The texts from Tim had Dick wondering if he hadn't been clear enough that night. He knew that Tim understood that Dick had looked at him before, but maybe Tim didn't understand what a big deal that was for Dick. There were no other males that caught his eye. No one else out there seemed to worm their way into his mind and heart as deeply and quickly as Tim had.
Dick wanted things with Tim. This wasn't simply sex. It was far more profound than that. It scared Dick because he didn't have an excellent reputation when it came to relationships, but he'd never dated anyone like Tim before, either. Tim was young, but he understood Dick in a way that no one else could.
There was also this chemistry... Dick waited and waited some more, going back and forth between pacing and sitting on the couch until he finally heard the back entryway, and Tim made his way in. Turning from where he had ended up on the sofa, Dick patted the spot next to him. "Hey there, sexy. Come cuddle up with me."
Tim had been pretty anxious bringing the topic up at all. He knew he was lucky that Dick had looked his way, had found him desirable, and he didn't want to do anything to ruin that. It was just that he wasn't someone that bothered screwing around casually. If he was going to put effort into another person, it needed to be something that paid off long term. Otherwise it just felt like a waste.
As soon as he made it inside, he politely slid off his sneakers and pried his hoodie off as well. He looked tired, but that was pretty typical for him--sleeping had never been his strong suit and he often neglected to look after himself for the sake of fighting crime. Bad habits he picked up from Bruce and hadn't quite managed to shake.
He smiled at the offer, taking a seat next to Dick on the couch and leaning into him. "Hey." The younger of the two hummed, doing his best to relax despite the odd tension he felt. Tim had dated before, but none of it had felt as important as this. He didn't want to screw it up.
The fatigue that wrapped itself around Tim made Dick frown slightly when he came into the room. It was usual for them both to sleep at crazy hours, if they slept at all. It was part of the gig, but the job's best part was hiding it or not letting it show. The signs that Dick could see made him want to wrap himself around Tim and force him to sleep for a while.
There were a few things that could relax Tim enough for that. Dick was slowly learning what they were. Everything between them was incredibly new, but Dick had thoughts about their relationship. He'd been thinking a lot about it and what they'd talked about over text, flirting, and thoughtfully. Dick was one of those people who did pay attention to his partners. He may not have always done what was wise, but he paid attention.
A lot of that had to do with the fact that he liked to protect them. He didn't want them getting hurt, so he used to run off a lot to do everything alone. The Titans, especially Rachel, taught him that it was pretty stupid to do that. He made his first real family that way--. This was his second family, and how he related to them was completely different. He was better now, a better man. He would be better with Tim.
Pulling Tim into his arms, he nuzzled a kiss behind the younger male's ear. "Hey, gorgeous. You look good. I mean, you always do, but I think you look better every time I see you now." It was a place to start. Bringing his hands around, Dick ran his fingers under Tim's shirt. There was something about skin that Dick loved. He craved the touch of it, and he needed that feeling of Tim's flesh to calm him as he talked about such intimate things. "About us, and who we are and what we're doing. I- I care about you a lot, Tim. It, it's never been only physical."
A pleased little sound left Tim when Dick wrapped him in his arms. He appreciated the warmth he could steal, pressing as close as he could get. "Mm, I saw myself before I left the house, Dick. I know I look like a mess. Now I'm starting to wonder about your taste in men." He grinned, clearly teasing, nuzzling at whatever he could reach. His hair had been brushed earlier in the day, but it was a little wild from the static of removing his hoodie.
The conversation shifted to be more serious and Tim pulled back, wanting to look the older man in the eye as they talked. It would be easier to read his face and get a good idea of what he was feeling that way. The idea of letting himself be so vulnerable about how he felt was uncomfortable, but he knew if the two of them were going to get anywhere, he was going to have to push past it and be open.
"I care a lot about you too." He promised, blue eyes wide and sincere as he spoke. "I just wasn't sure... I mean, I know you've had relationship trouble in the past. I wasn't sure if you'd even want to be with me like that." Pink blossomed on his cheeks. "I'm glad you do, though."
"You look good enough to me, babe." Dick kissed him softly under each eye to show that, yes, he saw the shadows and bags, but he didn't give a rat's ass, and that Tim did look fantastic no matter how he ended up showing up. He'd rather Tim stay with him tonight, anyway. This worked out so much better. Maybe over the years since Dick had left Bruce, he'd become rather gluttonous in his cravings for company.
Maybe Dick had gone from one girlfriend to the next for a long time, and then to the Titans, and left them to live with Starfire only to discover she wasn't what he wanted in life. He took time to work on himself then, on being Dick Grayson, on being Nightwing. It took him a while to get the hang of it when he moved back. Now that he was once more making decisions about people again and sleeping with them, well, with one in particular person, it was nice to have them around, in his bed and his life more consistently again.
Sensing Bruce's amazing teachings on being open, Dick took his time. He, too, wasn't always great at being open. It had taken time for that, too. He was getting better. Always one foot in front of the other, at least in the proverbial sense. Running his fingers through Tim's hair, Dick smiled and gazed across at those blue, blue eyes. "I have, but I want this to be the right relationship. You're different and understand me differently. You get what it's like to be ... us, and to have been ... with Bruce. I don't ever have to hide who I am from you. I never have to come up with excuses for leaving or for having bruises or for why I sleep at weird hours" Dick sighs and leans in to kiss those cheeks. "I want it all, like I said." He pauses and thinks. " I - I couldn't have given you... well. I wouldn't have been with you all the way we were if I wasn't going to be with you in a serious relationship with you."
Dick listed plenty of reasons why the two of them would work well in a relationship, most importantly that they understood each other on a level that no one else could ever compare to. It was funny only because Tim hadn't really even needed any convincing. He'd worshiped Dick since he was a child, used to draw pictures of them in crayon together. There wasn't a universe that existed where he wouldn't take the chance at it, even though he new it was reckless. Wasn't everything they did reckless anyway? It was all about taking the leap.
"Okay." He smiled, turning his head to brush their lips together softly. "But we should talk about what a serious relationship means. Boundaries and expectations." This was still Tim, so he was still going to try to be a little bit smart about it. If he could prevent future fights now, of course he would do his best to do so.
He paused for a moment, thinking, and then spoke again. "For me, being a serious relationship... everyone else is off limits, okay? I know we work with some really attractive people, but I don't like to share." A little pout twisted onto his lips at the idea of it. He could be a jealous little shit when it came down to it, another product of not feeling wanted for most of his life. "And do we want to tell people? Or wait a while? Or just.. have it stay between us?"
Boundaries were easier than expectations. Dick wasn't sure exactly what expectations he wanted or needed from Tim exactly yet. He was still getting used to being in a new relationship with him, changing how everything would work between them. It was a great thing to talk about, and of course, Tim would bring it up and give Dick things to think about immediately, but it until now, it had probably been one of those things that Dick always took for granted and talked about whenever issues arose.
Talking about things before issues came up was a brilliant idea. Leave it to Tim to be clever, not that Dick was a slouch. He grinned and placed a kiss behind Tim's ear. "You're good at this. Boundaries and expectations. " He let Tim go on because it made his job easier. This part was easy. Dick knew how he felt about this part already. Wetting his lips, Dick took Tim's chin and brought their lips together lightly, speaking to them. "No one is going to touch you while we're together, and I swear I won't touch anyone else. You are mine, and I am yours."
