#Kent: son please tell me the truth what happened to your first girlfriend

[flamingthespian]

Idea: Sebastian is trans, Sam and Sebastian are dating and have been since before seb came out, which happened while kent was deployed. So when kent left for war he knew his teenage son had a “girlfriend,” and when he comes back, his young adult son now has a boyfriend, and he doesn’t realize it’s the same person, so he’s like, “why did Sam never write to me about breaking up with that girl or coming out as queer and starting to date this guy,” and doesn’t understand why Sam’s new boyfriend that he’s never met is acting somewhat familiar with him

[iamtheblondestblonde]

The Clark Kent Effect

Part Two

AN: Here’s part two!! Since the cat is out of the bag now, please go listen to my ex’s best friend by MGK, which was my first inspiration for this story and is the song I always have in mind when working on it. I loved hearing everyone’s opinion on the first part so please keep it up, it really motivates me a lot to see that people actually appreciate my writing. I hope this is living up to everyone’s expectations.. I’m sure everyone has already figured out that there will be angst in this one. 

Word Count: 3.6k

Warnings: none (a first for me)

Part One

My other writing can be found here

When Tito had made you promise to stay in touch you’d thought nothing of it. It was something lots of people said every day without having any real intentions of ever keeping their promise. A trait especially prominent among Americans as you’d come to realize. How many times had some of your colleagues mentioned that you definitely had to make dinner plans together sometime only for that sometime to never come? And while Tito wasn’t an American by all means, living among them tended to force a fast adaptation.

So to say you were surprised when he reached out to you a couple of days later would be a big fat understatement. You’d thought of him from time to time since Halloween, reminiscing what once was but also thinking about what could’ve been with a certain dark haired friend of his if it weren’t for the connection between the two of them.

You’d checked your phone during a trip to the bathroom, waiting on an update on the current office drama from Emily – as the personal assistant she had the inside scoop on one of the chief editors who had apparently managed to knock up one of the models – when you saw the Instagram notification.

@titobeauvi91 wants to send you a message

For a second you were wondering why he was sending you a message on Instagram instead of a text before you realized that neither of you probably still had the same phone number from when you were 18. You’d definitely switched to an American phone number in time with your move and he’d be stupid if he hadn’t done the same thing, especially considering how much longer he’d lived here than you.

For him to go out of his way to dig up your Instagram profile only so he could send you a message really spoke volumes for his character. Your grandma had been right when she’d said that he was going to make someone very happy some day but although she’d had you by his side in mind at that point, you liked to think that it was still going to be true with someone else.

You accepted the request without thinking twice about it and then had to read his messages multiple times to make sure you were seeing correctly.

@titobeauvi91: Would it be totally weird to meet up for coffee together sometime?

In your wildest dreams you never would’ve imagined your ex willingly asking you to spend time with him. But perhaps it didn’t surprise you as much as it should. 

Yes, breaking up with him had hurt a lot, but it had also been a long time ago and it wasn’t like either of you were at fault for your time together coming to an end back then. You couldn’t blame him for his dream coming true after all. The fact that he’d always planned on leaving was no secret, it had only been a matter of time. So when those feeling had shifted from friendship to something more you’d known how things would end but still fell for him. And you’d had an amazing time with him because of it. And then some not so amazing time without him afterwards.

Some of your girlfriends in college had gone through break ups at the same time but you could never really relate to them sobbing in the living room with ice cream and alcohol to help soothe the pain. Your sadness had been more subtle. It was things like wanting to call him whenever something newsworthy happened in your life, missing his comforting hugs and wanting to hear his laugh again that made you feel like a part of your life was missing.

But you’d always been a fan of clean cuts so you’d never allowed yourself to reach out to him, tempting as it was. You had instead focused on building yourself a new life, one without him and without even realizing it your daydreams of conversations with him came to an end. At last you had reached the stage of acceptance. Now, as you stared at your screen you realized that the cut had been made and the edges had already healed, the possibility of something new, or rather something old, but very much something different hanging up in the air above the gap now.

What would you do?

You didn’t respond right away, waiting until your lunch break finally arrived so you could ask Emily for advice. That meant that you would have to fill her in on some things she had no idea of and she definitely wouldn’t be happy about having been left in the dark, but you really had no other choice.

The two of you met up at your usual salad bar around the corner from the office building, a not only convenient but also very delicious place. She’d shown it to you back in the days of your internship and when you’d reconnected after you finally got the job after graduating it had somehow become your regular spot for a shared lunch.

She was the first to make it today, which was rather unusual since her boss liked to give her some last minute errands to run, but you weren’t going to complain about the steaming mug of coffee already waiting for you on the table at your arrival.

“Alright, start talking girl”, she said in lieu of a greeting while you settled into your seat, referencing the text you’d sent earlier about needing some advice. So you did, telling her everything about your relationship with Tito back in 2015 and how the two of you had mutually broken it off after he got drafted. How weird it had been to not only lose your boyfriend, but also best friend at the same time. By the time you reached the more recent part of your story, the one involving Mat in the club, your lunch had arrived and you had to take a quick break so you could actually get some eating done instead of talking.

“Shit I’m so sorry for interrupting your moment back then, I didn’t even realize you were talking to someone. But I also can’t believe I’m only now hearing of all this drama!”

You waved her off, already knowing full well that she hadn’t intended to do so. “That’s because there wasn’t any drama up until a week ago, but now I don’t know what to do. Would it be weird for me to grab a coffee with my ex?”

“Well.. if you say it like that…”, she trailed off jokingly, jabbing her fork in your direction before continuing, “I’m just kidding. You guys were friends before all of that happened so no, I don’t think it’d be weird. But it’s ultimately your decision, do you want him back in your life?”

“I think so, yeah.”

-

Meeting up for coffee had somehow turned into meeting for lunch and slowly but surely Tito managed to secure himself a spot in your favorite contacts again. Seeing him in daylight for the first time after all these years had been weird and it had been obvious that the two of you were very nervous about rekindling again but it didn’t take long until you fell back into your old routine.

Pre-relationship, of course.

He’d make flirty comments from time to time and complimented you often, but you knew not to dwell on it for too long because he’d always been that way. You knew his mother well enough to know that she would be pissed if it were otherwise, you’d heard her chide her son in French for his bad manners more times than you could count when the two of you were younger.

Since you’d mostly seen him one-on-one you didn’t have to deal with any of the complications that stemmed from him being a part of your life again but it seemed like your reprieve was coming to an end. You knew that Tito was just trying to be nice when he’d invited you and your friends to meet up with some of the team at a bar after their game, hopefully celebrating a win but definitely celebrating having the day off afterwards before having to leave for a short trip, but you were having mixed feelings about the entire thing.

It wasn’t like you didn’t want to go, in fact you could use a good night out and some fun, but you knew full well that Mat would be there as well and you had no idea how you were supposed to interact with him. You’d anticipated having to face him again of course, but if it were up to you you’d do it rather later than sooner, especially now since you were close with his best friend again. Tito was no help of course, you couldn’t exactly tell him that you were having unholy thoughts about one of his close friends.

Because that was the truth, Mat Barzal had been on your mind ever since that one faithful night which was now weeks ago. It was ridiculous really, how one guy had managed to infiltrate your thoughts from such a short interaction. He’d only really spoken one sentence to you before your plans and hopes for the night had been crushed and yet you kept seeing him in every guy with glasses that passed by you. Kept hearing him in every booming laugh. 

You should be ashamed of yourself, really, for how easily he’d managed to put you under his spell. Still your thoughts kept wandering back to that little bubble you had shared with him on that dance floor, still remembering how nothing else had mattered in that moment. It wasn’t just lust that had attracted you to him that faithful night, though it certainly played a part in it, but you could tell that there was something more, or at least a possibility of something more.

But you couldn’t have him, a fact that had become blatantly obvious during your time spent with Tito. You were sure that he was interested in you like that at all anymore, but you were also convinced that he still wouldn’t be a fan of you going after his friends. You didn’t want to drive a wedge between the two of them, especially having learnt how important Mat was to Tito since getting reacquainted, something that would be inevitable once the ‘Bro Code’ was violated.

You had to keep your mind, and your hands, away from Mat.

Which proved to be harder than one might think.

You’d donned your favorite overknee-boots for the night out, loving the height boost they gave you, and paired them with a plaid skirt and a cute top, adding a warm pea coat so you wouldn’t freeze too much in the cold winter air. You’d long mastered dancing the line between sexy and sophisticated and if you were being honest, you were quite proud of tonight’s look.

It hadn’t been hard to convince your closest friends to come out along with you, all of them excited for a night out with New York’s finest. Since the guys had a game to play however, the lot of you met up at your place beforehand so you could pre-game a little and save some money in turn. You’d put on the game for background noise and by the time the final buzzer sounded you were definitely also buzzed thanks to Emily and her dangerous ability of funneling alcohol down your throat. The uber ride was short thankfully, the car was pretty packed with the four of you after all and yet you had somehow managed to arrive at the bar Tito had texted you before the team.

