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downthe-f4ndom-rabbith0le · 21 days

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Always Been You (Dick Grayson x Reader) - Chapter 2

Always Been You (Dick Grayson x Reader) Reader Insert: she/her pronouns Word Count: 5030 Warnings: death, violence, fighting, bloody wounds, angst, infuriatingly oblivious love interest, slowburn Spoilers: Young Justice Seasons 1-3 plot partially, but it ended in 2022 so catch up.

Y/N Prince - miracle daughter of Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor - and Dick Grayson - first adoptive son of the Batman himself - have been best friends since day one. They went to school together, trained together, kept each other's alter ego secret from everyone else, and they founded the Young Justice alongside their friends together.

But as time progressed, Y/N and Dick grew up and Y/N found herself wanting more than friendship with Dick. But he never seemed to indicate that he reciprocated her feelings. And when Wally died and Dick abandoned the team, Y/N realised he never would. So she heads to the one place she knows will help her become a stronger warrior so that one day she can take her mother's place: Themyscira.

Two years after his leave, Dick reaches out to his old friends to help him with a mission. But when he finds out Y/N left too, he chases after her in the hopes to bring her back.

However, when the two finally reunite, it isn't as warm as he hopes. Not to mention Themyscira becomes under siege as they go to war against Echidna, the Mother of Monsters in Greek Mythology, and her army of monstrous children.

