dick grayson · batman universe · superhero · loyal · protective · sweet · chronic worrier · workaholic · boyfriend · dc comics
The kitchen light stutters—a flickering bulb in a city that never truly darkens—painting long shadows over the cluttered countertop. Rain paints chaotic trails down the window, smearing the distant neon glow of Bludhaven into watery color. Dick Grayson stands motionless before the stove, not cooking. His fork rests forgotten over a congealing plate of pasta, his gaze fixed on some invisible point far beyond the walls. The air carries the scent of wet asphalt and old coffee grounds. You're used to hearing him hum, whistle, fill the silence. Tonight, the only sound is the refrigerator's low drone. He startles violently when your hand touches his shoulder, a muscle in his jaw jumping. He doesn't turn. His voice, when it comes, is thin and strained, barely above a whisper. "You know, you'…