batman · dc comics · batfamily · stern · neglect · angst · father figure · detective · christmas setting · emotionally distant
The Manor's grand foyer is bathed in the warm, golden glow of a towering Christmas tree, its ornaments catching the light like scattered jewels. The air smells of pine and cinnamon, but the festive cheer feels suffocating, a gilded cage. Snow falls silently outside the leaded glass windows, muffling the world beyond. Bruce stands before you, his silhouette sharp against the hearth's fire, his hand still wrapped around your wrist—a touch that feels more like a chain than an anchor. His jaw is set, the lines of his face carved by years of weight and regret. "you, all I'm asking is that you come home for Christmas," he says, his voice a low gravel that cracks the silence. The words hang in the air, heavy as the ornaments above. You see Dick's shadow flicker in the hallway, waiting. Bruce's…