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[cohero]

Hey. No. Look at me.

[He takes her chin and tips it up so that he can look at her eyes, and closely. Then brings in his lips to kiss her very softly. ]

You are every bit as amazing to me now as you were before. I told you about my dreams. We have strange dreams. I have nightmares that are horrible, and I know you wouldn't judge me and will still hold me when you eventually have to try to keep me from freaking out at night. Sleep isn't controlled by us. I want to be with you, and I know you want to be with me.

[He dips his forehead to rest against hers.]

When the time is right we will be together again, and it will be really damn good. I'm going to enjoy your body like you don't ever remember me enjoying it before. I promise you that.

[dawn_is_breaking]

[She kisses him back just as softly.]

You better.

[She teases and then closes her eyes as they rest their foreheads against one another.]

Do you have those kinds of nightmares often?

[cohero]

My sweet and beautiful start to every day, my hope, my dawn.

[Her name was literally poetry that could write itself. He remembers being challenged to write poetry once. Now he had a reason to. It made him smile to think about it.

Nudging her nose with his softly, he pulls her in to lean against him and thinks quietly.]

I do have them from time to time. It's not like I have them every night any more, but a few times a week still. It's rough.

[dawn_is_breaking]

[At his promoting she lays her head down against his shoulder, waiting for his answer patiently.]

Are they always the same or do they change?

[She asks and then backtracks.]

I'm sorry, we don't have to talk about this if it's upsetting or if you don't want to.

[cohero]

[Fingers stroke through her hair, soothing himself. It's easier to deal with the shadows when he's sitting next to light and running his fingers through her soft soft hair. Dick will never be able to look at her features and not consider them anything but exquisite and lovely. She will always make his heart beat quicker.

Taking a deep breath, he smiles softly.]

I don't mind talking about it with you. You're the one person I do want to tell everything to. They aren't always the same, sometimes I kill Jason with a bat as Crane continues to berate me like he did in the pit, but I don't stop until Jason's dead. When...when I was down there I stopped. I realized Crane didn't have power over me, and that's what got me out. In my dreams... I don't. Sometimes I kill Crane too. Then I put a bullet to my head and wake, sometimes killing Jason is enough to wake me. It's always bloody, and terrible and I always feel guilt, so much guilt.

[dawn_is_breaking]

[She's quiet for a long moment, thinking about his nightmares.]

What do you usually do to dispel the nightmares like that? I'd like to know in case you have one when I'm around. What helps soothe you?

[cohero]

I usually get up and get a glass of water, or walk around a bit. I imagine you can touch me to wake me. It will be okay. I don't get violent, I don't think. No one in the camper said I did, and they had to wake me sometimes.

[He looks at her, and thinks about them sharing a bed again and has to admit that he really likes that thought. It's been a while, and he knows that it's been good for him, but being with Dawn is everything he ever really wanted.]

Sometimes I can go back to sleep, other times I can't.

[dawn_is_breaking]

[The idea of Dick potentially thrashing about in the camper and falling off one of the beds is somewhat amusing but also concerning and she hugs him tightly.]

I doubt you get violent but I promise to try and wake you as gently as possible and when you're awake I'll try to kiss away the nightmare best I can.

[cohero]

[It wasn't as bothersome as all that considering he wasn't the only one in the camper that had nightmares. They all pretty much suffered from some sort of sleep problem, and most had sleep buddies that came and woke them and walked with them when they need to get out and get fresh air.

It would be nice to have someone there again. He hoped that Dawn wouldn't resent him for it eventually. ]

You're always the sweetest, and the best. If I ever forget to tell you that, I'm saying it right now. Thank you, love.

[dawn_is_breaking]

[Having her own nightmares means she would never hold Dick's against him, she understands how bad things can get at night.]

You're welcome, just promise you'll do the same for me when I wake up from my own nightmares.

[cohero]

How bad do yours still get? [pressing his forehead to hers, he tips his head to kiss her softly. He knows that coming back here couldn't be easy. He stops for a second and tips his head.]

You know, we can stay in a nearby city, one that doesn't have as many memories. I want you happy, so, so happy.

[dawn_is_breaking]

Pretty bad. [She admits and then kisses him back, as if that would help dispel all of her future nightmares.]

No, New York is fine. I'm slowly starting to like it the more I explore it.

[cohero]

Good. I'm glad that you like it here. I'm really liking this city as well. I am spending more and more time here. I know you want me to stay in Gotham, but it's nice here and there is crime fighting to be done here as well. I split my time.

[Dick runs his nose along her cheek in a gentle nuzzle, doing his best to comfort her and let her know that he is around watching over her, but not too close where she might feel uncomfortable. They both live with dreams born of a more difficult time, but now what's past is going to be what brings them back together and Dick can't be happier.]

