After finding out about Dick's insecurity in the family, the little things he did that showed his feelings of displacement were suddenly glaringly obvious. Really, it should've been obvious for people who prided themselves on their ability to pick apart body language when investigating. Hell, they could find tiny details in cold cases older than they were but they couldn't see what was right in front of them? If it were anyone else, sure, but it shouldn't have gone over their heads and it definitely shouldn't have done so for this long.

It was all in the way Dick inserted himself in the group or rather how he didn't insert himself all the time. He'd always stand just ever so slightly out of the way. They hadn't noticed how often he did it, perhaps because his personality was so big that it effortlessly filled the space between them, but now they couldn't unsee it. He kept using the equipment in the gym that was a few more paces away than necessary, taking the chair when using the computer that was closest to the exit even when other seats were available and would get comfortable on a loveseat before he took the open space on the couch. They knew it wasn't out of wanting some personal space, that was obvious from how when they invited him to come closer he'd practically leap at the chance and remained comfortable in their space only to tense when he left it.

There was also the way he held himself. Literally. You'd be hard-pressed to find a memory where his hands weren't shoved in his pockets or remaining by his side as he was a fidgety person in general but they'd begun to notice times when he was holding himself in a certain way. Whether it be folding his arms across his chest and squeezing his biceps or rubbing the back of his neck and twisting his hair, he always held himself at least a third of the time they spent together. He didn't do it half as much when he was with friends he'd known for years. Friends often touched him in some way, tapping his arms when he picked at his skin or redirecting his hands when his fingers clenched on his skin.

Part of why Dick was so dependable was how he nearly always said yes to any activity they did together. He would come to galas despite hating how people kept trying to set him up with their kids (which wasn't uncommon for any of them even Damian was getting courting suggestions), he'd happily take Damian for the day even at short notice and the moment a group patrol was suggested he was right there hot on the heels asking for all the details. They'd taken it as an expression of his care for the family, it still was, but now there was an element of desperation for being needed and having proof of it. If they invited him to places or needed him to do things for them then surely he had a place within the family, right? 

The fact was that the signs were all there. They'd been there for years in plain sight. Ever since his place in the home was taken, ever since Bruce allowed him to think that he was completely replaceable and there as a luxury, not as a requirement. 

So they knew what the behaviour was and why he was displaying the behaviour but now came the thing they had no idea how to approach. How do they target the feelings behind the behaviour instead of just dealing with the symptoms of the real issue? This wasn't as simple as telling him that he was wanted, although saying that more would probably help. They needed to change their behaviour and they had no idea where to start so why not ask Dick's favourite superhero? 

Clark was immediately intrigued when he received a call from Bruce's number on his lunch break. Despite working together on various projects over the years, they didn't communicate all that much during the day nor as their civilian personas. At most, he'd get a heads up about a gala he was attending in Gotham being a target for some attack or other. If he was particularly lucky, he'd get a call to be the first person to interview the family on a topic or help introduce the newest member. He couldn't help but dread what he was about to hear yet he still picked up the phone and answered with a friendly hello.

"How much time do you have?" Bruce asked without returning the greeting. Nothing new there as he was always blunt and to the point. 

"I've got about twenty minutes left on my break. Why?"

"You're currently on a group call with myself and the kids."

"Barring Dick," Tim added.

"Barring Dick. We have a few questions we'd like to ask you. About him," Bruce explained. The superhero narrowed his eyes at the empty space on the table. What in the world was this about? They sounded far too casual to be talking about something urgent but it still had to be important enough to have everyone but the man of the hour on the phone with them. 

"I have the time. What's happened to him?"

"Dick has recently expressed to us that he doesn't feel like family and I can't have him thinking that-"

"-and obviously it's mostly Bruce's fault he thinks it in the first place," Jason muttered just enough for Clark to pick up on it.

"But he's always had a close relationship with you so we would like some advice on how you fostered such a relationship?"

"Or any tips from pieces of information he's shared with you that we can use," Tim chipped in.

"Within reason, because we're not breaching privacy," Duke commented with a tone that suggested that idea had been suggested previously and had been more favourable than this. He didn't doubt that it had only just lost the vote as their next move.

"Okay well, you know the basics of love languages right?"

"We're not stupid," Damian grumbled.

"Right. Well, he's a very physical person. Whether it's a high five or a hug, he appreciates anything really. Apparently, his family at the circus used to be very tactile but then growing up with Bruce made him a little touch starved."

"Clark," Steph deadpanned.

