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It came as a surprise to no one that Dick Grayson was a physically affectionate person. If you saw him walking down the street with Wally, Kori, or any of his other friends, he more likely than not would have an arm slung around their shoulder. He gave hugs to them when they left, and greeted them with one too. It was so obvious that Dick lived off of physical affection.
The Wayne family was not physically affectionate.
That was just now it was, and Dick was more than used to it. When he was younger Bruce would occasionally ruffle his hair, and Dick loved those little interactions. As he grew up and moved out the touch was less common. He was able to fill it with his friends, but a small part of him still craved Bruce’s touch.
When he came back to find out that Bruce had a new son, named Jason, one who wasn’t affectionate he dealt with it. Then it repeated, except for Stephanie. She spoke Dick’s language, and side hugs and high fives on patrol left him feeling fulfilled. Tim, Damian, Cass, and even Duke weren’t as prone to enjoying casual touch.
It killed him sometimes, sitting on the couch and hoping that one of his brothers or sisters would come sit next to him. He hoped they would lean their head against his shoulder, and he could be there for them. Dick knew better than to ask, considering that most of them had a reason for their avoidance. Either way it didn’t stop him from glancing longingly at his family.
Being back in Gotham to help with an Arkham breakout was the absolute last place that Dick expected to be on a Monday night when he would literally be doing anything else. Originally he had plans to actually go out for dinner with Wally. There was a new sandwich shop he wanted to try in Bludhaven, but no! He’d gotten the call around noon and had been in Gotham since.
Thankfully only a few of the big ones had broken out, and the rest were just goons scattered across Gotham. Dangerous goons, but at least they weren’t the Joker or something. Currently Dick was after Poison Ivy, who’s plants were causing absolute mayhem via destruction of property and just general chaos.
By now all of the civilians in the area had fled for the time being, leaving Dick to face Ivy alone. Originally Red Robin, Tim, had been with him, but they’d gotten a call from Duke saying that he needed back-up. After a lot of reassurance that he’d dealt with Ivy before and could deal with her again, Tim had gone to help Duke, leaving Dick to try and stop Ivy by himself.
A lot of his current issue was actually getting to Ivy, not actually the whole Being-Attacked-By-Plants thing. She was using her vines to create a barrier, one that was infinitely more difficult than usual to get through. Whenever he thought that he had made a little more progress he would be forced to leap backwards to avoid an attacking plant, leaving him barely further forward than when he started. Two steps forwards and one step back.
Once again he flipped backwards, landing on the vine that had been intent on impaling him moments before. He knew that she was right beyond the wall, all he had to do was actually get through it. Dick leaped and grabbed onto a vine that was higher up, narrowly avoiding a flower that tried to eat him. He really didn’t feel like becoming flower food today.
Then he spotted an opening, a gap in the vines. Dick dived towards it. He wanted this to be over with, especially since he’d been dealing with minor goons for hours already before Ivy finally made her appearance.
What he didn’t anticipate was a flower being ready to grab him on the other side of the gap. His world quickly turned from a sea of grays and greens to a blinding red-ish pink trap. Dick crashed into the bottom of the giant flower, a cloud of yellow pollen erupting around him and tinting the area orange. He coughed against the pollen in his lungs and grabbed one of his wingdings, using it to cut his way out of the flower.
When he landed on the ground below he sucked in deep breaths of the fresh air. The pollen didn’t have a scent, it just felt like he had swallowed a thick cloud which made up for any other easy things he’d been given tonight. Dick fell into a coughing fit, kneeling on the ground as he forced the nausea to fade. Finally he forced himself back to his feet, looking up to see Ivy staring down at him from one of her plants. “Are you here to collect me? I’m sure we could do much more.”
The plant came down closer to the ground, and Dick forced out one final cough to clear out his lungs. “I’m here to put you back in Arkham, where you belong.” He pulled his escrima sticks off his back, clicking them together to turn on the taser attachments. “I’ll give you one chance to come in peacefully.”
“Oh, but we need to grow. I could make so many improvements! I could improve you too.” Ivy said, raising her arms to have the plants wrap around her arms and legs.
Dick shook his head, getting into a ready position. “I’ll take that as a no.” He narrowly dodged a vine that went straight towards his head. “Fun!” Another vine went to attack him, and he jumped on top of it, using it as a pathway directly towards Ivy. Once in close enough range he threw one of his sticks, so the electricity hit Ivy directly in the chest.
