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me: why are you destroying earth!!!

aliens: because theres people who think that english is the only language they need to speak

me: thats fair i understand

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For NaruHina, who sings in the shower?

SEND ME A SHIP AND I’LL TELL YOU…

Who sings in the shower

Naruto. Naruto does. Can you imagine Naruto with a great singing voice

Here are some headcanons for this

He’s always used to an empty silence in his apartment. He has been, ever since he was a kid. So he fills the air with the sound of radio and TV, purposely making as much noise as possible in his daily morning routine. And then when he finally learns to do Shadow Clone Jutsu, he uses them to fold the laundry and wash the dishes, even though he doesn’t really need to. They’re hyperactive knuckleheads just like him, and make enough noise to give someone a migraine. It’s better than the emptiness.

This is when he also begins humming along random tunes for the three minutes it takes for the instant ramen to cook, the amount of time it takes to get dressed. His clones tease him at first, claiming his voice is off-key, but he improves so fast that they end up eating their words. They actually become very, very competitive about this, and things once escalated into a war over which clone is the best singer.

His neighbors were not happy.

Hinata doesn’t know for a really long time how good he is at singing.

Boy is she shocked when she finds out

One day, soon after their first date, she finds herself walking along to his apartment in the middle of the night, exhausted from a mission. Nothing is better than meeting Naruto after a mission and slurping up instant ramen with him, defeating him and his weak stomach every single time.

Her knuckles barely rap on his front door when a loud crash echoes and loud squabbling can be heard and - yes, someone definitely shouted “Rasengan!!!!” at the top of his voice.

Naturally, Hinata’s...worried. She activates her Byakugan, especting a fight. An intruder? An enemy invading Konoha again?

No

No, that would be normal and Naruto was not normal

Naruto’s clones were not normal

Few things shocked Hinata about Naruto anymore

The idea that he would engage in a singing war with his clones was one of them

She laughs so hard

So, so hard

Naruto makes her promise never to tell anyone

She holds a certain power over him, knowing all these weird things about him that no one else does

But his secret is safe with her. He’s always safe with her.

Let’s just say that Boruto and Himawari slept very well when they were kids. Their dad is great at singing lullabies, after all.

I’m sorry for the novel

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If it wasn’t canon before...

…It certainly is now! Ladies and gentlemen, Uzumaki Kawaki!

He looks so lost, though. Don’t worry kiddo, you’ll get used to it!

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Tobirama does nothing but shame Minato and Naruto for being morons 😂

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Naruto Fics I Live Vicariously Though

Are you tired of searching for hours for a good read, getting hooked on a super long fic, only to burn through 200k words a night and get to the cliffhanger ending chapter? Worse, you discover the author hasn’t updated for months? Now you can skip the searching part because here are like 20 of those

(no offense to ppl who take hiatuses tho if y’all are making fics you’re already going beyond the call of duty, salute)

Anyway,

Seguir leyendo

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Do any you have any fanfic recs?

I have a very bad memory so there are so many fanfics that I enjoyed reading so much but unfortunately, I can't remember their titles. but here are some of my favorites, all of them are Kakashi centric tho, most of them are team 7 bonding wholesome stories and some of them has a Kakashi ship so I will mention the ship when there's one.

I'm currently following these amazing ongoing fics and I absolutely recommend reading them:-

• Kamui Blues by @butter--peanut (kakaobi)

• The Pack Survives By ihopethelightwillshineupon

• Recalled to life by dogloser which is a sequel to the completed fanfic Bloodstained Hands in a World of White both are absolutely amazing

I also recommend these amazing completed fics:-

• Waking Up (one shot) by checkerbloom

• Uneasy Lies the Head by Hiiraeth (V_eritas)

• Though My Eyes Could See (I Still Was A Blind Man) by ihopethelightwillshineupon

• Persisting Forces by @itsemilyofc (kakayama)

• There is a person at your front door (one shot) by @itsemilyofc (kakayama)

• Kakashi's Day Off (one shot) by BlackMajjicDuchess (kakarin)

• Time Waits for No Man by LaughingWombat

• Time's Child by LaughingWombat (one shot sequel to the previous fic)

• Some Crimes Are Okay If You Mean Well (By Team Kakashi) (one shot) by ihopethelightwillshineupon

• Family (one shot) by FreakyPseudWriter

• The Road Home by Danae3

There are so many more but I couldn't find them because I can't remember their title or their author's names 😭

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I love this better. ❤😭

Holding Naruto's hand then grabbed him closer for a hug.

