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Dick wasn’t one to read into people’s actions, he didn’t judge Tim for putting extra sugar in his coffee one particular night after patrol instead of getting an actual treat, he didn’t care that Jason named his motorcycle and treated it as if it were a human being..
everyone has their own quirks. and, he always thought that Damian’s “quirk” was acting 50 years older then he actually is…
that was until he spotted him one night, after a very exhausting mission… talking to himself.
it wasn’t the talking to himself part he was worried about… it was more the way he was doing it.
he was slurring his speech, talking in a higher pitch, some might even consider it baby-talking.
and it sure as hell caught Dick off guard, he, at that very moment, decided not to intervene. he just backed away and back to his room, pretending like it never happened.
he never mentioned it to Damian, and Damian seemed to never had noticed him that night.
over the course of that week, no matter how hard Dick tried to ignore it, he couldn’t help but remember the way Damian talked to himself that night, did he have a concussion? was he mocking someone? he needed to know- hell, he lost sleep over it.
meanwhile, Damian never repeated the action again, well, at least as far as Dick knows. he never caught him in the act again… until, another night that same week, after another exhausting mission… Dick could hear loud noises coming from the living room, it wasn’t distress noises or anything, just abrupt and annoying sounds of what seemed to be a… kid’s Tv show?…
he decided to investigate, walking from his room to the living room, the sound got louder with each step he took… when he reached the living room, there it was… Damian, huddled up on the couch with Alfred the cat, and watching a very obviously kid’s show. it wasn’t even the kind that was meant to be for both the kids and the parents to enjoy, it was one of those educational ones, where the characters point out shapes and colors.
Dick stared at the scene for a few moments, he had a lot of mixed emotions, it was adorable to him. he couldn’t lie, seeing Damian like that almost made him seem innocent.. but he was also confused, how is this, the same Damian he had a bad argument with on the mission that was only a few hours ago?
against his better judgment, he decided to approach Damian, he leaned over the hand rest of the couch before asking
”what are you doin’?”
he tried seeming casual, like this was nothing. but he couldn’t help but feel nervous, he had a rooted feeling that Damian might jump him at that very moment-
but he didn’t. Damian was startled when he heard Dick’s voice, like he wasn’t aware of his surroundings at all.
”i’m… watching…”
Damian answered rather simply, pointing at the Tv, before holding the cat closer to his chest, he wasn’t making eye contact with Dick, he looked at his own feet almost shyly
Dick was even more confused now… how is the boy before him the same confident, cocky, and arrogant one he was used to? he was being… weirdly shy, and quiet.
he decided to keep the conversation going, he needed to figure this out.
”what are you watching?”
he locked his eyes onto Damian, who wasn’t making any effort to look back at him
”semi street…”
Damian mumbled after a while, he even stammered before answering, like he knew the right answer but he couldn’t help but give the wrong one.
Dick looked at the Tv, before looking back at Damian
”you mean, Sesame Street…?”
he asked the younger boy, a very obviously concerned look on his face
”Dami… did you hit your head again without telling me-?”
Dick asked again, getting closer to Damian and running his fingers through his hair to check for injuries, fully expecting him to fight back in some sort of way…
but he didn’t, Damian instead just shook his head, he even subtly leaned into Dick’s touch.
Dick was even more confused now.
Damian wasn’t injured, he wasn’t being mean or snarky, he wasn’t jerking away from his touch… what the hell is happening-?
Dick had zero idea what was going on, but he wasn’t gonna waste this opportunity, if his baby brother is finally acting like a baby, he’ll take it. even if it is strange to him that anyone would act as such at age 16… he’s okay with that.
he sat next to Damian, with a bright smile that had formed on his face, he said
”i used to watch this show too!”
Damian blinked, before slightly smirking.
”yoU’re ooold…”
he babbled with a cheeky smile
to which Dick furrowed his brows, taking fake offense
”nuh uh!”
he played along, feeling a weight fall off his shoulder as he finally figured out that… Damian just wanted to act like a kid, it wasn’t a concussion, nor sleepwalking, nor anything else he thought he might’ve had… it was just how Damian would’ve been if he ever got to live those days, who is he to prevent him from doing that?
Damian pointed to the screen again, forcing the cat on his lap to get up from it’s comfortable position
”Om nom nom nom!”
he said with a giggle, copying the character on screen, Dick was over the moon, he chuckled softly, wrapping an arm around Damian
”are you the cookie monster now?!”
Dick asked him over-exaggeratedly, in a way he would do so a kid. and Damian nodded eagerly, his smile brightening severely each time Dick played along with him. he was practically on the edge of the couch, shaking from excitement.
”um… elmo! elmo’s hAs an apple! yaaaaay!”
Damian paused to think before he quoted another part of the show, but it wasn’t the one on screen, so Dick decided to ask
”elmo has an apple? is that your favorite episode?”
to which Damian nodded excitedly, he then leaned his head back on Dick’s chest, grabbing the remote and urgently scrolling through episode’s trying to find the one he mentioned
eventually, after a few minutes of scrolling between the Sesame Street episodes, Damian yawned, it was a late hour. and they had just gotten back from a particularly long mission, but Damian seemed to be keen on finding the episode. Dick knew it was gonna take forever, so he sighed, grabbing Damian from the waist and standing up from the couch, only taking a split second to adjust the younger boy and cradle him in his arms
”i think it’s cookie monster’s bedtime…”
Dick hummed as he walked to the direction of Damian’s room.
Damian lightly flailed around, huffing and whining
”nooO!! i- elmo is on Tv!!”
he tried to argue with the older boy, but to no avail, Dick just chuckled.
when they reached Damian’s room, he was pouting. the little was pissed at Dick and it was showing…
“come on baby bird… don’t give me that look-“
Dick spoke softly with a smile, placing Damian in his bed and tucking him in
”gosh you’re being cute right now!”
he chuckled, poking Damian’s nose
”i really hope i get to see this side of you more often…”
he said as he places a gentle kiss on Damian’s forehead, and by then, Damian was sound asleep, it didn’t take much convincing as he was already tired as is.
Dick walked out of the room, closing the lights and shutting the door gently, he couldn’t help but smile as he felt satisfied, he felt like he finally got to see Damian acting his age… well, not physically, but at least mentally.