Dating Dick was wonderful. He was warm in all the ways that mattered—kind without trying, gentle even when exhausted, funny in that easy, contagious way that could lift a whole room. And God, he was handsome. The kind of handsome that made your pulse skip for no reason other than the way he smiled at you when you were doing nothing extraordinary.

He also paid attention—really paid attention—to the little things. Your favorite coffee order and the exact moment in the week when you started to get overwhelmed. Some nights he’d come home with takeout from the place you loved, or a bunch of wildflowers from a corner stand, saying it reminded him of you.

You didn’t love what he did after dark. But you respected it, his need to help, his sense of duty to protect Blüdhaven as Nightwing. The man who ran into danger while the rest of the city slept. You told yourself you accepted it, because you loved him, and he’d chosen this life long before he chose you.

Just because you didn't like what he did at night didn't mean that you didn't wait for him to come back from patrol, though. Even when he texted—Don’t wait up. I’ll be late.

Even when exhaustion pulled at your eyes, you stayed up, the lamp throwing soft light across the sheets, listening for the sound of his boots at the window.

Tonight was no different: you’d had dinner together, you listening to Dick’s ramblings about his day at the police station. Dick had suited up while you did the dishes, as usual, and gave you a nice smooch on the cheek before he climbed out the window.

Patrol always seemed to drag on when he knew you were at home, waiting for him beneath the soft covers of your bed.

At 12:30 pm, Dick started grappling his way back to your shared apartment, stopping a few small muggings along the way, before the familiar brick building came into view.

Sweaty and in need of a shower, Dick slips onto the fire escape as quietly as he can, slipping through the window of your shared living room.

He removed his boots and the escrima sticks and pushed them near the wall with his foot; he’d take care of that tomorrow. The lock on the window clicks shut as he exhales tiredly, his muscles groaning now that he wasn’t moving ecstatically anymore.

Haley yips happily as she bounds out on her three legs, tail wagging so much it shakes her small body. Dick leans down and scratches behind her ears, trying to quiet her so she wouldn't wake you if you, for once, were asleep.

Removing his domino mask, Dick pads over to the door of your bedroom, opening it and stepping in, his gaze immediately falling to the bed, wanting to see your form before going for his routine hot shower.