˙✦ Solace
Pairing ᯓᡣ𐭩 dick grayson x plus size fem black reader
synopsis ᯓᡣ𐭩 You've been living your entire life in solitude after going through a traumatic childhood that rewired your views of life, and most of all yourself. That all changes when you meet Dick Grayson, the one person you can trust to give you solace.
word count + warnings ᯓᡣ𐭩 fluff + angst, no miscommunication trope, flashbacks, early stages of relationship (aren't actually together) || 2k words
part 1/4
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series masterlist | masterlist
NOTICE: I'm sorry for logging off for 2 months, uni was kickinggg my ass, so I've barely had any time to write for my currently ongoing series, but here's something to start with.
There's something different about the way Dick Grayson grounded you; in moments of chaos; uncertainty…even in moments where the battles you faced were in your mind.
The two of you had crossed paths at one of his father's galas last year in Gotham, where you shared a long conversation that delved into the politics of Blüdhaven, then pivoted to the power of unity in for and during community empowerment and rebuilding, all in one seating.
You simply couldn't help the intrigue that surfaced in you as you regarded him at the end of the night, taking in his boyish smile as he asked you — admittedly with a pink tint to his cheeks — to accompany him to a restaurant downtown, stating that he was enjoying himself to much to call it wraps on the conversation.
What ensued was a night filled with laughter and smiles, as you absorbed Dick's childlike and carefree nature. He was infectious; latching onto you in a way that made it hard to shake him off.
Somehow, you'd ended up at a rooftop bar overlooking the city skyline, admiring the way the lights twinkled, covering the city in a stunning mystique that left you enthralled.
"What's on your mind sweetheart," Dick had inquired, regarding the way dazed look in your eyes as you reunited with the present.
"Well…I just think that sometimes I forget about the duality of Gotham, and how despite how there shall always be that murkiness that taints the city's image, there's also that unabashed beauty that deserves recognition its own right…sorry that sounds kinda stupid doesn't it?" You'd asked, slightly embarrassed after your rumble.
Sighing, Dick had cast his gaze back out towards the skyline, a slightly bittersweet smirk having lined his lips as he'd commented, "You know, this entire evening you've been holding yourself back, questioning whether or not you were saying the right things, doing the right things…"
His gaze found yours once again, intense in a way that showed finality, urging you to see what he saw, "…But I want you to know that whenever you're with me — hopefully a lot more often moving forward — that you can be whoever you want to be, and express yourself in whatever way you find fitting."
Clutching your hand and bringing it to his lips, he'd peppered light kisses along it, as he maintained eye contact before softly saying, "Don't ever hide yourself from me princess. I want to get to know all of you, and eventually, have all of you, as you shall surely have all of me."
Today, the two of you have been able to build a strong friendship that had blossomed over the course of the months that you to had spent getting to know each other.
Maybe you were a little bit of a traditionalist, but you'd always believed in having a man court you, with Dick still having to work harder before you ever said yes to being his girlfriend.
It's not without saying your mindset on relationships wasn't a direct result of your upbringing, with your childhood and teenage years heavily impacting your self confidence, and in turn costing you experience in how to handle romantic relationships.
Despite this, Dick had always made it a point to remain a constant in your life, determined to always show you how much he not only wanted you but also cared for you.
You weren't used to this attention, with loneliness previously being no stranger in your home to put it quite frankly.
Previously, your days and weeks consisted of you going over to the local radio station, curating the playlist for the late morning and early afternoon sessions, before heading back home, reading whatever books had taken your fancy, before falling asleep and repeating the same routine the next day.
This is who you were; a girl that constantly lived in solitude, shelving away dreams that she felt she would never get the chance to see happen in real time.
Well, that was who you used to be, up until you met Dick that night at the gala.
You don't really remember when the great shift happened, but you found yourself…branching out, letting more layers of yourself be exposed, and confronting traumas that had plagued you for most of your life.
Between the span of then and now, you'd become more social at the radio station, even gaining a segment in which you talked about books, and interviewed different local authors.
You'd gone on trips to Metropolis, embarking on a journey that mended your relationship with your mother, as you both confronted hard pills that had scarred your relationship with one another.
Asides from Metropolis, you'd also gotten the opportunity to visit Central City and Coast City with Donna, Cassandra, and Stephanie, in which the four of you had gotten to explore new sights, try out new restaurants, and do more activities that made you four become even more tight knit than you already were.
The four of you had met when you bumped into the three of them at a mini concert that was held in Robinson Park, connecting over your shared love for food, music, and of course, Gotham.
Now, as you walked towards downtown Gotham, you couldn't contain the smile that had your cheeks turning up, and warmth flowing up to your neck.
Dick Grayson had quite literally been the catalyst that changed your life, with his mere presence giving you the confidence to face the world and embody who you truly were, and wanted to become.
Despite your close relationship, you hadn't seen him since last month, as he'd gotten busy and only had time to face time once a week.
"Brrring!"
Jolting out of your trance, you glanced at your blaring phone as you looked at the call coming in.
Picking up with a smile, you teasing joked, "Damn, I knew you were obsessed with me but spamming me with 3 calls within the same hour? That's a new record Grayson."
Chuckling softly on the other end of the line, Dick couldn't help but tease back as he replied, "Yeah but with the way you've gotten lost on the way to almost all of the restaurants we've met up at, I think its safe for me to be a little bit worried whenever you're left to your own devices, wouldn't you agree sweetheart?"
