#or when out for boy time he makes a beeline for me or grayson (mostly them and i'm NOT JEALOUS)

[caterjunes]

peach's neck lump is probably benign but will likely keep growing at an unknown rate. it's de facto inoperable d/t his age, overall health, and its location, so when/if it gets big enough to affect his quality of life we'll have to put him to sleep.

worse, he's lost just. a catastrophic amount of weight since the last time we took him to the vet, close on half his body weight. i don't know how he's still alive, let alone active and as far as we can tell happy. the babies easily outweigh him at this point. the vet said it could be diabetes or kidney disease or (less likely) cushing's disease, none of which are particularly diagnosable or treatable d/t his small size. so again it's just. wait for him to decline. palliative care. make him as happy as we can in however long he has left (weeks? months? we have no idea)

i hate this. i can't keep going through this over and over.

[my-one-love-is-music]

Write 365 Day 55: Gang Leader!Jason and Detective!Tim

Tim had nearly chewed off all his fingernails by the time Dick’s phone rang. 

“This is Grayson.” 

“Uh huh...yup...yeah...got it. Okay, we’ll see you soon.” 

He hung up and turned to face Tim who paused his incessant nail biting. 

“They got him.” 

Tim’s breath left him in a rush and his legs wobbled as every ounce of energy he had left drained out of him. 

“Woah, hey,” Dick said, grabbing his arm to keep him from collapsing. He helped him over to a chair. 

Tim buried his face in his hands. It was strange to think a handful of hellish days was suddenly over. As long as there was nothing else to be concerned about, he could go home. He could go home and sleep and he wouldn’t have to worry about any of this again. 

“Do you want anything? Food? Coffee? Water?” Dick asked. 

He shook his head. He didn’t even know what to say. 

Dick squeezed his shoulder and Tim let out another breath, running his hands through his hair as he stared at the floor underneath his feet. 

He wasn’t sure how much time passed between the phone call and when they got a knock on their door. 

Tim looked up when it was pushed open and Dick’s captain stood in the doorway. 

He nodded at both of them before he focused on Tim. 

“How are you feeling?” 

Tim shrugged. “Relieved mostly. It’s hard to believe that it’s over.” 

“That’s understandable. We’re working on getting all of his paperwork sorted out, so we’ve got him cuffed in one of the interrogation rooms. I know you’ve been through a lot, but would you like to see him? I won’t force you, it’s completely up to you.” 

“No way,” Dick blurted. 

“I’ll see him,” Tim said, voice firm. 

“Tim,” Dick protested. “He held you captive for three days!”  

He shook his head. “I know. But I feel like I should take this chance. If everything  goes as it should, I won’t ever see him again after this. I want a chance to have some closure if there is anything I want to say to him. It’s my chance to have a conversation where I don’t have to worry about how Jason will react to my words.” 

Dick didn’t say anything and Tim knew he wasn’t pleased, but he nodded regardless. 

“Okay,” the captain said. “Come with me, then.” 

Tim pushed himself out of his chair and followed him down a series of hallways until they got to one where another officer was stationed. He turned and unlocked the door without a word, standing aside to let Tim go in. 

Tim took a deep breath and braced himself for what was to come. He walked through the door and sat in the chair across from Jason. 

Jason lit up when he walked in and sat forward, the cuffs around his wrists rattling with the movement. 

“Tim!” he greeted with a grin.

Tim stared at  him and his initial excitement faded. 

“Why did you leave?” 

“Why did I leave?” Tim repeated. “I had to leave. I couldn’t stay. I’m not a criminal, I’m a detective. The life that you live and the one you tried tempting me with isn’t one that I could ever accept.” 

“But I could give you everything.” 

He shook his head. “I don’t want everything. Meeting you again...it wasn’t something I ever expected to happen. I thought you were gone forever and I treasured the memories of the time we spent together.” 

“We could make new memories. Ones just as good as the past.” 

Tim sighed. “No, I don’t think we could. When we were kids I was a little in awe of you. You were mischievous, yet kind and caring. You had a thirst for knowledge and thought anything was possible. That’s who I want, not someone who is willing to hurt people to get what he wants.” 

