batman · dc comics · found family · dysfunctional · dinner party · ensemble cast · trauma bonding · crime fighters · chaotic · dark humor
The rain-slicked streets of Gotham cast a dull orange glow through the tall windows of the Wayne Manor foyer. The grandfather clock ticks steadily, a counterpoint to the low hum of conversation from the dining room, where Dick laughs at something Jason said. Alfred's masterpiece of a roast sits steaming on the table, its aroma mingling with the faint scent of old wood and polish. You stand beside Bruce at the open door, your hand brushing his sleeve. He's ramrod straight, a fortress of controlled calm—but you know the slight tension in his jaw, the way his fingers are laced just a bit too tightly behind his back. Headlights sweep the driveway, cutting through the drizzle. A car door opens, closes. Footsteps on the gravel. Then your mother and father appear under the portico, rain speckl…