the apartment was too quiet when tim stepped in, lingering in the doorway as he took in the hum of the ac and the distant sound of sirens. taking notice of how dark it was, he wondered - hoped - if you'd gone to bed already.

he hadn't meant to stay out so late again, not beyond midnight, but one thing always lead to another and he couldn't leave something unfinished. he hated that sick swell of guilt that come with coming home at such times but he did his best to shake it off and gently closed the door behind him. his boots slid off with ease and his hoodie was tossed towards the end of the couch as he ventured further into the apartment.

his plan was to head directly to the bedroom, admire you for a moment and then crash, but the smallest flicker of light pulled his attention from that process. it was warm and moving, dancing at the edges of the kitchen archway.

"not ominous at all…" he mumbled to himself, stepping in, only to freeze.

you were at the counter, a slight tremor in your hand as you moved a match to finish lighting candles. he couldn't quite catch what you were mumbling to yourself, though he was a little too focused on the fact you were lighting candles that were delicately pressed into a small cake at one in the morning.

his chest tightened when you looked up. it was obvious you knew he'd returned with how you smiled and tilted your head at him before carefully sliding the cake into your hands.

stepping closer to him, you held it up as though to present it, and he was already gone by how the flames looked dancing in your gaze.

"happy birthday, sweetheart."

tim blinked once, then twice. the breath he didn't realize he was holding slipped out in a shaky exhale. a hand rose to push through his hair like he was attempting to ground himself to reality.

"you," he began, looking for the words, "you stayed up.. just for this..?"

you glanced to the cake and back at him. "of course i did," you answered, frowning at how well you could see the tiredness before his crystal eyes. "i feel like i wouldn't be much of a partner if i didn't..?"

suddenly, the world narrowed and his throat felt tight, like he was trying to process what to do with this kind of gentleness. you'd waited for him with zero expectations or demands, just a cake and a smile that said he deserved the world.

settling the one into one palm, you reached out to gently take his hand, guiding him one step closer before he could get any further into his head.

his eyebrows began to pull together before he stopped himself. "you didn't ha-" he was cut off by you shaking your head and squeezing his hand.

"i wanted to." you lifted the cake a little higher, gesturing with it. "now.. make a wish before all of my work is ruined by wax."

he let out a breath of a laugh, the semi awkward kind as he rubbed the back of his neck. "i'm not sure i need to," he mused weakly, his eyes softening as he looked from you to the candles. it took a second before he closed his eyes and leaned in, the warmth of the candles brushing over his skin.

his wish was simple. something selfish and quiet and already very much true. maybe he wanted to keep it that way, or he just couldn't think of anything better to wish for. but, with one breath the flames went out and his eyes opened, your face being the first thing he saw.

for the first time in what felt like years, tim smiled. really smiled. warm, genuine and something only for you.

it didn't last long, fading from his features as you searched his face. you could easily see the way his shoulders went rigid again and how his gaze shifted away from you like he was debating moving closer or bolting for the front door. you knew well enough he was never good at just standing and accepting softness. accepting love he still struggled to believe was for him or that he'd ever done enough to deserve it.

"you're doing it again," you said, deciding to make the choice for him. the little cake was set on the counter, candles removed and dropped on a napkin before you turned to him again, hand raising to brush your thumb beneath his eye. tears threatened at his waterline and his jaw moved as he clenched it, ignoring that burn.

"none of that, not tonight," you whispered, shaking your head. he knew you didn't just mean crying, that was normal for birthdays, but it was why he was crying. that silent 'i don't deserve this' carried in salty tears.

tim's breath hitched faintly and his lips parted. he wanted to roll his eyes and say he wasn't crying. he's just tired, embarrassed, undeserving but none of the words managed to leave him. a small sound - something akin to a strangled whimper sounded, the kind of sound people make when they're fighting hard not to break down - was all he could get out.

that, as usual, annoyed him further. you didn't let that linger, leaning in to kiss him before he gave up and just walked away. it was deep and slow, sincere with the gentle swipe of your tongue at his lower lip. your hand settled at his jaw, thumb brushing over pale skin as you coaxed him into relaxing.

