bludhavenbirder

[bludhavenbirder]

[bludhavenbirder]

Dick scrambles through the desk to find a pen and paper in the desk. There was no point in taking the cardboard with them, and if they could avoid tipping them off that they knew it would probably make things easier. He was so excited to have found something, he had forgotten the fact that he was essentially down an arm. But as he grabs the pen, a sharp pain runs down his arm from his elbow to remind him.

He drops the pen, quickly collects it with his other hand. Dick tries to write, but he's never done that with this hand before. He resolves to teach himself to become ambidextrous and transfers the pen back to his dominant hand. He grinds his teeth, forcing his way through the pain to write down the address.

"We should check the rest of them. There might be more addresses," he says, voice thin like he's out of breath. He's been holding it in, although he should know better by now. He takes a controlled breath, trying to relax himself.

The moment the guy is out, Dick makes a beeline for the cardboard. He's on his knees in a second. He picks up one piece, then another to look for something, anything. He makes quick work of the pile, setting pieces aside as he looks over them.

He lets out a frustrated sigh, moves forward to examine the wall. Maybe there's a hidden safe— he's come across plenty of those. He begins to run his free fingers against the wall, looking for a seam or something. No luck, and the floor was similarly lacking.

There had to be something. He stands over the cardboard, trying to piece them together into...something. It's just a pile of cardboard. He paces around them for a moment before picking up a piece of cardboard, tilting it one way then the other. That's when he spots it. There's something on the fluting. Was it numbers? He leans closer, trying to make sense of it. He can't see more than the first two digits. He turns back to Clark. "Can you see through this? There's something written in there," he shoves the piece of cardboard towards him.

[bludhavenbirder]

The moment the guy is out, Dick makes a beeline for the cardboard. He's on his knees in a second. He picks up one piece, then another to look for something, anything. He makes quick work of the pile, setting pieces aside as he looks over them.

He lets out a frustrated sigh, moves forward to examine the wall. Maybe there's a hidden safe— he's come across plenty of those. He begins to run his free fingers against the wall, looking for a seam or something. No luck, and the floor was similarly lacking.

There had to be something. He stands over the cardboard, trying to piece them together into...something. It's just a pile of cardboard. He paces around them for a moment before picking up a piece of cardboard, tilting it one way then the other. That's when he spots it. There's something on the fluting. Was it numbers? He leans closer, trying to make sense of it. He can't see more than the first two digits. He turns back to Clark. "Can you see through this? There's something written in there," he shoves the piece of cardboard towards him.

Dick moves a second after Superman does. The boy leaps backwards, moving so the desk was between him and the guy just in case. He's quiet as Clark pushes the man against the wall.

He doesn't say anything, just lets his free hand rest on the edge of the table. And that's when he sees what he needs. The guy glances to a pile of cardboard in the corner before looking back to Robin and Superman. Wouldn't make sense to care about that cardboard unless it was hiding something.

Dick wipes his nose with his hand. He didn't need to, just wanted to cover his mouth so the guy couldn't see. "Knock him out," Dick whispers. He wants him out so he can find whatever might be hidden without them knowing something was about to go missing.

[bludhavenbirder]

"I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD" PROMPTS *  assorted dialogue, adjust as necessary

who else knows you're still alive?

don't tell me i'm the only one that knows.

i never should have believed their lies.

how could you keep this from me?

they lied to you. they knew it would break you if i died.

i staged it all.

there's no way this is happening.

i'm never letting you go.

i promised you i'd never leave you.

but i saw you die! this is impossible!

no. no. this isn't happening. this can't be real.

i watched it. i watched you die and now you're standing here.

how is this even possible?

they might have exaggerated just a bit.

we needed to make it look like i was dead.

you just let me spend all this time thinking you were dead?

did you tell anyone else?

this was your master plan? fake your death, see what happens?

i don't know whether to be pissed or be thrilled to see you again.

i've just seen a ghost.

you saw what they wanted you to see.

you're not real. i must be dreaming.

did you look for me?

funny. i don't remember falling asleep.

you just let us all believe you were dead?

it was the only way to do this. i'm sorry.

when were you going to tell me?

i watched the life leave your eyes...

you kept this from me.

oh my god... no. no no no. this can't be happening.

how did you... how did you even do this?

someone pinch me.

you look pretty good for someone that's supposed to be dead.

i watched you die in my arms.

