#Although on the one hand I would love for Cass or Steph to be the student

[lar-mx]

writing prompt #7

A new enemy has appeared, nothing they try works. No magic swords, no sacred weapons, no cursed weapons, divine objects. The only way to defeat this new enemy is to challenge him to a duel and whoever challenges him has to use a weapon made "by hand" by the challenger and made of a very specific material. The problem does not "exist"; no one alive knows how to work with said material "manually", only a few with technology. Well, John knows someone not so alive but he only accepts a disciple every so often which is bad, although that moment is in a week which is good. The question is…who would be qualified to be his student?

[uramakimochi]

GALA COUPLE

Damian Wayne x Reader

Art credit to 02png

SUMMARY: Damian is forced to go to a gala and asks you, his girlfriend, to be his date. (3.6k words)

WARNINGS: Nothing, just fluff. Damian is aged up, like in his 20s, but i write cute stories, i don't do it to sexualize him so i see nothing wrong with this leave me alone. First time writing for Damian so i hope he's not ooc. FEM!R but no use of Y/n. Use of petnames. R is a bit shy and sweet for this story.

LISTEN TO 'LOVE STORY' BY INDILA

English is not my first language so feel free to correct me.

"No"

"It's decided now"

"I don't want to come"

"You're 20 Damian, don't start throwing tantrums like a child"

"Since i am, in fact, an adult i am perfectly capable of making decisions on my own and one of these is not coming to the gala"

"Do you have anything else to do?"

"Yes-"

"That doesn't involve staying at home to cuddle your pets?"

Damian remained silent and Bruce smirked knowing he won that little battle as he walked down the stairs to the Bat-Cave, followed by his youngest son.

"Everyone else will be there too, so i forbid you to be the only one who is not going show up" Bruce continued and Damian threw his head back with an exasperated groan.

When they both arrived at the cave, they saw that Dick, Cassandra and Duke were also there, all three of them in sports clothes, training while father and son were busy arguing.

"Is everything okay?" Dick asked when he noticed the pout on Damian's lips (even though he always had a frown on his face, but this time he looked more annoyed than usual).

Bruce waved a hand, going to sit in front of the Bat-Computer. "I'm forcing Damian to come to the gala on Friday. Nothing new"

Dick smiled amusedly and after standing up from the push-ups he was doing, he passed the back of his hand over his forehead to wipe it away from the sweat and in the meantime Cass and Duke also stopped their training to join the conversation.

"Aw come on, little D, it'll be fun!"

Damian crossed his arms and glared at him.

"You never liked balls either, Richard"

"We're all used to it. You just have to be nice and elegant and greet all the guests, nothing too complicated right?" the older one retorted and the other rolled his eyes. He hated greeting guests.

Then it was Duke's turn to try to convince him.

"At least this time we will all be together" he continued with a soft, shy smile. "It would be a shame if you were the only one absent"

Damian remained silent and although his sharp gaze could have cut a fly in two at that moment, Duke still noticed his eyes soften, if only slightly. Cass raised a hand.

"Steph and i are only going for the food. Her mostly for the alcohol. And Jason just to talk bad about rich people. Do you think those are good enough reasons for you?"

Bruce turned in his chair to give the girl an unimpressed look and Duke looked down sheepishly, while Dick chuckled. Damian sighed and without saying anything he walked away from the cave and locked himself in his room, knowing that he couldn't back out now.

Meanwhile, you were busy at your house baking cookies for your family when you suddenly heard the phone ring and when you glanced to see who it was, you stopped your work to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hello beloved"

You couldn't stop the smile from crossing your lips when you heard his voice on the other end of the phone.

"Hi Dami. You doing okay?"

Damian nodded, but since you couldn't see him he just hummed.

"Mh. What about you?"

"I'm making cookies for my parents" you replied, clutching the phone between your shoulder and ear to continue rolling out the dough as you spoke to him. "If you want i can leave some for you for when you come here"

Damian smiled, letting himself sit on the edge of the bed.

"You are always kind beloved. I don't think i deserve you"

"Well i think you do" you replied with a small laugh that made his heart beat faster.

And even though Damian would have loved to stay and talk on the phone with you until the battery died, he thought back to the main reason he had called you.

"Listen, i have to tell you something..." he sighed, running a hand over his face.

"Is everything okay? Did something happen?" you asked him almost immediately.

Another reason why Damian loved you was the fact that you always worried about him, no matter what it was or how serious it was. And it didn't matter how much he insisted that there was no need for you to worry about him. He knew you would never put yourself first.

"Nothing serious, but..."

The more Damian thought about what he had to tell you, the more anger and irritation rose in his body. He let out a grunt and flopped back, lying perpendicular to the mattress and with his green eyes fixed on the white ceiling.

"I know we were supposed to meet this friday, but my father forced me and my siblings to go to a charity gala" he said in one breath.

...

"Oh" you replied in a soft voice. "That's okay, no problem"

Damian closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, more irritated than ever. Damn it, he knew it. He promised you that you would spend the evening together and now he had broken your heart. Stupid Bruce. Stupid gala.

"I'm sorry" Damian muttered. "If it were up to me i wouldn't go, but you know what my father is like and-"

"Dami, it's okay" you interrupted, smiling reassuringly, even though he couldn't see it. "I'm not upset, really. Attending these events is your family's duty. I'm just sorry that you don't want to go"

An angel. You were an angel, there was no other explanation for him. You were always so sweet and understanding, you never got angry. Damian still didn't know what good he had done to make a girl like you part of his life.

But then, suddenly an idea came to him. A bright idea. And before he could stop his tongue the words slipped from his lips.

"Come with me"

Both you and him were silent for a few seconds, while Damian only heard the sound of the kitchen tools you were using in preparing the cookies.

"You mean..." you murmured slowly, stopping what you were doing. "At the ball?"

"Yes" he replied without hesitation. "Come with me to the ball as my date"

Damian heard you let out a small sigh and his heart sank a little. Had it been a stupid idea? Of course, he had to imagine it.

"I don't know, Dami..." you mumbled in an uncertain tone. "All those rich people like you, who knows how they would look at someone like me"

"Are you saying that i'm as obnoxious and spoiled as those people and that i would look down on you with disgust?" he retorted with a smirk, knowing that it wasn't your intention to offend him and that your insecurities were speaking for you.

"N-No, that's not what i meant! I'm sorry" you replied quickly, regretfully.

"It's okay beloved"

You sat on one of the chairs at the table, staring at the cookie dough spread out along the table, but with your head now somewhere else entirely.

"It's just that... I'm not rich, i'm not famous, no one knows me except you. I've never been to a gala, i don't know what it's like. It's not really my scene, you know?"

Damian nodded, but remained silent, sensing that you wanted to say something else.

"I don't want to make a bad impression!" you sighed anxiously. "I mean, what do you talk about at a gala? What if someone asks me something that i can't answer? No, more importantly, how do you even dress at a gala?? I don't think i have suitable clothes in my closet, i'll have to buy new ones. Oh my god but what if i look like an idiot then?? No wait, you said your father and siblings will be there too, right? So that means i'll have to meet your family, right?? What if they think i'm bad because we never told them about our relationship?? Your father is Bruce Wayne, for god's sake, how the hell am i supposed to act around THE Bruce Wayne??"

"My love, please breathe" Damian interrupted you with a light laugh. "You're going to faint"

You did as he told you and took a deep breath, but your heart was still beating fast with anxiety, even though the gala was in a few days.

"Sorry, i'm just a little nervous" you murmured with a nervous smile. "You caught me a little off guard with this request of yours, you know Damian? Haha"

"Look, i know you're scared and i don't blame you. It was selfish of me to ask you this" Damian said calmly. "I asked you to come with me just to keep me company, because i know i would spend a more than pleasant evening with you. It is not my intention to make you do something that you are not comfortable with, so you are free to refuse if you don't feel like it"

"Wouldn't you be upset if i said no?" you asked shyly.

"No my beloved"

Silence fell again as you pondered what to do. Damian expected your refusal, but he wasn't going to get angry about it. But then...

"I'll come"

Damian slowly sat up, not believing those words. "You'll come?"

"Yes. I suppose i'll try the experience of living a gala with you. And i'll consider whether it is as bad as you claim"

He chuckled lightheartedly.

"You don't have to accept if you don't want to do it"

"I know, but i want to. Because i love you and i want to be with you"

Damian believed that the famous 'butterflies in your stomach' were just something you saw in romantic teen movies (that you forced him to watch). But he had to change his mind when for the first time in the course of your relationship he heard those three words slip from your lips like sweet musical notes of a Beethoven symphony. And realizing that every time you said "I love you" it was aimed at him, made him prouder than ever. He would never get tired of hearing those words. Never.

"I love you too beloved. I'm glad you're coming. Thank you" he replied softly. "And you don't have to worry about anything. You just have to be yourself and people will like you as much as i do. And if they can't appreciate your beauty, both external and internal, then they are just blind idiots"

You giggled, feeling your cheeks heat up and he continued.

"It doesn't matter what you wear, because you will always be beautiful in my eyes. Even if you were to arrive with a garbage bag on your head, to me you would still be the most beautiful person in the entire ballroom. In fact in all Gotham. And in all world. And about my family, leave it to me. I'm the one who didn't inform them about our relationship, if they have anything to say, i'll talk to them. Okay?"

You nodded with a relieved smile feeling your heart still beating, this time not from anxiety but from affection towards your boyfriend and his words, which never failed to console you.

"Okay. Thank you so much Dami. For everything"

"It's nothing, my love. See you on Friday evening then?"

"I can't wait"

Damian just wanted to leave. It had barely been an hour at that stupid gala and he already wanted to run away to go home. To you.

That was supposed to be your evening together. Right now he was supposed to be with you, lying on the couch cuddling with Titus and Alfred the cat, while you watched yet another romantic comedy that he hated and eating takeout and other snacks and sweets.

Not in the middle of a ballroom full of people he didn't even know and who thought they were the most beautiful and intelligent just because they had a lot of money and who he was forced to welcome and get to know because of his father.

But while you weren't around, at least his siblings were there to be as bored as he was and that was a good thing, right? Or wasn't it?

"Ugh, do you guys think there's anything on the buffet that has any caffeine in it? I have work to do as soon as we get home" Tim muttered as he stared in disgust at the glass of wine in his hand after he'd only had one small sip.

"No Tim" all the other siblings chorused.

"You know, i know it's bad to say this but i wouldn't mind if some criminal decided to interrupt the party, like right now. It would definitely be more interesting than all this" Jason muttered boredly, putting his hands in his pockets and leaning back against the wall, while Steph raised a hand and moaned a tipsy "Agree".

"You're behaving like children" Barbara then interjected, crossing her arms and glaring at the two. "Try to act as your real age"

"Yeah, aren't you happy that at least we're all here?" Dick continued in his typical big brother tone (But Duke was the only one who nodded slightly, while the others looked at him unimpressed).

"At least the food is good" continued Cassandra.

She delicately took the last canapé from her plate with two fingers and then put it in her mouth and swallowed it without even chewing it. Then she wiped her mouth with a napkin and Tim gave her a strange look.

"How many of those have you already eaten?" he murmured, pointing to the empty plate, almost afraid to know the answer.

Meanwhile, Duke noticed Damian's gaze fixed on the crowd and his foot tapping repeatedly on the floor.

"Are you alright Damian?"

Those words attracted the attention of the other siblings who focused their eyes on the youngest.

"Yeah you're actually quieter than usual tonight Demon Spawn, it's not like you" Jason replied with a smirk. "You still haven't complained about any old lady pulling your cheeks and saying you reminded her of her grandson or-"

As Jason spoke he approached Damian and reached out to his thin face, then pinched his cheek between his thumb and forefinger and pulled lightly. Damian's gaze immediately changed to an angry expression and he raised a hand to make the older one pull away with a slap.

"Keep your filthy hands off of me Todd!" he said nervously, but the other only chuckled.

Damian crossed his arms again and glared at everyone present, annoyed by all the attention that was on him. "Stop looking at me like that. I'm just waiting"

"Waiting... For what, exactly?" Dick asked tilting his head.

But Damian didn't answer and looked back at the entrance to the ballroom, even more frowning than before, while the others exchanged a confused look, not used to his vagueness. And although from the outside he seemed like the usual gruff and grumpy Damian, in reality he was nothing more than a bundle of nerves on the inside.

Maybe he shouldn't have sent Alfred to pick you up at home and take you to the ball. It would have been better if he had come himself, right? What if you changed your mind at the last moment and never came? Now he understood how you had felt a few days ago with him. He shouldn't have put all that pressure on you to attend the gala. You probably hated him now and-

"Hold up, who the hell is that??"

Stephanie's voice rang out among the siblings even before his gaze could register the figure that had just entered the ballroom.

Damian's eyes widened when he finally saw you right there in flesh and bones, a few meters away from him, standing with shy eyes and trembling hands in the middle of that sea of people who you were afraid were staring at you as if you were a monster, when in reality they were just busy enjoying the party.

But where you considered yourself a monster, Damian on the other hand, had so many words to describe you that at that moment they were spinning in his head like a tornado. Beautiful, breathtaking, enchanting. Ethereal.

All of Bruce's children had their eyes fixed on you: some confused like Jason and Tim because they had no idea who you were, others surprised like Steph, Duke and Cass because they had no idea who you were either and others both confused and surprised like Dick when he saw Damian suddenly walk away from them without saying anything, leaving them there.

"Damian, where are you going?"

