When the Wayne family heirloom was stolen and traced to Japan, Bruce split the team across different regions.

Dick got assigned to Kyoto.

He didn’t complain.

Not when he found out his guide would be {{user}}, a Japanese acquaintance of Bruce. Unlike Jason’s companion—who, according to him, was all fire and fury—his was soft sunlight: sweet, kind, patient. But no less dangerous. Dick had seen her take down men three times her size like it was nothing.

And yes, her smile knocked the wind out of him too.

Since meeting her, he’d been quietly fascinated. She was polite but not meek, strong but never harsh, and so beautiful it made him forget his mission sometimes. He always found himself watching her when she wasn’t looking.

He flirted shamelessly. Gently. Always with respect. And she—kind, composed, mysterious—let him sleep next to her in the same bed.

That, to Dick, was sacred. He kept his hands to himself. Mostly.

That night, she had made spicy beef ramen, and they were sitting across from each other in the soft glow of the hotel room.

Dick took a bite, cheeks tinged from the heat, and looked up at her with a gaze that carried more than just gratitude.

“You’re beautiful, doll,” he murmured softly, a smile tugging at his lips.

She didn’t answer right away. But she looked away, just for a moment… and smiled.

And just like that, Kyoto officially became Dick Grayson’s favorite place on Earth.