The hug 🥲

Minato wiping his sons' tears 🥲

The way Naruto ran after his father. 😭

Gawd. 😭

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Anime-manga comparison gifs: Minato’s Farewell

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Would You Eat Them with a Fox? - A Naruto fanfiction by LullabyKnell

12k. Based on a tumblr prompt: Umino Iruka + “boxes”. 

Excerpt: 

Years later, Iruka will have preferred to say that he had laid eyes on Naruto and immediately thought of the boy as an adoptive younger brother or even simply as the lonely child in desperate need of support that he had been. Unfortunately, no matter how many years pass, if Iruka said this, he would be lying his ass off.

When Umino Iruka had first laid eyes on Uzumaki Naruto, in the middle of the school grounds, he was mostly just terrified.

Link to AO3

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nightwing and starfire by @jaeon009

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SHOUT IT LOUDER

When you say Bruce fucks up but he doesn’t abuse his kids, how do you define “Bruce fucks up”? Often when Bruce fucks up: 

* It is him punching Dick for asking about how Jason died 

* It is Bruce beating up Dick because apparently Dick was responsible for his own kidnap and torture

* It is Bruce firing Dick from his own mantle

* It is Bruce throwing Dick out of the manor

* It is Bruce who never raised the adoption issue with Dick adopting another kid within days of Dick being fired and leaving the manor

* It is Bruce going petulantly radio silent after Dick kills Joker after Joker says he killed Tim and brags about killing Jason  

* It is Bruce keeping his silence and his distance as Dick contends with Firefly setting fire to the circus and killing almost 80 people & Blockbuster bombing Dick’s apartment and killing so many more & Tarantula r*ping him, AND this isn’t a problem on its own EXCEPT Bruce then says he was watching and scolds Dick for being suicidal? 

* It is Bruce abandoning Dick when he has amnesia after KGBeast shoots him in his head but Bruce tells a recovering-his-memories Dick that Bruce kept watch on him

* It is Bruce blackmailing Dick into going undercover in Spyral to keep his family safe and says he will take the barbs the family throws at Dick AND THEN DOESN’T 

* It is Bruce with Kryptonian powers beating up Nightwing because Dick is trying to stop him from wreaking destruction. 

And 

I am not even going to address the numerous times Bruce has beaten a very young Dick and the justification has been fear toxin or mindwipes or the times Bruce had indulged in subtle and not so subtle emotional manipulation or the times Bruce has “fucked up” with the others.    

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hot take: if you want a darker batman movie, skip over bruce and go straight to dick's run as batman. i haven't even read the run much, but here's some fun reasons why this would be terribly angsty in the best way possible:

dick's goal is to be nightwing, not batman

dick has the trauma of losing his birth parents *and* bruce

dick has to figure out how to raise a kid

depending on how you approach it, dick has to keep the role switch in who batman is a secret because that's what bruce would have wanted.

dick is dealing with all of this while still grieving bruce and handling his legacy.

he probably also feels responsible for becoming a father figure to the rest of the batfam, even though that absolutely should not be his role.

if this ever *was* a movie, i'd 100% want it to end w/ dick learning that 1) gotham needs people protecting it, but not batman specifically; he was just the first and 2) if he stays as batman, he doesn't have to be bruce.

i'd like at least 1 set of the scenes w/ the justice and commissioner gordon where they just know that it's nightwing/the first robin instead of the OG batman, and another set where the batfam grieve together as a family.

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Dick Grayson as Batman

The last Nightwing issue in Pre52 was basically an ode to the differences and similarities between Dick and Bruce.  A strong end to the Nightwing series and strong characterization of Dick.

