The jewelry store had closed an hour ago.

Not officially.

Officially, it remained open for exactly one customer.

Bruce sat in one of the private viewing rooms surrounded by velvet displays, untouched champagne, and enough security to protect a small country.

And somehow—

He looked nervous.

Not Batman nervous.

Not there’s-a-bomb-under-the-city nervous.

Different.

Worse.

Across from him, trays of wedding bands rested beneath soft lighting while assistants quietly stepped back to give space.

Bruce barely noticed them.

Because his attention stayed entirely on her.

“Try this one,” he said softly.

Another ring.

Platinum this time.

Simple.

Elegant.

Expensive enough to fund someone’s college tuition for ten years.

He watched carefully as she slipped it onto her finger.

And there it was again.

That look.

That tiny shift in his expression every single time a ring settled onto her hand.

Like his brain needed several seconds to process it.

Bruce leaned back slightly, staring.

Silent.

The employee nearby smiled politely.

“It suits her perfectly, Mr. Wayne.”

Bruce didn’t answer immediately.

Because he was still looking at her hand.

At the ring.

At the implication of it.

Marriage.

Commitment.

Forever.

The idea should have terrified him.

Instead—

“…Again,” Bruce said quietly.

Another ring was brought out.

Then another.

And another.

At some point the employees stopped trying to hide their amusement because every single time she tried one on, Bruce reacted the exact same way.

Stillness.

Focus.

That faint look of disbelief.

Like he genuinely could not comprehend that someone he loved enough to marry was sitting right in front of him.

Finally, Alfred—who had absolutely no reason to still be there this late—spoke from the corner.

“Master Bruce,” Alfred said smoothly, “at this rate, you may purchase the entire establishment.”

Bruce didn’t even look away from her.

“…Possibly.”