CHAPTER 22
HOME

SHE felt like complete shit.

Iris groaned quietly, rubbing at her closed eyelids as she stirred from her deep sleep. Her head was pounding, but it wasn't the kind of deadly ache that she received from a hangover. This one was much deeper, throbbing against her temples, as if her face had collided into something hard several times.

It all came back in flashes then. She felt Nick's hands in her hair. She remembered the tears that stained her cheeks. She could see Nick leaning his head back and then – smash. Everything had gone dark.

Iris lifted her hand slightly, feeling the tug of an IV in her arm, but she still didn't have the strength to open her eyes. Her fingers lingered on her jaw, where she felt a blossoming bruise, before touching the bandage on the bridge of her nose. She could see the bright light of her necklace pulsing even through her closed eyelids.

She fluttered her eyes open, and it felt like it was the first time she had woken up in years. Everything around her eyes felt crusty, and her perception was blurred. She turned and saw Dick sleeping in a chair beside her hospital bed. That's when she realized that half of her vision was fully black. Iris blinked a few times to adjust her eyes to the room, but one eye was remained fuzzy. No matter how many times she closed and opened her eyes, one was clear while the other was not.

Iris laid a hand over her blurry eye. How could she have forgotten? Nick had blinded her with her own powers. He used her only defense against her body and now, she was left blind in one eye. She didn't want to think about what would've happened if he blinded her completely. Iris bit her lip to stop herself from crying, but it was hard when suddenly everything in your life was fucked over.

To most people, being blind in one eye wasn't that bad. Some might even say that she was being dramatic, that her life would be fine. But no one would understand the trauma of a man using your own body against you, or how it felt to have your defenses stripped away in a containment center. They wouldn't understand that she could no longer do what she loved. The police agency would never keep her on as a detective if she was blind. She would be demoted to a dispatcher, if she was lucky.

Nothing was the same now. Iris felt tears prick at her eyelashes before she finally let them go freely. She choked on a sob spilling from her mouth, and placed her arm over her lips to see if that would make it quieter. But nothing could drown her out. She wished she had never gotten this stupid necklace. She wished she never decided to take up that robbery case on her own. This all fucked up her life and now she could never go back to how it used to be. Iris Kingsley was broken.

Dick finally stirred at the sound of her cries, eyes opening with a flash. He shook his head to wake himself up, but as soon as their eyes met, he was jumping out of his chair. "Holy shit," Dick whispered, sitting on the end of her bed. He reached out and moved her hand off her mouth, frowning at her tear-filled stare. "I'm so glad you're awake, Kingsley."

She bit into her bottom lip. Looking to the side, Iris watched the IV drip some kind of fluid into her arm. She huffed, stretching to rip out the IV, but Dick placed a hand on top of her own before she could try. His grip was warm and calloused, while hers was so cold. Their fingers locked together, and the last thing Iris wanted was for him to let go.

"What happened?" She exhaled heavily. "Where are the Coatls? Nick –"

Dick looked away. "We did everything we could. The rest of the Coatls were innocent people caught up in a messy situation, but I still had brought them to the police for questioning. And Nick ..." He shook his head. "Nick got away."

Iris unlocked her hands from Dick's to wipe away her own tears. Dick's face softened, brows knitting together with worry, and he watched her fiddle with the IV needle. She sniffled loudly and rubbed at her nose.

"Iris," he murmured, "why are you crying? You're safe –"

Her eyes narrowed. "Are you serious?" She asked, raising her hands to gesture around the room. "Look at me, Dick! I'm in a hospital. I'm injured." Iris pulled down on her right eyelid, revealing the cloudy iris. "I can only see out of one goddamn eye. I'm crying because I'm sad and I don't know if this is ever gonna get better."

"You're still alive."

She snorted and wiped away a few stray tears. "Just barely."

The room was engulfed in silence. Dick clamped his mouth shut and looked at his feet. Iris didn't want to meet his eyes, to see the hurt in them once again. She was always hurting him because of her own stupid issues. It was tiring – she was tired – and this whole experience just showed her how much more exhausting life was going to get. He still hadn't walked away from her, though. Even when he promised he would, it never stuck. They were like magnets – always close, never being able to stay apart.

"I should probably ..." She trailed off, pausing to gather her thoughts. "... Text my mom back, and other people. That text you used to track my location was sent by one of the Coatls, and my mom is definitely freaking out."

Dick pursed his lips before replying, "It can wait."

Iris turned her head to face him. He glanced up, and brown met grey once again. "I'm sorry for how I've treated you, Dick."

He shook his head. "I'm sorry for –"

"I know interrupting you is contradictory to my last statement," she added, "but let me finish. You'll never hear me apologize like this again."

Dick chuckled under his breath. He moved closer and laced her hands with his. Iris hummed at his touch, gripping him tighter than ever before.

"I was ... such an asshole to you," she began, lips pulling into a frown. "But the truth is I ... I didn't want to let you in because that would make my feelings even more real. And I didn't want them to be there in the first place." Iris sniffled again, and Dick laid his palm on top of their conjoined hands. "You are a fucking dick sometimes –"

He smirked, "It really never gets old."

Iris giggled, tears gathering at her lash line once again. She hesitated and licked at her dry lips. "But ... but you're also the kindest, bravest, most special person I have ever met. And I feel so lucky that the universe decided to let me meet you."

Dick smiled softly.

"Thank you," she finished, "for being my hero, and showing me how to become one."