“They probably got held up in interviews and stuff, should we get some drinks while we wait?” Your suggestion was apparently a very welcome one so Dana and you made your way over to the bar while the other two set on finding a booth where you could sit down. By the time you had everyone’s drinks they’d managed to secure a place towards the back and you were more than happy to slide in next to Emily.

You were the first one to spot Tito, getting up and excitedly waving him over. They all sported big happy grins, most likely due to the victory over the Leafs earlier. Letting your eyes wander over your group you noticed that Mat wasn’t with them but you didn’t dwell on it too much, instead focusing on congratulating Tito on his two goals. Introductions were quick and in your state of mind you’d forgotten half of the names already but that didn’t stop you from having a good time. 

The group of guys that had sat in the booth next to yours had recognized the hockey players and willingly cleared the table for them after congratulating on a great game and taking some pictures, which was a pretty nice bonus. Mat had apparently forgotten to bring a change of clothes and had to make a detour to his apartment so he wouldn’t have to come to a bar in his game day suit.

All this liquid had taken it’s toll on your bladder though so it didn’t take long until you got up to make a trip to the restroom, telling Emily to stay put when she made a move to come along with you. There would probably be no long line in a bar like this so you could do without company and you also didn’t want to interrupt her conversation with Tito, whom she was asking all kinds of questions about teenage you. Maybe you would regret that later on, Tito was more than willing to give her ammo to roast you for the next few years but right now you didn’t care, just happy that everyone got along so well.

Walking without swaying proved to be more difficult than anticipated, you’d somehow consumed more alcohol than you’d thought and you made a mental note to grab some water afterwards as you pushed through the doors. Once they were shut behind you the music wasn’t as loud anymore and for the first time tonight you could actually hear yourself think, not distracted by noises. Of course your thoughts wandered to Mat, and the reason for his absence tonight.

Were they telling the truth earlier or was he avoiding you?

Unfortunately, this was a question you couldn’t find an answer to and even if you did, there was nothing you could do about it. What you could do however, was get back outside to your friends and have a great time tonight. Without Mat. You checked your notifications on your phone while quietly singing along to the song blasting over the speakers as you made your way out of the restroom, not looking up as you walked.

And then collided with something solid.

With a gasp you quickly grasped on to whatever you could reach so you wouldn’t tumble over and the only reason you knew you hadn’t managed to run into a wall was because strong arms immediately wrapped around you to steady you. Walls didn’t have arms, that much you knew, even in your intoxicated state.

“We really have to stop meeting this way”, a familiar voice sounded above you and your eyes involuntarily snapped up to meet his. Just like last time everything else stopped mattering as soon as you looked up to him, wrapped safely in his arms with your hands splayed on his chest, your phone still clutched tightly in your left one. His gaze made your brain short-circuit so you really couldn’t be held accountable for your next actions.

“I don’t know, I kind of like it”, you hummed while brushing your free hand across his chest and up to his shoulder. You could feel the firmness of his muscles underneath the fabric of his shirt and how his heart picked up its pace at your actions. He pulled you in even tighter and readjusted the position of his hands on your back, one of them now caressing the thin sliver of exposed skin between your top and the skirt, the movement burning itself into your memory.

Your bubble burst when there was an uproar near the bar, a group of guys yelling at a re-run of some football game on the TV responsible for the intrusion. As soon as you realized what you were doing you awkwardly cleared your throat and stepped out of his embrace, his arms dropping from your body immediately. The spot where his hands had rested only seconds ago was now cold as ice in their absence, shivers running up your spine. All of a sudden you wished you had your coat with you so you could wrap yourself up in it, maybe even hide a little from the intense look in his eyes and the rest of the world as well.

Mat seemed to snap out of his spell as well, quickly looking around to check if anyone had seen the two of you with a panicked expression on his face but you were well hidden from your friends, who were sat around a corner. You couldn’t help but feel like a dirty little secret then, something that hurt more than you liked to admit, despite his actions probably being the right thing. If anyone had seen you right now you’d definitely have some explaining to do. So instead you focused on feeling anything but hurt to mask your true feelings.

“Ashamed of being seen with me, Barzal?”, you asked in a flat tone, deliberately choosing to address him with his last name so he knew that you weren’t exactly pleased with him right now. Your words caused the intended effect and he looked like you’d slapped him across the face.

“Don’t be like this, please. You have to know where I’m coming from”, he sighs with a desperate expression, taking a moment to himself to gather his thoughts before continuing, “I have a moment with this girl in a club, a girl that somehow manages to put me under her spell in less than five seconds, and then I have to find out she’s the infamous Y/N, the first love of my best friend.”

His admission left you speechless, unable to form any kind of response as you stared up at him, watching him run his hand through his hair. Oh how you wished you could do the same.

“I know all about you, you broke his heart back then”, he continued and you flinched, not having expected this of all things.

“That’s not fair and you know it. He was the one who left!”, you hadn’t even noticed you’d raised your voice until the group of people in the booth closest to you turned towards you so you took a deep breath before continuing, “I was the one who had to stay back and listen to everyone talking about him.”

“He talked about you as well, you know. When we met at World’s he told me one night how he knew that your relationship would be over soon and how much he missed you already. He knew you’d walk out of his life without looking back. And then you did exactly that.” You closed your eyes at his words, never having heard of the situation from Tito’s standpoint. It didn’t exactly help that it was coming from Mat as well.

“You have no idea how excited he was to finally see you again. I had to listen to him talk about asking you out to lunch for days.” He reached out to brush a strand of hair behind your ear that had fallen into your eyes but you hadn’t even noticed until now, too busy staring at the beautiful specimen of a man in front of you.

“It’s not like that. We’re just friends now.”

“I know, but you weren’t back then”, and with that he dropped his hand again. He smiled softly at you but it was obvious that it didn’t reach his eyes, his sad expression overpowering everything else.

Perhaps this was the universe’s way of saying that you couldn’t have two great guys in your life, that you’d missed out on your chance already. You couldn’t think of any other way to explain this cruel twist of faith otherwise. You wished you could go back to the club, but you didn’t know if you wanted to relive those few blissful moments before everything came crashing down or prevent yourself from stumbling into him altogether. The second option would certainly make everything easier.

But since time traveling wasn’t an option yet you were forced to stand in front of him, thoughts of what could have been running through your mind. Right now he was so close to you but there could’ve been kilometers between the two of you and it still wouldn’t have made a difference.

You knew that and you could tell that Mat did as well, the defeat clearly written on his face and telling you everything you needed to know. At least you weren’t the only one who suffered.

With one last look he moved past you and towards the restrooms, probably his destination all along until he’d run into you. Or more like until you’d run into him, literally. In a split second you decided that you didn’t want your interaction to end quite like this.

“Hey, Barzal?” You didn’t like calling him by his last name one bit and it definitely felt wrong, but perhaps it would allow you to keep the distance you desperately needed.

“Yeah?” You could’ve sworn that a glimmer of hope crossed his face as he turned back towards you but perhaps it was just the shitty light in the bar playing tricks on your mind. Or wishful thinking.

“Good game earlier. Two points is very impressive and I’m sure you made lots of people very proud tonight.”

“Thank you.” 

This time his smile was genuine.

Tagging: @itrocksmysocks​ @nazdaddy @teenagekook

[onelastbreath-writes]

On Bruce And Texting:

Author’s Note: Hello and welcome, this is my first properly written fic, originally posted to my AO3, and now that I have finally created a writing blog, it’s here as well. Please enjoy!!  AO3.  Masterlist

Warnings: Hopefully none, its all cute and fluff <3

Summary: Bruce Wayne texts like he's sending correspondences to the Queen, so of course the little monsters he calls children just have to make fun of him! Brats, the lot of them, but he wouldn't have them any other way.

Features: Bruce Wayne/Selina Kyle, all the bats and birds, mentions JL, no crime fighting, only family fluff, jokes and nods to Millennial and GenZ shenanigans.

Word Count: 2.7k

---

Billionaire, genius, tech expert, father of many children, and all around up-to-date-with-just-about-everything type of person he may be, it is also a well-known Fact that Bruce Wayne, the Batman(TM) himself, can’t text to save his life.

Whether it’s due to his Very Proper English Upbringing, his inability to be informal via written correspondences of any type, his indifference, or the fact that it bothers his children so much, Bruce Wayne has not and never will text with anything less than perfect grammar, spelling, and formality. If he has not sent you a proper letter (featuring a dedication, indentation for every paragraph, signature, and post-script when applicable), he did, in fact, not send you that text. Informality is not his Batman Way(TM) according to his children... he’s not too sure what that even means, but it makes his young ones laugh so it’s probably fine?  

His oldest children (Richard and Jason) were raised in the time of Change, where computers, internet access, social media, and all things similar were only just being introduced into households en-masse. They were young enough to remember a time without such devices and connectivity (both for very different reasons, of course, but they grew up without the newest technology none-the-less). They could understand his relationship to the digital environment more so than his younger children, but they still tended to poke fun at his ‘texting blunders’ regularly. All his kids somehow ended up as brats. He doesn’t know how this happened. It’s certainly not his fault. He blames the League members, and especially Clark Kent, for their defiant personalities. 

