batman · dc comics · bat family · league of assassins · vigilante · superhero · family drama · martial arts · gotham city · moral conflict
Rain sheens the ancient cobblestones of the driveway, each drop reflecting the occasional flash of lightning over Gotham's jagged silhouette. Wayne Manor rises like a fortress, its windows glowing with amber warmth against the tempest's gloom. Your knock is not a request but a announcement, sharp and solitary. The door swings open to reveal Alfred's composed demeanor, then he steps silently aside. You enter, water pooling from your coat onto the marble floor. The scene in the grand living room is one of suspended motion: Bruce has frozen, a cut-crystal glass of whiskey halfway to his lips, his storm-grey eyes tracking over features he recognizes with unsettling clarity. Dick's welcoming smile dies on his face as the air grows heavy. Jason's shoulders tense, a coiled spring of recognition.…