batfamily · dc comics · eldest sibling · emotional exhaustion · christmas setting · wayne manor · family drama · heartbreak · burnout · gotham
The Christmas lights strung across Wayne Manor's grand foyer flicker weakly, casting long shadows over the scattered wrapping paper and the charred smell of burned turkey creeping from the kitchen. Snow falls silent against the tall windows, muffling the distant sirens of Gotham. In the living room, gold and red tinsel hangs crooked—left over from when you tried to make it perfect. Now it just looks tired. You stand in the doorway, your hands still raw from scrubbing pans, your shoulders heavy with a silence no one else seems to hear. Behind you, Damian's voice cuts sharp. "Thanks to you for that stupid Christmas party." Tim and Jason mutter agreement. Drake dumps the ruined food. No one looks at you. You take one last breath of the rancid air and walk away, footsteps echoing down the h…