The atmosphere in the Batcave had been… strange lately.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyTA1vuXrL
Not because of a new mission. Not because Gotham was hit by some disaster.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeXlX1YqXK
But because—Tim was acting weird.
He often disappeared without warning, claiming it was for “patrol,” but he’d just vanish.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSkPFcQIJU
He’d sit alone at the table, staring at his phone with a dopey grin, sometimes even mumbling replies to messages—127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuNv38eBpa
And his smile was unusually soft. Unusually dumb.
Sure, once he was on duty, he was still the most level-headed tactician in all of Gotham.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAbTllQKjs
But the subtle change was impossible to hide.
At first, the rest of the Batcave observed quietly.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6b3wNtoQh
But soon, they all said the same thing, almost in unison:
Dick: “He’s in love.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWudZBo2mhy
Jason: “Totally in love.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoPIYFdB4e
Damian: [Frowning so hard he looked like Gotham’s weather map] “….”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2Gyl1KxUd
Steph: “He's definitely in love!”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SE7z8gLkP
Barbara: “And it’s going really well, too.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z2EpEke1u
Lyla: “Yep, Tim’s in love. It’s real.”
Then, everyone turned to look at the one person who hadn’t said a word—127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIpoj1jIhH
The one still waiting for Tim’s investigation report.
Batman: “…”
Bruce looked up, just in time to see Tim climb in through the window, still texting, so distracted he bumped into a chair—and pretended it didn’t happen.
Regardless, it was now universally acknowledged in the Batcave:127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0NoPJTdu1
Tim Drake had fallen in love.
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7FQ7nYmGE
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVUFBakfm4
That night, Tim moved through Gotham like a ghost, gliding expertly from shadow to shadow.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgBsiVJfP0
His shift had ended, his daily report was submitted on time, and he didn’t linger.
Just as Batman walked into the command room holding the last file Tim had handed in—
“Tim, that report you—”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb81Mm1pkrp
The chair was empty. The only thing left was the low hum of the computer fan.
Alfred walked past calmly. “Master Wayne, young people have lives too. You should get some sleep.”
Batman paused, staring at the empty chair for a long moment.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm78ppIkKj
His frown deepened as if realizing something—and not liking it.
—Meanwhile, Tim had already vanished into Gotham’s night.
He vaulted silently across rooftops, landing without a sound. He knew this path like the back of his hand.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGoIgejUkG
Because he’d been here more than once.
This wasn’t a mission.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw88txDZ3zD
It was his own destination.
In front of a small apartment, he didn’t need to hack the lock anymore.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauQTb0Aqk3
He no longer snuck in—he keyed in the passcode openly.
That was his access.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVV62Kdp2C
Part of his current life.
He opened the door. The entryway light was off, but a soft, warm glow came from the living room.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnDRNpN2eR
And just like always, someone was lying on the sofa.
Tim sighed. “Nora… Why are you sleeping out here again?”
He walked over, unsurprised to see her bandages loosened, with the skin around her wound faintly red.
“I told you, I’ll take care of the sheets. You should be sleeping in your bed.”
Nora opened her eyes, raised her arms, and said nothing.
Tim didn’t need to ask.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3d0FVOmaUR
She curled her fingers, and he leaned down, letting her hand rest naturally on his shoulder.
They kissed quietly—127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTXgZRj289
A silent ritual, an unspoken goodnight.
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWUJpak4RG
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcANS9BiIkq
Time passed. The quiet in the room remained.
Tim gently picked up a cotton swab, carefully wiping away the old scar cream.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLfDMdjt0l
His touch was soft—like he was afraid of disturbing something fragile.
Just as Nora said, the wound was healing fast.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc6e5vurin
Though still a vivid scar, it was a mark of survival.
Three days ago, he’d already removed the stitches. Following doctor’s instructions, it wasn’t against the rules.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64WnW8blJ3
Still, he wasn’t at ease.
He even bought special scar cream—not from the Batcave, but from a medical supply store he went out of his way to visit.
Nora muttered, “A little more pressure. It tickles.”
Tim looked up at the blonde woman lying on the sofa.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRekGfa3Vs
She was his girlfriend.
Just… not the way he imagined.
This woman, in private, was a total gremlin. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGad3H6jbjZ
Every time Tim started lecturing, she’d shut him up with a kiss.
She undid her bandages whenever she felt itchy.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILdYnAAzxm
She’d drag him away from his coffee, demand he come to bed and sleep beside her.
And somehow, he actually listened.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORRdmJgWvb
He’d put down the files, turn off his comms, and get in bed like an obedient boyfriend.
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaes3RupN2l
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBhgr0yY0p
Tim lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Nora had already curled into the blanket beside him—127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwA3kcGBSA
And was now shamelessly acting as a human lullaby machine, gently patting his chest and humming a tune.
This wasn’t the kind of relationship he’d envisioned.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMXWXfER5q
It was harder than criminal interrogation.
The first time she did it, he looked at her in confusion.
“…Nora?” he asked quietly, as if checking if she was being serious.
She didn’t answer. Just kept humming the nameless tune.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PUekGTBq0
Then she looked up—green eyes meeting his blue.
She reached out and covered the dark circles under his eyes with her fingers—127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdpUeXudlW
Rubbing them gently, like mocking his sleep deprivation… or maybe, just a soft form of scolding.
