#Damian deserves better

[obnoxiousbloodstain]

Protective Damian>>

[meara-eldestofthemall]

Hello again bat-gran 👋

I appreciated your answer on the Robins situation, it intrigued me.

How would you have written Damian/where would you like his writing to go?

Poor Damian is simultaneously the Batfamily character with the most potential and the worst possible character development. If you go all the way back to his introduction it was fairly clear that readers were supposed to loathe him. He was an arrogant and rude little princeling with a chip on his shoulder the size of Cleveland.

Damian was such a brat that he even managed to exhaust Alfred's patience, which is a real feat considering the man raised Bruce.

Everyone knows that in his later interaction with Tim in this issue (Batman #657) Damian proves what a superior person he is by killing the first criminal he came across. He then tossed the decapitated head, (with a grenade in it's mouth) at Tim to make a point.

The most important thing to take away from this is that Damian has been raised in a cult that operates on the same upward mobility scheme as the Klingon Empire. In order to get ahead, you kill the person in your way. That' s exactly what Damian tried to do.

Damian was originally conceived as an anti-hero at least and a full blown villain at worst. He was supposed to be a great source of angst for Batman to darkly brood over for years. The only problem was that about half of the fandom loved hyper-violent, rude and nasty Damian. DC now had to figure out how to redeem him enough to work with Batman.

They actually did come up with a method that worked. During Battle For The Cowl Damian saved Tim's life in a very Damian way.

This was the moment that could have changed everything. This is where I would have had Damian reluctantly (very reluctantly) allow the idea that maybe his father's way of doing things had a tiny bit of merit after all. To be honest, I wouldn't have changed much of the Dick Grayson Batman and Damian Wayne Robin arc. You had a much sunnier Batman with Robin as the grim dark little gremlin a lot of people loved. Damian actually showed some positive character development without losing the edge that made him popular.

What would I have changed? This...

All the progress Damian made was unceremoniously tossed onto the garbage heap. The moment the kid got angry with Tim he went right into assassin mode and tried to kill him - again. Worst of all, there were no real consequences for his actions. Instead we're supposed to sympathize with the fact that Damian's feelings were hurt.

The impression left with the reader is that Damian maybe got a stern to talking to from Dick but that was about it. It does not help the conversation above seems to lay the blame on Tim for not having a stronger password.

This is the crux of the problem that followed Damian for years. DC seemed to actively undo any positive character development to keep him static. Damian was not allowed to be anything other than rude, arrogant and hyper-violent. He worked abysmally with Bruce's Batman, so much so that it set in stone the idea that Bruce was incapable of being a good Dad to Damian. Damian's character waffled between hero, anti-hero and kind-of-sort-of villain repeatedly. Not too long ago they were setting him up to be a bad guy yet again. Remember when Damian had his own private prison and then resigned from being Robin?

Why would DC continually do that to a character with so much potential?

What I would do with Damian is what we're now seeing. He went off and had his obligatory Robin-right-of-passage adventure on a mysterious island. Damian came back a better character. His relationship with Tim is improved enough that they still bicker dreadfully but are actually more like brothers.

I really like what I'm seeing in Batman and Robin. This is how Damian should be written. He's still got his edge and doesn't suffer fools well but he's working towards a positive future.

So, if you'll forgive this pedantic old Bat-Gran, my point is that what I want to see, what I as a writer would do, is keep him more on the path of the current Batman and Robin series and less of what we see in the current Batman series.

Most of all I would write Damian consistently, not vary the basics of his personality from book to book. That is the cardinal flaw that has always plagued DC.

Who I want Damian to be is a young man who is just beginning to discover that he can choose his own future. My version of Damian can honor his heritage but still move forward into the best version of himself. He can be someone who, perhaps like many teens, has no idea what he'll be in ten years but does know that it's a path he chooses for himself, not one forced on him by either the Waynes or the Al Ghuls.

I just hope I live long enough to see that. I'm already 67 so I hope DC stops messing around gets to it, please.

So, are you sorry you asked?

[decadentrot]

Hello just wanna ask, Do you think that damian's parents are in an arranged marriage? it feels like it when you read the new chapter of the manga.

