I got this idea and old time era fics are not my thing so i would just share it here, something quick so ignore any mistake or plot holes
no capes, old times, not a set era yet. but after his parents death Dick was taken by the Crownes who knew of his ties with them, he was taken and raised like an omega spouse, a marriage bargain chip.
Dick free spirit never went down, no matter how much they tried. He knew his only way to be free was through marriage, only when he fulfilled what was expected of him will they not care about him anymore.
When they heard of Bruce Wayne trouble, A Clause set on his parents will, he needed a spouse, to be married if he didn't want to lose the manor, they sent on Offer.
Dick knew Mr Wayne was his only way out, he heard the gossip of high society, a recluse whose only interest was keeping his family legacy alive. Bruce wasn’t looking for love and neither was Dick. He just hoped they could be friends.
But they first time they saw each other was in the wedding day after it while dick was in their room Bruce left it very clear he didn’t have any interest in dick that as long as anyone kept to each other the seven years in the contract would go flying, that same night Bruce left for a travel overseas, leaving Dick alone during his first night as married
Dick was planning to respect Bruce during their marriage but the same courtesy didn’t apply to him and Bruce would often take miss kyle as his dates, even when they were at the same function dick would be ignored. Left alone to deal with the comments of Gotham's high society.
Dick did what he always did, he adapted. He was a performer, he always has been and he will be until the day he dies, slowly he started doing the work of the lady of the house, something that has been neglected ever since Martha died. It started slow, going to the garden, taking care of the roses, the manor started to look more alive, curtains were open, flowers in every room.
He even won the people of high society, he was in charge of martha wayne fundation, dick made sure every year the charity goal became higher each year, he became the face of the waynes when bruce was not available or refused to attend
He happily took care of every single kid Bruce brought home and even when Damian showed up at their door, (Dick did the math, their wedding night, when Bruce went to a “Bussines trip overseas”) he didnt care and still took care of damian as his own son.
One year before their contract was over Dick started to fall for Bruce, he was not the same naive kid, he never was, so as to not leave with regret he tried it, he really did, but nothing changed in six year and nothing will chang now, he still asked Bruce, if he ever thought about Dick differently
Bruce said no and Dick accepted it. He will no fight for something that was not his to begin with.
After seven years mark Bruce called Dick to his office and handed him the divorce paper, as promise Dick will receive alimony, Bruce felt almost happy and just a little regretful, Bruce hasn’t paid attention to dick but he knew he had been good to his kids, had it not been insulting he would have asked to stay as their nanny
One week after the divorce bruce propose to selina, they have been on and off for years bruce knew his marriage status being one of the reason. He didnt care if people talked about him, he has never been one to care about the public as long as his family was safe.
That didn't work out and now bruce felt more lonely than before, he started to notice the difference of dick absent in his loneliness. There were no more flower in the manor, dick was the one who did that, the curtains remained closed like before, it became a place of cold, bruce started to receive letters, invitation fo parties he never cared before, alfred explained dick was the one to take care of them for him, to make sure a wayne was present in gotham social circle, to make sure his mother charity ran just like she did, to make sure his kids would not be Ostracized but their peers.
He realized when even gone dicks presence was still there, it was one year after the divorce, and five months after Bruce's failed wedding when he found damian painting a picture of himself and dick standing next to each other, he asked him what it was for? Damian looked at Bruce puzzled, like such a question was idiotic.
Damian told him it was for dick birthday, it was then Brue realize he didn't really know dick birthday, he remember being invited to it, Bruce remember showing up to a party and leaving as soon as he was able to, he doesn’t being invited again, or more parties being throw in the manor.
Almost shyly he asked Damian if he could accompany him, sceptical about it Damian still said yes.
The day of the party Bruce wore his best suit, he got a bouquet of roses and the most expensive and beautiful necklace he could find in short time, feeling like de needed ta make a good impression, whe felt he overdressed as he saw Damian walk down the stairs wearing casual clothes, Demian scolded him when it should be Bruce doing the scolding, how could Damian show up at dick party looking like that? They were late so he just told Bruce to drop the jacked at least.
Even Alfred was wearing casual clothes, Bruce held his tongue, as alfred Drove Bruce notice they were leaving the good neighborhood, passed by the grand hotel, the party venues and drove into the common street, Alfred parked in front of a bar and bruce had to ask to make sure this was the place of dicks party.
dick used to be Mrs Wayne, for seven years he was Bruce's wife even if it was only in name. Bruce knew Dick had more than enough money to throw himself the biggest party in Gotham so he didn’t understand why they were there.
As they walked in the room was filled with laughter, Bruce recognized some of his own friends at the party, they were all wearing casual clothes. Even all his kids were there, and most surprisedly Jason was there.
Bruce didn't know he kept contact with Jason after he left.
In the middle of everything was Dick, laughing like Bruce has never heard it before.
It felt like it was the first time he was actually seeing Dick.
Bruce felt nervous and almost clumsy as he followed Damian towards Dick.
Dick looked at him and Bruce wasn't sure what he saw, the wan who held him back for seven years? who didn't oven try to get to know him? who humiliated him by failing his duties as a husband.
But instead Dick smiled and told Bruce it was nice seeing him. Dick didn't look twice at the necklace, it was the roses that got his attention.
“I missed Martha's roses, they are the most beautiful roses in all of Gotham” He handled them with such care it made Bruce's heart twist in guilt.
During the party Bruce couldn't take his eyes off Dick, It was like he was seeing him for the first time, they lived together for seven years and yet he knew nothing about him.
Bruce learned what has been of Dick's life after the divorce, he distanced himself from Gotham high society, he owned the bar, living over it, spending his time working in the community.
It wasn't what Bruce expected, he didn't really think about what would be of Dick after the divorce, he just thought of himself.
Bruce started to frequent the bar, trying to catch a glimpse of Dick each time.
Sometimes if he was lucky and the bar wasn't packed Dick would sit with Bruce, chatting like old friends. It surprised Bruce how much Dick knew him while Bruce could not mention a single thing about Dick.
He was hoping, if he was allowed to be a selfish bastard, that one day, he would be able to once again be called a married man to none other than Dick Grayson Wayne.
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