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ellana-ravenwood · 6 years ago

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A fitting name - Dick Grayson x Reader

Summary : You’re dating Dick Grayson, aka Nightwing, and contrary to popular belief...he ISN’T always that happy-go-lucky people think he is. Actually, you’d even go to the extend to say that he was a moody bitch sometimes.

This story has been sitting in my draft for a while, but every time I did a vote about which one you wanted to see next...it lost by a landslide. This time however, it won by ONE vote haha, so bam here it is, hope you’ll like it :

My masterlist blog : @ella-ravenwood-archives

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******

It had been going on for a while already. And it all started over such a silly thing...A few months ago, out on a mission, you got badly injured. But you were finally back on your feet and ready to go out there again.

Well, it was without counting on your boyfriend, who suddenly decided to become overprotective of you ! Usually, you wouldn’t have mind. In fact, you would have thought it was pretty darn cute, how he wanted to make sure you were alright. Showed that he cared. A lot.

Only problem was : you weren’t particularly known for your patience, and he was REALLY insisting on you staying behind, ignoring all your comments about being completely fine and healthy.

Things escalated quickly, as you got vexed he didn’t think you were ready. But also got angry that he was basically ordering you to stay home ! How dare he ! Who was he to order you around like that ?! If you wanted to go, then you would go !

So you rose your voice a little bit. Because he was being unreasonable, and too damn controlling. He knew you hated that.

Only that got him to raise his own voice too, and then just like that...You were yelling at each others, not quite sure how the hell it got that far.

Well, “not quite sure”.

You actually knew what happened. You were calm at first, and only started to get angry because he was getting angry. And though you knew his anger could suddenly blow out, and you probably should have had defused things instead of pushing him...Well, you just weren’t about to let anyone walk on your feet, even if it was him ! And even if everything started with the best intentions !

Sure it was cute that he wanted to protect you, but you didn’t need his protection right now, you needed his trust in believing that you were alright and ready to go back on the field !!

In fact, after months of convalescence and feeling like you were useless, his support was essential to you ! He had been so great in reassuring you and nursing you back to health, you were so sure he’d keep going on that way.

But his fear of loosing you, and his worries got the best of him. And here he was, bitching that you “never listened to him” while it wasn’t the truth...Oh but Dick Grayson was often very unfair, when he started to get irrationally angry. And his mouth often ran faster than his brain.

“Oh my God, sometimes, your name fits you perfectly !”

You shouted at him, and he looked at you and oh how fucking dare he roll his eyes at you like that ?! It made you even angrier, as he said :

“What are you on about ?!”

“Your name, it’s a perfect fit.”

“What ? Why ?!”

“Because you’re being such a dick ! And a dumb one at that, who can’t seem to remember his own damn name !”

“Don’t call me dumb, you’re the one being stupid right now !”

“And you’re acting like a child !”

“I’m not ! You’re just so...STUBBORN !”

“I wouldn’t be if you weren’t being a jerk !”

“How am I being a je...I just want you to be safe !”

“I earned my place here as much as anyone else ! Also, I could break you like a twig so pluh-ease !”

“Well I never said you couldn’t ! But you’re still healing !”

“I’m fine ! Do you really think I’d come if I thought I could be a liability to the team somehow ?!”

“I never said you would, stop twisting my words !”

“You implied it when you didn’t fucking drop it !”

“I would have if you weren’t being so damn stubborn and pushed all my buttons on purpose !”

“You pushed your own buttons buddy, getting all worked up like that.”

“Don’t be condescending.”

“Don’t be such a dick !”

“I...You...They...I...GGGRROOOAAAH !!”

Dick yelled, throwing his hands in the air out of frustration. And pacing back and forth in front of you, grumbling a little more and shaking his head in annoyance.

You knew what had just happened, he had just reached his “too mad to find words to answer you” phase. Which meant that any seconds now, he was going to...Yup, and here he goes, leaving the room in a fury, barking a “let’s go” to the rest of the team.

The rest of the team.

The Young Justice.

The future of heroes.

And right now, they were all staring at you, utterly shocked. You were pretty sure they never seemed so confused before, not even when you guys got caught up in some pretty shady multi-dimensional shenanigans.

Still annoyed to no end by your boyfriend’s behavior, you glared at them and asked, a bit harshly :

“What ?!”