Will Dick and Y/N be able to put their past behind them and save the Amazonians' homeland? Or will they fall, unable to tell one another their true feelings?

~~~

(6 Months Later)

Dick Grayson looked up at the Carr family home from his car, apprehensive to open the door just yet. It was a nice home, and from the research Dick did, a nice family lived there too.

His eyes trailed to the apartment situated above the garage, imagining the people who were inside. How were they going to react when he told them what he was there for? Scratch that, how were they going to react when they saw him?

'Should I go take a nap or are you going to man up and go inside at some point?' Oracle's sarcastic voice came through the car's bluetooth.

Dick clenched his hands around the steering wheel. Barbara - newly named Oracle - was right. It didn't matter what his friends were going to say. He needed their help, and he needed to man up.

Dick finally unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door. 'I'll call you when I'm done,' he said, then ended the call before Barbara could sneak in another witty remark.

He made haste running up the Carr's driveway, then up the stairs to the apartment above the garage. As he raised his hand to knock on the door, he heard laughter and lively chatter that made him pause. An overwhelming sense of guilt and shame and longing surged through him. Was he really going to break up the joy beyond the door? Once upon a time he would've been glad for a party, for a break from work and his vigilante duties.

His mind flashed back to that first party him and his friends had in Mount Justice. It was Wally's birthday and he had been lapping up all the attention, especially from M'gann, who had made him a cake and had in fact organised the whole party. This was before Wally realised him and Artemis were meant to be, same with Connor and M'gann.

But Y/N had known, had even pointed it out to Dick as they sat in the corner just the two of them, watching everything play out.

'They're all so thick,' Y/N said, taking a sip of her lemonade, trying to hide her knowing smile.

'How so?' Dick asked.

Y/N rolled her eyes. 'Can you not see?' She grabbed Dick's chin and guided him to look at Connor and M'gann interacting awkwardly but in a cute way, then Wally and Artemis "fighting", matching wit for wit with every snarky comment they threw at each other. 'Connor and M'gann are so into each other, and you could cut the emotional tension between Wally and Artemis it's so thick. They are all crushing hard.'

Dick watched the two couples interact a little longer and realised Y/N was right. 'Well would you look at that,' he said, turning back to Y/N. 'You're quite the observer, aren't you?'

Y/N chuckled. 'Dick, we've been best friends for three years now. If you're just figuring that out now, then you're just as thick as the rest of our friends.'

'Hey! I am not!'

'Are to.'

'Am. Not!'

'Are. To!'

The two fell into hysterical laughter, gripping onto one another so they didn't fall to the ground.

Y/N's smile came to him then, and the longing in his chest ached even more. She was more than likely beyond the door too, laughing and smiling without a care in the world. He suddenly had the thought that he couldn't go through with it. He couldn't possibly ask them - couldn't ask her - to help him. Not after what he'd done...

Before he could chicken out completely, he forced himself to knock lightly on the door.

'I'll get it,' M'gann's sweet voice called out to whoever she was with, and Dick prepared himself as he heard her walk to the door.

M'gann opened the door, and she was smiling, the remnants of laughter twinkling in her eyes. She was in her human form, but it had changed since the last time Dick saw her. Her ginger hair was now cropped just under her ears, and her features were sharper, more refined than that of a young adolescent. She wore a flattering white blouse and casual jeans, not bothering for shoes in her own home.

She was grown up. In just two years?

Her brown eyes locked with Dick's blue ones, and immediately her smile dropped as shock froze her face.

Dick offered her a small smile 'Hi, M'gann,' he said softly.

'Dick...' was all she could manage as she continued to look at him, eyes raking over him as if she were imagining things. 'What are you doing here?'

'Honey, who is it?'

Dick's guilt deepened at the sound of Connor's voice. The Superboy himself came to the door when M'gann didn't answer, and stopped in his tracks as soon as he laid eyes on Dick. But he didn't stay shocked for long.

Connor furrowed his eyebrows and stepped up behind M'gann, placing a protective hand on her shoulder. 'What are you doing here?' he asked icily, eyes solely focussed on Dick.

It hurt to see such distrust in his old friend's eyes, but Dick somewhat expected that. 'Nice to see you too, Connor,' he said, slipping into his casual, carefree persona easily. If there was one thing Dick was really good at, it was putting on a mask. 'I was in the neighbourhood and thought I'd swing by. It's been a while.'

'Why don't you answer my question first before you start acting like nothing is wrong,' Connor suggested, his voice taking a deep threatening tone.

'Connor, please,' M'gann said, seemingly getting over her initial shock. She placed her left hand over Connor's on her shoulder, and that's when Dick saw the shiny diamond ring on her finger. 'He's our friend.'

Dick didn't think his guilt could worsen at those three words.

M'gann opened the door wider and offered him a small smile. 'Come in, Dick. We'd love for you to join us.'

Dick flashed her a grateful smile. 'Thanks,' he said as he ducked through the doorway. He then looked from M'gann to Connor and back again. 'Congratulations, by the way.'

M'gann looked confused for a moment, then a joyful twinkle flashed in her eyes as she looked to her ring, a soft smile gracing her features. 'Thank you, Dick,' she said. 'That's what we're actually celebrating. Come on, there is food and drinks this way.'

M'gann walked back towards the party, but Connor and Dick remained in the entrance, staring at one another.

Dick took Connor in. Because of his clone genetics, Connor never actually aged. Not physically anyways. He'd changed ever so slightly from when Dick first broke him out of Cadmus, only growing a centimetre or two every year or so. His muscles had toned more having entered his theoretical twenties, and but his face still held onto those baby features he'd had since being replicated as a teenaged Superman.

Dick sized himself up against Connor and shockingly found that, for the first time, they were looking at each other eye to eye.

Connor seemed to scan Dick, too, coming to the same conclusion that Dick had changed too since they last saw each other. Dick waited for Connor to say something, but when Connor was done he gave Dick a stone cold grimace then turned to follow M'gann.

'What a warm reunion,' Dick mumbled under breath as he followed Connor down the hallway.

The hallway opened into an open-floor plan that held the kitchen, the dinning room and the lounge. Dick expected a few more people to be waiting for them, but he only spotted Kaldur lounging on the couch, drink in hand. Being the vigilant person he was, Kaldur immediately recognised Dick and placed his drink on the coffee table as he stood up.

'Dick,' he said, teal eyes wide with surprise.

'Hey, Kaldur,' Dick greeted awkwardly, ready for the same cold treatment as Connor.

Instead, Kaldur's face broke into a warm smile as he manoeuvred around the furniture to make his way to Dick. 'Old friend,' he said as he embraced Dick. 'It has been too long.'

'It sure has, buddy,' Dick responded, returning his friend's embrace.

Kaldur released him, but kept his hand on Dick's shoulder as he scanned over him. 'Look at you! You seem to be healthy and strong.'

It was true. Dick had noticed he'd muscled up a little more since leaving the team, though still keeping towards the leaner side of muscular. He certainly wasn't has bulk as Connor, or Kaldur for that fact, who Dick noted also had more muscles and toned features. Kaldur certainly filled out the black button-up he wore. But, as it was with Connor, Dick was happy to see him looking directly in Kaldur's eyes as they spoke, not from slightly below as it had been since they were children.

'Thanks man,' Dick said. 'Been working out. I see you've been doing the same, Aquaman.'

'My King left some large shoes to fill,' Kladur admitted humbly. 'But thank you.'

'So you know of Kaldur's promotion, but couldn't contact him to say congrats when it happened?' Connor interjected from his place in the kitchen.

M'gann scolded him as she placed some plates on the dining table, but the mood had already changed to tense and quiet.

'Connor's right,' Dick admitted, addressing his three friends. 'I'm sorry. These past two years... I should've stayed in contact. I wanted to. But every time I went to, I convinced myself that you didn't want to hear from me. That it would be better to leave you all be while I try to figure out myself again.'

'Oh Dick,' M'gann started, walking around the table to pull him into a hug. 'Of course we wanted to hear from you. You're our friend and we missed you. But we understand that after Wally died, you had to take a break from everything.'

M'gann pulled away and then pointed an accusatory finger at him, looking extremely cross with him. 'But if you ever do anything like that again, I swear I will hunt you down and kick your sorry ass into another universe. Understood?'

Dick nodded vigorously. 'U-Understood.'

M'gann's sweet demeanour returned and she walked back to the table to continue setting it. The three men looked at her quietly as she went about her work, until Dick turned to Connor and said, 'Your fiancée is scary.'

Dick expected another glare from the Superboy, but he was gladly surprised when the dark-haired boy nodded in agreement, face slightly pale. 'You got that right.' He then shook himself out of his frozen state of fear to help his fiancée dish out their meal.

'Give him time,' Kaldur said quietly to Dick. 'You know how Connor can be with expressing his emotions.'

'Well, he's not as emotionally constipated as he once was, I'll give him that,' Dick said. 'Unfortunately, I don't think I have time.'

'What do you mean?' Kaldur asked.

Dick went to explain but quickly decided against it. Kaldur was in the Justice League now. Dick couldn't really explain what he was planning to do. Not yet, anyway.

'Forget I said anything,' Dick said instead, flashing his charming smile and wrapping an arm around his old friend's shoulders. 'For now, why don't you tell me everything I've missed. How is it being Atlantis' new champion, first starters...'

For the next hour, it was like old times. The four of them ate and laughed and swapped stories about what Dick had missed in the last two years. They recalled some of the good times they all shared when they were on the team, and Dick convinced himself for a brief moment that they could all stay like this. Happy, carefree, young.

But Dick had come to Connor and M'gann for a reason.

Once they'd had enough of dessert, Connor offered to wash up and Dick saw his chance.

'I'll help wipe up,' Dick offered, taking his and Kaldur's plates to the sink while Connor filled the sink with soap and water. Dick waited until M'gann and Kaldur were in deep conversation over on the couch that Dick decided to broach his intended subject. 'So, how is the team going?'

'The team is doing okay,' Connor answered flatly, never lifting his eyes from his work with the plates in the sink. 'I just try to help M'gann as best as I can. We're down a few numbers since your old man decided to take half of the Justice League and our team with him in his little stunt.'

Dick winced. He recalled getting the call from Tim about it about five months ago. It had been an orchestrated walk out from over half the Justice League and their protégés, all of them wanting to go back to their vigilante ways as the League and the team had become somewhat irrelevant. Those that remained never saw it coming.

'I'm sorry about that,' he apologised, though he wasn't entirely sure why. Just felt appropriate.

Connor looked at him briefly, hands pausing in the sink as he did, and then released a sigh of defeat. 'Don't be sorry, Dick. It's not like you had anything to do with it.'

'No,' Dick agreed, 'but I should've been there at least. I should've reached out to see if you were okay. We started this team together, I shouldn't have just left it all to you.'

'Well, I know the rest of the team would really appreciate it if you came back now,' Connor said, his tone hopeful. 'That is, if you're ready to come back.'

Dick's heart lurched at the thought of going back to the team, both with want and terror. He liked Barbara, he really did. But, if he were being honest, he'd missed being a part of something bigger than himself and his own agendas.

'Connor,' Dick started softly, looking to see M'gann and Kaldur still locked in deep conversation before continuing, 'I would love to come back. Please know that. But you should know I haven't just been idly moving about the place the last two years. I've been conducting undercover missions of my own with Barbara in relation to the meta-human trafficking crisis.'

Connor's eyes widened and Dick saw he was about to raise his voice so leaned in close and hurriedly whispered, 'Keep your voice down, please.'

Connor took a second to register what Dick had said before whispering harshly, 'What do you mean you've been working on your own? You should've come to us if you were getting involved.'

'First of all, I just said I had Barbara helping me, and secondly because the team and the Justice League are full of public figures now. The missions wouldn't work if they got involved. But I've actually come here to ask you for your help on a mission, Connor.'

'Me?! Why would I-'

'Let me explain. First of all, it'll be you, me, Artemis-'

'You've pulled Artemis into this too?! Where the hell has she been, anyway?'

'Would you stop interrupting me for one second?' Dick hissed, wiping up a plate or two before returning to the conversation. 'As I was saying, from our intel, Markovia's Princess Tara has been found dead. Killed by a meta human supposedly, and I have a sneaky suspicion someone has been testing on people with the meta gene, turning them into extreme versions of their meta abilities. I need your help to find out who. As I said before, I've convinced Artemis to help already, and I was looking to you, Jefferson, and Y/N to make up the rest of the team.'

Dick looked around the room, looking at how empty the couches were around M'gann and Kaldur and sudden thought struck him. 'Speaking of which, where is Y/N?' he asked. 'I would've thought she'd be here celebrating the good news.'

He'd forgotten to keep quiet that time, and so Kaldur and M'gann looked at him alongside Connor, all looking as if Dick had sprouted three heads.

'What?' Dick asked, patting around his face. 'Do I have sauce on my face?'

'You don't know?' M'gann asked, sounding almost on the brink of tears.

That's when Dick realised something was majorly wrong, and his gut twisted with fear. 'Know what? Where's Y/N?'

'Y/N, she...' Kaldur started, then took a deep breath before continuing, 'Y/N left the team, Dick.'

'What?' Dick said, almost dropping the plate he held. 'What do you mean she left?'

'She left about six months ago,' Connor answered, washing up the last plate and emptying the sink. 'Before everyone else left. She felt like she wasn't doing enough with us anymore, so she just... left.'

'I've sent her plenty of messages,' M'gann said, 'but she hasn't answered any of them. And I can't sense her at all in the country. Even the Watchtower couldn't find her.'

Dick couldn't believe this. Y/N was gone? 'So Wonder Woman doesn't even know where she is?'

'Wonder Woman has been busy running the Justice League since Batman resigned,' Kaldur answered. 'Even if she did know where her daughter was, I don't think she'd like us to know, and I would have to agree.'

'Why?' Dick asked, suddenly very angry at Kaldur for not being as concerned as he was about Y/N. 'Do you know where she is?'

Kaldur shook his head. 'Regrettably, no. But when we last spoke, she sounded like she didn't want to be found. That she would come back to us when she was ready. I think we should respect that.'

Dick shook his head in disbelief. 'No, that's not like Y/N. She wouldn't just leave anywhere without telling anyone.'

'What, you mean like you?' Connor asked, and that cold stare was back.

'I mean she is loyal and empathetic. Surely she would know how her absence would affect the team,' Dick continued, ignoring the personal dig.

'She was loyal, Dick,' Connor countered. 'She was loyal, and stuck around with M'gann, Kaldur and I until the team got back on its feet. She held the team together when we were on the brink of falling apart. But you wouldn't know that because you weren't here.'

Dick wanted to argue but found that he couldn't. What he had thought was the best for the team turned out to be the complete opposite. He could sense it now; his relationships with his oldest friends were no longer as they were.

'You were gone for two years,' Connor continued. 'You'd be surprised as to how much a person can change in that time.'

The day Dick left flashed in his mind, and he recalled the pain in Y/N's eyes when he left her behind. He remembered how she'd held it together, but he knew she would probably cry about it later because she'd done it some many times before, always going to him to cry on his shoulder.

But he wasn't there that time. He'd left her all alone to dry her tears.

You're my best friend. Always have been. Always will be...

Dick looked to his friends again, but they could barely meet his eyes. Kaldur was disappointed, Connor was angry, and M'gann was just sad. An apology bubbled up in Dick's throat, but he didn't think it was sufficient enough for what he had done to them.

'I have to find her, then,' Dick said into the quiet room, and finally they all looked to him.

'Did you not just hear Kaldur?' Connor asked. 'We should leave her alone like she wants.'

'We don't necessarily know that,' Dick countered. 'Besides, this isn't about bringing her back. This is about me making things right with her.'

'But what if Kaldur is right?' M'gann argued. 'What if she doesn't want to be found. Maybe the right thing to do is leave her alone?'

Dick shook his head. 'She's my best friend, M'gann. I can't accept that she wouldn't want to see us ever again.'

'Maybe she doesn't want to see you, have you considered that?' Kaldur asked, his voice taking on a protective demeanour. 'The bottom line is, Dick, that you left her behind without a second thought. And she respected that, even if it killed her inside knowing that you would rather abandon her - abandon us - than face the pain of losing Wally together. She missed you every single day, and yet she still fought and trained and guided the team without faltering. And now, when she finally finds the courage to do what's best for her for once, you want to shame her for it?'

Anger surged through Dick, fiery and hot. 'I am not shaming her for anything. Do you not think I didn't think of you all every single day?'

'If you did, you didn't do anything about it, did you?' Connor mumbled, but Dick heard him just fine.

'Look, if you guys don't want to help me find her, fine,' Dick said, looking at all three friends pointedly. 'But I will find her. Because she needs to know that she was right. That I was wrong to leave and I am a terrible best friend.'

His expression softened as he looked down at his hands, imagining how long ago him and Y/N would link their pinkies. How simple friendships were back then.

'If she never comes back,' he continued, quieter this time, 'then I won't blame her. But best friends don't give up on each other.'

It was quiet for what felt like an eternity. Until Kaldur walked up to Dick and grabbed his shoulder comfortingly.

'You may be a terrible best friend,' Kaldur said, a small smile warming his face. 'But that doesn't mean your heart isn't in the right place.'

'Thanks, Kaldur,' Dick said, patting Kaldur's hand upon his shoulder.

Kaldur dropped his hand and the four of them sat down on the couches. 'Y/N didn't tell me where she was going,' Kaldur started, 'just that she needed to find out who she was again.'

'I don't follow,' Dick said.

Kaldur chuckled. 'Don't worry, I said the same thing to her when she told me. But she also said something along the lines of, "I need to find out where I've come from to find out where I will go.".'

'What the hell does that mean?' Connor asked.

'Again, not sure. But when I asked her the same question, she said she had to go back to her roots,' Kaldur elaborated. 'Something to do with where it all started. And her mother...'

Dick contemplated all of Kaldur's recollections, juggling each statement over one another to try and make sense. It was so vague, but Dick could sense there was a blatant truth staring right at them if they just looked hard enough.

Where it all began... Where she's been... Her mother...

The answer hit Dick like a brick wall.

'Themyscira,' he said softly, then more confidently. 'She's gone to Themyscira.'

'The Island of the Amazons?' M'gann asked. 'Are you sure?'

Dick nodded. 'It has to be. That's where Wonder Woman is from, and Y/N mentioned all the time when we were kids how much she wanted to go visit it one day.'

'But isn't it hidden?' Connor interjected. 'I mean, that's why they haven't gone back right? Anyone who leaves the island can never find it again.'

'Wonder Woman must've had something to help her remember,' Kaldur offered. 'Or at least guide her back home. I would suggest we go ask her, but again, I doubt she would tell us anything.'

It was like nothing had changed. The four of them had slipped back into theorising and planning and bantering as if no time had passed, as if no one had left or been promoted. It warmed Dick's heart at the thought that they all wanted to help find Y/N, even bring her home.

But Dick shook his head in dismissal. 'You guys don't have to worry yourselves over this. It sounds like I'm part of the reason she left in the first place, so it's my responsibility to find her and make this right on my own.'

'While I agree that this is partially your fault,' Connor said, earning a slight slap from M'gann beside him that he barely flinched at, 'Y/N's our friend too. The least we can do is help you find her.'

Dick smiled gratefully at his friend, who gave him a nod in return which was a start. 'Okay then...' Dick brought his watch up in front of his chest, clicked a few buttons before bringing up a large holographic screen with Barbara on it. 'Can you see us, Babs?'

'In quality HD, as well,' Barbara replied with a witty smile. 'Now, what can Oracle do for you?'

'We're trying to find Themyscira,' Dick explained. 'But it's not on any maps that we know of. Anything in any history records? Sailor sightings while out at sea?'

'You're asking me to find a mythical island from greek mythology that is meant to be hidden from Man's World and is forgotten by any who leave it?' Barbara asked incredulously, but then began typing ferociously on her end. 'Yeah, sure. No problem.'

Dick and the others waited in silence as Barbara worked her magic, files and maps and illustrations of the island popping up all over the screen around her face. After a minute or two, she spoke again.

'Okay,' she began, 'according to maps, you're right, the place doesn't exist. Even old sailors from Ancient Greece don't have any records of the place. However, I did find some similar tales being published in short stories of greek mythology and sailing journals. And all of them mention a couple of times sailing near what has now become the mouth of the modern Terme River in what we now know as Turkey, and having a strange sensation wash over them about danger. Each and every one of them have been convinced there is danger ahead and have turned away.'

'But they're just stories,' Kaldur argued. 'How can you be sure that what they speak of is the Island of the Amazons?'

'Ease up, Aquaman. I'm getting there.' A few more clicks and taps and Barbara brought up a picture of a very odd looking fish. 'Do you recognise that at all?'

Kaldur stared at the fish for a moment, contemplating its odd structure. 'I don't recognise it as a species,' Kaldur said. 'But I do recognise parts of it. It is like... different fish species have been spliced up and put back together to form this.'

'Exactly,' Barbara said, tap and clicking fervently again. 'This is a fish that has been found not near Turkey but close enough, and on multiple occasions. Now, if we isolate all these fish types... and then map out where each species usually resides... then find the crossover point for all of them...'

Dick watched diligently as Barbara isolated the fishes, highlight on the world map which species resided where, then drew lines horizontally and vertically, then zoomed in on the section the two lines crossed over.

'And there you have it,' Barbara offered proudly. 'The mouth to the Terme River in Turkey. You're welcome.'

'That makes sense,' M'gann said, looking up at the map, intrigued. 'If Themyscira is supposedly this pocket of space no human can find, then it makes sense that sea creatures of different genetic combinations would be able to breed there in peace, more than likely living there except for the stray pod or two that wander off into the open ocean.'

'I would have to agree,' Kaldur said, fascinated by it all as well. 'Who knows how many sea creatures live in harmony there.'

'Well, I'll be sure to find out when I get there,' Dick said as he stood up. 'Thanks Babs.'

'Any time,' she said, then the call ended.

'Wait, you're leaving now?' M'gann asked as Dick made his way to the front door.

'This cannot wait, M'gann,' Dick insisted, opening the front door. 'I have to speak with her as soon as possible.'

'Hey.' Dick was forced to stop when Connor grabbed him by his bicep, bringing the two of them close enough Dick could feel Connor's breath on his cheek.

'Are you really doing this for Y/N's sake, or for yours?' Connor asked in a hushed voice. 'Because whatever mission you think you need her for, I can assure you it cannot be more important than your friendship. Do you understand?'

Dick didn't quite understood what he meant, but he nodded anyways, and Connor let him go.

M'gann and Kaldur stepped up beside Connor as Dick made his way down the apartment stairs and back to the car. M'gann wrapped her arms around Connor's waist as he embraced her with one arm over her shoulder.

'Good luck, old friend,' Kaldur called out. 'May your journey be safe and successful.'

Dick chuckled as he waved farewell. 'I know you've always been well-spoken, but is it now a job requirement as Aquaman to sound like Gandalf?'

Kaldur pulled a face that Dick and M'gann laughed at, and Connor cracked a smile at the slight burn. Before he could psyche himself out of it, Dick hopped in the car and took off towards Wayne Manor.

'Call Alfred Pennyworth,' Dick spoke loud and clear, and the car immediately began ringing.

After a few rings, Alfred promptly answered the phone. 'Master Dick, what a pleasant surprise.'

'Hey, Alfred. Is the Batwing free at the moment?'

'I've just given it a deep clean now. Why?'

'Excellent. Could you please prepare it for take off by the time I reach the Manor? I have a little excursion I have to go on.'

'Will that excursion bring the Batwing back in one piece, Master Dick?'

'...I'll be there in twenty.'

Dick promptly ended the call, not waiting to hear a scolding from Alfred. Those were never fun.

Truth be told, he wasn't sure what to expect when he went to Themyscira. But Steve Trevor did it once, surely it could be done again.

Either way, it was a risk Dick was willing to take to get his best friend back.

---------------

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kimpossibly · 1 year

Text

— dating dick grayson

ੈ✩‧₊˚ sfw & nsfw under the cut

PAIRING: dick grayson x fem!reader WARNINGS: there is some nsfw content underneath the cut (i labelled it so it can't be missed). there are also mentions of fighting, cuts, bruises, general vigilante stuff. SUMMARY: just some cute (and some spicy) headcanons for dating our beloved nightwing

