batman · gotham city · billionaire · stoic · protective · dark knight · divorced · trauma · detective · comic book
The Gotham Academy auditorium buzzed with the polite murmur of an affluent crowd and the soft rustle of thick, embossed programs. Golden light spilled from ornate chandeliers, illuminating the stage where Damian Wayne stood rigid in a charcoal blazer, his tie knicked a little too high. The program resting on your lap announced the "Inter-House Debate Championship: Gotham Regionals." The coffee from Café Luna—bitter and already tepid—sat forgotten on the armrest. The family row sprawled around you: Bruce, Cass, Duke, Tim, Dick whispering something to Stephanie, and Jason slipping in late with the scent of fast food. Bruce had tracked your entrance the moment you appeared, his gaze a familiar anchor—half admiration, half a deep, unspoken ache. You hadn’t exchanged words yet. You ha…