They all took a step back (survival instinct), and you realized maybe you should take it down a notch. They didn’t do anything, after all.

There was an awkward silence, and you were about to apologize when Dick came back in and yells :

“ARE YOU GUYS COMING OR NOT ?!”

Before rushing back out with angry steps, groaning some more unintelligible words as he leaves. And you knew your friends must be completely dumbfounded when none of them even retorted anything back, while many of those guys would usually not take someone’s shit like that.

They just walked out of the room towards the plane that’ll take them to their next mission (Dick is already starting it up, well guess he’ll be the captain today...), and kept a bit of distance with you.

Except for Wally and Artemis who fell back behind with you. The archer asked :

“Are you ok ?”

“Yes, why wouldn’t I be ?”

There was still a little bite in your words, but they knew better than to take offense to it. Especially after what they just witnessed. Wally said :

“It’s just...this all kind of came out of nowhere ? He was all nice and all, worried about you and so sweet it made my teeth rot, and then all of a sudden BAM ! He got super angry because you were adamant you wouldn’t stay behind. Like you just walked on a mine or something.”

“Yeah well, he does that. Things trigger him and he explodes. Nothing new really. He’ll calm down just as fast, and will realize how stupid he’s just been and apologize. I probably should say sorry too...I did push his buttons on purpose because he was getting on my nerves...”

There was a small silence as you’re almost to the plane, and both Wally and Artemis slowed down. Out of reflex, you slowed too and gave them a curious look.

“Why are we stoping ?”

You asked with your normal tone, as if nothing just happened. As if you and your boyfriend didn’t just yell at each others for the past ten minutes. As if all this was quite a regular occurrence really, and you were already so over it. As if this small talk with them calmed you down. Artemis was the first one to speak :

“What do you mean “he does that” ? I’ve never EVER seen Dick mad. I mean, I’ve seen him get angry during fights, but we all do that. This back there, that was something else. I always pictured him as that calm smiley guy, who has jokes ready in the most desperate of situations so...”

Ah. So that is it huh ? Evidently, your friends haven’t been around Dick long enough to truly see some of his ridiculous outbursts of anger. Or rather, they weren’t ALWAYS with him like you were..

Well, it made sense really. When you guys were hanging out with the team, it was either to go on missions or to have fun. And to be honest, some other easily angered members definitely stole Dick’s spotlight when it came to it.

Conner, for example, used to always be angry or annoyed, and had difficulties to control himself. Dick felt compelled to behave in those cases, to crack jokes to loosen the atmosphere and such. So of course they never really saw him get mad, and thought he was just that happy-go-lucky guy.

Like Artemis said, he got angry sometimes on missions, but that’s something that indeed happened to all of you. If a plan was going south, if a friend was hurt, if the villain was particularly despicable...So it also made sense they never really took notice of the rage Dick could find himself in.

Which kind of makes you roll your eyes. Really hard. You say :

“Ah, well of course you’d think that of him. But let me tell you guys, sometimes, Nightwing can truly be a moody bitch !”

“Hey ! I heard that !”

Dick yelled, turning around in his seat at the front of the plane. You just stuck your tongue out at him, which ended up annoying him further (as you knew it would), but he was already so far in his anger that he didn’t even bother to answer and instead smashed some buttons and got the plane off and on to the mission.

He knew he was being stupid right now, that he should calm down and that all this was just silly. That you were right, you were ready, and he should just accept that. But he was just so afraid of loosing you, and when you wouldn’t listen and stay back a little longer...He lost it.

He simply lost it. Because he cared too much. That was one of his biggest problem, and a constant source of burst of angers, really.

He turned around to you, but you were resolutely looking elsewhere, nose in the air, purposefully ignoring him. Which riled him up some more. He sped the plane up, and suddenly, he just couldn’t WAIT to get on with this mission !

Kicking some asses would help him relax...

************

It always surprised you, when people thought Dick was that always positive guy who never got angry and cracked jokes instead.

That guy who, when he was on the verge of anger, would just smile and say something witty.

That guy that just didn’t know the meaning of the word “furious”, because he always just danced around it by laughing infuriatingly and smiling in the face of whatever could make him mad !

Because oh, oh did they ignore a big part of his personality by thinking that !

