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When Dick had first come to live at the Manor, being adopted by Bruce wasn't an option. It wasn't something he'd wanted, either.
He'd just lost his parents. Violently. He didn't want another one. It was too soon. Too fresh.
But being a ward? He could do that. It was different. It wouldn't be him gaining a father, it would be gaining a mentor.
Oh how wrong he was.
At some point, Dick had started thinking of Bruce as a father, and now he couldn't stop.
But it was fine. Bruce didn't know, and he'd made no suggestions about adoption. Dick would continue being Bruce's ward and ignoring his feelings.
But, good things come to an end, and this did too. Bruce was suffocating him, so Dick left.
And then Jason came along.
Dick had always wanted a little brother, and Jason could have been one.
But Dick was blinded by his anger with Bruce, and he took some of it out on Jason, who was innocent.
It was something he would never forget, and always regret.
And Dick was jealous, too.
Jason was adopted. Jason, who Bruce had only known a few weeks. Jason, rather than Dick, who had been in Bruce's life for years.
So, yeah. Dick was jealous.
He felt guilty for that too.
Especially after Jason died, and Dick missed out on a relationship with his awesome little brother.
Except, technically, they weren't brothers. Because Jason was adopted. Dick was a ward.
No matter. They were still brothers in Dick's heart. Despite the way Dick had treated him.
The jealousy returned 10-fold when Jason came back, raking his place once again as Bruce's son.
Timmy came next.
Now, Tim, little neglected, touch-starved Tim was adorable, and Dick loved him very, very much.
Tim deserved to be adopted, to be shown he was loved, after his home life.
If Bruce hadn't adopted him, Dick would've figured out a way to do it in his stead.
But the feeling was still there. The jealousy. It wouldn't go away.
Dick felt like a terrible person.
Especially after Cass came along. Because he knew he couldn't hide it from her.
It was Cass. He'd be stupid to try.
So, he didn't come home as often. He was almost always in Bludhaven. He'd come visit Tim, when Cass wasn't there, but Dick knew that if he saw Cass, he'd break down.
He couldn't take it. Her knowing.
And so his relationship with her never blossomed. They were still siblings.
But they were also strangers.
And it sickened him. He shouldn't be jealous of his siblings. They deserved happiness. Good parents. Dick had already had his good parents. Why was he so envious of others getting the same chance he did?
Damian, somehow, was different. Maybe it was because he wasn't adopted. Maybe it was because he was Dick's partner out on the streets.
For whatever reason, Damian was the one that Dick was closest too.
The universe had a sick twist of humor, that's for sure.
Damian felt more like a son to Dick than a brother. It was strange how that happened. Dick had practically been raising Damian since he had arrived in Gotham, but that didn't mean he had the right to call the boy his son.
He was Bruce's son. Not Dick's. Bruce's.
But although his mind was logical, his heart was not.
And he was jealous once again. But it wasn't of his brother (as much) it was of Bruce.
Funny how that happens.
"Master Dick," Alfred said, appearing in the room. "Is everything quite alright?"
Dick startled, dropping from the chandelier he was in and onto the floor. He managed to twist into a roll, successfully protecting his body from breaking.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Sorry Alf. Just lost in thought." Dick answered, smiling thinly.
Alfred narrowed his eyes and Dick silently begged him to stop it.
"Very well, sir. I was just coming to inform you that dinner will be ready in an hour."
Dick's smile turned a little more real. "Thanks, Alfie."
Both of them knew he wasn't talking just about the food. Neither of them commented on it.
Alfred nodded, and left the room.
Dick sat down heavily, wrapping his arms around his knees and resting his head there.
He didn't move for the better part of the hour.
...
Meanwhile, downstairs, the rest of the bats were gathered in the cave, each of them having noticed the mood Dick had fallen into, despite how he tried to hide it behind a happy smile.
"Father, I insist you fix this at once." Damian demanded, glaring angrily at Bruce, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
"I agree, Master Bruce. This has gone on too long." Alfred seconded.
"What do you mean?" Bruce asked, typing away at the Bat computer, not taking his eyes from the screen.
