cohero | Dick & Iggy PSL Open Post/Overflow/Inbox

"I don't remember a lot, but we used to practice every day when I'd go by to talk to her. They were my family, my home. It was hard to go from never having a place as my home to being forced to live in one. I hated it so much. I was used to traveling. The open road was my life." Dick talks as they walk from one exhibit toward the next. Strolling through the zoo is nice. There are other little exhibits on the way, big free ranges for little tiny deer like animals, and monkeys of differing types.

"I-- I feel a lot of different ways. I was so filled with rage toward the person who killed my parents. I wanted to kill him myself. I went out night after night, actively seeking a mobster by myself. In a way, Bruce gave me the skills to not get myself killed. In a way, he turned me into what he was, a mini-Batman. He used me. Stole my childhood. I never had playdates, or learned how to be normal. I didn't realize it until later." Dick shrugged. He's taken some time to get it back, but he's still obviously detached in odd ways, and desensitized in other ways.

There's a darkness in him that he doesn't share with anyone, because he's afraid to let it out. The things that he thinks about at times, he feels it would scare other people. The things he fantasizes about aren't always innocent either. He mentioned it to one girlfriend and she left him. Not a thing to bring up on a first date.

"It's why I finally did leave Bruce and it all behind and try to start the Titans, but I had to go farther. I had to leave Robin, and I became Nightwing. I know that I want to keep helping people, as much I can, but I can do that as my own person."

"Anyways" He shrugs, "Here's the polar bears. Maybe..." All Dick can see right now are big ice floes and lots of snow, no polar bears. "I wonder if they're inside eating, or sleeping. That really stinks about the Vancouver zoo enclosure. I would hate for bears to be in something so small. I know they used to be like that for a lot of animals a while back, before all the zoos started really caring about the animals the way they should."

Iggy pauses at the exhibits of the cuter animals - he's not so much into the monkeys, but he likes the little deer things.

Iggy looks over at Dick. "But you keep doing it," he points out. "What he taught you to do." There is great irony in Iggy of all people saying this, considering that he himself repeats patterns in his life constantly. (Not that he lets himself acknowledge it.)

Iggy nods and stands close to Dick, holding his hand as he looks for the bears.

"Aquarium. They had killer whales, too. Inhumane shit, but people didn't know or care. I watched that documentary on the SeaWorld one that killed its trainer? Really messed up."

He looks over and smiles. "It's nice now, though. Expensive, but nice. I went a few times - once for fun, when I was on mushrooms. Oh boy, that was wild, I just stared at the jellyfish for ages.

"Another time I was with one of my rich guys at this ritzy event. We got to walk around with drinks and look at all the fish. It was neat."

There's a little slope in the walkway that leads down to a place where people can sit and watch the bears underwater. There's not a single person down there. Taking Iggy's hand, he walks with him down there and turns and pushes him up against the glass, where he palms down along Iggy's cock, mischief in his eyes.

"What can I say, I'm stubborn and I like helping people. I do it on my own terms. I like things on my terms. Like this..." He tips Iggy's head back with his own and nips at it a few times.

"I've been to Sea World since then too. It's nice. I like some of the roller coasters. They...leave you panting." Dick is still running his hand up and down Iggy's cock, fingers deft, as they crawl around it pushing it to extend and fill with blood. Only then does he leans in to kiss him, hard and dirty, messy and full of tongue.

"Don't ever doubt me when I say I'm going to do something, by the way. I might get nasty on you..." He pulls away, and looks at his work with a sly smile. "Should we sit for a few seconds? Bet you wish you had those jellyfish to stare at about now?"

Iggy makes a surprised little noise - he isn't expecting to be pushed against anything. It's a not entirely pleasant reminder that Dick is very strong, and very fast.

"Dick!" he hisses as he's felt up. His eyes try to dart everywhere at once. Nobody. Iggy relaxes a little. "Are you nuts, there are kids around..."

The physical attention has a predictable effect, but Iggy finds himself distracted by the idea that some family might just stroll on down to look at the polar bears. Hell, he feels weird that the bears might see.

Released, Iggy scowls and has a seat on the built-in bench across from the enclosure window.

