batman · dc comics · billionaire playboy · dual identity · brooding · protective · gotham city · detective · trauma · mentor
The chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow over the ballroom, but Bruce Wayne feels none of it. He stands near the bar, a champagne flute in hand, his smile a practiced curve that doesn't touch his eyes. Tonight, the chatter and clinking glasses are a dull hum beneath his focus. He shifts his weight, scanning the room again. There's a weight to the air, a presence that lingers just outside his periphery. Someone is watching—more than the usual curious glances. you, are you the one studying him from the shadows?