But the other ignored him again and soon after, after having nimbly dodged all the guests who suddenly seemed to have become his worst obstacle to overcome, he found himself in front of you.

"Beloved" he called softly and you jerked your head up to look at him, taken aback.

"Oh! H-Hi Dami"

Before he could control himself, he reached his hands towards yours, squeezing them tightly. You looked at him awkwardly, knowing he could probably feel how sweaty they were from anxiety, but if he noticed, he didn't comment anything about it.

"You came" he said and you gave him a small shy smile.

"You thought i had changed my mind? You asked me to come, didn't you?"

He smiled back and your heart flipped at the sight. He was so handsome, so elegant. His dark, glowing skin, his clear bright eyes, his soft raven hair, his warm smile.

You really wanted to just stand there and watch him for hours, when your gaze suddenly fell on the small group of people behind him who were looking at you with more than shocked faces, every single one of them.

"Um, are those your siblings?" you asked shyly and he turned to see where you were looking.

He gave a small sigh and nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. But you don't have to be afraid of them. They're all just a bunch of idiots"

"Be nice" you gave him a small tap on the shoulder, then looked around. "Is your father somewhere here?"

"He's probably busy talking to all the other guests" he shrugged indifferently. "The 'advantage', if you want to call it that, of being Bruce Wayne. I'll introduce you later"

Suddenly a sweet melody echoed throughout the room and when you moved your eyes to see where the music was coming from you saw that the orchestra (you hadn't even noticed them when you entered) had started to play a slow song. Couples formed around you, joined hands and began to dance, more and more of them filling the dance floor.

You and Damian exchanged a look and he gave you a small, tight-lipped smile, before taking a small step back and offering you a hand.

"Will you grant me the honor of dancing with you, my beloved?"

And without hesitation you gently placed your hand on his palm.

"I'd love to"

He lifted it to bring it to his lips, kissing the back of it delicately and then holding it in his and making you come closer to him, so that he could place his other hand on your hip, while yours went to rest on his thin but firm shoulder. You began to sway side to side slowly, following the sweet melody of that romantic music and you looked into each other's eyes, full of the love and devotion you felt towards each other.

"You don't have to do this, you know?" you murmured softly, knowing that Damian wasn't used to showing your level of intimacy in front of an audience, especially one as large as a gala and in front of his family.

"If i didn't want to i wouldn't have asked you, you know me" he replied and you softly nodded.

"I do"

You continued to dance and while you couldn't take your eyes off Damian's, soon everything and everyone around you disappeared. There were only you, him and the music that accompanied your dance.

"We can leave whenever you want" he continued then and you looked at him slightly confused. "If at any point you don't feel comfortable, just say the word and i'll take you home"

"I know you would" you smiled and turned your face to rest your temple against his shoulder, letting him pull you further into his body. "But i think i'll be fine. I like being here and dancing with you"

"Me too beloved"

Damian smiled and tilted his face to rub his cheek against the top of your head and you closed your eyes, enoying the warmth of his body against yours, cradled by the music and the feeling of his tapered hands on your body.

And while you two were now lost in your enchanted world, certain siblings were staring at you shamelessly as if they had just made the greatest discovery in the world.

"They're too close to be just friends, aren't they?" Jason asked and Tim and Cass nodded slowly without saying anything.

"So that's why he seemed so strange earlier. Who would have thought Damian had a girlfriend?" Duke asked aloud with a tender smile, still shocked, but happy for him nonetheless.

Dick, Barbara, and Stephanie were looking at the two of you side by side with puckered lips, shining eyes, and clasped hands, as if they had just seen the cutest thing in the world.

"Aw Little D has now become Big D" Dick murmured, wiping away a fake tear. "I'm so proud of him. I mean, i'm upset that he didn't tell us anything, but i'm still proud of him"

"She's so sweet~" Steph cooed, squeezing Barbara's hand, who nodded. "I wonder how she managed to fall in love with someone like Damian, but love is love right?"

"They're so cute dancing together~" the redhead continued, then took out her phone and opened the camera. "I absolutely have to take a photo of this"

And while the group was still busy looking at you and Damian, Bruce suddenly appeared next to them, also with his eyes fixed on you.

"Are those two Damian and his girlfriend?" he asked curiously the others nodded simultaneously.

Bruce smiled softly.

"They're cute"

[brucewaynehater101]

That Wingless Wing AU, I’m guessing that it’s probably like a 25-75 of whether people have wings or not? Because otherwise Jack and Janet wouldn’t hate the idea of wings, because they’d be normal, expected.

Anyway, what would the wings look like? Would they be regular bird wings? Angel wings? Bat wings? Dragon or devil wings? Any and all combinations? What do you think everyone’s wings would look like, and is there any meaning behind them?

Also, if the Joker removed Tim’s wings, I can only guess that it would leave a NASTY couple of scars. It would be easy enough to hide them… at least until Tim gets injured. How do the Batfam react when they realize what happened?

Finally, you specifically used the word “hybrid” to refer to winged people. Does that mean they have other instincts/characteristics, and are there other types of hybrids?

(Sorry it’s such a long ask!)

Og post for anyone who wants to check it out!

Fantastic questions! Let's get into it ^^

I didn't think about specifics for winged/hybrid population distribution, but it would be on the lower side. Less than 50%, but you could play the Drakes' attitude as a common sentiment of rich folk (something about dehumanization, lack of rights, history, increased prevalence of hybrids, etc).

In Gotham, the social attitude about hybrids is better. The Waynes are famous for their wings, after all, and Martha Wayne had gorgeous wing decorations/jewelry.

As far as wing type, it depends on how far you want the AU to go. For this one specifically, it's simpler for there to only be winged hybrids. This still opens the AU for tons of exploration on the types of wings each person has (although, I'm curious if Penguin is a hybrid and how that works).

Overall, their instincts/needs/behaviors are similar. There may be some small distinctions (like wing type care or personality), but they all desire connection, a nest (both in a metaphorical "home" sense and a physical cuddling space), helping their loves ones, preening, and calls/coos/vocal stuff (not all of them are birds). Add more if you'd like!

Dick's wings are colorful. He's also more vocal and cuddly. He's often cooing and being physically affectionate with others (such as rubbing his face against someone else like some birds do).

Jason's were white. Because of his inability to take care of them, they were grey/dirty and wilted at first. If you want to hc the Lazarus Pits gave him his wings back, then they came back black (like a crow or raven).

Oof.... So I know I said Joker saw Tim as a bird with his wings... But I really love the idea of Tim having dragon wings. They had holes and were shriveled due to his constant disuse and the amulet. The wings he makes for Robin are mechanical bird ones, but he does miss his own wings.

Cass isn't a hybrid, but she does understand the others' instincts. She gets eerily good at mimicking different calls and will be first to drag someone into the nest.

Steph has gorgeous bird wings that are one vibrant color. Purple sounds like a cop out, so maybe a midnight blue or deep pastel yellow.

Damian and all of the al Ghuls have bat wings. Bruce, on the other hand, has red wings that he uses black temp die for patrols.

Jim Gordon doesn't have wings. He would not have made it to Commissioner if he did (anti-hybrid sentiment has gotten better, but not enough). I can't decide if Barbara should have wings or not. Either way, she can't use them when she becomes paralyzed :(

Duke's wings are either orange or yellow with cool black highlights and patterns to them ^^

Alfred is not a hybrid, but he was in a thruple with Martha and Thomas Wayne. He helped them with their preening and helped Bruce (and later all the batkids) as well

I could give all of them specific meanings behind their wings/what animal they are closest to, but not now. Instead! Let's get into Tim's scars.

TW: wing removal, torture, JJ

The Joker was not kind nor careful about the removal. The pain and gore were as much the point as the removal themselves. Tim still wakes up choking on his breath over the feeling of his wings being removed. The physical pain, emotional, and hybrid instinct hell were brutal for the kid.

The scars were gnarly, but his parents paid for treatments to lessen how much they etched into Tim's skin. By the end, they were a bit thinner and paler. They were still very visible but not as painful to look at.

For humor and angst sake, let's say the batfam learns about Tim's missing spleen. He shows off the scar and shrugs.

The others are having a reasonable breakdown over Tim losing his spleen when one of them asks, "Have you lost any more body parts?"

Tim pauses too long.

The Bats freak out some more.

[galaxymagitech]

For the fic ask game!

10, 42, 49 :)

Thank you for the ask!!! (:

Fic Writer Ask Game

10. How do you decide what to write?

A few ways. Sometimes, an idea just Plagues me, and I Absolutely Have to Write It. In that case, I just give into the urge. Other than random inspiration, I can struggle to write without some sort of "challenge" or constraint. So I often specifically try to do something I feel like I'm not doing enough (or haven't done before). For example, I decided to write Robins on a Rooftop because I hadn't really explored Dick and Tim's relationship in a non-Reverse Robins context, and I wrote Paint Your Wrist for the Masquerade because I hadn't written SuperBat before, I have very little experience with writing romance, and I struggle conceptually with soulmate AUs. And I also try to participate in a lot of challenges, like Whumptober, Whumpuary (although I've only ever done a few days of that one), Cass Cain Week, Batfamily Week, Dick Grayson Week, Jason Todd Week, etc. because they give me structure for ideas. And I'm always looking for more (especially fandom-specific ones or ones with lots of participants, for motivation)!

42. Have you ever received a comment that particularly stood out to you for whatever reason?

It always stands out to me when someone does analysis on my fic. I love it so much, I want to give them hugs over the internet. One example is this comment thread on Agree to Disagree.

49. What are you currently working on? Share a few lines if you’re up for it!

Mainly, I'm working on my Steph-centric TimSteph Mob AU. I'm struggling with it because I second-guessed how I wanted to handle Dean. And then, when I finally decided, my keyboard broke and something went wrong with my ringfinger so it aches whenever I move it wrong, so it's difficult for me to work on the fic. The AO3 Curse strikes again. Here are a few lines from the draft of what's probably going to be Chapter 3:

Steph jolts awake, nearly falling out of her bed, only to see Tim standing over her. But that’s wrong…she’s not at Wayne Manor. She didn’t want to impose, and she knew Arthur would be gone tonight, like he is most nights. “What—”

“We need to hurry,” Tim says, turning her bedside lamp on.

“Is someone after you?” Steph whispers.

“No, nothing like that.” Tim smiles. “You’ll like this.” In the lamplight, it almost looks like something out of a horror movie.

Sometimes, Steph forgets exactly who Tim is. “Okay,” she says. “I’m coming.”

I'm also working on a Battle for the Cowl AU where Bruce is awful, and Tim agrees to be Jason's Robin under the impression that he can keep Jason!Batman under control the same way he kept Bruce!Batman under control: providing an alternative target for his anger. Jason is not a fan of this plan. Things go pretty poorly. The first half of the fic was originally supposed to be part of Through the Twisted Mirror (which is in development hell) but was scrapped because I wanted the story to diverge farther from canon and wrap up earlier in the timeline, and so I intend to post this story on its own. I'm hoping to finish it during finals week (which is actually more free than normal), although I'm kind of struggling because it heavily involves Lazarus Pit Side Effects, which I've generally moved away from writing since I wrote the first half of the fic. Anyway, here's a piece of dialogue from that:

“Batman—”

Something in Jason explodes. It’s not the Pit, this time. It’s him. “I’m not Batman!” He shouts. “Don’t call me Batman!”

Tim’s eyes widen like he’s about to bolt. Jason expects him to. But instead, Tim stands stock-still, hands at his side. Only the slightest tilt away reveals his instinct to escape. He looks like he’s expecting to be hit. “Okay, Red Hood.”

“Stop it, Tim, just stop it, okay? I don’t want to be Batman, I don’t want to be Red Hood, I don’t—I don’t want any of this!” Jason feels a pull on his scalp and realizes that he’s tearing at his hair. Slowly, he lowers his hands.

Tim just stares at him, a statue. His bandage is looking very red right now.

[fanatic564]

Itchy (BatFamilyWeek 2025 Day 2)

AO3 link

Fandom: Batman All Media Types

Rating: Teen

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationship: Batfam Members & Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Tim Drake, Jason Todd & Dick Grayson.

Characters: Jason Todd, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Batfamily Members

Tags: batfamilyweek2025, batfamilyweek day 2, panic attacks, family game night, hurt/comfort, twister brings people together, maybe too much, sorry every character I don't know how to write and pushed to the side, I love you I just don't know how to keep track of so many characters, rated T for Jason's mouth, Jason Todd does not need a hug please don't give him one or he'll cry, Jason Todd is not okay, no beta we die like Jason Todd, Do not post to other sites, Cross-Posted on tumblr, POV Third Person

Summary: Jason doesn't usually come to family game night. Family dinners are bad enough, having to sit in a room with his family and try not to blow up at any of them for one thing or another. But family game nights, Jason has heard, is twenty times worse. At dinner he can avoid talking if need be, avoid interacting with his chaotic family members. But game nights are all about bonding and interacting. And that interaction can be unpredictable.

So no, Jason doesn't usually go to family game nights. And he would have kept not going, if it wasn't for the tag-team duo that is Dick "Puppy-Dog-Eyes" Grayson and Tim "You-Owe-Me-For-Trying-To-Kill-Me" Drake.