She screamed, sending the plants around her into a frenzy. Dick wasn’t able to stabilize himself before he ended up sprawled out on the ground. He pushed himself back up, spitting out blood to the side and looking up at Ivy. She was held up by her plants, desperately clinging to her control over their current battlefield. He took a moment to search for his second stick, but it was lodged into a vine that had grown around it. He would have to grab it later.
Dick stood back up the rest of the way, holding his remaining escrima stick out in front of him in a defensive position as he looked for the best way back up to Ivy. He needed to launch another attack before she recovered. As soon as he spotted a path he climbed back up, vaulting over some vines while springing onto the next ones. Once he got to the top he wasted no time in using the end of his stick to tase Ivy.
Her muscles seized up, and Dick wasted no time in knocking her out and using a separate wingding to cut through the vines so that he could handcuff her. “Ivy’s secure,” he said into the comm line. “The sooner we pick her up the better.”
“Thanks, Nightwing. I’ll have the GCPD there soon.” Oracle responded.
He climbed back down over the vines until he reached the ground, where he grabbed his discarded escrima stick. Dick shivered at the cold. The forecast hadn’t looked too bad for the night. He had checked it during the two minutes of downtime he got before finding out that he had to go after Poison Ivy. Well the weather app wasn’t always right.
Dick laid Ivy down on the ground before fastening his equipment back into place. He rubbed his hands along his arms, hoping that the friction-generated heat would warm him up a little bit. By the time the GCPD got there to obtain Ivy the cold had set in his bones even further. The heat from his hands wasn’t doing anything to warm him up.
“Killer Croc has been dealt with. Return to the cave for the debrief.” Batman’s gruff voice sounded on his comms and Dick let out a breath of relief. At least when he was back at the manor he could find his way under a couple blankets until his body warmed up again.
Various affirmatives echoed throughout the comms. “Nightwing, I’ll be there to pick you up in five minutes max.” Tim said. Dick gave his own affirmative back. Since Tim and him had been paired together they had agreed to just take one of their motorcycles instead of both of them, purely for convenience sake.
Tim got there in two minutes, which was definitely faster than five minutes. Dick was more than grateful to be able to get out of the cold. “Hop on.” Tim passed Dick a helmet, and Dick hopped onto the back of the bike, wrapping his arms around Tim’s torso. For a brief second he felt warm again, but then the wind whisked it away. He ignored how the cold from the wind was skin level and not bone level like the cold he was experiencing before. The touch was out of necessity.
When they got back to the cave Dick reluctantly let go and climbed off the back of the bike. The cold immediately set back into his bones, and Dick fought the urge to shiver in the cold air of the batcave. Instead he walked over to where Jason was while Tim put his bike away.
“How’d your fight with Ivy go?” Jason asked, standing over by one of the tables and undoing the latch on the back of his helmet. It hissed as he pulled it off, shaking out his head so that his hair would fall normally again. After inspecting the helmet he put it down and went about removing various weapons hidden in too many places.
“I got her. Almost got eaten by a flower, but that’s not the weirdest thing that’s happened in a fight with her.”
Jason peeled off his domino mask and turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “You almost got eaten by a flower. Elaborate? Maybe?”
Dick laughed. “She was defending herself with like- a wall of plants. I went to dive through a gap I saw and ended up inside a flower. I cut myself out with a Wingding, but I was genuinely just surprised it didn’t chomp right through me.” Jason laughed back, punching him lightly on the shoulder as they walked closer to the computer. Warmth spread through his shoulder, before retreating faster than it came. It left him feeling colder than ever. He shivered. Not like the batcave really had heaters, but right now he really wished it did.
Finally Bruce got back, parking the Batmobile in its designated spot before walking out with Steph and Damian hot on his tail. “Report.”
Tim walked up next to Dick. “Everything’s all taken care of, right Oracle?”
Oracle’s voice sounded from the computer. “All our major escapees have been returned to Arkham. Over the next couple of days we’ll probably have to deal with the less-dangerous stragglers, but for the time being we’re all set.”
“I also think it’s important to contribute that Dickie here got stuck in a flower. Not like it matters, just that it’s funny.” Jason said, smirking as Dick rolled his eyes.
“What happened?” Cass and Duke asked at the same time, before glancing at each other and laughing.