Jason frowned and sat back. Tim could see the walls going up. His openness and vulnerability that he’d given to him when he couldn’t leave was gone. 

“That boy’s dead,” he spat. 

“That’s a shame,” Tim murmured, meeting Jason’s eyes one last time. 

After a moment he pushed his chair back and walked over to the door. He gripped the handle, searching for the strength to turn it. 

“Goodbye Jason. Even though this didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to, I’m glad that I got to see you one last time.” 

“Tim, wait!” Jason called. 

Tim ignored him and turned the knob, shutting the door behind him. 

“Tim! Tim come back! Tim!” 

Even though Jason’s cries were muffled by the door they still made his heart clench. He forced his feet to move. He needed to put as much distance between himself and Jason as he could. 

He spotted Dick and his captain waiting at the end of the hallway and made a beeline for them. 

“Got everything you need?” the captain asked. 

Tim nodded. “I think so. Is there anything else I need to be worried about or am I okay to head home? It’s been a long day and I’d like to get some rest.” 

“You’re welcome to head out. Although, I’d suggest staying at a friend’s house for another day or two while we get the rest of this mess cleaned up.” 

Tim nodded. “Not a problem.” 

“Oh,” he continued before Tim could leave. “There is one other thing. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders and had the right instinct when it came to this whole case. I was wondering if you’d be willing to transfer to our precinct?” 

Tim gave him a tired smile. “I would be honored to join your team.” 

If you enjoy my work, please reblog or consider buying me a ko-fi!

[sweet-steddie]

Home (g.d. & e.d.)

Summary: You’ve gotten a bad grade which means you’re having a bad day. The twins are more than ready to make you feel better. @shawnsababe here it is, almost lol. Hope you enjoy whatever this is!

A/N: Here’s my third Dolan twins imagine and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that everyone is pleased with it! If you’re liking the warm and fuzzy theme of my imagines so far, then this one’ll hopefully be right up your alley lol. Please reblog and leave feedback and maybe even drop a request or two off for me ;) Here goes!

2.6k+

The lecture is almost over, thank heavens. The professor has just informed us all that our most recent test scores have been posted online, at which point 97 percent of the class pulled out their laptops to check their grades, effectively checking out of the lecture. I’ve just selected the “Grades” tab on my school website and am anxiously waiting for the test results to appear.

When the page finishes loading, I give pause. Major pause. Because the grade is not good. Scratch that; the grade is fucking horrendous. I bite my lower lip and my vision immediately goes blurry with unshed tears. Not here. I will not cry here. And I mentally recite this mantra over and over until everyone around me begins to rise to their feet and file out of the classroom.

I must zone out for a considerable amount of time because when I come to, I see unfamiliar faces and an unfamiliar professor entering the room and preparing for the class that’s scheduled to begin next. I make quick work of sticking my earbuds in and packing up my bag before I all but scamper from the room. I speed-walk into the nearest restroom and am momentarily pleased to find it empty before I occupy the first stall and lock the door, sinking down onto the toilet seat just as my tears begin to fall. I take a few shuddering breaths and my shoulders shake pathetically with hushed hiccups and cries.

I close my eyes and force myself to take a deep breath. And then I take another deep breath before gathering a wad of toilet paper to messily wipe at my tear stricken cheeks. I dispose of the tissue and dig my phone out of my pocket, waking up the screen to find it stacked with notifications. When my phone is unlocked, I thumb into my messages and am quickly reminded that I made plans for the day and fuck, if socializing isn’t the last thing I wanna do right now. I hate the idea of bringing the weight of my crushing self-pity to a gathering; it feels unbearably selfish.

I tap into the group message that I have with Grayson and Ethan. Through my puffy eyelids, I scan over the most recent texts. Something about if we should order takeout tonight. I sigh heavily through my nose as I type out Guys, I’m gonna have to take a rain check today. It’s just that I’m the dumbest bitch on earth and I’m never getting out of college. Hope you understand! and then I send it and thumb into my music app to put my library on shuffle. I’m only able to blow my nose and stand up from the toilet before I get an incoming FaceTime call.

