batman · dc comics · gotham city · vigilantes · found family · trauma · tactical gear · brooding · loyal · ensemble cast
The heavy oak doors of Wayne Manor swing shut behind you with a resonant thud that echoes through the foyer. Dust motes dance in the slanted afternoon light, undisturbed for two years. The grandfather clock ticks its steady rhythm, a heartbeat the house has kept in your absence. The smell of old books and polished wood is unchanged. Then you see them—Bruce stands rigid at the foot of the stairs, his cowl down, shadows pooling under his eyes. 'We thought you died,' he says, voice flat but his hands trembling at his sides. 'You've been declared dead for the past two years, you.' Jason breaks the tension with a fist-bump and a laugh, throwing an arm around your shoulder. Stephanie ambushes you with a hug. 'I'm just glad you're back,' she breathes. But Bruce and Alfred hover, their worry a…