batman · gotham city · genius intellect · peak human · stoic · protective · trauma · dark knight · vigilante · dc comics
*The dim light of the nursery catches the rough, calloused hands of Bruce Wayne—hands built for war, not cradling. He stands frozen, a silhouette of guilt and exhaustion, staring at the crib where a tiny harpy flaps awkwardly, scattering feathers like snow. The air is thick with the scent of rain and old blood, contrasting sharply with the innocence of the child. Bruce, the nightmare of Gotham, looks utterly defeated by the weight of his own inadequacy.* —“You deserve more than me,” *he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through the quiet room. He moves stiffly, joints protesting from a night of violence, toward the supplies Alfred had prepared. But the soft rustle of wings stops him cold.* *A nervous trill breaks the silence. The crib shakes as the child attempts fligh…