"Hey! It's only happened three out of nine times. You can't keep on holding this against me — " you said warm with indignation, before a wail suddenly erupted as you glanced up and watched as a police convey chased after a speeding car heading towards Gotham Bridge.
"Fuck…" you cursed, having forgotten that you were alone and walking towards a slightly more crime stricken area of the city.
Seriousness now coating his tone, "Wait you aren't in a taxi? Give me a minute I'll have a car with you in a few minutes," Grayson said, promptly hanging up the phone.
Your hands slightly trembling, and more alert than you were moments ago, you sent Dick your location, as you headed into a nearby cafe to wait, suddenly feeling a little bit heavier after the reality shock.
Trying to calm your breathing and block out memories of your childhood, you practiced the breathing technique Dick taught you when you saw you have a panic attack for the first time.
Thirteen years ago, as you and your mother stood outside your porch to welcome your father back home, you watched as he was brutally killed by a group of men in a army green '84 Mustang before the sped away.
Ten minutes later he died in your arms, as you screamed out for help that arrived five minutes after his last breath.
Those memories still haunt you, with the incident having shattered the life that you and your mother had once known.
Snapping out of daze, you gathered yourself as you chose to people watch the patrons in the cafe to buy time. Your eyes landed on a couple with their daughter, who animatedly stared at the cakes on display and begged her parents to let her have the chocolate covered ones. Cute, you thought, I wonder if Dick would ever want kids.
Realizing the trajectory of your thoughts, warmth quickly rushed to your cheeks, as you quickly stuffed away those thoughts for later, not wanting to psyche yourself out before your dinner with him.
At that moment, Dick's slick, blacked out Cadillac pulled up near the front, with his driver stepping out to get the door for you as you made your way outside.
The car ride to the restaurant wasn't quite long, with it giving you enough time to calm the butterflies that were still lingering in your tummy.
That however proved futile as they returned in full force once your eyes snagged onto Dick's bright and megawatt smile as he pulled you into a deep embrace, engulfing you in a warmth that you only felt with and around him.
You couldn't help but melt into the hug, allowing your eyes to close as you burrowed yourself deeper into him.
It seemed as though time paused whenever you were in his arms, which allowed you to inhale his deep, sandalwood and breezy scent before you pulled way to flash him your grin.
"You don't get to hug me for long, especially since you basically ghosted me for the last few weeks," you teased, scrunching up your nose in mock annoyance.
Chuckling before lacing his pinky with yours, he escorted you to your table as he replied, "I'm sorry sweetheart. I'll try and be better about maintaining constant communication. I recognize that I can't exactly pull out the "I've been busy" card every single time can I?"
One thing Dick hadn't been completely honest about with you was what he did for work, rather than the odd comment about how busy he was. What was even more confusing was how he always seemed to have a bruise or something of the sorts on him.
Of course you had your suspicions, but those are inquiries that you didn't have the guts to confront right now, not when you'd gotten so addicted to the relationship that the two of you had managed to forge over the last few months.
"Okay gorgeous," he started as he threw back some of his Gin & Tonic, "I want you to give me a play by play of what's been going on with you since our last dinner. Tell me everything."
With his encouragement, you launched into a spile on all the things you'd been up to, updating him on your segment at your radio station, the different events that you'd attended with your friends, and most of all how things were going with your mother.
You couldn't help but get a little bit chocked up as you felt happiness course through you at the progress that you'd made with your relationship with her, especially considering how it was basically non-existent over a year ago.
Wearing your heart on your sleeve, you also revealed that you sometimes felt like the cracks in your relationship — and generally speaking your self esteem — would cut you before they ever got the chance to be mended.
Reaching across the table, Dick intertwined your hands together as he rubbed soothing circles around the back of your hand with his thumbs.
"Baby I want you to remember that I'll always be here for you. You know that right?" Leveling you with a sincere look, he continued, "No matter how busy I get I'll always try and make time for — "
His phone buzzing distracted you both from the moment, as he glanced at the name displayed on his screen.
Bruce Wayne.
From what you knew about Bruce Wayne in regards to the information Dick had offered to you, as well as what you'd observed from the few times you'd met him at galas, you didn't take him as the type to place calls randomly at such hours of the night.
"Shit…I'm sorry angel, can I just take this and then I'll be right back?"
Nodding your head you watched as Dick got up and walked towards one of the corners, lowering his head as he took in his fathers words.
You took in his stance as he posture noticeably became more guarded; his balled fists; clenched jaw; most of all the fire that enlightened the longer he heard his father speak.
Running his hand through his hair, he tapped his foot against the floor as he responded to whatever it is his father had said, sighing with aggravation as he tersely said goodbye and hang up before walking back to your table.
"Hey, are you okay?" You asked, softly clutching his hand in yours.
Laughing bitterly he ran his hand through his hair again before shaking his head.
"I'm so sorry sweetheart, I'm going to have to leave earlier, there was an emergency at work that I have to sort out immediately. Can we reschedule for later this week? I think I'm going to be in Gotham for a lot longer than I'd planned on, so we can meet up anytime."
As feelings of disappointed washed over you, you gave him a small smile as you reassured him that you'd be fine, and that you'd both get to meet again sometime later.
As you were driven back to your apartment, you couldn't help but wish to see more of Dick's layers, wondering what exactly had pulled him away from your dinner.
Why in the world had Dick Grayson — the most carefree and friendly person you knew — looked so lethal as he listened to his fathers words on the other line?
The question consumed you for the rest of the night, with it still being on your mind as you dozed off to sleep.