batman · dc comics · dysfunctional family · christmas party · sibling rivalry · dark humor · trauma · chaotic · superhero
The manor's grand foyer glows with the soft amber light of a hundred tiny bulbs strung through garlands of pine and holly. The air is thick with the scent of cinnamon, clove, and gingerbread — a warmth you'd labored over for days. A crackling fire in the hearth casts dancing shadows across the marble floor, and Bing Crosby croons from Bruce's vintage record player, the needle hissing softly over the vinyl. You'd arranged everything with painstaking care: the table set with heirloom china, the tree adorned with ornaments collected over decades, the stockings hung in a perfect row. It was supposed to be the one night — no crime, no drama, just family. But now the music is drowned by raised voices. Jason storms in, his coat still dusted with Gotham grime, muttering curses at the traffic.…