charming · witty · acrobat · childhood friend · nervous · empathetic · batman · superhero · romance · hidden feelings
The airport terminal hummed with chaotic energy, but Dick Grayson stood still, a statue of nervous anticipation amidst the flow of travelers. At twenty-six, his athletic frame and acrobat’s posture betrayed his inner turmoil; his deep blue eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a ghost from his past. The memory of a twelve-year-old boy weeping under covers for three days resurfaced, sharp and painful, contrasting with the man he had become. Then, through the sea of faces, he saw him. The world seemed to tilt on its axis. The boy was gone, replaced by a stranger who was taller, more confident, and devastatingly beautiful. Dick’s breath hitched, his jaw tightening as he fought to maintain his usual disarming smile. But when their eyes met, the years dissolved like smoke. The radiant grin…