Opportunities by Vague_Shadows [Batman - All Media Types] Chapter 1/1
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For Birdwatchers 365 Challenge, Day 146: "Highlight"
âCanât sleep?â Bruce assumes, coming to lean in the doorway of Dickâs suite in the penthouse theyâve booked for this leg of their trip. Â
Dick shakes his head. âNope, not even gonna try.âÂ
He feels like heâs practically buzzing with the excitement and anticipation of meeting up with the circus tomorrow. Bruceâs lips quirk upward in his version of a blinding smile. Â
âSeeing how excited you are, Iâm sorry I didnât make this happen sooner,â he says. âYou could have asked, you know.â
âYeah, I know,â Dick replies. âI kept meaning to, but something always seems to come up. Time flies, and all that.â
Bruce hums in agreement. âOh, Iâm well aware. After all, one minute you were an eight-year-old swinging from the chandeliers, and the next thing I know youâve graduated high school two years early and are getting ready to fly the coop.â Â
âDonât say âfly the coopâ like Iâm trying to escape . Iâm not just gonna leave you guys. Iâll be home to visit. Iâm just - expanding my horizons a little.â
âAs you should,â Bruce replies. He crosses the room, so Dick turns to face him. Bruce lays a hand on his shoulder and gives a small squeeze - his version of a big bear hug. Dick would almost swear that Bruce even looks a little misty-eyed. âI donât say this as often as I should,â Bruce says, âbut I hope you know that I am incredibly proud of you, and the young man youâre becoming.â
âDamn, Bruce,â Dick replies, blinking back tears. âWhatâs with the heartfelt talk? You trying to overwhelm me with emotions so I forget I ever wanted to leave?â he wonders. Â
âThe opposite, actually,â Bruce says. âYou have given so much of yourself to help others - not just in Gotham and with the Team, but for your brothers, AlfredâŠ.and me. Itâs past time you get to explore your options and choose your own path, Dick. You deserve that opportunity.â
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a USB drive. The small label stuck to the side reads âGrayson Highlight Reel.â Â
âA compilation of the best performances from your gymnastics competitions over the past two years. From what I understand, itâs intended to serve as the athletic equivalent of a resume.â
"Well, yeah, I know what a 'highlight reel' is, but why would I need one? Whereâd you even get the footage?âÂ
âFrom the generous donor who covered the cost of professional videographers at all of the teamâs meets since you joined,â Bruce replies. Â
âGenerous donor, huh?â Dick repeats, raising an eyebrow. âProbably the same one who covered eighty percent of the booster club fundraising goals to renovate the gym last summer.â
âI bet youâre right,â Bruce replies, smirking as he adds, âYou know, with a mind that sharp, you could be a detective or something.âÂ