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[cohero]

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sorry for the delay. it's been a week at work.

[batsymbol]

( that is... certainly not anything he expected to have happen. it's surprising, to say the least. but not so much that bruce is put off by it. if anything, it's confusion there that touches his face before a huff leaves his lips and hands find their way to dick's waist.

can you tell he doesn't have much downtime— never mind anything as playful as this in his life? honestly, alfred would probably encourage it. more bruce, less batman.

after that huff comes a licking over of his lips and he stretches back against the bed some, what with dick's weight there on him and all now. )

Guess I don't have much choice with you on me like this.

and my weekend was freaking nuts!

[cohero]

[ Why not be surprising every now and then in life as he is in work. As Nightwing, Dick has to think on his feet and surprise the underbelly of Gotham all the time, in the way he moves and attacks. His mind is always moving at hyperspeed as he does his best to outwit the criminals.

In the bedroom, he's merely here doing his best to deliver this thing supposedly called downtime to himself and another who rarely experience it, not to mention he's actually enjoying the time they're spending together. They don't have to speak a million words, or even have sex over and over. Not that he's complaining about what they've already enjoyed together.

It's all the little things that are beginning to grow on Dick. The touches, the tiny sounds that Bruce makes when he's being playful, or showing something that amounts to his version of a smile. It's the way those eyes look up at him now, as Dick lays with his arms crossed high on Bruce's chest. He's never met a man more suited for him.

He figures that Bruce probably disagrees, but it doesn't matter. He grins at the huff.]

I hereby dub thee kidnapped for the moment, but only because you already agreed to stay and I'd never have you leave a second before you were ready to.

❤️

[batsymbol]

( he did agree to that, didn't he? it was actually his idea to stay — for dick to clear his day. so, no. he doesn't have any intention of slipping out of bed and making his leave. especially not after All Of That between them. it's only been twice so far and yet it's the most he's gotten laid in a long time. try a few years.

a slight shift, keeping dick there above him, he hums as he presses his head back against the pillow, blue eyes watching the other man's face. licking over his lips, he lolls his head — lets his gaze drift across the room for a moment, before he's looking back to him. lifts a hand and brushes fingers gingerly through dick's hair. pushing it back. )

I didn't exactly plan to just stay in bed and have sex all day. But you make it tempting.

( he's teasing. maybe. )

Hopefully this week takes it easier. You deserve the bestest.

[cohero]

[One more day, and night-- Not that Dick is actually holding his breath to the extra night. He's keeping the day. He's keeping Bruce to his word for this day. He hopes. He understands the job and that's why things got hectic with that last little bit of pleasure, but Dick enjoyed it still, even with Alfred calling in and checking on Bruce in the middle of them having sex.

Feeling a little more content in what's gone on. Dick can only smile softly down at Bruce. It's a rather cozy bed, even if he knows he's squishing the other man slightly. They're both muscular in their own ways, and each would be hard pressed if it came to a press of strength between them-- that's the only reason Dick can do this. He likes being able to kiss here and there across Bruce's chest, and have his hair pressed out of the way.

That, and like always to fall deep into those blue eyes -- the ones that say everything and nothing all at once. They make his heart tick like mad. Dick wonders how long it's going to take for him to fall for those eyes, and laughs at himself. ]

You are very tempting, so I'm trying hard to make it tempting to leave. Plus, what else is there to do besides laze in a bath and have sex there, or on a couch, or in a kitchen, or a patio. The bed is the most comfortable place.

same to you since i've enjoyed them very much ❤️

[batsymbol]

Getting something to eat might be nice.

( though by no means is that him volunteering to make anything. dick has to know he's a disaster in the kitchen, even with good intentions. but it's a thing they need to do since they haven't since last night and with it being some time in the morning-to early afternoon, they probably should. )

Though I didn't know you had so much pent up energy.

( a lazy thought he murmurs as he stays there with dick atop him. hand raising. slow. gentle. a brush of the backs of his fingers along the other man's arm. ghost-like, almost. something else they both carry within them. the ghosts of the past... ghosts of others.

shifting some beneath him, he hums, body feeling limber. )

I'll order something. If you tell me what you want.

They do make me very happy. ♥ Always look forward to them.