Dick sighed, shaking his head. He forced himself not to shiver as he told the story. “Ivy had a whole wall set up so that I couldn’t get to her, so when I did get a gap I dived through and ended up inside this bright reddish-pink flower. I cut my way out of it with one of my Wingdings, but wow was it stuffy in there.”
Bruce raised an eyebrow at him. “No lasting effects, right?”
Dick nodded. “I’m all good.” He paused for a second, thinking if there was anything else he could say. “I’m just cold.”
“Cold how?” Bruce asked, taking a step closer to Dick and giving him a physical once-over.
“Cold-cold? I think I’m just tired, and Gotham’s pretty cold today.”
“Dick,” Dick turned to Duke who had a concerned expression on his face, “it’s nice out. It’s not cold at all.”
“Oh. Well maybe I’m just cold.” Dick suggested, shrugging. “Once we’re done I’ll go get some blankets and warm up.”
Bruce cleared his throat, gathering everyone’s attention. “Dick, stay down here. I want to get a blood sample to make sure that Ivy didn’t do anything to you. Everyone else, you’re free to go change.” Dick groaned, he had really wanted to just go change and cuddle up under the blankets in his bed. He had left Stuffed-Zitka here by accident last time he stopped by, and right now he would give pretty much anything to just go lay down.
Once everyone cleared out the two of them went over to the medical area where Bruce set up the equipment to get a blood sample. It didn’t take long, so once Bruce was done he was able to find his way to an empty shower. That also helped him drown out the feeling of suppressing the urge to chase Bruce’s touch when he had been sticking the needle in. Even at the max temperature the water wasn’t hot enough. His bones still felt like they were freezing, and he was sure that his insides were soon to follow.
He stared at himself in the mirror after showering, slipping on a hoodie and sweatpants that would hopefully keep him slightly warmer. His skin was red from the temperature of the shower, but it wasn’t enough. He needed to be warmer.
When Dick finally wandered back downstairs Tim was spinning around in the batcomputer’s chair while Bruce stood over his shoulder. “Dick!” Tim said once he spotted him. “We analyzed your blood, and there is an unknown component in it. It has a similar structure to common pollen found in tulips or daffodils but with some added strain. This could be what's making you feel so cold.”
“Huh, interesting.” Dick responded while nodding, as he looked over the analysis displayed across the different screens. “That makes sense since I almost got stuck in a flower. I got a faceful of pollen when I hit the bottom of the plant.”
Bruce put a hand out, stopping Tim from continuing to spin. “Is there anything you’ve noticed that’s helped this cold feeling go away?”
“Not really.” He lied. The small touches had helped him a lot, but his family didn’t like touch. When he went back to his apartment he could ask Wally for a hug or something, and all would be well again.
Maybe he hadn’t lied well enough, because Bruce had raised an eyebrow. “Well, let us know if anything changes. You are free to go.”
Dick grinned, spinning around on his heel. He needed to get out of here and go warm up away from everyone else. “Can do, Bruce. Goodnight, guys!”
“‘Night, Dick.” Tim responded, followed by a grunt from Bruce that meant that he was backing up what Tim said. He was so cold.
When Dick got to his room to find the door slightly adjacent he groaned inwardly. It was time for his post-breakout slumber, as well as his attempt to not freeze to death. He pulled open the door, peeking inside to see Steph sitting cross-legged on his bed. “There you are! I was wondering what was taking you so long. How’re you doing?”
“Still cold, but Tim and Bruce didn’t mention that whatever’s in my blood seems dangerous or anything. I think I’ll be good in a day or two.” He shivered, wrapping his arms around himself. “How was your trip?”
Stephanie patted the bed next to her before flopping back with her arms stretched above her head. “Same-old, same-old. I was with Bruce and Damian to deal with Killer Croc which is never really a fun time. It was handled though, so I think I’m good. Just tired now.”
“Then why are you in my room? Go to sleep.”
“I wanted to check up on you. Duh.” Dick smiled, walking over and laying down next to Steph. His bed was so comfortable, and he let out a breath of relief as some of the tension oozed off of his body. “Your bed is comfortable.”
“Is this your way of trying to share my bed tonight? Dick asked, turning his head to look at Steph. She was fighting back a smile which immediately gave away her answer.
“Noo. Why would I do that?”
