The atmosphere in the Batcave had been… strange lately.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMdSfucvJe
Not because of a new mission. Not because Gotham was hit by some disaster.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1H6gpwY3X
But because—Tim was acting weird.
He often disappeared without warning, claiming it was for “patrol,” but he’d just vanish.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI9WjpA65k
He’d sit alone at the table, staring at his phone with a dopey grin, sometimes even mumbling replies to messages—90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NggIvklQ3
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1xvyseHCY
But the subtle change was impossible to hide.
At first, the rest of the Batcave observed quietly.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8PVOYfTKG
But soon, they all said the same thing, almost in unison:
Dick: “He’s in love.”90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCIWxqLpoX
Jason: “Totally in love.”90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND7lH3k6Gz
Damian: [Frowning so hard he looked like Gotham’s weather map] “….”90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnxxsyZqDw
Steph: “He's definitely in love!”90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe9Rnqonk2
Barbara: “And it’s going really well, too.”90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2KCRXi79S
Lyla: “Yep, Tim’s in love. It’s real.”
Then, everyone turned to look at the one person who hadn’t said a word—90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6Sc7DTzLb
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:90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKthtrGyYP
Tim Drake had fallen in love.
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That night, Tim moved through Gotham like a ghost, gliding expertly from shadow to shadow.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1ZQUbieyE
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—”90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWwPrmr5cp
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFDC38Mw1z
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xTcku3KZ4
Because he’d been here more than once.
This wasn’t a mission.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqNNuKaBRE
It was his own destination.
In front of a small apartment, he didn’t need to hack the lock anymore.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zj3ExeTPF
He no longer snuck in—he keyed in the passcode openly.
That was his access.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXX4fhwEQh
Part of his current life.
He opened the door. The entryway light was off, but a soft, warm glow came from the living room.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCymHGzL8c
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKPdWb4TYy
She curled her fingers, and he leaned down, letting her hand rest naturally on his shoulder.
They kissed quietly—90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMRcY8wISL
A silent ritual, an unspoken goodnight.
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Time passed. The quiet in the room remained.
Tim gently picked up a cotton swab, carefully wiping away the old scar cream.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU73MkaKTNj
His touch was soft—like he was afraid of disturbing something fragile.
Just as Nora said, the wound was healing fast.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3S3Rn1dHX
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pwNyZGDlp
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehZE9H4pUL
She was his girlfriend.
Just… not the way he imagined.
This woman, in private, was a total gremlin. 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllgohssdGq
Every time Tim started lecturing, she’d shut him up with a kiss.
She undid her bandages whenever she felt itchy.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSTzF9aHAa
She’d drag him away from his coffee, demand he come to bed and sleep beside her.
And somehow, he actually listened.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDXrH5cfx4
He’d put down the files, turn off his comms, and get in bed like an obedient boyfriend.
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Tim lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Nora had already curled into the blanket beside him—90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Er7ELetjD
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfwNThCG8j
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmrUYtxZkK
Then she looked up—green eyes meeting his blue.
She reached out and covered the dark circles under his eyes with her fingers—90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrFhir6hmu
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbo7n1xiMm
She stopped humming—only her breathing warmed his skin.
In their quiet apartment, night blanketed everything.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lnkuDj6je
And for once, the world was still.
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On the morning of the new school term, Nora arrived at the kindergarten on time.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVEmyBmyP8
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."90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQxDgoh1OR
The teachers just smiled and said she looked even better than before the break.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb1hnTqeTy
The parents merely nodded hello.
It was as if the kidnapping and gunshot never happened.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWXlXQBlkU
She had no idea what Tim told them.
Standing in the sunlight, she smiled.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfojpfnRiN
A black car quietly stopped outside the gate.
The door opened, and the young CEO of Drake Industries stepped out.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiVEf52rj8
Tim was holding Finn’s little backpack in one hand, slipping the car key into his pocket with the other.
And Finn—90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f1KmzxJp2
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXPaJe65Mf
“Our boy is full of energy today.”
Tim walked up with a sigh, holding up the backpack. Their eyes met.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUg0LRgbPBH
This was the third time this week.
The Batfamily had all voted:90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAepykqrMn
“Tim should be the one to take Finn to school.”90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigJHLCqOqe
The reason?90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmxhjXLY37
Finn needs emotional security.
Tim didn’t object.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0ETMAf1fl
But it meant his routine now was:90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL2d2lQCbf
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.”90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLhF8tRm56
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—90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhHLWUS5Ge
Nora raised her hand.
“Oh dear, Mr. Drake, your collar is messy.”
She stepped close, adjusting the collar of his shirt—90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkPr09JSCF
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrrYkEHrw6
“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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgkw7CnI0Q
He quietly raised a hand to touch the spot—90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtIJ1j19Da
Yup. Still warm.
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Night fell quietly over Gotham.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt6qWExBY1
The city sank into darkness, lit only by a few lonely streetlights.
But Nora’s apartment glowed with warm yellow light.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVvmzy2cM2
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN1hQnOJiC
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF4C42qvom
“I want you watching me all the time. Isn’t that sweet?”
Tim finally looked up.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYJbLtExvg
He thought she was joking.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zCJPls7uY
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JFZnMCMlH
“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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQURTqoPF8K
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.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYVm1C09pF
Her voice was gentle as the night wind:90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9YQjqrOFG
“Tim, I knew you’d come looking for me.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlybmpdAjhC
Even if I vanished from the hospital…90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmw20pypeV
You’d still find me.”
Tim’s hand paused.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nGmglYtSh
Then, in a low voice, he said:90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD3WqwZ8qx
“Because I never stopped watching you.”
Nora snatched the dinosaur out of his hands and hugged it to her chest.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXaLTFRWbB
With a wide grin, she leaned into his shoulder.
“Then I’m safe now, Red Robin.” 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbnn1TwsMv
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and then Add to home screen.