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‘Fire reported by the bank.’
‘Multiple explosions all over the city.
Emergency services urge civilians to stay indoors.
Your eyes were glued to the tv, eyebrows furrowed in worry as you listened to the poor reporter standing out in the middle of it all.
You heard an explosion right outside the apartment which made you flinch a bit.
Next to you on the couch was your fiancé, Dick Grayson.
He laid on his back, one leg hanging down on the floor. One arm covering his eyes while the other laid over his chest.
He had stayed in that exact position for at least 20 minutes now. Normally you would have laughed at him but you felt bad.
He moved a bit, and then hitched in pain, and you moved quickly to his side.
“Shit…” he murmured.
“How are you feeling?”
“Not good.” He got out, he managed to bring the arm covering his face down, and looked at you as you started stroking some of the hair out of his face.
“Concussion, I can’t move.”
You hummed as you continued stroking his hair.
“Is he still going?” His eyes moving to the tv and then back to you.
You let out a sigh. “Yup, his men are all over the city.”
Dick got quiet for a while before he continued.
“He planned this.” You gave him a surprised look.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve fought Blockbuster, he knew that I would have a chance to stop him fast, that's why he did this to me first.”
You nodded along, showing that you were listening.
“One damn hit, that’s so pathetic.” He whined, before he flinched away again.
“Oww…”
“Careful, just stay down.”
“I look so stupid now, don’t I?” He asked as he threw a small glance at you.
You nodded slowly. “Yeah, you do.”
He gasped. “Excuse you.” You let out a soft laugh.
“Don’t worry you're still cool.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah– not as cool as Red Hood though.” You teased him.
“Hey take that back!” He genuinely sounded offended, but he didn’t dare to move his head, or talk too loudly.
“I’ll go get a blanket for you, don’t move.” You said, he muttered out something that you couldn't hear.
You got into your bedroom and grabbed the blanket on your shared bed. You then looked out through the window to see another huge fire, and people running away in panic.
You knew that Dick had warned you from Blockbuster before.
“You should stay away if you can, leave that to me.”
But seeing everyone so scared, so helpless, that made you remember why you did what you did every night.
With that you turned to your closet.
————————————————————
[Dick’s POV]
“Here you go sweetheart.” Her soft voice could be heard from behind the couch.
Before a familiar comfortable warmth covered him.
Dick didn’t dare to turn his head to look at her. Scared that it would cause even more pain.
“Thank you.” He managed to mutter out.
He felt so bad and disappointed in himself for not being able to stand up and go save his own city, but he physically couldn’t do it right now.
Other heroes had already been called. Who? He had no clue about who, which he hated, but anyone that could was needed.
That’s when he realized that you hadn’t sat down on the couch again.
“Reader?” He asked.
That’s when he saw you standing on the other side of the room, by the window leading to the fire escape.
His eyes were still blurry, and he felt dizzy so it took awhile for him to realize what exactly he was looking at. Then he saw it.
You looked right at him, eyes soft, almost sad.
You were wearing your hero suit, mask held in hands, comms in your ears, and ready to head out.
No. Absolutely not.
His eyes widened, and he tried to get up. Normally he would shoot right up, but that was impossible right now.
He groaned as he managed to sit up, still unable to open his eyes for a good couple of seconds. He kept them clenched tight together, he felt how his eyes were watering, and the almost overwhelming feeling of throwing up.
“What are you doing?”
She didn’t reply at first, just standing there, looking at him with her beautiful eyes.
She turned her gaze down to the mask, held tightly in her hands.
“Dick–”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“I have to go.”
He managed to push himself more upright than before, hitching in pain again, eyes closing for a moment.
“Stay down, you’re hurt.”
“You can’t go.”
He could see her eyes filling up with tears.
“People are trapped, they’re hurt.”
“There are explosions and fires everywhere. Blockbuster is out there. It's dangerous out there, Reader.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“No you don’t. This isn’t a normal patrol. There are explosions, buildings are collapsing, it’s all over the city.”
“You really think that little of me?”
With that Dick froze.
“No–no that’s not it, but I don’t want you out there, I can’t lose you out there.”
She didn’t reply. Dick felt his headache and nausea creeping up.
“There are other heroes.”
“I’m also a hero, they need more people, I can do it.”
Dick tries to stand, to no avail. The moment he got to his feet the room spun violently, making him grab the edge of the sofa tightly.
He looked up at her.
“Reader, please?”
He could see that her heart broke at the sight of him. At hearing how desperate his voice was.
She turned her face away from him.
“I have no choice, you know that.”
“Yes you do.”
“I can’t stay here while people are dying.”
“I would be out there if I could–”
“I know you would, but you can’t.” Her voice was soft as ever, but he could hear how she wanted to cry.
“That’s why I have to.”
Dick’s eyes watering in the mix of pain, and fear.
“Please don’t– you can’t make me sit here and wonder if you will make it home.”
She looked down at her mask, before meeting his eyes again, and his heart dropped, he could tell that she had already made her choice.
She got closer, kissed his forehead and letting her hand hold his chin.
He grabbed her wrist, trying to make her stay.
He knew that he wouldn't be able to hold a fight for more than 2 seconds, but he refused to let his hold on her. She seemed to know that too. Because just like that she pushed him down onto a sitting position on the couch again.
He groaned in pain.
“Ow, shit.”
Then she was out of his reach.
He managed to turn his head to her again. Eyes full of tears.
“Please.” Was all he got out.
She didn’t say anything at first, just looking at him, on the verge of crying.
“I love you.” Then she was gone.
The fire escape rattled beneath her feet.
Dick tried to get off the couch, to get to the window, to stop her, but the moment his feet landed on the floor he fell to the ground. Hard.
Pain exploded in his head. He tried to crawl towards the window.
“Reader!” His head was still pounding.
Everything got black in front of his eyes, but he couldn’t stop now.
As he finally managed to get himself up by the window, the fire escape was empty.
He was sweating, panting heavily, and trying not to pass out.
He leaned his forehead against the cold wall, before murmuring, on the verge of crying.
“Please come home.”
With that his vision darkened, the sirens outside fading away, he felt how the world finally slipped away.