That reminded him of an earlier conversation and something that would make this part a little easier. Dick could be possessive in a relationship. He didn't usually allow the other person to know how strongly he felt about it because most women don't like it, but it seemed that Tim liked the idea of it, so much so that he wanted a collar. This would be the first time Dick had ever been in this type of relationship with someone, but he understood the responsibility of taking on a submissive.
"Give me a second; I have something for you. I have more than one gift, but the other will be for later. There is one I want to give you now." Sliding from Tim's grip, Dick moves back to his bedroom and returns. He offers Tim a box wrapped in black paper with a white ribbon. Inside the box There are two things. There's a locking bracelet that Tim can wear all the time, including missions. It shouldn't hang up on anything, and it requires a screwdriver that only Dick holds to unlock, and then there's a Two Tone Byzantine O Ring Discreet Day Collar Necklace for Tim to wear in his downtime.
"I know we talked about this. This is important to me. It's not our final collar, but it's a start. I got you two because I know you can't always wear the necklace. This is a promise collar, a starting collar to see if we are compatible. I promise to always take care of you, to treat you with the respect you deserve, to praise you, and support you. I want you to stay beside me and give myself to you fully. As I put this around your neck, I am doing so because I am not only showing you that I intend to be with you but the world as well. You are mine, Tim, and I am yours. I will take whatever that means and stand up for us. I don't want anyone else to touch you or be near you in any sexual manner. I know we flirt and sometimes have to, but this means we belong to one another only. You are my good boy alone."
It was a lot of words for Dick, and yet he meant them all. He'd worked hard on that speech, and he knew he fucked it up in some spots. It was strange and foreign on his tongue, but he got it out. He meant it, too. There was one more collar, but that was for fun in the bedroom, and he'd get that out later.
The only reason Tim was any good at relationship stuff was because he'd had his own string of failures in the past. Fortunately, he was smart enough to learn from them and try to implement changes this go around to hopefully make it work. "You are mine, and I am yours." He repeated softly, deciding that he quite liked the sound of that. Dick was definitely possessive, but then, so was Tim. He didn't want to have to lay awake at night wondering what Dick's response would be if one of the Titans was making a pass at him.
Tim had never been anyone's submissive before. He'd researched it plenty after they'd talked about it and decided that it sounded like something he would genuinely enjoy. And since Dick seemed to like the idea too, it just made sense. He was still surprised when he was told there was a gift for him, and he sat up straight while the older man went off to fetch it. There was a very curious look in his eyes when he took the box, fingers trembling slightly as he undid the ribbon and peeked inside. Immediately, his cheeks flushed, and Tim lifted his head up to listen intently while Dick spoke.
He was in awe of the speech, genuinely touched by the things that Dick said. "I'm honored to be collared by you." The young man hummed, grin stretching even wider. "Will you help me put these on?" The bracelet in particular was going to be difficult for him to be able to do alone, but Tim was more worried about making sure this was something that they did together.
He might have parted from the Titans for now, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be telling all of them about who he was dating. If one of them made a pass at Tim, there would be trouble, mad trouble. He was pretty sure the only two who might have thought about it would be Jason or Gar. He knew that Gar was bisexual and had a strong feeling about Jason, even if he'd only dated females so far.
Then again, Dick has only dated girls so far as well. Tim changed all the pages for Dick, and he couldn't be happier about it now. They'd crossed all their lines and might as well jump over this broomstick. It might have been a d/s relationship in training, but it was still incredibly serious and influential in how tightly it tied the two together.
Watching how reverently Tim took the box and how he treated the gifts, Dick was even more confident that he did the right thing. It settled his heart around the idea and Tim as he watched him pull the chain and bracelet from their respective bindings in the boxes. "I am happy to be bound to you. This ... I don't have the right words for how this makes me feel. You make me think in a way I wasn't sure I'd ever manage. " Swallowing down the importance of the moment into silence, Dick takes the necklace and hooks it behind Tim's neck, kissing it as he does so.
"You are mine." He says the same thing as he sets the clasp at Tim's wrist. Then, Dick takes a necklace of his own that matches the chain from Tim's and carries a charm with his small instrument that opens Tim's bracelet. It tucks neatly behind whatever shirt he wears. He hands it over to Tim. "Will you put it on me?"
Tim looked amazed down at the jewelry once it was on, shuddering at the kiss to the back of his neck. He felt cared for, like there's finally a place that he belonged. It was something that he'd chased after ever since he was a little kid, getting left behind in a huge empty house with only a housekeeper stopping by now and then to make sure he wasn't dead. His parents didn't mean to neglect him as much as they did, it was just part of their work. Still, it had left a gaping hole in his chest, and Tim felt like Dick was finally slowly filling it back in.
He dutifully took the necklace that Dick handed him, leaning up and reaching behind the other's neck to carefully clasp it. As he did so, Tim pressed a feather-light kiss against Dick's lips, smiling at the brief, lingering contact. "And you are mine." The younger of the two reminded him, wanting to make sure it was clear that though he was submitting to Dick, Tim was still going to be an equal part in things. There were some little bits of control he would not give up. His possessive nature was one of them.
"So.. what should I call you?" Tim asked once he pulled back, blue eyes aglow with curiosity. "When I'm talking to my friends. My boyfriend? My lover?" He wanted to at least be able to express that he was taken.
This was a place they both belonged. Dick had been so angry for so long, and it had taken him years and years to forgive Bruce for turning him into the monster Dick perceived himself to be. It was different than what he knew Tim was used to, that's why Dick was glad that he'd worked it out with his Bruce and was in better shape now. He'd learned better how to work with groups and loved his found family as much as the one that Bruce put together.
This wasn't anything he could see coming, but now that it was here in his lap, Dick couldn't be more grateful for it. His apartment felt like a home when Tim was there. He only hated the nights that they slept apart. Already, it was difficult being apart from one another. Dick knew that Tim had his apartment building. Dick wasn't overly attached to where he lived, maybe his bed, but that was about it. They might have to talk about it eventually.
Submission in life took a lot of work and meant a lot of things. Dick wanted to take care of Tim in so many ways. His emotions were in a new place, and he wasn't used to it. When it came down to it, Tim, the submissive, really did have the most control between the two because Dick wouldn't do anything without his true permission. They both had things in life they would keep. Dick could be equally as possessive, and he was filthy at times, sending dirty pictures and distracting texts. He knew this about himself and knew it would be worse with Tim.
Feeling pride in belonging to someone this strongly, Dick returned the smile and pulled Tim into his lap. "I can be your boyfriend, your lover, and your partner. I'm your master and sir. Whatever you feel like calling me at the moment. I will tell you in the bedroom if we are setting up for something; outside of that, you may decide. How about you? What do you like? "
The answer that Dick gave Tim made him hum contently. He liked getting to choose what he would call Dick, and had a feeling he would use different terms when speaking to different people. Whatever made the most sense at the time, since the older man didn't seem to have a preference. Except... the master and sir part would probably stick to strictly the bedroom. He didn't necessarily want anyone else's prying eyes looking into their relationship. Not when it came to their intimacy.