Well, that wasn’t quite right. It is true that a lot of time, Dick was able to hold back his anger and be that happy-go-lucky person everyone thought they knew. And he did have a higher stamina against people trying to make him angry. Plus, he was definitely seeing the world in a more positive light.

He had to, because otherwise he would fall into an bottomless pit of depression. Bruce always nursed this overly positive side in his son, because he tried more than anything to lead his boy onto another path than his. Because he didn’t want Dick to end up like him.

So yes. Dick Grayson was a cheerful guy, who always had a good joke and on whom you could count on to turn your frown upside down in tough moments.

But on some topics ? In certain situations ? Oh the man could loose it very fast ! Like with you, when you refused to “stay safe”. When his fear of something happening to you turned into pure anger and he was unable to control himself.

But of course, you guess rare would be the people to actually witness such outbursts, right ? You had to be pretty darn close to him, to see it. To truly understand him.

It’s true that, much like his father figure, his beloved mentor, the Batman himself, Dick often hid behind a mask when in public. Even with with friends. Because it was easier to play a part, sometimes, than to show his true nature and his true self.

It was self-preservation really. Dick Grayson had suffered enough in his life, that of course he would build up some walls around him and protect his heart. He often pushed people away, like that. At school, he used to be a “loner” because it was easier to not make friends, stay alone and not get hurt when he’d ultimately lose them...Again, just like the man he came to call “dad”.

Very few people actually managed to break his shell.

So rare were the people to see this darker side of him. To see him throw tantrums or get irrationally mad over things that shouldn’t matter so much.

But still, sometimes, you were wondering how the hell some people never even suspected that he could get like that.

Like Superman for example, the guy knew him since he was a child, and yet always seemed very shocked whenever Dick acted out, saying stupid things like : “Jason/Damian, get out of Dick’s body !” and such.

Which by the way, annoyed Dick even more.

He hated whenever someone implied that only his two younger brothers had anger issues in the family. Because they ALL had anger issues. Hell, he saw Tim truly mad a few times, and it was absolutely terrifying.

But both Jason and Damian were loud and needed so much attention...Of course they’d gain this reputation of being “the angry Robin”, while really, this title should have fell on Dick Grayson.

After all, he was the only one who decided to leave Bruce mainly because of his anger. Well, Jason “left” too but it wasn’t quite the same was it ? He was suppose to be dead, but got resurrected and then decided not to come back home right away, as he was angry towards his father.

Jason’s infamous anger towards his dad is what got him the “angry Robin” nickname, but he had every rights to be angry. And except for the feud he had with his father, and the shock his death and revival had on him, making him more violent than before...Jason was actually a pretty chill dude.

He had a lot of confidence issues, so no insult ever phased him much as nothing could be worst of what he thought of himself. And in recent years, he even tamed down his killing spree and anger and...Well it was actually rare to see Jason Todd genuinely angry.

He would bicker away with his father and brothers, but it seemed like recently, he had come back to how he used to be : it was very difficult to truly annoy him. To rile him up. To make him angry.

Because the only thing that ever truly angered Jason Todd, was the fact that Bruce didn’t kill the Joker...And he had been able to move past that. Nowadays, to get a reaction out of him if you tried to annoy him, would be quite impossible.

But Dick ? Oh if you knew what triggered him, you could send him in such fury ! He destroyed his room more than once, in his teen years, out of frustration.

When something unjust happened, mainly. Like him getting scolded by Bruce while he was sure he didn’t deserve it, or things like that.

Talking about Bruce...Did no one ever wonder why Dick, in his late teen years, decided to leave his home ? Did no one ever wonder why he dropped the “Robin” mantel to take on the “Nightwing” one ? (Important Author’s note : there’s different origin stories, of course. “Comic books” ya know, things always change. The original reason why Dick left was that he got shot in the shoulder by the fucking Joker (always him) and Bruce was like “you should quit being Robin”, and Dick got angry and was like : “Hell no dude” and left to join the Titans, becoming later on “Nightwing”...this is a extremely SUMMARIZED version of the original story but, basically that. While I’m using the “Batman : The Animated series” version + what kind of became canon later on, where Dick left because he didn’t agree with Bruce’s methods (again, summarized). I’m using this Nightwing “origin story” mainly because 1. I like it better, 2. it fits better with the story I’m writing right now and 3. It gives Bruce and Dick a nice “growing up and learning” arc, ok, we can carry on with the story now. But a big thing to remember is that in almost every single origin stories, what prompted Dick to become Nightwing was the fact that he was angry. Just thought this was an “important” note...or maybe it wasn’t and I’m just once again blabbering about comics).

