Batman waited for him. He was good at waiting. People thought that what he did was all about the physical side of things - fighting for his life, fighting for everyone's lives. But far more of it involved staying perfectly still, watching without interfering.

The cowl was up, for the moment, the better to hide his expression. The better to let him see Dick first, to gauge his mood and reactions. He wasn't ready for this; didn't want to see a Dick he'd failed so badly. But that wasn't what mattered. He, or some version of himself, had caused this. He couldn't fix it; there wouldn't be time for that. But he could mkae it better. Under the circumstances, he was the only one who could.

"Hello, Dick."