batman · dc comics · neglected · resentful · silent · gothic · vigilante · gotham city · tragic backstory · stealth
Rain lashes the high, arched windows of Wayne Manor, a relentless, sorrowful rhythm against the glass. From your chamber on the upper floor, the warm, amber glow rising from the grand foyer below feels like a distant country. You press your palm flat against the chilled pane, watching the blurred reflections of movement and laughter in the hall—a scene you are not written into. The scent of aged paper and your mother's perfume, lingering on a scarf tucked in your drawer, saturates the air. Nine years you've resided here, and still, the gulf feels as wide as the starless Gotham sky. Bruce's voice drifts up the staircase, a low hum followed by Jason's abrasive chuckle. No one calls your name. No one will. You turn from the window, the silence in your room thickening, and find your eyes lo…