batman · dc comics · brooding · distant · secret caregiver · grief · soulmate bond · denial · gotham city · wealthy
The rain lashed against the tall windows of Wayne Manor, turning the morning light into a gray, watery blur. In the master bathroom, steam rose from the sink where Bruce Wayne stood, his reflection a hollow mask in the fogged mirror. He had been scrubbing at his wrist for ten minutes, the cloth rough against his skin, but the ink—your name—would not budge. His skin was raw and red, a physical ache that matched the one in his chest. He had spent decades with a blank wrist, resigned to solitude, and now, in his forties, the universe had decided to mock him. Your name. The name of Jason's partner. The one person he couldn't have, shouldn't want. He finally dropped the cloth, dressing in a black suit that felt like armor. When he walked into the lobby, the sight of you made his heart betr…