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a-reader-and-a-writer · 1 year

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One Bad Day.... (Visitors)

Winter Whumperland: Day 2. Unhappy Family Reunion

Fandom: Batman, Batfam, Batmom, Dick Grayson

Summary: Four years into her jail sentence, Dick pays Batmom a visit. However, unlike his usual visits, this time he has something potentially troubling to discuss....

Word Count: 2543

TW: Mentions of Injuries

Note: This is set while Batmom is still at Arkham. It should be read anytime after Part Two.

Series Masterlist

You didn’t want to go see him. Well, you did, oh god how badly you wanted to see him. But you didn’t want him to see you. Not after yesterday’s scuffle with half of the other inmates.

You had held your own until the guards finally decided they had let things go on as long as they could without getting in trouble, but that didn’t mean you had escaped unscathed: Your left side felt like one huge bruise, your shoulder had been dislocated and your arm was still in a sling, your cheekbone had been fractured and you could barely open that eye, your voice was hoarse from screaming and where Bane had managed to get his hands around your throat for almost a minute, and your thigh was still bleeding from the deep gash Harley’s knife had made when she thrust it into you up to the hilt. And that’s not even to mention what the guards did to you after you had been dragged away to your cell afterward. Even sitting caused you pain.

However, all-in-all, they aren’t the worst injuries you have ever received but they are still pretty bad. And they look it. There is no way you can hide all the damage or brush it off as nothing. He will see through that ploy in seconds. But what other choice do you have if you want to see your son?

When you reach the door to the visiting room, you take a deep breath as you stand up straight and mask your expression as much as possible. It is nearly impossible to walk without limping or wincing in pain, but you are determined to do your best to hide it. When the guard opened the door, you plaster on a cheerful grin and walk slowly into the room.

Your visitor is seated at the booth closest to the opposite wall, a fact you are sure the sadistic guards did on purpose. They are probably gathered around the cameras watching and laughing as you struggle to cross the room without crying out in pain. But you won’t give them that satisfaction.

It takes longer than it should, but you make it to your chair without showing much outward sign of discomfort. Though, you can’t help but inhale sharply as you lower yourself into the metal chair.

Slowly reaching over and picking up the phone attached to the wall, you smile through the glass divider and say, “Hey, baby. What a wonderful surprise! I didn’t know you were in town.”

Dick doesn’t respond. He just continues to stare at you, his jaw clenched and knuckles growing white as he grasps the edge of the table in front of him. Yet, you pretend not to notice and continue, “Any exciting reason you’re around? Or is it just to visit me?”

Still, there is nothing but silence from the other side of the glass. Sighing heavily, you say, “Come on, Dick. You didn’t come all this way to not talk to me.”

“You said it was getting better.” His tone is icy and harsh, but at least he is finally speaking.

“No, I said I was handling it.”

“Mom–” He starts to say something but you hold up your hand to cut him off.

“It’s okay. It looks worse than it is.” You try to force another happy smile as you say, “But how are you? How are things in Blüdhaven? Are you seeing anyone special?”

He shakes his head. “No, don’t change the subject. What happened?”

You let the happy facade drop as you slump in your seat. He isn’t going to let this go. “Same thing that always happens. But I can take care of myself.”

Dick leans in closer. “Let me talk to the warden. Something has to be done about this. It can’t keep happening.”

“No. I’m serious, Dick. Don’t say anything….. It just makes it worse.”

Dick smashes his hand against the glass on the other side causing you to jump slightly and catching the attention of a few of the guards in the room. “Mom… please.. I can’t keep seeing you like this. What if they come back for you when you’re hurt? You can’t fight back when you can barely move without flinching in pain! Then what? You just let them kill you?”

You roll your eyes. “Dickie, I’m fine. I’m tougher than I look.”

“Yeah…. Don’t I know it,” he scoffs, running his hand through his hair. “God. I just hate seeing you in here like this and knowing there’s nothing I can do to stop it. We’re supposed to help those who are in trouble and yet, I can’t help my own mom.”

