Summary: "Richard?"

"Hmm?"

"Are those what I think they are?" Damian asked.

"What do you mean?" Dick asked, genuinely confused as he flicked through the channels on his tv in search of something for the two of them to watch.

"The lines on your wrist."

Day 4 - Forehead kiss / Scars / "Get your hands off my son"

Prompt(s) Used: Scars

TW: mentions of past self harm. Feel free to skip this one if that'll make you uncomfy. Stay safe y'all.

"Richard?"

"Hmm?"

"Are those what I think they are?" Damian asked.

"What do you mean?" Dick asked, genuinely confused as he flicked through the channels on his tv in search of something for the two of them to watch.

"The lines on your wrist."

Dick's blood ran cold and he dropped the tv remote. The sound of it clattering to the floor echoed throughout the apartment as his eyes darted to his wrists. A panic that he hadn't felt in a few years evident in them. Dick then instinctively pulled down his sleeves as soon as his eyes landed on the thin lines that littered his wrist.

This was not how Dick wanted Damian to find out about his past habit. This wasn't the worst way for the youngest Wayne to find out. In fact, it definitely wasn't the worst way Damian could've learned about how his eldest brother used to self-harm. That twisted honor goes to the way Jason found out. Dick still apologizes to him for that occasionally.

"Are we going to talk about it or do I need to pretend I never saw them?" Damian asked, bringing Dick back to the present.

Dick sighed and said, "This isn't how I wanted to tell you."

"Well clearly," Damian replied, "I can see your discomfort with the subject."

"Yeah..." Dick said while rubbing the back of his neck.

The pair then lapsed into a near-silence. The only sounds in the apartment came from the tv droning on in the background as well as Blüdhaven's nightlife. That didn't last long though.

"I do not think less of you for this by the way," Damian spoke, "Life is unbearable more often than not and everyone copes with its unpleasantries differently. Some methods are definitely better than others but it is not your fault that you got pushed to self-harm. It happens to the best of us. Also-"

Dick cut Damian off by pulling him into a hug. The younger tensed up a bit at the suddenness of the action but soon returned it.

"Thanks Dami," Dick said.

"Don't mention it," Damian replied.