His younger children, whom he loves dearly, like to confuse him as much as they possibly can with their slang, egregious spelling errors, and all-around ‘internet humour’. He doesn’t know what ‘wig’ or ‘worm’ or ‘oof’ or anything means. He has no idea what those dances are, or how they relate to the music that seems to always accompany them, and for the love of all that is good, don’t ask him what he thinks of this or that ‘meme’. What even is a ‘meme’, and should he be more concerned about his kids being obsessed with them? He tries, oh my god, does he try to follow the children’s conversations, but they somehow all learned a language he has no idea how to decrypt. His best response to them once they start speaking in tongues is as follows: smile but not too much, listen to child even though he is deeply confused, and pat child on head or shoulder when they are finished and are looking for assurance.  

He refuses to be a parent who ignores or tunes out his children, so he always makes sure to put down his work, his crossword, his tools, or whatever else is in his hands when a child searches him out for a conversation. But somehow, despite all the time he spends around them and their strange words, when he gets text from them comprised of abbreviations, acronyms, and completely random words, he goes a little cross eyed. He would never tell anyone, but he keeps a running list on his phone about the things they say that he has had to translate in the past. Spilling tea? Speaking the truth, usually to do with gossip. Wow? Multiple possible meanings: either a video game, or someone saying it (different pronunciation depending on context and who sent the text). Stickbug? A nice little prank with no ulterior motives, just for fun. Something along the lines of “this basic bitch Karen at the grocery store who is a dirty rat-licker and is def an anti-vaxxer just took 45 (forty-five) minutes to decide she didn’t actually want that almond milk. I Stan the cashier who had to put up with her. Rad af dude.” roughly translates to “A rude, middle-aged white woman who wasn’t wearing a mask and doesn’t believe in disease control or vaccinating her children wasted a great deal of an essential worker’s time in the checkout line. The cashier was very professional in their dealings with said customer and should be commended on their actions.”  

Given enough time, the internet for searching up new slang words, and occasionally some help from a friend (Alfred, Selina, Lucius, another of his children, etc), Bruce could decode and respond appropriately to most texts. He was quite proud of these achievements, and although he didn’t always like how often his children were on their phones or computers or gaming systems, he was quite proud of how integrated and easily they adapted to the ever-evolving world of electronics. All his kids were gifted in many ways, but their ability to learn, their hunger for knowledge, and their perseverance when exploring new and challenging ideas were always the things that he was most impressed by.  

He could do without their comments though. Yes, surprisingly, he did manage to get girlfriends with his type of texting. No, he doesn’t miss the ‘good old days’ when telegraphs were the main form of long-distance correspondence (how old do these brats think he is?!). And yes, he does know what a “tweet” is, and how to “post” on his social media accounts, and what “sliding into your DMs” is (thanks to a frantic search after a WE employee mentioned it near him). The Wayne children, truly whom and what Bruce considers his pride and joy, are cruel little jerks to him sometimes. His hoard of parenting books fails to mention what one should do when their children gang up on them. Bullying is covered of course, but he can’t really talk to a teacher or his guardian about how his second son calls him an idiot sandwich, or that his third son regularly tries to get him to do something “For The Vine”. His oldest and youngest boys are only slightly better in the bullying him department; Richard and his puppy dog eyes when he wants to do something dangerous or not-Alfred-approved, and Damian and his growing collection of pets because “Mother never let me have them, and I am deprived, and don’t you love me Father?”.  

His only good child is his beautiful daughter Cassandra, the flower of the Wayne clan. She gives him hugs, and pats his hands, and can sit with him and just enjoy the quiet and stillness when his other children are not around. Her language skills are improving by leaps and bounds every day, and her heart and spirit are unparalleled, but her main method of communication is in her movements. Her hands, her posture, her dancing; Bruce couldn’t think of a more graceful, fluid, powerful person if the world depended on it. His amazing little girl doesn't bully him (and if she ever does, he probably deserves it, he trusts her), so he turns to her most of all when it comes to communicating with someone else. She doesn’t let him send anything that is “sketchy” or “wrong words, bad meaning, Dad”. He would give the world to his children, but for Cassandra, he would destroy it and build her an entirely new one.

Social media, especially with his terrible children all having accounts dedicated to making him look like a simpleton, was another rocky terrain he had to navigate on the regular. He had professionals in place at WE to run the company’s many accounts, paid top dollar to help appeal and relate to the masses, but he mostly had to manage his personal accounts himself. And so, @TheRealBruceWayne was one of the greatest struggles in his adult life. Why can’t he just retweet every post from @WE_Offical and leave it at that? People should only want to know about what’s new with the company. What do you mean they want to know more about our family and private lives? That’s unnecessary, and not important to the running of the company, right? Right? Why are you laughing?!

Luckily, most people in his life aren’t so intimately aware of his struggles. He can act and lie all he wants about being “hip” and “woke” and whatever else the kids are saying these days when he’s with the JL or in board meeting intermissions, networking with his associates. The Batman knows all and sees all, Green Lantern, of course he understands how “Tiktok” works. The Batman is a robot without a funny bone in his body, Green Arrow, but I did witness him sigh and say “same” when he knocked his cup of coffee over while on monitor duty once. No matter how badly his darling children call him out, the Justice League would be so much worse. So, it’s one of his most importantly guarded secrets... even more so than his secret identity at this point. Being unmasked in front of every Gotham rogue would be less detrimental to him than his “friends” learning of his utter ineptitude in staying on top of the younger generations’ lingo.  

When questioned why the League doesn’t have a group chat or a forum or anything that they can use to contact each other outside of world ending matters and communicator (”because we’re friends, Batman! Ma and Pa Kent would love to have everyone over for a barbecue!”), the person who dared even mention texting isn’t even given a verbal response. They are just glared at, silently, often for several uninterrupted minutes, frozen in place only able to breathe shallowly in fear of setting off the Bat. “You know why” his glare says, “I’ll eat you, your family, and everything you have ever held dear” the younger members hear. No one makes the mistake of asking about it twice.  

Outside of his children and Alfred, and his small circle of true friends involved in all aspects of his life, there is only one more person Bruce allows to know of his Darkest Secret. Selina. Someone most people would recommend he not be involved with. Catwoman: accomplished thief, distraction, chaos-incarnate most nights, and his significant other. Sharp as a whip (ha) and crafty like no one’s business; he is head-over-heels. On again/Off again and all over the place their long romance has been, but no one has ever challenged him, intrigued him, like this clever, beautiful, amazing woman has. He’s brought his partners around his children before, both for their judgement, and for their worst behaviours to vet out any “unworthy” suitors. He trusts them explicitly to tell him the truth about those he allows into the manor; were they rude about Bruce wanting to have group outings, did they say something about Bruce’s money, did they get angry or shout or make anyone uncomfortable while they were here? If his children even looked slightly unhappy with someone he brought them to meet, that person would not be invited back. Children, he finds, have the best sight when meeting people; no motives other than finding safety and love, no fear of consequences from speaking honestly...  

Selina, or Catwoman, as they had known her first, was someone all of his kids liked without issue right off the bat. She would make puns and play word games with Richard, his first Robin, tiny, still working on his English, able to connect with him over their acrobatic abilities. His second Robin, Jason, skittish and feisty as an alley cat, knew of Catwoman and her daring escapades long before Bruce found him. The young boy had a few heroes, and no one (not even Wonder Woman) could compare to the incredible burglar who bought food and jackets and medicine for the street kids in Crime Alley. She was saintly in his eyes, and to this day, Bruce was still working on convincing Jason he was good enough for Selina. Tim and Cass and Stephanie (basically another daughter to Bruce, she spends so much time with the family) all joined the Wayne clan around the same time and officially met Selina as a friend and partner of his, and in the good graces of his first two sons. Selina, in all her nightly business, and many travels and acquaintances, had met the three independently, helping Tim get home safely back to Drake Manor when he escaped to photograph Batman and Robin in the dank darkness of Gotham when he was just a young boy, spending some time with Cassandra when her despicable father left her alone long enough to recover from his rough treatment, showing her the first scraps of kindness in her short life, and watching over and protecting Stephanie as she followed and sabotaged her father Cluemaster and his criminal activities. There was no need to win them over once they met her civilian identity, she had already gained their favour and acceptance, and they were happy to have her near their new family. Damian, his youngest, his biological son, took the longest to warm up to Selina. He would never fault his little boy for fighting so hard against a woman that was not his birth mother, especially after all the manipulation and cruelty dealt to him by Talia for the first decade of his life. But as he began to learn about his father, these people in his father’s life, and this woman that was Not His Mother but “still okay, I guess”, he grew to see her as acceptable. Her cats definitely helped, he’d say, no one with cats that loyal and happy can be a bad person.  

