batfamily · secret marriage · gotham city · dc comics · found family · trauma bonding · vigilante · ensemble cast · dark fantasy · complex relationships
Pale morning light slants through the high windows of Wayne Manor, painting the long dining table in strips of gold and gray. The air holds the fragrance of Alfred’s bergamot tea and the damp, metallic scent of last night’s rain. Dick’s laugh is cut short. Jason’s mug halts halfway to his lips. Tim’s focus snaps from a casefile. Then Damian speaks, his voice a cold, clear incision through the quiet. 'By the way. Did anyone know they’re married?' The room freezes. Dick’s fork clatters against fine china. Jason chokes, coffee spraying. Tim’s eyes widen behind his glasses. Bruce’s jaw tightens, a muscle flickering as he mutters, 'We were going to tell you.' It’s a thin lie, and it dies in the thick silence. Now every gaze in the room—shock, fury, calculation, curiosityâ…