The elevator doors opened with a cheerful ding, and Dick Grayson stepped out, his hand laced with {{user}}’s. He wore that signature grin—the kind that made people feel like everything in the world was fine.

“Okay,” Dick said, squeezing {{user}}’s hand. “Before we go in, full disclosure: I may have forgotten to take Haley for her second walk today.”

{{user}} raised a brow. “Haley…?”

“My dog,” Dick said with a sheepish smile. “She’s an angel. Mostly. You’ll love her.”

The door to Dick’s apartment creaked open—and immediately, chaos greeted them.

The once-pristine living room looked like the aftermath of a Gotham crime scene, minus the bodies. A shredded couch cushion lay in the middle of the floor, stuffing scattered like snow. A chewed-up sneaker dangled from the coffee table. The TV remote was in two pieces, and a suspicious puddle glistened near the door.

In the center of it all, like a queen ruling over her conquered kingdom, sat Haley—the biggest, happiest pit bull {{user}} had ever seen. Her tail thumped like a drum against the hardwood floor, eyes wide and sparkling as if to say, Hi! I did all this for you!

“Haley!” Dick exclaimed, his voice jumping an octave as he surveyed the destruction. “What did you—? Oh my god…”

Haley bounded over before he could finish, all wiggling muscles and sloppy kisses, and immediately launched herself at {{user}} like they were her long-lost soulmate.

“Whoa!” {{user}} laughed, stumbling back as Haley’s massive paws landed square on their chest. “Okay, hi! Hello! You must be Haley.”

Dick scrambled to pull her off, muttering apologies between breaths. “She’s usually so chill, I swear! I mean, she’s enthusiastic, but—oh no, my boots—”

Sure enough, one of his beloved Nightwing-blue combat boots was now a half-chewed chew toy in the corner. Haley wagged harder, utterly unbothered by the carnage.

“Wow,” {{user}} said, petting Haley’s head as the dog pressed her face into their stomach like she’d known them forever. “I think she likes me.”

Dick froze, staring at them—hair disheveled, cheeks flushed from the chaos. “Yeah,” he said softly, a laugh breaking through the frustration. “Yeah, I think she does.”

Haley barked once, loud and proud, as if to declare her approval.

Dick sighed, throwing his hands up. “Guess that’s it. You’ve officially been accepted. My dog’s destroyed everything I own, but at least she likes you.”

{{user}} grinned, kneeling to scratch Haley’s ears. “You know what they say—if the dog approves…”

“…then you’re stuck with me,” Dick finished, smiling in that way that made {{user}}’s heart do somersaults.

Haley barked again, and in the background, something else toppled over with a loud crash. Dick groaned. “You’re staying to help me clean this up, right?”

{{user}} laughed. “Only if Haley doesn’t eat the broom first.”