It looks like Grayson’s calling and I haven’t looked in the mirror since I left class, but I’m almost positive that I look absolutely miserable. Unfortunately, there’s no time to fix that now. I sigh as I sit back down and accept the call, attempting to paint a smile onto my face to lessen the blow of my swollen eyelids and shiny nose. When the call connects, both Ethan and Grayson are staring me down through the phone, each with expressions of utter sympathy. None of us say anything and I allow my fake smile to slip as I fight back a second wave of tears.

Ethan’s eyebrows furrow as he watches me begin to break down. “Don’t cry,” he mutters softly, eyes softening at my vulnerable appearance.

“Whatever happened, it’s gonna be okay, baby. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” Grayson adds just as softly, looking equally as distraught as his brother. Their concern seems to push me over the edge and I have to cover my mouth as I break down crying once again.

“I’m sorry, this is so uncomfortable! I’m sorry,” I blubber out between cries, gasping out wet breaths to attempt to keep the incoming tears from cascading. “I’m gonna be okay, I’m just being dramatic. I’ll be okay,” I reassure them, but it’s mostly me talking to myself and telling myself to get it the fuck together.

“Where are you? You shouldn’t be alone right now. We’ll come get you,” Ethan desperately tries to put a plan together to come to my rescue and I so appreciate him for that. But having them come onto my campus will only cause problems for them and the three of us are aware of that.

“No,” I protest, “it’s okay, I’m okay to drive. I’ll come to you guys. I don’t want you guys getting mobbed.”

“And you’ll stay overnight, at least. I don’t want you staying alone tonight,” Grayson states more than asks. But I nod along anyway, truthfully in no mood to be by myself for much longer.

“Come see us babe, we’re waiting on you. Come home,” Ethan coos gently. My heart melts at him calling his house home. And then it dawns on me that nothing in the world sounds better in this moment than being wrapped up in my boys.

“Okay,” I whisper out, giving a pitiful sniffle. Grayson looks like he would leap through the screen right now if he could. Both boys do.

“I love you,” Ethan pipes up before I can end the call.

“I love you too. So fucking much,” Grayson contributes and I’m able to crack a smile that’s small but genuine.

“I love you guys. I’ll be over soon,” I sign off and I wave at them before ending the call. I make myself as presentable as possible and stand up, finally registering that I’ve been sitting on a public toilet in my pants for the past however long. “Ew,” I mutter, unlocking the stall door and washing my hands before making a beeline out of the building and beginning my trek to the parking garage across from my apartment.

When I finally arrive at my car, I feel less like crying and more like curling up with my favorite guys. I load my things into the car and prepare for the 30 minute drive to the twins’ place and, in my haste to see them as soon as possible, the trip seems at least 5 times longer than usual. So pulling into the boys’ garage at last, then, is the sweetest relief I’ve experienced all day.

I don’t bother bringing my backpack with me when I hop out of the car and lock the doors, shuffling toward the twins’ house. I raise my fist to knock on the door but before I can make any contact, it flies open to reveal Ethan looking more worried than I’ve seen him in a long time. “C’mere,” he beckons me softly, reaching out to cup my face in his hands and bringing his plush lips to my forehead in a sweet kiss. I close my eyes at his attention, wrapping my arms around his middle and squeezing tight. Being in Ethan’s arms right now is like a breath of fresh air.

“I missed you, E. I need you. You and Gray,” I mutter and he hums, lips still pressed flush to my forehead. He pulls back with a soft smack.

“We’re right here. And we won’t leave your side,” he promises near my ear before planting a quick kiss there as well and reaching out behind me to shut the front door.

“E? Is she here?” comes Grayson’s voice from somewhere behind Ethan. I keep my eyes closed, knowing he’ll come and find us. Ethan’s taken to resting his cheek on top of my head and wrapping his arms around my shoulders, gently swaying us where we stand.

“Yeah, she’s here,” Ethan calls back and, sure enough, I hear the sound of Grayson’s feet padding nearer. And then his voice is much closer than before.