"I like all of it," He hummed in response, content to curl against Dick's chest like a sleepy cat. Tim tucked his head against Dick's collarbone and smiled to himself. It was nice getting to feel this warm and secure. Wasn't really something he'd ever thought he would get to have with someone else. "So you can pick, too. As long as they know that you're mine."
There wasn't much else that he felt like they needed to discuss, really. Not when things were still so new. Eventually he probably would try to drag Dick into living at the Nest, but he'd wait patiently for a time when that was appropriate to bring up. They both had to be a hundred percent sure it was time for something like that. Otherwise, he was sure it wouldn't work. Everything felt so calm and peaceful that his fatigue was beginning to rear its ugly head. He did his best to ignore it, though.
Making these decisions had pulled at Dick's emotions in a way he hadn't had to do in a long time. This was a commitment he couldn't recall making to another person before. Sure, he'd had partners, but he'd never taken on a contract with any of them. He'd never been even promised to anyone. No one wore jewelry for him, and he wore nothing for anyone else, not even Barbara.
It didn't matter how serious it was; it felt right. This was how it should be, and Dick didn't feel anything but comfortable looking at Tim's neck. He lifted a hand and ran his fingers along the chain, his chain. Tim belonged to Dick now. Remarkable. It made Dick smile softly. "You amaze me. I can't believe that you truly belong to me and I to you."
There would be a wealth of things that Dick would eventually call Tim. He might decide on one or two for the two of them and then another for the world. Partner and boyfriend were pretty easy there. Then he figured that he'd take his time deciding on a submissive name for Tim. It would fit the man in his arms, the precious one who hummed his contentment and nuzzled against Dick.
It was comfortable, curled up against Dick and soaking in his warmth. But it was getting harder by the minute for Tim not to give in to his instincts. He was pretty bad about getting enough rest, a habit he'd picked up from Bruce years ago, and it felt like it was all catching up to him now that he felt safe and warm.
His head tilted up at the question, blinking big blue eyes slowly. There was the stubborn part of Tim that wanted to stay awake just because he knew he could, and the softer side of him that didn't want to miss out on spending time together. Dick had just said so many wonderful things to him, had given him amazing gifts, and it felt a little rude to just be falling asleep on him.
But he was so tired.
Finally, Tim gave a little nod. "I think I need to sleep for a bit." He mumbled, easing himself off of Dick's lap. The thought of a big comfortable bed was extremely appealing, especially if Dick was going to join him.
Emotions had never been easy for Dick, and speaking so plainly was entirely new for him. Telling Tim how he felt up front had taken a lot, and the collaring ceremony was remarkably intense. It only moved to figure that Tim might also be exhausted from it. It felt good, right, and Dick liked the soft way Tim sat in his embrace.
The fact that he was tired and so comfortable meant that he genuinely did trust Dick utterly and completely. Dick leaned in and kissed Tim's temple. If the other had been slightly lighter or less tall, he might have been able to pick him up and, with a few adjustments, carry him to the bedroom. Dick might still be able to handle it in certain situations, but with someone so tired, it was probably best that they take the short sleepy walk.
"Come with me. It's a short distance. We'll sleep. I don't mind." Pulling Tim to the bedroom, he yanked down the covers and pulled off most of Tim's clothes. They had no reason to sleep in anything. He left his boxer briefs on. That would be up to Tim to keep on or take off. Dick crawled in naked and opened up his arms for Tim to gather near. "Come, my dear one, come lay near me and rest. I will be here and watch over you. "
Tim was fine with walking, especially when Dick kept ahold of him. He'd always been more clingy when he was sleepy, mind too tired to argue about his need for comfort and warmth. Especially not with Dick, who he had complete faith would do anything to keep him safe. So why not let himself drift in and out of consciousness? There was no better place for it.
There was no argument from him when he was stripped down and his boxer briefs only got left on because he was too lazy to fling them off. Tim wasn't insecure about his body, so he didn't mind being as naked as Dick wanted him to be. There were scars, sure, but they were evidence of his work as a vigilante. Besides, the one from the Council of Spiders destroying his spleen was the worst looking one and it wasn't even that bad.
As soon as Dick was in the bed Tim crawled in next to him, shamelessly pressing into his open arms and fitting himself against the older man. "You can sleep too." He told him softly, already sounding like sleep was taking him over.
They'd already been as intimate as two people could be, and this was an even tighter bond sewn between them with their words tonight. There was no pause in getting mostly naked with Tim. Dick felt utterly comfortable with his partner and lover. This was how Dick hoped they'd end up most nights or early mornings, as the case would typically be for them.
He didn't say as much because that was another step for another day. Feeling the warmth of Tim's body pressed against his pulled on his fatigue as well. He nosed into Tim's neck and sighed softly. "You smell so warm and good. I could get used to this." He smiled with his lips pressed against his skin.
"I plan on it. Goodnight, mine." With that, Dick closed his eyes and slowly allowed himself to drift off to sleep.
The way the text had been laid out, Dick wasn't exactly sure how to respond to it. His heart decidedly quickened. How he felt about Tim was profound in its own right, but was it love already? He wasn't sure. He'd known differing types of love for several people, and sure, he loved Tim like a brother at a point, but all that was changing now. Tim was far more than a brother. He was Dick's boyfriend, partner, and submissive. He was the man that Dick wanted to be with for the foreseeable future.
Driving to the nest had Dick quiet as he thought about love and an injured Tim. It was their job, and they both took injuries like they took being yelled at by prick criminals. It was nothing. Still, the way Tim initially phrased it had Dick slightly worried. He wanted to lay hands on his lover and make sure everything was alright.
Once he got to the nest, he wasn't sure how the security was set up. Tim being the smartest of them all, would have it rigged tightly, Dick figured. He nosed around and decided he probably shouldn't go prodding around until Tim was there-- at least this first time. So he sent a text announcing his arrival and hoped Tim would be there reasonably soon so he could lessen his worries.
Tim hadn't really meant anything by the text. He'd been being playful, maybe hoping Dick would dote on him a little since he got injured, but that was it, really. He finished bandaging himself up and headed for the nest, figuring with how worried Dick was, the older vigilante would probably get there first. Tim knew his tendencies pretty well by this point.
But it was true, the nest's security was on par with the Batcave. Tim had made it his own headquarters once he'd been forced to give up Robin and that meant there was a lot of things inside that needed to be kept safe at all costs. Fortunately, he had money to burn and was smart enough to develop his own technologies to keep the place safe. It was something he was proud of, and he'd have been surprised if Dick had been able to break in. Though it was probably time to give him his own code...
Red Robin landed on the roof gingerly, resisting the urge to flinch. Pain wasn't anything new to him, but he wasn't masochistic enough for an injury to be something that brought him any pleasure. A smile pulled onto his lips when he saw Dick, and he motioned with his head for the other to follow him as he typed in his code for the entrance and led him inside. "Make yourself at home." Tim hummed, hand pressed against the bandages.
Dick had learned long ago that while he tended toward being reckless in some matters when it came to bats and birds, caution was always necessary. He'd messed up enough when it came to Jason. This was something special, and fucking around, even with little things like injuries, words, or security systems, shouldn't be a thing he took for granted.