I think we should take a trip to visit the Ballet soon. I'll get us a box and we can both dress up. What do you think of that?

[dawn_is_breaking]

[Dawn pulls away from the nuzzling, blinking in surprise at his sudden offer to go to the ballet.]

I think it's a wonderful idea but, are you sure? You usually hate getting dressed up in stuffy clothes and the last time I tried to drag you to the ballet you weaseled out of it by going off to stop a bunch of bank robbers.

[cohero]

[There's laughter in his eyes as she pulls away, but he keeps his hold around her unwilling to let her get too far away. Dick sighs and bows his head a little, realizing how bad a boyfriend he really was.]

I was a such a fucking screw up. I know. You love the ballet, how could I ever deny enjoying something with you that inspires you so much. If I love you, then I'm going to do things with you that you love. The days of me using work to get out of things is done. I am still very attached to the job, but you are my love and you will take priority unless the world is coming to the end, or someone we love is in trouble.

I'm so sorry for not treating you the way I should have. I'm really going to work hard to make up for it this time Dawn. I mean it.

[He holds her tight, and kisses her hair.]

You are the most important thing to me now.

[dawn_is_breaking]

Dick, listen to me.

[She says and cups his face in her hands, gently bringing it back up so she can look into his eyes.]

You weren't a screw up, we were both young and made mistakes. That's it. You don't have to apologize anytime I mention something from back then, okay? I'm not bringing it up to make you feel bad.

I'm just a little surprised but I'd love it if we could go to the ballet together. You just have to promise that you won't make fun of me if I start crying.

[cohero]

[There's a small part that wants to pull away and not to look her in the eyes, because he hasn't gotten over the way he treated her. The past him is still a thing that he feels he's working toward making up for. The fact that she's forgiving him is wonderful. Taking a deep breath, he nods. ]

I'll try. I can't promise I won't do it now and then. I know what I did, and I am still working on forgiving myself even if you have forgiven me. When I finish all the forgiving, it'll be easier.

[Leaning in, he kisses each of her cheeks. ]

I might smile and kiss your cheeks and call you adorable, and beautiful, but I would never make fun of you. Dancing is your art, and when art is done very well it can touch our hearts. Like the way there are songs that touch me and make me think of you.

[dawn_is_breaking]

[She nods and lets go of his face but is grateful when he kisses her cheeks and she nuzzles him softly.]

Oh really? Which songs?

[cohero]

[Isn't that the way it always goes? At the mention of a song, the mind blanks and Dick has to sit there quiet for a few moments before he can even begin to scroll through the songbank in his mind. There have been so many over the years that have made him think of her, but right now, this moment, he wants the ones that pertain to them and how things are going here.

He bites his lip, and nuzzles her a little more. ] Putting a man on the spot makes it hard, but how about...
[Dick pulls out his phone and starts to scroll through things, pulling up a few titles.]

Okay, here's a small list that you can listen to:

one
two
three
four

There are about a hundred more that I could find. I know that I could send you all the love songs and it wouldn't be enough. I love you, Dawn and I won't ever stop. I'm so lucky to have you back in my arms.

[dawn_is_breaking]

[She makes him play each of these songs, listening to them as she hugs and holds him, a little smile tugging at the corners of her lips. As the fourth and final song plays she tilts her face up to look at him.]

I love you too, Dick.
I always will.

[cohero]

[Smiling down at her, he sighs deeply and tips his head to rest against her.]

I'm a lucky guy to have found the most wonderful woman out there. I love you Dawn and I always will. I'm glad I found you again, and that we will make it work this time. Now that I've played all my sappy songs for you. I'll figure out one to sing for you one day. It's been a while since I had the guitar out.

[dawn_is_breaking]

I'd like that. It's hard to keep up with the little things that bring you joy, isn't it? Life can get so hectic and dangerous that we forget to take a few moments to ourselves and do what we enjoy.

[cohero]

That's exactly it. [He runs his fingers through her hair and takes up the edges of it to brush over his lips, remembering how soft that always felt.]

That is my purpose now, to remember all the little joys and to take time to spend with the people around me, the ones I love and away from my piles of work, because I know what I'll remember when I'm gone and it's not that desk.

[dawn_is_breaking]

[She chuckles softly and gives him a squeeze.]

Look at that, it only took a near apocalyptic event to get you to start enjoying your life and not disappearing into your work....

[cohero]

[He has to laugh with her because it's the gosh awful truth.]

Yes, well. I guess we all must go through our toils and troubles, bubble, bubble before we come out of the witch's brew a better person? I don't know, Rachel would agree.

[He laughs again, because yep. another corny Dick joke.]