Super short. This is basically my response to "Failsafe." Stellar episode. Oh, my, goodness gracious heavens. It's great. But, yeah, I wanted to get this done and up before the next one. Heavens, I love this show. I keep seeing all these stories up for it, and, for fear of "stealing" from them, I haven't read any of the Dick/Bruce ones. So, I figured I should go ahead and write this one.

Ugh. I have other things to write, too. Goodness.

To be quite honest, Dick wasn't really paying attention to the not-exactly-whispered conference being held between his guardian, Bruce Wayne, and their butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Which was fine by him. This day had been hard enough to go through without listening to Bruce's theories and whatnots.

Dick sighed, rolling one of Alfred's signature chocolate chip cookies back and forth on the counter. He really, really wanted to just not think. But his brain was whirling with the events that had transpired. The emotions, the images, everything. And he just wanted it to quit.

"You okay, Dick?"

He jumped. He didn't remember hearing Bruce come in, and he certainly hadn't noticed when he sat down next to him. Dick couldn't help but smile. "Second time within a week."

Bruce chuckled. "More girl trouble?"

"Hardy har har." The boy deadpanned. And then added, "Kinda?"

Bruce nodded. "Thinking about today?"

"Yeah."

"Hm." Bruce paused, but a shift at the door – Dick, smiling, didn't even have to look to know who caused that noise – urged him to continue. "Look, Dick. None of really figured that it would happen that way. We've done it before within the League, and J'onn assured us that doing it with another telepath wouldn't change things."

Dick regarded him, a light smirk playing on his lips. "Are you apologizing?"

Bruce turned his head ever so slightly to the door, and then back. "Yes. I'm apologizing."

Dick nodded his acceptance. "I wasn't gonna blame you too much anyways."

"Too much?"

The boy shrugged. "I kinda figured that you thought this might happen. But, I also know things don't go according to plan, anyways." He grinned. "That's why your so paranoid all the time."

Bruce smiled back. He grabbed a cookie, took a bite, and promptly got up to grab a glass from the cabinet and the milk from the refrigerator. A gland from Dick told him to get another cup, and a glance beyond Dick told him to continue the conversation. "Do you want to talk about today?"

Dick smirked, again. He was quite enjoying these...subtleties. "Um, sure?"

Bruce cocked and eyebrow.

Dick sighed. "Not really. But," he turned around, "I guess I ought to?" receiving his answer, he again faced Bruce, easily catching the glass of milk sliding his way. "Yes, then."

Bruce sat down. "How did you feel about it?"

"Not sure." The aerialist traced his fingers along the rim of the glass. "I mean, I wasn't a huge fan of it. But...I don't know." He ended lamely.

"Why not?"

Blue eyes flicked up to meet brown. "I guess it was just so...off." He groaned. "There were so many clues, too. In the little things. Not just our reaction – or lack there of – to your all's deaths, and Wolf's death, but details. The flag? Fort-eight stars. Manhunter may be an alien, but you put him up to it, and I know how you are with details." He smiled faintly, but that was lost in his next words. "It just felt wrong on so many levels."

Bruce took a drink. "How so?"

Dick took a moment to break his cookie in half, and dip it in the milk. "I didn't care."

"About our deaths?"

He took a bite. Chewed. Swallowed. "Yeah."

"Why did that bother you?"

"Because." He spoke quietly, still collecting his thoughts.

To his credit, Bruce didn't push. He waited. He wanted an answer, not vague feelings, and he knew that's what Dick was gathering up.

"I think it's because it meant I didn't love you."

Bruce nodded.

"And, I think, that even though it would have hurt," he paused. "It does, actually." He put his cookie down. "I think I'd rather deal with the hurt, knowing that I really did love someone, and consider them family, then realize that I didn't feel anything because I didn't care for them at all."

Bruce's finger steepled together. "Why is that?"

"Because that would have meant that I lived a lonely life." He looked up at his guardian, his face open. "Bruce, that's the worst life I can imagine."

The man rested his hands on the counter. "Yes it is."

They were both quiet for a moment longer.

"So, yeah." Dick said. "I guess that's what I think of it. I mean, I hate what Meg went through, but, all that I can seem to process right now is how much I didn't feel. And, yeah, I understand that was part of it, but, still."

"I know."

They ate the cookies.

Review? I'd love you for it. -Jimmy C.