Sliding closer to her bedside, Dick leaned in and pressed his lips to her forehead. After what he said to her at the office – which she knew she deserved – Iris thought she might never get to feel one of his kisses again. She fucked up, but that's what makes us human, and humans forgive other humans when they were trying to do good all along.

Dick slid his hand out of her hold to grasp her cheeks, thumbs caressing the dried tears away. He leaned back the tiniest bit, meeting her dark stare. Her eyes fluttered. They were so close that their lashes were brushing. His lips grazed her own, just enough to make her want more, to have her say, "Any day now, Grayson."

With a wide grin, Dick captured her mouth in his own, pressing his lips against hers hard. Iris melted into his embrace, allowing herself to be completely vulnerable to Dick Grayson's affection, more than ever before. Their lips molded together as she reached up and wound her hands across his neck. But that became more complicated than it seemed, and Iris' IV yanked her arm back as soon as she lifted it. Dick looked up while she struggled with the IV chord, and found himself laughing against her mouth.

"It's not funny," she huffed, finally resting that arm on her side. "I always seem to ruin a perfect moment, huh?"

"I wasn't laughing at you," he replied, brushing a few stray hairs from her forehead. Iris arched a brow with suspicion. "I just ..."

She egged him on, "You just what?"

"I was laughing because I ..." He opened his mouth, struggling to get the words out. Dick sighed and shook his head. "I guess I just love you, Iris Kingsley."

Her expression went soft. Iris lifted her free hand, brushing her thumb across his lips. She felt her chest cave in as he waited for a response with bated breath. "I ..." She bit the inside of her cheek for a split second. "I guess I love you too, Dick Grayson."

He beamed, lips spreading into an infectious grin. Iris' chest hurt yet again, but it wasn't from the insane amount of love and affection he was giving her. Dick pressed his lips to hers one last time before she spoke again.

"Fuck," Iris muttered, closing her eyes. "That makes this decision so much harder."

Dick's brow furrowed.

Don't say it. Don't say it, her subconscious begged. Don't ruin this again. Change will be good for you, but you finally have him back in your arms. You finally have him. How can you just –

Iris groaned loudly and wished for her conscience to stop talking already. Her eyes opened and she took in his muddled expression. With a heavy exhale, Iris sat up with him and patted the bandage on the bridge of her nose.

"What is it?" He asked with a pleading look in his eyes.

She frowned. "I have to leave Detroit –"

"What?"

"– And start a new life," Iris continued, noticing his jaw shift. She lowered her head. "It's what I have to do. You can't tell me that you didn't see this coming after what just happened."

He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled heavily through his nose. It took all his strength just to hold the anger in. Last thing he wanted was to lash out at her when she was clearly upset. He fought the urge to cry. "But –"

"I need to get out of here, Dick." She chewed on her bottom lip. "You have to understand that."

"Well, I don't," he quipped. "What ... what about your job? Your apartment? Your whole life is here. In Detroit."

She shrugged. "I can get a new place anywhere. I can have Angeles recommend me to another station."

Their stares connected, and Iris played with her turquoise pendant anxiously. She looked down at it, watching the way it reflected even in the dimmest of lights. She wrapped her fingers around the stone and glanced back at Dick.

"My life is ... so much different than it used to be. I just need to get out. I need to figure out how to navigate this new life on my own."

Dick rubbed at the end of his nose and viewed at the wall. "But you're running away," he said, voice rising as he whipped his head in her direction, one stern finger raised in the air. "You're running away when things get scary."

"Sue me, Dick. I'm fucking scared! Do you even see where we are right now?" She smacked her hands against the uncomfortable hospital cot. "I'm not like you. I was just kidnapped by a bunch of psychos who thought I was almost like the second coming of Christ. I'm half-blind. I can't just have that happen to me and get over it. No way. I need a fresh start."

Dick couldn't stop himself crying then. He let the sadness envelop him, and suddenly, tears were running down his cheekbones. Dick had spent so much of his life with thick skin, an impenetrable suit of armor that he was sure no one could crack. He kept his feelings to himself. He didn't engage with many people, especially because he didn't like people. He didn't want friends – except for Donna, of course – and he was never interested in pursuing anyone romantically.

But everything in Dick Grayson's life changed when Iris Kingsley walked into it. And for the first time, he had never been more grateful.

He wrapped his arms around her, and Iris didn't hesitate to bury herself in his embrace, lacing her fingers into his hair. The IV wheeled closer to her cot as she lifted her arms, but all Iris cared about was breathing in his scent and remembering this moment forever. She never wanted to leave his hold. It was warm, calming, and it felt like home.

Dick leaned back slightly, tracing circles on her cheekbones. He took in her battered expression and understood why this decision was so important. She had to leave. She needed to figure out life on her own – without him. As much as it killed him on the inside, Dick understood what had to be done. She was his family, his team, but maybe it was time to find a new one.

"What about us?" He whispered against her lips.

Iris hummed as their noses brushed. Her eyes lifted, meeting his caramel-colored stare. "We'll find each other again, Bird Boy," she smirked. "I can promise you that."

•••

A/N: HOLLO!!!! so don't fret just yet. there's STILL an epilogue and I hope you'll all be happy with it! I'm so sad to see this story come to close, but I'm also grateful. this is the first story I've been happy with in a long time. I enjoyed writing it, I loved the characters so much, and interacting with y'all and reading your thoughts was SO MUCH FUN 💘

but there's more of the kingsley family to explore!!! if you didn't see, I posted my battinson fic last week, staring iris' mysterious aunt that moved to gotham, maeve mothafuckin' kingsley ✨ check it out if that interests you!