When he saw Tim finally approaching as Red Robin, the breath he'd been having trouble holding onto finally came in regular draws. There was a particularly wounded approach, but it was better than not seeing him swing in. Taking up to the roof in a matter of seconds, Dick was beside him. "Hey, baby. I'm sorry you ended up so messed up. I know it's all part of what we do, but I will still be concerned when stitches are involved." Moving inside after his lover, Dick took a glance around and figured out where he could stash his stuff for the night.
He'd come in costume as well and had already begun carefully shedding bits of it. The mask was painful, as it yanked at his face when he tried to pull it off quickly. They were never made to be yanked off without a bit of help, but he wanted to lay more direct eyes on Tim. He wanted to touch him with his own fingers and be free of the bulletproofing and layers he wore that protected him from the world.
"Let's see where you hurt yourself. I want to check it and ensure the field stitchings will hold. I am certain you did a perfect job, but you're mine, and I feel that... I don't know. I know that I need to take care of you. Do you want me to draw you a bath or a shower?"
Tim frowned when he saw Dick yank the mask off, concerned about him hurting himself. It was just as important the older vigilante be okay. "Be careful." The younger of the two said, pointing to Dick's face. "You could do some damage doing that." Not that he didn't already know, but Tim worried about him. Whether it was something small or not. They were in an equal relationship.
He had a walk in closet that locked as his place to stash his gear, and there was plenty of room for Nightwing's stuff to go in there too. Tim carefully worked off the bits of his costume, making sure to leave the wound as much as possible. If it reopened, he had a feeling Dick was going to freak out. He'd rather avoid all that if he could. "I didn't hurt myself." He grumbled softly, unable to help but pout. He would avoid avoided the hit if he could have.
The bandages covering the stitches were patiently unwound so that Dick could have a look at his handiwork if he wanted it. They weren't perfect, but they were solid. He'd never risk further injury that could keep him from his duties if he could help it. Batman taught him all about that. It was still red, though, and clearly hurt. Tim lifted his eyes to look up at Dick. "I really want a shower, but I probably shouldn't get it wet, so... Guess I'm going to have to be gross for a bit." He winced, hating the idea of stale sweat clinging to his skin.
Maybe he should go for a sponge bath with a wash cloth, but it would be a lot of work and he wasn't sure he wanted to use the energy it would take. He glanced away and decided not to ask Dick to do it, either, that was asking a lot.
"Shhh... This is nothing." There was a minor amount of redness left behind. There were plenty of times when Dick didn't use the proper spirit gum remover that he was supposed to when taking off the mask. One day, they would fashion them so they didn't need to stick the masks to their faces with glue. The technology would come. "I'm far more worried about you. This doesn't require stitches." He tried to make it light-hearted, stowing away his gear carefully in Tim's closet. It was nice that there was room for his things in there.
"Right." Dick agreed and kissed his cheek. They never hurt themselves. They could be bleeding through the stitches and bandages, and it still didn't count as hurt. It would take one of them dying or losing a limb for them to consider it an actual wound. Hard headed to the end of time, and afraid of nothing. Fear was the ultimate enemy; Dick had been trained. Seeing the stitches helped. It soothed Dick's worries. He noted that Tim did do a number on himself, but he'd taken good care of it in the same way that Dick would have.
Running his fingers along Tim's back, Dick tipped his head. "You need to get clean. You smell like the streets. We can put a small bit of water in the bath, and I can wash you off with that. That way, you won't get your wound wet, and you can have a small amount of warmth and me taking care of you. That is if you think you can get to the bath?" There was never any need to ask Dick for things that came so naturally to him. It was his pleasure to take care of Tim. He cared for him so deeply and would do it no matter what. This is what being a boyfriend is all about.
It sounded like heaven, getting to be spoiled enough to have Dick wash him down while still being smart about the stitches. He had to be extra careful about things with his spleen gone, but at least he was taking the time to do so. Being with Dick had made him a lot more likely to take care of himself, because he knew someone out there cared about him so much. Obviously he hadn't intended to get hurt, but it was unfortunately part of the job.
"Yeah." The younger man croaked, his cheeks a little red. "I can get into the tub if you don't mind helping me wash up." It hurt, mostly because Tim really preferred not to have to use narcotics if he could help it. They messed with his mind and his stomach, and while the pain relief was nice, he had also been through much worse than this and knew he could take it without drugging himself too much.
Tim led Dick over to the bathroom, turning the taps so the water could run until it was warm. In the meantime, he leaned against the sink counter and gazed up at him. "I appreciate you taking such good care of me." The younger of the two offered him a boyish, affectionate smile. He wanted Dick to know how much he valued what the two of them had together, how easy it felt just being with him.
Having been through enough wounds of his own, Dick knew how nice it was to have someone there to run a washcloth over his back to clean the grime of battle off of him. He didn't always get it. There were too many times he'd end up in the shower with a bottle of something and blood and water pouring over him until he felt clean enough to stitch himself up and crawl into bed so he could pass out.
No one quite compared to this, however. This felt different. He understood Tim's pain and knew exactly what it would be like. He got how Tim was trying to avoid painkillers. If he'd been at home, he'd have given the younger male two acetaminophen and two IB 800s. There are no weird side effects, and they pretty much get rid of as much pain as a low-dose narcotic would. He learned that trick once in the hospital. A lovely nurse had taken pity on him when he refused the opioids.
Running his fingers along Tim's spine, Dick kissed his lover's shoulder. This was a labor of love, he thought. It was a way he could put into action how he felt about the other that wasn't only about sex. "Hop on in. It looks like the water is just high enough. I'll get the gel from the shower, and we can scrub you down. Get all this grime off you."
Once Tim was in the bath, Dick knelt beside it. He'd be in the tub with him any other time, but this would be the one exception. Leaning in, Dick nuzzled a kiss or two against Tim's neck. "I'm happy to take care of you. I'm not only your boyfriend and dominant, but I care about you so much." Dick's heart thundered at a whole new level when he said the words. It was hard to explain exactly how quickly Tim had moved into his heart. Squeezing gel into a sponge, Dick began to work in circles at the cleaner parts of Tim's body, down to the more dirty ones, carefully avoiding anywhere they'd bandaged up.
"This isn't too bad; I think I like giving you sponge baths."
The water was warm and it felt good to have Dick's hands move along his body. Especially the kissing and nuzzling--it brought him a comfort he didn't get to indulge himself in very often. Tim let himself close his eyes and relax into it, more than happy to be pampered after a rough night. "I care about you a lot too." The younger of the two hummed in response, just because he felt like it was important that Dick know. Each time, it got easier to share his feelings with his boyfriend.
A contented little sigh left him as the grime was washed off of his skin. Dick was right, this was a lot better than going to bed filthy or risking an infection by showering too soon after stitching himself up. Besides, intimate time with his partner (whether it was sexual or not) was something he'd quickly grown to cherish above all else. It was almost silly, how hard he'd fallen for Dick the moment he'd found out his fantasies about them being together could become a reality.
"I appreciate you taking care of me." His eyelashes fluttered as he gazed up at him, looking much more vulnerable than he usually allowed himself to. "I'm really lucky that I have you."
