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Warm sunlight pooled into the pavilion, sparkling off the metal rooftops of nearby vendor stands and casting a soft glow across the concrete. Metal picnic benches with large red umbrellas in the middle sat scattered around the food court, a few Gothamites who could stand the glaring sunlight eating wide assortments of fatty foods at them.
Not that I can blame them.
Gotham was almost always shrouded in dark clouds and high winds, so bright and gentle sunny days were a foreign concept to most Gothamites. It was such a rare occasion that a sunny day had become a sort of omen amongst non vigilantes, which had always been entertaining to Tim. Omens were difficult for him to believe in, only ever turning to them when a case called for it, but he had to admit that he was also a bit unnerved out in the sun, as if he were suddenly vulnerable to everything the world had to throw at him.
Tim slipped his sunglasses out of the pocket of his jeans and onto the bridge of his nose before readjusting the bag of food and two drinks he had switched to his left hand, groaning lightly at the spot of grease that had rubbed off on his red sweatshirt. He carefully sidestepped a sweaty dad chastising his kids for running around the pavilion and ducked a tray of food that a teenager had swung out wildly when she lost her footing, relief flooding him when he finally spotted his picnic table. Quickening his pace, Tim slid onto his seat and began taking napkins and food containers out of the greasy paper bag.
“My hero!” beamed the blonde woman sitting beside him, gratefully accepting the food Tim passed to him. “Finally! Food!”
“Did you seriously expect fast service in Gotham, Steph?” Tim joked, passing Stephanie her drink.
“I knew I should have dated The Flash,” Stephanie grumbled as she bit into her burger, the various veggie toppings sliding out the other end and earning an annoyed sigh from her. “He would have just run all the way to Keystone to get me some grub.”
Tim shook his head in mock disbelief, offering, “I could have Bart pick some up for us next time we do this.”
“Absolutely not! Bart would eat all of the food before he crossed state lines!”
“Oh, he would and he has.”
Tim grinned to himself as Stephanie laughed at his joke, enjoying the gentle breeze that swept down over the low apartment buildings around the perimeter of the pavilion as he finished his food, helped by Stephanie snatching away stray fries whenever she could. Soon after finishing his food, Tim grabbed his trash and some of Stephanie’s and went to toss it away in a nearby trash can, returning to the table and finding Stephanie staring off into the distance.
“What’re you looking at?” Tim asked curiously, standing behind Stephanie as he attempted to follow her gaze.
“Just the sun,” Stephanie answered shortly.
“Really?” Tim snorted, “And here I thought I was the light of your life!”
Tim could tell Stephanie was fighting down a groan as she remarked, “And people call me the corny one!”
“A hopeless romantic is still a romantic, Steph,”
“My boyfriend the dork, everybody!” Stephanie announced loudly to the thinning crowds of Gothamites around them, overdramatically gesturing at him with both arms.
Tim waved sportingly at the confused crowd before turning back to find Stephanie staring out at the sun again, the glowing ball of fire slowly slipping behind the low city skyline. Tim found himself captivated by the way Stephanie looked in that moment, the sunrays radiating through her golden hair and causing it to glow, ocean blue eyes sparkling as they reflected the sun and searched the dying light.
Gothamites would always have omens and reservations about the bright daylight, but to Tim as long as Stephanie was with him he did not care about time of day, the weather, or what they were doing.
Tim chuckled softly at his own thoughts, finding them ridiculous despite their truth, though he would never want to change them. Gingerly, Tim leaned down toward Stephanie, placing a gentle kiss onto the top of her head.
“What was that for?” Stephanie asked after Tim wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rested his head on hers.
“Just because I could,” said Tim.
“You really are a massive dork,” Stephanie sighed, tilting her head up to place an upside down kiss on Tim’s lips.
“Your massive dork, though.” whispered Tim as he leaned down to meet her.
“Yeah, you’re my dork, Boy Wonder,”