cover up and say goodnight, say goodnight
a batfamily agere fic! 2.7k words, fluff! warnings for mentions of nightmares and fear toxin, never goes in depth!
hello!! ive been super inactive as of late for a multitude of reasons, but mostly bc ive gone back into spy mode of having an online existence lol enjoy the fic! (better to read on ao3 imo!) lmk if i need to add any warnings!
pinterest photo links 1 2 3, title from this must be the place by talking heads!!
First it was Tim.
He had been taken off duty mid-patrol after a dose of fear toxin had been administered to him and possibly Jason. Even though he argued that he was fine, he took an antidote, and they should be more worried about Jason, Bruce persisted until Tim resigned for the night and retreated back to the cave.
He would never admit that his hands trembled with the scenes flashing in his mind on the back of his eyes each time he blinked for a second.
He would never admit that the hug he received from Alfred upon arriving made him tear up underneath the mask.
He would never admit that in the middle of the night, the lonely openness of the room and the creak in the hallway floorboards began to scare him enough to not sleep, prompting him to go to Bruce’s room because Bruce’s room was safe. Because Bruce was safe.
Bruce squinted in the darkness of his room when a weight dipped his mattress, beginning to sit up to ask what was wrong or if someone was hurt, but soon settled back down when he saw a teary eyed Tim crawling into the bed with Aurora tucked between his arms in a tight hug, thinking he hadn’t woken Bruce up.
Bruce would never admit that Tim woke him up.
Next it was Damian.
He had come home later than Drake but earlier than the others for school purposes, getting enough sleep the night prior was valued for the loud and noisy classmates he had to put up with for a majority of his day, along with getting his homework done on time for the next day.
He had finished his schoolwork, freshened up, and followed his usual routine for the weekdays, ready to sleep.
Except.. something was off.
He had traced back everything he did, and everything he did was in the correct order and routine…
Oh, his pacifier was missing from his bedside table. He must have left it in father’s bedroom from the previous night.
He folded back his covers and trotted down the hall, narrowly avoiding the loud spots on the floor and opening the door to father’s room, only to see Drake and father slumbering.
He continued forward, passing the empty and inviting spot on one of father’s side to grab his pacifier and return back to his bed.
But he paused, eyes and mind darting between the open slot on the mattress and the half open door, revealing the nightlights placed throughout the hall.
Bruce would never be able to explain the selfish disappointment he felt when he heard the door close, only for a burst of joy to replace and erupt in his chest when he felt Damian snuggle against his side, the pacifier knocking against his shoulder in a rhythmic motion.
This time, it wasn’t Jason.
He had been having nightmares on repeat— as if that was new,— the way he had been carrying himself and working the past few nights had been concerning at the very least. Everyone had noticed, but didn’t bring it up, until Dick came over from Bludhaven and took him aside.
Jason had admitted to not having great sleep recently, but had argued that, once again, it wasn’t new to him. He could work it out, push through. And once the nightmares have made their run, everyone can carry on their merry way.
Of course, nothing ever worked out that way for anyone in this family.
His head felt full of just.. a feeling of disturbance, followed by the fact that he was distracted by how his left arm and right leg weren’t cooperating with him, one of scarecrow’s men had whacked him square in the head, sending him to the ground.
The rush of cold air flowing through a crack on his mask hit his face, everything felt so far away. Why does everything feel so fuzzy? Why is someone yelling in my ears? Why are there so many sounds?
The hands under his armpits dragging him from his spot on the floor cut him out of his thoughts, his eyes burning along with his lungs, the loudness in his ears was just too much. He struggled against the hands dragging him, effectively flipping on his stomach and away from the person.
He blinked heavily up at the person, his vision swimming as he squinted at them. Dick? Tim? Bruce? None of those options sounded great to deal with right now.
Next thing he knew, he was jolting awake with panic and fear seizing in his chest, an overwhelming feeling of everything crashing into his system. He wasn’t in his room, he wasn’t even in a safe house, this was the manor.
With remnants of the nightmare leaping around in the fog of his mind, he clutched the sheets closer to him as he tried to move off the bed, but his limbs didn’t want to cooperate. His knees hit the cold floor with a whimper leaving his mouth, tears filling up his eyes quickly as he sat in his own misery.
Then it was Cass.
She almost always sought someone out for cuddles during the night, regressed or not. It was comforting being wrapped up in someone’s arms, but just like tonight, sometimes it was because it just got really cold and lonely in the manor.
Tucking her big bird plush in her arms as she wrapped her fluffy blanket around her shoulders, she ventured out into the hall.
Her hand was on the handle of Bruce’s door, when something felt.. off… There was an icy ache of worry forming in her chest, something in the back of her head to look around first.
