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Duke stared at the suit in awe.
It was bright, colourful, eye-catching and just overall wonderful. Why didn't Dick still wear this out? Sure, the neckline was a little low, but a small alteration would fix that.
“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up.” Dick huffed as their siblings snickered in the background. Did Duke miss someone making a joke?
He turned to face Dick with a smile. “It's beautiful.” He whispered, unable to keep the wonder out of his voice.
The Cave went silent.
The Bats were known for being so stealthy that even Superman couldn't detect them. But that was just what they did around other heros, outside the Manor.
Around one another, they were like a pack of wild hyenas with iron hooves for feet. They weren’t subtle, they weren’t quiet and they were certainly never silent.
That was how Duke knew something was very, very wrong.
Dick stared at him with a scrutinising gaze. Duke met his stare head on, because he was raised in the Narrows and you don't survive there by being a coward.
Duke didn't know what he'd said or done to warrant such distrustful looks from everyone. Frankly, he was pretty sure that it was just everyone else being weird, as usual.
Then, after a few tense moments, Dick slowly lit up like the sun coming over the horizon. A bright, blinding smile taking over his face as his eyes shone like something Duke had only seen in cartoons.
He lunged at Duke. He was ready to knee him in the stomach on instinct, like his mom taught him to do when he was a kid, but faltered as Dick pulled him into his arms and squeezed him tightly. So tight that his ribs hurt.
Despite his confusion, Duke returned the hug with the same amount of force. It reminded him of the cuddle battles he and his dad used to have.
“You good?” Duke checked in when Dick let out a shaky breath that sounded almost like a sob.
Dick pulled away slightly and beamed at him. Duke may be the one who can manipulate light, but Dick took it to another level.
Dick cupped Duke's face. “After all these years, all the strife I suffered through, the loneliness I endured,” His eyes glistened with tears as he smiled softly at Duke. “God has finally gifted me with a sibling who has taste.”
That was all it took to break everyone out of their weird trance. A cacophony of yelling filled up the Cave.
Bruce stared at Duke as if he'd never seen him before.
“Duke, my sunshine, my light bulb,” Tim said, once the noise had died down. Duke raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you blind?”
Duke frowned at him. “You don't like the suit?”
“No one likes the suit!” Jason burst out.
Dick clutched Duke tightly, holding him in a protective embrace. As if afraid that their siblings were going to snatch Duke away and throw him in a deep pit.
“Are you guys serious?” Duke's eyes widened. He gestured at the suit. “It has a popped collar, that's badass as hell.”
Like those popstars from the 70s. Duke kind of wanted one now.
“Thank you.” Dick spoke as if Duke had just saved him from certain death. “You know I had a mullet at the time when I wore this bad boy.” He patted the case with a proud grin.
“Don't remind me,” Bruce groaned.
Duke narrowed his eyes at him. “B, you've had your hair stuck in the same old rich man cut since you were twenty,” He said, wrinkling his nose at Bruce's crusty gelled curls. “It doesn't look good.”
Bruce's eyes widened in betrayal, but Duke couldn't lie any longer. Bruce was too invested to leave him now, even if he wasn't, Duke had no issues with saying it as it is.
“Thomas, surely you cannot be serious?” Damian huffed.
Duke nodded. “I really do hate that haircut–”
“I meant about the Discowing suit.” Damian clarified, looking at Duke as of waiting for a punchline of some sort.
“It's fucking amazing.” Duke proclaimed, looking back at suit.
“Language, Master Duke.” Alfred chided, though he sounded amused.
“It's warranted, Alfred.” Duke replied. “It has the colours of a Metropolis summer sky, glitters like frost under sunlight, has feathers that put Icarus’ wings to shame and look at that domino mask. Art.” He breathed in awe.
It was like Starry Night in costume form, gorgeous and otherworldly in its beauty. Duke couldn't believe the family had let Dick downgrade to that basic black costume with only a dash of blue. It was a travesty.
Dick's eyes filled with tears and he sniffled. “That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me.” He whispered. “Everyone else just laughs.”
Duke sighed, shaking his head. “I can't believe our family has failed you like this.” He shot his siblings a disgusted look, which they reflected right back at him.
Delusional, they were delusional. Or maybe just jealous. Either way, it didn't justify locking such beauty behind a glass case.
“You actually like it?” Jason said slowly, as if hoping Duke would change his mind. “Like, really?”
“Duh. It's gorgeous.” Duke said.
“You're strange. Still love you. But you're weird.” Cass said, scrunching up her nose.
“Stones and glass houses, Big Bat.” Duke replied.
Dick pulled him further into his arms. Duke let him, it was clear the poor man was traumatised by their families lack of appreciation for art.
“I could show you my first draft designs?” Dick suggested.
Duke's heart leapt. “Really? You'd let me see?”
It would be like seeing the initial sketch for the Mona Lisa.
Dick grinned. “Anything for my favourite sibling.”
They both ignored the cacophony of indignant shouts following them out the Cave.
-
Dick smiled as Duke looked over the sketch in awe.
He did his best to answer any questions Duke asked. It had been too long since his old costume had been referred to outside of the odd joke.
Bruce had followed them. Not to contribute anything to the conversation, no, that would require social skills. He just watched Duke with an unnecessary amount of concern.
Apparently, one of his children having good taste was cause enough for alarm.
“When did you decide to add the feathers?” Duke trailed his fingers over the sketch with the reverence it deserved.
“That was Kori's idea.” Dick answered.
Duke nodded. “She's a genius.”
Dick thought that he heard Bruce mutter something like ‘is she?’ But he was sure that he was only hearing things. Bruce wouldn't insult Kori, because he knew that Dick would have to ruin his life if he did.
“It's just amazing.” Duke said.
Honestly, Duke had Dick thinking of bringing the costume back out. It would be nice to have a popped collar and yellow feathers again.
Though, with the way Duke was looking at it, Dick thought he could do something even better with his old costume.
“I could make a version of it in your colours, if you'd like?” Dick offered.
Duke perked up, his eyes his glowing slightly, the way they do whenever he's excited about something. “Yes–”
“No.” Bruce growled.
Dick scowled at Bruce. How dare he use such a harsh tone on Dick's baby brother.
Duke scoffed. “Man struts around in a Batsuit and thinks he can tell me what to wear.”
“Ignore him, Little Bat, that's what I do.” Dick said, pulling Duke into a side hug. If it hid Duke from Bruce, that was another thing entirely.
Duke hummed. “No wonder. He obviously has no taste.”
Dick and Duke started drafting a version of the costume in Duke's colours, all under the resigned gaze of Bruce.