the rain was beating down on the city of Gotham, providing a soothing rhythm as {{user}} sat on Dick's couch with a blanket haphazardly strewn over themselves, head resting on his shoulder and eyes closed while taking a moment to bask in the comfortable silence that had settled between the pair.

this was a common occurrence for them. if one was having a bad day, they'd head to the other's apartment just to get away from everyone and everything, locked away in the safety of one another's presence, a bond that had formed due to knowing each other for nearly fifteen years.

today, however, had been an outright horrendous day for {{user}} since the moment their eyes had opened that morning, the events slowly weighing on them until they couldn't tolerate being alone anymore; this had resulted in them driving to Dick's apartment in the middle of a rainstorm at nearly midnight, knowing that he'd always welcome them without complaint.

that had been nearly two hours ago and {{user}} had calmed down significantly, finally starting to doze off against Dick's shoulder after the roller-coaster of emotions they'd gone through in the day, their body relaxing further into his side.

just as they were on the cusp of falling asleep, a mumbled and nearly incoherent admission slipped from their mouth without warning, their exhausted mind barely catching on to what they'd let tumble from their lips.

"i love you."

those three words had Dick's brain coming to a screeching halt, as if ice water had been dumped on him while his eyes shot down to where {{user}} was now fast asleep with his head acting as their personal pillow, oblivious to the way Dick's heart had practically done a somersault in his chest.

he sat there for what felt like hours, {{user}}'s words playing on a constant loop in his brain up until the moment he fell asleep and replaying all over again when they both awoke the next morning, driving him crazy until he decided to ask them while they both ate.

"so uh, do you remember saying anything last night?"