“Well lemme see her,” Grayson says softly and I feel Ethan place one more firm kiss to my forehead before releasing me and I open my eyes just in time to find Grayson waiting on me with open arms. He stares me down with droopy, soft eyes and gathers me up into his chest, holding tight. “How’s my girl, hm?” he murmurs into my ear, pausing to kiss the top of my head before his lips resume their hovering over the area near my ear. “I know I told you you didn’t have to talk about it, but please tell me what it is. Tell me what it is so I can fix it,” he pleads, voice a pleasantly deep rumble beneath where my head is resting.

I take a moment to inhale deeply, breathing in his woodsy cologne. “Gray,” I sigh out, clinging to the thick fabric of his hoodie with needy fists, “I failed my test in that one class I was telling you guys about. The one I’ve been having trouble in already. And if I don’t bring up my grade, I might fail the course. And if I fail a course in my last semester here, I might not graduate on time,” I begin to ramble at this point. I feel Grayson nod at various points in my speech.

“You’re not gonna fail, babe. You’re just having a rough time in the class; it happens. It’s only your first test,” Ethan soothes. And the thing is...he’s right. Grayson nods again.

“Exactly. You’re gonna do just fine, we know you are. We’ll help you study. We’ll fucking,” he scrambles to find the words, “we’ll come to your lectures with you. We’ll take notes. Whatever you need,” Grayson suggests and my chest does that fluttery thing that only he and Ethan can make it do. This earns a giggle out of me and I lean my head back so that I can look up into Grayson’s face. He seems mildly perplexed that I’m laughing.

“Thats so sweet, Grayson,” I smile up at him and use a finger to lovingly tap the tip of his adorable button nose. That earns the beginnings of a lopsided smile out of him. “I know you and E would do anything for me. That’s why I love you guys so much,” I gush, essentially staring right into Grayson’s face with major heart eyes. “Thank you,” I all but whisper before leaning up and into his face, kissing the light stubble below his cheekbone. The smile that spreads across his face is borderline dopey.

I give his firm body a squeeze before gently breaking away to show Ethan some love, as well. I slowly approach him, smile spreading shyly across my lips as I draw nearer. He must decide that I’m taking too long, because he reaches out a long arm and pulls me in with a gentle tug, causing me to stumble into his chest with an embarrassingly high pitched squeal of delight. He twines his arms around my waist and lowers his head so that we’re face height with each other, turning so that his cheek is closest to me.

“C’mon. My turn,” he encourages, waiting for a kiss like the one I gave Grayson. I snort at his cheesiness, but it makes my heart thud violently nonetheless. I don’t hesitate to lean in and plant my lips on his cheek, drawing it out before pulling back with a loud, dramatic mwah! “Oh yeah,” he gloats after I pull away and I can assume based off of the smug smirk on his face that he’s addressing Grayson now. “My kiss was better,” he taunts and I fondly roll my eyes at him before spinning around and allowing him to pull my back to his front as I watch for Grayson’s reaction. He stares back at Ethan with his expression portraying the utmost boredom, looking utterly unamused.

“Ethan,” he starts before even begins to address the teasing, “that didn’t even count. She felt sorry for you because you begged for the kiss. And she kissed me first, idiot,” he accuses and I know exactly what he’s doing. The bickering between the boys hasn’t even begun and my stomach is already bubbling with impending laughter, which is surely Grayson’s intent.

“You’re so fucking jealous, bro. You’re mad because she’s mine,” I feel Ethan shrug before resting his chin on my shoulder. I bite my lip at that lovely claim. It’s amazing to me, at this point, that I started this day so horribly and that it’s turning out so fucking well.

“How is that possible?” Grayson’s eyebrows furrow as if what Ethan said is the dumbest thing he’s ever heard. “That doesn’t make any sense, Ethan. Because she’s mine,” he responds as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. He looks at me, shaking his head in mock-exasperation and I laugh. Completely disregarding Ethan’s hold on my waist, he grabs my hand and entwines our fingers, pulling me towards himself instead. Ethan catches my hand just in time and I end up holding hands with them both, swinging both sets of our joined hands back and forth playfully.

The boys are wearing matching smiles as I stare between the two of them, all traces of their playful fight forgotten as we circle back around to the reason that I’m here. Grayson hip checks me, staring down into my eyes with a gentle grin on his pretty, pink lips, an unspoken gesture of comfort.