"I didn't doubt you," he huffs. "I just didn't think it was a great idea. And jeez, Dick, you groped me like a piece of meat."

There's the instant feeling of regret and shame when Dick realizes that Iggy hadn't been a willing partner to what Dick thought was a fun little romp of slightly public, but still hidden tom-foolery. It wasn't like Dick was a full on exhibitionist, but he did like the idea of being outside in semi-public and goofing around.

It wasn't like he hadn't played around before like this with his girlfriends. He didn't think about how Iggy was used to being treated, and how it would be very different for Dick to take control like that.

"I- I'm so sorry. You know I'd never want you to feel like that. I. I'm used to being playful and teasing my lovers like that. I have to remember that you're different. You're more precious, and I wouldn't have taken any chances if there were families. I'm good at knowing when there are people around because of the Nightwing thing. I'm still really sorry Iggy. I never should have touched you like that without your permission."

He looks over, and drops his head. Reaching over, he holds out his palm. "Can you forgive me? I promise I won't do it again while we're here."

Hilariously, Iggy is an exhibitionist.

He looks up at Dick and sighs, then pats the spot on the bench beside him.

"Oh my god, Dick, calm down," he says gently. "Sit."

He waits for the other to do so, then turns toward him and takes his hands in his.

"Breathe, okay? Okay. We need to work on this shit - every time we disagree you don't need to grovel, okay? A normal 'oops, sorry' is fine, I don't need you to like... beat yourself up about it."

He leans in to kiss Dick softly.

"You're acting like if I get pissed off I'm gonna leave forever. Why?"

"Because you've gotten really pissed off at me for doing things like that before, so I don't want to screw up again, and lose you. Don't tell me to calm down when I'm just talking. I'm not upset really, just feel bad for not being considerate. You know I'm trying to do better. "

Dick is a little over the top, but dating Iggy is still new to him. He doesn't know how Iggy feels exactly, and Dick feels like this is more of a try and see thing, rather than anything solid. They never talked about the other people Iggy sleeps with-- and what if Iggy falls for one of them? It could happen.

There's a lot to be said for how much Dick cares for Iggy, and he honestly doesn't know to work this. Dating a guy is different and new, and Iggy is so different from the people he normally dates.

Dick's arms slide around Iggy, and he doesn't know how to put all that he feels into words yet. He needs to work on that, and he will, slowly. Maybe as they walk, and talk. Right now he enjoys the soft kiss.

Taking a second, he thinks about how to word his answer. "I don't think you'll leave forever. I'm - I've told you that I'm not great with relationships, and you're so different from anyone I've ever dated. I'm still learning how to figure out what we are, and how to approach... us. I guess. I care for you a lot, you know that, and I don't want to lose you. I don't know what deal breakers are for you, for us. " He thinks a little more, and leaves it there for now. It's enough to digest.

Iggy makes a bit of a face but says nothing, committed to listening completely instead of arguing right away.

By the time Dick finishes speaking he's warmed up even more, fingers gently chafing Dick's knuckles.

"It's okay," he says softly. "I'm even more new to this than you are, you know. I've never had a relationship before at all, outside of financially motivated arrangements."

He looks to the enclosure, but still no bears.

"I don't know what makes you think I'm so different. And I'm sorry if you felt shot down - it's not that I'm not interested, you know, I just would like a bit more warning next time. You know, maybe a little more kissing before the dick gran?" He looks back and smiles to show that he's not angry.

"This is all very strange for me. I'm trying to learn how to look out for myself, and how to not just provide a sexual fantasy every time we hang out. I mean... I could, if you'd like that. But then we'd be something else."

"Like I said we're different. A lot of things are different between this and the woman I've dated. They like the spontaneous, so I have to figure that to you when I do that it feels more like you're working and I'm not that. I have to train myself to be something a little different." He pauses and noses against Iggy's cheek. Then looks at him seriously.

"I do like sex though, Iggy. I don't want it every time we hang out. The grab was flirty, and I didn't expect sex. I wouldn't have minded if anything happened if you wanted it, but I do like it, a lot. I don't want you to feel like I'm one of your men though. I can't be. We have to find some sort of middle ground." Dick sighed a little and ruffled his brow. He didn't mind spending hours making out on the couch, or laying around doing nothing. He did that often enough.