Selina, the love of his life, he’d admit quietly to himself, was also a dirty traitor and in cahoots with his terrible children. She would say his texting skills were “sweet” and “very gentlemanly” when she was asked by anyone outside the family, and privately to him she would say she thought they were “adorable” and “please don’t ever change, Bruce, I like it.” However, nothing seemed to bring her more joy than his children sending her texts and “Snaps” and “memes” about him to her. Sometimes it was screenshots of the family group chat that they forced him to join, where he would post “To whom it may concern...” and “In regards to...” when he needed to reach all his delinquents in a timely manner. Sometimes it was video clips of him staring at his phone intently, then typing something on his laptop, then him reading and nodding along, and then finally going back and responding to the text he received with a small, pleased smile. And sometimes, when he got too injured or was too incapacitated to text coherently, he’d have his nearest able child transcribe his text to her. Depending on who was texting her for Bruce, she could expect many different things. From Dick, she’d get lots of shorthand and silly emojis, and many, many, winky and crying/laughing faces in brackets depending on what Bruce had made him type. Jason, bless him, used proper English most of the time, but would never write a single word of Bruce’s soliloquy to her, instead she enjoyed the TL;DR version: “hurt again, missing you, come home soon, blah blah blah, sappy gross words here, love you”. Tim would allow speech recognition to run on Bruce’s phone, and just let it go until the man passed out. Stephanie, the little chaos child, would film it and send it to her, including all her muffled laughter and shaky camera shots of Bruce emoting with his available undamaged limbs. Cass, still more versed in physicality and emotive movement, would interpret Bruce’s text into mostly emojis, hearts and happy faces and animals, but would include photos, and phrases that she found important enough to type out for Selina. Damian, forever his Father’s son in any way possible, texts very formally, referring to her or his siblings Bruce mentions by last name only, and lots of “Father requests me to tell you...” and “Kyle, know that Father...”. She adores these kids, and once Bruce recovers enough to text her himself, or she gets back to the Manor, they get to laugh about whatever she was sent this time.  

So, while it’s true that Bruce couldn’t text his way out of a wet paper bag, and his kids are sometimes brats about it, there’s probably a lot of different reasons he doesn’t spend too much time trying to improve his skills. Whether it’s the smiles of his children, the giggles of his significant other, or the warm feeling in his chest when he sees all his important people bonding over him, well, in the end, who’s to say?

[singeramg]

Midnight: Chapter 13

Pairing: Clark Kent/ Metahuman! Black! OFC

Rating: E

Warnings: Angst, Slow burn, Language, the innate need to smack someone...

A/n: Hey world! As promised here is chapter 13 of my little story! 

CATCH UP HERE!

Midnight: Chapter 13

Clark flew me back to the manor in record time, with me up against his chest, smelling just as good as I remembered him to be. It was masculine yet fresh, mixed with something otherworldly as basic as that sounded. He landed on my balcony gently so he didn’t blast right through it on accident. 

I was glad my hair was pulled back or it would have been all over the place. 

 “So I hear this is your stop.”

“Yes, thank you for the ride home Clark.”

 “Of course anytime...Although are you ever going to be ready for my takeoff short stack?”

I laughed at the old nickname he had for me seeing as he towers over me, my short 5’4 frame to his 6’0 plus. It had been forever since I heard it.

 “Now you know as well as I do that you took off that fast on purpose.”

 “Doesn’t matter. You are never ready.”

 “Lies. I’ve been ready plenty of times.”

He looks at me with a look that says “oh really”. Which makes me laugh and open the door to my room.

 “Anyways... (I say dramatically with an eye roll and then a laugh) I better go get ready. Thank you again.”

 I can tell he wants to say something but doesn’t as he opens his mouth but closes it, tucking his hands in the red and black plaid jacket he was wearing. 

 “What?”

I ask him grinning just knowing he has some smart comment to say.

 “Nothing. Nothing.”

 “Clark. Don’t bullshit me.” I say with my head cocked to the side...

 “I’m not. All I was going to say was... have fun. Goodnight.”

 Then he shoots away into the sky, somehow not damaging the balcony.

 “Alright then goodnight Clark.”

I say no louder than if he was still standing there because I knew he could still hear me. 

 *Later*

I heard Arthur’s bike before he actually rang the bell to come inside. I knew Alfred would let him in so I wrestled myself into a pair of black ankle boots that had a small heel and matched perfectly with a purple sleeveless top and tight blue jeans. I grabbed a black leather jacket and went down the stairs, where Arthur was waiting for me. He looked just as good as he did before, his grudge look ever present. 

 “I was going to bring flowers but you don’t strike me as the flower type of chick.”

 “I am not against flowers, but in my case they aren’t practical in my everyday life. Now we start talking about a bottle of Crown royal or tequila, you know something like that, then we would be talking.”

He laughs and opens the front door for me.

 “You and I are about to have so much fun tonight.”

 *A few hours later*

 “So you mean to tell me, you never learned how to swim as a kid?” 

 Arthur and I were walking along the beach with our shoes in our hands.  His date idea had been inventive if anything. We went axe throwing, which until that moment I could say I had never done. He tampered with his strength but had okay aim, I however had great aim. He playfully  accused me of cheating. I was waiting for us to have that moment of innate chemistry but it just wasn’t happening, and I didn’t know why. Didn’t even know what the hell the problem was because Arthur was a nice-ish guy. The longer we talked and joked the more I felt like I was hanging with a cool older brother and while I loved that feeling, I didn’t want him to be my brother , but I guess my heart was having other plans. I promised myself however that I would give this a fair shake.  In all we were having a good time as we decided to just walk on the beach with a couple of hot dogs and beers. 

 “Nope. Clark had to teach me a while back because he figured it out during a trip to the beach. Shit maybe it was this one.”

 We laugh again as I shake away fond memories of Clark, desperately trying to focus on my date, forgetting how his hands felt holding me against him earlier, and Arthur looks down at me, and judging by his anxiety and slight brace for impact I know he is about to lower some sort of boom. 

 “So what’s the deal with you and Supes? I mean none of us have ever heard of Midnight then all of a sudden there is a kid that looks just like Clark running around and rumor has it his last girlfriend was Lois.”

 It was a natural question for him to ask me, but his tone wasn’t as a man interested in clarification for his own sake but more as a friend asking me. It left me confused but I guess willing to answer. 

 “Ahhh the dreaded question. The deal is that there is no deal. He had been my best friend in a time where I desperately needed one. That is all that has ever been.”

 “Well that can’t be true because I know how babies are made.”

 He says in a sing song tone, teasing me jokingly. 

“Yeah well Kalen came about during a time where both of our lives were in flux. One night that changed our lives and subsequently broke apart our friendship.”

 Aquaman looks to the sea and back at me, his face softer than I had ever seen it. He doesn’t speak but he lets me continue.

 “But the blessing is that we got Kalen out of it and I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it.” 

“I agree your kid is an amazing little fella.”

 “You know Arthur I’ve had a great time tonight thanks for getting me out the house. I needed this after everything that has been going on.”

 “I am glad. I aim to please.”

 We stop and look at each other.

 “At least you've aim at something out here in these streets.”

 He looks at me incredulously and laughs with me. 

 “You are so funny, come here girl.”

 He grabs me by my hips and seizes me close to his body. He searches my eyes with his own bright gold ones for a moment, and our faces move toward one another slowly and our lips touch. Our lips slot together and move mechanically. It’s painfully obvious the spark is still missing and hated that I didn’t feel more in this moment because I wanted someone. I wanted someone to make me forget everything about my past feelings, and my past regrets. Our eyes open and we pull back from each other, looking at each other again before laughing.

 “Well that was anti-climatic wasn’t it?”

I say with a smirk and dropping my hands from the strong arms I had latched to when he  grabbed me.

 “I think so. Hate to be the bearer of bad news but that was like kissing my little sister.”

 “I can’t tell if that was a short joke or naw.” 

 I ask with a smirk again, knowing it wasn’t but still poking fun at hime

 “That was a...I can tell your heart isn’t in this and to be honest as hot as you are I don’t think I want to be on Superman’s bad side.”

 I look at him confused and take a step back, arms folded.

 “Meaning?”

“Meaning, I imagine there is a Alien superhero that is none too happy with this date. He has already kicked my ass once and that was without all his focus on me, I’d prefer it not happen again full blast.”

 I rolled my eyes frustrated that once again Clark was interfering in my life, except this time he didn’t even have to be here.

“Clark has no say over my love life.”

Arthur tilts his head to the side knowingly.

 “I agree he doesn’t have a say over your love life but I think he still has a say over your heart.... god that sounded sappy as hell.”

I laugh to cover up my nervousness at him being so close to the truth. I didn’t want him to be anywhere near right.

 “No...no he doesn’t. Look let’s just drop that particular line of questioning.”

 “Fine, look let me say this and I’m done. Plus all this emotional shit is not my forte. However Gia as bad as I wanted this to work out, I can admit I’ve got other issues that are preventing this from going anywhere serious, maybe you don’t need something  serious, maybe you do, maybe later in life once we figure out our shit out we can come back to this,  but you got something unresolved with Clark that will stop you from anything working out with anyone until you do. Lying to yourself makes it worse. Trust me I know.”

 I sigh and I almost laugh because I was so confused at how Aquaman became so good at reading people.

 “So Dr. Phil when do you tape your next show?”

I say with a laugh and scoff.

