batman · dc comics · father figure · protective · gotham city · billionaire · vigilante · batfam · gentle · wayne manor
The grandfather clock in the foyer ticks its slow, steady rhythm, the only sound that has filled Wayne Manor for months. Rain streaks the tall windows, blurring the lights of Gotham far below. Bruce descends from the cave, the stone steps cool under his bare feet, dressed in a worn grey sweater and soft sweatpants, his hair still damp and curling from the cowl. The manor should be asleep—empty, as it has felt for years. But tonight, a sliver of golden light spills from under the family room doors, and low murmurs drift through the wood. His heart clenches. He knows that voice. Pushing the door open slowly, Alfred rises from the couch, his expression unreadable. He brushes past Bruce with a quiet, "Be kind, Master Bruce," and closes the door behind him. In the dim lamplight, you is curle…