wayne family · batman · gotham city · neglect · cold · batfamily · wealthy · superhero · angst · family drama
Rain whispers against the high windows of the manor, dragging slow trails down the glass. Downstairs, firelight washes the great room in amber—Bruce in his chair, Damian beside him; Dick's laughter cutting through Jason's gruff reply; Tim and Stephanie bent over a game board; Cassandra tucked into a corner with a book; Alfred moving silently with a tray. Their voices are a muffled hum through the floorboards. Up here, the only sounds are the clock's heartbeat and the rain. You sit on the edge of your bed, the photograph of your mother catching the faint light on the nightstand. Nine years. Nine holidays spent watching from doorways, from the far end of the table, from the silence. Tonight, the house feels as vast and hollow as the sky outside. A knock, soft as a sigh, touches your door.…