An epilogue of sorts. Not really. I'm still on my mini-hiatus.
Based on the beginning of Batman&Aquaman 29.
"Pssst. Here, Titus." Dick whispered at the dog sitting by the stairs. "Come here, boy."
It was the next day. The day after the weirdest battle of their lives. The day after their souls had been held hostage. The day after they'd been gifted with seeing Damian again. After a night of recovery and strange family bonding, Tim and Jason had already left –Tim claiming a need to feed his cat, and Jason claiming a need to help him do so – and thus left Dick with Bruce and Alfred.
Poor Alfred. When they had all come to, and everything had calmed down, they told the old butler what had happened. How Talia still had her vendetta, how Damian nearly killed himself all over again trying to protect them. The old man seemed almost disappointed that he was not put through the same trials.
"I would have…very much liked to have seen the young master again myself," He'd said quietly, standing and moving out of the room under the guise of making tea. They all knew it was a lie.
After Tim and Jason departed, Bruce instantly went down to the cave. Dick followed, listening as Bruce explained his promise to Damian, how he was going to go after Ra's as soon as he could. Dick thought better than to ask to tag along. He knew what Bruce's answer would be on the subject.
But that didn't mean Bruce was going to go alone.
"Come here, Titus," Dick continued, clapping his hands and crouching as Titus looked over at him.
"What is he doing?" The Heretic asked, leaning against Damian's arm. The two were stuffed into the chair at the computer monitors, under a 72-hour lockdown set in place by Knight to recover from their battles, watching as Titus slowly, suspiciously, stood and started walking towards Dick.
"Being ridiculous," Damian scoffed. "I don't know."
"That's a good boy," Dick continued to coo as Titus inched forward. The dog froze at a muted thump that echoed through the caverns. "It's okay, buddy. Bruce just dropped something."
"Dick, have you finished loading the cargo I asked you to?" Bruce grunted from the other side of the ship.
"Just about!" Dick called as he reached forward and tugged Titus's collar. He swept the dog into a hug, lovingly petting at his head. "That's a good boy, Titus. You're the best. Now, can you do me a favor?"
Titus glanced over at Damian, before focusing on Dick's face, lapping at his nose.
"Bruce is going to go find our boy Damian. Yes, yes, I said Damian." Dick smiled as Titus reacted happily to the name. "But he won't let any of us go with him. So, can I count on you to help him out? Make sure that old fart comes home safe – preferably with Damian's body, at the very least, in tow with him?"
Titus continued to lick at Dick's face, tail excitedly wagging.
Dick pursed his lips, his voice lowering a few octaves as he kissed at Titus's face. "That's a good boy." He repeated. "You're a good boy. Yes you are. Yes you-"
"Dick, I want to leave in the next five minutes…" Bruce's voice sounded as his footsteps began to come around the nose of the ship. Dick suddenly stood, throwing open the small door behind him and throwing Titus inside. As Titus stumbled, Dick slammed the cargo door closed, and turned the lock. Titus gave a small whine, and Dick shushed him immediately. Bruce then came into view. "…So I need you to hurry up."
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Damian deadpanned. The Heretic giggled against his arm.
"Just finished, Bruce." Dick grinned, patting the door a few times before moving towards the older man. "You sure I can't come with you?"
"This is something I need to do alone, Dick. You know that." Bruce sighed, pulling the cowl up over his eyes. "And, god forbid, Ra's has done anything to him, I may need you ready here at home."
"Ready and waiting," Dick said with a salute. "To welcome my little brother home with open arms."
"Hrm," Bruce had already covered his eyes, but Dick knew he was rolling them.
"Just…be safe, okay?" Dick said, the grin on his lips softening. "You know we all hate when you go on these types of missions by yourself." Bruce nodded as he turned, moving towards the cockpit. Dick went back to the cargo door, and gave it one last tap as he whispered, "He's all yours now, buddy."
There was a light scratching, and Dick drummed his fingers against the steel before backing away from the vehicle. Damian sighed angrily, crossing his arms as he snapped, "I swear to any deity there is, Grayson. If anything hurts my dog, I will haunt you for the rest of your days."
As the engines fired up, Dick stood next to Alfred, who, while Bruce demanded he rest after his ordeal, decided to still supervise the packing for Bruce's latest trip. Hands clasped behind his back, he cleared his throat. "Master Richard."
"Hm?" Dick glanced at him. "What, Alfie?"
Alfred returned the glance, his far more reproachful. The vehicle's platform lowered into the water beneath it. There was one last boom of the thrusters, and then Bruce was gone. "Don't think I didn't see what you just did."
Alfred then turned away, strutting over to the computer. Damian and the Heretic braced themselves to jump, should Alfred decide to sit down. "Hey," Dick called as he walked behind him. "Bruce needs the backup. And, like he said. What if Ra's does something to Damian? Lazarus Pits aren't the safest method, but if Damian comes back that way, he's going to need something to comfort him upon his reemerging. And, you and I both know Bruce is no teddy bear. Besides, B could be busy when it happens. We don't know. Titus was just a-"
"I didn't say I was cross about it, Master Richard. Just that I saw you do it." Alfred countered, standing at the monitors and pressing a few buttons. The spirit boys in the chair relaxed again. Dick watched as a communication line to Bruce's submarine was opened. The butler immediately hit mute. "But, I will say, Bruce most likely will be a bit annoyed by it, and you won't be the one who has to deal with his attitude."
Dick grinned, throwing his arm around the butler's shoulders. "You're an angel, Alfie."
Alfred looked at the ceiling as he shook his head. "Tell me something I don't know, sir."