It wasn’t just another crime scene. Not for him.

You saw it the second he froze — saw the flicker in his eyes, the way his breath stilled. The alley. The blood. The pearls.

“Bruce,” you said gently in his comms, your voice the only thing tethering him to the now. “You’re not there. You’re with me.”

He didn’t respond.

“I’m waiting for you, love. Come back.”

Silence. Then: “Copy.”

Later, back at the cave, he held you like he couldn’t breathe unless you were close.

You didn’t say anything.

You just stayed.