[cohero]

[Dick makes a face of shock in response to Bruce's request. It doesn't matter that Bruce can probably feel the way his digestive system is protesting lack of food. It's not like either of them most likely have mega metabolisms due to the heavy constraints they put on their bodies day in and day out. Neither of them probably eat as much as they should for how much they work out. Still. ]

What you want food again already? You think we'd done something strenuous. You know, like have sex. That doesn't make you hungry.

[Except it's one of those strange things that leaves a person famished for no truly logical reason. Dick smiles and hums softly at the touch, yes there are ghosts, far too many of them to think of right now--. Contented by touch and the surrounding warmth of Bruce, Dick lifts his head and blinks down at the other male.]

I suppose I can move myself and my pent up energy, which you will get more of later in other forms and order food. We had Chinese earlier, do you want pasta or breakfast food like omelets now?

[Time is so irrelevant when it comes to food, breakfast and dinner can all be eaten at the same time always, because when one works at all hours, who cares what they eat when. With a small groan, Dick rolls off of Bruce, but still stays at his side, connected, leg over leg, unwilling to let go completely just yet. ]

[batsymbol]

( dick moves but remains close to him and bruce makes a mental note of that. an observation. something to overthink later. like always. because he simply wouldn't be bruce if he didn't. )

Surprise me.

( the words are a lazy murmur as he lays there. not quite basking in the small moment here where he can actually do such a thing, but. something close enough to it. trying to push away the thoughts of how he should be up and doing something— be out there in gotham or, at the very least, under wayne tower, pouring over whatever his current fixation is on in terms of things happening, but. he's here. dealing with a rollercoaster of things and emotions that keep rolling over and over and over again within him. things he's just... not really used to.

slowly, he sits himself up — runs a hand over his face before he moves then. off the bed. )

I'm going to use the bathroom.

( which is where he heads off to. naked. not like it matters with how their night and now morning have been. )

[cohero]

[The motion wasn't expected and Dick ends up untangling himself rather quickly, and then more so when Bruce starts to move away. There's concern on his face but at the mention of the bathroom it stops. The whole world has to do that occasionally. He can't stand in the way of a man needing to piss. Getting up himself, Dick goes to the guest bath, and takes care of nature. He cleans himself up some from their last romp together. They hadn't really done a complete job of it before squishing bodies together.

Using a washcloth and some soap, he gives himself a quick cat-bath, and brushes his teeth while he's in there. His hair's a mess, and he laughs. Sadly, a few fingers is all he's got for that. It's the least important thing here. Dick pats his stomach a few times, banging out a drum as he turns this way and that as people so often do in the mirror.

This round to the kitchen nets him an energy drink. They are hell on the body, but did wonders for the occasional night when he wasn't running around the city but stayed up anyway. Chugging it, he belched (what, bubbles) and then called in an order for two breakfast platters to be sent to his apartment.

Debating being a smidge romantic, Dick got over his hesitance and called up roses to go with it. Bruce could deal. Dick liked flowers, and they would smell nice over food. Now that he felt a little more put together, Dick went back to the bedroom to freshen up their "living area". He picked up the towels they'd used, hung up the robes, and changed the fitted sheet and pillow cases. He liked fresh sheets. Sheets that he crawled between and picked up his phone to really glance at the first time since they'd hooked up the night before. ]

[batsymbol]

( bruce goes to have a bit of an existential crisis in the bathroom as one does when they find they're at war with themselves. when they find themselves feeling almost guilty for taking a night off or indulging in something purely for them and that most don't even really seem to think twice about. being here like this — the hours he's spent at dick's place... how many suffered because he wasn't out lurking within the shadows? how many cases are being swept under the rug by a corrupt cop that he could have looked into himself? it never stops and it never ends and it never will so long as he walks this path. he doesn't even know if both bruce wayne and the batman can exist simultaneously, or if he's only fooling himself along with the rest of the world.

he indulges in another shower for himself. nothing long and not with the intention of washing his hair. simply as a means to try and wash away everything emotionally clinging to him at the moment. not to point of not feeling anything, but. disconnecting from everything that's causing him this little headache that comes with being the overthinker that he is. waits for it to metaphorically spiral down the drain before he's grabbing a towel to wrap around his waist and heading out after a few more minutes of looking after himself.

the towel hangs loose at his hips, fingers carding through wet strands of hair as he catches sight of dick there on the bed with his phone and he decides to do the same. reaching for it, he drops to the edge of it. checks a few things. sends off a message or two. )

You order something for yourself?

