18When Dick Grayson's parents were killed, it was the worst day of his life. Then he got adopted by Bruce and things got a little better. But by far, becoming Robin was the best. He wouldn't trade it for the world. But for once he would like to wake up for reasons other than a nightmare.
Surprisingly, this happened on the third week of him becoming Robin. He was asleep, dreaming about god knows what, when he felt something poking his face. He tried to ignore the poking, up until it became a slap. Opening his eyes he found himself face to face with Bruce's one year old son Damian.
Blinking, he slowly sat up. "What do you want kid?" Damian didn't say anything, instead just crawled over Dick. He then pulled the blankets over himself, and cuddled next to Dick's side, falling asleep almost immediately. Dick looked at Damian in chock. He didn't really hang out with the little guy. Mind you, everything in his life just passed by like a blur, that he didn't even think about the kid.
Sure he was only one, but Bruce was his dad. While he saw Bruce play with him a few times, he was left in Alfred's care a lot due to his hectic work schedule. But why did he chose to sleep in Dick's bed? Looking at Damian, Dick decided to just go back to sleep. He would worry about it in the morning.
The next time Dick woke up, it was because of Damian's squirming. Opening his eyes, he realized that he had the kid in a tight hug. Damian wasn't even trying to be discreet about his displeasure. But he didn't scream, he just wiggled. Suddenly Dick was hit with the urge to snuggle up to the kid. Pulling Damian closer, he just couldn't help but enjoy the warmth the boy radiated.
Damian stopped trying to struggle. But Dick had a feeling the kid was glaring at him instead. When the door to his room opened, Dick looked up to see Bruce standing in the door way. "So that's where he was hiding." he said. Upon hearing his father's voice, Damian began struggling again. Bruce let out a chuckle as Dick let the toddler go.
Damian ran to Bruce and tugged on his pant leg to indicate that he wanted up. Piking Damian up, Bruce let out a chuckle. "Why where you in Dick's room?" Damian didn't answer, instead he was content to just suck his thumb. Instead it was Dick who answered, "Not sure, just came into my room in the middle of the night and made himself at home." "That sounds like Damian. Come on, let's go get some breakfast before Damian starts fussing."
Bruce left his room with Damian while Dick got out of bed. Putting on a shirt, he made his way downstairs to see Damian sitting in his high chair munching on some fruit, and Bruce reading the paper with a cup of coffee. "Good morning Master Richard, did you sleep well?" asked Alfred. "Better than ever." and it was true, it was the first time in a long time since Dick had a decent sleep without any nightmares.
"I have to go to the office today, I should be back by four, six at the latest." "Sounds good." said dick, then as an afterthought "you need any help Alfred?" "As a matter of fact, if you could take care of Master Damian for a few hours that would be quite helpful." "Sure thing, Alfred. Leave little D to me." "Little D? Asked Bruce, to which dick just shrugged.
After breakfast, Bruce left, after casting a wary eye towards dick. Damian himself seemed content to play with his blocks. So Dick decided to watch some tv. After fifteen minutes, Damian got bored with his blocks. Looking at Dick, Damian decided that it would be funny to jump on the older boy. Or at least he tried. He had to climb the sofa, which tipped Dick of pretty quick. Picking him up, Dick asked "what are you trying to do?" All he got in response was a little fist hitting his chest.
"Alright, we'll do something else." after a few seconds Dick decided to bring Damian outside. Kids liked nature right? Once outside, Damian seemed entranced. He was looking at everything, seemingly content to just sit there and look. While Damian was distracted, Dick decided to practice a few of his moves. As he began to stretch, he noticed from the corner of his eye that Damian was mimicking him.
Turning around, he did a few more stretches and watched Damian clumsily mimic the movement. Then Dick decided to do a cartwheel. Damian's attempt did not go so well. But he was amazed that the kid didn't cry. He just picked himself up and tried again. This went on for a few minutes, Damian would try to do a cartwheel, fall and try again. Dick had to give him credit, the kid was stubborn. He was definitely Bruce's son.
Going up to Damian, Dick said "Damian, do you think you can do this?" he then did a very simple front roll. Looking back at Damian, he watched as he mimicked Dick's movement, before executing a clumsy but passable front roll. The look of pride on the kids face was priceless.
This went on for a while, Dick doing very simple acrobatic moves that Damian could do and Damian copying him. Sometimes it took him a few tries, but he would do it. This only ended when Alfred called them in for lunch.
