Dick and Raven had been shopping around New York these past few days.
For one thing, Raven's condition had stabilized after entering Battleworld. Or rather, after discovering that her counterparts in other universes were all ticking time bombs, she had more or less come to terms with it.
For another, although Gotham was also a thriving metropolis and public safety had improved somewhat, it was limited by the times and not especially suited for young people like Dick and Raven to have fun. New York was much more entertaining.
Present-day New York could be called Heaven for young people. It was incredibly developed, transportation was convenient, and the entertainment industry offered every variety imaginable. Any niche culture could find a home there, and every commercial district was an eye-opener.
Not to mention Raven, who had been stuck in a special space all this time—even Dick had not relaxed and enjoyed himself like this in a long while. The two of them plunged headfirst into downtown New York City and practically forgot the way home.
Of course, Raven did have her doubts. While they were out shopping, she asked Dick, "Aren't you a superhero? Don't you have any missions?"
"I'm not a superhero," Dick said. "If I had to put it that way, I'm a superhero's assistant. And that superhero isn't being a hero anymore, so naturally, I've retired too."
"Fine, but don't you want to do something?"
"Isn't the purpose of traveling simply to travel?" Dick said. "If you have a specific objective, it's not travel anymore. It's a business trip."
Raven found that perfectly reasonable, so she set aside her doubts and threw herself wholeheartedly into having fun.
Movies, shopping, and dining out were no longer enough for them. They camped on Long Island, attended music festivals, wore their