#v:Titans - Issue 1: Dick Grayson

[brucene]

~𝕽~  There’s been talk around the precinct. A “friend of a friend” kind of talk. But it made him want to go out there and see if people would really do something as cruel as that to their own child. His coworkers told about a group home that was going to have a priest perform an exorcism on one of their kids. Apparently he could do some explainable things, throw furniture around the room, and automatically, it was the devil’s work. If the kid did indeed have powers, it would be anything but that. He’d met superheroes, human and alien alike, the boy could have had his meta-gene activated. He was an orphan, who knew what traumatic things he’s been through. He knew from personal experience how hard the loss of parents can be, and how it can affect people differently. Dick can’t just sit there and have narrow-minded people handle a kid like that. It could only make things worse. Maybe it’s time for him to share with someone else what Bruce had done for him. Or at least save an innocent child from a very bad experience. Turns out that no matter how hard he’d wanted to get there before the deed was done, the drive had been too long, and it was like the whole town was there, in front of the group home building, most likely wanting to witness the supernatural being throwing a tantrum. If anything were to go wrong, they would all be exposed, in danger. But it was little he alone could do, and there appeared to be no law enforcement around. With a silent prayer in hope nothing would go wrong, he elbows his way towards the door. It’s a surprise no one stops him. Everyone is too busy with their own murmurs of gossip and predictions to actually care. Maybe they just think he’s an eager spectator that wants to get a closer look. The detective tries to suppress a feeling of disgust and unfairness. A scream and the clattering of shaking glass meets him in the hallways and guides him to the right room just in time to see a cross being burned into the boy's skin by a preast deep in prayer, molten wax everywhere. Without hesitating or stopping to ask for permission, Dick shoves everyone aside, picks up the boy and starts walking towards the door before anyone can even snap out of their confusion. And their vehement protests that follow are simply waved off by a badge and the simple, but official sounding words: “Stand down. This is an official police investigation. Get in my way and I will have you arrested.” It doesn't matter he doesn’t have jurisdiction around here, or that there is no real criminal investigation. All the way to the car he just whispered “You’ll be fine.” It was meant both for the kid and for him. Wanting to get away from prying and simply annoying eyes, he drives until the first parking lot before sitting down on the back seat next to the boy. “You should be ok now. Are you hurt?” Starting conversations about these kind of things was never easy, he never knew what to do, but the worry in his voice was genuine. They’ll figure out what to do next in due time.

@trailergenius​​

[brucene]

❛  don’t  be dramatic . i wasn’t dead , i was only resting my eyes .   ❜

SHIELD sentence prompts || accepting

~𝕽~ The fight had been intense and he didn’t have enough time to check on her after her having been knocked down. And he worried. Now, with the attacker having fled and her voice being heard as he crouched down beside her, a sigh of relief escaped his lips. “Oh, great, the after-the-fight bravado!” A sarcastic response in try to give his heart time to slow down to a normal rhythm. “Now shut up and let me see that wound.”

@touchofdeath​

[brucene]

~𝕽~ Dick throws the ruined shirt into the garbage and pulls on a fresh one, keeping silent for a few moments before responding. “I guess there’s always a point, a line we can’t come back from, be it death or our own actions and their consequences. It’s the life we’ve chosen.” Sometimes these kind of thoughts overwhelm him. Not necessarily the thought of something happening to him, but rather the ones around him, the ones he cared for. He nearly lost Bruce a few times and he’d rather not think of a time when the older would not stand up from the hospital bed. “But thinking about it only gets in the way.”

@skyfullofashes​ [x]

[brucene]

@nosestealer​ from this one sweet ask

~𝕽~ Slow but steady he was starting to understand that they needed some affection. The kids, his old friends, even him. Baby steps though. Him using “sweetie” for her was unusual, but he knew it had a calming and caring effect on her. And he did really care. Tough on the outside with a soft core, but sometimes, a small effort goes a long way. And he has to admit, feeling the couch bend under her weight, then the warmth of her close, cuddled against him had a calming effect on him too. Just like he would have done to his mom, were he still a child and were she still alive. Or at least he would like to think he would have turned out a little more outwardly affectionate, had his mother not passed and had Bruce been not so cold and serious most of the time. So he’s trying to be what these kids need.  The nightmares were starting to become a cause for worry. And she always seemed even more tired after them, like they were draining her somehow. But it was little he could do at this time of night but try to be a comfort and distraction, because she clearly didn’t feel like talking about it and he knew it was not a good idea to press. Not now. He couldn’t exactly sleep either. He’d been following up on a lead most of the night with no real progress and he couldn’t exactly sleep well until this threat was taken care of. “Was trying to tie some loose ends. Turns out it was a dead end.” There is clear disappointment in his voice at this confession, as if the weight of the world was once again on his not broad enough shoulders. But an idea comes to mind, something to keep them both away from this state, since sleep was definitely not an option right now. Thus, a downward glance toward her and a slight smirk precede his words: “What about I make us a hot chocolate, with whipped cream and marshmallows?”