He was fine with dates and having fun, but he was also flirty, and playful with the people he liked. He was a sexual being, and it was a goto outside of work, because it took the pressure off. It was one of the things that did. Maybe he was still working on being better, but he'd get there. "I want to be good for you, but I can't change me completely."

"I wish you wouldn't say train," Iggy says softly. "You're not a dog, Dick."

He sits there, studying Dick's face in the dim light. He's extremely handsome, he thinks. He could probably have anybody he wanted, male or female. But here he was, offering to bend, to change... but still much the same as every other man Iggy had ever met.

"I didn't say I don't like sex," he said. "I happen to like sex a lot." He took his hands back so he could push them through his hair.

"I guess I'm not sure what you want from me, even now. You say you don't want to be a client, but in the next breath you remind me how important it is that you get your balls drained." He looks back at the enclosure window, feeling lost and vaguely guilty.

"...this is stupid. Let's go look at some more animals."

"Iggy, I train all the time. It's what I spend the majority of my time doing. I have an entire training room. I spent years training people how to fight. The word train has a lot of meaning. I spend hours a day working on my physical training so that I can fight better, and be in better physical shape. I will never, ever be a dog." Dick rolls his eyes and takes a deep breath. "When I work hard at something, I consider it training. It's not bad to have different words for things. You say things differently than I would."

All this is starting to confuse Dick. He thought he had a boyfriend, and he's done enough relationships, even the bad ones to know that there are some things that should be natural and this doesn't feel like it. Dick didn't mean to act like a douche. Maybe he was. Running his hands through his hair he thinks back.

Maybe he's unsure because he's never dated anyone and not been exclusive, or dated anyone who does sex work, and Dick honestly doesn't know how to navigate any of it. It's not anything they've talked about.

"Iggy, this is important though.." Dick finally manages as they get up. He takes the other man's hand and brings it to his lips gently. "I'm sorry that I accosted you like that. I know better now. I don't know what you want from me either. I think maybe we both put pressure on one another with this, and got things confused? I don't know. All I know is that I really like you, and I don't want to be without you." He moved along over to another random animal enclosure, making sure he skipped the monkey one before it.

"It's not about getting... my balls drained. Geez. See, I would never think of sex between us like that, ever." Dick looks down at his feet, feeling terrible that he brought it up and that Iggy would think of it like that. It makes it sound like a chore.

Iggy, feeling suddenly very stupid, nods. He doesn't take his hand away when Dick takes it, just nods again, silent. He follows along beside him, thinking, pausing to look through glass at animals. He's very aware the fun, easy atmosphere from before has dissipated, and he knows he could get it back simply by acting like everything is okay. He's good at that.

Instead he elbows Dick gently in the ribs. "Bullshit," he says, and grins. "Everybody thinks of it like that from time to time. But I apologise for the phrasing."

He takes Dick's hand firmly and tugs him over to watch a supremely lazy looking lemur hanging out in a tree.

"Stop apologising. You're forgiven," he says firmly. "You startled me, that's all, and making a big deal out of it is just making me feel guilty. I don't like that, it makes want to please you in a way I'm not sure you want me to."

"I don't mind the phrasing, but from you that's not how I tend to think of it, at least not yet. Maybe one day if I'm really worked up..." Dick shakes his head, and shrugs. It wasn't like he was trying for something difficult between them, but when couples date-- they have disagreements and it doesn't always matter where they are.

There's a furrow in Dick's brow. He's feeling more and more like he's a fault and he doesn't like that feeling either. There's never a time that he ever wants Iggy to feel like that with him and he wants to ask how to stop it, but now that Iggy is in this foul humor, Dick isn't sure if he should. He thought that dating meant they could talk about all these things that there was between them, because it meant that there were things to work on.

Taking a few steps further down the path, there's a set of peacocks spreading their feathers and strutting around. "Always so pretty for birds that are just trying to get attention. I had a feather once, but Bruce made me get rid of it. I do miss the animals from the circus. The elephants the most. We haven't seen those yet. " Dick pulls out the map and spins it around as he looks up where they are.

