Dick had eldest daughter syndrome. He always felt responsible for the other bats and would mother hen them if god forbid any of them got hurt. He also struggled immensely with same-age relationships. Maybe that’s why he went out on so many dates but never scheduled a second.

Then he met you. It had been a polite conversation at one of Bruce’s galas, but he liked you. You were around his age, but you were so very mature, almost like you were older than him. You were also kind and responsible.

A date after the gala had told him you had younger siblings and that you were the oldest. You also had eldest daughter syndrome. But maybe two negatives create a positive, because it felt so natural to Dick to be with you. He didn’t have any expectations to carry when he was with you. You did everything by yourself and he did everything himself, two independent souls keeping the other company.

The two of you were at the Wayne Manor for the weekly Sunday ‘family’ dinner. This was the first time you’d come to one though. You’d met his family before, but never sat down and had a long dinner with them. Dick couldn’t help but be a little excited. The first long relationship he’d had in years was becoming more serious.

Alfred was still preparing the dinner so Dick had brought you outside in the manor’s large garden. The different shaped bushes and carefully planted flower beds as you walked through the garden until he stopped in front of a small headstone in a secluded corner of the park-sized garden.

John and Mary Grayson, beloved parents and acrobats

His form straightens as he looks down at the memory piece of his real parents. Under it all, he was still someone’s son. Not just the big brother to those around him.