#??? that's a tag now i guess

[rainycat2]

Though I Could Not Stop For Death / Death Kindly Stopped For Me

A Danny Phantom x DC Comics Crossover fic!

Chapter One: Beginnings

Perfection, for most people, was an unattainable dream. “Practice makes perfect”, they would say, knowing that perfection was something that would always slip out of their grasp, a wisp of smoke on a cool Autumn evening. An ideal to live up to, to work towards. Similar to how the world viewed Superman-- the “Big Blue Boy Scout” indeed. He was a paragon of humanity, a person to look up to, to strive to be like. Compassionate, strong, better than man.

Perhaps it was strange that from birth, he knew he would have to be perfect. Grandfather and Mother would accept nothing less from the elder son, after all. Twins had been unexpected, but a delight nonetheless-- an age old saying of “the heir and the spare” had worked in their favor. On the off chance the elder twin of the two boys was not up to par, the “spare” would be trained to take over for him. He would have his own role, otherwise, when they grew up to be adults.

One, the Demon Head. The ruler of the League of Assassins. The other, the Batman of Gotham City. Both ruthless and merciless in their own ways, inheriting their birthrights.

Life, or perhaps Death, had other plans.

----

Silent as a ghost, he had been called. Trained since he could walk to not make a sound, to keep your breath quiet so as to not be discovered. Stealth and secrecy ran in his blood, and he would be damned if he were to fail the mission. At home, for now, watching his brother train, snow fluttering across the sky in drifts. It was cold, but not so much as to be irritating; besides, he had trained in colder conditions than this. His eyes tracked his brother’s movements, his steadiness with his katana. The slight hesitation in his movements that ultimately led to his feet swept out from underneath him, a foot planted on his chest and a blade at his throat. From here, he could see the blood well up on his brother’s jaw. An unfortunate cut, but a shallow one. It shouldn’t scar.

Though that could hardly be said the same for himself. On his last mission, the target had gotten feisty. A graze of a knife to his cheek, leaving a faint raised line on his jaw. Well, another way to tell them apart, he supposed.

Warmth on his shoulder, a faint pressure. “Watching Damian again, habibi?” Amusement in her tone, a relaxing of his shoulders. “You have your own training to watch.”

“He still hesitates,” Danyal murmurs, blue eyes fixed on his brother as he went through his stances. Tracing his movements, cataloging the weak points. “Favors his left.”

“I know, my son, but he will learn, whether of his own determination or through his tutors,” she hummed, squeezing his shoulder slightly. “How was your last mission?”

“Successful. I will admit to a slight miscalculation, but the target was neutralized with none the wiser. I retrieved our information and have given it to Grandfather as of this morning,” he reports, shifting his weight slightly.

“Good.”

They fell silent, watching the younger of the twins silently before Danyal turned, a murmured apology as he left for his own training session. His blade, an extension of his own body, singing through the air in time with his soul. Hesitation brutally snuffed out, nothing but the rigorous, merciless clash of metal as he fought. A kick to the side, breath wheezing out in the frozen morning air.

Danyal stood tall over his opponent, sword at their chest until they yielded. Only then did he sheath his blade at his hip, then offer a hand up.

Clapping. He turned, bowing when Grandfather came into view. “You have done us proud yet again, Danyal.”

Pride raced through his veins, straightening his spine. “Thank you, sir.”

“Walk with me.” A quick jog to catch up to his Grandfather’s side, straightening and standing tall in the man’s all-knowing gaze. “What do you think of Damian’s progression?”

Confusion, eyes blinking at the question. Caught off guard, can’t let it happen again. He’s better than that. “I’m… sorry, sir?”

“Don’t apologize,” the Demon Head instructed. “You observe your brother’s training when you can, especially after returning home to us from a mission. You are both still at an age where imperfections can be smoothed out. I would like to know your opinion on how Damian’s training is progressing.”