All the words that Dick always had trouble saying, the ones he'd had to practice over time and learn to push through his lips with his family, came out quickly when he was with Tim. Dick wasn't sure if it was the time he'd given himself to be alone and learn about himself, the time he'd learned to change-- or if it was simply because it was Tim. Perhaps it was a cross between the two.
Hearing Tim say that he cared about Dick in the same way had the smile on his face widening. It glowed and sparkled in the bathroom's light, lighting up from within to represent the warmth that radiated with each contraction of his heart. This particular time spent together, with Dick on his knees, showing Tim precisely what he meant to him outside of sex, was the easiest way to speak the words he had to say.
More kisses rained down on Tim's shoulders and his arms across each and every bruise where they blossomed and grew as Dick continued to sponge his lover down. "It's my pleasure to take care of you and clean you like this. I only wish I could have done more, been out there with you to take some of the beating." Dick meant every word of that too. He knew it wasn't how their world worked, but they could work more often as a team.
"Maybe next time, we can get out there together and work more often back to back, splitting the wounds in half." He smiled softly. "There, I think you're about as clean as you're going to get. Do you want to relax some, or are you ready to crawl into bed with me?"
It was such a sweet offer, to take some of Tim's pain away. He knew that the older man would do whatever it took to keep him safe, including put himself in danger. The thing was, he didn't want Dick in any more danger than necessary, either. It would hurt him just as badly to see him hurt. Still, if he tried to argue that he was sure not to get very far. Dick had been protective before they got together, it had only doubled since.
Instead of worrying about all of that, he relaxed back and enjoyed the sensation of feeling fully clean again. It wasn't easy work, but Tim felt so much better without all of the city's grime coating his skin. "I think I'm ready to curl into bed with you." The younger of the two hummed, leaning up so he could press a sweet little kiss to Dick's lips as a thank you.
It took some help, but he was able to ease himself out of the tub and carefully dry off while leaving his stitches alone. Tim leaned on Dick while he stood, murmuring softly how much he appreciated the assistance he was given. Clothes seemed like more of a hassle than anything else, so he opted not to throw any on. Laziness tended to win out when he was exhausted and beat up.
"I'll get in bed and wait for you while you shower." The shorter vigilante pressed another kiss to Dick's soft lips, then padded over to his bed. Because he was a spoiled little thing, it was nice and big. Plenty of room for both of them. Though, knowing Tim, he would still attach to the older man like his life depended on it. Some people were surprised to find out he was such a cuddler, but he figured it was because of the neglect he went through as a child. He just wanted to feel safe and like someone was there with him.
Helping Tim out of the tub, Dick knew he had to wash off, but a more significant part of him wanted to follow the other directly under the covers. It hurt physically somehow to let go of him. The small kisses here and there helped ease the pain of letting his wounded partner go. He saw Tim getting under the bedsheets and made sure that he had all the pillows he needed to be extra comfortable. Kissing over shoulders, neck, and finally lips once more, Dick moved back to the bathroom to wash himself off.
He made sure that he stood in the bedroom before shedding his clothes. It was the least he could do for Tim-- fuck, he cared for him so much. He didn't know if Tim liked watching him undress as much as Dick liked watching Tim disrobe, but it was always such a pleasure to Dick that he wanted to offer the same, just in case. Stretching, Dick moved back into the bathroom and turned on the shower.
It was lonely in there by himself. It was strange how quickly he'd gotten used to showering with Tim. They'd been doing most things together when they shared space, which was a lot of the time lately. At least he got to use Tim's soap and shampoo. Dick smiled as he washed himself down and ended up smelling like the younger male. When he was finally clean, he dried off and padded back into the bedroom.
"It was very boring in there without you, and I didn't have anyone to wash my back." Dick made a fake sad face but then smiled right after. He knelt on the side of the bed. There was no reason for clothes if Tim wasn't wearing any. It would feel better when their bodies curled up close. Dick had never thought that they would sleep apart. It was always in his nature, instinct, whatever, to curl up close to the person he cared for in bed, especially Tim. He wanted to feel as much skin, to hold him as close as he could as they slept, keeping watch over his dreams as they wandered off to sleep.
Although, first, he had to kiss his forehead, nose, and lip while sliding his arms carefully around the other. "I think this is one of my favorite parts of the day, crawling in bed with you, being this close. "
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
First Times.
From TFLN 8/30/2024
Let me tell you how I feel.
The texts from Tim had Dick wondering if he hadn't been clear enough that night. He knew that Tim understood that Dick had looked at him before, but maybe Tim didn't understand what a big deal that was for Dick. There were no other males that caught his eye. No one else out there seemed to worm their way into his mind and heart as deeply and quickly as Tim had.
Dick wanted things with Tim. This wasn't simply sex. It was far more profound than that. It scared Dick because he didn't have an excellent reputation when it came to relationships, but he'd never dated anyone like Tim before, either. Tim was young, but he understood Dick in a way that no one else could.
There was also this chemistry... Dick waited and waited some more, going back and forth between pacing and sitting on the couch until he finally heard the back entryway, and Tim made his way in. Turning from where he had ended up on the sofa, Dick patted the spot next to him. "Hey there, sexy. Come cuddle up with me."
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As soon as he made it inside, he politely slid off his sneakers and pried his hoodie off as well. He looked tired, but that was pretty typical for him--sleeping had never been his strong suit and he often neglected to look after himself for the sake of fighting crime. Bad habits he picked up from Bruce and hadn't quite managed to shake.
He smiled at the offer, taking a seat next to Dick on the couch and leaning into him. "Hey." The younger of the two hummed, doing his best to relax despite the odd tension he felt. Tim had dated before, but none of it had felt as important as this. He didn't want to screw it up.
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There were a few things that could relax Tim enough for that. Dick was slowly learning what they were. Everything between them was incredibly new, but Dick had thoughts about their relationship. He'd been thinking a lot about it and what they'd talked about over text, flirting, and thoughtfully. Dick was one of those people who did pay attention to his partners. He may not have always done what was wise, but he paid attention.
A lot of that had to do with the fact that he liked to protect them. He didn't want them getting hurt, so he used to run off a lot to do everything alone. The Titans, especially Rachel, taught him that it was pretty stupid to do that. He made his first real family that way--. This was his second family, and how he related to them was completely different. He was better now, a better man. He would be better with Tim.
Pulling Tim into his arms, he nuzzled a kiss behind the younger male's ear. "Hey, gorgeous. You look good. I mean, you always do, but I think you look better every time I see you now." It was a place to start. Bringing his hands around, Dick ran his fingers under Tim's shirt. There was something about skin that Dick loved. He craved the touch of it, and he needed that feeling of Tim's flesh to calm him as he talked about such intimate things. "About us, and who we are and what we're doing. I- I care about you a lot, Tim. It, it's never been only physical."
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The conversation shifted to be more serious and Tim pulled back, wanting to look the older man in the eye as they talked. It would be easier to read his face and get a good idea of what he was feeling that way. The idea of letting himself be so vulnerable about how he felt was uncomfortable, but he knew if the two of them were going to get anywhere, he was going to have to push past it and be open.