Did they think Bruce was just letting his son grow up on his own for a bit, and become his own person and all ? Control freak Batman ? Letting go of his precious son on purpose ? Right. Fat chance.

No. No the truth was something else.

And to you, who was one of the person who knew Dick the best, it definitely made sense.

************

Your boyfriend grew up alongside Bruce. Alongside Batman.

People often forgot how young Bruce was, when he took Dick as his ward. How inexperienced at being a father figure he was, and how lost he still was over so many things. At the time, they were both learning.

When Bruce took him as his ward, he had not been Batman for very long, and he still saw his crusade as a war. Not figuratively. Bruce saw himself as a soldier. At this point, the Bat outfit was just a gimmick to catch his enemies off-guard and give them something to recognize. And to fear.

Enemies.

Bruce saw criminals as enemy combatants. That's exactly how he treated them, except that he avoided killing as much as possible.

Dick was never really on board with the anger and the darkness. He was trying to help people who needed it.

Bruce was trying to hurt those who deserved it. It was a way to escape his pain, and in the beginning, he definitely enjoyed giving them pain. His own pain, at the time, was still festering inside him, and the only way he knew how to cope was to hurt those he deemed guilty.

While both Bruce and Dick fought the same fight, that difference in approach became too much to tolerate on a regular basis. And as Dick grew up and began to think for himself more and more, things broke.

It is noteworthy to also mention that Bruce was accustomed to acting alone, with no one questioning his actions or his motives. But as Dick got older, he started to question everything. Loudly.

And he was right.

For Bruce, it was too much at the time. He always hated being wrong, so when he was faced with the truth by his own son...It was too much.

Wether Robin quit or was “fired” is still unclear (author’s note : read that as in “it HIGHLY varies depending on who writes the story so I’d rather not take a side as I like both explanation and the fact it has an “obscure area”), the basic facts remain : Bruce delivered an ultimatum. Dick could fall in line or get out.

Dick chose to get out.

There was a lot of anger on both sides.

And it ended with Dick going away for a while. Which was a good thing at the time. For both of them. He came back later knowing what he wanted, with a new name and a new costume, and ready to face Bruce and this time, stay until he changes his mind.

Only a big fight wasn’t necessary. When Dick came back, Bruce had already realized on his own, as he was left alone once more, that he had lost his way.

He decided the “no kill rule” for sure at that time. And instead of punishing Gotham, he started to protect it. This was made obvious by how he taught the “Robin job” to Jason, Tim or Damian.

And this was all because Dick Grayson got mad at him.

Eventually, they mended pieces together and Dick calmed down, after a long time being angry at his mentor (though always respecting and loving him). It’s Jason’s death, and how devastating it was for Bruce that brought Dick back. It’s that confirmation, when Bruce didn’t kill his son’s murderer, and how much it hit him hard that finally calmed Dick’s anger and made him come back home...

And this anger ? The reason why he was angry ? It’s a main source of why still nowadays Dick Grayson gets angry.

He has always cared too much. Now he’d say “you can’t ever care too much”, but in his case, you really can. Because sometimes, he feels so much, he loves so strongly, that he doesn’t think straight.

And damn can he hold a grudge !

Now, in this particular case, Dick’s anger was justified. And it changed a lot of things in the Bat’s life, for the better. But it isn’t because that one time Dick got super angry for a reason (and dragged his anger for years, by the way...you always thought that it was a little too extra, the way he was mad for so long, though you understood...but just that in itself should make people see that Dick had a darker side ?), that he never got angry for the most ridiculous things !

************

There was two kind of angers, with Dick. The first one, was the reason he got mad at Bruce. The fact that he cared too much. An easy example :

You met Dick in a peculiar situation.

Well, maybe it wasn’t so peculiar for a city like Gotham.

