"I don't get why I have to learn," Dick says with a pout as they cross the threshold of the manor. Alfred's taking the car to the garage, and Bruce hasn't slept in two days, and Dick's still frowning at him as he walks backwards into the foyer. "It's not like anybody's gonna care."

"It's the principle of the thing." Bruce wishes his voice wasn't so flat. Dick plows on like he hadn't heard him, though.

"I already know how to dance," Dick tells him matter-of-factly, deciding to prove it by kicking off his dress shoes that Bruce had gotten him specifically for today's dance lesson and spinning his way into the den. "See? Do you see, Bruce?"

Bruce grunts, following the nine-year-old until he can collapse on a couch. He closes his eyes, and he doesn't think Dick stops spinning for even a second. He's going to get dizzy and stop. Eventually. Probably.

"Bruce."

"Hrnn."

"Bruuuce."

"What, Dick."

He opens his eyes and Dick's standing in front of him, hands on his hips, blue eyes glinting with mischief. The same mischief Bruce is sure brought that old vase crashing from the second story landing last week, he's sure.

"Dance with me."

Bruce's answer is immediate. "No."

Dick rolls his eyes. "Hey, you're the one who signed me up for rich people lessons. Now you have to help me practice."

"There's no music," Bruce says.

Dick's eyes brighten and he scrambles towards the radio before Bruce can stop him. He hits the on button, and then turns around with a grin. "Now there is!"

Bruce, seeing absolutely no way out of this, stands up. Dick's got a stubborn look in his eye, and Bruce is tired. Dick, an everlasting source of energy, bounces towards him, grabbing his hand and leading him towards the middle of the room, where there's just a carpet.

"Okay," Dick says seriously. He maneuvers Bruce's hand so that it's resting on Dick's shoulder, and the other one so that it's holding Dick's hand, while Dick's other—tiny—hand rests solidly on Bruce's hip. "Alright, so first thing, we take a step this way."

Dick leads Bruce through a few steps, completely out of time to the rock music playing on the video, and Bruce follows the little boy's lead like it isn't the weirdest thing he's ever done—because it's not. He's done a lot weirder things, and Dick's tongue sticking out between his teeth as he watches their feet is making Bruce's heart stutter in his chest. He feels his shoulder relax a fraction, and a small smile creep its way onto his lips.

"Now what?" Bruce asks once they've got a nice waltz pattern going and Dick isn't watching his feet the entire time. He's actually quite good at it.

"Now," Dick says dramatically, grin lighting up his entire face, "it's time for the spin."

"Alright," Bruce says easily.

"Okay, crouch down," Dick says.

Bruce stops. Blinks. Crouch down? What does—oh. Bruce bites back a smile as he crouches down to sits on his haunches, and Dick lifts their joined hands as high in the air as he can and Bruce takes slow steps to complete his spin and face Dick again. Dick's buzzing with excitement. Almost literally.

"Okay, okay," Dick says, bouncing up and down as Bruce stands back up. "Now you've gotta do me, B. Spin me!"

Bruce laughs, deep, but quiet, and takes lifts their hands again so Dick can complete a few turns. He goes about five times before he takes a wrong step and runs into Bruce's legs. Bruce, tiredness completely taken over by this energetic child, scoops Dick up, settling him on his hip.

"How about I lead this time," Bruce suggests, and Dick snickers, his nose crinkling.

"You just not used to be in charge, old man."

Bruce keeps on arm around Dick's back, taking Dick's left hand in his right and holding it out like they're about to tango. Dick keeps an arm around Bruce's neck and as the music fades into an old eighties song Bruce used to listen to years and years ago, Bruce starts to dance as exaggeratedly as he can, and before long, they're both in fits of laughter.

"Will you come to my next lesson with me?" Dick asks a while later while they're curled up on the couch together. Bruce is almost asleep. "Dancing with you was a lot more fun than dancing with the other kids at the rich people lessons. They're all super boring."

Bruce smiles, feeling Dick's head settle onto his chest. "Wouldn't miss it."