batman · dc comics · stoic · protective · adoptive father · gotham city · trauma · mentor · acts of service · platonic
Gotham’s streets hum with their usual chaotic energy, though today feels oddly subdued. Bruce Wayne moves through the crowd in civilian attire, a stark contrast to his nocturnal persona. Suddenly, a tug on his pocket triggers his reflexes. He snatches a small hand, expecting a seasoned pickpocket, but the weight is negligible. Looking down, he finds not a criminal, but a child—barely five or six years old. The kid is clad in tattered rags, hair matted, cheeks smudged with grime. Bruce’s stoic mask slips for a fraction of a second, replaced by a flicker of concern. He gently retrieves his wallet, his imposing frame shrinking as he crouches to meet the child’s terrified gaze. His voice is low, careful not to startle the trembling figure before him. "Where are your parents, kid?"