 “Right after you finish your segment on Oprah about denial. Come on let’s head back to the house.”

He and I laughed ourselves back to his bike...

 *Wayne manor-12:00am” Arthur and I had determined the failed date wasn’t an actual failure in the fact that we figured out we wouldn’t work. He was my friend and would remain that way for the foreseeable future. A friend was something I needed more than a romantic relationship. He and I both knew it.  He told me he had plans to go visit his father up the coast and that he would be in touch. I kissed him on the scruffy cheek and sent him off into the night. I turned to the stairs, the high energy told me Clark had to be near or at least somewhere in the house. I came upstairs and went to Kalen’s room to find the two in Kalen’s bed, which was a large bed because it was still a  room in the manor. To no surprise Kalen was out cold tucked in tightly, but Clark was wide awake, patio open with the cool breeze flowing into the room, with him lying on top of the covers next to him.

“I didn’t think you would stay with him after you dropped him off, Ms. Alphonse was going to be listening for him.”

“I thought you’d be back sooner and I know she told me, but I wasn’t ready to leave him. I feel like I’ve missed so much with him already. The first steps, his first words, the first laugh, all of that.”

Clark was sad and he just brushes his sons hair back, contemplating all of those missed moments.

“Good news is that I taped most of those things and Clark don’t be so hard on yourself there is not much you can do about having been dead and all.”

He looks down at him sadly, and pushes tightens the cover around him more.

“If I had known about Kalen, I never would have sacrificed myself like that. I couldn’t have left him like that.”

I sat on the other side of the bed, next to Kalen. My voice was soft as I didn’t want to alert him to my presence.

“I know that. I never had any doubt in my mind that you would have been an awesome father at the beginning much like you plan to be now.”

“Then why would you keep us apart?”

I sigh and motion for him to follow me. Clark was upset and confused and I was still in my feelings about my beach conversation with Arthur. He gets out of the bed and follows me into my room. Lazily, I toss up a noise canceling shield.

“Clark I told you that I was only protecting my son. I saw how the world treated you when you were only trying to protect them. I didn’t want that for him. Would you have wanted that? Knowing that you weren’t here to help him or protect him?”

“That explains while I was dead. Not why I was alive.”

I fix an uninterested look on my face despite it being quite the opposite.

“I told you that the other day too. I don’t think you really want to rehash that now.”

He walks closer, chin up and confident. I ignored the tingle I felt seeing him walk like that. It had always done something for me, but now was not the time to dwell on that.

“Oh but I do Gia. I do because I owe you an apology for those reasons.” I looked at him slightly taken aback.

“An apology? For dying? That was hardly in your control seeing as we all would have died...”

“No. No. No. I owe you an apology for everything before that. How everything happened between us. I put everyone in a bad situation and most importantly I hurt you.” My eyes burned slightly and I pushed back I shed tears because my pride would still not let me cry in front of him.

“It..I... it’s been a long time ago Clark...”

“Not for me. It feels like no time has passed at all for me. I still feel like the scum of the earth that hurt one of the most beautiful creatures in his universe.”

I knew he had to be able to hear my heart racing and my lack of breathing, once again my pride was settled in deep and would not let me give in to his soft words like I did before.

“Yes, you hurt me, but I have to thank you. I grew from it. It showed me I had to depend on myself. You were right that night. I was so wrapped up in you that I couldn’t see me anymore. I thought you would always be there and when you weren’t I realized I wasn’t standing on my two feet, I was leaning on you. I had to realize that there may be superheroes in the world but in the end you’ve got to get your own shit together and for Kalen’s sake that had to happen quickly.”

“Gia I don’t want credit for the woman standing in front of me.” 

He shakes his head as if to disassociate himself.

 “Too bad.” I toss at him

“I’m glad you haven’t lost that flippant mouth of yours.”

He smirks and I go over to my closet, looking for something to wear to bed.

 “Now why would I lose my best quality? Cursing and sarcasm are my native language.”

“Yes I know Gia, that’s why I used to have to try and sweat it out of you at training. You don’t have all of that mouth when you are sweating and out of breath.”

I chuckle but flashes of another time where I had been too out of breath and sweaty with him that had nothing to do with exercise to talk, that had started to race through my mind. I shook my head to clear it.  

“Yeah whatever Kent.”

“Gia I can’t change the past but I can help shape the future. I want you to know that i am here for you. You can depend on me. I’m going to be here.”

I knew my smile didn’t reach my eyes. I wanted to trust the words he was saying but every time I almost gave in, my heart wouldn’t let me. I could pretend I didn’t know what I wanted but Arthur had been too right on that. I would never be able to love if I let this thing with Clark hold me back. Not if I still loved him. 

 “Fine. If it’s what you want to hear Clark I forgive you.”

He growls and it’s one of the first times I’ve ever heard this from him. He fixes me in place, with a look that tells me I cannot run from him.

“GIA! That’s not the answer I am looking for and you know it!”

“WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO FORCE ME TO FORGIVE AND FORGET?! Kal you think that after all of this time you get to come into my life and call the shots? You get ANY fucking say over what I do or my emotions? News FUCKING flash Kal you don’t! I am not that scared 20 year old girl you saved anymore! I wasted so much time living for what you wanted of me. Trying to be the girl you needed on some foolish hope that I could be the one who you saw as your equal.”

I turned away from him too deep in my rant to stop now.

“You have no clue how many nights I cried over you! How I tore myself up and down because I considered both you and Lois my friends knowing that she was perfect for you in a way that I could never be. I let go of her and your mother in my life because I was consumed with the crushing guilt that I loved you. I loved you to the detriment of everything else, including myself. I knew you would break my heart and I still handed it to you on a silver platter with the small hope you wouldn’t and what did you do? You fucking stepped on it. You put it in back in your pocket and walked back to her. You basically told me ‘Fuck your feelings’ to my face, and begged me to stick around to watch her get to live the life I wanted with you. You say you don’t want the credit for the woman I am now and truth is you don’t get all of it, but you certainly left enough material to craft her from. You don't get to come back smiling, with a half ass apology and say I’m wrong for protecting the pieces that were left of my heart that now reside in my son.”

I had a wall blocking out everyone else's emotions because I could barely deal with my own, much less anyone else’s. I knew I couldn’t handle the pity Clark had to be radiating at this moment. I knew I had to be crying but it was all out there now, why would I hide my tears now?  I continued talking in his silence.

“I don’t blame you for picking Lois. She is amazing , perfect and driven, gorgeous everything I am not. I don’t know why you aren’t together now, but I won’t hate you for loving her. I can’t..”

He stops me mid-sentence.

“Gia, Lois and I are over. Besides her husband would be mad at you assuming she would come running back to me.”

“Husband? But you two disappeared when she snapped you out of that whole killer ken doll mode you were in when you woke up.”

He shook his head moving closer to me and I didn’t move back.

“She came because Bruce asked her to and despite everything she is my friend. I need you to know she wasn’t the one who broke me of that darkness. It was you.”

My jaw dropped and it was only then that I backed up from him.

“What? No, you know better than to lie to me.”

I shake my head in disbelief, his words still not computing to my frazzled brain.

“It was your voice that snapped me out of that haze. Are you blocking again Gia. You always block when you aren’t ready to hear the truth but this is it. You are absolutely right...about everything. I still don’t how I managed to mess everything up so badly between us, but I do know I will spend the rest of my life regretting it if it costs me you forever. Please Gia don’t walk away again. I can’t watch you leave when I shouldn’t have let you go the first time..”

*Flashback*

“GET OUT NOW KAL- EL!”

Gia stood before Clark in a t-shirt, hair in wild curls, her eyes red and glistening with un-shed tears. Her heartbreak was hurting Clark. The day he woke with Gia in his arms had been amazing. Being with her had been everything he had imagined it would be and more. He got out of her bed,  walking to the bathroom, a short distance from the bed. Making love with Gia hadn’t been something he ever thought was possible and certainly he had not planned, but it had been something he wanted. 

He had every intention on seeing Gia this morning , but as he left the bathroom he heard his phone going off in the next room. The phone had been a text from Lois. She sent an old photo from some New Years party, both of them filled with happiness, Lois being slightly buzzed and looking at him with Love in her eyes. Love in both of their eyes, because it was what they had.  The guilt of still loving Lois and yet the odd duality of loving Gia. He never thought he could love two people, but he did and with Lois’s text, he made the decision to go back to her, not light heartedly, He also knew that Gia would understand how he felt about Lois. Maybe? I mean to be honest this all could have been just sex for her, and as much as it hurt him to think that, it a real possibility. Last night could have just been fate’s mild reward for a job well done. Maybe a way to remind him of his happiness and not have it be directly related to anything Superhero.

He was latching to Lois because she was a comfortable space for him, meaning with Lois he was himself mostly. He can handle being her hero. He was used to being everyone else’s superhero. So it was second nature to fall back into that role where he knew where he stood. 

