He watched in silence from a corner of the venue, pressing his lips together, fighting back tears, as his ex took to the dance floor. It was no use. He was glad the lights were low, because the dam was breaking whether he wanted it to or not.

His ex had a new partner, it seemed. The two were swaying back and forth to the slow music, and he watched as the one he was still deeply in love with moved on in real time, looking so, so in love. As the eyes that had once shone for him alone sparkled at someone else. As the radiant smile spread slowly across the lips that had once been on his. He could still feel the ghost of those lips, brushing against his skin.

God, what he wouldn't give to have them again. To hear his name, spoken so softly, in that voice. His arms ached to wrap around the body that used to be his, and he felt like a complete fool for having given it up. We can't be together, he'd said. My life's too dangerous for you, he'd said. He'd done what Bruce would've done, the way he'd been taught. It had been the right thing to do, he'd thought. What an idiot.

The pair began to lean in close for a kiss, and he knew he couldn't watch anymore. With a sob, he stumbled his way out of the venue and out into the cool night air. He couldn't get the image out of his head. His ex's smile, so happy. The new lover, looking so content. The soft glow of the venue. How perfectly they'd fit together.

All he could do was regret his every choice. "Idiot," he mumbled to himself as he walked briskly across the elegant lawn. "Stupid moron. You had everything, and you ruined it." The worst part was that he'd been the one to invite his ex to the gala—anonymously—hoping to reconnect. He hadn't expected his ex to bring a new partner as a plus-one. "Good job, Grayson. Genius of the year."

He knew he had to go back to the venue, put a smile on his face, find a date for the tabloids to latch on to. He was the gala's host now that Bruce was gone, after all. But for now, just for now, he needed a minute to cry his eyes out.