This one's kinda out of any continuity. Place it anywhere between the beginning of the series and Driving Lesson. Sorry, no humor this time. Enjoy!
Bird's Comfort
It didn't matter how old he was. The nightmare still came. Sometimes he could avoid them, other nights he realized it was a dream and was able to control them. And then there were the nights he woke up before the worst part. But right around that one time of the year, nothing worked. He'd just wake up screaming.
Just like that night.
His voice hurt his throat and he clawed at the air, getting tangled in his sheets in a fitful nightmare. He shouted for them, begging and pleading for the dream to change for the better. Often it changed for the worse. Sometimes the dead would rise, broken and bloodied, and come after him. Other times he just felt their pain, physically. And there was no escaping this nightmare, no matter how he tried. He was trapped. Trapped with horrid memories he never wanted to relive but would never leave him. Trapped in events he wished he could change. If only they never happened. If only he could…
"Dick! Wake up!"
Trembling, the boy's eyes jerked open, seeing the only comfort he had since those horrible days. Bruce held onto his shoulders, trying earlier to wake him by gentle shakes. Sometimes that worked. Most of the time though…
Dick dived into his second father's arms, clutching onto him for dear life. Tears streamed down his face as the visions continued to come through his mind. He couldn't forget it. Never would. The way his parents…
How could anyone do that to them? Make them fall like that? What did they ever do to him? For money? What use was money when there wasn't anyone you loved to share it with? You could be happy so long as there were people you cared for with you. The circus was filled with people who cared about each other, not rich. Not rich at all. They shouldn't have…
"Shhh…" Bruce held the crying boy close, rubbing his back and rocking him like he did every time he had these terrors. Ever since Dick came to live with him, he would be the one to ease him back to sleep just like this. It wasn't easy. Nothing ever was.
"It's okay now. You're safe. You're safe little Robin."
"Why…" The boy asked weakly. He was always asking, and Bruce had no answer. He kept asking the same question when it came to his own parents. "Why…"
"Hush…" He kept rocking the boy, holding him close for reassurance. Dick always favored physical contact over words alone. But there were a few words he cherished most, the ones his mother used to help him rest as a child. "It'll be alright in the morning my Robin. We'll be flying again soon. Rest your wings for now. Dream of warm fields and bright suns, and it'll be morning before you know it."
Slowly the sobs ended but the lad would not let go. He'd never let go of those he loved and needed more than anything. Even as his eyes started to droop once again, Bruce's shirt remained in his tight grip. The boy wouldn't let go until near dawn, he learned that years ago. Resigned, the man kept one hand on Dick's back while scooping the rest of him out of his sheets to carry him away. Slowly he eased off the boy's bed and carried him out of the room towards his own. There were others who resided there who frequently had nightmares, some more traumatizing than others, but they too needed their father's comfort some nights. Dick's bed wasn't large enough for everyone, and he was used to occasionally waking safely in the master bedroom.
Though it was embarrassing as he grew older, he never complained. Neither of them did. It was one of their personal quirks, their tradition alone. Sad though it be, they took some comfort in it. As Bruce settled himself and the sleepy boy on his giant bed, Dick snuggled into him, glad to know he wouldn't be leaving any time soon. Bruce just ran a hand through his hair and murmured a few more words his son had told him his mother would use when he had bad dreams.
"I'm here Robin, I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere. So rest my little bird. Sleep until dawn, and know I'll always be here to protect you."
A/N: yeah, it's an awwweee moment. Clearly these events lessen over time, but it does happen. Mostly, I just wanted people to know that even if he isn't fighting crime or swinging off rooftops, Robin is still Dick's petname and is one of the ways Bruce calms him down. It'll be important later. =]