Listening to her instincts, she checks all the rooms, some of them missing their owner, making her smile knowing she’ll have more people to hug tonight.
Two rooms, side by side, had light coming from underneath the door. Dick was awake, which was no surprise seeing as he slept until five in the afternoon, but Jason being awake set off the alarms in her head.
Opening it slowly to let him know she was entering, and thankfully not receiving a request to leave, she saw Jason sitting beside his bed with his face hidden by his arms resting on his tucked up knees. The blankets tossed around and his pillow shoved between the wall and mattress. Clearly not a restful night.
She sat beside him, at a distance for his comfort, allowing him all the space and time he needs, but letting him know she was there. She would always be there for them.
“Nightmare.” Jason grumbled, his voice muffled by his position. She hummed, nodding even though she knew he couldn’t see it. She knows how terrible nightmares can be, she also knows how badly they affect everyone in the family differently. Some had gotten used to them and could shake them off easier, meanwhile others couldn’t even close their eyes without an image of the bad dream reappearing.
“It sucks and— and it’s frustrating! I know I get them, and they still get me shaken up when it happens, and it sucks!” He says, throwing his head back against the mattress, letting his arms fall to his side.
Hm, regressed.
She takes big bird from her arms and places him into Jason’s lap. If he helps her take her mind off bad things, he should help Jason do the same.
“Big bird? What am I supposed to do with it?” He wipes his nose with his sleeve with a small scowl and questioning look at the plush.
“Him.” She corrects, “Hug.”
He pauses, looking between Cass and Big bird, before picking up the stuffed animal and hugging it, releasing a breath of what seemed like relief.
“Come.” Cass says after letting Jason have a moment of peace with big bird, standing up and reaching a hand out for Jason to take.
He takes it, the two of them walking hand in hand a little further in the hallway to Bruce’s room. Jason pauses at the doorway, but Cass pats his hand, nodding with encouragement.
Cass lays with her back to Tim, scooting as close as she can to make room for Jason— though that’s not too hard with how large Bruce’s bed is. Jason shuffles hesitantly, tucking his head under Cass’s chin and allowing himself to be hugged by her, whilst hugging big bird in his arms.
She won’t be cuddled tonight, but she’s always willing to repay what the others have given her.
“G’night, love you.” He whispers to her, nuzzling further against her in search of comfort.
“Love you too.” She murmurs back, a smile etched on her face as she drifts off.
After hearing a few doors and very quiet talking, Duke decides to get up from his bed of misery.
He had tried making it more comfortable over the time he’s been here, but sometimes nothing would shake the feeling of homesickness he still felt.
Plus, that fuzzy feeling— regression, he reminds himself— keeps making it hard to do anything but lay down and cry in his own sadness, curled up with his all too cold blankets and in want of a hug.
But it’s late, everyone is probably settled back down for the night and— and he couldn’t just bother anyone for a hug anyway. He’s new to this family, the dynamic, and he just.. he didn’t slide in perfectly like a puzzle piece yet.
Sure, he was close with them and he talked to them like family, but everything was still new and he continued to find out more things. Not only about them, but himself too.
And right now, he just feels small, tired, and homesick.
Though.. Tim did tell him that if he ever felt in need of a hug, no matter the time, Bruce will always be willing to give one to him— Perks of being the new kid, Bruce couldn’t really get angry with you, Dick added. And Bruce did give some good hugs.
It wouldn’t hurt to try.
He picks himself off the bed and goes down to the end of the hall to Bruce’s door. He can hear Bruce snoring on the other side, the sound of the sheets rustling every now and then. Maybe Bruce was just an active sleeper.
He opens the door and…
Pretty much everyone is already in the bed, like a secured spot dedicated to each and every one of them. Ouch.
His bottom lip begins to wobble as his eyes well with tears. It’s not that serious, really, but seeing all the others so adjusted and comfortable to do this like it’s a routine, meanwhile he still feels like he’s intruding on everything.. It’s isolating, to say the least.
He doesn’t know how long he stands there, staring at the absolute cozy and familial scene in front of him, watching like an outsider, like it’s a paused screen.
Dick hears the door to Bruce’s door open for the umpteenth time tonight, but he never hears it close.
Odd.
He clicks off his phone, peeking his head out quietly to investigate and Duke is standing at Bruce’s door, teary eyed, fidgeting with the frayed hoodie strings.
Alarms go off in his head immediately. Duke never seeks out Bruce in the middle of the night like this, and he certainly has never seen Duke come to anyone crying, so something must’ve happened.
He walks over, his steps unintentionally quiet until he purposefully makes a floorboard creak under his weight. Duke jumps at the noise and stares wide at Dick.
“Hey, what’s wrong? Did something happen?” Dick whispers, bending over a little to get more eye-to-eye with Duke, reaching over to pull the bedroom door nearly closed to block the sound of them talking.