“Oh, Dick…” Tears well up in your eyes as you press your hand against the glass where his is. In the four years since you were thrown in here, never have you wanted to give your son a hug as badly as you did right now. “This isn’t on you. I made my choice that night even though I knew what it probably meant. And I’m so sorry I’m putting you through this too.”

“I would never tell Bruce this, but…. I think you made the right choice.” You blink in surprise. Dick has always been in your corner through the trial and while you have been in jail, but he never once ever made any indication he agreed with you killing the Joker. He stares down at the table as he continues. “He did unspeakable things not only to the citizens of Gotham but also to the people we love. To me… Babs… Jay… He was never going to stop unless someone did something about him. Something final. I may not agree with how you did it, but I’m glad he’s dead.”

You aren’t sure how to process this information. There had never been a doubt in your mind that if Jason knew what you did, he would have cheered and celebrated. But Dick…. There was just something so wrong about hearing him condone a death, regardless of who it was or why they were killed. He always seemed to follow Bruce’s code like gospel since the time Bruce stopped him from killing the man who arranged for his parents’ deaths. It was a line you never imagined him even considering crossing so to hear him support what you did sends a small chill down your spine.

So, you just nod and give him a small smile. “Thank you, baby.” Then, changing the subject, you ask, “So, is this a spontaneous visit or did you have something specific you wanted to talk about?”

Dick licks his lips and stares down at the floor, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. He opens his mouth as if he is about to say something but then closes it again without uttering a word. Finally, you ask, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wro–”

“You don’t have to hide things from me. I’m your mother and I know you. I can see by your face that something’s bothering you. So, what is it?”

Glancing around, Dick presses a button on his watch. You peek up at the cameras, knowing that all feed and sound in the room will be temporarily scrambled. Which means Dick wants to discuss something a little more private.

Taking a deep breath, he finally blurts out, “There’s a new Robin.”

You lean back in your chair. “…..I know.”

Dick blinks in surprise. “You…know?”

“I still get the paper and am allowed to watch the news. Besides, I live in a place that is full of people who have been put away or stopped by Batman and Robin. You honestly didn’t think I would have heard about it?” You grin teasingly. But then your face grows more serious as you add, “But I’m glad.”

Dick seems surprised by your response. “Really? Why? I thought after what happened with Jay….”

“Does the thought of another kid running around fighting guys with weapons and superhuman strength scare the shit out of me? Yes. But Bruce needs someone to keep him grounded, and without me or Jay…. I’m sure he could really use someone right now. Especially since you can’t always be around.”

“Mom–”

You hold up your hand. “No, I’m not trying to make you feel guilty. You should be off living your own life, stepping out from his shadow, becoming your own person. And I’m so glad that you are. You are doing so much good as Nightwing and I am so incredibly proud of you. But Bruce…. he shouldn’t be alone out there. So, if this kid seems up for the challenge, then I’m glad they found each other.”

Dick still seems slightly stunned but says, “Wow, that’s… I don’t know. I thought you would be more upset about this. You really do still care about Bruce and what happens to him, don’t you?”

You bristle at his words and snap, “What Bruce does or doesn’t do is no longer any of my concern. However, this city needs Batman. So if having a Robin by his side helps him protect those in need, then great.” Dick’s face falls slightly and you sigh. In a slightly softer tone, you ask, “So who is this kid?”

“His name’s Tim Drake and he’s thirteen.”

“Thirteen…. It seems so young,” you say wistfully. “And yet both you and Jason were only twelve when you became Robin.”

Dick chuckles softly, “He didn’t really give us much choice. He figured out who we were and practically blackmailed his way into the tights.” Dick drops the smile as he adds, “He knows who you are too. Both while you were with Bruce and before, as Night Watch.”

“What?” you hiss, leaning in closer to the glass. “How the hell did he figure that out? In fact, how the hell does he even know who Night Watch is? I haven’t gone by that name since before Bruce and I got married!”

