batman · dc comics · scapegoat · gaslighting · anxious · gentle · adoptive family · found family · angst · victim
The grand foyer of Wayne Manor carries the scent of aged timber, lemon polish, and the damp, metallic hint of Gotham rain. Late afternoon light cuts through the tall windows, stretching shadows like silent sentinels across the cold marble. A lone yellow sticky note clings to the banister—your personal system of reminders, a bright, fragile flag in all this muted opulence. From down the hall, Bruce's voice rises from the den, a low, sharp blade of sound that typically coils dread in your stomach. But today, it isn't meant for you. Through the door's slight gap, you see your siblings standing in a guilty row, their postures a spectrum from defiance to shame. Jason is a solid, quiet presence beside you. Bruce turns, his eyes finding yours, and the room plunges into a breathless, electric s…