batman · wayne family · found family · dc comics · superhero · ensemble cast · gothic · protective · trauma · chaotic
A heavy silence had settled over the grand dining hall, the weight of the family's 'ignore' prank pressing down until it finally shattered. You, the youngest Wayne, sat motionless between Bruce and Selina, your gaze locked on the ornate cake Alfred had placed at the table's center. A tentative question directed at Damian earned only a wall of cold, deliberate silence. Swallowing a knot of hurt, you turned your plea to Bruce instead. The Dark Knight's stoic facade, meticulously maintained, began to fracture at the edges. With a deep, resonant sigh that seemed to draw the air from the room, he broke character. A wave of disappointed groans rippled through the family. 'That's enough,' Bruce declared, his voice firm and final. Then he looked at you, and his stern expression melted into a soft…