[brucene]

@atrcpain​ asked: ❝ something happened today. ❞ 

  THINGS that are hard to hear || NOT accepting 

~𝕽~ “Are you ok? Is everyone ok?” He’d felt the tension between the new titans and no one wanted to talk about training, Gar just said they’re slowly getting better, believable but also clear that there was something they all didn’t want to talk about. So when Rachel opened the discussion, he’s there to find out what happened, what’s bothering everyone and how to try and fix it. “Rachel, what happened?”

[brucene]

~𝕽~ Too much had happened before their arrival at the tower, before his decision to restart the Titans and bring the kids here. And even though Rachel was doing her best to cope with all that and not make others privy to her problems. She’d talked to him, of course, if only briefly, but he’d never knew what to do or the right thing to say to help at that moment. Whenever he’d been in such a mood, or something terrible would happen during one of his patrols with Batman, Alfred would always silently bring him a piece of freshly baked cake and tea, despite it being well past midnight, or a new vintage record found who knows where, a butler resource stash or something, no doubt. And he was always grateful for these small signs of unsaid “you’re not alone, master Dick”. Though he had never expressed his gratitude through words or clear actions, he knew Alfred was aware of his gratitude. So, of course, now he would try and do the same for his protegees. For this particular gift he’d researched calming effects of plants and aromatherapy. He was having a bit of trouble for the rest of the team though. “Purple immediately made me think of you. About the guys... I was hoping you’d give me a hand. I thought of getting a record for Jason, but what could we get Gar?“ There was an ulterior reason for his request. He was hoping to get her out of the house, change her mindset a bit.

@atrcpain​ from this random ask 

[brucene]

@kcrivnd-r asked ▬ so... - the princess stays in the corners to the training room, a little smile draws her lips as she approaches to him. ▬ someone told me is your birthday... and that's a celebration. - she doesn't ask, soon her arms are around his neck wrapping him up in a tight hug. ▬ happy birthday, grayson.

~𝕽~ Ok, he was starting to get used to the sudden hugs. Actually, he’s starting to even like them, no wonder everyone feels the need for one of these in moments of emotional weakness. They’re actually quite soothing. So, of course, he returns the hug, his arms wrapped around her waist. “Thank you, Kory.” The smile on his lips is genuine, the heartwarming thought and gesture melting his usually seeming frozen heart. “Honestly, I wasn't expecting anyone to know."

[brucene]

@kcrivnd-r​ and @atrcpain​ from this little convo (the more, the merrier)

~𝕽~ Well, Kory definitely knew how to get a timing right. And by right he meant completely bad timing to show up, Kory. What could he do but flash a smile and try to smooth things over? “The Thing Dick has no idea about because he was just leaving. I don’t want to get in the way of any secret ritual you two have planned.” And by smoothing things over he meant chickening out. To point out his intentions are serious, he even picks up his coffee mug. “I was just here wanting to ask you girls if you want coffee.”

[brucene]

@atrcpain​ asked: "Happy birthday Dick," Rachel says, a small and neatly wrapped box in her grasp. She gives it to him-- she had spent a lot of time thinking on what she should give, and this was what she had settled on. Inside was a simple, yet elegant watch with a leather strap. "I got it so that whenever you're at work or out on your solo missions-- you would know when to come home again"

~𝕽~ He’d just emerged from the kitchen, coffee mug in hand, his thoughts on something completely different. To be honest, he wasn’t expecting any attention, he usually just treats this like any other day. Ok, Alfred always baked a cake and insisted on candles and a small gift, and Bruce always used to quietly slip a box or something in his hand and a pat on the shoulder, but, since he’d left Gotham, he was used to the solitude. What’s a birthday? Well, there had been that one party when Garth was still with them, but it seemed like ages ago. And then there’s the question, how did Rachel find out? He knew he’d never told the new Titans about it. His first guess would be Donna. Or Dawn. A smile slowly finds it’s way onto his lips, this time reaching his eyes. “Rachel.” He stops, because, for once, he doesn’t know what to say. And of course, his first thought is that he doesn’t deserve it, after all he’d put her and the Titans through. “You really shouldn’t have.” But before even waiting for a reply, his arms wrap tightly around her, pulling her in a comfortable embrace, the first one he’d initiated since they met, without a threatening situation to be needed. “Just a hug would have been more than I deserve, you know?” He whispers before pulling away and slowly and meticulously opening the box, so he wouldn’t rip the packaging. And, of course the wide eyes follow, as he spots the perfect gift: practical, yet elegant, it was clearly picked out especially for him, it fitted his style perfectly. “Rachel! This is too much. Thank you, it’s perfect.” Leave it to her to pick out the perfect gift for him, nothing but pride and hope fills his heart. She really was special and deserved so much better than he’d done. “And thank you for keeping me around.” he adds, jokingly, with a crooked smile.

