author's note: This is a be-lated Birthday present for my friend, Star, who I unfortunately haven't spoken to in a while. I really miss our chats pretty bad. Anyway, hope she and all of you enjoy this. Please note I haven't actually read the DC Comics, so be prepared for OOCness.
Title: Fray
Genres: Family/Hurt/Comfort
Rating: K+
Couple: Fatherly!Dick/Damian
Hurried footsteps, cloak billowing, mouth ajar, short sobs erupting between chapped lips, dark eyes searching drastically. A shadow chased him –– his shadow –– threatening to clutch his heart and squeeze. A cry broke, the hand caught him, pulled at the strings and pried the small boy apart. Stop, stop, make it stop.
Damian Wayne lost the battle to his own emotions, and shattered.
–– I can't see!
Tears and rain blocked his view, infuriating the infant, suddenly blaming the weather for this ugly longing. The top dug into his neck and the urge to rip off this damn suit –– his image, his person, his name –– was too much.
The ground was moist and he slipped, ankle twisting painfully and his chin meeting the earth in a bloody manner. Doubled with the anger, sadness and desire for comfort, Damian lost control completely when his injury throbbed dangerously, red liquid pooling at his fingertips.
Yet the child, already beaten but always determined, struggled to his feet and started to run again, even though the monster he fled from already imprisoned him in its huge, frightening hand. Esteem tumbling, Damian stopped when his blurred vision found that man.
Dick's timing was insulting.
Had he waited for me? Expected me?
His face. Damian jarred his teeth, slanting his eyes, tears trailing down his scarred cheek. Why? Why did Dick look so gentle? So sympathetic?
No! No, no, no!
This wasn't fair. Damian couldn't believe himself. How could he remove the mask so foolishly? How dare Dick witness him like this? So fragile and pathetic and human.
Despite his rattling thoughts, there seemed only one logical option to take. Dick was there. The man he wanted was there, and he wasn't moving away anytime soon. Damian sniffed, clenched his fists and ran for him, scrunching his drowning eyes shut, and he threw his arms around the older Bird, clinging to his very form, sobs breaking free, desperate to not let go.
As if expecting the sudden affection, Dick carefully held the boy, so careful, knowing he could break by his own hands if he tried.
The fact he didn't pull away, nor laugh at him only made Damian more angry, more determined to stay attached to the man, to this wonderful being he considered a Brother; Father –– an Angel.
His heart pounded against his chest and his eyes grew sore with tears. Dick rubbed his back, nestling his nose into the boy's wet hair and chuckled.
It's okay.
No words were passed between them, but Damian simply understood. This would remain secret, one of their many hidden treasures, and he knew Dick would never forget it.
Slowly, the hand loosened and became dust.