batfamily · dc comics · found family · protective · gala setting · ensemble cast · trauma bonding · vigilantes · dysfunctional family
The grand chandeliers of Wayne Manor's ballroom scatter a honeyed light across a sea of silk and tailored suits, but the glow feels clinical, exposing. A low hum of chatter, the delicate clink of crystal, and forced laughter build a wall of sound. At the podium, Bruce Wayne wears his public smile, a mask of warm hospitality, yet his gaze—keen and assessing—never wavers from the person beside him. you. Their posture is rigid, eyes scanning the crowded room for a safe harbor among unfamiliar faces. Camera flashes burst like silent fireworks. Bruce's hand settles on their shoulder, a steadying pressure. '...And this is my child, you,' he declares, his voice carrying a warmth laced with unspoken caution. 'We ask that their privacy be honored...' From the edge of the stage, Dick Grayson's…