Duke glances between Dick and inside the room through the small crack, biting on his lip before shaking his head, wiping his tears away with the sleeve of his hoodie. “‘M fine.” He says wetly with a sniffle. Very convincing.
“Duke, if something is wrong, you can let me or anyone one of us know. We won’t judge you or tell another person.” He assures, trying so hard to get concern across and not worry and panic in his expressions.
Duke hesitates, “I’m jus’ not feeling good. Sad.” He says, his bottom lip quivering as more tears well up. “Jus’ wanna hug.” He says in such a pitiful way, Dick thinks his heart just got torn then ripped out of his chest.
“Oh, lightning bug, I’d be more than willing to give you a hug— any of us would be.” He says, opening his arms for Duke to crash into, to which he promptly does. Tears soak through Dick’s shirt, though he doesn’t really care at the moment because his baby brother is sad, and he can’t have that.
“Did you want a hug from Bruce?” Dick asks after a few beats, he needs to figure out why the kid was just standing there. Duke nods against his chest. “Okay, so why didn’t you go in and get one, bug?” Duke hesitates again, holding Dick tighter.
“Didn’t feel right. Everybody is asleep ‘n cozy and.. I’d just be bothering them.” Duke says, muffled against Dick’s chest. “It’s scary being the new kid.” He says, moving his head to look up at Dick with a nervous look and tears steadily streaming down his eyes.
“Duke.. bud, I know it’s scary. You could never bother us though, especially if you’re upset.” Dick says with a frown, sorrow filling his voice as he runs a hand over Duke’s head comfortingly. “How about we go in there together? If you feel uncomfortable then you can leave or hug me tighter, how does that sound?”
A small and shaky— but still!— smile breaks onto Duke's face, making Dick smile back. The two walk over next to the side Damian rests on, seeing as the other was quite packed. Dick shuffles under the covers, Damian snuffles for a few moments, both Dick and Duke freeze until he flips over and nuzzles against Dick, who just combs his fingers through his hair.
Duke shifts on his feet for a few moments, then slowly climbs next to Dick, adjusting himself comfortably under the blankets and curling around Dick, who runs a hand up and down his back.
Within moments, Dick is the only one awake, smiling to himself as he looks over all of his siblings and his dad bundled together in peace. A giddy feeling fills his chest, a childish glee tugging at his mind. He holds Damian and Duke closer as he closes his eyes, happy to be sleeping surrounded by warmth and love.
Alfred checked all of the kids' rooms after nobody showed up in the midst of his cooking— let alone once it was done. No footsteps, no laughter, no tired groans from the ones who stayed up all night.
It was suspicious.
Nevertheless, he carried onwards to Bruce’s room, opening the door quietly, ready to start the daily routine of many years, until he saw Bruce already awake, surrounded by a pile of sleeping children.
“Good morning, sir.” Alfred whispers, a smile tugging at his lips at the sight.
Bruce huffs a breath in reply as he tries to sit upwards, shushing Jason when he whines at the subtlest movements or sounds, petting down his hair.
“I believe you might be stuck on the bed for the day, Master Bruce.” He says above the children, careful not to disturb any of them. Bruce chuckles quietly, “I guess I am. Not the worst situation to be stuck in though.” He says fondly, his eyes full of admiration and love for all his kids.
“Definitely not the worst.” He agrees, moving towards the bed to readjust Bruce’s pillow, seeing as the man couldn’t really move to do it himself.
Stepping away to leave the room, he pauses at the door. “I’ll come back with breakfast, perhaps a bedroom picnic is in order.” Alfred says, a twinkle of happiness shining brightly in his eyes as he leaves.
It may be Bruce’s bedroom, but the bed certainly does not hold one owner.
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all i ever wanted is here in my arms
A Cassandra Cain-centric agere fic, Caregivers: Dick and Bruce! Fluff, little to no angst/hurt, 1.1k words! photos found on pinterest!
No warnings!
Day 4, Comics Agere Week, That is not a mouth object/Bedtime
Title from Enjoy the Silence - Depeche Mode
Cass was exhausted.
Tonight’s patrol had been heavy with crime, much like the past month they’ve been having in Gotham. It had also been sickeningly hot earlier but around sundown, rainfall had started and quickly ended, leaving a damp and groggy feeling in the air for the vigilantes to work in. The cherry on top being how her suit just didn’t want to settle. It was too tight around her shoulders and elbows, but too loose around her wrists and waist, and it just didn’t feel right.
She thinks back to when Dick had told her that was called sensory issues, having those days where nothing felt right. Always too loud or quiet, too cold or hot, too whatever it was. He had said his Robin suit used to bother him a lot in the early days, going through multiple versions and adjustments before getting it comfortable enough to where he can manage even on the so-called “Bad Days.”