Tim’s mouth twitched. His expression was complicated.
Nora giggled, burrowed further into his chest, and rested her face in the crook of his neck.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fyUEYUs2b
She stopped humming—only her breathing warmed his skin.
In their quiet apartment, night blanketed everything.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtr2QbrQqI
And for once, the world was still.
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM8IIwtNPS
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PdKi0rIBx
On the morning of the new school term, Nora arrived at the kindergarten on time.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ2G5Ee7FX
She wore a neat uniform, her hair in a low ponytail, smiling as she greeted the children arriving one by one.
What surprised her was—no one questioned her "miraculous recovery."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA6mJUjxlI
The teachers just smiled and said she looked even better than before the break.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk89Fe6EnB2
The parents merely nodded hello.
It was as if the kidnapping and gunshot never happened.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lAJVadXs1
She had no idea what Tim told them.
Standing in the sunlight, she smiled.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84jPfDjOSW
A black car quietly stopped outside the gate.
The door opened, and the young CEO of Drake Industries stepped out.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pe0P7nVTj
Tim was holding Finn’s little backpack in one hand, slipping the car key into his pocket with the other.
And Finn—127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ423wMeDGKX
The moment the door opened, launched like a cannonball toward her.
“Nora!” he shouted, diving into her arms, his little hands wrapping around her neck.
Nora caught him and kissed his forehead with a smile.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwUH4QZCl8
“Our boy is full of energy today.”
Tim walked up with a sigh, holding up the backpack. Their eyes met.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfF0iPtH22
This was the third time this week.
The Batfamily had all voted:127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIp0nBVJOk
“Tim should be the one to take Finn to school.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDyf7rObPV
The reason?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9qfijjPwI
Finn needs emotional security.
Tim didn’t object.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYAtj74OWw
But it meant his routine now was:127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenUQtprIqm
Wake up at Nora’s → return to Wayne Manor → change → take Finn to school → see Nora again at the kindergarten.
Officially, they were just “Finn’s uncle” and “his teacher.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWjzZ6k82I
In reality? They’d just gotten out of the same bed that morning.
Tim was still wondering how long they could keep this up, when—127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38qAJM4eUx
Nora raised her hand.
“Oh dear, Mr. Drake, your collar is messy.”
She stepped close, adjusting the collar of his shirt—127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPrOtFwnjt
But her fingers lightly brushed his earlobe, grazing the side of his neck like a feather.
Tim froze.
Nora’s green eyes remained calm, as if nothing had happened.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2Uzgr9RfR
“Finn, say goodbye to your uncle,” she said sweetly.
“Bye~” Finn waved happily, then took her hand and skipped into the classroom.
Tim stood there, feeling like his ear was on fire.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1c6CT6cYp
He quietly raised a hand to touch the spot—127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UW86agbjj
Yup. Still warm.
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhoRkWho3d
Night fell quietly over Gotham.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpFmSs20C2
The city sank into darkness, lit only by a few lonely streetlights.
But Nora’s apartment glowed with warm yellow light.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uapIPMWph
The coffee table in front of the sofa was scattered with needles, fabric scraps, dissected stuffed animals, and a small bag of precision electronics.
Tim sat on the sofa in loungewear, glasses on, carefully stitching a fuzzy green dinosaur.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7RYXkXC3t
He used extra-fine thread, sewing every stitch straight and steady.
A cleaning cloth rested on his knee, used to wipe off glue or thread bits.
Nora sat on the sofa’s armrest, legs swinging, watching him like she was enjoying a drama—eyes full of amusement and affection.
“Are you sure you want this kind?” Tim muttered without looking up. “It has audio monitoring, a camera, and connects to my system’s internal net… Are you sure?”
“That’s exactly what I want,” Nora grinned like a fox.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3XJB3HpR8
“I want you watching me all the time. Isn’t that sweet?”
Tim finally looked up.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhaXwPlTnR
He thought she was joking.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjFcQvC18W
But her eyes were so serious, he choked on his reply.
“…I really can’t tell when you’re kidding.”
“Then just assume I’m always serious,” she said, leaning in to touch the freshly sewn stitches.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJfLi1WdX4
“Not bad, Mr. Drake. That’s some neat needlework.”
“I can’t believe I let you sweet-talk me into buying this from the toy store,” Tim muttered as he packed away the needle and thread.
Nora smirked proudly.
Tim flipped the dinosaur over, unzipped the back, and checked the stability of the installed camera.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xOeFFdWh0
He’d even added sound detection and a safety shut-off for overheating—after all, this thing would be living on her bed.
Nora’s gaze softened as she looked at the dinosaur.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaDeb3GSz9
Her voice was gentle as the night wind:127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIpwDuHSk6
“Tim, I knew you’d come looking for me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhmQz9T2yu
Even if I vanished from the hospital…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibJiPj20yl
You’d still find me.”
Tim’s hand paused.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR8TXqAZwh
Then, in a low voice, he said:127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonDiUbHk0R
“Because I never stopped watching you.”
Nora snatched the dinosaur out of his hands and hugged it to her chest.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAe8jxtTHc
With a wide grin, she leaned into his shoulder.
“Then I’m safe now, Red Robin.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4daLwegQ1V
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqIaFNanEJ
and then Add to home screen.