( to eat, he means, staring to his phone as he asks. )

[cohero]

[Unaware of the existential crisis that Bruce had in his bathroom, Dick did notice the sound of his shower running, so he figured that Bruce was doing a little clean up of his own, like Dick did. He didn't have anything against it, but there was a stray thought or two that wondered if Dick would meet the same Bruce coming out that had gone in. They were getting closer to having spent almost an entire day together and that would be incredibly relaxing for Dick if he wasn't always wondering if the person he was beginning to fall for was going to change his mind at any second.

One moment he was there in mind and body, and the next Dick could feel Bruce starting to pull away. That's why Dick had done what he did with his handjob. He knew that as the day wore on, Bruce would begin to pull. Dick also remembered that he was told to hold on, and push at the same time. Dick wasn't going to let go. He was determined and this relationship meant a hell of a lot more than getting off to him. It was about the way Bruce looked at him, the way they touched, and the little shocks of hair that fell this way and that when Bruce leaned over.

It was about how soft Bruce could be when he wanted to, when he wasn't thinking about all there was to worry about in the world. Dick knew that there was a start between them, and he wasn't going to let it go to waste, because there was a Bat within the man too. Taking a deep breath, Dick looked up from his phone when Bruce finally emerged from the bathroom. Dick immediately puts his phone away to give Bruce his attention. ]

I ordered us food, since it was your suggestion. Did you enjoy your shower? Feeling better?

[batsymbol]

( he's scrolling through various news outlets as he sits there on the bed because... of course he is. seeing if anything pings him — if anything's happened overnight while he's been here with dick. unable to completely silence the guilt he can feel nagging at him until he sees for himself that nothing really happened. that taking a night off isn't the end of the world for him.

it takes him a second to really hear what dick's asked, a blink of blue eyes as he looks over to the other man with confusion there on his face before it clicks. )

Yeah. I'm fine.

( slight shake of his head, he looks back to the phone he holds. brushes his thumb over the screen a couple more times before he locks it. runs a hand over his face, fingers pushing back through damp strands then. )

Alfred says hi.

( phone left on the bed, he stands. plucks his clothes off the floor and begins the task of getting himself dressed once he lets the towel drop down around his feet. )

[cohero]

[There's a drop in Dick's stomach that wraps around other things inside him. He can feel the walls as they go up. Dick closes his eyes and steals himself against what's happening. He'd expected it earlier, but it's okay. They made it as far as they could.

Laying there still naked in bed, Dick nods and watches as Bruce gets dressed. Dick takes a sip of the drink he brought back and watches all the perfect skin that he's marked and run his fingers over get covered inch by inch. They're done, just like that. Their little affair ended with a shower that Dick didn't even see coming.

Dick would have taken one more hug, one more press of their bodies together if he'd realized that had been it. ]

Are you leaving then?

[batsymbol]

( again, there's that confusion that touches his face, pulling the black turtleneck down over his shoulders. )

I thought we were eating.

( he says that matter of fact, eyeing the other man there on the bed as he reaches for his pants then, pulling them on over the tight black boxer-briefs he'd worn here last night. )

Or did you think I was going to eat naked?

( maybe he did? who's to say. he's not against the idea, just. it's the afternoon now, more or less, and in the odd event that dick suddenly gets random company? last thing anyone needs to see is the two of them lounging around naked, eating their... brunch? yeah, it's definitely brunch now. )

Unless answering the door in nothing at all is how you give your tips around here.

( he's teasing. obviously. even if his tone is dry as he says it while doing up the button there on his pants. )

[cohero]

[Obviously Bruce needs the long layers, and the black, because the bathrobes that they'd worn the night before when the food had been dropped at the door were unacceptable. They were hanging on the doors right behind him if he'd bothered to look, and that was actually what Dick had thought about wearing while they ate.

That's what couples did in hotels when they spent weekends there, wasn't it? At least in his experience it had been. Bruce probably wouldn't know, and maybe that's where Dick could have given him grace, but he was failing at being graceful in the moment. Maybe it was the turtleneck, whatever it was-- it irked Dick. He hadn't planned on seeing a fully dressed Bruce until it was time to leave.

