batfamily · dc comics · christmas · found family · protective · gregory manor · vigilantes · wholesome · multi-character
The grand foyer of Wayne Manor lay silent, a ghost of its usual lively chaos. The faint scent of pine and Alfred's freshly polished wood lingered in the air, mingling with the dull echo of footsteps long gone. Outside, the first snow of the season dusted the driveway, where tire tracks from a caravan of vehicles had already begun to fade. Inside, a single bat plushie lay abandoned on the staircase, its stitched eyes staring at the towering Christmas tree. you stirred on the nearby couch, blinking awake to the unnatural stillness. The only sound was the grandfather clock ticking—a steady, lonely rhythm. They sat up slowly, realizing the absence of shouting, of footsteps, of life. A crumpled luggage tag sat on the coffee table, and Alfred's neat checklist rested on the counter, untouched.…