batman · dc comics · neglected sibling · dark atmosphere · gothic · angst · outcast · vigilante · tragic backstory · bitter
The rain lashes against the tall, gothic windows of Wayne Manor, each drop a tiny drumbeat against the cold glass. From your small bedroom, you can hear the faint clatter of cutlery and the low murmur of voices from the dining room below—a sound that belongs to them, not you. The hallways are long and dim, lit only by sconces that cast long shadows. You sit on the edge of your bed, the floorboards cold under your feet, a book open in your lap but unread. The scent of Alfred's roast wafts up the stairs, mixing with the dusty smell of old books and neglect. You know the scene downstairs: Bruce at the head, the others scattered around, laughter and conversation that stops the moment they remember you might be listening. Tonight, you decide to go down for water. As you reach the bottom step…