Disclaimers: everything belong to DC
When he took Dick in, he called him Bruce. Bruce don't particularly feel trouble by this fact. It was already settled in the beginning that Bruce didn't want to try replacing his Dad, add by a request from Dick that he shouldn't try anyway, which he can respect. But as time goes on, it was already silently settled that Bruce is the closest thing to a father figure that is alive in this earth. But still he doesn't call him Dad. But there are times when he does, and Bruce really treasure those times.
Safety
The first night Dick slept in the manor, it was a foreign feeling for him. He always have a small bedroom and he doesn't mind but suddenly he's in a massive bedroom which cost more than everything he owned piled up together. It was a strange feeling.
He couldn't sleep even though the pillows are ridiculously comfortable. When he did sleep though, he was plagued by nightmares. He was tossing and turning around in the massive bed then woke up with a jolt.
Once his heavy breathing has settled, he didn't collapse on his pillow. Instead he slip off his bed and stalked to Bruce's bedroom. His fingers hovered over the doorknob, debating wether this is his wisest decision. He barely knew Bruce then, he would troubled Bruce and make the impression that he's not grateful.
But at the same time, he need someone and Bruce, He feel save around Bruce and that's what he needs right then, just the sense of safety. Knowing that he's alright, even though he loss everything, he's going to be okay. He's really going to be okay. Dick remembered when he met him, Bruce has said that he's going to be okay and he felt that he really did mean it. For once, on that day, the word 'okay' felt real. Like is a psychical thing that he just can reach. That's Bruce to Dick. Safety.
He reached for the doorknob and very slowly as possible he opened the door. He thought that he would just silently stalk to his bed and see Bruce breathing covered by the bed sheet just to make sure that he is real. That he is okay. He's not in the Juvie, he's not in the orphanage and he's going to be okay.
Turns out, he was not being as stealthy as he thought he has been cause Bruce already stirred awake when the door was opened. With tired bloodshot eyes he sat upright and asked "Nightmare?" Dick stopped to wonder if he has some power to make him able to know the past but then he remembered that Bruce has been through what he did. Maybe that's why he took him in.
Dick slowly nod in confirmation and he thought Bruce is going to shoo him away but instead, he pull back the bed cover, inviting him to climb on his bed so Dick did. He stared at Bruce with teary eyes, not knowing what to say.
"You wanna talk about it?" Dick shake his head but he sensed that Bruce probably knows what is all about. Bruce did not puss further and Dick kind of like that. Not being pushed to talk about it just because they believe that it will make him feel better.
"I have nightmare too sometimes" Bruce admitted, trying to start a conversation with the boy. "They're mostly about people I care about being hurt"
"What did you do to them?" Dick asked him.
"I wake up and try my best to not make my nightmare a reality"
"But…what if…is already a reality?" Dick blink back tears, is not like he can undo the past and he's not a time traveller either. He doesn't have that kind of power.
"Well, you move on. It's hard and it will take a long time but you gotta move on. This world will keep on rotating going and you don't want to get stuck in one place. But that doesn't mean that you forget. Moving on and forgetting are two different thing" Dick raise an eyebrow "How so?"
"Moving on is like you learned a lesson from it while forgetting is, you're not learning anything" Bruce explained with eyes that seems so far away. Looking at Dick right now, he just felt like looking at his old self again. He knows those 'nightmares'
"Did you move on?"
"Yes, I did"
"What did you learn?" Dick yawned as his eyes dropped slowly.
Bruce looked at Dick "That someone need to be there to protect and try to prevent incident such as yours and mine"
"That sounds great. Night, Dad" it must have been a slip but it didn't stop Bruce from smiling ear to ear in the middle of the night.
Cemetery
Dick Grayson was buried, deep underground and he has only so much oxygen left with him. It was starting to get hazy and he knows he should try to save as much as oxygen as he can but he didn't. He let himself panic.
Bruce felt helpless. He's the Goddamn Batman and he cannot do shit about it. Such a hero. All he can do is race to the coordinate he just got after he finished delivering the money. He was buried in the Gotham Cemetery. Bruce can't believe how close he was to Dick this whole time. He beat himself up mentally.
Upon reaching the cemetery, he has his hand immediately clawing at the dirt. There's a tombstone between John and Mary Grayson named Dick Grayson. They had wanted to have him buried between them. Dick could deny that wish when he's in his legal year of course.
They had buried Dick alive between John and Mary Grayson. It was such a sick joke Bruce wanted to throw up. But he can't, his boy life is on the line. People starts coming around, helping him to dig up the grave.
The shovel hit something hard and they found a coffin and bring it up. Quickly they open it up and Bruce face went pale when he sees that Dick look almost dead like. He was sickly pale looking, his mouth was in an O form; a desperate attempt of sipping the last oxygen and his fingers were stain red with blood; evident of him panicking and trying to claw his way out. It was utterly horrible but Bruce suck in his gut and check over for a pulse. Weak but still exist.
They had ushered him directly to the emergency room. Bruce is not a believer, but at that point he prayed to anyone who might hear him for the safety of his child. Bruce is not a crybaby, but at that point he wept.
Dick went into a coma, that's what the doctor said. Bruce remember when Dick's Uncle, Rick. He also went to a coma. Dick bravely let the last of his family member go. Bruce feared the day that he would have to be that brave.
Thankfully, he did not have to come to the point where he has to be that brave. Cause 4 days later, Dick's eyes flutter open slowly and winch at the hospital light. Bruce's heart soared to the heaven that day.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like I got buried alive" Dick remarked wittily then he add "Thanks for saving me, Dad"
Bruce kiss his forehead and give Dick's hand a firm squeeze. A reassurance for him that Dick is going to be okay. "I'll always be here for you"
Even though his body is aching all over, he was sobbing and clawing at the older man. It was a close call. Too close.