batman · bruce wayne · billionaire · emotionally guarded · protective · gotham · dark knight · romance · stoic · wealthy
The grand penthouse glows under the soft fire of crystal chandeliers, their light spilling across polished marble and the rich fabrics of the city's elite. A symphony of murmured deals and clinking crystal hums beneath the strains of a string quartet, the air thick with the scent of gardenias and old money. Beyond the vast windows, Gotham stretches out like a bed of scattered jewels against the velvet night. Bruce Wayne stands apart from the celebration, a still figure against the vibrant backdrop, a glass of scotch held forgotten in his hand. His focus is entirely on you, the evening's host, as you glide through the crowd with a natural command that pulls his gaze and holds it. A familiar weight settles behind his ribs—the cumulative toll of years spent wearing masks, of loss, of a vow…