Ok imma be real i havent actually "read" the newest chapters yet. I enjoy reading them in big chunks/arcs to fully immerse myself and so i dont forget details, but i dont mind spoilers strangely sooo b/c of this i let myself see spoilers on the TL and i heard some stuff from my friends about the red circus arc. So my thoughts based on my limited knowledge (up to the Friendship Scheme Arc) on Damian's parents:

THEY SUCK and if they are in an arranged marriage then honestly i feel like that would make a lot of sense to show a foil/connection to Anya's family. I hope im explaining this correctly but its like the Forger family isn't perfect but theyre kinda 'fantastical' in a sense that they all got together somehow by 'fate' and they are all leaning towards a 'found family learning how to love' kinda vibe, while the Desmonds are built by the harsh reality of life's obligation and everyday they realize how much it sucks. They got together probably out of expectation and politics and everyday the bitterness and disappointment for each other hits a little harder. Maybe im projecting too hard, but i feel its like the Forgers show an ideal of what everyone wants (eating the table with home cooked meals and parents who actively take part in helping your education) while the Desmonds show the bitter truth of most families (unrealistic high standards to live up to without any help from parents and not being able to grow as your own person because your being forced to be your parents second chance of living) aka found family vs forced family. So even whether its contractually obligated, i do believe their marriage at least came from a social obligation, especially being a woman in that time period.

I mean thats part of the reason Yor agreed to be with Loid right, to keep suspicion off of her as a single woman. I do think Melinda wasn't ready/didn't want to be a mom/wife and desperately wanted a free life, but as a woman of her status she was expected to marry wealthy and become a housewife obedient to her husband's wishes. It didnt help her that her husband was this big powerful political man, she probably couldn't complain to anyone without it reaching his ears. I don't think Donovan lets her have much control over the parenting department despite not having any interest in it himself. Like Damian, I imagine that Demetrius also lived in the dorm rooms away from Melinda and forced to study. And seeing how stripped of freedom she got in regards to Demetrius, Melinda didn't want to give birth to another child for years explaining the big age gap between the brothers and her distaste for Damian or maybe she did have more kids and maybe they were girls and maybe Donovan saw no use in having daughters and sent them away to some "facility" for better use and Melinda is now scared of what her husband is capable of...

Either way, it definitely seems like an unwanted unhappy marriage :(

[thedevilundercover]

Yk what dc definitely needs? An ao3 cameo bc have you seen your fan base, there is definitely some rando writing Batman/Brucie fics in Gotham because Batman Is Not beating the sugar baby allegations.

And have you seen the fucking batfam, Jason writes BatBruce fanfics whenever he feels Chaotic and Tim edits them whenever he get pissed at Bruce

Now I really want to see like fandom wars in the DCU but it's just the Batkids fighting for their ship bc they want [blank superhero] as their step parent

Imagine going on Tumblr and it's just like the same 10 blogs threatening each other because they don't agree with who's fucking batman? It'd be hilarious

Twitter fic this Twitter fic that, what about tumblr fics, huh?

[casscainmainly]

Excluding Jason because he's been through enough <3.

[deadtiredghost]

the only reason Tim Drake and Damian Wayne don't get along is because if they did the writers wouldn't be able to come up with a plot contrived enough for them to struggle with.

they would be the ultimate team if they could just work smoothly together.

but they cant so balance is restored to the world i guess.

[xmultifandomsx]

the understanding robin

Tim completely understanding that his training was different from Jason's and Dick's because Bruce was at a low point but still not really trusting him to train Damian. As much as he hated the pompous brat, a small part of him was relieved when Dick took over his Robin training. Logically, Tim knew Bruce was better now. He knew that Bruce would pull his punches when weapons sparring, he knew Bruce was picky about the missions he allowed Damian on (even now when Damian had been Robin for years). The care Bruce shows Damian painfully relieving. He lets out a breath every time he finds Damian unbruised after a sparring session, ignoring the phantom aches of a younger him. Still, there was that dark wriggling mass inside him that made him keep an eye on the mats whenever he caught them training. One time he barely restrains himself from jumping up from the batcomputer and rushing over when Bruce flips Damian onto the mats a bit too roughly. Of course, Bruce is immediately muttering apologies, which Damian shrugs off easily, and cancels the rest of training so he can look him over. As the father and son duo leave, neither older man can look at the other. One day Bruce will apologize, will explain everything Tim already knows. Then Tim will do what he's always done, and ease his guilt with understanding.

[kazbrekkeriselite]

Damian: I am darkness. I am an power. I am your worst nightmare. I could kill a man in more ways than you can imagine. I am the night. I am fury, I am a weapon, I am-  Dick : A doll.  Tim: A cinnamon roll.  Jason: A sweetheart.  Damian: Damian: ...stop it.

[fijiwater33]

Give it a few years with them and that could change :(

Damian being the most sane and happy person in his family don't sit right to me

[lovysmtalks]

Adrien is the Ken of Daminette and every other existing ship with Marinette

I can't explain why or how, just "I'm just ken, where I see love she sees a friend" fits most of the usual daminette scenarios, OR any other ship.

#AdrienisKenough

[brucie-baby]

“hope” is the thing with feathers - emily dickinson

batman/superman: world's finest #6 // red hood and the outlaws: rebirth // batman v3 #135 // robin v4 #126 // shadow war #3 // nightwing v4 annual 2 // batman v3 #148 // batman v3 #125 // batman v1 #633 // batman incorporated v2 #8 // detective comics #1000

[martyrsex]

Jason Todd x Singer reader (fem) Part 2

Author's note: First of all, thanks everyone for the amazing feedback of the first part! It made me a happier person.

summary: After the first repercussions of what you said in Kurt's interview, your agent decided it was time to do a show in Gotham. Nothing could go wrong... Right?

Here's part one: https://www.tumblr.com/margotwhites/742612810749591552/jason-todd-x-singer-reader-fem

__________________________________________________

Jason doesn't know how he ended up in the line for your show. He was at Wayne's Manor, chilling, and Steph, Babs and Dick suddenly grabbed him, made him take a shower and put a nice outfit (that they choose), a perfume and get his hair done.

And now he is on the line for the VIP entrance of your show in Gotham. The interview you did happened just two weeks ago, and suddenly there was an announcement in your social media about a show in one of the Gotham's city biggest stadium.

He didn't like the idea. Everybody knows what happens in shows at Gotham City. There's always some lunatic ready to fuck up the whole thing, always people getting hurt. That's exactly why he didn't refuse going to the show: if any shit happens, he prefers to be there to be able to kick the ass of whatever idiot that causes the commotion.

He just didn't expected to end up in the VIP.

"How much did you pay for this?" Jason asks Dick, staring at the small concert VIP bracelet that was placed around his wrist.

"It doesn't matter." Dick says, dismissively. Babs and Steph share a look and both start to giggle. Jason arches an eyebrow, but doesn't insist on the matter. He sighs, putting his hands on the pockets of his dark jeans.

If he was being honest, he wasn't a huge fan. Yeah, some musics were good, and overall you had talent, but it was simply not his style of music.

The line finished and they entered the VIP room; where after to show they would have access to the backstage. And actually meet you. Jason is not dumb, he knows what his siblings are in for. They weren't exactly discreet. They want to set up Jason with you.

"You guys are aware she said she likes Red Hood, right? Not Jason Todd. She probably doesn't even know me."

"Of course she knows you. You're a Wayne. She certainly have seen your face in one of the Galas footage that are around the web." Babs said, tilting her head.

"This is stupid. I don't know what you people expect to happen." Jason sighs, rubbing his temple. He wasn't exactly going to complain though.

"Look! There's food!" Steph says, walking towards the huge table with a diversity of sweets and savory. Jason follows her, but instead he walks towards the bar. He orders an Old Fashioned. He needs a drink to get his head in the mindspace.

At least he's not in the middle of the crowd. The VIP is crowded, but it's a private space with couches and other fancy stuff. Dick must've paid a hell amount of money for them to be here. Or he had some contacts. He always does.

Jason sips his drink and sighs, observing the surroundings. Well dressed people. It looks almost like a Wayne Gala. Which pisses him off a little. He sits on one of the couches, besides Barbara, who is drinking a Cosmopolitan. Steph is still attacking the food table and Dick is talking with some guys. Probably the ones who gave him the tickets.

"Take that expression out of your face, Jason."

Babs said, a smirk on her face. Jason scoffs.

"I just don't understand what the heck we're doing here." Jason replies, sipping his drink again.

"To listen to music. To have fun. To go to the backstage later."

"I don't want to meet her, anyway. The hell are we going to talk about?" Jason says, untrusting his friends plans.

"Come on! It's gonna be fun. And it's not because she said she liked Red Hood or whatever. It's because I want to meet her. Not everything revolves around you, jaylad."

Steph says, a plate full of sweets on her hands. She sits on the other side of Barbara.

"Then there was no reason for you to drag me along." Jason says, a bit irritated.

"Yes there was. Shows in Gotham always end up bad. We should be here in case we're needed."

She says, whispering. But nobody was really paying attention to them, so she relaxes.

"So why ain't Tim here too? Or hell, even Bruce?" Jason asks, rolling his eyes.

"Tim is with Bernard and Bruce is taking care of a case he's not talking about it. You know how he is."

Yeah, he knows. Batman sometimes doesn't share the cases. Especially the ones he should share. The ones he needs help with. But Jason shoves that to the back of his mind, sipping the Old Fashioned again.

A song starts to play and everyone goes towards the balcony of the VIP area. Babs and Steph grab Jason's hands and drag him towards the parapet, so they can take a better view of you, appearing on the stage. Dick joins them two seconds later.

"Good night, Gotham!" You say in the microphone, your voice echoing. With a huge smile on your face, the wind blowing your hair. He had to admit, you were more than good looking. You were gorgeous.

People are dancing and singing along, the whole stadium thrilling in your energy. You sing and move around, touching people's hands and even letting some fans get the mic for some seconds to show their own talent.

Jason can feel the energy and the music, and hell, he can't deny it. You are good. He even finds himself beating his feet in the rhythm of the songs he knows, and murmuring the lyrics along while you sing.

And then, because this is Gotham, and because Gotham can't have a single moment of peace, some shit starts to happen in the stadium floor. He can't understand what's going on - it's far away from the VIP area, but there is a strange moviment of people in the middle of the lower crowd.

"Hey- something is happening." He says, grabbing Dick's arm and pointing at a group of guys that is... fuck. Holding guns? He can't see it properly, it's too far away.

Dick observes what Jason is pointing.

"Our costumes are in the car." He says, and soon they are all moving. Jason places his drink on the parapet while Dick tells Babs and Steph what is going on. People start to scream in the lower crowd, opening space for the armed man. There are five in total. No- five in one side of the stage, other five close to the exit.

They run towards the exit of the VIP area, rushing down the stairs. A hell of an ordeal of everyone changing into their costumes inside the fucking car, losing time when someone could be getting hurt goes on, and five minutes later they are invading the entrance of the stadium dance floor.

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

You stopped singing as soon as you hear the screams. Something is not wrong and you should've known this would happen, because this is fucking Gotham.

Your security guards invaded the stage, escorting you out of there against your will. You don't understand what's going on, you just heard a gun noise and someone screaming, and then more loud noises and your ears start to do a high pitched sound, the world becoming a blurr in that moment. You go to the backstage, but then there are people armed there too.

A guy from the lighting team is on the floor, blood sprawling under him. Your security team raised their guns at the goons - or whatever the hell those people are - while the goons raise their guns and points each single one of them at you.

You try to stay calm. In fact, you are feeling strangely calm. There are five man pointing guns at your face, and the only strange, unsettling thought that crosses your mind is that you forgot your car keys on the bathroom counter this morning.

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

Dick punches one of the goons on the nose while Jason shoot's at another's leg. People start to scream even more now, Babs trying to control the crowd so nobody falls and gets trampled while everyone rushes towards the exit. Steph is already close to the stage, taking care of the five other goons.

Jason knows she can handle five idiots on her own, but even so, he runs forward, people opening space for him, and he's almost there when he sees a woman falling on the ground and almost getting crushed by other people's feet.

He helps her stand up and hears a small 'thank you' before she starts to run again. He has no time to lose. Not that armed men is a big of a challange for him and the rest of them, but people were shot. And everything that happens in a crowded space causes more casualties.

He reaches Steph and soon enough all the goons are down, people still rushing towards the exit, where now Dick and Babs take care of those who are wounded.

"I think we took them all down." Steph says, stepping closer to Jason.

But then Jason looks at the empty stage in front of him.

"Let's check the backstage." He says. Steph nods.

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

They started shooting at some point. You threw yourself at the ground, because you didn't know what else to do, and you felt a hand around your wrist, pulling up. You feel something cold in your back, and five masked man staring at you.

Your bodyguards are wounded or dead, and you're alone.

"Walk." The man behind you say, the gun pressed on your lower back. You take a deep breath and starts to walk, following them. You get out of the backstage through the back door, walking on the empty parking lot at the other side of the stadium, a simple white van waiting for you.

It was one of those kidnapping movies white van. That's what went through your head. You almost laughed at the thought. You would have if it wasn't so damn terrifying.

You started to think about all the possibilities of what could happen to you once you enter that van. What happens to the people in the movies? Torture? Rape? Death? Canibalism? Yeah, you saw something like that in the TV when you were younger.

Or maybe they just want your money. That, at this moment, is the best option. They'll ask for money and once they receive they're going to let you go. That's probably what's going on.

You try to calm down. The van seems so far away from you, the time is going so slowly, and so fast, because now you are being tied and blindfolded, thrown behind the van, and they are driving you somewhere.

You try to create the map of Gotham in your head: trying to perceive by the movements of the van where they could be leading you. That would be the smart thing to do, right? Maybe. But the truth is that you can't figure it out. You don't know Gotham. You have no idea where you are being taken.

You have no idea how many of your fans, the people who paid to see you, the people who adore you and who you adore back, were shot. If any of them died in your show.

It makes you try to stand up behind the van, desperate. That odd calmness you were feeling till now suddenly disappeared, and you started to do muffled sounds, trying to throw yourself against the van's back doors so maybe they would burst open and you'd be able to get out of here.

The van is at high velocity and maybe you'd break some bones, but that didn't matter. You just needed to get out of there.

Someone grabs you by the hair.

"Be quiet, slut!" A sharp slap on the left side of your face. It makes you flinch.

You were absolutely fucked.

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

Jason recognizes the man on the floor as your security team right away.

And you're nowhere.

"They took her." Stephanie says, through the comms for Dick and Babs. Jason observes the scene, remembering everything Bruce ever thought him.

"They're not hiding. They took her somewhere." He says, walking towards the backstage exit, towards the completely empty parking lot.

"At this point, they can't be more far than 50 kilometers." Babs say through the comms.

Jason curses under his breath at the reality that his motorcycle wasn't here. He looks at Steph, who also seems quite lost in what to do.

"There are any security cameras on the stadium or the parking lot?" She asks.

"Probably. If I was at home, I could figure it out." Babs answer. She's the Oracle, of course she could figure it out. She always does.

"Go home, then." Jason says, clenching his fists. They were losing time, damn it.

Jason just wants to get you back. He doesn't even know you, you don't even know him. But he knows you support him as Red Hood, and that's not something a lot of people do. He can't help but care for you.

He'll get you back. As Red Hood, as Jason Todd, it doesn't matter. This man is getting you back.

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

Author's note part 2: Oof! I was expecting this fic to be more light than this, but my mind took a different turn. I hope you guys enjoyed!

Tags: @duduvea @cynical-ghost

[pikinanouart]

One of those unpleasant family diner except it's your immediate family and you can't excuse yourself from attending.

[punkeropercyjackson]

The absolute disrespect to even imply Jason 'Realest of the real' Todd would be a part of the Batfam if Duke 'Signal of Hope and Chaos' Thomas isn't in it.The rest of the Bats tried to get him back for a decade with no budging but the SECOND Duke joined it,he stayed with zero protest and even liked him and was nice to him on first meeting unlike how he was with literally every other member and he's just as important to Duke as Duke is to him-We don't need any aus of Jason having his own Robin or to speculate who Duke's Batfam best friend is,because Duke and Jason are already,canonically eachother's Robin and favorite sibling.Their relathionship was the first time since Under The Red Hood Jason written with respect to his history and the first time Duke had somebody consistently riding for him that hard after growing up bullied and they've even got Joker victim solidarity(Ditf + the Jokerization of the Thomas').Their interactions might be minimal compared to other more prominent Batkids duos but they're no lesser,especially with how cut-off Duke gets in newer Batlore for no reason and how Jason's most long-standing dynamic is the one that ruined his character for years to come while Duke fixed it and Jason gives Duke so many interesting posibilities.Jason would choose Duke over anyone,he DID choose Duke over everyone else in the Batfam despite knowing them way longer and i'll bet if he had to pick between Duke and re-joining the Batfam,he'd be eating at Batburger with him to discuss apartment hunting before the second option was even presented.This all applies twice as hard to afrolatino Jason-which is regular Jason to me anyway as an afro-dominicana and if you headcanon Jason as afrolatino but post without Duke either your own content or others',you're a poser who fetishizes black men and dosen't actually care about representation.'I don't know enough about Duke to post him' isn't a valid excuse since you(yes,you specifically)don't even read Jason's comics yet dedicate your blog to him and it costs nothing to simply ask Dukecentric blogs for info on him so you can get to know him but you aren't willing to take initiative to engage with black characters and pretty obviously not black Batfans either.Stephanie dosen't count as 'the diverse Robin' because she's white,Cass isn't a stand-in for a black Batkid and Batgirl!Babs only exists out of the writers' ableist erasure of her disability.Jason needs Duke more than he does the other Batfam members and Duke deserves Jason more than anybody in the entire DCverse.Stop complaining about Bernard ruining the chance for Tim to get with some other white boy and your age gap siblings-coded Damian and Jon yaoi or whatevs instead of actual dc problems

[crow-aeris]

Hubris was the downfall of many men.

He remembers indulging in one of Jason’s many long-winded rants about literature, hearing his brother ramble on and on about how pride was the thing that killed John Proctor. Sure, Abigail made have been the leading cause of all those deaths, but John could have lived- could have seen his sons grow up- had he went through with the plan and lied… and yet, it was only because of a man’s pride did he leave behind his wife and sons.

And now as he lays alone and dying far, far away from family and friends… Tim couldn’t help but think hubris was what led him to… this.

His independence, once a blessing- now a curse, had him set out by himself with no foreword or warning to any hero or civilian whatsoever.

He feels… cold? Empty… Irritated. Oh what a time to be irritated, though Tim wasn’t all too sure who exactly his irritation was directed towards…

Bruce? Sure, he hadn’t been the best of fathers, but… he was all time had. Bruce hadn’t known Tim was going on this stupid trip, so he couldn’t be blamed.

Dick? Tim’s own personal hero? No, never. Dick might’ve hurt him before, but Tim couldn’t force himself to hold that grief even if he tried. Dick was spending the weekend with his friends, so Tim doubts he’ll find out about this until much later.

Jason? Despite being a grade a asshole, Jason cared. He had vehemently opposed Tim’s trip, and now he could see how it came back to bite him in the ass.

He laughs shrilly, tone nearing hysterical as Tim feels himself stop shivering… That wasn’t good, right? He read somewhere before that the moment you stop shivering, is the most dangerous.

Tim forces himself tighter into a ball, fighting to stay awake as he clung desperately onto his fleeing thoughts.

What about Stephanie? She got on his nerves occasionally, but those moments were few and far between.

Damian? Well, despite… everything, Tim has been trying to repair their relationship with what little scraps existed prior.

Cass? God, no. Tim could never be angry at her. She does her best, and honestly? Tim commends her for it.

Duke was a sweetheart. Kind, determined, and optimistic even after everything he’s gone through. he was the embodiment of sunshine through and through.

…

……

………

…………What was he thinking about?

He was… sleepy. Tired….

…Where was Bernard? Where was Kon? He was… numb. Was he supposed to feel this numb?

Taking a little nap wouldn’t hurt, right? It wouldn’t hurt at all….

“Oh, Detective, look what mess have you gotten yourself into? This is why you never should have left my side”

[kazbrekkeriselite]

Tim: I haven’t slept in 72 hours…  Jason: I haven’t slept in 80. I’m the insomnia king!  Dick: Ha! I haven’t slept in 90 hours, I’m aiming for an even 100.  Damian: What the fuck is wrong with you people