It happened a normal morning, as you were on your way to school. You were late because you had to get your little brother to primary school first, as your parents were already at work since the sun came up…Nothing unusual really, you were used to have much more responsibilities than a young 13 years old should have. It never really bothered you though, as you knew no other ways.

You were running through the streets, hoping to make it in time and…Yeah, you never made it to school that day.

As you were only a few blocks away from it, you found yourself in the middle of total mayhem. You have no idea what really happened, but you remember little bits of it.

You and a few other civilians getting stuck in between Batman, Robin, and a bunch of villains. You barely remember Batman and Robin able to put everyone on the side safely, but you not paying attention, worried about being late, and walking right towards the commotion.

Then you only remember flashes of things.

You almost getting chomped on by Killer Croc, and holding your arms up reflexively and then all of a sudden you were down on your ass, Killer Croc was passed out in the street, and everyone was staring at you.

Next thing you know Batman grabs you by the arm delicately, gets you back up on your feet and tells you « follow me, and cover your face » and so…you did exactly that.

What else was there to do ? He was the goddamn Batman, of course you were gonna listen !! You climbed in the Batmobile, floating in a weird dazed, not sure if this was real life or a wacky dream.

The windows were blacked out, and you couldn’t see a thing, but after a short drive, the back door opened again on Batman and Robin, and you were in...the Batcave ?

Everything was so crazy. Everything was going so fast. That day was still a blur, and forever will be. Which was kind of sad, considering it was the day you met the love of your life.

Dick was very reassuring, and smiled a lot. It’s all you could really remember of him that day.

Of course you knew him only as “Robin” at the time. You had no idea who they really were, and Bruce didn’t trust you enough yet to tell you.

But he still brought you back to the Batcave, which was a big deal. According to Dick, you were the first person outside of him, Batman and Al...Penny1 (whoever that was) to come down there. Of course, you had absolutely no idea where it was exactly, but it was still pretty cool.

That first day, Bruce didn’t brusque you or anything. He just made sure you were alright, and when he saw you didn’t remember everything, send you back on your way...

You discovered later, when the shock of what happened finally wore down, why Bruce brought you back there. As the Batman himself, and his trusted Robin (who was smiling a lot) came back for you to bring you again to the Batcave.

And that’s when your world was turned upside down, as Bruce revealed to you that you were...a meta-human.

A few quick research on you (you gave your real name to Batman when he asked, not able to think straight), and Bruce discovered that your father adopted you. Your mom was your biological mom, but...WHAT ?!

You didn’t even know your dad wasn’t really your dad. That your mom had you prior to meeting him. Well, you were barely one year old when they got together, and he became the only father you ever knew. But this was quite a shock !

You remember Dick scolding Bruce for telling you the news so abruptly...But Bruce had his reasons. Because out there ? In the streets ? Faced with Killer Croc ? You did something, and it was impressive.

You “repulsed” him with lightnings ! But when Bruce asked you further questions, it was clear that this was the first time it ever happened ! You were so lost, and so shocked...Thanks to Dick bringing back Bruce to the “real world” and telling him that you were just a kid, things got easier.

Bruce apologized, and said he would do further researches to know who your real father was. Only if you wanted to. But hey, you had just basically fried Killer Croc (he owed it only to his thick crocodile skin to not have burned alive really) and this new power was scary, so yes, you definitely wanted to know who your dad was !

Over the next few weeks, you came back often to the Batcave, after school. To train. To try and learn your power. At first, nothing would happen.

Bruce quickly understood that your powers needed to be triggered to work, and threw a harsh assault on you ! It got you knocked on your ass, but also made some sparks ! Quite literally !

But this little event ? It’s what made you discover the first kind of anger Dick Grayson could feel.

The one that happens because he cares too much. The one that happens because he couldn’t bare to let anyone get hurt.

In a matter of seconds Dick was between you and Bruce and yelling at his mentor. See, when he got hurt during training, it was alright. Because he knew what he got himself into, and he wanted to get better. But seeing you, a new friend, getting hurt like that ? It drove him nuts (years later, when Bruce got a little too rough with Jason, Tim or Damian, Dick would enter this same kind of anger, and yell at his mentor for his harsh ways, getting angry because he dared to hurt his little brothers).

You didn’t even have time to get back on your feet and say you were fine, as your lightning protected you, that Dick was already yelling at Bruce to be more careful and blahblahblah !