But Gia. She made him feel unstable and yet oddly free. He didn’t have to be her Superhero, he could just be Clark Kent. The man from Smallville with regrets and fears. He didn’t have to be perfect because she didn’t expect that from him. She was just his friend  asking for nothing more from him and he was the stupid one that fell in love with her. He never knew where he stood with her because once she healed, she was damn independent and strong willed. She was unpredictable and He loved that about her, and he knew if given the space to grow she would flourish. Clark didn’t want to be selfish and tie her to him when she spent a chunk of her life in a cage.  He might be Superman, but she could do better than him and maybe distance would help him not love her anymore the way that he did. 

So he chose Lois, but not for the right reasons, now here he was standing in the small but nice apartment that he had helped Gia move into, with her kicking him out of her life. He hadn’t wanted that, some space to breathe so he could get over her, but forever?

No. That wasn’t the plan he had in his head. To just never see her again, pretend he hadn’t spent this last year loving her, that he didn’t need to see her? 

He respected her and her need space so he would leave for now, because if she could feel any of the love he had for her, like he had to be feeling then it was obvious it was not returned.

“I’ll go Gia because it’s what you’ve asked of me, but I can’t not see you as in forever. I am...not that strong.” 

He admits, subconsciously hoping she will ask him not to go, admit to him  that he hadn’t been falling in love alone, because let’s face it. His gut was telling him she was where he needed to be. His cowardice of not being enough, the fear of the unknown with her, was what was making him leave. 

Gia does exactly what he knew she always had the power to do. 

“You are going to have to be. Besides Don’t be so dramatic, I am only giving you what you wanted from the beginning when you asked me if I had anywhere to go. I’m setting you free of me for good just like you would have the night you rescued me. Goodbye Kal-El.”

She had the power to break his heart unlike no one ever had. Not even Lois and that was saying something because before Gia blasted her way into his life, he thought Lois was the only one with that power. 

 Turns out Gia was the powerful one in that aspect too. She was way more powerful than she knew when it came to him.

He turned the door knob to let himself out, doing his best to bottle up how destroyed he felt despite bringing all of the moment down on himself.

“Goodbye Gia.”

He flies far away until he can’t hear the sound of her tears anymore,  punching a mountain and dirt until he is winded and he has tears running down his face...

*End Flashback* I stare at Clark at his words that hung in the air, the tension building up before I open my mouth to speak.

“What do you mean you shouldn’t have let me go?”

A/n: SOOOOO what do you think? Still dislike Clark? How about Arthur and Gia? who is disappointed and who is happy? 

Please know I am immensely grateful for every share, comment and reblog this gets. Every single one of you makes my day! Let me know if you would like to be added to the taglist for this story! 

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@bloodyinspiredfuck @romyr4 @p3nny4urth0ught5

[renaroo]

Wednesday Roundups 7/6/17

Wow I had a lot to read and I still managed to turn it out faster than I turn out about 90% of these which I’m not sure if it’s a reflection on my reading and writing skills getting better or if I was stressing out over doing these way too much in the past. 

Regardless, we have quite a variety this week and still seem to be celebrating Wonder Joy so let’s just get into it~

DC’s Batman, Creator Owned CBLDF Defender, Marvel’s Spider-Man/Deadpool, DC’s Superman, IDW’s Transformers: Lost Light, DC’s Wonder Woman FCBD, DC’s Wonder Woman: Steve Trevor, Viz’s Yona of the Dawn

DC’s Batman (2016-present) #24 Tom King, David Finch, Danny Miki, Clay Mann, Seth Mann, Jordie Bellaire

Okay, so I follow Batman at a distance because I’ll be completely honest: Tom King absolutely lost me with the Gotham and Gotham Girl plot because I just could not get into it, and it annoyed me, so I’ve been hands off with the title for the most part, a decision I only double downed on with the Catwoman debacle and my correct assumption in King really relying too heavily on TWISTS. a

.... 

But I absolutely picked up this issue because even if nothing in my thinking brain believes, at all, that this will be allowed to change the status quo between Bruce and Selina...

I love BatCat so much you guys.

He proposed. And I bought it purely for those pages.

I have to emphasize it was for those pages alone because I could not have cared less about Claire and Bruce’s conversation because I’m just so tired of how many people there are in Gotham and how this conversation would have been so much more meaningful if it came from Kate or Dick or Tim or Cass or Duke or Harper or Damian or Julia or Luke or Jean Paul or Leslie or -- THERE ARE SO MANY BAT CHARACTERS THAT ARE NOT BEING USED TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL RIGHT NOW DAMMIT.

The conversation itself is kinda stuff we’ve heard before, and while I like how it tied in thematically it just wasn’t in me to not criticize the fact that it’s coming from the current OC of the Day. 

Anyway. 

I came for the BatCat and I was happy for it even if it was basically only three issues and I had to deal with grown artists making Gotham GIrl’s skirt incredibly short while she was in weird positions for most of it. 

So. That’s my take on that.

Now I can write 3 million fics about how this could be wonderful and that Helena Wayne gets to grow up with all her siblings and be loved by the world. byyyyeeeeeeee

Creator Owned CBLDF Defender Vol. 2 #2 Marc Adreyko, Gene Luen Yang

So this is mostly just an addition at the last minute both because it’s free and because it’s, well, an information brochure about uniting to subscribe or pledge money to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund for all those who have been encouraged into activism thanks to recent events and the collective consciousness surrounding events like last year’s Pulse nightclub shooting.

It’s a good idea and it’s pro-community messaging speaks to me. I’d like to spread awareness for people that these voices are out there and that if you’re interested in providing support you can check out this particular brochure on Comixology for free or google at your leisure.

Marvel’s Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 2: Side Pieces Scott Aukerman, Gerry Duggan, Penn Jillette, Nick Giovannetti, Paul Scheer, Joshua Corin, Reilly Brown, Scott Koblish, Todd Nauck, Tigh Walker

Okay, so... I like Spider-Man/Deadpool’s first arc... but it’s pretty much exactly like Trinity over at DC and it’s spiritual predecessors Batman/Superman and Superman/Batman in that, outside of what’s honestly a pretty stellar initial premise, there is not a whole lot of plan behind where the comic wants to go for the future. 

So you get a whole lot of different creative teams and no cohesive narrative or direction for the comic to go. 

But I guess that really brings into question what makes ongoing comics work and whether or not th idea of “hilarious monthly team ups of Spider-Man and Deadpool without a point, and assumedly without continuity consequences” is enough to work. 

And as someone who honestly really enjoys one-shot one-and-dones, that’s honestly a pass for me. 

But at the same tim... I mean there’s a reason I have both Spider-Man/Deadpool and Trinity on trade wait status now. 

The whole is not equivalent to the sum of its parts, but honestly it’s got some genuinely funny and worthwhile parts as it stands. And I appreciate that. 

DC’s Superman (2016-present) #24 Patrick Gleason, Peter J. Tomasi, Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza, Mick Gray, Joe Prado, Wil Quintana, John Kalisz

You know, sometimes being a comic fan is kind of like reading the newspaper more than reading a narrative story. 

For me that’s kinda what this issue felt more like, I was getting information on where all the characters had moved since last time, the motivations, some backstories. Slight progress and movement in the form of an update on what happened to Lois and getting to see her still kicking Clark’s ass in gear despite his concern for her injury, which I liked, but overall this issue mostly felt like filler for the final moment where we see Jon fall completely into the control of Manchester Black. 

Who... is a big whooping plot hole I am stil waiting to be addressed. Clark remembers Manchester Black from the New Earth continuity still and the “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?” and knows about the Elite, but do they know about him? Or are they completely different from the Super Elite we knew? Are we going to get a Justice League Elite mention (which good god please spare me, though I’ll take Sister Superior). 

This is one of those cases where I feel like my overly extensive knowledge of things in continuity actually puts me at a disadvantage to actually like... reading and taken things for granted. 

I want things to make sense, or I want enjoyable Kent family shenanigans. 

But this issue did have Krypto so, I automatically add a star to it. Sorry, I don’t make the rules. 

IDW’s Transformers: Lost Light (2016-present) #6 James Roberts, Jack Lawrence, Joanna Lafuente

Look, sometimes I think it’s important for critics, reviewers, readers, what have you, to bea ble to say that they’re confused and don’t know what emotion to feel or whether or not the comic accomplished exactly what it wanted to and I’m just. Like. 

Yes that is my emotion at the moment.

A lot of stuff happened in this issue. Like lots of crazy, out there, amazing stuff was packed into a single issue and it’s like, there were panels where you’d blink and you’d miss important character development notes -- like Ratchet hugging their Rung once they got back. Like there’s so much good -- Rodimus had a lot of amazing moments throughout and I love the range of humor to anger to disappointment that he showed. Like his trust and faith in others is already pretty shattered at the moment and to feel Megatron’s apparent betrayal adding onto that is like a million times more stuff. I fear he’s nearing a very dangerous ledge, which is bad because this issue also tells us that Rodimus’ death wish and lowkey desire to put himself in dangerous positions to die heroically is still as prominent as ever. 

Someone hug my trash fire of a son, please.

