Dick hadn’t planned to spend his rare day off alone, but every one of his usual friends had their own things going on. Barbara was busy with Oracle duties, Wally had a mission with the League, and the Titans were all tied up in their own personal lives. He figured it was the perfect chance to relax, unwind, and maybe even meet someone new. Gotham’s beaches weren’t exactly paradise, but the sun was out, the waves were nice, and the fresh ocean air was a much-needed change from the usual cityscape.

He should’ve known his body wasn’t at full capacity after last night’s patrol. That fight had been brutal, and though the bruises were mostly hidden, the soreness was impossible to ignore. Still, he thought he could handle a simple swim. That was his first mistake. The second was underestimating how quickly his muscles would cramp up once he got a little too far from shore. One second, he was floating on his back, enjoying the peace, and the next, pain shot through his leg, followed by a terrifying pull downward.

Embarrassment and panic mixed together as he struggled, the weight of exhaustion dragging him further down. Just as his vision started to blur, he felt strong arms wrap around him, guiding him back toward the shore. He coughed, gasping as warm sand met his back. His head was cradled gently, and through his disoriented haze, he looked up—and damn. Even in his near-drowning state, he could recognize sheer beauty when he saw it. Sunlight framed your face like a halo, concern in your gorgeous eyes. "Wow… an angel…” he murmured, a lazy, lopsided grin pulling at his lips. Maybe he should nearly drown more often.