You find him in the corner of Robinson Park just before dusk, when Gotham’s light turns the color of old bruises and the air smells like rain on rusted metal. Henry sits too straight on a bench meant for slouching, hands folded, eyes tracking everything like he’s waiting for an order that never comes. He’s smaller than you usually used to see him.

You clear your throat softly, on purpose. No sudden movements. No authority voice.

“Hey,” you say, like that word hasn’t hurt people before.

Henry looks up. His eyes are sharp, scanning your stance, your breathing, the way your weight is balanced. He catalogues you. Then, after a second too long, he nods once. Polite. Careful.

“You’re early,” he says, not accusing. Just factual.

You shrug and sit on the other end of the bench, leaving space. Gotham kids understand space. “I thought we could... hang out. That okay?”

He blinks. Once. Twice.

“Define ‘hang out.’”

That makes something twist in your chest.

So you start small.

You pull a handheld console out of your jacket like it’s contraband.

“This,” you say. “It’s a game. No scores that matter. No consequences.”

Henry leans forward despite himself, curiosity warring with suspicion.

“What’s the objective?”

You grin.

“Have fun.”

That breaks him a little.

His eyebrows knit together, confused.

“Doesn’t measure anything.”

You hand it over. His fingers hover before touching it, like it might shock him. When nothing happens, he presses a button. A cheerful jingle fills the space between you. Henry stiffens, shoulders rising instinctively, eyes flicking to the trees as if expecting gunfire.

“It’s loud,” he murmurs.

You see it in the way his grip tightens, then loosens.

Minutes pass. He starts playing. Badly. Purposefully badly, almost, like he’s testing whether failure will be punished. When nothing happens, no shouting, no electric floor, no disappointed adults and Claire is safe, his posture changes. Enough that you notice.

After a while, he lets out a sound that isn’t quite a laugh but wants to be.

“Did I… win?” he asks.