No company was going to show up. Dick made sure of that, and if they did-- the elevator would ring his phone and he could turn them away before they even got near his apartment. He still employed the same type of security he did at the tower. ]

No, I didn't think you'd eat naked. I - there are other things to wear. Don't worry about it though, I obviously got it handled. I like answering the door nude.

[Running his fingers through his hair, Dick gets up and puts his robe on. he looks back at Bruce and rolls his eyes.]

You know me. I know how to get all the great tips. The women love it, always in my bed.

[There's a little more bite in his tone, because the tease didn't come off as funny when it was spoken dryly with Bruce standing there fully dressed and Dick naked as a jaybird (or a Robin/nightwing)-- it made him feel like a fool, and a tool. Leaving the room, Dick didn't even really have an excuse yet. The food wasn't there, but he didn't want to sit in the bedroom with Bruce fully dressed. He moved out to sit on the couch, legs crossed in front of him. He flipped on the TV, and began running through channels. ]

[batsymbol]

( something's happened that he both didn't expect and can't quite put his finger on. a shift of sorts that seems to gently catch him off guard. he's done something, he thinks. something he hasn't thought about that's either triggered or set off something inside the other man and he's left standing there. watching dick go and put his robe on.

hm.

the comments are met with silence — with a gentle blink of blue eyes as he watches dick leave the room. a slow glance down to his phone there left on the bed, he quietly rolls back the last three to five minutes in his head as he would the contact lenses he wears to catch everything that happens when he's out in the suit. replaying it over and over and over again on his computer. looking for anything he might have missed in the moment. shame he doesn't have that laptop here with him now as he has to solely rely on his memory alone. which, isn't terrible, but. a lot can happen so quickly and so quietly.

he wanders out after a moment. after taking some time to mull over what to do and stands there. near the couch. hands slipped in his pants pockets as he stares to dick. then the television. )

What is it?

[cohero]

[It would have honestly surprised Dick to know that Bruce had no idea what was going on, that he couldn't see or feel the same things that Dick did. Sitting there on the couch Dick finally found a viable show to watch a show about tattoo coverups that he thought stupid, funny, and interesting all at once. When Bruce came out, he figured that the other man was going to sit and watch it, but instead Dick is faced with a baffling question. One that he's really not quite sure how to answer.

Slowly, he turns in his space, arm around the back of the leather couch to look over at Bruce. He's very much the same man that came into his apartment an evening prior, even his hands were shoved into his pockets. Dick swears he can feel the wall between them again. All that was missing was the coat and scarf. Dick almost mentioned it, but he bit his tongue. Instead he ignores it for right now.]

It's a tattoo show about bad tattoos that they cover up. You going to stand or sit, or pace?

[batsymbol]

That's not what I meant.

( and he damn well knows dick knows that.

a slow turn of his head, he looks back to dick — looks at the way he lounges there on the couch in his bathrobe. he can almost feel the sudden tension there between them and it has him licking over his lips. glancing down. looking over his shoulder back to the bedroom for a moment before his gaze lands back on the other man there. )

You're upset.

[cohero]

I wasn't exactly sure, because I figured you knew for sure what was going on.

[Dick looks at Bruce, really looks at him and watches him puzzle over this completely not understanding where this went wrong. Taking a deep breath, Dick has to let go of his feelings and breathe through some, not all of what he's holding onto.

He flips off the TV and gets up. He walks up to Bruce and runs a hand up his chest, while placing the other on his cheek, looking him directly in the eyes.]

You're standing here, almost exactly as you got here. All dressed up, with some of your walls put back up. I could feel it when you came out of the shower. It was like you'd decided something. I don't know what, but I missed a step. Then instead of a bathrobe, you put all your clothes on and make fun of me for being naked still.

[He pauses and lets Bruce digest what he's saying and then finishes.]

I thought you were merely using the facilities. I washed up, changed the sheets, and waited for you. You wanted to go back to work. I could see it. Then you got dressed, that's why I asked if you were leaving. Alfred said hi? Who cares what Alfred's doing. He's not your keeper. You dont have to check in with him if you're having sex overnight. Damnit Bruce.