“Just to let you know,” Ethan starts, causing me to look over at him instead, “if you have any more trouble in that course,” he uses a free hand to gesture between himself and his brother, “Grayson and I will he happy to find your professor and kick his ass.” he deadpans, causing me to bark out a surprised laugh. The statement is so ridiculous that it catches me off guard and I end up having to lean over as I continue to choke out laughter. Whether this laughter is borne of Ethan’s declaration or out of delirium after having such a previously awful day, I’m not certain; I have a feeling it’s a healthy mixture of both. In my haze of mirth, I don’t quite catch on that I’m the only one laughing. When I’m reduced to chuckles, Grayson clears his throat.

“We’re serious.”

[unavenged-robin]

Characters: Dick Grayson, Damian Wayne Additional Tags: Missing Moments, Fluff, Brotherly Bonding, Hugs, Grief/Mourning

Moiety (n) one of two equal parts.

Or the first time that Dick hugs Damian and the first time Damian hugs Dick.

The first time he hugs Damian is at Bruce’s funeral.

The child is standing in front of his father’s coffin, back as straight as a needle, dry eyes furiously looking in front of him, a solemn and very collected expression on his young face. But Dick looks down at his hands, hidden in the pockets of the expensive suit Alfred had ordered for him, and he knows right away that there are fists in there.

So he walks towards him and puts a hand on his shoulder. He truly expects the little demon to glare at him and just swat it away, and he wouldn’t care either, because all Dick wants right now is to show him that there is still a family here for him if Damian wants it - and even if he doesn’t want it.

Predictably enough, Damian freezes under his touch. Unexpectedly enough, he doesn’t avert it. On the contrary, as soon as he recognizes him, he actually leans into it. Leans into Dick completely, as it is, his left shoulder against Dick’s side, his head in the crook of Dick’s elbow.

Damian is a weird child. Problematic it’s the kindest word one could use, but there are so many others adjectives coming to mind when one’s forced to deal with this spoiled, arrogant, little brat, that it’s easy to forget that he’s a child nevertheless. Even for Dick, who really should know better.

He remembers himself in the same position, oh so many years ago. Standing in front of his parents’ coffins, dozens of people ruffling his hair, giving him sympathetic smiles and heartfelt condolences, and Bruce’s hand on his shoulder was a foreign touch, but also the only thing that felt real. And coming to think about it, it mustn’t have been very different for Bruce himself, a lot more years before, with Alfred beside him and Thomas and Martha Wayne’s gravestones in front of them. A neverending circle of unwilling orphans and even more unwilling fathers, that’s what they are. Dick almost snorts at the thought, even if it doesn’t amuse him in the slightest. Makes him feel sad, actually, and inappropriate.

But the point is, he understands it, he really does. The void. The emptiness. Damian never had a normal family or even normal family values, but losing a parent is the kind of pain that speaks an universal language and transcends education and training. It’s not just the loss of love, Dick’s learned, it’s also the loss of direction, the loss of someone able to take your hand and guide you through tomorrow and all the days after that, someone that was supposed by natural laws to just be there for so much longer.

So Dick squeezes Damian’s shoulder a little harder, tugs the child a little closer to him until he’s practically hugging him, and he’s infinitely grateful - and even a little proud - for Damian’s lack of protests. Because that means that under all his arrogant displays of strength and deadly skills Damian is still a child willing to be held and guided towards something better, and that’s something Dick can do. Not for Batman or for Gotham or even for the greater good, but for Bruce, and only for him.

Because he doesn’t know if he can promise him to honor the cape and the cowl - he doesn’t know if he wants to make that promise at all - but taking care of Damian, raising him like Bruce had raised Dick, well, this he can promise.

And maybe, just maybe, he thinks, feeling the brush of Damian’s spiky hair against his chest, he’s even going to survive the experience in one piece.

*

The first time Damian hugs him is after the Pyg case.

They’re back home after one of the longest night Dick cares to remember, they’re both very satisfied and very tired of it, and Damian’s carrying his costume with one hand and the R’s patch with the other into the kitchen, for Alfred to sew them back together. Dick feels good for the first time in months. Feels victorious even.

