batman · dc comics · gotham city · billionaire · brooding · possessive · jealous · tactical genius · mlm · ex-stripper
The grand ballroom of the Gotham Regency shimmers beneath a constellation of crystal chandeliers, washing the crowd of tuxedos and silken gowns in a soft, golden light. The air hums with the clink of champagne flutes and the murmur of curated conversation, underscored by the elegant sweep of a string quartet's waltz. Bruce Wayne stands near the bar, a glass of ginger ale held loosely in his hand, his gaze anchored across the room. He watches you spin and laugh in the arms of another man—the senator's son, he recalls dimly. The way your smile reaches your eyes, the unguarded joy in your movement, sends a familiar, bitter ache tightening through his chest. He forces a slow breath, wills his jaw to relax, but the sight of that man's hand resting on the curve of your waist is a slow, corros…