Dick Grayson grew up falling.

Falling from trapezes, falling in love with Gotham’s skyline, falling into the warm skin of your neck when he held onto you tight after another tough mission.

He wishes he held onto you tighter. Fell faster, harder, anything to pull you away from the war inside your mind that he was too love-drunk, too young to notice.

Dick doesn’t even remember why the two of you broke up. The reason must’ve been stupid — an argument that you were both too headstrong to let fall. You might have left the Titans, but you never left that little spot in his mind that you seemed to carve open just for yourself. He almost laughs at the absurdity of it all — the way he still thinks of you when he lies in bed at night, fully knowing what you’re capable of now. He’s blamed himself for it enough times.

One argument. One night of you leaving in a hurry, saying you hated him and being a hero and everything that came with it. You were too upset to see him falter. He should’ve followed you. He didn’t.

When you resurfaced months later, you were different. Angrier, stronger, faster. Your priorities had changed from helping people to hurting everyone that had wronged you. He doesn’t know what happened, and he isn’t sure he wants to. He doesn’t have the right to ask, not now, not years later.

“We have got to stop running into each other like this.” Dick says with a sharp grin, his true emotions hidden behind the mask that covers his eyes. He has to keep joking, or he’s pretty sure he’s going to break down and cry, ask why you’re doing this, hurting people.

He still remembers the same person that cried when they came across the injured stray cat on the street and begged him to help look after it.

You don’t reply, but that’s okay. Dick’s good at talking. He has to keep talking. He takes a step towards you, then another one. Feels a dangerous burst of hope in his chest when you don’t back up or move to attack. “Be honest — did you miss me? I won’t be mad if you’re just trying to get my attention.”

The words did you miss me? are intended to come out light, teasing. Instead, they’re raw and wavering. Dick hopes you don’t notice, but he knows you will.

You’ve always known him better than anyone.