Dawn breaks in through the large windows and finds them sitting on the couch, barefooted and hair still wet from a long, well deserved shower, sipping hot chocolate from matching mugs. It’s quiet, and it’s comfortable, and it’s familiar, and it only needs fourteen hours or so of sleep to become a really good day.

But Damian seems preoccupied, Dick notices. He keeps his head lowered and he’s still fiddling with the little patch of black and yellow in his hand, and it doesn’t take the world’s greatest detective to understand the direction his thought are wandering around.

“Something on your mind, kiddo?”, Dick asks gently, knowing that there are a lot of conversations Damian’s more than able to handle on his own, but also that this one in particular is probably a bit out of his comfort zone.

Damian nods at him, but he doesn’t stop twisting the patch between his fingers and he doesn’t look up at him when he speaks.

“I may have been too hasty in my assessment of your mentoring abilities earlier tonight”, the kid says. And it’s not a I’m sorry for the way I acted today, and even less a thank you for saving my life, but those are both things Dick never expected to hear from him. To be honest, he didn’t expect to hear this either.

He resists the urge to stand up from the couch and go kneel in front of the kid, as he’s learned first hand that Damian considers it a very patronizing thing to do and would react accordingly no matter how good the sentiment behind it. Instead he just scoots closer to him and wraps an arm around his shoulders.

“It’s alright, Damian”, he answers, one hand already petting the child’s hair. Damian reluctantly relaxes under his touch, his head lolls against Dick’s shoulder and this too feels like a victory tonight (or today, by now).

“It is not alright, Grayson, and you know it”, Damian reproaches him anyway. And then, as an afterthought, he adds. “You didn’t have to come after me.”

Dick doesn’t know if he wants to sigh or to smile at that, but mostly he doesn’t know which one of these two reactions he should show to Damian. A sigh could be interpreted as exasperation, a smile as mocking, and he’s honestly too tired for another discussion. So he compromises with himself, sighs only mentally and hides a smile between Damian’s hair when he bends forward to press a brief kiss on the top of his head.

“You are my partner, remember?”, he asks then, because he knows that Damian accepting him as a mentor, and even him accepting a little cuddling from Dick, doesn’t mean that the kid considers him family yet, or that he understands the natural obligations and responsibilities Dick feels towards him. Which is okay, because that’s just another thing Dick’s going to teach him, through as many fights and shouting matches as are needed.

Again, Damian only answer is a nod, and then a yawn. Dick takes it as a cue to permanently end this entire Pyg affair and he promptly stands up from the couch, stealing the Robin patch from Damian’s sleepy fingers in the process.

“Good. Let’s go to sleep then. I honestly can’t feel my brain anymore”, he jokes, hoping to bait Damian into a quick banter, and fully expecting him to reply with something along the line of that’s probably because you never had a brain to start with, Grayson.

Instead Damian just stands up and tilts his head back to gingerly eye him for a moment. Then he suddenly moves towards him and wraps his arms around his waist, burying his face into his stomach. It’s all so fast that Dick has barely the time to register his movement and recover from the unexpectedness of it just enough to quickly hug him back, before Damian steps away from him again.

“Goodnight, Grayson”, he says without looking at him, before making a straight beeline for his bedroom.

And if his face was a bit redder than usual, or if he looked cutely embarrassed by such a childish and spontaneous gesture of affection, well, Dick’s definitely not going to mention it to anyone. (Except maybe Alfred, because he’s going to smile so fondly at that, and Dick can’t deny Alfred a smile on his life.) (Oh, and probably Tim too, just to prove him that Damian can be a nice kid when he wants to, it’s just not Dick’s fault if Damian never wants to be nice with Tim.)

I’m rereading Batman Reborn and oh boy, the feels. Also there is this beautiful panel in Grayson #12, when finally Dick and Damian meet again and one of their memories together is them standing in front of Bruce’s coffin, Dick’s arm around Damian’s shoulders, and I just. So. Many. Feels. On another note, I’m in dire need of writing, and since these people are currently the only ones to make me less dead inside, if you have prompts for me I’ll be very happy to take them and cuddle them at the best of my abilities.