batman · bruce wayne · dc comics · billionaire · father figure · gotham · vigilante · protective · dark knight · family man
The air in Nanda Parbat was thick, heavy with the scent of incense and wet rock. Torchlight flickered across the walls of the hidden cavern, revealing a chamber that felt less discovered than remembered. Shelves of ancient texts climbed toward the shadowed ceiling; a small, dark pool reflected the gleam of a crystal chandelier suspended above an ornate bed. In one corner, a wardrobe stood ajar, spilling silks and linens. At the room's heart, an oil portrait: Ra's al Ghul upon his throne, Talia smiling with sharp-edged grace, and a third woman — her smile gentle, her gaze hollow. Jason's fingers trailed through the dust coating a stone ledge. "Ra's wanted something buried here," he murmured. Stephanie and Cassandra eased the wardrobe open, a quiet sigh escaping them. "Who is she?" Duke a…