For this post I’m going to focus on Dick’s actual time as Batman.  Let’s start with this quote from Jason:

“Dick is different from Bruce.  In the way he fights.  In the way he thinks.  And the way he feels.  And he gets angry.  Really angry.  That anger, it’d make him a great Batman, if he’d let it.  But he won’t.  He’s trying too much to be like him.  The good son.  Man, I hate him.”

[Batman and Robin (2009) #25]

Jason’s got some good points.  Dick isn’t just the Batman that smiles nor is he just a lighter version of Bruce, Dick is a completely different person.  The way he does things is completely different than the way Bruce does. 

The way he fights is different but not just his fighting.  Dick doesn’t like the cape so many times he keeps it behind him rather than draped around his body the way Bruce usually likes it.  When he’s in the cave he hardly ever has his cowl or his cape on unlike Bruce.  Once in a while you’ll see how Dick moves and how he carries himself and you just know it’s him while you’re reading:

[Batman and Robin (2009) #20]

And yes it’s true that he does smile sometimes:

[Batman and Robin (2009) #2]

[Batman and Robin (2009) #9]

You see his difference in mentoring in the first panels of Dick and Damian’s Batman and Robin run:

[Batman and Robin (2009) #1]

[Batman and Robin (2009) #15]

[Batman and Robin (2009) #22]

For the most part Dick tries to compliment Damian.  Dick ignores/curves Damian’s insults.  It takes a lot for him to blow up on Damian and he gives Damian a lot more trust and freedom than Bruce ever had and that was what Damian needed to be able to prove that he chose and continues to choose to be good himself.

Dick has become a mentor and older brother to many young vigilantes over his years and the cowl doesn’t mean he can’t still be that:

[Red Robin #13]

[JLA (2006) #60]

As a team leader Dick approaches the way he knows how.  He’s personable in the way he does things but still steps in and takes charge in his own way.  

[Batman: Gates of Gotham]

[Red Robin #13]

In the JLA it really helped that Donna was there with him and that he knew many of his team members well.  And of course they recognized him right away even with the Batcowl on.

[JLA (2006) #46]

[JLA (2006) #48]

As Jason said Dick is different in the way he feels.  Yes he has a lot of anger but I feel it’s because he has a lot of passion.

Another difference is Dick moved into Wayne Tower right after becoming Batman leaving Bruce’s stuff in the Batcave and finding his own way.  He’s always liked being in the city he protects so it’s a move that’s very much him.  

Dick has so much doubt when he’s Batman as well but so many people love and trust him as Batman and as a leader.

There are just so many panels where you read/look at it and it’s just very blatantly Dick Grayson under that mask and it’s really wonderful.

[JLA (2006) #41]

[Batman and Robin (2009) #10]

[Batman and Robin (2009) #13]

In the end Batman!Dick is just so different than Batman!Bruce.  I’m actually really impressed with most of Batman!Dick’s writers because they don’t ever hide from the fact that they’re writing Dick.  They embraced him as Batman.  

That being said Batman was never a permanent thing for Dick.  When Bruce came back Dick couldn’t take the cowl off fast enough.  In fact he was planning to leave during issue #16 right after Bruce came back but and he stayed as Batman until that run ended at issue at issue #26 because Bruce wanted him to.

[Batman and Robin (2009) #16]

So even if Dick was a great Batman he loves and would rather be Nightwing.

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Confident: Not Arrogant

A post I loved was going around on how confident Dick is.

I just wanted to add that he’s confident but there’s also a humbleness to his confidence that is very uniquely Dick Grayson.  Dick is confident without the arrogance.  He’s confident with a purpose.  Even when he’s not confident he exudes it to lift other people up or at least is usually open to talk about how unconfident he is which in itself takes a certain amount of confidence.

He expresses a very ‘us’ mentality and uses that phrasing a lot when talking to people unless he’s blaming himself for something.

[Batman #688]

“We’re going to have to learn.”

When Dick is Batman we as the reader know how unconfident Dick is but he still wears the cowl and goes out there as well as mentors Damian with as much confidence and humbleness he needs to admit his own shortcomings and works through them with Damian. 