"Okay, a lot touch starved. To the point, it used to sort of burn or at least that's what I overheard from Donna. It's not that bad anymore but it wouldn't hurt to make the effort."

"Anything else? I don't think we can hug the abandonment issues out of him," Jason commented.

"Words of affirmation work well but he needs them consistently or he sort of breaks? If you've ever seen him get a compliment from Bruce then you know what I'm talking about." He'd seen Dick just stare in surprise at getting a compliment and subtly pinching himself to be sure the praise was real so he knew he hadn't dreamed the moment. It broke his heart when he saw that so he made it his personal mission to praise him on every occasion he could. "Those are the only ones I can think of having a major effect on him," he said. 

He hesitated for a moment, unsure if this was his information to share. On the one hand, it was pretty obvious but on the other, it was an observation he'd only been allowed to make because Dick trusted him. He sighed. Necessary evil he supposed. 

"Listen, even if you employ these methods now, his self-esteem is as shot as the suspension on my family's truck. It'd take a good deal of time and repeatedly telling him he was part of the family and offering physical comfort before he'd start to believe it past a few days."

"But he will be sure of it one day, won't he?" Bruce asked.

"He will. There's only so much you can do though. At some point, he has to fight those thoughts on his own without relying on you guys but I think that's a step you're not at yet."

"What step are we at?" He smiled to himself at Damian missing he wasn't being literal but he supposed it wouldn't hurt to give them some sort of outline to follow and hold onto. They always were planners.

"Step 2. You've seen there's a problem, that's step one, and now you're going to address it by arming yourself with knowledge. I know it's hard for you guys to see outside of your own little circle sometimes so good work coming to me." That got a few groans but he swiftly ignored them. "Step three is consistently doing those comforting behaviours. This isn't a one-and-done big gesture of affection that will fix him." Perhaps it was the residual rage he felt from when he heard Dick was stripped of Robin after it being his only coping mechanism for dealing with the world or the continual lack of attention he was receiving but he pressed forward in a much stronger tone than he'd intended to. "Dick has been taught over and over not just by you but by many that his negative emotions are an inconvenience to those around him. Do you think he's done being the angry kid he was? No! He's still got that anger it's just now presenting differently because he's managing it in a less visible but equally as harmful way."

"So how do we get him to stop doing all that?" Duke asked.

"Like I said, work has to be done on his side but you really need to be consistent in your change. You also need to address issues you've been having for years. You especially Bruce."

"But we already talked through it already."

"No, you haven't. I know you haven't because Dick would've come bounding up to me gushing about how you finally thanked him for looking after your son."

"You never thanked him for that?" six voices asked in unison, varying in delivery but all displeased. 

"I... I guess I didn't. Right, okay, I can fix that."

"I think all he wants is to be appreciated and shown he's part of the family," Clark conceded. "He's a smart guy, he'll figure out the things he has to do on his side of it like his whole self-sabotaging thing. If he opens up, listen to him. If he doesn't want to, be prepared when he does." 

"Thank you, Clark."

"Of course. It's been tearing me up how you treat him for years now. I'm glad changes are being made. Is that everything?"

"Oh, could you tell Kon to meet me at four instead of five? He'll only pick up for you when he's shopping," Tim asked. 

"That reminds me, Jon is alright to stay in Gotham on the twelfth," Bruce stated.

"Tell him to come prepared," Damian huffed. 

"Get Kara to call Babs, we're thinking of doing a girl's day out and she keeps ducking our calls," Steph pitched in.

"If you see Bizarro tell him he still owes me twenty bucks and he can't hide forever," Jason added. With that, they all hung up. Clark could only laugh.

IDK how to show they care so here's a lil example

"In a bit, Goldie," Red Hood said. He was about to leave when he thought about what Clark said. If physical touch was a good thing then surely he could just adapt his usual barb into something that was more brotherly. It wasn't his style to give hugs but he could definitely soften his approach so it couldn't be misconstrued. He tugged the older into a headlock and messed up his hair before letting go. When he did, he saw Nightwing wear a confused grin. 

"What was that?" he asked.

"Hey, when we said we were changing, it didn't mean we were gonna get all lovey-dovey. I'm still your number one hater, I'm just making sure you know I'm your brother too." At that, Nightwing laughed and shook his head. Although it was so small, the gesture made him seem brighter. Like it was a boost of energy.

"You're a piece of work, Lil Wing."

"And you're stuck with me now." He left after that but he left feeling better than he would have if he'd just said bye. This, he decided, was a nice change.

lemme know if you wanna see like a cutesy flash forward but that's where I'll leave it for now