NOTE: I love writing for this character so much — specifically because I've heard from sooooo many people that my boyfriend looks exactly like him. It actually became such a recurring joke with my friend group that we dressed up as Dick & Barbara Gordon for homecoming. But the resemblance is so uncanny it's actually insane — hence why I love this character so much. I hope you guys enjoy this thing I wrote at three in the morning!!

ੈ✩‧₊˚ sfw

Dick is so protective, just as a person. Of family, of friends, and especially of you.

If you're a Titan like him, he's the first to jump to your side in a fight — not because he doesn't think you can handle yourself (he knows you can) but because he can't bear not having you in his eye line during a fight. If something were to happen when his back was turned, he'd never quite be able to get over it.

In the middle of the fight, he's constantly shouting to you, asking if you're okay, if you need help. And after the fight he's the first one to you, asking if you're hurt.

And if you're a civilian and you somehow get caught in the middle of his work? Oh my God this man will lose it. His top priority disappears and is instantly replaced by making sure you're safe and well out of the way of danger.

The 'patching up each other's wounds' trope is strong with Dick

He always wants to know how and why each little cut and bruise got there

❝ Wait, where did this one come from? ❞ ❝ Remember when the guy pulled out all those little throwing knives? ❞ ❝ Ah. ❞

I feel like his love languages are words of affirmation and physical touch — he loves both giving and receiving them.

He'll always pull you aside to tell you he loves you before he goes into a fight.

He'll reassure you with forehead kisses instead of kisses on the lips. They just feel more safe and comforting.

But the ultimate way he makes you feel safe and comfortable is by cuddling. He loooooves cuddling.

Nothing makes him happier than wrapping his arms around you and holding you tight to him. He loves falling asleep that way, tangled up together, because it lets him know that you feel completely safe around him.

He knows he can be an imposing person, so he always does his best to make you and everyone else feel safe around him.

And let's be honest, that man is a giant teddy bear.

But he can be pretty scary when he wants to be.

Like I kind of said earlier, if someone is messing with you, he's the first one to be by your side to defend you

At the end of the day, he loves coming home to you and knowing that you'll be there for him every step of the way.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ nsfw — mentions of hickeys, oral (f & m receiving), praise, roughness, fingering

Dick is a pretty selfless person — he's always concerned about other people, he's a bit of a people pleaser, etc.

Thus I firmly believe he's a giver over a receiver.

They don't call him Dick for nothing—

He also definitely has a praise kink, both for giving praise and receiving it.

His favorite, of course, is calling you a ❝ Good girl ❞ and telling you how well you're doing.

He loves to go down on you. There's nothing he finds more beautiful than looking up at you from in between your legs, seeing your face contorted in pleasure as he brings you over the edge.

He also looooves when you pull his hair. It's a sign that he's doing well at making you feel good. This ties in with the whole praise thing.

He never pressures you into anything and always makes sure to get consent before doing something.

He also loves to wake you up by going down on you. He obviously asked for consent the night before, but he just loves the surprise of it.

Or he'll even just wake you up by pressing kisses to your neck and gently fingering you

It isn't until you're awake and moaning that he'll smirk at you and say good morning.

The auDACITY

And if you want to go down on him? I mean...he won't refuse.

I don't think his initial instinct is to be very vocal, but once he feels perfectly comfortable and safe with you, oh Lord is he vocal.

He's a very gentle person in general, but every once in a while he needs to let off some steam.

You'll come back from a fight and you'll barely have the time to shut the bedroom door before he's pulling you to him and kissing you.

The suit stays ON

He can get a little rough, but he always makes sure that you're okay with what he's doing.

But he loves after care — and he's great at it too

Like I said earlier, he's a cuddler, but if you're both up for it he'll jump in a shower with you

He doesn't normally like to leave marks because he doesn't want the others to start asking questions, but every once in a while he likes giving you a hickey or two.

But he places them strategically on your collarbone, where they'll be just barely hidden by your shirts and revealed by the merest tug on the neckline (and yes he does take advantage of this)

You're a little more enthusiastic about hickeys than he is

Luckily, in his, er, line of work (???) hickeys can more often be explained away as bruises

Like if it ever gets brought up, he just brushes it off.

❝ What's on your neck? ❞ ❝ It's uh, just a bruise. ❞ ❝ Oh. Looks like a hickey. ❞

Dick will just kind of freeze up, caught of guard by the directness of that statement, and you'll just smile and wrap an arm around him, pressing a kiss directly to the so-called ❝ bruise. ❞

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superhero--imagines · 2 years

Text

A/N: NSFW Content

Dick

He blinks. Collectively, he knows what this means—the arched back, the hazy look in your eyes, mouth parted, and the tremor that runs through your body—but the tip is barley inside.

Your heavy breaths are confirmation, a grin stretching across his face.

“God, you’re so good for me,” a thumb caresses your cheek. “Give me another, maybe two more, okay?”

Jason

He’d half expected it. He had been teasing you mercilessly, he didn’t expect you to last long.

But god, it was just one thrust.

He feels pride swell in his chest as you crumple against him, half-whispers half-sobs of his name tumbling past your lips. He wraps his arms around you, holding you close.

“It’s okay baby, I’ll take care of you.”

#batman imagine #dc comics imagine #jason todd imagine #jason todd x y/n #jason todd x you #jason todd x reader #dick grayson imagines #dick grayson x y/n #dick grayson x you #dick Grayson x reader #dick Grayson smut #Jason Todd smut #smut #superhero--imagines

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angelfic · 9 months

Note

first of all congrats on 2k !! my request would be dick grayson in a forbidden romance with "you're a horrible liar" TYSM I LOVE YOUR WRITING

thank u sm ur so sweet!! i’m so excited to be writing for dick grayson u have no ideawhsjwkdiekf here u go anon! 💌

dick grayson x reader + forbidden romance + “you’re a horrible liar”

➺ part of my 2k milestone writing game

“Hey, doc,” you hear Dick call from the doorway where he leans against the wall and watches you. Clad in his Nightwing suit, he smiles at you, very clearly tired from wherever he’s come from. You almost turn away, but you quickly realise that he’s leaning on the wall for support and the hand not holding his mask, is clutching his side. “You got time for another patient?”

“You’re hurt,” you mumble pointlessly, rushing over to help the vigilante off the wall and towards a chair. Trying to ignore the way your stomach twists at his wincing, you help him into a sitting position. “Take off your shirt.”

“Woah, you’ve never said that where other people can hear you before,” he chuckles, the movement making his laugh turn to wheezing. You hide your worry with a glare at his words and check the door to see if anyone overheard. Just to be safe, you go and shut it.

You’re pretty sure everyone is in their rooms or out, but working in a house full of vigilantes means you can never be too sure with security. The less you work at the hospital and the more you’ve started staying at Wayne Manor, the chances of your relationship with Dick have increased immensely.

You’re almost certain that Tim knows about you two. Either that, or he knows some other secret based on the weird, knowing smiles he keeps sending your way. You dread to think.

“How’d this happen?” you ask quietly, already getting to work on the stitches.

Dick looks at you, slightly conflicted with something before he speaks. “I, uh… there was this-” he cuts himself off, sighing and then taking a deep breath. “I tripped over a stray kitten trying not to step on its tail and one of the guys got me before I had the chance to recover.”

You really do try not to laugh, but the second you accidentally catch Dick’s eye when you go to reach for a bandage, you can’t help cracking a smile.

“And I assume the cat came out of there completely fine,” you tease, smoothing the bandage over the stitches.

“I swear I saw the smug bastard shake its head at me,” he says, completely serious until you dip your head and start laughing again, to which he responds with his own smile.

You turn your head to get the disinfectant to begin on the smaller scratches and cuts and when you turn back to Dick, he catches your lips with his own in a gentle kiss, hand coming up to cup your face. You melt into him for a minute, letting his warmth envelope you before reluctantly pulling away.

“Dick…” you sigh, avoiding his eyes to fiddle with the lid of the disinfectant bottle. All you want to do is continue kissing him, but the sneaking around has had you thinking recently. You’re here for your job and you know you’re in a position of trust and responsibility to Bruce and the others, including Dick. “I keep telling you we need to end this. And I mean it.”

Dick stays silent and after a couple beats, you look up, thinking that he’s upset with you. You find him smirking. “You’re a horrible liar, you know.”

“I’m serious, Grayson,” you say, trying to sound as firm as possible when he looks at you in the way that gets you all mushy inside. “I can’t do that to Bruce. He’s my employer, yeah. But more than anything he trusts me and I can’t mess this up.”

“Hm.” Dick doesn’t change his expression, continuing to look at you, eyes moving from your eyes to your lips and back and you wonder if he’s even listening to you. Tutting, you snap your fingers in his face, causing him to smirk even more. “Yeah… Bruce knows.”

You freeze, staring at Dick in utter shock. “He knows?”

“Since yesterday,” he nods, taking the disinfectant out of your hands to place it on the table. Holding your hands, he guides you forward so you’re standing snug between his legs, still unable to say much. “He doesn’t care, by the way. Just like I said he wouldn’t.”

“Really?” you ask in a whisper, not daring to sigh in relief just yet.

Dick just rolls his eyes and takes your face in his hands. “Yes. He still trusts you and still wants you working here, just like I said.”

You relax your shoulders, nodding. Then you punch him in the arm, making him groan. “Why didn’t you tell me straight away, you ass!”

“I was injured!” he exclaims, but his stupid grin is unwavering. “I still am, actually. That was a damn good punch, what the hell?”

“Jason showed me the other day,” you grumble, still frowning at Dick.

He shakes his head at you, completely unaffected by your glare as he swoops in for another quick kiss, knowing it’ll appease you, even momentarily. You don’t hesitate to respond, hands beginning to roam up his strong chest and into his hair. He pulls away with a contented smile. “I half-expected you to punch me again for kissing you.”

“Yeah, well. There’s more where that came from.”

#dick grayson x reader #dick grayson x you #dick grayson fanfiction #dick grayson x female!reader #dick grayson scenarios #dick grayson imagines #requests #2k writing game #nightwing x reader #nightwing x you #nightwing x y/n #dick grayson x y/n

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hanluex · 6 months

Note

Something really really painful sad with dick Grayson but happy ending

♡ I’M SORRY — DICK GRAYSON

bf!dick x fem!reader | wc : 0.7k words | content : possible grammar and spelling mistakes, lowercase intended, angst, established relationship, mentions of an accident, mentions of blood, crying | request : um i mayhaps have forgotten the happy ending part, so a part two soon hopefully 😭

“wow, this is all your fault. i can’t believe you, y/n.”

dick grayson mumbled under his breath playfully, enjoying the disgruntled expression on your face.

“babe, i said i’m sorry!” you whined, pouting as you grabbed your boyfriend’s arm. “honest mistake, my bad.”

the two of you were invited to a charity ball, and you hadn’t realized you left the invitation back home until you were at the venue.

fortunately, you were a couple of blocks away from your apartment, which was why you two were walking back, with dick grumbling the whole way.

“we should’ve taken the car. i told you we should, but no!” dick stifled his smile, looking away so you couldn’t see his façade. “you insisted we walk. who even walks to a charity event?!”

you frowned, disheartened. “i’m sorry, babe. i didn’t think taking the car was necessary,” you confessed sincerely.

dick smiled, unable to keep up with his charade any longer. “i was just joking, love. gosh, you are so fun to play around with,” he stated, chuckling at your look of betrayal.

“you are such an idiot. i hate you!”

“now, you better take that back because we both know that’s a lie.”

you fastened your pace, walking away from the brunet. "nope, i'm being very honest." you laughed, amused by his reaction.

"y/n, come here!" dick called, chuckling as he followed you. "babe!"

the traffic lights turned red, causing the cars to come to a stop. you continued teasing your boyfriend as you crossed the road, sticking your tongue out in a mocking manner.

dick laughed as you did a little dance in the middle of the road, amused at the extent you went to make him laugh.

a loud zoom made the brunet freeze in his place, watching as an oncoming bike increased its speed despite the red light.

just as he opened his mouth to warn you, his gaze was filled with the slow motion image of the bike hitting you, your body being thrown a few feet away at the impact.

fuck, fuck, fuck. no, please, no. fuck, no.

"y/n!" dick yelled, his heart beating harshly against his chest as he ran towards you.

his breath quickened as he saw the blood, shakily taking out his phone as he kneeled next to your half-conscious body.

"i called for help. they said they'll be here in ten minutes."

the phone fell out of his hands, immediately reaching out to hold you in his arms as tears filled his vision.

"oh, baby." he touched your face gently, hot tears falling from his face to yours. "no, please."

you blinked softly, in a dazed state. "dick?" you called out, causing the brunet to nod in reply, more tears falling down his face.

"you have t-to talk to m-me, babe. how e-else am i g-going to stay a-awake?"

"i c-can't." dick cried harder, feeling your hands on his face. "i'm so sorry."

"richard, t-take … take a deep breath, p-please. calm down, o-okay?"

"how can i stay calm? y-you are … you—"

you felt lightheaded. "i'm sorry," you apologized, wiping away his tears. "i got blood all over you," you added.

"is that what you are worried about?!"

"i know this is your favorite suit."

despite your attempt at a joke, dick cried harder, feeling worse as he was supposed to be the one to console you.

yet here you were, lying in a pool of your own blood, still having time to make lighthearted jokes about the situation.

dick grayson ignored your words as you assured him you were fine, rambling away about anything and everything under the sun.

he didn't even know what language he was speaking in, let alone what he spoke about. he just rambled, hoping you'd stay awake until the ambulance came.

"i l-like this view." you interrupted his chattering, smiling through the pain. "r-really good an-angle of y-you."

"not the time, y/n."

you heaved a breath as you reached out to hold your boyfriend's hands, groaning quietly as the pain became unbearable.

"does it hurt bad?" dick asked softly. "is there anything i can do for you?"

you took a deep breath, wincing. "i-if i don't m-make it, i h-hope you know how much … m-much i love you. and if p-possible, look out for jay b-because—"

"no! don't give me this 'last word' talk." dick shook his head. "you'll be fine, and you will be the one to look out for jay because he'll listen to no one except you, and only you can handle him."

"babe, please—"

"no, just no. i will not let you leave me. if you even think about dying, i'm going to kill you."

"i love you, richard grayson. so fucking much, i do."

taglist : @maverick-wingman (to be added, please send a dm or ask!)

#[📝] works #dick grayson x reader #dick grayson fluff #titans dick #dick grayson imagines #titans imagines #titans nightwing #nightwing imagines #nightwing scenarios #nightwing x reader #nightwing drabbles #titans drabbles #nightwing fluff #nightwing angst #titans tv show #titans scenarios #nightwing #dick grayson

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mayfieldss · 1 year

Text

Can't let go - Dick Grayson

Warnings; language, sexual innuendos, small arguments.

Pairing; Dick Grayson x fem!reader

Summary; You and Dick used to be in love. After your relationship comes to an end, Dick realizes that he never stopped loving you, and maybe he never will.

AN; very loosely inspired by 'Bad Omens' by 5SOS, thanks for the idea / song rec @hiya-its-amber

For the first time in months, Dick feels at peace. He's comfortable and happy, tangled in the sheets with your head on his chest. Your breaths match his, and with his fingers tracing patterns on your bare skin, he can convince himself that this is how it's meant to be. It's proof that he can be happy and that maybe he deserves to be.

"You're oddly quiet." He can hear the smile in your voice, your words drowned in it, and Dick lets himself soak in the fact that you're content. You're content with him.

"Does that bother you?" He presses a kiss to your hair, fingers running absentmindedly over your spine. Your skin is smooth there, scarless, unlike his own.

"I like hearing your voice." You shift in his embrace so you can look at him, and it hits Dick then, just how much he loves the way you look in the morning.

"And like hearing yours." He smiles, and you do the same, the sound of a laugh catching in your throat as he flips over, switching your positions. He's grinning as he presses soft kisses to your neck, and he tries his best to savor the feeling of his lips on your skin. Your hands move over his back and shoulders with touches that alternate between light fingers, skimming over his muscles, and soft hands gripping him tight.

Dick moves his attention to your collarbone, and you chuckle when his hair falls forward, tickling your shoulders. "Get yourself up here, Grayson." He loves the way you say it, and he does as he's told, bringing his lips up to meet yours.

"How ‘bout, I make us breakfast, and we can finish this later?" He stares down at you with gentle eyes, watching as you think it over. Your fingers play with the hair at the nape of his neck, and Dick knows more than anything that he would do whatever it took to stay in this moment with you.

"You've got yourself a deal." A Cheshire cat-like smile graces your lips, as you say it, making Dick's stomach do flips.

"What would you like me to make?" He knows the answer already because you give him the same one every time he asks. He only offers you the question so he can stay in bed with you a little while longer.

"You know what I want Grayson, you always do."

Dick raises an eyebrow, fingers running up and down your arm with featherlight touches. "That's an expensive meal you're asking for baby, it'll cost you."

He watches as you bite your lip, the look in your eyes now forever being one of his favourites, before you pull him down into a kiss. It starts soft, sweet, and full of all your affections, but changes soon to something needy and passionate, a feeling so good that it's criminal.

When you pull back for air, you keep him close, arms over his shoulders. "How much does it cost now?"

You smile again, and Dick releases a breathy laugh, moving a hand up to touch your cheek. "Just give me a few more of those, and you have yourself a free meal."

With no hesitation you pull him back toward you, lips melting into his. You were perfect for him, and the feelings that consumed Dick at that moment were still left unmatched.

That's his favourite memory of you, and he recalls it in detail whilst he burns his third plate of food this week. He can't focus on anything other than what he's lost, and he knows he has no one to blame for that but himself. He tried blaming you. He thought if he did, then maybe it wouldn't hurt as much. Maybe he could create some reason in his mind, an explanation for why he did what he did. You had your flaws, but Dick loved every one of them, and there's nothing he can use to pin his pain on you, even if you are the source of it.

When Rachel enters the kitchen Dick hardly notices until he's turned around to see her sitting at the marble island. He puts his plate down, dumping the pan in the sink.

"That's really what you're eating?" Rachel screws up her nose as she watches Dick stand with his back against the counter, plate back in his hand as he takes a small bite of the charred meal. "Did you cook that on a barbecue or something?"

Dick just shrugs, trying to offer the young girl a smile. "It tastes alright." It's a lie and an obvious one at that.

"Dick, put that down, Jesus." Rachel stands, making her way over to him and dumping his plate in the sink. She turns to the fruit bowl on the kitchen island and chucks him an apple. "I can't sit here and watch you eat shit. What was that even supposed to be, anyway?"

Dick grumbles as he watches his meal submerge itself into the water-filled sink, "It was meant to be an omelette, and you didn't have to watch me eat it."

Rachel gives him a pointed look. "That was not an omelette."

Dick turns his gaze away from the burnt, sunken, pile, allowing himself to return Rachel's stare. "I didn't say it was an omelette, I said that's what it was meant to be."

"Well, that doesn't matter." Rachel waves him off, and suddenly her expression changes to one of concern, though it's not directed at him. "I need to tell you something."

"Yeah?" He takes a bite of the apple in his hands, and Dick has to admit that it's a thousand times better than what he had attempted to eat before.

"It's about Y/N."

At the sound of your name Dick almost chokes, but he masks it with a cough, placing the apple on the counter. "What about her?"

Rachel eyes him cautiously, elbows resting on the marble countertop. "Gar and I saw her the other day, at the grocery store, and—" she pauses, frowning at Dick in a way he can't describe. It's something between pity and blame. "You really did a number on her, didn't you?"

Dick stays silent. He knows what he did to you, how he broke your heart. It haunts him every day.

"Aren't you going to ask how she is? Don't you care?" There are tears in Rachel's eyes, and for the first time in since Dick broke it off with you, he remembers how close the two of you had been. Rachel loved you, always stealing you away from him to talk 'girl stuff' in her room or to ask for advice. He'd been so stuck in his own self-pity to remember that.

"I care, Rachel, I do." He finds it hard to look at the girl, her face a reminder of every person he's let down. He wants to ask how you are, but he's afraid of the answer. Rachel tells him anyway.

"You broke her, you know that, right? She loved you so much."

Dick can only nod, her words breaking him down like a chisel to stone.

"I know, Rachel."

She stands, unable to contain her emotions, and stares him down, disappointment in her eyes. Rachel lowers her voice, the sound of heartbreak itself. "She wanted to marry you, Dick. She loved you that much."

That's his breaking point, words that Dick already knew deep down, solidified in the air between him and Rachel Roth. He turns away, pushing down the lump in his throat at the thought of you, walking down the aisle to him. It was something you'd planned together but never gone through with. Five years of love left to rot in the form of half-made wedding plans and late-night conversations.

"She still loves you Dick, and I know you love her too. You can fix this, but you've gotta do it soon." He listens as Rachel's footsteps recede down the hall, leaving him with tears he knows are about to fall.

Dick's hands rest atop the steering wheel, his eyes on the road with you beside him in the passenger seat. You look beautiful, and your smile is wider than usual when he turns to spare a glance at you.

"They looked so happy, didn't they?" You look at him as you say it, locking your eyes with his before he is forced to turn back to the road. By they, you mean the two friends of yours you just witnessed getting married, vows, flowers, and wedding cake enveloping your mind.

"I've never been a fan of weddings, but I think I'd like to get married one day." You sound so dreamy, so in love with the concept at that moment, and Dick lets a laugh escape into the air of the car.

"Nice subtle hint you dropped there."

He sees your head turn back to him in his peripheral, a smile wide on his lips that he can't seem to remove.

"That makes it sound like you're not interested in marrying me. Am I not wife material, Dick Grayson?" You've got a hand over your heart in mock offense as you say it and Dick drums his fingers against the steering wheel, preparing himself for what he's about to say.

"Don't worry baby, I have every intention of marrying you," He dares to risk another look in your direction, greeted by the wide smile on your lips, "if you're up for it of course."

He watches your nose scrunch up, your smile widening before you place a hand on his cheek, nudging him back to face the road. "You can't marry me if we die in a car crash, Grayson, eyes on the prize, baby."

Dick raises an eyebrow, smirk on his lips "You are my prize."

You laugh at that, resting your head on the seatbelt. Dick doesn't know how you find it comfortable, but you act as though it is. "Mrs. Grayson," You mumble, the words making Dick's stomach turn in excitement. "It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

His cheeks hurt, aching with the overload of elation Dick feels. He reaches over to you, placing his hand in yours, the other on the wheel. "I like the way that sounds," He mutters, "can you say it again?"

After that conversation, everything was different in a good way. Dick knew where he stood with you, and he knew how much he really wanted everything to work out. The fact you wanted him the same was what made everything perfect, even if the two of you weren't. You were two flawed people who somehow made each other whole, and with each memory that Dick turned over in his head, the reason he had ruined that grew fainter. He blamed it on his loving you too much, but perhaps the problem lay in Dick's fear that you might leave him when you promised to stay.

Right now, he's in the middle of a staring contest with his phone as it sits innocently on the coffee table. He wants to grab it, strangle it in his hand, and call you for one last shot. He wants to ask for your forgiveness. He wants to kiss your lips again and never let you go. He can't let you go. It's impossible to love someone as much as he loves you and not have them stick to you like glue.

The last time he called you, you didn't answer. He thought you'd moved on, quicker than he ever thought you could, but what Rachel so bittersweetly informed him of contradicts everything he thought he knew. There's a chance that you still want him, that you're still willing to be his person, and that's a chance he's willing to take.

He picks up the phone and slips it into his pocket, praying that he hasn't ruined the only thing he really needs as he heads for the elevator. It's risky, and by the time he's made it to his car, his hands are shaking. He can't reach over the centre console and hold your hand in his this time. He ruined that. And he has to fix it alone.

Dick Grayson can't breathe. He's trying to make sense of the situation before him, you standing in the doorway of your apartment, whilst Dick is in the hall mouth agape. He watches your eyes widen, the initial shock of seeing him settling upon you before you slam the door in his face.

