On the same note of Dick and Bruce having an argument and Bruce reaching for him and saying “Dick-” And Dick lashing out and going “My name is Richard!” lets go down a even angstier path where Bruce just… keeps calling him Richard.
And that’s where I stopped last time but now-
Dick doesn’t know what to do, right? He’s initial happy with it, because yes finally Bruce is listening to him and yes there’s that tiny, miniscule voice at the back of his head that chants that Bruce deserves it because he’s not really his dad anymore and ew he shouldn't get to call him Dick.
But then slowly it starts to feel… uncomfortable. Maybe they make up, maybe they apologize, maybe they just move on from the argument because it wasn't that deep anyway
But Bruce keeps calling him Richard.
And Dick… he starts feeling upset. Maybe it’s no longer a respecting-Dick’s-boundaries move, maybe this is Bruce’s subtle way of saying he’s not his dad and doesn't want to be
Maybe Dick isn't that insecure. But he just… cant find a proper way to tell Bruce that its okay, he can call him Dick again. That feels weird. It’s too vulnerable for them. For right now. “Ill tell him next time” he swears every time he returns home to Bludhaven and remembers that he had planned on speaking with Bruce about it
Next time. Next Time. Next time. Next time doesn't come.
And then Bruce is old, or maybe he falls ill, or maybe he’s hurt. Idk.
But Dick rushes over, and Bruce is laying on the med cot and he sees Dick and he lights up and he goes “Richard! So good to see you.” And at first its normal or wtv but Dick doesn't like it and he’s like “Bruce, hey. It’s me. Its Dick. Its your son.” And Bruce smiles and nods. “Yea. Hey Richard.” And Dick starts crying and hes begging and hes like “Bruce its me- please Bruce- its Dick!” And Bruce still calls him Richard. Until he dies.
He calls him Richard when he first arrives, and something inside Dick recoils, the way it always does whenever Bruce calls him Richard, but wtv its fine.
Until he learns that Bruce has brain damage. He’s lost most of his memories. He should- by all accounts- have forgotten their argument. He should be calling Dick Dick.
But no. Their argument- Dick’s stupid fucking comment that one time- stuck in Bruce’s brain so severely that not even brain damage can get rid of it.
And Dick is crying and begging and Bruce keeps drifting in and out of consciousness and every time he comes to he smiles, really wide and beautiful and cups Dick’s cheek and calls him “Richard” and every time Dick’s heart breaks further.
Until it shatters, of course. When his father flatlines.
My Name Is Richard -the fic that goes along with it I wrote :P
