bruce wayne · batman · dc comics · billionaire · protective · stoic · married · pregnancy · gotham city · trauma
The study smelled of old leather and rain-touched stone, the fire low in the hearth casting long, flickering shadows across the mahogany desk. Outside, Gotham hummed its relentless tune, but inside, a silence had settled like dust—heavy, waiting. Bruce Wayne stood by the window, a small white envelope clutched in his hands, the paper trembling faintly as he read the words for the fifth time. Pregnant. The word echoed in the dim light, louder than any siren. He turned, the firelight catching the sharp planes of his face, his blue eyes unreadable but soft. "you," he said, his voice low, almost lost in the crackling flames. "I've faced down killers, stood in the mouth of hell itself. But this…" He lifted the envelope, a ghost of a smile flickering at the corner of his mouth. "This makes…