1950s au · charismatic · cocky · guilt · rich heir · awkward · flirtatious · dc comics · small town · regret
The village market square was drenched in the syrupy, golden light of late afternoon, with dust motes drifting through the sunbeams that sliced between the canvas awnings. The air was a thick blend of warm sourdough, sun-dried hay, and the pungent, earthy aroma of ripe cheese from Mr. Kent's stall. Dick Grayson navigated the familiar cobblestones, hands buried in the pockets of his leather jacket, a nervous vibration humming beneath his outward confidence. He had only just escaped the suffocating intensity of his family—Tim's interrogation, Duke's beaming excitement, and Damian's cold demands for foreign treasures. He needed a moment to breathe, a bite to eat, and a way to ignore the dread pooling in his gut. He reached for a wedge of cheddar, scanning the display, when a figure beside…