"I care a lot about you too." He promised, blue eyes wide and sincere as he spoke. "I just wasn't sure... I mean, I know you've had relationship trouble in the past. I wasn't sure if you'd even want to be with me like that." Pink blossomed on his cheeks. "I'm glad you do, though."
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Maybe Dick had gone from one girlfriend to the next for a long time, and then to the Titans, and left them to live with Starfire only to discover she wasn't what he wanted in life. He took time to work on himself then, on being Dick Grayson, on being Nightwing. It took him a while to get the hang of it when he moved back. Now that he was once more making decisions about people again and sleeping with them, well, with one in particular person, it was nice to have them around, in his bed and his life more consistently again.
Sensing Bruce's amazing teachings on being open, Dick took his time. He, too, wasn't always great at being open. It had taken time for that, too. He was getting better. Always one foot in front of the other, at least in the proverbial sense. Running his fingers through Tim's hair, Dick smiled and gazed across at those blue, blue eyes. "I have, but I want this to be the right relationship. You're different and understand me differently. You get what it's like to be ... us, and to have been ... with Bruce. I don't ever have to hide who I am from you. I never have to come up with excuses for leaving or for having bruises or for why I sleep at weird hours" Dick sighs and leans in to kiss those cheeks. "I want it all, like I said." He pauses and thinks. " I - I couldn't have given you... well. I wouldn't have been with you all the way we were if I wasn't going to be with you in a serious relationship with you."
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"Okay." He smiled, turning his head to brush their lips together softly. "But we should talk about what a serious relationship means. Boundaries and expectations." This was still Tim, so he was still going to try to be a little bit smart about it. If he could prevent future fights now, of course he would do his best to do so.
He paused for a moment, thinking, and then spoke again. "For me, being a serious relationship... everyone else is off limits, okay? I know we work with some really attractive people, but I don't like to share." A little pout twisted onto his lips at the idea of it. He could be a jealous little shit when it came down to it, another product of not feeling wanted for most of his life. "And do we want to tell people? Or wait a while? Or just.. have it stay between us?"
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Talking about things before issues came up was a brilliant idea. Leave it to Tim to be clever, not that Dick was a slouch. He grinned and placed a kiss behind Tim's ear. "You're good at this. Boundaries and expectations. " He let Tim go on because it made his job easier. This part was easy. Dick knew how he felt about this part already. Wetting his lips, Dick took Tim's chin and brought their lips together lightly, speaking to them. "No one is going to touch you while we're together, and I swear I won't touch anyone else. You are mine, and I am yours."
That reminded him of an earlier conversation and something that would make this part a little easier. Dick could be possessive in a relationship. He didn't usually allow the other person to know how strongly he felt about it because most women don't like it, but it seemed that Tim liked the idea of it, so much so that he wanted a collar. This would be the first time Dick had ever been in this type of relationship with someone, but he understood the responsibility of taking on a submissive.
"Give me a second; I have something for you. I have more than one gift, but the other will be for later. There is one I want to give you now." Sliding from Tim's grip, Dick moves back to his bedroom and returns. He offers Tim a box wrapped in black paper with a white ribbon. Inside the box There are two things. There's a locking bracelet that Tim can wear all the time, including missions. It shouldn't hang up on anything, and it requires a screwdriver that only Dick holds to unlock, and then there's a Two Tone Byzantine O Ring Discreet Day Collar Necklace for Tim to wear in his downtime.
"I know we talked about this. This is important to me. It's not our final collar, but it's a start. I got you two because I know you can't always wear the necklace. This is a promise collar, a starting collar to see if we are compatible. I promise to always take care of you, to treat you with the respect you deserve, to praise you, and support you. I want you to stay beside me and give myself to you fully. As I put this around your neck, I am doing so because I am not only showing you that I intend to be with you but the world as well. You are mine, Tim, and I am yours. I will take whatever that means and stand up for us. I don't want anyone else to touch you or be near you in any sexual manner. I know we flirt and sometimes have to, but this means we belong to one another only. You are my good boy alone."
It was a lot of words for Dick, and yet he meant them all. He'd worked hard on that speech, and he knew he fucked it up in some spots. It was strange and foreign on his tongue, but he got it out. He meant it, too. There was one more collar, but that was for fun in the bedroom, and he'd get that out later.
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Tim had never been anyone's submissive before. He'd researched it plenty after they'd talked about it and decided that it sounded like something he would genuinely enjoy. And since Dick seemed to like the idea too, it just made sense. He was still surprised when he was told there was a gift for him, and he sat up straight while the older man went off to fetch it. There was a very curious look in his eyes when he took the box, fingers trembling slightly as he undid the ribbon and peeked inside. Immediately, his cheeks flushed, and Tim lifted his head up to listen intently while Dick spoke.
He was in awe of the speech, genuinely touched by the things that Dick said. "I'm honored to be collared by you." The young man hummed, grin stretching even wider. "Will you help me put these on?" The bracelet in particular was going to be difficult for him to be able to do alone, but Tim was more worried about making sure this was something that they did together.
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Then again, Dick has only dated girls so far as well. Tim changed all the pages for Dick, and he couldn't be happier about it now. They'd crossed all their lines and might as well jump over this broomstick. It might have been a d/s relationship in training, but it was still incredibly serious and influential in how tightly it tied the two together.
Watching how reverently Tim took the box and how he treated the gifts, Dick was even more confident that he did the right thing. It settled his heart around the idea and Tim as he watched him pull the chain and bracelet from their respective bindings in the boxes. "I am happy to be bound to you. This ... I don't have the right words for how this makes me feel. You make me think in a way I wasn't sure I'd ever manage. " Swallowing down the importance of the moment into silence, Dick takes the necklace and hooks it behind Tim's neck, kissing it as he does so.
"You are mine." He says the same thing as he sets the clasp at Tim's wrist. Then, Dick takes a necklace of his own that matches the chain from Tim's and carries a charm with his small instrument that opens Tim's bracelet. It tucks neatly behind whatever shirt he wears. He hands it over to Tim. "Will you put it on me?"
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He dutifully took the necklace that Dick handed him, leaning up and reaching behind the other's neck to carefully clasp it. As he did so, Tim pressed a feather-light kiss against Dick's lips, smiling at the brief, lingering contact. "And you are mine." The younger of the two reminded him, wanting to make sure it was clear that though he was submitting to Dick, Tim was still going to be an equal part in things. There were some little bits of control he would not give up. His possessive nature was one of them.
"So.. what should I call you?" Tim asked once he pulled back, blue eyes aglow with curiosity. "When I'm talking to my friends. My boyfriend? My lover?" He wanted to at least be able to express that he was taken.
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This wasn't anything he could see coming, but now that it was here in his lap, Dick couldn't be more grateful for it. His apartment felt like a home when Tim was there. He only hated the nights that they slept apart. Already, it was difficult being apart from one another. Dick knew that Tim had his apartment building. Dick wasn't overly attached to where he lived, maybe his bed, but that was about it. They might have to talk about it eventually.
Submission in life took a lot of work and meant a lot of things. Dick wanted to take care of Tim in so many ways. His emotions were in a new place, and he wasn't used to it. When it came down to it, Tim, the submissive, really did have the most control between the two because Dick wouldn't do anything without his true permission. They both had things in life they would keep. Dick could be equally as possessive, and he was filthy at times, sending dirty pictures and distracting texts. He knew this about himself and knew it would be worse with Tim.
