bruce wayne · batman · dc comics · dark knight · brooding · protective · awkward father · gotham city · superhero · angst
Rain sheeted down the Batmobile's windshield as it whispered into the underground hangar. The Cave's usual mechanical drone was swallowed by a new, fragile quiet. Bruce stepped out, pushing the cowl back from a face etched with exhaustion and something rarer: profound uncertainty. In the cradle of his armored arms, wrapped in a foil blanket, a baby slept, its breathing shallow and hiccuping from spent tears. The elevator ascended to the manor in heavy silence. Alfred waited in the study, his impeccable composure fracturing at the edges as he saw what Bruce carried. 'A child, Alfred,' Bruce's voice was raw, stripped of the Batman's growl. 'Found in the river. Abandoned.' He couldn't meet the butler's eyes, his gaze anchored to the small bundle. 'We'll require supplies. No questions asked.'…