That snaps him out of whatever trace he was stuck in, and he knocks one once more, calling out. "Y/N, please open the door."

He hears you shuffling around on the other side of the door, the faint sound of a sob hitting him with the force of a tidal wave. It rips down his defences, scratching at his skin until he's banging on the door again. He's desperate to get to you if it's the last thing he does.

"Y/N, come on baby, let me in."

"Why should I?" You shout back, voice breaking in the process. Dick ceases his movements, forehead resting against the door in defeat. He wanted this to happen differently. He wanted everything between you to end differently. He didn't want it to end at all.

"We need to talk, Y/N please, I'm begging you, open the door."

His heart tears open with every word, hands rested on firmly on the wood before him, until finally, the doorknob turns.

The door is left open by about an inch, an invitation for Dick to let himself in. He does so with relief, but when he steps inside, you've placed yourself halfway across the living room, a clear indication that even though he's allowed in, you still need space. Your arms are folded around yourself like some kind of protective barrier between you and him.

"I'm sorry." The words are pathetic and not nearly enough to excuse all he's done. "I'm so sorry."

You're staring him down, unblinking as if you're afraid doing so will make your tears fall faster. Dick hates himself, and pure burning disgust for his own being runs through his veins when you speak.

"Why? Why did you do it?"

Dick wants to be sick right there on your carpeted floor, but he stays strong for you. He'll try to for as long as he can.

"I didn't want what I do to put you in danger." He stands straighter, pushing back the lump in his throat, trying to keep what it means at bay. "I didn't want to see you get hurt because of me."

You let out a shallow laugh, casting your eyes across the ground. The whole situation seems so dark, lonely, and broken, and Dick supposes that represents both of you perfectly.

"Are you hearing yourself, Dick?" You look up at him, and it's impossible for Dick to interpret the emotion behind your eyes. There's too much of it to see through. "You did the one thing that could actually hurt me."

He can't think of anything to say to that. Dick wants to say sorry again, but it won't do any good. He knows that now. He stares at you with sorrow and disbelief, unable to form a single word. He came here to tell you he still loves you, but he doesn't know if you'll want to hear it.

"I thought you wanted me. I thought we had it all planned out." You swallow harshly, collecting yourself and Dick watches the tears roll down your cheeks, watches the way they are highlighted by the light reflecting off of them. He did that to you.

"I still want you, I do." Dick wants to move forward, but he knows it's not a good choice to make. "I want to go through with everything, all the plans we made. I want to marry you." It's abruptly spoken, and his voice shakes. His own tears prick against his eyes, and he pushes them back as best he can.

"If you wanted me, why'd you leave?" Your voice inches up in volume, and your arms fold around your body tighter, protecting yourself from the man who swore to protect you.

There's nothing Dick can say but the truth. He can't hide behind half of it, say only what he wants to believe, not anymore.

"I was scared you'd leave me first, okay? I was afraid I'd lose you to something I couldn't control, and I let that fear control me."

His tears forge a path down his cheeks, hot against his skin, his voice raising itself considerably, another thing he can't stop. "I didn't want to pull out a ring, and have you say no."

"I would've said yes. You know that." You're shaking your head in disbelief, taking small steps in his direction. "You know more than anything just how much I love you. I would've said yes."

You still sound angry with him, but your voice is softer, and with each second Dick finds it harder to breathe. He remembers everything so clearly, the five years he spent loving you that he threw away in one night.

"I didn't want to lose you, and I felt like it was going to happen, so I thought why not sooner rather than later?" His eyes burn, and he sucks in another breath to hold against his chest. "I regret everything I said to you that night. I fucked up, but I still fucking love you."

"I love you too." You're still miles from him, halfway across the room, and Dick wants to reach for you and make things right.

"It can't go back to the way it was, Dick." Your words cut deep, pulling at his heart like someone to a harp’s strings. "You have to earn it."

He takes in your words, breathing in his punishment. He's willing to do whatever it takes to get back to the place he was with you before. "Just give me one chance, Y/N, I won't fuck it up this time. I promise."

Your eyes scan over him as if accessing a threat and Dick hates that you see him that way now. "One chance."

And just like that relief floods his veins, his body loosening as you make your way to him, steps slow with caution. Once close enough, Dick reaches out, at peace when you move into his arms. With eyes shut tightly, he presses a kiss to your hair, tears still forcing themselves from his eyes in silence. "I'm so sorry." His words are muffled, and you stay quiet, but somehow that's enough.

AN: I literally hate this ending.

GENERAL TAGLIST: @heliads @candywh0r3 @caplanreads @hiya-its-amber @s00buwu

TITANS TAGLIST:

DICK GRAYSON TAGLIST:

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niphredil-14 · 2 years

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Imagine being a villain, getting your ass handed to you by nightwing, and then having to watch him giggle like a little girl and cartwheel away. personally i’d rather just die

#dc #dc comics dick grayson #dc comics #dick grayson #richard grayson #nightwing #dick grayson imagine #dick grayson imagines #nightwing imagine #nightwing imagines

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dc-and-arfrona · 11 months

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DC-And-Arfrona Masterlist

----

Hey! Here's my masterlist. Fun fact, I used to write for Marvel too. @arfrona-and-marvel.

Updated: 7/24/2023

All my work is GN!Reader x Character

Fluff - 💕

Angst - 🌧️

Both - 🥺

Jason Todd - Red Hood

Dick Grayson - Nightwing

Tim Drake - Red Robin

Damian Wayne - Robin

Bruce Wayne - Batman

Bat Boys - Headcannons

Roy Harper - Speedy

Wally West - Kid Flash

Barry Allen - Flash

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goofybootie · 1 year

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Y/n: .....is that a bear?

Dick: opp!🤸‍♂️

Jason: no 🫤

Tim: bye🚶‍♂️

Damian who is proudly sitting on it as it munches on Alfred biscuits: Her name is Selina.

Selina from the window: AAAWWWW🥰🥰🥰

#batfam #batfam x reader #x reader #y/n #dc comics imagine #jason todd #dick grayson imagines #damian wayne #damian wayne x reader #sister reader

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gay-dorito-dust · 1 month

Text

Would they or would they not catch you…

Dick: yes. 100% yes but he’s -no pun intended- a little bit of a teasing dick about it.

He will catch you but then act as though he’s going to drop you by loosening his grip, making you scream out of surprise and cling onto him tighter, all the while beaming that bright and beautiful smile of his as though he wasn’t about to willingly let you fall flat on your ass on multiple occasions.

‘I fucking hate you!’ You whined, smacking Dick on the bicep.

‘Oh do you now?’ Dick inquires as he slowly begins to losses his grip on you, smirking.

‘Did I say hate you? I meant love you, a lot! Please don’t drop me.’ You cried as you tightened your grip on his neck whilst struggling to keep your feet from touching the floor. ‘Awww I love you too gorgeous.’ Dick coos as he pressed kisses into your face as you could only glare at the cheeky bastard.

You hate him sometimes but you weren’t going to complain about the affection you were being given. So you guess you’ll suffer for now.

Side note: he might even try and see if you can catch him. 💀

Jason: He will catch you but makes it a big deal whenever he can. He loves holding you in his arms.

He could keep you in his arms forever if he could but knew that he can’t, so he settles for going about his day carrying you throughout the apartment instead.

‘You can put down any day now.’ You’d tell him but that only makes Jason tighten his grip on you as he moved in his makeshift library for a book to read.

‘No.’ He simply replied, scouring the many book titles in front of him in the hopes that one might speak to him. You pout. ‘What do you mean no?’ Jason then looks at you and says. ‘No means no. As in no I will not put you down because I do as I like and will not be told otherwise, so the cutie currently in my arms has to deal with it.’ He then smiles as he presses a kiss to your forehead before looking back towards the bookshelves.

You end up falling asleep in his arms and Jason couldn’t help but smile at how cute you were, even if you did look like the living dead.

Damian: says no but will in fact catch you without hesitation.

However if you do try to tease him about it, then he will drop you without a second thought. ‘You can catch yourself next time.’ He would say as he walks away, leaving you with a bruised ass. Titus -who saw the whole thing- would come up to you to make sure you weren’t genuinely hurt and encourage you to get up by nudging you with his head.

Don’t test him because he will do it and then act like the whole thing didn’t happen if you were to bring it up.

‘Dick.’ You’d say as you stood up.

‘I heard that.’ He’d call back, his voice echoing off the walls. ‘You were meant to.’ You reply. ‘And at least Titus came to check up on me to see if I wasn’t hurt.’ You’d add while scratching Titus behind the ear.

Needless to say you were more cautious when choosing Damian to catch you. However he does apologise for dropping you on your ass by gifting you something he himself drew by hand; He secretly doesn’t like it when you’re upset with him and will do anything to rectify it.

What a sweetheart.

Bruce: he’s too use to you pulling this type of shit that it’s basically muscle memory for him to catch you as you’re running towards him, all with a straight face mind you.

Be grateful because he risked a much needed bowl of Mulligatawny soup just to catch you in his arms, but then again the kisses you bombard his cheek is more than reward enough, a small almost missable smile appears on his lips as he then proceeds to carry you for the rest of the day as “punishment.”

( this only occurs when Bruce is feeling particularly affectionate or playful)

Much to your batkids -Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian, Duke, Cass and Steph- dismay. They’d want to use this as blackmail, but they know that it will backfire as you’ll probably hang the photo on a wall somewhere in the manor, reminding them of how disgustingly their parents can be when given the opportunity.

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fandomgirlz01 · 4 months

Text

My Place In This World Pt. 2

Fireworks

Dick Grayson X Reader

Imagine on my fandom instagram?: No

Prompt?: No

Request?: No

Requested prompt?: No

Edited: Yes

Word count: 8,463

Ko-fi

Masterlist

Warnings here

You can listen to the story be read out loud here.

Post Date: December 14th, 2023

Post Time: 10:41 pm

Summary: Growing up in Haly's circus and losing their parents in the same night makes the reader and Dick closer than anyone else. Together they go through life having one another's backs though every life change, even eventually becoming Robin and Blue Jay together. What happens when feelings have changed and slowly start to be revealed?

youtube

Y/n’s Pov:

“Time runs short. You must awaken,” a weird ominous voice speaks.

“You must awaken now!” The voice shouts and my head shoots up as I open my eyes.

We all awake with a gasp as we find ourselves locked up in pods. I try pulling at my arms only to find that they’re restrained above my head. I try wiggling my feet only to find that they too are restrained.

Looking back up, I see the clone standing in front of us just staring at us with a very stoic look on his face. I look over to my left to see Dick next to me and he looks at me. He silently asks me if I’m okay and I nod before silently asking him the same thing, feeling pleased when he nods.

“What? What— what do you want?!” Wally yells out, making me turn to my right to see him before looking back at the clone.

“Quit staring. You’re creeping me out,” Wally continues to yell at the clone standing in front of us and I shake my head.

“Uh, KF, how about we not tick off the guy who can fry us with a look?” Dick calmly asks in a soft tone and I hum in agreement.

“Listen, we only sought to help you,” Kaldur states in a calm and soft voice.

“Yeah. We free you, and you turn on us. How’s that for grat—” Wally berates the clone and I roll my eyes.

“Kid, please, be quiet now,” Kaldur interrupts as he turns to look at him.

“Yeah. KF, quiet. Even I know now’s not the time to get angry, and I’m the most angry person here,” I add onto Kaldur’s words and Dick scoffs.

“Blue Jay. Stop. You are not,” he pointedly says with a roll of his eyes.

“Enough. I believe our new friend was not in control of his actions like we are,” Kaldur cuts in and I look over at Dick with a light smirk when I see him pop out his lock pick from his glove.

He nods at me and I nod back before pressing the small button in my glove. My lock pick pops out as his had done and we both start quietly working on our shackles.

“Wha— what if I… what if I wasn’t?” The clone asks in a hesitant tone and Wally’s eyes widen.

“He can talk!” he shouts in shock and I roll my eyes.

“Of course he can, KF. He may be a clone, but—” I go to defend it in an annoyed tone, but the clone cuts me off.

“Yes, he can,” he comments in anger as his fists clench at his side.

“And I thought I had anger issues…” I mumble with another roll of my eyes.

“Jay…” Dick warns and I stifle a giggle as I shrug when Dick gives me his disapproval look.

“Not like I said it,” Wally defends himself and I chuckle, shaking my head.

“You might as well have, KF,” I exasperate with a roll of my eyes and he huffs.

“The genomorphs taught you telepathically,” Kaldur asks, changing the subject as he turns his head to look at the clone.

“They taught me much. I can read, write. I— I know the names of things,” the clone tries to convey what he knows.

“But have you seen them? Have they ever let you actually see the sky?” Dick asks but pauses for a moment.

“Or the sun?” I finish Dick’s thoughts, making him look at me before looking back at the clone.

“Images are implanted in my mind, but no. I have not seen them,” the clone answers in a melancholy tone and I frown.

“Well, you deserve to see them and feel the heat from the sun,” I tell him in a sympathetic tone, still frowning.

“Do you know what you are, who you are?” Kaldur asks and the clone seems to stand a little straighter.

“I am the Superboy, a genomorph, a clone made from the DNA of the Superman created to replace him should he perish…” the clone starts to explain, but pauses.

“To destroy him should he turn from the light,” the clone finishes explaining and Dick turns to look at me. I frown at him and he shakes his head before looking back at the clone.

“To be like superman is a worthy aspiration, but like superman you deserve a life of your own, beyond that solar suit, beyond your pod, beyond Cadmus,” Kaldur tries to get our point further across to the clone.

“I live because of Cadmus! It is my home!” The clone angrily shouts out as he argues back.

“Your home is a test tube. We can show you the sun,” Dick starts to try explaining what else he can have and I smile.

“Uh, pretty sure it’s after midnight, but we can show you the moon,” Wally adds on and I roll my eyes in annoyance at the boy for the millionth time.

“Robin’s point is that we can show you how to have a real life outside these walls,” I add on and Dick smiles softly at me as Wally rolls his eyes.

“We can show you, introduce you to superman,” Kaldur tells him and for a moment it looks like the clone is thinking about it.

“No, they can’t,” another voice speaks up, making the clone turn around as we all look up.

“They’ll be otherwise occupied,” the scientist creepily tells us as he, Guardian and another scientist walk in through the door.

“Activate the cloning process,” he demands the other female scientist as he and Guardian come to a stop.

“Pass. Batcav’s crowded enough—” Dick comments and I have to hold back a giggle.

“Tell me about it, Rob. With you, me, Bats and now Batgirl, I can’t take on any more added to the team,” I agree with him, playfully rolling my eyes and he smirks as I hold back my laughter.

“And get the weapon back in its pod!” The male scientist demands again as he looks at Guardian, who then starts towards the clone.

“Hey, how come he gets to call Supey an it?” Wally whines out and I sigh, shaking my head.

Guardian walks up behind the clone and puts a hand on his shoulder. The clone watches him walk up from the corner of his eye until he touches his shoulder and turns to look at Kaldur.

“Help us,” Kaldur tells the clone one last time.

The clone then shoves Guardian's hand off of his shoulder and turns to look at him. He gives him a glare before the scientist walks up behind him.

“Don’t start thinking now,” the scientist exasperates as he walks past the clone and the genomorph on his shoulder jumps off onto the clone’s shoulder.

The genomorph’s horns glow and the clone's eyes widen before becoming void of emotion. The scientist moves to stand in front of the clone and comes to a stop.

“See, you’re not a real boy. You’re a weapon and you belong to me! Well, to Cadmus. Same thing. Now get back to your pod!” The scientist tells him as the horns continue to glow.

The clone then turns and starts to leave. The door closes behind him and the scientist turns to the woman at the computer station. She types on the keys for a minute before a metal arm with prongs on the end pops up in each of our pods.

They launch forward towards each of us and before we know it, there’s a shock flowing through our bodies. We each scream out as it seems to last forever. The scientist starts to speak, but it’s hard to make out what he’s saying as we all continue to scream out in pain.

The scientist talks to the head genomorph that we fought earlier on, but again it’s hard to hear anything as we scream in pain. The pain continues on and on for a while. I look over at Dick and frown harder, wishing I could stop his pain.

Then I look at Wally and tears well up in my eyes. Last I look at Kaldur, who seems to be whispering something and I wonder what he’s saying. Slowly black starts to take over my vision and closes in slower and slower as I start to feel utterly drained.

“Sir, this one can’t handle the cloning process. She’s lost far too much blood,” the lady scientist calls out as my eyes droop more and more.

“Then don’t worry about cloning her. Just get rid of her now then,” the emotionless male scientist barks out and the lady nods solemnly.

“Don’t you dare touch her. You lay a hand on her and I’ll never let you have a moment of peace again,” Dick growls out in anger and I try to formulate some words to try to comfort him, telling him I won’t go down without a fight, but the words won’t leave my mouth.

My tongue turns and turns in my mouth, but the more effort I make, the more tired I feel. I look over at Dick one last time before there’s a loud banging noise, making us all look over to see the door being ripped open by the clone. It sparks as he holds it over his head before throwing it aside and suddenly the pain that was flowing through my body stops. I feel a little bit of life flow through me as Kaldur lets out a sigh of relief when he sees the clone and he walks in ominously.

“I told you to get back to your…” the main scientist starts as he turns and looks at the clone.

The clone only ignores him and continues towards us, pushing Guardian to the left and the scientist to the right, making them all go flying back into the walls. He stands straight over the scientist, all big and tall.

“Don’t give me orders!” The clone seethes out before turning and walking closer to us.

“You here to help us or fry us?” Wally asks and the clone glares at him.

“Huh, I don’t seem to have heat vision. So I suppose helping is my only option,” the clone smugly tells Wally.

It’s quiet for a literal second before there’s a loud hiss to my left, making me turn weakly to see Dick finally release himself from his shackles. As soon as his arms and legs are free, his pod opens. He quickly jumps down and starts to rub at his wrists.

“Aha. Finally, lucky Batman isn’t here. He’d have our heads for taking so long. Right, Jay?” Dick jokes but stops when I don’t reply.

He slowly turns and looks around before looking up at me. His face falls when he sees me looking down at him tiredly. I give him a soft smile and his eyes widen as he shakes his head.

“Seriously, that’s what you’re worried about?” Wally deadpans, making Dick look at him.

“The whole league will have our heads after tonight!” Wally finishes as Dick doesn’t even really listen to him, he just rushes over to the panel with all the buttons and pushes one.

After he pushes it, there’s a faint buzz before the pods open. Dick then turns to the clone, who looks at him.

“Free Aqualad. I’ll get Blue Jay then kid mouth,” Dick orders and my vision slowly starts to swim some more.

“Don’t you give me orders either,” the clone angrily seethes at him before taking a leap over to Aqualad.

The clone breaks Aqualad’s arm shackles and he falls forward into the clone's arms. Kaldur lets out a small ‘thank you’ before smiling at the clone. As he helps Kaldur the rest of the way, Dick climbs up to the top of my pod and again pops his lock pick out from his glove.

He quickly picks up where I left off on picking the lock and soon my hands come free along with my feet. I stay in the pod and lean tiredly against the wall of it. Dick quickly climbs down before looking back up at me and I shake my head before sluggishly motioning to Wally.

Dick gives me a worried glance before nodding at my persistent look. He then goes and climbs up Wally’s and helps him get out. Once Wally is out they all jump down to the floor and the others start to run.

“Guys, hold on. Blue Jay’s hurt!” Dick yells out, making the others come to a stop.

They all slowly turn around and Dick now has his back turned to me. They all stay quiet for a moment as I lean against the wall.

“What do we do? I can’t hack and carry her,” Dick quickly explains through a fearful tone and Kaldur smiles softly at him before he walks over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“I will carry her. You just worry about hacking. I promise Blue Jay will be safe with me,” Kaldur assures Dick, who nods before looking at the floor for a moment as Wally puts a hand on his shoulder in comfort.

Kaldur jumps up into my pod and slowly picks me up. He holds me tight before getting ready to jump down, but I stop him.

“Please make sure he’s alright, Kal…” I whisper out and he chuckles lightly.

“You are the one hurt and you are making sure he’s ok. You two really are two birds of a kind…” he tells me and I smile weakly at him as I shrug.

“I love him, what can I say?” I whisper out super quietly as my vision starts to really fade now.

“You have my word, Blue Jay. You both will make it out okay,” he tells me softly before everything becomes completely dark.

Dick’s Pov:

Kaldur jumps down with y/n in his arms, but her eyes are closed. I scramble in my utility belt for a moment before finding what I need. Wally gives me a confused look when I pull it out, but I quickly walk over to Kaldur and y/n.

“What’s that?” Wally asks as I quickly put the tab on y/n’s neck.

“Heart monitor. Batman made it after the last time she was injured on a mission. He made it so we can make sure she’s still doing ok as we make our way outta here,” I explain as I open my holo computer up on my arm.

“Woah. That little patch is a heart monitor?” he asks in astonishment and I nod.

“Yup. Sends the stats right to my computer here so I can hack and monitor it at the same time,” I tell him as I make my holo computer pop up and his eyes widen.

“That’s so cool! Me and Flash have ours in our suits,” he tells me and I nod in agreement.

“We have them in ours too, but for some reason hers hasn’t been working, hence why Bats made this… backup,” I explain as I start typing stuff in to bring up the monitor on my computer.

“So she’s been hurt before?” Wally asks and I swallow back my emotions.

“Yes. Four missions ago she was hurt badly. Had to be hospitalized for a few days. We’ve been trying to fix hers, but we just can’t figure out why it won’t work after that one mission,” I explain as I continue to type before finally pulling it up.

“She’ll be ok. She’s a fighter. If you want, me and the Flash gang can take a look to see if we can figure it out for you guys,” Wally tells me and I look up at him in thanks.

“We should be good to go, but we gotta be fast. She needs medical attention soon,” I tell Kaldur and he nods.

“Ok. Let’s go then,” he agrees with a nod and before I know it, we’re all running past the scientist who unfortunately seems to wake up.

“You— you’ll never get out of here! Your friend’s gonna die!” he shouts to us as we run past him.

“I’ll have you back in pods before morning!” he finishes off as we just make it out of the door.

“That guy is not whelmed. Not whelmed at all,” I tell Wally as we both come to a stop.

“What is it with you and this whelmed thing?” he asks as I throw four explosive batarangs.

“Inside joke with Blue Jay…” I tell him as I begin running again.

The wing dings perfectly hit the pods before exploding as we continue running away. We quickly catch up to Kaldur and the clone only to keep running.

“We are still 42 levels below ground, but if we can make the elevator…” Kaldur starts to explain the plan as he runs with y/n in his arms.

We make it down many halls before we hear a gowling, making us come to a stop when we see the big genomorphs coming our way. We turn around and look behind us to see the bumps on the walls start glowing a bright red. Soon more of the genomorphs start popping out of them and coming towards us.

The one behind us bangs on the ground quickly, making us all turn and jump back. The clone quickly jumps up and hits one in the face as we run to get around them. The clone quickly stands, ready to fight some more before one punches him down into the floor.

Kaldur, Wally and I jump over the one and land on the other side before turning to watch the clone start fighting. I look down at my computer and watch y/n’s heartbeat, letting out a sigh of relief when I see it’s still semi-steady, even if she’s passed out.

“Superboy, the goal is escape, not to bury ourselves here,” Kaldur shouts out to the clone and he continues to fight.

“You want escape?” Superboy yells out as he turns back to look at us.

“Aha, yeah, that’s the whole point. Not to mention we have an injured party who needs medical attention soon,” I shout after Kaldur as I point to y/n.

“Aha!” Superboy yells out as he turns and continues to fight the huge genomorphs.

“Let’s just keep going,” Wally states and Kaldur hums, nodding in agreement.

“Kid, take Blue Jay. I need to pry the doors open,” Kaldur tells Wally, who nods before taking y/n from his arms.

Kaldur walks up to the doors and I turn to Wally. He gives me a look as I hold my arms out.

“You sure?” he asks and I nod.

“Yeah. Can’t hack anything right now anyway. I can get us up the shaft so you can climb,” I tell him and he nods before hesitatingly putting y/n into my arms.

I nod in thanks to him before he takes a leap, landing on the side of the shaft and I shoot my grappling gun. I hold onto y/n with a single arm as tightly as I can while we shoot up the elevator shaft. Superboy grabs onto Kaldur and takes a big leap.