And then magical girlfriend romance bringing back her girlfriend as a baby and it’s kinda weird like is it still going to be the same Lug? Does Anode acknowledge that it’s weird? Is anyone going to point out that they could feasibly use protoform matter now to resurrect anyone whose spark remnants are available now? Including Skids and Ravage?

what is going on

Anyway. 

There’s a lot packed into this issue which is why I am honestly kind of happy that next issue’s description is a “fallout” from this because holy shit, I need room to breathe and think through things.

Also. Dat smile when Megatron heard Optimus’ voice in the epilogue-ish finale. I like. Maybe had a fangirl moment. Just maybe. 

Anyway. I’m shrug emoji right now until I can get my emotional state sorted out because wow there’s a lot at the moment. Like a lot. A lot a lot.

DC’s Wonder Woman FCBD 2017 Special Edition (2017-present) #1 Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott, Romulo Fajarado Jr.

Like last week’s Wondy special, this is a reprint, but it’s a reprint of the first issue of “Year One” which still holds up as the far superior of the two starting Wonder Woman titles from Rucka last year and is amazingly well held up...

...save of course for the exact same criticisms as the last time I went over the issue which is Dead Bro Walking trope and a whole lot of Rucka Why???? that comes attached to the really bizarre treatment of race in the first arcs of the series. It’s just so bizarre.

But honestly, again, these moves are meant to attract the new, excited audience after the box office smash that has been the Wonder Woman movie -- an audience that has been largely female of all ages. And if there’s one free comic I’m glad will show up immediately on their google searches this Wednesday, I’m very glad it’s going to be the start of what has quickly become my favorite standard bearer of Wonder Woman’s origin story. 

Something I appreciate even more after having finally read the entirety of Azzarrello’s Wondy run which. Eck. Wash my mouth out. 

DC’s Wonder Woman: Steve Trevor (2017) #1 Tim Seeley, Christian Duce, Allen Passalaqua

So this addition to my pull was kind of unexpected in that I had no idea that it was coming out this week and thought “why not” because I’m literally still so Wonderfully Pumped Up a the moment and as far as I can see, the more proceeds DC and WB can see attributed to Wonder Woman the better.

That being said, Tim Seeley really dug into his Grayson roots in this one because that’s about the only thing I really got from this issue is that Steve Trevor’s a badass secret agent with secrets and a deep seeded guilt thing. Which kinda felt like a harsher toned take on his Dick Grayson more than anything else. Which is fine.

Part of the problem here is that I did not read the New52 short term published book that was A.R.G.U.S. or whatever where Steve starred during the weird interim where Steve was not allowed around Diana and Lois wasn’t allowed around Clark but DC still wants to make money from fans anyway.

idk. And since those kinds of spy books are rarely my cup of tea, I don’t think this issue sold me on renigging on that instinct.

Still it was cute and Diana and Steve’s interactions, while minimal, are really the driving portion of his narrative which I think is always good.

But, just like the Annual, I’m left just sitting here going “why don’t we use this opportunity to show off the upcoming Wonder Woman creative team, DC????”

And I get no answer bc DC actually doesn’t care about some weirdo random blogger on the internet constantly screaming at them.

Viz’s Yona of the Dawn (2009-present) Vol. 6 Mizuho Kusanagi

I have actually been very interested in Akatsuki no Yona since I saw its anime show up in my Crunchyroll feed, and as with most anime I can’t help but immediately try to find the manga instead because I am impatient and want Answers Now. As I understand it, the Viz official translations are far behind the current run of the manga (makes sense, as the manga series has been ongoing since 2009 in Japan), and is only catching up to where the anime left off so far, but that’s more than okay for me right now.

Because oh my gosh, it’s so amazing to read such a beautiful story about the growth, empowerment, and pure will of a female character as told by a female author and artist. I’m not the biggest fan of Shoujo as a style of art, but having Yona strike a balance between beautiful and cutesy visuals with what is ultimately a fairly action driven plot with intense moral posturing and constant detail put into the grayness of life’s choices makes Yona of the Dawn honestly unlike just about any Shoujo I’ve read before. 

Yona is one of the most compelling heroines I’ve ever seen, and her intensity of spirit and her meaningful examination of her kingdom makes this fairy tale story really unlike anything else out there. 

And while I’ve really enjoyed Yona to this point, I have to say it is an amazing relief to reach Volume 6 an finally get more female characters than just Yona. I like the reverse harem appeal of the cast as it has been so far, and I have affection for several of the boys, but man is it so much more meaningful to have a few more compelling female characters backing up Yona in the representation department.

Especially since some of Yona’s crew still feel... a little bland to me. It’s usually not a good sign in a massive cast when the traits that come immediately to mind for me are purely character design. 

I’m excited for what’s to come and to see how our Princess fully realizes her potential as the Crimson Dragon. 

Also I should note some skeevy parts of this. One I don’t mind but am sure other people might, there’s the fact that Yona’s current storyline is dealing with Yona taking down a ring of human traffickers and slavers, which brings up the question of autonomy both for Yona as a woman in this honestly pretty traditionally sexist kingdom but also for the Dragons themselves and how their “service” to Yona is framed as a question of their own will. But it’s still a story about human trafficking and that could bother a lot of people. Another thing in this volume, which has bothered me in the previous volumes but really came to a head this time around, is Hak’s... weirdly possessive outbursts toward Yona. I get that they are meant as... idk protective and romantic to some and that we’re supposed to be compelled by his struggle to not show his affection for Yona, but honestly I’m just kinda... naw hoss. Like Hak’s a fine character and I like his relationship and history with Yona most of the time, but like.. the weird pushing her against walls and... licking honey off of her wrists and just. idk. We’re lost in translation here or something bc I’m not a fan.

I’m also not a fan of Viz’s weird changes in the font randomly throughout the book? Like just stop. It’s bad when your translations look lazier than the fan translations I’ve seen floating around on tumblr.

I’ll be honest, as high quality as I consider almost all of these comics this week, I would say the good majority of them did not give me a fully emotional experience or really captivate me in a way that satisfied me from start to finish. And I’m sure in the follow up issues to come there’ll be a lot for me to question into why that might be for the majority of them, but that time is not now. So, as much as it may feel like cheating to pick a volumed book over single issues, I can’t help but say that Yona of the Dawn by far is my pick of the week. It delighted, it changed up its structure and storytelling, built out its world and has started spending more time on the titular characters where before it often felt like we were just taking for granted that there was a dragon gained every volume. And Yona herself is just one of the most satisfying characters to see grow into their own. 

But that’s just my opinion, I’d love to hear what you all think. Agree? Disagree? Think I missed a great comic this week? Please let me know!

[singeramg]

Midnight: Chapter 12

Pairing: Clark Kent/ Metahuman! Black! OFC

Rating: Overall- E

A/n: You guys thought I was done for the night? Nope! Seeing as this chapter is a little shorter I wanted to get this one out because we are about to start getting into the meat of the story even more so and plus I have no ability to wait lol

CATCH UP HERE!

Midnight: Chapter 12

 “MAMA!!”

 We all turned our head towards the car. I smile softly at Martha and walk over to the car. Meanwhile Clark ushers her into the house. 

I opened the door to the backseat where Kalen sat with tears in his eyes. 

   “Hey it’s okay Little man we are here. You want to go inside?”

   “Where dad?” He asks me with a small voice. 

   “He is inside too. Come on let’s get you out of here.”

 I unbuckled his seat belt and helped him out of the car, where he reached up for my hand, looking around at the vast land in front of us. He locks in on the small swing hanging from the nearby tree. He tries to pull me toward it, but I don’t let him get far despite his strength. 

   “Baby I will bring you back out here later okay?”

 I could feel the moment Clark must have told Martha, because a large dose of shock hits me as we climb the steps. 

     “YOU HAVE A WHAT CLARK JOSEPH KENT?!”

 I stifle a laugh when she breaks out his full name. I tap on the white screen door despite the front door to the house being open and me being able to see the stairs, not wanting to enter until I was sure everything is okay. I hear Clark tell his mom

   “We can both explain everything, but first we would like you to meet your Grandson. Can we bring him in?”

   “Do you even have to ask me that Clark? Get them in here now.”

I can feel the disbelief and anger roll off of her in waves. 

Clark comes to the front door and Kalen yelps in excitement at seeing his father.

  “Dad-dy you here!!!!”

 He motions for Clark to pick him up and of course he obliges, giving him squeeze that I’m sure was like picking up a feather delicately. 

 “There’s my tough boy!”

 Kalen is radiating pure happiness and love which balances out the confusion, fear and anger coming from Martha in the kitchen. Clark shoots me a look that says “Be prepared” and I follow him into the kitchen  where Martha is waiting. She becomes filled with Love and excitement the second she lays eyes on her newfound grandchild.

  “Ohh my goodness Clark, he looks so much like you at that age, but even more adorable.”

 Ever the shy one, Kalen tucks his face into Clark’s neck, afraid to interact with someone he doesn’t know. I walk up next to them, touching his back again, then moving up to rub the curls in his hair.

  “Sweetheart can you say hi to this nice lady for mama?”

  “Hi.”

