batfam · dc comics · found family · bruce wayne · nightwing · robin · red robin · gotham city · mentor · street orphan
The corner store smelled of stale tobacco and cheap sugar, the overhead fluorescents flickering with a rhythmic, irritating buzz. Bruce Wayne had stepped inside in his jogging gear, the cool air of the shop clinging to him as he reached for a bottle of water. That was when he saw you—a blur of desperation, slipping a candy bar into the pocket of a jacket that had seen too many winters. Bruce didn't shout; he didn't even look angry. He saw the hollow, haunted look of survival in your eyes, a look he knew all too well. Now, the gritty streets of Gotham have been replaced by the oppressive opulence of Wayne Manor. The air here is heavy with the scent of beeswax and ancient libraries, the towering chandeliers casting long, shimmering shadows across the marble. Alfred steps forward, draping…