Once at the end of my grappling gun, I swing lightly before landing on the side and keeping y/n with me. Once on the side, I plop down for a moment and just hold y/n a little closer as I watch Superboy and Kaldur get to about halfway up the shaft before they both start to fall.

“I— I’m falling,” Superboy says in shock before they start to fall quicker.

My eyes widen in shock before I reach into my utility belt and grab a batarang. I quickly toss it at the wall they’re about to fall past and Kaldur reaches out to grab it as he grabs onto Superboy as well.

“Superman can fly,” Superboy comments in sadness as he and Kaldur hang from the wall.

“Why can’t I fly?” he solemnly asks as he looks up at Kaldur.

“Don’t know, but it looks like you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Still cool,” Wally tells him from beside me now and it’s quiet for a moment.

My mind quickly wanders to what y/n would have said. She’d probably agree with Wally before making some joke about how it’s cooler then what Wally can do. I hold back a laugh at the thought as Wally helps Superboy down so he’s on the ledge with us.

“Thank you,” Superboy calmly tells him with shame in his eyes as Kaldur hops onto the ledge right behind him.

“How’s Blue Jay doing?” Kaldur asks, looking at me and I sigh.

“Not good. I’ll have to add a bandage around her wound, but I can’t do it here. I need solid ground first,” I inform him and he gives a curt nod.

“Ok. How much farther until we are out?” he asks me and I go to answer before there’s a loud sound coming from above us.

“This will have to be our exit!” I quickly shout out and Kaldur nods.

“Superboy. Help me with these doors!” Kaldur tells him and he nods.

Together they each kick at one door and they both cave in. I grab onto y/n before we all rush though the new opening in the wall just before the express elevator quickly passes us going down. We all turn back for a moment watching as it passes.

We then turn back to hall only to see more genomorphs start rushing towards us while growling. Kaldur takes y/n from me before we all quickly turn to the right and start running again.

“Go left! Left!” Superboy yells out and we do as he says, turning left before continuing to run.

“Right!” he yells out again as we again do as he says before coming to a dead end.

“Great directions, Supey. You trying to get us re-podded?” Wally angrily asks as he turns to Superboy.

“No. I- I don’t understand…” Superboy replies with confusion laced in his tone.

“Don’t apologize! This is perfect!” I shout and they all look at me in confusion.

“How can this be perfect?” Wally asks and I smirk.

“Take the vent off and we start crawling…” I inform them as I rip the vent off the wall.

“Ok. You do that, but how exactly do you plan on getting Blue Jay through the vents?” Kaldur asks and I pause a moment.

“Uhh… here. Tie her to my waist,” I quickly tell him as I pull out a small bit of rope from my utility belt.

“How exactly is tying her to your waist gonna get her though?” Wally asks in clear confusion and I shrug as I finally close my holo computer.

“Best thought is that I pull her along as we crawl,” I reply with a shrug.

“That doesn’t really sound like it’d work to me,” he comments and I shrug.

“Got any better ideas on how to get her out?” I ask as anger flares up inside me and he throws his hands up in surrender.

“You're right. Only plan we got, so let’s do it,” he agrees and I sigh.

“Sorry KF, but it’s that or leave her behind and I’m not too fond of leaving her behind,” I tell him and he nods, putting a hand on my shoulder.

“I know, Rob. I know. We got this. Let’s get going,” he tells me and I nod as Kaldur now hands me the rope.

I take it and pause a moment before hesitantly tying the rope around myself. I look at Kaldur and he gives me a nod of confirmation.

“I’ll be right behind you. I’ll make sure she sticks with you. Do not worry,” he tells me and I nod, taking a deep breath before climbing up into the small air shaft.

Once inside, I turn around and Kaldur quickly passes y/n up to me. I slowly pull her though before turning back to start crawling as best as I can. Kaldur climbs in right after us and quickly props y/n up against me so she’s not full on laying on the bottom of the air shaft.

I continue to slowly crawl, trying to keep her from moving too much. Soon both Superboy and KF are following us in and we all slowly keep crawling.

“Ah, at this rate we’ll never get out,” Wally comments after a while of crawling.

“Kid, not now,” Kaldur sternly tells him.

“Shh. Listen,” Superboy tells us and we all pause to listen.

Suddenly there’s a sound coming and we all quickly figure out that it’s genomorphs crawling after us. I look at Kaldur and he nods.

“They can’t find us, don't worry, just follow me. I have a plan,” I tell them and we continue crawling for a few more minutes.

Soon we find another way out and I pop the grate off before sliding out. Kaldur then slowly slides y/n down to me and I pull her down the rest of the way. I set her down against the wall for a second before pulling my holo computer out and connecting it to the panel on the wall.

The others all climb out and I continue to type on my computer for a second. I take a quick look at y/n’s monitor before pausing to fish my kit out. Once I have it, I hand it to Wally.

“Here. Wrap her wound for me while I do this. You do remember how to do it don’t you?” I ask him as I hand him the first aid kit and he nods, taking it from me.

He walks over and starts wrapping her wound as I turn back to my computer. I work for a minute before he tells me he’s done and he hands me the kit.

“Thanks. That should keep her from getting worse then she already is,” I comment as I put the kit away and he nods.

“So what are you hacking now?” Wally asks just as I’m finishing up.

“I hacked the motion sensors,” I proudly tell him as I smirk.

“Sweet!” he says as he throws his arms up.

“Still plenty of them between us and out,” I explain as I start hacking to find a faster way out.

“But I’ve finally got room to move,” he states as he puts his goggles over his eyes before rushing off.

“Ok… I guess we’re moving now,” Kaldur comments and I nod as I stand up.

“Robin, I’ll carry Blue Jay. You pay attention to those sensors,” Kaldur tells me as he picks y/n up and I nod.

Wally runs in front of us and we all run up the stairs after him. He takes out some genomorphs that are coming down at us and I keep my eyes on my holo computer.

“More behind us!” I shout out behind myself and Superboy stops.

He turns so he’s facing the genomorphs that are coming before stomping and making the set of stairs so it breaks off. He then turns and catches up with us as we continue to run up the rest of the flights of stairs. Wally continues to run and just as we all round the corner of one of the many halls, the room starts flashing red.

An alarm of some sort starts going off and we watch as Wally tries to skid to a stop before banging into the door that just closed off. He flies back and lands on the floor as we come to a stop next to him.

“We’re cut off from the street,” Kaldur tells us as Wally rubs at his head.

“Thanks. My head hadn’t noticed,” Wally comments from the floor, still rubbing his head.

Superboy just walks around Wally and to the door. He then pulls his hand back and punches at the door. Nothing really happens, so Kaldur hands y/n to me before going over to help him.

They both pull at the door from either side and nothing happens, so I set y/n lightly on the ground, leaning her against the wall. I pull my holo computer up and stick the plug in the USB before quickly starting to try to hack into the door.

“Can’t hack this fast enough. If Blue Jay were here, maybe I could, but I can’t,” I exclaim before I turn my holo computer off just as a growl comes from my right, making me look up.

I quickly take a look around and find a door. I pick y/n up and walk over to it.

“This way!” I yell out to the others as I kick the door open before running through.

We all run through and come to a stop when we see a whole army of genomorphs in front of us with Guardian standing in the front. We all turn around when we hear more walk up behind us and we all take a fighting stance. Suddenly all the genomorphs' horns start to glow and I’m slowly sinking down to the ground as does Kaldur and Wally.

As I sink down, I keep as tight of a hold on y/n as I can and lay her on the floor before falling onto my back. Just as my back hits the floor, everything seems to go dark.

~Small Time Skip~

After what feels like forever, my eyes slowly open and I blink. I sit up and quickly look over y/n, who’s still unconscious. I quickly pull up my holo computer and check her vitals before letting out a breath of relief when she’s still semi stable.

Once I know she’s still doing okay, I start to stand with the others and feel a little dizzy. I hold a hand to my head for a moment as the dizzy feeling goes away.

“Feels like fog lifting,” Guardian says as he holds his head.

“Guardian?” Kaldur asks as he looks at him and Guardian stands straight.

“Go. Get her out of here. I’ll deal with Desmond,” he tells us as he nods at y/n.

“I think not,” comes Desmond’s voice from behind Guardian, making the Genomorphs all part as Guardian turns to look at him.

“Project blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to Cadmus,” he sinisterly says as he holds up a vial with blue liquid in it.

He takes a step back before pouring the liquid into his mouth. He starts to groan and his bones start to make loud cracking sounds as Guardian slowly moves back to us. Desmond tosses the vial to his left and it smashes against the ground.

He then starts writhing around in pain all while still groaning and soon he’s throwing himself down on the ground. He hunches over in a ball before his body seems to grow, ripping his lab coat the more he grows. His skin starts to rip and his teeth become like fangs.

I look at Wally, who looks at me in fear before looking at Blue Jay. Like I read his mind, I quickly bend down to gently pick her up once again. Once I’m standing straight, there’s a loud roar that Desmond lets out as he too fully stands, but now he’s a giant, tall blue monster.

He stands there in his monster form, breathing heavily as we watch him carefully. He stands straight and Guardian stares at him for a moment.

“Everyone back!” Guardian shouts as he uses his hands to hold us back.

He then runs off towards Desmond, who just backhands him and he goes flying to the side before he hits the wall face first.

Superboy is the first to react and he launches forward at Desmond with a primal yell before punching the new monster in the face. Desmond just punches back, but Superboy again throws another punch of his own and quickly gets the upper hand. He lands a few punches, but again Desmond gets one in, making Superboy fly back.

Superboy quickly recovers after flying back on his back and spinning. He lands and quickly moves into a crouched position before jumping back up. He starts like he’s going to slam him into the ground, but Desmond jumps at the same time and they both crash though the ceiling.

“Okay. That’s one way to bust through the ceiling,” I comment before grabbing my grappling gun.

“You think lab coat planned that?” Wally asks and I shrug as before me and y/n shoot up though the hole.

“I doubt he is planning anything anymore,” Kaldur comments as we land at the top.

Kaldur grabs Wally and leaps through, landing right behind me. Once we land back in the lobby, we watch as Desmond grabs Superboy. He throws him and he comes flying at us.

Wally and I quickly move out of the way as Superboy flies past us. He collides with Kaldur and they both go flying back. We quickly run over to them and Wally helps Kaldur up as I reach a hand out for Superboy.

“Robin. Get y/n somewhere safe,” Kaldur tells me and I quickly nod before turning and looking around the room.

I run over and set her down behind one of the pillars before checking her stats one last time. I frown when I see the small influx of a change making her less stable. I sigh and shake my head before turning my holo computer off.

“Stay with me for a little longer, Jay. We’re almost out of here,” I tell her as I lean my head against hers for a moment before sighing and standing.

“I’ll be right back. I promise,” I speak out to her even though I know she won’t say anything back.

With one last sigh I walk back over and we all stand in a fight position, waiting for Desmond to make a move. When he does, we all move forward; Wally runs in first and goes under his legs, making Desmond turn to look at him. He looks back at Wally for a moment before turning just as Kaldur and Superboy jump together to punch him in the face.

Wally goes down on all fours, making Desmond fall back and trip over Wally. He lands with a loud thud on the ground and Wally stands straight.

“Learned that one in kindergarten,” Wally comments as I jump over him and throw a couple wing dings at him.

Desmond turns and blocks them with his arms before coming face to face with Superboy again. He growls, jumping up and slamming Superboy into the pillar behind him. Superboy fights back but Desmond quickly stops him and throws his own punch.

Kaldur takes his water bearers out and quickly uses the water to try pulling Desmond’s arm back from Superboy. However, it doesn’t work when Desmond just pulls Kaldur to him. Kaldur quickly switches his water bearers from rope form to a mace form while in the air and tries to slam it down onto Desmond.

Desmond reaches up and wraps his hand around the mace before pulling Kaldur to the floor. He slams down onto the floor and Desmond throws Superboy into another pillar. Superboy falls to the ground and a piece of the pillar falls on top of him.

Wally runs around and past Superboy over to where Desmond starts to fight with Aqualad. Desmond picks Wally up mid-run and flings him around. Kaldur tries to hit Desmond from behind, but he swings Wally around and throws him into Kaldur.

Both Wally and Kaldur fly back and slam into a pillar behind them. I watch as they both fall to the floor before Aqualad is standing back up. He quickly starts to try fighting again, but once again gets slammed into a pillar.

I watch the top of the pillar start to break away from its support system and my eyes widen as I get an idea.

“Of course!” I speak out in wonderment as I pull up my holo computer and a holographic map of the pillars pop up.

“KF, get over here!” I yell out to Wally, making him look up at me.

He quickly comes over and I start to go over the plan with him as the others continue to fight off Desmond. The holograph blinks red, pointing out to him the breaking points of each pillar.

“Got it?” I ask him as I pull my arm down with the holograph disappearing as I do.

“Got it,” he confirms with a nod.

“Go,” I firmly command him just as he takes off.

Superboy now is getting lifted by Desmond as Wally races over and grabs his face. I quickly rush over to y/n and check her signs one last time before turning back around.

“Got your nose!” Wally playfully sings out as he holds up a piece of skin he ripped off of Desmond.

Desmond growls as he throws Superboy aside and heads for Wally. He starts to chase Wally around and I quickly start to pull up the hologram again.

“Superboy! Aqualad!” I yell out to the two across from me and show them the hologram.

“Come and get me, incredible bulk!” Wally yells out before running again and leading Desmond where he needs to.

Wally keeps Desmond distracted for a moment as Superboy and Aqualad come over to me. I quickly show them the hologram again before explaining.

“This one and that one,” I point out the pillars that need to be taken out.

Both Superboy and Aqualad give me a firm nod before rushing off to the pillars. As they run off, I quickly pull out some chalk and run to the center of the building. Superboy takes his pillar out first, then Aqualad takes his pillar out and Wally gets Desmond to take out the one behind him.

“Sorry! Try again!” Wally taunts Desmond before running off.

I quickly go to the middle and draw an ‘X’ in chalk and Aqualad makes a puddle over the top of it with his water bearers. As I stand, I quickly throw some explosive wing dings at my pillar. Wally then runs over and skids to a stop before turning back to look at Desmond.

He goes after Wally, but Superboy comes in from behind and lands a punch, making Desmond fall on his back into the puddle with a loud thud. I rush over and pick y/n up before going to stand next to Kaldur.

Aqualad then leans down and electrocutes the puddle, which in turn electrocutes Desmond. Together we stand watching him growl and wither in pain for a moment.

“Move!” I yell out as I press the button to activate the wing dings in the pillar.

They beep as we all run for cover before doing what they’re made to do and exploding. The whole ceiling starts to give way and Desmond lets out a roar as he looks up at the piece of ceiling that’s falling. The whole building starts to crash around us after Desmond gets crushed and we continue to run for cover.

I quickly drop down and cover y/n as Superboy grabs Wally and drops down over him. Aqualad drops down over me and we all wait until the rubble settles before Superboy punches his way through. Once he has a hand through, he grabs onto the piece that’s still above us and shoves it off.

Slowly we all stand and look around at all the rubble. We all breathe heavily as we slowly calm down from the moment.

“We… did it,” Kaldur says in shock as he looks over at me as I quickly sit y/n up against the side of some rubble.

“Was there ever any doubt?” I ask him as I look back at him and rub my neck.

Wally looks at me and we smile at one another before swinging our hands up in a high-five. We both quickly cringe though as we feel pain flow through our ribs. Superboy walks over to Desmond still under the rubble and we follow him.

“See…” Wally speaks up, making Superboy turn to look at us.

“The moon,” Wally finishes as he motions up at it and we all turn to look at it.

We all stare up at the moon for a moment, but I look away before I go and sit down next to y/n. I pull her into my lap and hold her close as the others continue to watch the moon.

“Oh. And Superman. Do we keep our promises or what?” Wally asks and I look up when he says it to see the whole league fly in behind him.

I sigh in relief and stand with y/n in my arms when I see Bruce being lowered in by Green lantern. Bruce steps off and stops next to Superman as all the other members stand around us. There’s a moment of silence and the heroes look over us all before Superboy is stepping forward.

He walks up to Superman, who has a cold, parental glare on all of us. Superboy stops and takes a moment before lifting his ripped shirt to show the S symbol on his chest. Superman falters ever so slightly in shock before straining up.

“Is that what I think it is?” Bruce asks Superman, who stays quiet.

“He doesn’t like being called an it,” Wally informs them through the side of his mouth as he walks up beside Superboy and uses his hand to hide his mouth from Superboy.

“I’m Superman’s clone,” Superboy interjects in a matter of fact tone.

Everyone seems to have different reactions, but all stay quiet nonetheless. The eyes of Batman’s mask narrow and I hold y/n a bit closer.

“Start talking,” he tells us and the whole league starts to move around.

“Bats. Can we get y/n medical first, please?” I ask him as I walk up to him and he frowns.

“What happened? How’d Blue get hurt?” he immediately asks and it’s then I’m thankful for my domino mask as it hides my eyes welling up with tears.

“We don’t have time to talk about it. Can I just tell you later? Her pulse is very faint,” I tell him and as if he reads my mind, he nods and turns around for a moment.

“Arrow!” Bruce shouts, making the archer in question turn around to look at him.

“Do you think you can take Blue Jay to medical?” he asks him and Green Arrow walks over to us.

“Of course I can, Bats,” he tells him with a nod before coming over to me.

He holds his arms out to me and I back away a little, not wanting to leave her. He sighs and turns to Batman, who sighs and walks over.

“Robin… she will be ok,” Bruce tells me as he places his hands on my shoulders.

“I promise, Robin, I’ll make sure she’s taken care of. You have my word,” Green Arrow tells me and I take a gulp before handing her over to him.

He smiles gently at me before turning and starting to walk away with her. I quickly try to follow, but Batman holds me back.

“Hold up, Robin. I promise we will both go be with her after, but first, you boys have some explaining to do,” Bruce tells me as he holds onto my shoulder with a firm hand.

“Ok…” I whisper out, bowing my head down.

Kaldur, Wally and I stand with our retrospective mentors. We quickly all start to explain ourselves and when we finish, they nod before telling us to wait aside. I huff as we walk off while our mentors have a quiet conversation.

“This is insane. I should be with Jay right now. I wish we could leave already,” I groan out and Kaldur nods solemnly at me.

“I know, my friend, and I wish you could be there with her, but Arrow will take good care of her and you’ll be with her when all this is over,” he tells me in a soft tone as he grips my shoulder and I sigh.

We all stay quiet for a moment as we all try to hear what’s being said, but our mentors know us well and keep quiet. Superboy just keeps looking at Superman, who seems like he doesn’t know what to do. Soon, though, Superman comes walking over to us and stops in front of Superboy with a sigh.

“We’ll, uh, we’ll figure something out for you,” Superman starts. “The League will, I mean,” he quickly adds on.

“For now, I’d better make sure they get that Blockbuster creature squared away,” he tells him in a cold tone before turning and flying away.

“Cadmus will be investigated, all 52 levels, but let’s make one thing clear—” Batman starts as he walks up behind us, making us all turn to look at him.

“You should have called!” Flash cuts him off and Batman very clearly squints his eyes in annoyance, making me hold back a laugh at the thought of what y/n would have said.

“End result aside, we are not happy. You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders, endangered lives and over everything, Blue Jay got injured,” Batman informs us.

“You will not be doing this again,” he tells us in a very straightforward tone.

“I am sorry, but we will,” Kaldur states in a very clear tone and I take a step forward.

“Aqualad, stand down,” Aquaman demands in a very stern and angry tone.

“Apologies my king, but no,” Kaldur starts and Aquaman almost looks shocked for a moment.

“We did good work here tonight. The work you trained us to do. Together on our own we forged something powerful, important,” Kaldur explains as he takes a step forward as he stands his ground and we follow his lead, standing straight.

“If this is about your treatment at the hall, the four of you—” Flash starts to defend the mentors.

“The five of us, and it’s not!” Wally angrily cuts his mentor off before his tone softens.

“Batman, we’re ready to use what you taught us. Or why teach us at all?” I speak softly as I step forward and hold my hands out in confusion.

“Why let them tell us what to do?!” Superboy angrily asks with his arms crossed. “It’s simple,” he continues as he uncrosses his arms. “Get on board or get out of the way.”

“Batman, you know Blue Jay would be on our side,” I add in as we all stand talking in front of our mentors, but they all stay quiet and Batman gives his famous glare that I know all too well.

July 8th 8:04 EDT

Dick’s Pov:

“This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League. We’re calling it into service again. Since you four—” Batman starts to explain to the four of us standing in a line in front of him, but I hold up a finger.

“Five, Bats. You know Jay will want in when she’s better,” I add and he sighs, nodding.

“—you five are determined to stay together and fight the good fight, you'll do it on League terms,” he continues to explain.

“Red Tornado volunteered to live here and be your supervisor. Black Canary’s in charge of training. I… will deploy you on missions,” Batman explains and I roll my eyes behind my glasses.

“Real missions?” I ask him and he takes a step closer to us.

“Yes, but covert,” Batman curtly answers me.

“The League will still handle the obvious stuff. There’s a reason we have these big targets on our chests,” Flash speaks up from behind us, making us turn to look at him as he points to the symbol on his chest.

“But Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter. Batman needs a team that can operate on the sly,” Aquaman takes over explaining with crossed arms, making us turn to him and Batman again.

“The six of you will be that team,” Batman tells us and I smile.

“Cool! Wait. Six?” I ask in confusion and Batman looks behind us, making us turn around once more.

“This is the Martian Manhunter’s niece, Miss Martian,” Batman introduces as Martian Manhunter and a girl version of him walks up to us.

“Hi,” she nervously says as she uncrosses her arms and gives a small wave.

“Liking this gig more every minute,” Wally comments in a sly, charismatic tone and I raise an eyebrow at him.

“Ow! What was that for?” Wally asks after I slap him on the head.

“You know Blue Jay would have done it for that comment, so until she’s fully rested and back, I’m doing it for her,” I tell him with a shrug and he gives me an angry look.

“Rude!” he groans and I chuckle as he just straightens up.

“Uh, anyway. Welcome aboard. I’m Kid Flash,” he immediately changes his mood, making me roll my eyes.

“That’s Robin,” he adds on as he introduces me and I give her a peace sign as I walk out from behind Wally.

“Aqualad, it’s cool if you forget their names,” Wally continues to introduce each of us.

“But I thought there were five others?” Miss Martian asks in confusion and I nod.

“Oh, there is. You’ll meet Blue Jay later. She was injured so she can’t be here, but don’t worry you’ll definitely get to meet her,” I inform her and she smiles softly.

“Well, I’m honored to be included,” she adds on, clasping her hands in front of herself like prayer hands. We all walk closer to her to talk a little more except Superboy and I turn around.

“Hey, Superboy!” I call out and he looks at me.

“Come meet Miss M!” I tell him as I wave him over and he turns before walking over to us.

He comes to a stop and closes off the little circle we’ve made. Miss Martian’s outfit starts to change so the colors match Superboy’s shirt and she looks at him shyly.

“I like your t-shirt,” she tells him and he just gives a small smile in response.

I reach up and elbow him in the side as Wally zooms around so he’s on his left. Wally wraps an arm around his shoulder as we all smile softly at her.

“Today is the day,” Kaldur says, making us look at him.

To Be Continued…

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downthe-f4ndom-rabbith0le · 25 days

Text

Always Been You (Dick Grayson x Reader) - Prologue

Always Been You (Dick Grayson x Reader) Reader Insert: she/her pronouns Word Count: 7839 Warnings: death, violence, fighting, bloody wounds, angst, infuriatingly oblivious love interest, slowburn Spoilers: Young Justice Seasons 1-3 plot partially, but it ended in 2022 so catch up.

Two years after his leave, Dick reaches out to his old friends to help him with a mission. But when he finds out Y/N left too, he chases after her in the hopes to bring her back.

Will Dick and Y/N be able to put their past behind them and save the Amazonians' homeland? Or will they fall, unable to tell one another their true feelings?

Long summary I know, but I'm attempting something that I haven't tried to do in a long time and I've had this thought in my head for ages so I've just got to get it out now. This story will cover the plot from Season One to the beginning of Season Three. Apologies if anything is vague or inaccurate, I haven't watched the show in a while and cannot be bothered going back to get it right when the main plot of this story is entirely of my own design and not canon. Also, for the sake of the growing-up-together part, I've brought Dick's family's death up so he is taken in by Bruce earlier than 12 years old. I've always loved this version of Dick Grayson (Nightwing) in Young Justice and I hope I do him justice for those of you who also loved the show and him xx

