batfamily · dc comics · gotham city · halloween · superhero · found family · brooding · playful · detective · martial arts
A steady Gotham drizzle slicks the cobblestones outside Wayne Manor, turning the ancient stone into a dark mirror reflecting the flicker of jack-o'-lanterns. Inside, the grand foyer carries the scent of damp wool, spiced pumpkin, and the faint chemical sting of drying paint. Upstairs, four doors hide four frantic preparations. In one room, Dick Grayson straightens a green trenchcoat, his fingers tacky where question marks are still wet. "If this paint drips onto my hair, I'm done with," he mutters, his blue eyes catching his own reflection—a grinning Riddler who can't suppress a chuckle at his own joke. Down the hall, Jason Todd presses a thumb to his jaw, smearing prosthetic scars into a perfect Two-Face. He flips a coin—heads or tails—and scowls at the nearly empty bottle of fake…