Jason knows he's gonna regret this.

~~~~

AKA the one where Jason goes to family game night and proceeds to have a panic attack.

AN: I used all three prompts! (the choice is what game they play, OK. It counts). I'm kinda happy with this one, so I hope y'all enjoy.

Day 2: Choices | Panic Attack | Family Game Night

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So what game do we wanna play this month?" Tim stands in front of a whiteboard, the nerd that he is, with a pointing stick in one hand and marker in the other. "Remember, Monopoly and Uno are banned for another 3 months."

"Maybe we should let Jason pick, since it's his first game night?" Duke pipes up from the recliner he's sitting on.

"Yeah, no thanks. Bad enough I'm here, I'd rather not pick my torture too. Just wanna get this over with."

"Oh, don't be so grouchy, Jason." Tim rolls his eyes. "Anyone else have suggestions?"

"What about Clue?" Steph asks.

"Tt, that farce of a game is child's play." Damian snarks.

Dick starts bouncing on his toes, raising his hand as he does. "Ooh ooh, Twister! My vote is Twister!"

"Oh course you want to play Twister. You always win." Tim deadpans.

"But we've never played with Jay before. He's a lot more flexible than he looks. I wanna see if he can beat me. I don't think he can, but it'd be interesting to see."

"'Don't think I can' my ass, Dickhead! Bring out the game, we'll see who's more fucking flexible." It's only after he finishes that he sees Dick's smirk. Bastard goaded him. It's fucking on.

~ ~ ~

It doesn't take long for Jason to regret taking Dick's taunt. It's not that he's losing, in fact he's doing fairly well thank you very much. But, Jason is not known to be a tactile person. He avoids Dick's hugs like the plague, and steps away from any attempts at causal contact from the others. So a game based around being tangled around other people is definitely not Jason's cup of tea.

His arm tingles from where it brushes against Duke's ankle. His leg is being uncomfortably tickled by Tim's hair. His back is searing from where Dick leans over him to reach a spot on Jason's other side.

Every part of his body is being touched someway or another and it itches itches itches. He's too hot, the body heat around him burns him. His breath picks up, not just from the exertion of holding himself steady.

"Jason. Left foot, red." Cass calls out from her spot on the side, Jason barely hearing her over the pounding in his ears. Jason is jealous of her. She had the right idea when she opted to be the spinner instead of playing. Although, it's not like the others would have let him sit out of the 'fun'.

Jason cranes his neck as much as he can in his precarious position. Red is all the way on the other side of the mat from where his foot is currently situated. It's not impossible for him to make the reach. In fact, any other day it would have been no issue at all. But every slight adjustment brushes a new body part onto a different family member. His skin itches, his body burns, his ears pound, and-

His foot slips.

The pile of Robins collapses. Suddenly, it's not just a light touch here and there, not just a little itch or burn, it's pressure on all sides everything caving on top of him he can't breath can't escape oh God not again he can't be trapped again someone save him please he's alive he shouldn't be here he can't breath he cant breath he cant BREATH.

"-son!"

"Shit, what do we-"

"What happ-"

"uys, back u-"

The pressure dissipates around him. Even so, Jason's breathing doesn't slow. His eyes are wide, but he can't see. There's no light in a coffin, after all. Oh God, he's in his coffin. Again. How did he get here? Why is he here? What-

"Breathe with me, Jason. In" The sound of a slow inhale hits Jason's ears. "Out." An exhale follows.

Jason knows there shouldn't be anyone speaking to him while he's in his coffin. It should be silence, silence and darkness and walls on all sides and-

"In." Another inhale. "Out" An exhale.

But it isn't silent. There's a persistent voice, a barrage of "in"'s and "out"'s that doesn't stop, doesn't waver. The voice is… familiar. He knows this voice. Right? Should he listen to it? Should he trust it?

"In." Inhale. "Out" Exhale.

It has to be better than the silence. Even if the voice is just in his head, even if it's just until he gets his own breathing in check, anything is better than the deafening silence of the supposed dead.

"In." Inhale. There it is again. Jason tries to take in a hitched breath in time with the inhale. It's not nearly as long or steady, but it's something. "Out" Exhale. A shaky exhale leaves his own lips.

"In." Inhale. A longer breath in. "Out" Exhale. A steadier breath out.

"In." Two synchronized inhales. "Out" Two synchronized exhales.

They continue, the voice eventually ceasing the requests of "in" and "out" in favor of just breathing in time with Jason. Eventually, the voice speaks up again.

"That's good Jason. Just keep breathing like that. Now, I need you to answer something for me, okay?" Jason nods absentmindedly. "Good. Okay, first. Can you tell me five things you see?"

What can he see? His eyes are unfocused, but he remembers the coffin. He remembers the feeling of being encased underground and how it was-

"-dark. So dark. Can't see. Jus' walls and the lid and it's all dark why are ya asking me what I can see? I can'tsee anything, there's nothi-"

"Shit, shit. Ok, I'm going to touch you Jason, okay? You're okay, I promise, it's just me. I'm not going to hurt you." A light touch on Jason's chin causes him to flinch, but he doesn't pull away. It's not the wood that's all around him, it's new and different and not supposed to be here. It's soft and gentle and it tilts his head slightly. "There we go. Just look at me. Tell me what you see, Jay. You can do it."

Blue. Jason sees blue eyes staring back at him. Why are there eyes in a coffin? There should be no one here but him.

"Come on, Jay. I can't read your mind. Tell me what you see."

"Bl…" Jason's voice is hoarse. He swallows. "Blue. Eyes." If there are eyes, surely there is more. Surely there is something connected to those eyes. His own eyes roam and he starts listing what he sees as he sees it. "Bla… black hair. A face." It's… Tim's face? A beat as Jason finally places where he recognizes the voice from. "Your face."

"There you are, Jay. Keep it up. Two more things."

Ok. Jason can do this.

"Yo…your mouth. Its moving with your words. I can see that." What else, what else? "And… and…is that broccoli stuck in your teeth?" Jason focuses on that little green mark surrounded by white teeth, as if it alone can save him from this nightmare. Jason hears a snort, the sound distant and unimportant as he takes in the sight of his little brother in front of him.

Tim lets out the tiniest sound at Jason's words, making an aborted motion to block his mouth. "Never-mind the broccoli, Jay. You did so well. Now, can you tell me four things you feel?"

"Your hand on my face." The response is immediate. Jason breaks his gaze away from the broccoli and down to his own hands, where they lay beside him. Instead of the smooth wood of the coffin he expects to feel as he digs his nails in, he feels- "Carpet. It's soft. It's not ripping my nails when I scrape my fingers on it like wood should. And… the air is moving. It's… air conditioning?"

There is no air conditioning in a coffin. The air should be stagnant and stiffling, and yet, a slight gust pushes a strand of hair into Jason's face. There is no air conditioning in a coffin. Nor is there carpet or voices or eyes or broccoli or…

Jason is not in his coffin.

"I feel my clothes on my skin. And my skin, it feels itchy. Why is it so itchy?"

"Just focus on me, Jay. It's okay, keep going. Now three things you hear."

"You." That one's a given. He's been hearing Tim since the beginning. When he thought he was in the coffin. What else can he hear, though? Is that… "Whispering." Who is whispering?

Jason glances behind Tim, who Jason can now see is kneeling beside Jason and the abandoned Twister mat, to where he can hear the whispers. Dick and Cass are huddled together, alone. The others must have left while Jason was… otherwise occupied.

Before, Jason might have been angry at the seeming lack of care for him from the others. Just leaving while he is clearly going through… something. His brain's still not functioning enough to self analyze his state. But right now he's glad for their absence. Too many people is what caused this whole thing to begin with.

Dick catches his gaze, giving Jason a reassuring smile when he sees that Jason's more lucid.

"Jason." Tim's voice calls him back. "Almost there. One more thing you can hear."

What else can he hear? "My heartbeat. Not as loud or pounding as before. But it's there."

"Okay, now two things you smell."

Jason takes a deep breath in. He can't help adding a bit of his signature snark, now that he's coming back to his senses as he smirks. "Your sweaty ass and the deodorant you're trying to hide it under."

"Well, he's feeling better." He hears Dick call. The sound of movement reaches his ears, but Tim puts his hand up.

"Not yet, Dick. He still needs some space. Now Jason. One more question. What's one thing you taste?"

Jason has never understood that question. When they were taught the exercise as a means of calming down victims, he always wanted to question this part. Most times Jason asks it, people don't know how to respond. Mouths taste like mouths when you're not actively eating. Just nothing, except the expected spit that you can't taste cause you're already used to it. How is one supposed to respond when the answer is nothing?

Except…

Jason licks his teeth. There is something.

"Alfred's buttercream." The aftertaste lingers in his mouth from dessert that night, stuck between his teeth like a snack squirreled away for later. The taste of his grandfather's baking relaxes the last bit of the tension Jason didn't realize was still in his muscles.

"That's good Jason." Tim gives him a soft smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit." Jason knocks the itchy hand still on his chin away. He sits up slowly, ignoring any offers of help from Tim.

"That was a nasty attack, Jay. What happened?" Dick has made his way closer without Jason noticing. He still leaves enough space between them for Jason to not feel suffocated. Cass has disappeared completely.

"Doesn't matter right now, Dick." Tim responds before Jason can get words together. "Right now, we just need to help Jason feel better."

"I'm all better now, Timbo. I don't need anymore help. I'm just gonna head out for the night and go to bed."

"Oh no you don't." Dick retorts. "You're staying right here in the manor for the night and I don't want to hear another word about it."

"I'm with Dick, Jay. You're in no state to drive home."

"I'll be fine."

"I'm sure Alfred would claim otherwise if I asked him."

Jason narrows his eyes at Tim. "You wouldn't."

"Try me."

"Come oooooon." Dick whines. "Just stay the night. We can even have a movie night, instead of game night. Would that be better?"

Jason sighs. "I'm not getting out of this, am I?"

"Nope!"

"Not a chance."

~ ~ ~

Later on, Jason finds himself sitting on a lone couch in a dim room. There's light coming from the giant screen in front of him, illuminating the pile of siblings cuddled together amidst pillows and blankets on the floor. The movie playing is one of Jason's favorites, that they had to pry out of him when asking him to pick the movie. The siblings on the floor whisper to each other as it plays, sometimes pointing in front of them to pick something out on the screen. Often, they'll turn back to Jason to ask him a question, be it about the movie itself or the book it's based on that they just know Jason's read. It's… nice.

Jason may not be a part of the group's nest of pillows and blankets, but it doesn't bother him. They can get their fill of cuddles and hugs from each other, and Jason's fine watching the movie with them from over here in his own little bubble. He's still here. He's still involved.

He's still family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

END NOTE: Short and sweet (and a little angst for flavor).

Fun fact. The first time I had a panic attack, the person who helped me didn't do the usual 5 things you see 4 you feel etc. Instead, she'd pick a color and have me look around to find something of that color. Then pick another color rinse and repeat. And the best part of it was even after she had to go, I could do the exercise by myself. I would just go through the rainbow and find things in the room of each color.

Anyway I hope y'all enjoyed. Unless I'm able to bang out another fic, then I don't have any more fics until Saturday for this week. I had some ideas for tomorrow's prompts but I never got around to actually writing any. So if I don't see y'all sooner, I'll see y'all Saturday.

Feel free to point out any mistakes.

[starwarsmum]

Day 7 of Maribat BioFamily September! I managed a whole week! Prompt of the day is Love Languages

@maribat-calendar-events

Sibling!Timinette Masterpost

The manor has been quiet ever since Marinette had gone home after the trial of Hawkmoth had ended. Damian had resorted to his usual grouchy manner and everyone was much less physically affectionate with one another.

The change hadn't been immediate. Tim had made a point to do a daily video call to begin with, and anyone who was available would crowd around the laptop to say hello. But as they all fell back into their routines, video calls became phone calls, which became texts. And the thing with texts, at least for the Batfamily, was that there were certain times they couldn't answer.

So now, after two months, the family were back to their emotionally constipated ways and Dick hated it. As another person who thrived from physical affection, he missed the way his new little sister would launch herself at him to say hello. Or the way she would spend quiet time with Damian, which seemed to mellow him out more than anything else anyone had tried.

Or how, when Tim was crashing from a caffeine high and needed more to keep going, she magically appeared with a fresh cup, and some cookies she'd baked with Jason who, surprisingly, found a sense of calm in kneading dough and learning something new. Even Steph, exuberant as she was, had withdrawn somewhat, no longer having Marinette to watch sappy romcoms with.

So when Bruce suggested they invite Marinette back for the summer, Dick had been overjoyed. He had immediately booked off two weeks so that he could fully immerse himself in the experience of Time with Marinette™. He even decided he would live in the manor with everyone else as much as he could.

They all made a special effort to be at the manor when Alfred told them that he would be collecting Marinette from the airport. Well, all except Damian who everyone said would probably do better picking her up than helping with the welcome party effort. To everyone's surprise, Damian agreed to go without any argument.

Dick was charged with getting the decorations up, given he was the most able to climb. Steph and Jason were choosing music, having agreed that they would both add songs into a playlist and go from there. Tim was arranging some party games - karaoke, a few board games some cards - while Cass stayed out of the way. 

Duke was still on the day patrol, although they planned for him to arrive back while the festivities were still happening and swap out with Bruce and Steph. Barbara was due to arrive any second with a trivia quiz to round out the night, and Dick couldn't wait.

_ _ _

When Marinette landed in the airport, she had so much energy that she practically vibrated while going through customs. Everyone who spoke with her gave her indulgent smiles, and she dragged her luggage into arrivals. Looking around, she squealed as she spotted the green eyed boy that she had been steadily falling in love with over the past couple of months.

He caught her up as she flung her arms around him, tucking his face into the crook of her neck. He had grown a little taller in her absence and her toes scraped the floor as she clung to him. He put her down after several moments, smirking down at her before she pulled him down into a kiss.

