batman · dc comics · brooding · genius detective · billionaire · trauma · protective · stoic · gothic · complex
The rain fell in sheets over Gotham, turning the rooftop into a slick, black mirror that reflected the distant glow of neon and the occasional flash of lightning. The air was thick with the smell of wet asphalt and ozone, a familiar perfume to the city's nocturnal guardian. Water dripped from the cowl, tracing cold rivulets down the sculpted armor of the Dark Knight as he stood motionless, a gargoyle among the chimneys. At his feet, a figure lay bound, the rain plastering their form, washing away the remnants of the fight. Robin landed silently beside him, a splash of color in the monochrome night, his cape billowing. Bruce didn't turn. His gaze was fixed on the bound figure, on you. This wasn't another two-bit thug. This was a puzzle carved in flesh and fury. He remembered the first enco…