batmanschmatman | 029 [audio]

[There's a short pause between the feed clicking on and Dick speaking.]

My parents were murdered when I was eight. I was there when it happened. It was... [He takes a slow breath.] It felt like my whole life was just falling apart and I had no idea what was going to happen or where I was supposed to go or how I was supposed to live without the two most important people in my life.

But I got lucky, because someone was there that night who knew what it was like to have their parents taken away from them. He took me in, gave me a home and support and made life feel like it was worth living again. I know I got lucky. A lot of kids... A lot of kids lose parents and just end up going through foster home after foster home, and if Bruce hadn't been there, that's probably what would have happened to me. I would have been alone and lost, with no idea what I was supposed to do with my life.

Instead, I got a family. They've helped me become the person I am today and I can't thank them enough for it. I've had an amazing life, even if it's not always sunshine and rainbows, and I love my family more then anything.

... I'll always miss my parents. That hurt never goes away, and there isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about them and wish I could talk to them just one more time, but I...

[...]

I wouldn't trade what I have now for the world.

[... Oh crap. Didn't mean to say any of that out loud, to everyone. Fuck you, floods. :|]

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[ Bruce has a hard time thinking of Tim as anything but his youngest as well. Most of the time, he doesn't remember Damian. Some of those times, it is deliberate. It's not the boy's fault, but Talia is more than mildly insane - especially recently - and she has conceived the boy without his knowledge or his permission. And her way of saying 'hello' - and Damian's as well - doesn't endear either of them to him.

Not to mention hurting Tim. Biological son or not, Bruce cannot forgive Damian that easily. Besides, he has never wanted biological children- for many good reasons. Two of them are right here.

But he doesn't want to think about this right now. He shakes the thoughts out of his head.

You're just tempting Dick. [ As he said that, he pulls away, walking over the door and pulling it open. His smile when he sees Tim is tiny and crooked- but present. ]

[Dick laughed, not minding the topic change in the slightest. He was still feeling sort of mushy from all this emoting and hugging and whatever, and he really didn't want to think about or end up spilling to Bruce about how he'd hurt himself, so he just grinned widely at his little brother.]

No noogies, I promise.

[He looked juuuust a little surprised when Bruce opened the door, since. Well. He would have expected Bruce to run longer and farther than he had from this mushy stuff. But he was still getting used to the idea of what had changed in his second father.]

What do you think, Bruce, is he trying to lull me into a false sense of security? [There was a matching smile as he closed the door behind him.

[ It's already starting like a prickling on his skin, a discomfort about the situation, a semi-conscious tug for him to get away, to ask them to get out so he can be alone again. But he doesn't heed it, ignoring it the best he can because he honestly doesn't want to be alone.

It's a surprising thought. ]

If he is, you have the permission to try to deck him. [ And he's moving back, closer to the center of the room. Giving himself less options to want to run. ]

[The grin widened at the comment and he gestured for Tim to come over, taking a small step closer to him to give him a hug too. It might have just been a flood, but it had had a real effect on him.]

C'mon Tim, I'm not totally cruel.

[A very real, very touchy feely effect. Tim rolled his eyes a little, but he walked over to return the hug, patting Dick on the back.]

You're just saying that because Bruce said I could punch you, [he teased.]

[Dick laughed, hugging his brother tightly for a moment or two before letting go, no noogies or hair ruffles included.]

Hey, he said try.

[ He watches the two of them, a small smile at the edge of his lips because- it's always make him- happy, the way two of his sons have taken to each other. How easily they treat each other like brothers, like family. ]

Are you implying that Tim isn't able to do that?

[Tim claps him on the back when he finally lets go, leaving his hand there for a moment before pulling away completely. The hugging is done now, right? Hugging is tightly equated to crying for him, and he is not crying, so why should there be hugging, IT MAKES SENSE TO HIM.

But there's a smirk on his face when he crosses his arms.]

It's okay, being the younger brother means being underestimated. [COCKY. He isn't actually this cocky, he just likes acting like the little brother again.]

029 [audio]

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