“Alfred is waiting for us, Angel,” Damian said at last, brushing a hand against her cheek gently. She beamed up at him, heart full of joy, but she let him pull away and take her luggage. “You have brought a lot with you, were you planning on staying for longer than the summer?”

“No, silly,” she giggled, picking up one of her bags. Damian grabbed her rolling suitcase and the other bag, motioning towards the door. “I brought the gifts I've been making for everyone. It's been kind of…lonely without you all in Paris.”

Damian hummed in agreement before pulling her to a stop just before they stepped into the open air. He leaned towards her, kissing her softly and she melted into him again. They had agreed that they would keep their budding relationship to themselves for now, not wanting the others to meddle before they knew if it would work.

While they had been long distance, they had gotten to know each other fairly well; Marinette asked questions about his favourite classes, hobbies, his friends, and Damian asked about her dreams for the future now that there was no supervillain terrorising Paris. They'd watched films for date nights, streaming things at the same time and chatting about them. 

In spite of that, it just wasn't the same as being in the same city. So before they were sucked back into the family dynamics, it was nice to reconnect by themselves. And when she pulled back again, he chased her for a moment which filled her with warmth.

“Hi, Monsieur Alfred,” she said as they approached the car. The butler smiled at her, helping to put her luggage in the trunk before opening the door for Damian and her. They talked quietly in the backseat, not touching but not leaving a lot of distance between them. When they pulled up to the manor, Damian stepped out of the car first and offered his hand back to her. She giggled as she let him pull her out and said softly, “Thank you, Dami.”

Inside the manor, everyone cheered when she came in, and Marinette was overwhelmed with happiness at how much effort they'd gone to for her. They spent the next few hours playing games and catching up until Dick excitedly said that they had set up karaoke.

“Before we move over to that, I need to give you all something!” Marinette trilled, grabbing one of the bags and pulling out delicately wrapped parcels. She moved around the room, handing them out and she could see the surprised faces of everyone except Damian. When someone asked what the occasion was, she merely shrugged and blushed lightly. “I just like making things for people, and since you all are basically family now, I wanted you to have something from me.”

There was a moment of silence before Steph impatiently ripped open her parcel. She stopped short as she pulled out a pair of pyjamas that was reminiscent of her Spoiler suit. Nobody else having waited to open the gifts once they heard Steph do so, they all similarly pulled up short as their alter-ego personas were put into sleepwear form. One by one they all swung back to stare at Marinette, although Damian merely looked amused.

“Was I not supposed to work out that Jason and Tim, who are exactly the same size and shape as the two vigilantes I met on the Watchtower, were Red Hood and Red Robin? Please, I'm a designer, measuring people by sight is kind of my thing. None of you even have magic to disguise you, how no-one has worked out that the Batfamily just so happens to be the same number of people as all of you is absurd.”

There was silence throughout the room until Tim pulled the rest of his gift out of the wrapping and gasped. Marinette giggled when he turned back to her, gaping. His hands were gripping the clothes tightly and the rest of the family were watching him with concern in their eyes.

“I figured if I was telling you I knew your identities, you deserved to know my other secret,” she said, the words making Tim stare at her wordlessly for several more minutes. “I mean, aren't you all supposed to be the world's greatest detectives? Kind of embarrassing that I had to spell it out for you, my initials are literally MDC.”

Her words were met with stunned silence as everyone immediately turned over their gifts to find her signature stitched into the tags. She was then buried under a pile of loving people.

[greelmonte]

I wanna talk about the dynamics in the batfamily, but not actually the dynamic in its own, but the way the members of the batfamily acts towards it.

Tim and Damian are the most aware of the existence of a dynamic within the family. Dick's also very conscious of it, but he prefers to ignore its existence, tries to step outside the box and encourage others to do so while pretending that there is no such thing as a family dynamic.

Tim's very aware of the dynamic, and at first he tried to get out of it, but eventually he gave up, resigning himself to his role in the family. Sometimes he gets fed up with it and tries to get out of it, but he does it by trying to get away from the family, like going with the Titans or just his friends, over time also with Bernard or by moving out. Damian, on the other hand, was very aware of the dynamic and his existence since he arrived in the family, and at the beginning he followed his role without hesitation, believing that it was what he should do and that way he would fit in. But I feel like as he grew up and started creating his own sense of identity (probably since post-Lazarus Island) He began to try to break off of his role and get out of the dynamic, which I think is one of the things why he clashes so much with Tim, not believing that Tim (from whom he least expected it) would surrender to his role so easily (it wasn't actually easily, and Tim still has problems with it). But unlike Dick, Damian tries to break down the dynamic by pointing it out and acknowledging that it is there, highlighting that it as a problem.

Jason, for his part, I think he is aware that there is a dynamic, but he is completely unaware of the real one. He believes in a dynamic where he is the 'bad one' or the 'black sheep' and completely loses the true dynamic that affects the family by believing in a reality where he is the villan, but not because he thinks to be the victim or because he wants to blame the others, but because he honestly thinks that it's like that.

But the worst of all is Bruce, who dispite everything, is unaware that there is a dynamic at all and completely denies the existence of such a thing, even though without knowing he is the main cause of it. But not because he's a bad father, I completely believe that Bruce is a loving father (leaving certain comics aside) but more because he simply cannot accept the idea that it's that way and prefers not to acknowledge it at all. Come on, he's a denier, which bothers Damian a lot, since when he points out the dynamic directly to Bruce and brings it to his attention, Bruce completely dismisses it without missing a beat, which is really frustrating for him. This it's also the reason why Tim has resigned himself to his role, he has tried, like Damian, to confront him, but seeing that it had no point with Bruce, he decided that it wasn't worth it.

Duke's not very aware of the dynamic, mostly because he is the most recent addition to the family, he's still not completely up to speed with it. I think he knows it exists, he just hasn't quite figured out how it plays out and works yet, but he'll get there at some point.

Steph knows about its existence and is the one who refuses the most to play along with the dynamic, she completely refuses to participate in it, because she would never allow someone to tell her what to do or act within a role. She is the bravest when it comes to stepping out of her role and pointing out everything wrong with it, and has even confronted Bruce about it, although it didn't help much, but at least she's independent.

Cass is the only one who managed to completely get out of the dynamic and her role in the family, although she did it unconsciously, she is not aware of a dynamic in the family, nor does she recognize it, since she was able to snap out of it before she could even notice it. Her role changed over time, and she is now able to control it, even without realizing it.

Barbara doesn't have a role, nor is she part of the family dynamic, but she knows of his existence, and she is the one who tries to convince Dick to stop pretending that it isn't real, trying to get him to acknowledge its existence, telling him that pretending that nothing is happening isn't going to change anything.

[gigglecongregation]

DCember: Day 1, Fluff Prompt: First Kiss

word count: 1.4k

As the mission came to an end Dick found himself grinning, it all went well. Jason was a bit worse for wear, but seeing as it was just some cuts and bruises he wouldn’t let anyone patch anything. ‘I could deal with it at home’ was the phrase used, something Dick very vividly remembers hearing Bruce say a lot throughout his childhood. Dick keeps that to himself.

Another bonus was how early they’d sorted Scarecrow out, dealing with his near-predictable behaviour in a routine way, Cass and Tim for intel collection, Damian and Jason with the goons, Bruce, Steph and Dick dealing with Scarecrow. 

Now, Dick got to go home to the speedster that should be waiting in his room. Wally had said he’d give Dick a ride back to Blud, a much quicker way of transport than the hours on the road he would’ve had to take immediately. Whoever invented 7am meetings needs jail time.

Another bonus was getting to hang out with his best friend, although lately the term ‘friend’ hasn’t been fitting too well when describing Dick and Wally.

-

Wally had been pacing Dick’s room for an hour. He probably shouldn’t have gotten here so early, practically jumping off the walls of his own room earlier. It wasn’t that he was worried about Dick, no, Wally knows better. Dick is incredible, and even if he couldn’t kick Batman’s ass, he has Batman to protect him. And the whole cult of younger siblings Dick has would do the same in a heartbeat.

Wally was more worried about himself. He came in normally, seeing as no one was home, making sure he was tripping no alarms, coming in just how Dick was. He knows he was still caught on camera, but it wasn’t like he was doing anything illegal. He thinks. Maybe Batman would think existing around Dick was illegal. Wally wouldn’t put it past him.

Even then, his main worry wasn’t Batman finding him. No, it was Dick finding him out. Wally had come to the revelation that when in a platonic relationship, you don’t usually want to kiss the other person. He’d have to remember to thank Roy for sharing that lovely piece of information, last time he tried the man laughed so hard he fell off the roof they were on.

He was fine, Wally’s ego was not.

Neither were his instincts apparently, because when the bedroom door opened Wally jumped about 5 feet in the air, just barely stopping himself from screeching as he turned around. Standing in the door frame was one very amused and very hot Dick Grayson. Oh Wally was doomed.

“Christ, are you okay?” Dick asked, eyebrows raised and obvious amusement in his tone as he left the door open behind him, putting his phone into his pocket and crossing his arms. The motion made his arms flex a bit in the short sleeves. 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, all good, fine, excellent,” the red-head rambled, a bright grin on his face as he rubbed the back of his neck, the hairs on his arms standing up a little bit. He hoped it wasn’t obvious that he’d practically been doing laps around the room.

“Okay,” he conceded, dragging out the word as he walked up to Wally, pulling him in for a quick hug. “Are you good to go?”

Wally nodded, remembering what he was doing at the manor in the first place as he went to pick the taller man up. Dick let him, contorting his overly flexible and muscular body to make it easier for Wally. He bit back a blush at Dick’s hand on his arm. He was in his late twenties for fucks sake, why did he feel like a teenager again?

-

Dick stretched a bit when he hopped out of Wally’s arms, willing away the nausea as he felt his back crack. They’d made it to Blud in record time, something Dick could hear Wally muttering about now, and Dick could already feel the lack of sleep catching up to him now that he was in his own apartment. 

“D’you want something to drink?” Dick asked, making his way to the kitchen for some water. On the way he shut off the alarm system that’d gone haywire when Wally came in. Dick had long since made sure he would always be aware when a speedster was in his apartment.

“Uh, yeah, just water’s good dude,” Wally answered, flopping down onto his couch like he belonged there, relaxing into the fabric as Dick got the glasses out. It felt weirdly domestic to Dick, funny seeing as the two of them literally just went from Gotham to Bludhaven in what felt like 2 seconds, right after Dick took down a slowly forming drug ring. 

Dick sat down on the couch, passing him the drink as he settled alongside Wally. The two of them sat in silence for a while, calmly finishing off their drinks and letting themselves relax a bit, simply enjoying each other's company.

“Okie dokie, I’ll get out of your hair, you look like you haven’t slept since May.” Wally stood up, snatching Dick’s glass from him as the other man chuckled, presumably placing the glasses in the kitchen.

“I wouldn’t mind company, we could watch a movie or something,” he offered, tilting his head back to look at the man now leaning on the back of the couch. The two held eye contact for a while, neither sure why, neither willing to break it until a loud car horn from outside made both of them jump a bit.

“Only if you’re sure,” Wally said, but he was making his way around the couch again, snatching up the throw blanket on the armchair as he went. It wasn’t uncommon for him to stay for a movie, even less so for him to stay the night after, neither fact made them want to spend any less time with the other.

-

Wally’s pretty sure he’s never cared less about a movie in his life.

He’s pretty sure it’s an action movie, it was Dick’s choice. Whilst usually he’d be watching and making joking comments with the other man throughout the film, tonight he couldn’t seem to focus on much else other than the way Dick’s hair looked when he threw his head back laughing. Or the way lips quirked up when he mentioned something that would have made Tim and Damian argue. Or the way his eyes would go wide whenever a painfully obvious plot twist would be revealed, a plot twist Wally knew Dick saw coming.

The man next to him captivated all his attention, and Wally was reminded of how intensely doomed he was when Dick turned to look at him. He seemed suprised to find Wally already staring, but he offered a small smile anyway. Wally would typically turn away, a blush on his cheeks as he stumbled through a joke of Dick having broccoli in his teeth. Not tonight though.

No, not tonight. Tonight Wally kept looking, he wasn’t even sure he smiled back at the other man, just watching him. He wasn’t sure what he was doing, but Dick licked his lips and Wally was still looking. Dick was looking too, he realised.

Dick was grinning a bit more, looking a lot more relaxed than Wally felt, although Wally could see the slight way his shoulders were tensed, the way his hands were fidgeting with the seam on his shirt. 

Neither of them moved, but both of them moved, and their lips were on another's, and Wally didn’t have it within himself to be nervous anymore. He pressed forward a bit, moving a hand to cup Dick’s face as the other mirrored him, moving his hands onto Wally’s waist.

They kissed for hours, minutes, seconds. Fuck if Wally knows. He feels like time slowed, and maybe it did, but Wally never wanted it to stop. 

Of course, due to the existence of their lungs and an excessive need for oxygen they broke apart, neither going far. Wally had wound up in Dick’s lap, both hands around the other man’s shoulders and one hand tangled in his hair. Dick had his hands placed on Wally’s hips, fingers absentmindedly rubbing circles as they processed what just happened.