[brucene]

❛ let’s just say i didn’t volunteer ❜

SHIELD sentence prompts || accepting

~𝕽~ Ok, maybe he’d been going about this the wrong way. Of course she wouldn’t have volunteered to do this nor would have told anyone where she was. The girl was scared of something, clearly. And, after what he had seen, she was right to be. He had never encountered something as peculiar as that. Had that been really the teenager in front of him? A cold-blooded killer? No, that couldn’t be. But that guy was dead nonetheless, he’d seen it with his own eyes. Otherwise he’d have never believed it. And he was going to figure it out. Somehow.“Look, I know that whatever it was in there could not have been easy for you. We’re going to figure this out. Rachel, has anything like…” A short pause to find the fitting words to describe what he had seen, “Like what happened ever happened before?” He didn’t want to push her, God, he wanted to help her. But he had never felt so helpless before in his life. Something had made the girl come to him, he was responsible for her. And he knew he was not in a state to be responsible even for his own actions, not to mention Rachel. But what was the best solution to this problem? He was hoping the answer was talking about it, the one thing he’d never gotten at her age. Maybe, if things had been different for him back then, he wouldn’t be in this predicament right now and would know exactly what to do to help the girl. Emotionally at least. Let’s just hope he’s not going to scar her for life by being too curious or insistent.

@atrcpain

[brucene]

@touchofdeath asked:   ❛ aren’t we all just a bundle of patterns , repeating again and again ? ❜

SHIELD sentence prompts || NOT accepting

~𝕽~ And no matter how hard we try to break the pattern, we realize that in truth, we just repeated another, he continued in his mind, optimism and hope all but forgotten. Or at least that’s what he would want, to give in to the darkness of such thought. It was easier to just give up and believe that no one is capable of changing their ways and that willpower was just an empty word. But then there was the image of Bruce in his mind. No superpowers but his own, strong will, that man managed to bring all corruption in Gotham to justice and make them fear him. Well, will and intellect, that is. So he was offering the proof he needed to answer to this seemingly hopeless question. “Not really. It takes willpower and determination. So I guess I’m going to be the believer of the cliche that everything is possible if you really put your mind to it. My mentor is the perfect example.“ 

[brucene]

~𝕽~ It was hard for him to figure this one out, too chaotic for his liking. Were Batman now before the informant and not Dick Grayson, he would have gotten a beating until the needed information was out. Bruce had never been one to deal in chivalry when in a hurry. But he was not Bruce, and not even wearing his cape, which would have given him the freedom to at least try a threat or two. And besides, he was done with that, or at least he tried. He really needed to get that out of his system, it was only dragging him down. He was done being Robin. He had to. But, were he to be perfectly honest, this guy was starting to annoy him. Why did his colleague recommend him anyway? “Is everything a joke to you? I was told you have information that could help our investigation.” 

@skyfullofashes​ - Izaya

[brucene]

@nosestealer​ - from this meme reply

~𝕽~  “I admit, the situation is less than ideal, but I’ve handled worse, we’ll find a way to deal with this. As long as we’re all alive, we can do this.“ His reply about the situation was an understatement, one meant to help her calm down and start thinking straight. Nothing ever was favorable when in a state of high anxiety, anger or fear, nor were one’s reactions in said states. He knew that all too well. What he needed to do now was asses the gravity of their predicament, gather more information on the person they were dealing with. “Ok, now take me through the story once more. What happened to your sister?“

[brucene]

❝ i feel like you’re taking advantage of me. ❞ / kuroha

THINGS that are hard to hear || accepting

~𝕽~“What? No! Why would you think that?“ A little too fast of a response, followed by an innocent smile. In fact, he was feeling guilty. It was indeed how his interaction with the medical examiner had started, he had wanted some intel on her brother, the obnoxious detective that seemed to hate Dick. (And the feeling was mutual, actually.) But talking to her made him realize she was really cool and smart, he actually enjoyed her company. She was the best thing in there, opposed to those monkeys in the offices who would do anything to procrastinate and not get any work done, but instead, blame the vigilantes for doing their work for them. There was just no pleasing these people.“Ok, that was terrible, let me try again. I admit, it started as that. I suppose your brother told you we’re kind of getting on each other’s nerves. And, I guess I just wanted to have the upper hand for once. Sorry. But now I’m here cause I think this is the best place in the precinct. And has the smartest company.“ Admitting his feelings was one thing, voicing them... that was a whole new problem altogether. And of course, now he sounded like a dick... no pun intended.

@episentre

[brucene]

~𝕽~ “Is this really necessary?” To say he’s feeling uncomfortable would be an understatement. “I already told him I’m sorry and admitted I only acted on instinct and frustration.”

@episentre​ - Huan

[brucene]

"Hey. You've got a nice frown. Looks like we've got one thing in common"

~𝕽~“…Thanks.“ He doesn’t get such a compliment often. And definitely not in earnest. Everyone else who met his frowning gaze knew he meant something along the lines of piss off or i’ll punch your ugly face and usually retreated. He didn’t like most of their company anyway. He worked better alone and would rather avoid the distraction of unwanted company. The girl was different though. “But, come on, I think you love it as much as I do when they almost run off screaming after they see us frown.“

@atrcpain