"Yer kiddin', right?" Jason scoffed, "Come on, old man. Ya ain't that blind."
Cass frowned, walking over and swatting Bruce on the head. "Listen." she ordered, unplugging the keyboard.
"Cass, darling, I'm trying to work." Bruce said, trying to take the cord back.
She glared fiercely at him, unrelenting.
"Bruce, stop. You're being an idiot." Tim snapped.
Jason gasped dramatically. "Oh, damn. Old man, you best listen. It's not good when Timbo's snappy."
Bruce sighed. "Fine. What is it?"
"You need to fix things with Dickie-bird. This has gone on too long." Jason said, his hands on his hips.
"Fix what? Things are good with Dick." Bruce said, looking at them in confusion.
"Oh my- wow you really are an idiot." Tim snarked.
"Master Bruce, you must tell that boy you want him adopted. You must. His depression will only worsen if you do not."
"Depression?" Bruce mumbled.
Damian put his face in his hands, sighing loudly.
Cass walked away, soon returning with papers from Bruce's office.
"Go to him. Talk." she said, shoving the papers gently into his hands.
Bruce was still not understanding, "Dick's depressed?"
"Yes." was the chorused response.
"He wants to be adopted?"
"YES!" Everyone was glaring at him now, even Batcow, and Cass began shoving him into his office upstairs.
"Go." she said.
Bruce went.
...
"Dick?" Bruce asked, walking into the room.
Dick looked up, surprised. "Bruce?" His voice was abnormally thick. "What are you doing in here?" he spotted the papers. "Is that a case?"
Bruce sighed, sitting down across from him. "Of a sort. Dick, son, I'm sorry that it took so long."
"That what took so long?" Dick asked, looking at him in confusion.
Wordlessly, Bruce handed over the papers, allowing Dick to read them.
"Are these-?"
"Adoption papers." Bruce said, nodding.
"Oh." Dick's voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. "Um. Who are you adopting?"
Bryce's eyes furrowed. This would be harder than he thought. "You."
"Me?" Dick looked at him in shock. "But I'm 18, you don't need to adopt me."
"Yes, I do." Bruce answered softly.
"Why? What's the point? Are adults even allowed to be adopted?" Dick asked, eyes widening with every question.
"Money does have its uses, sometimes." Bruce said, smiling.
Dick managed a faint smile in return. "I'm pretty sure bribery is illegal."
Bruce shrugged. "So is being a vigilante."
Dick actually laughed at that one, before quickly sobering up.
"Why... Now?" he whispered.
Bruce frowned, rubbing his temples. "I- I thought you didn't want a father. A replacement to the one you lost. And you never brought it up, so I didn't either."
Dick gaped at him. "I never brought it up because I thought you didn't want me as a son!"
Bruce looked terrified at the notion. "Dick, sweetheart, I've wanted you to be my son for a very, very long time. If I had known that you felt the same I would've done something about it a long time ago."
Dick let out a wet laugh, his eyes tearing up. "We really need to get better at the communication thing."
Bruce smiled. "Yes, I suppose we do. So, what do you say? May I adopt you?"
In response, Dick broke down in tears, nodding.
Bruce shifted forward, bringing his son close to his chest. "It's okay, son. It's okay. I've got you. I've always got you."
"Fucking finally. Took ya long enough." Jason spoke up from the doorway.
Dick and Bruce both looked up, seeing the rest of the family standing there, smirking triumphantly.
"I'm guessing you had something to do with this?" Dick questioned.
"Tt. Of course, Richard. Father has the emotional range of a teaspoon." Damian said, rolling his eyes.
Everyone's eyes widened.
"Was-was that a Harry Potter reference?" Jason asked.
Damian turned away, ears red. "I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Aw," Dick cooed, "Dami does pay attention to my pop culture lessons!!"
Damian glared at him.
"Can we eat now?" Tim asked. "I'm hungry."
...
That night, at dinner, the siblings couldn't hide their grins. Their mission was successful.
Dick was himself again.
And the world was a better place because of it.