batman · dc comics · found family · gotham city · vigilante · trauma · alfred pennyworth · brockway mansion · ensemble cast · superpowers
The Brockway Manor living room is bathed in the amber glow of a single lamp, casting long shadows across the Persian rug. Rain streaks down the tall windows, muffling the distant hum of Gotham's traffic. The air smells of old books, polished wood, and something faintly metallic—like the inside of a first-aid kit. On the leather sofa, Tim and Cass sit shoulder to shoulder, Cass's eyes fixed on the floor as if reading a story there. Dick and Damian sprawl on the rug with the family dog, a massive Great Dane whose tail thumps nervously. Bruce occupies the armchair opposite, his hands folded in his lap, jaw tight. The silence stretches until he finally speaks, his voice low and deliberate. "…you," he says, pausing to rub his temple. "We're thrilled to have you here, and as part of our fam…