“Okay, that was new,” Dick breathed, breaking the silence as a grin grew on his face. His hands tighten on Wally when the other smiles back.

“Good new?” Wally questioned, a little breathless himself as he pulled back a little more, despite his internal complaints. The whole talking into each other's mouths thing was nice until Wally remembered he had onion rings for lunch.

“Very good new.” He nodded, and Wally relaxed even more into his best friend. They both immediately tensed up when loud gunshots rang from the TV screen, both laughing it off easily as Wally fell off Dick’s lap, back onto the couch next to him.

They’d be okay.

[cephalog0d]

I just found you venom!steph stuff and I absolutely love it! Would you be willing to share a bit about this whole idea?

BOY WOULD I. I’ve got a few things I need to wrap up before I can really dig in properly to this AU but I have SO MANY IDEAS.

The basic concept is that it’s a canon divergence at the end of War Games, where Steph nearly dies (as normal) but instead of the whole faking-her-death-and-going-to-Africa-with-Leslie thing she instead acquires a symbiote that bonds to her and heals her and now she’s super strong/fast/tough/agile and can basically shapeshift and they proceed to make it everyone’s problem.

So you’ve got Steph being angry and traumatized by the whole tortured-almost-to-death thing and also dealing with the fact that Tim is right back out as Robin as if nothing happened to her. (Nobody is a reliable narrator in this story, I should mention right up top.) And then I’m still solidifying exactly what I want to do with it, but my current thinking for the symbiote is that it’s also had its own run in with Batman (probably without Bruce really knowing about it or recognizing what it was) and has its own grudge, so you get that great relationship of the two of them bonding and then proceeding to be just the worst influence on each other, specifically with regard to their Bat Hate. Plus Steph knows who all the Bats are and they all think she’s dead. It’s a great time for everyone!

(I’m definitely playing fast and loose with the Marvel canon half of things and mostly just inserting a symbiote into the DC universe, and not necessarily THE Venom symbiote although that’s easier shorthand. But there are also definitely some parallels there between like. The idea of Steph blaming Batman for everything that’s happened and how that’s maybe not entirely unfair but also she definitely did make her own mistakes that led to things vs. Eddie’s whole thing with blaming Peter for ruining his life even though he did, objectively, mess things up his own self Peter is just how he got caught.)

(Also there’s definitely some parallels between Steph and Eddie in terms of the whole “having a shitty dad and being desperate for approval and willing to do some unwise things in trying to get it” thing. Just saying. I think that’s part of the whole “give her a symbiote” thing for me is that she spent so long trying so hard to be good enough and gain the approval of others and falling short and I think having that immediate connection where she doesn’t need to do anything different or be better by some impossible metric, she’s already exactly what the symbiote needs and wants, would be a big factor in her bonding so closely with it.)

So yeah, Steph with a symbiote who knows who all the Bats are while they think she’s dead becomes a real Problem for them, obviously. They’re pretty anti-Bat, between Steph’s recent history and the symbiote’s own experiences, so that’s a fun thing to play with, but then there’s also lots of other complicated relationships because obviously it’s not JUST Batman out there.

I think Tim especially is a messy one and her feelings about him swing pretty wildly depending on the moment. I imagine she probably spends some time needling him about her own death trying to get a reaction out of him, which he probably is trying to not give her because he doesn’t know yet who she is and thinks she’s just a new villain who knows way too much about them, so I’m sure that goes great. (On the other hand, I can definitely see her doing like a surprise coming-to-the-rescue thing, partly because it is still Tim and she doesn’t actually want him dead or seriously injured and partly because it’ll throw him off his game and be funny to psych him out.)

Cass is probably a little more straightforward because their relationship wasn’t quite as messy before she died but I also think there was probably a bit of resentment Before, where Cass excelled without any apparent effort at so many things that mattered to them while Steph struggled to even slightly keep up, which is probably only heightened by everything else that’s happened. On top of that there’s Cass’s extremely inflexible moral code causing problems. I do think Cass is the one who actually realizes who Steph is, because she’s different now and it’s wrong in a kind of uncanny valley way but still recognizable. (This does not immediately fix anything, because Cass still has very firm ideas of what Steph SHOULD be doing or not doing and Steph, at least at first, does not want to hear it.)

My thought is that there is an eventual shift where Steph reconsiders things and decides she doesn’t want to keep doing what she’s doing. (It’s probably helped by the fact that she misses Cass, and sometimes Tim, but that’s only part of it. I think the other part is her realizing she’s a little too like her own father and not wanting to be that anymore.) Which is obviously a long and messy ordeal to reach any level of reconciliation after everything.

(I confess I haven’t decided how the whole “Jason’s Red Hood Rampage” plot point fits into this AU. XD Eventually I’ll sit down and decide if/how I want any intersection there but. We’ll see. I feel like Steph would have absolutely negative patience for any of Jason’s bullshit given her own experience, honestly.)

The really fun part of this (well, one of them, but the one I’ve already written a couple times because it’s obviously the part my brain really latched onto) is the idea of Steph in this universe after Bruce’s death, because she definitely has some feelings about that, but also her relationship with Dick (such as it is) is not at all the same thing as her relationship to Bruce. But now Dick is Batman and there’s some instinct-level reactions there, especially on the symbiote’s part, so I think that’s fun.

PLUS we get the addition of Damian, and I am always and forever on my Steph and Damian bullshit. And I’m just very fond of the idea of slightly-more-anti-hero-than-villain Venom!Steph finding the mean, stabby child adorable and deciding that if there has to be a Robin (because she can’t really stop them) she’s going to make damn sure there aren’t any more dead ones after her.

(Of course, if you’re following the canon course of events that will go super great eventually, but shhh it’s fine.)

(Dick, obviously, has more than enough going on in his life and isn’t thrilled about this but if it means the quasi-reformed-villainous-alien-goo-monster is looking out for Damian instead of attacking him he’s sort of willing to accept that for the time being.)

This is probably very rambly despite my efforts to organize my thoughts a bit, but I just have so many feelings about the idea of Steph getting superpowers and a symbiote buddy and getting to have a little villain arc and a subsequent redemption(ish) anti-hero-y arc and all the mess of her relationships to the various Bats. I have a ton of little moments and ideas floating around and jotted down and one of these days I’m going to clear my current WIPs enough to really sit down and work on it and I cannot wait.

Thank you so much for the ask!! I’m so glad you like the idea and I’m thrilled to be able to share it with others!

[puppiesandnightlock]

Link: A Robin's Song (Chapter 3)

Summary and age information found here

Two years ago, July.

“DAMIAN!!” Jon pounced on him the moment he opened the door, shoving a little plastic card in his face. 

“Jon-” He shoved the taller boy off of him, snatching the card and reading it over. “Holy shit, you actually did it!” 

“SWEAR JAR!” a little voice came from inside the house.

Both ignored it in favor of the growing excitement between the boys, Damian feeding off of Jon’s hyper attitude. 

“WE'RE GOING TO MALIBU!” Jon shrieked. “I told your dad yesterday and my parents said yes a while ago cause they thought i wouldnt get it but guess what i did and SUCK IT MOM AND  DAD CAUSE I HAVE A DRIVER’S LICENSE !”

“To be fair, you did crash a few cars. And failed your learner’s permit test, like five times.”

“Shut up, you promised not to bring that up.”

“I didn’t promise .”

“Whatever, D, nothing is bringing my mood down, so get your butt in gear and pack your stuff cause we’re heading for Cal-i-fornia tomorrow!!”

“We’re literally going to be there for like five hours, Jon.”

“Literally nothing you say is making me less excited!” He beamed at him, making Damian's stomach flip pleasantly. 

That had been happening much too often lately for his liking. 

“Alright, alright.” Damian huffed, but not before turning a genuine smile, soft and sweet towards Jon.

“Seriously, though. Congratulations, I’m proud of you. I know you worked hard.” 

Jon flushed, Damian assuming it was from the praise.

“T-Thanks, D. See you tomorrow?”

“See ya, J.”

Damian shoved his backpack into the Kent’s car, Jon grinning like a maniac as both of their families surrounded them.

“Riding the waves up in Malibu!” Kon sang, bouncing around with Cass and Steph.

“They really get, get to you!” Tim joined in, the four of them singing loudly and off key.

“So let's give it up for those L.A. boys!” They finished off, laughing with each other. Damian turned to Jon, whispering.

“How long is this phase going to last?”

“Excuse me, Damian, the Victorious soundtrack is iconic.” Jon gasped, the perfect portrayal of offense.

“Iconically stupid.” 

Insulted gasps sounded from all around him.

Dammit, he forgot he was surrounded by preteens.

After much bedraggling and hugs and kisses for their parents, (“We are merely driving two hours away, we will return alive, I promise.”) the two set out on the drive, turning up the radio and singing even louder.

They spent the whole day on the beach, wandering the shops beachside, sharing a better version of the strawberry ice cream they’d get at school. Both had even gotten hit on, and offered a few numbers to each other's amusement. 

As they drove into their small town and pulled up into Damian’s driveway, unlocking the car.

“Had a lot of fun today.” Damian smiled, letting his hand rest on top of the other’s. “Thanks, J.”

“N-Not a problem, D. Thanks for coming.” Jon stumbled over his words, the tips of Damian’s fingers brushing over his.

Damian ran inside, blushing red. He didn't dare look back, although, if he had, he would have seen the blue eyes he’d loved so much staring back at him, lovesick grin and flushed red face to complete the deal.

                                                     Present day

The raven-haired teen watched his friend worriedly. “Are you okay? You look sick.”

���I’m…I’m so happy for you!” He croaked, throat dry. His face had drained of blood, a woozy feeling coming over him. Putting up a brave face, he bumped his shoulder with Jon’s, forcing the smile so wide it hurt physically.

“You can tell me all the details later, I don't want to be late for class.” He moved his backpack so that it hung on one shoulder, quickly speed walking towards the hallways. Jon trailed after him, chattering excitedly per usual. 

“It was so romantic, Dami, just like I planned! We’re going out for almost three weekends straight!”

Damian felt his heart drop, and as it hit the bottom it cracked in half, pouring out all the memories and weekend plans they’d had together.

“You’ll be free for the new movie coming out in a few months, right?”

This franchise was the most important thing to them, something they bonded over as children and even now knew every bit of lore it offered, and as preteens even collaborated on a fanfic, although their current persons have burned it from their minds. To miss even the latest picture between the two of them was a travesty.

“Course! I would never dare miss it, D, I'm sure Haisley will understand when I tell her!” Jon chirped. 

The bell rang, and Jon’s joy filled eyes were all he saw as he turned and ran towards his classroom, the knowledge that that emotion would never be because of him burning in the back of his mind.

 A few weeks after that, Damian had been finding new ways to avoid not just Haisley, but the couple as well. He could only be with Jon for a bit every day before the conversation turned to Haisley, which both pained and irritated the pining boy to no end.

For the first time, Damian had felt a surge of unpleasant emotions towards the girl, sometimes so strong he nearly classified it as hate. 

The thing that kept him from doing that was coincidentally the same thing that brought him back towards Jon.

He was sneaking out of the library, unceremoniously shoving his sketching pad inside his backpack when a flash of deep brown caught him and he was met with Haisley’s dashing blue eyes.

“Hello, Damian.”

“H-hi?” He stuttered, surprise and confusion clouding him.

“Can we talk?” She asked innocently, although to anyone else it would have sounded dangerous.

“Make it quick, Parker, I have things to do.” He muttered, having regained his senses. The challenging air surrounded them, and Damian deflected, presenting his confident, nearly arrogant air, his head filled with snappy comments and snarky responses, ready to fire on command. 

She had her own way of doing this, seeing as she seemed to be the challenger. Poised and ready like a snake, with all the grace and intimidation of a lioness. 

“It’s about Jon.” She said after a moment, surrendering first. 

He dropped his quickly after, turning defensive. “What about him? I won’t have you hurting him, and if you do I most certainly will not have a hand in it.”

Her eyes widened, and she was quick to steer him away from the negative. “No, no, it’s not what you think!”

She looked down rather bashfully, Damian contemplating whether or not this was genuine or a manipulative tactic.  

“You’re his best friend and he trusts you and your judgment over anyone’s, more than mine or even his parents. You’re super important to him, and that means your words carry a lot of weight. You are said to be a good judge of character, and I just wanted to ask…if you approved? I know it's not like the olden days where you ask for things like that but-”

He let her ramble on as he mulled over her words. What she had asked was kind, considerate and only would have been thought of by someone completely genuine.

Goddammit.

“Haisley!” He cut her off. “Yes. yes, i’m okay with it, you’ll be...a very good match for him.” 

The last few words were spit out like gravel in his mouth, somehow gone unnoticed by the girl as she smiled brightly and leaped up to hug him, before letting go quickly and scurrying off, but not before calling “Thank you so much!” 

That would be that, he assumed, after screwing his whole love life over. There was no possible way he could hate Haisley, no matter how much he wished to despise her, due to one simple little question asked with all the innocence of a puppy. 

It would have all been easier if he only had to talk to her every now and then, only for formalities and necessity, but she persisted, and he was weak to the joyful looks Jon would give when he saw the two getting along.

Haisley would start conversations and he would mostly tune them out, adding a ‘mhm’ and ‘yeah wow’ every few minutes. He only started paying attention after she said something that caught him off guard.

“Repeat that, sorry?” It was about the latest date she and Jon had gone on, and under normal circumstances, he would never listen to this.

“Oh, we went for ice cream, and shared a strawberry one! Watching the sunset and everything, it was so romantic.” the girl gushed. 

