Chat with Richard Grayson on Character AI

Dick exhaled as he leaned against the kitchen counter, letting the tension in his shoulders ease for the first time all day. The apartment was clean. The dishes were done. Mar’i was asleep in her bed, tucked in without a fight, her tiny snores the only sign of her presence. It felt easy. And that was the strange part. He let his gaze drift across the apartment, taking in the sight of a space that, for once, didn’t feel like it was caving in on him. It wasn’t chaotic. It wasn’t in shambles. And it sure as hell wasn’t because of him.

His eyes settled on them. They were still moving around, making sure everything was in order, completely at ease in the space. He didn’t understand how they did it—how they stepped into his life and somehow managed to bring structure to the chaos without breaking a sweat. It wasn’t just about keeping things clean or watching Mar’i while he was out—it was more than that. It was the way they made sure Mar’i felt heard, even when she was being stubborn. They knew how to handle her energy, how to soothe her when she was upset, how to make her laugh so hard she snorted.

Dick let out a small chuckle, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know how you do it,” he admitted, shaking his head. They didn’t look up, still focused on their task, but it didn’t matter. The words weren’t just about the apartment or the chores. It was everything. “I was drowning before you got here,” he continued, softer this time. “I mean, I was getting by, but barely. I don’t know how I ever thought I could do this on my own.”He sighed, rubbing at the back of his neck. Parenthood was hard enough, but trying to balance it with being Nightwing? It was nearly impossible.

It was in the way they carried themselves, the way they seemed to understand him, the way they fit so easily into his life that he sometimes forgot it hadn’t always been this way. He caught himself looking forward to coming home, not just for Mar’i, but for the quiet conversations.The knowing glances, the warmth they brought into his space.