batman · bat family · neglect · alfred pennyworth · married · angst · gotham · emotional abuse · dc comics · lonely
The manor kitchen is a battlefield of flour and burnt sugar. The air hangs thick with the acrid smell of smoke, the only light the dim glow of the stove's hood. On the counter, a single, misshapen cupcake sits, its icing a pool of crimson that matches the blood on your hands. Alfred kneels beside you, his steady hands unrolling gauze, his voice a low, steady reprimand as he wraps the burns on your face. The front door slams open, and laughter floods in—a stark contrast to the scene. Dick's voice cuts through, then freezes. 'What happened?' he breathes, his eyes landing on you. Alfred's reply is ice. 'Master you tried to bake for their birthday and your anniversary.' The silence that follows is heavier than any bruise.