[Batman: Gates of Gotham]

When Tim feels down about screwing up Dick answers in a very Dick Grayson way, “Everyone’s made mistakes on this one.  But we’ve come this far and we’re in this together.”  He acknowledges Tim’s mistakes but he reminds him that everyone has made mistakes even himself, and that he’s not alone here.

You can even tell this trait in him just by his positioning and body language, he lets the kids sit in the Batchair, he talks things out with them, he leans casually even in the Batsuit.  A lot of time’s in comics it seems that the batfamily is on Bruce’s mission but with Dick he clearly shows ‘we’re’ on a mission ‘together’.

(x) 

That humble confidence is also what allows him to be able to see things from other peoples perspectives, and especially why he’s usually written as not condescending towards young heroes and speaks up for them against the Justice League even.

[Teen Titans v3 #6]

“Flash, you were one of us.”

[Teen Titans v3 #33]

“Stop looking at me like I’m one of those statues.  I’m a Titan like you.”

Dick has shown multiple times he can talk people down from fighting or doing bad things or talk people up when they need to step up to the plate and it’s because he’s confident enough to say it but humble enough to say it right.

It’s again because of how humble he is that Dick is not opposed to getting help when he needs it, 

 [Nightwing #141] 

Being picked up or carried,

[X]

Or saying thank you to anyone that helps him.  

 [Nightwing #141] 

[Nightwing #144]

He gets angry, he makes mistakes, yet Dick also doesn’t hold back on apologizing for things when he’s done something wrong.

[Convergence: The New Teen Titans]

[The New Teen Titans #31]

Multiple times he’s snapped at people and then snapped right back and said he’s sorry for it because he’s strong enough emotionally that he can apologize if he’s wronged them.  

Lastly we see that Dick can work with the big guns, heck he can lead the big guns, but he’s never arrogant when he stands beside them.  One of my favorite moments that shows this so clearly is when Dick and Superman are in the park together and the police officer that finds them only cares about getting a picture with Superman. 

[Nightwing #141]

Dick doesn’t even hesitate, he doesn’t think or say anything about it because he doesn’t need that validation from people, he knows how amazing he is and how amazing Superman is.  There’s no jealously there, actually he doesn’t stop smiling the whole time.  

[Robin: Year One #3]

“Style, grace… and a bit of flamboyance, but without the obtrusiveness and pitfalls of arrogance.”

It’s shown even in the way he fights.

Yes there are other characters that have some of these traits as well but for Dick there are SO MANY examples of Dick doing these things, it’s very much ingrained in his character.  That’s Dick Grayson.  He may have insecurities but for the most part he is confident but not arrogant, from what I’ve seen even though he’s one of the most loved characters he’s also one of the most humble characters in the DCU.  

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Dick Grayson and Trust

At first the best thing I could come up with was ‘Dick Grayson and his amazing persuasive skills’ but it’s so much more than that.

Throughout the multiverse Dick Grayson has this trait of being able to get others to trust him and can usually get them to follow his orders.  

[Teen Titans V3 #6]

Dick can get the Teen Titans and the Justice League to stop fighting just by showing up and talking to them briefly.  This is more out of respect than anything but again the members are all open to hearing what Dick Grayson has to say even if they didn’t want to listen to each other.  This isn’t too surprising but it’s still an amazing feat.

[Convergence #6]

In Convergence Dick talked to Telos.  He got him to stop pitting people against each other and help save the entire multiverse instead.

[Grayson #3]

In Grayson Dick convinced this guy not to shoot him and to turn himself in.

[Grayson #7]

Again in Grayson Dick convinced the Gardener to let him go after one talk when just before that she had thought he represented everything she hated.

The thing with Grayson is that Dick was given the power of persuasion and the power to hide his identity, which are two things that he never really needed in the first place.  I liked that it showed this aspect in the comic.

And there are many reason’s, I’m sure, that people trust Dick Grayson but especially for those who don’t know him personally what makes them tick I think is that Dick Grayson knows how to talk to a person and be on their level.  

