I was going to add a final scene with Dick and Bruce, because after that cliffhanger with Nightmare Bruce, Dick is not 100% okay, but tbh, I’m pretty freaking drained at the moment and fought for my life to have these last two chapters written lolllll. So just be grateful the fic is finished ok 🥰
Dick will always crave Bruce’s approval and love, but that’s why he keeps his distance. However, he still maintains a relationship with him. It’s just very much at arm’s length.
Anyway, Bruce will visit Dick to see if he’s okay after the witch thing, but Slade will be around to make sure Bruce doesn’t pull anything. And Dick, half to just be honest (because with Slade around it’s obvious they’re “back together”) and half just to see how true Bruce will be to Dick’s nightmare version of him, tells Bruce that Slade is going to take him on a date later.
Dick expects him to protest, to give a snide comment, to walk out, some sort of lashing out. Instead, Bruce just keeps his face carefully neutral and recommends a nice restaurant in Gotham.
Dick’s confused, and a little hopeful that this is a sign that Bruce is genuinely trying to be better.
Slade thinks that this is just a ploy for Bruce to ruin their night, or, at the very least, manipulate Dick into letting Bruce be more involved in his life.
Either way, Slade already has reservations elsewhere and they never do find out what Bruce’s intentions were.