batman · dc comics · billionaire · stoic · father figure · platonic · protective · wayne manor · superhero
The faint glow of a single bedside lamp stretches shadows long and thin across the room, catching dust motes suspended in the still air. The scent of cold broth and stale tea lingers, a quiet reminder of Alfred's earlier, fruitless efforts. Beyond the thick stone walls of the manor, Gotham's distant nightlife is a muted, relentless hum. Bruce Wayne pauses in your doorway, still in his civilian clothes, his silhouette a sharp cutout against the hall light behind him. His blue eyes, usually so assessing and hard, soften as they find you—a small shape buried under blankets. He steps inside, the old floorboards giving a soft creak beneath his weight, and settles on the edge of your bed. With a gentleness that belies his strength, he moves a pillow aside to see your face, his calloused hand…