Chapter Text
John found the ring. Dick was never going to hear the end of it from Dami.
Dick ran a hand through his hair and went to sit next to John on the bed. He let their shoulders knock together but that didn’t rouse John from his intent staring match with the simple silver band resting on his palm.
When John didn’t say anything, Dick laid his head on John’s shoulder and looked over at the absolutely stunning painting John had brought back from Bermuda. Dick’s eyes traced the blues and purples of the sky, only briefly landing on the small ship sailing through the colours. He wondered if the ring lit up in a similar way to John’s sight.
The band was simple but the magic surrounding it wasn’t, at least according to John in the future that wasn’t. He’d spent a very drunken night explaining all the protection magic worked into the metal and lamenting the ring’s loss in a hell-fire explosion of a rather strong and more than slightly evil mage. They’d spent the rest of the night and rather too much alcohol trying not to think of people who could have used the protection.
Dick had remembered, one small detail among hundreds of thousands of others. He’d beaten the mage to the original trials for the ring and cheated shamelessly with future tricks and borrowed items from John’s own arsenal. Getting the ring had take much less time than Dick had anticipated, in all honestly.
John finally stirred, slowly closing scarred fingers over the ring. “Is this the-”
Dick waited but it seemed as if John didn’t want to finish the name. “Yup.”
“With the collapsing rock maze?”
“Not as tough as expected,” Dick said, quite truthfully.
“And the fire demon guardians?”
“So the magic sword you and Damian modified for me was maybe a little useful.”
John finally turned to look at him. “And the three trials of fucking Death?”
“Not a problem at all,” Dick replied with less honesty. He grinned though, because it had only been a couple broken bones and he was all healed now.
“Huh.” John looked back at his closed hand.
“Any other questions?”
“No.” John took a deep breath. “Not from me.”
Dick hummed and reached over with a gentle touch, smoothing over John’s tight grasp and pulling the ring from his palm. Dick didn’t kneel or stand, simply took his free hand to John’s jaw, smoothing over a scar tucked just under his chin that the man had gotten by stepping in front of a blow meant for Dami.
“Marry me?” Dick asked, soft as starlight, sure as bone.
“Yeah, okay,” John said, breathing out the kind of breath that gets stuck deep in your lungs. He didn’t hesitate, though. “Guess I’d better.”
Dick kissed him once, lightly, then once again just to the side of his temple. He held their foreheads together as he slipped the ring onto John’s hand. John didn’t look at it there, instead immediately raising his arms to wrap around Dick’s neck while lowering his head to pass tightly into Dick’s shoulder.
“Fuck.”
Dick just smiled and let them stay like that until John pulled just slightly away to stare at him with deliberate intensity.
“Can we elope? Or just start telling people about that time with the goddess?”
Dick laughed, finally standing and dragging John with him. He may have also spun John around a bit to which the man scowled. The scowl wasn’t half as grumpy as usual though and there were laugh lines at the corner of his eyes.
“Not on your life,” Dick told John. “We need paperwork to be legally married anyways, regardless of what ancient magic says and, really, do you want the kids to restart the war?”
“I can take them.”
“As well as both Leagues, the Titans, and half the Gotham Rogues Gallery?” Dick ran his hands down John’s side to hook into his belt loops. “Look at it this way; We’re not going to have to plan a damn thing.”
John snorted, but Dick knew that was him giving in. That he didn’t really mind, mainly because it would make their family happy.
“Fine, but you’re telling the lot.”
Dick would have agreed, he was just suddenly too busy being kissed to actually say the words.
The Batfamily
Dick: Alright.
Dick: I’m ready.
Dick: Hit me with Plan Wedding Bells.
Tim: …
Jason: …
Cass: :)
Steph: …
Alfred: Congratulations, Master Dick.
Dick: Thanks Alfie!
Barbara: Dick.
Barbara: This isn’t the kind of thing you throw in the chat!
Dick: There are a lot of you.
Dick: I’m not calling everyone and the next full family dinner isn’t for two days.
Dick: I also need to tell both Leagues, the Titans, the Sirens, and various affiliated persons.
Dick: And it’s not like it's a surprise.