they told me you died.

i promised you i'd come back.

they lied to me? all this time?

trust me, i wanted to tell you. i really did.

i think i need to sit down.

i'm gonna need some time to process this.

are you real? can i touch you?

what was all this about you dying?

you've kept the truth from me all this time.

had you just told me, i could have helped you.

i begged them to let me tell you, but they said it would ruin our plans.

the blood was fake. i'm all right.

yes, i'm alive! would you please come over here and give me a hug?

i didn't think i'd survive it, either.

i knew you'd come back for me.

we had to make it believable from the start.

there was no other way.

i should have told you.

i tried to get a message out to you.

they said you'd moved on, so i figured i should, too.

i wish i had all the answers for you.

i know you expect me to be okay with this, but things have changed since you died.

[name]... i thought you were dead.

will you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?

i'll never leave you again.

i swear on my life, this wasn't supposed to happen this way.

i take it you got my message.

everything got out of hand.

they didn't tell you?

glad you could make it.

i'm sorry i didn't reach out to you sooner.

all of a sudden, you come back into my life.

i'm back and better than ever.

i don't want to hear your excuses.

[bludhavenbirder]

Haley!!!! I have no experience drawing dogs- so I am basically just drawing refs rn. But my goal is to draw dick and Haley being cute together cuz come on. (Pit bulls are very shaped. Very interesting to look at and draw.)

[bludhavenbirder]

batman by ashley wood

[bludhavenbirder]

"The social worker at school is really big on naming emotions, but I think it's kind of stupid." Dick lets out a heavy sigh, leaning forward so the front legs of the chair return to the ground to punctuate what he's saying.

He plants his elbows on the table, resting his head in his hands. "It doesn't help. And she always wants to focus on one at a time? But it doesn't work like that. And it takes me out of homeroom," he grumbles. He needed that time to finish his homework so he could focus on training when he gets home. He'd been trying to be on his best behavior to get through those sessions but it's been to no avail.

Dick opens one eye to watch Bruce as he says they'll have chocolate later. He smiles before closing his eyes again. He shifts the chair to balance on one back leg and then another. Focusing on the balance was easier than to trying to put words to anything.

"It's too big for words," he murmurs. He listens to the chair legs click back and forth for a moment, staring down at his plate. "It's more than sad and it's more than angry and I don't really know how to talk about it. It feels like I can't breathe sometimes even though I am?" His voice wavers slightly.

[bludhavenbirder]

[bludhavenbirder]

Dick moves a second after Superman does. The boy leaps backwards, moving so the desk was between him and the guy just in case. He's quiet as Clark pushes the man against the wall.

He doesn't say anything, just lets his free hand rest on the edge of the table. And that's when he sees what he needs. The guy glances to a pile of cardboard in the corner before looking back to Robin and Superman. Wouldn't make sense to care about that cardboard unless it was hiding something.

Dick wipes his nose with his hand. He didn't need to, just wanted to cover his mouth so the guy couldn't see. "Knock him out," Dick whispers. He wants him out so he can find whatever might be hidden without them knowing something was about to go missing.

Dick moves at a quick pace. He keeps his breath steady as he goes, trying to keep his heart rate from rising. The pain had definitely made it a bit higher, and panicking would only make it worse. It may be fruitless, but he didn't want to give Clark another reason to worry about him. And more importantly, he had to stay calm to keep aware of his surroundings, especially with his arm the way it was.

He slips through the door, still for a moment to listen. He doesn't hear anyone and moves forward. A small box of ammunition had been left behind, and Dick slips it into a pocket on his utility belt. Tracing their origin might be useful. The makeshift desk seemed a good place to continue. He picks up a map of Gotham, folds it and tucks it into his sling. aAs he rifles through, he picks up a few pages of schematics. Something about them feels familiar about them. He pauses, about to ask Clark what an assessor's record is and if he thinks it's relevant.

It's then Dick hears something. The only thing he makes out is a creak in the hallway, but he's on the defensive in a second, body angled to attempt protecting his arm from whatever the cause of the sound.

[bludhavenbirder]

Gotta fill my yearly Duke quota Bc he deserves it 🙌

[bludhavenbirder]

Dick opens one eye to watch Bruce as he says they'll have chocolate later. He smiles before closing his eyes again. He shifts the chair to balance on one back leg and then another. Focusing on the balance was easier than to trying to put words to anything.