Dick was starving, and was thankful for the sandwiches. Damian himself was given a smaller portion, and you couldn't really call it a sandwich since Damian pulled everything apart before eating it. "Thanks for the sandwiches Alfred. They were great!" "You are quite welcome master Richard. I take it master Damian hasn't given you too much trouble?" "Not really, but you know, I think he's going to be an acrobat, he's sure does seem to enjoy it anyway." "Most one year olds do. Still I am glade that you are both getting along."
"Was there any doubt?" said Dick, "Just that master Damian can be quite fussy at times." "Fussy? The kid doesn't speak!" "His is more subdued. But believe me, he has ways of demonstrating his unhappiness. Master Bruce barely dodged a few of his blocks during his last tangent. I believe Bruce stated that Damian having a screaming fit would be much safer for all involved."
"Now I'm curious, why was little D having a fit?" inquired Dick, "if I remember correctly, master Damian wanted to go with Master Bruce when he left for work. He did not take kindly to being told no." "Wow, I would have thought it would have been over a toy." "I have yet to see Master Damian have a fit over a toy." informed Alfred, just as Damian finished the last of his sandwich. "Looks like little D is done. Mind if I kidnap him?" Asked dick, "Not at all, I will inform you when it's time for Master Damian's nap."
Giving Alfred a grin, Dick took Damian out of his high chair. Before Dick could blink Damian darted off. 'Whoa, he's fast.' he thought before going off after him. What proceeded was an odd game of tag. Dick would nearly grab Damian, before he would lose him when the kid went under something too small for Dick to fit in.
By the time Dick managed to catch him, it was two o'clock. "This mansion is way too big. How does Bruce manage to baby proof it all?" "By hiding all of the valuables." drawled Alfred, causing dicks heart to nearly stop. "Oh my god, Alfred, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" "Yes, well I will try to be less discreet next time. I just wanted to inform you that it is Master Damian's Nap time." "Already? Man, time flies. Guess I'll just watch tv while he takes a nap." Said Dick as he handed Damian towards Alfred. That's when Damian grabbed onto Dicks shirt sleeve and refused to let go.
"Hum, Damian I need you to let go now." Said Dick, not that he thought the kid would listen but still. Damian's hand just clenched on his shirt titer. "I believe you will have to come with us after all Master Dick." "What? Seriously? Can't I just tear his hand off my shirt?" "Not if you wish to remain unscathed next time he plays with something hard." Dick let out a sigh in resignation, and took Damian back from Alfred before following him to Damian's nap room.
Once there he tried to set Damian on the bed, but the kid wouldn't let go of his shirt. "Come on, Damian, its nap time. You have to let go so I can tuck you in." But he wouldn't let go, So Dick did what any reasonable adult would do, and just flopped onto the bed. "You can go, Al, I'll stay until Little D's asleep." "Very well Master Richard." Said the Butler before leaving the room.
Dick didn't mean to fall asleep, really, he didn't. But before he knew it, he was taking a nap alongside Damian. When he woke up, it was four thirty. He noticed that Damian himself was still asleep, so carefully as to not wake him up, Dick untangled himself from the child's hold. He then made his way down stairs and headed towards the kitchen. There he saw Bruce talking to Bruce, "Hey, you're back." Said Dick, "Been back for about thirty minutes. How's Damian?" "Sleeping like the baby he is." Said Dick, "You making super Alfred?" "That I am Master Dick." "Cool, hey Bruce, do I get to go on patrol tonight?" "Since the house is still standing, I don't see why not." Dick gave a look of horror, "Did you just crack a joke? Five weeks since I got here and you never once cracked a joke." Bruce just rolled his eyes. "I'm going to ignore that. So did Damian give you any trouble?" Dick looked thoughtful for a moment, "Not really, if anything I would say that the kid loved me. Taught him some of my circus moves and everything." "Circus moves?" "Don't worry, I won't have him hanging on a trapeze. Yet." Bruce was about to speak when they were interrupted by the sound of a crash. "Looks like someone is awake, I'll go get him. I would like to spend some time with my son before supper."
As Bruce went off to get Damian, Dick realised that he woke up for the third time that day without a nightmare. Damian, for some reason, was great at preventing them, and as Bruce came back with the kid, he couldn't help but hope that at some point that night, the kid would come and sleep with him so that the nightmares that kept him up at night, would be no more.