~~~

(10 years old)

'Don't worry, my beloved,' Diana said in a soothing voice, patting her daughter's head gently as the car pulled up. 'It's not so scary on the inside.'

Wayne Manor was made of grey columns and dark shadows it seemed to little ten-year-old Y/N, who couldn't shake the feeling that the house was full of ghosts. It was an imposing structure, making her wonder how anyone would choose to live in such a cold and lifeless place.

'I want to go home, Mother,' she whimpered, backing away from the car window.

Diana turned her daughter's head to face her, giving her best reassuring smile to alleviate some of her daughter's worries. 'We will, but I need to take care of something first and I can't leave you at home alone. My very good friend has kindly offered for his butler to look after you while we sort our business out. He has a son that I think you will get along with quite well.'

Y/N couldn't believe that a child lived in the scary house outside, but she knew when not to question her mother.

Her mother was always busy, it didn't matter what time of the day or night. Y/N didn't quite know what her mother did, but she knew it was dangerous, as her mother would come home with cuts and bruises, exhausted from whatever she'd just been doing. The partial truth of it all came out just last week, as Y/N and her nanny had been attacked in their small apartment in Washington DC. The nanny had locked Y/N in the bathroom when the men attacked so Y/N didn't see what happened to her. But Y/N had heard her screams, had heard the men laughing at her anguish. She'd heard her mother finally arrive and slaughter the men. And when Y/N was finally let out of the bathroom, her mother's red, white, blue and gold metallic outfit was covered in blood, as was the sword she'd dropped as she pulled Y/N into her arms tightly.

Whatever kind of work her mother and her mother's "good friend" were involved in, if she said Wayne Manor was the safest place to be when she worked, then Y/N wouldn't argue.

It didn't stop Y/N from squeezing her mother's hand to the point of cut off circulation as they walked from the car into the scary house.

'Miss Prince,' a man in a tuxedo said in welcome. He was partially bald and his moustache twitched when he spoke.

'Alfred,' Diana said, giving the older man a warm smile. 'So good to see you again. And please, I am Diana to friends and family.'

'Of course,' Alfred said, a cheeky smile on his face, 'but forgive me if I prefer to be a little old-fashioned, Miss Prince.'

'Very well,' Diana said, turning her gaze down to Y/N. 'This is my daughter, Y/N.'

Alfred smiled warmly down at Y/N, crouching ever so slightly to hold out his hand. 'A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Y/N. Welcome to Wayne Manor.'

Y/N hesitated in taking his hand. She'd always been taught to be cautious around strangers.

'Come on, Y/N,' Diana insisted. 'Don't be rude.'

Y/N, with her free hand, accepted Alfred's outstretched one, giving it a firm shake like she'd seen her mother do with people she had meetings with at work and at home.

'My, you certainly have your mother's strength,' Alfred commented as he stood back up, shaking his hand a little. 'I'll be sure not to mess with you when you grow older.'

Y/N didn't have time to process what Alfred meant when two dark figures walked down a grand staircase into the lobby they stood in. As they drew closer to the light, Y/N distinguished one as a tall and broad-shouldered man with dark hair, neat attire, and a stern face. Beside him was a small child close to her height, also with dark hair and flashing blue eyes. Unlike the taller man, though, his face was bright with intrigue and mischief.

'Diana,' the tall man said by way of greeting as he reached the ground floor with the boy.

'Bruce,' she replied, walking herself and Y/N over to him and the boy. 'Thank you for offering to look after Y/N tonight.'

'Well, it won't be me personally,' Bruce replied, 'but I'm sure Alfred will be able to look after them while we're gone.'

'If I could raise you to be the man that you are today, Master Bruce, I am sure two beautiful children won't be much of a task,' Alfred called out casually as he closed the front door and exited the room.

'I've contacted Clark,' Bruce continued. 'He says he'll meet us at the rendezvous point. We should leave soon.'

Diana nodded. 'Okay.'

To her surprise, Y/N found Bruce's gaze on her, and his stern expression softened as he looked her over. 'This must be the famous Y/N I've heard so much about.'

Y/N remembered her mother's lessons on etiquette and nodded politely. 'Nice to meet you, Mr. Wayne.'

Bruce surprised her again as a small smile broke out, making him look younger and less intimidating than before. 'It's nice to meet you too, Y/N,' he said, looking down to the boy beside him. 'This is my ward, Richard.'

The young boy groaned in annoyance. 'It's Dick, Bruce. You know I don't like it when you use my real name.'

Bruce sighed, but conceded. 'Sorry, this is Dick. I hope the two of you get along tonight, Y/N.'

Before Y/N could reply, Dick stepped forward so that they only stood a step apart. His blue eyes were so bright as they scanned over her, and it took all of her will not to hide behind her mother.

He squinted sceptically at her. 'Do you like sparring, Y/N?'

'Dick,' Bruce exclaimed, eyes wide with horror. 'That's not something you should ask-'

Y/N ignored Bruce's protests as she locked eyes with Dick. She saw the challenge in them, and whatever fears she had about coming here faded away. A fire sparked in her, and she couldn't help herself but grab Dick's unsuspecting wrist and flip him over her and land him on his back. Before he could get up, she pressed a knee to his neck softly as she held him down.

'Y/N!' Diana exclaimed. 'That is not how we treat-'

She was cut off by the sound of Dick laughing, a sound so pure and light it brightened up the gloomy interior of the manor. Dick looked up at Y/N, not even bothered by the fact she was an inch away from cutting off his airway. 'Oh yeah, we're going to get along just fine, Bruce.'

The last of her apprehension to the arrangement disappeared as she released Dick from her death grip and helped him to his feet, a bright smile gracing her features.

'Where'd you learn to flip like that?' Dick asked.

'My mother,' she answered proudly. 'We've practiced for thirty minutes everyday since I was eight. I've also been taking classes back in Washington in judo and karate.'

'Cool!' Dick said. 'Maybe you can teach me some moves?'

'Sure!' Y/N answered.

Without even hesitating, Dick grabbed Y/N's hand and took off running to who knew where, words falling from him like a dam that had just been broken. 'Awesome! And then I can show you some of the cool gymnast tricks I picked up in the circus.'

'You were in the circus? That's so cool!'

The two of them were lost in their own world as Bruce and Diana remained in the lobby, looking after their children lovingly before they disappeared completely. When silence filled the room once more, they turned to each other.

'How much does she know?' Bruce asked.

Diana sighed. 'Enough to know that she will never have a normal life. Not after the incident last week. I thought I had a bit more time.'

Bruce placed a hand on his friend's shoulder comfortingly. 'I'm sorry, Diana. Truly. It's hard enough protecting a child who isn't your own. At least Dick has known death before. He knows everything.'

Diana nodded her appreciation, patting Bruce's hand before he let it drop. 'She will know, one day, what all this means. What her destiny is. Until now she has shown how much of Steve she has in her.' Diana paused at the memory of her fallen lover, feeling the tears rise up whenever she thought of him. 'But I fear she will grow to inherit my power, my responsibilities. I don't know if I'm ready to let her become that for the world. Not yet.'

'Diana,' Bruce said softly, 'she might not have a choice one day. I fear the same thing for Dick. You and I won't be around forever. The world will look to them to help, one day.'