"It's too big for words," he murmurs. He listens to the chair legs click back and forth for a moment, staring down at his plate. "It's more than sad and it's more than angry and I don't really know how to talk about it. It feels like I can't breathe sometimes even though I am?" His voice wavers slightly.

"I don't know. You said chocolate could help," he suggests, brow raised innocently. He lets the request hang in the air for a moment before he drops his legs and leans back in his chair. He rests two fingers on the table, tilting the chair backward and forward in the silence.

"Training helps," he adds. "I feel better while I'm doing it…" Dick trails off with a frustrated sigh. He can't figure out how to explain. But all the training settles everything else going on, and sometimes it's so overwhelming that all his other thoughts go silent.

He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the feeling of the chair leaning back. "But all the rest of the time everything feels so big. I don't know."

[bludhavenbirder]

"I don't know. You said chocolate could help," he suggests, brow raised innocently. He lets the request hang in the air for a moment before he drops his legs and leans back in his chair. He rests two fingers on the table, tilting the chair backward and forward in the silence.

"Training helps," he adds. "I feel better while I'm doing it…" Dick trails off with a frustrated sigh. He can't figure out how to explain. But all the training settles everything else going on, and sometimes it's so overwhelming that all his other thoughts go silent.

He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the feeling of the chair leaning back. "But all the rest of the time everything feels so big. I don't know."

Dick's gaze is unrelenting as Bruce answers him. He doesn't entirely know what to look for to how Bruce is feeling, but he's intent on trying to figure it out. If not today, then eventually. He squints slightly at Bruce's last sentence, but he decides to trust the man on it. Maybe he'd ask Alfred about how to help Bruce later. It would only be fair after everything he had done for Dick.

"Okay. But if you aren't you can tell me. I can help. I can…" he hesitates, trying to figure out how'd he help. "I can tell Alfred to bring you chocolate?"

He sighs. That probably wouldn't do much good. Still, he keeps talking. If he wanted Bruce to tell him, he should probably do the same. He considers before he speaks. "I don't know if I'm doing okay," he goes back to playing with his fork. "Training was good…but everything else…Today was okay, but I don't know."

[bludhavenbirder]

PROMPTS FOR NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION *  adjust as necessary, send 'reverse' for the reversal of the prompt

[ encourage ] sender supports receiver with pats on their shoulders and a big, encouraging smile

[ silence ] sender lays a finger over their lips, telling receiver to stay quiet

[ stop ] sender holds their palm out facing receiver, stopping them in their tracks

[ affectionate ] sender plays with receiver's hair

[ braid ] sender begins to braid receiver's hair

[ i love you ] sender signs I LOVE YOU to receiver

[ go away ] sender gives receiver's shoulder a shove, trying to make them walk away or go into another room

[ slam ] pent up with frustration, sender leaves receiver and slams the door behind them as they exit

[ knock ] sender is here to see receiver and knocks playfully on their door to indicate they've arrived

[ wipe ] seeing receiver cry, sender reaches out and wipes their tears away (with their fingers or with a tissue)

[ secret ] making sure no one sees, sender secretly takes receiver's hand under a table and laces their fingers

[ squeeze ] sender reassures receiver in a dangerous situation by squeezing their hand

[ sleepy kiss ] while receiver is sleeping (or pretending to be asleep), sender approaches them and places a soft kiss on their forehead

[ hospital ] receiver is in the hospital, and sender sits in a chair by their bedside all through the night and holds their hand

[ celebrate ] receiver accomplishes something amazing, so sender rushes into receiver's arms and jumps up and down, eager to celebrate their victory

[ food ] sender brings receiver their favorite dish to cheer them up

[ glass ] sender and receiver are separated by glass. sender draws a heart on the glass with their finger for receiver to see

[ rest ] sender lays their head on receiver's shoulder and falls asleep there

[ expect ] sender sticks out a hand, palm up, waiting for receiver to give them the item they want

[ pillow ] sender playfully tosses a pillow at receiver, starting a pillowfight

[ sob ] sender rushes into receiver's arms and breaks down in their embrace, hiding their tears in receiver's chest

[ offer ] sender is cooking for receiver and offers out a spoon for receiver to sample a taste

[ love note ] sender passes receiver a romantic note in secret

[ close the distance ] sender and receiver are seated together, and sender moves closer to snuggle with them

