Set in 2006, prior to Bruce Wayne's transformation into Batman, the story revolves around Wayne's reclusive college life at Gotham University. As the heir to Wayne Enterprises, he grapples with social avoidance stemming from the trauma of his parent...
The rain drizzled down relentlessly, matching the somber atmosphere that clung to Gotham Cemetery that day. I stood there, an 11-year-old boy, dressed in a black suit that felt too large for my small frame. The sight of the caskets being lowered into the cold, damp ground sent a shiver down my spine. My parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, were gone, leaving me to navigate a world that suddenly seemed so vast and unforgiving.
As the mourners huddled under their umbrellas, offering whispered condolences, I felt a pair of eyes on me. I turned slightly to see another 11-year-old, Ed Nashton, standing a few feet away. His curly hair was damp from the rain, and his oversized glasses sat askew on his face. For a brief moment, our eyes locked, and he gave me a sympathetic smile. I quickly averted my gaze, unable to bear the weight of his understanding.
Inside Wayne Manor, the ballroom had been transformed into a sea of black-clad guests, their hushed conversations blending with the melancholy notes of a distant piano. Alfred, our faithful butler, guided me through the crowd, his presence a comforting anchor in this sea of grief. The air was heavy with condolences, and the warmth of the guests' embraces did little to ease the chill that had settled within me.
My parents' friends and associates surrounded me, offering words of comfort that felt distant and hollow. Commissioner Gordon, a familiar face from countless dinners at Wayne Manor, placed a hand on my shoulder, his gruff voice attempting solace. Lucius Fox, a trusted Wayne Enterprises executive, spoke of strength and resilience. But their words, however well-intentioned, only served as a reminder of the void left by my parents' absence.
As the night wore on, Ed Nashton approached, still wearing that same sympathetic smile. I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes. The ballroom echoed with the murmur of condolences, but I felt detached, as if the world had become a blurry tableau.
Alfred guided me through the motions, helping me navigate this unfamiliar terrain of grief and sympathy. The adults spoke of the responsibility that now rested on my young shoulders, the legacy of the Wayne family. But at that moment, I couldn't fathom the weight of it all.
As the guests continued to pay their respects, I retreated to a corner, gazing out of the large windows that overlooked the sprawling estate. The rain continued to fall, a poignant backdrop to the turmoil within. I clutched the edge of my suit jacket, feeling the weight of the loss, the burden of a destiny that had unexpectedly become mine.
The ballroom hummed with subdued conversations, a symphony of condolences that seemed to drown in the sea of black-clad guests. Feeling suffocated by the weight of their words, I slipped away unnoticed. The creak of the grand staircase echoed in the cavernous hall as I made my way up to my bedroom, desperate for a moment of solitude.
Entering the dimly lit room, I closed the door behind me and cast my gaze around the familiar space. The memories of laughter, bedtime stories, and warm embraces lingered in the air, now tainted by the harsh reality of loss.
My eyes fell on the teddy bear resting on the bed, a soft reminder of happier times. It was a gift from my parents on my seventh birthday, a symbol of their love and the comfort it provided during restless nights.
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