Barbara: Dick.
Dick: John’s maybe asleep on my shoulder.
Damian: It’s about time, Baba.
Dick: Thanks, baby!
Damian: He found the ring, did he not?
Dick: …
Dick: Maybe.
Jason: Dick!
Jason: Really?
Dick: Baby Bat’s right.
Dick: I have no idea why more of you didn’t see this coming.
Steph: I mean, that’s kinda fair.
Steph: Sort of a tangential step to the adoption thing?
Steph: Also my mom says congratulations and she’s buying the good cookies for your next tea so you’d better spill the details.
Steph: Do I need to be concerned that you have gossip sessions with my mother?
Dick: Be concerned all you want, the sessions are still going to happen.
Dick: :)
Jason: I call Best Man.
Jason: I can and will take Roy and Wally out.
Jason: Donna and Kori would be harder, but Donna will want to be photographer anyways and Kori can be bribed with baby Robin photos.
Dick: Um.
Tim: Jay can have it.
Tim: I will be far too busy.
Tim: What are my parameters?
Dick: Timmy.
Tim: Parameters, Big Bird.
Dick: Sooner rather than later?
Dick: At the Manor. I really want to be married at home.
Dick: Plus, that makes security easier.
Dick: Capes, Cowls, and affiliated guest list.
Dick: We can do a smaller public Richard Grayson-Wayne one later.
Dick: Or go with John’s elopement plan for that one.
Jason: His what plan?
Dick: Relax, Little Wing.
Tim: I can work with that.
Tim: Alfred, we’ll need the green binder and the Spring Series.
Alfred: Right away, Master Timothy.
Alfred: I will have the samples prepared along with your after school snack.
Barbara: I have a meeting at the library but will be over as soon as I’m done.
Dick: Babs?
Barbara: We’ll have a couple of options set for you to view by the family dinner.
Barbara: Also, for the record, Jason, I would have crushed you for Best Man.
Barbara: Except I’m already mostly through my certification.
Dick: You’re going to officiate my wedding?
Babs: Of course, Boy Blunder.
Constantine: Boy Blunder can’t talk right now.
Jason: Thought you were sleeping?
Constantine: I was.
Constantine: Until the tears started.
Constantine: And two hellions crawled into my bed.
Steph: So that’s where Cass and Dami went.
Steph: Wondered why they were so quiet.
Alfred: Welcome to the family, Master John.
Steph: One of us!
Jason: Suppose Big Bird could have done worse.
Constantine: …
Constantine: Thanks, luvs.
A Stabby Orange, a Circus Brat, and one Sane-ish Man
Dick: You may attend my wedding if you promise not to stab anyone.
Dick: Including annoying heroes.
Slade: Who says I want to come?
Wintergreen: I’ll have the children make sure he’s on his best behaviour.
Dick: Thanks!
Dick: You’re also invited, to be clear.
Dick: Though I understand if you don’t want to be on Slade-watch.
Slade: Brat.
Slade: Still not saying I’m going.
Dick: Hey, at least I didn’t call it babysitting!
Wintergreen: I would be honoured to attend.
Dick: Aw.
Wintergreen: I’m sure the children and I will be happy to provide Slade with highlights if he continues to be stubborn.
Slade: Bastard.
Slade: Fucking fine.
Dick: I’ll let Timmy know!
Dick: And also no shooting, maiming, or killing of any sort!
Slade: Fucking damnit.
Private
Constantine: Hey, any interest in being my Best Man/Maid/Whatever?
Zatanna: What?!
Zatanna: I mean yes, absolutely, I’d curse anyone else who tried to do it.
Zatanna: But what?
Constantine: Cool.
Constantine: I’ll let Tim know.
Zatanna: John.
Zatanna: Where are you? Are you at home?
Zatanna: I’m coming over.
Zatanna: Also congrats!
Constantine: Thanks.
Constantine: And I’m currently in Egypt avoiding the Bats.
Zatanna: Fair.
Zatanna: I’ll bring alcohol.
Constantine: And that’s why you’re Best Whatever.
Titans, Occasionally Babysitters
Dick: So I did a thing.
Donna: Are we going to space in the next twelve hours?