 It’s quick and short, as his small hand grasps at Clark’s collar. I hated that my son got so nervous at meeting new people and I supposed it was my fault because I had spent so much time trying to hide him from the world, he hadn’t had much experience around people.

   “Thank you baby, can you look at Mrs. Kent? She is really important to your dad and we wanna make him happy too right?”

 He nods and un-buries his face slowly, peering nervously through dark lashes. Martha lights up again at seeing his face again. 

   “Hi sweetie. I am your father’s mother. I guess that makes me your grandma. What’s your name cutie?”

   “Kalen Jo-esph Smith. You are really my grandma?”

 She nods as Kalen smiles in acceptance of the new woman. He doesn’t try to go to her, only pushes at Clark’s hands, too young to know that it’s futile. Clark gets the hint though and sits him down.

   “Do you have any toys Grandma?”

 Her breath hitches in her chest as she tears up at him calling her Grandma. Kalen does not realize the magnitude of what he just called her and instead waits for an answer to his question. I look down at him, and try to distract him from Martha as tears begin to roll down her face. 

   “Kalen baby, I don’t know if Mrs. Martha has toys but how about you take your bag and color her a pretty picture okay.”

   “But mommy I wanna go outside and play.”

Clark steps over.

   “Hank is probably due for a walk anyway, How about I take the both outside? While you two catch up.”

If I thought it would hurt him more than me I would punch him in his handsome face as he calls for Hank the black and white collie dog that had been up until this point lounging in the living room. Kalen leaves out the Kitchen with his father and I am left as the sole target of Martha Kent’s ire, but in a surprise move her face softens.

  “Gia have a seat.”

 I listen with the quickness as she goes over to the stove taking the kettle from the top.

   “Still drink more sugar in your tea than actual tea?”

 I laugh slightly as she brings the kettle over to the table along with mugs, then finding some tea bags, and her sugar bowl. The kitchen was filled with silence as we made our respective cups and took a few sips. Finally Martha fixes a stare on me, I drink more, and get enough courage to look her in the eyes.

  “So did you know at Clark’s funeral that you were carrying his child?”

  “No. Honestly I had no clue and it wasn’t until I packed up my life and moved that I even realized it. By then however I had cut all contact.”

  “But once you found out, you never came to me.”

   “I couldn’t.”

  “Why? Gia I literally helped nurse you back to health. You were like a daughter to me. You cannot honestly believe I wouldn’t have helped you. Especially with my Grandchild.”

   “I don’t know.”

 “Gia Delilah.”

I sighed.

   “Mrs. Kent I...”

  “What did I just say about the Mrs. Kent?”

 She takes another sip out of her white mug, I follow suit. She looked at me again and I couldn’t  lie or in a more specific case I couldn’t withhold the truth anymore.

  “Martha, I was being selfish. I left Metropolis because everything and everyone reminded me of Clark, and when I saw this little ball of flesh in my hands that came out of me that was born of him, I realized that Kalen was all I had left of Clark. I wasn’t his mother, his coworker, his girlfriend... hell at end I wasn’t even his friend. I was nothing at all to anyone when he died. Not even to him.”

 I can feel tears fall down my face, but I can’t acknowledge them by wiping them off. I feel pity pour off of her in droves, which just makes me feel worse. The feeling of heartbreak intermingles in with the pity, and it only amplifies my own. I compartmentalized everything, shouting down the incoming emotions. 

  “At the end of the day, as crazy as this sounds. Not telling anyone was the only way I could think to protect my son from what happened to Clark, coming back to come after him. That night I watched Clark die was honesty one of the worst nights in the short slash long history of my life. When I figured out I was having Clark’s child I vowed in no uncertain terms that I could not lose my child too.”

  “Oh sweetheart these last few years have not been easy on you have they?”

 Martha reaches over the table rubbing my hand. I shook my head no as I looked away, unable to meet her eyes.

“Look at me Gia.”

Watery Brown meets Brown.

  “I perfectly understand how you feel as a mother the day Clark began to show his powers and all,  I feared every single time he left the house. Despite the fact that my son is nearly invulnerable I feared the world for him. And the day that the world took my baby boy away and every day after than I wondered if I had done enough to protect him. Could I have saved him? I have even fooled myself once or twice into thinking I could lock him away. But then I think ‘what good would it do?’ To keep others away from the wonderful man that he is. I had to let others in, and guess what I’m glad I did. It has brought me so much more than just him now. I promised you a long time ago that you would always have somewhere to go and someone that loves you. I didn’t just lose Clark, Gia I lost you too.”

 She cries and I stand up and hug her. I never realized all of the damage did when I left. I thought I was some token relic of Clark’s super heroism. I was reluctant to think I meant anything to anybody. I loved Mrs. Martha like she was my mother too, but I thought she always took to Lois more so than me. She was the daughter that Martha never had, it honestly didn’t occur to me that my presence would be missed by her, not when she gripped Lois’s hand so tightly at the funeral. It seemed I had been wrong. 

  “I am sorry Martha. I should have come to you, should have told you where I was going. I certainly should have told you about Kalen that was foul. Will you please forgive me for that and know that I will not purposefully keep  him away from you again?”

 She hugs me back tightly.

  “I forgave you the moment you stepped out that car for leaving. As for Kalen, I understand, doesn’t mean I’m still not a little ticked off at you for not telling me and honestly disappointed in my son for deceiving Lois. That is not the man I raised him to be.”

 I sighed and walked over to the window that showed Clark and Kalen playing with the dog in the yard. I smiled to myself and Clark looked up at me with a smile on his face.

   “You have nothing to fear Martha. Clark was not two timing Lois and as cliché as it sounds Kalen was an “on break” baby. He and I weren’t in a secret relationship behind Lois’ back, I couldn’t do that to her. Without too many details Clark made it clear a long time ago that his heart was with Lois. I respected that always.”

    “I know you did. You’ve been the self sacrificing type since I met you.”

My head whips in her direction quickly.

    “Meaning?”

   “If you don’t know what I am trying to say then you are not ready to hear it.”

 I pondered her words, then not making sense in the context of our conversation. I was mostly just happy that she wasn’t mad at me about this anymore.

   “Don’t overthink it Gia. Let’s make the boys some lemonade and you can tell me more about my grandson...”

 *A few Hours Later*

 Clark and Kalen had been having a ball all day, with Clark doing some of the most domestic tasks around the farm, but letting Kalen help him. I could feel Kalen’s energy waning and I figured he would be down for his dinner and a nap soon enough. I took a look at my clock and realized I needed to head home so that I could get ready for my date. 

Martha now had Kalen in the kitchen helping her make cookies to my sons delight. So I called to Clark barely above a whisper as I stood on the wrap-around porch. He comes looking sheepish as we hadn’t much time to talk alone since earlier, he wouldn’t come out from the house.

   “I won’t chew you out for making me face your mother alone you can come outside.”

 The screen door opens and closes and he stands next to me.

“Gia I was listening for trouble the whole time.” He offers a way to save himself. He didn’t need to, I wasn’t mad at him. I was actually grateful because as  nervous as I wouldn't have had the opportunity to clear the air with Martha as I had if he would have been there.

   “Oh I know, that’s the only reason I didn’t chew you out. I called you because I actually need to head back to the manor. I need to get ready for my date, I am positive that Kalen will not leave this house without his cookies, and I think Martha is not ready for him to go. I can take the car home if you want to fly back with Kalen later, after he is sleeping.”

Clark thinks it over and shakes his head.

   “I would like to take him on his first flight when he is awake. Plus I can never guarantee when some government idiots won’t think I’m a threat and try to shoot me down.”

 I laughed remembering that time that had happened to him one day while he was a few states over. He came back to the farm covered in soot and mud seeing as they shot him down into a swamp. That had been hilarious. Turned out it had all been a big mistake by the army and they apologized repeatedly but he was always listening for a stray bomb and tried to fly high enough that his impact should he make one not leave anyone is danger.

   “Well I guess I can call a car...”

   “Or I could fly you home.”

I looked at him apprehensively.

   “I don’t know...”

   “It will be fine. I’ve flown with you in my arms plenty of times. You at least can protect yourself if needed.”

I really didn’t have much of an option.

   “Fine I guess. Let me just let Kalen know I have to leave and that you will bring him to me.”

 He concedes and after we let Martha and Kalen know we were leaving (the latter of which did not care because we didn’t have food for him) we went back out to the field. 

  “Are you ready?”

 He asks me. I wonder if he wants me to get in his back and go to move but he just moves too.

  “Yes, but bend down so I can get on your back.”

  “I hate when people are on my back when I fly. Guess I’m just going to have to do this.”

 He shoots me a mischievous smirk down moving forward and grabbing the back of my legs and arm around my waist, making my arms instinctively go around his neck as carries me cradle style. 

  “Waah geez Clark can’t you warn a girl before you do that?”

He laughs and looks down at my face smiling before saying

 “Eh... I could but where’s the fun in that ?”

 Then he takes off causing me to yelp and push my face into his pectoral muscle and grip him tighter as he laughs again into the night...

A/n: So what did you think? Who thought Mrs. Kent was going to strangle Gia and Clark? I thought about it but I need them in the story going forward.