Dick shrugs. “The kid’s a genius. It’s what he does. He said he recognized your fighting style and that you have a few tells. He’s a big fan though. Apparently, he talked to some people you looked after back in the day and they told him about you. He seems to know more about you at that time than I do. It’s sort of weird.”

“He won’t…. He won’t tell anyone will he? I get into enough trouble in here. If anyone ever finds out who I was before or after I met Bruce, things will only get a hundred times worse.”

“No, absolutely not,” Dick says. “He would never tell a soul. I’m sure of it. He’s a great kid….. You would love him.”

“Yeah… I’m sure I would have.” You quickly turn your head as you blink away a few tears that had sprung up in your eyes. In the corner of the room, you notice two guards whispering and pointing at the cameras. Taking a deep breath, you turn back to Dick. “Seems they noticed the interference with the surveillance system.”

Dick glances over his shoulder and then quickly presses the button on his watch a second time. Whatever privacy the two of you had is now gone and there are going to be a lot of questions about what happened.

Sighing sadly, you say, “I think you should go. It might be better if you aren’t around at the moment.”

Dick nods before hanging his head. “I wish I could take you with me.”

“I know, baby. I do too.” You press your hand against the glass and Dick does the same on his side. “But it’s just for another twenty years or so.”

“Mom….” His eyes dart across your various wounds. “You can’t survive that long in here if this keeps up.”

“What choice do I have? If I ever want the chance to see you without this divider between us, the chance to hold you again, I have to keep fighting. I’ll be okay, I promise.”

You both knew it wasn’t true, but Dick just nods. “I love you. Please be careful.”

“You be careful. And I love you too.”

The two of you sit there just staring at each other for a long moment. Then Dick hangs up his phone, rises to his feet, and turns to leave, his fingers trailing across the glass until the last possible second.

You manage to hold it together until Dick is gone and the door clicks shut behind him. Then you bury your face in your arms on the table and sob. It is the same thing that happens every time you have to watch your only living child disappear once more.

You absolutely love seeing Dick. The thought of his next visit is the only thing that keeps you going most days. And yet, it shatters your heart every time you have to watch him walk out that door.

There is a silent understanding between the two of you that every visit might be his last. Dick is an amazing fighter, but being a vigilante is incredibly dangerous work. And who knows when the other inmates will finally get the upper hand when attacking you. One of these days, one or both of you might not be seated on the other side of the glass.

Finally managing to pull yourself together, you begin to stand to go back to your cell. However, one of the guards approaches and says, “Stay there. You have another visitor.”

“Anoth–” Alfred was the only person who had ever visited you besides Dick and if he was coming, they would have just come together. Unless…. Is it possible Bruce finally came to see you after four long years?

You sink back into your chair as your eyes lock on the door, waiting with bated breath to see who is about to walk in. It can’t be Bruce. Dick would have said something. But what if he didn’t know? What if Bruce wanted it to be a private affair? What if he finally came to his senses? What if he found a way to get you out? What if–

The door opens and the person who walks in is definitely not Bruce, but a welcome sight nonetheless.

You laugh in disbelief as she sits down and you both pick up your respective phones. With tears in your eyes, you say, “Selina! Hi! Wow, it’s so good to see you.”

But then you notice something off in her smirk. This isn’t the Selina you practically raised. This is the Selina you had been catching more and more glimpses of the past few years before your imprisonment. The one whose eyes always lingered on your ring or your custom clothes or the antiques in the manor. The one who hadn’t bothered showing up to Jason’s funeral despite you personally texting her the information.

This is not the visit from a friend you had expected when she walked in.

Leaning forward in the chair, Selina began running her sharp nails across her throat, toying with the diamond necklace that hung there. Your diamond necklace.

Your eyes snap to her face as she purrs, “Hello, Sissy. I think it’s about time we talked about Bruce…..”

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#amow winter whumperland 2022 #fic #one bad day....#batman #batfam #batfamily #batmom #dick grayson #nightwing #robin #selina kyle #catwoman #dc #dc x reader #mentions of injuries tw

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