[batsymbol]

( for a moment, something within bruce twists up when dick goes and says that about alfred. no, he doesn't need to check in with him. but alfred is all he has. has had over the years. he'd almost lost him once. the way he'd flippantly told the man he wasn't his father when he had, for all intents and purposes been just that to and for him over the years. the way his eyes narrow some show that maybe dick shouldn't press on that issue too much, but. ultimately, he lets that go.

instead, his gaze drops. his thoughts spin. he takes in what dick is saying while simultaneously replaying everything over in his head. when it comes to work — to figuring things out that involve crimes and criminals, he almost always hits the nail on the head. when it comes to himself and whatever emotions he may or may not be letting himself feel... not always so good with that. largely due to his clunky way of handling them. mostly out of a deep-seated fear he can't ever shake.

but this is what he warned dick about. how he deserved someone better— how he was liable to hurt him without even realizing it. yet it's also why some part of him had told him to not let go even when bruce wanted him to. to push him— push at those walls when they started to go back up. because they always do, even with alfred sometimes and no, it's not fair that they need to push at him. it never is. but he needs it done sometimes. when he starts to sink back into his own personal shadows.

licking over his lips, he glances away. takes a moment to swallow. then looks back to dick there in front of him. )

That's— I didn't mean it like that.

( he's not sure what he's saying, so he ducks his head for a moment. furrows his brow. )

It's just routine.

( because this man has rarely broken his usual routine for a long time now. )

[cohero]

Today isn't routine. You're here with me, and I'm going to push and pull at you, because you want me to and because I want to.

[Leaning in, Dick slides his hand up Bruce's chest. They haven't gone completely backwards because Dick is here, holding Bruce, touching him like this. He's holding on and fingers move to encircle the nape of his neck, meeting the other set of fingers there. Dick pulls their lips together so that he can remind Bruce what this is, that this is anything but routine anymore.

Maybe it will be routine one day. Dick's and Bruce have started something new, and Dick knows that he'll get ticked off, and he'll be a brat about it, but he'll always come back to this. He's not leaving it, or giving up. He's too damn stubborn to. He would have given up on being a vigilante a long time ago if he wasn't so damn stubborn, but it's built into who he is as a person.

This is what he needs, he presses that much into their kiss, holding it longer than their simple little touches and brushes-- this kiss means something, and it's one of tongue and lips, tasting and teasing. Dick gives as he takes before breaking it.]

Well, now you can think about this, and why I changed back only into a bathrobe. I know it's not easy for you. I really do. I work non-stop, and so often I've neglected everyone, and everything around me. I forgot people existed and ruined every relationship I had with a woman before this. Then I died. Life is short, so fucking short. I don't want to spend every second on paperwork anymore. It's important, but so are kisses that leave you breathless.

[batsymbol]

( it's still surreal for him to think that dick had died. still something he can't entirely wrap his head around. not when he has him right here — can feel the warmth of his breath and his skin. even the beats of his heart when they're in bed, tangled in sheets. to think that heart had ever stopped beating... that it could again...

it fuels him to be better. for batman to be better. so that he can protect those he cares about and never have to lose anyone ever again. it's an impossible thing to try and achieve, part of him knows that. but he can't help it. he needs to try. do whatever he can to never have to feel that pain again. because he doesn't know if he'll be able to come back from it again if he does.

forgetting that people exist — forgetting that bruce wayne himself exists most days. he's guilty of that— still does that to alfred's dismay. the look of hope that touches the man's face whenever he thinks the boy he'd helped raised into a man might actually be that man for once instead of the vigilante skulking in the shadows he's chosen to be... as if there's more to him than simply being vengeance. even if he can't always see that. it's why he needs others around him. to remind him he's more than just batman.

he lets blue eyes fall shut. lets his head knock gently against dick's, brows touching. tries to ground himself here in this moment and the other's words. it's not easy for him. but... he's trying. )

If you die on me, I won't be able to come back.

( words he says softly before he finally opens his eyes. )

So don't.

[cohero]

[Dick's own death has fueled him to be better. It's pushed him to put so much aside for the sake of working on making Dick a better person. He wants to make deeper emotional connections, pushing away from the walls his mentor taught him to build. He was taught that those connections were weaknesses, but Dick finds them to be strengths, and strongholds in his life. He was taught not to speak, to keep his words to a minimum, but lack of communication has only taken away every good relationship he ever cultivated.