He went from 0 to 100 so fast ! And evidently, Bruce was already used to it because he stayed calm and endured the scolding, the way Dick grew angrier by the second until he became unable to find words anymore and just groaned and threw things around.

It was...Kind of scary. And very shocking. Up until now, Dick was that guy who smiled a lot, said stupid jokes and was in HUGE contrasts with his mentor. Night and day really. But there, as you witnessed him get utterly angry ?

You understood that there was much more to Dick Grayson than the eyes met.

And along the years, you realized that you were definitely right.

From that day and on, you and him grew closer and closer, up until you fell in love. It was just natural, you got each others the most. You were the only one to see him for who he really was, and vice versa. And sure sometimes it was...”electric” between you two, as you fought and such, but nonetheless your love was pure and intense. And unbreakable.

You grew next to him, and Bruce. You discovered that you were the Northern God Thor’s daughter and...Oh. But that was another story. For another day. Right now, as Artemis and Wally seemed shocked that you revealed that Dick gets angry quite regularly, your thoughts went back to what triggered him and turned him into a jerk sometimes.

************

This first kind of anger actually happened rather often. And the main trigger of it would be a friend of his being hurt, while he’s in charge of things...

Dick, because he was Bruce’s first ward, first student, and was raised quite strictly (a bit too strictly at times, Bruce realized later), was often thrown in the “leader” seat.

But he hated it.

He always hated being the one people followed. He much preferred being a “side-kick” if he was perfectly honest. Someone who was there to support the one with responsibilities, to have their back, to make sure things run smoothly...he hated being the one in charge. Which is why nowadays, except if forced to, he was always the one to “follow orders”, the one that listened to Tim (mainly), and oh man he really didn’t want to take the Batman mantel. Too many responsibilities ! He always thought it would fit Jason, Tim and Damian better (plus they actually WANTED to become Batman, while Dick...but maybe that’s the reason why Dick would actually be the best Batman ?).

Whenever he found himself in the leader’s seat, there was a clear shift in Dick’s personality. A shift that yet nobody ever noticed...Except for you (that’s why you guys fell so hard for each others, you were always reading each others’ perfectly).

If he was there to help out, he would be the one to release some pressure by cracking jokes, making everyone feel better by acting as if he doesn’t take anything seriously...but if he was the leader ? He was serious, disciplinarian, and focused.

It hasn’t always been like that, he told you.

He used to be cheerful in the leader role too...but every time someone got badly hurt. Because nobody takes a guy who jokes that often seriously, and sometimes it lead to disaster.

So now, if the life of everyone was weighting on his shoulders, he wouldn’t be “cheerful”. Then again, no one ever really noticed that shift because it was “normal” for them for him to be more serious, but when you knew Dick, the entire reasoning behind this was heartbreaking, really.

Dick got incredibly angry, when he failed as a leader. When he couldn’t keep up.

He punched more than one hole in Wayne Manor’s walls. He trained way too hard out of frustration often. Angry at himself, at his failures.

Once again, this anger came from caring “too much”. From wanting to help, and save everyone, even if realistically, it isn’t possible.

It came from his “positive side”, a bit naive.

And those outburst of anger when something bad happened, when a plan failed or anything of the like ? They were shockingly violent. He would destroy things, and scream at anyone who’d try to comfort him, not able to think straight (Bruce discovered that the best thing to do was to wait for him to calm down, before taking his mind off of it all by some more “fun” training...Like playing basketball, for example).

Once again, running his mouth faster than his brain worked. Not realizing he could be a total jerk. And being totally imprisoned within his own anger.

Bruce and you came to know how to deal with him when he was like that. And to be honest, he mainly got like that only around you and Bruce anyway, as he often just went away to release his anger, knowing how he could get.

Which is why people didn’t know how angry he could get. But oh man when one of this “fit” started, it was difficult to defuse. And sometimes, you didn’t even want to defuse it, because man could he be such a jerk ! He could say such hurtful things too, deflecting his own failures on others...He would always apologize of course, and with age he got better, but he could really be harsh, when stuck in this kind of anger.

He just cared so much, he couldn’t accept failures ! Or not being able to help or something of the like !