Gar: Ooh.
Gar: Or the Amazon?
Gar: I love the Amazon.
Kori: Will we be needing weapons?
Kori: Or perhaps cameras?
Roy: I’m watching nature documentaries with Lian.
Roy: Better be a big thing if I need to find a sitter.
Dick: A sitter isn’t necessary.
Dick: It’s more of a distant thing.
Dick: And she’s invited at the distant thing.
Wally: Ohmygod.
Rae: Congratulations.
Gar: ?
Gar: Did he defeat another supervillain on his own again?
Gar: At least he didn’t antagonize another cult leader.
Gar: Rae wouldn’t congratulate him for that.
Roy: Better not have.
Roy: I will sit on you for the next lecture, Dickhead.
Dick: Also not necessary.
Rae: Zatanna and I were investigating a curse.
Rae: I’m finishing up because she needs to track down some mystical alcohol of celebration.
Rae: She’s very proud of her grumpy misanthrope, apparently.
Dick: That’s fair.
Dick: It was pretty hard to get John to socialize.
Dick: I’ll send him along to the House of Mysteries once he’s back.
Donna: Dick.
Dick: Donna.
Donna: Do not make me fly over there.
Dick: …
Dick: I’m getting married!
Kori: The most wonderful of news!
Kori: May you provide each other the bones of your enemies for many fortuitous years!
Dick: Thanks, Kor.
Gar: Congrats, dude.
Gar: Wally says the same.
Gar: I think.
Gar: Kind of hard to hear through the crying.
Wally: Mybestfriendsgettingmarried!
Wally: Ohmygod.
Wally: Icallbestman.
Roy: You.
Roy: Me.
Roy: Parking lot.
Donna: Ahem.
Donna: And I’m happy for you, Boy Wonder.
Dick: Thanks, D.
Dick: Roy, Wally, Jason’s already challenged you both.
Dick: 3pm this Saturday in the Warehouse Training Centre.
Dick: Donna, Tim wanted to talk you about photography.
Donna: Acceptable.
Donna: You’re going to have badass photos.
Donna: Beautiful and touching and badass.
Dick: I’d expect nothing less.
Kori: Tim has already reached out!
Kori: My incentive for staying neutral in the upcoming battle trials is particularly adorable.
Dick: Again, I’d expect nothing less.
Wally: Yeah, the kid works fast.
Wally: You’re going down Royboy.
Rae: You okay, Dick?
Dick: Yes?
Donna: Good question.
Donna: You sometimes catastrophize when you’re happy.
Dick: …
Dick: I’m so fucking happy.
Dick: It’s bloody terrifying.
Wally: Fuck Saturday.
Wally: Need me there now?
Roy: Ollie will totally babysit.
Dick: I’m currently buried in assassin babies.
Dick: Lunch tomorrow?
Dick: At the Tower?
Rae: We’ll be there.
Kori: With the most welcoming of warm hugs.
Dick: I love you guys.
Roy: Getting married doesn’t mean you have to bring that sappy shit over here.
Roy: But I guess you’re marginally adequate.
Roy: For a dumb-ass.
Success: Batman Communicated an Emotion
Dick: You’re presence is requested!
Dick: On some as of yet unknown date.
Dick: Timmy will get back to you with the details.
Oliver: For what?
Hal: New mission?
Barry: No.
Barry: Really?
Barry: Who won the bet?
Barry: I mean, congratulations!
Barry: But who won the bet?
Oliver: Which bet?
J’onn: You have my most heartfelt well-wishes.
J’onn: I look forward to the ceremony.
Dick: Aw, thanks Uncle J!
Dick: The ceremony’s going to be at the Manor.
Dick: Only thing I insisted on, really.
Dick: Want it to be at home, you know?
J’onn: Indeed.
J’onn: You deserve nothing less.
Hal: Wait.
Hal: The engagement bet?
Hal: Congratulations Dickie!
Hal: But yeah, who won?
Diana: Congratulations nephew mine!
Diana: Please let me know if I can be any assistance.
Dick: Will do!
Dick: Or rather, I’ll pass it along to Timmy.
Dick: He’s really taken over the wedding planning with gusto.