She also thinks back to when Dick informed her of ways he coped with the “Bad Days,” like doing an intense workout or run to get out all his frustrations that bubbled under his skin, maybe get himself cozy and nice before napping, or sitting down with his favorite cup of tea and watching those reality TV shows that Damian scowls at.
…
Sleeping sounded nice.
She trekked upstairs into her bedroom, the dimly lit area just how she liked it. It was cooler than the rest of the manor, always cleaned nicely, her bed neat and tidy with Big Bird sitting right on—
She stares at the empty spot where her Big Bird plush usually sat at, her black bed seeming so vacant without his lively yellow plush decorating it.
But now that left the mystery of where he went, and with that thought, she crept out of her room and to the half open door across the hall. Dick was sprawled out on his back, hanging over his bed whilst texting someone on his phone. She pushed it open a bit further, alerting him of her presence.
“Cass! I was just about to— Wait, hey, are you okay?” Dick says, his voice turning into concern as he tosses himself around on the bed until he’s able to get a footing on the floor. Shutting off his phone, he walks over to her, looking down at her with a concerned look.
“Bird, gone.”
“Bird? Big Bird?” He asks, cocking his head to the side as a frown tugs at his lips, only furthering with his eyebrows knitting together when she nods.
“Well, he can’t have gone far, meaning he’s just hiding someplace in the manor. Do you want my help to find him?” Dick says. Cass grabs his hand and holds it, hugging around his arm as an answer. “Alright, alright. Let’s go find Big Bird!” He chuckles out, the two setting off down the hall, peeking into each room they pass for any clues.
After searching all the resident-free rooms on the second floor,— and making all of the others aware of the situation at hand while they’re at it,— they make their way downstairs to where Alfred is cleaning up the kitchen from making dinner. Maybe she had left Big Bird there from breakfast.
“Hey Alfie, have you seen Big Bird anywhere? Cass can't find him.” Dick says as he and Cass scour through the kitchen cabinets, knowing that there've been many instances that one of the others have hidden another’s toy or plush in the cabinets for hide and seek.
“I cannot say I have seen Big Bird since lunchtime, I believe Master Bruce was the last person I’ve seen with Big Bird. Perhaps you should check with him.” Alfred provides as he washes dishes.
Cass watches as Dick facepalms, grabbing her hand as he thanks Alfred for the help, making their way down a hallway. “I should’ve known Bruce probably still has him, sorry to keep you up late Cass.” He says, an apologetic expression painting his voice and face.
She squeezes his hand as a form of acceptance, making him smile as they turn a corner into Bruce’s office where the man sits behind the desk, jotting down a pen on papers that lay in front of him. The floorboards below them creak with their footsteps and his eyes flicker up with a small smile at the sight of the two.
“Hey, B. Alfred told us you might know where Big Bird is at?” To which Bruce hums, writing down a few more things before rising from his seat, reaching into a drawer in his desk and pulling out Big Bird in all his glory.
Cass squeaks with joy, a wide smile on her face as she makes her way over to Bruce quickly, taking Big Bird into her arms and squeezing his plush body tightly.
Bruce and Dick must’ve talked while she was focused on Big Bird’s presence, because when she looks up, Dick is no longer standing at the door, and Bruce is putting his work items back into a briefcase.
“Dick is going back to bed since he has work tomorrow morning and has to make his way back to Bludhaven early.” Bruce says, shutting the case and placing it on his desk for tomorrow before walking over. “So, I’ll help you get ready for bed.”
Cass nods with a small frown— she loves all of her family the same, but bedtime is always more fun with Dick. Just like how mealtime is better with Bruce, or how watching Sesame Street is much more enjoyable with Duke.
She raises her free hand up to Bruce, making a grabbing motion. He chuckles and nods, receiving her message and picking her up, placing her on his hips and beginning their journey back to her room.
After she brushes her teeth and Bruce combs her hair, thankful that she had changed as soon as she had gotten home, Bruce takes her to her bed for an overdue sleep.
“Goodnight, sweetheart.” He says softly, placing a kiss on her forehead as she snuggles into her warm blankets that Bruce tucked her into, before a pout comes on her face, pushing Big Bird up out of the covers more for Bruce.
He pauses, before placing a kiss onto the plush’s forehead. “Goodnight to you too, Big Bird,” he says with a chuckle, patting her head, then Big Bird’s.
Once he turns on the night light and leaves, she places a kiss of her own onto Big Bird’s beak, a smile on her face as she closes her eyes, rubbing his soft fur against her cheek.
After a long day of work and a long hunt for Big Bird, she’s at peace with him snuggled in her arms. She can finally sleep, at last.
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