Which is what happened today, when he got angry at you for wanting to come on the mission. Fear for your life. Fear that something would happen to you. Which turned into anger when he realized you weren’t going to listen to him and come, and that he was powerless to keep you safe.

Feeling powerless, would usually do the trick. Make him vent, and let out his frustration. When he first arrived at Wayne Manor, little 8 years old him often got angry at Bruce because of this.

Because he felt he couldn’t save his parents, and he was mad that someone like Bruce, who could have, didn’t do anything ! Of course he knew this wasn’t quite what happened...but still, he would get angry and throw tantrums, destroying everything in his room, and yelling at Bruce that he hated him.

Bruce let him. Because he knew the pain he was going through, and because he knew he needed someone to blame. As he grew up, Dick calmed down about this, but would still get incredibly angry when he felt powerless.

Or when something unjust would happen, as stated before...

All of that, was the first type of his anger.

The one you understood, and was more forgiving of.

The one that people caught glimpse of sometimes, on the battlefield and whatnot, but never took as “Dick Grayson often gets angry and isn’t always that happy-go-lucky guy we think he is”.

That first type of anger, wasn’t quite irrational. It could get a bit ridiculous, because Dick had no limits in his anger, and would enter huge rage...But it was born from something you could understand.

Feeling powerless. Seeing people he loves get hurt. Not being able to protect them. Failing. Being frustrated by injustices. Wanting to protect.

************

Now the second type of anger he would go through though ? That was the one that actually drove you crazy at times. The one that made you want to slap him and that made you incredible petty in return.

The problem with Dick Grayson was that no matter what he says, he is a pretty cocky person. A lot like Bruce really. Pretentious at times, sure of himself.

And of course he has big moments of doubts, but he also knows his worth. He knows he’s good. He knows he’s smart. He knows he’s not just a regular guy. So when someone hurts his pride ? He can get a bit...moody.

He’s a terribly sore looser. He will often say “pff, it’s just a game !” if he loses at something, while actually fuming inside. And if you tease him about it a bit ? Oh he’ll be vexed and refuse to speak to whoever annoyed him for a while.

He could get incredibly petty, pedantic, annoying, during those little fits of anger. In fact, tne thing you always hated about Dick, was how much he could hold the grudge too, during those moments.

Oh god it was unsufurable ! During arguments, usually if he was loosing, he’d get events back out that happened YEARS PRIOR and throw them back in your face out of anger.

Like : “oh remember that time you accidentally zapped me with your lightnings and my entire leg was burned ?”, which would get you angry because he was trying to guilt-trip you, and then you’d get petty and a bit mean in return and...It was very childish.

And it was a side very few people ever saw, because it only happened with people he truly loved and utterly trusted. With people who actually knew how to hit his pride.

His friends at the Young Justice hit the nails on the head a few times, but he didn’t get as angry with them as he would get back home, mainly because there was always someone to defuse things (namely : a certain Kaldur who was the team’s mediator really).

But when faced with you, his siblings or Bruce ? You guys sometimes were annoyed by his little fit of anger, by how easily he would get offended/vexed by certain things, and would tease him on purpose, just to rile him up.

Now he wouldn’t get as mad as when he’s in his “first kind” of anger...but he would get so moody and bitchy !

Goodbye happy-go-lucky Dick Grayson, hello edgy-emo-complains-too-much Dick Grayson ! “You guys never listen to me” and other “sweet” things would be said a lot.

He would refuse to play a game again, he would go pout in a corner, he would get very passive-agressive...Oh Bruce remembers the time Dick got mad at him for saying he should work more as he got a bad grade on one of his maths test, and Dick proceeded to leave post-it notes all around the house about how he couldn’t study more because he had to “save this person that night”, or “help Alfred clean the kitchen” etc etc...very petty.

His second kind of anger slowly died down, as he grew up. It rarely happened nowadays, and when it did, it was usually because one of his sibling (*cough* mainly Jason *cough*) annoyed him on purpose.

When you met him, you two were about 13/14 years old, and he would often get vexed like that. But as he grew older, he realized how ridiculous it could be, and evolved. Or rather, he hid his frustration better (but everyone knew that whenever he lost at a game, he would get angry inside haha).

There was less things to say about this second kind of anger, but you were pretty sure it would be the one that would shock your friends the most. Because everyone always assumed he could take any jokes (wrong), and didn’t take anything very seriously (double wrong).