Dick: I think we found a new and viable profession for the kid.
Bruce: Wedding?
Dick: …
Dick: You read this before the family chat, didn’t you?
Dick: I’ve tried to call you nine times!
Clark: Congratulations Dickie!
Clark: And sorry, I stole B for a surprise run to Space.
Clark: Good news! No incoming war.
Clark: Bad news, we had no reception.
Dick: Fair enough.
Dick: Also, I’ve got to go.
Dick: B appeared at my window, torn suit and all.
Dick: I think he needs a hug.
Dinah: We’re all very proud of you, kiddo.
Dinah: But the boys are right.
Dinah: Who won the bet?
Tim: Damian.
Tim: With the ultra specific bet of Dick getting a magic ring but flubbing the actual proposal and therefore just randomly asking John in their own damn home. With a timeline of before the second Arkham breakout of the spring but after Condiment King destroyed three sets of Nightwing suits this year.
Tim: We’re awarding partial victory to Donna, Wally, and Clark for calling Dick proposing but messing it up.
Barry: Clark!
Diana: How cruel, my friend.
Diana: Betting that your own nephew would make such a mistake!
Clark: I didn’t bet he would flub it!
Clark: Just that he’d get a little overexcited and something would happen.
Hal: Dude.
Clark: :)
Tim: Jay also gets partial for betting John proposing an elopement.
Tim: But that’s not happening.
Tim: Your roles are as follows.
“I could give you a better hug if you took off the armour,” Dick told his dad. Bruce grunted but didn’t let go. Dick kind of wanted to laugh but thought this probably wasn’t quite the right time. Instead, he simply buried closer. It wasn’t like had no experience with avoiding pointy edges of costumes in order to achieve maximum level hugs.
Eventually, though, he pulled back. “Come on, dad. I think I stole some of your comfy clothes the last time I was at the Manor. Let's watch old spy movies in our pyjamas and plot all the ways we could both defeat the villain faster and take over the world more efficiently in the first place.”
Damian also always enjoyed that and he and Cass would be back from the store soon.
Bruce let Dick step out of the hug but cupped Dick’s face in armoured gauntlets, looking down with dark, clear eyes.
“I love you,” Bruce said.
Dick smiled, perhaps a little helplessly. “I love you, too, B.”
“And I’m proud of you.”
Dick nodded, not quite sure what to say.
Bruce tilted his head. “And I’m looking forward to adding John to our family, officially.”
Dick was maybe starting to tear up. Damnit, Bruce. “I think you’re supposed to tell that to John.”
“Okay.”
Dick blinked and made a mental note to tell John to expect an awkward conversation. Not that he wasn’t already expecting it, which was probably why John was currently in Egypt.
“Whatever you need,” Bruce continued.
Dick sighed, ignoring Bruce’s temporary alarm at the sound to grab him by the wrist and start dragging him to the fortified part of the apartment where they stashed all the gear and Bruce could leave the fucking Batsuit.
“I know. Thanks, B. But I think Timmy’s got it covered. He’s sent me four separate emails looking for confirmations of colour, guest lists, and basically an entire planned wedding. We need to revaluate that kid’s sleep schedule.”
Bruce caught up to Dick and placed a heavy yet gentle arm across his shoulders. He was smiling, too.
When John came back several hours later, sand still in his hair, he walked into the living room and put his hands on his hips.
“It’s not like I’m stealing you away. We’re not even fucking moving.” Still, John whispered.
Dick smiled from where he was leaning against Bruce’s leg. Bruce was fast asleep on the couch, Damian sprawled on his stomach and Tim tucked into his side. Babs was napping on Dick’s shoulder while Jay was sprawled out with his head on Dick’s leg. The movie was muted with subtitles, only a distractedly waving Steph still watching until Cass came in, holding a large bowl overflowing with popcorn.
Cass grabbed John’s wrist as she walked by, showing him onto the couch next to Steph, who promptly threw her legs over his lap and stole the popcorn bowl. Cass perched on the arm of the couch next to her even as John huffed.
John wasn’t exactly within easy reach but Dick reached up. John, like always, reached back.
“Welcome home.”