Lasting connections weren't the easiest to form. Not really. Most people in normal circumstances kept their guard up, built walls around their hearts to protect themselves, because no one wanted to get hurt by said connection or from losing it. When you added in things like life experience, be it running from a psycho clown or being the Dark Knight's sidekick it really messed with a person. You could form bonds with people that were deep and seemingly iron clad, but you could also run for the hills whenever anyone outside of those circumstances tried to get close to you. For whatever reason, the friendship between Richie and Dick worked, and it stuck. They had shared traits, shared experiences, even if they were drastically different on the surface.
"Ain't that the truth," he said with a shake of his head. No, the past could be a real bitch of a clinger in that respect and Dick still felt even now, years later, like he was trying to shed the Robin mantle from his name, even if he'd come to terms with it and was proud of having had it.
With Barbara, things were complicated but also really easy. They weren't from the same world, but they were still Dick and Babs, they had this chance to take together and Dick didn't want to miss it waiting around to find out if they were going to be sent back home or not. "Yeah, we are," he said. "I mean, it feels like we are. It's great. Babs is the most amazing person I've ever met. So freaking smart it's insane."
He followed Richie over to a ring display case and looked inside. "Engraving's good. It's personal. And it's something for the two of you. No one else sees it, but you know it's there."