Beneath A Full Moon

[bought_the_bank]

The lakeside house has a deck he's used only a handful of times.  Most nights he's looking down from atop skyscrapers or situated underground in front of a host of computer screens.  Tonight he's lounging in a chair with his foot elevated, his gaze turned upwards toward the full moon.  It's a spectacular sight above the water through the trees.  He meant to retreat indoors hours ago but just hasn't gotten there yet.

A second chair sits empty beside him.

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[justlikeacircus]

Dick just sighed, shaking his head at his father's antics, dropping a second blanket over him as he took a seat in the recently vacated chair with his own blanket and topped up hot chocolate (with more marshmallows, of course).

"Well we'll see what Lesley has to say..." Dick said slowly, a little disappointed - it sounded like a good bonding experience, and who knew when they'd get the chance to come up here again "and if not we'll figure something else out to do tomorrow..."

[bought_the_bank]

The quick change isn't without a price. Just the few seconds of movement is enough to set the ankle throbbing again. Overall, well worth Dick's reaction. He does however shift subtly, trying once again to find that sweet spot as he thanks Dick for the blanket. He wonders if this is how Leslie will find them later. Camped out in the chairs, asleep across from each other under the stars, empty mugs sitting on the deck...

"What do you want for your birthday?" As if he doesn't have something ready for him for tomorrow and something else waiting for him back home.

[justlikeacircus]

"World peace," Dick quipped with a cheeky smile, though after a slightly more serious think about it he shrugged.

"I don't know, spending time with you is present enough, you know? Just get me a big box of cornflakes or something," he chuckled "though you're cutting it a bit fine to ask, aren't you?"

[bought_the_bank]

There was a period in Dick's life when he would have considered spending time with Bruce a curse rather than a present. His father is glad that time has passed.

"You are a cornflake," he easily throws back at him.

"It's never too early to ask for next year."

[justlikeacircus]

"Golden and delicious, why thank you old man I am, aren't I?" He retorted with a cheeky grin.

"Oooh that means you already have my present. What is it? What did you get me? Is it here?" Never let it be said that Dick was not still very much in touch with his inner child

[bought_the_bank]

He just grins and lays his head comfortably against the chair back, answering none of Dick's quick questions. If Dick wasn't keeping a self-appointed watch, Bruce knows he'd be bolting for the house right about now to begin his search. Good thing it's been expertly hidden.

[justlikeacircus]

Dick's eyes narrow suspiciously at his father, as if he could read the answer from the man's face - which he can't, of course, and he knows it, because Bruce is inscrutable enough at the best of times, but when he's trying to be he's even worse.

"You may think you've won this round, Batman, but you just wait, I'll have my answers whether you like it or not," he cackles, in a somewhat passable impression of one of their more colourful foes "Because tomorrow... tomorrow you have to tell me." he adds gleefully.

[bought_the_bank]

The grin doesn't falter. "Tomorrow I only have to tell you half of it. The other half is waiting for you back home."

[justlikeacircus]

"You couldn't even bring the whole of my present to this large and beautiful exclusive lakehouse that we own? Man, no child has ever been so deprived," Dick sighed dramatically, throwing his hand over his face and leaning back in his chair

[bought_the_bank]

They both know he's smiling beneath that hand.

"I couldn't fit a full sized elephant in the back of the car."

[justlikeacircus]

"Aw man if you bought me an elephant..." his gaze gets that faraway look for a moment as he contemplates the prospect of his very own elephant. That totally wouldn't be disloyal to Zitka, right? He has enough love for more than one elephant... "But I know you haven't, you can't cut an elephant in half.... not without severely diminishing its worth as a present, anyway."

[bought_the_bank]

Dick has enough love for a whole herd of elephants plus a complete array of other circus related animals. Zitka will always be his favorite, Bruce knows. He decides to come clean. "I didn't buy you an elephant. Not enough room in your apartment to responsibly care for one."

[justlikeacircus]

"Plus it'd probably go through the floor," Dick concedes "damn, and here I was hoping to train it to be batelephant and everything, I had plans dad, you just had to go and ruin them." He sighs dramatically.

[bought_the_bank]

"I'll keep it in mind for next year. Assuming you upgrade your living arrangements." Structurally speaking of course.

He shifts yet again, trying to get more comfortable. It has the opposite result.

[justlikeacircus]

"Elephant worthy apartment, got it," he laughs. He falls silent as he studies the way Bruce is shifting, standing up abruptly.

"Okay, come on, you're going inside to the couch, Leslie'll be here soon and she'll yell at me for letting you stay out in the cold for so long."

[bought_the_bank]

Oh she'll be irritated alright but Bruce doubts that ire will be directed at Dick.

He knows he's not going to be any more comfortable on the couch than he is here in the lounge chair. And just the thought of putting weight on it-

"I'll stay here. You go ahead and get warm."

[justlikeacircus]

"Oh no you don't," Dick says firmly "I'm not going back inside until you're going back inside."

It's childish and petty but sometimes they're just that kind of family.

[bought_the_bank]

In typical fashion, he pushes back.

"Then you might as well get comfortable again."

[justlikeacircus]

"Oh I'm not the one getting uncomfortable, I'm just fine where I am." Okay so this probably isn't going to get either of them moving any time soon, And Leslie's almost certainly going to find them sitting there still at an impasse when she arrives, but never let it be said that Dick always makes the smart decision.

[bought_the_bank]

Never let it be said that Dick doesn't try every way he can to protect his family. Even against themselves.

Bruce considers him for a moment with a serious expression, like he's weighing a decision that might have long reaching consequences. Then in an uncharacteristic gesture, he reaches out his hand to Dick. Silently asking for help.

[justlikeacircus]

Dick's surprised, but he's smart enough not to comment on it, this is the kind of behaviour he wants to encourage after all.

He stands, leaving the blanket on the chair, he can come get that in a second and takes Bruce's offered hand, hauling the man to his feet once he seems ready to stand, ready to move close and allow Bruce to lean on him for the walk inside.

[bought_the_bank]

He brings all his weight to bear on the uninjured limb as Dick hauls him upright. The throbbing he's prepared for as increased blood flow hits the area. He shifts his hand to Dick's shoulder to steady himself and tentatively tests the ankle.

His eyelids slam shut and all the muscles in his jaw clench tight.

[justlikeacircus]

"Okay, no weight on that ankle at all, okay? Come on." His tone is businesslike, his best impression of Alfred when the man is 200% done with their shit. It's not quite as firm and resistant to arguments the way the butler's is, but it's hopefully close enough to get Bruce inside without trying to put any more weight on his injured leg.

[bought_the_bank]

Nobody can lay down the law like Alfred but Dick's impression of his tone is decent. Unfortunately at the moment, it's lost on Bruce.

With his eyes still closed, he takes several deep, even breathes. Then he visibly pulls himself up and together. The journey across the deck is slow and without any amount of grace but with Dick as his anchor, he does eventually get there.

Sorry for the delay!

[justlikeacircus]

Dick allows Bruce to set the pace, providing as much support as he possibly can to get them across and through the door. Once they're inside it's only a short journey to the couch, although it takes longer than it really should have done, and Dick focuses on getting Bruce settled there while he returns to fetch the abandoned blankets and mugs.