the catastrophic hymns from yesterday

[knightflown]

The dumpster is open and there's garbage scattered on the ground — not an unfamiliar sight in Gotham, particularly in the East End. But there isn't a Nightwing in the dumpster. He's seated on the floor of the alley with his back against the side of the dumpster, staring and silent, looking battered but otherwise fine. His knees are drawn up loosely

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[knightflying]

When he received the co-ordinates from Slade, Tim had only spent a few seconds staring at the screen before setting off. He was suspicious of a trap, of course - surely nothing could be so easy, a captive like Nightwing shouldn't be so easily given away - but he still headed for the East End as fast as the Redbird could carry him.

It still takes too long, almost twenty minutes, and every second feels like his heart is hammering inside his chest. What is he going to find when he gets there? Will Dick be alive? In one piece? Will he even be there, or will it be Slade, wanting to add another bird to his collection? He parks the Redbird a block away, knowing he can call it if he needs to but not wanting to give away the fact he has it, and runs the rest of the distance over the rooftops. When he gets an overhead look into the alley and sees Nightwing huddled against the dumpster - it takes everything not to just drop down immediately, to check for signs of an ambush. But everything looks clear, so he does drop down, running over to kneel

[knightflown]

Startled, Nightwing looks at Robin a long moment without answering before reaching out and — yeah, enjoy a really hard hug, Tim. The relief in his voice is evident when he murmurs, "You're okay."

He doesn't seem inclined to let Tim go anytime soon. Such are Nightwing hugs, sometimes.

look this is the best WTF ARE YOU HUGGING ME icon I have OKAY :|

[knightflying]

Tim is startled in turn, but he doesn't even try to pull away - honestly, the odds are that he would have hugged Nightwing himself if Nightwing hadn't gotten there first. It's just a case of wondering why, when Nightwing had been the one in trouble.

"Of course I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be?" He reaches around to hug Nightwing back in the way that seems like an accidental by-product of patting him on the back, but it's very deliberate.

ffffffffffffffffffffff

[knightflown]

"Saw you," he says, low and heavy and still not letting Tim go. "In his colors. You and —" Nightwing pauses and seems to wake up a little more. "You and the other Robin. He's forgetting who he is. Fighting you — I never want to fight you. Watching you die."

Lowering his voice to less than a whisper, he continues, "Watching Bruce die. I didn't mean to, Tim. I wasn't good enough. Always too slow, too stupid. I'm sorry. I won't fail you. I won't fail him. We're going to be okay." It sounds more like he's reassuring himself than actual belief in the statement.