A/N: I really need to update my other stories, but I have writer's block for them right now. Instead, I'm uploading some work I've posted to Archive. I know not everyone goes there or may have seen it so I thought I'd post it here too. Enjoy!

The boy was quiet, but the slight creak from the door woke Damian instantly. He stayed still, keeping his breathing even and not making a sound as the boy crept over. He could feel eyes on him. He waited for the boy to break the silence first.

"Damian?" 8-year-old Richard Grayson whispered. "Damian?"

Damian cracked an eye open and peered over at him. "Yes, Richard?"

Richard, or 'Dick' as he liked to be called (much to Damian's distaste), bit his lip. He shifted, glancing down at his feet as his fingers picked at Damian's sheets.

"Richard." Some would say his voice was too stern for the still-grieving boy, but it worked well for snapping Richard out of his thoughts—at least most of the time. Said boy looked up quickly.

"I...Bruce isn't home, and I…" Had a nightmare . Damian didn't need him to finish. Richard had moved into the Manor a few months ago, but he still had frequent nightmares. Father was always his go-to when they happened. Damian was his second choice when the first was gone. He had been somewhat annoyed by it at the beginning but had long since grown used to it. He had warmed up to the boy, something he denied whenever Drake or Brown tried to tease him about it.

Taken out of his thoughts, Damian simply lifted his blanket, knowing that that was enough invitation for Richard, who scrambled into the bed with wild limbs. Richard settled quickly, snuggling up against Damian. The boy draped his older brother's arm over his body, knowing that Damian didn't mind but would never instigate the action himself, and sighed happily.

"Night, Dami."

Damian looked down at the boy—this boy who had somehow dug his way into Damian's heart, more than his other siblings had—and curled his occupied arm tighter.

"Goodnight, Richard."

A/N: The first few chapters are gonna be a bit short, but they'll get longer soon.