Dick moved his leg to kick Steph lightly in her calf. He ignored the way the warmth blossomed around his foot, then retreated leaving her feeling colder and colder. At this point he wouldn’t be surprised if his fingers and toes started to go numb and stop working. He was freezing. “Sure you wouldn’t.”
Steph kicked him back, and Dick had to hold back the gasp at the cold that seeped into his bones. His fingers wouldn’t move, and his toes hurt to move. It was almost like he was experiencing hypothermia while being in a room he knew was more than warm enough. Distantly he heard Steph say something, but now he was just focused on the cold. He was so cold.
He got even colder when Steph kicked him back again, and Dick fought back a tear at how his body felt like it was becoming a popsicle. The ceiling above him stayed still, static as always, while the rest of him fought tooth and nail to shiver until he froze.
Then Steph was in the corner of his vision, and her hands were on his shoulders shaking him, and he could breathe again. “Dick? Dick! Oh my god, do I need to call Bruce? Please respond.” Warmth flooded through his body, originating at his shoulders and moving to his fingers and toes. He took a deep breath in.
“Steph.” He said, breathlessly. Being able to breathe was considerably better than being frozen on his bed, unable to move or think. She let out a sigh of relief and shifted backwards, moving her hands away. Before she could fully remove them he reached out and grabbed his wrist. “Steph- I- Fuck.”
“I think the cold is affected by touch. If you let go I think-” He paused briefly, using the time to fight back a voice crack and search for the right words. “It was so cold, and then you were shaking me and I felt okay for a moment. Just don’t let go.”
The two of them sat there for a minute in silence, Steph clearly debating what to say next. “Okay. I won’t, but I also need to call Bruce.” Dick bit his lip before sighing and nodding. “Awesome. Let’s move though, because I do not find this comfortable.”
Once the two of them had moved so that Steph was leaning against Dick’s shoulder when they were up against the headboard Steph grabbed her phone and called Bruce. “Hey, B. Come to Dick’s room and grab anyone you find along the way. We’ve found out how to fix Dick. Bye!”
“Steph- You didn’t have to tell him to grab anyone else he found.”
“Uh, yeah I did. They’ll all be willing to help you.”
“Steph, they don’t like stuff like this! You don’t need to get them here too.”
“Have you asked them recently? I know a lot of them were like that when you first got to know them, but Cass actually makes a wonderful cuddle pile buddy. Tim is fine with it, I don’t really know about Jason to be honest. Damian’s okay with it. They’ll be fine helping you since you are their big brother after all.”
Dick bit the inside of his cheek, looking for anything he could say in order to disprove what Steph said. He wasn’t able to come up with anything by the time that Bruce ran into his room, an entourage of other people behind him. “Dick, are you okay? Steph, what happened?”
“So someone neglected to mention that the cold was fixed by physical touch and affection. Without it he was pretty much freezing up.”
Dick watched as various expressions drifted across his family members’ faces. Some surprise, some concern, and one that seemed like a mix between care and figuring out the meaning behind why he’d done what he’d done. That one was from Jason. “C’mon, Dickie. Scoot over. We need room for… one, two, three, seven! Seven more.”
“I may have a better idea,” Bruce interrupted. “My bed is larger, and therefore could probably fit more of us. Why don’t we go there?” Everyone was silent for a second before Jason nodded, followed by the rest of the room.
Bruce walked over to the side of the bed and gestured for Steph to move. Dick almost froze for a second, scared that the lack of touch would cause the cold to come back with a vengeance. Instead Bruce scooped him up, holding him like he weighed almost nothing, and carried him through the hallways to his bedroom.
All of them climbed into the bed, one by one, as they found places to lay down comfortably. Dick couldn’t help but hope that this became more normal after tonight. He hadn’t realized how much things like this meant to him, as he laid on the bed, feeling warm and fuzzy.
Steph was back to laying down next to him, leaning up against his right side. Jason was on his left, not quite as close as Steph, but not leaving any room for anyone else. Bruce was on Steph’s other side, reaching an arm over to leave a gentle hand on Dick’s arm. Damian was laying by his and Steph’s legs, while Cass mirrored Damian on the other side. At his feet Tim was sprawled across the bed sideways, laying across Cass’s calves while being up by Dick’s feet. The bed was so warm.
Maelene Mon 16 Oct 2023 02:40PM UTC
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