Gotham was loud and chaotic, but up here, on this rooftop, it felt peaceful. The sky was a warm, golden blue, the last remnants of sunlight stretching across the horizon. It wasn’t dark enough for the city to be fully awake yet—just that sweet, in-between moment where it almost felt normal.

You and Dick sat side by side, masks pulled off, letting the breeze cool your skin. Patrol had been easy so far, and for once, there wasn’t a single emergency demanding your attention. So instead, you talked. About anything and everything. Dick made some ridiculous joke—something dumb, something effortless—and you laughed. Really laughed. The kind that made your eyes crinkle and your whole face light up.

And for a second, he just… stared.

It hit him all at once. The weight of everything—the fights, the losses, the constant pressure—always felt like too much. But right now? Watching you smile like that? It made everything worth it. Every bruise, every long night, every sacrifice.

He smiled softly, resting his chin on his knee. “You know,” he said, voice quieter this time, “I think I like this version of Gotham the most.”

The one where you were in it.