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[dawn_is_breaking]

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for @alaazul (tfln continued)

[dawn_is_breaking]

((Continued from here))

I'm hearing you but Dick, I honestly don't understand why you're getting so worked up about me getting mildly injured. I didn't call for backup because I knew I could handle it, yes I got slashed but it's not that bad. It doesn't even need stitches.

[She says patiently and reaches out to take one of his hands in hers, looking at him with soft eyes.]

I appreciate the concern and the help patching it up. I really do.

ty!

[alaazul]

Alright.

[ He takes her bloody bandages and tosses them, ready to go wash his hands when she reaches out to take his hand. ]

Always here to help.

[dawn_is_breaking]

Hey.

[She says and gives his hand a little squeeze.]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you or make you worry.

[alaazul]

[ He doesn't look at her for a long moment, but then he sighs, letting his shoulders drop as he looks at her. ]

I should be used to it by now, right? This is what we do.

[dawn_is_breaking]

It is but that doesn't mean we still don't worry about one another. I worry about you when you're gone for six hours and come back with bruises all over your back and face.

[She says and steps a bit closer to him.]

We worry because we care about one another.

[alaazul]

[ She steps in closer and he's quiet, because there are so many things he wants to say, but he can never quite figure out how to say them. Clearly nothing he's said has been in the right way. Maybe this time he'll keep trying, though- bad idea as it may be. ]

It's just the way you go about it, Dawn. The whole... going out there to get hurt. Every time you bring up how you don't notice the pain, as if you're just waiting for the time when you actually do.

It's not okay.

[dawn_is_breaking]

[She looks at him for a moment and then sighs, the sound of it is old and tired sounding.]

I don't actually go out of my way to get hurt. At least I don't think that I do but I guess that doesn't really make it any better.

But Dick, when I say I don't notice the pain I mean that quite literally, I don't know if it's from all the years of ballet or from years of being my father's punching bag but when my adrenaline starts going like that I don't always notice. Not till later.

[alaazul]

Like I said, that's not okay.

[It's troubling that she doesn't see it. That this has become a thing, an argument when it shouldn't be.]

I didn't realize that's where you were. Or maybe that's where you've always been and that's why you and Hank...

[He trails off, shaking his head.]

[dawn_is_breaking]

I realize that it's probably not healthy but at least it can be used for something good.

[She offers with a little shrug.]

It means I'll always keep fighting. No matter what.

[alaazul]

You used to give me shit for this kind of thing. Pretty sure you broke up with me because of what you're doing right now.

[But of course she won't see it that way. Her headstrong way with blinders on works for her somehow, right? But not for the rest of them.]

[dawn_is_breaking]

That's not why.

[She says quietly.]

I didn't break up with you because you didn't feel things physically Dick, I broke up with you because it started to feel like you weren't feelings things emotionally. You wouldn't talk to me, you turned cold and put up a wall and when Jericho died I wanted to grieve together but you weren't there.
So I left.

[alaazul]

Right.

[ Always there, slapping him in the face. The same old thing he's heard over and over again. Has he changed since then? He doesn't think so. ]

Well you're all patched up now. Lucky for you, no stitches.

[dawn_is_breaking]

[The dull look of hurt in his eyes makes her feel sad but not guilty, her reasons for leaving were valid, but that doesn't mean she likes seeing him in pain or distress.]

Lucky me. [She says, watching as he goes to wash off her blood on his hands and on impulse she follows him and once he's clean she steps into his path and wraps her arms around him. Hugging him gently.]

Thank you, and I'm sorry.

[alaazul]

[She told him to be Batman. Back then it's what he did. He did what he could, what he thought he should, and it all fell apart so terribly. When she told him she was wrong, it was already too late.

He knows after that they all had to leave, but he didn't expect Dawn to walk away the way she did.

He knows he shouldn't be thinking about this right now either. Maybe not ever because it won't change a damn thing. What's done is done.

When she hugs him he hesitates, but then he carefully puts his arms around her as well, because he doesn't want to upset her any further. ]

It's alright. You don't need to apologize. It's not you, it's me.

[dawn_is_breaking]

No, I do. You're not the only one who made mistakes Dick. I did too, I just wish I knew how to fix them.

[She says, laying her head against him with a sigh, grateful when he puts his arms around her because no matter what she's always found comfort in them. She goes quiet for a long moment, just enjoying the feeling of his embrace and when she finally speaks again it's barely a whisper.]

I miss you.

[alaazul]

[ Not everything can be fixed, he wants to say, but the words don't come out of him so easily. Maybe it's just his own that he can never really seem to fix, but that's no one's problem but his own.

He closes his eyes when she lays her head against him, and wonders if she really does miss him, or the person he used to be. The one who no longer exists.]

I know it feels like I'm always busy, but I'm still right here.

[It's the best he can do for now.]

[dawn_is_breaking]

[She nods and hugs him a little tighter, her body slowly relaxing against his as she listens to the steady beating of his heart. Everything has felt so chaotic and stressful these last few months, all of them running themselves hard and it feels like none of them have taken the time to just enjoy the quiet moments with one another. To enjoy the fact that they are all friends.]

I know you are.

[She says and stands up on her tip toes to kiss his cheek.] Always here and always willing to help patch me up when I've gone and done something stupid. You're a good man, Dick.

[alaazul]

[ He can feel her relaxing against him and he doesn't get it. He really doesn't. None of this feels okay. But maybe that was another difference between the two of them. Dick can never let himself turn off or let go.

When she kisses his cheek, he opens his eyes, letting out a quiet sigh. ]

You didn't do anything stupid. Donna would have agreed with you on that.

[He doesn't want to comment on whatever him being a good man means. He's not always so sure about that.]

[dawn_is_breaking]

[She looks up at him when he sighs, watching his eyes carefully.]

Sure I did. I'm the one standing here in bare feet with a slash wound.

[alaazul]

You shouldn't feel bad about it just because I said you should.

[ It's not like they'd see eye to eye on this situation anyway. ]

You know better than to listen to me all the time. Or ever.

[dawn_is_breaking]

[She raises an eyebrow at him.]

Ever? Do you really mean that? All right, fine.

[She says and steps closer to him, pressing her body against his unapologetically.]

Then I choose to not listen to your flimsy excuse as to why we can't do anything after admitting that we both still want one another.

[She states and then kisses him full on the lips.]

[alaazul]

[ He can feel it coming. Of course he can. He knows he should stop it, and yet he's not the altogether good man Dawn says he is- at least not with this.

He absolutely means to put his hands on her shoulders and hold her back, but his hands just rest there as she moves forward and kisses him. He even tries to give it a moment after that, but he caves, kissing her back fiercely, hands moving up her shoulders, her neck and into her hair. ]

[dawn_is_breaking]

[The ferocity in which he suddenly kisses her back is a little surprising but not at all unwelcome and she moans softly as she returns it, opening her mouth to him so he can deepen the kiss while her hands slide around to his back. Grabbing handfuls of his shirt in an effort to try and pull him harder against her.]

[alaazul]

[ Maybe it's sudden, but it feels like something that's been building up for so long now, just bursting to get out. Her moan draws him in closer, kissing deeper as he greedily dips his tongue into her mouth, pressing against hers. It's so familiar, yet so new, all at the same time.

It's everything he remembers, and so much more than that. They're so different now, there's no way it can ever be the same. ]

[dawn_is_breaking]

[He tastes better than she remembers and she can feel her heart rate spike when his tongue slides into her mouth. She returns the gesture, tonguing him hungrily while her hands slide up under the back of his shirt.

His skin is warm and she drags her nails up his spine while she presses herself against him even tighter.]