It made him selfish and utterly self-reliant. Dick let no one help him, he turned his back on everyone who ever reach out a hand. He robbed his own heart of all love-- and became jealous and bitter to the point of not even seeing one of his own Titans on the edge. They both suffered the same fate, but while Dick came back as Nightwing, Jason came back as Red Hood. The difference was stark. His mentor tried to kill himself and is still not back. It set the balance so out of wack that it shifted worlds.

Now Dick has Bruce, and sees him as a whole different person. He sees the whole picture, even if there are some similarities. He has already let himself grow attached, and it scares him as well. There's a man that he holds here in his arms, one that he doesn't know how to let go of. So when he hears those words...

Dick's fingers find the edge of that turtle neck and work their way inside it. This is why it was useless to put clothes on. Dick needs skin to touch. He's always been this person. Looking into those mesmerizing blue eyes, Dick nods.]

I won't if you don't. Cause I can't lose you either. I won't make it. You are already a part of me, Bruce.

[batsymbol]

( he wants to tell him how dangerous that might be. having him be a part of him. wants to tell him all the ways it could go sideways. could go wrong for both of them, but. he refrains. he refrains because he feels the other's touch there against his skin and he can't help but gently sink into it. sink into him. as he has over these past however many hours now it's been with each other.

eyes fall shut, a contemplative hum there on his lips. typical bruce. saying more than he ever really does with words. it's with looks, with body language, and the things he doesn't say that are his usual form of communication. sometimes, it's difficult. maddening, even. for him to not say the thing or things one wants to so desperately hear from him. other times, it's more than enough.

he noses at dick. lets a breath out. blue eyes fluttering open. dick holds to him — sneaks in underneath that turtleneck and bruce lets him as he stands there with him. arms at his sides. before he gently steals a kiss from dick's lips. slow. soft. sweet. things that bruce is so very capable of but most don't see because he doesn't let them. hand cradling the side of dick's face, the pad of his thumb brushes along his cheek and he noses him again. quiet. just standing there with him and letting himself be there. with him. )

[cohero]

[There's a tiny notion in Dick's head about food sitting outside the door, but it disappears when Bruce relaxes into his touch and lets go into this moment that they've given one another. There was enough said between them to broach dangerous territory in either of their lives. This was moving into a relationship of sorts, promises to never die, to never truly let go were things people said when they needed that other person in their life. Dick knew that on a level, and he knew that somewhere Bruce did too.

A bead of panic erupted in Dick's brain, but if Bruce could close his eyes to it and lean into this moment, that Dick had essentially created with his own words, then he could too. He was the one changing for the better, moving on to be this man that was more whole than the one who had come before his death. This was why he could do this, have this conversation, hold onto Bruce like this at all.

Lips meet lips, soft and sweet and Dick sighs out a long breath that he didn't realize he'd been holding and his fingers curl inward against soft skin, scraping against a scar somewhere in the middle, but Dick only thinks of it as character and beauty. His thumb releases from the rest of his fingers to trace over the little tiny thing, a gentle remark against Bruce's back.

He glances up and knows that their noses will brush, tender and soft, a sign of affection he doesn't ever want to give up. It's his lover's way of saying that this little rift is over and they are together still, and this here proves that whatever comes, this remains. right here, this moment. Dick closes his eyes, and remains right here in this moment too, because the words that he has to say are too real, too strong, and perhaps quiet is best, as well as the press of their bodies, their noses, and yes even a gentle lip for only a second. ]

[batsymbol]

( silence often comes with bruce. but this sort of silence is different. it's soft and gentle and intimate in ways he doesn't often allow with others, including himself. he needs it. just for a bit. to let himself sink into it and feel it for all that it is.

to say he thought this was where the day would end up when he agreed to stay longer than the night... it's a little surprising. dick, himself, is surprising to him and yet he can't entirely pull himself away from the other man. even if some part of him believes he should. it should be worrying that he can't. but some part of him wants to try. wants to see. wants to feel all this just a little more because of how starved he is for it deep down. so much so that it seems he's been in denial about it. will still be in denial. for as long as he can and simply hold softly to these moments he finds.

tilting his head back some, he eyes the other man. keeping that closeness. )

You want to take this off me?

( the turtleneck, he means. since dick keeps slipping his fingers under it. )