[ Blue eyes widen and glance over to Bruce in clear surprise, and Dick is, for a moment... speechless. ]
...
[ (He remembers another time when Bruce was depending on him, when he was doubting himself. The only time I ever feel pride is when I look at Nightwing. Sometimes I think he's the only thing I ever did right.
It moves him to his core, even as he stands still, his expression open and pleased and abashed all at the same time. ]
We had our ups and downs. But I love him, and I never could have become what I am, who am I, without him.
[ Unlike so many of the others, he'd had loving parents before he found himself under Bruce's care, and he doesn't doubt that he would have grown into a decent man under their guidance. But he wouldn't have been Robin. He wouldn't have been Nightwing. ]
I think when the time comes, you'll do just fine. I've seen how you are with Damian. And believe me, no matter how stubborn he is and how impossible it can feel to even get him to open up a crack, it's been good for him to have you here.
( The reassurance is something needed — something he maybe always needs when it comes to handling something as fragile as the parental relationship between a father figure and boy. Because he second guesses himself at times — sometimes loses his temper and gets mad at Damian. Granted, it's not often it happens, but. When it does, it usually results in him ignoring Damian or locking himself away in his tower. Is that for the best? Is that cruel of him? He doesn't know. He's still trying to figure it all out. )
You seem better at all this, even if you're not a father yourself yet.
( A turn to him, he stares to the man — really looks at him there. )
If I meet my own version of you in my Gotham, I can only hope I can put him on a path that leads to the man you've become.
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...
[ (He remembers another time when Bruce was depending on him, when he was doubting himself. The only time I ever feel pride is when I look at Nightwing. Sometimes I think he's the only thing I ever did right.
It moves him to his core, even as he stands still, his expression open and pleased and abashed all at the same time. ]
We had our ups and downs. But I love him, and I never could have become what I am, who am I, without him.
[ Unlike so many of the others, he'd had loving parents before he found himself under Bruce's care, and he doesn't doubt that he would have grown into a decent man under their guidance. But he wouldn't have been Robin. He wouldn't have been Nightwing. ]
I think when the time comes, you'll do just fine. I've seen how you are with Damian. And believe me, no matter how stubborn he is and how impossible it can feel to even get him to open up a crack, it's been good for him to have you here.
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You seem better at all this, even if you're not a father yourself yet.
( A turn to him, he stares to the man — really looks at him there. )
If I meet my own version of you in my Gotham, I can only hope I can put him on a path that leads to the man you've become.