Gotham's finest

"Hey, Y/N."

Grayson's voice came through the phone, slightly muffled.

"Sorry for calling so late," he continued.

"It's fine," you said, shifting in bed. "I was going to call you anyway—to apologize for how Jason treated you at the station."

Grayson chuckled. "Oh, don't apologize. You can't control Jason. He's always been like that."

"I know, but I still felt bad."

"Seriously, don't worry about it," he reassured you. Then, changing the subject, he asked, "Hey, remember Damian?"

You laughed. "Yeah, the one who danced and then ditched me? Hard to forget."

"Well, he's getting a new dog tomorrow, but Bruce said I have to take him to pick it out."

"Mhm," you hummed, waiting for the inevitable question.

"So... you wanna come along?"

You smiled through the phone. "Of course. Anything for Damian."

"Yeah... Damian," Grayson said, voice a little softer.

You ignored the tone not in a mean way but you were confused on the tone and didn't want to pick at him. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Grayson."

"Goodnight, Y/N."

Your alarm screamed at you at 9 a.m., pulling you from the last remnants of a dream filled with the surprisingly great day you'd had. And now, you had another one lined up with Grayson.

Later in the morning, after getting ready, you checked the time.

What time were we meeting again?

You considered calling, but instead, you shot Grayson a quick text.

Ding. His reply came fast.

"1 PM."

It was 12:47.

Guess I'll head out now.

The pet shop smelled like fresh wood shavings, puppy breath, and a faint trace of disinfectant. You scanned the place until you spotted Grayson and Damian standing in front of a glass enclosure, their backs turned to you.

"I want all of them," Damian declared, his face nearly pressed against the glass.

"Bruce said only one," Grayson reminded him.

"Surely Father will allow at least two," Damian persisted.

"You heard what Bruce said. What he says goes," Grayson said, firm but patient.

"He's right, Damian," you said, stepping up behind them.

Both of them jumped.

"Y/N!" Damian spun around and ran into you for a hug.

Grayson smiled at you—soft, warm. "Hey, Y/N."

You smiled back.

"So, Damian, what's the verdict?" you asked, looking at the puppies.

"I wanted these two," he said, pointing at a pair of small dogs curled up in the corner. "But since someone won't let me have both, I have to choose."

"Well, which one do you like better?"

"I don't know," Damian pouted.

Before he could spiral, the store clerk brought out a bundle of puppies. Damian's entire demeanor shifted. His eyes sparkled as he pressed his face even closer to the window.

"I WANT THAT ONE!" he practically shouted, pointing at a reddish-brown puppy wriggling among the others.

Grayson chuckled and walked off to talk to the clerk.

You turned back to Damian. "So, why now? What made Bruce finally say yes?"

Damian puffed his chest slightly. "I've been asking for a pet for years, but when my grades came in and they were outstanding, Father decided I had earned one."

"Well, congrats, Damian. That's impressive."

"Thank you, Y/N." He hesitated for a moment. "Also... I apologize for leaving you alone at the ball."

"Damian, it's fine."

"It's not," he insisted. "It was rude—but Jason—"

He cut himself off abruptly.

"Jason what?" You narrowed your eyes.

"Nothing."

"Damian."

He sighed. "Fine. Jason spotted you when we first met, and he... warned Grayson and me that if we—"

But before he could finish, his attention snapped back to the clerk, who was now carrying the puppy toward him.

"IS THAT MINE?!" Damian practically vibrated with excitement.

"Yeah, Damian, he's yours," Grayson said with a chuckle.

Damian bolted toward the puppy, and you turned back to the window, scanning the remaining ones.

Then—your eyes landed on one.

Wow.

It was beautiful. You pulled out your phone and snapped a quick picture.

Ding!

A message from Jason.

"Hey, you free later?"

"I think so, yeah."

"Okay, I'll pick you up at 8."

You grinned and sent him the puppy picture.

"Aww, it's cute. Yours?"

"No :( But I want it."

"Whose is it?"

"Nobody's."

"What do you mean?"

"It's at the pet shop."

"Oh."

Before you could reply, Grayson called out, "Y/N!"

You sighed, pocketing your phone. "I'll call you later," you texted Jason quickly before turning back to Grayson.

"Yeah?"

"We're heading out. Wanna get ice cream?"

You hesitated. "I have something to do later..."

Grayson raised a brow. "What time?"

"Eight."

"Well, we'll be done by then," he said, a little too pleased.

"Yeah, c'mon, Y/N, please?" Damian pleaded, hugging his new puppy.

You laughed. "Hell, why not?"