"Maybe when we get back to my place, we can talk about some of this. I think it might help. I don't want you to feel like that, like you need to please me like that, and I need to know how not to do it and I think I need to learn how to relate to what you do better, cause I want to date you and take you on dates and enjoy your smile and everything that comes with that, without either of us feeling guilty."

Iggy watches the peacocks with genuine amusement. "Why'd he make you do that? Seems weird. I'd totally be a peacock if I was a bird, I bet. They make an awful noise, just like me!"

He peers over Dick's shoulder - easy to do, Iggy is so tall - and nods.

"Yeah. Yeah, we can do that. Because I think you're right." He pauses to kiss Dick's cheek. "It's gonna be okay."

"He believed all bird feathers were dirty, and yet we had bats all down in the cave. The guano was a mess. I don't get it. I mean some birds do carry disease and it can be in their feathers, but most peacock feathers are fairly safe." At least Dick hadn't heard of anyone dying from a peacock feather, but an order from Bruce was an order from Bruce and he did what he was told or faced the consequences. They were never worth facing.

Wrapping his arm around Iggy's to bring him closer together than merely holding his hand, Dick took them down the path to the elephants. Childhood excitement bubbled in his stomach and heart. It was like coming home to see an old friend. These might not be the ones he knew, but they were still old friends in a way.

It was a giant paddock, with a small one on the side where they kept the elephant for the kids to ride on. That one trumpeted and huffed at the ground. He wanted to be back with the others over by the water hole where they were bathing, and it looked like playing as well.

"Look at the small one. He keeps trying to get out of the way, but someone is always spraying him. They're picking on him, the poor baby. They can be such goofballs. I always thought it was crazy cool how much they understood when I was little. This one elephant, Cesar, would always give me a high five, or shake my hand with his trunk, even when the trainer wasn't there. he never forgot. "

Iggy makes a face. "Isn't he like, super smart? Seems weird he'd think that."

Iggy is not forming a very flattering picture of Bruce Wayne.

He walks alongside Dick, relaxing as they go. The elephants are big and they smell, but he enjoys the way Dick's face lights up when he watches them.

"They can speak English?" Iggy asks, awed. He's... not that bright.

"He was smart, just very eclectic." Dick tried to explain, and honestly, Dick didn't feel any special way toward him. He suffered a pretty messed up childhood and was abused fairly badly should anyone truly take a look at it. The scars cover him emotionally and in some places physically. Not really from Bruce hitting Dick in a way that most would think of, but training was a lot, and sending a young child into battle-- Well.

The smell is all a part of the circus to Dick. It reminds him a lot of home, and the larger the space is the less the smell. Only the small part smells strongly, and that's where the child rides are and where they offer vet care for the elephants.

"They understand what you wish them to do eventually. It's like training an elephant." He laughs. "They are easier to train than dogs, but they don't care about pleasing you, like cats. They very much like to cause mischief. It's all about animal communication. I don't think any animal speaks real english." He laughs softly and hugs on his boyfriend. It doesn't matter. They'll work it out in the long run. Bright or not, they ... care about one another.

"Not even parrots?" Iggy asks. Deep down, he's not convinced that animals aren't living their own secret lives and making fun of humans.

He hugs back easily, dropping a kiss to Dick's cheek.

"This was good idea. Thank you for inviting me. I'm really sorry for making it awkward back there."

Another quick kiss.

"Can we get some sodas or something? I'm thirsty."

It would be a fun little world if they were. Dick loves the movies that animate animal's feelings and lives, offering them human thoughts and feelings and he has a feeling that Iggy might take some of that a little more serious than others, but it only makes him a little more endearing. With a laugh, Dick shakes his head.

"Parrots only say what we do, they are great at copying our patterns of speech. It's pretty fucking neat."

Enjoying the kisses, Dick pauses for a second and steals a real one, but not one that would embarrass Iggy, one that wraps Dick's arms around him and is soft and gentle for a few seconds. It's the kind that one sees in public when a couple seems a little twitterpaited. Releasing him, he smiles.