So seeing him get all worked up over someone insulting him, or someone being better than him at something and boasting about it, etc etc etc...it would surely be a huge surprise.

This side of him is what initially attracted you to him though. The realization that he wasn’t perfect. Because for real, if he was funny and witty, handsome and always knew what to say ? That wouldn’t be fair. Too perfect.

So the fact that he would get frustrated over the smallest things like that, it reassured you. Plus it could actually be super endearing to see him get flustered and puff his cheek in anger !

Oh you still remember when Jason said (knowing exactly what his brother’s reaction would be) that the Harry Potter movies were better than the books...Dick went on a rant that lasted hours about how wrong this was !

It was cute. Dick certainly never lacked...passion (in every area).

Yes. This second kind of anger would probably shock people the most, and though it was annoying, it was also something that only you and his very close friends and family members were privy of, which made it incredibly precious.

************

The way he got angry at you today, was a mix of both his angers. It started with the first type, as he was afraid for you and such, but ended with the second kind as he realized you were pushing his buttons on purpose, as you increasingly grew frustrated with him.

Which meant he never quite reached the full level of the first type, and didn’t destroy anything (thanks god, your friends were already shocked enough that he yelled, so imagine him going on a rampage in Mount Justice !). But still ended up with him getting too angry, and you too.

And now, as usual after one of his fit, he felt like a total jerk. Like an idiot too. He knew you were strong, that you were ready, and that he shouldn’t have acted as if you were useless (you hated that, pet peeve of yours).

He knew he should’ve shown support, instead of yelling. But this gut wrenching fear he felt at the mere thought of loosing you...it drove him over the edge once more. He was now mad at not being able to control himself.

And as he got the plane down at the mission’s area, he felt like utter shit...

Once again though, you knew him better than anyone else, and as your teammates left the plane, you stayed behind, knowing he wanted to talk to you.

“I’m...I’m sorry. I can be such a jerk sometimes.”

He says, bashful and ashamed. And he doesn’t have to say anything else, to say why he’s sorry...You understand. You smile at him, and it makes him melt. You take his hand, give it a squeeze, and say :

“I’m sorry too. I can be a petty bitch sometimes...”

He gives you a gentle peck on your lips, you smile at each other and everything is forgotten. The anger flies away, as nothing but love fills your hearts. Love and adoration. And knowing the fact that you and Dick ? It’s the real deal. And if he got that angry at you, it’s actually just because he cares so much about you.

The crisis is averted.

To be honest, you fight from times to times (like every healthy couple really), but it never last for very long. And sure he can hold the grudge sometimes, but it only happens when he’s angry.

It never last long, and he always comes around (even if sometimes it can take him a while, like when he left Bruce to go off with the Titans...Then again, this was a big issues, so his anger was proportional to it really).

This all thing of him being cheerful and happy all the time, making jokes and being witty...It’s a true thing. A good 70% of his personality is that.

But the 30% that remains ? It’s his “darker side”, as Cassandra would call it (she spend WAY TOO MUCH times watching the Star Wars movie, according to Bruce).

The way he can get irrationally angry, and so fast. Going from 0 to a 100 in a second.

The way he can turn into a total jerk, and say things that are truly hurtful.

The way he’s borderline arrogant, and doesn’t like to be wrong.

To put it simply, the way Dick Grayson is, and always will be “The Angry Robin”.

__________________________________________________

Well I hope you liked it and that it wasn’t disappointing.I hope I was able to...somehow capture Dickiebird’s “darker” side and all...it’s very difficult, that guy is actually super complicated and...yeah I wasn’t sure how to quite tackle this all thing. I tried. As usual feedbacks = very VERY welcomed, but more importantly in this new “Tumblr Era” : REBLOGS became vital. People don’t reblog the stuffs they like anymore and it’s slowly what kills this site. So if you enjoyed this story, reblogging it and sharing it is one of the best way to show your appreciation :). Like, for real, it’s important. Thanks very much in advance ^^ !

PS : Just in case you’re thinking “but you never reblog other people’s stuffs”, I have a sideblog with over 2000 followers where I just reblog everything I love, from fanfictions to the worst of shitposts haha. So I do reblog too, just not on my main that I keep fanfic and fanfic related things only.

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