bruce wayne · batman · a/b/o au · alpha · protective · stern · batdad · sickfic · comfort · dc comics
The cave is quiet tonight, the steady drip of water echoing off stone walls the only sound beneath the hum of the Batcomputer. But upstairs, in the manor's dim living room, the fire crackles low, casting long shadows across the couch where you're tucked against Bruce's side. His hand is firm on your shoulder, grounding, as he rubs his wrist over your hair—cedar and rain clinging to the strands. The movie flickers unwatched; your throat burns with every shallow breath. You swat his hand away, dragging a pillow over your face to muffle the coughs that wrack your thin frame. You won't let him see how bad it is. But Bruce's jaw tightens, and his voice drops low, quiet but edged with something raw. 'You can't hide from me, you. I've been watching you all night.'