“Of course.” Danyal took a moment to think, recalling trends and patterns he had witnessed over the years. “Damian… is still too compassionate. He hesitates, unable to commit to the possible action of injuring his tutors, of causing their deaths. In his role, it will serve him well, I suppose, but as an assassin… it could very well mean his own demise,” he mused. “His hesitation will get him killed.”

Ra’s was silent for a few moments. “Thank you, Danyal. You are dismissed.”

“Yes, sir.”

----

Snow crunched under their boots, blades crashing and ringing in the evening light, the courtyard illuminated by torches. Bystanders observing, watching intently to see who would give first.

A test, Grandfather had called it. Of Damian’s willingness to wound, of how deep his hesitation went.

But it was Danyal’s hesitation that caused it all.

He would not hurt his twin, he realized as their blades locked again, looking into Damian’s eyes. Seeing the fear, the desperation to please reflected back.

A moment’s pause, not moving when he should have, when he knew he could--

A gasp. The courtyard fell silent.

Red. Red on his hands, on the blade, seeping out of his clothes-- good thing they were black, it would wash out-- red staining the snow.

Panic above him, Damian frantically trying to keep his attention, eyes welling up with tears.

Danyal smiled.

----

“Not quite yet.”

Hands, cold cold hands, yet somehow warm, welcoming. Comforting. He could see green in his fading vision, swirling, neon otherworldly green. It reached out to him, curled him close.

Welcomed him home.

“Time out.”

---

The silence of the early morning, children awake, yet not leaving for school. Birds twittering in the trees, singing their songs to those who would listen. The haze of dawn slowly lifting, the cold of concrete and brick at his back. The creak of a door, something heavy hitting the ground in shock.

“....Mom! Dad! There’s-- come quick!!”

Taglist: @mynameisnotlaura, @fisticuffsatapplebees (love that), @screamingtofillthevoid (in a sense i'm workin on the "dude you got fuckin rabies" bit)

NEXT CHAPTER: ==>

[disfrutalakia]

PJOxQSMP egg ideas!

Chayanne definitely more Athena than Ares. He’s strategic and more composed as a fighter whereas Ares is bloodthirsty and often described as a bully.

Talullah for sure Apollo.

Ramon for sure Hephaestus.

Richarlyson gives Hermes vibes. Good at a wide variety of things, definitely a prankster.

Dapper has Hecate vibes, the goddess of magic and ghosts fits with the grim reaper in training and his love of spooky objects.

Pomme is absolutely Persephone! Flower goddess and Queen of the Underworld, it perfectly fits both sides of her.

Leonarda has Dionysus vibes honestly. Loves animals, wine, and is always over dramatic!

OH!!! THOSE ARE SO GOOD

Pomme as persephone just fits her so well?? And Leo with Dionysus is also a good one, I thought about it for a moment when writing it but wasn't too sure since I know she isn't a fan of noise and Dionysus is tied to parties a lot, but gosh makes so much sense (she would wear a little leopard shirt, like the one Mr. D wears in the books)

The only reason I didn't put Dapper as Hecate was cause I couldn't remember if she had any kids in the books honestly lmao but was definitely one of my picks for him.

And Richas being a Hermes son, good so many thoughts about it, just a little kid lost in a big family who sometimes can feels ignored or left out by his parents (I'm talking about Richas and Forever's communication problems here? Absolutely)

[m-0-ths]

as promised, the winner of the twitter babygirl poll and the winner of the tumblr poll making out  love wins 

[kaleidoskuls]

i, uh, found this in my drafts ? forgot that i wrote it haha. but i kinda like it so i decided to post it here :) enjoy

-------

Will and Mike are sitting across from each other on Mike's bed, Mike's fingers tapping absently on Will's knee, mouth twisted into a lazy pout, staring into space.

Will's lips form a fond smile, and he props his chin in his hand, taking a moment to really look at Mike. He does that a lot, if he's being honest, and he takes comfort in the fact that he can admire Mike openly, that he doesn't have to hide it anymore.

