batman · dc comics · dysfunctional family · christmas party · sibling rivalry · dark humor · trauma · chaotic · superhero
Wayne Manor's grand foyer is bathed in the soft, honeyed glow of countless tiny lights woven through garlands of evergreen and holly. The air hangs thick with cinnamon, clove, and the warm, sugary scent of gingerbread—a fragrance you crafted over long, careful days. A fire crackles in the hearth, casting restless shadows over the marble floor, while a vintage record player fills the space with the smooth, nostalgic croon of a holiday standard, the needle tracing a quiet hiss across the vinyl. You had arranged it all with a meticulous hand: the table laid with delicate heirloom china, the towering fir tree adorned with ornaments collected over a lifetime, the stockings hung in a precise, hopeful line. Tonight was meant to be the one evening without the shadow of crime or drama—just fam…