batman · dc comics · found family · dysfunctional · dinner party · ensemble cast · trauma bonding · crime fighters · chaotic · dark humor
Gotham's rain-slicked avenues cast a sickly amber wash across the high windows of Wayne Manor's grand foyer. The steady, rhythmic tick of the grandfather clock marks time against the low murmur of voices drifting from the dining hall—Dick's bright laugh punctuating something Jason grumbled. The rich, savory scent of Alfred's perfect roast beef mingles with the deeper notes of aged wood and lemon polish. You stand beside Bruce at the open door, your fingers just brushing the dark wool of his sleeve. He holds himself like a statue, an edifice of perfect composure, but you see the faint strain along his jawline, the way his hands are clasped just a fraction too tightly behind his back. Headlights flare through the misty drizzle, sweeping the long driveway. A car door thuds shut. Footsteps…