Somewhere in the distance, Y/N and Dick's laughter resonated through the manor, giving it a warmth Bruce hadn't felt in a while. He smiled at the sensation. 'But for now, they have a choice. They can choose to be kids. Until the world no longer needs us.'

~~~

(11 years old)

'Uuuuuuuughhhhhhhhhhh,' Y/N groaned as she flopped onto Dick's bed, textbook flattening over her face in defeat. 'I give up. I'm never going to pass this infuriating maths exam next week.'

All Y/N received was an amused laugh from the dark-haired boy, resulting in her throwing her textbook at his head where we sat on the floor. But Dick had always been quick, dodging the book easily. He was even more quick since they'd started training with each other since she moved to Gotham permanently for school.

She was enrolled at the same school as Dick: Gotham Academy. It was the best school in the area, and when she'd received her scholarship, her mother couldn't refuse her wishes to move. Y/N stayed in the boarding house for the most part, but being friends with the Bruce Wayne's only son certainly had its perks. Such as getting out of the boarding house whenever she needed to study and train without prying eyes.

Dick laughed again. 'Come on, Y/N,' he said, picking up her strewn textbook and offering it back to her. 'It's not so bad. We're just trying to find x.'

Y/N rolled over onto her stomach so Dick wasn't upside down anymore. 'Yes, and it is impossible! I mean, they give us nothing to try and figure out a and b, but we need them both to find out x. How?!'

When Y/N didn't take her book back, Dick put it on the ground and shuffled forwards. He did so until he was half an arm's length away from Y/N's face where it rested in her hands.

'All right, let's have a break,' he said. 'Focus on something else. How about... Ooo, I know! What would your vigilante name be?'

Y/N's eyebrows furrowed. 'What?'

'Your vigilante name,' Dick reported. 'You know, like a code name for ordinary people to refer you by. Like Bruce for example, he's Batman.'

'So like my mother too, who is Wonder Woman,' Y/N added.

Dick nodded. 'Correct. When we start fighting bad guys - and we will some day - we will need alter egos so villains don't pursue us outside of an ordinary mission.'

Y/N sat up as Dick jumped to his feet, pulling out all kinds of ninja-karate moves, many of which Y/N had taught him herself over the last year. 'I think I'll be something winged too. Batman needs to be accompanied by another flying animal, don't you think?'

'That is... logical,' Y/N admitted, though not understanding his motives for the specific topic. 'I haven't given much thought to the matter, honestly. I'm too busy trying to find this dumb x value.'

Dick landed a slam kick against thin air before he took up a normal standing position in front of Y/N. He smiled down proudly at her. 'I was thinking of just bird,' he confessed, taking a seat beside her on his bed, 'but then I thought that was boring. Batman and Bird, yeah sooooo intimidating. So I was thinking maybe Hawk, or Sparrow-'

'Why does it have to be intimidating?' Y/N asked.

Dick paused for the first time in the conversation and looked at her as if she was crazy. 'Because Batman is intimidating. I don't want to be seen as a sissy when I rock up beside him to fights. I defs won't feel the aster, then.'

'But shouldn't a hero be giving people reassurance and hope when they come to save people?' Y/N countered. 'Why would you want to be something that all people dread when you enter the door. I think a hero's name should be strong and encouraging. Something like my mother's.'

Dick rolled his eyes. 'You're just saying that because she's you're mum.'

Y/N shook her head. 'No I'm not. I've seen it first hand. When my mother shows up to lend a hand, the people cry with joy and relief because they know she will do all that she can to save them. I'm not saying Batman - Bruce - doesn't do the same thing, but I just know that when I have to be a hero, I would hope my name inspires people to keep hoping. Not fear me.'

Y/N watched Dick process her words, saw his piercing blue eyes grow distant as he looked down at his hands. For a moment, Y/N worried she'd ruined everything. That she'd overstepped. Dick and Bruce's relationship - it was more of an arrangement, in her opinion - was tenuous to say the least, the two of them always dancing on a very thin line that could snap at any moment when push comes to shove. Either way, it wasn't her place to comment on how Dick should handle his relationship to Bruce.

However, when Dick looked up to Y/n again, she was relieved to find he wasn't angry at her. In fact, a soft smile had bloomed on his lips.

'You're right,' he said softly. 'I don't have to be scary. Bruce has that all covered.'

'Glad to hear it,' Y/N replied with a a reciprocal smile. 'So... anymore ideas on your name?'

'Well, I still believe it's got to be a bird of sorts,' Dick answered. 'But let's steer clear of the birds of prey, shall we? Maybe Jaybird, or Bluebird. No, that's stupid. Raven? Nah, that's going backwards...'

'How about Robin?' Y/N suggested, and Dick's smile broadened to the point Y/N was scared he'd split his mouth right open.

'That's perfect!' he exclaimed, bringing her into a hug. 'Batman and Robin. It's got a nice ring to it, doesn't it?'

'It sure does,' Y/N said, grateful to have helped.

When Dick let her go, he said, 'Now how about you? What do you think your vigilante name should be?'

Y/N thought about it for a moment, but could only come up with one name. 'I like Wonder Woman, but mother already has that. I don't think two of us would make it easy for the public, especially if she is still working.'

'That is true,' Dick replied, turning away from her as he delved into deep thought. Y/N could tell he was thinking deeply as his tongue was poking out ever so slightly - the thing he always did when he was concentrating really hard. Y/N always found it amusing since the day she met him.

Y/N jumped a little when Dick suddenly cried out with excitement. He turned back to her and grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look directly at him. 'How about we take inspiration from your mother? Use part of her name to create yours. Like Wonder Girl!'

Y/N shook her head. 'No, that's really lame, Dick.'

'Wonder Kid?'

'No.'

'Wonder... Child?'

'No!'

Dick snapped his fingers and his eyes brightened as Y/N assumed a great thought popped into his head. 'I've got it: Wonderess! You know, like Wonder Woman and goddess put together!'

'Wonderess...' Y/N tested it out on her tongue, and she smiled at how easy it rolled off. It was simple, it was to the point. She could just hear the world now, shouting and screaming and crying her name for joy, for help.

She couldn't stop her smile from widening and matching Dick's. 'I love it.'

'Great!' Dick slid back down to the floor and grabbed the forgotten textbook she'd thrown at him earlier. 'Now, oh mighty and powerful Wonderess, time for you to conquer the alluding and difficult enemy that is mathematics.'

Despite her earlier anguish, Y/N felt rejuvenated and took the book from Dick and opened it back to the page she'd failed to understand. 'Then conquer mathematics we shall, oh sneaky and charming Robin.'

Dick flashed her one of his dazzling smiles. 'Oh yeah, I can see it now. Robin is going to be popular with the ladies when I'm older.'

Y/N rolled her eyes, but couldn't contain her smile. 'Don't make me throw this book at you again.'

Dick raised his hands in mock surrender before they both dove back into their respective homework. But after five minutes of work, Y/N had another thought.

'Dick. What does "aster" mean?' ~~~

(13 years)

When Y/N had walked into the Hall of Justice earlier that day, she never imagined that she'd end up helping her best friend and the sidekicks of the Flash and Aquaman break into a top secret and highly secured lab centre, get captured by the mad scientists running the show down there, break out and now be standing in front of the Justice League as a Superman look-alike (that they'd broke into for and out of with) stared down his creation's inspiration.

'Start talking' Batman said, finally breaking the tense silence.

Between Kaldur, Wally, Dick, and Y/N (Superboy, Y/N realised early on, didn't talk much), the story of how they ended up at Cadmus and pretty much destroyed it was eventually told. Afterwards, the blockbuster monster they'd fought was taken away by Green Lantern and some other League members. Y/N couldn't help but peak at her mother as Wonder Woman herself conversed with Superman and Martian Manhunter. For a brief moment, Diana looked her daughter's way then quickly averted her gaze. But Y/N knew from that one look that her mother was unimpressed by her actions today.

'Cadmus will be investigated,' Batman said, after Superman said a frosty goodbye to his younger clone. 'All fifty-two levels. But let's make one thing clear-'

'You should've called!' the Flash finished, crossing his arms, clearly disappointed in his sidekick's efforts.

'End results aside, we are not happy,' Batman continued. 'You hacked Justice League systems; you disobeyed direct orders; and you endangered lives. You will not be doing this again.'

Y/N's heart faltered at the very notion. Despite the wreckage and the stress and the struggles they had faced, Y/N very much liked working with Dick, with Kaldur and Wally too. Even the Superboy was enjoyable at some points. To never work with them again was not something she expected she would miss after one mission.

Kaldur and the other boys must've read her mind, as he stepped forward, standing tall and speaking with a strong voice well beyond his years. 'I'm sorry,' he began, eyes never leaving Batman, 'but we will.'

'Aqualad,' Aquaman started, stepping up behind Batman. 'Stand down.'

'Apologies, my King. But no,' Aqualad replied. 'We did good work here tonight. The work you trained us to do. Together. On our own. We forged something powerful. Important.'

'If this is about your treatment at the hall,' the Flash started, 'the four of you-'

'The five of us,' Wally corrected, looking directly at Superboy as he did, 'and it's not.'

'Batman,' Dick said, stepping to the front of the group. 'We're ready to use what you taught us. Or why teach us at all?'

'Why let them tell us what to do?' Superboy interrupted, pushing past Dick to take the lead. 'It's simple, get on board. Or get out of the way.'

Y/N joined her friends in staring down the heads of the Justice League. It was an intimidating figure they all posed, but Y/N knew she was doing the right thing. That her and her friends had done the right thing tonight.

Diana joined Batman, the Flash, and Martian Manhunter, her face unreadable and voice monotone. 'Are you sure this is the path you would like to forge, Wonderess?' she asked, her voice echoing in the crater they stood in.

Apart from Dick and Bruce, no one else (to Y/N's knowledge) knew that Wonder Woman and Wonderess were related in any manner. Not that either disguised themselves like other heroes did - purposefully hiding their faces to conceal their identities like Batman and the Flash - but neither outwardly acknowledged their true relationship either.

However, Y/N could tell her mother wasn't just asking her as her sidekick, but as her daughter. Was Y/N really prepared to risk all she had trained for, for some... strangers?

Y/N eyed the golden lasso that hung at her mother's hip, and opened her hand to summon the seemingly never-ending rope into her hand. It wrapped around several times, then glowed as Y/N clenched a tight fist around it.

'I am more certain than I have ever been, Wonder Woman,' Y/N replied, feeling the lasso urge her to speak all her truth. 'While I still endeavour to one day be your successor, my place is with my friends right now. We need to walk this path together, wherever it leads. I know this to be absolute truth.'

Y/N sucked in a breath as she let go of the lasso, feeling slightly drained from the power it had over her. Dick put a hand on her back to brace her as she recovered. Once Y/N had caught her breath, she spared Dick a grateful smile, which he reciprocated.

Just as it had been from day one, they would ride this wave together. No matter how rough.

The very next day, the five of them were taken to Mount Justice, the backup facility for the Justice League as Batman explained. Upon arrival, they met M'gann, Martian Manhunter's niece, and soon after Artemis was brought into the mix.

Soon, they were the Young Justice.

~~~

(13 years old)

'Congratulations team, you have won the day,' Red Tornado said as he laid dismembered on the ground.

The rest of the team had just reconnected as the Justice computer phased a date and time code onto one of the glass walls of the Watchtower. It read: January 01, 00:00 EST.

'Happy New Year, Justice League,' the computer announced.

To no one's surprise, Wally picked up Artemis and pulled her in for a long-awaited kiss. M'gann and Connor paired up, so did Rocket and Aqualad surprisingly.

Y/N felt uncomfortable watching them all making out, so she turned to her best friend so they could give them all some privacy. 'Hey Dick, let's go-'

But as she turned around, Y/N saw that Dick had also paired off with someone: Zatanna. This time, Y/N couldn't help but stare as the two of them made out.

Since day one of Zatanna joining the team, Y/N had noticed Dick had a thing for her. Who wouldn't? She was beautiful, she was just a year older than them but that just made her more desirable, and she was good with magic!

Something stirred inside Y/N, something that twisted her guts to the point she thought she'd throw up. Was it jealousy? No, she wasn't the jealous type. Besides, Dick was her best friend, no one could change that. He could kiss whoever he wanted to kiss. At the end of the day, they'd still talk and laugh and spar and go get ice cream together.

...Right?

'Human customs still allude me,' Red Tornado said from his place on the floor.

'You're not the only one...' Y/N mumbled to herself, standing all alone.

~~~

(16 years old)

Y/N was just sparring on a test dummy when Dick entered the training ring looking a little worse for wear, his usual mischievous smile not visible.

'Hey,' Y/N said, finishing up her combo of kicks and punches, heaving in deep breaths. 'What's up, bird brain?'

He didn't reply straight away, instead standing on the edge of the fight ring as if afraid to step out of the shadows and into the light. Y/N raised an eyebrow in confusion. 'Dick?'

When he didn't respond again, Y/N walked over to him. And when she got closer, she realised why he remained in the darkness.

'Have you been crying?' she asked softly, scared to speak too loud in case he ran away.

Dick wasn't an emotional guy. He just wasn't. He was the mischievous gremlin who kept the team together with his witty remarks, charm, and sheer intelligence. And even though Kaldur had been the leader of their team for years now, Dick always wanted to be a leader like Bruce was for the Justice League. He never gave himself room to be emotional.

So for him to stand in front of Y/N with red-rimmed eyes and tear marks streaking down his face, whatever had just happened had to be so impactful it finally broke his resolve.

He averted his eyes. 'Zatanna,' he started, biting his lip to suppress sobs falling out between the words. 'She broke up with me.'

Subconsciously, Y/N had been dreaming about hearing those words for a long time. She didn't quite understand why, as Zatanna was a close friend and Dick was by far her best friend so of course she only ever wanted happiness for them. But now that Dick stood in front of her so broken and sad, Y/N only felt sorry and remorse.

'Oh Dick,' she said. 'I'm so sorry... How can I help?'

Dick shook his head vigorously, eyes still averted from her. 'Can you just... Can we spar please? I think I really need that right now.'

His tone was restrained, as if he were holding back what he really thought. Y/N had half a thought to suggest they just talk, but when he finally looked directly at her, how could she refuse her best friend? After all, she was the only one he never wore his glasses around. Even after all these years with the team, he trusted no one else but her with his identity.

The original members knew, but even then he still wore his shades around them half the time if he wasn't in his vigilante suit. But not around Y/N, though. Never around Y/N.

'All right,' Y/N conceded, walking with him back to the centre of the fighting ring. She stood in her usual starting position, hands raised and feet split ready to fight. 'Same rules as last time?'

Dick nodded. 'No flying from you, no gadgets from me. Just us.'

'Perfect.'

Y/N launched into a heated sparring match, much more heated than any other match she'd had before with him. Sparring matches are usually to practice a skill, usually some punches can be pulled. But not now, Dick was throwing himself into everything, becoming sloppy, opening himself up. While the first few jabs Y/N got in were small victories, she soon grew worried as he grew more and more reckless as the match progressed.

'You're opening yourself up too easily, Dick,' Y/N commented between heavy breaths. 'Tighten up your stance.'

Dick groaned with frustration in answer, throwing another punch at her which she easily ducked and palm-punched his abdomen hard. He stumbled back as he caught his breath, but Y/N took it as her chance to end the fight as she charged at him, crash-tackled him to the mat with a bit more super-strength than she'd been using and pinning his limbs to the ground.

Dick struggled under her, but she refused to let go. 'Concede, Grayson. Now,' she demanded.

She rarely used his last name, only when he was in serious trouble or when she really needed him to listen. So he stopped, and he looked up at her and he nodded. 'I concede,' he said between huffs of air.

Y/N nodded her head in acknowledgement before stepping off him and helping him to his feet. For years they had been the same height, but once Dick had hit fourteen, he shot up fast. He was still lean and more on the skinny side, but he was toned in certain places and he now stood a head taller than Y/N. But she didn't let his new height stop her from locking eyes with him.

'Do you feel... somewhat better now?' she asked cautiously, feeling that Dick was on the brink of an explosion, she was just unsure what kind it would be.

To her surprise, Dick's piercing blue eyes welled up with tears. 'No,' he said.

Y/N immediately wrapped her arms around him, and Dick fell into her and wrapped himself around her as if she were a warm blanket on a cold night. They stood like that - with Dick crying silently into her shoulder and Y/N rubbing soothing circles into his back - for who knew how long. A minute, two, an hour maybe. It didn't matter, Dick needed Y/N'S help so she would stay there as long for as it took.

'She said she couldn't do it anymore,' he said finally, tears finally finished running, but he still didn't break from Y/N's embrace. 'The long distance.'

'Being promoted to the Justice League is a huge commitment, Dick,' Y/N offered.

'It's not just that, though,' he said. 'I think she couldn't take me anymore. Ever since Jason-'

His voice cracked on the mention of his fallen brother, the next ward Bruce had taken under his wing. When he joined the team, Jason took over the Robin mantle, giving Dick freedom to explore a new path of vigilante identity. One outside of Bruce's shadow and the dynamic duo of Batman and Robin. He'd settled upon Nightwing - another name Y/N helped come up with - and he'd taught Jason everything he knew about being Robin and how he could find his own meaning for the role.

But Jason never got the chance to do the same for the next Robin, who Bruce mentioned would never be found after Jason's death. Jason had been killed on a mission with the Batman himself only a month ago, and Dick had secretly been a wreck ever since. He'd learnt from his sponsor who to hide his emotions, but Y/N assumed he had to let it out to someone or someones every so often. Those people were herself, and no doubt Zatanna.

Despite her bubbly and adventurous personality, Zatanna knew death, knew grief. It suddenly angered Y/N at the thought that Zatanna had dumped Dick because he was grieving and couldn't give her the attention he had become known to give her daily.

Y/N held her tongue as she pulled him tighter, though. Now was not the time to rub salt into his open and bloody wound.

'You don't have to explain yourself to me, Dick,' Y/N reassured him. 'I understand.'

He squeezed her tighter. 'First my family, then Jason, now Zatanna. Promise me you won't leave too. Promise.'

'I promise, Dick,' Y/N answered. 'I'll always be here if you need me.'

Dick finally pulled away from her, but only far enough that he still held her in his arms and she had to angle her head harshly upwards to look him in the eye. Despite the redness, Dick's eyes still shone a blue that didn't seem quite real - like the colour of the purest, cleanest ocean.

So beautiful.

'You're my best friend, Y/N,' he said softly, a grateful smile finally breaking through his sadness. 'You know that right?'

Once upon a time, Y/N wouldn't have hesitated in answering. Yes, she would say, because it was the truth. It was the truth still, but a discomforting feeling in her stomach squirmed at the words "best friend". What he meant to her went past the simple label, at least in her opinion. But she just couldn't quite put it into words yet.

'Y-Yeah, I know,' she stammered out quickly. She had paused way too long to answer. 'Just like you're mine, bird brain. Don't think a bunch of tears is going to scare me off so easily.'

She was so glad to be the one to make him laugh then. It was the most melodic sound she'd ever heard, even though she'd heard it a thousand times before. Dick could never be tiring to her.

Finally - and thankfully - Dick stepped out of her arms, allowing her to suck in air that had previously been missing from between them. But he stole it all right back when he flashed her that charming smile of his.

'Guess I'll see you tomorrow, Wonderess,' he said. 'Thanks again for the sparring. I'll be sure to tighten up for next time.'

'G-Great, good, excellent,' Y/N stumbled over her words, unable to breathe when he smiled so causally yet so beautifully at her. 'See you tomorrow.'

Dick gave her a tiny wave as he left the room. As he left, Artemis and M'gann strolled in wearing civvies. They greeted and farewelled Dick before continuing to walk to Y/N, who stood frozen where Dick had left her staring after him.

'You okay, Y/N?' Artemis asked, waving a hand in front of Y/N's face. 'Helloooooo. Earth to Y/N?'

'Maybe she's fallen into a hypnotic state,' M'gann suggested. 'Or worse! A mind ant has taken over her brain! I'll have to go inside her mind to weed it out.'

That finally disrupted Y/N from her stupor. 'No! No need for that. No mind ants here,' she frantically said just M'gann was about to enter her mind.

'Then why were you looking like Medusa had risen from her mythical death and frozen you in place?' Artemis asked, deadpan.

'First of all, Medusa was a real person. Greek Mythology is real, or therefore my mother and I wouldn't be here today,' Y/N countered. 'Second of all... I think I a have a crush on Dick.'

As soon as she said the words, she knew them to be true. She didn't need to discuss it with the girls, she already knew.

Y/N Prince, daughter of Wonder Woman, had a huge, fat crush on her best friend, and son of Batman himself, Richard 'Dick' Grayson.

'Shit,' all three girls said at once.

~~~ (18 years old)

Y/N watched with sad eyes as two of her closest friends walked away under the cover of darkness. Again. Kaldur and Artemis - the latter now legally dead - waved farewell before they entered a small submarine, on their way to continue infiltration of the Light on Kaldur's father's ship.

Two figures stepped up beside Y/N. 'Well,' Wally started, 'I guess that's that.'

'For now,' Dick said. 'I promise, Wally, we'll bring them both back.'

'Yeah, whatever,' Wally said, turning to leave. 'You're my bro, Dick. But if Artemis is really killed because of this, I will never forgive you.'

Wally's footsteps resounded through the empty fishing warehouse as Y/N continued to stare out at the ocean. Soon, it was just her and Dick.

'We should head back to headquarters,' Dick suggested. 'Someone might start to wonder where we are.'

But Y/N didn't turn to leave, still transfixed by the ocean. 'I thought I was okay with all this,' Y/N admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. 'I convinced myself that this was for the greater good. But now I'm not so sure.'

