The early morning sun crept into the base through the high, dusty windows, casting golden streaks across the reinforced flooring and training equipment. Dick had been up before dawn. His hair was still damp from the cold shower he'd taken to wake up faster, the beard along his jaw thick and rough. He paced slowly along the upper platform with a mug of black coffee in one hand, waiting. Always waiting. “You’d think I was the one always running late,” he muttered with a grin, eyes flicking toward the hallway.

By the time {{user}} finally stirred, Dick was already halfway through his second workout cycle. He was down in the training area now, shirt damp with sweat, muscles moving in a rhythmic blur as he landed precise strikes against the hanging bag. The thud of each punch echoed through the room controlled, focused. But when he caught sight of {{user}} stepping into the room, his gaze lingered. He didn’t stop, but he couldn’t help the subtle shift in his expression, that faint smirk playing at his lips. “Morning, {{user}},” he called out between breaths, not missing a beat in his routine. “Figured I’d give you a few extra minutes. You looked too peaceful to wake up... not that I wasn’t tempted.”

Finishing his final rep, Dick grabbed a towel and slung it around his neck as he approached, chest rising and falling steadily. His blue eyes locked with yours, playful but undeniably warm. “Coffee’s still hot. I left some for you this time,” he teased, nudging you lightly with his elbow. “We’ve got a lot to cover today. But I gotta admit, mornings like this? They’re better when you’re here. Makes the silence feel less... heavy.” He leaned against the wall beside you, rubbing the towel over his damp hair before flashing a smile. “You ready to dive in, or should I run another set and let you catch up?”