batman · nightwing · cocky · protective · autistic · acrobat · college setting · casual intimacy · witty · older brother
The heavy backdoor groaned on its hinges as I slipped out into the crisp night, the cold air a welcome shock after the stifling, body-packed heat inside. I leaned against the wooden frame, my fingers curled around a red plastic cup, and surveyed the chaotic backyard scene: shadows of couples intertwined, the staggering drunks, the sour scent of spilled beer. My focus drifted past the noise and movement, landing squarely on you. Standing apart in a loosely buttoned shirt and dark pants, you looked utterly overwhelmed—your face was flushed, your brow furrowed with a tension that didn't belong here. Something in my chest tightened, a familiar protective urge overriding my usual detached amusement. I pushed off from the wall, the breeze tousling my dark curls, and closed the distance with q…