'What do you mean, Y/N?' Dick asked.

'The lying, Dick,' she answered, finally turning to him. 'The secrets, the faking of deaths and undercover betrayals. If we keep this up, it'll tear the team apart.'

'It won't,' Dick reassured her, his voice so certain and sure. 'When this is all over and we explain it all, they will understand. I expect some disappointment and hostility for a while, but one day they'll understand why we did what we did. But this team we've built, Y/N, it is stronger than all this. I know it.'

Y/N shook her head, wanting to believe him but unable to put aside the horrible feeling in her gut. 'I know they are strong. I just wish there was another way for us to win.'

'Trust me, if there was, I would've taken it,' Dick said, and even with a mask on, Y/N knew he was telling the truth. 'I want all of us fighting this together. For now, we've just got to trust in Kaldur and Artemis that they will succeed.'

Y/N nodded, her gaze returning to the flat ocean waters where her friends had long since left behind. 'Maybe you should've sent me like I suggested,' Y/N said half-heartedly. 'You're a great substitute for leader, Dick. Truly. But the team took Kaldur's betrayal heavily, and Artemis and Wally were out of the game. We shouldn't have brought them back in. Wonder Girl is trained up enough to take my place. You don't need me.'

'Don't say that.'

Y/N could barely react as she was grabbed by her shoulders and forced to face Dick, who had crouched so he was eye-level to her and leaned in so she could see the slightest gleam of his pupils through the white mask.

'Don't say that,' Dick repeated, his grip on her shoulders firm and grounding. 'We do need you. You're a founding member too, Y/N. Regardless of if it were Kaldur or not, the team would've struggled without any one of us. And the only reason I was able to lead this team this past year is because I knew you had my back the entire time.'

'Really?' she asked, the one word a struggle to get out.

His expression softened and he loosened his grip. But Dick didn't release her yet. 'Y/N, you are always the one giving hope to the team whenever I can't raise their spirits. You were the one to console them after Kaldur leaving. You are strong and brave and you never give up, especially when the chips are down. And they have been down on us a lot lately.'

Y/N caught her breath as Dick released one shoulder to use his pointer finger to hold her chin up, making her look directly at him. 'It kills me that you don't see yourself how everyone else sees you. Which is amazing, Y/N. Amazing and wonderful.'

Y/N swore Dick could hear her heart thudding rapidly against her chest. In the two years since realising it, her crush on her best friend hadn't faded like she'd hoped. Instead, it had grown and blossomed but Dick still couldn't see how much she absolutely adored him. She'd resigned herself to the fact that he would never feel that way about her, and also if they were to date, then it would just make working together all the more complicated. She couldn't compromise on the team's relationship.

But as Y/N looked into Dick's eyes now, a little spark of hope flickered inside her. He was so close to her, he had to feel her heartbeat. He had to know... right?

A wind of doubt blew out the spark and she stepped away from Dick so her head would stop spinning. 'You just had to get a pun in there, didn't you?' she said, surprised at how calm and casual her voice came out all things considered.

Dick took a moment to gather himself, as if he too had been lost deep in thought. But soon that infamous smile of his stretched his lips and Y/N knew she could never say no to him. 'What can I say? I'm an opportunist.'

'I thought you were a gymnast.'

'I am also your best friend, and so I am legally obliged to slip in puns about you whenever possible.'

'Oh, do you now?' Y/N asked, lightly shoving him as she made for the warehouse door. Dick was right, they needed to head home before anyone started questioning their whereabouts.

Dick quickly caught up. 'I mean it Y/N. You are my best friend.'

'I know,' Y/N said nonchalantly, trying not to let the words sting too much. But she managed a soft smile as she said, 'And you are mine. Always have been...'

Dick flashed her a genuine smile, no charm, no hidden agenda behind it. He held his pinky finger up, to which Y/N linked her own with. '...Always will be,' he finished.

As they went home, Y/N felt better about Kaldur and Artemis' mission, as well as her place in the team. But she was now even more confused about Dick and how he felt about her. They were best friends, had been through so much together, it wouldn't be wise to ruin all that now.

But the way he'd looked at her, maybe there was a chance after all.

~~~

(18 years old)

'You're leaving?'

Y/N and Kaldur couldn't believe what they'd just heard. One minute, the three of them were discussing the team's next move after foiling the Reach's invasion plans and splitting the Light in half, and the next...

'That's correct,' Dick said. 'I just... I think I need to take a break for a while.'

'For how long?' Y/N asked, finally getting over the initial shock of his announcement. It had been a hectic day, full of surprises and sacrifices nobody saw coming. Right now, in her opinion, everyone needed to band together, not... leave.

Dick shrugged his shoulders. 'I don't know. But it definitely won't be quick. This team has been my whole life for five years now. I think it's time I stepped away, let Kaldur take the reins again.'

'The team will not be the same without you,' Kaldur offered.

'The team already isn't the same,' Dick said solemnly, and the slightest crack in his voice indicated to Y/N what he was referring to. 'You, me, Y/N, Wally. We founded this team. Without him...'

Dick didn't need to finish. Y/N had felt Wally's absence since the moment he fazed out of existence. He saved the world, but he'd been too slow to combat the chrysalis' energy. Not even the Flash or Impulse could save him. It made Y/N so mad, because Wally must've known he wouldn't come out of it alive. He knew he was too slow, having been out of the game for so long.

And yet he did it anyway, because that was who Wally West - Kid Flash - was.

'I understand,' Kaldur said, placing a comforting hand on Dick's shoulder.

'Thanks,' Dick said, then looked to the boom tubes of the Watchtower. 'I should probably go.'

'What? Now?' Y/N asked. 'At least see the day through, Dick.'

'There's nothing else for me to see through, Y/N,' he countered, already making his way to the boom tubes to make his exit. 'Kaldur is back, and so is the Justice League. I am no longer needed.'

Kaldur didn't follow Y/N as she chased after Dick. 'At least let the team know personally you'll be leaving. Don't you think they deserve that much from you after all we've done?'

'All I did was sign Wally's death sentence,' Dick answered harshly, not even bothering to turn around and face her. 'Yeah, the team really deserves that from their substitute leader.'

The two of them stopped before the boom tubes, facing each other one last time. Y/N grabbed Dick's wrist before he could dial in his code to exit the Watchtower.

'Dick, please,' Y/N pleaded, voice tight with desperation. 'I know you're hurting right now. We all are feeling Wally's death. But the team needs you right now. I need you...'

It was a last ditch attempt at convincing him that he meant more to her than just a friend. That he was her glue, that he was important to her and the team. That, even if he was nothing else, he was her best friend, and she was his.

Always have been... Always will be.

Don't go, she wanted to say, but the words never came out. It's like Dick had always been a part of her life; she now couldn't imagine her life without his witty remarks, without his odd use of words like "aster" and "traught", without his charming smile and kind eyes. She couldn't imagine life without him. Please, don't go.

Dick's sad expression told her he'd made his mind up before he even spoke the words.

'I'm sorry, Y/N,' he said softly, pulling her into a gentle embrace where he pressed a feather-light kiss to her forehead. 'But I can't deal with this right now.'

As if in a dream, Dick stepped out of the embrace and dialled in his code for the boom tube.

'B:01 - NIghtwing,' the computer announced as the boom tube activated.

Dick was a step away from leaving Y/N behind when she called out, 'Don't be a stranger!'

She knew he had already made his mind up. But that didn't mean the two of them couldn't still be what they had always been. Best friends.

To her joy, Dick stopped and turned back around, a melancholic smile on his face as he held up his pinky finger. 'Always have been...'

Y/N reciprocated his smile as she too held up her pinky finger, imagining hooking it with his. '...Always will be,' she replied softly.

And then he was gone, and Y/N was left standing alone in the Watchtower.

She didn't realise she was crying until Dick was gone, until her senses had returned fully and felt the sensation of tears rolling down her face. That's when she acknowledged she was truly, utterly, hopelessly sad.

Because for the first time in seven years, Dick was no longer by her side. She didn't have Dick to fall back on when things got tough; she didn't have Dick to talk to about her issues with the new recruits; she didn't have Dick to laugh with after a night out at the arcade where he had failed epically at every game; she didn't have Dick reassuring her that everything would be okay, even when the world was telling them otherwise.

Dick was gone, and that was something Y/N had never expected to deal with.

'Wonderess.'

Y/N wiped her tears away before she turned to see who had called her. It was Kaldur, and based on his sympathetic expression, she knew he had heard everything.

'Batman and the rest of the Justice League wants to speak with us all,' he said.

'Right,' Y/N said, composing herself before walking over to join her friend.

Dick was gone, but she was still an integral part of Young Justice, and they needed her more now than ever. Whatever was to come their way now, they had to be strong, a united front.

Even if her heart yearned for someone who had completely abandoned her.

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unmotivatedwrit3r · 1 year

Text

One More Sleep pt.1

batboys x reader

(A/N): Happy Holidays all! I was listening to this song and decided to write a blurb series about the batboys getting home early Christmas morning and have actually stuck to it so here's part 1! Part 2 will be out tomorrow but what it contains will depend on what I get written in the next 24 hours so we'll see what happens. [Edit: find pt. 2 here.] Many thanks to Red for brainstorming help. This series wouldn't exist if not for them. Also thanks to my sister who has read these and deemed them "tooth-rotting fluff." She's a Duke fan despite knowing nothing about DC other than what she hears from me.

And I've decided to dedicate these two parts to my lovely mutuals so @citrinesparkles, this one is for you. I hope you enjoy!

And Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

total wc: ~1800

warnings: non-graphic mentions of injury, exhaustion, specific mentions of Christmas, so. much. fluff.

Dick Grayson

wc: ~700

Dick yawns as he glances up at the screen in the airport. Baggage claim 6 holds the bags for the nonstop Christmas Eve flight from California to Gotham, apparently. He checks his watch: 1:30am. Well, Christmas now. Usually his family doesn't take commercial flights back from missions, but Dick’s cover demanded he take one from San Francisco to Gotham so he could use visiting California as his excuse.

Dick hikes his bag a little higher on his shoulders, wincing a little as his elbow tweaks even with the brace, and heads to the escalator that would lead him to the baggage claim. This early on Christmas morning, the airport is quieter than usual and the everyday Gotham bustle has been replaced with a weird sort of hollowness ringing in the air. Dick stretches his neck out—sore from hours on the javelin then the plane—and stops short. He can feel a smile spreading across his face. It’s nearly 2am on Christmas day and yet there you are: standing by the baggage claim with a thermos in one hand, the other crossed over your chest. He sees the moment you lay eyes on him in real time, when your eyes light up and a smile splits your features, and there’s a beat of warmth in his chest. He gets to have that—no one else.

Dick picks up his pace as you head towards him. And then your arms are around him and the solemnity of an empty airport can’t get to him anymore.

You pull back first, arms around his neck shifting for one hand to cup his face before you pull him to a kiss.

“Merry Christmas, Dickie,” you say, forehead resting against his temple.

“Merry Christmas, babe,” Dick whispers. He pulls back this time, his left hand winding around your free one. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

You smile, handing him the thermos.

“Bruce sent me the flight details—it’s hot chocolate, I made it before I left—Bruce sent me the details and I said I’d pick you up to surprise you.”

Dick squeezes your hand as the two of you walk back towards the baggage claim. It’s moving now, a stilted circling around, though there are no bags yet.

“Best gift I could have asked for.”

“Oh so you don’t want the matching sweaters I bought for us the other day? Okay then.”

Dick hands you the thermos so he can grab his suitcase as it appears around the bend, playing devastated.

“Oh come on babe you know I have a weakness for sweaters,” he teases. You take the suitcase from him as soon as it touches the ground, swapping it with the thermos, and pull your linked hands over your shoulder, guiding him out of the airport and into the cold Gotham air. His energy is flagging now, even as the wind bites at his face, adrenaline from seeing you fading back into the after-mission kind of tired that a half-nap on a plane can’t fix.

Dick blinks his eyes open and he’s standing in front of your car. He opens the passenger door on autopilot, dropping his bag at his feet and placing the thermos into a cup holder in the center console. He climbs in and pulls the door shut before putting on his seatbelt and leaning against the window. Behind him, the trunk slams shut. The driver’s door opens and you turn the key in the ignition, sparking a burst of warm air from the vents. Dick shivers, still leaning against the car window.

Your hand, cold from outside, finds his and squeezes. Dick squeezes back, eyes half lidded now. He wants nothing more than to turn on the radio and sing Christmas songs with you for the 25 minutes it’ll take to get to his childhood home, but he’s quickly losing to his exhaustion.

There’s a nose pressed briefly against his cheekbone and warm lips pressed to his cheek for just a second before they withdraw.

“Take a nap,” you suggest. You selflessly know what’s best for him, always. Making sure you know a million times over will just have to be his new year’s resolution. He’s too tired now. “I’ll wake you when we get to the manor. Everyone’s already expecting us down at noon tomorrow. We’re doing brunch.”

And Dick, warm in adoration and surrounded by pine-scented car air freshener, lets his eyes flutter closed.

Jason Todd:

wc: ~450

The first thing Jason sees when the door opens is the clock above the electric fireplace, 3:02am blinking at him in red. The second is the christmas tree, bathing the living room in a soft glow. The fact that the tree is on tells him you’re not asleep in bed. If you were, you’d have left a lamp on for him. Jason feels his lips quirk up as he strides further into the apartment. There you are, on the couch, like you try to be every night he’s out late. Sometimes you wait him out: finish a book or binge watch a TV show. Sometimes, he gets home to you passed out on the couch.

Tonight, you’re dead to the world, snoring faintly. Jason feels something in his chest squeeze pleasantly. You’re wearing his long-sleeved tee, wrapped in the blanket Alfred made him years ago. He is yours and you are his, and if the fireplace doesn't say that well enough, then the matching apartment keys certainly do.

Jason detangles you from the blanket before pulling you into his arms. He’s done this same song and dance time and time before—you lose the battle to sleep more than you win—but the knowledge that you love him enough to try still sits heavy in his chest. All these years in, and he can’t believe you choose him every night. Guilt settles in his chest as he places you on the bed, red sheets and holiday comforter pulled up over you. It’s Christmas morning now; he’s missed Christmas Eve. Again. And then he turns to the dresser and sees his santa pj pants and a shirt laid out on top and remembers that he’s so much better with you than without you and maybe that’s selfish but it’s Christmas and he’s allowed to be selfish just this once.

A quick face wash, change into pjs, and one teeth brushing later, Jason’s crawling into bed. His hair is mostly dry from the shower he took at the batcave before he headed home, and he’s more grateful now that it’s not dripping down his neck than he was when Dick was needling him about it in the batcave.

Your eyes blink blearily when he pulls the blankets up around him.

“Jay?”

You’re moving towards him before he can respond and Jason’s arms come up automatically to wrap around you.

“Yeah,” he answers. His voice is hoarse, stripped from him by the unadulterated care you show him, even half-asleep.

“Hm. Merry Christmas. I love you,” you say, shifting your head to rest on his chest.

You’re asleep once more before his voice unsticks, and he tightens his grip, pulling you closer against him.

“I love you too.”

Duke Thomas:

wc: ~650

Duke opens the door to his shared apartment at 12:30am on Dec 25. He’s actually earlier than he thought he’d be. The snow that made his trip longer let up enough to let him head home 18 hours ago, which means he gets to wake up Christmas morning with his partner and he’s ecstatic.

The first thing he hears is a rustling of paper and a frantic “Waitwaitwaitwait, close your eyes!”

Duke stops short, one hand over his closed eyes and the other shutting the front door behind him.

“My eyes are closed,” he informs you, a smile crossing his face. He missed you so much. Duke can hear as you stand up and walk over to him, socked feet light on the floor.

“Keep your eyes closed,” you warn as your arms wrap around him. He obeys even as he tips his head onto your shoulder. You smell like laundry detergent and holiday candles and home.

A crushing hug later and you pull away, a hand on his back nudging him towards the bedroom. He nearly trips trying to kick off his shoes and lets you guide him. Once he’s crossed the bedroom doorway, Duke turns around to look at you. You’re in Christmas pajamas and your hair is messy, but your eyes are shining brightly even in the dim light. You pull him down for a quick kiss.

“I’ll let you know when I’m done wrapping, okay? Now take a shower, you smell like a gym locker room.”

Duke laughs and ducks his head down for another kiss.

“I’d argue but I’ve also been smelling me recently so I agree.” You laugh back at him, squeezing his bicep before you turn back to the living room.

“Love you!” Duke calls out as he closes the door.

“Love you too!”

Duke’s halfway through his shower before he realizes that he hasn’t wrapped his gifts. Okay, that’s not exactly fair. He’s wrapped some of them, when you and he wrapped everything for your respective families together before he left. He hasn’t wrapped your gifts. You take great joy in teasing him about it every year. He remembers to shop but always forgets the second step so you usually do it together. Except he can’t wrap your gifts with you there and now it’s Christmas and he still hasn’t done it.

“Hey starlight?” Duke yells from just outside the bedroom door. He’s got a hand over his eyes again even though they’re closed, and is dressed in a t-shirt and pj pants—the pants match yours: dark green with Christmas lights on them.

“Yeah sunshine?” You call back. It’s a little absentminded, and he smiles at the routine call and response. He can’t remember when it started, but you started calling him sunshine at some point and you’re the nighttime to balance his day so he ran through a few and that one stuck.

“Can I have the wrapping paper?” There’s a pause and then a laugh.

“I’ve just got to cut paper for this last present and then I’ll bring it over.” There’s a little bit of shuffling and then scissors cutting paper and then a roll of wrapping paper bumping against his free hand.

“Have fun,” you tell him, and he can hear the smile in your voice. “I’ll knock when I’m done.”

Duke’s working on his second gift when there’s a knock on the bedroom door.

“When you’re done, I’ll be on the couch.”

“Thanks, starlight!” Duke calls back through the door. Two more gifts and he’s finished, and he opens the door to walk back into the living room. Duke leans the present against the ones already at home under the tree then stands up, eyes flicking to the clock before landing on you.

“Bed?” You ask, reaching a hand out.

“Bed,” he agrees, taking your hand. Sure, it’s Christmas already, but the presents are second to eight hours wrapped in each other’s arms.

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