Categories > Cartoons > Teen Titans > Silence
Dick Grayson was nearly asleep on the couch when his mentor came back from a "party." Bruce glanced over at the clock- it was nearly two a.m. Dick grinned at his father mischievously. They shared a smile.
"What are you doing up so late?" Bruce signed. Dick shrugged.
"couldn't sleep." he replied. Bruce nodded. Dick stood up, his father ushering him toward his room. Bruce tucked him in, just as he had done so many years ago to the little deaf, broken-hearted circus boy. Bruce sat at his bedside.
"I'm glad to have you home, Dick." said Bruce. Dick gave him a mega-watt grin.
"I love you, daddy." he signed with the same look he had had on his face when he'd first "said" that to Bruce at age nine. Now it was Bruce's turn to grin.
"Goodnight, Dick." Bruce said, flipping the lights off. He shut the door quietly behind him. Dick nestled into the silky sheets, before grabbing the one thing that had stayed with him over the years: his stuffed elephant, Zitka- after the elephant from the circus. Zitka had been given to Dick at birth, and for years had gone nameless. When Dick was about five, the circus had gotten new elephants. The calf wouldn't come out. Dick had gone in and talked to the frightened creature , and in no time coaxed the elephant from his cage. From that day on, his stuffed elephant was known as Zitka. When Dick had nightmares about the circus he would cuddle Zitka close to his chest, inhaling the scent of the circus that had never quite left his fur. In no time, Dick Grayson was asleep, Zitka clutched to his side.
*
Bruce spent about an hour down in the batcave, pulling out a few files and looking them over, before deciding it was time to turn in. Before he got undressed, he decided to check in on Dick, just to be sure the boy was actually sleeping and not working on some ridiculous case all night. He opened the door, after making sure all of the hall lights were off, and stepped into the threshold.
There, Dick was sleeping peacefully, his stuffed elephant at his side. He felt compassion flowing inside of him for the boy, along with a sense of longing. For just an instant Dick was once again that scared little nine year-old boy who was finally getting a decent sleep after waking up for weeks with nightmares. He looked so... Young. So innocent. But Bruce knew better. His son had seen some of the most grotesque murders, torture chambers, and villains on the planet. His innocence died with his parents. Bruce had sheltered him and protected him from some of the worst of it, but now that Dick was on his own he would see the world for what it was- unprotected and unsheltered. That's why moments like this were precious to Bruce. They served as a reminder of the innocence that still existed, and reminded him what he fought for. Smiling, Bruce shut the door and headed off to sleep, his mind finally at ease.
"What are you doing up so late?" Bruce signed. Dick shrugged.
"couldn't sleep." he replied. Bruce nodded. Dick stood up, his father ushering him toward his room. Bruce tucked him in, just as he had done so many years ago to the little deaf, broken-hearted circus boy. Bruce sat at his bedside.
"I'm glad to have you home, Dick." said Bruce. Dick gave him a mega-watt grin.
"I love you, daddy." he signed with the same look he had had on his face when he'd first "said" that to Bruce at age nine. Now it was Bruce's turn to grin.
"Goodnight, Dick." Bruce said, flipping the lights off. He shut the door quietly behind him. Dick nestled into the silky sheets, before grabbing the one thing that had stayed with him over the years: his stuffed elephant, Zitka- after the elephant from the circus. Zitka had been given to Dick at birth, and for years had gone nameless. When Dick was about five, the circus had gotten new elephants. The calf wouldn't come out. Dick had gone in and talked to the frightened creature , and in no time coaxed the elephant from his cage. From that day on, his stuffed elephant was known as Zitka. When Dick had nightmares about the circus he would cuddle Zitka close to his chest, inhaling the scent of the circus that had never quite left his fur. In no time, Dick Grayson was asleep, Zitka clutched to his side.
*
Bruce spent about an hour down in the batcave, pulling out a few files and looking them over, before deciding it was time to turn in. Before he got undressed, he decided to check in on Dick, just to be sure the boy was actually sleeping and not working on some ridiculous case all night. He opened the door, after making sure all of the hall lights were off, and stepped into the threshold.
There, Dick was sleeping peacefully, his stuffed elephant at his side. He felt compassion flowing inside of him for the boy, along with a sense of longing. For just an instant Dick was once again that scared little nine year-old boy who was finally getting a decent sleep after waking up for weeks with nightmares. He looked so... Young. So innocent. But Bruce knew better. His son had seen some of the most grotesque murders, torture chambers, and villains on the planet. His innocence died with his parents. Bruce had sheltered him and protected him from some of the worst of it, but now that Dick was on his own he would see the world for what it was- unprotected and unsheltered. That's why moments like this were precious to Bruce. They served as a reminder of the innocence that still existed, and reminded him what he fought for. Smiling, Bruce shut the door and headed off to sleep, his mind finally at ease.
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