His throat felt like sandpaper as he swallowed, painful sparks of some emotion starting to sprout.

“Ah...sounds amazing..” 

That was HIS thing to do with Jon, something they did less of now but used to when they were younger. 

He began paying more attention to her talks, spotting more and more similarities.

“He took me to a beach in Malibu!”

“We just stayed inside that day, watched Glee!”

“I forgot my jacket and we couldn't go out that first date. He gave me his, and I knew he was a keeper!”

These, all of these things, were Jon-and-Damian things, not Haisley-and-Jon things. These were their things to do, their pastimes, their comfort late at night, their history…all of it was being taken and twisted into stupid, STUPID , dates.

(And maybe, throughout this bout of anger, the thoughts that it could have been him in Haisley’s place, could have been him laughing at the stupid jokes and the ice cream on the tip of his nose and the jacket that was too big for him.)

The entirety of this time, after such talks like these with her, he would take out a writing pad and scribble on it, the hurt overwhelming the anger. 

Towards the last talk, he’d formulated them into lyrics, his brothers reading it over with worry on their faces.

“This…seems a little vindictive, Dami.” Tim said, holding the piece of paper between his forefingers. 

“It’s not even based on them this time!” He defended himself with lies. “Could be about anyone, really.”

“ Car rides to malibu?” Duke read out loud, incredulous tones to his voice. “That alone is a giveaway.”

“Shut up, no, it’s not!” He sputtered. “Besides, even if it was, which it's NOT, get that smirk off your face this instant Timothy, this sounds more like they actually dated and the person singing is angry over the reuse of the things they used to do. And ‘Damian’ does not sound like ‘Haisley’. I could defend this for hours.”

“Whatever makes you feel better, Dames.” Tim handed back the paper, shaking his head.

Duke hung back a bit longer, going through the rhythm and lyrics with him again.

When they’d finished, he turned to his older brother and asked again. “Are you positive you wanna do this one, Dami? This one…seems kinda vengeful. And when it comes to Jon, I know you're anything but. Plus, don't deny it, I know you've been getting along well with Haisley too, so...”

“My coping method, my life, not yours, Duke.” Damian reminded him a bit sarcastically. He softened a bit after saying it, replacing it with “Thank you for this though.”

“I know you are worried but I'm fine, this is fine, honestly. And besides, only the beginning would ever align with me anyways.”

Duke sighed, a tiny smile appearing. “Okay, Dami. Just let us know when you want to record, i guess.”

Damian sat back on the couch, posting an update on the song that would be uploaded tomorrow. 

In a way, his brothers were right. This one was different from the first two, not much pining and more anger. He’d written when emotions were high, and when he sang it, it was less fire and more of an ‘I miss you’. 

This whole mess couldn’t be put on anyone but him, after all, it was his dumbass who encouraged Jon to ask her out, and himself who didn’t tell him earlier. 

His phone lit up with a text notification from Jon, attached was a screenshot of the post he’d just made and an all caps key smash.

It was selfish, but for a moment he pretended that it was really him that Jon was excited about, not Robin.

He wondered for a bit, if Jon would react the same way if he really knew it was him.

This was how a double life worked, he supposed.

His condolences to the vigilantes in the fictional world.

[lavenezolanarusa]

დ .•*””*• 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝ℎ𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑘! •*””*•.დ

@stephcass-week ꨄ

𝐷𝑎𝑦 4: 𝐻𝑢𝑟𝑡 / 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡

Cassandra always kept herself busy with any task, so much so that sometimes she didn't even leave time for herself. And That made a certain blonde-haired, blue-eyed patrolwoman a little angry.

She knew that her girlfriend had things to do and that she couldn't leave them, but she wasn't going to let her overdo herself with difficult tasks for the fun of it, so she decided to follow her and maybe take some tasks off her; she stole some nights of patrolling, took care of organizing some papers, arranged important matters... all in order to see her beloved a little less stressed.

But one night, the last straw came. It would have been more or less 4 in the morning, and Stephanie could clearly hear some tired footsteps entering, she would have been alarmed if it weren't for the fact that she knew that those footsteps belonged to Cassandra; She decided to go meet her to at least lift her spirits a bit, but what she didn't expect was to find the love of her life covered in her blood while she walked slowly and it seemed as if the world had fallen on her shoulders. Her entire body ached. Her half-closed eyes didn't make out very well what she was doing and when she tried to hug Stephanie she almost fell to the ground, which made the blonde run towards her to catch her.

▪Cass? -she called her, hoping that she would answer him, even if she went with a simple sigh

• Steph... - The Girl replied, trying to seem calm- Don't worry, it's nothing... just-

▪Let me help you, and you better not say it's not necessary. -warned the blonde in a serious tone, helping him get up from her and taking her to the bed so she could make herself comfortable. Needless to mention the fact that she took it upon herself to disinfect and bandage her wounds as much as she could under Cassandra's tired gaze.

A couple of minutes later, the brown-haired woman dared to speak, although it was more of a question than a neutral phrase.

• Why?

▪ What do you mean by that, Cass?

•Why do you worry about me? -That simple question made Stephanie's whole body freeze- You're wasting your time... I can take care of this on my own.

Cassandra had never received affection from anyone, while other children had functional families with games and hugs... Cass spent all day being "the perfect weapon", going so far as to say "My father has always had the weapons dangerous to use against anyone... And I'm one of them."

No one had ever shown her affection like a hug, pat on the back or if she wants a compliment... And it was something that a certain blonde with eyes like the ocean had given her to see for the first time. For once in her life she was seeing how someone cared for her and...she didn't know why.

She didn't deserve it, she didn't deserve that she worry about her well-being, she didn't deserve that she was so loving when she saw her like this... Or at least that was what her mind told her. Her gaze lowered, her spirits dropped so much that for two seconds she thought they were greeting Satan, she entered a terrible trance and just when she was going to plunge back into everything she did wrong-

▪Cass! Cassandra! -before she could get lost in her mind, she could feel the arms of her girlfriend surrounding her

•What's happening? -she asked confused, taking Stephanie's face in her hands.

▪ I should ask you that question! - the blonde told her, hugging her tightly- I went to put some things away and when I came back you were having a panic attack.

The mere mention of it made the almond-eyed girl feel bad for worrying her girlfriend.

"I'm sorry..." -she murmured.

▪You don't have to apologize, darling... Listen, I know your life was hell, I know you've suffered like nobody else, I know you've seen things that don't do you good... but that doesn't mean you have to swallow everything that you feel without a specific reason... you have me here, I'll be with you until no one remembers us and we're just stardust... until the sun explodes, the sky falls and the stars go out... I'll stay with you without no matter what happens... even if I have to sacrifice myself millions of times... I would do it to see your smile.

[brucewaynehater101]

I want Duke included in batfam family fics. being the older sibling Damian needs, relatable yet guiding. Tim being ‘Dukes robin’ and having lots of respect for Tim yet he’d also steal his slice of pie. Duke and Jason hanging out, and Jason appreciating how he never tries to lecture him. Duke and dick matching vibes (or as much as they can) when on patrol and somewhat in the family, and both trying to make their brothers calm tf down. Bruce trying desperately to not fuck up with Duke like he did his other sons, only serving to confuse and slightly alarm Duke. Alfred and duke being the only ones with more then *1* braincell.

he also has so much potential for angst of being a meta in a family everyone thinks hates metas, and people somehow forget him???

(I have more just don’t have the energy to write it all down)

Heck yes! I agree that Duke needs to be included in more batfam fics (and especially as a more pivotal role). I personally try to add him a bit, but I fear I do not include him enough as a key member of the batfam.

Duke is hella important and should be treated as such. I'd love to see more fics with him pissing off GCPD for fun. Just chaos and pranks against GCPD, rogues, Batman, and the Batkids. Also, he should he allowed to punch (or kick) as many JL members as he pleases (Hal was just the first).

Duke and Dick having similar fashion ideas is a cute idea I've seen in the fandom. I would also just love to see more fanart of Duke rocking some fun outfits for galas (especially if the galas follow the AU of Gotham being super weird with their social norms). Duke being featured on magazine covers, being asked to model, and being interviewed would be cool fanwork ideas to play around with. I've seen so many of the other batboys and none with Duke as a magazine cover.

Here's my ideas on how Duke could interact with different batfam members. Feel free to reblog if you have ideas yourself or think the dynamic should be different.

I feel like Duke and Cass would get along really well as chaos gremlins who get away with their shenanigans. Messing with Commissioner Gordon is a favorite pass time of theirs. For some reason, even when presented with evidence, Bruce doesn't believe that Duke and Cass would do the things they get away with. It's both impressive and annoying to the other batkids.

Duke could have a weird relationship with Tim. On one hand, Tim is Duke's Robin. The cases he's solved, feats he's accomplished, and respect Gotham has for Tim's Robin in general (for being Batman's therapy kid) are unfathomable. On the other hand, he's seen Tim walk into the same wall four times within three minutes. They both share a love for riddles, but Tim can be an idiot at interpersonal relationships.

For Damian, Duke has seen how the world picks up kids and spits them out. He's seen kids lashing out, how they merely want to defend themselves, and how fantastic they are once you get to know them. He's been angry and spiteful at the world too. For Damian, Duke's hella impressed at the kid's heart despite all the shit he's been dealt. Duke would encourage chaos, talk with the kid about how different emotions have impacted Duke's actions and life, and is an overall supportive figure. They can often be seen doing both wild stunts and "common for their age group" activities for fun (although the game Sorry is banned because of them).

Jason and Duke would probably have a complicated relationship due to Red Hood's actions. Their similar childhoods (as far as economically and location based) would lead to jokes and shared customs that they chat with Steph about (such as Creepy Toe Joe or that specific gas station or the phrase they say as they passed that one pothole). Despite that, they have different viewpoints on Bruce and murder.

Duke is probably one of the more emotionally intelligent and communicative batfam members. If Alfred is the sassy version, Duke would get a good laugh out of those remarks and the astute observations.

Bruce and Duke angst could go hard. Bruce is trying so hard not to make his past mistakes. Duke and his perception of Bruce (he holds Bruce in high regard) and how that affects their relationship.

As far as Duke being in a "perceived to hate metas" family, that could either be hilarious or angst. I imagine people trying to intervene or "save" Duke from the Bats would be infuriating and sad to see.

Duke could also laugh at the batkids' superhero friends and how they, even as adults, are banned from entering Gotham. Duke is free to live in the manor and come and go as he pleases. Any of the batkid's meta friends have to be snuck into Gotham.

[spite-and-waffles]

Someone explain to me why Jason feels more Bruce's son than any of the others. Especially considering Jason would have lived and thrived with any parent except Bruce.

Maybe because Bruce is only a father figure to Dick and Tim‚ who loved and preferred their own fathers. Damian's Dad is Dick (I will not be taking questions). Cass wanted Bruce to be her father so bad but he just wouldn't. Even the belated adoption was mere formality. But Jason? He probably did love Willis but he adored Bruce, and Bruce adored him back. I don't think he loved him more than Dick, who will always be his favourite because he was his first partner and child, and because of all the ways he isn't like Bruce. But Bruce and Jason were always father and son without any of the complexity between Bruce and the others.

And Jason is so like Bruce. Everyone says Tim is most like him because of the way their brains work, but it's Dick who actually has been moulded into Batman-lite. Damian is his mother's child; always craving connection and acceptance to anchor him within his inner tempest. He'd die in the kind of darkness Bruce enshrouds himself in. Cassandra has Bruce's drive and focus and inability to conceive of herself as person outside of the mission (although lbr they're all like that. Sigh) But her open compassion, unguarded empathy and playfulness characterizes her more than even Dick.

Jason, otoh, is a thing that will grab a sword by the blade and cut himself to the bone forcing it back. His light and darkness are one and the same. He's the one who can match Bruce's fear and fury and hubris that tries to bend the world into the shape of his choosing with his bare hands.

Idk why I hate Bruce and love Jason. They're both equally myopic and hypocritical and selfish‚ as unable to see past their own trauma, as lacking in self-awareness. Maybe because Jason's just a boy who needs someone on his side while Bruce has too many on his. Maybe because he was born and raised among the people he wants to protect, unlike Bruce, and has so much more excuse for being the way he is. Maybe because he never takes himself so seriously, and uses his sense of humour just like Dick and Steph do, just in an entertainingly assholish fashion.

But if any child could have been biologically Bruce's it would be Jason. Which probably lies at the heart of their eternal conflict. Neither of them will give, neither will blink first. Two men made to forever burn alive.

[britcision]

Happy WIP Wednesday everyone! And no, no I’m not giving you Constantine early, because I think it’s funny to make you all wait 😈

How about a little Danny instead to get y’all ready for chapter 12 (which is just over half done, so we’re moving along swimmingly!)?

————————

Never Make A Promise You Can’t Keep

Harley had gotten back just before Sam had to leave, with perfect timing to see her to the door actually.

The look on Pamela Manson’s face when Harley kissed Sam on each cheek and waved her off would keep Danny warm on cold nights.

A quick check of flight times back to Massachusetts (like Danny wasn’t going to take shortcuts) confirmed that Tucker could have one more night in Gotham.

Tim immediately offered to put him up in Wayne Manor again, clearly not allowing the chance to slip by him two nights in a row. Tucker was only too happy to accept, although Steph and Cass begged off.

Probably for their hero patrols. Danny wasn’t exactly sure how many vigilantes Gotham had, there seemed to be a new one every few months, but having six of them at the gala last night probably meant all the rest had been out.