When he’s persuading he doesn’t seems like he’s looking down on you or judging you in a harsh way.  He makes you feel like he really wants to help you, that there’s no ulterior motive there or if there is then he doesn’t hide it.  He feels reliable, it feels like he could forgive whatever you’ve done or that he has truly good intentions in mind.  That then makes it feel okay for you to be vulnerable, you feel safe to talk with him, or give in to him.

[Batman and Robin (2009) #6]

But for this to be possible too Dick has to really give a certain amount of trust and a certain amount of his own vulnerability.  So if the person truly wants to become better then things turn out okay but Dick has also been tricked in the past.  

When I say Dick has ‘endless trust in other people’ it’s not that he’s super naive.  What I mean is he usually gives other people the benefit of the doubt.  He’s willing to believe in other people even if they don’t believe in themselves. 

[Teen Titans V3 #33]

[Outsiders (2005) #21]

He’s not defensive against someone unless they give him reason to be.  No matter how many people betray him, he never lets that stop him from believing in others.

Even the Joker has said he thinks Dick is the worst.  I think it’s not just because Dick was the first of the Batfam to help pull Bruce out of darkness but because Dick’s not all that fun to ‘play’ with.  He can tell Dick’s weakest spot, exploit it as much as he can, and yet Dick will still go on believing in other people.  The Joker could never truly break Dick’s belief in the goodness of other people and that’s what’s really ‘annoying’ about Dick Grayson.

[Nightwing (2011) #16]

[Nightwing (2011) #17]

I am not by any means saying Dick Grayson is perfect.  I’m not even saying he plans out the way he talks to people or that he’s a psychologist or any of that.  I’m not even saying it’s easy for him to be this way.  It takes his time and effort and one of the reasons Dick is a generally a good leader is because he has this trait but at the same time he can be stressed out by it and worry about his decisions, etc.  He’s constantly having to choose to be that way.

[Teen Titans #20]

All I’m saying is he’s a really genuine character and he does his best to stay honest with others, be there for others, and believe in people.  That’s really hard to do but people see him constantly striving for that mindset and that’s the reason people trust him.

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Robin: Year One

Review: A really good read

For one the writers knew what they were focusing on.  They didn’t rush into it by making Bruce fire Dick right away.  They set up the status quo dynamic between Dick and Bruce so in the beginning you really understand how it is like in the bat-home.  

They gave us emotions for the characters, showed us how close they are, how they’re feeling about each other without overdoing it and doing all of this without relying on us already having feelings for these characters. (Yes I am saying that this is important and a lot of writers don’t even do this and it’s the biggest mistake ever to skip this part if you’re starting a new run or about to do a drastically different story than before.)

[Robin: Year One #1]

Seguir leyendo

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For @archiveofidentityconstellations, based on these ideas. Also on AO3.

Dick & Bruce

Stars spark across his vision; a new kind of darkness blossoming in patches all over the usual black of Gotham’s nighttime. His blurred, blackened vision is accompanied by a burst of pain at his temple that stings sharply then throbs.

His heart is racing and he might be shaking. It takes a long moment for him to realize he’s not standing anymore. His knees must have buckled, but he hadn’t even felt the hit to the ground for the pain in his head.

It isn’t a second later that he feels himself swept off the ground and with the motion, panic takes hold. He hasn’t the strength to move, maneuver himself from the firm grip that has him about the back and shoulders, and beneath his knees. He can’t see – eyes shut tight as if that might lessen the pain in his head, and besides, he’s ashamed to realize, he’s crying. At least he’s not sobbing audibly, but his throat burns at the resistance, while the tears gather at his lashes, and then pools behind the eyelids of his mask when he blinks them free, no way for them to roll down his cheeks.

The best he can do is to desperately thrash about, try to wriggle his arms free, kick out with his legs; trying to dislodge himself, however unceremoniously, from his kidnapper’s hold. Once he’s dropped to the floor, he figures, he could make a run for it, call to Batman, so long as he’s not restrained this way—

“Robin,” the low grumble of Batman’s voice just above him makes him go immediately still, breath hitching in his throat. His knees drop, legs no longer held up, and then he’s being pressed tightly against the body that holds him, as the cool night air comes rushing past – they’re moving; upward.

