IC Inbox - Metaheroes

[forceforlight]

INBOX

(Please note if you are messaging Nightwing's official inbox or contacting Dick Grayson)

Comments

[mostdangerousbird]

The one where we share a studio apartment and I try not to make it weird? I told him and the others in the summer. I mean I came out.

[forceforlight]

And what was his reaction? I mean, it's Kon. I doubt he handled it badly. You wouldn't still be living together if he had.

[mostdangerousbird]

He was fine. Great, actually. I lead with having a boyfriend, so that helped.

There’s more to it, but I can’t violate his privacy.

[forceforlight]

You mean the fact that he's bi, too?

[Tim. Tim, why do you do this to yourself?]

[mostdangerousbird]

You knew?

He told you before me?

[forceforlight]

Tim. Detective? Remember?

[mostdangerousbird]

Investigative. You’re not a sexuality detective.

[forceforlight]

No, but I can connect dots when I see them.

What I'm saying is that, no. Kon didn't tell me. I worked it out for myself.

Look. Come over. I'll make you tea and I have some fresh pastries and we can talk more.

[mostdangerousbird]

Getting Jason to stop being annoying isn’t really a talk.

[forceforlight]

Much easier to get you to come here and pet Haley than it is to get Jason to stop being annoying.

[mostdangerousbird]

I just need a plan for how to handle it if Kon decides to make me his compliment of the day again. I don’t want to upset the balance.

[forceforlight]

[Why are you like this, Tim? Oh, right. Chasing affection through childhood so you can't recognize it when it's trying its best to bite you.]

You could just compliment him back? Just say thank you and bask in the glow of it? Actually admit your feelings and see where it goes?

[The last is erased before sending because there are limits over text.]

[mostdangerousbird]

[ He recognizes physical affection. Hugs, hair ruffles, kisses. Different levels of affection for different people. ]

Realistically, I can’t. That’s not how we interact. How I interact. I’ll tell someone that they did a good job or reinforce positives if they’re down, but I don’t walk into a room and tell someone that red looks good on them.

Not unless I’m pretending to be someone else.

[forceforlight]

Then just accept it and say thank you. Say something nice about his cooking or something else if the time comes up naturally, rather than feeling you have to force a compliment in return. That's kinda how the rest of us do it, anyway.

[mostdangerousbird]

I can’t do that if the natural escalation is for it to be interpreted as flirting. Because apparently friends can’t compliment each other.

[forceforlight]

Tim. Jason was being a little shit and teasing you. Most people don't consider it to be flirting. Just chalk it up as Jason being Jason.

[mostdangerousbird]

[ He can’t even explain without addressing the issue. This is pointless. ]

Fine.

[forceforlight]

[There's more to say. He can't say it over text.]

Get over here. Your niece is missing her favorite, most permissive uncle.

[mostdangerousbird]

[ Mistake. Now he’s on Dick’s radar. ]

Where’s here?

Does Haley want bar food?

[forceforlight]

[An address, then:]

Haley will eat anything.

[He's at least half certain that 'does Haley want' also means 'do you want', but somehow, it's easier to ask about Haley.]

[mostdangerousbird]

Sounds like some people I know. My shift ends in 30.

[ About 45 minutes later, there's a knock and the door and the smell of fries and random appetizers. ]

[forceforlight]

And most of their names have an F in there somewhere.

[The Flashes. He means the Flashes.]

[The barking starts immediately after the knock, followed by Dick's immediate, "Haley!". It's another moment before the door opens, with Dick now holding the puppy. Who looks absolutely unrepentant.]

Hey. Come on in.

[The apartment is small, but surprisingly clean for a place where Dick Grayson lives. Then again, he hasn't accumulated much stuff here, either. But there's a couch and a coffee table, a small kitchenette that actually looks like it's been used. Two doors off the main room. And plenty of toys for Haley. Including a stuffed Fantastic that has obviously been well chewed by now.]

Just let me put Haley down and I'll get the tea going. Unless you want something else?

[Tea is comfort. Alfred did that for all of them, after all.]

[mostdangerousbird]

Tea's fine.

[ There's no need to go to any real trouble, but it goes with the promised pastries if not the bar food. He holds of the bag. ]

I brought grease and a plain burger for Bitewing.

[forceforlight]

She'll appreciate the burger.

[Dick gets out a couple of cups, putting on an electric kettle to heat the water. Then he gets out some plates for bar food.]

[Haley, for her part, dances around Tim's feet. Still small enough that she doesn't quite realize how dangerous it is for people when she's right there.]

[mostdangerousbird]

[ Tim minds the pup as he follows Dick further into apartment. She really does just make him laugh like no one else can. ]

Hey, Haley girl. I’ve got something for you too, don’t worry.

[ He plops the entire bag on one of the plates and digs out the most important part (her burger) and begins tearing off bites and prompting Haley to sit, roll over, for bites. ]