they weren't truly alone. Alfred was home, but it was the middle of the night and even he had to sleep sometimes. The point still stood, it was odd. It didn’t help that in that month he had only seen the man a handful of times. One of them being right now, when he stepped into Bruce’s room.
Hal was sitting up in the bed, a tablet in hand. He set it down when he saw Dick. He looked worried. The kid wasn’t really sure why he looked like that. He hadn’t done anything. Had he?
“Dick? Are you okay? What happened?” Hal asked him and that’s when he realized he might not be as good at hiding his emotions as he had thought. He tried. He tried really hard. He never wanted to upset Bruce, or even Alfred. Not that they had ever gotten mad at him.
“Where's Bruce?” He asked, ignoring how his voice wavered a bit and trying to make eye contact. Hal’s eyes were dark from where he stood, but he knew if he were up close they’d be a warm brown. The man had eyes that seemed to invite you in. Made you want to trust him. Dick still wasn’t super sure about that part though.
“Patrol.” Dick slumped a bit at that, looking down at his feet. Tears stinging his eyes. Maybe he should go back to his room. “I could call him?”
“No. It's okay. I'll-” He was cut off as a sob racked through him. It made him angry. He didn’t want to be crying. Didn’t want someone as cool as The Green Lantern to see him like this. It was different with Bruce. He was Bruce first so he didn’t care how Batman saw him. For some reason he did care how Hal did.
Still, when he heard, more than saw, Hal kneel in front of him and pull him into a hug Dick allowed it, grabbing fistfuls of Hal’s shirt, burying his face into his shoulder.
“Nightmare?” Hal asked him quietly. He wished he hadn’t said it like that. Wished he’d asked him it like any other question. Dick didn’t tell him that thought. He just nodded against his shoulder, another sob tearing through him. Hal hugged him just a bit tighter, telling him it'd all be okay.
“I miss them so much,” it was said between sobs and barely intelligible.
“I know, Bud, I know.”
They stayed like that for a while. Hal whispering reassurances and Dick crying until he'd worn himself out. Once he'd calmed down a little, Hal moved them towards the bed. He let himself be maneuvered so he was sitting next to him, face still partially shoved into his shoulder.
“Wanna hear a story?” Hal asked him after what felt like a long time. Dick sat up a bit straighter and wiped at his eyes. He looked at the man, not quite meeting his eyes, not right now, and frowned.
“I’m not a baby.”
Hal shrugged. “Didn’t say it was a bedtime story.”
Dick squinted at him, it felt a bit like a trap, but in the end he nodded. “Okay.”
Hal grinned down at him before turning to face the ceiling as he began to tell his story, using his ring to illustrate it.
Bruce would find them there later. Dick curled fully into Hal’s side, fast asleep, a hand holding tightly onto the man’s shirt. Hal had gone back to his tablet, wanting to be up when Bruce got back.
“How did this happen?” He asked, getting into the other side of the bed. Hal grinned at him, putting the device down, moving Dick just enough so he could lay down as well.
“He had a nightmare and came looking for you,” as he said that last part, the kid turned in his sleep, rolling directly into Bruce as he did so. Hal huffed out a laugh. “Looks like he still is.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here-”
Hal cut him off, having an idea of where this might be going. “Don’t. It’s okay, Bruce. Dick’s okay.”
Bruce frowned at that, looking down at his ward, who seemed quite content in his sleep to snuggle up against him. A familiar look passed over his face, like he had a million things he wanted to say, but couldn’t decide on which one to go with. Finally he landed on a simple, “Thank you for helping him.”
Hal smiled, reaching out, making sure not to jostle Dick, and lifted Bruce’s chin up so he could look him in the eyes. “You’re welcome. It’s not like it was a big deal.”
That’s not true. Hal was very happy that Dick trusted him enough to be vulnerable. That over the last month he had apparently done something right.
Bruce just hummed in response. The conversation wasn’t over, but as Hal moved his hand, letting it rest closer to the other’s waist, they agreed to put it on hold.