"You're fine. I helped in making it awkward. I know communication takes two. We'll get it right. Let's go get some sodas, and we can even grab a little lunch if you want. There's a cafeteria right over here." He points on the map. "Then we can get out of here if you want, or spend a little more time. It's all up to you."

Dick takes Iggy's hand again, and starts the little hike to the cafeteria where they seem to offer essentials like sandwiches, burgers, hotdogs, and even slices of pizza down in one far corner. Plus, they have plenty of drinks-- even souvenir cups for those so motivated. Refills only 0.99 cents.

"I dunno... I heard they're as smart as toddlers..." But that's probably just something he saw on TikTok.

He kisses back easily this time. "Mmkay," he murmurs before pulling away so they can find the concession.

Iggy gets a ridiculously large diet cola and sips at it gratefully.

"That is so much better," he says, offering Dick a smile.

"We're gonna hit the gift shop before we go, right??"

"We can go anywhere you want. I'm not in any real hurry. This was all for you, you know. Even if I had a few slip ups, I do hope that you enjoyed some of the afternoon. I mean, there's a restaurant with your name on it afterwards, and they serve everything at fivestars, like you requested." Dick laughed as he watched Iggy hover over the drink that was almost as wide as he was.

Wandering slowly through the trees that cast shade and various animal enclosures was nice. Some of them made it easy to spot the animals and others were a little more difficult. There was a lot more about habitat than about pleasing people. Though the patrons didn't seem to mind too much. It was obvious that Dick had enjoyed his experience with the elephants the most by far.

The large panthers were pretty beautiful as well as they lounged in the shade and stalked through the thin branches on trees. Made Dick happy that he worked in a city and not a jungle.

By the time they reached the gift shop, it was pretty obvious Dick had seen his share of animals for the day. "I think I'm starting to smell like the zoo..."

Iggy sticks with Dick, sipping his drink and looking at the animals. He pitches the cup just before they reach the gift shop, which they have to move through in order to exit the zoo.

Iggy grins and kisses Dick's cheek. "Nah, you're fine."

Iggy, being Iggy, has to stop and look at the stuffed animals and mugs and keychains.

Finally outside, he takes Dick's arm again.

"Thank you for a lovely date," he says. "Would you be mad if we went back to your place?"

Moving through the Gift Shop, Dick finds an adorable elephant figurine that he can't help but bring home with him, and then buys Iggy the largest stuffed animal that he happened to be looking at because he can and it's funny.

Leaning into Iggy as he holds his arm, Dick smiles and nods. "I hope you liked it. I thought it would be a good idea when I picked it, but I'm not sure it turned out that great..." He pauses when he looks at Iggy.

"You sure you okay. We can always go back to my place, of course. I don't mind, but I wanted to give you the whole date experience." He takes them back to the car he picked for the day. Opening Iggy's door first, Dick waits for him to get in before going over to his side to start it up.

Iggy doesn't protest the gift - he's a sucker for them, and he enjoys soft things. The animal winds up being a tiger.

"It turned out wonderfully," Iggy says softly.

He climbs into the car (stowing his tiger in the back seat) and waits for Dick to start it up.

"The whole date experience, huh? That means dinner. If you're sure you're okay with that then, yeah, I could totally eat. You've got somewhere in mind, I bet."

"If you don't mind. I mean, we can always order in if you're tired from walking the park." Dick takes Iggy's hand when they reach the car, and now he's soft and tender. He really does truly care for Iggy. Maybe he was a little rough in the park because he wants to be better than all those other men. Dick will figure it out eventually, but this. This is the side that feels the most earnest.

He'll get it one day. Perhaps. "I'm glad you like your tiger." He takes Iggy's hand before they leave the lot and brings it to his lips to kiss each fingertip and then flips it over to run an open mouthed kiss against his pulse, savoring the way Iggy's heart beats so strong right beneath his gentle touch.

"I had a great time too. I'll work at finding a better experience for you next time we go out. You mean the world to me and I want things to really work." Dick keeps hold of Iggy's hand as they pull out, setting it on his knee.

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