Feeling pride in belonging to someone this strongly, Dick returned the smile and pulled Tim into his lap. "I can be your boyfriend, your lover, and your partner. I'm your master and sir. Whatever you feel like calling me at the moment. I will tell you in the bedroom if we are setting up for something; outside of that, you may decide. How about you? What do you like? "
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"I like all of it," He hummed in response, content to curl against Dick's chest like a sleepy cat. Tim tucked his head against Dick's collarbone and smiled to himself. It was nice getting to feel this warm and secure. Wasn't really something he'd ever thought he would get to have with someone else. "So you can pick, too. As long as they know that you're mine."
There wasn't much else that he felt like they needed to discuss, really. Not when things were still so new. Eventually he probably would try to drag Dick into living at the Nest, but he'd wait patiently for a time when that was appropriate to bring up. They both had to be a hundred percent sure it was time for something like that. Otherwise, he was sure it wouldn't work. Everything felt so calm and peaceful that his fatigue was beginning to rear its ugly head. He did his best to ignore it, though.
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It didn't matter how serious it was; it felt right. This was how it should be, and Dick didn't feel anything but comfortable looking at Tim's neck. He lifted a hand and ran his fingers along the chain, his chain. Tim belonged to Dick now. Remarkable. It made Dick smile softly. "You amaze me. I can't believe that you truly belong to me and I to you."
There would be a wealth of things that Dick would eventually call Tim. He might decide on one or two for the two of them and then another for the world. Partner and boyfriend were pretty easy there. Then he figured that he'd take his time deciding on a submissive name for Tim. It would fit the man in his arms, the precious one who hummed his contentment and nuzzled against Dick.
"Do you want to go lay in the bed, precious?"
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His head tilted up at the question, blinking big blue eyes slowly. There was the stubborn part of Tim that wanted to stay awake just because he knew he could, and the softer side of him that didn't want to miss out on spending time together. Dick had just said so many wonderful things to him, had given him amazing gifts, and it felt a little rude to just be falling asleep on him.
But he was so tired.
Finally, Tim gave a little nod. "I think I need to sleep for a bit." He mumbled, easing himself off of Dick's lap. The thought of a big comfortable bed was extremely appealing, especially if Dick was going to join him.
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The fact that he was tired and so comfortable meant that he genuinely did trust Dick utterly and completely. Dick leaned in and kissed Tim's temple. If the other had been slightly lighter or less tall, he might have been able to pick him up and, with a few adjustments, carry him to the bedroom. Dick might still be able to handle it in certain situations, but with someone so tired, it was probably best that they take the short sleepy walk.
"Come with me. It's a short distance. We'll sleep. I don't mind." Pulling Tim to the bedroom, he yanked down the covers and pulled off most of Tim's clothes. They had no reason to sleep in anything. He left his boxer briefs on. That would be up to Tim to keep on or take off. Dick crawled in naked and opened up his arms for Tim to gather near. "Come, my dear one, come lay near me and rest. I will be here and watch over you. "
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There was no argument from him when he was stripped down and his boxer briefs only got left on because he was too lazy to fling them off. Tim wasn't insecure about his body, so he didn't mind being as naked as Dick wanted him to be. There were scars, sure, but they were evidence of his work as a vigilante. Besides, the one from the Council of Spiders destroying his spleen was the worst looking one and it wasn't even that bad.
As soon as Dick was in the bed Tim crawled in next to him, shamelessly pressing into his open arms and fitting himself against the older man. "You can sleep too." He told him softly, already sounding like sleep was taking him over.
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He didn't say as much because that was another step for another day. Feeling the warmth of Tim's body pressed against his pulled on his fatigue as well. He nosed into Tim's neck and sighed softly. "You smell so warm and good. I could get used to this." He smiled with his lips pressed against his skin.
"I plan on it. Goodnight, mine." With that, Dick closed his eyes and slowly allowed himself to drift off to sleep.
from tfln 9/27/2024
The way the text had been laid out, Dick wasn't exactly sure how to respond to it. His heart decidedly quickened. How he felt about Tim was profound in its own right, but was it love already? He wasn't sure. He'd known differing types of love for several people, and sure, he loved Tim like a brother at a point, but all that was changing now. Tim was far more than a brother. He was Dick's boyfriend, partner, and submissive. He was the man that Dick wanted to be with for the foreseeable future.
Driving to the nest had Dick quiet as he thought about love and an injured Tim. It was their job, and they both took injuries like they took being yelled at by prick criminals. It was nothing. Still, the way Tim initially phrased it had Dick slightly worried. He wanted to lay hands on his lover and make sure everything was alright.
Once he got to the nest, he wasn't sure how the security was set up. Tim being the smartest of them all, would have it rigged tightly, Dick figured. He nosed around and decided he probably shouldn't go prodding around until Tim was there-- at least this first time. So he sent a text announcing his arrival and hoped Tim would be there reasonably soon so he could lessen his worries.
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But it was true, the nest's security was on par with the Batcave. Tim had made it his own headquarters once he'd been forced to give up Robin and that meant there was a lot of things inside that needed to be kept safe at all costs. Fortunately, he had money to burn and was smart enough to develop his own technologies to keep the place safe. It was something he was proud of, and he'd have been surprised if Dick had been able to break in. Though it was probably time to give him his own code...
Red Robin landed on the roof gingerly, resisting the urge to flinch. Pain wasn't anything new to him, but he wasn't masochistic enough for an injury to be something that brought him any pleasure. A smile pulled onto his lips when he saw Dick, and he motioned with his head for the other to follow him as he typed in his code for the entrance and led him inside. "Make yourself at home." Tim hummed, hand pressed against the bandages.
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When he saw Tim finally approaching as Red Robin, the breath he'd been having trouble holding onto finally came in regular draws. There was a particularly wounded approach, but it was better than not seeing him swing in. Taking up to the roof in a matter of seconds, Dick was beside him. "Hey, baby. I'm sorry you ended up so messed up. I know it's all part of what we do, but I will still be concerned when stitches are involved." Moving inside after his lover, Dick took a glance around and figured out where he could stash his stuff for the night.
He'd come in costume as well and had already begun carefully shedding bits of it. The mask was painful, as it yanked at his face when he tried to pull it off quickly. They were never made to be yanked off without a bit of help, but he wanted to lay more direct eyes on Tim. He wanted to touch him with his own fingers and be free of the bulletproofing and layers he wore that protected him from the world.
"Let's see where you hurt yourself. I want to check it and ensure the field stitchings will hold. I am certain you did a perfect job, but you're mine, and I feel that... I don't know. I know that I need to take care of you. Do you want me to draw you a bath or a shower?"
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He had a walk in closet that locked as his place to stash his gear, and there was plenty of room for Nightwing's stuff to go in there too. Tim carefully worked off the bits of his costume, making sure to leave the wound as much as possible. If it reopened, he had a feeling Dick was going to freak out. He'd rather avoid all that if he could. "I didn't hurt myself." He grumbled softly, unable to help but pout. He would avoid avoided the hit if he could have.
