this is just something a bit silly idk

Bruce was at work when he got the call from Clark. He frowned at seeing the contact pop up since he knew there was no media engagement he needed the reporter for nor any work they had together. He was tempted to let it go to voicemail but no doubtedly that would lead to Clark showing up at the office and he couldn't handle everyone fawning over him like he hung the moon and stars every evening. With a disgruntled sigh, he answered and huffed out a half-hearted greeting.

"Talkative as always," Clark teased. "I'll keep it short because I know you're at work but Lois has just got the call to do an interview with Dick. News spread about the girlfriend business and because she was late last week by half an hour she's been put on the teen magazine we produce. It doesn't get many readers so it's like an office punishment."

"The girlfriend business?"

"Yeah, y'know with him dating the commissioner's kid. Lois wants to get it as heartfelt and interesting as she can so it at least gets more ratings. I reckon it'll be pretty lighthearted as her pieces go but it's probably good to mention this to Dick first," he continued on. "I would do it myself but I'm working on a Luthor hit piece right now that could really help with public perception."

"Dick is dating Barbara?" Bruce asked. 

"She announced it last night on Twitter. She's been soft-launching it for weeks but it's now a full-blown hard launch. Anyway, I've got to go. Be nice to her Bruce, she needs the win if she's going survive writing it," he answered. 

He hung up soon after and left Bruce to sit back in his chair. The pair were close, much closer now that they were working together as heroes but he never got the idea that they were that close. How long had they been together? Why didn't they tell him? He knew he could be rather difficult to reach sometimes on the emotional front but he thought he was at least approachable enough to be told they were dating before the entire world knew. 

Bruce filtered through memories of times it could've been brought up and he shrugged it off because he was focused on something else but nothing came to mind. He couldn't let it slip to Lois that he didn't know about it. She was a wonderful woman but the second she smelt a story she could turn into a big fuss she was on it like a car bonnet. They didn't need another round of the media poking at their relationship and picking it apart. He barely made it through the last one where they started dissecting their photos together and getting a body language expert to say it was obvious that Dick was trapped in a strict household. Tell that to the broken chandelier and the monthly grocery bill solely spent on crisps, he thought to himself.

Of course, he could refuse the interview but this was Lois. If he said no then she would just ambush Dick and Barbara on their way out from school until they gave up something she could use. He wondered if Alfred knew about this. The butler knew everything but if he knew then why didn't he say something either? It's not like Bruce wasn't happy that they were dating. It was perfectly fine and he didn't have any rules about dating aside from being safe. Did Gordon know? How had he not received a call yet demanding Bruce make sure his daughter was treated correctly and threatening that if she wasn't, he'd be arrested or worse? He must be missing something but he wouldn't know until he got home tonight. Hopefully, Lois could wait a day before making her presence known.

Bruce got home just after dinner and found Dick in his bedroom. He was sitting at his desk, pieces of paper surrounding him and his laptop out. He tapped incessantly, seemingly on a roll with whatever he was doing and Bruce felt slightly guilty about interrupting it. Still, he needed to have this conversation and he'd already been lucky enough to not have Lois breathing down his neck yet let alone Gotham's own reporters. At least Lois wasn't hellbent on making Dick's fostering always a negative thing whether it be through him not being from America or Bruce secretly being horrifically abusive.

"Can we talk?" Bruce asked.

"Talk as in I'm in trouble, we have a case or you're getting your fathering quota in?" Dick answered snarkily. He had a cheeky smile to show it was all in good fun. He'd only become more of a smart ass with age but Bruce couldn't help finding it endearing. It was especially good fun hearing his comments after a gala where he picked up on all the things Bruce didn't care to notice. Right now though, they needed seriousness.

"The third I suppose," he responded. The acrobat paused typing and twirled around in his chair to face him, his smile falling for a second. "Is there something you're keeping from me?"

"That sounds more like you're here for the first option rather than the third," Dick replied. "Gonna have to be more specific."

"You're keeping multiple things from me?" He shrugged.

"I'm fifteen, I'm allowed some secrets. Did you wanna play twenty-one questions until I guess right?"

"Fine, I know that you're dating Barbara." Dick stared at him, dumbfounded. "And I want to begin by saying I have no issue with you two dating. It's just that I got a courtesy call from Clark today and the press are going to be on your back soon so I would've appreciated a heads up beforehand. I'm also your father and-"

"B, what're you talking about?"

"You and Barbara are together and you didn't say a word to me. Have I done something to make you think you can't come to me?"

"I didn't tell you we were dating because I didn't know we were. Did she say we were?"

"Clark said something about a soft and hard launch on Twitter last night. I don't understand what either of those are but I'm assuming it means she's announced that you're together." 

Dick tilted his head in thought as if trying to piece together an invisible puzzle only he could view. He pulled out his phone and tapped away for a second and then showed his screen to Bruce. It was open to Barbara's Twitter account, the post where she presumably announced she was in a relationship.