Every muscle has gone tight, and while he wants something to hold onto, his arms are pressed firmly to his sides, Batman’s arm wrapped all the way around him. A moment later they’re stationary, and he’s set onto his feet ever so gently. His heart is still pounding, from the hit to the head, and the panic, and the adrenalin and the realization that he wasn’t being kidnapped after all. His knees feel weak. He’s afraid he might collapse if not for Batman’s hold – large, solid hands on his shoulders.

The sob finds him then; a loud, gasped squeak from the back of his throat. He clasps his hands across his mouth, and his knees nearly do buckle. Batman holds him firmly upright. He’s almost certain Batman is speaking to him, but the words aren’t registering.

His eyes are still closed, and his head bowed, and he can feel the tears starting to slowly leak in under his mask. His throat burns, but he will not sob again.

He needs to push this aside. It was only a little hit to the head. He’s Robin. Robin doesn’t cry.

Robin. Does not. Cry.

“Dickie,” Batman whispers though, and he shrinks a little into himself. He can’t be Dick Grayson right now. He needs to be Robin. For Batman. He can’t be crying. Robin can’t be crying. He shakes his head, opens his eyes, blinking more tears off his lashes. There’s no way to wipe at his eyes with the mask covering them.

“’m fine,” he attempts from behind his hands, but it’s pitiful and small. His bottom lip trembles involuntarily; if he can’t stop crying, Batman’s going to bench him. He’ll never be Robin again.

“You’re not,” Batman says, and he shakes his head in response but Batman doesn’t care. “Sit,” Batman all but orders, large hands pressing down on hunched shoulders. His knees have started shaking anyway. He drops more than sits, but Batman goes down with him, still holding firm, keeping him from hitting the rooftop hard.

He wants to apologize, but he’s afraid if he drops his hands the sobs will leak out. They do, inaudibly, just a shake and a hitch of breath one after another, when Batman pries his fingers loose, and gently lowers his hands onto his lap. He finds he hasn’t any more resistance to offer.

Batman removes his gauntlets and his fingers find the edges of his mask. It pulls off more easily where the tears have leaked under.

He clenches his hands against his thighs, keeps his eyes lowered at the ground.

Batman makes no comment on the tears. Somehow that makes him feel worse. Instead, Batman pushes back his fringe, and he flinches when his fingers brush against the newly-obtained bump. Batman makes a noise – of disapproval. He inspects the area with a small flashlight pulled from the utility belt, gently pressing against the wound.

Very carefully, he doesn’t flinch again, or hiss, or cries.

Batman’s fingers are under his chin the next moment, pushing his bowed head up. He doesn’t raise his eyes, though.

“Robin,” Batman says. “I need to check your eyes.”

He wants to shake his head and look away and claim to be fine again, but then Batman’s thumb runs across his cheek, wiping at the wet tearstains there, and he knows it’s useless to pretend he hasn’t been crying. So he looks up, nostrils flaring at a sudden intake and release of breath. He swallows hard past a lump in his sore throat.

Batman’s little light shifts this way and that across his vision, but he keeps his eyes on the white slits of the cowl, imagining Batman’s blue eyes squinting at him. There’s a rush of heat beneath his skin, brought on by the embarrassment and shame he feels.

“You’re concussed,” Batman declares, finally lowering the light. He rummages through his belt again, and then he’s gently wiping the wounded area clean with a soft cloth, before carefully rubbing some ointment or other into the lump against his hairline.

“’m sorry,” he squeaks out, eyes lowering and then shutting again tightly. He can’t keep the sobs in any longer.

He cries, uncontrollably, bending forward, all the more into himself the louder he gets. Batman’s pulled back, but—

It’s only for a moment. Batman’s pushed him gently upright by the shoulders, snaked an arm about his torso, and pulled him into his lap. His head rests against Batman’s shoulder. Batman’s wrapped both arms all around him, is stroking his hair, careful not to brush against the bruised bit.

He shakes all over, and can’t seem to stop for the longest moment.

It’s only once the sobs have lessened, his breathing slowly starting to even out, that Batman speaks.

“It’s alright, Dick,” Bruce says, and when no reply is forthcoming, he adds almost urgently, “Don’t fall asleep.”

