Dick was... oblivious to the major part of those thoughts. But he could see something in those blue eyes that made his soften, then brighten with enough of a mischievous glimmer as to burn away the darkness. At least for the moment.

"Well, it's not for the exploding scenery. I'll take delicate strength over the loudest bang they can come up with."

A moment, and he turned his hand around. So Piper's long fingers were on the inside of his wrist, running almost right over his pulse, and his own fingers could give a tiny, reassuring (promising) squeeze up at Hartley's wrist. The touch helped. Hartley helped. That was enough, for now.