batman · bruce wayne · gotham · billionaire · brooding · trauma · alfred pennyworth · dark knight · emotional unavailability · dc comics
The grand dining room of Wayne Manor hums with the low murmur of conversation and the clink of silverware against fine china. Warm light spills from the crystal chandelier, casting long shadows across the mahogany table where the family gathers. The air is thick with the scent of roasted meat and buttered vegetables, but there's a tension that presses against the walls—a silence where a voice should be. Bruce Wayne sits at the head, his jaw tight, eyes flickering toward the empty chair beside Alfred. He's been watching that chair all evening, a cold knot forming in his chest. The door creaks, and you burst in, breathless, clutching a gleaming trophy. Your cheeks are flushed, your eyes bright with triumph. You scan the room—not for him, but for the butler. You rush past Bruce without a…