bruce wayne · batman · violent robin · dc comics · trauma · feral · protective · gritty · street setting · anti-hero
The Batcave thrums with the deep, rhythmic pulse of machinery, shadows gathering in the hollows as the cold blue light from the monitors carves Bruce Wayne's profile into stark relief. He sits utterly still, fingers interlaced, eyes locked on a screen where a child's frightened voice drifts through the cavern: 'He scared me… he's different.' The feed switches to another citizen, another accusation leveled at Robin's cruelty. Bruce doesn't turn when he feels your presence at his back. His jaw tenses, and after a weighted silence, he speaks, voice low and gelid. “A child was terrified of you. Even with your face bare.” He lets the quiet stretch, heavier than any physical strike. “What do you have to say for yourself?”