"you're.. so, so important to me," you whispered against his lips. another kiss, short. "you're so good.. so deserving of everything, tim."

he sighed, hands coming up to slide over your sides and around your waist. it wasn't tight or desperate, just holding on like it was the only option he had to remind himself it was all real.

you smiled, giving him another light kiss. "you're my one and only, you know..? you're it for me," you said softly. "today, the rest of the day, is about nothing but you. no work, no comms, no news.. we have plenty of heroes that can hold it down until your birthday is over."

"you make that sound.. so easy," he whispered, and you knew what words he didn't say. 'to love me.'

you leaned closer, nudging your foreheads together carefully. "loving you is the easiest thing in the world to me," you cooed, bumping the tip of your nose to his. "but, you're overthinking and i need you to just.. try and let me love you today, okay? remind you that you matter, that you're loved and appreciated... even when the world makes you think otherwise."

he studied you, just for a moment, before dipping his head down to nose into the crook of your neck, inhaling before letting it out slowly. he let himself slowly wind down as your arms circled around him, giving him the time to just breathe and exist. at least, for a minute or two.

"c'mon," you said, shifting your weight and guiding his steps back until he was pressed carefully back against the counter. "hop up. sit."

he blinked at you, eyebrow raising followed by a little huff of protest; "i'm sorry?" his response meant nothing as you nudged him and he went without argument, lifting himself with ease onto the cool surface.

looking down at the floor where his feet no longer touched, he muttered to himself: "this is weird.. it's normally you up here."

you glanced at him, head tipped and giving him a look that told him to hush before returning to your task. you plucked a fork from the drawer before movinf closer, placing yourself between his knees.

"cake at one in the morning," he said, a faint smile showing as he eyed you, "feels very reminiscent of our first date."

you couldn't help but laugh, one hand settling on his thigh. "you were also late to our first date, sooo.. maybe this was all part of my master plan?"

he groaned at the words and glanced away. "in my defense, you said yes to the guy who barely knows when he'll be leaving or when he'll be getting home."

"i still said yes, didn't i? also still ate horrible take out on your bedroom floor at two in the morning," you mused back, reaching with the fork to collect a small chunk of the cake. "but this date, however, you get to hush, sit pretty and let me take care of you.. and thankfully, no bullet wounds this time."

his nose wrinkled and his ears turned a soft shade of pink but he didn't comment. there was nothing he could say, really. he'd actually been pretty embarrassed to be bleeding everywhere when be got back home and found you waiting in his room. he'd given every excuse possible, only for you to help clean and bandage him up.

your hand lifted from his thigh and tipped his chin up, pulling him from his thoughts. "open up, pretty boy," you teased, holding the fork up to his lips.

the pink shifted to red, betraying the way he stared at you and dryly asked: "you're really going to feed me?"

"i am," you answered, tapping the tiniest little dot of icing to his upper lip, "and you're going to let me.. so hush and open. i worked hard on this thing."

"you're actually going to be the death of me.. you know that, right?" he let out a soft laugh but opened his mouth, letting you feed him the bite with a triumphant smile.

"you'll at least die happy, but i am not explaining that to your friends or family."

he shook his head as he chewed, looking away. you took the opportunity to lean closer, pressing a kiss to the spot right before his ear. "you deserve all of this. i know it's difficult to believe, probably annoying to have people tell you, but.. you do. this- this peace and quiet, moments like these when you get to just be tim."

his eyes closed as he swallowed, letting the words echo in his thoughts before sighing, wetting his bottom lip. there was no verbal response, there didn't need to be. you just fed him another bite and smiled to yourself.

before he could fully finish, you leaned in kissed him again, lips slotting together as you dropped the fork in exchange for sliding your hands up his neck and into his hair. the taste of frosting lingered and he froze for half a second before returning it. his hands reached to curl at your sides, your shirt twisting into his fingers as his head tilted.

"you're my whole world, tim drake," you whispered into it, "today, tomorrow.. every day. just you." pressing back into the kiss, you nipped at his lower lip: