#Break the Floor

[bigdancefan2008]

Dark Horse

Who are your dark horses for this season?

A lot of people assume TDA Vegas top 3 will include Sylviewinn, Savannah and Stella. Im surprised that I havent seen Lucias name mentioned much. I think Lucia should definitely be in there. Perhaps even as a frontrunner. But I am also surprised that I havent seen anyone really talk about Madisyn Amos. She was top 10 last year and is only getting stronger. She also had a top 3 finals solo last year which proved she can do more than just jazz.

I think the juniors need to look out for Mika Takase. She is my dark horse this season. Not for best dancer. Just as someone who I dont htink a lot of poeple are looking out for. Mika had a good season last year but came out swinging this year with wins over some top contenders. I think Anita Rodriguez will surprise some people in Orlando. I think Stars has a shot at having a first year Junior take teh title two years in a row.

Ill post later about my dark horses for teens and seniors.

[alldancersaretalented]

Project 21 Top 3 Placements

Cece Chung (Age 9):

Nuvo Santa Clara: 3rd in Mini Solo (Copacobana)

KAR Redondo Beach (February): 2nd Runner-Up for Elite Junior Miss Dance (Copacobana)

NYCDA Santa Clara: 3rd in Mini Solo (Copacobana)

Adrenaline Los Angeles: 3rd in Mini Solo (Move)

Aliya Yen (10):

Nuvo Santa Clara: 1st in Mini Solo (Before It Ends)

Starbound Upland: 1st in Junior Elite Solo (Before It Ends)

24Seven Anaheim: 1st in Mini Solo (Mink, Schmink)

NYCDA Phoenix: 2nd in Mini Solo (Before It Ends)

Starbound Upland: 2nd in Junior Elite Solo (Mink, Schmink)

YAGP San Diego: 3rd in Pre-Comp. Contemporary (Matrix)

Bristyn Scifres (12):

24Seven Glendale: 1st in Junior Solo (It Cannot Be)

Jump Honolulu: 2nd in Junior Solo (It Cannot Be)

Nuvo Phoenix: 3rd in Junior Solo (It Cannot Be)

24Seven Anaheim: 3rd in Junior Solo (It Cannot Be)

NYCDA Santa Clara: 3rd in Junior Solo (It Cannot Be)

Berkeley Scifres (12):

24Seven Anaheim: 1st in Junior Solo (Cornet Man)

Jump Las Vegas: 3rd in Junior Solo (L.O.V.E.)

Jump Honolulu: 3rd in Junior Solo (Cornet Man)

Chloe Mirabel (12):

KAR Redondo Beach (February): Elite Miss Teen Dance (Woman)

KAR Redondo Beach (February): 2nd in Elite Solo 12-14 (Woman)

Radix Portland: 2nd in Junior Solo (Woman)

Leilani Lawlor (12):

24Seven Houston: 1st in Junior Solo (Taking Note)

Jump Honolulu: 2nd in Junior Solo (Taking Note)

24Seven Glendale: 2nd in Junior Solo (Taking Note)

Radix Dallas: 3rd in Junior Solo (Taking Note)

Regan Gerena (12):

24Seven Anaheim: 3rd in Junior Solo (Heartburn)

Sara Von Rotz (12):

24Seven Anaheim: 1st in Junior Solo (Champagne Taste)

Gravit8 Orange County: 2nd in Elite Teen Solo (The Calling)

Nuvo Santa Clara: 3rd in Junior Solo (Light Surrounds)

Elliana Anbarden (12):

24Seven Anaheim: 1st in Junior Solo (Somebody Help Me)

NYCDA Santa Clara: 2nd in Junior Solo (Somebody Help Me)

Airi Dela Cruz (13):

KAR Long Beach (May): 1st in Top Elite Solo 12-14

Brooklyn Ladia (13):

NYCDA Phoenix: 2nd in Teen Solo (The Middle Is The End)

24Seven Glendale: 2nd in Teen Solo (The Middle Is The End)

24Seven San Diego: 3rd in Teen Solo (Sing It Back)

Leighton Werner (14):

KAR Exclusive Long Beach: 2nd Runner-Up for Miss Elite Teen Dance (Back To Black)

Gracyn French (15):

Jump Las Vegas: 1st in Teen Solo (Silhouetted In Sunshine)

KAR Riverside: 1st in Top Elite Solo 15-19 (El Tango De Roxanne)

KAR Riverside: Miss Elite Dance (El Tango De Roxanne)

24Seven San Diego: 2nd in Teen Solo (Silhouetted In Sunshine)

Radix Anaheim: 2nd in Teen Solo (Paul Is Dying)

24Seven Glendale: 2nd in Teen Solo (El Tango De Roxanne)

24Seven Chicago: 3rd in Teen Solo (Paul Is Dying)

Nuvo Santa Clara: 3rd in Teen Solo (Pale Blue Sun)

Nuvo Los Angeles: 3rd in Teen Solo (Pale Blue Sun)

24Seven Anaheim: 3rd in Teen Solo (El Tango De Roxanne)

Richie Granese (15):

Jump Honolulu: 1st in Teen Solo (Black Sea)

24Seven Glendale: 1st in Teen Solo (Black Sea)

Stella Eberts (15):

24Seven Glendale: 2nd in Teen Solo (Nothing More Simple)

Radix Dallas: 3rd in Teen Solo (Nothing More Simple)

Brielle Lieberman (15):

Nuvo Los Angeles: 2nd in Teen Solo (Going Under)

Kameron Couch (16):

24Seven Glendale: 3rd in Senior Solo (Volant)

Katie Couch (16):

24Seven Glendale: 3rd in Senior Solo (Winding And Unwinding)

Avery Reyes (16):

Jump Las Vegas: 3rd in Senior Solo (I Dare You)

24Seven Anaheim: 3rd in Senior Solo (Tell Me Why)

Lexi Blanchard (16):

24Seven Glendale: 2nd in Senior Solo (Clay Pigeons)

Sammi Chung (17):

24Seven San Diego: 2nd in Senior Solo (The Silent Word)

Radix Anaheim: 2nd in Senior Solo (The Silent Word)

Jump Las Vegas: 3rd in Senior Solo (The Silent Word)

NYCDA Santa Clara: 3rd in Senior Solo (In One Ear)

[dancemomdiva5678]

Everleigh’s solo was not worthy of 2nd place:

1. Lack of flexibility-not all the way in the splits and leap was very bad.

2. Bad feet-so many flat and flexed feet at middle and end of solo.

3. Rushed-the jumps and movement looked very rushed.

Hate to say it, but her solos were better last year at pave. It’s early in the season so she will probably clean it up, but 2nd place as a first year junior is not deserved for that solo.

Btf biased again.

[danggerine]

going insane thinking about the harrow and palamedes friendship. harrow, who has never met another necromancer her age forming a bizarro 3D chess rivalry while pal worries about her safety at every possible turn. harrow, who is up to her eyebrows in paranoia and secrecy, trusting the sixth house with gideon unconscious and hurt, letting them into the ninth house quarters unsupervised. if “i cannot conceive of a universe without you in it” is goth for i love you, “death first to vultures and scavengers” has got to be goth for i love you (platonic). pal’s first reaction when harrow comes into his bubble in the river is to scoop her up in a hug, and at this point she doesn’t remember anything about him because cutting out all her memories of gideon is impossible without cutting out memories of the sixth, but she still makes him a skelehand to inhabit anyway. when harrow’s memories are finally whole, she tells dulcinea she couldn’t face pal knowing that his pen pal girlfriend died on her account, but the next time she “faces” him, palamades’s soul is in someone else’s body and harrow’s body is full of nona’s soul. he spends six months protecting and caring for harrow’s body (and nona obv), believing in the possibility of bringing her back to it the same way cam believed in him. “god, do you know i miss harrow terribly.” and by the time harrow comes back to her body at the very end of ntn, pal is gone forever, fully pauled. the last time harrow and palamades see each other as their complete selves is in canaan house, alive and unlyctored. two of the smartest and loneliest people in the solar system meet each other in the worst of circumstances and spend the rest of the story dancing around each other as fragments of themselves, trying to care about each other in the interim but never fully meeting like they did the first time. a friendship made almost entirely of missing the other person. “do you know i miss harrow terribly.” god. i need to lie down

[dcxdpdabbles]

Royal Consort? 🥺🥺

The worst part about knowing there was danger on the way was acting like everything was fine. Danny found it very annoying that instead of going through the guests individually to find the key for the invading forces, he had to dance with his future self.

Danny was pulled into a fast-paced Viennese Waltz by his future self. (He would call him Phantom since it was easier in his mind. No way could Future him have the right to be a Danny when he came dressed like King Phantom)

The two dazzled everyone by their skill. It was one of the few things Princess Dora could beat into his head when Danny had been crowned. Shockingly, Pointdexter was the ghost that took his mediocre skills and sharpened them to a level that Danny had once considered competing with.

Danny considered Pointdexter one of the best dancers to ever live. This was one reason his classmates were so cruel.

The two became fast friends after he defeated Pariah Dark, especially when Danny stumbled over the ghost version of Casper High. It seemed Pointdexter's soul was trapped in his old torment, and his classmates—the real ones from life—were still bothering him after their mirror fight.

Danny beat the 1950s teenagers and freed Pointdexter, finally removing him from his bullies. He had the teen relocate to the King's castle as his Lair Manager, where he was tasked with caretaking Pariah Dark's castle.

This, unfortunately, was done after Danny had taken the Royal Consort necklace, so his lair manager was not able to stop him from wearing it. It did make sense now why Pointdexter mentioned more than once that he was "rather vain to love yourself that much, Dano".

He just thought it was weird 50s lingo.

Phantom couldn't be that far into the future—not if they still looked so much alike—the only difference was that he was an inch or two shorter. If anything, he would guess this Danny Fenton, in all his Kingly attire, was a year or two from the current day.

He wanted all the information Phantom could give him, but sadly, the other was just as in the dark of tonight's events. The only real clue they had was what Phantom experienced.

Sometime around midnight, someone would activate the key—a rectangular tool with a loud boom when it was turned on. The tool tore apart Wayne Manor as it blew the roof away, and the invading forces were teleported to Earth.

It quickly overran Gotham, even with the Bats arriving almost instantaneously, and the aliens made quick work of the rest of the world. The Justice League responded quickly, too, and soon, it was an all-out war with planet Earth as the battlefield.

Millions of lives were lost in the battle that first night. Batman was killed around 2 a.m., followed by Superman—who was helping hold off the main mother ship—at 5 a.m. The Justice League put up their best effort, but it soon became clear they were outmatched.

The following months saw humans scrambling to fight while countries were destroyed one by one. Their armies conquered, their heroes fell in battle, and the humans were either enslaved or killed. It seemed Earth had earned a reputation in faraway galaxies.

Humans or anyone from Earth were deemed exotic pets. The aliens had come to poach them.

They had blocked all communication with Earth's allies, including the Green Lantern Corp and New Genesis, not wanting anyone to interfere with their hunt. They also decided that the resources from Earth were of enough quality to take over the planet and rip it apart to sell to the highest bidder.

The aliens came in never-ending waves no matter how many Earthlings managed to kill, forcing humanity to flee underground.

In only a short while, Earth was picked clean.

In a low, anger-coated voice, Phantom said he had just finished a mission to rescue humans from a breeding center. He had helped them escape to Ghost Zone, which had become one of the few forces keeping humans safe. His army had torn apart the galaxies to find the stolen humans when Clockwork offered him a chance to fix everything.

Danny wanted to ask so much more, but with the gala attendees watching their every move, they figured they should discuss it less, even in Ghost Dialect.

Phantom had pulled Danny into a secluded location to hiss his explanation, but it was only a few minutes before Tim Drake Wayne found them. Danny wasn't sure why, but the other teen seemed determined to speak to Phantom.

It didn't help the Waynes that Phantom already suspected them and was very hostile whenever Tim opened his mouth. If the Waynes were innocent, that could lead to a problem later, but for now, Danny could only glare at Tim.

Phantom said that the person who turned it on had stuck the rectangular device to Jazz's back, using her body as a gateway. That meant someone in this crowd would approach his sister to turn her into a sacrificial lamb.

King Phantom had already warned her—under the disguise of dancing with her to honor Danny's family. He had even danced with his parents and one with Dani—but Jazz had insisted on staying. She theorized that if she left the gala early with Dani, as Phantom had wanted, someone else would become the gateway.

The aliens would attack no matter what, and removing her would take away concrete information.

Danny and Phantom did not like it, but both agreed with her logic. They didn't even know who had betrayed humanity- whether it was voluntary.

It was barely nine-twenty. The suspense was killing Danny.

"Mind if I cut in?" A silky voice fills the air, tearing Danny away from his anxious thoughts. Danny turns to find a woman standing at their side. She is gorgeous and holds herself in a way that lets the world know she is aware of this fact.

She leans over slightly so her cleavage is on display, resting an arm on Phantom's shoulder. Her smirk sharpens when Phantom's eyes drop to her hand as he lets his hold on Danny slip.

Her smugness quickly shatters when Phantom's face clouds over in rage at the hold she has of him.

Phantom reaches up to fling her hand away. His voice overlaps with thousands of others, sending a shiver down the spine of anyone who hears it. "Don't touch me."

Danny gapes alongside the woman as Phantom twists around and waltzes them away.

"Dude, what was that?"

"We don't have time for her or anyone who wants to replace you as my husband," Phantom hisses, though his expression remains ever so loving as he swings them about. Danny matches him step by step, ignoring the gaping crowd. "The Waynes are watching us, and half the venue has asked Jazz for a dance. Dani even more so."

The two glance toward Dani, who is in an equally fast-paced Viennese Waltz with Damian Wayne. She seems to be purposely stepping on his feet. There is a line of young, influential boys waiting for their turn.

It seems they all believe this is a chance to get married to the princess of the dead. It seemed half the Gotham elites believed Phantom would go for an arranged marriage for his daughter.

Fools them.

"We still have hours before midnight. Dancing with or talking to other people would be a good idea, so try to find the key," Danny whispers to him. "You've only danced with me since you arrived. I know it's for your King Phantom image, but we can't-"

Tim Drake Wayne slides up next to them, dancing with the air and keeping pace with their movement. Both halfas blink as Wayne smiles at them brightly, looking at ease for someone acting so ridiculous. "Hello again."

Danny and Phantom keep dancing, and Danny replies with a confused hesitation. "Hey....what are you doing?"

" Nothing much! Just...ugh love this song. Couldn't find a partner so-"

"Dance with Phantom," Danny is quick to say, ignoring the way Phantom's eyes start to glow. He is done with pretending there isn't a problem. He will find that key with or without future him's help.

He pulls himself away- ignoring the hiss growing in the back of Phantom's throat. He didn't know he could do that- and tugs the alarmed-looking human into the King's arms.

"Darling." Phantom's voice is low in warning. Knowing the crowd is still watching even more openly now, Danny turns his nose up.

"I'm tired, Phantom. Dance with Wayne here since you couldn't keep your eyes off him!"

He storms away, ignoring Wayne's choked "King Phantom, I am so sorry for causing this misunderstanding. I swear I am not trying to upset the Consort or come between you two."

He disappears into the crowd that part for him, pretending to be so blinded by jealous rage that he does not notice the way he is going. Danny finds a hallway out of the gala and goes into Wayne Manor.

Now then. Danny thinks Let's see what the Waynes are hiding.

Meanwhile, Bruce drags a hand down his face, watching King Phantom's face twist as Tim babbles before him. "I told him not to upset the King."

[cometblaster2070]

genuinely just OBSESSED with this hc that apple is a complete and utter MESS when it comes to her relationship with darling.

like it's such a funny contrast for the people who know her because this is Apple White; she is calm and polite and put together, and in all the years she dated daring, she was so fucking chill about everything.

daring dating other girls? didn't give a shit. everyone's wondering why they aren't affectionate in public? well, they're just teenagers they have forever after yk. when will they go steady? they have the rest of their destinies to worry about that.

you get my drift; apple does not give a single shit when it comes to this relationship because she is so in control of it. the actual 'relationship' aspect isn't really important to her and as such she's so composed in terms of her relationship with daring.

but throw DARLING in the picture and then there's apple running around like a headless chicken, being absolutely CLUELESS about what to do now that she actually has feelings for someone.

i'd like to have an entire episode of darling and apple going out on a date where there's basically a reverse situation of the dexven date ep where raven keeps trying to hype apple up and keep her calm while thinking 'dear god was i really like this???'

meanwhile, apple's hyperventilating over here just thinking about what to wear, what jewelry will match with her dress, if she's overdoing it or not, whether she should get darling a gift or something, what if she's overdressed or underdressed, and will darling like the food where they're going, and if darling even likes her at all the way she likes darling-

in the end raven grabs dexter and she says fuck this shit you and i are going undercover and tailing them, im too worried for this lesbian disaster.

dexter agrees because he's just come from helping rosabella hide all of darling's armor and assorted weaponry and they had both enlisted the help of the wonderlandians to make sure darling didn't have a breakdown every 3 seconds every time she realized she was actually going on a date with apple.

shenanigans are ensuing and rosabella and raven are getting the worst of it by this point, but they love apple and darling too much so they put up with it.

[gabe-lovebot]

councilor 3D model

i learnt 3d modelling from the ground up to bring him to life. he's yours now. do whatever you want with him

[link]

please credit me if you make something using the model (or even ping/link me to it, i would love to see what you made!)

currently available as a .blend, .fbx and an SFM port.

[aziraphale-is-a-cat]

AU where the portal kinda took danny when he died.

So unlike Canon, upon his half death danny got transported to the infinite realms and learned how to ghost over there, rising up in the power hierarchy and eventually at around 20, coming back to the living realm for a bit.

He acts like a full ghost and has no idea how likeley his strength is to hurt people since he trained it arpund ghosts, treating humans like glass and just generally being quite careful with everything else.

Danny decides to Vacay at gotham, due to the ambient ectoplasm in the city and being unable to return to his hometown. He ends up being next door neighbors with one Todd Peters, why by complete coincidence is also undead. They start talking and hit it off.

Jason really doesn't know how to feel about his new neighbor danny, there was something so obviously off about him, too sharp teeth and unwarranted caution when handling anything, even the built to last fridge he'd had installed.

At first the delicate treatment had felt insulting, he was the Red Hood for fuck's sake, he could take a little push! But after a bit it was growing on him. The feeling of being treated with care rather than Brute force, of melting into feather light hugs instead of tanking hits. He started to look forward to it.

So now Danny's worried about hurting the cute revenant next door and Jason's having a crisis over his new not-human neighbor/crush while bemoaning the fact that if any of his brothers found out he'd never live it down.

Also danny not knowing how delicate or sturdy regular people is is so funny to me

Danny, freaking out: shit, is it okay? Will your body.... fix it???

Jason, who just got a papercut: I'm fine.

Or, alternatively:

Danny, covered in blood standing over the joker's mangled corpse: oops, I broke it ):

[xiao-come-home]

Here's a Boothill thought: if his lover ever cheers him on during a fight, he gets super pumped and starts showing off. A lot.

Heck, it's not even an intense battle anymore. You're watching some poor guy getting tossed around like a cartoon character while Boothill makes a show for you.

YES ABSOLUTELY!!

If Boothill notices you're watching him fight, duh! Cheering on him, even - he feels his body getting filled with adrenaline, and boy, he does deliver you a show you deserve!

Once the angelic voice of yours reaches his ears, Boothill wastes no time - he readjusts his hat and takes the grass blade out of his mouth, fully spreading his arms before turning around to look you in the eyes, "watch me closely, sweet pea!" A pistol emerges from his left arm, "Don't ya dare take those pretty eyes off of me!"

And well, you can't even take your eyes off of him, because watching that poor dude getting absolutely demolished by Boothill almost makes you feel bad. Except the cowboy doesn't even feel tired, even if the battle took hours already, no - it's barely the beginning.

And he shows. Off. SO. Much. He's kicking them so hard they end up flying, and before they even have a chance to see the floor again, Boothill's lips part from yours, a familiar shade of red flashes in his eyes and poof! He's back to beating them up again, flashing probably the juiciest poses the aeons have seen.

The more impressed you are, the more joy he feels - except at this point, it's almost animalistic - he spits out bullets like crazy, occasionally sending you a wink to give your heart a familiar, warm squeeze.

[hotrodmccoolgal]

No Promises.

No Demands.

Love is a Battlefield.

[bigdancefan2008]

I woke up with red eyes from the hours and hours of watching the junior Best Dancer competition on my computer yesterday. I’m not saying that these are the top 10, but these solos are the one that really stood out to me. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if most of them are top 10. The level of talent this year for the juniors is something we have never seen before.

Bella Charnstrom

Lilly Anderson

Skylar Wong

Brooklyn Ward

Francesca Jen

Kelsie Jacobson

Tayah Kilmuck

Finley Ashfield

Kylie Lawrence

Aria Du

Emily Polis

Mika Takase

Which solos stood out most for you? Any from this list? Any not on this list? I’d love to hear what the chatter is out there.

[obsessedwithstarwars]

FIGHT SCENE (that came to me while sick and slightly out of it so bear with me if it sounds CRAZYYYY)

Jazz is fighting some villain. Villain tries to use her dead brother as emotional collateral. She ignores it, seemingly unaffected, and continues to fight.

At some point the villain will be almost defeated, awaiting the final blow. They try one final plea to the red haired woman defeating them, “What would your brother say?”

At that moment, a boy falls through the ceiling, landing on the ground in front of the woman with a smug smile on his face. “I’D SAY -Actually wait hold on a sec.”

The boy gently tugs on the woman’s foot. “Jazz c’mere!” He loudly whispers.

She lets out an irritated sigh, says “Fine.”and hops over until her foot is lightly resting on his stomach. It’s almost picturesque. Her standing triumphantly on the boy who has now dramatically put his hand to his head.

He cries out (with a shit eating grin on his face), “OVER MY DEAD BODY!”

Villain: …

Danny: …

Villain: …

Danny: GET IT? Because I’m DEAD???

Jazz: “Ugh, you’re SO dramatic.”

Danny: Eh, it was funnier in my head.

Villain: …But he’s not dead?!

Danny: Would a LIVE person be able to do THIS? *does something completely normal and human*

Villain: …

Danny: …

Villain: yes.

Danny: Dammit. How about THIS? *does another completely normal human thing*

Villain: …

Danny: …

Villain: …also yes.

Danny: You’ve gotta be shitting me.

Jazz: Just soup them already!

Danny: No no! I will figure this out! How about THIS?

Villain: Yes but WHY would you WANT TO?!

Danny: Ugh Fine. What about this one??

Villain: …I personally don’t know how to do that, but yes that is something a person could do.

Danny: Really? It’s easy! Here, let me show you!

Jazz: …

Jazz: I’m going home.

[hp-lonesome-actual-art]

Oh yeah I colored the sketch today inbetween class breaks. Truly it was a necessity. Now hope you enjoy observing the utter despair of one pathetic T.V powerless to control his own puppets

[krazieka2]

Fe3h Golden Deer Night Out + Hubert, because originally I was gonna draw all the houses, but believe it or not I always had something higher priority to do lol

[afternoonapocalypse]

#TeamDumbSluts

[phantom-0-writer]

I actually thought of this prompt like forever ago and i rly wanted to write a whole story for it but i couldn't think of a plot that would stick to it and make sense without adding too many outside elements and in my opinion over saturating the story. BUT i do have a bunch of scenes of danny and damian in my head about this also also some danny and other batfam members.

So anyways your order has been delivered...

original prompt: Gotham Academy's Mentorship Program

scene two: tim's arch nemesis

table of contents

-------------

scene 01: damian's not-so-very-bad day

“Father, you wanted to speak with me.” Damian said, trugging into his Father’s study late into the afternoon per Pennyworth’s behest. 

Father looked up from his work at Damian’s arrival, Drake gave him a look of annoyance that Damian returned with a sneer. “Damian.” Father greeted as he reached Father’s work station. “I spoke with your principal earlier today.” Damian huffed and crossed his arms in defiance at whatever accusation he was about to be handed, “Put your frown away, you're not in trouble.” Father chuckled lightly. 

Damian frowned. He was not a child, he did not need to be treated like one. 

“There’s a mentorship program at your school.” Father started, Damian raised an intrigued brow at him. 

Perhaps Father had succeeded in seeing his potential, “Well I suppose I wouldn’t mind mentoring one of the many underlings at the so-called academy.” Damian sighed, letting his arms fall to his side, as he looked up at his Father. 

Father blinked at him, processing what he had said, then glanced at Drake who looked like a fraying rope length away from bursting into laughter. “The mentorship program… it’s for you.” Father tried hesitantly. 

“Yes.” Damian nodded in understanding. 

There was an uncomfortable silence from Father.

“He means that you're the one getting mentored.” Drake laughed at him, shoulders shaking. 

Damian turned to Father. But the denial never came. “What!” Damian couldn’t help scream in outrage. “You want me to get mentored by some hillbilly civilian who can't tell a katana from a wakizashi?” He slammed his hands on Father’s table. 

Father looked at him with disapproval, but said nothing, not caring enough to discipline Damian. 

“Hillbilly civilian.” Drake croaked from the corner of the room, draping himself dramatically over one of the side sofas. 

“You’re to meet him first thing tomorrow when you get to school. Here’s his student profile, if you're interested.” Father handed him a singular paper. 

“Father I do not need-” 

“It’s already been arranged Damian, atleast give it a try.” Father said with a sigh, picking up his files again in a silent dismissal of Damian. 

The paper crumpled slightly as Damian stormed to his room.  

Daniel James Fenton. 

“Let’s see how long you last.” Damian eyed the picture of the smiling teen. 

---

“Have a good day at school Masters Tim, Thomas, and Damian.” Pennyworth bid, as they all got out of the car. 

“Later, Alfred.” Thomas waved at the butler as he drove off. 

They all walked in the same direction to enter their classrooms, when Drake stopped him in his path. “Ohoho, and where do you think you’re going Damian?” he asked cheekily.

“Tsk.” He was hoping to be able to make it to his class before the others noticed, then continue to evade the principal and other faculty if need be required. To be foiled so early into his plan, furthermore by Drake, was humiliating. 

“Aren’t you supposed to be in the principal’s office?” Drake continued to smother his victory over Damian. 

“I was just on my way.” He huffed, turning around annoyed. Drake and Thomas snickered as he retreated. 

Damian knocked on the familiar oak doors. “Come in.” Mr. Carson called from the other side. Damian entered, and plopped down on the same chair he sat in every time he had been sent here. “Ah Damian. Goodmorning.” He waited for a reply, but when he realized he wouldn’t be getting one he continued on, “Mr. Fenton should be here any minute, but I’m glad you were able to come here on your own accord.” Mr. Carson talked as he hung up his jacket and took a seat at his chair. 

Damian could only watch the seconds tick by as he sat in that office. He wondered absentmindedly if Fenton didn’t show up would he be free. The knock at the door decimated all hopes Damian had for that. 

“Ah, that must be Mr. Fenton.” Mr. Carson mused out loud, “Come in.” 

Fenton entered the room hesitantly, greeting Mr. Carson with a small smile. Fenton was a scholarship student and held reasonable grades so his intellect was not to be underestimated, though often simply being able to score well on tests did not translate to having adequate life skills. Fenton was taller than Drake, but still average, dark hair, tanned skin, gray-blue eyes. When Damian’s supposed mentor looked at Damian for the first time since he had entered the room, Damian couldn’t help but feel like he was caught in a stare off with a beast. 

The way Fenton examined his surroundings reminded Damian of the League of Assassins. Careful, analytical and tactical. All things Damian had excelled in. But there was something different about Fenton than what Damian had often seen in the League. His eyes were softer than those that had trained Damian. Damian couldn’t understand why his eyes looked like that. 

Fenton smiled at him in a way that was likely meant to be kind, “Hi, you must be Damian. I’m Danny.” He stuck out his hand for Damian to shake. 

Damian did not take the hand, instead he turned to principal Carson, “When can I leave?” He asked board, subtly eying Fenton’s reaction in his peripheral vision. 

“We have to iron out the finer details and the both of you will be free to go until we see each other for our weekly check in every Friday.” Principal Carson started, “Mr. Fenton why don’t you take a seat. 

Undeterred by Damian’s lack of interest, Fenton took a seat. Mr. Carson explained to Fenton his responsibilities as a mentor and what would be expected of him, Fenton in turn nodded along attentively. After his long explanation of the whole program the both of them were free from his office, and excused from classes until lunch to “get to know each other better”.

Damian translated that to having until lunch to show Fenton that he was out of his depth and have him running with his tail between his legs. 

“So…” Fenton drawled trying to buy time to think of something adequate to say no doubt, “How about we go to the library to hang out?” Fenton offered. 

Damian simply huffed in agreement as they made their way to a pair of sofas tucked between the many rows of books. 

“So, Damian, uh, what do you like to do after school?” Fenton asked unoriginally. 

Damian turned so he could meet Fenton eye-to-eye. “Train.” He said honestly. If he plans on scaring him off then leaning into the superficial things he learned in the League would do him well. 

“Oh, you do sports?” Fenton asked inquisitively. Damian was momentarily thrown off by his show of genuine interest in his personal life, but Damian quickly collected himself. Fenton was merely putting on an act to get him to open up, Damian would be a fool to fall for it. 

“No.” He scoffed at the thought of sports, “I train for battle,” He made sure to put as much confidence as he could in his voice. Oftentimes in the past when he had told his peers of his activities they had brushed him off and laughed at him, Damian wondered if Fenton would have a similar reaction. 

“Hardcore.” Fenton nodded in awe.

Damian blinked, “You believe me?” He found himself whispering. 

“Well, yeah.” Fenton responded as if it were the most obvious thing, in fact, he seemed confused as Damian’s bafflement. 

Damian quickly collected himself, “Well of course you should believe me it’s the truth, I’m a highly skilled blade user.” He nodded to himself. 

“Blade user, huh? Do you prefer katanas or wakizashi? Or a classic long sword maybe.” Fenton asked eying Damian as if it would help him find the correct answer. 

“Katanas obviously.” Damian scoffed, “They’re incredibly balanced, strong, and give you incredible control over your attacks. Wakizashi are also a good option if you prefer close combat and if you’re fighting in an area with a lot of obstacles.” Fenton hummed and nodded at his explanation, and Damian found himself continuing, “Long swords are originally from the Bavaria and Switzerland regions during the medieval times-”