Had so much fun tonight with my bf. Sorry boys, I'm all his


Below was a photo of herself and Dick from the last gala they attended. Bruce smiled a little at the photo. He often didn't get to enjoy the domestic sides to raising a kid, always more focused on saving the city and teaching Dick to do the same, but it was nice when he saw that Dick was still a kid despite everything. He was pulling a stupid face in the picture, his arm around Barbara's shoulders as she laughed.

"I'm assuming this is the post Clark was talking about," Dick said as he pulled his phone away. "I guess I should've told you but this has been going on since we first met."

"You've been together for that long?"

"Not together, pretending to be together. Gordon knows. See, when she goes to galas, a bunch of guys who can't take no for an answer started bothering her. She brought up that it would be so much easier to say she had a boyfriend because a lot of them back off after that. I suggested we pretend to be together because I've been having the same problem with girls. It's a win-win."

"Why is it only coming out now?"

"This is posted to her public account by accident. She has a private one just to post about our relationship and school but I guess she forgot which one she was on." 

Bruce nodded slowly, taking it all in. He felt relieved that he hadn't missed out on Dick's first relationship but he still had some resentment at not being told they were faking a relationship. He could've done a lot more to help the pair if they thought their only solution to not being bothered by people was to pretend to date one another. There was still the matter of not being trusted with this information for one reason or another.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Bruce asked. "Even if it was fake."

"Because you didn't need to know. Gordon did because he'd have my head if he ever found out and I think he felt better knowing she had someone to protect her but you didn't worry about me the same. It's different for girls, yknow? The worst she can do is say no and the worst he can do is not take no for an answer," he explained. "I know she can fight but I didn't want her to have to."

"I could've done something."

"Not really. Nobody is gonna care that Bruce Wayne said to leave her alone and people would get suspicious about Batman showing up at every billionaire brat's door," he pointed out. "Why did you wanna know if it was fake in the first place?"

"I want to know what's going on in your life. I want to be trusted with that." Dick pulled a face and let out a long tired sigh.

"Can I be honest?"

"I want you to be."

"Then, I'm gonna say something that'll sound like I'm beating a dead horse but I haven't trusted you like that in years. I trust you out there as Batman and Robin but Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson? You kinda bought out of that when you left me to recover alone at twelve." Bruce opened his mouth to say something but was stopped before he could get a word out. "I know you feel bad about it and I know you've done everything you can to make up for it but it still stings. We're not gonna go back to how we used to be for a long time. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," the billionaire told him sternly. "It's not your fault, it's mine. I know I can't make you but, if you two ever did get together or if you got with someone else and even if we're not talking at the time, I'd like to know. I care about you and I like knowing what's going on in your life."

"I can do that," he said softly. "Now, about Lois finding out about this. I'm gonna have to talk to Babs and see if she wants to continue this thing or not. Reckon you can hold her off till we have a chat?"

"I can do that." Bruce decided this was the end of their conversation and went to leave.

"Oh and Bruce?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks for being so cool about it and asking me rather than flying off the handle. I appreciate it."

"Of course."

------

"Don't think I'm doing this because I forgive you or because I'm coming back," the voice stated. A wave of several different emotions washed over Bruce at hearing Dick's voice for the first time in months. He had so much to say, to yell and to apologize for but he couldn't do anything now. He could only listen as the voice continued. "I've got a girlfriend. She goes by Starfire. Her name is Koriand'r though, she's a princess from space." There was a self-depreciative chuckle. "Still can't believe I'm just some circus kid and she's this royal but I guess there have been stranger matches." 

Bruce smiled to himself. From the small pieces he managed to get about where Dick was, he knew that he'd formed a team in Jump City and they were doing pretty well for themselves. It was nice seeing it from a distance even if Bruce would rather see it up close.

"Don't be creepy and stalk her or something. I wanted to wait a month before I told you and well, it's been over a month. I suppose you want to hear that she makes me happy and all that shit. She does but I don't think you deserve to know the details. You don't deserve much but I promised you and I think I've broken enough promises to make good on this one. I love her a lot. Maybe, when I don't feel as angry or you change enough to make me think it's worth reconnecting, you can meet her." 

Bruce hoped that was possible for them. He really did.

"I've gotta go, we're going to Tamaran. Something about a courting thing we have to do. We're not getting married, don't worry. Not that you would, I guess. I hope you listen to this and don't immediately delete it. I also hope you don't try to contact me on this number. When the time comes, I'll call you on it. Good luck in Gotham, B. Hope it's everything you wanted it to be. Hope it was worth losing me over it."

When silence remained, Bruce still held the phone close to his ear and didn't hesitate to save the message. They were both still mad, both too stubborn in their anger to admit that they missed one another enough to forget any of their fights. This was a step forward though. Bruce hoped this wouldn't be the furthest they got.