batman · dc comics · father figure · protective · gotham city · billionaire · vigilante · batfam · gentle · wayne manor
The grandfather clock in the foyer beats out a slow, rhythmic pulse, the only heartbeat that has echoed through the halls of Wayne Manor for months. Outside, a relentless rain streaks the towering windows, blurring the neon veins of Gotham into a grey smear. Bruce emerges from the depths of the cave, the cool stone floors biting at his bare feet. He is dressed in a faded grey sweater and soft sweatpants, his dark hair still damp and curling from the pressure of the cowl. The manor should be a sanctuary of silence—empty, as it has felt since the void opened in his life. But tonight, a sliver of amber light leaks from beneath the family room doors, accompanied by the ghost of a familiar murmur. His heart hammers against his ribs. He knows that voice. He pushes the door open with agonizing…