theknightshift | inbox + overflow

[ alright. good enough. ]

Just name the place and the time.

[ how did he get here? Bruce is spying on him. tracked him without his permission, is messing with his case, yet he's angled invitation for a date and is agreeing.

he's more fucked than ever. ]

[ Possibly even more fucked after Wednesday. ]

I'll make the reservations and send it to you.

[ it looms over his head already. ]

Full service. At what cost?

It's on me.

[ Or on Dick. If he feels like he can't escape Bruce's looming presence. ]

[ haha. very funny. not. ]

You know what a date is, right, Bruce? It's different from an interrogation.

I don't plan to interrogate you. It's dinner.

[ Maybe ask a series of strategically placed questions to ascertain the nature of his lunch with Jay. But definitely not an interrogation. ]

You said it, Bruce. Don’t be salty when I hold you to it.

[ are they going to be having seafood for dinner? because he thinks things are starting to smell a little fishy. ]

You don't trust me?

[ He just wants to take him to dinner and maybe fuck a little before patrol. It's all fiiiine. ]

I trust you with my life. I trust you to fuck me good but I don’t know about everything else.

[ does he trust him with his feelings? to not try to manipulate him with all the new leverage Bruce now has against him? ]

Should I?

[ As much as he wouldn't want to, he isn't above using them against you. Manipulating them for an advantage. Sometimes it happens without him realizing it. But more often than not? He knows exactly what he's doing. It isn't safe to trust Bruce with your feelings. ]

You can.

Yeah, okay. Sure.

[ Bruce will read the teasing sarcasm. he knows you, Bruce. possibly better than anyone else. how does it feel to be seen? ]

[ Feels terrible, honestly. ]

I mean it Dick.

[ don't fall for it, Grayson. don't fall for it, don't fall for it, don't fall-- ]

Do you?

I do.

I care about you, Dick.

[ Is...that sincere? ]

[ he knows Bruce cares about him. unlike his brothers, that part he never questioned, but having Bruce care is not always a blessing. ]

I know. Thanks. Just hard to accept it sometimes.

[ a beat. ]

I care about you, too.