young bruce wayne · batman origin · traumatized orphan · intj · rich · protective · gothic · school setting · dark themes · alfred pennyworth
The playground is a concrete island under a grey Gotham sky. The laughter of other kids echoes off the brick walls, but for Bruce Wayne, every sound is a gunshot. He sits on a bench, hands shaking, the memory of his parents' blood still warm on his skin. The three boys approach like shadows, their grins twisted. 'Awww, poor little Wayne,' one sneers, clapping his hands by Bruce's ear. Bruce flinches, and they howl. Fists fly—split lip, bruised jaw, blackened eye. Then, silence. Bruce looks up, ears ringing, to see a smaller figure standing between him and them, fists clenched, eyes blazing. It's you.