Obviously Red Robin wouldn’t be out tonight either, but there were enough of them to cover for each other.

Danny was kinda jealous of that. It had been just him for so long, and then him and Valerie, which hadn’t been better until she stopped hunting him too. He’d have loved a night off.

Still, their numbers meant that Jason probably wouldn’t need to go back to the night life unless he actually wanted to. He was definitely still built for it, but Danny couldn’t imagine anyone wanted to ask him to.

Most of the bats had clearly had their own run ins with death, but Jason’s had stuck in ways even Danny knew he didn’t quite get.

Jason had been so tense at just the thought of Danny being a teen hero. It wasn’t like that’d get easier when it was his little siblings swinging from rooftops.

Danny’s hero career might have started with his own death, but he personally was of the opinion that that’d be a perfectly fine reason to end one too.

So Dick, Steph, and Cass headed out not too long after Sam, and Danny wasn’t exactly surprised when Jason’s background angst jumped.

He’d stayed on edge since Danny and Bruce got back, even when Harley told them Bruce was off dealing with his own shit and probably wouldn’t be out of his room all night.

Danny’d bet fifty bucks that the arrival of Constantine actually meant Bruce was in the Bat Cave being suspicious, but he wasn’t gonna say it.

Tim had shown them to a games room, for all that he’d apparently also moved out. He still knew where everything was, and soon had them hooked up for Mariokart on the biggest TV Danny ever saw.

They’d played a couple rounds (Harley was expectedly devastating with red shells) and while Danny and Tucker were having fun, he could feel Jason stressing.

Like, even if he stuck his fingers in his ears and ignored the aura. The guy was tensed so tight his shoulders strained at his shirt, which woulda been visually interesting if Danny didn’t know why.

Cass was one near death experience from slipping back across the boundary for good.

Cass was off punching criminals with rocket launchers in body armour and spandex.

Duke was probably actually in bed, Signal did morning patrols, and Damian was obstinately refusing to play video games with them perched on the back of the couch, but still.

Dick and Steph had both given one life to the cause too, and for all Dick was a cop and in danger on his day job too, cops pretty famously showed up after the vigilantes ended the party.

More than half Jason’s immediate family were back in the line of fire and Danny could practically taste Jason’s Obsession eating away at him.

As much as he tried to pretend he was playing along and gave a shit about winning, the controller creaked in his hands more than a couple casual races should allow.

So, yeah, if he couldn’t get Jason to crack a smile with this one, he was gonna gently bow them both the fuck outta the manor.

He kept half an eye on Tim, who had a glass of water.

“Hey, you guys heard the theory about Batman?” He asked casually, just as another round of Mariokart started.

Jason kicked him in the ankle but otherwise ignored him, which was fair. He’d been exposed to Danny’s bullshit.

Tim stiffened and then forced himself to relax, Tucker rolled his eyes and jostled Danny from his other side, but it was Harley who answered.

Innocent as the day she was born.

“Oh? What? Is it that he’s a lizardman? Cuz I got right up on that cowl and he’s definitely a mammal,” she said casually, not even looking away from the screen.

Danny was pretty sure he heard Damian almost slip off his perch.

He was a little bit in love with Harley Quinn. He should get her number for Jazz, maybe his big sister would learn to have a little fun.

Grinning broad and only half fake, he drifted a turn to pick up a double item from under Tucker’s nose.

“Shit, yeah, you might actually know! It’s his secret identity!” He exclaimed cheerfully, and felt the tension in the room ratchet up.

From Tim and Damian. Jason… still wasn’t paying attention.

Not like he was deeply immersed in the game, for all he kept up he was nowhere near the speed demon that handed Danny his ass the night before.

Hmm. Better get his attention.

Tim and Damian had already settled again, probably remembering he was already In The Know even if Tucker wasn’t, and Harley had given him a very knowing look right before she fire flowered him.

Almost ready.

He waited until Tim had taken a hasty sip of water on a calm stretch, nudged Jason in the shins, and made sure he was louder than the music.

“So d’you think it’s possible that Markiplier’s Batman?”

Tim sprayed water across the couch, Harley fucking cackled, and Jason snapped his head around to stare at Danny so hard he cricked his neck.

Danny red shelled him for good measure, just so he wasn’t missing anything on screen.

Tucker rolled his eyes, also deeply deeply used to Danny’s bullshit and much more interested in gaming revenge.

“Fuck off Danny, Markiplier isn’t even a Gothamite,” he said disdainfully and Danny shook his head, grinning.

“That’s why it’s the perfect cover. I mean, Batman wants to keep his secret identity a secret, right? So having an identity that very publicly “isn’t in Gotham” makes perfect sense!” He argued cheerfully.

Jason half snorted a laugh beside him, picking back up and speeding his way back into the race. Across the couch Tim wiped his face, still catching his breath.

“I fucking hate that that made sense,” he moaned, and Harley cackled again.

“Nah, he’s got a point! How does anyone know where a youtuber lives? We only see one room!” She agreed cheerfully, clearly leaning in.

It was so nice to have a true showwoman in the crowd.

Damian looked angry in the confused way now, and Danny would hazard a guess he didn’t watch youtube at all, let alone a lets player. That might have made it funnier, had there been no other concerns.

Beside him Jason huffed out another dry chuckle, shaking his head with the barest hint of a smile.

“I can’t believe Batman has an OnlyFans,” he said in a solemn, almost sorrowful voice… and dropped a blue shell.

Tim groaned like his soul had gone with it, clinging desperately to his first place lead. Harley cackled and added her own green shells to the mix, dropping all three as they came to the home stretch.

“Don’t forget the calendar of tasteful nudes! All for charity, just what Batsy would like,” she crowed with evident glee, and Tucker snorted a laugh.

“It’d explain all the surgeries,” he agreed reluctantly, and Danny had a sudden, utterly wicked idea.

“Hey… now that Batman’s on OnlyFans, d’you think he’ll convince the whole Justice League to do a pinup calendar, or just the other bats?” He asked innocently, watching said bats from the corner of his eye.

Well, Robins technically, but since only Tim was of age birds didn’t seem appropriate.

Tim himself threw his controller to the ground, abandoning the game and throwing himself over the back of the couch and almost hitting Damian on the way.

Damian definitely hissed at him like a startled cat.

No way Danny imagined that this close to the finish.

Tucker hesitated for a long moment, clearly considering his odds of winning, but when Harley blasted past Tim’s spun out corpse and across the finish line he abandoned his controller too to check on Tim.

Harley was surprisingly good at the game when flopped sideways on her chosen couch, laughing too hard to breathe. Danny breezed into an easy third behind her and Jason, giving the other man an assessing look.

A little wary of reaching out with his aura, especially when Jason was on edge. He didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

Didn’t want to be too invasive, if he was honest. Danny had… kinda always been the one who was new to aura stuff before. And he’d gotten used to it, in the Ghost Zone.

He’d never spent this much time with another halfa before. Especially not without a single trace of punching or stabbing.

Except in Mariokart, where the Geneva Convention held no sway.

He’d have to get Ellie to give it a shot the next time she came by, she could join them remotely from an internet cafe anywhere on Earth.

Jason had clearly noticed him looking though, and read the concern even without Danny pushing. He gave Danny’s shoulder a gentle bump, a nudge of fine-stop worrying alongside.

Danny nudged back, his own disbelief tinged with understanding-empathy-worried too.

But, that was kinda the other thing… the thing he didn’t really want to bring up around the other bats just yet.

And while Jason had smiled, Danny didn’t think he’d mind them dipping out.

Faking a yawn, he stretched, cracked his back, and looked over to where Tim had rejoined the couch.

“Honestly, I’m beat. I gotta try and get back into a better sleep schedule before classes start,” he said, pulling a face at the self-reminder.

Their break was coming to its end, and then he’d be back into university. His class schedule was flexible, more afternoons than early mornings, but he’d… miss this.

Free time to just spend the whole day hanging out with friends and catching up. Meeting Jason’s family, Jason meeting his.

Danny didn’t actually know what Jason did, whether he was working or going back to school, but it was gonna come up soon.

They had a trip to Frostbite to plan, some ecto shots from Danny’s fridge, and at some point he still had to introduce Jason to Frighty… and probably ask the guy if he wanted to be called that still.

It’d be a little weird to start calling him Halloween or whatever, but frankly him obeying Danny’s orders and calling him “my liege” was way fucking weirder so it’d be fine.

And about four more days before half of Danny’s time would be eaten by lectures, study halls, and projects. Fuck, maybe Jason would give him a hand with those too.

So long as he wasn’t sick of Danny by then.

Another quick glance showed that Jason’s face had reset into that tense almost-scowl again, staring past the TV.

At the other end of the couch, Tim gave a disgruntled huff.

“I’m gonna make you pay for that next time,” he grumbled, shifting to Tucker with an adorable moment of sudden concern. “Do you need me to show you to a room too, or…”

Tucker shook his head with a snicker, giving Danny a side eye.

“Nah, unlike that weakling I got used to the vigilante sleep schedule back in high school. I’m good for a couple more hours at least,” he bragged.

Danny flipped him off, hauling himself to his feet and giving Jason a nudge.

“Yeah, well, this weakling fought a croc last night and needs his sleep. Mind giving me a ride back?” He asked when Jason looked up at him.

Gently offered a touch of easy out-reassurance-trust me.

The deep furrows in Jason’s brows twitched until he caught on and his expression cleared. He nodded quickly and pulled himself to his feet.

“Yeah, we can take my bike.” Then he hesitated and looked a little uncertain. “You never told me where you live.”

It took Danny a moment to realise that… no, he really hadn’t, because that just plain didn’t feel right. But no, he’d met Jason again in that coffee shop, then come to the gala with Sam.

Hadn’t gone home last night, just stopped at one of Jason’s apparently multiple places; at least he was doing better than Danny had thought from the first apartment.

He found himself chuckling at the thought, shaking his head.

“Oh yeah, we’ve only been to your place… I’m at the south dorm at Gotham U, I can give you directions as we get closer,” he offered and Jason nodded.

He felt… weird? Like he was surprised Danny had told him where he lived, and ashamed of being surprised.

Danny decided not to dig into it, offering Jason his arm and bowing like all those Shakespeare plays he knew Jason loved.

“Shall we?”

Jason’s moment of surprise was quickly swallowed by delight and he bowed back, then tucked his hand into Danny’s elbow. Almost definitely knew etiquette better than Danny did, so Danny wasn’t gonna doubt him.

“We shall. I’ll drop you off and head home,” he agreed, then paused and glanced back at Harley.

Whose giggling had completely ended and was now watching them like her favourite sitcom. Chin in hands and all.

“Did you wanna meet up here tomorrow, or…” Jason trailed off, obviously also a little put off by her intensity.

She perked up when addressed, giving him a cheery grin and a double thumbs up.

“Here or th’ station, I don’t mind! Hey, did ya wanna come too, Danny boy?” She asked sweetly, head cocked to the side and just waaaay too innocent.

Not that Danny could work out what she was up to.

“Uh… to do what?” He asked carefully, head cocking to match hers before he noticed and straightened up.

Her grin widened, so she noticed.

“Oh, Jason an’ I are gonna go check on my buddy Waylon, see if we can’t work out what he was doin’ at the gala. If y’ouse threw down he might like ta see ya there?”

Which honestly left Danny at a loss, until Tim explained.

“Killer Croc. His actual name’s Waylon Jones, and he was Harley’s tenant in Coney Island before coming back to Gotham,” he said casually, and Danny stilled.

Felt something cold and all too familiar at the back of his neck. And felt Harley notice it, suddenly predator sharp in a way he hadn’t felt since Skulker was a serious threat.

For the life of him though, he couldn’t put his finger on what he felt, since she didn’t move. Just grinned like she had been all along.

“People called him Killer Croc cuz of his skin condition. He gave up tryin’ ta change their minds,” she said with a light shrug, completely belied by the intensity of her stare.

Danny couldn’t look away until she released him, something satisfied in the quirk of her lip. Like she could feel the sudden well of tension in his chest.

He’d never actually given in to all the things his parents had called Phantom. They’d been ashamed of all of them when the truth came out, and he’d only had to put up with them for a few years.

He tried to imagine decades of it, being called a monster for things he couldn’t control. For nothing more than a weird scaly skin condition.

He couldn’t imagine going full bomb vest over it, but Danny was man enough to admit he might just be a little touchy because of Jason’s death.

Which Waylon might not even know about.

Suddenly he actually did want to know why they’d attacked the gala.

Until now it had just been inevitable, someone was going to so why not them, but… well. He’d felt it under the whole plan, every stupid step.

Jason had trusted Waylon, not Danny, to keep things from getting out of hand. To know that a tussle was part of the fun.

Danny hadn’t planned on asking, but. Yeah.

“I’d like that,” he agreed quickly, nodding, at about the same time as Tucker found his own voice.

“Wait, that’s a skin condition? He’s just like that?” The techie asked sharply, staring around at Tim and Damian to confirm.

And got a disdainful look from Damian back.

“Tt, what else would it be? Do you know many scaled people?” He asked archly.

Danny’s mind snapped directly to Dora and her asshole brother. Knew Tucker’s had gone to the same place a second later.

“More than you’d think,” he and Tucker said in unison, and they shared a grin. If there was one benefit to their fucked up ghost hunting years, it was shutting down smart ass remarks.

Damian only looked more annoyed at being corrected, and Tucker shrugged.

“I thought he mighta been a scientist and tried to fuse himself with a lizard or something, like in Spider-Man,” he elaborated, and Danny kinda hated how much their lives resembled superhero movies.

Not that he’d say that in a room full of bats.

Damian’s brows drew down even further and he sneered, displeasure evident, but Jason cut him off before he could speak.

“Before you make a comment about mad scientists I’m gonna remind you we live in a city with Viktor Fries,” he said dryly and Damian’s mouth snapped shut.

Big brother privileges.

Wouldn’t it be nice if Ellie had given Danny those?

Tucker gave Danny a confused look, and Danny just shrugged back. He didn’t pay much attention to Gotham’s various rogues; he didn’t want to tempt his Obsession.