[ montage ] receiver tries on clothes, and sender either approves or disapproves of each outfit with a nod or a shake of their head

[ stare ] while receiver gazes out a window, sender comes up from behind and embraces them

[ dance ] sender approaches receiver and starts dancing with them, positioning their hands for them

[ paint ] while sender and receiver paint together, sender smears a little paint on receiver's face to make them laugh

[ funny ] sender makes an assortment of funny faces to try and make receiver laugh

[ flowers ] sender leaves a bouquet of flowers for receiver to find

[ catch ] sender catches receiver's eye across a room and winks at them

[ refuse ] sender is upset with receiver and pushes away from their hug

[ get out ] sender points at the door, demanding receiver leave

[ snuggle ] sender lays down beside receiver and curls up against their body, quickly falling asleep

[ smooch ] sender takes receiver's face in their hands and guides them in for a romantic kiss

[ fix ] sender approaches receiver and fixes a piece of clothing or jewelry on their person

[ reach ] sender desperately reaches out to receiver with both arms extended, pleading for a hug

[bludhavenbirder]

His name is Wally West. He's The Flash. He's the fastest man on earth... and my best friend.

[bludhavenbirder]

Dick's gaze is unrelenting as Bruce answers him. He doesn't entirely know what to look for to how Bruce is feeling, but he's intent on trying to figure it out. If not today, then eventually. He squints slightly at Bruce's last sentence, but he decides to trust the man on it. Maybe he'd ask Alfred about how to help Bruce later. It would only be fair after everything he had done for Dick.

"Okay. But if you aren't you can tell me. I can help. I can…" he hesitates, trying to figure out how'd he help. "I can tell Alfred to bring you chocolate?"

He sighs. That probably wouldn't do much good. Still, he keeps talking. If he wanted Bruce to tell him, he should probably do the same. He considers before he speaks. "I don't know if I'm doing okay," he goes back to playing with his fork. "Training was good…but everything else…Today was okay, but I don't know."

Dick looks up to watch Bruce as he speaks, leaving his fork to teeter on the edge of the plate. He pulls his knees to his chest, chin resting as he listens. He searches Bruce's face, trying to piece what he's learning together with what he has seen of the man.

Bruce seemed so strong, so steady in the face of the terrors of Gotham. It was something Dick admired— envied, even. It was exhausting to feel like he was on the brink of bursting most days.

His head tilts just slightly as he studies Bruce, looking for some gauge of how he was doing. Was he ignoring how he was feeling right now?

"What about today?" He asks. "Like right now. Are you feeling bad?"

[bludhavenbirder]

by dan mora & tamra bonvillain

[bludhavenbirder]

Dick moves at a quick pace. He keeps his breath steady as he goes, trying to keep his heart rate from rising. The pain had definitely made it a bit higher, and panicking would only make it worse. It may be fruitless, but he didn't want to give Clark another reason to worry about him. And more importantly, he had to stay calm to keep aware of his surroundings, especially with his arm the way it was.

He slips through the door, still for a moment to listen. He doesn't hear anyone and moves forward. A small box of ammunition had been left behind, and Dick slips it into a pocket on his utility belt. Tracing their origin might be useful. The makeshift desk seemed a good place to continue. He picks up a map of Gotham, folds it and tucks it into his sling. aAs he rifles through, he picks up a few pages of schematics. Something about them feels familiar about them. He pauses, about to ask Clark what an assessor's record is and if he thinks it's relevant.

It's then Dick hears something. The only thing he makes out is a creak in the hallway, but he's on the defensive in a second, body angled to attempt protecting his arm from whatever the cause of the sound.

Dick relaxes his shoulders as Clark adjusts the sling. It hurt, but he knew it needed to fit properly. When Clark smiles at him, Dick forces one in return. He would be fine to keep working, and he wanted to make sure the man believed it. "Thanks," he nods.

The kid squirms when Clark mentions going home. His neck goes warm, and he moves to roll his shoulders but a sharp pain stops him. Instead, he hops back and forth on his feet like a boxer to settle himself.

"Alright, let's figure out what these guys are hiding," he nods. It should be fine. The gang had been drawn out of their hiding place— intercepting an unexpected group of them had led to Robin's injuries— so really it was just information gathering. Unless there were others. Or traps. Bruce's voice is in Dick's head, warning him of anything that could do wrong. He shakes his head and sets off.