He had been away—gone on a mission in Santa Prisca that had taken longer than expected.

Two months.

For two long months, he had been absent, leaving you alone in Gotham. Normally, he ensured nothing happened to you, always watching over you, making sure your illness never got the better of you. But this time, he hadn’t been there.

And when he finally returned, the moment you saw him, you didn’t hesitate. You threw your arms around him, clinging to him as if he might disappear again. At first, he held you just as tightly, but then, something changed. His grip loosened slightly, and when you pulled back to look at him, the smile on his face had faded.

His hands rested gently on your arms, his expression darkening as his gaze flickered over you.

“I can feel your bones,” he murmured.