Age/pet Regressor Dick Grayson + cg batfam headcanons/fic ideas
Tw: insecurity, abandonment issues, past deaths, vent regression
~Batman comes home from patrol the first time Dick ever regressed in front of him, a baby bird in his arms and a pleading look towards Alfred like, ‘Help, I think I broke the kid,’ while Robin meanwhile is chewing on his thumb and waving at ‘Alfie’ excitedly.
~Alfred giving him a cookie from the kitchen because Dick has the biggest saddest eyes ever when he has to have the scraps and bumps cleaned and taken care of, it’s a half hour before dinner, he’s going to ruin his dinner- but this kid will be the death of him and Alfred is soft because he’s so tiny. Just a boy forced to grow so quickly…. And the little gives the butler the biggest hug (all in a ploy to reach behind him and grab yet another cookie) before taking off running, giggling like a maniac.
~Something something being such a whirlwind of a child emotionally that his family struggles to keep up with.
~One minute he’s clinging to Bruce, stealing his cape and running around giggling, hanging from his arms and following him like a duckling, babbling constantly to fill the silence. And the next he’s so sad…
~Sobbing over nothing, slamming doors, and crying under blankets like somehow that’s going to muffle the sound. He’s so exhausted after the breakdowns, so emotionally spent and so little he just wants to be held. Alfred makes him a bottle, having to show Bruce how to feed the little, sweetened milk to replace horrible thoughts in his head.
~Sleepily calling Bruce ‘papa’ not realizing what he’s saying, what he’s called the elder, who he confused the man in front of him for. Suddenly jolting awake, sobbing before Bruce can even respond and get the soft feeling in his chest processed into words. Screaming for Batman to never touch him. Never look at him again- How dare he act like this, like he cares, like Bruce doesn’t think he’s being pathetic. Just playing along because he needs his Robin. He’s not his dad! Never will be! Who does he think he is? Why does he want that so badly? Why does he have to ruin everything nice that happens to him. Despite none of this being the elders fault. Just his own messed up emotions.
~Something something kitten regressor Grayson, who knocks over everything off of tables, wearing hoodies with cat ears sewn on the hoods and a tail belted around his waist, who climbs onto the kitchen counters to watch Alfred cook, looks Bruce right in the eyes before swatting something onto the ground and scampers off before he can hear the lecture. Who sits by his papa’s feet when he’s working, batting a toy around, bringing it to his caregiver to play catch with him- pay attention to meeeee!!!! Who adores pets and soaks up affection like a sponge, who somehow knows how to purr like an actual kitty cat.
~Kitten scratches and bite marks and lashing out, getting scruffed by the back of his neck held in the air by batman when he’s told that he can’t patrol, and howling so loud, tears and cries and incoherently upset over so much more than just one missed patrol.
~Oldest in the family turned into the baby. His brothers don’t know how to be around him sometimes. Jason tries, the two fledglings as well, if their older brother lets them help that is. Let’s them take care of him for once instead of pushing them away, even if it’s just to sit and keep him company when thoughts are loud and too much for his mental space. There’s more mistakes made than not. Nervous laughter taken as judgement, arguments and slipped up words. Sometimes it’s nothing that they do at all to trigger the little to push them away.
~Dick’s been here for years before them and even Batman doesn’t understand what triggers the bad days verses the good, so what hope do any of them have?
~Regressor Dick Grayson who doesn’t understand. He was here first, so why does it feel like he’s being replaced- been replaced? He doesn’t know why he still regresses, still feels the need to be clinging to a childhood he never received. He loves his younger brothers, they don’t feel like his baby brothers when he’s like this. He’s tiny. Too tiny to be the eldest. Too small. Too lost. Too young. He became Robin young so why does he feel like this… what did he do wrong? He’s supposed to be looking out for them- but he’s so tired. So tired of trying. Tired of trying to fly. Tired of failing. Tired… He shouldn’t let them, shouldn’t burden his family more. He knows Bats thinks he’s a burden, has over heard him speaking about how annoying and draining “the little bird can be, regressed for days on end none stop.” He’s trying not to be small. He’ll be better! Just don’t leave him!! Don’t leave. He can’t be left behind again. Can’t be alone. Please…
