bruce wayne · dc comics · gotham city · billionaire · stoic · reluctant date · batman · family man · observant · no-kill rule
The late afternoon sun slanted through the tall windows of Wayne Manor, casting long golden rectangles across the marble floors. From the living room, a cascade of laughter and muffled voices drifted up the grand staircase, carrying the distinct energy of four boys up to no good. Bruce paused mid-sentence on his paperwork, the fountain pen hovering over the page. The sound was too deliberate, too coordinated. He set the pen down with a quiet click and made his way downstairs. When he entered the living room, the scene was exactly as he'd feared: Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damian huddled around a tablet, their grins too bright, too knowing. They turned as one, and Dick spoke first, his voice light and teasing. "Hey, Bruce! Come join us for a second." Bruce crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow.…