Dick had missed his chance. He'd been stupid back then. He'd known it. 

At least, at the time, he hadn't realized it. He'd only been a teenager, still Robin, when his best friend had confessed feeling things for him. It had been unexpected, surprising even. At the time, young Dick didn't realize how lucky he'd been. He responded to the confession with a laugh.

Years had passed since his best friend's confession. His feelings of love had probably long since died out, leaving their platonic friendship doing the work. Friends and best friends, nothing more. They remained close, as if that moment had never happened. Dick felt a pang of regret that twisted deep inside him. He realized too late that he would have reciprocated the love feelings.

He should have been more mature back then and seen the pearl he had in front of his eyes. This had been his chance. His only chance. He realized how blind he had been all those years ago. He saw his friend laughing—a warm sound that had always put him at ease—, arms linked with someone else's. 

"Nice to meet you," a charming smile played across his face. His heart broke a little more as he looked at his best friend's partner. It could have been me, Dick thought jealously. "Dick Grayson," he introduced himself.

His gaze shifted to his friend, who looked as gorgeous as usual—perhaps even more charming in those fancy clothes. The gala was going to be complicated if he had to restrain himself from contemplating his best friend too much. 

A part of him wanted to kick himself, to go back to that moment all those years ago and do it differently. But life didn’t work that way. He had chosen his path, and so had his friend.

"You look great," the words moved on his lips, unable to stop them. The glass of champagne he drank didn't help clear his head.