The atmosphere in the Batcave had been… strange lately.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SEhLKRrKU
Not because of a new mission. Not because Gotham was hit by some disaster.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmR0dPi8dX2
But because—Tim was acting weird.
He often disappeared without warning, claiming it was for “patrol,” but he’d just vanish.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUxsmCOcd1
He’d sit alone at the table, staring at his phone with a dopey grin, sometimes even mumbling replies to messages—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMV3nTykrB
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAj8Ubhses
But the subtle change was impossible to hide.
At first, the rest of the Batcave observed quietly.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt6ZDDJUTQ
But soon, they all said the same thing, almost in unison:
Dick: “He’s in love.”65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmyCV6joFO
Jason: “Totally in love.”65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNahekpT7C
Damian: [Frowning so hard he looked like Gotham’s weather map] “….”65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgudhBC2RjN
Steph: “He's definitely in love!”65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5qPl4hnAN
Barbara: “And it’s going really well, too.”65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ro1Nm2YUW
Lyla: “Yep, Tim’s in love. It’s real.”
Then, everyone turned to look at the one person who hadn’t said a word—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZoWR6XGvz
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:65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qStN3OCV1
Tim Drake had fallen in love.
65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gvpnfCti9
65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1nyOXWXZC
That night, Tim moved through Gotham like a ghost, gliding expertly from shadow to shadow.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2wS9U6nP5
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—”65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gannlxix5
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtumd5ElB9C
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS4ZBd8iYq
Because he’d been here more than once.
This wasn’t a mission.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6rrtNeDKx
It was his own destination.
In front of a small apartment, he didn’t need to hack the lock anymore.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0R61te5olL
He no longer snuck in—he keyed in the passcode openly.
That was his access.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4NUbOOmze
Part of his current life.
He opened the door. The entryway light was off, but a soft, warm glow came from the living room.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEca4AbDQ8
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gAVjuFYs8
She curled her fingers, and he leaned down, letting her hand rest naturally on his shoulder.
They kissed quietly—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0MS87x8Ue
A silent ritual, an unspoken goodnight.
65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMCdMzeRhe
65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvphEZYrvn
Time passed. The quiet in the room remained.
Tim gently picked up a cotton swab, carefully wiping away the old scar cream.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG17VuOTSgv
His touch was soft—like he was afraid of disturbing something fragile.
Just as Nora said, the wound was healing fast.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIWtTSeqkS
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yiC8bLBSQ
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMySeraLbCb
She was his girlfriend.
Just… not the way he imagined.
This woman, in private, was a total gremlin. 65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7ZPCnXRaD
Every time Tim started lecturing, she’d shut him up with a kiss.
She undid her bandages whenever she felt itchy.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarAlnvNz9q
She’d drag him away from his coffee, demand he come to bed and sleep beside her.
And somehow, he actually listened.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnOwDKm4xi
He’d put down the files, turn off his comms, and get in bed like an obedient boyfriend.
65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL9K9DsbUU
65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhooPXaLRdQ
Tim lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Nora had already curled into the blanket beside him—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCl6aCVok1
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDUqpo3I1A
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hY0do0ilX
Then she looked up—green eyes meeting his blue.
She reached out and covered the dark circles under his eyes with her fingers—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy55lmq8KjW
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGKV7wiRz7
She stopped humming—only her breathing warmed his skin.
In their quiet apartment, night blanketed everything.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOpM0La6Jh
And for once, the world was still.
65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgEnTpgJGO
65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fKBHXYAht
On the morning of the new school term, Nora arrived at the kindergarten on time.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiINveb6m7
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."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSUzAZR5GX
The teachers just smiled and said she looked even better than before the break.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFtKnNwMWR
The parents merely nodded hello.
It was as if the kidnapping and gunshot never happened.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTx3hVG1pC
She had no idea what Tim told them.
Standing in the sunlight, she smiled.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjuG80Iev0
A black car quietly stopped outside the gate.
The door opened, and the young CEO of Drake Industries stepped out.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrdj0S9YFG
Tim was holding Finn’s little backpack in one hand, slipping the car key into his pocket with the other.
And Finn—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGFZR1g21q
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWXzqxRv8P
“Our boy is full of energy today.”
Tim walked up with a sigh, holding up the backpack. Their eyes met.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx8vz3bEfM
This was the third time this week.
The Batfamily had all voted:65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcc3HLf0go
“Tim should be the one to take Finn to school.”65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4l9nVYpVk
The reason?65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhqL85VN15
Finn needs emotional security.
Tim didn’t object.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsruxTrvle
But it meant his routine now was:65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6PSuj8Ped
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.”65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FvqnRL7ld
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—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1Rxi64QYD
Nora raised her hand.
“Oh dear, Mr. Drake, your collar is messy.”
She stepped close, adjusting the collar of his shirt—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrz4UWj3Dz
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNTx645dYf
“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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn9v5fpCHA
He quietly raised a hand to touch the spot—65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdkjKdzKYb
Yup. Still warm.
65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy3iH6MPds
Night fell quietly over Gotham.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwha6w9sGFi
The city sank into darkness, lit only by a few lonely streetlights.
But Nora’s apartment glowed with warm yellow light.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPzoq1xq1S
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDppqTBhV4y
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Nr08U9AeK
“I want you watching me all the time. Isn’t that sweet?”
Tim finally looked up.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bVzsRjUfh
He thought she was joking.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTYFunQOks
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXOFkgVNXC
“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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmlHkgO8uP
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTcSj6AyQa
Her voice was gentle as the night wind:65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KuI62mw3w
“Tim, I knew you’d come looking for me.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0ze3ToC8V
Even if I vanished from the hospital…65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWD2mIRrIT
You’d still find me.”
Tim’s hand paused.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zrxDIl7kP
Then, in a low voice, he said:65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5cKwY3dsB
“Because I never stopped watching you.”
Nora snatched the dinosaur out of his hands and hugged it to her chest.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxVDY1JtAm
With a wide grin, she leaned into his shoulder.
“Then I’m safe now, Red Robin.” 65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKGZtqNfJK
65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8OMtktr75
and then Add to home screen.