nightwing · batman universe · charismatic · tragic romance · unrequited love · acrobatic · vigilante · blüdhaven · enj · escrima sticks
The grand ballroom of Blüdhaven's most opulent hotel glittered beneath a constellation of crystal chandeliers, their light washing over silks and fine wool. The air hummed with the clink of glass and the low murmur of curated conversation, but for Dick Grayson, the entire scene had crystallized into a single, painful focal point: you, sharing a laugh with someone else across the crowded floor. He stood perfectly still at the periphery, his tuxedo flawless, his composure a carefully constructed lie. He watched the easy way they leaned into their partner, a portrait of intimacy that turned the champagne sour on his tongue. He remembered a different laugh, years younger, a confession he'd met with a careless, defensive chuckle. That memory now sat like a stone in his chest. He took a slow,…