Disclaimer – Own nothing.
To vi – Thanks so much for your review! I'm so glad you liked the chapter! I think everyone who watched the show can agree that Kory is definitely the Mom of the team lol. Hope you like this chapter!
AN – I did it! I finished this story before season 3 airs! Unfortunately I just realized that I won't be able to watch the new episodes until Monday at the earliest. Which sucks. But at least they will be there for me to watch! I hope you guys like this chapter!
Enjoy!
After managing to eat more than half of the food that the girls had ordered, Dick laid down on the couch watching TV like the night before. Hank was sitting in the cushioned chair beside him. They were both silent as a football game played on the screen. Dick wasn't a really big fan of the sport but he knew Hank was, and a fan of one of the teams playing. So Dick left it on and just tried to stay awake.
"How are you feeling?" Hank quietly inquired when the commercials came on.
"Okay, I think." Dick answered. He was getting sick of Hank constantly asking but understood it. And it was nice to see that the man cared. He wasn't always good showing that. Still better at it than Bruce though. Looking over at the blonde, Dick asked, "What about you? You look as exhausted as I feel."
"I'm alright. A little tired but not as much as I was earlier." Hank replied, a little surprised by the question.
"Maybe we should go to bed early tonight." The more experienced hero suggested.
A thoughtful expression covered Hank's face and he nodded. "Yeah, maybe we should."
The two men fell silent again after that. As the commercials ended and the game came back on, their eyes turned back to the screen. The game soon finished, Hank cursing under his breath when his team lost, and an old, 50's sit-com started playing. Though neither of them were really a fan of comedies, they didn't bother changing the channel. They were both somewhat dozing already. The TV was nothing more than background noise at this point.
"I um, wanted to say sorry. For snapping at you last night." Dick apologized, glancing over at Hank.
"Don't sweat it. It's not a big deal. You should've seen me when I stopped. I was way worse." Hank replied, wondering if Dick even knew about his own issues with substance abuse. Given the fact that Dick didn't look that shocked or bothered, he assumed he did.
"Still sorry. You were just trying to help." Dick said with a soft and remorseful tone.
"And I should've been more patient. I also shouldn't have blamed you for what happened. This whole thing isn't your fault." Hank responded, silently grateful that Dick didn't try to change the subject to Hank's own issues.
"It wasn't your fault either." Dick softly argued.
To his surprise, Hank shook his head. "Yes it is."
Dick immediately sat up straight so he could look at the other man. His muscles protested the movement, still aching and begging for the drugs that he had been forcibly given, but Dick ignored them to focus on Hank. He however, was staring at the ground with a face filled with guilt. When Hank didn't offer an explanation, Dick asked, "What are you talking about? How was it your fault?"
"I saw you fighting those drug dealers, saw that you were outnumbered and came to help. But then I saw a woman on the ground. She had gotten caught in the crossfire had been shot. So I went to help her instead of you. I tried to call the others over to help but we were too late and you were captured." Hank quietly confessed.
Dick was stunned. His memory from that night was a little foggy due to the blow to the head he had gotten during the fight. That was how those criminals were able to capture him. He didn't remember a civilian getting hit but it was very possible he just didn't see them. He was focusing on fending off the criminals at the time. Dick also didn't remember Hank coming to help either, or hearing him call for help. That didn't make any of this his fault though.
"You did the right thing Hank." Dick insisted. "The safety of civilians should always be put first. That's why we're out there almost every night. Not just to catch criminals and put them in jail. It's to protect and save and help people who need it. The civilian was the first priority."
"I know that, but it still led to you being kidnapped and addicted to drugs." Hank told him.
"That's the risk we take. Every single time we suit up, we accept the risk that we could be captured, hurt or killed. We all know that. I've known that since the first night I suited up as Robin when I was 12. We always try our best to make sure no one, including ourselves, get hurt or killed, but we don't always succeed. It sucks but the only people truly at fault are the criminals. None of this was your fault."
Hank looked up at Dick. The young man looked back at him with nothing but sincerity in his eyes that matched his voice. To his slight embarrassment, he felt his own eyes well with tears. He had a feeling that Dick wouldn't actually blame him for what happened, Dick wasn't that kind of person. That didn't mean Hank wasn't a little worried how the former would react though. And hearing that he didn't blame him helped ease the guilt.
"And before I forget, thanks for staying with me. I know you'd probably rather be doing almost anything other than being here." Dick added, ignoring the tears in Hank's eyes, knowing the blonde wouldn't want him to bring it up.
"Don't mention it. It's the least I could. Besides, it hasn't been that horrible." Hank responded, giving the leader a small grin.
Dick chuckled a little and said, "Maybe not yet. We'll probably be sick of each other by the time this is over."
"Probably. As long as we don't kill each other by the end though, I'd consider it a success." Hank said, causing them both to laugh. Yes, it wasn't easy and they were still probably going to butt heads but they'd be fine.
2018TITANS2018
Two weeks later…
Rachel groaned as she pulled herself out of bed. She hadn't been sleeping well at all the last few weeks and needed coffee. She doubted anyone else was up yet, which meant she was probably going to have to wait before calling Dick. He had been doing a lot better during the last week, answering their calls and texts himself. Apparently it wasn't going to be much longer until he came home with Hank. Rachel, and all the others, couldn't wait. They had been without their leader for almost five weeks now and they missed him.
Entering the kitchen, the teenager froze in shock. It wasn't empty like she expected. Sitting at the island with a bowl of cereal and mug of coffee, was none other than Dick Grayson himself. And on the other side of the island was Hank, getting his own cup of coffee to go with his plate of toast.
"Dick!" Rachel shouted as she ran right into the man's arms and hugged him tightly. Eyes filling with tears of joy and relief, she then mumbled, "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too." Dick responded as he hugged her back. The sound of thundering footsteps coming towards them, he looked over her shoulder and saw the other members of his team, his family, running down the hall and into the kitchen. Summoned by Rachel's loud voice no doubt.
"Hey guys." Dick said with a smile.
"You're back!" Gar basically screamed in excitement as he ran over to the former Robin. Rachel barely had time to get out of the way before the green-haired teenager slammed into Dick, just as desperate for a hug as she was.
While Dick embraced Gar, Donna walked over to them and said, "You guys didn't say anything about coming home today."
"We wanted to surprise you." Dick explained as Gar pulled away to let Rose/Jericho have turn. When they were done, Conner stepped forward.
As the clone hugged the Titans' leader, he whispered, "We missed you."
"I missed you all too." The brunette replied.
"What about me?" Hank suddenly questioned. "Did no one miss me?"
"Nope." Rose answered. If it wasn't for her half smirk and the teasing look in her eye, they all would've thought she was being serious.
"Gee, thanks." Hank responded with a fake pout.
Dawn, after giving Dick a hug of her own, walked over to the tallest member of the team and hugged him as well. "Don't be ridiculous. Of course we missed you too."
"So, how did it go? How are you feeling?" Kory inquired, coming to stand beside Dick. She didn't hug him but she did place a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I'm feeling a lot better. And Hank and I didn't punch each other or get food poisoning, so I would consider it a success." Dick told them.
"Good. We were a bit worried." Donna chimed in, coming over to embrace her little brother. "It's good to have you back."
As he returned the embrace, he looked over at the others and smiled. "It's good to be back."
AN – And that's the end of this story! Hope you all liked it! See you guys later when I post more in my Surprising Facts about Dick Grayson fic and eventually my sequel to Prince of Gotham fic!