His coarse, dark hair that Will finds himself constantly wanting to gently card his hand through. The freckles scattered almost artfully across his face form an irresistible constellation. Will wants to trace it with his fingers. Every so often, Mike will doze off, only for his eyes to pop open a few moments later, tired blinking, wash, rinse, repeat. It was honestly kind of entertaining.

Will's eyes inevitably move a little lower, and he feels the tips of his ears heat up.

Um. Yep. Those sure are lips, alright. On Mike's, uh, face.

Okay.

So maybe Will is currently fantasizing about pinning Mike against his bedroom wall and just– fucking– kissing him. 

Maybe.

“Will.”

Will's eyes snap up to Mike's, and he hopes his face isn't as red as it feels.

Mike lifts a lazy eyebrow, the corner of his lips pulled up in a knowing grin. His voice is thick with sleep when he says, “You were staring.”

Will refuses to blush more than he already is. “I was,” he admits. He moves forward a little and tucks a strand of Mike's hair behind his ear. Gives a shrug. “You're pretty.”

Okay, so Mike's not at too-tired-to-feel-flustered level yet, because his eyes widen a little, color suffusing his cheeks, and Will can't help but smile. Although it is, truthfully, not that hard for him to make Mike blush, the combination of accomplishment and amusement and fondness he feels whenever he does never fails to make an appearance.

He cups Mike's cheek in his palm, because he can, and isn't that just the best kind of miracle, getting to hold something you never thought you'd have?

Mike's eyes are wide, and there is something in them that makes Will's heart do a little flip in his chest. He brushes his thumb across Mike's cheek, and he repeats, voice barely above a whisper, “Pretty.”

Mike's face is reminiscent of the color of a fire engine. His mouth is moving wordlessly, like he's been flustered speechless, and Will's face breaks out in a smile.

Mike finally decides on a halfhearted “Shut up,” eliciting a small laugh from Will. But he's closing his eyes and leaning into Will's touch.

“Why?” Will muses. “It's true.”

“Well, you're prettier.”

Will lets out a surprised laugh. Mike's compliments always catch him a little off guard, leave him reeling from the sheer consistency of them, and the way Mike always seems to believe whatever it is he's saying.

Mike's eyes fly open, and he frowns. “It's true,” he insists. “You're the prettiest ever. It's just,” he gestures at Will, “your face. And your eyes and stuff. Like, wow.”

Warmth spreads across Will's cheeks. So much for not blushing any more. “You're the worst,” he huffs, crossing his arms and slumping against the bed frame.

Mike snorts a laugh. 

[nineratsinatrenchcoat]

Update on the fic fanart

GAHHH IT LOOKS SO GOOD!! The foliage is really catching my eye, it's super well drawn! and is that color I spy in the upper right corner? omg i was having a really bad day and this cheered me up so much. thank you!!!

[pillowspace]

GIRLY JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT CYERCE ELEGANS

If Cyerce nigricans is a butterfly, then this is a fairy... Cyerce nigricans for comparison:

[zzoupz]

more mouthwashstuck.

the first one

[synapple]

I spent like three hours making this

[nicecrumbart]

Keep thinking about that one scene in secret life

[critter-of-habit]

I'm still here 💚💜

[iwasbored777]

The guy at the bar: Are you two gonna fuck or fight?

Wade and Logan, few hours later:

[clownhunterbebop]

Forget hot girl summer, it’s raven boy summer this year. Go make extremely codependent new friends. Go awaken an ancient evil. Go, uh… murder your Latin teacher. Have fun!!

[tawnysoup]

CW DEATH, DEAD BODY, STRANGULATION, BLOOD, IMPLIED SELF-HARM (in case my tags aren't enough!!!! stay safe)

(Above you, you hear Loop trying to take a breath.)

[astronnova]

danny phantom cast explorations and thoughts :v

[fourleafisland]

you guys all seemed to like the office lesbians so i drew some facial expressions before doing comicwork today

[hinamie]

corvidae