He shakes his head slightly, his wet cheek pulling this way and that against the bat-suit. “’m not,” he mumbles.

“Good,” he can feel Bruce sigh.

“I’m sorry,” he repeats, before he can change his mind. “I wasn’t being careful enough—”

Bruce shushes him before he can get any further, “It’s not your fault. I should have been quicker.” He wants to protest, because Batman was already taking on three opponents at once, and it was Robin’s job to be the distraction. He’d been caught cocky and off-guard. He should have done better. His lips thin and he’s not sure how to protest or plead, or if he even has the strength for it, but he wants to insist on still being Robin before Batman can dismiss him of the position.

“Let’s get you home,” Batman says before he can gather his thoughts, though.

“No!” he says at once, pulling off Bruce’s chest and sitting upright, levelling his best glare at the cowl. “I’m Robin—” his voice cracks. “You can’t, please—”

“Dickie; chum,” Bruce says, putting one hand against Dick’s face and pushing the cowl back with the other. It’s hard to tell, because there’s not much light this high up to illuminate his face, but—

He could almost swear Batman’s eyes are puffier than what sleep-deprivation usually equates to…

“You have a concussion,” Bruce says firmly. “Alfred would skin me alive if I kept you out here in this condition.”

He bites his bottom lip; blinks, swallows. “I’m…” he doesn’t know how to adequately finish that sentence with the prospect of Alfred’s wrath looming. “…Okay,” he concedes.

“There’s a good lad,” Bruce says, and shifts as if to lift him from his lap, but he holds fast to Bruce’s shoulders a moment, and Bruce settles back into his seat, expectant.

He swallows. “Are…are you mad at me?” he whispers, not meeting Bruce’s eyes.

“Heavens, no,” Bruce says easily and immediate. “Why on earth would you think that?”

He sniffles, rubbing furiously at his nose. “I—I can’t even—” he chews at his lip.

“Dick—”

“H-handle a little b-bump to the head, and—”

“That was anything but little,” Bruce says fiercely, and the force of his tone makes him jump. “I—I’m sorry,” Bruce says, more quietly, rubbing circles across his back. “…You’re still a child, Dick. And…when I saw you take the hit, and – drop like that…”

Tears swell in his eyes again, his chest heavy with the memory of his parents – dropping—

He’s flung his arms around Bruce’s neck before he can think on it twice. “I’ll never leave you,” he promises. “I’ll be better next time. No one will ever get me like that again, ever.”

Bruce’s shoulders droop a little, but he also squeezes a little tighter. “You’re…you’re incredible, Dickie; do you know that? You’re going to be amazing at this. Better than I could ever be.”

It makes him giggle, because he doubts it very much, but feels a little proud and flattered to hear it. He pulls back, “I have to recover from a concussion first,” he says, quips.

Batman laughs, a soft, quick thing easily missed. “Let’s get on that, then,” he says, pulling the cowl back in place.

He reaches back for the gauntlets and hands them to Batman one at a time to pull on. He nods once, firmly, and then winces at the way it makes his head swim. He’s all too aware of Batman watching him carefully so he knows Batman’s noticed. He tries to brush it off all the same, making to scoot out of Batman’s lap, but Batman holds him fast the way he’d done before, and comes smoothly to his feet with him in his arms.

He clings to Batman’s shoulders, feeling immeasurably safe.

“My mask,” he says, realizing he has no idea where Batman had put it.

“Don’t worry about it,” Batman replies, and he’s aware now Batman had stood holding onto one end of his cape, effectively providing cover for his exposed features once he’s tugged it neatly overhead and settled comfortably against Batman’s shoulder.

He grins.

“Don’t fall asleep,” Batman warns again, but despite the dull ache at his temple, and the lingering burn in his throat or the heaviness of his eyes from crying,

“I wouldn’t miss this,” he says, peering out from beneath the cape.

“Hnn,” is all the reply he gets, lilting at the edges with amusement. Batman drops from the building, holding him fast with one arm while the other launches a line through the night and Batman’s cape only half-bellows as they swing homeward.