"I'd die for you Bruce." / "But I couldn't ask you to. I didn't know how to."
This is probably what I would call the beginning of the Batfamily stories. We're tackling everything, from past trauma, to doubts, to daddy issues. Dick takes up the mantle of the Bat and it's so interesting to watch him do it. Obviously, this is what every Robin kind of expects to happen but with Dick it became true. And with it, all of his identity issues arose, which is something we've seen the mantle of the Bat do to people. It's a symbol more than an identity, a symbol that is overwhelming and stifling, especially to Dick, which, in his eyes, has failed the most as a Robin, then also failed as Nightwing. And now he has his own Robin to look after, and Two-Face to capture (don't even get me started on how much I loved this iteration of Harvey, his obsession with Robin for once, and also him not knowing that he is dealing in 2s, two Robins), in a circular story.
Seeing Dick and Tim bond is probably the sweetest thing ever. They're brothers, your honor. From them doing mundane tasks together in the Mannor, begging for Alfred to come back, talking about Bruce, to their dynamic as Robin and Batman, Dick afraid he won't be able to protect Tim, afraid that Two-Face will do to Tim what he did to him and him as the Batman won't be able to be strong enough to save them both, everything is amazing. Dick defeating Harvey scared and rushed, and it not bringing him any satisfaction, only the realisation that the mantle of the Bat is too heavy to carry, that only one man can do it, and that he respects him most.
And then they talk. Jesus fucking Christ. Finally. And it is so terrible because Dick faults Bruce for pushing him away, and Bruce only wanted him to let him be free. When Dick says that he's been going through a lot of things but he expected at least one man to trust him and he didn't??? Crying. Sobbing. The culmination of "I would die for you.", a statement, not an exclamation, more of a defeat, is a hit in the gut. He finally realises that Bruce never disregarded him and it SHOWS. He gets to say everything he's had on his chest and Bruce has the exact opposite reaction he wanted from him (but fully the one he needed).
This, intercalated with Tim almost dying while fighting that flying robot person? The tension was at an all-time high and I loved every single second of it. After having pushed through all of the Knightfall saga (terrible times), literally forcing myself to read rather than enjoying it, this was an amazing change (and an amazing cast, with the puppeteer and the collector coming back, the only good things that came out of Knightfall) and I reallllyyyy hope I get to read more character interaction interwined with conflict solving because in my opinion that is fully the best way to tell a story.
One small last paragraph dedicated to Gordon: poor guy. The only reason I've been rooting for Bruce to come back is so that he could get his bestie back (and hopefully regain his trust). Jean-Paul created the reversal of the century, where everyone trusts Batman besides Gordon, when it used to be the opposite. Even his wife, which was his number one hater, still tries to talk to the guy. Not him though. I don't know how they'll rebuild that trust but I'm excited to find out!