𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗹𝘆
𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘁❟ 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲❟ 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

Dick was in an honest state of shock. Things had been going so well. It had been eight years. Eight whole years. It was a serious relationship. And loving one too. Lori had been a little distant this past month, but he hadn't thought she'd end it.

He sat there ransacking his mind to find out what he possibly could’ve done wrong. He replayed every single one of their moments over analyzing, trying to think of what would’ve made her leave him after all these years. It was his fault.

He’d done something wrong. He was sure of it. But no matter how hard he tried to find his error he came up empty. Was he too clingy? Not clingy enough? Was he not affectionate enough? Was he too unbearable?

What was wrong with him? It drove him mad. He had always known that Lori was too good for him. He knew he didn't deserve her. But he still wanted her so badly. Was that wrong? If he got Lori back he'd be better. He swore it.

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

Lorelei drove back to the Gotham FBI Feild Office. She took the elevator to the sixth floor. The elevator dinged and she walked into the bullpen, she looked around at the diligently working agents. She walked over to them, to look over the files they were working on. In the background the TV was on, the volume low as the news anchor talked about some meaningless topic.

Lorelei didn’t pay it much attention until the mention of Nightwing. Her heart stopped, her breathe caught. Lorelei lifted her head up, and turned her head to the screen, her ears straining to hear what was being said. Another takedown for Blüdhaven’s infamous vigilante. Lorelei let out a breathe, she visibly relaxed.

Lorelei couldn't deny the wave of panic she felt every time she saw Nightwing on the news. She had this nagging fear in the back of her mind that one of these days it would be a report saying he’d gotten hurt. Or worse than that. Dick was an adult, he made his own choices. Lorelei knew that. And they weren’t lovers anymore.She wasn’t in his life, she had no right to worry. But she did.

Lorelei always worried. They didn’t even talk and still Lorelei felt as though he was all she had. It pathetic, Lorelei knew that. But she couldn't help how she felt. Dick wasn’t invincible. He got hurt. He bled. He was mortal after all. Lorelei’s mind was now far from work and now on her ex-lover. It often wandered to Dick. He was always lingering in her mind and her heart.

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

Dick climbed into his room at Wayne Manor and flopped face-first onto the bed. Not much had changed since the last time he'd been here. Which was two years ago. When he and Lorelei had broken up, and then the rest of the batfamily had found out that Jason was alive soon after.

He was in a bad headspacd then, and Barbara wouldn’t let him isolate. He tended to do that. Isolate when he was having a mental health decline. He was trying to get out of the habit.

He guessed that was what he was trying to do here.Be with the rest of the family so he wouldn't slip back into where he was. He was thinking ahout her too much again. It was stupid. So stupid. She was just a woman.

Just a woman he’d move heaven and Earth for. Just the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Just the woman who gave him an extra reason to smile. Just the woman that broke his heart. Just the woman he loved. Loves.

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

The sound of tires screeching off the road echoed through the empty street. Lorelei screwed her eyes shut. Her knuckles turning white as she gripped the steering wheel. Warm salty tears escaped her eyes amd slipped down her brown cheeks. Her lips trembled violently as she tried to hold in the sobs that threatened to escape her lips and wrack her body.

She’d just forsaken the best thing life had given her. She felt this unexplained pain in her chest. As if there was someone ripping her heart out and mauling it until it wasn't even there anymore. Her hands entangled themselves into her thick curly and grasped them firmly.

She couldn’t hold in anymore. She broke down, her forehead pressed against the steering wheel. Her shoulders shook violently. The familiar sounds of her sobs filled the car. Her lips trembled as shakey breathes left her lips. The sounds of the storm outside mirror the turmoil inside her.

She’d just given up the best thing she’d ever had. And it killed her inside as soon as those words left her mouth. She should’ve never said it. She should’ve just said I love you instead and moved on with the night. But she didn’t. And she’d hate herself for it. She did hate herself for it.

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

The knocking on Dick's door jolted him awake. “Who is it?” Dick asked groggily. “It is Alfred, Master Dick. I’ve come to tell you that dinner is ready.” Alfred spoke, Dick sighed and ran his hands over his face. “Okay, thanks Alfred, I’ll be down soon.” Dick responded. “Very well then,” Alfred said satisfied with Dick’s response. Dick rolled off the bed and opened the door walking downstairs. It was just Tim, Bruce, and Barbara.

Bruce and Jason were yet to be on good terms. They were all just a bit suprised to see him so unexpectedly. But they weren’t upset about it by any means. “Hey,” Barbara smiled, “hey Babs,” he greeted. “I wasn’t expecting you, but it’s nice to have you in the manor again.” Barbara said, trying to lighten the mood at the dinner table. “Thanks, it feels nice to be back again. What’ve you all been up to?” Dick asked.

“Cases,” Bruce answered  vaguely, clearly in a mood. Then again wasn’t he always? “We could use your expertise on some. It’d be cool to team up again.” Tim said, Bruce looked at Tim, then back at Dick. “Sure, I’d love to help.” Dick nodded, Tim ran off to get some case files. Normally Alfred would interject. But this was the most conversation that had been in the Wayne Manor for quite some time. He’d let it pass for now.

Tim came back with the case files, explaining leads that he, Bruce, and Barbara had been following up on. That was the first time in a long time that any of them had actually interacted with eachother for more than an hour. And it felt..good, to be in the presence of family once again. No matter how unconventional and disfunctional. They were still a family. His family.

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