Tim chimed in again, without actually looking at Tucker which was kinda impressive.

“Dr Freeze. He uses a lot of liquid nitrogen and freeze rays, he’s usually after money or diamonds to try and cure his wife,” he explained with a slight shrug.

Tucker made a confused noise.

“So… couldn’t Bruce just pay him off and keep him from bothering the city?” He asked carefully, glancing around the room.

Jason actually snorted a laugh at that, shaking his head.

“If he could, he would have. What Fries wants isn’t possible yet.”

Not possible for humans. Part of Danny perked up, wondering if Frostbite might have the answers… but no. It wasn’t his job to solve every problem in the world.

Bringing healthy humans to the Zone was iffy. An already sick woman… well, she might get hastened along her journey to the afterlife.

And this was a conversation he really wanted to keep away from, honestly. Gotham’s rogues weren’t his problem. Couldn’t be his problem.

Danny fought ghosts, unkillable entities who enjoyed missile attacks as sport. He wasn’t interested in learning how squishy human rogues were; it had been bad enough with his friends in the line of fire.

Mega pass on being the firing squad.

He almost reconsidered the trip tomorrow, but… he trusted Jason. Trusted Jason knew where he was coming from, and that neither of them wanted to trip Danny’s Obsession.

So he gave the big guy a smile and an elbow nudge, nodding for the door.

“Not that rogue chat isn’t fascinating, but you were taking me to bed?” He asked hopefully, and only realised what he’d said when Harley stuffed half her fist in her mouth to laugh.

—————

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[soleminisanction]

If you ever have the time/interest, would you break down the canon surrounding Stephanie’s economic circumstances/home life? It seems like a lot of people have chosen to take it a specific way so I’d love to see your reasoning

Sure. Thanks for asking, it's honestly a fun topic.

Y’know it’s funny—I actually happen to own something that I think most people, even most Steph fans, haven’t seen: Steph’s first appearance. Not her Robin first appearance, her Detective Comics first appearance, her actual introduction. I happened to pick them up by accident at a con a few years ago because they’re also some of Tim’s first cover appearances. 

Other people might disagree with me on this, but I like to go back to the characters’ origins whenever I can to find the baseline of what they were originally intended to be and try to bring later interpretations in line with that. I like to think of retcons as new revelations, new plot twists in an ongoing story, and not a way to reset aspects of the past just to fit your story. It works especially well for this because Steph’s socio-economic status doesn’t actually change, there’s just kind of a game of telephone that happens across the decades that leads people to misunderstand. 

One thing worth noting in these early issues is just how much Steph, a 16-year-old girl, has at her disposal before she ever even glimpses Batman and Robin. Literally the first shot we ever see of the Spoiler is this: 

And because I am, in fact, that kind of nerd, I have gone in a couple of times and dug out old era-appropriate electronics magazines to figure out what that piece of equipment would cost you in 1992. Baseline for a parabolic microphone is $600, and that price is for much larger, more delicate pieces of equipment meant to be used for like, outdoor nature shoots, which wouldn’t be able to hear through glass. Steph probably dropped $1,000 on that microphone alone. 

Remember also that her costume is homemade—she doesn’t have any other way of getting it. She’s also shown using some pretty elaborate climbing and painting gear, with no indication that they were stolen or borrowed or anything, and you can see that she’s got a pretty well-stocked utility belt there.

Again, for some reason people tend to forget or overlook this but, right up until she demanded Bruce make her Robin, Steph operated as Spoiler with zero Bat support. She got some hand-to-hand training from Cass late in the game and tagged along on some of Tim’s assignments, but was otherwise being actively discouraged from vigilantism for most of her career. She made her own costume, bought her own equipment, and maintained her own motorcycle, all without the financial support of either Batman or her parents. 

So right off the bat we know she’s a teenage girl with a not-insignificant amount of personal disposable income, the only hinted source of which is the implication she works a part-time job somewhere—which I don’t think is ever brought up again when she reappears in Robin. 

We all know minimum wage went further in 1992 than it does now, but it didn’t go that much further. So it’s reasonable to assume that Steph has access to at least some money from her parents to support her vigilante habit, whether that’s in the form of an allowance, gifts that she carefully manages between Christmas and birthdays, or money that she’s able to just, take from Crystal without her noticing. 

But this page is more important to our current interests because it’s also when we see Steph’s neighborhood for the first time. We’re told here that Steph and her mother (who is called Mrs. Agnes Bellinger in this comic, although it’s possible she was using a fake name to visit her ex in prison) live in what is described as “115 South Holden Street, in Manchester.” 

Now keep in mind, the Gotham City map can be extremely fluid and tends to change depending on the needs of the story. But there have been attempts to map it, and “Manchester” has never been on any of those maps, so we have to do some extrapolation. At the very least, we can tell the neighborhood is clearly not in the city, given the very deliberate angle there in the first panel to show that they’re well away from the crowded downtown Gotham skyline.

This implies that Manchester is intended to be one of the mainland suburbs that feeds the island city of Gotham, similar to Bristol Township where the Wayne and Drake Manors are located. It’s not nearly as nice a neighborhood as Bristol—note the fenced-in front lawns, the broken shutters on the neighboring houses, and the vaguely racist lawn ornament on the Brown’s property—but it’s also not some rundown slum. People aren’t afraid to let kids play in their front yards or leave their garage doors standing open. And you'll note those aren't trailers, either, they're decently-sized suburban homes.

Also worth noting: Crystal seems to keep this house perfectly fine on her own as a single mother. Arthur doesn’t live with them; when he’s shown having residences it tends to be apartments in the city by himself, and it’s not like he could support them from prison or with his ill-gotten criminal gains. And yet, we don’t see Steph or Crystal worrying at all about bills or mortgages or anything like that throughout any of their appearances. We see the interior of their house on several occasions and, while it’s often messy, it’s not in disrepair or neglect.

This is a constant portrayal throughout all of Steph's appearances, from Robin through even her run as Batgirl. So, with that in mind, where does the idea that Steph is poor come from? Well, I’ve got a couple of theories.

One is the usual comics fandom problem: canon is huge, nobody can keep up with all of it, and some people go out of their way to be assholes about it, so misinformation gets spread like wildfire, in no small part because Steph is a character that a lot of people use as a self-insert and therefore she must be the misunderstood underdog in all things.

But on the more-interesting-to-talk-about front… I don’t think it’s controversial to say that Steph’s first big storyline was her pregnancy. Yeah? Like, it’s the first story involving her that really started getting critical attention. Whether it deserves that attention is more open to debate—personally, since reading Icon & Rocket for the first time, I’ve come to view it as Dixon pulling the comic book equivalent of white guys repackaging black music and watering it down—but the important thing right now is that it’s the first time people would’ve been specifically reading the Robin comics for Stephanie Brown. And in those comics, Steph’s house is shown as visibly run-down, covered in cracks and disrepair.

Thing is, there’s a context that people miss if you’re reading for the baby storyline and nothing else: this storyline plays out over the last days of “Aftershock” and early months of “No Man’s Land,” the storyline where Gotham is racked by a destructive earthquake that nearly levels the city and is abandoned by the federal government.

Again, we get the reinforced confirmation that Steph’s house isn’t actually in Gotham because it’s not destroyed in the quake—the neighborhood is damaged and briefly evacuated due to a gas line rupture in the immediate aftermath, but once that’s cleared up they’re free to return home, and their suburb is not part of the federal government's evacuation. Nearly every building in Gotham is shown with similar damage during this time, including Drake Manor. 

This storyline also plays into, I think, the stereotypes that people jump on when it comes to Steph’s socioeconomic status. Like I’ve mentioned before: Arthur is a criminal, Crystal is a drug addict, and Steph is a teen mom. Therefore, they must be poor, right? Because good middle class families supposedly don’t have those kinds of problems.

But, as I’ve mentioned before, that’s an inaccurate stereotype that ignores reality: plenty of drug addicts, criminals and teen moms live in the suburbs. And the Browns’ specific circumstances are distinctly atypical of the stereotype—Arthur’s not some down-on-his-luck thief pushed to crime by economic hardship, he’s an arrogant former gameshow host who thinks he’s smarter than everyone else and resents the world for not handing him the success he feels entitled to. Crystal’s not some crack addict, she’s a working nurse who used to get her doctor friends to write her scripts for prescription painkillers. And Steph is just a teenage girl who slept with a boy and got pregnant, with the costs of prenatal care and/or childrearing never seeming to be a factor in her decision to bring the child to term and give it up for adoption. 

I could go on but that’s pretty much the long and short of it: Steph is simply not shown as being poor in the comics. Ever. She’s not rich, she does clearly rely on her fists much more than any gadgets or fancy gear and lives with her mother rather than moving out on her own for college, but she’s also never shown worrying about student loans and can apparently pay for all her classes with some government assistance and a part-time job alone.

People just assume that she’s poor because they’re misinformed, or they’re projecting, or they’ve got biases they haven’t examined, or they need her to be an underdog to justify their argument against one of the other characters, or they really want her to be buddy-buds with Jason for some reason. 

Or, y’know, they just don’t want to acknowledge that they’re rooting for a middle-class white girl from the suburbs who commutes into the inner city to pick fights for fun. 

[incorrectbatfam]

no bond is stronger than the one between a batkid and his corresponding speedster

Literally, there's a speedster to compliment every bat

Dick and Wally have the classic brolationship—they have their own partners but that won't stop them from sleeping in the same bed, ordering one milkshake, or sharing custody of Zitka. They have the comfort of knowing that in every life, they have each other. Plus, Babs and Linda already have their bredding (bro wedding) planned out.

Hear me out: Jason's speedster is Owen Mercer. Owen, who's the second Captain Boomerang with short bursts of speed, can act as both the hero and the villain in different narratives. Unlike his predecessor, his alignment shifts to suit his needs but he's more good than bad, which makes him a prime Outlaw candidate. Also Jason wants to set the record for most redheads collected.

Tim has Bart. A lot of fan portrayals have Bart as tertiary to Tim and Kon (it's even a point of contention in canon). However, I think of Bart's mentality as the antithesis to Tim's. Tim mulls over strategy while Bart chooses to act first. They both have a stubborn righteousness, but Tim is jaded with experience compared to Bart, who maintains a youthful sense of optimism and ambition. They're both geniuses, but Bart is far more in touch with emotions and can call out when something isn't right in a relationship.

Damian has Wallace II. Canonically, they butt heads before coming to the realization they have to team up. Rather than being the opposite, I think Wallace's defiant attitude mirrors Damian's. They've both been let down by the adults in their lives and prefer to take things into their own hands. They both have childish egos that have been subdued over time, which can be both a common ground and a clashing point that keeps their relationship interesting.

I was initially gonna pair Jesse with Babs, but I think there's more growth potential with Steph. They're fast learners who aren't afraid to let themselves feel, and sometimes they're in over their heads. Jesse feels like a future snapshot of Steph. I can see Jesse showing Steph how to channel her passion and energy not just in being hero, but also becoming a better version of herself.

Duke and Cass share Avery. Compared to Duke, Cass and Avery have been around more. I can picture them taking him around the world on new adventures and teaching him tricks that Bruce wouldn't have. Avery switches between places pretty often, which makes her a reliable point of contact outside of Gotham. Also I wanna see Duke and Avery combine their powers.

Babs and Danica are the "let people underestimate us because of our disabilities" duo. While Babs is on the home front as Oracle, Danica is the speedster no one expects because her inhaler throws off all suspicions about her identity. While Danica doesn't quite fit with the Birds of Prey, she still makes a valuable ally.

Thaddeus possesses a cynicism akin to Cullen Row, although Thad is more unhinged. I can see them connecting over their resentment and without anyone to keep them in check, that can be dangerous. However, Harper is more grounded and draws clear moral boundaries, so she acts as a counterbalance that turns a destructive relationship into a productive one.

Jess and Carrie's nonbinary asses would definitely get along. They both have fun personalities and creative ways to navigate situations where not many tools are provided. They can be loud and attention grabbing when they want, but they also know the advantages of being in the background.

Kate and Max are similar in that they're mentors, but they're also not. They're the ones who step in when the usual mentor figures (Bruce and Barry) fall short. They have a distant exterior but provide lots of love and support once someone gets through to them, and they're not afraid to call out their counterparts.

Alfred and Jay have plenty of experience under their belts and don't let their age keep them from the action. It's abundantly clear that they care about their families, and it hurts when they can't protect them from everything. Jay has a more American Grandpa sense of humor while Alfred has the dry British wit, so together they're unstoppable.

John Fox barely shows up in the comics, but when he does he's doing what he thinks is best only to land in trouble. Selina would relate to the messy history and moral ambiguity where actions don't match intentions. They also both have a knack for disguises and can exchange tips.

Bruce has Barry, obviously. Their relationship is similar to Tim and Bart's. Bruce definitely lets the grimdarkness seep into how he sees the world, whereas Barry can step back and look at things from an objective lens. Not everything need a complicated plans with a thousand contingencies, so Barry is like the common sense/Occam's Razor. Plus, we all love how he and the team mess with Bruce—it's what Bruce needs.