two birds on a wire; one tries to fly away

[xuffasch]

WHO: knights_wing & xuffasch
WHERE: Dick's apartment.
WHEN: Late Sunday night/early Monday morning.
WARNINGS: None, other than typical emotionally-stunted child.
SUMMARY: Damian's been gone for over a week; he finally decides to head home.
FORMAT: Start paragraph, proceed however.

Comments

[batmantled]

[It’s the first night this week he’s been in before 7am, and maybe if he was smarter he’d be taking the rare opportunity to catch up on a little of the sleep he’s been missing lately. Instead he’s in the other room, holding out the week’s tension in a one-armed handstand while he pores over what case files he has on Damian.

He drops the pose when he hears the noise, crouching for a few long seconds on the hardwood floor while he listens. The list of people who could make it even part of the way through the security on this place without setting it off is short. There’s only one person on it who should have every code.

It’s not a long walk to the living area, but he slides a batarang out of the pocket of his boxers and into his palm anyway. When he sees Damian there he has to stop where he is.]

...Hey.

[xuffasch]

( When he hears Grayson's voice, Damian purses his lips and hunches his shoulders--a response that does nothing, effectively, except make him feel a bit bigger. He's in a rather awkward position, holding his small bundle of possessions that he'd been carrying around in one hand, the cat tugging on his leg on the other side. It's...less than dignified.

However, after about five minutes of just staring, he lets of a huffy breath and catches onto a train of thought that doesn't involve explaining himself. )

That's it? "Hey"? Honestly, I've been being tortured for the past three days, and...

( His keeps going, muttering increasingly exaggerated things about the torture of Disney movies and the Batgirls. He's not really looking Dick in the eye, though. )

[batmantled]

[There’s a part of him - the part that’s still wound up with worry and frustration and maybe even a little hurt - that just wants to snap, all at once. Give back a little of the wrath Bruce would have doled out without a second thought if he’d ever pulled something like this. Maybe after all this time he’s made it too easy. Too simple to live up to what Robin should always be.

It rounds up to a good ten seconds of righteous fury, all while he’s still half-listening to Damian and the Batgirls and Disney movies and just like that the feeling evaporates.

He grins instead, slow and a little conspiring, then lunges across those last few steps, aiming for something halfway between a hug and a scoop.]

[xuffasch]

( Damian probably sense that, at least a bit, because he's bracing himself for...something. What he isn't expecting, however, is for Grayson to lunge at him, and he certainly isn't expecting to be touched.

Which is probably why is reaction is a combination of flailing and trying, ineffectively, to kick him in the chest. )

Graysong what are you doing--unhand me!

[batmantled]

[And that would be his cue to let go. He drops the hug and dodges that kick, half-blocking a little playfully before he slides back into what probably qualifies as an acceptable span of person space.]

Sorry. Got a little carried away.

[xuffasch]

( But it's not enough space, as Damian backs up another few steps. His face is a bit red, but it's hard to tell if that's from anger or embarrassment. )

...make sure that never happens again.

[batmantled]

That was it. I promise. [He holds up his hands in a half-placating gesture, but he's still grinning all over it.]

If I didn't say it before, I'm pretty happy you're here. For as long as you want to stay.

[xuffasch]

( Damian perceives this as Dick having fun at his expense, so his scowl deepens. Dick's words catch him off-guard, however, so he just glares at him for a moment, unsure of what to say. )

Well, that's stupid. Obviously we'd rather be back in Gotham. But as long as I'm here...I might as well. Be around.

[batmantled]

[and he... has to hesitate there for a few seconds. There's a couple of things he could say. And a couple of things he needs to say, before the opportunity slips away again.]

Good. I'm glad.

[And finally he just runs a hand through his hair and then takes the nearest seat next to the countertop. All the better to establish less of a barrier.]

But if you want other options, that's okay too.

[xuffasch]

( Do you know what really difficult to do? Snap at someone who is being entirely understanding. It completely ruins the effectiveness of your snappy retorts. But Damian tries, anyway. )

Just because I have other places to stay doesn't make them residences. Besides, I'm...used to you.

[batmantled]

Used to me, huh? [but it's not really said like a challenge.]

Guess I can live with that.

[xuffasch]

Well, good. Because it's not as if you have a choice in the matter.

[batmantled]

Yeah, I didn't think so.

[Alfred would have had pancakes ready the moment he walked in the door. Dick's just... gonna head on over to the fridge and start poking around for something edible.]

...So you hung out with the girls, huh?

[xuffasch]

( Damian will follow him at arm's length, because he sees an opportunity to complain and he would like to take it. )

We did not hang out. They tricked me and tied me to a chair, which is ridiculous in the first place because Brown can't tie a decent knot to save her life.

( He goes on for a moment, and then stops and hesitates for a moment. )

...speaking of girls, I need to ask you a question.

[batmantled]

Apparently they were decent enough to keep you in a chair for three days.

[Frosted flakes and chocolate chip ice cream it is. Dick sets them out on the counter, buffet style, then helps himself to a bowl. He just might be eying Damian a little sideways over that one.]

...You know, if it's an anatomy question you might just want to google it.

[xuffasch]

It was research. If I ever need to go undercover, I know have a working knowledge of the idiocy that most children enjoy.

( This is his story and he is sticking to it. But ice cream is good...at five in the morning especially, so he's getting in on that. )

Don't be vulgar. Besides, I did google it. And the results were less than satisfactory.

( But again, he is hesitating now, because this question is embarrassing. )

...what do you do at prom?