The bandages covering the stitches were patiently unwound so that Dick could have a look at his handiwork if he wanted it. They weren't perfect, but they were solid. He'd never risk further injury that could keep him from his duties if he could help it. Batman taught him all about that. It was still red, though, and clearly hurt. Tim lifted his eyes to look up at Dick. "I really want a shower, but I probably shouldn't get it wet, so... Guess I'm going to have to be gross for a bit." He winced, hating the idea of stale sweat clinging to his skin.
Maybe he should go for a sponge bath with a wash cloth, but it would be a lot of work and he wasn't sure he wanted to use the energy it would take. He glanced away and decided not to ask Dick to do it, either, that was asking a lot.
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"Right." Dick agreed and kissed his cheek. They never hurt themselves. They could be bleeding through the stitches and bandages, and it still didn't count as hurt. It would take one of them dying or losing a limb for them to consider it an actual wound. Hard headed to the end of time, and afraid of nothing. Fear was the ultimate enemy; Dick had been trained. Seeing the stitches helped. It soothed Dick's worries. He noted that Tim did do a number on himself, but he'd taken good care of it in the same way that Dick would have.
Running his fingers along Tim's back, Dick tipped his head. "You need to get clean. You smell like the streets. We can put a small bit of water in the bath, and I can wash you off with that. That way, you won't get your wound wet, and you can have a small amount of warmth and me taking care of you. That is if you think you can get to the bath?" There was never any need to ask Dick for things that came so naturally to him. It was his pleasure to take care of Tim. He cared for him so deeply and would do it no matter what. This is what being a boyfriend is all about.
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"Yeah." The younger man croaked, his cheeks a little red. "I can get into the tub if you don't mind helping me wash up." It hurt, mostly because Tim really preferred not to have to use narcotics if he could help it. They messed with his mind and his stomach, and while the pain relief was nice, he had also been through much worse than this and knew he could take it without drugging himself too much.
Tim led Dick over to the bathroom, turning the taps so the water could run until it was warm. In the meantime, he leaned against the sink counter and gazed up at him. "I appreciate you taking such good care of me." The younger of the two offered him a boyish, affectionate smile. He wanted Dick to know how much he valued what the two of them had together, how easy it felt just being with him.
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No one quite compared to this, however. This felt different. He understood Tim's pain and knew exactly what it would be like. He got how Tim was trying to avoid painkillers. If he'd been at home, he'd have given the younger male two acetaminophen and two IB 800s. There are no weird side effects, and they pretty much get rid of as much pain as a low-dose narcotic would. He learned that trick once in the hospital. A lovely nurse had taken pity on him when he refused the opioids.
Running his fingers along Tim's spine, Dick kissed his lover's shoulder. This was a labor of love, he thought. It was a way he could put into action how he felt about the other that wasn't only about sex. "Hop on in. It looks like the water is just high enough. I'll get the gel from the shower, and we can scrub you down. Get all this grime off you."
Once Tim was in the bath, Dick knelt beside it. He'd be in the tub with him any other time, but this would be the one exception. Leaning in, Dick nuzzled a kiss or two against Tim's neck. "I'm happy to take care of you. I'm not only your boyfriend and dominant, but I care about you so much." Dick's heart thundered at a whole new level when he said the words. It was hard to explain exactly how quickly Tim had moved into his heart. Squeezing gel into a sponge, Dick began to work in circles at the cleaner parts of Tim's body, down to the more dirty ones, carefully avoiding anywhere they'd bandaged up.
"This isn't too bad; I think I like giving you sponge baths."
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A contented little sigh left him as the grime was washed off of his skin. Dick was right, this was a lot better than going to bed filthy or risking an infection by showering too soon after stitching himself up. Besides, intimate time with his partner (whether it was sexual or not) was something he'd quickly grown to cherish above all else. It was almost silly, how hard he'd fallen for Dick the moment he'd found out his fantasies about them being together could become a reality.
"I appreciate you taking care of me." His eyelashes fluttered as he gazed up at him, looking much more vulnerable than he usually allowed himself to. "I'm really lucky that I have you."
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Hearing Tim say that he cared about Dick in the same way had the smile on his face widening. It glowed and sparkled in the bathroom's light, lighting up from within to represent the warmth that radiated with each contraction of his heart. This particular time spent together, with Dick on his knees, showing Tim precisely what he meant to him outside of sex, was the easiest way to speak the words he had to say.
More kisses rained down on Tim's shoulders and his arms across each and every bruise where they blossomed and grew as Dick continued to sponge his lover down. "It's my pleasure to take care of you and clean you like this. I only wish I could have done more, been out there with you to take some of the beating." Dick meant every word of that too. He knew it wasn't how their world worked, but they could work more often as a team.
"Maybe next time, we can get out there together and work more often back to back, splitting the wounds in half." He smiled softly. "There, I think you're about as clean as you're going to get. Do you want to relax some, or are you ready to crawl into bed with me?"
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Instead of worrying about all of that, he relaxed back and enjoyed the sensation of feeling fully clean again. It wasn't easy work, but Tim felt so much better without all of the city's grime coating his skin. "I think I'm ready to curl into bed with you." The younger of the two hummed, leaning up so he could press a sweet little kiss to Dick's lips as a thank you.
It took some help, but he was able to ease himself out of the tub and carefully dry off while leaving his stitches alone. Tim leaned on Dick while he stood, murmuring softly how much he appreciated the assistance he was given. Clothes seemed like more of a hassle than anything else, so he opted not to throw any on. Laziness tended to win out when he was exhausted and beat up.
"I'll get in bed and wait for you while you shower." The shorter vigilante pressed another kiss to Dick's soft lips, then padded over to his bed. Because he was a spoiled little thing, it was nice and big. Plenty of room for both of them. Though, knowing Tim, he would still attach to the older man like his life depended on it. Some people were surprised to find out he was such a cuddler, but he figured it was because of the neglect he went through as a child. He just wanted to feel safe and like someone was there with him.
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He made sure that he stood in the bedroom before shedding his clothes. It was the least he could do for Tim-- fuck, he cared for him so much. He didn't know if Tim liked watching him undress as much as Dick liked watching Tim disrobe, but it was always such a pleasure to Dick that he wanted to offer the same, just in case. Stretching, Dick moved back into the bathroom and turned on the shower.
It was lonely in there by himself. It was strange how quickly he'd gotten used to showering with Tim. They'd been doing most things together when they shared space, which was a lot of the time lately. At least he got to use Tim's soap and shampoo. Dick smiled as he washed himself down and ended up smelling like the younger male. When he was finally clean, he dried off and padded back into the bedroom.
"It was very boring in there without you, and I didn't have anyone to wash my back." Dick made a fake sad face but then smiled right after. He knelt on the side of the bed. There was no reason for clothes if Tim wasn't wearing any. It would feel better when their bodies curled up close. Dick had never thought that they would sleep apart. It was always in his nature, instinct, whatever, to curl up close to the person he cared for in bed, especially Tim. He wanted to feel as much skin, to hold him as close as he could as they slept, keeping watch over his dreams as they wandered off to sleep.
Although, first, he had to kiss his forehead, nose, and lip while sliding his arms carefully around the other. "I think this is one of my favorite parts of the day, crawling in bed with you, being this close. "