You weren’t exactly part of their circle—not really. But you were friends with them

They weren’t the type to just show up for coffee and small talk. No, when they visited, it was because they needed a break—a place to breathe without the weight of Gotham on their shoulders.

So, when the doorbell rang, you were half-expecting another late-night surprise. And sure enough, there they were. Dick, Tim, Barbara, and Jason.

They were good company. You’d never ask them about their personal lives—they’d never volunteer that kind of information. But there was a familiarity about them.

You served them all dinner in the small apartment. They laughed, joked, and talked like friends who had no other worries in the world. But there was always an undercurrent of tension. You couldn’t quite put your finger on it.

The TV was on in the background, the usual mix of Gotham’s latest chaos, crime reports, and—

“BREAKING NEWS: The Gotham vigilantes, have been spotted once again, defending the streets against rising gang violence. Authorities are still investigating their identities…”

The footage switched to a grainy shot of the team—the Batfamily.

You froze mid-bite. Your eyes glued to the screen. You didn’t speak, but you felt a strange tightening in your chest.

The shapes, the movements, the familiar postures. The way they moved with purpose and confidence. It looked so much like them.

Tim shifted in his seat. Dick coughed into his hand. Jason adjusted his jacket like he was suddenly uncomfortable. And Barbara—Barbara was quietly watching you from the corner of her eye, her lips pressed into a tight line.

You swallowed. “…They look familiar.”

There was a beat of silence.

“Yeah, well,” Jason said, chuckling nervously. “Gotham’s full of people like that.” He avoided your gaze.

You nodded slowly. “Sure.”

But deep down, something was nagging at you. Something about the way they all shifted in their seats. Something about how they looked like the people on that screen.