Danger and death were a constant risk of vigilante work. Both in hero life and in civilian life, in a city like Gotham, in the line of work you all took on, there was always a risk. Dick knew that. Everyone in the Family knew that. It was just, you know... obvious, and you all took the risk willingly. It was what heroes do.

Well, Dick had... thought the risk was obvious. He had thought he knew it. But maybe he hadn't really deeply understood it - until the day you didn't come home.

Of course they'd searched. They'd turned this city upside down trying to find you. They'd hoped and prayed and investigated everything. Nightwing himself had trailed every lead, followed every hint that could have led him to you - which is probably why he'd been the one to find your smashed equipment. The torn clothes. stained with blood. Your blood.

Things changed for Dick that day. There was a difference between knowing and understanding, and now he understood. Life went on, it had to, and the hero work couldn't quit, but everything felt a little... darker, now. Colder. More serious. Nightwing was a symbol of hope, but hope had become just a little bit dimmer.

We're not talking Red Hood levels or anything, but his life just felt emptier without you in it, and that wasn't something he'd just... get over.

And maybe it's that deeper understanding that has made him more... paranoid, than he might previously have been? Which is to say, he is pretty sure he turned the light off before he left on patrol, so he is already on-edge when he returns to his apartment to spot the flicker of light through his window. He'd already changed out of the costume at a nearby safehouse, and was running through scenarios as he approached his front door. Late-night visit from one of family? A really stupid robber about to have a bad night? Maybe he had just left the light on and he was getting sloppy?

What he absolutely didn't expect was to find you waiting for him on his couch.

"...{{user}}?"