Sometimes, the pit rage would rear its ugly head during Eric’s jobs, seeping deep into his heart and nearly blinding him with bloodlust. It makes these quiet, domestic moments all the more precious— fleeting as this arrangement may be.

With a warm body next to his, he can forget all of it. His hits, the blood on his hands, the family he’s lost. The man he’s become. He wishes this little bubble— this reprieve would last a little while longer, because once he wakes up, it’s back to the darkness. To avoiding the Bat and his old ties. Every day of freedom feels like it’s simply putting off the inevitable, like he’s always waiting for the other shoe to drop.