midsummered:
lysander had to wonder if this is what it was like to have a father – he had had thoughts like this before when it came to dick, but the man repeatedly proved himself expertly paternal and so incredibly kind to him that he couldn’t believe how much he’d missed out on as a child. was this what he had, indeed, deserved? the way that all children do? did dick even know how much this kindness affected him emotionally, or was he doing the right thing just because? lysander almost didn’t care what the intention was, selfishly, because the attention lovely regardless.
being asked if he would be okay with a hug was wildly important to lysander, and dick in his kindness and wisdom made sure to ask every time it seemed appropriate – it was a combination of the consideration of lysander’s own nervousness and dick’s extreme kindness that made him more likely to accept a hug than not. nodding slowly, lysander carefully wrapped his arms around the older man’s shoulders and sighed shakily. “hugs are… odd.” he said, “not bad, just… k-kind of confusing? a little bit. y-you know, the… the, uh, the closeness.”
Dick knows it’s probably not his place to be so.. fatherly, to act in such a caretaking kind of way with Lysander but he can’t help it. The kid’s been denied that his whole life, being the child of a psychopath. Dick’s not even sure he knows what it’s like and that in itself is heartbreaking. Even when Dick didn’t have parents - he had a home, he had people who cared for him in their own way, and he would be lost without that. He’s not sure it’s his place but.. no matter what, he’s going to be there for Lysander and make sure he knows he’s cared for, knows he’s loved.
“Odd is okay.” Dick assures him gently, wrapping his arms around Lysander gently in a warm, hopefully comforting hug. He doesn’t necessarily need to know why to know Lysander’s not great with physical touch, but he hopes he can help him change that. Hopes that, in some way, careful and gentle touches will help him get used to things like hugs. Maybe even like them. “If it bothers you - we don’t have to. I’m.. used to giving a lot of hugs to my own kids, I guess that’s where it comes from.”









