Work Text:
December 25, 1966, 8:23 am
The snow drifted down to earth softly, large, fluffy flakes covering the world in a heavy blanket of white. Stately Wayne Manor, home of millionaire Bruce Wayne and his youthful ward, Dick Grayson, was an image of pure comfort this Christmas morning. Snow had covered the once luscious green lawns, the trees, and the house. Warm white lights peaked out from the roof and windows, wreaths decorated the doors, and a perfectly decorated tree stood in the window. Inside, the small family was gathered together in the living room. Bruce sat on one end of the couch, Dick in the middle, with Aunt Harriet on the other. Alfred stood near the tree, passing out the gifts one at a time, a smile ever present on his face.
After all the other gifts had been opened, Alfred handed Dick a large box. Dick carefully unwrapped the present, it was from Bruce. Bruce watched with a smile as he sipped his hot cocoa, wearing his red robe over his pajamas and slippers.
“Holy surprises! This box is empty!” Dick said with a laugh, a bit confused.
“Correct, Dick, it is. Because your final gift from me is not something I could easily fit in a box. You already got that nice camera, and the equipment you’ll need for it. Only one thing is missing. Come with me.” Bruce smiled again and set his half-drained mug on a coaster. He stood and walked out of the room, Dick hurriedly following his guardian.
Bruce led the boy down the hall, past the study that went to the Batcave. There he stopped at the door to his old study. The room hadn’t been used in years. Dick had actually forgotten that room even existed, having paid no real attention to it in his time living with Bruce. But a shining brass sign now adorned the door. It read “Dick Grayson’s Dark Room”. Dick gasped.
“Bruce! You made me my own dark room??”
“You’ve expressed quite the interest in photography as of late. I’ll always encourage you to express yourself creatively, so yes, I got you everything you’ll need to become the best photographer the world’s ever seen.”
Aunt Harriet and Alfred had both followed, knowing smiles on their faces the whole time. Setting up the dark room was a quick project that had been completed while Dick was still in school. Alfred put the sign up late last night after Bruce and Dick had come home from their latest mission as Batman and Robin and were fast asleep.
Dick became teary-eyed and smiled at Bruce.
“I-I don’t know what to say, thank you, Bruce!” Before he could respond, the boy had launched himself at the man who had become a replacement father for him and wrapped his arms around him. Bruce was a little taken aback, the two rarely hugged. But he smiled and held the boy close, enjoying the affection. Aunt Harriett and Alfred looked on with warm hearts and huge smiles to match.
Bruce and Dick parted, but it was clear Dick was crying a little. He beamed at everyone.
“Thank you all… This has been the best Christmas I’ve had yet,” then he turned to Bruce again, “Bruce, I have a gift for you too. It’s not much, but I think you’ll like it.”
Alfred announced that he’d go make breakfast and Aunt Harriet went to join him, both knowing the two should have this moment alone. Dick hurried off to the tree, Bruce following behind and sitting back down on the couch. The boy crawled back behind the tree and returned with a long, thin green box with a red ribbon tied around it. There was a card attached with Bruce’s name written on it. He brought it to Bruce, then sat down next to him. He had never gotten Bruce a gift before, having a hard time knowing what to give the man who had everything he could ever want.
“Goodness, Dick, this is quite the package!” Bruce exclaimed with amusement.
“It is, but it didn’t cost too much, I promise. But open the gift before the card.”
Bruce nodded and set the card aside. He removed the ribbon with great care, then opened the box. Pushing aside the tissue paper, his eyes landed on the fishing pole, and he laughed, instantly understanding the thought behind the gift.
“We go fishing so often, your pole has been getting a bit warn down. The least I could do was to get you a new one,” Dick said with a wink, a grin on his face.
“I wasn’t expecting that, Dick, but it’s perfect! Thank you, truly. Once spring comes around, I’ll be sure to take you fishing. Genuinely,” he whispered.
“I’d love that. Now you can open your card.”
Bruce set the box aside and retrieved the card. He opened it, it was a simple, blank Christmas card, but Dick had written a lot on the inside. It read:
“I guess it’s kind of hard for me to say this, but I mean it. And you deserve to know it. I couldn’t ask for a better father. I know I’m just your ward, but you’ve become a real father to me. You took me, and my aunt, under your wing. You’ve taught me so much, provided me with a solid education and your own guidance on top of that. You’ve given me more than I thought I’d ever deserve. You gave me the chance to become someone far greater than I ever knew I could be. I’m still learning, I’m still growing, but I have you, Alfred, and of course Aunt Harriett to thank for the person I’m becoming.
Bruce, you’re my hero. It was hard for me to acknowledge that you’ve become a second father to me at first. It felt like I was betraying my own father, or my mother, but then I thought about it, and that’s not the case. I think they’d be so happy to know that. To know that I’m taken care of and cared for. They wouldn’t want me to be alone. I think they’d be proud of me, and so I’m opening up to say it. I love you, as a father, as a brother, as a best friend. Merry Christmas, Bruce.
Your son,
Dick Grayson”
Bruce read through the note, expressionless. Dick chewed on his lip with anxiety, but before he could say anything, Bruce pulled him in for a bone crushing hug.
“Merry Christmas, son. I love you too. And I am so proud of the person you are now and the person you’re becoming. Your parents are proud of you too. I don’t think so, I know they are. Thank you. That meant more to me than anything. You mean more to me than anything,” Bruce gently let go of the hug, tousled Dick’s hair, and grinned at him, “Now how about we get some of Alfred’s Christmas morning breakfast, old chum?”
“I’d love to, Bruce,” Dick beamed.